You are My Vision

If you love Mumford & Sons, check out Rend Collective...a Christian band from Northern Ireland! They are awesome and can't wait to see them in concert.

You are My Vision

You are my vision, O King of my heart.
Nothing else satisfies, only You, Lord.
You are my best thought by day or by night.
Waking or sleeping, Your presence, my light.

You are my wisdom, You are my true word,
I ever with You, and You with me Lord:
You're my great Father, and I'm Your true son,
You dwell inside me, together we're one.

You are my battle-shield, sword for the fight
You are my dignity, You're my delight
You're my soul's shelter and You're my high tower.
Come, raise me heavenward, O Power of my power.
I don't want riches or man's empty praise:
You're my inheritance, now and always;
You, and You only, the first in my heart:
High King of heaven, my treasure You are.

High King of heaven, when victory's won
May I reach heaven's joy, O bright heaven's Son.
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all

Wild at Heart

As I drink my cuppa tea, I'm reading this book by John Eldredge...I remember his sons went to Westmont and my favorite Old Testament professor is quoted in this book! (Tremper Longman...you were hilarious.)

This book isn't just for men discovering their deep secret...it's for women too and understanding our brothers, friends, or lovers better. I'm enjoying the chapter called "The Wild One Whose Image we Bear" talking about God...

From cover to cover, from beginning to end of the Bible, the cry of God's heart is "Why won't you choose Me?" It is amazing to me how humble, how vulnerable God is on this point. "You will...find me," says the Lord "when you seek me with all your heart" (Jer.29:13) In other words, "Look for me, pursue me-I want you to pursue me." As Tozer says, "God waits to be wanted."

Instead of pursuing the "worldly things" which scream for our attention, let's pursue the only one that matters...Jesus. He's waiting for us.

He didn't have to make us, but he wanted to. Though he knows the name of every star and his kingdom spans galaxies, God delights in being a part of our lives. Do you know why he often doesn't answer prayer right away? Because he wants to talk to us, and sometimes that's the only way to get us to stay and talk to him. His heart is for relationship, for shared adventure to the core.

I never thought about that. I'd encourage you to read this good book too!

Recipe of the Week: Swedish Chocolate Balls

Hej! Jag heter Josie. Hur mar du? Hej da! When I was visiting my friends in Scotland, my Swedish friend showed me this yummy and easy recipe along with Swedish phrases...they are called Swedish Chocolate Balls (in every Swedish cafe) I'd love to go to Sweden someday.

Here's the recipe:

• 110g butter
• 100g caster sugar
• 120g porridge oats
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons cold coffee

Preparation method

Prep: 20 mins | Extra time: 1 hour, chilling

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Stir in the oats, cocoa and vanilla until well blended then stir in the coffee. Roll the mixture into balls slightly smaller than a ping pong ball. Refrigerate balls for 1 hour before serving.

Lead Me to the Cross

Savior I come
Quiet my soul remember
Redemptions hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I
Tempted and trialed
You are
The word became flesh
Bore my sin and death
Now you're risen

To your heart
To your heart
Lead me to your heart
Lead me to your heart

Such a powerful song.

Being Present

One of my best friends reminded me of this quote..."Wherever you are, be ALL there." I would encourage you all to be present in your time, place, or situation and enjoy it for what it's worth. God has you in a specific place at a specific time. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."-Proverbs 16:9 There are so many exciting events to look forward to, but I'm trying my best to live in the moment and take one day at a time.

The rest of the year plans...please be praying God directs me with wisdom!

March

• G4G Bible Study
• Church retreat weekend with youth...pray God would bond our youth group together and grow deeper spiritually!

April

• Good Friday and Easter service...pray people would get saved in Woodford
• Easter Egg Hunt...pray for evangelism/outreach opportunity for children and families
• Easter break (going to Italy and Seattle to see family!) pray for safety and refreshment :)

May

• Slum Survivor with youth
  
• London's prayer in Leyton Stadium...9,000 people will gather to worship and pray to release God’s love over London in preparation for the millions of visitors to the Olympics
• New Wine Leader's Conference

June

• Queen's Diamond Jubilee (60th year reigning) Street Party...I'm planning a street party for the Woodford community and pray for gospel outreach

July

• Olympics 2012!!!
  
• Woodford Fun-day on the green...pray for good weather and a blessed time with community in celebrating the world coming to London.

August

• Join-In Program (Vacation Bible School) for youth and children in Woodford
• Drama projects for youth

September

• Paralympics
• Back to the USA!

It's going to be an exciting summer!

Peace

It's crazy to think I've been living in London for 6 MONTHS! Time just flew by. Thank you Jesus for providing everything I need...friends, a new church family, memories, traveling, and growing more deeply in love with Him.

Such a lovely weekend! Friday: made burritos (chicken, black beans, guacamole, and the whole shabang) with friends/home-stay. Such a fun experience showing them how to eat a burrito. Sadly, my home-stay didn't enjoy it as much as shepherd's pie. After, we went to Presence (our college-aged group at church) meeting to find His presence, worship, and fellowship. Nothing better than praying with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Drank cider at a pub to end a good night. This is what America is missing...good pubs for conversation and laughter.

