As I was finally unpacking from my trip home for Christmas, and cleaning up my apartment, I had the IHOP (International House of Prayer in Kansas City) Conference broadcasting live online. The theme this year is focusing on teaching about and being prepared for the end times... a vital area of my Christian life I need and want to understand more. I took an hour to read Mike Bickle's notes on the signs of the end times and said to myself, "Why has this part slipped through the cracks with me? It's the entire purpose of why I love and live the way I do!" I was shocked at how much I forgot.
Hearing Mike Bickle, Lou Engle, Allen Hood, and the rest of these apostolic leaders and prophets in the church STIRS me. I want more. I want to go deeper in the Word, reach higher, and learn more. My soul and body tremble at the thought of knowing God at even a fuller capacity. My bones need more worship and more fellowship. I've only been out of Bible Classes for five months, but my mind and mouth are parched; I'm thirsty for deep knowledge and teaching again.
Lord, you are birthing a monumental movement I know you are calling me to be a part of. Baptize me afresh with your love. Saturate me with an outpouring of the Kingdom of Heaven. Teacher, give me more wisdom, insight and understanding into your Word. Let me learn from Your examples and receive teaching from Your Holy Spirit. Surround me with godly teachers, who can hear your heartbeat and know how to access heaven on earth. Bring mentors into my life for me to learn and grow from. Provide me with more prophetic training and give me opportunities to continue exercising my gifts. I ask for more discernment. Help me to always stay sensitive to your Spirit. Holy Teacher YOU are who I adore. YOU are who I desire to mirror. Continue leading and guiding me into the depths of Your heart. I hear You whispering, I feel you carrying me and I trust your guidance. May I walk in obedience to your calling for my life, and stay surrendered to Your will at all times. May I resist temptation to remain stagnant, and walk faithfully. May my heart remain knitted deeply with yours. I love you, Abba.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
2008 Christmas Letter to Family and Friends
[Now you KNOW these letters only come once a year, so I KNOW you're expecting it to be somewhat long ;) ]
Dear Family and Friends,
It’s hard to believe it’s this redeeming time of year again! What an especially overwhelming, joyful time of year Christmas is to me. If it weren’t for God, who stripped Himself of His ultimate divinity and became a human, serving God for 33 years, all to be crucified on a cross so that my sins can be accounted for and I can be in relationship with God Almighty, I assure you I would not be alive to write you this letter.
2008 has been a year of life-long dreams fulfilled for me, as well as another year of preparation. In February, while still taking full-time classes at Regent University, I was introduced by a friend to Triple-R-Ranch, a local Christian ranch. I missed country life so much and wanted to be a part of the ministry there, so I began volunteering every Saturday for nearly 12 hours a day grooming, feeding, and saddling over 75 horses in the barn, assisting trail rides, and ministering to the children and junior staff. Without expecting it at all, as a thank-you the horsemanship director put me in a 10-wk riding lesson where I learned how to ride—a life long dream I have kept hidden in my heart. God not only remembered, but fulfilled the dream I had since I was a little girl. I’ll never be able to describe the joy and thanksgiving in my heart for that dream fulfilled!
That same month, as an undergraduate student, I was offered a part time position at Regent as the Editor of Focus Magazine, Regent’s graduate student magazine. The Chair of the Department of Journalism recognized my writing gift, published several of my articles in the magazine, and later offered me a position editing articles from students with a higher level of education than me. I worked there for a few months until the funds ran out and the magazine was left on stand still. It was a tremendous privilege to have my articles published in that magazine and later edit it.
In April, my video, salvation testimony was aired worldwide on the 700 Club at Christian Broadcasting Network. Dr. Pat Robertson and his co-worker, Terri, introduced my story. A few days later, I received a phone call stating that thousands of people all over the world called in and gave their lives to Jesus Christ. I wept in thanksgiving! They aired the story again at Thanksgiving, and because it was one of the only 700 Club stories that brought so many people to Christ, CBN decided to air it periodically throughout the year on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), along with the 700 Club. Recently, I even had some of my old, party friends in Pennsylvania contact me saying they were flipping channels, saw my story and could hardly believe how much I have changed! Praise God! (you can see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R40vJSdPCl4)
Dear Family and Friends,
It’s hard to believe it’s this redeeming time of year again! What an especially overwhelming, joyful time of year Christmas is to me. If it weren’t for God, who stripped Himself of His ultimate divinity and became a human, serving God for 33 years, all to be crucified on a cross so that my sins can be accounted for and I can be in relationship with God Almighty, I assure you I would not be alive to write you this letter.
