"Just Living The Dream..."

This is the response I give when people ask me, "How's it going?"

And it is the honest to God truth.  I really am living the dream.  But not the one I had for myself, rather, the one God has placed in my heart.  From where I've grown up, the culture I was surrounded with, I understand why many of my friends would not be able to truly grasp why I do what I do, raising support opposed to finding a job that "pays well".

But that's just it.  It's not about the money.  I'm spending my life doing what I love, sharing the love of Christ.  My desire is not to live a luxurious life of wealth, fame, and stuff.  I desire a life full of...life!  That includes: love, laughter, joy, peace, fulfillment, purpose.  God knew from the beginning that's what I was created for and the natural reaction to having this revealed to me is to share it with others, to share HIM with others.

The Holy Spirit is moving here in Newcastle.  Hearts are burning to know Him in a real, intimate way. And He's responding.  He has come, revealed His presence.  Bible studies have sprouted throughout the area with young and old alike.  They are experiencing Him and His love, laughter, joy, peace, fulfillment, and purpose.

I praise this God, the one who frees us from our bondage to what the world says will make us happy and reveals that which gives us more than we could have ever imagined.  Other religions, other faiths, all talk about working our way to become a god, but our God, in His infinite power and wisdom, left His throne to come down to His creation and redeem them.  Christ, on the cross, redeemed us.

By His wounds we are healed.  We are freed.  So that we may "have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10b).  That cannot be found outside of Christ, but when it is found, it cannot be detained...it must be shared.

I do not live a luxurious life by the world's standards, but I have life and have it to the full...it is not something someone can break in and steal, for it is not of this world.  I do not live in this world or for this world, I live in its midst, but for Someone so much greater and a life no mind can fathom for it is a life eternal, with the God who imagined me, created me, and redeemed me to Himself, forever.

"Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake," Henry David Thoreau.

"All men dream: but not equally.  Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it is vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible," T.E. Lawrence.

This is living the dream.

Curtains of the Heart

Much can be said, yet words tend to escape me in what has been going on in the ministry since I have returned.  I am truly blessed and privileged to be a part of the ministry here in Newcastle.

The first night I was back, I attended a program called Fused, which is equivalent to high school youth group in the States.  This, however, is unique in the sense that all the young ppl from all the churches come together.  During small group discussion one of the girls who began coming to Fused after attending the high school aged drop-in on a Thursday night began talking about how she is looking at colleges.  What struck me was her next sentence when she said, "I never would've thought college would be an option for me, but because of spending time with you guys, I realize it is an option."

These young women are beginning to dream again!!!  **An answered prayer of my heart**

One thing you find when returning "home" is how loved you are and how missed you truly were.  Tuesday nigh drop-in girls (jr. high age) painted me a banner to show me how much.  Then, Thursday night at drop-in (high school age), one of the young men and I were catching up on what I'd done while in the States and how he'd been doing in school.  He then, out of the blue, asked, "How is your sister?" He not only remembered me mentioning my sister and her being in a wheelchair and working on driving and such, but he was compelled to ask about her.  I see God in him so much!

Wednesday nights we have been doing a Smoking Cessation program where the young people create, participate in, and develop anti-smoking adverts.  It is a constant reminder of how creative God is and his enthusiasm that shows through the young people.

**Curtains of the Heart**

Because I tend to walk to and from work most days, I tend to, as you can imagine, pass several houses. Something I have noticed is that when it's dark and cold outside, people's curtains are shut, to retain the warmth that is already present in the room.  On the other hand, when the sun is shining, people throw open their curtains to let the light in and warm up the rooms the windows connect to.  This has really been a beautiful picture of our hearts.  When we are feeling like the world around us is dark, we cling to the Truths in our hearts that God has etched into them (closing the curtains).  At the same time, when the Light is being given through a conversation, beautiful landscape being viewed, or a random song, we open our hearts to what God is saying to us, the Truth He is etching into our hearts once more (opening the curtains).  When the darkness closes in we must cling to the Truths we already know, yet when Christ shines His light, let us open our hearts to His Truth, His leading, His love.