So just a quick note, and then to my tea which smells like a beautiful blueberry muffin... can you tell I'm excited about it! :D
I just got done with dinner and am waiting for the opening class of both tracks! Track 1 started today, and I'm so happy to get to meet and know these other people! There are 60 some trackone-ers... and YeAh! I've talked with several dear girls and so excited to get to know more!!!
Oh I'm just so happy and glad to see what God is doing! And I just Love Everyone!!!!!
GOD YOU ARE SO GOOD!!!!
PRAISE GOD!!!!!!
<3
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Here I am!
It's been several days since I last posted, so I'll catch you up!
For some strange reason I now catch myself saying "Ya'll" and today my hair froze in the cold.
Track 2 have had intro classes for CEC (children's ministry) and for a support raising class that sounds awesome. It will be more about stewarding money and sewing into ministries and people. I'm really looking forward to it... although it will be at 3:30 (which is like my 8 in the morning, so pretty crazy early!)
Last night all of track 2 called a meeting to praying for unity in our track and track 1 (which is moving in tomorrow) and it was amazing. It turn into a inner healing time for everyone. We asked forgiveness for things we had held against people and are determined to have unity where we had division last track.
I'm so excited about the over 60 new inters coming in! I cannot wait to get to know more people and see how God does things in their lives.
Today we start are first real classes. I think that from now on we will be on a normal class schedule, which is about two classes (sometimes three) a day and then 6 hours in the prayer room.
Speaking of the prayer room--
it was hard the first couple of day to get into the rhythm of things. But on Sunday we had time to sit in the prayer room (more than normal) to really talk with God and get a vision for where we want to be in our relationship with God at the end of these three months.
I have really understand now, it's not about being a perfect awesome role model IHOPer... it's about where I am going in life. I'm not doing this internship to be awesome in 6 months, but I am here to seek God and figure out how to Love God from day to day for the rest of my life.
This time in my life is not about becoming part of this organization or that, but it time for me to learn how to be a Lover of God for LIFE!
I love you all and ask for your patience while I'm growing!
God bless you my Lovelies!
<3
For some strange reason I now catch myself saying "Ya'll" and today my hair froze in the cold.
Track 2 have had intro classes for CEC (children's ministry) and for a support raising class that sounds awesome. It will be more about stewarding money and sewing into ministries and people. I'm really looking forward to it... although it will be at 3:30 (which is like my 8 in the morning, so pretty crazy early!)
Last night all of track 2 called a meeting to praying for unity in our track and track 1 (which is moving in tomorrow) and it was amazing. It turn into a inner healing time for everyone. We asked forgiveness for things we had held against people and are determined to have unity where we had division last track.
I'm so excited about the over 60 new inters coming in! I cannot wait to get to know more people and see how God does things in their lives.
Today we start are first real classes. I think that from now on we will be on a normal class schedule, which is about two classes (sometimes three) a day and then 6 hours in the prayer room.
Speaking of the prayer room--
it was hard the first couple of day to get into the rhythm of things. But on Sunday we had time to sit in the prayer room (more than normal) to really talk with God and get a vision for where we want to be in our relationship with God at the end of these three months.
I have really understand now, it's not about being a perfect awesome role model IHOPer... it's about where I am going in life. I'm not doing this internship to be awesome in 6 months, but I am here to seek God and figure out how to Love God from day to day for the rest of my life.
This time in my life is not about becoming part of this organization or that, but it time for me to learn how to be a Lover of God for LIFE!
I love you all and ask for your patience while I'm growing!
God bless you my Lovelies!
<3
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The dull rumble of life and finding the still small voice
I'm sitting in Higher Grounds cafe, breakfast is over and I have an hour till my fist class. The coffee shop is crowded and there is a dull rumble of people talking, and thanks to the earbuds in my ears there is a soft melody weaving all the noise into a strange sort of peace.
I know I'm getting all poetic again... but I'm realizing how precious this time in my life is. This three months to not worry about paying the bills, getting to work on time, and weather or not to see that latest movie... I have my time pretty much laid out for me, between classes, prayer room, and hanging out with roommates.
So last night was my first night back in the Prayer Room and I realized again how much work it takes to quiet my mind and heart. I tend to have about four million things running through my mind-- what should I read in the Bible, comments about the music, wondering when I will run to Wal-Mart and what I will need, and so many little snippets of things... to actually stop my mind and listen to God is so hard!
It really is one of the hardest lessons in life-- to shut out all the noise of life and spend those dear moments in silence before God. I struggle so much with trying to "fill up the awkward silence" with God... I talk at Him, I sing to Him, I read His word... but waiting and listening to Him... that is a hard one.... It is like those moments on a date, when there is silence and the other person is just looking at you. And you are like.... "well, we are having lovely weather today!" and they just sit there looking at your with a smile, and suddenly even your skin feels uncomfortable. They are looking at your and not saying anything. And you wait..... and yes, they end up speaking.... but it is so easy to try and fill up the silence with idle chatter trying to make oneself comfortable again.
