Amos

What I've been reading:  I decided to read through the minor prophets in the Bible because I had never read through them before.  To be quite honest, when I started I did not think I would find any way to relate it to my life.  Boy was I wrong.  Here's what I created and learned.

Amos 6:  I want to be in situations that are much bigger than my abilities so that I can watch God work.  I don't want to be comfortable or at ease.  I don't want to be complacent.  God will use me so much more when He is pushing me.  What a dangerous prayer to pray. 

Amos 4:  Lifting up Haiti in prayers as the waters rushed over their lands and disaster struck for the millionth time on their country. 

Amos 7:  What is God saying to you? 

Later I added this post it with some more information about the chapter.  It's interesting how God told Amos many things, but how Amos was also in constant communication with the Lord.  God listened to Amos, as well.  

Amos 8:  I was fascinated with the imagery of fruit in this chapter.  I realized how it represented sin in our lives, like the fruit Adam and Eve at in the Garden of Eden.  I was also very excited to get to use my fruit stamps.  The pineapple is my favorite.  I used my watercolor markers with the stamps instead of a normal ink pad.  

Amos 9:  We can't hide from God.  He will always find us.  He is always looking for us.  But are we looking for Him?  

 

Amos 3:  I was trying out a new style with this page.  I wanted something simple.  Are we walking in accordance with the Lord?  Are we walking hand in hand with Him every single day? 

My challenge for you?  Read a book of the Bible you've never read before and see what God will teach you!

Con mucho amor.

Revival Camp - Part I

What I've been learning: I got my first Illustrated Faith devotional in the middle of the summer, but I had been seeing lots of posts on Instagram about their summer workshop - Revival Camp.  I really felt like I was supposed to get it, but it is $50.00, which I thought was rather expensive.  God provided a pet sitting job for me for a week over the summer.  I earned the right amount of money to treat myself to the class.

It has been such a struggle for me to go through this class right now.  The devil keeps trying to discourage me from even opening the documents.  I am working on a passion project right now.  Something I am super excited about, but whenever we want to do something for the Lord, the devil doesn't like it.

I really wanted to have a table of contents at the front of my field note journal to keep things organized.  It started off with just the list, but then I added some colors and washi tape extras.

I needed a tip in for my Bible since I already painted and covered some of the pages in Nehemiah.

Here's a sneak at what I learned the first four weeks.

I also used some of the cut outs included to Bible journal other passages in the Bible, such as Ecclesiastes 5.

How is God reviving your faith right now?  What song is He singing to your heart?  How can you open your eyes to see Him more clearly?  Praying that the devil won't impede all that God is doing in your life right this very second.

Con mucho amor.

Looking for the Extraordinary

What I've been learning:  After living in the Dominican Republic for two years, it has been a challenging adjustment to get back into life in the United States.  The other day I was having a little conversation with the Lord.  I was complaining about how my life in the U.S. is so ordinary.

When I lived in the DR I was constantly traveling, constantly using Spanish.  Even just a trip to the grocery store was an adventure.  Life in the United States just isn't the same.

As I was arguing with the Lord, I felt Him telling me that I need to be looking for the extraordinary in each day.  I am His.  Every day God is showing and teaching me something different.  I don't live a boring life.  I need to keep my eyes open for all He has waiting for me.  Life with Him is always an adventure.

The next morning I got up early to go for a walk.  I kept praying and singing as I made my way around the neighborhood.  All of a sudden, I look up and see the moon and a hot air balloon.  It was breathtaking.

Then, I kept walking and the river was covered in fog dancing across its surface.  God totally wrapped me in His arms that morning, showing me the little but mighty extraordinary moments that He gives me.

My roommate last year in the DR, Christin, was visiting a friend in Seattle.  I told her that Bolt Bus tickets to Portland were really cheap and that she should swing by for a few days.  All of a sudden we were in Oregon together!  Another one of our friends from the DR lives in Portland so the three of us ate Burgerville, talked, and prayed.  God is so good and knows exactly what we need.  I couldn't believe the three of us were together again.  It was an extraordinary few days!

