The other day, Christy popped in The Sound of Music. Her favorite part of the movie is when Maria and the Captain have the long-awaited DTR. I'd have to say that mine is the part where the Captain walks into the room where his seven children are singing to Elsa.
Everything changed in a moment. His heart melted. He found love, life, music, and affection once again.
I love the character of Maria. In the very first scene, we see that she is a dreamer, often lost in the music. She is bold and willing to sacrifice everything to live by her core convictions of love, celebration, fun, and music. At one point, she tells the Reverand Mother that her life purpose is to find and live by the will of God. She is young and exudes LIFE!
Yep. I can see why I like Maria.
This year, I have taken ownership of the following core value: Celebration! First-Year has been a banqueting table, a picnic where I am rolling on the grass, star-gazing, and laughing. But as much as I have received, I have stewarded. I know that the environment in France, SoCal, or wherever I travel will be a lot less optimistic than it is at Bethel, so I decided that I was going to develop my own environment. That way, no matter, where I go, I will be easily adaptable and influence others by who I am and what I carry, not necessarily by what I do. I realized last year in France that I just refused to live by the lack mentality I saw in most of the world. My abundance mentality will shift things, because I celebrate me daily.
This was the word I got about South Africa, and it was true! I saw people revived as I sang, danced, talked, and laughed with/other them. It was life-changing...not only for them, but for me!
So, I have spent the past few hours coming up with ways that I have cultivated this. We are all different, so I'd encourage you to ask God for original ideas of how to celebrate yourself and how your relationship with Him is unique! Once you are confident in yourself, it all overflows into your life! If you can learn to live by personal keys and values during the best seasons of your life, it will be easier to get throught he more difficult ones.
Everything changed in a moment. His heart melted. He found love, life, music, and affection once again.
I love the character of Maria. In the very first scene, we see that she is a dreamer, often lost in the music. She is bold and willing to sacrifice everything to live by her core convictions of love, celebration, fun, and music. At one point, she tells the Reverand Mother that her life purpose is to find and live by the will of God. She is young and exudes LIFE!
Yep. I can see why I like Maria.
This year, I have taken ownership of the following core value: Celebration! First-Year has been a banqueting table, a picnic where I am rolling on the grass, star-gazing, and laughing. But as much as I have received, I have stewarded. I know that the environment in France, SoCal, or wherever I travel will be a lot less optimistic than it is at Bethel, so I decided that I was going to develop my own environment. That way, no matter, where I go, I will be easily adaptable and influence others by who I am and what I carry, not necessarily by what I do. I realized last year in France that I just refused to live by the lack mentality I saw in most of the world. My abundance mentality will shift things, because I celebrate me daily.
This was the word I got about South Africa, and it was true! I saw people revived as I sang, danced, talked, and laughed with/other them. It was life-changing...not only for them, but for me!
So, I have spent the past few hours coming up with ways that I have cultivated this. We are all different, so I'd encourage you to ask God for original ideas of how to celebrate yourself and how your relationship with Him is unique! Once you are confident in yourself, it all overflows into your life! If you can learn to live by personal keys and values during the best seasons of your life, it will be easier to get throught he more difficult ones.
Dream with God
I have a Mind Map of places I am going to go, skills I am going to perfect, languages I am going to learn, etc. When I am planning the next season of my life, I can decide what to work on. I have this storehouse of dreams and goals! Lately, God's word over my life has been to, "dream bigger." I thought I was already dreaming big, but then He said, "I am SO big that your biggest dream is tiny to me!" Genesis 1 is this beautiful story of how he dreamed up creation. He dreamed up your purpose in life and personality. God is the greatest dreamer! Don't be afraid to have a treasure box of dreams--your Daddy is good and won't let you lose hope! He wants to fulfill your desires (see Psalm 20:4.)
Have Fun and be Spontaneous!
While I have been told that I live in my mind, if I am not able to meet up with friends and do something really random and fun, I get bored out of my mind!!! So, when my friends casually mention that a rave is going on, I am in! If I am invited to a party, I will go out of my way to find a ride! If nothing is going on, I try to create something. I am not afraid of dancing, or of getting someone else to have fun if I am bored! I will twirl someone around, make them dance, make them sing with me, approach them and start talking...I am definitely not the same shy, introverted Joanna I was one or two years ago! I am like a sponge: I absorb; I process; I share.
