I went to the International House of Prayer "One Thing" conference in Minneapolis. It was amazing; you could really feel the power of the Lord moving there. It made me think, why is it so much easier for us to feel his presence there? Is it just because if we were to raise our arms in praise in other places we would stick out like sore thumbs? Is it because we are afraid of ridicule? It frustrates me to say these things, because it is true of me also. I hold back my beliefs and I do not use the dominion the Almighty has given me over the world. I am sick of daydreaming about revivals happening elsewhere. We need to WAKE UP! We need to stop compromising our faith. We need to believe that even in the face of mockery and injustice, God is moving the same if not more so then when His children are silent, "at peace" is what some people would call it. It is NOT peace. People are dying, having never known the healing power of Jesus, having never experienced his deep love, they will NEVER receive salvation, they have hardened their hearts, and they will be condemned to hell. All because we wanted to keep the peace! Their blood is on our hands. Every time I feel the Lord stirring me to speak to someone and I do not, their blood in on my hands. It isn't okay. I will not accept peace; I will not keep my mouth shut any longer. There is only one way to eternal life and that is the grace of God through Jesus Christ. We cannot waste any more time there are people dying without Jesus! People have a deep hunger in their souls; we are always searching for more. Everything feeds into that. America is based on the hunger for more, the hunger for better. The advertising industry knows this. The food industry knows this. The sex industry uses this. The list goes on. The world is being raised up and taught to feed their God given spiritual hunger with idols, with intellectualism, with "success", with materialism, with sexual perversion. All we need is Jesus! It rouses me so much to write like this. I hate to be repetitive of what all the revival leaders say, but they are so right. WE NEED TO WAKE UP! God is moving NOW! It's not some fuzzy little feeling we get when we go to a seminar. He lives in us. Oh if we would just listen if we would just have faith, to let God work in us what could we do? His love for us is amazing. He is just waiting for us to turn our eyes on him and yet he gives us the choice. God is so powerful, he could rewire our minds, and he could force us to believe. It would be much easier in my opinion that way, but he doesn't. He is raising up a people who desire him with all their, heart, mind, soul, and strength and it is them who's hunger he will fill. Praise him. He is so holy.

A bit of a salvation story.

I have really lost ALL reasoning for my blogging except to declare to you that JESUS IS KING. There is NO other way! He is salvation, He is every breath, He is living water.
Praise to the KING!

I stand amazed at the way God has changed my life and my heart. He has filled me up. IT IS UNDESCRIBABLE. I am so excited.
JESUS IS EVERYTHING. I AM NOTHING.
I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO DESERVE THIS MERCY,
THIS HEALING, THIS GRACE, THIS LOVE
I deserve NOTHING. and yet he died for me... for me. and he died for you.
I was once dead, but I am now ALIVE in Jesus Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He gave it all away for me!
HE IS
MY STRENGTH
SHEPARD
KING OF KINGS
MY PLANS
MY DREAMS
MY SAVIOR
REDEEMER
FATHER
LORD OF LORDS
MIGHTY GOD
EMMANUEL
LAMB OF GOD
CREATOR
ALPHA
OMEGA
PRINCE OF PEACE
BEGINNING AND END
GLORIOUS
TRIUMPHANT
GRACE
LIFE
FRIEND
Everything,
There is no way to say to you what my King has done for me, it is so big, so amazing, he is so divine. What else is there?
NOTHING

I am beginning to realize that all of my posts are looking remarkably alike. But when I go to blog it is all I can think about. God loves me, He created everything in the heavens and earth... and he loves me. Not only does he love me, but he died for me.

I just want to give my entire life to him, and when I type this it is being revealed to me that... it is much easier to say that I want to give everything to Jesus, but doing it is so tough. I am guilty of many times saying Lord take it all... but let me hold on to the reigns
with this a LITTLE longer... after it ends the way I wanted it to, you can have it. But NO his ways are so far above mine. How can I possibly think that anything in my own power would better my life, I have learned that does not work.

I have been in a couple relationships for lack of better way to say this, they were not in the will of God, at least towards the end. Well, they were some of those things I clung to. I said God take it all just not this. I was so wrong, I heard God speaking to me; even as messed up as I was at the times God was saying "Christi, stop I am right here, you do not need that reassurance from him. He will never complete you the way that I can. Christi, I have so much better plans for you."
Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
The reason I quote this is when I was going through a hard time and someone gave me this verse and it was a confirmation for me of what God was saying.

