Every morning I have a beautiful mountain to hike. Being in the midst of the jungle, and the surrounded by the intense beauty of God's creation is one of the greatest blessings about being in Costa Rica this summer. Not only do I physically feel great after walking the mountain road, I absolutely love to solace of walking in nature and being alone with the Lord.
I have been thinking a lot about faith in general, and this morning on my walk I was thinking about my own faith. There are so many verses in the Bible about exercising our faith, and how "if we ask anything in His name, it will be given to us." As I was walking, I stopped to catch my breath and thought "it would be really neat to see a monkey this morning." I have seen a few monkeys this summer, but it hasn't been very much, and they are usually far away and difficult to see. As this thought passed through my mind, I then asked the Lord, "Lord, I really do believe you when you say that if I ask anything in your name it will be given to me. So Papa, I ask that you send a monkey for me to see." I waited a minute or two, but no monkey. Even though nothing happened, I wasn't disappointed in the Lord, nor did I feel like He said no to my request. I decided to continue on my way though, and truthfully my thoughts began thinking about something completely different then the monkeys.
Probably five minutes later, as I was feeling really proud of myself for almost finishing my walk, I look over because I saw in the corner of my eye a rustling in the forest...and what did I see right next to the road? Low and behold, there was not only one monkey, there were 8, and they were the closest group of monkeys I have seen all summer. It was monkey family, and there were even two little baby monkeys. The reality of God's faithfulness in this moment was overwhelming, and I nearly fell down in reverence to the goodness of our God.
This is such a portrait of the Lord...He does hear our prayers, and He gives us exceedingly more then we could ever ask or imagine. I think the church is more apt to praying when there is a need, but not praying for the things that they desire. The Lord longs not only to help us when we are in trouble or need, but He also likes to give good gifts to His children...even monkeys. My heart cannot help but be thankful as I walk in the reality of the Lord's great love. This is all that the Lord desires too is a thankful heart...
Philippians chapter 4:5- Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I was reading in Revelation the other day...which is such an incredible picture of God's redemption of mankind, and I read a verse, (which I believe is in chapter in chapter 5) that says that our prayers are a held in a bowl and are incense to the Lord. Not only does God bless us through answering our prayers, but he stores them and they are like incense to Him! They bring Him pleasure!
May you walk in His peace that passes understanding as you pray and seek His face. He is faithful, and wants you to put your faith in Him. For without faith it is impossible to please God.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
I have to blog about this!
When I think about all of the best days i've had here in Costa, today is definitely top of the list. Right now I am in sitting in a cute restaurant called Dona Maria. Off in the distance the mountains look magical, and a mystical haze is resting a top the trees of the rain forest.
I feel like I have moments all the time in my life where I experience a taste of Heaven. Today we drove through the jungle and the beauty surrounding us was unreal. All creation is yelling...no screaming, out the grandiose of the Lord! If I am this overwhelmed by nature...a creation of the Creator, how much more will it be when I stand before Him? I've been a lot of places in the world, and experienced some amazing views, but today there was something so deeply beautiful about my journey.
The girls, Fanny, Diego, Emily, Don Lalo and I all went to a gigantic waterfall. Apparently this waterfall is featured on the video Planet Earth, and I can certainly see why! This waterfall is so tall that you can hardly see the top from the bottom. It is as though the water comes straight from Heaven. We got to climb, play in the river, and ride on a four wheeler. This is my idea of a perfect day!
I love the simplicity of life here, and the ability to embrace the Lord's creation free from all of the material possessions and just, really stuff. If I am ever called to life in a place like this I will jump at the chance. I know my mission field for the next season is Wilmington, NC but who knows what the future will hold?
There is definitely a reason why the Lord has filled me with such an absolute love and hunger for adventure, exploration, and people.
My soul is satisfied by the goodness of our God, and His love alone : ) I cannot proclaim enough how great the love of the Father is for us!
May you only fall more and more in love with Jesus. There is nothing greater
I feel like I have moments all the time in my life where I experience a taste of Heaven. Today we drove through the jungle and the beauty surrounding us was unreal. All creation is yelling...no screaming, out the grandiose of the Lord! If I am this overwhelmed by nature...a creation of the Creator, how much more will it be when I stand before Him? I've been a lot of places in the world, and experienced some amazing views, but today there was something so deeply beautiful about my journey.
