Holy Spirit?!?!

The past week or so, we have finally settled into our surroundings, finding a more rhythmic schedule, and an ability to begin to speak into each others lives more effectively as brothers and sisters. A typical day makes absolutely no sense in my mind; for the fact that I am doing Jesus work, all the time! Now, you're asking yourself, what's Jesus work?......................

Jesus worked with his hands, earning a living, for thirty years. He built chairs, tables, tools; whatever a carpenter could build, he did it. Then he was sent into the wilderness, to be set apart from the rest of society, the culture, all that he knew. So that he could prepare for his ministry(do we really know the meaning of the word ministry? Or is it a word just thrown around so people have a 'general' idea; that being that we are telling the gospel boldly?). Let me rephrase, 'So that he could prepare for his: healing the sick/diseased(blindness, bleeding, death, blindness, doubt, paralyzed, leprosy, severed ear), cast out demons,  speaking life into the broken and empty hearts, love the ones that he came in contact with, share the heart of his Father in heaven, disciple twelve men that would be responsible for spreading the teachings and news of who Jesus and Abba and Holy Spirit is, leading to his death on a carved out tree. 

Now, that sounds like a lot to put on any persons plate, particularly to be accomplished in three years. Yet Jesus, who is our Father God in human form, came to earth to live a perfect life without blemish. This allowed for his life to be deserving of the reward of heaven/eternal life, but there was a catch. As he hung on the carved out tree, our Father and Jesus' Father, put all the brokenness and darkness that is in our hearts on Jesus. This overwhelming weight Jesus experienced killed him. Only so we could, as sons and heirs of the Kingdom of God, take hold of the reward Jesus had waiting for him. What?!?!

But throughout this, Jesus asked that we as believers, disciples, and followers of our Father God, that we do his works, and greater! We can do all that he did in his three years of loving the world, and more, simply because God the Father decided to give us the blessing that He gave Jesus.

..........So everyday, I go out into the community around me, and love people, care for people, pray for people, share Jesus with people. We meet in the mornings as a family, worship, read the Holy Bible, and pray. Ah, family time is so enjoyable when Holy Spirit comes and rests on our time, revealing new things to our hearts, and then allowing us to pick up and go share it, go practice it, go be it! Not a day goes by that we don't have neighbor kids in our house, sharing food, stories, jokes, music, or just plain fun. They even like to stick around for worship, and reading the word of God. Wednesday night we even went around the room describing Papa with every letter in the alphabet, three times over!! We figured that being 78, minus a few for obscure letters. Even the ten year old kids came up with awesome words describing who God is, and they don't have the doctrinal or theological background that we have in the house. Whether it was illustrious, obedient, or just amazing! The concept of who God is in the eyes of a child is a beautiful and humbling thing, and I am soaking it up. 

We even like to go hang out at the park. Whether it's going to the pool, playing hide-and-seek, climbing trees, playing on the playground, kicking a soccer ball, or just running around; the kids love it! We then have an opportunity to sometimes talk to the parents as well, getting to know them, and just loving them. Whether we share the gospel or not, we know that we were able to be a part of someone else's life, because we wanted to love them. Anything else is in vain, if it is not in love. That hits hard, every time. 

Right now, that's what I can process in words, but there is so much more! Look for more very soon. 

Blessings to all of you, truly. 

Morgan

Living and Breathing

As I sit here and reflect on the almost two weeks it has been since this internship started, I have come to some realizations that don't make sense; except that God has a hand in it all. I have seen, tasted, and experienced God in new ways, and really am beginning to grasp how alive He and His words are! It's hard to really convey with words the process that has begun in my heart. There is a shifting and changing going on, that I never imagined would happen. When I posture my heart in submission to Abba, and allow Him to come in and do work, loving me like was intended, I find so much freedom, and yet so much junk in my heart. There is a healing that must happen, that I never even realized was needed. I have been living in a life that serves our Father and who He is, yet I have been living and thriving in some unhealthy ways that God sees as good in heart, but not best for me spiritually.

In the Hebrew culture, the Word of God is living and active, never ceasing; always moving forward. In the original text there are no verse or chapter markers, no books, no periods. Simply commas, as the words and actions of our God move forward until the day that Jesus returns to this earth to claim His kingdom on earth. Considering we live in the western culture, we are caught inherently in the Greek culture/thinking. We look at the world, physically and spiritually, in a completely different light than what the Hebrew culture would see. A lot of our thinking is abstract, and we take everything at face value, as a picture. Where in the Hebrew culture, they view things in the way they function, and concrete. And everything that they do, is moving along the path of truth, of life, of what Jesus desires for us. In the this movement we are living in perfection, in that we are continually growing and moving closer to God and who He is. In which our nearness to God and continually moving in perfection is what brings His anointing, and our ability to move in what He desires for us, practically and supernaturally.

