A "Radical" New Year

We have made it to another year. What will happen this year? How different will we be at the beginning of next year compared to right now? How will we change? How are we going to advance the Kingdom? There are so many questions that run through my mind as I approach this New Year. They are not nagging questions, but ones that make me think, and definitely lead me into prayer. There are so many options and paths to take.

As I look at this New Year I have been brought into it with a really good message. Last week I had the privilege to read a book called “Radical” by David Platt, since I have had time in Iowa to relax with my roommates. I am not sure the effect the book will have on my life, but I think the words in the book are revolutional. I do not mean revolutional in the means that they are new, and are breaking new ground, because actually the words in the book are thousands of years old, because they are really Jesus’ words. They are revolutional because if they are actually taken to heart then things will change, and that is what I am trying to do. I am trying to change. I want to become more like Jesus. I want the sin in my life to decrease, and my devotion to God and His kingdom to increase, and I think the book leads me in that direction.

Simply stated the book challenges all Christians in America to rise above the American dream, which in many cases is keeping us from the beauty of Christianity, which I know is a powerful and controversial statement. For so many the American dream has been what we were taught to live and strive for, so when we say that we are to break free from it well for many of us that is to give up life as we know it, because that is what our life has been, striving for the American dream. It is centered on us and our work ethic. It is about how much we can acquire, the statuses we can achieve, and getting what we want if we work hard enough.

The problem is that centers on us, and even when we bring God into this picture He only becomes a means to an end rather than the end itself. What really becomes god is the American dream, and thus an idol. You see the beauty of Christianity is that we aren’t suppose to do it on our own with our own strength and effort. We are suppose to strive by the power of God, and we are not suppose to strive for some illusive prize. We are suppose to strive for Him. He is the end. The end is not some picture of the perfect life that will rust and be eaten by the moths.

Now the beauty in all of this is that God wants us to make it to Him, so instead of us just working to get to the prize our Prize is also working to get to us. In fact, the Prize has done most of the work, because that is how much He wants us to get to Him. That is the beauty of Christianity. This is what makes the American dream so antithetical to God’s plan. The American dream is soaked in humanism, and puts all the pressure on us, but God’s plan is soaked in Him, and He is more than able to handle the weight. He then gives Himself to us as a gift, and all we have to do is receive. However, to receive Him we have to give the American dream up, and stop striving.

This is hard for two reasons. The first reason is that we have to give up our own life for the sake of receiving God. Whatever we pictured as the American dream we have to say is not as good as getting God, and then let it go because of God’s insurmountable worth. For some that literally means giving up an entire lifetime and considering it lost. Now, that takes a lot of humility and at times repentance. It is hard to say that all that I have been striving for, for so long is worthless because it is not the life that God wants for me.

This is why the words of Jesus to the rich, young ruler are so relevant to us today. God is calling us to a completely different life style that is not about how much we can store up, but about how much we can receive and pour out. It is a huge shift, and for many that is a radical lifestyle. It is radical for generosity and a servant attitude to take over, but that is the fruit and evidence of living in the Kingdom. It is what Jesus’ love motivates us to do, because our only desire becomes to serve and exemplify Him here on earth. This is why we must be freed from the American dream, because it literally is the exact opposite of the life Jesus has designed for us, and empower us to do. We are meant to give and glorify him, but inherently the American dream calls us to acquire and glorify ourselves, but God’s vision for our lives is much bigger than our selves. Praise God!

The other reason that it is hard is that it takes complete faith or trust in a society that makes it hard to trust in anything. And we are living in a system that is all about what you can do, not someone else.

However, Jesus says, “All you need to do is have faith in me and love me. I have made the way for you, and I am preparing a room for you. All you need to do is receive. I will give you all that you need if ask in My name. This is not about you. It is about me and my power. It is about what I can do, and what I can do through you. All you need to do is trust in me and follow me and what I tell you. I will do the heavy lifting.”

Most people just cannot accept this. It sound foolish and/or to good to be true, and it is just scary to lose control in a world that puts all the pressure on you. But when we know our God it makes complete sense, and when we know His love, it casts out all fear. It just takes faith and relationship, and this is where the power of God lies. His power lies in a relationship that gives you the trust and ability to stop striving and to put anything in His hands. This takes away the burdens. It makes the yoke easy, and finally grants us peace. However, it is a shift in paradigm and mindset, which can be tough. It will cause us to kill our pride, and that can hurt. However, if we commit to this it is beautiful, and more than worth the price. It is like a field with a treasure that when you walk upon it you sell everything to by the land and obtain the treasure, because it far surpasses anything you have had up to that point.

