Vision Night 07

Sunday night we gathered as a church to hear from Pastor Dino about his vision for us in 2007... He also filled us in on some great things that God did through us in '06. I am so honored to be part of such a giving church: over $1 million to missions and outreach, 65,000 meals served by Cooking for Christ, 1300 free medical encounters, a miracle offering of almost $600,000 over and above tithes, 1800 Christmas vouchers given away at $25 dollars each (that's $45, 000!), and most importantly- 1400 recorded salvations!!! Thank you, Jesus, for what you have done!!

2007 is going to be amazing with 2 campuses in D-ville, the BR Dreamcenter, the new campus in Mozambique, almost 15 missions trips, a national women's conference, HPCTV reaching almost 600,000 homes, and Thirty Days of Hope for Cambodia. We are praying that God prepares us to be used in such a powerful way. NONE of this will happen without Him.

I pray that God makes me more passionate, more radical and more bold. Basically, I am going to have to get uncomfortable and step out for Jesus more than ever, but I want to be a "kamikaze Christian", as Mike Haman would say! We are the generation that can change the world for Him, so what are we waiting for?!

Good news!

We have extended the 24 hour prayer room for another week. We as an HPC staff are committed to praying for the needs of the church, as well as for salvation of the lost. It's pretty cool to know that 24 hours a day, someone is praying for those who are hurting, who do not yet know Christ. If you or someone you know has a need, please fill out a prayer request card at church or online. Those card are prayed over every day... your need will not go unnoticed!

Also, I wanted to share with you a cool movement that's going on to help kids in Africa.
Check out this blurb from their website.
"Invisible Children, Inc. changes culture, policy, and lives through collisions of poverty and power. The Mission is the ultimate goal of Invisible Children—the resources, skills, and funds that hit the ground in Uganda, providing healthcare, safety, employment, and education. Invisible Children, Inc. believes that changing the lives of people in underprivileged areas is just as important as changing lives in the western world. The only way change can come in Uganda, and other places in need, is to educate and empower the rest of the world to do something. One of the darkest things about Africa is the rest of the world’s ignorance towards it."

I am so happy that so many people are finally getting on-board to help Africa. With all the tragedies there- in Uganda, Rwanda, the AIDS epidemic, millions of orphans- I am thrilled that people are finally doing more than just taking notice- they are taking action! Of course, organizations like Children's Cup and Mission of Mercy have been doing amazing things for years to bring the hope of Christ to the people there. Chris and I want to one day do work in Africa through Children's Cup... they are some of the best people in the world. Please pray for these organizations... donate money when and if you can. Your pocket change goes a long way in these countries.

Hunger pains and the prayer room

Ok, so I am hungry. Really, really hungry. I'm such a wimp! I am on Day 3 and already having trouble. But, what's so cool is that I know my hunger is bringing me closer to God through sacrifice. Plus, He really does speak to me loud and clear when I honestly put Him first. It's so cool.

Also, I know I talked about our 24 hour prayer room yesterday, but I cannot tell you how amazing that place is. You walk in the room and can feel the anointing just dripping down. The Spirit is so thick in that place. There's a map to pray over countries, a station for taking communion, a table with books and papers where people wrote scriptures, and chairs to sit and meditate in. It's the greatest place. It's so neat how a meeting room can turn into a throne room for the Father. I plan on being in there everyday for the rest of the week, and I hope you do, too. Don't be surprised if God rocks your world while you're in there. He has definitely rocked mine!

Prayer and Fasting

The words "prayer" and "fasting" are not the most popular words in the Church, and especially not in America. We live in a land of ease and convenience. We want everything pre-packaged, fast and right now! Sacrifice? What's that? But ultimately, we have to sacrifice for God. I mean, just look at what He has done for us- not only sending Jesus, but giving us his grace, mercy, love, compassion, strength and hope all the time-even when we deserve it least. It is when we quiet the voices inside our head and in the outside world that we can best hear from God. (Though the voices inside my tummy sometimes interfere with my fasting!)

Yesterday we started 14 days of intense prayer and fasting. This week we will have prayer 24 hours a day in the Creative Room at the Annex leading up to Vision Night this Sunday, January 28. There will be a staff person there at all times to open up the room to anyone who wants to join. We really want to concentrate on the lost during this time. We want to get loud and crazy remembering the lost and asking for God's grace to touch them as it has touched us. The truth is, someone probably spent a long time praying for each of us before we sold out to Jesus.

So take the next couple weeks and commit them to God- pray and fast and throw down with the Holy Ghost. Do whatever it takes to reach the next level with God as we get into '07!!

First Late Nite of '07

We kicked off Late Nite '07 this past Saturday and it was a BLAST! The worship team served up an amazing time with the Father, Mike challenged us on our spiritual fitness and being "hurried" in our spiritual life, and then we got to watch the Saints beat the Eagles on the big screen!! What more could you ask for?

Check out our new website... it's healingplacechurch.org, click the ministries drop-down bar and hit Late Nite. You can read all about "the crew", new life groups, and all kinda fun stuff. David Song did a great job setting it up for us, and T.O. came up with all the info and the general design. He also wrote the funny blurbs about everyone... so anyway, just check it out.