Even with all these things running through my head, I couldn't let it go. I was to selfish or spiritually immature. Mostly both. Apparently I am the type of person who needs to be shaken so hard to realize what God was doing in my life. Who knew that would happen in a jail cell? Of all places for me to be, that is where I ended up. The funny thing is those 3 days I was in the Detention Center, God changed me. My heart melted. I had always loved him and known deep down that he was right, but I had never said GOD TAKE IT ALL. The first night I cried, I prayed and I know the presence of God was with me, he carried me through. When I woke up
that morning I was a completely different person. I had something within me that had never been there before. God had filled me up and I felt him living in ME! I felt forgiveness. I was joyful, yes in a detention center. I was the happiest I'd ever been in my life. Praise God!

After I was released from there, I had to live with my grandma for 2 weeks. She worked a lot, so I was alone most of the time. This was the time when God transformed my life. He gave me a passion for him, and he loved me. Everyone began to notice a change in me. When I went back home my family was overjoyed to see how much I had grown. I also had a new appreciation for everything my mom has done raising us kids. I saw how hard it was for her to maintain a household, make meals, home school three children, and care for each of our social needs and immaturities. She is truly a woman filled with God's Holy Spirit. I love my parents. They sacrificed so much for me. Not only me, but for God. They have given there lives over to him so completely. They are such a wonderful example and role models for my brothers and myself. I am so thankful.

As for the husband thing that I mentioned in one of my first blogs, God has his hand on that. Never before have I been able to say that. But, I have given control to him and well, he has surpassed all human expectations.

I wanted to type out the pinpoint at where I can say I really allowed God to step in and change me, where all this fire for him is coming from. At risk of being severely criticized by others who knew me before all this happened. There you have it. It is meant to show you where I have come from and where Jesus has taken me. I was a broken person. I was the lowest of lows and God raised me up, he brushed the dirt off me, and he said this is my child who I delight in. I will never be the same.

Although I write today with a lot of spiritual development ahead of me, I know God will continue to work with me, teach me, give me new revelations, and LOVE me.

Jesus be glorified through this!

Pray Pray Pray

I just talked to our team in Senegal.
Jessica has been taken to the hospital, they are worried she may have malaria.
This is believed to be a satanic attack.
God gave dreams to 2 other missionaries, of a demon living in the house she is
staying at. Pray for her protection, and deliverance in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Pray for strength and faith, for Jessica and the team.
In the name of Jesus we command the demon to leave our sister alone!

They are having a time of prayer and worship.
Us here in America should do the same.

Jesus is the salvation

How marvelous, how wonderful is my savior's love for me!

I am unworthy, I cannot possibly bring Glory to the holy holy holy Lord with such a broken, stained, imperfect body. Only the perfect one, those who are without blemish can Glorify the King of all Kings. How can I possibly in my brokenness bring praise to such a Sovereign,
Pure, Perfect God! I cannot; In my own power I am nothing!
But, JESUS PAID IT ALL!!!!
He loves us so much that he saw us while we were still sinners, and after having lived a perfect life, he took the weight of the world's sins on himself. He suffered so that we to can be perfect in the eyes of our Lord.
The just judge no longer sees us as sinners. I am innocent.
The blood of Jesus has washed my crimson stains.
JESUS paid my debt.
God delights in me!
I am able to bring the Lord glory and honor and praise.
In the name of Jesus Christ.

Jesus the KING!

Now I realize this may sound elementary, but it is the very heart of Jesus Christ. He loves us so much that even in our imperfections he gave his life and suffered on the cross for him so that in his death, we would gain life, restoration, and healing!
Thank you God!

I will give EVERYTHING to the King.
He is EVERYTHING!
I will follow you LORD!
HERE I AM, USE ME!

Jesus said to his disciples "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up him cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."
Matthew 16:24




Even when I hardened my heart to the Lord, he was there, he was still speaking to me, he was still longing and anticipating the day I would say "GOD TAKE IT ALL, I cannot do it alone." He was crying out to me "Christi, come back to me, I love you, I have so much to share with you." He was never silent! NEVER! and I knew it. I just would not listen. But praise the Lord he has melted my heart and I will forever offer my body as a living sacrifice to him.




Let us not keep this joy and restoration to ourselves.
LET THE GRACE OF GOD BE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE NATIONS!

