So I'm behind on my story-telling... The With One Voice event was awesome! Shout out to God! :D Now to focus less on an "event" and more on the point which is "UNITY"- It's beautiful to see how God is forming that in the body of Christ here at SB. I'd like to encourage my brothers n sisters in Christ to take every opportunity to come together in prayer and worship -we don't have to wait for one annual event. Like TONIGHT Real Life is hosting a WORSHIP NIGHT @ 7.30PM in IV THEATER and ALL ARE WELCOME! So come out if you're free and invite others!! =)
Yesterday I went to the "InterFaith Dialogue and Dinner" and it was a really cool event. Some of the girls in my table group were from a Jewish sorority and I learnt from them that there's a big Jewish population here at UCSB and though there's a ton of different Jewish clubs they are super-united. "We are family," she said. I was really touched. It's my dream for the body of Christ here to Be One because we are one. To be united in love as we praise and worship our God. So let's bring heaven down to earth and join the angels sing in adoration to the One who sits upon the throne =)
"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (Revelation 7: 9-11) =D
"And they (angels) were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." (Isaiah 6:3) =D
"Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be to Him that sits on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever." (Revelation 5:12-13) =D
"Day and night they never stop saying:“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:8b-11) =D
Hey everyone :) This is from my drafts from last summer. Got distracted from finishing it till now. Sorry! :/ ... For background info you can check out these posts: REAL Identity (God's "affirmative action" plan for Unity & Christ Supremacy. Dry bones [Jewish ancestry] among some whites, Latinos and people of African descent) and The Beast & The Big Boys (The upcoming New World Order & the identity of the Anti-Christ & his false prophet) and REVOLUTION (America's Real Identity. The devil's deception & Upcoming judgement) and lastly To Be Human Again (God's great plans for His people. His army.) As for this post, I'm looking at what God is doing right now and right here. Prophecies are coming alive!! So yeah it will be a summary of all those posts and it's relevant to you! But you can check out those posts for more info or we can just chat :-) K, here we go... I HAVE A DREAM! (If this is too much for you just read the last line for application)
So last year when I was taking Black Studies 1 I listened to MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech and it almost made me jump out of my seat because it was in line with what God was showing me at that time in Scripture in Ezekiel 37 and through my experiences in InterVarsity (which has served as a model for America's current condition: multi-ethnicity but no racial reconciliation. Racism [doesn't mean hate it's mostly cultural and institutionalized]. Disunity. Which was prophesied about in Daniel's vision of the 4th Kingdom in Daniel 7). Some people think that MLK's dream was fulfilled by having a black president. But that's a lie from hell! Haha not kidding though! It's an illusion of unity coined by the very master of illusions and deception. But yeah, the real deal is underway... can you see what's been going on at UCSB this past school year? Let me paint a picture... watch this video. There's a new song that's being released by various groups focused on freedom and equality and justice... and the loudest song I've heard all year came from the black community at UCSB... and more recently it became a song not just of freedom, equality and justice...but also unity. Why so loud? Why now? Becauseit's Time! =)
"Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to makejustice a reality for all God's children. It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment." -MLK. #it'sTIME.
Ok. Now let me tell you why this racial rec thing (unity) is so significant. What it actually is in the Bible (in prophecy)... There is no "race" in the Bible but there are nations and tribes... Read on...
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Racial Reconciliation / Covenant Renewal / Awakening & Restoration of the Tribes of Israel & Judah / One New Man = Jew + Gentile / REVIVAL!
"In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations
and gather the exiles of Israel;
he will assemble the scattered people of Judah
from the four quarters of the earth.
Ephraim’s jealousy will vanish,
and Judah’s enemies will be destroyed;
Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah,
nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim.
They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together they will plunder the people to the east.