The girls, Fanny, Diego, Emily, Don Lalo and I all went to a gigantic waterfall. Apparently this waterfall is featured on the video Planet Earth, and I can certainly see why! This waterfall is so tall that you can hardly see the top from the bottom. It is as though the water comes straight from Heaven. We got to climb, play in the river, and ride on a four wheeler. This is my idea of a perfect day!
I love the simplicity of life here, and the ability to embrace the Lord's creation free from all of the material possessions and just, really stuff. If I am ever called to life in a place like this I will jump at the chance. I know my mission field for the next season is Wilmington, NC but who knows what the future will hold?
There is definitely a reason why the Lord has filled me with such an absolute love and hunger for adventure, exploration, and people.
My soul is satisfied by the goodness of our God, and His love alone : ) I cannot proclaim enough how great the love of the Father is for us!
May you only fall more and more in love with Jesus. There is nothing greater
Friday, July 23, 2010
What a beautiful gaze you have Jesus
This is exactly how I feel today. Being swooned by the lover of my soul is incredibly beautiful.
Psalm 34
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Psalm 34
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Socialites in Dominical
It's an amazing feeling to sit and reflect over the day, and say that today was simply a great day, there is no other way to explain it. Erin and I are continuing our adventure days, and today we went to a little surf town called Dominical. Thank you Lord.
Let me express very clearly here how much I LOVE the beach. Last summer was when my heart really fell hard for the beach, and ever since I LONG for the sand, waves and sun! It's right up there with Jesus, coffee, and snowboarding.
Speaking of coffee, my day began with one of the best mornings ever... I awoke to a fresh pot of Costa Rican coffee on my porch thanks to Erin, (which just to share..has a view of the ocean through the rainforest covered mountains) ready for me to seek the Lord. What an incredible way to wake up. I grab my journal, bible, coffee, and the sweetness of the Lord's goodness overwhelms me. I finished reading through Hebrews this morning, and the truth about the soveriengty of Jesus, and the reality of living a life of faith has been igniting my spirit even more. God is closer then our very soul, and continously wanting to manifest the reality of His Presence to us...I love the verse:
22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
As a believer I am welcomed, and do not have to be afraid like Moses was of being killed by the Presence of the Most High. I already exist positionally in the heavenly Jerusalem! I can rejoice with the angels over the goodness of our Father! God is alive, and I am enrolled in heaven, and it's all because of Jesus. To know this reality rocks my world.
A book that I can recommend is The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer, he does an excellent job of explaining what is means to walk by the Spirit, and know the depths of God's heart.
SO after this awesome morning, I made the best breakfast. I made eggs with sauteed onions, tomatoe and a few thinly sliced potatoes. A dash of garlic, salt and pepper and it was perfect.
Sorry I cannot help but describe all of these little details... everything was so wonderful about today. Well to spare ya, once in town Erin and I seemed to meet and talk to so many people. We kept pointing out, oh there's our friend "John" there's our friend "Suzy." We took Dominical by storm haha. It was refreshing to feel a little bit like home, knowing that even in Costa Rica you can recognize other faces.
Ok gotta run, but I hope your day has been just as wonderful as mine has been : )
Let me express very clearly here how much I LOVE the beach. Last summer was when my heart really fell hard for the beach, and ever since I LONG for the sand, waves and sun! It's right up there with Jesus, coffee, and snowboarding.
Speaking of coffee, my day began with one of the best mornings ever... I awoke to a fresh pot of Costa Rican coffee on my porch thanks to Erin, (which just to share..has a view of the ocean through the rainforest covered mountains) ready for me to seek the Lord. What an incredible way to wake up. I grab my journal, bible, coffee, and the sweetness of the Lord's goodness overwhelms me. I finished reading through Hebrews this morning, and the truth about the soveriengty of Jesus, and the reality of living a life of faith has been igniting my spirit even more. God is closer then our very soul, and continously wanting to manifest the reality of His Presence to us...I love the verse:
22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
As a believer I am welcomed, and do not have to be afraid like Moses was of being killed by the Presence of the Most High. I already exist positionally in the heavenly Jerusalem! I can rejoice with the angels over the goodness of our Father! God is alive, and I am enrolled in heaven, and it's all because of Jesus. To know this reality rocks my world.
