Best Year of My Life

     As I look back at the last year, I am so grateful for where the Lord has taken me.  A year ago, I was living in Los Angeles, with no direction, weary, miserable and desperate.  In August of 2012, I entered a season of being a Mary and not a Martha.  For two months, the Lord called me to not work and sit at His feet.  When the Lord was speaking this to me, I felt much like Noah probably did when God told him to built a boat when it had never rained.  When I finally embraced this season, I started sitting at His feet for 6-8 hours a day sometimes.  The encounters I had in my bedroom will forever be mine and the Lord's secret, intimate encounters.  In order for the Lord to launch me into my destiny/ministry, I had to be broken.  Just like Joseph, Jonah or Saul to give a few examples.
     After that season came to a close, the Lord gave me direction to join YWAM in Kona, Hawaii.  My life and walk with the Lord hasn't been the same since.  After receiving the revelation of the love of God on my birthday at the top of a mountain in Hawaii, I truly know that I am loved.  We have heard it all of our lives.  God loves us.  God is love.  But when He tells you Himself, it changes the game.  I spent a week running into the prayer room on the YWAM campus weeping before the Lord.  In Ephesians, Paul wrote: "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."  I literally felt that Word come alive in me.
     When I finished my three-month lecture phase in Kona, myself and 11 others went to Amsterdam to do a two-month outreach.  This whole time, I had no clue as to what was the next step.  The Lord taught me over those two months how to happy with just Him.  To be happy with whatever He gave each day and let tomorrow worry about itself.  He said to me, "What if I don't tell you what's next?"  Would I be happy moving back to Kentucky and never seeing my dreams fulfilled?  Would I be okay with never going to the nations or seeing my film aspirations come to fruition?  Would I be happy with just Jesus?  I didn't know if I could yes at that moment, so I said, "Lord, I must get tot that place."
     After returning to Hawaii for a one-week debriefing, the Lord gave me direction to return to YWAM in the fall to be on staff with Fire and Fragrance.  So I went home to Kentucky for the summer to spend time with my family and raise support  to be a missionary with YWAM Kona.  The Lord immediately starting opening up doors for me to preach in different churches around the area.  But there was kind of an awkwardness to how the doors were opening.  My blessed mother and number one fan was contacting different pastors asking if I could come and share of my YWAM encounters.  I didn't feel like this was the way things were supposed to work.  At the time, I was reading a book called Culture of Revival, a book written by different YWAM leaders.  Sean Feucht was writing about intimacy with Jesus and how before Jesus' ministry started, he wasn't just being a carpenter and hanging out at home.  He was being intimate with the Father.  When Jesus turned the water into wine at the wedding in Cana, it was His mother that sort of nudged Him to go get more wine.  Jesus said, its not my time and in turn, His mother told His disciples to do whatever Jesus told them to do.  In others, just do it son.  Through this, Jesus' ministry began.  As I read this, the Lord spoke to me and said let your mother do this.  I could say nothing but, yes Lord.
     While preaching in 7 different counties and 12 different churches over the summer, I came to the conclusion that it doesn't matter what denomination you are or what your background is, when you worship God in Spirit and in truth; He will show up.  It may not always look like you want it to look, but He will show up.  The first Sunday morning I preached, it was in a small non-denomiation church and the Lord put it upon my spirit to start by worshipping.  Before I even gave my name or where I was from, I entered into worship.  Declaring who He is.  Adoring Him.  Worshipping Him for who He is, not for what He has done for me.
     Now summer is basically over and I have been in LA for a few weeks now visiting friends and doing more support raising.  While in LA I am reminded of the faithfulness of God, because of the transformation he has done in me since I was last in this city.  If you are being broken by God, it is not easy, but necessary.  Just as an athlete trains for competition, they go through pain and their body suffers.  But when the end result is becoming a champion, all the pain and agony is worth it all.
     Tomorrow morning I fly out to Kona to continue this amazing journey with the Lord.  I am so grateful and privileged to live this life.  I can't wait to see what the next chapter will unfold.