And that is how things are with God sometimes. He loves to talk with me. But He is slow to speak, and will not interrupt me no matter if I am saying the most hollow words... He is faithful to listen to me.
I believe this may be one of the biggest things I will be learning in there next three months....
How to be quite before the Lord, enjoy the silence, and become quick to listen.
This is one of the things I want to learn SO BAD: to be quick to listen. I want this in my relationship with God, but I also crave it for my human interactions. I see again and again, how quick I am to change the topic to myself or to throw in my opinion. I desire to be a person that even a stranger would feel comfortable talking with. I want to be a person who values the words coming out of others months more than the ones coming from my own.
Last track I started to understand that words are powerful and can be a great blessing or a great hinderance. After reading the book of James I was ready to not talk for a great while. But still with my own interest mostly in mind.
Now I want to value listening because hearing the other person is worth my silence. Because more is learned and discovered when listening.
So that is my prayer for this track.
On a side note: the track has not really begun yet, track 2 came a week early, so our schedule is still full but geared to preparing us to be examples and really valuing this time-- our last three months in the internship. I'm very glad for this time, for I'm reestablishing myself in the "prayer room culture" and really putting down roots for the rest of my time. I'm so excited to meet the track one-ers and hope to become really good friends with them, but I love that I have time to catch up with my friends who I have already invested so much of my love in!
Oh I love you all. Those of you at home, and those of you who are abroad. I love you. God is good and He is faithful. If those are the only things in life, those things I know. Remember Him when times to hard, and look to the One who will always Love you and Never forsake you. Take Him at His word, and buckle up! For it is Quite an awesome and unexpected ride!
<3
I know I'm getting all poetic again... but I'm realizing how precious this time in my life is. This three months to not worry about paying the bills, getting to work on time, and weather or not to see that latest movie... I have my time pretty much laid out for me, between classes, prayer room, and hanging out with roommates.
So last night was my first night back in the Prayer Room and I realized again how much work it takes to quiet my mind and heart. I tend to have about four million things running through my mind-- what should I read in the Bible, comments about the music, wondering when I will run to Wal-Mart and what I will need, and so many little snippets of things... to actually stop my mind and listen to God is so hard!
It really is one of the hardest lessons in life-- to shut out all the noise of life and spend those dear moments in silence before God. I struggle so much with trying to "fill up the awkward silence" with God... I talk at Him, I sing to Him, I read His word... but waiting and listening to Him... that is a hard one.... It is like those moments on a date, when there is silence and the other person is just looking at you. And you are like.... "well, we are having lovely weather today!" and they just sit there looking at your with a smile, and suddenly even your skin feels uncomfortable. They are looking at your and not saying anything. And you wait..... and yes, they end up speaking.... but it is so easy to try and fill up the silence with idle chatter trying to make oneself comfortable again.
And that is how things are with God sometimes. He loves to talk with me. But He is slow to speak, and will not interrupt me no matter if I am saying the most hollow words... He is faithful to listen to me.
I believe this may be one of the biggest things I will be learning in there next three months....
How to be quite before the Lord, enjoy the silence, and become quick to listen.
This is one of the things I want to learn SO BAD: to be quick to listen. I want this in my relationship with God, but I also crave it for my human interactions. I see again and again, how quick I am to change the topic to myself or to throw in my opinion. I desire to be a person that even a stranger would feel comfortable talking with. I want to be a person who values the words coming out of others months more than the ones coming from my own.
Last track I started to understand that words are powerful and can be a great blessing or a great hinderance. After reading the book of James I was ready to not talk for a great while. But still with my own interest mostly in mind.
Now I want to value listening because hearing the other person is worth my silence. Because more is learned and discovered when listening.
So that is my prayer for this track.
On a side note: the track has not really begun yet, track 2 came a week early, so our schedule is still full but geared to preparing us to be examples and really valuing this time-- our last three months in the internship. I'm very glad for this time, for I'm reestablishing myself in the "prayer room culture" and really putting down roots for the rest of my time. I'm so excited to meet the track one-ers and hope to become really good friends with them, but I love that I have time to catch up with my friends who I have already invested so much of my love in!
Oh I love you all. Those of you at home, and those of you who are abroad. I love you. God is good and He is faithful. If those are the only things in life, those things I know. Remember Him when times to hard, and look to the One who will always Love you and Never forsake you. Take Him at His word, and buckle up! For it is Quite an awesome and unexpected ride!
<3
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Here I am in Starbucks MO!