"And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, 'We have seen extraordinary things today.'" Luke 5:26

I found the extraordinary.  What are you looking for today?

Con mucho amor.

Currently

Drinking: Iced vanilla chai tea lattes.  When I lived in the DR my mom sent me this wonderful vanilla chai tea latte mix.  It was a special treat on rough days.  This summer I have been drinking it iced since the weather has warmed up.  So yummy.

Listening to:  More than Conquerors by Rend Collective.  The other week I Bible journaled the lyrics/verse to this song (see this blog post).  On Saturday night I went to church.  The worship leader said, "Tonight we are learning a new song for this church."  And guess what song it was...  I love it when God taps me on the shoulder with the same lesson until I start listening.

I also discovered a new Spanish artist, Jaz Jacobs.  I even bought her cd.  "Senor sobre mi situacion" and "Purfume a Tus pies" are two of my favorites.

Writing: down my blessings.  One of my mentors in the DR gave me a cute little jar before I left Santiago.  It is a blessing jar.  It is amazing how when we are obedient, He blesses us abundantly.

"All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God."  Deuteronomy 28:2

Watching: Ghostbusters (Kevin was my favorite) and the Last Ship

Reading:  Blog posts by these wonderful ladies.  Writergirl5786 has beautiful posts on the Illustrated Faith Revival Camp.  I absolutely adore reading what she does each week with the prompt.  Seeds of Creative Grace has beautiful posts that make me want to buy everything in Illustrated Faith's shop.

Wanting to read:  Uninvited by Lysa TerKerust and Without Revival by Lisa Bevere

How has your week been?  What have you been learning?  Reading?  Sipping on?

Con mucho amor. 

I am strong in Him

What I've been creating:  I purchased my very first Illustrated Faith devotional kit the other week: I am Strong.  A life theme for 2016 is that I am so very weak and unqualified.  God fills me with His strength, though, and that is the main message of the devotional.  I kept checking the front porch for this box.  I felt like a little child on Christmas.

Each devotional kit comes with a stamp set, devotional book, washi tape, fun cut outs, paper clip, and sticker.  With VBS this weekend, I am soaking up the messages from Wilna Furstenberg and Jesus.

Here's the first page I completed in the devotional.  I used these watercolor markers from Amazon, as well as the stamps that came in the kit.  I had never heard of the word KAWA before.  Digging in deep to the meaning in Hebrew.

This second page is all about making progress in the midst of adversity.  My favorite part of this page is my little word map with the words "bravery" and "army."  I am such a visual learner, so mapping out my ideas helps me a lot.  

The third page I completed in the devotional was all about looking inward.  God is with us always, inside our hearts.  I used the devotional as inspiration to decorate Psalm 121-125 in my actual Bible.  I love creating in my Bible, but it is really nice to have the devotional to give me new ideas and inspiration.  I am glad I still have 11 entries left in this devotional.

Let us lean into God this week.  He is inside our hearts.  He will give us strength.

Con mucho amor.

#43

What I've been creating:  This weekend I decided to look through the different pages in my Bible journal.  I counted the ones I had finished... I'm amazed that since January I have finished 43 pages.  43 pages full of prayers, watercolors, verses that spoke to my heart and still do.  That's over a page a week.  I am not very good at math, but I believe it's two pages a week.  That means two times a week I set aside a good chunk of time to spend with Jesus.

I have spent more time in the Word in 2016 than I ever have in my life.  I have spent more time prayer journaling in 2016.  I have no doubt in my mind it's because of this creative faith community I have found.

Here are some of my latest pages.

How are you creatively expressing your faith?  God is an artist.  A creator.  Spend some time with Him this week creating.

Con mucho amor.

Currently

Reading: As I roam on Instagram, I find book suggestions from other Jesus girls.  Two books that kept popping up on social media are Girls with Swords by Lisa Bevere and Wild and Free by Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan.  One of my coworkers was also talking about Radical by David Platt.  I love being able to have time to soak up a good book.

