Love

Its been said many time by Christians everywhere, "Lord, I want to know you more." Let me tell you you will not know him more by telling him such things. If you truly desire to know the heart of God, then get out into the places where un-churched people are, because according to the Bible, and my own experience, this is where the heart of God is.

It is continuously recorded that Jesus hung out with the "tax collectors and sinners". Let me just tell you straight up that he wouldn't of hung out

there if he didn't like it. In fact when Jesus was questioned why he did this he said, "Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick" [Matt 9:12] Jesus obviously loved to go out of his way, and even ruin his own reputation to love on those who had not known love: those rejected by any of the "righteous" of the day. Who knew that righteousness was actually love and grace to those who don't deserve it?

People.

The people that Jesus died for look very different from each other.

They are of all different races and religions. Their skin could be any color. They are far from perfect people. You see them on the street corner, or at the grocery store. They are hotel managers, landlords, alcoholics, and abusive fathers. They are CEOs, and slum dogs. They are the people you see in the magazines, and even your own family. They are every person. Even you and I.

That is where you will find the heart of God.

This is where all his passions and desires are. Every hope and dream is for those people. Every thought he has, every decision he makes, every act he does is for them. He even allowed his own son to die that they might live. All of his dreams are for them. And WE are his dreams!!

It all started with a sneeze. In the household I live in it has been realized that we are already blessed since Jesus died for us, and that saying "bless you" will not make you more blessed. Rather we declare into each other's lives specific blessings. Usually money. So with this sneeze, It was declared that I'd be given $15,000. I responded that I if I was given $15,000 I would have no idea what I'd do with so much money, and quickly realized that that was probably why I wasn't given it. With the help of a friend, I soon realized I didn't know what I'd do with even $10. The first things that came to my mind was the ticket I need to go to India for my sister's wedding, and the ticket to go to South Africa for a missions trip, and the rest I'd just put in the bank for my living expenses.

When I asked other people what they would do with $15,000, some knew exactly what they would do, and others were not quite so sure, but all of them would use it for the good of other people. I was ashamed as my selfishness was disclosed. I had always thought that if God gave you money that it was for yourself. However, now I understand that I am a dream of God, and God dreams for the good of people. So if you have a need and God gives you money, than use it for the need first. That is okay. But then take the leftovers and fulfill a dream of God with it! Weather that means paying someone's car payment, or building an orphanage to transform hundreds of lives, use the money you have to help other people.

This is also necessary in EVERY area of our lives. I began to realize throughout my day how much I hold back from people, and how much I'd rather give to myself. Jesus said, "greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." [John 15:13] He also said, "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it."[Matt 10:39]

sake

–noun

1. cause

2.purpose or end

If you lay down your life for your friends you will actually find your life because Jesus' cause, purpose, and end is love.

As 1Cor 13 so clearly states, you can do plenty of good deeds and good works, but if your motivation isnt love, than its pointless. You can disciple people, heal people, hug people, pray etc. but if you are only doing it to make yourself look good, or make yourself famous, then its meaningless. You must do it for the good of other people.

From now on I am dedicating my life to live for other people before myself. I live to make other people great. I live to make other people happy. I live to get other people to dream, and to dream big, because anything is possible with love, and He lives inside me.

Whats up with me in California.

As many of you know, I left Eureka, to go to the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding, Ca. It was an exciting move, and I made many good friends, but it wasn’t long before I realized that the school was not what I wanted. All I wanted was a raw and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, unhindered and not influenced by religion, or a need to perform. I realized I couldn’t get that in Redding, so I moved in with Sue Ellen and Dennis in San Jose, California. Just so you all know, I prayed a lot about this before I made the decision and got the counseling of several different people as well. Now I’m having the time of my life just perusing the heart of God!

In my short life I’ve discovered by my own experience and by the word of God, that one of God’s favorite things to do is love on people who don’t know his love. So we often go to the mall and show people the love of God. We especially enjoy loving on and building relationships with the employees and managers so we not only give them an encounter with God, but can come back and teach them what to do with that encounter as well.

The other day we went to the mall, and we were going from shop to shop talking to the managers and employees, and telling them that if they need healing or a miracle in their lives to come down to the food court, because that’s were our church meets (we got permission from the mall to do this). One of the stores we went into was a shoe store, and the manager asked that we wait until he wasn’t busy and pray for him. So we wait awhile. While we were waiting we talked to an employee. We ended up sitting him down on a chair, having him put his legs out so we could see if they were the same size. The left leg was about an inch shorter than the right. One of the guys I was with said, “left leg grow out.” And it grew out instantly. The guy’s friend insisted it was a trick, so we sat the guy down again, and asked him if he wanted to be taller. He said yes, so we commanded each leg individually to grow out, and they did. About an inch each. The friend didn’t really know what to say to that.

