End of Andrew Jeremy Riddle

Day 3?

Guard the anointing but don’t loose your composure: the show must go on

It’s not whether you have a big nose or not that’s the problem, it’s whether you can pull it off!

Some of the most anointed worshipers are not the talented ones: never disqualify moments of worship you think weren’t very good

Lead the common man in pursuit of excellence, creative, current

Is there enough grace and splendor to awake the dry, broken people?

Worship is a result of creation not education

Use the “now “ keys” you get in His presence rather than cheerleading, but fresh revelation from God: new, true and real

After the big climax song we have the silence: it’s good to say “ Now it’s time to relax, sing in the spirit, etc.”

Fresh revelation from Jesus leads to worship: when the Glory comes, less is more

Feel the crowd and sing out what they are dealing with: connect first to the Lord THEN scan the room and ask the Lord

Its like a vacation- right amount of planning and spontaneity

Every note is important, don’t fill just to fill

There’s a time and place for everything: corporate, personal, harp and bowl, etc. Be aware of yourself, whats you and whats not through your day: God is talking all the time, you just have to tap into it.

Try playing the chorus again or do two chord progressions to interpret pictures and words He gives in worship

Lead the common man

Don’t judge by whats on their faces- notice what God is doing in the room. Ask for keys to unlock the common hearts

In order to be able to flow in the spirit, you have to be a good enough musician to be versatile and keep learning your instrument.

It’s going to get messy ( like childbirth) that’s why there’s a worship TEAM and LEADERSHIP.

Jeremy Riddle, songwriter, worship leader

What it the goal of a worship song?

( my def:To proclaim Him to bring people into his presence)

Jeremy’s def: Revealing the nature of God in song and give a united voice by which the community of saints express their hearts back to God in response of this revelation…facilitate connection.

**people should be drawn near to God and God promises to draw near to us. He is passionate about His people

Bad worship leader example: A wedding where the minister steals the show and makes the focus on him.

Worship leaders should have a pastoral heart, not that of an arist.

Where should the songs flow from?

All true ministry flows from intimacy. We can’t make it happen has to flow from the well of what you’re experiencing with God, the song of God’s truth in your heart, and action in your life.

Jeremy’s process:

Revelation: life of study, leaders are readers

Ispiration, melodies and playing around on instrument focuses us and we sing it out without an agenda: then revelation comes

Brent Brown, (Everlasting God)

_1. Like going fishing: can’t make it happen, bu if you do it often, try different bait, but you can’t get them to bite

2. Like preparing a sermon; meant to be accurate ( have a friendly theologian check it out for heresyJ), read about it, study

Like a crossword puzzle (?)

Keep options open, build your vocabulary, don’t use the played out words, try rhymezone.com

How to write a song:

Start with the melody, because it already has a message in it; it speaks; the concept and theme match the music

There will be seasons when you get a ton of ideas- just jot them down or use your iphone, garage band, don’t try working them all out just record it some way. Then in your dry seasons come back to them and work them out: be patient.

Notebook: when your hearing a sermon or whatever, try to marry the concepts with th random melodies

Community: let the refining fire of that community take effect

Sweetly broken:

Used a pre-chorus as a bridge; don’t take too long to get to the chorus

Noon is an expert, but listen and be open to criticism; it’s not about you ( though you’re in it) it’s about the church connecting to God expressing their hearts back to God; it’s WAY BIGGER than you think.

Chorus is your thesis

Kevin Prosch wore his heart on his sleeve; God authenticity; Rita Springer, Delirious: you can learn initially through imitation.

Books: theology books ; Concise Theology, Packer; Five Smooth Stones, Peterson, Persiut of God,, Tozer.

How do you know if a song is a congregational song?

Ask a non-music person as well as a music person

Business world: trys to stay out of it, now worship is more mainstream on radio. His prayer is that the industry becomes accountable to the church ( like Bethel)

Two different paths:

Artst/performer worship leader

Goals are same but method is different; worship leader is more like a pastor, and it constrained where the artist has the freedom to cut loose

God alone determined our influence, but keep at it; make demos, put it together, make time

At the end of the day, though, “If I don’t love my wife so she feels loved and cherished I’m a banging gong”

Worship: we have to go somewhere TOGETHER; unify, draw people in, so sometimes trying to break the mold and be super creative isn’t helpful, or simple enough.