They will subdue Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them." —Isaiah 11:11-14 (all of chapter 11)
So I was fasting last year coz I was tired of the opposition I was facing from authority (spiritual warfare) and during that time God was opening my eyes to learn things like never before. So He directed me to read that Scripture above and that was a huge clue that led me to write the REAL Identity post. God showed me the opposition I was facing was similar to what's going on in this country... Racism... I realized that all the staff were white and we were in disagreement because of cultural differences... disagreement on God's Word. God was giving me things to share with the felllowship but they would disagree on the application/not do it since it was coming from me so in that sense it was cultural and institutionalized racism (not working as a body like God's Word says we should) based on the systems of America and this world (meritocracy etc.) And I'm not just trying to sound educated or be an angry black woman (I'm not angry)... I'm just sharing the Truth plus God already said this to us through visions and dreams He gave the staff and other people in the fellowship (post: Colors of the Wind and Let My people go!) So anyway, God was showing me that some white people have the blood from the tribe of Ephraim (Joseph's son) and some people people of African descent have blood from the tribe of Judah in their ancestry. And I also learnt through my black history classes that it wasn't necesarrily hate that lead to racism but jealousy - like that Scripture says. And also like the Scripture says, racism (due to jealousy) also leads to hostility - and I'm not lying when I say some people from the black community harbor hatred/bitterness/unforgiveness towards the white community. So yeah, there's division. But do you see where this is going??? Not yet? K let me show you...
SING a NEW Song unto the Lord! =)
This video I posted in the REAL Identity post talks about The Prophetic Destiny of the Black Community likens their destiny to that to the story of Joseph in the Bible who was sold into slavery by his brothers (among them: Judah) due to jealousy but then God raised him to power and used him to save His people the Israelites as well as Egypt. But do you see what's going on?? History is repeating itself but in reverse in this time we're living in... “Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his." (Isaiah 49: 8-10)
So yeah, once again, the reason why God is bringing freedom and awakening of real identity among the black community and giving them a prophetic voice to advocated for justice and equality is for the same purpose as in the story of Joseph... for unity. Yes I've really zoomed in on the black and white community in this post but you can read more about other groups like the Latinos in the Real Identity post... coz some of them have African roots... and also watch the video of how some Spanish people have Jewish blood due to some Jews who were exiled in Spain. But yeah, I'm zooming in on the black and white communities coz the division between them is fiercest and unity will also result in unity on the whole -with other ethnic groups. K, back to prophecy... God is doing something New!
Racial Reconcilition / Reconciliation of the Nations
Ezekiel 37- One Nation Under One King
"15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, ‘Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, ‘Belonging to Joseph (that is, to Ephraim) and all the Israelites associated with him.’ 17 Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.
18 “When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you tell us what you mean by this?’ 19 say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim’s hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah’s stick. I will make them into a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.’ 20 Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on 21 and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
24 “‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. 25 They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. 27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever."
And whether or not they all have Jewish blood in them, that passage and those promises still apply because God is creating ONE NEW MAN! “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both [Jew and Gentile] ONE, and has broken down the middle wall of separation ... to create in Himself ONE NEW MAN ... in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:14-15,22).
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REVIVAL! REVOLUTION! HARVEST 2013! PREPARE THE WAY!
And then what will happen after this reconciliation of the nations through Christ. Well, after this miracle happens. This takes place: "They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together they will plunder the people to the east. They will subdue Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them." (Isaiah 11: 14) It's gonna be time to take the land! But the weapons we fight with against the systems of darkness are not weapons of this world. We will speak the word together, sing a new song together, and praise the Lord together through all the gifts and talents He has given us. And yeah we'll just take over in all the other avenues as well... other professions...we will bring His Kingdom down here through spreading truth, justice and love and we will prepare people for the coming of Jesus- His second coming. (You can read about His 1.5 coming in the "To be human again" post" - which I think is how we will be gathered and sent out into the nations). But yeah we are going into a NEW season. A whole NEW world and UNITED we stand and divided we fall. So right now it's time for UNITY! Time to POWER UP! Check out this videos I made:
_______________________________________________________________________ Update 5/30/13: The event happened and it was cool. But the point wasn't an event the point was unity. Yes it's still brewing up and yes the call for unity will still sound till it happens. So let's keep meeting together to wait on God together through singing and praying together and He shall fill us with His power, the Spirit of Unity.
