What God is doing now!

A still small voice

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:22:00 GMT

Hello all out there!

First, I want to apologize for not keeping you up to date as much as I would have liked.

But can I tell you about this last week!

Every Monday night I am involved in an extra curricular "club" called Terra Nova. Our goal is to be the spiritual leaders for campus through prayer and servant hood. We were meeting this last Monday and God spoke to me in such a personal way I have tears running down my cheeks as I testify to you now.
He told me "Gretchen, just like I told Elijah (1 Kings 19:11-13), I am not in the fire, nor the wind, I am in the still small voice. Gretchen, if you don't slow down, you are not going to hear my voice." This was not a rebuking statement, just a matter of fact statement. That if I did not quiet my soul and of my busy life style, I was not going to hear Him. And if I do slow things down, I am going to hear that still small voice. And by George, this last week has been the hardest but the best week of my life here at the Honor Academy. God is just telling me "to be still and know that He is God." "To come to Him when I am weary, and He will give me strength." Campus had the privilege of having KP Yohannan come and share his heart with us. He told us that godliness is not reading books, listening to sermons everyday, or going to church. But every moment of every day, living in brokenness, humility, and repentance before the Lord our Savior. My eyes were opened. God does not desire the sacrifices or burnt offerings I try so hard to concoct up for Him. Rather, a broken spirit, broken and contrite heart. of me just living and communing in His presence.

It is a dangerous prayer, to ask God to humble you. :) I have been learning humility and work ethic like crazy this last week in my ministry placement with Global Expeditions. God is preparing me for this next year as I am getting ready to come and to serve Spokane. I want to be able to serve Christ in everything I do, as I want to do it unto Christ. He is calling me home to Spokane to serve the city. Through working, intercession, and relationships. He is already doing a huge spiritual move in the Pacific Northwest that for the next few years at least, I know He is calling me to be a part of.

I am going to specifically get involved in the Healing Rooms in Spokane and be an intercessor. There is a church as well that God already has a place for me, I just don't know which one yet. I am also feeling a call to work with the homeless, to speak life into them.
The Healing Rooms are going to prepare me for the mission's field down in South America.

For my missions’ trip that I am required to take before I graduate, I am going to Alaska for a month. From July 10- Aug. 5th Did you know Alaska has the highest suicide rate out of all 50 United States? God is bringing me here because of the Joy of the spirit that I have. It is to bring hope to this depressed and hopeless nation. We are going up to the Anchorage area to minister to the Indian Villages. We are just building repoirt and relationships with the families. Please be praying that with every conversation I have with every man and woman will be anointed. God is going to do miracles up there. Normal ones, like healing the sick and raising the dead! I truly believe this!

My dear family,

I love you all so much, I appreciate the prayers, letters, and emails. I don't even think you know how much they encourage a sister in Christ to continue to not just run the race, but run to win!

A praise!
With all of the faithful support you have been sending in monthly, my internship is just about paid off, and with the continuance of support coming in, my mission’s trip to Alaska (which costs about $2460) will be paid off as well! Thank you for being faithful, I can't wait to see you all, show you all of the pictures from Alaska and my year here after I return August 12th!

A prayer request:

The tornado's have started and one struck about 20 minutes from campus. I am not afraid at all, because if My God could tell the storm to calm, I know I can as well and campus is covered by the blood of Jesus.
Can you please be praying for the small community of Van that was devastated by this tragedy? That the church will come together to support and to bring light before the state does. This is just another ministry opportunity!

Thank you all once again, I cannot wait to wrap my arms around each of you as I see the three months left on this campus are going to fly by!
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A blessing

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:01:00 GMT

BRothers adn Sisiters!

