Beauty

You know that overwhelming feeling of...of...awe, I guess, when you see something beautiful?

A few weeks ago two friends of mine and I went out into the field behind my house to pray. It was dark (around 10-10:30) and we headed out into the field with a flashlight. The sky was gorgeous, kinda foggy, with an eerie looking moon and stars popping out between the clouds. BEAUTIFUL.

We came to a fence and, before we saw them, we heard the tremendous pounding of a herd of horses galloping towards us. They came right up to the fence where we were standing. All we could see was their black silhouettes and hear their heavy breathing and the stamping of their hooves. It was amazing! BEAUTIFUL.

We ended up climbing a huge bale, looking up at the vast stars and praying. All that beauty totally overwhelmed me. When we would look back into St. Norbert from on top of that bale we would see little lights everywhere and this fuzzy, warm glow because of the tiny bit of fog there was. It was all so BEAUTIFUL!

The emotions that are awakened because of beauty can sometimes be overwhelming! When I think about it...the beauty that I'm seeing around me is earthly beauty. This physical earth that God created is gorgeous! But can you imagine even for one second what Heavenly beauty is going to do to us!??!

I can't comprehend, understand or begin to imagine the beauty of Heaven. Then there's the beauty of Jesus! Fully man and fully God! Then there's the beauty of God! Who Was and Is and Is to come! The Uncreated One. Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End. First and the Last. King of Kings! The creator of all beauty!

I constantly want to have my heart turned to God, gazing up at him with a softened heart and forever astounded by his beauty.

"He had given me all of creation to speak of his great glory and love, and he had given me the Word of God in all its depth and beauty, and here I was, asking for more. And God loved it. God delights in revealing himself to those who will seek him with all their hearts. He is an extravagant, abundant Lover, and he loves to reveal his heart to us again and again." (from the book Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge)

Thank you, Jesus!

AWAKE!

Awake thyne eyes to see His glory!
To young and old,
To every race,
AWAKE.
Behold the beauty of The King.

Sometimes I just wanna scream.

Hello autumn, welcome fall

I love this season! ~ The leaves are changing colour and floating to the earthen floor (haa haa) ~ it's perfect sweater weather ~ the leaves are also the perfect texture for black and white photo's ~ the sounds of the leaves crunching underneath your feet is beautiful ~ the colours are gorgeous ~ the scent is crisp ~ Thanksgiving is coming ~the mosquito's are gone ~ It's wonderful!

Fall is also the perfect time for fires.
Big, burning flames of fire.
Fire that spreads.
Fire that produces heat.
Fire that provides light.
Fire that is bright.
Fire that grows in intensity.

*I'm talking spiritual FIRE!* [esh]

Lord, I ask that you'd do something radical in Winnipeg (and in my life) during this season. Father, would your presence be tangible in this place. Would you grow in intensity and would our love for You burn bright. Would we be visible witnesses and examples of your fierce love and burning affection. Would you spread, Jesus. Would people know of Your love and come to know You! Amen.

IHOP Kodac moments

Here are a couple of pics from my trip to IHOP-KC with Christina in August! O' the wonderful memories!!!! (sorry if practically all are repeats from Christina's blog)



ahh...GOOD TIMES!

it's good to be home & the bus, or lackthereof

So the trip to Valley City, North Dakota was good! I love hanging out with Becki and it was good seeing Sarah for about the 2nd time in my life! She's very awesome. We stayed with her friend Amanda who also loves Jesus! That was radical. The volleyball game was intense and the shirts we made were a big hit!

It's good to be back home, though!
Speaking of home, I can't get there on Sunday nights after Encounter God unless I cab it from Killarney (in Fort Richmond) to St. Norbert. Crap. So, I was unaware of this last night when I got to my bus stop at Killarney and Pembina and waited for a while without my bus appearing. Two options: call a cab or walk. Walking would have taken a long time. I ended up splitting the cost of a cab with a man named Wisdom from Kenya who happens to live down my Street. Four dollars later and I was at home. Praise Jesus.

Now I have to decide what I'm going to do....I love living in St. Norbert with Matt and Rachelle! I love that my backyard is a field, that I can run on something other than pavement, and that it has that small town feel. But, it's so far to bus....it's actually sometimes impossible. So...I have to either tough it out, move or buy a car. Please pray.

Encounter God rocked last night! I love getting together corporately and going after God's heart! God would you continue to release enjoyable prayer, enjoyable worship, your creativity, and the revelation of who you are and what is on your heart for this time, this place and this generation! We ask you to come to this city! Amen.

ahh...it's good to be home.
(hey, check out Christina's blog for pics from our IHOP-KC trip! I'm going to see if I can post some here, too...)

surfin' in the USA

My friend Becki and I are surfin' the terrain of the US of A this weekend. We're heading to Fargo-ish (I'm not quite sure where we're going?!) and supporting her friend Sarah in her volleyball tournament. I'm pretty stoked! We're making t-shirts that say something about Sarah #4. I love making t-shirts..."do it up! Do it ugly!"

Lately I've been trying to figure out what I love to do, what I love in general, and how that adds to who I am. It feels like my desires have all been stripped away and I'm left only desiring Jesus. It's a scary but good feeling. My desire to do missions, which used to consume me, has now all but vanished. I think it's the grace of God that it's been "tamed" during this time of...training. I can't love missions more than God. I can't love doing more than being. (Note: I still do want to do missions, travel, etc. but when I go it'll be from a different heart, I think. I'm praying for a heart that's ravished with my love for Jesus EVEN MORE and rooted in Him)

I was chatting with Christina last night and, while trying to figure out what I loved, burst out with this answer, "MY BEDROOM!" The reason I love my bedroom is because it represents my secret, quiet place with God. That is one thing that I love right now! It was funny. (this is while we were at 'Bucks on Broadway missing Joel)

Another question that has been on my mind: Why am I in the hearing aid industry? I'm hoping that cleaning hearing aids will make me a better person. kidding. or maybe just more mindful of my ear hygiene.