BELIEVE ME, YOU DON'T WANNA MISS OUT ON THIS!! INVITE EVERYONE!! DON'T GO HOME, INVITE YOUR FAMILY!
COME BE A PART OF FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY/GOD'S PROMISES. SEE GOD'S GLORY. FEEL THE LOVE. PRAISE GOD!! :D
Hello Everyone! =)
So you know how I told you guys that I was done with school last quarter but then I ended up coming back in the middle of the quarter? Well the thing is... I had a feeling that I wasn't done even as the quarter was coming to an end but I was like maybe it will hit me when I'm moving out of SB. But when I moved out I was not sad at all. It felt like I was just going home for the weekend. Even in this video I made the day I moved out I said, "Goodbye SB, I have a feeling I'll be back." So why did I feel that way??? And why did I come back?? ....I have GREAT NEWS for YOU!
I have some exciting news for you!! So during the course of last year and the year before God has been giving different people in different ministries inside and outside of SB, visions and dreams about the coming of GREAT REVIVAL in Santa Barbara which will spread to the whole world! :o And that this revival is coming SOON!! Many of us were expecting it to come last year but it was not yet time. Why?... Something else needed to happen first... Unity in prayer and worship -> unity in the body of Christ: to be united in Love. So I was so excited to see the With One Voice event and also what God is doing in the different christian groups. God's up to something BIG!
But there's more to it... has to do with racial reconciliation... What God is doing is outside the box of religion... yeah it's all about relationship -relationship with God and others... it's all about IDENTITY... He has been doing a lot outside the four walls of "the church"... God is bringing renewal and restoration... I'll explain in my next post - "I have a Dream"
But yeah, do come whether or not you believe in God (The Creator), or in what I'm saying... God wants to show us something... we will SEE A MIRACLE! Praising God together is the spiritual weapon that will bring down the strongholds that cause division amongst people... Just come see it for yourself. We're gonna shake heaven!! :D
"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power." (1 Corinthians 2:5)
♫ GOD IS FIGHTING FOR US! PUSHING BACK THE DARKNESS! LIGHTING UP THE KINGDOM THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN!IN THE NAME OF JESUS! THE ENEMY IS DEFEATED! WE WILL SHOUT IT OUT: I WILL LIVE! I WILL NOT DIE. I WILL DECLARE AND LIFT YOU HIGH!CHRIST REVEALED AND I AM FREE IN JESUS NAME! ♫ =D
*JOHN 17*vs. 3 "Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.vs. 11HolyFather, keep them faithful to Your Name, the name You gave Me, so that they may BE ONE as We are ONE. vs.17 Sanctify them to live in accordance with the truth; Your wordis truth. vs.20-23 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may BE ONE, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that you have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave me, that they may BE ONE as We are ONE— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to COMPLETE UNITY. Then the world will know that you sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me." -Jesus =)
Hello everyone =) So this post and the video I made (at the end) has been in my drafts since last summer. I got distracted from sharing the messages God was giving me to share coz I was too focussed on trying to explain myself, trying to get people to understand me, trying to defend myself and that really wore me out from blogging. My apologies to you and to God. Plus God's been working on me as well (post: Hair Revival). And I thank God for His patience and mercy and faithfulness to me. Without further ado (I talk too much about myself lol), let's get to the message of this post. [I give a lot of background so if you've been following my blog you can start at "Voltron: One New Man" and be sure to read Be ONE for the application :]
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UNITY AND DIVERSITY
"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Fatherof our Lord Jesus Christ.Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praiseto God."(Romans 15:5-7) (post: Spirit of Unity)
So from the verses above it is God who unites us. Once we believe in Jesus we are adopted as royal sons and daughters in God's family (it is Jesus who reconciles us back to The Father by taking our sins upon Himself when He died on the cross). So we are connected, brothers and sisters, through His Name, His Word, His Spirit, Jesus' Blood. So there's no denying that we are connected. ♫ We are one. ♫
But just because we are connected doesn't mean that we are the same. Unity does equal uniformity. We have ethnic and cultural differences, gender and individual differences... as well as different spiritual gifts. There is diversity in the body of Christ.
