Renovations...

....both physical and spiritual have a lot in common! I believe there are around four steps to renovation....

1. Identify what needs to be done. 

2. Tear out anything that's not needed or wanted. 

3. Start rebuilding. 

4. Finished product. 

1. Identify what needs to be done. 

Here at base we are renovating the "big house."  This is no small job and a lot of prayer and thought have gone into it. There have been meetings on top of meetings to discuss what needs to be done and the best way to complete it. The whole house is getting made over. 

I believe God starts renovations on our heart the same way. These are not always renovations that we may want to do, never the less, when we meet with Him, and ask Him to reveal a place that we need His help with, He will reveal it! Let's use trusting Him as an example. If we grew up a worrier and our mom was a worrier and our grandmother was a worrier, God may begin to put His finger on that area and say, "do you trust Me?"  You can be "nope, I don't God. My whole family are worriers and I'm not going to change!" The Holy Spirit is a gentleman and He will not help you fix something that you won't identify as something needing fixed.  OR! Your response may be "I'm trying but I don't know how, show me." That second response, I believe, is what God wants to hear us say! It is allowing God to put His finger on an area, identifying the problem and wanting to fix it.  Now comes step two!

2. Tear out anything that's not needed or wanted. 

In the "big house" they have started this process, and just let me say, it's hard work! They are knocking out walls...pay attention!...tearing out the ceiling, ripping out the plumbing, and getting rid of ANYTHING that stands in the way of the renovations. 

Knocking down walls...ummmm...how many of us need to walk down some walls? How many of need to tear out our old thinking and grab onto what God says in His Word? We hang onto old hurts and those walls start going up. We worry incessantly and it becomes like an electrical wire...anytime someone speaks of something we worry about, we flip the switch and our energy starts running crazy and in places it's not supposed to go and electrocuting innocent bystanders.  Someone talks about someone who's hurt us and our plumbing starts gushing out all that hurt and soaking anybody thats in the way! In essence we've just built a house that needs God to help us tear out all the wires that spark, all the plumbing that gushes and all the walls that are built up that keep us from others. 

This is, I believe, harder than identifying the problem. This is the point where we have to decide what needs to stay and what absolutely must go. This is the point of no return. Once you smash that hammer through that wall, once you rip out that wire, once you smash that pipe...there's no going back! It hurts for awhile because you've become comfortable with your walls right where they are and you don't know what your room is going to look like if you tear it down. Thing is...once the wall is down, and all the mangled mess of wires and plumbing are gone, you realize the room is much bigger and brighter! You realize that God truly only wants what's best for you!

3. Start rebuilding. 

In the "big house" all the gutting is complete and now they're starting the rebuilding process. This is the slower part of renovations. To do things right and in excellence we need to take our time. We don't want to just slap up bricks haphazardly or not use the right wires to wire with. We want to do it right, so that, when someone comes to see the renovations that we've made, they won't go "ooook, did you do this yourself?" But instead they'll say " WOW!!! Oh my gosh you guys did a great job!" "I want to stay in the big house!"

Renovating our heart also takes time. It takes spending time in God's Word and in His presence. It takes surrounding yourself with people who will speak truth, in love, to you. It takes leaning into God, trusting that He has a much better house that He wants you to live in. He has a house where the walls breathe His very breath! The electricity that runs through it is that of the Holy Spirit and it is pure light! The house that God has for us has plumbing that is gushing with the blood of Jesus! The house that God has for us is fearfully and wonderfully made and there is no flaw found in it. It is the house that we run into and we say "WOW!! I want to live here!"

4. Finished product. 

The "big house" is not yet complete, however, one day we will be able to see a competed "big house." 

God is always working on our heart. He is always showing us, if we let Him, areas that need to be either tweaked or full on torn apart. Our Father wants what is best for us!

If you feel you are in need if renovation in any area of your life, I encourage you to...

