Dear Friends: This is a blog I wrote early in July concerning my experience on the first Saturday after I arrived in Kansas City. Holy Spirit did an amazing operation on my heart that morning. Later in the day, when I went to our Simeon Company orientation, I received prayer that confirmed God's love for me, even in my brokenness.
And it is with great joy in my heart and deep appreciation to the God Who heals us, that I share with you that several weeks later God delivered me from my dependence on these medications, and He has made me whole in my body!
Before posting this, I first shared it with the group from home who have been interceding for months for these 'addicted and mentally ill ones'. Please join us in continued pray for these little ones held captive by addiction and mental illness.
In His Love,
Kathy
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Who would have thought that my journey into relationship with Jesus would begin at the place of addiction? Only God.
For years I've been on a medication regimen for a condition called fibromyalgia. Although initially diagnosed in 1990, I began to experience serious, debilitating flare-ups in the early years of the 2000's. The flare-ups became so bad that they led to my retirement in 2009 from a career in the utility industry where I had worked for 23 years. Although healing of fibromyalgia was spoken over me in 2006, and I had confessed that healing on numerous occasions, I was never fully free of the symptoms, including the lack of sleep which is a big trigger. Right around the time I retired I began with a new doctor who put me on a medication regimen that freed me from the symptoms. Over the years since then, though, it's always nagged at me that I've continued to confess I am healed, but I never wanted my medications to be far from my reach. A few times over the years I've actually weaned myself off of them, but I always went back while I've continued to ask God to deliver me.
It was when I arrived in Kansas City, medications in hand, that I realized neither of the meds I take for the fibromyalgia (fibro) had any refills left on them. When I called my primary doctor, much to my shock and dismay, she refused to refill them and directed me to my rheumatologist. Well, I had stopped going to the specialist for several reasons, and my primary doctor was my only link to getting these two meds refilled. I called her a second time a few days later and again she refused the refills. I began to panic.
One med, the one that helps me sleep, was completely empty. I tried replacing it with an over-the-counter natural alternative, but it didn't work. After spending several restless nights, when I awoke that Saturday morning in early July, I was overcome with fear of the fibro symptoms returning. I actually experienced a desperation for the two medications that were either empty or soon to be empty. The realization struck me that these were symptoms of addiction. But the even deeper fear was that now I was going to have to TRUST GOD to deliver me, there was no Plan B.
When I was young, my mother was addicted to pain medications, prescription drugs, and alcohol. As I sat in my bed that Saturday morning, weeping in fear at the predicament I saw myself in, Holy Spirit brought to mind my mother and her struggles during my growing up years. He showed me that I had lived in a place of judgment over her for many, many years. Mom eventually overcame the addictions to meds and alcohol, although how she did it I never knew. But at the end of her life she loved Jesus with all her heart. The years when we were kids were not easy for her nor for our family. Holy Spirit filled me with a compassion for my mother that, in all of my 63 years, I had never before known.
Holy Spirit also brought to my mind the many months seven of us from my church have been praying for release from addiction and mental illness for a number of acquaintances and loved ones. He showed me a religious spirit and cavalier attitude in my prayer for these addicted ones, a 'get over it and move on with your life' attitude beneath the surface of my pious prayers. I needed to repent and let compassion well up there, also.
In the way only God can do, after I repented of my self-righteousness, Holy Spirit spoke to my heart: "I AM the God that healeth thee, and every knee shall bow before Me, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, even the god of addiction." Amen, Lord, so be it.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
I Have You Betrothed You To Me Forever
This past week, August 6-8, the monthly Global Bridegroom Fast (GBF) took place at IHOPKC. It's a three day fast held on the first Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of each month, with the main focus being breakthrough by the Spirit to a deeper revelation of Jesus as Bridegroom King. The whole missions base is encouraged to participate, and all classes cease for those three days and everyone, staff and students alike, spend their time in fasting and prayer.
There is definitely a grace for fasting here on the IHOPKC mission base. A lifestyle of worship, prayer and fasting unto Jesus, our Bridegroom King, is the foundation of everything that goes on here. Since arriving in KC I've begun to somewhat understand that truth, but I had yet to receive a Holy Spirit heart revelation.
My main motivator for coming to IHOPKC was to grow in deeper relationship with Jesus. I longed for heart knowledge, not just head knowledge. So as the three days began I wrote in my journal, 'Abba, may I ask? Please, Holy Spirit, help me understand the Bridegroom fast. Help me, Holy Spirit, to know the Bridegroom and to meet Him during this time of fasting.' And then I wrote 'Everything stops for the Bridegroom when He comes.'
On Monday of the fast I was in the prayer room for several hours, even though Monday is Simeon Saturday for us. I wanted to know the Bridegroom, and spent time looking up scriptures that pertained to Jesus as Bridegroom. There are several foundational scriptures referred to often at IHOPKC concerning Jesus as Bridegroom: one is from Matthew 9, where Jesus talks about the friends of the Bridegroom and fasting; another is in John 3 when John the Baptist refers to Jesus as the Bridegroom, with John being the friend of the Bridegroom.
On Tuesday of the GBF, the Holy Spirit led me to Hosea 2:19, 20:
Wednesday was the last day of the fast, and I continued to meditate and reflect on Hosea and the different ways in which the Bridegroom calls His Bride: in righteousness, justice, lovingkindness, mercy, and in faithfulness.
Spending time in the prayer room on Wednesday, I noticed a couple sitting in front of me, only two rows ahead of me. As I continued to read in Hosea, I found myself watching these two, caught up in how much they obviously cared for each other. I could tell by the way they leaned into one another with shoulders touching; how they looked at one another; just their overall body language. I couldn't see if they were wearing wedding rings, but it didn't matter because their love and affection for one another was plain to see.
At one point the woman got up and left the prayer room. When she returned a few minutes later, as she was stepping into the row to take her seat, she looked at the man with such affection that it overwhelmed me. After she sat down she draped her arm on his shoulder and he leaned over and kissed it.
It was at that moment that the Bridegroom began to speak to my heart as memories came flooding in. "Do you remember how it felt when you were at the place where they are now? Do you remember the feelings of love and affection you had for your husband when you were dating him, how special you felt, how loved? Well, those are the same feelings of love and affection I have for you!"
You see, I have a relationship with Jesus and I know I'm saved. Yet both here at IHOPKC and back home at Changepoint Church people talk about intimacy with Jesus, of feeling His love. Certainly not in a sexual way, but with a heart knowledge that they know that they know they are loved. I had come to Kansas City to search out the deeper things of the Spirit; to both know and feel the love of Jesus. That was the desire of my heart, and now the Bridegroom was revealing that very thing to me!
As the revelation of His Bridegroom love dropped into my spirit, I again read the two verses from Hosea that opened up this truth to me. The Bridegroom tells His beloved that she is betrothed to Him in, among other virtues, faithfulness. And I thought again of the verse in Ephesians that tells me I was chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in Him in love.
The faithfulness promise is what sealed the truth of the revelation in my heart. Having been married and divorced twice, I had truly not known faithfulness, and so relating to the Bridegroom on a heart level was something I did not know nor could I do. Yet the revealed truth to me was that He chose me before the foundation of the world, and has been faithful to me ever since, in spite of me! While I was yet in sin, Christ died for me, His betrothed!
Thanks be to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom King, that through His Holy Spirit He renews our minds and speaks these truths directly to our hearts!
"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you."
Jeremiah 31:3
There is definitely a grace for fasting here on the IHOPKC mission base. A lifestyle of worship, prayer and fasting unto Jesus, our Bridegroom King, is the foundation of everything that goes on here. Since arriving in KC I've begun to somewhat understand that truth, but I had yet to receive a Holy Spirit heart revelation.
My main motivator for coming to IHOPKC was to grow in deeper relationship with Jesus. I longed for heart knowledge, not just head knowledge. So as the three days began I wrote in my journal, 'Abba, may I ask? Please, Holy Spirit, help me understand the Bridegroom fast. Help me, Holy Spirit, to know the Bridegroom and to meet Him during this time of fasting.' And then I wrote 'Everything stops for the Bridegroom when He comes.'
On Monday of the fast I was in the prayer room for several hours, even though Monday is Simeon Saturday for us. I wanted to know the Bridegroom, and spent time looking up scriptures that pertained to Jesus as Bridegroom. There are several foundational scriptures referred to often at IHOPKC concerning Jesus as Bridegroom: one is from Matthew 9, where Jesus talks about the friends of the Bridegroom and fasting; another is in John 3 when John the Baptist refers to Jesus as the Bridegroom, with John being the friend of the Bridegroom.
On Tuesday of the GBF, the Holy Spirit led me to Hosea 2:19, 20:
- I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord.
Wednesday was the last day of the fast, and I continued to meditate and reflect on Hosea and the different ways in which the Bridegroom calls His Bride: in righteousness, justice, lovingkindness, mercy, and in faithfulness.
Spending time in the prayer room on Wednesday, I noticed a couple sitting in front of me, only two rows ahead of me. As I continued to read in Hosea, I found myself watching these two, caught up in how much they obviously cared for each other. I could tell by the way they leaned into one another with shoulders touching; how they looked at one another; just their overall body language. I couldn't see if they were wearing wedding rings, but it didn't matter because their love and affection for one another was plain to see.
At one point the woman got up and left the prayer room. When she returned a few minutes later, as she was stepping into the row to take her seat, she looked at the man with such affection that it overwhelmed me. After she sat down she draped her arm on his shoulder and he leaned over and kissed it.