Ian McIntosh, unique and fresh, Kim Walker, John Forman EP projects (not a lot of congregational, but good food)

Notes from Bethel Cont

Sorry this took awhile; I had drafted them and then some didn't save...arg


Day 2
Andrew:

( He supports Brian and Jenn's ministry; was a big part of the Jesus Movement and Vineyard Church, has an orphanage)

Power of His presence
I was made for the glory of God
The door to His glory is His presence
The abiding presence is the floor that glory rests on
Worship leaders are to bring His presence to woo His bride
Circumspect (care for, be vigilent of, guard) what God is doing toward His bride during worship

Keith Green story. He never compromised what God lead him to do.

He comes and he stays when we press through, hungry for His presence
Can you bring the Presence to the least in the crowd?(least meaning the least likely to be entering into worship, not the least in terms of worth; we are all equally worthy of entering into the presence of our Maker)

(This was an awsome talk mostly due to the Keith Green stories and other stories he shared about the Jesus Movement and other miracles he saw. I was so blown away by all of it I didn't write it down, and trying to piece together what I do remember doesn't really give it justice. The only one I could retell would be the time he dremed of Keith Green and Keith lifted him out of his bed at night and they flew to Keith's house ( Andrew had never been there before). There were many details in the dream of the house, many many because Keith showed him all the rooms and the grounds, even the soccer field with his staff playing a game. Later they were up on a hill looking over everything. Keith asked him if he would take care of the house and grounds and oversee the ministry for him. After arguing about why and how Andrew agreed. Keith eaither dissapeared or flew away. Shortly after Andrew woke up he heard news that Keith had died that night around the same time Andrews dream had ended. So, Andrew went to the house, it was EXACTLY as it was in his dream, and took over the ministry. AMAZING. I think they had some crazy stories about raising the dead too. Like I said these stories were so unreal I was just staring at him in wonder and wrote nothing down.)

Finally I am writing up my notes. I'm starting at the beginning. I'm putting my own ideas in red, not because I think I'm Jesus, but because...well because if I'm wrong, my theology or something, you won't think it's Bethel. You can blame me!

Day One:

Thankfulness: story of boy who was trying to dig to China, other mocked, he confessed he may not get there, but he opened up his hand and said, Look at all the treasures I found along the way!
Appreciating what God has done, and where you are because of it;
Contentment comes from your connection with Go throughout your day.
Who you are in God: Walking in it is like you are a song from Heaven; we all have our own song what is as unique as our DNA.
When you are being you and not trying to be someone else, you effect others to be themselves...you need to be you for them to be them, since we are a body
value one another's gifting; their gift makes your gift work
dont TRY to be amazing: be you! You are amazing!
watch out for envy
You don't have to push for your "big break"; God promotes based on faithfulness.
God highlights different people at different times for different reasons
Do the things in your life that God is highlighting you to do
have authority over the season you are in: sleeping through the storm, ie not letting the circumstances determine your ability to walk in authority and confidence in what God is doing
___________________________________________________-

Bill Johnson:
The farther we go into God, the less we can take with us
He's not a tame lion, He's WILD

Thanksgiving is a responce to God's ACTS, praise is a responce to His WAYS. (Israel knew the ACTS of God, Moses knew His ways)
Commitment not to worship, but to HIM
Thanksgiving and praise are actions we can DO; we start here
Even if we don't feel like it when we start, once we do, we will!
To minister to Him we give HIm honor, and declair it! (Ps 115)
You always become like what you worship
You are the living sacrifce, more who you are than what you do
It is costly and not convenient
YET He desires compassion above sacrifice
"To exhalt"= to leap in the air with jumping and turning
A long time ago he didn't know thats what it meant, but in his quiet times he had started doing it because he read about David dancing and wanted to worship more like David. He suddenly felt like it jumping and turning! Next day he found out through his dad's sermon that's what exalt means.