2008 has been a year of life-long dreams fulfilled for me, as well as another year of preparation. In February, while still taking full-time classes at Regent University, I was introduced by a friend to Triple-R-Ranch, a local Christian ranch. I missed country life so much and wanted to be a part of the ministry there, so I began volunteering every Saturday for nearly 12 hours a day grooming, feeding, and saddling over 75 horses in the barn, assisting trail rides, and ministering to the children and junior staff. Without expecting it at all, as a thank-you the horsemanship director put me in a 10-wk riding lesson where I learned how to ride—a life long dream I have kept hidden in my heart. God not only remembered, but fulfilled the dream I had since I was a little girl. I’ll never be able to describe the joy and thanksgiving in my heart for that dream fulfilled!
That same month, as an undergraduate student, I was offered a part time position at Regent as the Editor of Focus Magazine, Regent’s graduate student magazine. The Chair of the Department of Journalism recognized my writing gift, published several of my articles in the magazine, and later offered me a position editing articles from students with a higher level of education than me. I worked there for a few months until the funds ran out and the magazine was left on stand still. It was a tremendous privilege to have my articles published in that magazine and later edit it.
In April, my video, salvation testimony was aired worldwide on the 700 Club at Christian Broadcasting Network. Dr. Pat Robertson and his co-worker, Terri, introduced my story. A few days later, I received a phone call stating that thousands of people all over the world called in and gave their lives to Jesus Christ. I wept in thanksgiving! They aired the story again at Thanksgiving, and because it was one of the only 700 Club stories that brought so many people to Christ, CBN decided to air it periodically throughout the year on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), along with the 700 Club. Recently, I even had some of my old, party friends in Pennsylvania contact me saying they were flipping channels, saw my story and could hardly believe how much I have changed! Praise God! (you can see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R40vJSdPCl4)
We welcomed my first niece into the world in May! Alianna Grace was delivered in good health by my sister, Shannon. Her first son, Colton, turns 6 this year. I loving being an aunt :)
Over the summer, I was offered a full time position at the ranch, and after a rigorous training program (for me, anyway) became certified as a Western Horseback Riding Instructor. It was extremely difficult being in school full-time in the summer and working full-time (let alone for 10 hours a day manual labor, in jeans, boots, and a cowboy hat in 95-100 degree weather), but with God’s grace I finished the summer semester with straight A’s, while ministering to and praying with at least 15 of my girls to first receive Jesus as their Savior. It was so worth it!
In July, I moved on the opportunity to minister deep in the villages of Macha, Zambia, Africa. This was my first missions trip, and for two weeks, I stayed alone with a woman in a hut in a village with no power, clean water, or toilets or showers. Every morning the rooster woke us up at 6am, we walked a half mile to fetch water that had to be boiled for morning tea, went to the bathroom in a hole in the ground, bathed in a bucket, and ate goat and fish, two foods I am still learning to like ;) To many different age groups I preached, taught, gave testimonies, performed in a drama, introduced clown ministry, face painted, sang and danced with the children, and witnessed hundreds of lives come to Christ, miraculous healings, and demon deliverance. My team included ten, young adult people of God whom I have grown extremely close to upon our return to the States. I returned so shaken that I was sincere when I told God I would “give it all up for the opportunity to go back”. He wasn’t late in answering that prayer, either!
When I returned to the United States in the middle of July, God stripped me of everything… school, money, housing, work, health insurance, my health, my grandmother, my favorite horse, and my car for a short while. I found out I didn’t have the money to go to school this year, which meant I had to move out of student housing and find a job. I was bummed about school, but knew I might not go because God had been speaking to me about “ministry” He had for me in the coming year. So the search started. It didn’t take me long to get frustrated because what apartment complex wants a jobless 23-year old? Finally, I just stared at the apartment guide and said to God “okay, what now?” He told me to go to Royal Pointe Apartments, I said okay, and when I walked in the office ladies told me they just started a special that day to accept anyone without restrictions, and they dropped the security deposit to $100 that day instead of the $800 most places wanted (and I didn’t have). I had a praisefest in the office, signed up and moved in a week later.
I slept on an air mattress, having no furniture, cable or internet for three months. It was truly a miracle that my bills got paid and the Dollar Tree could feed me! Eight to nine hours of my day were spent in Regent’s library searching online for jobs, writing cover letters and walking in resumes. No body wanted me even after I made follow-up phone calls, and I was denied a job at Crackerbarrel because I never gave a 2-wk notice when I worked there four years ago—talk about humbling! I wanted to work at Regent full-time because after working there for a year 100% of your tuition is paid, but no one wanted me there either. (That was God’s protection because recently, Dr. Robertson had to let go of hundreds of Regent employees because of economic conditions).