A book that I can recommend is The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer, he does an excellent job of explaining what is means to walk by the Spirit, and know the depths of God's heart.
SO after this awesome morning, I made the best breakfast. I made eggs with sauteed onions, tomatoe and a few thinly sliced potatoes. A dash of garlic, salt and pepper and it was perfect.
Sorry I cannot help but describe all of these little details... everything was so wonderful about today. Well to spare ya, once in town Erin and I seemed to meet and talk to so many people. We kept pointing out, oh there's our friend "John" there's our friend "Suzy." We took Dominical by storm haha. It was refreshing to feel a little bit like home, knowing that even in Costa Rica you can recognize other faces.
Ok gotta run, but I hope your day has been just as wonderful as mine has been : )
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Island
The day began at 4:45 today, and proceeded with french toast, photos and lots of goodbyes. This morning the group of 26 from Pensacola spent their last morning in Costa Rica, and are now traveling back to the states. It's been a blast getting to know everyone who came, and to spend the week with this group.
Even though I had only known these people for a week, I found it difficult to say goodbye this morning. I definitely tried to hide it, and while I feel like I am an expert at disguising my emotions...I unfortunately think people can read me easier then a picture book. Needless to say, I am seeing more and more in my life how much it grieves my spirit to say goodbye to people. It is amazing how the Lord didn't create us to have broken relationships or say goodbye to people, so when we do it hurts our hearts so badly. Praise the Lord that our relationship with the Father will never end. The intense pain of being separated from Him, I will never experience because He promises that He will NEVER leave me nor forsake me! What incredible news! Meeting group after group of great people this summer has been a fun adventure...yet, I can hardly convey just how blessed I am to have the community that I do in Wilmington to return to!
This past week I went with 6 others to a remote island of unreached Costa Ricans. Traveling down a croc infested river in a small motor boat made me feel like the missionaries, Jim and Elizabeth Elliot... I loved it! Our group was a dental group who came to offer free dental care to the poor. Although I am not qualified to do dental work, I felt like I was supposed to go with this group and pray for the sick. After roughly an hour boat ride, we came an extremely muddy coastline. The air was pungent with the smell of fish, and I could see a huge pile of old fishing nets piled along the shore. When I stepped out of the boat, my foot sunk about a half of a foot deep into the mud. I immediately laughed because earlier that morning I tried convincing Erin, one of the other interns to come with me to the island. Imagining the type of reaction she would have to the mud and scenery made me laugh, as well as praise the Lord that I was unsuccessful in convincing her to come with us! I think, no I know, the mud would have been over the limit for her! The island was primitive to say the least, and definitely an eye opener to a completely different way of life. All summer, I have been trying to discern what is going on in the spirit here in Costa. There seems to be a country wide spirit of purposelessness, and people in Costa seem to just be existing. Noone really has any major goals, and there isn't much of a drive to do hardly anything, at least in the area I am in. I think that this definitely plays into the fact that hardly anything here seems to be important. "Oh you need something from the store...we'll have it in a month or two." Dogs can just roam around the streets, we don't care.
The buildings on the island were made out of sticks, branches, old signs, and scrap pieces of wood. Soon upon our arrival we were greeted by one of the cutest grandmas I have ever seen in my life. This woman was probably in her mid-seventies, had leathery brown skin, twig legs, and the biggest smile on her face. She welcomed us with a kiss on our cheeks, and began speaking Spanish really fast. Not long after we were there, and had set up camp, the Grandma came over and asked if we wouldn't mind coming and praying for her daughter and son-in-law. Immediate confirmation in my spirit about coming to the island to pray for the sick! We walk over, and are welcomed into the woman's shack with Jason and Kristen, our leader and one of the members from Pensacola. We ask the sick woman in Spanish if we can lay hands on her, and when we do I notice that her body is burning up, and she is shaky which is probably because she has such a high fever. She tells us that she has had a fever for three days and she and her husband haven't eaten anything. As we pray, we simply invite the Holy Spirit to come and heal this woman, then we went and prayed for her husband. The next morning, as I walking back from the ocean I hear someone yelling, and I look over and see the woman we prayed for the day before. She looks completely different, and much healthier then then day before and calls out to me "Come over here, your prayers worked! You prayed to God and he took away my sickness! Both my husband and I are completely fine!" Thank you Lord, you are our healer, and a good good Father!