Feed your Passions and Desires
For most of my teenage life, I assumed that God's will for my life was vastly different than my own.
Wrong.
So, now, I naturally celebrate who I am by feeding myself on what I am passionate about!
Examples
Cultures
I listen to French podcasts about globe-trotters, explore the world via Wikipedia, etc.
The Spirit of Adventure!
I have friends who I have conversations with about our adventurous lives, our dreams, and the lives of others they have read about/met
Music:
I teach myself songs I like on piano, I discover new music on Pandora, I go out of my way to take Composition, Theory, and Songwriting classes at school
The Kingdom of God:
I read the life stories of revivalists and missionaries such as Heidi Bakers, Aimee Semple McPherson, and Jackie Pullinger.
Wrong.
So, now, I naturally celebrate who I am by feeding myself on what I am passionate about!
Examples
Cultures
I listen to French podcasts about globe-trotters, explore the world via Wikipedia, etc.
The Spirit of Adventure!
I have friends who I have conversations with about our adventurous lives, our dreams, and the lives of others they have read about/met
Music:
I teach myself songs I like on piano, I discover new music on Pandora, I go out of my way to take Composition, Theory, and Songwriting classes at school
The Kingdom of God:
I read the life stories of revivalists and missionaries such as Heidi Bakers, Aimee Semple McPherson, and Jackie Pullinger.
Figure Out How you Work
Hannah looked up from the screen, stared me in the eyes, and said,
"This is the most accurate prophetic you are going to get all year."
Then she started:
"As an INTJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally. INTJs live in the world of ideas and strategic planning. INTJs focus their energy on observing the world, and generating ideas and possibilities. Their mind constantly gathers information and makes associations about it.Their need for closure and organization usually requires that they take some action."
Our whole room was laughing for the next half of hour. It was SO me! And there were other "Scientists" like me in the world!
I am not limited to a personality type...but taking the Myers-Briggs test really helped me define myself and realize that God made me intentionally! My mind was as beautiful as my spirit and was going to help usher in His kingdom! I also realized that I was not a horrible person because I naturall was not that sensitive; it was a personality trait that I needed to develop like a skill. By being intional and praying a lot, I have!
To read more about the Myers-Briggs test, click here:
http://www.personalitypathways.com/type_inventory.html
Then, to see your complete profile and partner qualities, read this:
http://www.personalitypage.com/html/portraits.html
"This is the most accurate prophetic you are going to get all year."
Then she started:
"As an INTJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally. INTJs live in the world of ideas and strategic planning. INTJs focus their energy on observing the world, and generating ideas and possibilities. Their mind constantly gathers information and makes associations about it.Their need for closure and organization usually requires that they take some action."
Our whole room was laughing for the next half of hour. It was SO me! And there were other "Scientists" like me in the world!
I am not limited to a personality type...but taking the Myers-Briggs test really helped me define myself and realize that God made me intentionally! My mind was as beautiful as my spirit and was going to help usher in His kingdom! I also realized that I was not a horrible person because I naturall was not that sensitive; it was a personality trait that I needed to develop like a skill. By being intional and praying a lot, I have!
To read more about the Myers-Briggs test, click here:
http://www.personalitypathways.com/type_inventory.html
Then, to see your complete profile and partner qualities, read this:
http://www.personalitypage.com/html/portraits.html
Be Intentional about Being Fed
Having a 30-minute devotional is awesome, but I am learning to go beyond that! When I am cleaning up dinner, for example, I will listen to the Bible using the BibleIs App, listen to a message about being a son of God, or listen to podcasts from different churches. I will take a twenty-minute walk with my iPod and ust worship or pray in the spirit after I get home from school and before I start my homework. Before I go to bed, I will turn off all electronics and open the Word or transcribe a prophetic word I recently got. If I am feeling yucky, I will jump on the trampoline and shout out declarations! It is all about being intentional.