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spiritdistributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work ofone and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Corinthians 12: 4-11)
So everything is cool so far. We are connected. And we are diverse. That's awesome coz God loves diversity -that's why He created us the way we are. But the point of the diversity is meant to be unity ( we are all incomplete without the different parts of the body. We need each other.) But then the problem comes in when our differences become the cause of division. That happens coz we don't apply this verse: "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." So the person(s) who are different from the majority of the group are either rejected or not even cared for to begin with so when they slip away no one cares to bring them back since their absence makes no difference. ♫ You are not one of us! You have never been one of us! ♫
This division in the church is usually not noticed or viewed as a problem because most people have the mentality that, "Well if you don't fit into this church then look for another one. Problem solved." If you still don't see anything wrong with that reasoning please check out the illustration I gave in What is the Church? post in "The Family of God" section. The problem becomes really clear from the perspective of the Church as a family, God's family. It's like saying, "We don't love you (wait we don't even see you coz you're different) and we don't want to learn how to love you either so go find some other people who will." That's really cold :(
Ok let me get personal coz that might be the only way to get practical... So I've noticed that the people who end up being unseen or rejected are some people from minority groups and also those with prophetic gifting. I learnt that from my own experience (I already shared my stories in previous posts so I don't want to repeat myself much. This is just a general overview for everyone)... I learnt that God gives a prophetic voice to the unseen and oppressed so that they could speak up exposing the division/disunity that most people may be unaware of and teach what changes could be made for real love to abound; and if nothing changes, to call out any systems in place that prevent true unity. But from my experience doing that made me misunderstood and I did feel like Kovu, rejected, but I later realized that it wasn't actually rejection; it was the fact that nothing changed, that distance between us had always existed. That hurt. But God kept reminding me: ♫ Look at your life through heaven's eyes. ♫In my hurt and loneliness God's love shone through. He healed my heart and gave me words to share with the rest of His body. I stayed away at first because I thought no one wanted to be around me -that's when I discovered that it wasn't that but the fact that we weren't close to begin with... and everyone was complacent with that... everyone except me. So what kept me from pursuing the closeness I was longing for? I felt like I wasn't needed there. Everyone had their friends. I hadn't really shown how much I cared for most of our time together so I was discouraged since it seemed too late to start. But yeah, it was a lie that I wasn't needed because we all need each other.
"As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with specialhonor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." (1 Corinthians 12: 20-26)
Oh yeah, so before I spoke up about anything God gave staff and other people vision and dreams about the division in the fellowship last year and the year before. Then last year He gave me the interpretation of those vision and dreams and told me to share them. I didn't want to because it was harsh truth and I knew it would lead me to being misunderstood but God told me to obey Him and yes it would lead me to being misunderstood and rejected but there would be unity in the end. So yeah, I understand why I was unofficially "exiled" and God used that time to work on me (post: Journey) and to re-direct me to different communities (post: Hair Revival) which has been part of my healing and restoration process. So though it was tough I am grateful for all I have been through. God has a way of turning things around for our good and His glory! So no hard feelings InterVarsity! I love y'all :-)
So yeah, I'm back at SB now because God gave me yet another chance to share the love He gives me here and to share my gifts (the gifts that The Holy Spirit wants to share with the body through me). I have wandered a lot, but in my wanderings God has taught me a lot. He gave me the aerial view of what's going on (and about to happen). I have some GREAT NEWS FOR Y'ALL!!! God is doing something NEW! He is up to something BIG! He is creating VOLTRON. (Listen to the song below)
