pouring.

"on the judgment day i will restore david's house that has fallen to pieces. i'll repair the holes in the roof, replace the broken windows, fix it up like new. david's people will be strong again...God's Decree. He will do this. 'yes indeed, it won't be long now.' God's Decree. things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. you won't be able to keep up. everything will be happening at once--and everywhere you look, BLESSINGS! blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills. i'll make everything right again for my people israel:
'they'll rebuild their ruined cities.they'll plant vineyards and drink good wine.they'll work their gardens and eat fresh vegetables. and i'll plant them, plant them on their own land. they'll never again be uprooted from the land i've given them.' God, your God, says so."
amos 9:11-15


rain pours. wine pours. blessings pour. God pours into me. He pours into others. others pour into me. every trickle begins with the fountains of heaven. 


God's been teaching me about faithfulness--His unwavering faithfulness, and the blessings that come as a result of faithfulness in me. i have seen the fruit of His promises in my own life. jesus led me back to grand rapids, and laid it on my heart to stay here for the time being. i didn't know what this would look like, but He has promised to take care of me as i listen for His voice and follow His will. life here has fallen into place like pieces of a big, beautiful puzzle. He has given me income, a community of others who are seeking His face, and most recently, a place of my own to live!


a couple of weeks ago, i signed a lease with two of my friends, deborah and kristin, to live on the top floor of a duplex house on barth street in eastown, grand rapids. this home is further confirmation that jesus has big things for all of us here: spacious, newly redone, with a jesus-loving landlord and amazingly cheap rent, located right across the street from the boys' house! 


we have moved in, and are currently figuring out the rhythms of community living. what does it look like to share everything? what kind of disciplines are necessary for seeking jesus first, together? how can we best love our neighbors? who is going to clean the bathroom? we're learning together, and it is bound to be an adventure. 


gifts and blessings have been chasing us down since God gave us the treehouse:
free furniture. lots of it. pots and pans. dishes. lots of them. a microwave. a new oven. towels. a spice rack. cleaning supplies. beds. wonderful family and friends who have helped us move, and donated unbelievable amounts of stuff to help us build our home! oh--and our garden of flowers...


in other news, we've also secured the bottom floor of our house for others who have the desire to chase after jesus and live in close quarters with fellow believers. :)


we can't keep up! everything happening at once, everywhere we look, BLESSINGS! blessings, pouring like wine off the mountains and hills.

joy.

it's been far too long since i last posted. i am easily carried away by living, and very seldom have the willpower to pause and reflect. (this is something i desire to learn: to incorporate a pattern of stillness in my otherwise noisy, busy life. 'be still and know that I AM GOD.')


i have frequently experienced a day, a miracle, or a moment of revelation that inspired the urge to write, but it seems i was quickly preoccupied with alternative tasks, keeping me from sending my thoughts into space. therefore, i have resolved to be more intentional about writing. i've discovered in reading the daily thoughts, observations and epiphanies of others, my walk is profoundly affected. i'm praying that Jesus uses the words He gives me to speak into the lives of my friends.


i have mentioned before that the Spirit has lately been impressing upon me the importance of remembering. i find this to be more true the longer i live in pursuit of Heaven. the power of remembrance - and simply speaking out the blessings of the Father - is undeniable. each gift is experienced again (and often more poignantly) as i share the stories of my Savior's love. with that in mind, here are a few recent experiences that have blessed me:


*God's obvious direction in my life. never before have i experienced such certainty in deciding where i'm headed...and in this case, where i'm NOT headed. Jesus is doing something big in grand rapids, michigan, and has made it abundantly clear that I am to be a part of it. how flipping exciting.


*fellowship beyond compare. not only has He plunged me into a group of beautiful, wonderful, inspiring and devoted friends, but i was also blessed with a visit from 6 people who journeyed the last year with me. kristi, skye, phil, katy, kenny and beau traveled many collective miles to reunite with emrie and me in grand rapids! the result was unbelievable encouragement, fellowship in the Spirit, and plain old FUN. life is more full when it is shared with like-minded companions.

*His Holy presence. every week we participate in a shift at a local 24/7 prayer house. sunday mornings from 12-3am consistently find a group of us in prayer and worship together on bridge street. it is an enormous blessing in my walk, and our community is already beginning to see the fruit of time spent solely in pursuit of fellowship with Jesus. He has faithfully shown up in powerful ways, and i am constantly aware of His comforting presence, even in my every-day living. the mundane has been transformed by the JOY of His companionship.


there is so much more, but i'll save some for my next post...which WILL show up soon. grace and peace.