Friends...

Where would we be without the incredible people that the Lord blesses us with? I can't begin to express the joy in my heart as I look around me and discover the most wonderful people surrounding me. Every day as I work away in the office, I see face after face that I love so very much. These people are so dear to me. Who am I, Lord, that you would bless me so? Who am I that you would surround me with those that support and love and embolden me? May the Father remind you of those He has given you to do life with...right here, right now.

Female HCT...

A Time for Family

One of the greatest joys of the sabbatical the Lord gave to me last year was the time I spent with family. Looking back I realized not only the wonderful time I spent with my brother and sister-in-law, but also how God had orchestrated time with every member of my immediate family...and alone time...wow. Spending time living with my brother and his family was priceless...I cannot put words to my joy at watching the Lord build such beautiful ties there and incredible foundations for so much more. The depth that He is bringing in building off that time amazes me and I am beyond blessed! Following that time, I spent the summer with my dad...such great time, precious time. And then in the fall as I headed for Redding, I was able to spend a wonderful three months living 5 minutes away from my incredible mother! What a gift and a treasure she is!

In the past couple months and even more so in the last week, I have heard countless stories of God drawing His people to their families to restore, renew, rebuild, and transform relationships. Praise Him! So many of my friends right now are pursuing the call of the Lord on their life to be with family. What is coming that we are drawn to this now? What is the Lord stirring...what work is He doing that so many of us right now are called to restoration in family?

"Clean Your Sword"

As spoken by one of our incredible staff here at Qwanoes..."it's a great day for a war!" We began our last week of Summer 2009 with this in our minds...and war it has been, but not just one week; we've been at war all summer. So many battles fought; so many victories for the Kingdom of Heaven. Our staff are challenged and changed. May the God of peace bring foundation in those changes; that each of us would walk away with more than experience...with foundation that God will continue to build on.
As we finished on Sunday, my wonderful sister Nicki reminded us to "clean our swords." I was reminded of this yesterday as I walked along the beach. It has been a wonderful summer and one that took me repeatedly to my knees for the staff. Our great God has accomplished so much in our hearts, and He is the one to honor and glorify in this. Cleaning my sword means offering praise and worship to the King of Kings for what He accomplished this summer. Lifting my hands in worship and awe at what we saw Him do so powerfully before our eyes. Praise God for the wonderful works He has done! Psalm 105 says, "Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done..." We must remember to clean our sword and prepare for the next battle...

Disciples

I can't believe it's been this long...my apologies to those of you who read this regularly. I have been so overcome by all that the Lord has been doing throughout this summer. What a season for change. We have seen the hand of God so powerfully at work in the hearts of our staff here at Qwanoes; it is astounding. I cannot express the joy that my heart has known this summer, nor the elation at the privilege to be part of it. God has moved in such incredible ways to challenge His followers here to more than what they came with. So many lives are being transformed through the ministry of this summer. Children are hearing and experiencing truth...there is no question of that...but my heart is no doubt shifted to the staff the Lord has brought to us this summer. We have come so far since we began to form in April as we have seen God purge so much from us and prepare us to receive challenge and transformation. There is a hunger and thirst for the Word of God that His spirit has brought about in the last couple months. There is a passionate pursuit of these kids that is changing the hearts of our counselors. So many of our staff are experiencing their lives being literally transformed before their own eyes as God works in them to bring about the men and women that He desires them to be. We are a fallen and fallible people that the Lord has and is using to accomplish His divine will. Praise Him for that! This is a summer about change...about foundation...about establishing a life of discipleship and following after our Saviour. The Lord is moving us from decisions to disciples; followers of Jesus; those who long to know Him, serve Him, become like Him and invite others to do the same. As we are discipling the staff team this summer, our prayer is that they in turn will disciple their kids and establish the true calling of God on our lives that does not involve a one-time decision, but a lifetime of following the Saviour.

"Be Holy For I Am Holy"

How many of us still strive for holiness? Can you honestly say that you are striving for holiness? Why does the Lord ask this of us? Isn't it impossible for us to attain holiness while still living in a sinful world? Is that reason to fall into complacency? Never.
The Lord calls us to be holy, and so we must strive for holiness in all we do! We must never be satisfied with the state of our hearts but always looking to become more like our Saviour. God does not ask anything of us that He does not intend to walk through with us.
The more of this world that we release and let go of, the more room we make to invite the things of God into our lives. Purify your heart. You were made to reflect the Lord, the God of all creation, and you cannot reflect Him when your life is full of the world.

A New Beginning

I've known Leila for a little more than 4 years and had the privilege of witnessing the work of the Holy Spirit in her life as God has tested and challenged her. She was a student this past year with the Kaleo Program and coming in half way through and seeing how she has softened and how God has pulled her out of her former way of life has been such a joy! It has been amazing to see her wrestle these past years and come to a point this year where she realized her need to lay her old life down, forsaking it, burying it and allow her spirit to be reborn.

Leila and I went into the water on Saturday and were able to show those that attended in a physical way what the Lord had accomplished in her life. He has made her a new creation; she has chosen to be raised to a new life! Praise the Lord