Mark 5:2
"Legion" the most deamon possessed man in the bible WOSHIPED BEFORE HE WAS SET FREE
So, Satan doesn NOT have the power to stop our worship; only we do

When noone is looking we have encounters so that when everyone is looking you can be entrusted with encounters
David and lions(alone) David and Goliath (in view)
We choose His presence, the miracles, the healing because we choose HIM

Learn to live FROM the presence of God, not just from Kingdom principals (what God said, which is good, but not enough if void of realtionship)
When we turn our hearts, our affectinons to HIm His presnece manifests

The worship service must have: faith, compassion, and love for people

Worship is horizontal and vertical ( first a connection with God, then with the body)
Don't preach
Bring His presence
Look for the worship moment that accelerates the worhsip( that "key" that unlocks another relm of worship, the path that opens that you walk together further into the kingdom realities.)









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No Internet for a week; now I'm back home!

So, it's kinda anti-climactic to not have written for a week and then suddenly I'm back home.

But, I'm going to continue the blog as I process more and more of what I've learned. All the notes I took I'm going to type out and mull over with my friend Havah. I met Havah the first day, I think, and we were instant friends. It just so happens her parents live in SB and she's here for the summer. Praise God I have a friend to enjoy, process with, and grow in the very things we studied!

To be honest. I was hoping to write more, but I'd rather unpack and organize. I don't feel settled. But I do have grocieries:-)

Not a sinner and dinner with Kim Walker

Go to Bethel's homepage, Click on "Sermon of the Week" on lower right of page, go to the purple "Podcast" button. See 'listeners also subscribed to" on right. Click "The best of Chris Vallotton". Download the sermon called: "Is your House Haunted Pt1"

(or just follow this link if it works and use that purple "podcast" button)
http://www.ibethel.org/features/sermonoftheweek/189/Danny-silk-Follow-Me-11:00am/free_message.html

So, yes I've discovered something and I'll never be the same again. I am not a sinner saved by grace as I always thought. I WAS a sinner, and ow I live UNDER grace. If you had as many questions as I did about all this, please go to the sermon God directed me to. It will blow all this out of the water. I always thought I sinner all the time, because, hey , we're all sinners, right? Well, when I read Romans, Paul tells me a different story. I've actually camped on the conclusion that I really don't sin that much, actually, because God showed me a new def. of sin. Sin is willfully disobeying God, and this is not something we are naturally prone to when the Spirit of God lives in us (Rm 8). I rarely think, man I'm going to purposly gossip about this person today. If I do gossip, IF, and it wasn't intentionally done, say it just came out, it's not a sin. ( I know, it sounds like heresy, but let me continue)It's a mistake and the Holy Spirit is using it to teach you something. You will not have to stand before the Father on Judgment Day and have HIm brin it up.

There's deeper levels to it than all that, but the most important result of this realization is that I feel so much better about myself. What a weight I've been carying to think I am prone to sin, and that all these mistakes I do and thoughts I think without meaning to etc. are sin. I've prayed manytimes for God to forgive me for all the many things I did throughout the day that were sinful. What shame to feel you are continually disappointing God? Instead, He is perfectly pleased with me! Perfectly! I am a new creation in Christ, and I am clothed in perfect righteousness, without blemish or spot, whiter than snow. I always was inwardly confused that Jesus paid it all and yet I'm still always screwing up. Don't get me wrong, I DO screw up and sin and need to repent, but it's not what I'm prone to, and I don't do it all the time. *sigh* Thank you God!

In other news, yes it's true, I had dinner with the famous Christian Worship leader/artist Kim Walker. http://www.kimwalkermusic.com/ Her music is some of the most prophetic of my generation, meaning she'll make up these songs on stage that are seriously downloads from heaven that speak messages and hope from heaven. She is so talented, and so wise beyond her years from all the time she spent with the Lord(what she says was the only key to her success). Well, I'd like to say she was just this normal person, but she's about as normal as any of the crazy Bethel people around here! Very quirky, very type A ( in a good way) She just got married and was telling us all about how it was a musical with dancers and singers and costumes, etc. Oh, this all came about because my friend Derika is friends with the couple whose house it was Kim was staying at for the conference. We were invited over for dinner, not having any idea Kim would be there. God kept me humble, because I was dressed really casual, like not very pretty, and my hair was kinda greasy because it was really hot that day. it seems like every time something great happends I'm having a bad hair day. lol. But, it was interesting that Kim is now interested in theater and wanting to revive the theatrical evangelism of Aimee Semple McPherson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimee_Semple_McPherson