We got tiered of waiting, so we left, and found a Mexican guy who was walking with a cane. He couldn’t speak much English, but he communicated that he had pain in nearly every joint in his body. So after we prayed, his wife took his cane from him, and he started to walk. He turns around and says, “bueno, muy bueno.” I will never forget the look on his face. It was the look you only see when people are encountered by love. I asked if anyone else in his family needed prayer. His wife had back pain. So I told the pain to go, and commanded the back to be healed, and it was, and the lady’s eyes were filled with tears. Her grand daughter (the only one who spoke English), translated that her grandma had felt something come over her when I prayed. It was the Holy Ghost. We all gave praise to Jesus, gave hugs goodbye, and went on our way. We watched the littlest granddaughter dance away with her grandfather’s cane, and big smiles on everyone’s face.

It was amazing for me to see that even though we couldn’t have a conversation with them, we could communicate to them the love of Jesus, and the goodness of God. I know we changed their lives, and we didn’t even have to speak their language, because no matter our ethnicity, religion, language, background, we were all made for the same thing: the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.

We returned to the shoe shop and the manager nearly yells at us for leaving. He insisted again we stay until we can pray for him. So we did. He wanted us to pray for his son who had a broken leg, and for his business. He didn’t consider himself a Christian, but he certainly believed. We prayed, and even though we didn’t see instant change, I know we will hear good news next time we see him. He was deeply touched, and I know we had just met another brother in Christ.

There are many other similar stories. People are frequently being saved and added into the kingdom! Its amazing that this is what we get to be apart of. I feel like a matchmaker. All I do is hook people up with Jesus.

I'll try and post more about whats going on everyday.

Uptate (This is what you read if you want to know all about me)

As I sit here in the 4 bedroom house, I now call my home, inhabited with 7 other college aged girls, listening to Shawn McDonald singing "Home", my mind wanders to the days of pure innocence with my family and friends in Montana. How simple and carefree those days were! Its hard to believe they are only 2 months into my past.

Its rainy here in California, and the cozy sweater my sister, Catherine, gave me for my birthday last year feels very much like a hug from her. Its been a good all-day hug, Caddy. I'm very hesitant to let it end, and may just sleep in it as well. A dozen candles are lit around the house. The ultimate feeling is stillness (which is very unusual here) and only the faint murmur of conversation and giggles from my amazing housemates can be heard. Occasionally the door bell rings, telling us there are some children at our door wanting candy. We give some of the love we have before we mention the unfortunate news: we have no candy. Halloween, I was always taught, was the devil's birthday, and being a Christian was never allowed nor interested in being apart of it. However, tonight there seems to be a peace, and even an excitement in the neighborhood as all the houses are surrounded with families enjoying the sharing of their neighbors. Maybe, I think to myself, the evilness of Halloween has been another thing the enemy has lied about, and Christians have believed, when in reality, its bonding time for families across America, and a chance for people to be generous and share something they've earned with those who haven't earned it. Of course I know there is a lot of witchcraft done on Halloween, probably more than on any other day, but the majority of the celebration is rather epic. Seems to me, a good day to see a nation saved.

I'm realizing the value of good relationships. It is very strange living in a place where there is not one person you have a history with. No one really knows you, and there is no one to go to to just relax and have fun. How valuable good, close relationships are! I'm realizing it is better to have fewer friends that you are in close relationship with, than a bunch of friends that you hardly know. And good relationships start with a value for the other person. If you go into any relationship for what you can get out of it, that relationship is already not worth having. Love must always be our highest priority. =) While these relationships are still growing, I hear God say, "I know you, Savannah" And my comfort is here: in the arms of Papa God. He knows me better than anyone ever could, and He is with me where ever I go! =D

Its been really easy to get self centered since being here. A lot of the school is discovering who you are, and becoming the person God dreamed you to be, so a lot of the time I tend to be focused on ME. I've learned so much about myself since being here. Its very exciting, but it seems like the more I think about myself the less I think about others, and this is not what I was made for at all. I has made to love others. The people I am continuously surrounded by are overdosed on love, and therefore who I am is not valued. My essence longs to love on those who don't know love! To call out the greatness in those who feel they don't have value!
Also, the heavy schedule, homework, and the lack of privacy, has left me very little intimate time with Papa God. This is left me very sad, to say the least, and the school is not worth losing this...so something has got to change. I don't have school for the next 4 days due to a conference hosted by Bethel Church, and I am very excited about that. I look forward to spending an entire day with Daddy. And then I'll find some love-starved people, and overflow on them unapologetically! haha

One thing that fills my schedule these days is an outreach called Sidewalk Sunday School. This is where a team of us(4-5 people) go out into an impoverished neighborhood and build relationships with children and their families in that neighborhood! Thankfully, this outreach is not limited to a day, and we can go hangout with them anytime we want, and even more good news: I'll start in 2 weeks! That will cure my stagnant love for sure!

Most of the time I feel like I'm wasting my time here, and most of the time I wonder why I'm here. All I want is to be madly in love with Jesus, and show the world who he is, and who they could be. Its that simple. Why do I need this school? Its very strange...90% of what is taught or spoken of at Bethel is a part of me, but but 90% of the time I don't feel like I'm being me. I feel like I'm putting up a show to please other's expectations. This must be the "culture" continually proudly spoken of here. And yet, strangely enough, I know this is where I need to be for now. There is comfort in knowing that God knows what hes doing, and that he works all things out for the good of those who love him! I don't expect them to come easily, but I expect great things!