I haven't started Wild and Free yet, but I have read half of Girls with Swords.  Bevere's main idea is that the devil  is out to get us girls because God has called us to do mighty things for His kingdom.  I 100% agree with her on that.  It is so easy to feel like a target, but God has given us tools to fight back against the enemy.

"You are a royal daughter of the King - handpicked for a purpose."  Lisa Bevere

"Lovely One, you already know you are a target.  You might as well choose to be a warrior hero."  Lisa Bevere

Radical is about the church in the United States.  He makes readers question, what is the point of church in the USA?  Are we spending more money on fancier buildings, air hockey tables for the youth room, or are we using our resources to reach out to the lost people?  Especially since I am working as staff at a church, this book is making me think about what we do and why we do it.

"We are afraid that if we stop and really look at God in His Word, we might discover that He evokes greater awe and demands deeper worship than we are ready to give Him."  David Platt

Finishing: Garden City by John Mark Comer - a nonfiction book about work and rest and finding our passions.  I feel like I am in this strange in between time of trying to figure out what is next in my life.  This book encourages us to use the passions God has placed in our hearts.

"If you don't do it, not only do you rob yourself of the life God called you to live, but you also rob the rest of us.  We need you."  John Mark Comer

Writing: Prayers and song lyrics that touch my heart and bring me back to Jesus.

Listening to: Thy Will by Hillary Scott, Hay Libertdad by La IBI, Estar a tus pies by Miel San Marcos, and Messengers by Lecrae and For King and Country

Using:  Recollections washi tape in everything!  In my Bible, prayer journals, notecards...

Obsessing over:  Anything and everything with pineapples.  Stickers, clothing, wall decals, journals.

Teaching and Learning:  Wednesday nights I co-lead the middle school youth group at my church.  I love that God uses those moments with them to teach me lessons as I am teaching them.  Last Wednesday we had a campfire, and we read through Exodus 3:1-12, the story about Moses and the burning bush.

I love how Moses asks God, "Who am I..."  Many times I feel inadequate to do what God calls me to do.  But if He is asking us to do whatever it is, He will not leave us on our own.

This week we went to an arcade/game center nearby.  One of the girls had never been on the go-karts before, and she was too short to drive one herself.  I volunteered to drive her.  Every single day I drive.  I have been on go-karts many times before.  I was happy to go, but she was ecstatic.  She was screaming from happiness as we went around the course.  She had a huge smile on her face, even after we stopped.

I was thinking about how so often when we start or do something new - job, relationship, project, etc., it can seem so thrilling at first.  But then, we get into a routine.  We get bored, and it loses the specialness.  I want to encourage you all to take back that excitement, that zest, for whatever you are doing in life.  Do it with joy.  Do it with love.  Do it with passion.

Con mucho amor.

Lessons from the Road: Part II

What God has been teaching me:  I struggle with patience.  I struggle with waiting, yet the Bible is full of people who waited.  I was having a conversation with someone about this struggle on Monday.  I want to know everything now.  I want to understand what God is doing now.  We live in a world full of now now nows.  But God is asking us to W A I T.

from: here 

The next morning I was reading Jesus Calling and the whole meditation for the day was about patience. I thought, "Wow, God.  You sure have a good sense of humor.  Glad to have learned that lesson."  I put a check mark by the topic in my mind.  Little did I know that God was going to continue teaching it to me.  All.  Day.  Long.

Then I went to drive to church to work, and I got stuck behind a slow car.  I missed the green light at the stoplight.  Within a 15 minute drive to work God continued teaching me the lesson.  Don't worry, on the way home, I also got stuck behind a slow car.  Same message: Hillary, be patient!  Don't rush things.

But that wasn't enough.  Later on that night I was scrolling through Facebook, and someone else shared a memory of them posting the passage from Jesus Calling.  The same one.  About patience.

God keeps pestering blessing me by teaching me the same thing.  Over and over.  I clearly need it.  I LOVE getting to see what He will show me next.