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both [Jew and Gentile] ONE, and has broken down the middle wall of separation ... to create in Himself ONE NEW MAN ... in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:14-15,22). In the post, REAL Identity showed me why this whole racial rec/ unity thing that's brewing up is so big... because there is Hebrew blood amongst us and God is creating "One New Man" which will bring about an explosion of His glory! And miracles, signs and wonders! =) Check out Sid Roth's post about One New Man. God does this through us using the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Here's an excerpt from the BOOT CAMP! post:
♫ Somehow I'll make a man out of you ♫
"So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built upuntil we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect themature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4: 11-16)
Last year Thaddeus had a Christian rap listening party and this is one of the songs we listened to. I thought it was really cool especially because God had just shown me what He was doing in me (and in us as individuals) through the example of me being a car in the show "Pimp My Ride" (<-you can read more in that post). So through this song God is showing us what He is doing in the whole body -- combining it-- bringing UNITY simply because He loves us and wants us to love each other deeply as well ("Ohana means family. No one gets left behind or forgotten"). Also because "United we stand, divided we fall" - There is POWER in Unity. "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:12) And why do we need this extra power for? Well the enemy stepped up his game! The struggle is real! (post: The Beast and The Big Boys) but "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him." (Isaiah 59:19) (post: REVOLUTION) What's the standard being raised? WE ARE. The soon to be RACIALLY RECONCILLED, UNITED, ONE body of Christ. God is preparing us and shall raise us up as His army against the forces of this dark world!!! Are you EXCITED???!!! "But how will this be?... kinda sounds like we need a miracle." Yes we do. Read the next section for application.
So God wants there to be diversity and unity not just for it's beauty but for the sake of His Name and His Word. God is the same Holy, Righteous and Just God of the Bible. Yes He isLove, Faithful, Gracious and Merciful. But He is still Holy, Righteous and Just. And all these attributes stem from His Love because God is Love (post: God is) Some people may think that those attributes only refer to the past but God is unchanging... It's the times that are changing though. The Bible, the Word of God, says that because of the increase of evil (corruption and injustice. Lack of love.) in the last days, The God of Justice will act. Yes we are in the last days read 2 Timothy 3:1-9. Isn't that a clear description of the times we are living in?? We are in the last days (drawing into the end of the age and the dawn of a new era. Note: the end of the age is not the end of the world. Revelation from The Spirit: Kingdom Come Down! post)
So anyway, ♫ when it's all been said, when it's all been done. When the race is run. Well, It all comes down to love. Did you learn to love? That's what you'll ask of me.♫ That's the command Jesus gave us: To Love God with all that we are and to Love others deeply like Jesus did (to lay down our lives for others). Wanna hear some GREAT NEWS?? Well yeah it's the end of the age and the earth is about to groan like never before because... JESUS IS COMING REALLY SOON!! =) The Heavenly bridegroom is about to rapture His bride (that's why He wants us to get our act together {Love} coz that's what it's all about). [Note: there is a difference between rapture and the 2nd coming. And the rapture is not exactly what most people think it is. There's more to it. Revelation from The Spirit: To Be Human Again] So there's an urgency not just to receive God's love for ourselves but also to spread it. Coz that's what life's all about (Love). Read Romans 13: 8-14. All we need is Love =) P.S:You don't have to agree with or believe the things I've shared. I wouldn't have believed it either if God hadn't revealed it to me Himself by His Spirit. So yeah, test everything you hear through waiting on God. But believe it or not, the point is preparation so you can just focus on the application :)
Back to the Question: HOW WILL THIS BE?? HOW WILL WE BE ONE (Voltron)?
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” [since it's impossible to birth this voltron baby] The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." (Luke 1: 34-35)
"For thus said the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, said the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, said the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, said the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, said the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2: 6-9)
"And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24: 49)
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”- Jesus to His disciples before ascending into heaven. (Acts 1:8)
Once again HOW WILL THIS BE??
