Thoughts (Not Snakes) On a Plane...

Re-posted from my Poppy in Ibiza Newsletter:

A few months ago I spent a week in England doing some fun things with 24-7 Prayer. I was settling in to my flight back home when I noticed something interesting. While the flight attendants were preparing to present the usual emergency demonstration, all around me people were tuning out.

I kind of always feel bad for flight attendants at this point because hardly anyone is paying attention. As I watched this happen, I realized how crazy it is. While they give life saving information, people are putting on headphones, talking, or even falling asleep. It's become so familiar that people have stopped paying attention.

As I was sitting there, I realized that we sometimes do this with God's word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says this:
 

"Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us."

We get that scripture is important for out spiritual growth, but let's be honest. Just like the flight attendants safety demonstration, sometimes scripture starts to feel like this familiar thing that we've heard over and over again. We hear the first few words of John 3:16 and we start to zone out. 

Been there, done that. 

As I sat on the plane pondering, I felt the challenge to be aware of God's word, and what he's trying to speak to me through it. I believe we serve a God who is all about the details. If I'm hearing a verse over and over again, it may be because God knows one day I'm going to need it. Just like I may need to actually put those flight attendant safety instructions into action one day!

So my challenge to you today is to listen well. Ask God what he wants you to hear, and open your ears to hear what he wants to speak to you! 

24-7 Prayer Gathering in Vienna

It's been way too long since I've blogged! Winter has been good, and I've got lots of stuff to update you on. The last thing I mentioned (all the way back in October), was that I was headed to Vienna to attend the annual 24-7 prayer gathering. I've been involved with 24-7 for 10 years now and I've ALWAYS wanted to go to a gathering. When I was living in the US, the logistics of coming were a little more involved and expensive.

This year, even though I was geographically closer, my budget was even tighter. Thankfully, I managed to get a few sponsors who covered my flight, hotel and ticket.

After all the years of waiting, I must say that the gathering lived up to the hype! It was an amazing time with fantastic speakers and powerful worship. It was also a great time to meet new people from all over the world, and to re-connect with people who I've met in Ibiza over the years. 

One of the highlights for me was the night we were allowed to hold our worship service at St Stephen's Cathedral. It was built back in 1160, and the experience of worshiping in a place where people have done so for hundreds of years was amazing. 

This year's gathering is in Belfast, and I'm already making plans to go! 

Here's a video of one of my favorite talks from the conference. 

Enjoy! 

Hello October

People often ask me if I miss anything about America. Of course I miss my family, but outside of that (and the occasional irrational craving for Taco Bell), I mostly answer "not much".

Until now....

Now it's October which means it's PUMPKIN SEASON!!!!!

Unfortunately the rest of the world hasn't quite caught up with America and it's love of all things pumpkin in the fall.

(*sigh*) What I wouldn't give for just 15 minutes in a Trader Joe's...

In other news, October means the summer season in Ibiza is coming to an end. We'll be out on the streets for a few more weeks before the west end shuts. Winter means it's time again for Spanish class. I have my first class tomorrow, and I'm determined this winter to learn Spanish! We'll see how that goes.

One other thing October brings is a chance for me to finally go to a 24-7 Gathering! 24-7 Ibiza, is a part of of 24-7 Prayer, and every year they hold a conference where all their communities come together. I've always wanted to go, and am so excited to be a part of it this year.

I leave for Vienna on Thursday, and will write up a blog post on my trip when I get back. Who knows, maybe I'll even get fancy and vlog my trip!

As always, thanks for reading!

God Knows the Tea

So, if you're alive and paying attention to the news or pop culture, you know that people are always hungry for the tea.



The past few weeks have been full of news about celebrities fighting, and YouTube beauty guru drama. People have been spilling tea all over the place.



Now I'm sure some of you are wondering what the heck I'm talking about. Who are these people that can't keep hold of their tea cups! Urban Dictionary defines "Spilling the Tea" as telling the details of something especially scandalous. The tea is the gossip. For some of us, the "Tea" about our lives is the stuff we don't want people to know.

 But we can't hide anything from God. Truth is no "Tea" can hide from him!

Side Note: At this point I'm wondering how long it would take me to translate my own version of the bible using urban dictionary...(hmmmmm)

One of the things we pray a lot in the prayer room is that God would help us to get straight to people's hearts when we chat with them out on the streets. I can't tell you how many conversations I've had in the west end that start with hello, and then withing a few minutes someone is spilling our there life story to me. Mistakes, flaws and all. I love it, not because I want to hear the juicy details, but because it gives me the opportunity to speak God's truth into their lives. I get to be a reflection of God's love and forgiveness to them. I get to break that stereotype that says God can't love me because I've done  THIS ---> _____________  (fill in the blank)

Romans 8:1 tells us that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ.

The truth is God sees all of me. The good, and the broken, and he still loves me. There's no putting on for God. He sees past the mask, straight to the heart of who I am. And he still loves me. Still chooses me.

