Father's Heart

"In the beginning was the Word, & the Word became flesh, dwelling among us..." -John 1

There has been SO much that has happened over the course of just 5 weeks. It has felt a bit like drinking from a fire hydrant.

God has been stirring my heart through the classes, worship, & through what they call "Creative Intercession"- which is where you pray creatively through art, for issues of injustice such as the foster care system, or homelessness. You ask the Father for His heart over these things, then create from that place what He is saying or showing to you.

The above piece came from a set praying for the children caught in the foster system. I could feel the overwhelming emotions- God what can we do with so many? He responded with this verse, "In the beginning...the earth was formless & void, & dark was was on...the deep...& the Spirit of God was there. Then God said, 'Let there be light..." He is the One who can bring order out of chaos. Beauty from nothing. What is overwhelming & too big for us, is not too hard for Him. He can come into chaos & suddenly, something you've never seen before is made.

My heart & mind have been blown with the revelations of His character & nature (week one), His heart of compassion (week two), hearing His voice clearly & knowing when it is His voice speaking (week three), & this past week knowing Father's heart. All of these themes building one on another that are all a deep part of who God is.

As a Father, & a good shepherd-leader, His voice does not lead by confusion or chaos. It does not bring you into a place of fear or doom. His ways are peace. Psalm 23 says He leads us like a shepherd- knowing what is ahead as well as what we are going to need. He prepares us with refreshing & provision, so that when we are walking through the valleys that feel like things could come crashing down on you, He can be trusted because the same One who provides in the fields is guiding you through the darkness. He is a comforter.

He has been digging deep into the "rooms" of my heart that I wasn't even aware were still there. Places where I had closed myself in, marking them off-limits in attempt to self-preserve, but like a good Father He didn't break down my doors. He waits at the door & knocks- waiting to be let in. Such HEALING & FREEDOM are coming from allowing Him into those closed down places. Even at my age, He has patiently waited until the time I stand up, close the distance & open the door. He's so gentle. He really is so kind.

THIS is the message the world has been waiting to hear. He's not angrily waiting. Nor is He distant. He LONGS to close the distance between us. For relationship to be restored. He REJOICES, like a father watching his lost son in the distance. He RUNS. Ever seen an old man run? Let that picture settle over your heart. The Father has waited for these moments.

I have completed 30 days here in California, but it feels like much longer for the swirl of events that have happened & He has led us through. From arrival, to quarintine, to a full 50-60 hour a week schedule that at times keeps me running (literally), He has gently led me through with so much peace. I have formed a bond of family in this short time with the 8 others who answered the call during a pandemic. Who have said, "Send me Lord! I will go!" We have laughed together- alot, cried together- so much. We've shared deep moments where things came to light that the Father revealed & gently removed. It feels like a lifetime that has gone by so quickly!

We have one more month before leaving for outreach- which we found out last week! Mexico & Columbia here we come! God is steadily preparing us. Uprooting issues that stand in the way of love. We are preparing physically as well, as many of the places we may go require a physical ability & endurance. I will share more on that as they reveal the information, as well as remaining flexible with covid. Blessed are the flexible, for they won't be bent out of shape! I SO appreciate those of you whom have stood in prayer with me- both on a personal level, as well as during my time preparing to launch & be in DTS. Thank you for being my friends. My comrades who have stood with me these past seasons. You remain an integral & important part of the story. You are a BIG part of where I am wit the Lord, & how far He has brought me. I see you. God SEES you. Your story is a BIG deal before heaven, & I am contending with & for YOU as well!

That being said, TESTIMONY TIME! My DTS, including the additional $300 that was required just a few weeks prior to arrival due to covid, is 💯% PAID FOR!☝🏾😭 God is FAITHFUL! I had NO idea how this was going to be covered when I first said "yes" to the Lord. But He knew. Regardless of my faith, He planned for this to go forward AND in the very midst of this pandemic. If that isn't Jesus, I don't know what is! THANK YOU to those of you who gave sacrificially- you are SO appreciated, & the Father WILL return a hundred fold!

*Prayer points!*

1) Please pray for our team as we prepare to go on outreach to Mexico & Columbia! I am a bit nervous as some places continue trending upward in covid numbers. We are relying on the Lord's wisdom, & His leadership as we press forward in faith.

2) Please pray for our protection! Three of our team members have not had covid, & we are praying it stays that way! Our base recently had a visit from the health department because so many people came back positive for covid. They needed to ensure it was isolated & not a community pandemic. Being as it was, we cannot have any more cases of covid within the next week, or we would have to take measures for a partial shutdown. I do not believe God brought us here for that, but He can & does turn ALL THINGS around for our good so I am believing for that!

3) Ongoing provision for those on my team who still need funds to cover the outreach portion of our DTS, which is $4300 due in full by the fourth week of this coming month. We just witnessed Him fully fund a team member who had not been able to cover the first phase of her DTS & within 24 hours had MORE than she needed. That's Jesus!

4) Open doors! Something I will hopefully be able to share more on in the coming months:

The city recently came to YWAM & asked if they would be willing to open their doors to take in foster children. Because of covid, there are no families being willing to take foster children in, so they have been taking children to homeless shelters. It is a pandemic within a pandemic, because there is no where for these children to go. Once the green light is given, families within the community would be fast-tracked to certification as foster families- including individual staff members- & become a community "home" for them. The foster system is turning to the church for help. PRAY God opens the hearts, & the doors of the local churches in California. Who knows that this couldn't be one of the biggest opportunities to minister Jesus' love that we've ever seen?

I SO appreciate you for reading this through! There is SO much more going on than I can even condense in a blog or newsletter, but I hope you come away encouraged, uplifted & refreshed! God is doing SO much in the earth right now. I am beyond humbled that I get to play a small role in that! And I THANK YOU for partnering with me in my small piece!

Shalom til next time!

~Jo

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