who in the 30's founded the four-square church and did musicals instead fo sermons. They were such high quality shows people came from all over to see them. Hollywood and the artists of the day really respected it. You guys all know my heart for a long time has been longing for something like this to happen in our day. How cool that Kim is heading this direction.

So, that was really fun, it was good to get to know the sister and her husband and joke around the table telling stories and having a good time. We were talking about our first car wrecks and she had a really funny one that she backed into her Dad's truck that was parked in the drive way three times in succession because she thought it was a wall of snow. (crunch crunch)

Wonderful times. And I met this wonderful girl Havah who is from Santa Barbara. She's Jewish and really free-spirited, an artist, and has such a keen awareness of the love of God. We prayed today and the Lord really ministered to my core. Inner healing is so good when friends are praying for you and not just church people you don't know.

I'm also really really glad I'm doing dance class. I really feel like I'm in a super-hero class, or Harry Potter because we're learning to listen to the spirit and connect with God in such a way that we can actually change the atmosphere of a room through dance and break strongholds of the enemy and other things people are dealing with by dancing the opposite spirit. Dance becomes a tool for proclamitary prayer. It's also really fun and freeing when we do the improv. exercises. What a blessing! She has such a crazy testimony about how she wanted to be a missionary in Africa and the Lord kept prophesying that she would do dance when she wasn't really even a dancer. She resisted it, but out of her love for Him started walking in the directions of His way and people started getting healed in the church when she danced and all kinds of crazy stuff. Now she puts on the amazing dance shows and her dancers go all over the world making a difference for Christ. And, just as everyone is emphasizing here, it all came from her relationship with the Lord and all the time spent loving and ministering to Him in secret.

Well, enough excitement?! It just keeps coming! I'll try to be better about writing what's going on because there's more and more, but I want to ask everyone to please pray because my check from the School District never came today, and I really hope the address wasn't wrong. I need that money!
Bless you all!

I prophesied in front of 300 people yesterday

Yes, it's true. And God kept me very humble because I was having a really bad hair day.

So, you know all that stuff I've been writing about 11:11? Turns out God was showing me something to show others, and in turn began a movement of the Spirit that will effect generations and countries.
Sound lofty? Well, it def. wasn't from me!

Our speaker on Monday Ben Armstong mentioned briefly about 11:11, I don't even remember what context, but he mentioned numbers were very important to God, so it kept me thinking. Well, our speaker yesterday also mentioned numbers and their significance to Israel ( he knows more about Jewish history than any Jew I know even thought he's kind of a red neck, which he considers a compliment) He was telling the David and Goliath story in a new way, talking about slaying the giants by the new sound of the slinging sling-shot and how the Lord has a new sound for all of us to slay the giants. We all stood up and pretended to "woosh" the sling shots in a circle above our heads and declair the fall of the giants in our lives and in the land we are called to. We reclaimed the land, and then we snapped all together and asked God for the cleansing rain to refresh us by His spirit. ( I know it sounds wierd but it was amazing)

I noticed when we were all done the time was 11:11 am. I thouht about Deut 11:11 which was about entering the land God is bringing us to (which was full of giants) where the rain is from heaven( they didn't need irrigation, it was supernatural blessing). I explained it all to him and read Deut. 11;11 and asked what he thought. He said he thought I should teach the class.... That was not expected.

Not to beat a dead horse, but this whole 11;11 thing continues again and again. It's a huge blessing for my generation! I went to a small worship gathering that evening and Benjamin said he felt the Lord was saying "redemption". He didn't know about what. Afterwards we kept worshiping, and I felt it was time to dance. So I went into the kitchen where noone was. I was kneeling on the ground waiting til it felt right. I knelt quite a while, and then someone else started playing a new song. I felt this was the song, so I got up and turned around waiting for him to sing. I was staring at the oven clock at 11;10 and RIGHT as he starts to sing it changes to 11;11pm ( don't tell Mom I was out that late on a school night).

