Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Here is a wee update on my time at IHOP........

My time in Kansas City at the House of Prayer was really incredible,
it is hard to know where to start!
I arrived at the beginning of December really focused on pursuing
intimacy with Jesus. This was the perfect place to come!
I realised just how superficial my own walk with Him had
become, I had become more focused on externals, on looking
good on the outside. Misty Edwards (one of the worship leaders) summed
it up one night when she sung 'I don't want a name that I'm alive, if
I'm dead on the inside.'
I really want to ask forgiveness for sometimes 'giving a name that I
am alive', when the reality is that I have been pretty dead on the
inside. I was so convicted, and just cried out to Jesus for change,
for Him to awaken my heart.
The disciples were so undone by Jesus, that they were willing to be
martyred!! This truth challenged me a lot! I want to be so
passionately in love with Him that I am willing to be obedient no
matter the cost.
Another song that Misty Edwards sung had the lyrics - 'to know more
than a page, to feel your embrace....' Amen!!
Much of the worship at IHOP is prophetic - the worship leader will by
led by the Holy Spirit. Many times I felt God speaking to me
personally - it was amazing!

ONETHING is IHOP's yearly youth event. Initially I was not planning
to go but felt that Jesus was speaking to me about it when
journalling.
Oh my goodness - it was one of the most significant week-ends of my life!!
The teachers spoke with such a fire and passion. The messages were
alive with truths about holiness and intimacy, and the need for both
so that we don't get into legalism.
The worship was intense and really focused on drawing us up to the
Throne Room to worship.
On New Years Eve ONETHING ended at 11.30am, and THE CALL Kansas City
began which ran from 12pm - 12am - into 2008.
I have never been at anything like this in my life! The Call is a
movement emphasizing prayer, worship and fasting for spiritual
breakthrough.
Lou Engle, a modern day John the Baptist has pioneered these events
all across the US, (and now worldwide) calling thousands of young
people to fast, pray and repent for individual sins as well as the
sins of the church and the nation. I had to leave shortly after it
started to meet someone who I was saving a seat for. When I came back
in there were young people all over the hall
(over 20,00) weeping and crying out to God for His mercy on America!
It was like nothing I have ever experienced. I received such a burden
for the US, and felt so privileged to be a part of what God was doing.
I began to understand more and more in my heart just how much God
hates sin, how it grieves him, and how necessary it is to be a praying
people - praying for His mercy on our land and the people in it. I
know a lot about the God of love but not much about the God of
justice........
Lou Engle talked about the 50 million babies which have been murdered
by abortion in the States alone.
He spoke of the impending judgement which is due, that God loves
babies and there is an urgent need for people to take their
intercessory place before the Throne pleading for His mercy.
He quoted Ruth Graham – 'if God does not judge America He must
apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.' Wiao - very challenging.

This event, my time at IHOP coupled with the Omega Course which I was
studying (as I had missed most of the sessions at Jubilee) has
signposted a turning point in my life. I really trust that I will
never be the same again....... It is all too easy to get caught up
'in the cares of this world'. I pray that by the grace of God I am on
a journey that has only just begun.

My plans for this year are not definite yet, am trusting God - that He
will lead and guide my steps. I know that He is faithful.

Lots of love
Sara Victoria

As I have not been blogging since July I decided to do a massive update now. The following entries are a wee summary of what I have been up to.........(beginning with the most recent)

DE
CEMBER - JANUARY
I have been in Kansas City visiting the International House of Prayer. (IHOP) I was there for a whole month! (see next entry) I have loved being here!!! I visited IHOP in March with Patricia and some of the interns and I really felt that I would be back – and here I am! For those of you who don’t know anything about IHOP, here is some info - Since September 19, 1999, they have continued in non-stop intercession with worship 24/7. Currently, over 400 people serve on the full-time IHOP–KC staff in intercession, worship and fasting as they are being equipped to fulfill the Great Commission by reaching out in evangelism, prophetic ministry, healing the sick and providing for the poor.