This next week, well 8 days, Erin, Heather and I are living likes queens here at Refugio Solte! There won't be a group here until Houston comes, which will be our last one for the summer. I look around and cannot believe how blessed I am to be living in such a huge, beautiful structure...wow Lord, you give good gifts.
Even though I had only known these people for a week, I found it difficult to say goodbye this morning. I definitely tried to hide it, and while I feel like I am an expert at disguising my emotions...I unfortunately think people can read me easier then a picture book. Needless to say, I am seeing more and more in my life how much it grieves my spirit to say goodbye to people. It is amazing how the Lord didn't create us to have broken relationships or say goodbye to people, so when we do it hurts our hearts so badly. Praise the Lord that our relationship with the Father will never end. The intense pain of being separated from Him, I will never experience because He promises that He will NEVER leave me nor forsake me! What incredible news! Meeting group after group of great people this summer has been a fun adventure...yet, I can hardly convey just how blessed I am to have the community that I do in Wilmington to return to!
This past week I went with 6 others to a remote island of unreached Costa Ricans. Traveling down a croc infested river in a small motor boat made me feel like the missionaries, Jim and Elizabeth Elliot... I loved it! Our group was a dental group who came to offer free dental care to the poor. Although I am not qualified to do dental work, I felt like I was supposed to go with this group and pray for the sick. After roughly an hour boat ride, we came an extremely muddy coastline. The air was pungent with the smell of fish, and I could see a huge pile of old fishing nets piled along the shore. When I stepped out of the boat, my foot sunk about a half of a foot deep into the mud. I immediately laughed because earlier that morning I tried convincing Erin, one of the other interns to come with me to the island. Imagining the type of reaction she would have to the mud and scenery made me laugh, as well as praise the Lord that I was unsuccessful in convincing her to come with us! I think, no I know, the mud would have been over the limit for her! The island was primitive to say the least, and definitely an eye opener to a completely different way of life. All summer, I have been trying to discern what is going on in the spirit here in Costa. There seems to be a country wide spirit of purposelessness, and people in Costa seem to just be existing. Noone really has any major goals, and there isn't much of a drive to do hardly anything, at least in the area I am in. I think that this definitely plays into the fact that hardly anything here seems to be important. "Oh you need something from the store...we'll have it in a month or two." Dogs can just roam around the streets, we don't care.
The buildings on the island were made out of sticks, branches, old signs, and scrap pieces of wood. Soon upon our arrival we were greeted by one of the cutest grandmas I have ever seen in my life. This woman was probably in her mid-seventies, had leathery brown skin, twig legs, and the biggest smile on her face. She welcomed us with a kiss on our cheeks, and began speaking Spanish really fast. Not long after we were there, and had set up camp, the Grandma came over and asked if we wouldn't mind coming and praying for her daughter and son-in-law. Immediate confirmation in my spirit about coming to the island to pray for the sick! We walk over, and are welcomed into the woman's shack with Jason and Kristen, our leader and one of the members from Pensacola. We ask the sick woman in Spanish if we can lay hands on her, and when we do I notice that her body is burning up, and she is shaky which is probably because she has such a high fever. She tells us that she has had a fever for three days and she and her husband haven't eaten anything. As we pray, we simply invite the Holy Spirit to come and heal this woman, then we went and prayed for her husband. The next morning, as I walking back from the ocean I hear someone yelling, and I look over and see the woman we prayed for the day before. She looks completely different, and much healthier then then day before and calls out to me "Come over here, your prayers worked! You prayed to God and he took away my sickness! Both my husband and I are completely fine!" Thank you Lord, you are our healer, and a good good Father!
This next week, well 8 days, Erin, Heather and I are living likes queens here at Refugio Solte! There won't be a group here until Houston comes, which will be our last one for the summer. I look around and cannot believe how blessed I am to be living in such a huge, beautiful structure...wow Lord, you give good gifts.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Things I love about Costa Rica
Here are a few of my favorite elements about Costa Rica:
*Driving on crazy jungle roads only seems to get more enjoyable
*Almost every restaurant and store is very open, and has very few walls...I love this
*Having whole conversations in Spanish
*Not blow drying my hair for the past two months
*Living in an incredible community of believers
*Soccer is loved and cherished here so much more then the States
*People are very friendly and care more about forming a relationship with you then getting your business
*Mango!