Then, today we were in class again with the crazy red neck teacher and he told us all to stand up again and declair redemption over our country, our land for the kingdom. We all shouted and proclaimed what needed to be redeemed. Somehow I was already sitting when I looked at my computer clock I was taking notes on and I swear I didn't look at it til that moment: 11:10, I nudged my roomate and said look, it will end at 11;11. As soon as it ended someone shouted out from across the room "It's 11:11 !!!!!!!!" EVERYONE cheered!

So, our little revelation wasn't so little! It blessed 300 people! Thank you Pastor Jason for teaching me about this. Of course, this is all very miraculous and interesting, but it's only the tip of the iceberg for what deep acts of Love God is doing underneith it all. After all, Paul said all the amazing prophesy without love is meaningless. This redemption that will happen will be His act of Love.

So much else is happening, but I can't write it all or you'd blow up with exitment. (:-) Please pray for my foot, though. I did something wierd to the top of it and it hurts in a strange way- I can't describe it- it's like I briused a vein, or pulled somthing....this is not good for my dancing! Also, my friend Katie is sick and when we pay she'll be fine, and then it will come back. Definatly an attack. Thank you so much for your prayers! Blessings!

God just sang me a love song

A few moments ago I was worshiping God through the photography of Brett Weston
(http://brettwestonarchive.com/Images) and I got this art song by Ravel stuck in my head from Scheherazade, you know that story about the princess who would have been killed had she not told the King stories that didn't end that night so he didn't be-head her because he wanted to hear how the story turned out, remember?
Well I was on youtube listening to it and I thought, dang it's in French and I wish I knew what it meant. Then I saw a beautiful photo of this glorious beach as an album cover for another song about Scheherazade. I listened to it and knew it was Jesus singing a love song to me. It's terribly deep, myterious, and like Song of Solomon in passion and beauty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-O0tcbWF3M&feature=related

"the young prince and the young princess as told by scheherazade"

And you would cause the sun to see your light
And then be shamed
You cover darkness with a thousand secret flames
With your love, oh my love, oh my love, my love
And I would cause the winds to blow a hundred different days
And bring the perfumes of the gardens of the ways
Of your love, oh my love, oh my love, my love

Crystal and the clay, nights and the days
All on the prince’s seal
Eagle of the sky, lion of the earth
This is what the seal is worth, what the seal is worth
Holds all of the dreams of a man
Tapestries, wishes of man, pictures and visions of man
The spirit of the soul of the man
And he would vow to love her for the rest of all his days

I'm in a movie

I feel like I'm in a movie. So many crazy-beautiful things happen in this movie, and it's a rollicking hit!

The funnest part:
I'm in the healing rooms 'waiting room' where there's about 100 people waiting for their number to be called for a prayer team to pray for their healings. All the other healing room waiting rooms I've even been to have peaceful 'soaking' music and people sit or lay on the floor to feel the presence of God. Well, this place was like a frat party!! There was a band and people dancing jumping up and down praising Jesus, clapping and the "MC" was encouraging us with affirmation from God about healing. He'd ask if anyone in the room had rumatory arthritis, or other random things and sure enough someone would stand up and be healed. The best part was when we had a sing-a-long where they changed the words to "Louie Louie" to "Today is the day, oh-oh that ______has gotta go" (my pain, my heart disease, etc.) So people would come up to the mic and sing it and everyone would scream "Yes, Lord Jesus!" or "Yeay!" and dance arround. About 30 people where healed by the time my number came up.
The funniest part:
While all this is going on theres this old man with a walker traveling about the room honking a small horn. Everyone he sees bursts out laughing, because they realize he's not doing it to make them get out of the way, he's doing it because its a really funny sound. And, when they realize that he's not wobbling and swaying and having a hard time walking straight becuase he has somekind of disease, he's flat out drunk in the spirit!!! He proceeds to laugh and honk and lay hands on random people, who in turn start to feel all giddy and drunk-like. When he went up to the mic ( and he could barily contain himself) he actually expressed some deep and wonderful things about God, though he kinda slurred his words, and it proved he really wasn't some crazy man, he made alot of sense- he was just having fun with God!

