Community Transformations DTS Journal Entry

Can’t believe that we are in week five of twelve for DTS!  This week Brian Brennt has been sharing about freedom in my Community Transformations DTS.

I’ve grown up in an amazing Christian home and awesome parents, who have always been great examples of how to daily walk out our walk with the Lord.   I didn’t think that there was anything that I needed freedom from, but little did I know what the Lord wanted to speak to me!   We are going through Brian Brennt’s Freedom Manual book and the past week, we’ve been breaking off fear and passivity in our own lives- both of which I didn’t think I had problems with.  We went through a checklist of some things we fear…. Fear of man, fear of failure, fear of the future, fear of not doing the right thing, fear of _______ (the list could go on!)  And I begun to see that I had definite things that I was fearful of, strongholds that the enemy has used to hold me back from what God has called me to do!  After recognizing our fear, Brian took us through the four “R’s”-

Repeat for how you have partnered with Satan in the area fear.

Receive the Lord's forgiveness in that area!

Rebuke the enemy and tell him he no longer has a foothold of fear in your life.

Replace what the enemy has lied about with what God says.

So freeing!  We don’t have to have any fear in our life, but the fear of God!   We shouldn’t have fear of man, of speaking to people that the Lord tells us to go talk to! I use to think that I was just more of a quite person, not made to be the evangelist, or go do lots of street preaching/ ministry, because I was terrified of speaking to strangers!  But the Lord set me free from that fear! (I’m not saying that I’m called to always be on the street corner preaching, but I won’t be afraid to talk when the Lord asks me to!)

After breaking off fear, we broke off passivity.  Another area I didn’t realize the enemy had me! We broke up into small groups and again prayed and went through the four “R’s” and again I was amazed at how many things I was passive about in my life- passive about relationships, church, ministry, etc.   After we broke off passivity, we preached it to each other, it was such an amazing time of prayer and breakthrough for many people!

I’m so excited about what the Lord is doing in my life and what He will continue to do!  I feel so blessed to be here at YWAM Kona for this season.

*I definitely recommend Brian Brennt’s Freedom Manuel (you can order it here! http://store.citycentral.org/product_p/freedom1-1-07.htm )  It would be great for any individual, small group or church to go through!  Built on biblical foundations, it is incredible 

Off on an Adventure!

Moving.  A scary, exciting, thrilling, hectic, fun, nerve-racking time for all involved.  I have never really had to move, to uproot from a place I love.  (Ok, well I was born outside of Seattle, WA and when I was about one and half, moved about an hour North to a beautiful little Island and wonderful community.)   I’ve grown up here on beautiful Camano Island and had the chance to learned about life here.  Along the way, met some amazing people that helped shape my life; who mentored me, encouraged me and supported me.  I’ve been taught by some pretty amazing teachers over the past twelve years of homeschooling, but nothing could have prepared for me what was to come.

We all knew that the Lord was about to uproot our family- He had already show many of us, we were just waiting for a destination and timing.    When Kansas City became a possibility, I was overjoyed!  I have many good friends and close family that I wanted to be with.  There was the possibility of dance, work and school.  I was beyond excited! (so were the people I loved, who live there).  


The whole, “We’re moving to Kansas City” thing began mid-April and was pretty much finalized by the beginning of May.  (I think the Lord likes to put us on a fast track when He has something in store for our family!)  Then at the beginning of May, over about a two week period of time, the Lord did a 180 with us, changing our course from East to West.  Ya, I know- I’m about as far ‘West’ as we can go.. well that is if you stay on the ‘Mainland’.  The Lord, through an amazing series of events, begin to call our family towards Kona, Hawaii, to work with Youth with a Mission (YWAM- http://uofnkona.org/)


(Ok, I know what you're thinking- “Who wouldn’t want to live in Hawaii, be a beach bum, eat tropical fruit all day and surf?”)  Well, as excited as I was, I was also sad.  I had so much I was looking forward to in Kansas City!  Now, I’m headed to a place, where I know no one and really don’t have a ‘place’- I like knowing what I’m going into.  And one thing about Hawaii is I have NO idea what I’m going to do or what I’ve gotten myself into :)  No, I will not be a beach bum, but I do hope to learn how to surf!

So... On July 12th, our family will be leaving Washington for a little (2ish years) while.  (Oh.. did I mention that we kinda have a ‘large’ family, there are only 11 of us) So that is no small task in itself.  You try moving a whole softball team :)  Our house currently reminds me of a maze, each day there is some new piece of furniture (or pile of boxes) stacked in random (well, at this point, anywhere you can find a free space) areas of our house.  Now that we have a departure date (which is... wait, let me calculate the exact.. oh never mind... less then 3 weeks away) we actually have to accomplish some of the many goals on our ‘To-Do list’ (which as you might have guessed, grows by the uh, hour) but we have (and will continue) to accomplish much!  

Please keep my family in your prayers!  

• Almost everyone is excited, but some are having a harder time with leaving the farm (and their beloved animals)
• That the Family would stay joyful over the remaining few days here (we want good last memories of our home!)
• Peace and unity (we can get so much more done when everyone is working together!)
• That we would find the right renters for our house
• Some of the final details would fall into place
• That we would continue to rely and trust God to provide our needs.
• That we would grow closer as a family while in Hawaii.
• Good weather these last few weeks (garage sale this weekend!)
• Restful sleep for everyone.
• An easy transitions for everyone

As much as I will miss everyone I count as friends and the things I love to do (like dance!) dearly, I know that God is 110% in this all, so that makes it exciting!! We are off on another adventure!


OK, I think that’s enough for now :)  I should probably sign off (before I fall asleep!) and I noticed that I used a lot of (parentheses) in this post... sorry :)

Well, until next time, Aloha! (Aloha means both “hello” and “goodbye” in case you were wondering :)