More than blessings

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:10:00 GMT

Thousands of families sat around the table this year, with misty eyes and soft hankies in hand, humbly saying what they are thankful for this year. This is always my favorite part of Thanksgiving, hearing how God has impacted others' and honestly, taking time to let it all sink in like sinking sand what God has done for me. And yes, even though I was not around my familliar table with my two year old niece giggling next to me, or my brother stabbing a piece of turkey off my sister's plate, only to regret it later after she instantly slaps his hand. :) ( of course in a lovingly sister sort of way!) I was exactly where God wanted me to be over Thanksgiving!
    God allowed me to go to my co-worker, Camie's house over in Lubbock, TX. (in the panhandle) it is about an eight hour drive from campus and we had a blast! On the way there, we got stuck in a consrtuction/ traffic jam and decided to do a chinese fire drill, everyone switching places. When we finally arrived at her parents' house, we were instantly swept into her parent's opening arms, opening their house up as though it were ours too. They treated us and treasured us as their own daughters and I told my friend Abrecia, I knew were were not supposed to be any where else this Thanksgiving. One of the biggest things I learned this Thanksgiving break, was to literally sit on the couch, or around the breakfast table, sipping out of that chipped daffy duck coffee cup, just enjoying each other's company. I have always been on the "run". Trying to get this done, or squeeze that in , always always running around, hardly having enough time to hand out a hug.
    As we had our turn to go around the table on Thanksgiving afternoon, with Camie's family and Abrecia and I, I had memory after memory flood back to mind, my heart beating quicker than a drum with all of the blessings God has done for me this past year. I would like to share some of these blessings with you all, and urge you to continue to let all of those blessings God does in your life as well, sink in as your eyes wander my testimonies.
    The first thing I can't stop thinking about, is if I get nothing else out of Honor Academy ( which is impossible) I am realizing what an amazing, cherishing, fantastic and brilliant family God has given me. Honestly, Absence really does make the heart grow fonder!
My sister, Anna, is about to have a beautiful baby boy in December, my mom just got a new job God has blesseher with, where she is able to to use her brilliant mind he has given her,and my father and step mom are moving past their car accident, healing,and taking life by both of the years, teaching me perseverance. My brother, Zeb especially has helped me continue to push onward toward the goal we are all running for. He helps me keep my motives in check and to always check to make sure the path I walk is straight for my feet. My sister Lana and her husband Carl are already creating a well known and loved name in Sandpoint Idaho, living out the lives diligently God has called them to. I love my family to death and am realizing that they would do anything for me, and I would do anything for them. A very wise friend once told me, that God has put me in this family for a special reason and I need to be the most loving to them!
Another thing I am thankful is for all the family and friends back home continueing to ask and to pray for me. The fact that prayers keep coming my way, even when most of the time, responses don't flood back to you guys is so encouraging and refreshing! God always knows at the right time and place when to send me little notes and reminders that I am never out from under His wings or from His strong tower. He loves me and cherishes me and never leaves me alone. Thank you Stephanie, for always reminding me to fill out the blog, but so much more, praying earnestly for me and keeping me encouraged, Matt and Leslie, your support, verbally, financially and with prayers goes deeper than you will ever know. Sandy, for your loving prayers and updates of the family, there is not a day your beautiful family does not come to mind! But most of all, Spokanefellowship, for providing this blog for me to even communicate with loved ones all over the country. God, the fact that I have internet and phone access to keep in touch with these loved ones you have placed in my life is beyond me.
    Most of all though, I am so thankful for Jesus' love and provision for me. I am never without need or want. I don't have more than $50 to my name, but every need of mine is provided, and I am able to provide for others around me. God is not going to go around me to support others around me, but he is going to go through me and provide for me along the way. Thank you all for your phone calls, texts, emails, gifts, cards, and so much more! God has truly truly blessed me.
A verse that was brought to mind even today from a friend, John 15:9, As the Father has loved me, so I also love you, Abide in my love! what and invitation to enjoy his wonderful and whole presence! To all, not just the select few or the elite, but to all who are thirsty, that is what I am thankful for. A loving and zealous God!

I could honestly go on for hours, how he has been answering prayers down here in East Texas, or how he has been answering prayers in Western Washington, with all of the glory leading to God! May your bragging be done in the Lord Jesus Christ! And He is the one I give all the glory. His sacrifice that we can even invite the thought of eternity in, all because His love and desire for us!
Here were just a few of the praises that make my heart light and my heart sing!
I would love to hear from you all back home and rejoice with me the praises and miracles he has been accomplishing in your lives! Thank you all for encouraging me on toward love and good deeds! God is using you all, as my family, to keep my heart light and my feet continue to prod forward, knowing I have an encouraging and supportive family behind me, urging and cheering at every accomplishment and step!
I love you all and can not wait to see your bright and smiley faces when I return for Christmas break on December 12th!

Grace to you and peace from our Father and Savior Jesus Christ.
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Going Deeper!