Every tribe, every nation, every tongue bringing GLORY to GOD!

His name will be great among the nations!

HE IS EVERYTHING!
GIVE IT ALL TO JESUS!

Senegal Missions

Our missions team is in Senegal August 20th - 30th.
Pray for a safe trip and return.

For updates go to:
http://straightwayafrica.blogspot.com/

For pictures and videos go to:
http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd113/straightwayafrica/

Made to Worship

Isaiah 26:8:
Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your truth we wait eagerly for You,
for Your name and renown are the desire of our souls.

God is Everything!
Everything I have is because of Him!
I cannot help but NEED to give it all back and say YOUR WILL God.
I live for you, I live to worship you!

JESUS is my one and only desire.
I yearn for more, I am ALL his.
God has filled me up.
There is NO other way to go.
I've tried... many detours and distractions.
But they weren't enough I need more.

I need an intimate, AMAZING, MIND-BLOWING, BREATHTAKING, STARTLING, SPECTACULAR, MARVELOUS, IMPASSIONED, AFFECTIONATE, DEVOTED,
relationship with Jesus, My Lord, My Savior, My Creator, My Father, My Maker,
My Best Friend, My Life Preserver, My Restorer, My Deliverer, My LIFE, My
Everything.

What more is there, when He gave me everything?

How am I to respond any other way but worship and total surrender?!
The desire of my heart and soul is to see Jesus, touch Jesus, hear Jesus, love Jesus,
live for Jesus. There is nothing else. There is no fooling ourselves.
We will never be satisfied, if we are always taking the reigns.
Give it to Jesus!

God is so above us
there is no way we could understand the complexity of his plan and his will.
Praise Him!!!
Praise Him to know that we can let go...
that we can jump and know that he is still going to hold everything
into place, and he is going to catch us.
If we really believed that it would be so much easier, for everyone to drop
everything, sell their houses, their land all for the cause of Jesus!
He is always there. God holds are life into place.

I surrender Everything.
Because I know God loves me.

May my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word.

May my cry come before you, O' Lord; give me understanding according to your word.
May my supplication come before you; according to your promise.
May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees.
May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.
May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
I long for your salvation, O' Lord, and your law is my delight.
Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me.
I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Seek your servant for I have not forgotten your commands.
Psalm 119:169-176

Jesus you saved my soul
You are the love of my life!


Your will above all else.
The Lord is my Rock, my fortress and my strong tower over me.

Psalm 73:25-26
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you,
My heart and my flesh may fail, but God is the
strength of my heart and my portion forever.

God is EVERYTHING!
The cry of my heart, is to bring praise and glory and honor and power!
Let the world cry out for more... Let them feel the tug, and FLEE TO JESUS.
He is the only shelter from the darkness!

Today has been a very peaceful but powerful day, I feel swept away.
The weather has been solemn and all of nature seems to cry out
to the King of Kings!

I can feel the love of God overflowing for ME! Yes, me.
When the wind blows I can feel his warm embrace on me.
When I look to the sky I can see his sovereign Glory.
He is holding me.

I am so thankful!
God has his hand over my life.
He is using me!


GOD YOU ARE SO HOLY
No one is above you.
I would be nothing without you!

Psalm 18:1-3
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the Lord who is worthy of praise and I am saved from my enemies.

My God satisfies my heart. He has delivered me.
I know longer feel bonds tied to this world.
But I feel freedom in Jesus and in His Kingdom!


May, "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
Matthew 6:10

I desire NOTHING, but the will of God in my life.
When I search for truth all I find is more of God and his promises.
I live for the name of Jesus.

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE JESUS!
Lead me into more of you.




phew! That is intense. I feel the spirit working in my life and I am blown away.
Worship is all that leaves my lips.
THANK YOU LORD.
You have saved my life!
I have never felt so alive, Jesus is EVERYTHING!
His name leaves me stunned and amazed.

Words cannot express the joy I feel, because God has touched me.

When you say go we will go...

When I listen to that song I cannot help but want to build my faith even more.
I want to be ready when God says "Christi do this, which seems impossible" I want to say
"Yes God, nothing is impossible with you!" No doubt. "I will pack my bags tonight!"

Luke 9:23-24
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."

I used to dream of the day, when I would own the perfect subdivision home, with the
perfect doctor husband, our two perfect straight A children and our
well-trained Collie dog and be "successful."
Well... that will never happen at least not by the standards of the world!
I want to follow God, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.
Not where I live, not what I will eat, not what I will wear... God will provide.
I just need MORE of him.