So, God knows your "Tea" and he still wants relationship with you. That's good news!

Do it Again

A few weeks ago I was in the prayer room at 2AM when someone put this song on:

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I love a simple worship song with powerful lyrics. Here's my favorite bit from this song:

I've seen you move, You move the mountains
And I believe, I'll see you do it again
You made a way, where there was no way
And I believe, I'll see you do it again

As soon as I hear the first notes of the song ringing out in our small prayer space, I start to smile. This was a song I sang a lot when I was in Las Vegas, working on trying to get my Spanish Visa. You guys know it took me several attempts and many years to finally see that happen. If you read back through this blog you'll see there have been many times along my Ibiza journey where God stepped in and made the impossible happen.

It happened with my very first trip to Ibiza in 2009. I felt God call me to come on a short term missions team that year. At the time a plane ticket to Ibiza from California in April was going to cost me almost $700. On top of that I needed to pay for accommodations and food for the five days I would be in Ibiza. When I felt it was impossible God stepped in and provided the money for me to go.

In 2014 I wanted to come back for another summer season, but didn't have the money to cover my housing and expenses for three months. Just as I was getting ready to reach out to the team leaders Abby and Charlie to let them know I wasn't going to be able to make it that summer, they emailed to inform me that someone had anonymously donated the money for me to come that season.

I though often of both of those stories as I waited for my Spanish visa results last year. As we sang "Do it Again" in the prayer room I was reminded of God's faithfulness during my visa journey. But I was also challenged to hold on to that same faithfulness for my future!  My Spanish visa renewal is coming soon, and I'm reminded that I serve a God who makes mountains move. A God who can step into my life and make the impossible happen.

I hope you know the same is true for you! God wants to move the mountains in your life, and I bet if you stop to look back you can recall the times from your past when he's done that. The good news is that God is the same yesterday today and forever! (Hebrews 13:8) The same God who moved those mountains in your past is ready to DO IT AGAIN for you today. (see what I did there?)

The God Who Sees Me.

She was standing against a wall as we first approached. We'd been called over by the police to make sure she was okay. The closer we got to her, the more she looked like she was trying to disappear into the wall. She was crying, and before long her story spilled out.

She can't find her husband, she's alone...and she's scared. I was out on the streets with Nick, and we do our best to try and calm her down. She tells us the name of her hotel (which is close by) and we start walking her home. As we walk, she keeps saying one thing. 

"Please don't leave me alone." 

We assure her over and over again that we won't leave her. We promise to get her back to her hotel, and as we walk, I'm praying that we some how stumble into her lost husband.  

Before long we have her back in her hotel. As we get her room key, the man on the front desk informs us that her husband is upstairs in bed already (yes!). 

After we were done we head back into the prayer room and I couldn't stop thinking  about a two things:  

1. I was ready to walk past her. When we initially turned the corner, she looked like she was fine. Just a woman standing in the west end. I couldn't see that she was paralyzed with fear. But our God is the God who sees us (Genesis 16). And he saw her. He knew she needed help, and with a small nudge he pointed us in her direction. It's a reminder to me that God is actively pursuing his children in this place. 

2. Her simple request. 

"Please don't leave me alone." 

I wonder if I sound like that to God at times? He's promised me that he won't ever leave me (Hebrews 13:5), but am I listening? Am I believing him? Every time she started begging us not to leave her, I just reassured her that we weren't going to do that. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I want to have a faith that trusts the things that God says. 

We sang "Yes and Amen" by Housefires in the prayer room tonight. I love the bit that says 

I will rest

In your promises 

My confidence 

is your faithfulness.

You have been so faithful in my life God. Let my confidence rest fully in that! 

Day Seven

A Week in the Life: Day Seven

What a week its been. Reading back through my posts, I realized that I'm just barely scratching the surface of what goes on in this place! There are so many exciting things happening everyday, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. Every now and then I pinch myself when I realize that after all the years of praying and planning, I'm finally here.

My day seven was full of rest. The only solid thing I had on my schedule today was church. We do a service in the west end in our center every Sunday evening at 7 PM.

I love the mix of people that show up. Everyone from workers to locals, and all are welcome! After church several of us went out for dinner at a local spot near one of the team apartments. My Monday is going to be pretty full on, so I also spent some time today getting ready for that. It's already time to face a new week!

*Just want to note that today is July 1st, which means we've officially stepped into my birthday month!


via GIPHY

There are two types of people. Those who are reserved and shy about their birthday, and those who are not. I'll give you three guesses which one I am, and the first two guesses don't count!

Thank you so much for joining me for my "Week in the Life" blog series. I'll be blogging regularly, so make sure you come back to check in on me.

I'm still working to raise the support I need to volunteer with 24-7 Ibiza. If you're interested in learning more about how you can help, just click on the Donate tab .

Thanks for reading!