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:45:00 GMT

Ok you guys!
I have been here at the Honor Academy for two and a half months and it already feels like two and a half years! It is amazing how God is continuously growing you and preparing you for the future.
God has gotten me through every day so far, literally by helping me put one foot in front of the other. These days have not been easy, but as Nehemiah reminds me, the joy of the Lord is my strength!I am also reminded to "consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds. Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. And when perseverance finishes it's work, you are perfect and complete, lacking nothing. These verses get me through the extra long days and I say yes, I will choose joy! Funny, when you come into his presence, all of the day's stress or happenings are washed away and you are just immersed in his cleansing and refreshing presence! My coremate told me, "when you behold God's glory, you reflect it!" Inspiring huh!

I would like to first thank all of you friends and family from all over the country who have been praying for me! At least once a day I could be having a down day but something in me decides to choose joy and think about the great things of life. I truly believe those are the moments you guys are lifting me up in prayer.
Also, thank you so much for all of the encouraging letters, emails, phone calls and such! I have been getting them all and they make my day like no other! I am sorry I have not been able to respond as quickly or as frequently as I would like, and I am sure you would too. The days are crazier than ever, full of work, class, sessions, and amazing God time!
Please continue to send them!

It is amazing how much God can speak to you, and I am so excited I have been hearing him!
I think of myself as one of the more independant people in my family and since I have been to five different countries, going to Texas for a year would be no big deal. Well little did I know how desperately I would miss friends and family back home. When thoughts of my brother or mother entered my mind, I had to choose joy and continue on through the day. It has been really hard the last month and a half, realizing how much I really left behind. Untill these last three weeks. God has been telling me I need to shape up my act. About three weeks ago, I was talking to a youth pastor on the phone, I could tell he sounded rather in a hurry so I quickly gave him the information and I then prayed for him. He then started praying for me and prayed that whatever I was feeling sad with and struggling with, that God would show me what he is trying to teach me through this circumstance. I then thought to myself, "happy ole me? what could I be sad about?" And then it hit me. I was homesick, terribly homesick.
Not untill this last week has God revealed to me what he has been trying to teach me through that scenario. First, he wants me to be more involved and aware of what is going on here and now. I need to be content with who I am around now, and what I am doing now. Our last guest speaker, Casey Johnson, in our Risen Women class, told us this, "If you are counting down the days, you are just wasting your time." I was blown out of the water with conviction with this statement. I was counting down the days untill I could see familiar faces back hom over Christmas break. What about the people God has put in my life here and now? What about those girls in the room across the hall? How can I minister to them? Or what about my teachers, what can I learn from them? Yes, I am taking all the classes offered, yes I am involved in the exciting extra curricular prayer clubs, yes I am on the flagfootball team, but how much time am I really spending with God, hearing what he wants to share with me through each and every day?
He really started this passion though, Friday evening. I was in my dorm room, medititating on Psalm 51 because I am trying to memorize it. (personal choice) When I was reading verse four over and over again, I started balling. I have been so selfish with all of my sins and I am hurting my creator more than anyone else. I then gave Saturday evening to God and had the sweetest time of worship under our prayer tree sitting on a swing in the sun, just singing my guts out! That time has started a yearning to spend more time in me than ever before. Never before have I been so strongly affected from missing my quiet time in the morning and wanting to know when I can next spend more time with my God! It is truly a revelation and I love it!
Also, we are highly encouraged by Ron Luce to take a scripture and to chew on it and meditate at least fifty times a day. The scripture I chose was 1 Corinthians 13:3 "And though I bestow all my goods to the poor, and although I offer my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." I wrote this on a piece of paper to help me memorize it, but wrote after the verse, WHY AM I SACRIFICING? God has just really been convicting me of my sacrificing actions. Why am I sacrificing for my room mates or so on. Is it because it is expected of me and it looks good? Or is it because I have God's love for them and want to sacrifice for them because Jesus sacrificed so much for me? I am now taking up our Global Expedition's theme of One Million Acts of Sacrificial Love and asking God to give me love for these wonderful people around me!
Let me ask you the same question! What part of Gods word, your breath of life are you meditating on? Are you letting God hide in your heart? :)