This is where I hope my 2011 takes me. I hope this year I break completely free from the American dream into something greater. I want to live in the beauty of Christianity. I want to strive for God, and have Him strive for me, and then we can gloriously run into each other arms embraced in an intimate love relationship. I want to once and for all take the weight of the world off of my shoulders, so that God can be God again, and I can do what He created me for. I pray that this relationship will spur me to do things I have only dreamed before. I want to live in radical abandonment to my own self. I want to give away more than I could imagine. I want to sacrifice for the sake of others. I want to lose my life, my dream, so that I can gain God, and then He can resurrect it in glory and power. This year I want it to be clear which kingdom I serve. No more sitting on the fence. I want to be diligent for God, and completely diligent in seeking Him in everything I do and face. This is the path I am choosing, and will need help and your prayers to stay on, so please join me in being “radical.”

I want to end by thanking David Platt for his book, and taking the time to write it. I know the words he wrote will truly be revolutional in my life, and that God will produce great fruit from them.

Also, thank you God. I love you Dad. Thank You for sending Jesus to bring me to You. May my 2011 glorify You and advance Your Kingdom. Sorry, for when I have fallen short, but thank You for forgiveness and the power to learn and grow from those mistakes that You have already forgotten. You are my Dad, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, my Creator and I could not be happier. Serving and following in love with You was the best decision I have made and the greatest gift I could receive. All praise to You Dad!

For all who read this blog, God bless you! And I pray that you will be empowered to live a “radical” 2011. The world needs it. In fact, it is desperate for it, but then so are you, because it is the life God has destined for you, and it is the best life you could imagine. Therefore, settle for nothing less. You won’t be disappointed. I ask for grace and peace for you, beyond what you could dream and comprehend. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Also, I feel I have not really talked much about myself, my heart, or my dreams, which I feel defeats the purpose of what this blog is suppose to do, which is keep you informed on how and what I am doing. So, I want to give you a better like into all of that. My next blog will hopefully give you a better picture of where I am at, and what I am dreaming and visioning of. I am trying to think of a good way to put all that into one blog, but it will be posted later this week. I love you guys, and thank you for your prayers and support. They literally keep me going, as I purse Christ and His kingdom!

A Season of Expectancy and Purity

Have you ever had one of those seasons where every turn you make your heart jumps with expectation. You are not really sure what to expect, but you are sure you are suppose to expect something. It may be good, or it may be bad, but it feels good. However, all you know is that something is about to happen, and you need to brace yourself for whatever it is, because whatever it is going change everything. Once whatever that is going to happen, actually happens, you will never be the same. So, you wait in an eager expectation for whatever it is, longing for what is to come.

Well that is the season that I am in. I am certain whatever happens will be good, and not bad. However, that does not mean that it will not be hard. In fact, whatever is going to happen I am almost certain will be hard. I figure there will be a little of pain involved and even some confusion. But that is why it is awesome that God is my Guide and Comforter, because I know He will get me through. He will make straight paths, and if there are tears he will catch them and count them, and will guard my heart beyond all understanding, because that is type of God He is.

Like I said, I cannot exactly put my finger on what is going to take place. I know going to Fargo/Minnesota has a huge part to do with it, and that it will bring purity and righteousness into my life. This transformation that God is going to bring will take away a lot of the muck and mire that is my currently blocking my vision, and will bring a new found intimacy with God and deeper vision into His Kingdom. Basically, my heart will become more in tune with what God is saying. I will become more aligned with His will. In fact, in one prayer session I was told this season will prepare me to make decisions for His kingdom on a moments notice knowing the decision I make is God's decision, because I will be so intimate with God that His will, will be my only desire. Now, that folks is a pretty exciting to hear, and also somewhat intimidating.

I look at my life now with all of the struggles and sin, and wonder, "How can it be? How could my life ever look like that? Why would God ever look to me to make those decisions?" And all I hear God saying is that, “It will be, because that is who He made me to be. It is His gift to me, and that I just need to rest in Him, and in due time all things will come.”

