on the road again…

this is my summer to travel.  after weeks in michigan i have experienced a simplicity internally about what is a necessity.  there are just not that many in life.  the internal areas of who i am require way more maintenance than the external. although they both need restoration!

my traveling began in may when i left for africa with a team of nine other people from indiana wesleyan.  i did learn quite a bit while i was away. all of which i cannot write about, but one specific one is intercession. 

intercession really does require a deep level of obedience. this has not been easy for me over the past month.  it has been quite contrary.  i have found myself in places that have challenged the very core of my belief. the situations that i have interacted with have been literally fighting for life and death.  when i was in africa we went into a children's ward at the hospital where hundreds of babies were left to die.  i walked into "ward 8" and literally felt life and death at war.  children were trying desperately hard to hang onto life, their very next breath was work for them.  all i knew to do in that moment was to incerde as isaiah did when he claimed the truth of jesus … "i have not forgotten my children, though your mother and father have i have not!" this was the only thing i could mutter as tears flow from my eyes.

how often in the past month have i claimed this verse for the people i have interacted with?  a lot.  everyone has not literally been forgotten by their parents, but they have forgotten that they are vital.  that their life is at war with an enemy and he hates them.  

i have attempted to fight hard in prayer since i have come back to the states.  i am committed to warring for truth.  i will not let the enemy win the battle of deadening my spirit, nor anyone elses.  although i am being attacked in very specific ways i know that my father is working hard on me to give me back my whole heart.  

a whole heart.  

these are the words i pray for you when you come to mind.  and i would love for you to pray them for me when i come to your mind! 

we're in this together!  we are the body!! 

well, here it goes…..

i have found myself in the basement of one of my dearest female friends: melissa rachelle. she has consistently challenged me to enter into places that are unfamiliar over the past few years of friendship and today marks another new place: blogging. the reality is this, i have prided myself over the years of being a great "long distance friend" so the thought of writing my thoughts on a website for people to read feels a bit impersonal. but today i decided that sometimes communication can be upheld through writing, so i signed up and here i am, an official blogger.

one thing, this does not replace my love of long distance communication. i will continue to travel to see friends and will not delete phone numbers because time has been spacious between vocal connections.

but, i guess it is time to begin.