What else God has been teaching me:  Wednesday I felt a strong urge to read through 1 Corinthians.  I started reading the first and second chapter.  Those chapters focus on how God can use our weaknesses.  Then chapter 3 talks about how we plant the seeds, but God makes them grow.  Both of those themes are perfect for working in ministry.

The ladies from the DR have graciously allowed me to stay in the group chat that we have from church.  Each day one of them sends a meditation.  The meditation for the day was all about planing seeds and God making them grow...

And a third time He did something crazy:  I love the fact that He keeps teaching me the same lessons over and over again.  Thursday morning it was about trust.  My mother wood burned a beautiful coaster for me.  She engraved the word: T R U S T

I have been needing to lean more and more on God lately, trusting in HIS amazing plan for my future.  Handing over my plans to Him because He knows what I need and what the world needs more than I know.  Thursday and Friday the devotional was about the same theme: T R U S T

"Que todo mi ser espere en silencio delante de Dios, porque en Él esta mi esperanza.  Solo Él es mi roca y mi salvacion."  Salmos 56:5-6

What crazy things is God doing in your life right now?

Con mucho amor.

Lessons from the Road: Part I

What I've been thinking about: Monday morning the passage in Jesus Calling was about looking for God each day.  He is always eager to talk to us, we just need to be open and receptive to His "touches" throughout our days.  God loves it when we discover His marvelous presence.  Monday I went out with eyes open to see Him.

Monday night I was driving home.  The roads were pitch black. It was late.  I was slightly scared.  I could barely see the road.  I could barely see what was in front of me.  The moon, however, was full and bright.  Its beautiful rays were shining down on the road.  God was telling me something:  He is like the moon, shining down on our dark lives.  We cannot see the whole road.  We cannot see the whole path to the end when we arrive at home, but the moon sees it all; God can see the future.  

Our vision is so limited.  He can only show us the next steps little by little.  He cannot show us the whole path, but He is faithful.  We can trust that He will show us in His timing, not our own.

 "Los cielos cuentan la gloria de Dios, y el firmamento auncia la obra de sus manos." Salmos 19:1-2

Where are you seeing God today?

Con mucho amor.

Fries, Superheroes, and Jesus

What I've been doing:  God opened up a REALLY amazing door for me.  My last few months in the DR, I was praying for a job over the summer.  I was also praying for a way to get more involved at my church in Wilsonville.  My dad happened to be at the church one night working on a building project, and he went down to talk to the pastor and say hello.  The pastor mentioned as my dad was leaving that they were looking for a summer intern to work with the youth at the church.  My dad immediately thought of me, and he suggested the pastor shoot me an email.  No one else but God could have organized all those little details.

As soon as I saw the email, I knew this was God placing another job in my lap.  He always seems to do that for me.  Probably because that's what I pray for.  :)

Last week was my first official week working in ministry, aka actually getting paid to serve the Lord!  In college and in the DR I always worked with youth as a volunteer.  I see now that God was preparing me for the current role I am in.

Wednesday nights the youth get together, and we had a "Tour de Frye's."  We went to McDonalds, Wendy's, Burger King, WOW Burger, and Sonic, rating the fries on saltiness, freshness, and texture.  It was a great event to connect with the parents and students.  My stomach was only a little upset on Thursday morning from only eating fries for dinner.

Sunday I was fully in charge of Sunday school.  We did a father's day craft and talked about the big question: How old is God?  One of the middle schoolers from Wednesday offered to help me the Sundays she comes to church.  I am super excited to see what God does over the summer.

What's coming next:  This week we are having water wars and pizza with the middle schoolers.  I am also going to do the inductive Bible study with them using my favorite "fishers of men" passage in Matthew 4.  Pray that we can dive into the Word more often and lift our voices to Him in prayer.

This week we are also continuing our superhero theme in Sunday school and answering the question: Is God more powerful than a superhero?  I am excited to wear my superhero cape (!!) and teach the kids "Jesus is my Superhero" a song that I heard a lot in the DR.

