In love He Predestined Us

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted a blog. 
But for good reason. I've been a bit busy. In the last few months I have gleaned as much as I can from the International House of Prayer and then I packed up my things, said goodbye to dear friends and started the journey back to the West Coast. 

My dad, my dog and me. Six days in a car traveling through some of the most beautiful parts of the country. When I look at nature and the huge mountains in Colorado or the beautiful majestic skyline of the Midwest, I can't fathom anyone not believing that there was a Creator and an Artist behind it all!! I had an amazing time in the car with my dad (and Lulabelle). We explored new parts of the country, prayed and read books in the car & stirred up each others hearts for the house of prayer and what God is doing in Southern Oregon. 


I have been home almost a week now and it feels like a completely new place. The Lord has done so much in my heart over this past year and I know I will never be the same. I'm not looking to the past and my old mistakes. The chains are broken and I am free. I am living for eternity and with a new mindset. It is so obvious that His hand is upon this house of prayer. He is already raising others up from Kansas City and sending them here!! He is bringing people together in this Valley for ONE THING!! We are becoming a people of ONE THING!! I desire to dwell in the House of the Lord forever!! I want to live a life that is set apart for His glory. I don't want to be an echo of 'American/Western Culture'. I want to be a voice crying out in the wilderness!! I want to see Ashland set free and on fire for God. I want to see chains and shackles broken off of people and for their eyes to truly be open to see Jesus for who He really is. He is not in the same category as Muhammad, Buddha or Krishna!!! He STANDS ALONE!!! He is the ONE true God. And there is NO other! 


So needless to say.. I am excited! I am a part of God's History being unfolded, for such a time as this! I've said it before and I will say it again. If you feel called to the prayer movement we are in need of Singers, Musicians, Prayer leaders etc... The door is wide open and it's just in the beginning stages. 


Also because of this new transition in my life and the time, effort and energy that I feel I am called to give to this. I am postponing my Africa trip to an 'undecided' time. For all of those who have so generously given to this trip.. thank you, thank you, thank you!!! :) I will be refunding all the money. I have always had an adventurous heart and I love travel, so I know that many missions trips are in the future! So I will keep you up to date with new things that unfold with that!! 


So until next time...

The Final Quest

I just finished reading the 1st book of a series written by Rick Joyner. The book is called 'The Final Quest'. And though I feel like I'm about ten years behind everyone in reading this Christian classic. It had so much impact on me none the less. The book focuses on the final battle that will come at the end of this present age. The series of events that Rick Joyner saw were given to him through prophetic dreams and visions. Which maybe not all people can believe that the God of all creation still speaks to His people in this day with dreams. But when I read Joel 2:28, I read that this is actually a promise from the Lord in the end days that we are living in.

"And it shall come to pass afterward
  That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
  Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
  Your old men shall dream dreams,
  Your young men shall see visions." 

And since 'God shows personal favoritism to no man' (Galatians 2:6) this is something that we can all pray for because He WILL pour out His spirit.

Growing up I had several dreams of 'end time events'. I had a sense that I was created 'For such a time as this' but couldn't grasp the time in History I was really living in. After a year at the International House of Prayer where the mandate of this House is literally to raise up 10,000 prophetic end time messengers in the Spirit of John The Baptist to DECLARE the 2nd coming of Jesus, I feel that I am starting to finally grasp the times.

This book 'The Final Quest' has literally shaken me to the CORE. One of the comments made to Rick while he was in this vision was from Paul The Apostle. Rick asked Paul for a word to give to the end time church (us) and this is what Paul said: 

'You must recover the ministry and the message'..... Except for a few small places in the world where there is great persecution or difficulties now, we can hardly recognize either the ministry or the message that is being preached today. Therefore, the church is now but a phantom of what it was even in our time, and we were far from all that we were called to be. When we served, being in ministry was the the greatest sacrifice that one could make, and this reflected the message of the greatest sacrifice that was made- the cross. The cross is the power of God, and is is the center of all that we are called to live by. You have so little power to transform the minds and hearts of the disciples now because you do not live, and do not preach the cross. Therefore, we have difficulty seeing much difference between the disciples and the heathen. That is not the gospel or the salvation with which we were entrusted. You must return to the cross.'

'What looks good on earth looks very different here. What will make you a king on earth will often be a stumbling block to keep you from being a king here. What will make you a king here is lowly and unesteemed on earth...' 