Some great news in the midst of a not-so-great time... After a month of prayer for my sister, Lona, to come home after being away for 15 years with a different family, she randomly called and wanted to come back home! She is 30 years old, unmarried, and occasionally still struggles with Epilepsy. I am praising the Lord that she's finally back home, reunited with her mom and sisters, and learning to stand on her own.
Just because I was going through what I was, I was not going to stop serving God—more than anything I needed to keep my eyes off of “me” and my situation. I continued to work Saturdays at the ranch teaching riding lessons to young girls and ministering to them; mentored an early teen volunteers at the ranch, volunteered more in the church, met with and ministered other young adults, and agreed to help lead New Life Providence Church’s first Women-Only life group. I wasn’t “employed”, but I was intentional about working hard every day to serve my Lord.
Three months after the beginning of my “Job” season, and endless hours of Craigslist searching, I was offered a dynamic position at a production company (music on-hold/video/jingles) nearby, exercising skills in my field of Journalism. The owner is even a Christian, close friends with the Robertson’s, and treats me exceptionally well. He had no idea my major was Journalism, and I had no idea the job I applied for (A/R, A/P) involved developing my writing/producing skills. A divine connection if I ever experienced one!
Also, this year I am helping to lead an all women’s life group within our church. God has continued to pour out His presence in our midst and reveal Himself powerfully to the women in our group. We’ve experienced breakthrough, deliverance, healing, all of the above! Included in our group is a once a month Naomi & Ruth gathering, where older women in the church come to mentor us and minister to us. And we also serve a single mom’s shelter once a month, spending time with the moms and playing with their kids.
Thank you for reading my testimonies and being a part of my life, whether in the past or present. I hope you are encouraged by the movement of God in our midst, and know that I love and care about you deeply. Someway, somehow, you have affected my life tremendously, and for that I honor you.
Knowing that our God is incredibly faithful and good, all the time, I pray you finish 2008 well, and are excited to experience His presence afresh in 2009. My prayer is that your year may be filled with a yearning and seeking to encounter your Savior in the fullest capacity, your faith continually increase, and your heart be completely surrendered to a crazy, awesome God who has a crazy, awesome plan for you in 2009.
Merry Christmas, and have an abundant New Year.
In His Love,
Kellie
Just because I was going through what I was, I was not going to stop serving God—more than anything I needed to keep my eyes off of “me” and my situation. I continued to work Saturdays at the ranch teaching riding lessons to young girls and ministering to them; mentored an early teen volunteers at the ranch, volunteered more in the church, met with and ministered other young adults, and agreed to help lead New Life Providence Church’s first Women-Only life group. I wasn’t “employed”, but I was intentional about working hard every day to serve my Lord.
Three months after the beginning of my “Job” season, and endless hours of Craigslist searching, I was offered a dynamic position at a production company (music on-hold/video/jingles) nearby, exercising skills in my field of Journalism. The owner is even a Christian, close friends with the Robertson’s, and treats me exceptionally well. He had no idea my major was Journalism, and I had no idea the job I applied for (A/R, A/P) involved developing my writing/producing skills. A divine connection if I ever experienced one!
Also, this year I am helping to lead an all women’s life group within our church. God has continued to pour out His presence in our midst and reveal Himself powerfully to the women in our group. We’ve experienced breakthrough, deliverance, healing, all of the above! Included in our group is a once a month Naomi & Ruth gathering, where older women in the church come to mentor us and minister to us. And we also serve a single mom’s shelter once a month, spending time with the moms and playing with their kids.
Thank you for reading my testimonies and being a part of my life, whether in the past or present. I hope you are encouraged by the movement of God in our midst, and know that I love and care about you deeply. Someway, somehow, you have affected my life tremendously, and for that I honor you.
Knowing that our God is incredibly faithful and good, all the time, I pray you finish 2008 well, and are excited to experience His presence afresh in 2009. My prayer is that your year may be filled with a yearning and seeking to encounter your Savior in the fullest capacity, your faith continually increase, and your heart be completely surrendered to a crazy, awesome God who has a crazy, awesome plan for you in 2009.
Merry Christmas, and have an abundant New Year.
In His Love,
Kellie
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Recognizing the Recognizable
Have you ever caught yourself forgetting the name of someone you’ve previously spent a lot of time with, or who has helped you in the past? If you have, you’ve probably questioned how you could forget someone who had such influence in your life. Recently, I went back to the ranch to help with a Christmas event. When I was assigning children to horses for pony rides, I accidentally caught myself calling one of the horses by a wrong name. I didn’t recognize her at all.
I haven’t had any time to spend at the ranch, or with the horses, in weeks. And even though I’ve known these horses for almost a year, I didn’t recognize Mercy, the very horse I rode first at this ranch. I called her Poco, who is a gelding! How could I have gotten those two mixed up?! They are not even the same gender!