Some of you are probably in the same situation. God has called you to something, and you feel completely inadequate, or you just feel generally inadequate and unworthy. And just like God is whispering words of encouragement and empowerment to me. He is doing the same for you. He is saying to you, "You are my son/daughter. These dreams are what I have made you for. They are my gift to you. I have made you worthy, and you do not have to keep striving. Rest in me. There is something coming. Be expectant. Long for the change I am bringing. Contend for the change. It may hurt a little, but it is good. It will prepare you for what is to come. No matter what keep going because I am with you. I am going to change the world with you, because I love you." I love it when Dad tells me those things.

The good thing is that God's plans for us are beyond our belief. I am just starting to see mine. I see that God has called me to unite His Kingdom, and to network it together. I am supposed to be a force that mobilizes a movement of missions into the world. He has called me to help serve of a movement of evangelism in Germany, and ultimately to provide infrastructure that will launch a mighty movement of outreach in and from Africa to the world. Hearing that blows my mind, and even makes me seem like a crazy idealist that does not have one ounce of realism. But that is only the beginning of God's plan for me. It is a taste of what is to come. The fraction he has allowed me to see. I know there is more, and there is more for you, and it may be even bigger. In fact, my prayer is that it is, because that would be awesome. God has such plans for us. We need to be expectant. We would be foolish not to.

Now the coolest thing about all of this is that our sin does not disqualify us from our vision. These dreams and desires that we have to save/change the world are God's gift to us, and He will do whatever He can to make sure that we unwrap them. Sin may keep them from us, but that is more of our choice than God's. The sin causes us to question our selves, and puts chains on us. It makes us tired and groggy. We begin to question God, His character, and His desire for our lives. We start to see Him as the culprit for all of the evil things in our life. Then we throw away the dreams He has given us, as rubbish and foolish, and move to a more practical and powerless lifestyle that matches our worthiness.

This to a certain extent has described my life. Not to the extent that I completely threw away God or His vision for my life, but to the point that I thought I was not worthy and would never attain His dream for me. It stole His peace from me as I sat up at night thinking I had lost it because I sinned. I had lied again, or I had looked at the horrible stuff one more time. For sure this time God has scaled back His dreams for me, and walked away. His promises cannot be valid anymore. I have lost them.

Meanwhile God was saying to me, "Matt my visions and dreams for you are still true. I still am going to give them to you. In fact, not only will I give them to you, but I will set your free from the lies, from the insecurity that causes them. I will set you free from the lust and the porn, and I will strip you of the loneliness and lack of self-worth that thrusts you to sin. I then will make you a force against these things, and will give you authority to bring healing into these areas. All you have to do is come back to me. I have already forgiven you. Please, forgive yourself."

I realized He was pleading for me to repent and forgive myself. He was so eager to make me forget because He already had. He showed me His vision for me, and told me to expect all of the things He showed me because they were coming, and they are only going to be a taste of what is to come. He led me to humility and repentance, and through that He is stripped all of the shame, fear, and guilt that sin had used to rob me of God's vision and peace for my life. He led me back to Himself, and this week at the office was a huge part of that.

Wednesday, we had an intense time of prayer for each other. At the very end I got prayed for. I asked them to pray for healing for me because us of all the crap I had looked at. We listened to God for strategy and wisdom on how to pray, and God gave us some awesome words, and then we prayed following His instructions. One of things He told me was to be expectant that today everything would change. I went into prayer expecting, which for me is hard. I was looking for fireworks, for an overcoming experience with the Lord. It did not come. At least not like I thought it would for anyone there it was just seemed normal, but when we were done something was different. I was lighter, and my Spirit was changed. I still cannot explain it, but I had my vision back, and I was free. I am free. That is what the Kingdom does. It offers freedom for all of those who will humble themselves and ask for it. When we let the Kingdom in. We let Heaven in, and it makes ALL things right.

Going through this process is why I have seemed very distracted and preoccupied lately. I have been fighting a war in my mind. God has been speaking amazing promises and visions into my life that are completely life giving, and I have thrown chains over myself making them impossible. I have focused on my sin and the circumstances around me, and thereby allowed the shame, fear, and guilt associated with them to bolt me down. Leading me to consistently questioned God's vision and words to me. It made me a real party pooper.