"On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about." (Acts 1:4-5) What does it mean to wait on God? No it's not just sitting around it involves coming together to worship and pray together. (That's what the apostles did in Acts 1. Check out vs. 14. Post: A Time to SEEK)
1. "Be ONE as We are ONE" -Jesus. God is 3 persons in One: Father, Spirit, Son. So how are we to be One like God is One? I'm not trying to tackle explaining the trinity but from what we see in the Word... The different persons of God may play different roles in accomplishing one goal. For example in the creation of the world in Genesis 1 -The Spirit was moving upon the waters (giving it the "unusual properties" it has ;), The Father was speaking stuff into existence, Jesus was the Word being sent out to create stuff and in making man God said, "Let Us make man in our image, in our likeness." So yeah, God works communally to accomplish His will.
So how can we apply that? Like I mentioned in the previous post we can be united in outreach. That doesn't mean we all have to organize one joint outreach event -yes that would be a cool application as well- but let's say Real Life is organizing an International Justice Week this week and they are doing a film screening about human traficking tonight at 7pm and a 5K Justice Run on Saturday, and say you're in InterVarsity or any other fellowship, and then you're like, "I didn't put on this event but it's such a great opportunity for the The Gospel to go forth in the campus. So I'll invite all my non-christian friends and also my christian friends and my church to support this. Yay! Let the Name of Jesus be lifted High! By all means!" ;D For more info on events this week: https://www.facebook.com/ucsbsinternationaljusticeweek. THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL. VOLTRON NEEDS TO BE BORN TO BRING IN THE GREAT HARVEST :D
We can also be united in prayer. By going to each other's prayer meetings (put on by different groups). And also by just praying together whenever about whatever :)
Friends,... family, it's about time for us to grow up in love. To stop fighting (or being apathetic) and to love each other deeply. The day of the Lord is at hand and there's a world in darkness out there so let's be light. Let us love each other! We need each other to grasp how high, long, deep and wide the love of Christ is. Fullness of Love will bring the Fullness of God so let's fix our eyes on JESUS (post: Rooted in Love and The Fullness =)
2. Come to VOLTRON'S BIRTHDAY PARTY / FAMILY REUNION aka WITH ONE VOICE WORSHIP AND PRAYER NIGHT on Saturday May 25th, 2013 7pm at Storke Plaza, UCSB. -
There shall be GLORY and dessert! =)
It's so awesome how God gave Troy this vision to see unity in the body through worship at the beginning of the year and in all the fellowships I've been going to the theme of unity and love has been recurring. I am really hopeful for this event. I am certain that God will fulfill His promises to us. He will rain down more of His Spirit of Power, Love and self-control. We need His Power and Love to be able to love each other and others like He wants us to. So let's all COME TOGETHER and WORSHIP THE KING. EVERYONE is invited. Whether or not you believe. Come with your burdens and doubts. Just COME as you are. God will display His glory :-) Yeah it's a 3 day weekend but don't go home. Invite your family! =) https://www.facebook.com/events/154232828083168/?fref=ts
I learnt most of what I've shared through my experiences being in InterVarsity. InterVarsity, we've been through a lot. Let's forget the past and move forward together. Yes most of you are graduating but God wants us to send us out in love and power so it's not too late for unity and love... Let's reunite! I love you and miss you all. He makes beautiful things out the dust. He makes beautiful things out of us! And yeah let's just love each other and do life together. Let's carry each other's burdens. We were not alone. We are ONE =)
♫ There's just one chief end to man's purpose and one main reason for existence. All man's vain and high ambitions will one day be brought low. For You alone will be exalted in that day. Worthless goals will be exposed as idols we have made. You'll be seen as rightful King and from our hearts we'll sing: All is for Your glory! All this for Your Name! That in all things You may have pre-eminence. That in all things You may have the first place♫
"During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the Name of God for ever and ever; Wisdom and Power are His. He changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise You, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king. ” (Daniel 2: 20-23)
-All the glory goes to God for using me to pass this message. (Yeah should have passed it on earlier -I pulled a Jonah/Elijah. Sorry!) Feel free to share any questions or comment you may have. Most of my posts are for a Christian audience so if you don't get what I shared and are confused about stuff -I'd love to meet up with you and talk. But yeah, I believe God is bringing racial reconciliation/unity (Real Love = Deep Love) through His Spirit in His Church... soon! So let there be love all around the world! Let's just Praise Jesus! He is worthy and so able! =) Here's my Quick Testimony! if you're interested. Peace and love, Charlene =)
This is an email I sent out to the different Christian groups at UCSB on Sun, Jan 13, 2013 at 1.49am. And it's funny that when I went to IV Church later that day at 4pm I got blasted by a ton of confirmation from the team from YWAM that came to speak (post: The Harvest). No one responded to the email. But God told me that it wasn't time yet... but then God brought me back to SB this Spring because .... it's Time! =) Be sure to read the application section =) [If you've just tuned into my blog and have no clue what I'm talking about in this post it may help to start here: BEHOLD! and Pre-Fall's Leader's Retreat Awakening]
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Subject: United Outreach Proposals
Hello UCSB brothers and sisters in Christ!
