"We gave three heavy-hearted cheers, and blindly plunged like fate into the lone Atlantic."
Moby Dick: or, the White Whale (Melville, Herman)
Monday, June 24, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
I've been speechless for a long time.
I'm convinced there are few things more beautiful than the honesty of a contrite heart. The simple musings and revelations of one who has lived through much, and has walked away humbled. I guess that must be what draws me to my David.
Don't you agree, that there is something breathtaking in the woman taking her time telling you the reality of breast cancer, yet chemo couldn't wipe out that glimmer in her eyes when she smiles? Or when you read that post by someone who is just trying to pay their bills on time, they aren't depressed, they're writing about their morning run or the handsome piece of literature they've encountered at the used bookstore.
I find myself inspired. What makes me speechless; the desire to speak with a contrite and honest mind. How easy it is to go through days talking about things as if you're an expert, to convince everyone you come in contact with that you're worth loving and admiring. Oh but the beauty of honest silence, and what's more - honest speech.
I'm doing my best to learn.
I'm convinced there are few things more beautiful than the honesty of a contrite heart. The simple musings and revelations of one who has lived through much, and has walked away humbled. I guess that must be what draws me to my David.
Don't you agree, that there is something breathtaking in the woman taking her time telling you the reality of breast cancer, yet chemo couldn't wipe out that glimmer in her eyes when she smiles? Or when you read that post by someone who is just trying to pay their bills on time, they aren't depressed, they're writing about their morning run or the handsome piece of literature they've encountered at the used bookstore.
I find myself inspired. What makes me speechless; the desire to speak with a contrite and honest mind. How easy it is to go through days talking about things as if you're an expert, to convince everyone you come in contact with that you're worth loving and admiring. Oh but the beauty of honest silence, and what's more - honest speech.
I'm doing my best to learn.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
'Poised for Harvest, Braced for Backlash' --Timothy Miller
I’m in the middle of reading this book, and my heart is coming alive!!
Being in the Prayer Movement these past years, my heart has increasingly grown connected to prayers for the 10/40 window, unreached people groups, and the gospel being glorified amongst every tribe and tongue. Something in me melts when I think about His glory covering the earth as the waters cover the seas. I know this is the working of the Spirit in my heart, for me to love and desire such things, because these are not connected to the workings of the flesh- and oh the gratitude I have to the Lord for that.
Over the past years I’ve heard tons of testimonies connected to evangelism and discipleship, both good and negative. I’ve taken times to go to the mall and talk to people about Jesus, and have tried to live a lifestyle of a heart postured to hear and give way to the Lord in my daily life in this area. Yet, I’ve often been perplexed on how to truly give witness to Jesus in evangelism. How do I clearly explain the gospel in one conversation? What IS the ENTIRE gospel? What signs and wonders is God committed to? What happens if they DO accept Jesus, they will need to be discipled and to be in a community of accountability, and I don’t know how to direct someone in that?
These questions vexed me! One thing that I admit to being a huge deterrent to my being tenacious in the place of evangelism and the going out is how many I’ve known IN the church who are in such places of rebellion and sin. I’ve known so many to give their hearts to the Lord, and they are passionate and zealous for days, months, and even years yet they go back to drugs, sex, and enslavement. These things have caused me to ask many many difficult questions.
I’ve wept, I’ve interceded, I’ve tried and have mostly emerged confused and in some level of doubt or unbelief…
Well folks, as I’ve been spending the past months at IHOP-AC in a deeper place of concentrated study of the word and the secret place, I’ve had many of these things addressed. Then I picked up this book, and it further addressed SO many of these concerns that I’ve really wrestled with.
I wanted to blog about this, because if you’ve found yourself in a similar place concerning the mission of the church, I really encourage you to read this book. The PDF is free online, which I have put the link for at the bottom. This book will challenge you in many ways, but it will also bring immense and deep clarity into the how’s and the what behind evangelism.
Any thoughts are welcomed!!
