Wheels Up

It's happening. In less than 24 hours, I will be returning to my beloved little country by the Mediterranean sea. In a little over 48 hours, I will see the faces of the people I have come to love so dearly.
Of course, I'm leaving people that I love too. Tomorrow, I will get on a plane and leave people that I love behind. It's not that I don't love them. And it's not that I love Israel any more than I love them. It's just that I love Yeshua way more than I love anything. Whether he calls me to live in America for a while, or Israel, or even Africa (even though if you've read this whole blog you know I specifically asked not to go to Africa) I will go. 
To my friends and family that I'm leaving behind for a time, I love you all. I am thankful for parents who "trained up a child in the way [she] should go". I am thankful for their blessing on all this craziness. I'm thankful for siblings who call at all hours of the night just to talk, and who just HAVE to get all of their "picking on you" done before I go. I'm thankful to my friends, the women I do life with. You spur me on. You challenge me. You love me well. And, I'm thankful for you, dear reader. No matter the reason you read this, thanks for investing time in reading.


Many people ask me questions when they find out I'm returning. How long will you be there? Well, the plan is three months. What will you be doing for that long of a time? I've struggled with how to answer this question, as there are things that are planned out and things that are not. And then, I realized the answer is more simple than I have been making it: I'm going to love people. Yeshua has called me to love people. I don't always know what that looks like or how it will play out, but that is the very essence of the call. And the final question, the one I get ALL the time, Are you afraid? I'm not...at least most of the time. You need to know, that if I tell someone I'm not afraid I'm not. But you also need to know that I'm human, that I struggle with fear.
I've come to find that fear is fear...no matter what form it takes. Most of the time, my only fear of this journey is the bus system. Public transportation scares me...terrifies me. Of course, it's a small fear, but it is just that...fear. And fear only makes way for more fear, because every once in a while, the bigger fears creep in and force me into an almost state of panic. Am I really doing this?! I must be crazy?! Are You sure this is what you really want me to do?!
Yes, from time to time, fear does raise it's ugly head. From time to time, it tries to drag me into it's darkness where only more fear waits. However, I am learning not to walk in fear. It is hard, because it is making a conscious effort so say, "Today, I choose to walk in the light. I say no to fear. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom (or what), shall I fear?". It is a constant state of taking every thought captive, of running the race...even if sometimes I'm crawling this leg. So, if you catch me on a day when I am struggling with fear, don't think "Well, maybe it just isn't what you're supposed to do..." That would be a lie. I KNOW what I've been called to. I KNOW that the Lord is always faithful, always good. And the enemy has nothing on that at all.
So, dear reader, if you think of me, pray for me. Pray against fear. Pray for Holy Spirit to be in everything. I need the presence of him to function daily. Pray that I would have a chance to build new relationships, as well as continue to build on the ones I've already begun. Pray for strength and vision, because walking on water isn't easy, but if he is my strength and vision...nothing is impossible. He said those who hope in him would soar on wings like eagles.
Wheels up.


"If you say go, we will go. If you say wait, we will wait. If you say, step out on the water, and they say it can't be done, we'll fix our eyes on you and we will come. For your ways, are higher than our ways, and the plans that you have laid are good and true. If you call us to the fire, you will not withdraw your hand, we will gaze into the flames and look for you."-If You Say Go, Vineyard

To Read or Not To Read

What are you doing with yourself this summer, dear reader? Do you work all the time? Are you taking vacations with your friends and family? Do you catch up on your reading or on the latest podcast sermon? If it's the latter, I think I can help you out, cause if you read like I do, chances are you'll find yourself staring at your collection of books (whether it's on your Kindle/Nook or on a bookshelf) wondering what to read next.

Here's how this is gonna work-I'll divide the books into categories and give some info on them, as well as my opinion as to why it's a must read.

Non-fiction

1) Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis. I read this book about 2 weeks ago, and it is still fresh on my mind. I read it in one day. It's about a normal American girl who feels a call to missions in Uganda. It talks about her journey to where she is now. And if you like this book, she even has a blog that she writes on every once in a while.