Write down and Live by Core Values and Boundaries
In October, God started speaking to me about writing down my core values and defining what each one meant to me. This has changed my life! Finally, I am not living by what life throws my way but by what I know I look for and want. I am living by my own standard
Do Unto Others what you would Have them Do Unto You
Every day, there are ways we wish others would treat us that do not happen. I used to get upset when I wouldn't get the attention I wanted. Now I am learning to be at peace with it, and just treat others the way I'd want to be treated! For example, I go out of my way to bless leaders and give compliments; I keep my comitments and show up on time, etc.
Worship
When God really started touching my heart in France, I had not really honestly communicated with Him for months. So for several weeks, all i would do was put a Worship video on Youtube and sit in His presence for a few hours. It cleansed so much in my heart. Being in God's Presence like that transformed me! Now I have a playlist where I add worship videos--even if they are not "Christian" but mean something to me and God. A few times a month, I will just put one on and soak in His Presence! See the "Worship" section of this website for some great suggestions!
Intercede
There are a few days each month I can "feel" like I just need to intercede. I usually will turn off all the lights, lock the door, put on a song, and dance, shout proclamations, or pray in tongues. Sometimes it is for me, sometimes it is for others. It may sound crazy, but after I do this, breakthrough ALWAYS occurs. Within seconds after ending a prayer for a situation with my sister to resolve, it did. One night I felt directed to pray for a friend who was scared of making friends. The next day, she messaged me and said, "It's almost a dream--people actually came up to me and were nice today!" In December, I did an intense prayer walk around Santa Barbara. Three months later, I learned that my Aunt had come down and accepted Christ!
Some Intercession Songs I Recommend:
"Where You Go I'll Go" --Bryan and Jenn Johnson
"All Around Me"--
Some Intercession Songs I Recommend:
"Where You Go I'll Go" --Bryan and Jenn Johnson
"All Around Me"--
Submit Yourself to Accountability
At the beginning of the year, Kris Vallotton redefined "accountability" when discussing BSSM's core values: "Account for your ability." I used to be SO afraid of submitting my faults, struggles, or weaknesses to other people. Then, I realized how much other people wanted to champion me to grow and wanted to pull out the gold that was already in there. I realized that I could not stay stuck because I had such a great calling. Vision changes everything!
Develop Relationship and Community
For several months, I would get on "highs" and then drop down to "lows." I realized that a big part of the reason why this was happening was because I would spend a ton of time discovering God and myself, but little time sharing my heart with other people or pursuing relationships. Once I began letting people in and getting to know more people, this began to change.
Serve Leaders in Humility
Right around the time I left for South Africa, God took me to the passage in John 15 where Jesus washes His disciples' feet. This, He says, is the greatest form of leadership! Now, this has become one of my core values.
Pray the Epistles!
Paul often prays that his readers will gain greater understanding, wisdom, and revelation in the knowledge of Christ and that the "eyes of our hearts would be opened" (see Colossians 1:9-10, Ephesians 1:17-18.) My dad used to have me pray that every night. Years later, I am bearing the fruit. I am reading Scripture in a new way, and I am discovering the fulness of what Jesus did on the Cross!
Speak from your Spirit
One day, Wendy Backlund (ignitinghope.com) came and spoke at an AMT I was taking about Prayer and Intimacy. "Maybe the reason we only use 10% of our minds," she basically said, "Is so that we can begin to live more from our spirits."
There are times where my brain doesn't want to shut off. I just want to keep planning, when what I need to do is rest. Other times, I am worried about something. So I command my mind to align with my spirit. The more I do it, the more results I see. The basis of this technique is speaking from authority.
There are times where my brain doesn't want to shut off. I just want to keep planning, when what I need to do is rest. Other times, I am worried about something. So I command my mind to align with my spirit. The more I do it, the more results I see. The basis of this technique is speaking from authority.
Pray in the Spirit
1 Corinthians 14:4 says that, "one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself." A lot of Christians see speaking in tongues as quite mysterious and/or frightening, without realizing what a powerful tool it is! At the beginning of the year, I was quite uncomfortable with it. Then in February, someone told me that he kept thinking of how Jackie Pullinger would speak in tongues for 15 minutes a day as a discipline, even though she did not really want to. Right afterwards, she began seeing Chinese gang members and drug addicts coming to salvation--something she had been praying for for the past year but had not seen results in. Chuck Parry, who is on leadership with the Bethel Healings Room, recently gave this testimony: a Muslim woman fromF rance had been healed because a student on his mission trip had approached her with a word of knowledge. She was interested to know more about this Jesus, so she came to church. During the worship wervice there, she heard the worship leader sing, "I am God, the true God," in Arabic! After the service, she approached him and said, "I didn't know you spoke Arabic!" He responded that he did not. He had been speaking in the spirit; God had moved through Him and evangelized to this woman!
