We are coming to the end of summer but also to the end of preparations for the France YWAM National Conference. The conference begins on Monday the 20th of August. We are excited but there is still so much to get done. We are casting our cares on God because He cares for us. All year since the announcement of our base hosting this years conference I have had this excitement, anticipation and expectation in my heart. I am hoping we are releasing this into the atmosphere as 160 YWAMers from all over France will be converging to our little town. We have had much favor with the town which is a testimony in itself. We prayed for helpers to come along side of us to help and we currently have 10 volunteers with us. Most volunteers come 1 maybe 2 at a time, this is answer to prayer.
As I reflect on all God has answered this year so far I am excited to see as I prepare to visit the USA this fall that God will be opening the doors for me where to share what I am doing and whom to meet with as I ask for prayer and financial supporters. I know He will provide in the end. I am also excited to be in Denver and to be able to share the love of God with the people in the neighborhood I will be living in. It is my key people group.
In all of this next season I will also be planning and preparing for the DTS I am pioneering this winter. Yes, we have changed the dates of the school and will be starting the DTS January 17 to July 19. Back in the spring as I was praying for the next DTS I kept feeling winter but that wasn't offered. I am learning more and more that I seem to not put much into listening to that still small voice. After a few weeks of being attacked about listening to God's voice it is always good to have God confirm that I do hear His voice and it is that simple to follow. This was just one example.
Thank you all for praying. :)
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Busy!
Summer is a busy time for the base. As you can see from my last newsletter date I have been busy with guests and volunteers coming and going. I do the communication with those stopping by to visit the base. It has been so good getting to know people and realize how much we are a base that is a place of refuge and rest. How God uses us in these times to just listen or to be a part of bringing a word of encouragement into peoples lives. We are blessed to have so many people come from the nations to our small town in the South of France. Even when I mention the town to French people I have to name larger towns near-by so they know more where we are located.
Our town, St Hippolyte du Fort, is just as busy in these summer months. When my mom was here this winter she thought it was a deserted town because there were rarely people walking around in the bitter cold or at the weekly markets. In the spring, summer and fall the town has come to life. Markets are full filled with many more products and stalls than there were in the winter. Tourists flock to the south all summer. It is a season and soon the vollets/shutters will be closed and the town with go into hibernation and a slow paced life with cover us once more.
Our town, St Hippolyte du Fort, is just as busy in these summer months. When my mom was here this winter she thought it was a deserted town because there were rarely people walking around in the bitter cold or at the weekly markets. In the spring, summer and fall the town has come to life. Markets are full filled with many more products and stalls than there were in the winter. Tourists flock to the south all summer. It is a season and soon the vollets/shutters will be closed and the town with go into hibernation and a slow paced life with cover us once more.
Sunday, July 8, 2018
Connecting with St Hippo
My last time in France the 2012 summer Olympics was happening and a few of us would go to the local cafe / bar to watch some of the events. This year is the World Cup and we as a community have made it a point to be where our neighbors are. We have dubbed the name of this cafe to be the men's cafe because on most days you see many of the older men in town on the outdoor seating area smoking and visiting and enjoying a variety of beverages. This is where we go to join the town in watching the soccer matches that France has played in the World Cup. It is great to join in and meet people and make contacts.
This summer has been a summer of making contacts here in our town. We helped volunteer, serving food and drinks, for a local winery at the "Made in St Hippo" expo. We then were able to visit this winery and learn how the wine is made and the process in making red, white and rose. We were able to taste the hand-picked grapes that were made into a wine last year. It is a different taste or maybe it is just in my head than the grapes picked by machines. Either way we are excited to be out in our community in different ways and by different means.
This summer has been a summer of making contacts here in our town. We helped volunteer, serving food and drinks, for a local winery at the "Made in St Hippo" expo. We then were able to visit this winery and learn how the wine is made and the process in making red, white and rose. We were able to taste the hand-picked grapes that were made into a wine last year. It is a different taste or maybe it is just in my head than the grapes picked by machines. Either way we are excited to be out in our community in different ways and by different means.
Sunday, July 1, 2018
In the Quiet
This past week was the first lull of the summer. We have been on the go since the start of May. As a community we have small groups 3 or less that meet once a week. My group is now only me since my two friends left France, one for her honeymoon/vacation and the other back to her home country. I miss them.