It was at that moment that the Bridegroom began to speak to my heart as memories came flooding in. "Do you remember how it felt when you were at the place where they are now? Do you remember the feelings of love and affection you had for your husband when you were dating him, how special you felt, how loved? Well, those are the same feelings of love and affection I have for you!"
You see, I have a relationship with Jesus and I know I'm saved. Yet both here at IHOPKC and back home at Changepoint Church people talk about intimacy with Jesus, of feeling His love. Certainly not in a sexual way, but with a heart knowledge that they know that they know they are loved. I had come to Kansas City to search out the deeper things of the Spirit; to both know and feel the love of Jesus. That was the desire of my heart, and now the Bridegroom was revealing that very thing to me!
As the revelation of His Bridegroom love dropped into my spirit, I again read the two verses from Hosea that opened up this truth to me. The Bridegroom tells His beloved that she is betrothed to Him in, among other virtues, faithfulness. And I thought again of the verse in Ephesians that tells me I was chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in Him in love.
The faithfulness promise is what sealed the truth of the revelation in my heart. Having been married and divorced twice, I had truly not known faithfulness, and so relating to the Bridegroom on a heart level was something I did not know nor could I do. Yet the revealed truth to me was that He chose me before the foundation of the world, and has been faithful to me ever since, in spite of me! While I was yet in sin, Christ died for me, His betrothed!
Thanks be to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom King, that through His Holy Spirit He renews our minds and speaks these truths directly to our hearts!
"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you."
Jeremiah 31:3
The Krabby Patty Factor - Thanks, Sponge Bob!
Dear Friends: I wrote this particular blog about a week after I arrived in Kansas City, in the beginning of July. I knew I was whining then, and so I was very reluctant to share it at the time. Yet when I read it now I see it as the beginning of the 'new thing' God is doing in my life. It's important in the 'now' to give a full perspective of the 'then'.
In His Love,
Kathy
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OK, I'm crabby today. This allergy thing is dragging me down, but I know it's more than allergies, and I need to explore what's bothering me.
The thought that comes to mind is 'this isn't fun anymore'. Truthfully, though, it was never supposed to be a time of 'fun' for fun's sake alone. I knew that in my head, but experiencing the isolation I'm feeling right now is letting me know the 'fun', the excitement, the newness, has run out and it's been replaced with the daily grind of working towards the goal, the purpose for me being here in the first place.
Laying down 'me', laying down the person of Kathy Sullivan and who I perceive her to be, and picking up Jesus is the main goal, and the place I've come to now, my real starting point. I've caught a glimpse of the process just over the horizon, just out of clear view. I can actually feel what it will feel like to lay self down, to give up my own thoughts and ideas, my perceptions of life, and let Holy Spirit replace it with His Truth. I'm not there yet though, not even close. Instead, I'm whining and complaining about how hard it is, just not loud enough for most people to hear. But I hear it. Breaking up the fallow ground, I think that's what Jesus calls it in the Gospels. I know I'm using the word fallow incorrectly, but to me it means breaking up the rock-hard soil, and replacing it with soft loom that will easily and gratefully accept the planted seeds of new life.
I'm having a tantrum inside of me, a kicking, screaming, pouting, throwing things tantrum that says this is TOO HARD. It says 'You're asking too much of me'. Yet I know I won't quit, that I will plow through, because God has promised to give me the desire of my heart, even when I thought I knew what that desire was but really didn't. But He knows what that desire must be, and He is taking me on that journey, beginning now. Who would have thought that 'dying to self' had to come before 'raised to new life in Christ'?
I kind of imagine that the process is like birth pains. Even though I have three kids, they were all delivered by the zipper method. I've never gone through a full labor before delivery. Maybe if I had I would have something with which to compare this 'new birth'.
Be that as it may, I'm in it for the long haul. Please pray for me.
In His Love,
Kathy
*****************************************************************************************************************
OK, I'm crabby today. This allergy thing is dragging me down, but I know it's more than allergies, and I need to explore what's bothering me.
The thought that comes to mind is 'this isn't fun anymore'. Truthfully, though, it was never supposed to be a time of 'fun' for fun's sake alone. I knew that in my head, but experiencing the isolation I'm feeling right now is letting me know the 'fun', the excitement, the newness, has run out and it's been replaced with the daily grind of working towards the goal, the purpose for me being here in the first place.
Laying down 'me', laying down the person of Kathy Sullivan and who I perceive her to be, and picking up Jesus is the main goal, and the place I've come to now, my real starting point. I've caught a glimpse of the process just over the horizon, just out of clear view. I can actually feel what it will feel like to lay self down, to give up my own thoughts and ideas, my perceptions of life, and let Holy Spirit replace it with His Truth. I'm not there yet though, not even close. Instead, I'm whining and complaining about how hard it is, just not loud enough for most people to hear. But I hear it. Breaking up the fallow ground, I think that's what Jesus calls it in the Gospels. I know I'm using the word fallow incorrectly, but to me it means breaking up the rock-hard soil, and replacing it with soft loom that will easily and gratefully accept the planted seeds of new life.
I'm having a tantrum inside of me, a kicking, screaming, pouting, throwing things tantrum that says this is TOO HARD. It says 'You're asking too much of me'. Yet I know I won't quit, that I will plow through, because God has promised to give me the desire of my heart, even when I thought I knew what that desire was but really didn't. But He knows what that desire must be, and He is taking me on that journey, beginning now. Who would have thought that 'dying to self' had to come before 'raised to new life in Christ'?
I kind of imagine that the process is like birth pains. Even though I have three kids, they were all delivered by the zipper method. I've never gone through a full labor before delivery. Maybe if I had I would have something with which to compare this 'new birth'.
Be that as it may, I'm in it for the long haul. Please pray for me.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
In My Weakness, He Is Strong
Good Saturday Morning, Friends!
Well, it's a quiet Saturday morning and I'm grateful for a little down time. It's been two weeks since my last blog, and those two weeks were very demanding, schedule-wise. Our prayer room and classroom schedule is at full throttle, and at times we needed to run, both physically and spiritually, just to keep up!
On Tuesday, July 17, after morning prayer room time, we heard from Peter Loth, a Holocaust survivor. Peter spoke on forgiveness, and many wept openly throughout his sharing. Peter was born in Stutthoff death camp, but growing up did not know anything about that early part of his life. When he turned 55 years old he was reunited with his half-sisters who told him of his very early years. He thought his birth mother had abandoned him, when in actuality he was handed off by her to a Polish woman when Stutthoff was liberated by the allies. Peter's mother knew she was too weak to carry baby Peter and escape at the same time. His Polish 'matka' raised him until he was 15 years old, when he was reunited with his birth mother.
Peter is a German Jew, and a lover of Jesus. The atrocities he suffered throughout his early years are really hard to comprehend. Yet because of His relationship with Yeshua, he is called by Him to minister all over the world on the subject of forgiveness. Powerful, powerful testimony.
A few days after arriving in KC, I began to experience symptoms of what I thought was a summer cold but actually was, for me, a pretty significant allergy attack. As the days, and then the weeks, went by the symptoms continued to worsen, disrupting my sleep and causing me to leave the prayer room or a class more than once because of an uncontrolled coughing episode.
Amazingly, after going it 'alone' for almost two weeks, Holy Spirit poured mercy on me and showed me that I suffered mostly because of stubbornness, the sin of pride telling me I could get well myself without asking for prayer. My heart was open because of my physical weakness, and Holy Spirit did not allow me to struggle for too long before revealing to me my foolishness. On Wednesday, July 18, when I realized it was stubbornness and the sin of pride that was keeping me from my healing, I was broken with shame. I went to the healing room and received prayer and a temporary relief from my symptoms. Thursday the symptoms came back with a vengeance, but I knew that now the stubbornness in this area of my life had been laid down, and I was able to ask for prayer. It continued into Friday, when I was prayed for by two young interns, teenage girls who could have been my granddaughters, but who prayed with such faith for my healing!
I would like to be able to say that my symptoms immediately disappeared, but that was not the case. Several CVS pharmacies in the area have walk-in clinics right in the store called Minute Clinics. I ended up at a CVS walk-in clinic late last Saturday morning, and was treated by a very compassionate nurse practitioner who diagnosed a sinus infection and allergies. I came home with an armful of medications, and after being on the meds for several days, I began to get relief. As of this morning my symptoms are almost completely gone.
Why was I not get healed instantly? I don't know. I don't understand that side of healing yet, why some are healed and others are not. But I know God loves me with an everlasting Love. I don't know why I wasn't healed on the spot, but does it cause me to doubt my Creator, Abba Father? No. The Word tells me that those who put their trust in God will never be put to shame. Amen!
My stubbornness in refusing to be prayed for when I was experiencing the allergy attack was a symptom of a deep wound that I've carried all my life. "I'll do it myself" has been my motto for many, many years, even if subconsciously. It is the result of having to pretty much fend for myself in my younger years, of having been a single mom for 20+ years - the decision maker, the bottom line person, so to speak, and of being let down by people I trusted and loved who made promises to me but never followed through. With Jesus, it came down to one simple question, one longing of my heart: Could I truly trust HIM with ME?
At this week's Wednesday life group we were ministered to by Pablo Perez. Pablo is the director of the IHOPU Forerunner Music Academy, the music school here at IHOPKC. This year he has 300 students enrolled from all over the world.
