brokenness

I'm so thankful and honored to be part of helping facilitate freedom sessions this year. An incredible program where people are honest about their brokenness and then allow Jesus to come in and do His thing.  His thing is: Saving us, forgiveness, knowing Him, healing, redemption, freedom, purpose, calling, intimacy with Him etc.

What I love about it is that we are all broken, whether in freedom session or not, whether Christian or not. In freedom session people are just honest about it. We share our brokenness, addictions etc. etc. Each time someone shares their story, the darkness gets broken and greater freedom through Christ happens.

I'm thankful for the people we get to do this with. We are continually encouraged by the honesty and courage it takes for each one to share and then encouraged by what God does through that. It's powerful, messy-beautiful and honest. We all need Jesus. Glad that the world is reminded at Christmas "a Savior is born unto us."

Matt 6 & Thankfulness

My nickname is Lily, therefore I should know theses verses well, starting in Matthew 6:25:

 

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life...
And why worry about your clothing? Look at the LILIES of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
So don’t worry about these things... Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

God had to bring to light the most direct practical version of this passage to my life recently.  It's winter, it's cold here and I was going to need some warm sweaters. I really didn't want to spend a lot of money on them.  Some friends were looking at getting some snowboarding stuff so we went downtown but at 3 hun a jacket? So we looked and we left.  

• When we returned, we saw a clothing charity drive at a church by my friends house. It was the end of the day and they wanted to get rid of their last things by donation. God gave us gifts that day. I'm now in the process of giving some of these things away to others who need them!  Ultimately it wasn't about the clothes, it was a touch from God, reminding me ONCE AGAIN (paraphrase:) "You  all are my beloved children. Look at the lilies of the field and how I clothe them. You are worth much more than them, therefore do not worry about anything. I am your Father, I am your provider. Trust me. Trust my love. May you be at perfect peace, who's mind is fixed on me. Seek first my kingdom and my righteousness and all these things will be added unto you."

 

Going global

Gotta get this out. It's exciting. Lately, I'm being stirred that God wants to expand His territory and His kingdom and that it's a blessing being connected to the nations.  I love Canada and I love other nations.  A couple of years ago one of my friends said to me: Lindsay, I don't think you're going to be a local public school teacher forever, you have a heart for the nations, God's going to give you a global classroom. I didn't think about that for a couple years, until this year. Now I have a stirring and an excitement about this.  Recently, another friend sent me a word about the year 2014 and the number 4 representing the globe or: north, east, south west.  I'm already so excited for 2014 and going global. Lately, I'm convinced that if we are only thinking of Jesus in our own city, our vision is too small. Some are called to remain in their own city but they can still pray for the nations and God can raise them up as a voice to the nations. For example, some friends are starting a tv show in Vancouver called vancity pulse...God can use this media to show part of His character and creativity to the nations.  God is king over ALL. Over every city and nation. I love that through missions and travel we get a glimpse of the character of God as we see and experience more of His creation. Praying into 2014 and excited for all of His children to go global through our prayers and our feet.