I'm feeling o so random today.
Gotta jet. Hallelujah for lunch breaks!
(It kinda feels like something big is going to happen today? Jesus, wanna do something in Wpg today? haa haa...the cool thing is that HE always does!)

Hi, my name is Stephanie and I am the Bride of Christ!

Ha ha here you go, Johan, this is a part of what's been on my mind...

I need to know who I am in Christ. This revelation has been hitting me over and over again. My full identity needs to be found in Him. In order to know who I am I need to know God. You come to know God by spending time with him, by reading His word, by speaking with Him and listening to Him. I have been craving the knowledge of God like never before! It's insatiable!

To know God is to love God. How can you know Him and not love him?! How can you love Him if you do not know Him?! You can't know God if you don't seek him out -ASK SEEK KNOCK -

If only the church would know their God. I'm not saying that all church's don't know God but if we really, truly knew the Uncreated God of the universe, His affections for us and His plans for what is to come, I think that we would all live differently! We would come together to worship GOD with excitement and anticipation! With expectation that God (who loves Himself and desires to share Himself with us) would want to come and meet with us....I think that if we knew God apathy would be broken. If the Bride would know of her Bridegrooms affections, desires and plans she would no longer be asleep. I'm reminded of how Sleeping Beauty was awoken by the simple kiss of her Prince. Jesus, kiss us with the kiss of the revelation of who you are (!) that we would awake from our slumber and ready ourselves for the wedding of the Lamb. Amen.

: ) It's Friday!!!

Today we had a meeting at work. It went super well! The boss bought us food and we chatted about how things were going. It was all good feedback and good discussion. I believe this is the most I've liked my job. Praise the Lord because if this is where He wants me (for now) I definitely have to like it more than I did! Praise report: I got to share part of my testimony with my new co-worker the other day! We've been through some of the same things in life and I got to tell her about God's power, love and kindness in the midst of trials... Jesus, I ask that you would make me a light in the dark. Amen!

Tonight I get to head to Steinbach and have a bonfire (I love bonfires!) with my fantastic family! Note: I have the most awesomest sister who delivered a baby all by herself last night when the dr. didn't show up in time! I'm so proud of you Kristi! You are an awesome nurse! (I thought I'd join in with the encouragement)

To live like Jesus...

As I was walking to my bus last night after work I passed a man sitting on the street corner. He was on the ground trying to take a sip of his coffee but he couldn't because he was shaking so badly. He started freaking out and yelling/squealing while trying his hardest to get the cup to his lips. It was almost as if something was stopping his arms at a 45 degree angle and it wouldn't let him bend them all the way. Needless to say, he was frustrated.

I didn't know what to do. I looked to another lady who was standing and waiting for the light to change and asked her what we should do. She shrugged and acted like she didn't want to get involved because she had no idea what to do.

I looked back at this man and said, "Sir, can I help you?" As soon as I spoke the man stopped shaking, took a sip of his coffee, collected his things and stood up. He acted as if nothing had happened and continued on his way. It was bizarre! The moment I spoke it was as if something was broken and he snapped out of whatever "daze" he was trapped in.

I stared at him for a minute or two after he stood up to make sure he was okay. He didn't seem to notice me or realize what had happened. I'm not sure if he was just pretending nothing had happened or if he actually didn't realize what had happened?!?

The situation made me realize (once again) my need to know my authority in Christ Jesus. I want to live my life with the power of Christ: That when I speak demonic things in the spirit realm would be broken by the power of Jesus! When I walk my shadow would heal the broken hearted and set the captives free because Jesus lives in me! And all this for the glory of God!

John 14:12 - "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father..."

Mark 16:17 - "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (NIV)

(Matt 8:16, Matt 10, Luke 8:40 and on...)

Can you imagine what this world would be like if we all lived and walked in complete understanding of our authority as sons and daughters of the King of Kings? I want to live like Jesus did.

MMMHMMM!

I love long weekends!

On Friday night my familia got together for a celebration of Kristi and Shane's bdays. (one was belated, the other way early) I was surprised at the relatively un-awkwardness of having both my parents there. After supper my bro came over for a sleepover! Woo Hooo....I love what God's doing in you, Shaun!

Saturday morning I had the privelege of being an assistant photographer (with my awesome friend Rod!) for a Filipino wedding. Good times! They had a really small wedding party of about....40 people!!! It was a beautiful wedding and I had a great time taking pics with Rod!

Sunday I got to go to church for the first time in a few weeks. It was good to see everyone again (even though there wasn't much time to chat) and to enter into worship. I love worship. I love feasting on the Word of God. I love it!

I got to read the notes on Armageddon by Mike Bickle from Saturday night...WOW...incredible...!

ode to Randi!

It turns out that my last post was not my own. I was looking through my draft folder on my work email and found that prayer in one of my unsent emails to my hotmail address (yes, I'm a geek and when I'm bored at work I write emails to myself. Actually, they're more like prayers to Jesus....anyway). So, I re-found this incredible email that I thought was my own writing (yea for humility) but it turns out that it was written by this awesome IHOP intern named Randi. I guess when I had read her post in July this prayer had really struck a chord in me and I decided to write it down for my own personal enjoyment/inspiration. Turns out I didn't note that I hadn't written this beautiful piece myself and when I re-read it this week I thought I had written it....kinda confusing and embarrassing, but it's true.
So, if that made any sense...I'm really sorry Randi! You are a beautiful writer and I love your heart! So...all of the encouragement and kudos goes to YOU! You rock!