Pablo ministered to us and to the Lord in music, teaching, and prophecy. It was such an intimate, one-on-one time with the Lord that the walls of my heart literally crumbled and I KNEW, for the first time ever in my spirit, the great love Jesus has for me, Kathy Sullivan, and how He longs for me with a deep longing that won't be satisfied until I give myself completely to Him. Paul tells me in Ephesians that God chose me before the foundations of the world, and that I would be holy and without blame before Him in Love. Wow! That scripture bypassed my woundedness and became Truth for me and is now etched on my heart. I know now that I know, that I know, that I know, that I CAN trust Him with me! Amazing!
The first, great commandment is to love the Lord our God with ALL of our heart, ALL of our soul, ALL of our mind, and ALL of our strength. He takes our weak hearts, our self-centeredness, our tunnel vision that sees only my wants, my needs, my life, and draws us to Himself until all that we are, and all that we have, and all our desires, and our past and our present and our future, are willingly laid at His feet. And He then gives us HIS Life, which is far superior to anything that we can hope for or imagine for ourselves.
For me, personally, striving to accomplish this in my own strength did not make it happen. It was only through Holy Spirit that I was able to see and experience God's deep love and longing for ME! He has promised to give me the desire of my heart, and Jesus knew that an intimate love for Him was a deep longing in me. And this is His promise to ALL whose heart-longing is to KNOW Him, for Jesus truly is the Faithful One even when we are not. Jesus is the One whose Love for us is patient, and kind, and long-suffering, and all the attributes of love, because He IS Love. In my weakness, His promise is that I am made strong in Him. Amen!!!
Thursday through Saturday this week IHOPKC is holding a conference for high school-age kids called Fascinate. These kids are from all over the country and have an amazing devotion to Jesus. Throughout the conference, time and again they've been asked to commit to making the hard choice: freedom in the world or freedom in Christ. What has struck me so far is that these kids know the seriousness of what they are committing to, and some actually choose not to go forward at the altar call. Now that, to me, is maturity beyond their years. Lord, fill these little ones full to overflowing with Your Love, Your Mercy, and an abundance of Your Grace, Jesus. Thank You that You have called them out of the darkness of this world and into the light of Your Love. Amen.
Be blessed today, in Him from Whom ALL blessings flow!
With Affection and His Love,
Kathy
Well, it's a quiet Saturday morning and I'm grateful for a little down time. It's been two weeks since my last blog, and those two weeks were very demanding, schedule-wise. Our prayer room and classroom schedule is at full throttle, and at times we needed to run, both physically and spiritually, just to keep up!
On Tuesday, July 17, after morning prayer room time, we heard from Peter Loth, a Holocaust survivor. Peter spoke on forgiveness, and many wept openly throughout his sharing. Peter was born in Stutthoff death camp, but growing up did not know anything about that early part of his life. When he turned 55 years old he was reunited with his half-sisters who told him of his very early years. He thought his birth mother had abandoned him, when in actuality he was handed off by her to a Polish woman when Stutthoff was liberated by the allies. Peter's mother knew she was too weak to carry baby Peter and escape at the same time. His Polish 'matka' raised him until he was 15 years old, when he was reunited with his birth mother.
Peter is a German Jew, and a lover of Jesus. The atrocities he suffered throughout his early years are really hard to comprehend. Yet because of His relationship with Yeshua, he is called by Him to minister all over the world on the subject of forgiveness. Powerful, powerful testimony.
A few days after arriving in KC, I began to experience symptoms of what I thought was a summer cold but actually was, for me, a pretty significant allergy attack. As the days, and then the weeks, went by the symptoms continued to worsen, disrupting my sleep and causing me to leave the prayer room or a class more than once because of an uncontrolled coughing episode.
Amazingly, after going it 'alone' for almost two weeks, Holy Spirit poured mercy on me and showed me that I suffered mostly because of stubbornness, the sin of pride telling me I could get well myself without asking for prayer. My heart was open because of my physical weakness, and Holy Spirit did not allow me to struggle for too long before revealing to me my foolishness. On Wednesday, July 18, when I realized it was stubbornness and the sin of pride that was keeping me from my healing, I was broken with shame. I went to the healing room and received prayer and a temporary relief from my symptoms. Thursday the symptoms came back with a vengeance, but I knew that now the stubbornness in this area of my life had been laid down, and I was able to ask for prayer. It continued into Friday, when I was prayed for by two young interns, teenage girls who could have been my granddaughters, but who prayed with such faith for my healing!
I would like to be able to say that my symptoms immediately disappeared, but that was not the case. Several CVS pharmacies in the area have walk-in clinics right in the store called Minute Clinics. I ended up at a CVS walk-in clinic late last Saturday morning, and was treated by a very compassionate nurse practitioner who diagnosed a sinus infection and allergies. I came home with an armful of medications, and after being on the meds for several days, I began to get relief. As of this morning my symptoms are almost completely gone.
Why was I not get healed instantly? I don't know. I don't understand that side of healing yet, why some are healed and others are not. But I know God loves me with an everlasting Love. I don't know why I wasn't healed on the spot, but does it cause me to doubt my Creator, Abba Father? No. The Word tells me that those who put their trust in God will never be put to shame. Amen!
My stubbornness in refusing to be prayed for when I was experiencing the allergy attack was a symptom of a deep wound that I've carried all my life. "I'll do it myself" has been my motto for many, many years, even if subconsciously. It is the result of having to pretty much fend for myself in my younger years, of having been a single mom for 20+ years - the decision maker, the bottom line person, so to speak, and of being let down by people I trusted and loved who made promises to me but never followed through. With Jesus, it came down to one simple question, one longing of my heart: Could I truly trust HIM with ME?
At this week's Wednesday life group we were ministered to by Pablo Perez. Pablo is the director of the IHOPU Forerunner Music Academy, the music school here at IHOPKC. This year he has 300 students enrolled from all over the world.
Pablo ministered to us and to the Lord in music, teaching, and prophecy. It was such an intimate, one-on-one time with the Lord that the walls of my heart literally crumbled and I KNEW, for the first time ever in my spirit, the great love Jesus has for me, Kathy Sullivan, and how He longs for me with a deep longing that won't be satisfied until I give myself completely to Him. Paul tells me in Ephesians that God chose me before the foundations of the world, and that I would be holy and without blame before Him in Love. Wow! That scripture bypassed my woundedness and became Truth for me and is now etched on my heart. I know now that I know, that I know, that I know, that I CAN trust Him with me! Amazing!
The first, great commandment is to love the Lord our God with ALL of our heart, ALL of our soul, ALL of our mind, and ALL of our strength. He takes our weak hearts, our self-centeredness, our tunnel vision that sees only my wants, my needs, my life, and draws us to Himself until all that we are, and all that we have, and all our desires, and our past and our present and our future, are willingly laid at His feet. And He then gives us HIS Life, which is far superior to anything that we can hope for or imagine for ourselves.
For me, personally, striving to accomplish this in my own strength did not make it happen. It was only through Holy Spirit that I was able to see and experience God's deep love and longing for ME! He has promised to give me the desire of my heart, and Jesus knew that an intimate love for Him was a deep longing in me. And this is His promise to ALL whose heart-longing is to KNOW Him, for Jesus truly is the Faithful One even when we are not. Jesus is the One whose Love for us is patient, and kind, and long-suffering, and all the attributes of love, because He IS Love. In my weakness, His promise is that I am made strong in Him. Amen!!!
Thursday through Saturday this week IHOPKC is holding a conference for high school-age kids called Fascinate. These kids are from all over the country and have an amazing devotion to Jesus. Throughout the conference, time and again they've been asked to commit to making the hard choice: freedom in the world or freedom in Christ. What has struck me so far is that these kids know the seriousness of what they are committing to, and some actually choose not to go forward at the altar call. Now that, to me, is maturity beyond their years. Lord, fill these little ones full to overflowing with Your Love, Your Mercy, and an abundance of Your Grace, Jesus. Thank You that You have called them out of the darkness of this world and into the light of Your Love. Amen.
Be blessed today, in Him from Whom ALL blessings flow!
With Affection and His Love,
Kathy
Monday, July 16, 2012
His 'Still, Small Voice'
Good 'Day Off' Monday!
Well, Week #1 is complete, and what a week it's been! Teaching, praying, learning, hearing, crying, giggling, bonding, repenting, relieving, GROWING IN HIM! Yay God!
Friday night was the first of the four weekend services at IHOP's Forerunner Christian Fellowship building (FCF), and the building was packed out with young people. Their energy and enthusiasm for Jesus is awesome to watch. Teenagers were praying for other teenagers to be healed, and God answered their prayers. One young lady who was prayed for near me asked for healing of scoliosis. She had an 80% straightening of her spine, and when she left the platform people were praying for 100%. Our God is so amazing!
Saturday the Simeons had the morning off, and then time in the prayer room from 1 PM to 5 PM. It was the first time I wore my earplugs, and what a huge difference they made in my being able to pray, read the Word, and listen to the Lord, while still being able to participate in the worship. All I can say is 'Earplugs: don't leave home without them!'
On Sunday mornings the Simeons are in service as ushers, either at the 8:30 or the 10:45 service. I've been assigned to the second service. Section 3 will be my section for the remaining 10 weeks of the internship. It's the section where moms can bring their babies and their babies' strollers. It was so much fun! There were probably six moms and babies, even a set of twins. All were quiet, there were no criers, and all so beautiful! The grandma in me definitely rose to the surface Sunday morning.