Praise God, something has shifted in the Heavenlies, because of people’s prayers and God’s faithfulness. Now I am in a season of purity and expectation. I have been freed to truly dream and vision with an expectant that is free of disqualification. God is cleaning out the trash, and that hurts every now and then, but is so exciting to be clean. It gives me confidence and new found authority in Him. Fargo is going to be awesome, and I cannot wait. God has dreams for me, and He has dreams for you. We are not disqualified. We are His chosen ones! Things are going to change!

My First Northern Exposure and a Flat Tire

This week began my ministry up in Northern Minnesota and Fargo. I spent the week traveling with Mike, another coordinator in IWT, and Marty, the National Director of IWT, across the northern part of Minnesota. We picked up Marty from the Minneapolis airport, and then went to Duluth, and worked our away from Duluth across the state of Minnesota to the Fargo/Moorhead area. It was an awesome week of meetings.

The purpose of our trip was to start having some of the initial conversations in communities across the state about getting ready for the tour towards the Fall of 2011 and the Spring of 2012. In Duluth, we were able to meet with some key youth leaders and the director of Youth for Christ (YFC), as well as a very respected church leader. The conversations were very fruitful, and there seems to be a lot of excitement growing in the area for the tour and the discipleship process we hope to form. We also had a meeting just outside of Duluth in a small town called Cloquet, which had a similar tone to the meeting, and we even saw an open door into the indian reservation in town, which is really exciting.

After our meetings in Duluth we drove to the Hibbing/Grand Rapids area, which is known by some as the Iron Range of Minnesota. We had two meetings, one in Hibbing and one in Grand Rapids. Both meetings saw a lot of growth as the communities began to engage with each other about discipleship and prayer. The coolest thing about the meetings had to be how God communicated to us before hand in prayer exactly what happened in the meeting. In one of the meetings it seemed we were going a little of course. Normally that would have been a little disconcerting, but it was communicated to us through our team back in Kansas City that this would happen, and that we were not to be worried, but instead go to prayer with the leaders of the community. That is exactly what we did, and through the prayer God brought us back on course and broke through. It is cool to see how when you leave things to God how He is always faithful to come through in the end.

The final stop was in Fargo, which is the city/area that is moving the fastest out of the entire region. I got to meet the local steering for the first time on Friday, and it was so encouraging to be in the meeting. The people in Fargo have such a dedicated heart to Jesus and the Kingdom. To see how the Lord has grabbed them and is moving them along is awesome, and they have such a dedicated heart to discipleship, prayer, and the power of God, which are some major themes that God has been speaking to us as a team, which is another display of God's faithfulness. He has called us as a ministry to focus on prayer, discipleship, and to go in His power, and now has brought us to a communicty that has such a heart for all three of those areas. That is so awesome!

After all of our meetings we drove back to Minneapolis to drop Marty off at the airport, and then Mike and I high tailed back to Kansas City to miss the huge storm that went through the area, and we made it just in time. Now we are back in Kansas City, and working on some preliminary projects until Mike and I move up to Fargo on the 18th of January to be the ground forces so to speak for the ministry. Until then we are working on getting a Discipleship Seminar organized, a banquet put together, the local exec board assembled, getting more churches aware and partnering with the tour, trying to find venues for the events, as well as finding housing and an office for Mike and I. So, we have a decent amount of work to do.

With all of this I am super excited to start working up there. I feel that through out the week God gave me a lot of vision for the area, as well as a sense of expenctancy and excitement for what He is about to do up there. One point the ministry has really been working on is forming nets of discipleship to catch all of those who come to faith at the events. God has really spoken to us about building a lasting structure for the communities to work with once we are gone, and we believe those nets will take the shape of what we call neighborhood networks, in which we empower all of the believers to turn there households into outreach centers for their neighborhood. In essence, every Christian's home will become a hub in that neighborhood for prayer, bible study/discipleship, outreach, and nurturing. Our hope is that we can begin to unite the Christians in every neighborhood regardless of chuch and denominational lines to begin to unite together to pray for strategy and wisdom in how to reach their neighborhoods for the Kingdom. The vision is what is exciting most of the area, so we are excited to see this vision take root and really flourish, because we believe this is what will produce lasting fruit

As a result, God has talked ot me a lot about discipleship and training the local church, which speaks right to my teachers heart. I love teaching and discipling, so I am pumped for that. Although, this has had a strong focus on targeting the youth and young adults of the area, and training them to form these centers in their high schools and campuses. I would love to see a revival among this younger generation, and from the sounds of it God has something up His sleeve to do just that in Northern Minnesota, and I cannot wait to see what is and be a part of it.

