OneThing I Desire Is You God

During December 28 through December 31, I attended the OneThing 2010 conference that was put on by the International House of Prayer - KC or IHOP. I think I was excited to go cause I thought it was going to be like the Awakening Services that happened from November of 2009 to October of 2010.

I feel like I need to tell you what happened during the Awakening Services at IHOP to really know why I wanted it to be like that. In November 2009, in one of the IHOPU classes the Holy Spirit broke out. It wasn't like anything I'd ever experienced before. I mean I wasn't at the class when it happened, but I have been to the Awakening Services. The Spirit broke out every night they had this service. Which was 4 days a week, 6 hours a night. So much joy broke over the nights! Miracles, healings, happened... I learned last night that over 7,000 healings happened in an 11 month period. WOW, praise God! Not only that but 17,000 people were baptised during that time as well. Amazing right! I am still so estatic about those numbers. Many people from around the world were watching over webcast. I was definitely one of those when the weather was bad or I didn't have enough gas. You just had to be there. The place was just filled and you could tell.

Now with all this excitement around the Awakening services, you can kind of understand why I was wanting it to be like that. But...

I was wrong. OneThing was nothing like the Awakening Services. I mean yes there were similarities, but it was definitely not the same.

I loved this week sooo much. There was amazing worship, meeting awesome people, and helping out... hey! I can't go to an event really without helping.

Tuesday, Day 1:
Now Misty Edwards was leading worship all day Tuesday, during both sessions. Her sounds are so raw, and annoited. It's just like you are singing to God Himself, or He's singing to you. It's great.

Even though I am an extreme sucker for worship, this day the message grabbed my heart. Corey was speaking about the laziness of this generation. I mean, I've heard it before so I thought ok, I am gonna listen but mainly ignore most of it. But God wouldn't let that happen. As he was speaking about the laziness he pulled out many verses from Proverbs about laziness(Proverbs 6:6-11; 12:11; 13:4; 13:23; 19:15; 20:13). Out of all the verses he pulled out, the last one caught my attention: "Don't love sleep, or you will become poor. Stay awake, and you will have more food than you need." Wow right? He not only brought attention to all these verses, he challenged us to go to bed at 10p, cause anything after 10p or later if you're not doing to benefit God, your spirit is weak and can easily do things it shouldn't. Then waking up at like 6 or 7a. When I heard this I was going crazy! I was like I love sleep, but I don't want to be poor! Wake up at 6a!!! I usually sleep in til 10a - 11a. I know right. But it was just so convicting. And he said your spirit may be awake to what God wants, but are you? Are you ready to make sacrafices to do the will of God? Basically, Your Spirit may be awake, are you?

So convicting I did it the next morning. And my God rocks, I was so awake. It's been too long since I've felt this awake. I was just so refreshed and excited about what God was going to that day.

Wednesday, Day 2:
Day two of the conference and day two of helping at the Forerunner Music table. At this table I was volunteering with an older gentleman by the name of Tom. We were talking and I started talking about how I feel God's given me this passion, this burning passion for justice for children around the world. That's all I want to do. He said woa hold up. I know what you mean, it's great to have a passion, but you need to develope that gift God's given you. He went through a similar situation. He felt God call him into ministry, but he had a fire in his heart for God and didn't want to go to school because he was worried Jesus would come while he was in school. Then he had a similar conversation and a mentor told him that because is taking the time to develope this talent God's given him and if Jesus did come while he was in school, Jesus would reward him for taking the time to develope his God-given talent to better the kingdom.

Then I thought ok, so it's like a bread dough. If you just mix the ingredients and then bake it in the oven you are going to have a very dense loaf. But if you knead the bread dough just enoough at it's peak and where it's the best developed then you bake it, it's going to be nice a soft loaf. That's what we want.

It made perfect sense to me now. I needed to go back to school, now the real question is for what? Communications or Design, or maybe something completely different. It was also great to be talking to someone who isn't going to biased between my parents or I, but is coming from the interest of God.

Thusday. Day 3:
You know I don't know if I really learned anything this day. But instead of writing about nothing, I'll give you parts of the worship song we sang that got me really excited enough to write it down.

"Let me love you more, this is all I desire
Let me love you more, this is all I require
Let me love you more, this is my deepest heart's desire
Let me love you more, still more, still more"
- Jaye Tomas
Friday, Day 4:
The start of this day was bad, getting ready to leave for "work" and I find out I have a flat tire. I borrow my parents car and go to work to realize that I wasn't even suppose to come in til 3p. On the way there I am just so upset and sad cause I can't go to the last service, the New Years Eve Service. I had been looking forward to this night since I registered and now I couldn't go.

Then on the way home from the mistake of showing up at work early, I was listening to OneThing 2009 and what song but "Whom the Son Sets Free." Yes I love this song. It's so true. I was in my car shaking my hands to the song. Shaking off the chains of grief and sadness, and in the song Cory Asbury says "DEPRESSION IS GONE!!!" I mean no I wasn't depressed but I was just disappointed in the day so far. But as soon as he said that I was filled with joy and started laughing, realizing there was no reason to be upset.

