nurture

been reading a great book called "nurture" by lisa bevere.

it talks about how women were made to give and receive nurture.

"is it possible that we are too busy surviving to assure that the vulnerable among us thrive? are we too guarded, wounded, and afraid to open our lives to the nurture of others?

what can be done to reestablish this language of the feminine heart?

it is time women are healed and empowered."

as i have been reading this book, certain chapters have made me just cry continuously- to the point that i could not read my book in the plane as it started to alarm those around me :)

it was a revelation into something that God has been trying to awaken in me: an insight into this generation's culture (the meeting of MY own needs, without giving anything back, being afraid of giving too much of ourselves, so never truly connecting) and what it means to truly FLOURISH.

i've been too busy trying to survive-to meet my needs according to what culture says, rather than taking the time to do what i've been called and MADE to do. the deepest parts of my soul and spirit knows this well- rather than withhold compassion, i know God has made me to be a life-giving channel of unconditional, sacrifical, strong, not weak; compassion.

we are called to more than need-meeting.

we are called to build lives and relationships.

there is a chapter early in the book where lisa describes having made some divine connections with other daughters and mothers. for some of them, it was just a hug, a wave, a short blessing. for some it was a hurting girl who read her book and connected to lisa in a way that was truly divine.

she realized that she could play a role as a mother- because many mothers (and fathers) are needed to successfully raise the daughters and sons of this generation.

one of my visions for this year is for God to do what He needs to do in my life and heart to truly be a woman who nurtures others.

God, i know sometimes it's scary to think i could give too much of myself away. but You fill my cup! and so let the compassion flow. permeate and overflow! fill me and use me!

sometimes the greatest present we can give to others is a belief in them, in their destiny, in their calling.

there is a great need to speak life, hope, strength into our generation!

but if we're too "busy"...

it's not enough to intercede but to meet the needs of the people God brings into our paths!

when God relates people, it is for increased personal strength, spiritual growth, and kingdom purposes.

may i intercede even more faithfully and boldly this year, but also reach out and nurture the ones around me, and to be one who continually is a vessel of His life-giving breath to others!

cambodia

it's been a real eye opening trip so far.

since our last trip to thailand, i don't think i've been exposed to another third world country like this.

in phnom penh the first thing that greeted me was the crazy driving- on the wrong side of the road! (or is it right? haha) and just thousands or millions of motorcycles and bicycles, with up to 4 people riding together! school girls riding as well without helmets! hardly lines on the road, just driving anywhere and everywhere, roundabouts are chaos, and yet everyone seems to know what to do- amazingly enough!

crossing the road is pretty fun too- you realize that the motorists learn to avoid you and you can just cross easily enough!

there seem to be sooo many homeless and street kids? we saw the same kids begging a few days in a row (and not at school!), burn victims and amputees just wandering around asking for money...

went to some awesome sites like the royal palace and national museum (amazing architecture and history!), russian markets (crazy maze of really close together stores where you have to squeeze your way through and haggle), and besides staying in a great hotel, we went to some really great restaurants for french and khmer food- like Comme a la Maison and Khmer surin.

the highlights for me so far included a shop called "Daughters of Cambodia" where girls who'd been involved in sex trafficking were saved and then empowered by teaching them different skills and by working there. we also wandered by a shop which related to empowering HIV infected people.

The other place that stood out to me was the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. It was one of the detention centres during the Khmer Rouge in 1975-1979, where 2 million people were killed. If you walk around Cambodia, you'll notice that the population is mostly young. The generation of people from 40 to 60 seems to be missing! The educated, young, and even old were named as "criminals" and brutally tortured and murdered. The Khmer Rouge did not believe/allow for education so the detention centre was a school that was turned into a prison. They tortured and murdered thousands there- apparently only 7 were known to survive.

In most of the buildings the classrooms were turned into individual cells, but there were also rooms where 100s of people were squashed into a small space. it's not difficult to sense the despair and anguish that was felt there. how could such people regard others that way? where was the basic regard for human life? it was hard to hold myself together especially when i went to some of the rooms where makeshift prisons were constructed to hold individuals- there were chains on the floor too to hold them in, and barbed wire across the balconies and windows to prevent them from attempting suicide.

so now i'm here in siem reap, a very touristy and awesome place, in another amazing resort and waking up early to go to angkor wat tomorrow...

i think i've realized how much i do enjoy and take comfort for granted. the places i've lived, the lifestyle we have... we are so blessed. the people here do live such a simple and hard life, and they have to fight their way to survive!

may i never take what i've been blessed with for granted... may i never take the love of Jesus for granted too. the other thing that really stands out is the hundreds of temples, buddhist and hindu statues EVERYWHERE. like everywhere. the religions and culture seem to be so intertwined.

i believe that the Gospel must and will be shared in this land and that disciples are to be made! but this is a prime example of where ministries like Compassion would make such a huge difference and be instrumental in showing the reality of Christ.