After all of that excitement I came home yesterday and just crashed, which was good. I just relaxed and spent some time with God, that was until my room mate and friend Cassi wanted to get a movie, so we went out to get one. On our way to the Red Box I over looked a curb and busted out my tire, which we changed out for the spare in the middle of blistering cold winds. However, the moral of the story is now I need a new tire, and I am looking for the finances to do that. If you could help with the repair of my new tire you can donate below by clicking on the button and giving into my paypal account. It would be extremely appreciate and is needed.

I just want to thank you all for supporting me through your finances, thoughts, and prayers. Everything I do is because of you guys, and I am so thankful to have such a good group of friends and family who allow me and go with me to do the work that God has called me to. I am praying for you and love you. If there is anything I can specifically pray for please let me know! God bless!

Also if you want to partner in prayer here are a few prayer points.

1.) First, is that God would release the funds needed to get out of debt from my colleges loans, which are a huge hindrance to my ministry right now.

2.) Strategy and wisdom for the leaders in Minnesota/Fargo who are beginning to prepare their churches and the community for the tour in the fall of next year

3.) Safety and protection for all of the IWT who are traveling through out the holidays

4.) Strategy and wisdom for IWT staff as we seek to make some adjustments in the ministry to make prayer and discipleship a stronger focus in the ministry.

5.) Revelation for all of the staff into the Kingdom and love of Christ, which is our motivation for everything.

My First Week in Kansas City

This week has been so good! I really do not know where to start with all that has happened. The moral of the story is that God showed up.

This week was an amazing time for IWT, Impact World Tour. With most of the ministry back in Kansas City we had the entire week to seek the Lord together, and hear what He had for us, and it was dynamic. God gave us a lot of vision and direction for this next season. He is entering us into a rebuilding season, where we are going to start rebuilding on the foundation of IWT. There are a few things that He is really highlighting for us as a ministry. The first, is that we would have a lifestyle of prayer in everything that we do. As a ministry, we want to become so dependent on God that we cannot even have a meeting until we have prayed into and have received the Lord's direction. We need to become more pro-active through the leading of God then reactive. So, this next season will be a time where we simply seek the face of God, and everything that happens will be an outflow of falling in love with Jesus, and that is exciting to think about.

In addition, to developing this lifestyle of prayer and intimacy with the Lord we feel that God is calling IWT to develop more lasting foundations into the cities that we are going into. As a result, we are trying to form the ministry in a way that we can partner with the church in every community and build something that will be lasting, and can be used by the church in the foundations they are building. We want to help every community become a hub for missions. In which churches and even individual people's homes become training centers that train followers of Christ to reach those who are not in the Kingdom of God both in their own community and communities around the world. It is such an exciting vision to be given, and each day God reveals more to us of how this will happen.

The cool thing is that God is developing this lifestyle in all of us individually/corporately, so that we can not only spread the vision, but by His love become an effective model to all of those we seek to partner and work with. It is really cool! He is building IWT into a powerful missional community, that not only loves others, but that deeply loves each other as close knit family. It such a privilege and honor to be part of this ministry, in this season.

In addition, to all that God is doing with the ministry. He is just wrecking my heart for Him, and it is so good! Each day I find myself being drawn closer and closer to Him. My quiet times with Him have been awesome. He has been speaking to me with so much clarity about this next season of my life. But the best part has been Him just telling me how He sees me, and when the King of Kings tells you how He sees you it is the most humbling and uplifting thing ever. I am His glorious Son, and He has taken me into deep parts of His kingdom and wants to take me even deeper. When He looks at me He smiles as He sees passion and desire for Him and His Kingdom. And ther was so much more! When, I heard God talk to me like that I was in tears, but it gave me so much healing and confidence. It has embolden me to be His messenger and servant. It is so good!

As I continue to have my identity as a Son of God illuminated He is opening more and more of His Kingdom to me and allowing me to reach more people. This is the message that people need to hear. They can become a child of God. In fact, that is what they were created for, to be children of the most High God, and then it was stolen from them. Their identity was high jacked, and they were told they were of this world and worthless. God is screaming for them to be His kids again, and they are screaming to have a Father. This is the message that I am taking to Minnesota. Your Father is waiting for you. No more fear. No more shame. No more guilt. You are not fatherless. Your Father is waiting with His arms wide open to protect you and to restore you. Let me take you to your Father, to our Father. He has so much to tell you!