I would seriously recommend studying the gift of tongues to anyone interested. It is a powerful form of intercession and intimacy with the Lord! I take prayer walks where I will sing in the spirit, and then sing out the interpretation and come up with a new song!
I would seriously recommend studying the gift of tongues to anyone interested. It is a powerful form of intercession and intimacy with the Lord! I take prayer walks where I will sing in the spirit, and then sing out the interpretation and come up with a new song!
Take Ownership of Your Beauty
I have been in this stage where I am celebrating my beauty. I used to wear mostly hand-me-downs and clothes from discount stores and garage sales. I was afraid to wear anything flattering, fearing I would get the wrong kind of attention. In the past two months, I've spent a lot of time finding colors and styles that look great on my figure. Instead of looking cute, I am trying to look pretty. While still staying in budget, I have splurged on a few special things just so I can take ownership of my wardrobe and my beauty. In the past, I wouldn't wear makeup because I thought I looked ugly with out. Now, there are days I will because it enhances my beauty, and there are days I won't, because I look beautiful without it.
Be Selective in your Choices.
I tend to only take opportunities (such as classes, conferences, etc.) when I know I am passionate about the subject and will use it later in life. In a similar way, I have learned to disclose certain parts of my heart and my life from certain people who will not value it as much as others or who will make immediate conclusions.
Make Declarations
Here is a great list to start off with. As you dig into the World and God reveals the beauty in you, I would encourage you to add your own. Every time you are scared, anxious, or catch yourself saying something negative, have a mantra, declaration, or Scripture you can use to fight against that! One of mine is Philippians 4:4-8! When I catch myself worrying, I can say this over my life.
http://ignitinghope.com/declarations/
http://ignitinghope.com/declarations/
Plan for the Future; Live One Day at a Time.
As a natural strategic thinker, I am in constant plan mode. I set goals ("treasures") and then write (or draw!) out the treasure map of how to get there. At the same time, I realize that I am always co-laboring with God. So, sometimes I have to wait for "clues" that He gives me to know what to do next (usually these come in the form of dreams.) Until I get one, I won't make a certain move. And when I do, I will make some changes in my treasure map to follow His clue about what to do next!
Sometimes, I make plans and then he changes them all anyway. Like, I wasn't expecting someone to sow $2000 into my mission trip in one night. I wasn't expecting all my tuition to be paid off in January by an anonymous donor. I definitely wasn't expecting to live where I am now!! But as I have learned...with God, we are to expect great things!!
Often, it is frustrating not to know the whole picture! Jesus must have been very serious about not worrying about tomorrow but living for the day (see Matthew 6:25-34.) A few weeks ago, I read the book of Esther while eating breakfast. It is a fast read, because all the puzzle pieces fit together. The first thing God told me was, "See? I am so big that, as long as you take the next step, I will fit everything together perfectly!" The next thing was, "Remember that Esther and Mordecai and Haman did NOT see the whole picture! Esther was scared for her life; Mordecai spent weeks in misery, expecting the genocide of his people; Haman expected to live a long life of success. Because Mordecai and Esther honored their people and their values, they were willing to partner with God. But not until the end did they see the final result and how all things worked together for their good. So, I am praying that I will live in a state of peace, knowing that one day I will see things clearly.
Sometimes, I make plans and then he changes them all anyway. Like, I wasn't expecting someone to sow $2000 into my mission trip in one night. I wasn't expecting all my tuition to be paid off in January by an anonymous donor. I definitely wasn't expecting to live where I am now!! But as I have learned...with God, we are to expect great things!!