Is it possible that we don’t recognize God because we don’t spend time with Him? Is it possible that when we get so caught up in the busyness of life, and we don’t intentionally position ourselves in His presence, we don’t see Him when He’s right in front of our face? Is it true that we can forget what we know to be true because we haven’t spent time exercising it?
Some of us complain so much because “God is not speaking to me”, “I can’t hear God”, “God isn’t doing as much for me as He is for you”, or “I don’t understand what He’s doing”. But, are we stopping to quiet ourselves and pray while expecting to visit with Jesus? Are we seeing with eternal eyes the little things God does for us on a daily basis? Are we truly recognizing Him? God is always speaking; are we LISTENING?
Unless you are spending enough time with Him to learn how He likes to surprise YOU, how He tends to teach YOU, how He answers YOUR prayers, and His methods for revealing your sin to YOU, you will never recognize His wondrous, miraculous and provisional ways, or the ways He reveals His presence to you in difficult times. It is very possible that God is telling you the answer to that prayer you’ve been praying is right in front of your face. Do yourself a favor: squash your unbelief, doubt and insecurity. Listen for His voice, recognize it, and obey it!
I believe that you are as close to God as you choose to be. You can’t let a wall of “stuff” block your view of Him or you will never experience Him in the capacity you were created to. I’m convinced you will miss a lot of what God does for you and how He provides for you if you don’t make time for Him, and if your eyes are fixed on something or someONE other than Him. Are you trusting Him wholeheartedly, and praying with expectation, or are you too distracted to experience intimacy with Him EVERY DAY? 90% of the time, you and I are the reason we can’t see or hear God. And you and I are the reason we don’t recognize Him like He wants us to. The problem isn’t God or His timing; it’s us and our distracted, stubborn hearts.
How much you recognize God in your life is rooted in your relationship with him. You can’t expect to know the Lord of Heaven, encounter Him supernaturally, and hear His voice daily if you don’t spend time with him. This is as practical as any human relationship. You’re in a heavenly marriage with your Creator—an intimate relationship that requires both parties to be actively and consistently involved. Don’t be stubborn like Pharaoh; pursue God radically like He pursues you. Maybe then you will recognize Him in His already recognizable self. Journey on!
I haven’t had any time to spend at the ranch, or with the horses, in weeks. And even though I’ve known these horses for almost a year, I didn’t recognize Mercy, the very horse I rode first at this ranch. I called her Poco, who is a gelding! How could I have gotten those two mixed up?! They are not even the same gender!
Is it possible that we don’t recognize God because we don’t spend time with Him? Is it possible that when we get so caught up in the busyness of life, and we don’t intentionally position ourselves in His presence, we don’t see Him when He’s right in front of our face? Is it true that we can forget what we know to be true because we haven’t spent time exercising it?
Some of us complain so much because “God is not speaking to me”, “I can’t hear God”, “God isn’t doing as much for me as He is for you”, or “I don’t understand what He’s doing”. But, are we stopping to quiet ourselves and pray while expecting to visit with Jesus? Are we seeing with eternal eyes the little things God does for us on a daily basis? Are we truly recognizing Him? God is always speaking; are we LISTENING?
Unless you are spending enough time with Him to learn how He likes to surprise YOU, how He tends to teach YOU, how He answers YOUR prayers, and His methods for revealing your sin to YOU, you will never recognize His wondrous, miraculous and provisional ways, or the ways He reveals His presence to you in difficult times. It is very possible that God is telling you the answer to that prayer you’ve been praying is right in front of your face. Do yourself a favor: squash your unbelief, doubt and insecurity. Listen for His voice, recognize it, and obey it!
I believe that you are as close to God as you choose to be. You can’t let a wall of “stuff” block your view of Him or you will never experience Him in the capacity you were created to. I’m convinced you will miss a lot of what God does for you and how He provides for you if you don’t make time for Him, and if your eyes are fixed on something or someONE other than Him. Are you trusting Him wholeheartedly, and praying with expectation, or are you too distracted to experience intimacy with Him EVERY DAY? 90% of the time, you and I are the reason we can’t see or hear God. And you and I are the reason we don’t recognize Him like He wants us to. The problem isn’t God or His timing; it’s us and our distracted, stubborn hearts.
How much you recognize God in your life is rooted in your relationship with him. You can’t expect to know the Lord of Heaven, encounter Him supernaturally, and hear His voice daily if you don’t spend time with him. This is as practical as any human relationship. You’re in a heavenly marriage with your Creator—an intimate relationship that requires both parties to be actively and consistently involved. Don’t be stubborn like Pharaoh; pursue God radically like He pursues you. Maybe then you will recognize Him in His already recognizable self. Journey on!
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