I am so pumped for what God has in store for Minnesota, and it all starts tomorrow. Tomorrow I am driving up to Minnesota with, Mike Stanley, and picking up Marty from the airport in Minneapolis, and then we will have a bunch of meetings through out the week to get ready for the Fall Tour in Northerwestern Minnesota and Fargo where we will help tell Minnesota about their Father. So that we can guide them back to Dad, and then Dad can tell them how beautiful they are to Him, so He can take away their fear, guilt, and shame, because perfect love casts out all fear.

My prayer is that you all would join with me in this journey, and pray for our travels and favor with all of those that we meet, and clarity to hear the direction of God in all that we do. Also, join me in spreading this message. If you do not know how Dad sees you as His child ask Him. He will blow you away, and heal your soul. And if you know someone who is hurting tell them about their Dad and take them to Him, so that Dad can heal them and whisper His love into their ears. All we have to do is ask Him. He has been desperately waiting for us to ask. So ask you have nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

I love you guys, and I pray a rich blessing of provision and love from the Father for He is good and loves to lavish on His children, and you are His child!


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There is one more thing I want to ask you guys to help with. Over the last few weeks God has really been talking to me about my debt that I incurred in college. Currently, it is at $48,000 and growing because 3 of my loans are in forebearance and as a result getting bigger. I want to ask for your help. I need vision and strategy to start paying on these loans, and right now I have none, and I am living off about $300 of committed monthly support, but because God is always faithful that is always supplemented with random gifts that give me enough to cover my monthly expenses, such as gas, car payment, my Compassion Kid, insurance, and 1 of my student loans (I have 4). He has shown me that I need to start paying on all 4 at the beginning of next year.

So, the first thing I would ask for you to pray and seek God with me so we can find his strategy and plan to develop a budget to pay these off. I also want to ask you all to pray and see if He is asking you to help with this through financial support, whether that is monthly or a one time gift. Then write whatever you hear from the Lord as a comment to this blog, and we can go from there!

Right now my loans are a huge barrier and burden to the ministry God has called me to. The good things is that God is bigger than them, and He wants me free, so He will show me the way to freedom, and I just need to be obedient and follow my Dad. Thank you for your help in finding the way!

If you have any questions or would like to support me give me a call, 330-754-7878, or email me at matthew_woods31987@yahoo.com.

Love you guys!

Matt

Two Stick Figures

Who knew that two stick figures could mean so much. Yesterday, I was visitng a communtiy called Love Canton, which is just a group of people who are madly in love with Jesus, and want to do whatever they can to spread that love to others. At this celebration meeting, Jason, one of the leaders drew two stick figures, and they meant the world, actually they meant more than what the world could ever mean.

What I am about to relay to you. Jason relayed to all of us from a training with 3DM ministries. He drew two stick figures on a white board. In fact, right now, grab a pen and something to write on. Then draw one small stick figure. Then in the left hand of that stick figure draw a little ball. Next draw a much bigger stick figure who is holding on to the right hand of the small stick figure, and then in the right hand of the bigger stick figure draw a sword, and then I want you to circle both hands of the larger stick figure, and just look at the picture and meditate on it for a few seconds, maybe even a few minutes. Just ask God to illuminate to you the truth contained in that picture.

Now here is the truth. You are the small stick figure, the little kid, and the big stick figure is God the Father, or just Dad. Now notice that Dad, Father God, the King of the universe, and Creator of everything is holding your hand, because you are his child, and He never let's go. However, He is not just holding your hand, but He is also holding a sword. He is not holding a sword to punish you, but He is holding a sword because there is an enemy against you whom God will use that sword, so they can never hurt you. Your Dad, who is always holding your hand, will stop at nothing to protect you, and get you where you need to be. Nothing can stand in your way.

This here is the foundational, and probably the most transformational truth in all of Christianity, that is if you allow this truth to take foundation in your heart. This truth, that you are the son/daughter of God, is what allowed Jesus to do what He did, and will allow us to do what we are called to do, and with out this we will most certainly fall and burn out. We need to let God give us revelation into the meaning and power of this statement. I believe this so much so that I do not want to spend more time illuminating it for you. Go talk to Dad. Ask Him to reveal the importance in this truth to you. Ask Him, to reveal the power in this statement. Search the scriptures, see how Jesus was motivated by the knowledge that God was His Dad and was holding a sword. See what it allowed him to do. And look in the only recorded tempation of Christ, see what Satan really attacks. "If you are really the Son of God..." There is so much here for us to learn!

