On Dance Worship-not my writing!

dance worship

Prayer

I'm reading a book called "The Power of  Praying Woman." It's amazing, and it's taking me so long because it's so in-depth and I want to completely soak up a section I've read before moving on. That's why I'm only on Chapter 3! Here's an excerpt from the book I love:

Do you hunger for a greater sense of the Lord's presence in your life? Do you desire to know God in a deeper way? Do you want to serve Him better and more completely but don't feel you have the time, energy, or opportunity to do so? Do you need to spend more time with Him in prayer? Do you want your prayers to be accompanied by greater faith so that you can see greater answers to them? Do you need a more complete knowledge and understanding of God's Word? Do you ever just long to throw your arms open and embrace Jesus, white robes and all, and feel His embrace of you? The good news is that this is the way God wants you to feel. God wants you to long for His presense. He wants you to find your fulfillment in Him and nothing else. He wants you to walk closely with Him. He wants you to increase in faith and knowledge of His Word. He wants you to put all your hopes and dreams in His hands and look to Him to meet all of your needs. When you do, He will open the storehouse of blessing upon your life. That's because these things are His will for you.
    But none of these things happen without prayer.

Ever since I received the gift of tongues I've been more passionate about prayer. But I feel like my prayer life could be so much more intense and passionate. Being at camp, I get to be involved in corporate prayer each day, but something I'm realizing is that I really want to develop my individual prayer life. I was thinking hypothetically today...say someone were to drop you off somewhere remote-like an abandoned island or some barren desert. There's no civilization around, no cell phones, no facebook, no books. Pretend there's no physical need to eat, so there's no food around to distract you. You're stuck here infinitely like this-just you and God, and the only thing to do all day is talk to God...IS HE ENOUGH? While in my head I know the obvious answer is of course God is enough, I feel like I have so much growing to do before I can answer this with a confident YES!!!

Some things I'm praying for are humility and humbleness. These are 2 characteristics I want to keep as priorities as I continue to grow as a leader. I was reading a sweet blog post the other day about qualities of a good leader, and they were submission, patience, accountability, and self-discipline. I really agree with this and so those are in my prayers as well. (see the blog post here: http://www.courtneytodd.blogspot.com/). And of course my trip back to New Zealand is coming up, and with that comes the Backpacker's Discipleship School! Apparently in my excitement to head back I majorly miscounted and today it is actually 18 days til I fly out.

And by the way speaking of prayer here's an answer to prayer...my visa application was approved within one day! God is so good!

In other news, I decided to get involved in the Threads of Hope Ministry by selling bracelets...so if you're interested in buying some or know someone who is let me know, and check out the video and consider getting involved by buying/selling/praying!! Threads of Hope

Last, but not least, I leave you with a sweet quote I found today..."Don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines."

Be blessed!

18 days til NZ!!!

Hey guys! So since my last update I've been keeping busy with camp all summer. I've gotten to wrangle most weeks which is awesome, I'm learning so much about horses and still have tons to learn. My favorite part is when kids (and sometimes even staff!) overcome their fear of horses, and end up having so much fun they can't wait to come back. God is so amazing for creating horses-huge, beautiful beings that could kill you if they wanted to, but in general they're just the sweetest things ever. Doing actions in chapel is another highlight, it really refreshes me and sometimes I end the day with an extra 24 hrs worth of energy. Cool how God just keeps pouring into us when we need it most, eh? It's been busy with camp and getting ready for NZ. I basically always keep my suitcase open-packing and unpacking is my life. I finally submitted my visa application today, so I'm really trusting God for that. Hard to believe that in only 18 days I will board a plane to NZ once again, where I will settle in and call home for a little while. Right now, I'm trying to keep most of my focus on camp, and trying to keep trusting God that my visa goes through on time. Kind of a big deal. Good thing God gives us what we need as He sees fit! It's hard to believe camp is almost done for the summer, and we're already over halfway thru. I'm alright with that though. I'm gonna enjoy my time left at camp, and then I'll enjoy my time in NZ. I'm so stoked to see a bunch of my friends from last year who are heading back as well, as well as meet new people. Be blessed!

Awakened Heart

After I got home from NZ, being inspired by a prayer room in a church we came across on outreach, I made a prayer wall in my room. For prayers, quotes, whatever strikes me. I came across some different terminology on IHOP one day and wrote some of them on my prayer wall. The first thing i saw this morning when I woke up was this:

Awakened heart: a state of living and being in God in such a way that your spirit and emotions are alive and responsive to Him

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners

I love this! I'm definitely going to try and put this on my mind more often...I wanna be so responsive to God and in Him always, not just hopping from one spiritual high to another, but finding him in everything. I love music, and for some reason lately everything makes me think of songs. Today, I am reminded of this song...

Awakening

my inspiration for my prayer wall

So there's this guy...

That I'm hopelessly head-over-heels in love with. We've been together awhile now and somehow it just keeps getting better and better. Just when I think He can't be any more amazing He pulls off something crazy and wows me. Words can't describe how awesome He is. Not only is He beautiful, He's strong and has a HUGE heart. He loves all my crazy friends. He's always there for me, night and day. He gives me butterflies and challenges me in life. He's so easy to talk to, and pretty wise too. I learn alot from Him and hanging with Him is pretty sweet. This song is how I feel...

Divine Romance

i see your face in every sunrise

Last night i was leisurely meandering back to dorm when I saw it. A breathtaking reddish orange sunset. One of those that you don't even bother pointing a camera at, or trying to paint on paper, because you know there's no way you can even come close to doing it justice. It made me remember how much I love God's creation. Creation is one spot I feel closest to God. It brought back YWAM memories and how we would always this song in worship:

beautiful
BEAUTIFUL by Phil Wickham

I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You’re beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who You are
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful, you're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see Your face, I see Your face
I see Your face, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful


You should check this song out. It's amazing!

Message from God!!!

 

You are beautiful. I know because I made you that way. ~God