Then I get home and I tell my dad about the amazing revelations I have had this week. I want things to change. He doesn't believe me, but I think deep down he knows I've changed for the best.

I praise God, my dad bought me a new tire. Then on the car ride home, I tell him more about what's been going on.

But I just learned from this experience that I need to trust God's plan everyday. Things happen for a reason and God knows the end task. I need to trust just as I would if I were going on a mission trip.

Oh Lord, 2011 is going to be great. I really see joy in my family this year. I pray to God that it would happen.

Basically I was able to make it to the service! I prayed for people, people prayed for me. I meditated and waited on the Lord for a while. Danced for like hours. As I was meditating on the Lord last night, I kept seeing Prayer Warrior in my mind. I also felt a desire in my heart to see visions and dreams or at least an understanding of God more. Then some lady came and prayed over me and she said the Lord told her to come pray for me, and that I was waiting paciently and He delights in my pacience waiting on the Lord. It made smile inside and out.

As I texted my friend this morning about what happened about how I felt like God calling me to be a Prayer Warrior, she said Laura you're already a prayer warrior. Then I told her, well maybe God's wanting me to take the next step in prayer, which I am not sure what that is, but I am definitely waiting to hear what that is going to be.

I am so excited for this new year. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me. I can't wait to see what I am going to learn while reading through the Bible twice hopefully.

May God bless your year.

Taking a Step Back...

Lately, I have been surrounding myself around some pretty awesome Christians and then some who are just either starting off and don't know where they are going, or those who have been Christians their entire life and are starting to slowly fade away from God. Hanging around these people, I have been starting to wonder, where am I with my relationship with God? What do I have to offer Him? What am I really thankful for? And when I think of the answers for these things, this is how I feel...

I feel I am slowly fading away from God. I have been a Christian for basically my entire life, ever since I was like 7 or 9 years old. So, I know the Sunday School answers. I know the typical Bible verses like, "For God so loved the world..," "I know the plans for you declares the Lord." And just right now that doesn't feel like it's enough.

I have these great friends, when we talk, they say like "In my little Bible study time this morning this is what I learned blah, blah, blah." It makes me think. It makes me wonder. Why am I not doing this? If I say I want to learn more and I want to know the answers to the difficult questions in life. WHY don't I take that 5, 10, 20, 30, or even an hour out of my day to study God's word.

I pray, yes I pray. I pray alot. I love to pray. I love talking to God. Maybe not out loud and in front of people, but I love to pray.

But that's not enough in a Christian's walk isn't it? NO!!!

I know praying is good. But if you have thoughts or questions, I know going through God's Word will sometimes answer those prayer requests, the questions I ask God. So here's my question...

What is going to make me want to wake up in the morning and pull out my Bible and start reading?

What it going to make me like my friend, Dulce, thank God for the blessing of living another day? Cause I don't honestly do that...

What is going to make me like the lady TobyMac talked about on Air1 Radio on the City on Our Knees clip? To my goals for the day, her goals of her day...
     1. Thanking God for waking to another day.
     2. Asking God where He's already working.
     3. Participating in where He's already working

I look at my life... I may be being too harsh on myself. I just don't see a Christian. Yes, I am  a Christian. I accepted Christ into my life. I pray. I go to church almost every opportunity. I listen to Christian music. I sometimes read the Bible, I should be reading it more. I just don't feel like I am living the way Christ did on this earth. Is that fair to say? I don't know.

What's bringing this on in my life? I think God.

I think God is waking me up for the first time in many months saying that Laura, you really need to get into My Word. I don't want another Bible study where you'll stay quiet, but maybe with a friend, who you feel comfortable talking to and asking questions and keeping each other accountable... Laura, you've never had that. You need it. Even if it means actually waking up early and meeting with someone at a coffeeshop or something, you need someone.

And all of this. Its true. If I don't have someone, if you don't have someone, counting you accountable for getting into God's word then will you be lucky like me and have the certain friends, and certain events to take place for God to shake you and wake you up saying you can't just pray... You NEED to get into My Word.

What Does Worship Look Like To You?

What does WORSHIP look like to you?

Does it include dancing in your underwear? Giving all that you have? Journalling? Singing? Playing instruments? Writing poetry? Painting? Drawing? Talking? Lying in complete awe and adoration? 10,000 strong singing together woshipping the God most high? Telling others about how much you love God? Acting? Blogging? Making videos? Writing stories? Writing music?

You probably get it.

I know for me personally, worshipping this amazing God includes: painting, designing shirts, drawing, singing, listening to music, praying, journalling, worshipping with others, dancing, and just sitting or laying in awe of God's glory.

What makes you want to worship this amazing God of ours?

Nature? Friends? Ending results of events? What you read in the Bible? Having things you need or overlooked? Someone coming to Christ?