On the 4th or last week of the month we meet in men's and women's lunch. This month we chose to go to the river waterfall area for a picnic and a swim. I did not swim. I tried but it was freezing, like take your breath away freezing. Either way it was a lovely time sitting on the mini beach with friends and some of their children playing in the water. We had a chicken salad sandwich and some sorbet that we kept in the freezing water until eaten.
It is moments like these that life seems to come to a halt and you can truly sit back and watch the world go by. God is doing things even when life seems to be slow and laid back. He is in the stillness.
On the 4th or last week of the month we meet in men's and women's lunch. This month we chose to go to the river waterfall area for a picnic and a swim. I did not swim. I tried but it was freezing, like take your breath away freezing. Either way it was a lovely time sitting on the mini beach with friends and some of their children playing in the water. We had a chicken salad sandwich and some sorbet that we kept in the freezing water until eaten.
It is moments like these that life seems to come to a halt and you can truly sit back and watch the world go by. God is doing things even when life seems to be slow and laid back. He is in the stillness.
Sunday, June 24, 2018
"Heal the sick"
Since I can remember there was not a family gathering that my mom had us pray for the sick among them. For some they were healed, for others miracles happened in the moment. In my mom's life there are many stories of God using her to pray for the sick and they were healed. It is said over and over in the Bible that we can heal the sick. It is never our ability but because God lives in us and Jesus has anointed us we get to be a part of the Kingdom of God's business.
This week in France we had a DTS team from Norway with us and a hospitality seminar. Wednesday mornings as a community we have a time of creative worship but this morning God came in creatively. As worship began I felt the presence of God as I sense Him when He is wanting to heal people. I kind of felt that maybe it was just me wanting it to happen or something so I put it off and continued my time in worship. Then I get a pain out of no where in my back. I then submitted to Papa God and went forward to see if anyone was suffering from back pain. There were, I believe, 7 hands that went up. I then encourage those around them that as believer's in Jesus we all carry the living God within us and therefore are anointed to heal. In activation we prayed for those with raised hands and most were healed. Testimonies were shared. We then prayed for lactose intolerance and pain from broken bone wounds. The next day we were able to pray for a staff persons back, she too is doing so much better. This led us to prayers of forgiveness for the historical past of the Catholics and Protestants here in France and our region. This led to repentance and reconciliation. God is moving in the south of France. I feel breakthrough coming.
My heart is that all believer's realize that the same Jesus who said we could do such things because He gave us the authority to and He goes to His Father so we can do even greater. All believers are a part of that promise too. It is not a one man show but it is the Bride of Christ who is fully capable and anointed to do just that,
This week in France we had a DTS team from Norway with us and a hospitality seminar. Wednesday mornings as a community we have a time of creative worship but this morning God came in creatively. As worship began I felt the presence of God as I sense Him when He is wanting to heal people. I kind of felt that maybe it was just me wanting it to happen or something so I put it off and continued my time in worship. Then I get a pain out of no where in my back. I then submitted to Papa God and went forward to see if anyone was suffering from back pain. There were, I believe, 7 hands that went up. I then encourage those around them that as believer's in Jesus we all carry the living God within us and therefore are anointed to heal. In activation we prayed for those with raised hands and most were healed. Testimonies were shared. We then prayed for lactose intolerance and pain from broken bone wounds. The next day we were able to pray for a staff persons back, she too is doing so much better. This led us to prayers of forgiveness for the historical past of the Catholics and Protestants here in France and our region. This led to repentance and reconciliation. God is moving in the south of France. I feel breakthrough coming.
My heart is that all believer's realize that the same Jesus who said we could do such things because He gave us the authority to and He goes to His Father so we can do even greater. All believers are a part of that promise too. It is not a one man show but it is the Bride of Christ who is fully capable and anointed to do just that,
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Matthew 10:8
Friday, January 5, 2018
When love comes calling
When love comes calling
Do you leave it unanswered?
Do you turn and run?
Do you peek to see if it remains?
Father, help me to open
My eyes
My heart
My arms
My ears
So that when Your love comes calling that all of me invites You in.
By opening to Your love I am opened to receive the love of the one who pursues my heart the way You have won mine.
originally written
1/5/18 4:48 AM
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