1. Ask God to identify what needs to be done. 

2. Give Him permission to help you start tearing out what is not wanted or needed. 

3. Ask Him to help you start rebuilding by His Word. 

4. Know that the finished product is going to happen, it may just take a bit. 

Best Way

Hello blog readers!! Question of the day...what is the best way for to keep up with Brett and I an what we're doing in South Africa...blog, tweet, Facebook, email, a Facebook page like Hearts for ZA? Please respond this is important to us! Thanks!!

Spiritual Lessons in Nature

I'm going to start this post with a horrible thing that happened and the spiritual lessons that God showed me in the healing process. I'm going to be very transparent and, I hope, that you'll take something wonderful away from a horrible happening. Today started as any other day. I got up, I turned on the hot water in the shower, I stepped into the shower and grabbed the cold water knob and got the shock of my life! LITERALLY! 240 volts of electricity seized my body. Somehow...GOD...I was able to scream, which brought Brett running. Somehow...GOD...I was released from the hold before I lost consciousness. I will be honest, it scared the living daylights out of me. It took me nearly an hour to stop crying and that was only until someone asked "how are you." How am I?! Well...I'm living and that's good but I'm also terrified, angry, frustrated, and emotional! 

Now my days on Wednesday are usually spent out with some wonderful ladies getting food ready to feed children, but today that was not to be. God and I needed to talk!! My Father is good and the enemy is bad and I needed to hear from my Father. I'm so glad that my friend Kacy had the foresight to say "you need to stay back and you need to talk with God," because she was right! So I headed off to the Botanical Gardens, where I knew I could find a quiet place and lean into my Father and His love. I'm going to share with you some insights that He shared with me. 

It all started with this. I don't know if you can tell or not, but this tree has another tree, a different species, growing out of it. Now in the rain forest, this is not a problem because they feed one another. However, if you look at this the way the Lord showed me, you can see the following. First, we are the tree. We are to be like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper. Psalm 1:3 OR They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. Isaiah 61:3b What the Lord showed me about this, and how it pertains to the events of the morning, is this...that second species is a parasite. It's not supposed to be there. It represents things like fear, anger, frustration, and unforgiveness. These parasites wants to suck out all the nutrients of the Word that have been planted in our tree. Nutrients like trust, peace, joy, and forgiveness. The thing about parasites is that they start out small and you hardly notice them but then, as time goes on, they start to grow and they start to make you question God's goodness, mercy, grace, love, compassion, peace, and joy. There's only one way to kill a parasite like fear and its to trust in the Word and the goodness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Only one way to kill a frustrated parasite and that's leaning into Gods peace. The ONLY way to kill any of the enemies parasites are through the Word of God! Lean into Him and His Word an the parasite must die because it can't survive on the Word!

Do you see the thorns that are on this tree?!?! This limb was hanging right where I needed to place my hand in order to cross over some wet stones. Had I not looked before I reached I could have punctured my hand. I believe The Lord was showing me to look before I just blindly trust someone or something. This branch represents those people that just want to puncture you and leave wounds instead of helping you through and over the slick stones of life. Be discerning of those that you trust with your whole heart. 

Stagnate water is dirty, smelly, and lifeless. I encourage you not to get stagnant in reading your Bible because that is where we learn the lessons of Jesus. Don't get stagnant in your prayer life because you don't know who your prayers are covering. Don't get stagnant in your giving, your worship, or your fellowship with other believers. If the enemy can get you comfortable, he will, and then suddenly you're stagnant and when you're stagnant you're lifeless. 

Be so full of God that you splash out on everyone around you the way a waterfall splashes over rocks. Be full of His joy, His peace, His love, His mercy...be Full of HIM...so that those around you can't help but get wet with Him. 

Last one!

This picture should be pretty easy to understand...the way of The Lord is the narrow way. This is the place where you must learn to follow Jesus and trust that He really knows where you're going. This is the place that, even when you have the fright of your life, you can say I WILL TRUST YOU!! This is the place where you lean fully into scripture like Isaiah 41:8-10 I pulled you in from all over the world, called you in from every dark corner of the earth, telling you, "you're My servant, serving on My side. I've picked you. I haven't dropped you. Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you." Message

YWAM DTS WHITE RIVER 2013

What To Do?!