I know for me, it's almost anything. Mainly nature gets me everytime. There's just sooo much details in nature to think that a God so ominimous would create things with such detail to the tiniest detail. I see things as  a painting sometimes. Almost quite literally, especially the sky, I feel that it's a painting and I can see every little paint stroke that created the clouds in the sky from every vibrant color. The beautiful leaves around this time of year and the flowers of the spring. The smiles and laughter on little kids faces. It just makes my heart smile. When something for the best turns to praise God, I can't help but do the same.

How could you not praise a God that gives you breath everyday? A place to sleep. Shoes to wear. Food to eat... even if it's not the best food. An education. Friends. Family, even if we don't like them. Talents. Walking. Speaking. Sight. Hearing.

I'm Glad... Very Glad My Friends Aren't Blobs

You've heard it before, "If were all blobs, life would be good, no one would make fun of other people, no one would look richer or poorer than the other... etc, etc." Well I think that's wrong, some if not most think it's wrong too.

I am glad my friends weren't blobs. We wouldn't have the conversations we do, we wouldn't be pushing others as far as we do, we wouldn't have talents that when combined is like a frickin' amazing painting or beautiful symphony.

You some of you hear my talking about my other friends and how sometimes they can be a little annoying at times. AND hey don't get mad at me, cause I know you think I am annoying at times too! I like that though.

A good friendship, I believe is going to have fights and trials. It's life. Without trials, you probably wouldn't grow much as a person and you wouldn't know what you as a person or a friendship is capable of.

You are my friend, and there's no way that we exactly the same or it would be boring, honestly. Just be you and no one else. If God loves you for you, then I love you for you!

Schools for Schools at a New Heights!

So I've heard about Invisible Children since about 2006. I was 15 at the time, and honestly didn't think about Invisible Children as I do now, my first thought with Invisible Children was that it was another non-profit that wanted my money.

I look back and think, I can't believe I thought that. But it makes sense cause I didn't do research or watch the documentaries.

I have been active with Invisible Children since fall of 2008. My senior year of high school. The fall before the amazing months and night of my life, which lead to so much more to who I am today.

Alot of you know all of this about me, but today I was looking back on The Rescue, Lobby Days, and the crazy ideas that came with Schools for Schools.

So in the past before I attended JCCC, I heard they were awesome. So awesome that it landed JCCC in the radar of Invisible Children HQ.

Since then I have tried so hard to live up to that expectation and to me previous semesters have failed money wise, although so much more was complished. Multicultural night and the annonymous donor. Dodgeball Tournaments.

Now I do believe that this semester, yes this semester, will bring JCCC back to their radar in case it ever left. Why do I say that? Because currently, today (November 12, 10:06p), JCCC is in third place in our cluster with $2,550. Amazing right?!?

Well that's not all. This last Wednesday, the leaders of Invisible Children Club met with the Center for Student Involvement at JCCC to discuss the screening for this upcoming Tuesday(November 16th, 7p; which you are all welcome to come!). And me having the heart of a Roadie. It came out during the meeting. I told them the statistics I have learned in the past years from previous Roadies and certain Advocates from Uganda. They were shocked, one even got goosebumps. They got so excited that they wanted to help fundraise!!!! So now Invisible Children Club and Student Senate are in a competition to see who can raise the most money before Schools for Schools is over. It's fun competition, but JCCC is going sooo much father than I have ever seen for Invisible Children! And I am so excited! So excited that I may be able to go to the San Diego Summit.

Not only is all of this exciting, but this next Friday is our first Jammin' for Change Benefit Concert! I am so excited to have some great bands such as: Not A Planet, Le Grand, Brent Lee, Elevator Action, I am excited that over 100 people say they are attending on Facebook. Which means in my mind we can raise sooo much money. So much. We may be able to meet our goal of $2,500.

Even though this is exciting too. What could be more exciting you may ask. Well in 8 days, President Obama is going to be releasing a strategy to apprehending Joseph Kony, leading comander of the Lords Resistance Army, and the other commanders. It's just so close I can see the children returning home to schools in Uganda that are sooo much better conditions than when they left them.

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I don't know how people could not love a organization like this.

I mean they don't just focus on the children, they also focus on their families and providing them with jobs to support their families and allow their children to attend schools.

I got a bracelet for Christmas in 2008. It's not your ordinary bracelet. This bracelet was made from reeds grown in Uganda, made by a Ugandan woman, and tells the story of a child affected by war.

My child's name was Grace. A girl who was raped, and kept her child. Who never stopped smiling, even after what happened. Grace, too, was a woman apart of Invisible Children's bracelet campaign and supported her family through this. Now I just read on Invisible Children's blog, that Grace is now going to be working with MEND, another way Invisible Children helps woman in Uganda. I just hope when I do buy a bag from MEND that Grace's name will be in it, just so I know that I am still supporting her all these years.

Just think her children might even go to Gulu Senior Secondary. A school I helped to rebuild through my many years apart of Invisible Children. That would be absolutely amazing! I am even being really touched by this thought. If this happened, I would absolutely cry, and be so happy to know that I've been apart of an organization that's been with someone for so long, since childhood, to motherhood. Amazing.

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If you don't know Invisible Children, please check them out. invisiblechildren.com