The spooky/love part:
The ladies who prayed for me were like Christian psycics. I can't tell you what they said about me because it's personal, but one thing they said is there is a family curse that we women don't love ourselves and don't think we're beautiful. We spoke out against that and said no more to the pattern. Next thing I know I'm driving back home and I randomly turn the radio ot the XM Frank Sinatra station. This song by Stephen Sondheim is playing: "No More"
All the lyrics really spoke to me, but this one imparticular:

No more riddles.
No more jests.
No more curses you can't undo,
Left by fathers you never knew.
No more.

Then, get this, I'm in the grocery store, and I finally give into the desire to buy fresh fish. There's this older gentleman getting sole, and he turns so me and says, "Hey, you're not bad lookin'!" I said, after I laughed, "Thank you, Jesus was trying to tell me that same thing today!" He said he tells that to his wife all the time. Get out.

So, I'm in a great movie, and it's so exiting I don't even want to get up to go to the bathroom so I dont miss anything.
Ha!

Day Three

This is the most important time of my life.

I know my last blog was super long, so I'll try to include the highlights.

We start the day in worship. There's nothing like it. 300 worshipers freely expressing through song, dance, flags, waving arms, jumping- there's such freedom here!

Then we have a speaker. Today it was Jeremy Riddle, who wrote the song "Sweetly Broken"; he spoke about writing worship songs. His main message was that the songs should bring the least musical, most struggling person into His presence. In otherwords simple, but not over-used words, and not theologically incorrect. He said the goal of worship is, "Revealing the nature of God in song and giving a united voice by which the community of saints express their hearts back to God in responce of this revelation. He and others talk about the vertical and horizontal aspects of worship (something the Lord taught me about a year ago, but he totally confirmed it)

Yesterday a man named Andrew who was instumental in the Jesus Movement in Aneheim Vineard and other minsties I can't rememer, talked about the goal being entering into His presence. This was Bill Johnson's point when he spoke the first day. Andrew told these crazy stories about visions and angels and miricles, all to illustrate that once the glory of His presence is sought, everything else falls into place, comes, arrives, happends.

I decided after over four confirmations that I should take Monday Weds dance, Fri songwriting, and Tues keybords. The dance thing was surprizing. I was inspired by a speaker who said we must seek His presence, and become who we are in Him. I felt like, wow, I don't really feel comfortable in my own skin. Before I came when I was talking to the Lord about what I would be learning, He said, "To love yourself" (amoung other things)

Dance was just the right choice. Summer, our teacher, is bold, pushes us out of our comfort zone, sensative to His voice, wise, fun, and very sure of herself. She knows she is beautiful, and His. She inspires us to allow that inner self, that gift of God in us, to be birthed and shine for His glory, and for the world to see.

Other amazing things have happened, too many to name, but really I am hearing from the Lord in a more realtional way, and experiencing freedom little by little. There's still a long way to go.Yesterday I felt funky, very frustrated, and couldn't rest. Then the girl accross the street came over and prophetically sang over me with guitar. God spoke through her is such a freeing way. And, alot of things God has showed me about worhsip and Himself are being confirmed here. It's like we speak the same language. Most people see visions, and hear words from God on a regular basis, are bold about their faith and testmonies, pray and lay hands on eachother all the time, prophesy over whoever God tells them to, etc. But its not weird, not like people bein out of line, it's very symphonic and not out of tune.

Thanks for all your prayers. My next hope is to really come into His presnece in worship and the times I spend alone with Him. I know whatever I do in ministry or artistry in the future will come out of this foundational, transforming, forming time.