Please be praying for all these opportunities to pour into the lives of young people.

Con mucho amor.

Descanse

Rest in Me, My child.  Give your mind a break from planning and trying to anticipate what will happen.  Pray continually, asking My Spirit to take charge of the details of this day.  Remember that you are on a journey with Me.  When you try to peer into the future and plan for every possibility, you ignore your constant Companion who sustains you moment by moment.  As you gaze anxiously into the distance, you don't even feel the strong grip of My hand holding yours.  How foolish you are, My child.

Remembrance of Me is a daily discipline.  Never lose sight of My Presence with you.  This will keep you resting in Me all day, every day.  - Jesus Calling

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him."  Psalm 62:5

Learning

What God has been teaching me:  I have been back on US soil for less than a week.  It was a hard week.  It was a comfortable and yet uncomfortable week.  It was a sad week.  It was a week spent sleeping.  And shopping.  I constantly have two languages in my head.  Two cultures.  Two ways of living life fighting inside of me.  I am so happy to be in Oregon, yet my soul is longing for another place.

I was cranky this week.  I was mad at God for taking me away from Santiago when He did.  But He has a reason.  He always does.  Thursday I finally pulled out my prayer notebook and gave some things to Him, and I felt slightly less cranky.

Even in my unfaithfulness and grumpiness, God still has been teaching me some interesting things.  "Coincidences"  that could only come from our Good, Good, Father.

The day I left, one of my friends told me that God will reveal what's next for me.  She said that God will make the path straight and clear.  A different friend randomly told me to read through Proverbs 3.  These words popped off the page.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6  

The exact same verse.

I have been reading through Jesus Calling, one of my favorite devotional books.  God connected this devotional with some other comments from people throughout the week.  One of the days the main text was Luke 12:22-31.  The passage talks about how we need not worry.  This week I went to the doctor's office and I had a little freak out when I couldn't fill out the line that said "Employment."  I have no job lined up after this summer.  I have no source of income.  When I was talking to someone about that this week, they said their devotional was about Matthew 6 - the exact same passage about not worrying.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  Matthew 6:33  

"Seek the kingdom of God, and all these things [food, water, and clothing] will be added to you."  Luke 12:31 

One of my girlfriends and I have been talking about love and marriage recently.  One of the verses she shared with me before I left the DR was 1 John 4:18.  This week the verse came up again on one of the days in Jesus Calling.

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear."  1 John 4:18

Lastly, someone told me to read Psalm 84 today.  One of my favorite verses is verse 5.  It talks about how we are blessed when our strength is in the Lord, when we cannot do it on our own.  The Jesus Calling passage for today talked about how weakness is a good thing because it draws us close to Him.  Our weaknesses create an intimacy with us and the Lord.  One of the verses in the devotional for today says,

"I will trust in the Lord and not be afraid.  The Lord himself is my strength."  Isaiah 12:2

I have been praying that God puts me in an amazing community of believers this summer.  One of the reasons I love the Dominican Republic is that I have some really awesome friends who point me to Jesus.  A old friend from high school who I haven't connected with in years sent me a FB message asking if I wanted to come to her women's small group on Friday nights and the college group on Tuesdays.  God, You are SO faithful and SO good.

Tomorrow I start my first day working at the church in Oregon.  Excited and nervous to see what God is going to do.

Con mucho amor.

One Week

Heavenly Father,

I only have one week left in this beautiful country.  I thank You, Lord, for all that You have taught me.  Over these past two years I have grown so very much.  I think back to last year, all the times I wanted to leave the DR.  You faithfully sustained me, and now I don't want to leave.  I am trying to trust in Your plan for me, God.  I know it is better than what I have dreamed up.  Help me to finish well, Lord.  Help me to leave a legacy here in this city, in this country.    

I pray You will help me stay in close contact with my friends here in Santiago.  Bring me back to this crazy city soon, Lord.  I really don't think You are done with me here.  Going back to Oregon is going to be hard.  Help people to not forget to pray for me.  Help me to not forget to pray for them.  I cannot say thank You enough, Lord, for putting such amazing people in my life in Santiago.  You spoiled me with some really amazing friends. 