Saturday: Sleepover with Reality ladies...another girls night! Quite a long journey (2 hours by train), but so worth it to spend quality time with quality friends. Making dinner together, painting nails, watching movies (Parent Trap...filmed in London!), and playing with Sarah's cats (Onion and Kettle...the cutest names ever.) We slept in, made pancakes, and took the train to Reality. So blessed and encouraged every time.


Sunday message was about PEACE. No God, no peace. Know God, Know peace. I pray that we would call out to Him in times of trouble, instead of blaming Him for our circumstances. Instead of changing where we are, we need to pray for a changed heart. We need to repent first and thank Him for EVERYTHING. He is the one who gives us breath. He doesn't owe us anything, but still continues to love us. It made me realize everyday is a gift! Sometimes it's hard for me to be in this dark city, but I know my purpose in London...it's to be a light for Jesus in the darkness. I pray our light would shine brighter each day.

Love this worship song by Tim Hughes...

My soul is weak
My heart is numb
I cannot see
But still my hope is found in You
I’ll hold on tightly
You will never let me go
For Jesus, You will never fail
Jesus, You will never fail

Simply to the cross i cling
Letting go of all earthly things
Clinging to the cross
Mercy’s found a way for me
Hope is here as i am free
Jesus, You are all i need
Clinging to the cross

Recipe of the Week: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

I am trying to bake at least once a week. So far I have been successful...this week I had a craving for peanut butter, so I made Peanut Butter Oatmeal cookies (or biscuits, for you British people). They turned out lovely so here's the quick and easy recipe:

Ingredients:

• 68 g butter
• 53 g caster sugar
• 60 g dark brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 125 g crunchy peanut butter
• 125 g flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 88 g oatmeal/raisins
  

1. Preheat the oven to 180C and line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper.

2. Take the softened butter and place it into the bowl of an electric mixer. Cream the butter together with sugar until it becomes light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well, turn the machine off and add the peanut butter, mix well.

3. Sift together the baking powder and the flour and then carefully fold this into the mixture.

4. When all the flour has been added stir in the oatmeal, you should now have quite a firm dough which is easy to handle.

5. Remove from the bowl and roll the mixture between your hands to create balls which can then be placed onto the baking sheet.

6. Bake the cookies for 15-20 minutes or until just golden brown but the center is still a little gooey. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the trays.

Bon Appetit!

The Good ol' Days

I miss my childhood days. Sometimes I wish I could go back for a day and remember the times when I didn't have to think about responsibility or grown-up issues. The only thing I don't miss is my brother teasing me all the time. I was reading an article and found some fun ideas for reconnecting with your inner-child...

• Wear mis-matched socks, or a top that doesn’t match your skirt or pants. Dare to be fun and crazy—free your inner child fashionista to shine.
• Climb a tree and read a book in its branches, or do cartwheels in the park.
• Dance and sing along to songs from your youth—be it boy bands, Spice Girls, rock and roll, or 90’s hits.
• Laugh with your friends until your belly hurts.
• Go to your local library or bookstore and pick out a couple of your favorite kid books to sit and read in the store.
• Watch your favorite Disney movie from the past.
• Eat like a kid for a day—PB&J, mac and cheese, Eggo waffles, Lucky Charms, whatever you loved when you were young and carefree.

Sleepover

I am so thankful for my Girls 4 God Bible study! I believe God has given me this opportunity to be an example for these girls and share wisdom from past experiences. Even though I'm 10 years older than some of them, we can relate on so many issues as we are all daughters of the King. :) Memories from the sleepover include: eating yummy Chinese food, loads of candy/junk food, face masks, nail polish, watching movies (Sydney White, Legally Blonde, and Never Been Kissed), girl talk, prayer, and laughter. Then waking up the next morning at 7am by talking and laughing...sleepover=no sleep.

Next week will be my six month mark...I have been finding out my calling as a missionary day by day. I definitely want to continue serving in youth work...whether it be leading a women's Bible study, mentoring/meeting youth for coffee, or a youth leader. When you pour out and serve in ministry, God will always give you so much more back.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." -2 Corinthians 12:9
Thank you Lord for your grace and power!

Books and tea

England has shown me the importance of a proper cup of tea and books...:)

KONY 2012

KONY 2012 is a film and campaign by Invisible Children that aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice.

HOW TO HELP:
Donate to Invisible Children: causes.com/donatekony2012
Purchase KONY 2012 products: invisiblechildrenstore.myshopify.com/
Sign the Pledge: causes.com/konypledge

Zucchini bread

Just made this awesome zucchini bread...turned out so moist and delicious! What a nice healthy snack...oh, how I love baking and the reward after cleaning and dishes. I can't wait to open up my own bakery...stay tuned!

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour (I used half wheat flour)
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 1/4 cups white sugar (lessen the sugar)
  
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated zucchini
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Grease two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
3. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
4. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes.
   