I"M HERE AT IHOP! and it's exciting! In an hour and a half I will be an intern again! Track 2 has a week before the Track one-ers come... and it's nice to be able to catch up with all the people we spent three months with!
The trip here was a blast, Martha and I had much to catch up on seeing as we did not talk for two weeks. Much coffee was had and lots of talking. Still the almost 11 hour drive was long, and not long after we got to the hotel I was out like a light.
This morning I was stumbling around till I had my coffee, but even then I felt weird for being up when the sun was too. I think my mind has already gone back to sleeping in the day and being up at night, so hopefully transitioning will go smoothly!
(I'm really trying to make sense with my posts now, I realized that all last track I only wrote when I was in a very odd and poetic moods and everything I wrote may have only made sense in my head.... so shoot my an email or a facebook thing if I still am not being understandable!)
But Yeah... and I found out that I like hot sauce from TocoBell! CRAZYNESS! But pretty awesome I may say... anyway. I've had large-ish about of coffee....
I am so excited about what God is going to be doing in a through my this track! I was not ready to leave home a couple days ago, for I know that I have many not-so-fun things to work out in my heart. But I know in the end that God is good and He is leading my life!
I'm not sure what I will be doing after track 2, but have plenty of time to pray about it now! I'm thinking right now that I would love to go back to Indiana and move back to Muncie... but we'll see!
I just have Muncie on my heart, and most of all my LOVELY PEOPLE (whom I love) who live in Indiana! I've been pretty bad at keeping in touch with friends, but God and I are working on that. For I love to know what you all are up to and how life is going.
Just a reminder-- I have lots of time to pray so you should tell me what to praying for. Because I love you. Alot. It's true. SO DO IT! <3
The trip here was a blast, Martha and I had much to catch up on seeing as we did not talk for two weeks. Much coffee was had and lots of talking. Still the almost 11 hour drive was long, and not long after we got to the hotel I was out like a light.
This morning I was stumbling around till I had my coffee, but even then I felt weird for being up when the sun was too. I think my mind has already gone back to sleeping in the day and being up at night, so hopefully transitioning will go smoothly!
(I'm really trying to make sense with my posts now, I realized that all last track I only wrote when I was in a very odd and poetic moods and everything I wrote may have only made sense in my head.... so shoot my an email or a facebook thing if I still am not being understandable!)
But Yeah... and I found out that I like hot sauce from TocoBell! CRAZYNESS! But pretty awesome I may say... anyway. I've had large-ish about of coffee....
I am so excited about what God is going to be doing in a through my this track! I was not ready to leave home a couple days ago, for I know that I have many not-so-fun things to work out in my heart. But I know in the end that God is good and He is leading my life!
I'm not sure what I will be doing after track 2, but have plenty of time to pray about it now! I'm thinking right now that I would love to go back to Indiana and move back to Muncie... but we'll see!
I just have Muncie on my heart, and most of all my LOVELY PEOPLE (whom I love) who live in Indiana! I've been pretty bad at keeping in touch with friends, but God and I are working on that. For I love to know what you all are up to and how life is going.
Just a reminder-- I have lots of time to pray so you should tell me what to praying for. Because I love you. Alot. It's true. SO DO IT! <3
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Home, Christmas and Coffee
It is Christmas morning and my family is all together, huddled around the two newest members... Joshua and Noah Stein! They were 8 weeks old yesterday, and I have spent much time rocking, holding and walking them around. These two boys are just the littles wonders I have seen... such little people, who will grow up and have lives of their own, but for now they cry and laugh and are totally dependent.
God has been awakening love for my two little nephews, and that in it self is a very special thing. Not to long ago I was not very fond of children let alone babies. But they smile and me and my heart melts, even when they are crying my heart goes out.... I'm looking forward to watching these little ones grow and pour into their lives. I will gladly embrace the title of, "Aunt Hannah" even though I'm sure when they start talking will be changed to something else. God thank you for these beautiful boys!
(it's great too! The pacing I learned from the prayer room sure comes in handy when calming a crying boy!)
Each day I'm realizing how different I have become and how I have no idea what life will hold. But again and again I am reminded that God is leading me and He is taking care.
Yes, the passing of one season to another is very painful and scary, but I know the One who made it all and who has never left me and never will. Through all the changes I am still holding onto Hope and the vision of what will be. It is like the song says, "I know the end of the story, I come up from the wilderness leaning on my Beloved." That is what keeps me going.
I am so glad for another season at IHOP, and that the presence of God has never left me. I am learning to be content with His as my all and all. I see all the growing to be done and I am excited for the journey...
and everything I find to say sounds like a trite saying, but let me assure you and me... that God is working in my life and He is good.
So have a Merry Christmas, and know that you have my love and the Unfailing Love of the Father!