Bless the people and ministries I have worked with here in Santiago.  Bring more people to help with the work.  I know the harvest is plenty, but the workers are few.  I pray for more leaders in APPS, especially female leaders.  Stir up the hearts of people in Vida Nueva to want to serve the youth of the church and community.  Help APPS to not just be a fun place to be on Saturday nights, but help it to be a place where the young people are growing closer to You.   

I thank You for the lives of the girls at the Hogar de Ninas.  They are such sweethearts.  Dancing with them, crafting with them, eating with them.  Spending time with them is always one of the highlights of my week.  I pray You would do a mighty work in their hearts a lives.  Bring them to You, Lord.  Show them how loved they are.  Show them that You have a plan for their lives.  They are important.  They are noticed.    

I lift up New Hope to You today.  Oh Lord, do a mighty work in the lives of the girls there.  Help them to turn from their sin and run to the cross.  Give energy and strength to the employees at New Hope.  I especially lift up the teachers and nannies.  It is a hard and exhausting job, God.  Give them what they need to do what YOU have called them to do.  Continue to send interns to help.  Cast out the darkness and evil in the lives of the girls and bring them to You.  

I pray for Cantico Nuevo.  Bless that church financially, God.  Help them to grow and saturate Santiago with Your amazing HOPE.  I pray they would reach outward.  There are so many people searching for You, Lord.  I pray for their Sunday school program.  Give the leaders new ideas and help the kids to grow in You.  Help the little ones to not only learn stories about You, Lord, but show them what it is like to have a real relationship with You. 

I lift up Iglesia Bautista Vida Nueva today, Lord.  You have blessed me with two amazing church families here in the Dominican Republic.  Help Vida Nueva in the transitions that are coming.  Help it to be a church focused on the lost people in Santiago.  Help Vida Nueva to reach outward, as well.  I pray for the men and women's ministries at Vida Nueva.  Push people outside of their comfort zones, Lord.  Help Vida Nueva to reach new and more people through Real Momentum and the couple's retreats. Teach them new things.  Help more people to get involved with grupos de vida.  Help the different cultures and languages to mix well.  Help people to not just sit in the seats on Sunday, Lord, but fill them with a passion to serve You.     

I pray for Refugio, the young adult group at Vida Nueva.  Give the leaders wisdom as they plan activities.  Put creative ideas in their minds.  College is so difficult, Lord.  Help them flee from temptation.  Give people opportunities to speak about what they are passionate about.  Help every last Sunday of the month to be a time of encouragement, prayer, and togetherness.        

God, I pray for Andrew, Isaac, and Joseph.  The three boys You entrusted me with for the past two years.  I have loved watching them grow into men of You.  Watching them step out in faith.  Watching them pray and serve.  Watching them grow academically and spiritually.  Let the seed fall on fertile soil, Lord.  Help them to get baptized and take the next steps of faith.  Protect them, God, as they go back to SCS.  Keep them safe and guide their paths.  Don't let them fall into temptation.  Put amazing friends in their lives that will bring them to You.  Help them to be involved at a church or youth group.  Put mentors in their lives to help them when they have questions.  

Use me in a mighty way this summer in Oregon.  I thank You for the job You've given me this summer working at my church.  Help me to transform the lives of the youth in Oregon.  Fill me with more creative ideas.  Use me in my family.  Help us to read Your Word together.  Help us to really pray together.  Use me in the lives of my friends.  Help me to just have a fun summer where I can relax a little bit.  

Continue to show me what You want me to do with Satura and the creative workshops I have been giving.  Guide me in the next steps to take, Lord.  Show me what You want me to do in the future.  I pray You would bless the dreams and ideas You placed in my head.  Help me to serve You with my whole heart, Lord.  

Thank You.

Thank You.

Thank You.

In Your mighty name I pray, Amen.