Blessings

I got here at 11:11 Mon. night, no joke. I was anticipating arriving at 7ish, but a few things altered the plans:-) And it rained on the way. (Deut. 11:11)

So, I'm driving to SF to meet my friend Winton who I haven't seen in a year since I was at Biola University. I'm on the 101 near South San Francisco when I see this cop car behind me. Now, I've already passed two cops on the way, nervously, because I'm always nervous around them. Well, I'm talking to myself thinking, oh, look, so glad there're out on the road protecting my wellfare, keepin the streets safe. My fear is that I'll be the only one of 50 cars going 70 that he'll decide to pull over to keep his numbers up. I merge into the slow lane, so does he. Then, I see the lights.

Long story short, he tells me I don't have reg. tags. Well, I know I do and was very puzzled til finally he has me go out and look with him and now he's the one who's puzzled. There's this tiny corner of yellow tape where my old sticker was still left on. It had fallen off.

He still gave me a ticket that would be revoked when I get a new sticker, but said he wouldn't tow my car. If it weren't for that little strip of plastic, I'd be watching my brand new car behind bars, weeping.

So, that threw me off schedule, and once I met up with Winton it was like we'd never been apart and all we wanted to do was hang out longer. We did. He's a fabulous composer and I had to hear his new stuff. I left around 7.

I got lost, my card didn't work at on of the gas stations, and there was a swarm of plegue-like bugs on the I-5, but I made it safely to Redding, only to find the best wa yet to come.

My roomates are hand-picked. Christianne is bubbly, generous, and the Martha Stewart of the two. She made us ( myself and the other newbie Christie) a gift basket and welcome card. There was a little flower on my beautifully decorated room, and in the morning she made us quicke...from scratch! Amber is the introverted one, very honest and forthright, understated and discerning. Christy is from Norway, and such a sweet, graceful girl. We all get along swimmingly.

So, as I was having time with the Lord yesterday morning, thinking about all this, I realized all aong the way he has been drawing out my fears to make me gold. The cop car, the worry about gas money, the worries about transfering enough into my account, my work being able to send my check here at the end of the month, my curves membership being put on hold, finding a place, the sap stuck on my new car, finding Winton's place in SF, etc. ect. IT ALL WORKED OUT. I had even mis-calculated balancing out my check boook before I left, so when I checked again things were ever so better financialy.

The Lord brought me to two verses that He actually led me to on Sunday. Isaiah 55 has been my prophetic verse for this year ( the 55 on my e-mail is from that), and Pastor Jason read it last Sunday during worship. Before he read it, I was sensing Isaiah 54. They are both about Zion being restored from her former devastation to her future glory. As I re-read them, I was struck by the references to fear. "Do not be afraid, you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace, you will not be humiliated...in righteousness you will be eastablished...no weaon formed against you will prosper"
I hadn't realized it til then, but shame was the underlieing fear: that I would get to Bethel only to find that I didn't really have enought money, or that the place I'd had to stay in a crappy place, or my check wouldn't come and I'd be without funds for the month of July, etc.etc. all leading up to the biggest fear: the God is not behind me...that I am shamefully on my own, doing my own thing without his blessing.
Well, it couldn't be farther from the truth! I've never had so much blessing, and really all the fearful things that keep coming up are drawing out of me all thses unnecessary, ungodly fears. His provision, His faithfulness are actualized more and more. And Amber, as we were sharing stories, said she felt like God had lead me through a very difficult time and had restored me to where there were no scars, only his glory. She didn't know me from Adam, and she percieved this.
There's more about the verses, esp. 54. It talks about God beautifying the temple with turquoise and sparkling jewels. That Suanday I happened to have painted my finger nails glittery, and was wearing turouise rings. Then yesteday before I sat with the Lord I accedently spilled glitter from my makeup bag that I thought was lip gloss all over myself. I was sparkling when I read the passage. God is so funny.

One last thing; this is a good one. So, I'm trying not to be grumpy as I'm spraying my car with sap spray, trying to scrub the caked on bus and sap off my pretty Shadow. I'm asking the Lord, as it's not coming off, "Why? Why give me a spit-shined car, and then allow me to do something as stupid as park under a sappy tree and ruin it forever? Why?"
Then this scruffy guy and girl all in black with a media hat ask me for directions to Bethel. We get to talking and it turns out they hitched a ride from a church friend from Bakersfield because they felt called to Bethel. She worked for the media dept. at International House of Prayer in Kansas City, and is hoping for a job here with the church. I said I'd love to give them a ride. They said they'd love to help me get sap and bugs off me car.
These are hysterically funny people. We ended up haing them over for pizza, and had a blast sharin stories and laughing.