Often, it is frustrating not to know the whole picture! Jesus must have been very serious about not worrying about tomorrow but living for the day (see Matthew 6:25-34.) A few weeks ago, I read the book of Esther while eating breakfast. It is a fast read, because all the puzzle pieces fit together. The first thing God told me was, "See? I am so big that, as long as you take the next step, I will fit everything together perfectly!" The next thing was, "Remember that Esther and Mordecai and Haman did NOT see the whole picture! Esther was scared for her life; Mordecai spent weeks in misery, expecting the genocide of his people; Haman expected to live a long life of success. Because Mordecai and Esther honored their people and their values, they were willing to partner with God. But not until the end did they see the final result and how all things worked together for their good. So, I am praying that I will live in a state of peace, knowing that one day I will see things clearly.
Think about Such Things.
Your actions are the manifestations of your thoughts. As an intern recently said at a church service, "Expectation is the mother of manifestation." So, questions:
1) What is going on in your life? Jesus said everything goes back to you heart; Solomon said that as a man thinks in his heart, he is (see Proverbs 23:7.) Hmm...
2) What are you expecting. I have good news for you: God is the God "with whom NOTHING will be impossible!" (Luke 1:27.) When your Daddy is that big...limitless changes everything!!!
1) What is going on in your life? Jesus said everything goes back to you heart; Solomon said that as a man thinks in his heart, he is (see Proverbs 23:7.) Hmm...
2) What are you expecting. I have good news for you: God is the God "with whom NOTHING will be impossible!" (Luke 1:27.) When your Daddy is that big...limitless changes everything!!!
Live by God's Voice so that it Becomes your Entire World
A few months ago, Banning Leibscher, director of Jesus Culture, spoke at BSSM. His talk was one of the top ten most influential of the year. He gave four keys for stewarding the Word of the Lord over our lives:
1) Pray into It
2) Prepare for It
Every other life word, Scripture, or dream I get is about the prophetic, creativity, ministry, and going to the nations. I also know that I have a certain amount of time before I will launch my personal ministry. One of my words is that I will bring life to broken people through music and dance. So, I have begun to think about earning enough money to be able to enroll in dance classes and taking piano lessons. I have been thinking about buying a good Bible commentary. I have made a list of churches and ministries I am going to visit in countries all around the world.
3) Change the Way that you Talk
"When He speaks to you, you no longer have permission to say anything else but what He said. "You have to absolutely be consumed with the word of the Lord. So many people want to be revivalists and world-changers but then they get distracted: they finish school etc. It can't be a side thing. My entire life is filtered by this one thing: what He said was my mandate. Every decision I make is filtered with that."
4) Understand that you are on a journey and that there is a process
"God shows you and then He grows you!"
I used to want things to happen right away.
5) Write it down, Remind yourself of it, and Meditate on It
This is my own tip, but it is highly Biblical. God told the Israelites to meditate on the Law day and night. I believe that De of my core values is stewardship. After God speaks to me through a dream, Scripture, a prophetic word, or something else, I am intentional about recording what He has said, transcribing it into my journal with a specific color, and then typing it out on my iPad. The wall by my bed is filled with such things (see photo below.) So, the current promises about the season I am in, my core values, etc. are the first things I see when I wake up and the last things I see before I go to sleep. This has caused at least 50% of the breakthrough in my heart. I also take Screenshots of symbolic photos and personal Scriptures and use them as wallpaper on my iPad and computer, so I am reminded of them all the time!
1) Pray into It
2) Prepare for It
Every other life word, Scripture, or dream I get is about the prophetic, creativity, ministry, and going to the nations. I also know that I have a certain amount of time before I will launch my personal ministry. One of my words is that I will bring life to broken people through music and dance. So, I have begun to think about earning enough money to be able to enroll in dance classes and taking piano lessons. I have been thinking about buying a good Bible commentary. I have made a list of churches and ministries I am going to visit in countries all around the world.
3) Change the Way that you Talk
"When He speaks to you, you no longer have permission to say anything else but what He said. "You have to absolutely be consumed with the word of the Lord. So many people want to be revivalists and world-changers but then they get distracted: they finish school etc. It can't be a side thing. My entire life is filtered by this one thing: what He said was my mandate. Every decision I make is filtered with that."
4) Understand that you are on a journey and that there is a process
"God shows you and then He grows you!"
I used to want things to happen right away.