The speaker Sunday was Benjamin Nolot, the IHOPKC leader of Exodus Cry, a ministry that fights against human sex trafficking around the world. Benji gave a powerful teaching from Isaiah 1:17, 'rebuking the oppressor'. I've heard the term 'human trafficking' many times, but never looked beneath the surface to learn what it really means. It was a painful but inspiring message that broke down yet another barrier to my 'I can't get involved' mindset.
From 2 PM to 6 PM Sundays we are back in the prayer room. During the hours from 4 - 6, Simeons and Intro interns participate in what's called 'on the wall' from Isaiah 62:6&7 - 'I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.'
During those two hours we sit at the front of the room and enter into the prayer and worship that is going on. Intercession speaks to specific needs around the world and in America, and on Sundays from 4 - 6 the needs of the 5 million orphans in Uganda are brought before God's throne of mercy and grace. Revival in America is also petitioned for, but the main prayer purpose is for the orphans in Uganda.
THOUGHTS FOR MONDAY: Of all the 'AhhHa' moments of the week, and there were many, the one that stands out most was my encounter with the Holy Spirit right after I arrived at the prayer room Sunday afternoon. As I got comfortable in my seat, I looked at the monitor where the words of the worship song being sung are displayed. Often there is a message beneath the lyrics of what else is going on in the prayer room, such as 'Healing Rooms are now open', or 'Intercession for Turkey is going on in Room 3'.
As I watched the monitor, the message 'All are welcomed to join in Room 2 in strategic intercession against human trafficking' scrolled across the bottom. Now remember, I had just left FCF and a powerful message on human sex trafficking. It just 'happened' that when I came into the prayer room I sat in the section right outside of Room 2. The doors to the side rooms are full glass, so I could look over and see people in deep prayer. I continued to watch the message scroll across the monitor, and to glance sideways at those in the room engaged in prayer. I was having a discussion with myself: 'You really should go in to pray with them.' when Holy Spirit began to whisper to me: "I want you to go in and join them." I'm ashamed to say that my reaction was not an immediate 'yes!'. In fact, it was just the opposite: 'No, no, no, no, no....me? Not me! I don't know anyone in there. I've only been here one week. I don't know anything about human trafficking. Please, don't ask me to do this." But He was persistent, yet so kind with His still, small voice: "I want you to go in and join them." It was such a clear command! And as I continued to negotiate, I began to realize the consequences I set for myself if I refused to respond with my 'yes' to such a prompting. I knew that at some time in the near future I would seek to hear His voice, and I knew in my heart that I wouldn't. The silence of His voice in my life was more overwhelming to me than the 'I can't' fear I was experiencing at that moment about joining the intercessors. And then, the final nudge from Holy Spirit, although it could have been my own thoughts, was 'You're an intercessor. That's what you're here for.' Yup God, You are SO right, that IS what I'm here for: to grow closer to You in every area of my life, but especially in obedience to Your 'still, small voice.'
There was a gentleman sitting right in front of me who got up and went into Room 2 during the time I was negotiating with Holy Spirit. My reaction was pretty swift. I thought 'Now!' so that I could slip into the room while the door was open and not draw attention to myself. Actually, the side rooms are about the size of large, walk-in closets. There was really no way to slip in unnoticed and sit in the back of the room, since there was no back of the room! And, surprise! Nothing was required of me. I wasn't compelled or expected to pray out loud, so I prayed in the Spirit and let those with the knowledge of the epidemic of human trafficking pray with their understanding. The focus Sunday was London and the Soho district, and the upcoming Olympics. Thank You, God, for Your loving kindness towards me, even in the foolishness of my fear.
So, what's up for me today, my day off? Well, I'm heading downtown, to a three-level shopping mall called Crown Center. I'm not going there to shop, but to get in some hard walking. We sit a good portion of the day, although my 'spirit of pacing' has returned, and I'm moving about in the prayer room and in the classrooms a lot more than I did the first few days I was here. It's time for me to flee my 'cave', which I've affectionately begun to call my bedroom, and get out into the sunshine.
Be blessed today in Him, from Whom ALL blessings flow!
With Affection and His Love,
Kathy
Well, Week #1 is complete, and what a week it's been! Teaching, praying, learning, hearing, crying, giggling, bonding, repenting, relieving, GROWING IN HIM! Yay God!
Friday night was the first of the four weekend services at IHOP's Forerunner Christian Fellowship building (FCF), and the building was packed out with young people. Their energy and enthusiasm for Jesus is awesome to watch. Teenagers were praying for other teenagers to be healed, and God answered their prayers. One young lady who was prayed for near me asked for healing of scoliosis. She had an 80% straightening of her spine, and when she left the platform people were praying for 100%. Our God is so amazing!
Saturday the Simeons had the morning off, and then time in the prayer room from 1 PM to 5 PM. It was the first time I wore my earplugs, and what a huge difference they made in my being able to pray, read the Word, and listen to the Lord, while still being able to participate in the worship. All I can say is 'Earplugs: don't leave home without them!'
On Sunday mornings the Simeons are in service as ushers, either at the 8:30 or the 10:45 service. I've been assigned to the second service. Section 3 will be my section for the remaining 10 weeks of the internship. It's the section where moms can bring their babies and their babies' strollers. It was so much fun! There were probably six moms and babies, even a set of twins. All were quiet, there were no criers, and all so beautiful! The grandma in me definitely rose to the surface Sunday morning.
The speaker Sunday was Benjamin Nolot, the IHOPKC leader of Exodus Cry, a ministry that fights against human sex trafficking around the world. Benji gave a powerful teaching from Isaiah 1:17, 'rebuking the oppressor'. I've heard the term 'human trafficking' many times, but never looked beneath the surface to learn what it really means. It was a painful but inspiring message that broke down yet another barrier to my 'I can't get involved' mindset.
From 2 PM to 6 PM Sundays we are back in the prayer room. During the hours from 4 - 6, Simeons and Intro interns participate in what's called 'on the wall' from Isaiah 62:6&7 - 'I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.'
During those two hours we sit at the front of the room and enter into the prayer and worship that is going on. Intercession speaks to specific needs around the world and in America, and on Sundays from 4 - 6 the needs of the 5 million orphans in Uganda are brought before God's throne of mercy and grace. Revival in America is also petitioned for, but the main prayer purpose is for the orphans in Uganda.
THOUGHTS FOR MONDAY: Of all the 'AhhHa' moments of the week, and there were many, the one that stands out most was my encounter with the Holy Spirit right after I arrived at the prayer room Sunday afternoon. As I got comfortable in my seat, I looked at the monitor where the words of the worship song being sung are displayed. Often there is a message beneath the lyrics of what else is going on in the prayer room, such as 'Healing Rooms are now open', or 'Intercession for Turkey is going on in Room 3'.
As I watched the monitor, the message 'All are welcomed to join in Room 2 in strategic intercession against human trafficking' scrolled across the bottom. Now remember, I had just left FCF and a powerful message on human sex trafficking. It just 'happened' that when I came into the prayer room I sat in the section right outside of Room 2. The doors to the side rooms are full glass, so I could look over and see people in deep prayer. I continued to watch the message scroll across the monitor, and to glance sideways at those in the room engaged in prayer. I was having a discussion with myself: 'You really should go in to pray with them.' when Holy Spirit began to whisper to me: "I want you to go in and join them." I'm ashamed to say that my reaction was not an immediate 'yes!'. In fact, it was just the opposite: 'No, no, no, no, no....me? Not me! I don't know anyone in there. I've only been here one week. I don't know anything about human trafficking. Please, don't ask me to do this." But He was persistent, yet so kind with His still, small voice: "I want you to go in and join them." It was such a clear command! And as I continued to negotiate, I began to realize the consequences I set for myself if I refused to respond with my 'yes' to such a prompting. I knew that at some time in the near future I would seek to hear His voice, and I knew in my heart that I wouldn't. The silence of His voice in my life was more overwhelming to me than the 'I can't' fear I was experiencing at that moment about joining the intercessors. And then, the final nudge from Holy Spirit, although it could have been my own thoughts, was 'You're an intercessor. That's what you're here for.' Yup God, You are SO right, that IS what I'm here for: to grow closer to You in every area of my life, but especially in obedience to Your 'still, small voice.'
There was a gentleman sitting right in front of me who got up and went into Room 2 during the time I was negotiating with Holy Spirit. My reaction was pretty swift. I thought 'Now!' so that I could slip into the room while the door was open and not draw attention to myself. Actually, the side rooms are about the size of large, walk-in closets. There was really no way to slip in unnoticed and sit in the back of the room, since there was no back of the room! And, surprise! Nothing was required of me. I wasn't compelled or expected to pray out loud, so I prayed in the Spirit and let those with the knowledge of the epidemic of human trafficking pray with their understanding. The focus Sunday was London and the Soho district, and the upcoming Olympics. Thank You, God, for Your loving kindness towards me, even in the foolishness of my fear.
So, what's up for me today, my day off? Well, I'm heading downtown, to a three-level shopping mall called Crown Center. I'm not going there to shop, but to get in some hard walking. We sit a good portion of the day, although my 'spirit of pacing' has returned, and I'm moving about in the prayer room and in the classrooms a lot more than I did the first few days I was here. It's time for me to flee my 'cave', which I've affectionately begun to call my bedroom, and get out into the sunshine.
Be blessed today in Him, from Whom ALL blessings flow!
With Affection and His Love,
Kathy
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Don't Give Up; Don't Give In; Don't Quit; You Win!
