My God is not dead.

He is LIFE!

God is really into making things.

I'm tired of worrying about the product.
 Being apart of a prophetic school of painting can bring up alot of fears.
 My thoughts are often,"How will this painting speak to someone? Since I'm painting during worship I better have something to show for it. What if God doesn't speak through me? If its ugly, I look ugly and untalented."
These are such lies! God is gently comforting me by teaching me how valuable the PROCESS of art is. Why else would he take a whole lifetime to sanctify us? He's not in a hurry. And I know He wants my character to not be obsessive of end results or paths, but trust in every moment that I'm living in Him. Art is no different. Especially in worship, which is what these nine months are all about. Every color can bring inspiration and brushtroke bring more peace to the artist. Whenever I'm preoccupied with how a piece is going to look, instead of creating together with my Creator, I don't receive so much healing or blessing from that work. It's almost a waste of time, like painting in the flesh.
How can my art be worship if my speech isn't honoring to Him? How can I get up and paint on stage with a right heart when I'm not at peace with my roommates? Wow. Jesus let my heart be simple. Character comes first, humility is so imperative. I have to just cling to the Source with a sober mind. It's so easy to seek glory.
But I've also realized, just today, that this isn't fake.
I really am an artist because thats how God speaks to me. Instead of giving me words or sermons He gives me pictures. Or he makes a picture through my hands that I can stare at for 20 minutes and be a different person afterwards. It's all so new to me! Inviting the Holy Spirit to bring forth truth through your hands.
But this isn't old news for so many believers, and no news at all for God. But I really haven't seen this much in my culture. Art has so been taken by the enemy! But it hasn't always been his territory. 1 Chronicles 25 is all about King David appointing skilled musicians to prophesy with instruments. They were to prophesy in thanksgiving in praise, always working under supervision. Art in worship is also for other people, and God so uses it! However, you have to test it just like we test the words we hear. If it doesn't match God's character, or you don't have peace, or its just crazy and the Holy Spirit isn't using it in you, then you just leave it.
And because of our pride and comparisons, sometimes we can pretend to prophesy. (Eeeek that's so bad! God takes that extremely seriously...) If someone tells you something and claims its from God, but instead of encouraging you it messes you up, don't stumble over it! Remember you have a safe place in His word. Its the rock that you don't have to test. The ground that always stands.

Bhangar Wadi

Every Thursday, we spend the afternoon and evening in a slum area here in Lonavala. My slum is up on a hillside about 10 km away. The kids are so fun. We get to teach them for the next 3 months, but then after Christmas they'll unfortunately get new students from YWAM.  There's already around 4 Christian houses in this slum, and God is really changing people's hearts and lives here.

The journey here

I arrived in India four days ago safely! The trip here was alot of fun. After a teary goodbye I set off into the wild blue yonder! I was kind of struggling with fear of the unknown and worrying about the details, but God really showed me how able he is to take care of our needs whenever and whatever they are. Along the way he sent me many people to encourage me. I ended up having the attitude of, "Wow God is so huge." When I stopped in Denver, a random guy came up to me in the airport and told me he overheard me talking about where I was going in the Spokane airport, and he said he would pray for me and really confirmed that what I was doing would be a blessing and to follow my heart and take courage. Then when I got on the plane going to New York, I was seated next to two West African missionaries! It was a blast talking to them and they really encouraged me to enjoy this season of life and know God better than I ever have at home. Then when I arrived in New York, my taxi driver was from Calcutta, and he was so excited that I was going to his home country. He made it his mission to get me to the airport on time even though my flight was over an hour late. (I realize I'm writing really slopily and horrible grammar but I have like no time and the internet might go out at any second). So yeah. And since I've been here, we've done nothing but have fun and enjoy eachother. I have 4 roommates, and 12 girls in my hall total. They are all so sweet and welcoming. There are 30 people in my creative discipleship school and we had our first class this morning on hearing God's voice. It was really inspiring. I learned just to be sober minded and to never get caught up in seeking the voice and not the one behind the voice. I realize that makes no sense out of the context of the lesson but yeah it was about keeping Jesus at the center, especially during the prophetic expression. The program that I'm doing teaches that as artists, we have the capacity to be prophetic by listening to God and using our gift as a tool to share His heart with people. So that's what I mean by prophetic. It's kind of a word that makes me think of living in the clouds, but I'm learning that it's actually just normal and God desires to have everything in our lives reflect Him, especially things we create. blah blah blah okay so life here is basically the opposite of America. There are bugs in my bed and we bathe with buckets and flush the toilet with buckets. But its so liberating! I'm loving the simplicity of it. It's just like being at summer camp for 9 months. Also- its in the jungle. Very tropical and humid- so gorgeous. I wake up to the songs of very large crazy birdies in palm trees outside my window! yay!

A CraZy little thing called Love.

My last Sunday at church was a colossal blessing. I'm astounded that God has blessed me with being apart of his body. It's truly the most abundant life full of support (spiritual, practical, emotional, financial... etc. etc.) and love. You all blessed me so much with your kind words and encouragement. Thanks for living in the Spirit and choosing to invest yourselves in my spiritual growth! I'm so humbled. Hopefully I won't be so homesick being away from you that I miss out on what's happening right in front of me. :)

“[All Christians] Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.” 1 Peter 3:8 NLT