OTHER THINGS I HAVE BEEN UP TO IN STRATFORD………..
In Stratford, the house of prayer runs from Monday 6am until Friday at noon. Myself and a lady called Karen Doyle cover the on-call on Monday’s ensuring that there is cover from Monday 8am until Tuesday at 8am. The interns are required to spend a minimum of 12 hours per week here although I have not been able to do as much in the past few months due to other commitments.


I help out with some things at the Bootsma’s home when either John or Patricia are travelling, along with Marta which I have really enjoyed. John & Patricia’s kids are awesome, and it has been a privilege to get to know them and spend time with them.



This is Lisa Bellsmith. She is the administrator at Jubilee amongst many other things! Depending on the day, you can also find her counselling, teaching, hosting or in the kitchen tidying! I have been working with her more since September and have learnt a lot from her.


I am currently doing a DVD course called Omega. (as part of my internship) This is a quote from IHOP re the course; ‘There is coming a time when life as we know it will be forever changed. The Bible describes it as a time of great trouble and gives us much information on how to survive and even thrive in this time. The Omega Course is designed to help us prepare our heart for the days to come. Mike Bickle gives a broad overview of the End Times in describing the people, places and events that matter most at the end of the age.’ I have been really shocked, challenged, impacted and driven to pursue the truth for myself from the Bible through this teaching – I would thoroughly recommend it. I can honestly say that I will never be the same after hearing these teachings. I am checking out the scriptures, and while I do have some questions – I am seeing my eyes being opened to what Mike Bickle is teaching.


September 2007 – November 2008
I volunteered with the Stratford House of Blessing to help with a weekly cooking class for young adults with special needs. Myself and a lady called Christine ran the course, and we had 3 regular attendees, Teresa, Karen and Judy. It was great getting to know them. A couple from Jubilee called Norman & Florence Kehl started the House of Blessing. All the services are free; there is a food, clothing and furniture bank as well as many programs like the cooking class to help people in the community. They also have a maternity home which offers accommodation to young girls who are pregnant and have no-where to go. A pastor and his wife live with the girls and support them during their pregnancy and for some months after the baby is born. They then help the girls to get established back into the community. Norman and Florence are such an inspiration to me – they love so unconditionally – they truly love like Jesus.

30th November – 3rd December 2007
At the end of November, I travelled with Patricia to Oklahoma. We visited a group of approx 30 people who meet in Broken Arrow, Tulsa in the wonderful Jim & Myriam’s house. They are a couple from Brooklyn, New York who moved to Tulsa a number of years ago. God really touched the people over the week-end. Patricia preached at 3 meetings and prophesied. It was a great experience seeing Patricia in action! She is really being used powerfully by God in the places she travels to. As per usual, I bonded with a dog! This one is for you Graham & Rachel! This is Tino the Chiwawa in his santa costume! I was actually crying with laughter when this was taken! He is such a cutie……

17th November
Myself and Marta organised a spa day with a meal following, for a group of 17 ladies who live just behind the church. A team from TACF School of Ministry (my old Bible College) came for a few days, so they helped us out. We had back massages, hand massages, manicures, pedicures, tea/coffee and goodies and an area for the ladies to come and receive prayer and prophetic words if they wanted. We then transitioned into a 4 course meal, cooked by 2 chefs who come to Jubilee, served by the guys from TACF – the meal was awesome! It was a great day, and a time to get to know the ladies better – I have got to know their kids through a program called Kid’s Connect which runs every Thursday night at the church, so it was nice to spend time with the Mom’s.

Monday, January 07, 2008

2nd October – 11th October 2007
This is my beautiful Mom! She came to visit in October for 10 days. We had such a good time together spending some time in Toronto, Niagara Falls and Stratford. Again – it was too short!

18th September – 20th September 2007
At the end of September, my Dad and his wife Elizabeth were in Vancouver. They flew home via Toronto and stayed in Stratford for a few days. It was lovely spending time with them both – it was too short!