Good Saturday Morning, All! It's a glorious day of sunshine and warm mid-west breezes here in Kansas City. The Simeons first commitment today is in the prayer room this afternoon from 1 - 5 PM, so I've been able to spend an easy Saturday morning resting, getting caught up on email, and enjoying some quiet time.
The previous two days, though, were anything but restful and quiet. Both Tracks I & II of Intro to IHOP and Simeon Company attended a seminar called Relational Wholeness. It's a 10-week course given here at IHOPU, so you might be able to grasp what the pace alone was as we fit 10 weeks into two days!
The subject matter covered just about every area in our lives that might keep us for experiencing a full, vibrant relationship with Jesus. Just a few of the topics covered were Family Systems; Shame and Trauma; Understanding the Addictive Cycle; Walking Free From Bitterness; and Boundaries.
During those two days, and then this morning, I reflected back on my life. It was in February, 2009, that I had a sense that my walk with the Lord was nowhere near what it could be, or should be. My desire for a deeper, more intimate relationship with Abba Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit was the catalyst that set me on my path towards Kansas City and IHOPKC. I was painfully aware at that time that in my weaknesses I would not be able to walk the walk to the greater fullness in Him that I longed to experience. But because of different events over my life, I also carried a picture in my mind of my heart, my emotional self, surrounded by a concrete casing of protection to keep hurt and pain out. That concrete casing not only kept pain and hurt at arm's length, but it kept me from knowing a fullness in Jesus that I longed for but was afraid to receive.
My thoughts also went to one of the best times, when my kids were still quite young, and my dear friend Eileen and I would shoo all the kids out of the kitchen and tell them 'The mothers are having tea'. Tea time was our time together, just Eileen and I. We would share our hearts with one another, what was on our minds, the difficulties and the victories of the week, and we did it all in a non-judgemental, encouraging way. We could do it because we knew each other's deepest secrets, we loved each other unconditionally, and we wanted to be a part of each other's life. I let her into my life and heart, and she in return did the same with hers. One of my great joys is that our relationship continues to this day!
How does all of the above fit in with Relational Wholeness? Revelation 3:20 comes to mind. This verse is used in several different contexts, but mostly as a salvation message. In the context of my experience these last two days, 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock...' tells me that as I hear the voice of Jesus saying 'open the door of your heart to Me', my response in return must be to open that door and ask Him to come into every area of my heart, and thus my life.
And so speaks Jesus to me now: Kathy, I stand at the door of your heart and knock. If you hear My voice, and choose to open your heart and let Me in, then I will come into your heart and your life, Kathy, and have tea (relationship) with you and you, Kathy, will have it with Me. I love you with an everlasting love, Kathy. I promise to never leave you or abandon you. And no good thing will I withhold from you as you walk in righteousness with Me.
Steve Green sings a wonderful song called 'Broken and Spilled Out'. Truly, that was the theme of Relational Wholeness, that we would allow the hardness, the concrete of our hearts to be broken and spilled out for the love of Jesus. Amen, Lord Jesus, so be it!
Be blessed today in Him, from Whom ALL blessings flow!
With Affection and His Love,
Kathy
The previous two days, though, were anything but restful and quiet. Both Tracks I & II of Intro to IHOP and Simeon Company attended a seminar called Relational Wholeness. It's a 10-week course given here at IHOPU, so you might be able to grasp what the pace alone was as we fit 10 weeks into two days!
The subject matter covered just about every area in our lives that might keep us for experiencing a full, vibrant relationship with Jesus. Just a few of the topics covered were Family Systems; Shame and Trauma; Understanding the Addictive Cycle; Walking Free From Bitterness; and Boundaries.
During those two days, and then this morning, I reflected back on my life. It was in February, 2009, that I had a sense that my walk with the Lord was nowhere near what it could be, or should be. My desire for a deeper, more intimate relationship with Abba Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit was the catalyst that set me on my path towards Kansas City and IHOPKC. I was painfully aware at that time that in my weaknesses I would not be able to walk the walk to the greater fullness in Him that I longed to experience. But because of different events over my life, I also carried a picture in my mind of my heart, my emotional self, surrounded by a concrete casing of protection to keep hurt and pain out. That concrete casing not only kept pain and hurt at arm's length, but it kept me from knowing a fullness in Jesus that I longed for but was afraid to receive.
My thoughts also went to one of the best times, when my kids were still quite young, and my dear friend Eileen and I would shoo all the kids out of the kitchen and tell them 'The mothers are having tea'. Tea time was our time together, just Eileen and I. We would share our hearts with one another, what was on our minds, the difficulties and the victories of the week, and we did it all in a non-judgemental, encouraging way. We could do it because we knew each other's deepest secrets, we loved each other unconditionally, and we wanted to be a part of each other's life. I let her into my life and heart, and she in return did the same with hers. One of my great joys is that our relationship continues to this day!
How does all of the above fit in with Relational Wholeness? Revelation 3:20 comes to mind. This verse is used in several different contexts, but mostly as a salvation message. In the context of my experience these last two days, 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock...' tells me that as I hear the voice of Jesus saying 'open the door of your heart to Me', my response in return must be to open that door and ask Him to come into every area of my heart, and thus my life.
And so speaks Jesus to me now: Kathy, I stand at the door of your heart and knock. If you hear My voice, and choose to open your heart and let Me in, then I will come into your heart and your life, Kathy, and have tea (relationship) with you and you, Kathy, will have it with Me. I love you with an everlasting love, Kathy. I promise to never leave you or abandon you. And no good thing will I withhold from you as you walk in righteousness with Me.
Steve Green sings a wonderful song called 'Broken and Spilled Out'. Truly, that was the theme of Relational Wholeness, that we would allow the hardness, the concrete of our hearts to be broken and spilled out for the love of Jesus. Amen, Lord Jesus, so be it!
Be blessed today in Him, from Whom ALL blessings flow!
With Affection and His Love,
Kathy
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Is It Wednesday?
Hello, All! Yes, I actually do know it's Wednesday, July 11, although I'm still upside down from having Monday off! But God continues to grow me and stretch me, so the day really doesn't matter, it is only the fruit of the day that counts.
Yesterday, Tuesday, was a day filled with ministry and teaching. We, as Track I - Intro to IHOP and Simeon Company interns, got to pray for those students beginning Track II of both internships. The deep bonds that have developed in those that have gone through Track I together are obvious as they begin their Track II journey. I'm excited at the potential for those same kinds of bonds to be created by the Lord between us in the Track I group.
Next we were given a solid introduction to the children's portion of the IHOPKC Missions Base. The Children's Equipping Center (CEC) is a ministry to little ones from toddler-age and up. And the vision that CEC has for the children is not diluted because they're kids. The children that come through this program are offered a full dose of everything God has to offer, from teaching, to learning to pray for themselves and others, to prophesying, to being filled with the Holy Spirit. It's a powerful ministry to the next generation of believers.
Tuesday afternoon was the beginning of our core teaching sessions. We learned about spiritual tools to use in the prayer room to make our time there as effective as possible (we were encouraged to wear ear plugs as needed!), with the goal first and foremost to encounter Jesus whenever we are there. Most days we will have 4 hours in the prayer room, so having insight into getting the most out of that time was really helpful.
After the lesson on the prayer room we then began what will be weekly teachings on God's heart for Israel, and what part we play in His relationship with His chosen people. I know we are supposed to 'pray for the peace of Jerusalem', but beyond that I do not have a familiarity with what God commands us concerning Israel. From what I gleaned on Tuesday, it's a lot. I'm looking forward to being educated in that area so I can find my own place in the process.
Wednesdays and Fridays are our longest days, with Wednesdays being the most social. After an early start in the prayer room, the Simeons met at the home of our core leader, Rick Bass, for what will be a weekly life group. At Changepoint we call these home groups. We have lunch together then there is a time of debriefing; the week's schedule is discussed and any questions are answered. Over the course of the 12 weeks each of us will be able to share our testimony.
Later in the afternoon we were back at IHOPU for more teaching, and then off again to another life group in the evening. The Wednesday evening life groups are for the Intro to IHOP interns, but additionally our Simeon group is incorporated into each Intro life group. So four of us joined Chris and Amy Sullivan's Team 3 life group, of which we will be a part for the duration of Track I. The format for the evening is the same as our life group during the day, except that there is no debriefing, since the Intro groups do their debriefing while we Simeons are at our mid-day life group.
It's going to be so much fun hanging with the Intro kids, for kids they are! Most, at least in the life group I'm assigned to, seemed to be no older than thirty. They laugh easily, giggle longer, and give the sense that they have a fresh perspective on life. We have several Intro students in our group from Canada, one from Brazil, one from Malaysia, and one from South Korea. The remainder come from across the U.S., from Boston to New York to Texas to California. We're a very diverse group, and I have a strong sense that this will be fun!
THOUGHTS FOR WEDNESDAY: Several things have struck me about IHOPKC people and their relationship to others.
On a number of occasions we Simeons have been honored for who we are in the world of these younger ones, and many expressions of appreciation have been extended just because we are older adults. If I've ever considered, as a 60-plus year old, how younger people might perceive us older folk, honor and appreciation would not have been anywhere near the top of my list. Maybe it's a cultural thing or it could very well be a box I've placed around myself. But I probably would think more along the lines of expectation - what I'm expected to give others, and contribution - what people expect from me. On the first day of orientation the Simeons were asked to stand and be honored just for who we are. And since that first day it's happened several more times in different forms. Because of that I've begun to look at myself as having a value that I've never noticed before. Pretty cool.
