Mission Connexion Northwest - Part 1

Katie and I went to Mission Connexion Northwest this past weekend at Crossroads Community Church. It was pretty much the most amazing thing I've experienced and I will say boldly that EVERYONE should go next year. Yes. Every single person. I know that personally, I wasn't aware of even a quarter of the stuff going on for the kingdom throughout the world right now. God is moving in HUGE ways my friends! I'm getting chills just thinking about it.

The first day of the conference there was one workshop (we didn't make it for that) and then a speaker in the evening. The speaker was Dr. Joseph d'Souza who is the president of the Dalit Freedom Network. Now, Katie had a heard a little about the Dalit people prior to this conference, but it was all new to me.

India's caste system is comprised of 4 levels ranging from the upper caste all the way to the Dalits, or the untouchables. In Hindu belief, the upper, lower and middle caste were each created from a part of God's body, but the Dalits were such horrible sinners in a past life that God deemed them impure and denied them access to Him. Even the shadow of a Dalit passing over someone from a higher caste will make them impure. Dalits will literally lie down in the mud when an upper caste person walks by to avoid casting their shadow over them.

I remember hearing this at the conference and feeling so sick to my stomach. How wrong is that? I challenge anyone who just read that to tell me that all religions lead to the same God. I do not worship a God who denies His beloved children access to Him. My God stepped down from His throne and DIED so that I could be with Him. I didn't deserve it, but God said I was worth it.

Dr. d'Souza went on to talk about how the Gospel has impacted the Dalit people. So often, we think that spreading the gospel means sharing with someone how their sin has separated them from God and that Jesus died to reconcile us to Him.

The Dalit people know they are sinners separated from God - it's all they know! But when they are told they are made in the image of God...whoa. This people who has been made to believe that they weren't even worthy to be made from the soles of the feet of God. Made in the very image of God? The transforming power of knowing who they truly are and who God really is...it's beautiful.

And that was just the first night of the conference!

This may have to be a multi-post report... :P

"So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" ~Genesis 1:27

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." ~John 3:16-17

Perspective Adjustment

I need to tweak my attitude a little bit! I was convicted tonight over the fact that lately I've been living in the 'what-ifs,' 'maybes,' and 'somedays.'

When did I lose my contentment in where God has me now? When did I stop enjoying the journey? Savoring the lessons and joys of today?

"Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart." ~Psalm 37:4

How can I delight in Him if I'm too busy looking ahead of what's in front of me, trying to carve out my own future? Trusting God means believing the He holds my future, whatever that may be, and knowing that what transpires then will be the best for me.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." ~Ephesians 3:20-21

I continue to spend my time dreaming up a future that is as finite as my human mind...that's lame.

Jesus, it's all You. And right now, I'm going to place my hope in Your promises and trust that no matter what comes, it will be for Your glory alone.

Oh, to know this man

Oh Jesus, I long simply to be with You. Help me to fight distraction. I want to pour all of my energy into seeking and knowing You. It can be hard to see in the here and now, but it is far better for me to risk everything to be in Your presence than to sustain comfort and view you from a distance. To rest in You, oh Lord...show me the depth of Your love.


"But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds."
~Psalm 73:28

"One thing, one thing
This is what I desire, this is what I desire
Sweet illumination, sweet illumination
That I may gaze upon His face
Oh, to know this man

Sweet illumination, sweet illumination
To glory in the presence of the King
Behold the sweet essence of this one thing
That I may know the Spring within me
The Spring, so sweet

That I may gaze upon His face
Oh, to know this man

Sweet illumination, sweet illumination
To glory in the presence of the King
Behold the sweet essence of this one thing
That I may know the Spring within me
As it rises the Spring, so sweet"

~Sweet Illumination, Shane and Shane

A Thought

Sometimes it takes me awhile to connect the dots. Ah well, I'm just glad when I actually do. :P

I was listening to this song today...repeatedly. I love how it sounds (what can I say, I'm a sucker for male duets...something about the blending of the two voices just gives me shivers), but the third or fourth time through I really began listening to the words.

As I thought about what it means to know that God has got my heart in His hands, I remember thinking to myself, 'What's the worst that can happen when God's holding me?'

And then I realized that when I live life in sync with Jesus there is no 'worst.' There might be difficult times, pain, suffering, but how bad is it really when 'the hands that hold the world are holding your heart'?

Anything I'm going through now is temporary, and as Paul said, nothing compared to the glory that awaits on the other side. In fact, if going through this life is what I have to do to reach Jesus at the end, it's definitely worth it.