a) Intro: Revival at SB. A Call for Unity
My name is Charlene Macharia and I'm a 5th year student at UCSB. So I have some exciting news to share with you!!! I know I'm just a nobody but God has given me a message for us (the body of Christ at UCSB)... As you may have noticed God has been moving in UCSB, all the ministries have been sowing for a long time and the harvest is coming soon! There have been many prophesies about revival coming to SB :In the 70's Katherine Kuhlman prophesied that one day a great revival would come out of Santa Barbara and would spread to the whole world.Cool huh? And it gets even more exciting!! Last year God gave different people from different ministries (ex. InterVarsity, IV Church, Goleta Community Covenant Church-GCC, guest speakers from outside the area) visions and dreams about the nearness of this great revival. The different visions had similar themes: lots of spiritual warfare going down within the body and in the school (the devil's attacks to bring division & discouragement in the body in a bid to prevent revival), then unity in the body (visions of people from different fellowships holding hands) and after that revival breaking out in the school- huge numbers of people coming to Christ! So God has revealed to me thatthis is the year for the great revival!It's the year of the Lord's favor! He is going to pour out His Spirit! The harvest is coming! It's so exciting!! :D
b) United Outreach Proposals: Christafari Concert and Nefarious Documentary
So that brings me to the main objective of this email. God wants us to be united, first in our hearts (to fix our eyes on Jesus and His Kingdom and to love each other deeply) and also in outreach."The Harvest is plentiful but the workers are few" so if we work together we can reach more people. I've loved the joint outreaches we've done in the past. I have 2 proposals for outreach events we can do together this quarter.
1. Christafari Concert- Christafari is a Christian reggae band and they performed twice at GCC Church in the past.I've attached a picture of them. I contacted Mark Mohr the leader of the group and he said that he would love to come and he is available for this winter. All that he needs is $2000 which would cover the costs of his expenses like gas, food, and paying the band. I really feel like his testimony and the style and message of their music will touch the hearts of many students here. Here's a sample of their music: "Yeshua" http://youtu.be/KOiGBpjnyyw
2. Nefarious- Is an award winning documentary on sex trafficking. It's really well done and super-powerful since it contains the gospel and stories of former prostitutes and pimps whose lives were radically changed by the Love of Jesus. This film could really rock the campus since it contains a message of hope and grace: healing of sexual brokenness and identity restoration. Here's the trailer: http://nefariousdocumentary.com/. Nefarious would be a good one to show during Human Rights week.
So what am I asking of us? I think it would be great if we do those events together. Maybe we could get one representative from each fellowship and form an outreach team and meet up to discuss the logistics like: location and date. We can request funding from various sources on campus - I have some experience with that. So I highlighted the Christafari Concert because it would be best to start planning soon, like this week so that I can get back to them. The planning shouldn't be too much work, most of the effort will go towards publicity. Ok thank you for taking the time to read through this. Please get back to me with your thoughts.
We are a Joshua Generation. It's time to take the land! Love conquers all! Glory to God! Blessings!