5) Write it down, Remind yourself of it, and Meditate on It
This is my own tip, but it is highly Biblical. God told the Israelites to meditate on the Law day and night. I believe that De of my core values is stewardship. After God speaks to me through a dream, Scripture, a prophetic word, or something else, I am intentional about recording what He has said, transcribing it into my journal with a specific color, and then typing it out on my iPad. The wall by my bed is filled with such things (see photo below.) So, the current promises about the season I am in, my core values, etc. are the first things I see when I wake up and the last things I see before I go to sleep. This has caused at least 50% of the breakthrough in my heart. I also take Screenshots of symbolic photos and personal Scriptures and use them as wallpaper on my iPad and computer, so I am reminded of them all the time!
Give Holy Affection
I used to not give hugs or any form of affection unless someone came to me first. I think part of this had been a year of hug lackage in France; part of it had been growing up giving "les bisous;" part of it had been abuse of affection when I was a young girl; part of it had been lack of self-worth; and part of it had been the belief that it was innappropriate to kiss a girl's cheek or sexualizing to hug a guy to long.
One day, I was just like, "Wait a minute! I have value! I have the right to give a hug too!!! And to kiss my roommate on the cheek! And to rest in my brother's arm!"
Affection was meant to be holy. "The disciple whom Jesus loved" lay against his master. Paul told his readers to "greet one another with a holy kiss" (Romans 16:16.)
I'd encourage you to listen to the last part of "Healing and Wholeness," a message by Kris Vallotton that transformed my life, for more on how the world needs to be celebrated and needs affection!
One day, I was just like, "Wait a minute! I have value! I have the right to give a hug too!!! And to kiss my roommate on the cheek! And to rest in my brother's arm!"
Affection was meant to be holy. "The disciple whom Jesus loved" lay against his master. Paul told his readers to "greet one another with a holy kiss" (Romans 16:16.)
I'd encourage you to listen to the last part of "Healing and Wholeness," a message by Kris Vallotton that transformed my life, for more on how the world needs to be celebrated and needs affection!
Love
Jesus said that the greatest command was to love (see John 15:12.) Paul told the Romans that the entire Law was summed up in love (see Romans 13:8-10.) 1 John is all about love. One of the core verses that I medidated on while in South Africa was Ephesians 3:17-19:
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, would have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God." (NIV 1984)
Now, every day, I pray for Jesus to show me how much He loves me. I pray that I will be a better lover. Since then, I have been intentional about giving hugs, spending time with people, keeping my commitments, and receiving God's love--and overflow is naturally occuring! Love is erupting like a volcano. When I was 16, I would pray the same prayer. That summer, I learned to be a lover.
I encourage you to pray this Scripture over yourself--put it on your fridge, by your bed, read it daily--then ask God how you can be intentional about receiving and giving life. Your whole perspective on the world will change!
I encourage you to pray this Scripture over yourself--put it on your fridge, by your bed, read it daily--then ask God how you can be intentional about receiving and giving life. Your whole perspective on the world will change!
Give Thanksgiving:
Whenever I feel frustrated becaue I have not had the breakthrough that I want, I just start thanking God for what HAS happened and for His faithfulness. Within five or ten minutes, I am back to that place of joy and peace. If we are to "enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courtyards with praise," I think thanksgiving is a wonderful way to begin prayer. It seems to happen naturally when I am in celebration mode! (see Psalms 100:4.) I first heard about BSSM on Thanksgiving, so it is only appropriate that it is one of the main parts of my life.
Read this Awesome Book:
This is the last book we read for school. The basis is the verse in 1 Samuel: "But David strengthened himself in the Lord." Bill Johnson discusses practical but powerful ways to cultivate joy in the midst of tough circumstances, such as testimony, prophecy, prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. He uses personal life examples. I read it, and realized that I was already using most of these keys!
As most of you know, I graduated First Year a week ago, May 10. Thank you for everyone who has sown in to my year: through prayer, finances, and/or reading this blog! It has meant the world to me! I will soon be posting information about my trip to South Africa, and afterwards, will be writing about my potential summer in France. Pray for the necessary finances to come through. I declare checks in the mail, donations to my PayPal account, generous family members, and money appearing in my bank account! Woohoo!!!!