There is a lot going on over here in Hawaii, and a pretty nasty flu bug is hitting the Track hard. This past weekend was my turn, and I didn't take it very well. With a lot else on my mind, I didn't sleep much, and found myself pretty vulnerable to fear, lies, and questions.
With such loud and aggressive voices in my head, I asked God to please speak louder, because I couldn't hear him over the noise.
Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God.
That's what I heard.
It wasn't really what I thought I needed though. I wanted fighting works to attack the fear, lies, and questions, and I didn't think being still was strong enough. But God reminded me that He is so powerful, even in His stillness He is stronger than any attack of the enemy.
***
(A couple of weeks ago I had a beautiful dream that a friend wrote me a poem, and the only line of the poem I could remember was feathers are stronger than you think.
Psalm 91:1&4
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty... He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge...)
***
I love the way the Lord speaks.
WHY ARE YOU ON THIS EARTH?
My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I write my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Psalm 45:1
All of the girls of the Awakening Track were asked a question…
Why are you on this earth?
I've never liked this question, mostly because I've never had an answer for it. Sure, I know, we all have a purpose. But for me it was such a cliche that it had no actual meaning. I really didn't know who I was created to be. So, I figured I would simply not answer and let the more confident girls answer, the ones with more clarity of vision, and louder voices.
The option to pass was, however, not offered, and as each girl began to speak identity and destiny over herself, power began to be released in the room. Whether she knew or simply wanted to believe, she spoke. Some were quiet, embarrassed to speak the words out loud, apologetic for dreaming about what she might, possibly, could be. Some cried as walls they had been hiding behind crumbled and exposed their beauty. Others spoke with shining eyes and radiant faces, secure in the knowledge of who they are and Who made them that way. And as they did, the rest of us agreed with the sneaking suspicion: we were all created for greatness.
The recording iPhone was passed around the large circle, getting closer to me. My heart began to burn and burst as thoughts, dreams, words and prayers were dropped into it. I was shaking. I could see moments of my life falling together like pieces of a puzzle.
Was I finally seeing? Was I finally understanding? Did I actually have a specific, God-given purpose?
Why am I on the earth?
I remembered I make pictures of people, not of what they look like but of who they are. That I've been told that I would speak identity over people, and prophesy the Father's heart over them with the pictures that I make of them.
I remembered visiting with a man in Israel and communicating for hours, hardly noticing we didn't speak each other's languages. I remembered that for hours as a child I would write all the stories in my head. Paper, ink, a desk with a candle burning at midnight - this made me come alive. I remembered times when insecurity would grip me so tight that it would literally choke my voice out of me, and I would make a fool of myself, stumbling on every word, saying something stupid, or sounding high and squeaky. I remembered wanting to say so much to people, and not being able to find the words, so I would simply hug them, and they would tell me they understood. I remembered the first day of my preaching and teaching class in school this quarter, being let talk beyond my time limit because my teacher was almost moved to tears by my story.
I remembered in my DTS having probably one the worst nightmares I've ever had. Sparing you the details, my voice was stolen and I couldn't scream.
But I realised that even if that nightmare came true, if my voice was literally taken out of my mouth, it wouldn't matter. Because I have been given many voices, and I speak many languages.
I am a communicator.
What this means exactly is still unfolding as we speak. Opportunities to communicate are cooking in their little ovens and may come out as open doors, but we will see. All I know is that I am excited for my future. I have clarity for what I want, what I am working towards, who I am living for, and who He created me to be.
When I know more… I'll let you know.
:)
All of the girls of the Awakening Track were asked a question…
Why are you on this earth?
I've never liked this question, mostly because I've never had an answer for it. Sure, I know, we all have a purpose. But for me it was such a cliche that it had no actual meaning. I really didn't know who I was created to be. So, I figured I would simply not answer and let the more confident girls answer, the ones with more clarity of vision, and louder voices.
The option to pass was, however, not offered, and as each girl began to speak identity and destiny over herself, power began to be released in the room. Whether she knew or simply wanted to believe, she spoke. Some were quiet, embarrassed to speak the words out loud, apologetic for dreaming about what she might, possibly, could be. Some cried as walls they had been hiding behind crumbled and exposed their beauty. Others spoke with shining eyes and radiant faces, secure in the knowledge of who they are and Who made them that way. And as they did, the rest of us agreed with the sneaking suspicion: we were all created for greatness.
The recording iPhone was passed around the large circle, getting closer to me. My heart began to burn and burst as thoughts, dreams, words and prayers were dropped into it. I was shaking. I could see moments of my life falling together like pieces of a puzzle.
Was I finally seeing? Was I finally understanding? Did I actually have a specific, God-given purpose?
Why am I on the earth?
I remembered I make pictures of people, not of what they look like but of who they are. That I've been told that I would speak identity over people, and prophesy the Father's heart over them with the pictures that I make of them.
I remembered visiting with a man in Israel and communicating for hours, hardly noticing we didn't speak each other's languages. I remembered that for hours as a child I would write all the stories in my head. Paper, ink, a desk with a candle burning at midnight - this made me come alive. I remembered times when insecurity would grip me so tight that it would literally choke my voice out of me, and I would make a fool of myself, stumbling on every word, saying something stupid, or sounding high and squeaky. I remembered wanting to say so much to people, and not being able to find the words, so I would simply hug them, and they would tell me they understood. I remembered the first day of my preaching and teaching class in school this quarter, being let talk beyond my time limit because my teacher was almost moved to tears by my story.
I remembered in my DTS having probably one the worst nightmares I've ever had. Sparing you the details, my voice was stolen and I couldn't scream.
I am a communicator.
What this means exactly is still unfolding as we speak. Opportunities to communicate are cooking in their little ovens and may come out as open doors, but we will see. All I know is that I am excited for my future. I have clarity for what I want, what I am working towards, who I am living for, and who He created me to be.
When I know more… I'll let you know.
:)
SEA OF GALILEE
Mark 4:35-41 - On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and sea obey Him?"
Matthew 5:1-11 - Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And He opened His mouth and taught them saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Luke 10:13 - Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
John 6:9-14 - "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many? Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, He told his disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that He had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!"
Mark 1:21-28 Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. They were surprised at His teaching - so forthright, so confident - not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars. Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, He was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, "What business do You have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what You're up to! You're the Holy One of God, and You've come to destroy us!" Jesus shut him up: "Quiet! Get out of him!" The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly - and got out. Everyone there was incredulous, buzzing with curiosity. "What's going on here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic spirits and sends them packing!" New of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee.
Mark 8:22-25 - Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking." Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.
Isaiah 43:1 - But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."
Matthew 3:11, 13-14 - (John the Baptist) "I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, who sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire..." Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptised by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptised by You, and You are coming to me?"
Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you."
UPDATE: [NAZARETH]
More photos (if you can believe it) can be found on my Facebook page HERE.
Nazareth was one of my favourite places, and where we spent the majority of our trip. Editing these pictures makes me realise that I can easily document strangers and passing sights, however, I don't have pictures of the people and the stories that went deepest into my heart. I don't know why, and I really do regret it. Thankfully, though, that doesn't change the fact that they will be there forever.
This is Nazareth.
The view from the Mount of Precipice, from Luke 4, where the crowd tried to throw Jesus off after he proclaimed "The Spirit of The Lord is upon me..."
The crazy, colourful, beautiful streets, markets and people.
And this is the village which takes you on an interactive tour, back into Bible times with animals, actors, buildings, etc.
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