Kirsten
PDF HERE
Being in the Prayer Movement these past years, my heart has increasingly grown connected to prayers for the 10/40 window, unreached people groups, and the gospel being glorified amongst every tribe and tongue. Something in me melts when I think about His glory covering the earth as the waters cover the seas. I know this is the working of the Spirit in my heart, for me to love and desire such things, because these are not connected to the workings of the flesh- and oh the gratitude I have to the Lord for that.
Over the past years I’ve heard tons of testimonies connected to evangelism and discipleship, both good and negative. I’ve taken times to go to the mall and talk to people about Jesus, and have tried to live a lifestyle of a heart postured to hear and give way to the Lord in my daily life in this area. Yet, I’ve often been perplexed on how to truly give witness to Jesus in evangelism. How do I clearly explain the gospel in one conversation? What IS the ENTIRE gospel? What signs and wonders is God committed to? What happens if they DO accept Jesus, they will need to be discipled and to be in a community of accountability, and I don’t know how to direct someone in that?
These questions vexed me! One thing that I admit to being a huge deterrent to my being tenacious in the place of evangelism and the going out is how many I’ve known IN the church who are in such places of rebellion and sin. I’ve known so many to give their hearts to the Lord, and they are passionate and zealous for days, months, and even years yet they go back to drugs, sex, and enslavement. These things have caused me to ask many many difficult questions.
I’ve wept, I’ve interceded, I’ve tried and have mostly emerged confused and in some level of doubt or unbelief…
Well folks, as I’ve been spending the past months at IHOP-AC in a deeper place of concentrated study of the word and the secret place, I’ve had many of these things addressed. Then I picked up this book, and it further addressed SO many of these concerns that I’ve really wrestled with.
I wanted to blog about this, because if you’ve found yourself in a similar place concerning the mission of the church, I really encourage you to read this book. The PDF is free online, which I have put the link for at the bottom. This book will challenge you in many ways, but it will also bring immense and deep clarity into the how’s and the what behind evangelism.
Any thoughts are welcomed!!
Kirsten
PDF HERE
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Encounter Teen Camp
It's officially summer time, and hot as all get out!! I have been reminiscing about summers past these last few days. The last two summers I have had the privilege of going to my most beloved Romania. While I was there I and some others helped with a youth camp for a few weeks. Earlier this year, I was so sad when I considered this summer coming without a trip to Romania, yet the Lord is kind. I was invited this past week to be a core leader with IHOP's teen camp in about a month, and I am ecstatic about it. Not to say that it can by any means replace that longing I have to be in Romania, but it does curb the initial ache of not being able to go to camp there.
Please pray for us as we prepare our minds and hearts to serve these teens. Pray that the Lord would bring revelation to this generation, and that this week of camp would mark their hearts in a dramatic way. This is most definitely something to look forward to :)!!
Truly,
Kirsten
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
I hope in Mercy
This morning I am thinking about the Babylonian Exile. It has been a year now since Chris died, as well as the death of many other things in between that time; the death of a vision, relationships, and people that I love dearly. I have often wondered how the Jewish Nation must have felt when being invaded, and to their surprise, defeated. I am sure many struggled with offense saying, ‘You promised, God, and now You have forsaken us!!’ Many probably resolved in their heart that the Lord was a liar, not even considering the warnings of the prophet Isaiah.
When I consider the events in my life over this last year, I feel as though I can relate to Israel. I think of hurricane Katrina, and other natural disasters that have hit our globe recently, and consider the way it must have affected the people. There is a devastation that hits the heart of man when his life is invaded and exiled, whether emotionally, circumstantially, naturally, or forcefully. You lose yourself, shaken to the core, and the only thing that remains is the core of who you really are. The reality of your heart becomes exposed when the props are removed.