Another thing that is happening is the sharing of testimonies. I LOVE to hear how Jesus makes a difference in people. It is such a faith builder for me, to hear how He works in the lives of others. A person's testimony is a really big thing here at IHOPKC, and we were encouraged today to prepare, and be ready to share at any given time, a two, ten, twenty, and thirty minute version of our personal testimony. I'm learning very quickly that it's not about the numbers here, but each person is treated as just that, a separate, distinct person, with his or her own unique testimony. So very awesome!
During the next two days, on Thursday and Friday, both Intro and the Simeons will be taking a seminar called Relational Wholeness. From it's description it sounds very similar to the Restoring the Foundations teachings that the leadership at Changepoint have been doing. I'm not sure of anything beyond the little bit I've been told, but it seems like these next two days will help accelerate the breaking up of any hardness in our hearts from past life hurts, in order to give the Holy Spirit more fertile soil in which to plant Seeds of Life. I'm thinking this will not be a time for the faint of heart! I ask that you pray for me over these next two days if the Lord brings me to your mind.
Weather-wise here it's been nice, hot but not 'on fire' like last week. I'll take it for July in the mid-west!
Be blessed in Him today from Whom ALL blessings flow!
With affection and His Love,
Kathy
Yesterday, Tuesday, was a day filled with ministry and teaching. We, as Track I - Intro to IHOP and Simeon Company interns, got to pray for those students beginning Track II of both internships. The deep bonds that have developed in those that have gone through Track I together are obvious as they begin their Track II journey. I'm excited at the potential for those same kinds of bonds to be created by the Lord between us in the Track I group.
Next we were given a solid introduction to the children's portion of the IHOPKC Missions Base. The Children's Equipping Center (CEC) is a ministry to little ones from toddler-age and up. And the vision that CEC has for the children is not diluted because they're kids. The children that come through this program are offered a full dose of everything God has to offer, from teaching, to learning to pray for themselves and others, to prophesying, to being filled with the Holy Spirit. It's a powerful ministry to the next generation of believers.
Tuesday afternoon was the beginning of our core teaching sessions. We learned about spiritual tools to use in the prayer room to make our time there as effective as possible (we were encouraged to wear ear plugs as needed!), with the goal first and foremost to encounter Jesus whenever we are there. Most days we will have 4 hours in the prayer room, so having insight into getting the most out of that time was really helpful.
After the lesson on the prayer room we then began what will be weekly teachings on God's heart for Israel, and what part we play in His relationship with His chosen people. I know we are supposed to 'pray for the peace of Jerusalem', but beyond that I do not have a familiarity with what God commands us concerning Israel. From what I gleaned on Tuesday, it's a lot. I'm looking forward to being educated in that area so I can find my own place in the process.
Wednesdays and Fridays are our longest days, with Wednesdays being the most social. After an early start in the prayer room, the Simeons met at the home of our core leader, Rick Bass, for what will be a weekly life group. At Changepoint we call these home groups. We have lunch together then there is a time of debriefing; the week's schedule is discussed and any questions are answered. Over the course of the 12 weeks each of us will be able to share our testimony.
Later in the afternoon we were back at IHOPU for more teaching, and then off again to another life group in the evening. The Wednesday evening life groups are for the Intro to IHOP interns, but additionally our Simeon group is incorporated into each Intro life group. So four of us joined Chris and Amy Sullivan's Team 3 life group, of which we will be a part for the duration of Track I. The format for the evening is the same as our life group during the day, except that there is no debriefing, since the Intro groups do their debriefing while we Simeons are at our mid-day life group.
It's going to be so much fun hanging with the Intro kids, for kids they are! Most, at least in the life group I'm assigned to, seemed to be no older than thirty. They laugh easily, giggle longer, and give the sense that they have a fresh perspective on life. We have several Intro students in our group from Canada, one from Brazil, one from Malaysia, and one from South Korea. The remainder come from across the U.S., from Boston to New York to Texas to California. We're a very diverse group, and I have a strong sense that this will be fun!
THOUGHTS FOR WEDNESDAY: Several things have struck me about IHOPKC people and their relationship to others.
On a number of occasions we Simeons have been honored for who we are in the world of these younger ones, and many expressions of appreciation have been extended just because we are older adults. If I've ever considered, as a 60-plus year old, how younger people might perceive us older folk, honor and appreciation would not have been anywhere near the top of my list. Maybe it's a cultural thing or it could very well be a box I've placed around myself. But I probably would think more along the lines of expectation - what I'm expected to give others, and contribution - what people expect from me. On the first day of orientation the Simeons were asked to stand and be honored just for who we are. And since that first day it's happened several more times in different forms. Because of that I've begun to look at myself as having a value that I've never noticed before. Pretty cool.
Another thing that is happening is the sharing of testimonies. I LOVE to hear how Jesus makes a difference in people. It is such a faith builder for me, to hear how He works in the lives of others. A person's testimony is a really big thing here at IHOPKC, and we were encouraged today to prepare, and be ready to share at any given time, a two, ten, twenty, and thirty minute version of our personal testimony. I'm learning very quickly that it's not about the numbers here, but each person is treated as just that, a separate, distinct person, with his or her own unique testimony. So very awesome!
During the next two days, on Thursday and Friday, both Intro and the Simeons will be taking a seminar called Relational Wholeness. From it's description it sounds very similar to the Restoring the Foundations teachings that the leadership at Changepoint have been doing. I'm not sure of anything beyond the little bit I've been told, but it seems like these next two days will help accelerate the breaking up of any hardness in our hearts from past life hurts, in order to give the Holy Spirit more fertile soil in which to plant Seeds of Life. I'm thinking this will not be a time for the faint of heart! I ask that you pray for me over these next two days if the Lord brings me to your mind.
Weather-wise here it's been nice, hot but not 'on fire' like last week. I'll take it for July in the mid-west!
Be blessed in Him today from Whom ALL blessings flow!
With affection and His Love,
Kathy
Monday, July 9, 2012
This N' That: July 8 & 9
Good Monday Evening, Everyone!
So, it's Monday and I can't get over the feeling that it should be Saturday. Mondays are really Simeon Saturdays, since Mondays are our day off. I'm wondering if I'll ever get used to that?
So, it's Monday and I can't get over the feeling that it should be Saturday. Mondays are really Simeon Saturdays, since Mondays are our day off. I'm wondering if I'll ever get used to that?
On Sunday, as a group, both Intro to IHOP I & II and Simeon Company I & II attended the 10:45 service at the Forerunner Christian Center (FCF). Starting next week we will be in an usher rotation for one of the Sunday services. Although the speaker was the same for all four services (Fri., Sat., & two on Sunday) the worship teams were different and the message given to the teens on Saturday night was tweaked somewhat for Sunday morning. More on that later.
After service we had a time of fellowship, home-baked goods and fun, with all the Intro and Simeons gathered together in a large meeting room at the Red Bridge Center where the Global Prayer Room is located. In such a relaxed setting, with nothing to do but enjoy each other's company and eat brownies, I got to ask questions and get to know a little more of the story of a number of my Simeon mates. Then, at 4 PM we went next door to the prayer room and participated in a two hour worship and intersession set. I say participated because during one of the times of group prayer - there was prayer at length for the children of Uganda - us Simeon ladies prayed together as a group, me included! We're starting to feel comfortable in this holy environment, so much so that when we looked up we were the last group still standing and praying!
Now, concerning Sunday service: Our speaker was a gentleman named Luis Cataldo, a member of IHOPKC since 2005. He has an amazing life story of what the Lord has done in the lives of him, his wife and daughters, and what the Lord is doing in the earth at this time. I will not even attempt to try to condense what he spoke about. He spoke with humor and a tremendous knowledge of God and the global prayer movement in this day and hour. I encourage all those reading this blog to go the IHOPKC.org website and listen to his message. It goes for just a little over an hour, but he tells it with such good humor and sincerity that I was sorry when he finished, and I actually listened to the message again this morning.
From the website IHOPKC.org, scroll about half way down the main page to More Teachings and Notes. Once you open the tab find the teaching dated July 8 and titled What You Do Really Matters. Yay, God! It's an audio download, which I downloaded to my iTunes page.
THOUGHTS FOR MONDAY: IHOPKC is meeting my expectations but I've been told, and am coming to understand, that God is about to EXCEED those expectations; that He will actually change them for me. Living in the reality of being immersed in God turns out, so far, to be what I had been told it might be, and also warned, of what it could be. That reality was spoken over me prophetically before I left NY. That message has also been given down to us from our instructors and staff since arriving in Kansas City. But, truth be told, I'm only guessing at how that looks; what being immersed in God is like. I didn't really KNOW what it would mean for me, both spiritually and emotionally, as I began to lay down my life and pick up His. It's all good but it will not be easy from the standpoint of the flesh.
One of the main downloads (not crazy about the term, but it fits here) I've received from the Lord in these first few days is that I am to BE, and not DO. I've heard that word spoken to me before, but I continue to be a doer. On many occasions I've confessed to others that I have a 'Martha spirit'. The really painful part is just how much I live in the DO, rather than the BE, to be seated at His feet as Mary was, who chose the better thing. And in this season that's where He wants me, seated at His feet. Holy Spirit has told me that if I do not do one more thing in the coming three months but sit at the feet of Jesus, that it is exactly what He wants and has ordained for me. I am to take on NO assignments except what goes along as part of the Simeon Company internship.