2) Five Chimneys: a woman survivor's story of Auschwitz by Olga Lengyel. I like to read stories from the Holocaust. This is not because I'm sadistic, or that I enjoy reading grueling material. I have a love for history (specifically WW2 and the American Civil War eras). This book is about a woman who survives the terrible odds at Auschwitz. The writing is not all grammatically correct, but the story is raw and powerful. The writer does not bother to sugar coat the happenings within the camp. I even learned some things that I never knew, and I've read quite a few biographies on this subject. This is why I recommend it. In a world where some deny that the Holocaust ever happened, I believe it is important to keep the legacy of those who endured it alive. We will only learn from our history if we acknowledged it happened.

3) Surprised by the Power of the Spirit by Jack Deere. Do you want to challenge your faith and grow immensely, even during these summer months? I would absolutely read this book. I was introduced to it at the church I attended while I was in college. I know, some of you will research this book and say, "Really? You really want me to read this?!" Yes, I do. I was a skeptic too. But the cool thing is, you can read your Bible along with it. The cool thing is, Holy Spirit can and will speak if you only let Him.

4) The Slumber of Christianity by Ted Dekker. In this book, Dekker explores the slumber that most believers are in. He uses personal stories and well as examples from his writing to really draw the reader in.

5) Tea with Hezbola by Ted Dekker. Get ready for meetings with Jews and Arabs alike. Get ready for some very real, very raw conversations and opinions. 

6) Your People Shall Be My People  by Don Finto. Does God still love Israel? Should I care about Israel, and if so, why? These questions and many more are answered in this book. Finto is very direct, using Biblical facts as well as historical facts to speak about God's heart for his beloved people.

Fiction

1) Blessed Child by Ted Dekker. If you haven't already noticed, I'm a Ted Dekker fan. This is probably my favorite book by him. It's about a young boy who grows up in a monastery knowing no evil at all. This book has a breathtaking outlook on life and love. It challenges believers to walk in the Spirit.

2) Demon: a memoir by Tosca Lee. This book is about an editor/writer who is approached by a demon who wants his story told. I know what you're thinking, "Lame. Just lame." Trust me, you don't wanna miss this. The demon tells the story from the very beginning, even before. It also does not hide it's feelings towards man. Trust me, it has an ending you'll not even guess.

3) The Veritas Conflict by Shaunti Feldhaun. This is the story of a young girl who goes off to college. It talks about the fight for the hearts and minds of her and her fellow students. Yes, it's a regular good/evil, life/death, light/dark battle. It's wonderful.

4) The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker. If you know who Ted Dekker is, you know he doesn't mess around when it comes to writing his books. Sadly, some people tend to see his writing as "too dark". However, if you read his non-fiction book (listed above), you will find why he doesn't sugar coat darkness in his books. This series gave me a new lease on my salvation. It's interesting to hear the story told through another time and space. Not too mention, it's jam-packed full of action and twists you'll never see coming.

5) The Chronicles of Narnia. This is almost a "duh". Let me just say that I read these before the movies and before the hype. Let me also say, they are still relevant to me being a young adult. I can't reread them without finding something new.

6) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit. All good. All action packed and full of adventure.

More to Do

Now, I'm not completely blinded by my love for books. I realize that there are people who don't like to read. Even those of us who do still like to do something different once in a while. So, here are some other things you should definitely check out:

1) The Glory Within. This is a youtube mini-sermon by Corey Russell. Again, be prepared to be challenged. And, if this stuff is weird to you upon watching, I suggest you read the book I suggested in the non-fiction section-Surprised by the Power of the Spirit.

2) Any sermon podcasts by Matt Chandler (Pastor of the Village Church) or David McQueen (Pastor of Beltway Park Baptist Church). These podcasts are free on iTunes:)

3) International House of Prayer. This is out of Kansas. They have a website where you can find sermons, podcasts, music and live feed to a 24-hour prayer room. It's legit. Get you some.

I realize this blog hasn't been very heart revealing...or has it? These books and the other things are pretty near and dear to my heart. Holy Spirit has definitely used each one in it's own way to help shape who I am today. I hope you take the time to read at least one or two of these. And I hope that if you find you don't like one, that it won't cause you to be turned off in trying the others. Blessings on your reading and seeking:)

“We Christian writers (musicians, lovers of Truth, etc.)* must paint evil with the blackest of brushes, not to sow fear, but to call out the monsters to be scattered by our light. If Satan cloaks himself as an angel of white, intent on deceiving the world, any attempt on our parts to minimize evil is only complicit with his strategy... Turn to the light; don’t fear the shadows it creates.” -Ted Dekker

*words in parenthesis added by me