The most revered kings like Jayavarman VII were talked about as devout buddhists who were filled with compassion and built hospitals, fed the poor, etc.

All the more- as Christ followers, may the Church in Cambodia have the means and opportunity and passion to be hands and feet of Jesus!

my everything

i'm absolutely loving making my way through their newest album live in chicago.

being ministered to and ministering unto Jesus... the presence of God. no other place, nothing else like.

reminds me that this season is really all about pressing into intimacy, pressing and leaning in into Him.

may this song be my anthem this summer!

you are my light, my breath of life, i trust in you

you fill my heart, set me apart, i'm found in you

you are my one desire

you are the holy fire that burns in me

the lover of my soul, God,

you don't let go, you made your home in me

you are my everything, all i need is you

and all that i have, all that i am is in you, it's in you

you overflow my heart and soul, wash over me

i feel you now, your love surrounds and covers me

you are my desire, you are my reward

you are my desire, all i'm living for

you are all i want, you are everything

you are my desire, come and burn in me

-my everything, jesus culture

the radiant bride

Ephesians 3:10-11

"His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The Church is not perfect, but it is beautiful. It is incredible...

It is the chosen instrument of God to be the hands and feet of Jesus to this world.

It continually blows my mind away what it says here two chapters later:

Ephesians 5:25-27 (i love these verses for so many other reasons!)

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

It's just so incredible how valuable the Church is to Jesus... the very fact that He GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR HER. It's such a revelation that that's how much He loves His Church. And also, He is coming back for a radiant church... which is why He is cleansing His Church and preparing her for the days ahead.

The Church in the end days will be a glorious, radiant Church... a Church that shines in the darkness. A Church that will stand for holiness and purity, that has been made more and more into His likeness, that will bring life and hope the way that He has given life through His sacrifice!

on a side note... how incredible is it that WE are the Church?!?! He gave up HIS LIFE for YOU and ME. So He is also transforming us more and more into His likeness!

2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

So my prayer is that as I grow deeper and deeper in love with Jesus, I may also fall more and more in love with His Church.

May we all choose to build His glorious House above just our own houses!

Haggai 1:9 “Because of My House, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house."

The Church is not there yet, but it will be!

The glory of this present House will be greater than the glory of the former House! Haggai 2:9

all that matters

I'm alive for Your glory.
I'm alive to tell Your story.
Of all You are.

Let Your Kingdom come now.
Let Your will be done in my life.
Have Your way.

I live all for Your glory.
Your love and Your mercy.
I'm living for Your Name.

My whole life I'm living for You God.
My one love, You are the only one I seek.
I'm living for You, only for Your Name.
I'm living for You and the glory.
The glory of Your Name.

Jesus all that matters.
Is the glory of Your Name.

-planetshakers; all that matters

the power of a praying woman (or man)

you reap what you sow.

this is a Biblical principle- it's not about karma!

just really struck by something i heard last night- keep sowing in the spirit, and you will reap a spiritual harvest.

my pastor was saying he realized one of the reasons why his family was so blessed was because his mum had been praying for each of them since they were born. 40 odd years...

wow. (yes i teared up)

sometimes we may think prayer is such background work; it's such mundane and tedious work.

and it is. it takes a lot to pray His will into being. intercessory prayer takes perseverance. it takes faith. it builds character.

and maybe some of us think, why pray? won't God's will be done anyway? but God has given us the privilege in partnering with Him. It's been shown countless times in the Bible- even when God initiates something, and desires of it to be done, He needs us still to ask. He needs us to partner with Him! God has CHOSEN to work THROUGH people.

Abraham had to ask of God not to destroy Sodom. Elijah had to pray 7 times for rain to come. Daniel fasted and prayed and the angel Gabriel was dispatched... the list goes on.

and in fact, God says He looks for those men and women who will stand in the gap and ask of Him to extend mercy (Ezekiel 22:30)

We are co-labourers with Him :)

prayer is just the beginning. when we pray, God can change lives, can change families, can change universities, can change cities, can change nations. prayer makes a difference.

may i be as faithful as that mum in standing in the gap! (another 25 year old prayer) :)

moving on to 25!

random first thoughts as i am entering the last day of my life as a 24 year old!!!

what are some of the things i wish to do/see as a 25 year old? (ohno...twenty FIVE!)

-) God continue to grow and build me into the woman He has created me to be and live a life worthy of His calling

-) Improve and grow in loving my family and different friends more, mending and resolving issues

-) Being more prepared and stable in all seasons and pacing myself better (well-rounded in all areas)

-) Learning to lead beyond my comfort zone, even in new or more challenging areas or dimensions

-) Continuing to pursue growth internally and also increase my skills externally

-) Increasing my sphere of influence and making a greater impact at work and social circles

...to be continued.