Our place as God's beloved kids is so priceless. The power of this simple statement allows me to trust God completely with my shaky finances, and go into missions, where I am not getting paid, but am living off support, because I know I am holding His hand, and He will protect me at all costs. This statement is what has propelled me to pray for people and see healing. In just the last week I have seen a girl's torn miniscus and ACL healed because she began to understand that God is her Dad, that truth sank into her heart, and she asked for healing and believed it would happen and it did. And it motivated a father to pray for his son who was losing his sight, so that it could be regained, and it was. Now his son can read on his own. No thick glasses. No magnifying glass. Just God. God is our Dad and he wants nothing but the best for us, and will stop and nothing to make sure the best is what we get, even though sometimes we may stop, He never does.

You want to know where the power of the kingdom is, it is here in this simple truth, that has more meaning than we could ever know.

I am so thankful for such an awesome Dad. At the end, of this week, Dad and I will be going hand in hand to Kansas City to reunite with everyone in IWT, and I cannot wait, I miss them all like crazy. I am super excited to get back to work, and see more people grab Dad's hand. So, please pray for travel mercies and the finances to make my way out there and to get settled in.

I just want to end by telling everyone how faithful Dad is. For the last year I have been praying for a new computer to work on, and God just told me He was working on it and to wait. I came home in desperate need of one, so that I could better communicate with everyone, and I was looking anywhere to try and get one. With in a week of being home and talking to my home church they were able to raise the money and buy a brand new laptop for me. Dad, new I needed one, and He motivated his people to provide for me. He is so good! If we will just rest in His arms He will provide the desires of our heart. I love you guys, and I hope this truth will rock you like it has rocked me.

God bless you guys!!!

Going Home

I have been in Cincinnati for close to 5 months, and today I am leaving to go home for about 2 weeks. Then I will head out to Kansas City, to start this new season in life that I am transitioning into. On one hand I am super excited. God has spoken a lot to me about this new season. It will be a season of trial and purification, which at first was intimidating, until He informed me that this will develop a deep intimacy and connection with Him. I will learn to trust, hear, and depend on Him like never before, and this will unlock things in the Kingdom that I can only have dreamed of before. So, when you say it like that, it is really exciting. He has also said this will be a season where I learn to rest and dwell in Him, which seems very paradoxical when it is paired with the other, but maybe that is how you know it is from Him.

This reminds me a lot of Paul and his life. Paul was imprisoned, but full of peace and was able to rest and worship in the presence of God. He was being chased, harassed, people were rioting to stone and kill him, but through this all He learned to trust and rest in God. No trial was big enough from keeping him from having peace and rest in God. I feel this next season will help take me closer to that place, which is super exciting.

However, like any transition, it also is a little nerve wrecking. I have to leave all of the awesome people and relationships that I have made in the last 5 months here, and God has blessed me with meeting some awesome. First and foremost, is my host family which I am going to miss a lot, but at least we got to have an awesome last breakfast together, omelets, pancakes, sausage gravy, buscuits, fruit, and breakfast potatoes. It was awesome. And there are just a lot of uncertainties that lie ahead, but that is what makes life fun and exciting, but at the same time you wonder where certain things will come from. Such as where am I going to live? How am I going to afford that? But the cool thing is that because I know I am right where the Lord wants I do not have to worry about those things. Yes, they are question, but I know they are being taken of, and that God will provide, because He is awesome like that.

So, I am off to Canton. Cannot wait to see my friends and family. It is going to be an awesome two weeks, and then I will be making my way out to Kansas City.

There are a few things that I would love for you to pray for. First, is that God would open up some doors for IWT in the Cleveland/Akron area. I have a few meetings with some key people, and I am hoping God really speaks to them, and gives us the opportunity to spread his Gospel back home. Also, pray for guidance and wisdom for me as I try and reach out to some of my family members who are going through some rough times. We really need God's wisdom and peace. Finally, please pray that I would rest, and spend some quality time being refreshed with Dad, while getting some more vision for what lies ahead.

Love you guys! If there is anything I can being pray for let me know!