Our movement in perfection is beautiful, perfect, good, and functional. We must continually look towards God and His face, and posture our hearts to receive form our Daddy. When we open our hearts, we are submitting all that we are: mind, soul, strength, and heart. We open them all to be used to His glory, and for His delight. And in this, there will come spiritual formation and healing. Whether we truly see the process or not, there is a process of cleansing and forming who we are in Christ, and healing must and will occur if we are willing. There are things in our hearts that are not healthy for anyone, and that God did not intend to be in our hearts. Whether it is sin, hurt, cynicism, etc. There is so much that can creep in and destroy/decay our hearts. I have even found this in my own heart, where I didn't think it actually existed. Sin and disease are described by the same word in Hebrew. And this disease is what leads to actions, leading to addiction. The disease is the root of what we must get at. And God is willing to pour out His love, and to bring that healing!

God is so good, and so willing to invade your heart if you let Him. Press in, draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you!

Blessings to you all

Morgan

Jesus and Community

Day 1

As day one winds to a close, there is a sense of excitement, readiness, and expectancy of things to come. Already today I have met eight new people that have the same insatiable vision and desire of encountering Jesus, and searching out the Kingdom. We read through Isaiah 61 for church tonight, and it totally opened my eyes. It was already an influential verse in my life, but something clicked. The things in this verse are the Kingdom of Heaven coming to earth in the physical. I have been laboring over what Heaven on earth really means, entails, looks like, etc. And this has given me an even better understanding of what Heaven is, and how the Kingdom is to come to earth. It is a representation and model of restoration, hope, and joy. The pull of Jesus brings us out of the depths of despair, mourning, ashes, darkness, and brokenness. And in that, the Kingdom begins to take shape on earth. The heart of restoring what has been lost, destroyed, and trampled on wreaks. We are then new creations, inheriting what God has left for us. Along with being His ministers and priests, while bringing us righteousness (in right relation) in Him. What a beautiful picture that brings a sense of comfort, trust, and mission. A vision of what to push for and never to back down.

Day 2

As we submerge in Kansas City even deeper, we are beginning to catch wind of what this internship and opportunity means. It is more than just learning about God. It is stepping into the Heart of Papa, grasping his desires and commands and promises and diving into relationships; right relationship. As we draw near to Him, we find more and He comes a bit closer, then He points again to His mission for us, commanding us to go out and make disciples and relationships with our community and family. The Church is made up of family and relationships that allow us to partner with to go out and to pour into the community around us.  Commit to the Lord, delight in the Lord, Wait on the Lord (Psalm 37); all of these are simple acts to pursue the heart of Papa. These all come with sacrifice, faith, and trust, but have rewards beyond all that we can imagine or expect. As we begin to walk in the ways of the Lord, and listen to Holy Spirit continually, we begin to find the Heart of God, and His promises coming to fruition. But without total commitment and trust in what God can do, we allow our flesh to get in the way of who we can be, missing the voice of God.

Day 3

Today has been the revelation of the role of family/community. Our house of seven people is here to establish the Kingdom of God amongst the people around our house, in this community of KCMO. To be effective in establishing this kingdom, we must first be a family in this house, rooted in the love of Papa. So that we may go out and share and be examples of the love that God shares for each one of us. It will be hard, and overwhelming, but great at the same time! We cannot go at the kingdom alone, as one grain of salt, but we are to be a salt shaker, committed and partnered to bring life and flavor to this city. The opportunity presented to each of these 10 people, pursuing the same vision is unfathomable and cannot be passed up or taken lightly. We are a city on a hill; a strong fortress that has an all encompassing perspective, shining the light. Do the works that Papa desires, and that Jesus has done. But we are going to do these works(miracles) and greater; the foundation, the bottom level of his desire and expectation are these miracles, there is nothing less. Holy Spirit come and move heavily, because the movement of your wind is powerful, uninhibited, and free flowing; going where you may. Lord I continue to ask for divine relationships, to connect and pursue a common dream, vision, and mission, for the sake of the kingdom. Ruin my thoughts on the future and what it holds. Destroy my selfishness in comfort. I decrease, so that you may increase, grabbing hold of the heart of your bridegroom, that I may flaunt your glory, with garments of praise, adorned in your treasures!

Day 4

Today was a day of family, amongst the housemates and leaders. We spent time throughout the day cheering/supporting each other in various events. From cheering Lindsay and Myles on as they ran a half-marathon, to attending a rap concert for Crystal, Tre, and Maestro. Along with this time of supporting, we spent time in communion over lunch and late dinner with different people. Breaking bread is an important and necessary part of being a family, and growing together as a community. We also spent time in prayer together, and going over rules and boundaries for the House of Troost. This all is an extension of our lives into others, coming closer and closer together.  As we pursue these things, we find the importance of being on the same page and sharing the same heart. The heart of the Father is found in relationship. Relationship with Him, and relationship with others around us. That is when we become the church, and can truly find what it means to work in the heart of the Father. 

Blessings

Morgan