This was a very long blog, but God really has done so much, I can't imagine leaving anything out!

Blessings to you, and thank you for all your prayers. Please pray for my first day of school today, that I'll remain centered and choose the right classes. There's also a huge phone bill I'm trying to figure out. I keep seeing Brandon's face smiling " It's really not a big deal"

Before I went to sleep I had the lyrics, "Here in your presence God, I find my rest" by Matt Gilman stuck in my head. Sweet. It's from the album Holy, my new fav. Check it out!
http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.singleplaylist&friendid=393290406.

I woke up before my alarm, totally awake and ready to go! Bethel, here I come! Thanks for your traveling prayers :-)

So, I was just about ready to write a gigantic plea for prayer help, because I wasn't feeling any peace about the housing situations. It was 9:00pm tonight and I didn't have anything. The only offer that was in my price range was living in an apt. with a family with two kids and a chiwawa. I hate little dogs, and I didn't really want to hang around teenagers.
So I phoned more people...nothing. I was feeling like the Lord said, don't stress, hang out with your roomates for the little time you have left. So, I was talking with them about the situation, and they encouraged me to stay open to whatever God had in mind. I had been thinking the ideal situation would be a room to myself in a house with a low-key family so I could have quiet time and rest. Mel offered the suggestion that maybe God wanted me to process and fellowship with girls. That made me think of an offer I turned down of two Bethel students looking for two roomates in an apt. very close to church. When I heard of it I thought, that sounds fun, but then the fear came that maybe it would be hard for me to sleep, a def. concern when you have a sleep disorder.
Well, I decided to go with the option and called the girls. Well, it turns out they changed the price but for some reason the church didn't change it in the posting. The price was perfect. She had just had someone cancel, so it was still open. I felt the Lord say, yes! Another girl from Iceland will be there also, doing the worship school. This is the only one I felt peace about, and I'm really exited to get to know these girls.
Thank you all for your prayers. Oh, and there's something special about the 11:11 blessing I just learned about- my last post on this blog happened to be ( and I wasn't trying) just at that time. And the next morning I sent an e-mail to Pastor Jason about this blog to send out to the church and it was also sent at 11:11. I often look at the clock at 11:11, and for a while it freaked me out. I thought maybe it was a curse, because it kinda looks like smake eyes, and when I was in the hospital the clock on the wall was stuck on 11:11.
Jason says it's not a coincidence but a blessing from Duet. 11:11 about crossing over the Jordan to take possession of the land of blessing: "a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven." Well, Redding happens to have mountains and valleys and it certainly is full of heavenly rain! I'm expecting this refreshing blessing to be that living water the Samaratin woman asked Jesus for, that she may never have to come to a well that never satisfies.
Blessings to you, and may you also find His spring, wherever you find yourself.
Bless you all!

Greetings and Blessings!

This is the pre-writing for my journey to and within Bethel School of Worship June 17- July 10. I'm exited to have my first blog, and hoping you will enjoy hearing what the Lord is doing in my life!

I was reading today an amazing verse I thought very encouraging and applicable to keep in mind to start. In 2 Kings 3:11-16 the prophet Elisha is approached by three kings who claim to have the hand of God on their lives. They want to know if they should go to battle against the evil king of Israel, Jehoram. Elisha is resistant at first, and then agrees upon a condition. He says: " Bring me a musician!"
" Then it happened, when the musician played that the hand of the Lord came upon him..and he said, 'This saith the Lord...'"

What a great encouragement to keep studying music. Not only is worship an expression of love and beauty to the Lord, but it brings the Spirit of God in power for prophesy, a spritual gift Paul tells us to eagerly desire to edify the body of Christ. I have heard this concept preached before ( that the Spirit comes with music) and have often heard pastors request for music to be played before ministry time and prayer, but I've never seen it in the word. Now I have, and you have, so let's keep it up!
Have a good one :-)
Amanda