"If you say go; we will go.
If you say wait; we will wait.
If you say step out on the water, and they say it can't be done;
we will fix our eyes on YOU and we will come!"


"If you call us to the fire you will always draw your hand and we will gaze into the flame and look for you."

playlist

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...

Joy is bubbling over in me!
I am so swept away!
Nothing else matters.

I cannot help, but talk to everyone I come in contact with about the joy and about Jesus!
Everyone thinks I have lost it! Its all I talk about, hes all I think about.
NOTHING ELSE
MATTERS!!!!!!
I have an addiction. Hallelujah!

I do not mean to sound overly religious, it is nothing like that.
I'm in love. I am completely head over heels in love.

I want to be sent, I want to tell everyone!
JESUS IS LORD!
THERE IS NO OTHER WAY!
HE IS THE BREAD OF LIFE!
HE BRINGS MERCY, SALVATION, AND HEALING!
HE SETS OUR HEARTS ON FIRE FOR HIM!
HOW CAN I BE SILENT A FIRE BURNS INSIDE OF ME!!!!!!!

Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
I want to go. I want to shake the world in the name of Jesus!


John 20:21-22
Again Jesus said,"Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said "Receive the Holy Spirit."

I am not quite capable of summing up everything I just said.
I am encompassed by the love of my Saviour.
I stand amazed.
I want the world to know!

Freely you have recieved, freely give.

I was reading Matthew 10:8 yesterday and when Jesus spoke the words "Freely you have received, freely give. They struck a chord in my heart. I was prophetized to later that day ...
and it all seemed to connect. I feel like I am finally on the right track for God's call on my life.
I'm far from perfect... but I am striving to live a life that Glorifies God.
HOLY HOLY HOLY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY WHO WAS AND IS AND IS TO COME!
That has been in my spirit all day I needed to let that out!

I am overfilled with joy for the Lord and what he has done for me. He has taken me from a
place of despair and hopelessness to a place of faith, hope, trust, love, friendship, and peace!
I know the storms will return, and although I can be shaken... no one can shake the Lord
who is with me. PRAISE GOD! He has changed my life and ruined my plans! THANK YOU LORD!

I pray that everyone who comes in contact with me to feel the presence of God and his holy spirit flowing through me! In everything I do I want it to point to Jesus and bring him
Glory and Honor and Praise!

Seek first the Kingdom...

I've been praying a lot lately about the hunger I feel for the Lord and that he would reveal more of himself to me. Partly because I have just finished the book "One Thing" by Dwayne Roberts (Great book, highly recommended) and I have just started reading "God Chasers". Not only that but, my life has been transformed. I have felt the presence of God on me and I want MORE! My dad mentioned a month ago, about having a kingdom mind set... to my shame I blew him off a bit. God confirmed to me today that, that is just what I should be setting my eyes on; His Heart and ultimately His Kingdom.
I will lay down my entire life to take up my cross and follow him. I want to be his disciple.
I want to be a God chaser!
I have a better understanding of what Jesus meant when he said in Matthew 6:33,

"But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness;
and all these things will be given to you as well."

How can it be anymore simple...
All I have to do is give my life to Jesus and to his glory and he will take care of everything else.

How reassuring is it to know I am loved!

Jeremiah 29:11-13

"For I know the plans I have for you,"
declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future. Then you will call
upon me and come and pray to me, and I
will listen to you. You will seek me
and find me when you seek me with all
your heart."

To be honest... I fall subject to holding onto things in my life and not giving the control
completely to God. The biggest of those being marriage! I know I'm young.
But, I long to share my life with a man who chases after the heart of God,
just as I am trying to. I dream of my husband and I pray for him. Sometimes
I take things in my own hands. I have been engaged once, but because it was against
the will of God. Thank you Lord for being so merciful, and showing me he was not the
one before I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life!

I've decided to let God take care of the husband thing because, well I'm really bad at it,
and His ways are FAR above mine. My views have changed on dating as well,

I will not date a guy unless I can see myself marrying him, and he is completely
given over to his life to his relationship with Christ and his love for the King.
I am so sick of dead end relationships.
I do not want to kiss another man until my wedding day.

Thats all my thoughts for now I'll probably be on later.

Remember the Lord delights in you