OK folks I'm going to need some feedback on this blog!! Things have been absolutely crazy since we got back and graduated from DTS. It's hard to believe that it's only been a month. So many great things happened on our outreach that I haven't even told you about and so many great things are happening right now that I haven't told you about. My issue is this...how do I balance telling you about the past AND fill you in on the future? Also!! Do you want to continue hearing about the outreach or are you more interested in what is happening right now? I need your feedback!!

I do want to give you a taste of right now. Brett and I will be working with the Community Development Team, which is lead by John and Carla Shaw. The CD team develops relationships in the community doing things such as feedings, tea time, and building homes. Our heart is all about relationship and getting those relationships to the point of family. John and Carla have been clear about mine and Brett's role for the next few months...watch them and see how they do it. In other words, take things slow and pay attention to how things are done. Their heart was not for us have to jump in and swim right off of DTS. Didn't happen!!

Last Wednesday, Sifiso, our newest home owner and worker on base, went to Carla and wanted to know if she could take Lizzy, his wife, to the dentist. Carla had just left base and was heading into Pretoria for our staff retreat. She sent me a whatsapp and asked if I could take her. "Yes we can" was our response. I say we because Brett and I are still learning the area and I needed him to go with me. We thought that maybe Lizzy just needed to have a tooth pulled and all would be well...NOT THE CASE! We got to the house and I knew as soon as I saw her that this was not going to be an easy visit to the dentist. The left side of her face was so swollen that it was actually moving down into her neck. Lizzy is very open and welcoming and I knew she was in a lot of pain when she just went and got in the car. No hug...no welcome...she was in terrible pain.

This next part has way too much detail to tell you, so I'm going to make it short and sweet. Went to dentist in White River. He saw her, took an x-ray, and said the following words..."she needs an IV antibiotic today and they may even admit her. This is life-threatening!" Life-threatening was not what we were prepared to hear. Took her to government hospital. Oh my! Can't even begin to tell you this chaotic story. Finally got back with the dentist there. Told him what other dentist said and his response was..."she just needs to take these oral antibiotics and come back Friday. She'll be fine until then!" I know we're not supposed to judge but, to me, he seemed uncaring and rude to her.

Now we have two completely different opinions! What do we do? How do we handle this situation? So glad we all have whatsapp on our phones! We were sending text like there was not tomorrow! Finally we came to a decision...take her to the private hospital. At the private hospital we had to wait about two hours in the Casualty, ER, until they called her back. Upon calling her back, they went right to work. She got three antibiotics and pain medicine through an IV. The Dr that treated her here was compassionate but firm about not ignoring swelling like this. He also said it was good that we brought her on in. The swelling could have choked her to death by Friday had we left it untreated. OK, then! Right decision made!

While Lizzy was being treated, Brett took Sifiso to get a few things that Lizzy would be able to eat and drink. While they were at the grocery store, Brett asked if the children like cereal. They have three precious children that have so much love to give! Sifiso said "they like Cornflakes" and so it was the big box! Finally all done at the hospital! Lizzy is pain free for a little bit and actually smiling. We got to the house and the children, who had been so concerned about their mommy, came running out to check on her. They wouldn't let go of her hand. It was beautiful! We put the groceries on the table and they were absolutely unaware of anything but their mom. UNTIL!! The big box of Cornflakes came in! Those kids eyes lit up like it was Christmas!! All three of them attacked Brett with kisses and hugs and THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

What can I say, except that in that moment, I knew two things...life is precious and even the small things can bring so much joy! To sum up our day...for about the equivalent of $200 two wonderful things happened...a life was saved and three children got to enjoy a great big box of Cornflakes! So for those of you who ask "what are you going to do in South Africa?" This is your answer!!