It's only been two days since I received that most recent Holy Spirit instruction, yet I had no idea because I did not KNOW (see above!) how hard this would become. As I proceeded down the list of things I was tempted to DO today, I saw that just about everything I DO for others is really to satisfy my own need to be needed and accepted, to please God so He'll think I'm a good person, not to please God only because of Who He is! Ouch! Yay God, but Ouch!
It's only been two days since I received that most recent Holy Spirit instruction, yet I had no idea because I did not KNOW (see above!) how hard this would become. As I proceeded down the list of things I was tempted to DO today, I saw that just about everything I DO for others is really to satisfy my own need to be needed and accepted, to please God so He'll think I'm a good person, not to please God only because of Who He is! Ouch! Yay God, but Ouch!
We have a full day tomorrow, beginning at 8 AM and going until next Sunday. JK! But in looking at the schedule it sure seems that way. Plus, I found out I'm allergic to something in KC, and I've been sneezing and coughing and blowing my nose for the past 24 hours. Did I say I don't like having allergies, especially since I've never, ever had them before, and I'm old!
Have a great week. Be blessed in Him from Whom ALL blessings flow!
With Affection and His Love,
Kathy
A Solid Start With Jesus
Hello All! I know it's Monday, but I got caught up in all the weekend things going on, so here is the post from Saturday. It was the first day of a full schedule, with ministry and teaching time in the morning, and then homework and the prayer room in the afternoon. I felt like I was finally getting into the meat of why I had been called here to Kansas City.
Prior to the start of our session on Saturday morning, I woke up very early with a heavy burden for an area in my life that I had been asking God to deal with in me for over a year. Understanding and restoration, though, came from a totally unexpected perspective, one that I would never have seen for myself. Yet it made perfect sense when seen through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. I found myself weeping before I even left the house, my own spirit being so tender before the Lord that all I could do was repent and let Him love on me. When I arrived for the morning session, we began with a time of worship and ministry during which I received prayer, and was given an encouraging prophetic word that I was on the correct course and am held in high esteem by my heavenly Father. Wow, yay God!
During the morning session, besides the initial ministry time, we were given several more orientation talks, mostly about the different areas of service that we will be called to on campus. There was also information to give people who might want to support us while we are at IHOPKC. Then began our teaching on 'consecration'. Regan, who is the Intro to IHOP and Simeon Company Track II senior core leader, spoke on setting aside the next three months, consecrating ourselves to be wholly focused on God and His yearnings for us in deeper relationship with Him. We were encouraged, during the twelve weeks of Track I, to put aside all the cares of the world that we brought with us, the concerns about what we left back home, and to 'draw near to God' with the promise from His word that when we do 'He will draw near' to us. Excellent word of encouragement for all us newbies!
After our lunch break it was off the the prayer room for several hours of soaking in His presence, where the primary focus is on worship of our great God and King. During many of the worship sets there is often a time of intercession for the needs of God's people around the world. Saturday afternoon much prayer was directed towards the churches in North Korea and also in Mozambique.
Unlike the first day when our time in the prayer room was finished (and so was I!), I had enough energy remaining to attend the Saturday evening service at the Forerunner facility several miles away. There seems to always be a conference or some kind of gathering going on at IHOPKC. Such is the case for the next two weeks with Awakening Teen Camp that began last Friday. Besides the six hundred or so people attending the Saturday evening service, the room was also blessed with the enthusiasm for Jesus of 200 teenagers! To see these kids raising their hands in worship, hooting and hollering for the message, and then praying for one another was amazing! We know that there are teens out there that really love Jesus, because we see it at Changepoint. They are teens who want to worship Him and minister to family, friends, and strangers in His Name. It was pretty awesome to experience that here as well.
As a footnote on the weather, Saturday was the hottest day of the week, topping out at 106 degrees. How hot is 106 degrees? So hot that when I got in my truck to drive back to the house at 5 PM, I was unable to hold the steering wheel with both hands. I needed to keep changing hands because the steering wheel felt like it was on fire!
On to Sunday!
With Affection and His Love,
Kathy
Prior to the start of our session on Saturday morning, I woke up very early with a heavy burden for an area in my life that I had been asking God to deal with in me for over a year. Understanding and restoration, though, came from a totally unexpected perspective, one that I would never have seen for myself. Yet it made perfect sense when seen through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. I found myself weeping before I even left the house, my own spirit being so tender before the Lord that all I could do was repent and let Him love on me. When I arrived for the morning session, we began with a time of worship and ministry during which I received prayer, and was given an encouraging prophetic word that I was on the correct course and am held in high esteem by my heavenly Father. Wow, yay God!
During the morning session, besides the initial ministry time, we were given several more orientation talks, mostly about the different areas of service that we will be called to on campus. There was also information to give people who might want to support us while we are at IHOPKC. Then began our teaching on 'consecration'. Regan, who is the Intro to IHOP and Simeon Company Track II senior core leader, spoke on setting aside the next three months, consecrating ourselves to be wholly focused on God and His yearnings for us in deeper relationship with Him. We were encouraged, during the twelve weeks of Track I, to put aside all the cares of the world that we brought with us, the concerns about what we left back home, and to 'draw near to God' with the promise from His word that when we do 'He will draw near' to us. Excellent word of encouragement for all us newbies!
After our lunch break it was off the the prayer room for several hours of soaking in His presence, where the primary focus is on worship of our great God and King. During many of the worship sets there is often a time of intercession for the needs of God's people around the world. Saturday afternoon much prayer was directed towards the churches in North Korea and also in Mozambique.
Unlike the first day when our time in the prayer room was finished (and so was I!), I had enough energy remaining to attend the Saturday evening service at the Forerunner facility several miles away. There seems to always be a conference or some kind of gathering going on at IHOPKC. Such is the case for the next two weeks with Awakening Teen Camp that began last Friday. Besides the six hundred or so people attending the Saturday evening service, the room was also blessed with the enthusiasm for Jesus of 200 teenagers! To see these kids raising their hands in worship, hooting and hollering for the message, and then praying for one another was amazing! We know that there are teens out there that really love Jesus, because we see it at Changepoint. They are teens who want to worship Him and minister to family, friends, and strangers in His Name. It was pretty awesome to experience that here as well.
As a footnote on the weather, Saturday was the hottest day of the week, topping out at 106 degrees. How hot is 106 degrees? So hot that when I got in my truck to drive back to the house at 5 PM, I was unable to hold the steering wheel with both hands. I needed to keep changing hands because the steering wheel felt like it was on fire!
On to Sunday!
With Affection and His Love,
Kathy
Friday, July 6, 2012
Day 1 - Orientation
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| DAY 1! |
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| HOT! |
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| DINNER! |
Good Friday, Everyone! It's been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, so what do three pictures say? They say it's been a full, first day of orientation at IHOPKC!
I was awake very early, and re-read my first day instructions several times to make sure I knew where I was supposed to be and at what time. It took awhile, but I finally convinced myself that yes, I was to report to IHOPU at 9 AM, and after my driving adventures yesterday I was sure that I knew how to get there. To be on the safe side, and not being familiar with the commuter traffic on this side of KC, I left the house at 8:30. The four mile drive took me.......five minutes! Needless to say I needn't have worried about being on time.
Orientation today was for two groups, the Simeons as we are affectionately known on campus, and the Intro to IHOP interns. Our Simeon group consists of twelve people, and it appears from a quick visual around the room that the Intro group has approximately forty interns. The Simeons include a couple from Australia who are the only internationals in our group. The Intro students have a much larger percentage of internationals, with students from Australia, Brazil, Singapore, Nigeria, even a couple from Iran! A statistic we were given is that now the overall student population at IHOPKC, both university and interns, averages 40% international.
Our core leader is a gentleman named Rick Bass. He is a retired physician from Texas, and he really does say "Y'all". I, on the other hand, was teased early on because I say 'pahk', and 'watah', and 'cah'!
I don't know why it is a surprise to me, but Rick and all the staff we have met so far walk out their lives according to the first great commandment, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul, and mind, and strength.' It is so apparent that they love Jesus with all their hearts, and they are at IHOPKC to give the interns every opportunity, along with the tools, to help us grow into that same relationship.
We have a full, full, full, full, full schedule every day of the week except Mondays, which is our day off. There had been a hint of the schedule in my acceptance papers, but to actually see the schedule in print was another story altogether. I won't give every detail now, but instead share each day's schedule of classes and activities as they come up. We also have homework during the week which must be turned in on Fridays, not to be graded, but to confirm that we did it.
A really neat thing is that the Simeons will be working with the Intro students, who are mostly twenty-something in age. We all will be part of life group teams that meet on Wednesday evenings. The time will consist of fellowship and a meal at an Intro core leader's home, where we as Simeons will develop a mentoring relationship with the Intro interns. Really cool!
Another aspect of the internships is that students also do works of service at IHOPKC, which has several campuses. Assignments could be ushering at church services and conferences, or working with the kids at the Children's Equipping Center, driving one of the shuttle buses from the Global Prayer Room facility to the Forerunner Christian Fellowship Center where the weekend church services are held, or maybe directing traffic in the parking lot. Those assignments will be given out next week.
So far, on most days it seems we have a pretty long break mid-day for lunch, so today I joined the other Simeon ladies at a place called Unforked. Part of our orientation packet included a list of restaurants in the area preferred by staff members, so that there is no guessing as to where the good eateries are and what places to avoid. Unforked really lived up to our expectations, and they served Harney & Sons (Millerton, NY) iced tea!