The staff and interns are amazing here. I have such a high respect for the director of the Honor Academy, David Hasz. He desires us to grow even more in the presence of our God and to have a great personal relationship with him. I have been meeting with some of my teachers this last week, just to ask them some questions, and with some graduate interns who can give me a little bit more personal advice. God has definately given me resources I can use and learn from all around me here at campus.
Work continues to give God many ways to answer prayers. I am now moving from inviting youth pastors to the mission's field in "promo" of Global Expeditions, to helping them finish the rest of the final details such as finding plane tickets and fundraising ideas (Encourament.) I work six hours a day calling and praying for youth pastors! Nobody's job can get better than that! Let me tell you! :)

This has been an amazing last couple of months, and I have only told you a tenth of what God has told me and showed me. I am so excited to see all of you over Christmas Break (Dec. 12-27th! ) I can't make it up for Thanksgiving Break, but my wonderful co-worker and friend, Camie, has invited me to her house in Texas! Praise the Lord for his provision once again! :) I miss you all and am praying for you all back at home! Please continue to pray for me!

Praises!
*I have been assigned the "leader" of my room, and some of my roommates have been opening up and communicating with me more, from a lot of prayer and intercession!
*My sore throat has gone away
*My heart change and desperation to start sacrificing free time to spend more with my God
*My work environment is very uplifting and vision filled
* I have a bible I can carry around with me at all times and open it and read it at any time to any one!

Prayer Requests!
*My roommates, Sarah, Shaina, and Kayla
*We have a fasting Life Transforming Event coming up this weekend. Everyone on campus will be fasting from food and talking starting Thursday night and we break fast Sunday morning. There will be worship and sessions for us, but we are still not allowed to talk! Just to our Lord! I am expecting some pretty heavy questions to be answered! :)
*That the incoming January class will have more interns than ever before!
*That I will discipline my body into making healthier eating and excerising habits to take care of the temple God has given me.

Thank you all for your support and prayer! God's family is such an intense and beautiful creation! How we can love on one another and be there for one another. Holding each other accountable! Please continue to pray for me and keep me accountable!
I want to hear some testimonies from you as well! Fill me in!
:)

Love you all!

From down south
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Gauntlet

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:12:00 GMT

Finished! The first week of attending the Honor Academy. God is already training me in so many areas. I have already been stretched physically, mentally, and of course, spiritually!
    Arrival day came all too quickly, I flew into DFW airport about twelve thirty in the morning and I spent the night there. The shuttle came to pick me up to take me to campus for about a two hour drive. On the shuttle I already made some fast friends. Everyone here is from all over the country, and Canada too! :D
Once I took care of all my regristration I found my room. I have three amazing room mates, their names are Kayla, Shayna, and Sarah. Each girl is a little bit different, but we all came here expecting to grow in God. And growing in God is exactly what we have been doing.
    During Gauntlet (first week of HA), we had cooporate excercise at six o clock in the morning. Doing anything from ab workouts to leg workouts, Jane Faundas to tires. Of course we would always end with a nice solid run with our core group. I have about fifteen girls in my core group. (three different rooms put together) We then had worship and sessions either teaching us about HA policies, or some biblical principles. Thursday evening, David Hasz ( the executive director of HA) gave an alter call to anyone who wanted to renounce the devil and his hold on their life. Almost all the auditorium stood up and renounced his power, they were moving on to greater things. After that, he sent us all out to the pool and about a third of the campus was baptized that night, rededicating their life to the Lord. I have already been baptized when I was about nine, so I did not feel another calling to recommit that stand. Though after the baptism we had an amazing time of worship and rejoicing. what a merciful and loving God we serve!
So many more things have been occuring, things are already going by in a flash. I recieved my job placement for the next year. I will be a GE (Global Expeditions) caller. Meaning I will be on the phone throughout the day, recruiting youth who signed up for a missions trip at Aquire the Fire. I am going through training this week and I start work next week. I am very excited to learn new phone policies in a work environment, while calling youth from around the country and being able to make an extreme difference in their life!
    God has already told me through others and his word that he wants a personal, intimate relationship with me. That I need to see him and be with him everyday. That he is EARNESTLY seeking me and does not lie when he says he wants to spend time with me. That really touched me, to know he is not just speaking fluffy love, but has an intense burning desire for me to know more about who he is, so that I can reflect him in my everyday walk. Just read 2 Corinthians 12:9 when I seek HIS kingdom first, he will enable me to do all things! That includes waking up at six every morning (which is now moved to five) to go work out the temple he has given me. :)
    Another amazing revelation he gave me just yesterday. We should not refer to the bible as truth, look up a scripture and believe it to be true. But rather, that it IS THE TRUTH. If we are not living as the bible guides and instructs us to, we are living a lie!How awakening is that one huh?