Thankful

Thank you Lord for your blessings. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." -James 1:17

I am so excited I'm going HOME TO SEATTLE next month (April 19-30th). :) I've been praying my parents would be able to visit my home in London, but tickets were a bit expensive...we decided to celebrate all our b-days with family and friends in Seattle. I haven't seen them in 8 months, but it feels like forever. I also need to spend time with my one and only Grandpa who is 95 years old. Thank you Jesus for providing and meeting all my needs!

We just had our Reality ladies brunch and it was so encouraging...praying, laughing, crying, and being in His presence. So blessed they are my support and a 'home away from home.' We've been talking about the issue of beauty and what Jesus says about this:

1 Peter 4:8-11
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."

1 Peter 3:3-5
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight."

Amen!

Time for God

Here's an article about Time for God from our field officer, Chrissie Mayer (Westmont Grad)...explains more of why I'm in London. :)

2012 – Time For God

I want to take this opportunity to teach you a new word, olympify. While the Urban Dictionary is yet to post an official definition olympification is commonly recognized as the spreading phenomenon whereby organizations across Britain from massive banks to local charity shops are taking the excitement generated by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and channelling it for particular purposes. It may be surprising to some of you that the church is proactively engaging in this phenomenon. When I say church I do not mean just the large well known churches in London or the Archbishop of Canterbury. I mean the church, Christ’s body and bride made up of diverse, other-centered, sometimes overlooked, people with sheep-like tendencies. Christians are joining together in unprecedented ways and across entrenched boundaries to respond to the 2012 Games through local outreach, hospitality and service. You may also be surprised that six Westmont alumni are presently spending their days helping shape the church’s response.
When groups seek to olympify it is best that they keep to what they are passionate about and know best. In that spirit, Time For God, a long-standing volunteering organization handed me, Chrissie Mayer (’07), the task of recruiting both full-time volunteers and projects with vision to respond to the Games and matching them up. Similarly, churches came forward seeking a volunteer to come and live among them and help with their Olympic outreach plans centering on their community’s passion and ongoing ministry. Together we looked at these churches’ ideas for everything from faith-based art exhibitions and children’s holiday clubs to prayer walks and street parties. At the same time as volunteer applications were coming in I had to smile as more than a few Westmont alumni were applying. They say that it is all about who you know and that word of mouth is the most effective advertisement, but I would say that God uses places like Westmont to connect people in exciting ways.
During the interview process it was clear that all of our 2012 volunteers had a unique way in which they wanted to be part of the church’s grassroots response to the Olympics. Just over a year ago Kathryn Kong (’10) moved to Newham, one of London’s Olympic Boroughs and most deprived areas to help a small free church grow its many community development projects. On an ordinary day she can be found serving tea in Cornerstone the church’s community cafe and chatting to Irene one of her regulars. Soon after Annie Slattum ‘(10) set up residence in Walthamstow, another incredibly diverse part of East London, to help a group of Anglican churches build their Olympic outreach projects and contribute to their on-going youth ministry. Annie herself is a regular at Daisy’s, one of the only local cafes where she often meets with one of her youth for informal mentoring chats. Last spring Breanna Taber (’10) moved into a vicarage also in Walthamstow and had to hit the ground running as she began helping the Church of England’s National Olympic Coordinator and East London Area Adviser to inspire and equip its leaders to respond to the Games. As Breanna drops in on various events and meetings she is always adding new names to her email contact list ready to update them with good news stories of how church communities in London are uniquely engaging with the Games. In September Josh Tengan (’10) found himself in Newcastle and filling a key role in an exciting arts project set up by a local Methodist church partnering with the largest independent gallery in the UK. Josh can be spotted in all weather cycling round to studio visits and interviews with local artists for upcoming exhibitions at the Holy Biscuit Gallery. Lastly, Josie Haugh (’11) also came in the fall to help coordinate Olympic projects for an East London Anglican church that is well equipped to serve and reach families in the local community. Josie can often be found sharing ideas in meetings to plan upcoming local events including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee street party or the open-air screening of the Olympic opening ceremony. Aside from the Olympics, she mentors young people in the youth group and started a girl's Bible Study meeting every other Saturday.

At every level of Britain’s society groups seeking to olympify their work over the coming months will have different ways of measuring the results of their engagement with the Games. As a staff member of Time For God I will weigh outcomes against our mission of creating volunteering opportunities through which God changes lives. I am already enjoying the fulfillment of seeing this fleshed out both in the lives of the 2012 volunteers and those they serve. Our volunteers have their own hopes for the Olympic season. For example Kathryn’s goal is to see outsiders visiting her local community actively welcomed by the church and for the stigma Can anything good come out of Newham? to be challenged. Helping to facilitate projects across a variety of churches, Josie and Annie both hope to see the power of unity displayed through their parishes in East London. During the Olympics and Paralympics churches across Britain expect to be joined by 3,000 mission volunteers from around the world coming to help. Whether you are a big fan of the Olympics or a sceptic of benefits it can bring, please be encouraged by those giving time for God on the ground to make a positive and lasting impact.