15th September 2007

In September I had the awesome opportunity to be a part of an event called ‘Heaven’s Rehearsal’.
The organisers had a vision of getting representatives from every nation in the world (there are currently 262 sovereign nations – I think I am remembering correctly!) and having a huge worship and prayer event for Jesus. It was held in the Air Canada Centre in Toronto and there were around 25,000 people who came.
.

Above is the UK, we were together for the whole event.
Marta, who I live with in Stratford represented Sweden, and our friend Jenn who is from Quatar originally, represented her nation.

20th - 24th August 2007
I attended a 5 day school at Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship in August about God, and his heart as a Father. We are His children, and when we accept what Jesus id. The teaching was excellent! These are some of the ladies who I met – ther
e were 2 ladies from N Ireland, and my room-mate – the lovely Michelle (who is on my right) was from England. The main theme of it was that everyone has a fundamental need of a heart revelation of their heavenly Father, about how we need an experiential encounter with Him which will change how we relate to Him.


Hello everyone!

This is my Christmas newsletter......

I have been interning at Jubilee Christian Fellowship, Stratford, Ontario since 4th February this year. It is so hard to believe that I have been in Stratford for nearly a year! I have really enjoyed my year here and the intern program has exceeded my expectations. I am currently in Kansas City at the International House of Prayer for 1 month and will be returning to Stratford on 4th January 2008. (see end of newsletter)

I would like to share a little of what has been going on in my heart this year……..I feel that this has been a year of continuing to press in for victory through faulty mind-sets which have been my truth for many years. (the process began when I was living on the chicken farm with John & Evelyn) Even my name reflects that things are changing, as I am Sara Victoria, (meaning conqueror and victory) not just Sara! I have based so much of my life on lies about myself, others and God, and I feel that I am beginning to experience for myself the truth, and the truth is freeing me." Amen!! John 3:16 (The Message) That is the truth of who God is, and who I am.

My year in Stratford has been a wake up call to how little I actually know Jesus, which is what being a Christian is all about! I know all about Him from the words I read in the Bible, and I can serve Him no problem (I often let myself get too busy) – but can I really say that He is my closest friend? In IHOP today we sung the following words – ‘to know more than a page, to feel your embrace Jesus.’ I am on a quest to ‘know’ him, to feel His embrace, to be walking in close relationship with him, fully surrendered to Him in love.
The following words also really impacted me from a song we sung at IHOP - ‘I don’t want a name that I’m alive, when I’m dead on the inside. Wake me up! This really challenged me to think about much of my spiritual journey over the years and in recent times. I was deeply convicted. I have spent a lot of time and effort trying to give the impression that I am alive, when at times I have actually been pretty dead inside. I see that I have let issues of the heart, fear of man, people pleasing and other such things take my eyes off focus.

I want to ask you to forgive me where I have ‘given the impression that I have been alive, but have been dead on the inside.’ My desire is to be fully alive to Him, and to His plans and purposes for my life.

I would also like to share with you about my personal battle with depression. I was always under the impression that Christians were not meant to be depressed – but it did not change the fact that I had many of the symptoms of depression which really hindered me from being able to receive from God!! I spent most of my adult life not admitting my need for medication until August 2006. I finally went to the doctor shortly after coming back from TACF and I can honestly say that it was the best thing that I could ever have done. About 2 weeks after starting the pills, I had a clarity in my thoughts that I had not had for years and years. This confirmed to me what I was beginning to suspect – that there was a chemical imbalance in my brain that these tablets were helping. (I had been researching the long term effects of the recreational drugs that I had taken in my late teens and early twenties and one of them was that the brain cannot make the necessary chemical – serotonin, for balanced mood.) Praise God for medication!! (I am however believing for full healing in this area in Jesus’ Name but am continuing with the pills until I clearly know it is time to stop them!)

I have been on such an incredible journey with God and I thank Him for much healing and breakthrough in my life. When I came to Canada I was a basket case! I had many fears and phobias mainly due to my own bad choices and was desperate for freedom! God has been faithful, and I can say that He really does have the power to transform. If He can do it for me, He can do it for anyone! I am excited about the year ahead!

Above is a wee bit of what I have been up to........