Anywho, I rode out with Simeons Geri and Doris, and it was awesome to hear how God worked to bring each of them to IHOPKC at this particular time in their lives. Doris is from Sacramento, and Geri is from North Dakota, but except for location our stories were amazingly similar. Both ladies shared, and I had to concur, that when God led them to make the decision to come to KC, doors swung open in such a way that there was no other explanation than that it was God's time for them to be here. That truth was made clear to us earlier in the day by the internship director, who assured us that our being at IHOPKC was not a random thing. Yay God!
Weekend church services take place on Friday and Saturday evenings, with two services on Sunday morning. Our regular schedule as Simeons requires us to attend the Friday night service, with Saturday's service being optional, and then one service on Sunday. Intern attendance is taken at the services, at our classes, and in the prayer room. This weekend, though, we were given a pass for tonight and tomorrow night which is a good thing. By the time we finished at 4:45 this afternoon we were pretty much drained, but in a good way. To a person, at least the Simeons, we all agreed that what we wanted to do was just get home and wind down!
It was acknowledged to us by Corey Stark, the overall director of all the internships, including Simeon Company and Intro to IHOP, that interns always come with an expectation of what the Lord will do in our lives while we are at IHOPKC. Corey suggested that, within a day or two, those expectations will go away and be replaced instead with what God has for us in Him during this season in our lives. Day 1- Orientation, was just a taste of that reality. Let the adventure begin!
With Affection and His Love,
Kathy
Thursday, July 5, 2012
It's Finally Here!
Well, tomorrow at 9 AM the adventure REALLY begins! It's the start of the July - September session of the Simeon Company internship, which for me has been two years in the making. That nudgy apprehension is trying to raise it's ugly head again, but I keep 'remembering' that God gave me the desire of my heart to be here, opened doors wide for me, and that I'm here for His purpose. Apprehension, be gone!
Today, after being out and about for a good portion of the day, I was finally able to get a picture in my head of the different places I need to be and the streets and highways I'll be taking to get there. I am 'directionally challenged' (not a very good map reader), so figuring out how to get where I'm supposed to be was a huge accomplishment. And I've even been able to get back here to the house without getting lost!
Before I went out for the day I was able to spend some time this morning with Lisa, one of my housemates. I learned that she came to Kansas City with a similar purpose to mine, and Holy Spirit turned her inside out too, to bring her into oneness with Jesus. It was so encouraging to learn that yes, there was a total dying to self, but she knows that it was SO worth it. Although the refining process for each of us is different, because we come from different life experiences, the ultimate goal for every one of us is to be one with the Father, just as Jesus is. That is my hope and my prayer for my own walk with God during this season at IHOPKC.
My driving excursions today were wrapped around two separate visits to the global prayer room. The worship during the time I was there this morning was awesome. The worship team brought us right into the throne room! This evening's visit was a little more subdued, but full of worship and adoration nonetheless. What struck me this evening was the number of parents, both moms and dads, who had their little ones with them, some of whom appeared to be no older than one year. Not one child had a tantrum while I was there, nor demanded his or her own way. Every child was so quiet that, if I had not actually seen them, I would not have known they were there. It was pretty awesome. And, during public prayer at the prayer mic, a young girl who could not have been any older than ten got up and, using scripture, prayed for a move of God in Amsterdam!
May you be blessed in Him today, from Whom ALL blessings flow!
With Affection and His Love,
Kathy
Today, after being out and about for a good portion of the day, I was finally able to get a picture in my head of the different places I need to be and the streets and highways I'll be taking to get there. I am 'directionally challenged' (not a very good map reader), so figuring out how to get where I'm supposed to be was a huge accomplishment. And I've even been able to get back here to the house without getting lost!
Before I went out for the day I was able to spend some time this morning with Lisa, one of my housemates. I learned that she came to Kansas City with a similar purpose to mine, and Holy Spirit turned her inside out too, to bring her into oneness with Jesus. It was so encouraging to learn that yes, there was a total dying to self, but she knows that it was SO worth it. Although the refining process for each of us is different, because we come from different life experiences, the ultimate goal for every one of us is to be one with the Father, just as Jesus is. That is my hope and my prayer for my own walk with God during this season at IHOPKC.
My driving excursions today were wrapped around two separate visits to the global prayer room. The worship during the time I was there this morning was awesome. The worship team brought us right into the throne room! This evening's visit was a little more subdued, but full of worship and adoration nonetheless. What struck me this evening was the number of parents, both moms and dads, who had their little ones with them, some of whom appeared to be no older than one year. Not one child had a tantrum while I was there, nor demanded his or her own way. Every child was so quiet that, if I had not actually seen them, I would not have known they were there. It was pretty awesome. And, during public prayer at the prayer mic, a young girl who could not have been any older than ten got up and, using scripture, prayed for a move of God in Amsterdam!
May you be blessed in Him today, from Whom ALL blessings flow!
With Affection and His Love,
Kathy
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
It's Only The Beginning
Happy July 4th everyone! Let freedom ring and please, God, continue to bless America!
After considering different options on keeping those back home updated during my time at IHOPKC, I thought that a blog would be the most efficient way to communicate with everyone. Once my classes start, both days and several evenings will be filled with the prayer room, classes, ministry, and homework, so time will be at a premium to contact each of you individually.
I arrived in Kansas City early Monday evening after a family-filled five days in Oklahoma City with my sister, Eileen. My trip half way across the country was uneventful, which is exactly what was prayed over me before I left. My daughter Megan also asked God to give me stamina for the drive that was ahead of me, and He certainly did that. On my second day I covered 1,000 miles and was on the road for over16 hours, so stamina came in very handy. Yay God!
I was feeling a slight sense of apprehension as I drove into Kansas City. I knew in my spirit that I could not NOT be here, that being at IHOPKC was something I was compelled to do. But I was wondering at that moment what I had gotten myself into! I know now the feeling was fear of the unknown, but fortunately for me God caused my faith to rise up. I realized, as I worried, that I am in God's chosen place for me during this season in my life, and that I am to be 'anxious for nothing'. That one verse caused me to give up on the worrying.
The place where I will be living is owned by a lovely Christian woman, Jackie MacGirvin. Jackie has a good-sized home less than two miles from the IHOPKC global prayer room. She rents several of those rooms to other Christian women. I have three housemates, plus Jackie, who live here. God is so good, and He has set me in a place where it appears that each one of us has something of life experience and her walk with God to give to the other four. I look forward to getting to know each of these ladies while, hopefully, offering something of my own life to them.
The reason I am here, the IHOP Simeon Company internship, begins this Friday at 9 AM. It will be a six day schedule filled with the 24/7 prayer room, teaching, ministry, and relationship building. To say I am excited about getting started would be an understatement!
Holy Spirit has already forewarned me that He is bringing me to a new place in Him during my time at IHOPKC, and that He will be working His good pleasure in me from the inside out. I've had some brief experiences with this 'school of the Holy Spirit' in the past, and have come to call this growing in Him 'exquisite pain'. In faith I pray that He will not give me anything that I cannot handle with His guidance and love.
It will be 100+ degrees here all week, so I'm getting a full taste of summer in the mid-west!
Let the adventure begin!
With affection and His love,
Kathy
After considering different options on keeping those back home updated during my time at IHOPKC, I thought that a blog would be the most efficient way to communicate with everyone. Once my classes start, both days and several evenings will be filled with the prayer room, classes, ministry, and homework, so time will be at a premium to contact each of you individually.
I arrived in Kansas City early Monday evening after a family-filled five days in Oklahoma City with my sister, Eileen. My trip half way across the country was uneventful, which is exactly what was prayed over me before I left. My daughter Megan also asked God to give me stamina for the drive that was ahead of me, and He certainly did that. On my second day I covered 1,000 miles and was on the road for over16 hours, so stamina came in very handy. Yay God!
I was feeling a slight sense of apprehension as I drove into Kansas City. I knew in my spirit that I could not NOT be here, that being at IHOPKC was something I was compelled to do. But I was wondering at that moment what I had gotten myself into! I know now the feeling was fear of the unknown, but fortunately for me God caused my faith to rise up. I realized, as I worried, that I am in God's chosen place for me during this season in my life, and that I am to be 'anxious for nothing'. That one verse caused me to give up on the worrying.
The place where I will be living is owned by a lovely Christian woman, Jackie MacGirvin. Jackie has a good-sized home less than two miles from the IHOPKC global prayer room. She rents several of those rooms to other Christian women. I have three housemates, plus Jackie, who live here. God is so good, and He has set me in a place where it appears that each one of us has something of life experience and her walk with God to give to the other four. I look forward to getting to know each of these ladies while, hopefully, offering something of my own life to them.
The reason I am here, the IHOP Simeon Company internship, begins this Friday at 9 AM. It will be a six day schedule filled with the 24/7 prayer room, teaching, ministry, and relationship building. To say I am excited about getting started would be an understatement!
Holy Spirit has already forewarned me that He is bringing me to a new place in Him during my time at IHOPKC, and that He will be working His good pleasure in me from the inside out. I've had some brief experiences with this 'school of the Holy Spirit' in the past, and have come to call this growing in Him 'exquisite pain'. In faith I pray that He will not give me anything that I cannot handle with His guidance and love.
It will be 100+ degrees here all week, so I'm getting a full taste of summer in the mid-west!
Let the adventure begin!
With affection and His love,
Kathy
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