This book reminded me that I am being prepped and prepared for a final battle that is to come, that many of us will see.  And that I am truly living for another age.   We put so much of our focus, time and energy on being 'successful' and known in this life. Recognition by man has consumed us. But is our level of success built on Earthly Standards or Heavenly Standards? Are we busy building Earthly names for ourselves that won't even be recognized in Heaven?

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"Take heed when you think you stand, lest you fall. In this life you can fall from any level."

 

 

 

 

Africa Update.

First of all I want to thank everyone who has given financial support towards this trip!! Thank you soooo much!!! :) This is definitely a trip that I can't do on my own. I also want to thank those who have lifted up this trip in your prayers and chosen to partner with me as a prayer covering. We will definitely need all the prayer we can get!

So this trip is still 100% happening.. however, we have pushed the dates back to January. The timing was always a little bit of an issue for everyone involved, due to my brother getting married two weeks before the trip. A lot of the family focus was on the wedding (as it should be :) and we didn't spend much time in prayer or planning. So now with the trip being scheduled in January that gives us more time for: support raising, planning, praying and getting all our shots!! That last part I'm not too thrilled about.

             (me at my brother's wedding this past weekend)

We will still have opportunities to minister in Malawi as well as Mozambique!! We are looking into connecting with Heidi Baker's ministry to the orphans in Mozambique and serving for a time there. This door is really wide open for us to go and just serve and love on people!! So I still have MORE SUPPORT to raise!!! But I am believing that by January God will have provided all the funds. I ask that you would please prayerfully consider sowing into this missions trip financially and thru prayer!!!

Also, one of my closest friends Nicole will be joining us on this trip and she is also raising support to go. This is the website for her blog. She has an amazing story and is one of the most on fire people I know:

http://herjourneyonthenarrowroad 

Hopefully, in a few weeks my parents will have their blog up and I will let you know that site as well!!! Thanks everyone for your love, support and encouragement towards this trip!!!

Many Blessings,

Ash

I've learned contentment In all things

^{Philippians 2:5-8}"Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion."

I could continue to read this scripture over and over and it still makes no sense to me. Jesus Christ, the Faithful Witness. Jesus Christ part of the Holy Trinity. He was fully God and fully man! This man who was prophesied about through out the whole old testament. Whom the Jews would know as their Messiah. Who would be the greatest teacher of all. A miracle worker. Who would come to set them free. He would not only be part of a Royal Heritage as The Father's only son but also part of the Royal line descending from King David. This one who was in the beginning. Before the foundations of the earth were laid, He was there.

And yet He came and made himself of no reputation. He came and literally went to the lowest place. He didn't claim 'special privileges'. He came to SERVE! He came to set us FREE! 

The Lord has been teaching me a lot about crucifixion. This summer has definitely been one of the hardest seasons of my life. I feel as though I've been in a pressure cooker. I've felt the death of a lot of things. But all in all, I'm realizing where my real dreams and ambitions lie. And if they are not first and foremost rooted in Him, then I don't want them. 

I'm realizing that when I said 'Lord you have my heart' And "I lay down my life for your name's sake." He took me at my word. :) He agreed to have my 'everything' in exchange for His 'everything'. I would say that's a pretty good trade. If my everything looks like laying down the American dream. Laying down a big ministry. Laying down money. Laying down friends and picking up my cross and following Him then I say yes! He never said this is going to be an easy path. "That it is through many hardships and tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22) But the word also says  "For whoever finds me finds Life, And obtains favor from the LORD" (Proverbs 8:35) Jesus didn't come to make us slaves and to create robots who have no mind or will of their own. But He came to set us free and to make the ultimate sacrifice, so we could be with Him for eternity. We were dirtied in our sin. Bound and locked in chains. 

But He came and went to the lowest place and in His humility, He died a gruesome death upon a Cross. This one that we adore! This one that we worship. He came. He came with me and you and us in mind. Knowing that He was the only one who could pave the way. In order to restore the dreams and plans in His heart. To create and make a people that He could dwell with. The ultimate dream in His heart was US!! And Jesus did whatever it would take to win us back!! 

Therefore, if Jesus Christ ".. made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:7) Then I can surely take up my cross and embrace anything that He calls me to walk through. 

Jesus we remember
Your love
Jesus we remember
Your suffering

The pinnacle of love
Upon a tree
There's a Man hanging there
And He's bleeding for me

This is Your Maker
This Your Creator
This is Your Husband
Dying for His bride

You loved me
To the end.

Don't let fear kick in.