My favorite part of course, is sharing my praises with you all!
1) My body is growing stronger and my healthy through coorporate excercise.
2) I was placed in the work center that I feel fits me the best
3) My mother was able to send me insect repelant!
4) Everyday my hunger for more time with God and getting to know him is increasing at a rapid pace.
5)I am learning a form of discipline I never knew before, and it is helping shape my character into being an excellant woman of God so much more already

Then as you all know and I hope are eagerly searching for, prayer requests.
1) Please pray that the fast friends I made will grow to a deeper level and through each other we can just encourage one another to always be seeking the Lord, whether through prayer, his word or others, I want some good Godly friends
2) That I will continue on walking out every day. I need physical strength. The days are long and full, but our God is our strength and our refuge, and we can do all things through him!
3) For a great, hard working and ready to learn attitude for all the classes I will be attending, as well as when I am in my work environment.
4) That I can encourage my room mates to just love one another and to always lean on the Lord. He is our strength.

Thank you so much everyone, for keeping up with me. I heard that we are moving a million miles a second, while back at home, things are just their normal old pace.
I miss everything and everyone up in Washington, but down here God is moving just as much! Please just keep continuing to pray for my generation and that life will awaken in us!
I look forward to writing again when there are a few free minutes!

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Towels, notebooks, and Plane tickets OH MY!

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 05:06:00 GMT

Getting ready to fly out!

Graduation 2009

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:45:00 GMT

    This last year as a senior at Jenkins High School in Chewelah, went by surprisingly fast. Before I knew it I was sitting in the gym, listening to my principle give us walking instructions for graduation practice. The last month of school was a flurry of activity. Final papers to write, grades to gather, letters to mail, and yes, finals! Speaking of finals, my favorite one was when I got the privelidge to make my food and family class breakfast for my final, it was delicious!
     I waited twelve years for my chance to be recognized as a senior and it was finally here. I was the one who had to hurry back and forth between the counsilor's office and classes to get graduation recuirements figured out, I was the one who could sign myself out of school to go get that paper I forgot at home (and pick up a coffee on the way :) ) or I was the one being congratulated by a teacher for all that hard work. Yes, this was it. If I let it, reality was hitting me right between the eyes.
    I never thought saying goodbye would be so hard. My history teacher, Mr. Hogan made the biggest impact on me. He always taught me how to think outside the box and how to help others more than myself because when you give, the world is a better place. When the cards and gifts started coming in, the tears of course started flowing. How sweet people could be in their wishes. I am so blessed to have such amazing friends and family who support me. I still have like 100 thank you letters I need to send out. ah!
    Unfortunatly, graduation weekend, on the way to my graduation party, I got the news that my father and stepmother got in a severe car wreck on their way home from Rosalia on highway 195. They hit another car who careened into their lane head on. They are both alive, thank Jesus, but tragically, the other young woman died instantly.Dad was in the hospital for a week, and Bonnie (my stepmom) was in the hospital for two weeks. My sister recorded the graduation ceremony so they could watch it. It was a busy, bitter sweet weekend which was filled with goodbyes, congrats, hugs, kisses, prayers, and lack of sleep. I got my fill of graduation parties and such through out the weekend. The last two weeks were filled with helping my dad and stepmom with recovery and doing odd jobs for my nieghbors!
Dad and Bonnie are on their way to recovery. Well covered with prayer, and meals provided by my home church, Addy New Life, healing is easier! God is good to us. I keep reminding myself how thankful I am that they are not dead or paralized. The highway patrolman said they should have been dead. That right there is an ovbious sign of our God and his mighy hand in our life, protecting us all the way.
    I am now getting my head back on straight, cleaning house this week and I just picked up a job about 8-16 hours a week working for a supplement company filling sample bags. With that, moweing lawns and babysitting, God is being gracious and providing for all of my needs as they come! Thank you Jesus!
    The next step is to book a ticket down to Texas. My plan is to leave August 13th and get in really early Friday the 14th. For school starts on Friday! WOoohooo!
     If you guys could just keep my parents in prayer, for complete healing, and that making flying arrangements will go smoothly and the price will be fair. I so appreciate your guy's support and am excited to keep you filled in as God just keeps moving and filling me!


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