<3
God has been awakening love for my two little nephews, and that in it self is a very special thing. Not to long ago I was not very fond of children let alone babies. But they smile and me and my heart melts, even when they are crying my heart goes out.... I'm looking forward to watching these little ones grow and pour into their lives. I will gladly embrace the title of, "Aunt Hannah" even though I'm sure when they start talking will be changed to something else. God thank you for these beautiful boys!
(it's great too! The pacing I learned from the prayer room sure comes in handy when calming a crying boy!)
Each day I'm realizing how different I have become and how I have no idea what life will hold. But again and again I am reminded that God is leading me and He is taking care.
Yes, the passing of one season to another is very painful and scary, but I know the One who made it all and who has never left me and never will. Through all the changes I am still holding onto Hope and the vision of what will be. It is like the song says, "I know the end of the story, I come up from the wilderness leaning on my Beloved." That is what keeps me going.
I am so glad for another season at IHOP, and that the presence of God has never left me. I am learning to be content with His as my all and all. I see all the growing to be done and I am excited for the journey...
and everything I find to say sounds like a trite saying, but let me assure you and me... that God is working in my life and He is good.
So have a Merry Christmas, and know that you have my love and the Unfailing Love of the Father!
<3
Friday, December 17, 2010
Crazy! maybe it's the coffee talking....
Hey! So this is crazy two posts in one day! but I got tired of cleaning and am taking a break.
Well, news for ya'll-- I'm starting to like Christmas, which if you know now me is totally a God thing... and yeah, I'm not drinking as much coffee anymore, but that is mainly because I've packed it all up for now...
But Yeah. I've got my clothes all set out for the next few days and most everything all packed up!
I'm not sure how much I will post while I am home, but will try.... but then I wonder what the point is, for most of the people who have been reading my blog are ones that I have been around while out here, like my family, but who knows. I really like having a blog, for it's somewhere to get thoughts out, and is a whole lot easier to keep in contact with people while I'm not in the same place!
Who knows, maybe I'll go a'traviling and keep the blog going.. that would be really fun!
Anyway, my Martha is calling to me and then I should get really and get BeaUtiFuL!
Heehehee....
God bless you all!!
LOVe
Well, news for ya'll-- I'm starting to like Christmas, which if you know now me is totally a God thing... and yeah, I'm not drinking as much coffee anymore, but that is mainly because I've packed it all up for now...
But Yeah. I've got my clothes all set out for the next few days and most everything all packed up!
I'm not sure how much I will post while I am home, but will try.... but then I wonder what the point is, for most of the people who have been reading my blog are ones that I have been around while out here, like my family, but who knows. I really like having a blog, for it's somewhere to get thoughts out, and is a whole lot easier to keep in contact with people while I'm not in the same place!
Who knows, maybe I'll go a'traviling and keep the blog going.. that would be really fun!
Anyway, my Martha is calling to me and then I should get really and get BeaUtiFuL!
Heehehee....
God bless you all!!
LOVe
Here I am
Here I am!
I cannot believe FINT is almost over! But that God, He is making the most of the time left, and it's not like He's leaving me till I come back to KC... ;) Which I'm really thankful for!
Well, today I am cleaning and finishing the very last of my packing, then we have a banquet tonight! (I'm pretty excited! I look like a bum right now, but I'll get all pretty-fied later! and I really will... I bought heels and everything!)
So YeAh! God is good and time has flown. I'm enjoying every moment here with my lovely people here, and looking forward to coming home and seeing all you lovely people!
I just want to give God a shout-out, for He is good and He provides for all the needs of His people. He has heard my prayers and my cries and He is not silent.
He is good and He is faithful, and I am so THNAKFUL! He has been telling me about Himself, His beautiful nature--and for the first time ever-- my heart has been learning about Him and not just my head!
God you are AWESOME!
People I'm excited to see you!
LOVE TO YOU ALL!
I cannot believe FINT is almost over! But that God, He is making the most of the time left, and it's not like He's leaving me till I come back to KC... ;) Which I'm really thankful for!
Well, today I am cleaning and finishing the very last of my packing, then we have a banquet tonight! (I'm pretty excited! I look like a bum right now, but I'll get all pretty-fied later! and I really will... I bought heels and everything!)
So YeAh! God is good and time has flown. I'm enjoying every moment here with my lovely people here, and looking forward to coming home and seeing all you lovely people!
I just want to give God a shout-out, for He is good and He provides for all the needs of His people. He has heard my prayers and my cries and He is not silent.
He is good and He is faithful, and I am so THNAKFUL! He has been telling me about Himself, His beautiful nature--and for the first time ever-- my heart has been learning about Him and not just my head!
God you are AWESOME!
People I'm excited to see you!
LOVE TO YOU ALL!
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