The New Horizons

The blind folds have been taken off! There is something different about my life, and the way I am living it. Before, I was so concerned about the things of this world, marriage, finances, etc. I mean they dominated my mind, no matter how hard I tried to get free, so I could focus on Christ, and Christ alone, I was unable.

Then recently something happened. I met these amazing people, and the Lord just radiated off of them. His love for them, and their love for Him, was tangible. It was like I could touch and feel it. God was showing me what He was trying to create in me that type of contagious and tangible love. Then all of a sudden that love in some unexplainable way was transferred into my life. God had definitely planted the seeds for this transformation in my life in the preceding weeks, but when I met them I saw the picture of what I was to become in my own way, and by seeing the picture God made me into that picture. I do not believe the process is over or finished. I still have a long way to go, but a major has definitely taken place in my life.

It was not anything radical in the natural sense. The fireworks did not go off, but everything radically changed, my vision and my motivations became radically different. My spirit had been awakened. I watched everything else fall in comparison to the Kingdom. The Kingdom must advance, and we must take it to those who don't know, so they can take part, so they can feel Love. There is nothing else is nothing else that matters. This our ultimate and primary purpose. Everything else is an extra. A gracious addition from our Father to bless us. That is unless it becomes a block to spreading the Kingdom and knowing Love, and then it is an idol that we must rid ourselves of.

Like I said I do not know what happened that day. I just walked into a room with amazing people following God. They talked to me and listened to my story, and then something just happened. God happened I guess. I am not even quite sure how to explain the change that happened in my body, soul, and spirit, besides my vision and motivations have been altered towards Him. I am sure this shift is more radical and powerful than I can put it to words, and God has just begun to illuminate the shift He caused in my life. What I do know is that I have been made alive, and I do not think there could have been a better time then now.

Why now? Well, my life is changing. I am moving cities, going to new horizons. Leaving Cincinnati and going to Kansas City. Opening a new tour in Minnesota. My life is just moving, but it is more than just moving, it is beginning to pick up speed. Dreams and visions that God has given me are starting to come to fruition. God is beginning to awaken the sleeping giant that is within me! My spirit is starting to pour out and transform those around me, like those peoples spirits poured out and transformed me.

In the past two weeks God has taken me to places and used/allowed me to see people lives engaged by His presence. I have seen a mom watch God heal her two 3 year old twins. I have seen a man receive healing in his back, which awakened him to his call to ministry, which He thought He was not good enough for, and then his entire family lined up for prayers for healing, and they were ALL HEALED. A single mom was given a passion for Jesus and was led back to her church and ultimately to the love of Christ. He has awakened my spirit and it is impossible for me to contain. None of this is because I am good. It is because I asked God to use me to change the world and He was gracious enough to grant my request!

Not to mention in these last few weeks He has led me to key people for my life. My next journal entries will fill in the blanks to this one, but He has given me contacts to Germany. Why Germany, aren't you going to Minnesota next? Yes, I am, but Germany is to come, and these are opening the way for after Minnesota. I will explain more next week. He has led me to people who want me to help create this networking database. Again, what database? It was one that I believe will have power to change to world because of the people it will connect, but again I will explain more in the coming weeks. There is just too much for me to write in this one entry.

The moral of the story. God is good, and He is changing me and wants to change you. He is encountering me and granting me intimacy with Him, and He wants to encounter you. He has given me stories and He wants to give you stories. He wants to take off your blind folds like He has taken off mine. He wants to show you the Kingdom like never before, but you must be ready for life to be like never before, because there is no going back, but it is awesome that is how it is!

I love you guys. Please pray for me in this next month of transition which is full of potential. I am closing up Cincinnati with the rest of the team. We just closed our office this past Tuesday. Then I will be traveling home to spend time with family, spread the vision of IWT back home, and try and gain partners and financial support, so I can continue with my work. Then I will head to Kansas City at the end of the month, to reunite with all of the IWT staff out there, and my boys/best friends, Ian and Andrew, who I miss very much. They are my brothers. After that it looks like Minnesota, just in time for the snow, to open a new tour which I am pumped about, for a variety of reasons that I will share with you more later. In addition, to all of that there are side projects that God has me working on, and they are growing by leaps and bounds that I cannot wait to share with you as God brings them into fruition.

I pray blessing and grace over all of you, and that God's provision and love would be abundant in your life! God bless!