*There are an abundance of waterfalls
*My hair and skin feel the greatest they have ever felt in my entire life from the humidity
*Seeing people on missions trips get stretched and challenged in the Lord
*Getting to spend time with the missionaries down here
*Hearing the GOP testimonies, and the freedom and growth in identity that is being received here
*Having lunch dates with Dave Fuller
*Unbelievable coffee
*My great friend Fanny who lives on the mountain
*Being stretched myself, and seeing God's specific purpose and plan for me being here
*Having the opportunity to cook and serve people everyday
*Its cheaper to buy fresh organic foods then it is to buy processed goods
*I love not having a cell phone for two months
Things i'm not such a fan of in Costa:
*Peanut butter costs 8 dollars a jar
*The spiritual atmosphere is very apathetic
*There are tarantulas and I saw one the other day
*Stepping in ant hills is no bueno : (
*Driving on crazy jungle roads only seems to get more enjoyable
*Almost every restaurant and store is very open, and has very few walls...I love this
*Having whole conversations in Spanish
*Not blow drying my hair for the past two months
*Living in an incredible community of believers
*Soccer is loved and cherished here so much more then the States
*People are very friendly and care more about forming a relationship with you then getting your business
*Mango!
*There are an abundance of waterfalls
*My hair and skin feel the greatest they have ever felt in my entire life from the humidity
*Seeing people on missions trips get stretched and challenged in the Lord
*Getting to spend time with the missionaries down here
*Hearing the GOP testimonies, and the freedom and growth in identity that is being received here
*Having lunch dates with Dave Fuller
*Unbelievable coffee
*My great friend Fanny who lives on the mountain
*Being stretched myself, and seeing God's specific purpose and plan for me being here
*Having the opportunity to cook and serve people everyday
*Its cheaper to buy fresh organic foods then it is to buy processed goods
*I love not having a cell phone for two months
Things i'm not such a fan of in Costa:
*Peanut butter costs 8 dollars a jar
*The spiritual atmosphere is very apathetic
*There are tarantulas and I saw one the other day
*Stepping in ant hills is no bueno : (
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Betty Crocker
I was writing in my journal this past week, and as I began reading through what I had written, I noticed that my journal looked more like a recipe book then a journal! It's been fun, yet busy cooking up a storm the past few weeks here on the mountain. The more I cook, the greater love and appreciation I have for cooking. Just like Elizabeth in the book, Eat Pray Love, I have been learning how to really appreciate and savor meals more then ever before. Cooking to me isn't about the food, it's an opportunity to be creative, tweak recipes, and try to figure out the best mixture of ingredients for what I am preparing. The meals we serve require a lot of time and effort in the preparation. Everyday on the mountain we have to head into the city to buy our groceries because almost everything we use is fresh. We also don't have any electricity most of the day, which means no refridgerator or microwave. Oh, and we live on top of a mountain in the rainforest, so if we forget something from the store, it isn't super easy just run and get what we need. This week to fill you in, the highlight meal of the week was sweet and sour chicken, with homemade sauce. Haha, it turned out to be a huge hit!
I only have a few minutes here at the internet cafe. I have to run to the grocery store and get the groceries for a group that is leaving to go serve an indigenous people group tomorrow.
Please continue to keep the other interns and I in prayer as we need a new ounce of strength and energy daily. We are all so blessed to serve, it just can be a little draining from time to time when there are always things to be done on the mountain. I love you all and pray for your peace and rest as well. In the Lord is the fullness of joy and satisfaction!
Many blessings,
Steen
I only have a few minutes here at the internet cafe. I have to run to the grocery store and get the groceries for a group that is leaving to go serve an indigenous people group tomorrow.
Please continue to keep the other interns and I in prayer as we need a new ounce of strength and energy daily. We are all so blessed to serve, it just can be a little draining from time to time when there are always things to be done on the mountain. I love you all and pray for your peace and rest as well. In the Lord is the fullness of joy and satisfaction!
Many blessings,
Steen
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