"that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." - Jesus (John 17: 21-23)
(End of email ) ____________________________________________________________________________________________
IT'S TIME
♫...To be Peaceful. Moshanyana weso bo' itumele [My brother, be happy] And to be Hopeful. Ngwana weso bo' ithabise [My sister, celebrate] It's sweet and graceful... And there is no need for crying. NO need for fighting... Ithabise [Celebrate]...Tsatsi lahao [Your day] Lefihlile [Has come]... It's Time ♫ :-)
Outreach: There's tabling from 10-2pm at the Arbor and the SRB so if you are free anytime then stop by! "The heart of this week is to engage the campus with the gospel and God's heart for justice. You don't have to know a ton about International Justice Mission to table; there will be plenty of information at the table to educate yourself on current global issues regarding slavery. You can either hang at the table or grab a partner and share on campus during these times!" -Nadya :)
Film Screening of "At the End of Slavery"- A documentary on sex trafficking and someone from IJM will speak. Thursday May 16th, 7.30pm. Come with friends :)
Run for Justice 5K- Saturday May 18th. Registration/check in: 7am. Run starts at 8.15am. Get friends to run/walk with you. All proceeds go to IJM
2. WITH ONE VOICE PRAYER AND WORSHIP NIGHT - I'll have more to say about this later but plan on attending. It's gonna be AWESOME! I'm SO EXCITED!! Want a sneak peak? Read Acts 1 & 2 :D https://www.facebook.com/events/154232828083168/?fref=ts
* If you want to talk about the problems and injustices in this world of ours or get to hear different perspectives on issues, that's really cool. I'd suggest attending the events being put on by different groups like BSU, Human Rights Board... and this week is Middle Eastern Awareness week so check out their events if you want. It's an awesome chance to educate yourself amongst your peers and to debunk myths and stereotypes. But also as The Church it's Time to STEP UP and focus on The Solution... to be continued :-)
"When you have no vision from God, no enthusiasm left in your life, and
no one watching and encouraging you, it requires the grace of Almighty
God to take the next step in your devotion to Him, in the reading and
studying of His Word, in your family life, or in your duty to Him... We
lose interest and give up when we have no vision, no encouragement, and
no improvement, but only experience our everyday life with its trivial
tasks. The thing that really testifies for God and for the people of God
in the long run is steady perserverance, even when the work cannot be
seen by others. And the only way to live an undefeated life is to live
looking to God. Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the
risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to discourage
you."- Oswald Chambers ("My Utmost for His Highest")
"If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at God you'll be at rest."-Corrie Ten Boom.
I came back this quarter with no drive... God has been working a lot in my life this past year bringing healing and restoration. My part was to walk in the freedom He was giving me... to walk in Love. This year was meant to be all about application. But I let my insecurities set me back again. But God in His faithfulness kept giving me "second-chances" (more like 1000+ lol) and re-assuring me of His unfailing Love for me... So yeah He enabled me to come back to school this quarter, He gave me another chance. I was grateful but I was lacking the drive that I had last quarter. But yeah last week He was reminding me that He is my strength, I don't need to strive. I just need to rest in Him.
He was reminding me to look to Him through worship and thanksgiving and reading His word. "For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light." (Psalm 36: 9) To be spiritually mature is not to be independent but to be fully dependent on God - knowing that we are weak but He is strong and He is our Loving Father who cares for us soo much and has our best interest in mind. It's also recognizing our need for community - to share His love and to carry each other's burdens. Yeah I'm still working on vulnerability. But I know that I just need to fix my eyes on God and He will fill me with His love and strength. So thank You Lord for being so faithful to me! Open my eyes so that I can bask in the goodness of Your unfailing love for me :)
"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." 2 Thessalonians 3:5
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17)
"Then let us fill all of our pauses
with praise! Let us give all that lies within us not to the voices of
the enemy, but to pure praise, to pure loving adoraction, and to worship
from a grateful heart- a heart that is trained to look up." -Amy
Carmichael.
I felt God giving me encouragement as I was making this video. He was encouraging me to keep my eyes on Him for it is in Him that I will find His peace and Love, everything I need... The hope and courage to keep moving forward. Greater things are yet to come! And in the meantime (and always) I can find rest in His unfailing love for me :-)
