This I know

Hello, my friends

We have gone on quite a journey, haven't we? Several of you have
commented how quickly it went, i whole-heartedly agree. It all
happened like a whirlwind, i think the whole team would agree. We
started preparing, meeting as a team regularly, like 6 months ago. God
had work to do on our hearts and in our families/lives to prepare us
for the work He would do in us while we were there. For me, it seems
that He started preparing me for the work He did in Africa before time
began. Please forgive me if it all sounds too huge, but the more i let
it sink it, the more i see how huge it was...

Last night I had the opportunity to help lead worship at our monthly
"re:fresh" service. Some of the regulars weren't able to make it and a
spot opened up for me to step into to take more lead. It was so much
fun. When it was all over and done with i realized some things more
firmly and more freely than i ever have...

-- i LOVE leading a band in worship. i'm good at it, i've had
training, experience, and i just have a talent that comes naturally to
connect with and lead the people behind me. It is a give and take, we
work together, and i'm comfortable in that place. in fact i thrive on
doing it 'together'. the group i work with on re:fresh nights is such
a joy. While in africa i was seen and affirmed in that position as the
one to work with the worship band. It built some more confidence in me
and gave me more freedom to pursue that part of me.

-- i LOVE leading people in worship. i pray for God's heart for them,
i want to be a liason between them, trying to see where their hearts are
and leading them to the Father, and holding out His heart to them as
well, showing them the path to receive it. i love doing this, whether
in small groups (like africa team) or, i realized more fully last
night, in large groups. God's heart is so for people, what can i do to
help the 2 connect? (if you don't know that part of me, i love
relational connections!)

-- and last night, i FORGOT to have any inhibitions. i forgot to get
caught up in myself -- i was moving in freedom and boldness. i believe
these are lessons that came to completion for me IN AFRICA and BECAUSE
OF YOUR PRAYERS. things that God has been doing in me and teaching me for
a very long time seemed to come to a new level of acquisition through
my trip to africa. i learned to be fearless. i learned to not rely on
my gifts, but to just BE myself. i learned to not NEED to give, but to
just be available, content with however God chose to integrate me into
any day or given situation. i learned to not strive for anything. i
learned to enjoy the moment. i learned to not live in my inhibitions
or put myself in a box. i learned to trust God more that He made me
how He made me and His voice is the one i should listen to about that!

In church our final sunday morning there, anita spoke to our new
friends, and to us, about holding treasure in jars of clay. that we
are cracked pots, but God's glory seeps through our cracks. i had
actually already had that scripture on my mind earlier that morning,
thinking about the crazy fact that i was the Worship Leader for our
team and how funny that was to me because i'm not the one with the
best voice, but that God doesn't see that as a hindrance, and He
shines through my cracks (sometimes my voice literally cracks!!!) and
shows Himself - if i let Him and dont' get caught up with myself. Last
night i FORGOT to worry about my voice, being consumed with thoughts
of meeting with God was much more important.

i am a firm believer in the saying "God does not call the equipped, He
equips the called." Do we believe He is big enough to do what He wants
with and through us? Or are we too caught up in our own limitations
and inhibitions? I challenge you, friends, to throw caution to the
wind, believe for the big things, and believe He can do them through
you.

i also want to THANK YOU for helping pray me to this next level.
There's so many reasons for this trip, but this morning i am joyfully
and profoundly thankful for the way it personally impacted and brought
me into more freedom and more of who God made me to be. I am loving
life so much with so much peace right now. I dont' know what God has
in store for me next, but i feel really good about living each day
here and now, and then...we'll see...

in case i didnt' mention before, or you couldn't tell, i did leave a
piece of my heart in Mozambique and am wrestling with what that might
mean for me. I'm sure it means i'll be going back next year -- and
would love to take each one of you with me this time!! If this is
something that stirs in you, let me know and i'll start praying with
you about it :)

thanks for listening. thanks for journeying with me. i and the team
would love to share more stories - and pictures! - with you: Saturday,
Nov 17 at 7pm at VOP.

Gracas a Deus!
jen