It's nice to know that there isn't a 'worst.' :o)


"To the one who's dreams are falling all apart
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
but you're not all alone

Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong He'll never let you go
No you're not alone

You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms

Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you to rise
So hear Him now He's calling you home
You will never be alone

You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms

These are the hands that built the mountains
the hands that calm the seas
These are the arms that hold the heavens
they are holding you and me

These are hands that healed the leper
Pulled the lame up to their feet
These are the arms that were nailed to a cross
to break our chains and set us free

You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms"

~Safe by Phil Wickham feat. Bart Millard

Of David Crowder and God's Love

So...I've been on a bit of a David Crowder kick lately. It's refreshing to come back to music I haven't listened to in awhile. :o)

This week I have been so burdened with the enormous weight of how many people do not know the Lord. I notice that when I'm the most stressed/busy/overwhelmed/etc. I have a stronger sensitivity to those people out there that are just as stressed/busy/overwhelmed/etc. who don't have the Lord to lift them up and carry them through.

It's also when I feel that urging from the Spirit that I want my light to shine brightest. Complainers are a dime a dozen, but isn't it always the people who handle the difficult times with integrity, calmness and hope that we remember most?

Oh Jesus, I want to be set apart for Your glory. Show me how I can best affect those around me. There are millions of people who desperately need Your saving grace, hope, joy, and peace. God, help me to demonstrate to others what true Life is. I don't want to look like the world...I want to look like You.



"Are we left here on our own?
Can you feel when your last breath is gone?
Night is weighing heavy now
Be quiet and wait for a voice that will say

Come awake, from sleep arise
You were dead, become alive
Wake up, wake up, open your eyes
Climb from your grave into the light
Bring us back to life
You are not the only one who feels like the only one

Night soon will be lifted, friend
Just be quiet and wait for a voice that will say
Rise, rise, to life, to life

Shine
Light will shine
Love will rise
Light will shine, shine, shine, shine
He’s shining on us now"

~Come Awake by the David Crowder Band

Come and Listen

"Come and listen, come to the water's edge, all you who know and fear the Lord.
Come and listen, come to the water's edge all you who are thirsty, come.

Let me tell you what He has done for me.
Let me tell you what He has done for me,
He has done for you,
He has done for us.

Come and listen,
come and listen to what He's done.
Come and listen,
come and listen to what He's done.

Praise our God for He is good.
Praise our God for He is good.
Praise our God for He is good.
Praise our God for He is good.

He has done for me,
He has done for you,
He has done for us.

Come and listen,
come and listen to what He's done.
Come and listen,
come and listen to what He's done."

~Come and Listen by the David Crowder Band


Oh Jesus...all You have done for me. Even if all you ever did was save me for eternity, it would be far more than enough. How good You are to be involved in my day to day life, with the seemingly mundane. I have nothing but humble praise to offer and yet, that is all you ask of me. Awestruck.

Too much on my plate...a brain barf cometh

Tonight I have been especially overwhelmed in my brain. There is so much in there and I don't know what to do with it. Well, I do know what to do with it, but conveniently enough, I almost always forget to do it.

I can get so caught up in just thinking sometimes (without ever working out a solution, mind you) that I fail to remember that Someone else knows what's floating around up there as well. And He's more than happy to collect it and help me sort it if I ever decide to let it out.

I am continually amazed at how simple it is to work at knowing God and even more amazed at my reluctance to do it. Am I worried that I won't like His solution to my myriad issues? And does that stem from me not trusting Him to have what's best for me in mind? Probably.

This particular entry really doesn't have a direction to go in...but I was tired of keeping some of my thoughts stuffed in my head. That said, here is a short list of things that have been crowding out my brain cells:

1) I've been spending a lot of time thinking about my life and what I have done with it so far. 8 years ago this month my Grandpa Smith and a guy I went to school with passed away within about 2 weeks of each other. It's an interesting pairing because both deaths cause me to reflect on my life in different ways.

Although I believe Grandpa was taken too soon for me, he lived a full life and loved the Lord with all of his heart. I think about him and what an example he was to me of strong faith. His life inspires me to seek God out in all things and to let Him rule my decisions.

And then I think about Dave and how he was taken from this earth way too soon. And it causes me to think about all the years I have been blessed with since then. In the 8 years that I've had to live that he has not, what have I done? There are many wasted years in there, but I pray that God would use his death to remind me that every day is precious. That every life is precious. That every moment that passes is one that I will never have again. Will I use these moments for God's glory or my own?

2) On a much lighter note, I've been so in awe of worship music lately. Worship music is my favorite style anyway, but a couple of weeks ago I was listening to the radio and I was just overwhelmed by the thought of how much music there is out there that brings glory to God. People have been writing songs about God's greatness, love, mercy, and grace for thousands of years. And we still manage to come up with new songs all the time!

How great is our God that people all over the world, spanning thousands of miles and years, are continually blessed with fresh revelations and inspiration that can only be shared through the gift of music? I may not like all the styles, but that music is an expression of soul-deep change! That music is born of inspiration only given by the Holy Spirit - how cool is that?!

And lastly, on an abrupt note, my head and heart feel much lighter so I thank you for indulging my brain barf (gross, but an appropriate analogy I'm afraid).

Until next time...whenever that may be... :P