Can't wait to see everyone this Saturday night. If you stick around after we'll have a slammin' life group fair and some nacho libres!!! Really, we'll just have nachos, but it's going to be super fun!

It's me, Grace, again

Ok, so I pretty much think God is trying to teach me something. It seems like everywhere I go the word "grace" is brought up. I knew it was something I need to work on- having grace with others- but the signs are getting pretty obvious. As I blogged yesterday, God really gave me a word about His grace being sufficient in my life. I recently became reaquainted with an old friend, who has a child named Grace. Everywhere I go I hear about grace. I think all the time about how much grace people have with me when I act stupid... and this morning the first song at staff meeting was "Your grace is enough." I have told you before that sometimes- well, usually- God has to smack me over the head to get a point across... Once again, consider me "smacked."

Call me out when I don't have grace with you... it's one of my goals for 2007, and I want the accountability.

P.S. I love this church! After one song at staff meeting today, Pastor told us that the TBN lady told him that we were the best church she's ever worked with in the entire country, and we should be the prototype for everyone else. He told her we are the best staff on the planet... then he canceled the meeting and took us to Frank's! I love this place!

His grace is sufficient

That verse in the bible (2 Corinthians 12:9) took on a whole new meaning for me today as Stacey and I discussed His grace in our lives. Her mom had called her cell phone and left a really cute message, and Stacey said something about having one the greatest moms on the planet. As well all know, I ADORE my mother, so we got to talking about it. As we talked, we contemplated the fact of how truly blessed we are to have such great parents. I mean, really- I was born in America to a middle-class family, I have ALWAYS had food on the table at least three times a day, put there by two very present and active parents. They still help me financially when I need it and they helped put me through Elevate so that I could live my dream... and now I get to work at the greatest church in the entire world, with the most amazing people on earth and do what I love every single day. I am married to this incredible man of God (who happens to be my very best friend) and we have a great place with brand new things. On top of all that, God has put more dreams in my heart that I know He will bring me through.

I was not born in Cambodia or Uganda or somewhere that disease runs wild and poverty is the norm. His grace in my circumstances is enough to constantly fill me. But He doesn't stop there- He pours out His grace in a new way every single day! He pours it out when I ask for it and when I don't deserve it. He unleashes His amazing grace all over my life- in my heart, mind and spirit. Without that grace, I would be the ugly, drunk, messed up girl I once was... but this prodigal daughter came back... and He was there- once again- with open arms... and now I get to live a life I once only dreamed of.

His grace is sufficient for me.

Late Nite '07!!

Only four days til we kick off Late Nite '07!! We are super pumped to see the amazing things that God is going to do this year. I am so honored to get to be part of the team making it happen. Who woulda thought, just a few years ago, that God would use ME of all people?! It is a very humbling thing to see His grace in action. I have really felt a call to holiness the last few days. I mean, we are all called to be holy (in the Greek, to be "set apart"), but this change has taken my awareness of it to a whole new level. HATE sin and LOVE righteousness. That's what we gotta do. Mike sometimes refers to me as a "Kamakaze Christian" because I am so "hard core"... others sometimes remind me to work on having grace with people... but I will not be easy on myself in this area. My pursuit of excellence is only going to increase this year, and I will not apologize for it!!

On another note... my mom and I went to go see Freedom Writers last Friday afternoon. WHAT a good movie! There was a couple rough spots, but overall, I went away with such a feeling of "I can do anything" and it was great. It's a true story about a teacher who changes the lives of some kids who had a really tough life in Long Beach after the Rodney King riots. Race relations there were horrible. They all killed each other just for their color- and not just black and white, but hispanic and Asian as well. Last night, Chris and I went to Barnes & Noble so I could buy the book. When we got home, I couldn't put it down. The book is journal entries from the students over their four years in Ms. Gruwell's class. As much as I love the inner city, you must KNOW I love this book!

Finally, I would like to pledge to blog more... my loyal blog readers have gotten annoyed with my lack of blogging- I will promise to make time for it... but ONLY if you sometimes leave me comments so I know you are out there!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year!

So, a LOT has happened since my last post... which is why I haven't posted. Busy times... Here's a recap.
We delivered loads of toys and clothes to an amazing inner city family because of your generosity. We attended like 10 Christmas functions. We spent 6 days in Texas for Chase's 17th birthday and New Years where we played a riveting game of monopoly that I ruled!!! Chris my husband, Chris my brother, and I all got really sick. We drank yoohoos and hung out with great family... That's it in a nutshell. Check out some pics...


I hate making New Years resolutions because they are hard to keep. I prefer short term goals. However, there are two things I WILL do this year. 1. Live a healthier lifestyle- especially eating. We went wild over the holidays and now its back to getting in shape! There are some pants in my closet I intend to fit into in the next few months.... 2. Spend more time in God's Word. After Elevate I was actually tired of reading the bible because we had to read it SO much, and as I have gotten back into it, I have realized how much I really missed it. I love to read the Bible... so this year I WILL make sure to make time for it.

Anyway... that's it for today... have a great rest of the week!!