I like the way Mike Bickle explains growing older in the Lord. He communicated how when he was younger he often looked at people who had been saved for 30-40 years, and thought about how they must enter into the presence of the Lord so easily and their knowledge of Him must be so vast. He said ‘Now that I am getting on in years, I’m realizing it is more of a miracle that they have simply continued to say ‘yes’ to the Lord. They have experienced a hundred disappointments and a hundred failures, and they had to work through the bitterness, mistrust, and offense that naturally comes in those times to say ‘yes’ again to the Lord”
Among the defeats and invasions that are sure to come in life, I don’t want to lay myself in the dust to be trampled and held captive to the worldly grief that leads to death. Rather, I aspire to choose faithfulness as Daniel did. He was exiled and forced to serve in the king’s court in Babylon. Even through the insecurity of what was to become of Israel and the promises of God, Daniel lived a fasted lifestyle, remaining faithful to God. I love in Daniel 7 when he has the vision of God on the throne, I imagine what an encouragement it must have been to him. Like the Lord saying “It’s still on, I’m going to do all I promised!!”
“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14
I believe this is something to be learned in our hearts, amidst all the trials, set our minds on the throne, just as Daniel’s vision. Our hope is in His mercies that never end (Lam 3:23-24), our hope is in His promise to return and redeem(Hab 2:3, Ps 130:5-7), our help is in the name of the Lord (Ps 124:8)!!!
When I consider the events in my life over this last year, I feel as though I can relate to Israel. I think of hurricane Katrina, and other natural disasters that have hit our globe recently, and consider the way it must have affected the people. There is a devastation that hits the heart of man when his life is invaded and exiled, whether emotionally, circumstantially, naturally, or forcefully. You lose yourself, shaken to the core, and the only thing that remains is the core of who you really are. The reality of your heart becomes exposed when the props are removed.
I like the way Mike Bickle explains growing older in the Lord. He communicated how when he was younger he often looked at people who had been saved for 30-40 years, and thought about how they must enter into the presence of the Lord so easily and their knowledge of Him must be so vast. He said ‘Now that I am getting on in years, I’m realizing it is more of a miracle that they have simply continued to say ‘yes’ to the Lord. They have experienced a hundred disappointments and a hundred failures, and they had to work through the bitterness, mistrust, and offense that naturally comes in those times to say ‘yes’ again to the Lord”
Among the defeats and invasions that are sure to come in life, I don’t want to lay myself in the dust to be trampled and held captive to the worldly grief that leads to death. Rather, I aspire to choose faithfulness as Daniel did. He was exiled and forced to serve in the king’s court in Babylon. Even through the insecurity of what was to become of Israel and the promises of God, Daniel lived a fasted lifestyle, remaining faithful to God. I love in Daniel 7 when he has the vision of God on the throne, I imagine what an encouragement it must have been to him. Like the Lord saying “It’s still on, I’m going to do all I promised!!”
“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14
I believe this is something to be learned in our hearts, amidst all the trials, set our minds on the throne, just as Daniel’s vision. Our hope is in His mercies that never end (Lam 3:23-24), our hope is in His promise to return and redeem(Hab 2:3, Ps 130:5-7), our help is in the name of the Lord (Ps 124:8)!!!
‘ “For a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies I will gather you.
With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,”
Says the LORD, your Redeemer. “
Isaiah 54:7-8
But with great mercies I will gather you.
With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,”
Says the LORD, your Redeemer. “
Isaiah 54:7-8
Monday, March 28, 2011
I'm in the last week of my internship here at IHOP-ATL. It's been a good run, to say the least. The Lord has lavished His kindness on me in a different way then He has ever before. I feel like I am just now getting to know Him, but I recall feeling that way alot in my life. It must be because He is unsearchable :)!I am grateful to have gotten to know the other interns better, and to have gleaned from the leaders here. During our internship we were privileged to participate in the 5 year anniversary and the leadership conference as well. I feel a bit spoiled by it all!!
The next chapter is going to be a busy one, before I can come on staff here, but I believe His grace will see me through it!
Truly,
Kirsten
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