So today I finished reading a book called 'Dreaming with God' by Bill Johnson. This book has been exactly what I needed to hear. (or read rather) But I realized that this is actually the first book I've  finished reading in a long time. That's kinda sad I know but I have a tendency of reading 4 books at the same time. I start one.. get interested in another.. and so on! :)

Anyways, here I am Day #2 of Support Raising for this Missions trip to Africa!! I talked to my friend Nicole today (who is also raising the funds to go on this trip) and she's already over $800!!! I am SO proud of her and it's just awesome to see the Lord actively moving in her life. I know it's stirring up her faith. And that in turn, stirs up my faith.

However, that all too familiar creeping shadow of fear starts to set in. And my mind starts swirling of questions like.. 'What if I am $500 short and can't go??' 'What happens if I have to return the money?!?' 'What if I get malaria and die over there??' Okay okay.. Anyways, I think this is going to be a real faith builder in my life.

Since living an intercessory missionary lifestyle for almost a year now.. I have story after story of God's faithfulness in always providing for my needs. Most of the time I have NO idea where my rent money is going to come from. Or gas money. But it always seems to come through. The Lord truly meets ALL my needs!

Now, I'm stepping out of the boat a little bit more!! And as of right now.. I have $100 towards this trip. So I am going to start rejoicing in that!! Rejoice that someone is choosing to sow into this trip and believes in what the Lord is going to do in it. I pray that this is the first fruits of much more to come!!!

A quote from 'Dreaming with God' by Bill Johnson

" The Spirit of the resurrected Christ living in me has disqualified me from the mundane and ordinary. I am qualified for the impossible, because I'm a believing believer. Faith qualifies me for the impossible."

I am going to Africa and I need YOUR HELP!!!!

Hi Friends and Family,

So as many of you know, I am planning a missions trip to Africa this October!!! This will actually be my first missions trip. :) A couple years ago the Lord opened the doors for me to live in England for a period of 9 months and during that time He gave me such a heart for the Nations! I've always known that I had a traveling bug but as I've gotten older, it's gotten worse!! :) I have been itching for an opportunity to travel. Right now I am an intercessory missionary at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri. God is teaching me how to sit at His feet and just receive. Easier said than done for me!

A couple years ago my dad had the opportunity to travel to Africa and minister with lots of different people groups! He was able to go into orphanages and love on the Fatherless. Speak and pray into leaders lives! And go to prisons and minister to the forgotten! It was a trip that absolutely changed him. As he came back and shared pictures and stories of his trip, it was obvious that Africa had stolen a piece of his heart! It was awesome to see my dad touched by such an experience. He has been praying and looking for opportunities to go back. And this year God opened just that door! He was invited (along with my mom) to go to Malawi and speak at a pastors/leaders conference! This is such an honor and an opportunity that couldn't be passed up! So though the funds weren't all in (and still are not completely in) they both stepped out in faith and said YES!! And I know that God always honors that yes in our hearts. 

As I started hearing about this trip, something got stirred up in my heart! When I think of Africa I think of the children!! The children who are fatherless and sometimes forgotten!! They live a life that I can't even fathom. Being an American, I know that I am incredibly spoiled. My 'bummer' days are because I don't have enough gas money to drive somewhere.. or enough money for this or that! But I have always had a roof over my head, food to eat and friends and family in my life!!! This past year at Ihop, I have been taken to some low and lonely places! But all in all, I need a reality check of still how good I have it.

I am currently singing on a worship team here and every Friday we sing and pray for OJC (orphan justice center) We are interceding on behalf of the fatherless and praying for an adoption movement in the church!! This stirs my heart so much. I have always had a big heart for children!! Hoping that one day I can have a big family of my own and adopt several children! This opportunity to go to Africa with my parents seems like something I just can't pass up!!! God is expanding my heart thru intercession and prayer and now I feel READY to pour that love out onto others!!! I feel God all over this trip and know that for my parents, Nicole (my friend who is also raising support to come) and me.. it will be LIFE CHANGING!!!!

I am asking YOU to please prayerfully consider partnering with me in this missions trip!! I don't have the funds in and of myself to go! I live on support from my partners to be at the house of prayer. So I am not rolling in the dough, so to speak! I am living off of what God gives me on a month to month basis!! This trip is me stepping out in faith. Saying yes to God and his heart for Africa!! Believing that ALL the funds will come in!!!!!

I will use this blog as a journey leading up to the trip! My thoughts, fears, concerns etc... As well as showing the process of raising support. I will post pictures of Africa and share testimonies and stories of what happens!!!!

I truly can't do this without the help of YOU!!!!!!! Please help send me to Africa!!!!!!

Love,

Ashley