Love wins, especially in the end.

Independent. God.

Looking at these two words I really want to be dependent in God and independent of sin. This morning, Romans 12:16 was highlighted to me, "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." This really hits me in my stomach, because I'm not living this Scripture everyday.

Especially 'living in harmony with one another' has been a struggle...add in spiritual warfare, community living, long days, and it's a really good recipe for living with one another, but not always in harmony. And I really have to call myself on the fact that I haven't preferred others in every situation, in Ro 12.18 it goes on to say, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Thank you, Lord for making me realize that I have no excuse. ;) I also have this realization that when I graduate the DTS in June that while I had this amazing experience with these people and I've really seen God working in every single person, that we all have  very different paths on this journey and they may not cross again until Eternity, but even if I'm not best friends with everyone I know that it's okay because I love them so much...and God has so many plans, so many incredible plans for every single one of them. So, I want to consciously say that I want to make an effort every day to live in harmony as far as it depends on me and if you would partner with me in praying that over our time here, that would be awesome.
--[[And a bit of encouragement on this subject: "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the Law." Ro 13.8]]


I also had the privilege of working with an event called, 'Lobby Lunch,' where the church opens up to members of the community (low income, high income, homeless, tourists, etc) and serves them a beautiful lunch with the best. I mean, truly being a servant. The hardest part of serving others is that my flesh naturally wants to be self serving...praise the Lord that Yeshua was just the opposite making himself the lowest. I found myself being very unwilling and then I realized that in the eyes of the world, Jesus was a person of low position...a carpenter, a servant, a blasphemer...and Lord forbid that I turn the One who saved me away. Please pray that for me because people are just people. I want to see them as God sees them, loved, cherished, special, beautiful, worthy, chosen, important.

*Do not be conceited. In my thoughts, in my talents, in my actions. Gal 1.10, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Am I singing to please the Lord or to receive praise? Am I acting out of love or love of recognition? My life before YWAM was very attuned to receiving praise...as a business major, I thrive on the consistency of praise from men. The life I'm living now is very different, praise the Lord because He has proven His faithfulness repeatedly and I know that this is the right direction.
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We met a girl who became a Christian right after we met her and prayed for her! On Saturday night, we had an open mic/coffee house night and it was such a success! Lots of talented people singing, reading poetry, performing spoken word, and just collaborating on the spot. We had a great night, met some great contacts in the city, and were able to pray with about 5 or 6 people. Praise the Lord! God is really working here, he's really stirring up the youth, starting a revolution. The Lord is able.


Thanks for following the blog, thanks for sharing in what God is doing here, and thank you for your prayers.

"If the Lord delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;
though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
Psalm 37.23-24


love from London,
Kortnee

I Don't Want to Go Through the Motions

Sitting on the floor with my things scattered around me I began to write, thoughts flowing from pen to paper ever so naturally, lyrics drilling to the core of my soul:


"I don't want to go through the motions, I don't want to spend one more day without your all consuming passion inside of me. I don't want to spend my whole life asking, 'What if I had given everything instead of going through the motions?'"

I titled my journal that I didn't want to go through the motions and I mean that I want to be eager about the Gospel, I want to make Jesus famous, I want to fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel.

Little did I know that the Lord would really give me that chance through a woman named Kathy from Ireland. We began talking when the pug she was dog sitting, Pepper, ran up to me and started playing. I was able to share my testimony with her and really tell her the truth of Jesus Christ. She was raised Catholic so we talked of Purgatory, death, and what a life living after Jesus looks like. It was a truly divine appointment and the Holy Spirit was with me, bless the Lord. Nearing the end of our conversation, she told me that she had really been closed to God even though she attended church regularly and that maybe now was the time to be open to what He has for her. I was able to share about 'mountaintops' and how coming down from the mountain is the hardest because that is when Satan attacks you and she said, "Wow, it's crazy that you just said that because that is where I struggle." It was really cool to see the Lord work today.

Then, I got so blessed right before leaving. I was hanging out with the nannies, as there are many here in London, and I was playing catch with the dogs that one of the nannies is in charge of, and I hit this guy sitting on a bench. So, I ran to go and apologize and that started a conversation and I find out that my new friend is leaving for South Africa tomorrow, Thursday, to be a volunteer worker with human rights and he's only been here for 2 days. It was just cool being able to have him for dinner and sharing love and laughter with him. He told us it was his, "best memory in London."

My life is just really cool, I constantly see that Jesus is so mighty a King, and I am so blessed. Words are not enough, bless the name of the Lord!

Some other things that have been going on are how God has been working on me relationally, how He is shaping my future to serve Him, and how to love and be loved and to be honest and real about love. It's an interesting set of lessons.

And, I don't have the energy to blog about the whole thing but let's just say India 2014 ;)

goodnight & love from London,
KB