She Did What She Could

I heard a speaker recently who taught from Mark 14, where a woman that we assume to be Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus with nard from an alabaster box. I'd read the story hundreds of times and heard dozens of speakers point to different aspects of the layered text. But this time, I heard something new. It's the sentence that Jesus speaks at the beginning of verse eight. She did what she could. In those five short words, there is a storehouse of freedom and grace. Sometimes I get so caught up in the things that I want to do but can't, that I don't do the small things that I can. I may not be able to stop human trafficking today, but am I praying about it today? I can't fix all my friend's problems, but am I sending emails and making phone calls just to let them know that I'm here to listen. I may not convince all my fellow classmates that Jesus is the Son of God, but am I treating them like Jesus would, even down to my smile? Am I doing what I can? Because in reality, all Jesus is asking is for us to rely on His strength and do what we can. Sometimes we can do a lot - more than we think we can - and sometimes we can do a little. I'm choosing to stop getting so bogged down in what I'd like to do but can't, and start doing what I can.

I recently watched the movie Bella for the first time. I loved it. Not only is it super cleans and moral, but the cinematography is absolutely beautiful. It's the story of someone who did what they could. Check it out.

In House Revival

According to our calendars, this week was supposed to be the busiest of the year for us. Several teachers and guests were scheduled to join us for the week, all of whom were unable to come due to the volcanic ash hovering over Europe - the leftovers from last week's eruption in Iceland. As we began receiving emails, one by one, that flights had been cancelled and plans changed, our expectation grew for what the Lord had in store. And then the question was posed, Why not an in house revival? Over the course of this amazing week, we have seen that when our lives are open and available for a move of God, He is faithful to come and meet with us. Many students were touched with the joy of the Holy Spirit, the love of God and tears of intercession during the six to seven hour "morning worship times." There was also a wave of repentance that came when the revelation of God's love motivated us to more purely care for one another with an uncommon love. Lunch breaks and time tables became unimportant, because we were in the presence of God. Community member, Jeff Collins, stepped in as the teacher for this week, but often acted more as the facilitator of what God wanted to do, clearing a way for the Holy Spirit to freely come. When Jeff did speak, his topics included: the leading of the Holy Spirit, how we need to develop a sensitivity to His presence and that fear of grieving the Holy Spirit should far outweigh any fear of man. As the world around us fell into the chaos of the volcano's aftermath, we, a small community of burning ones in the mountains of Cyprus chose a different response. The outcome of that choice was an outbreak of Heaven in our midst. May we never be the same.

Here is one student's testimony from this week:

I had so much expectation for this week because our teachers weren't able to come. We all wanted to encounter God and have a deep move of the Holy Spirit. The Lord spoke to me and came with such a tangible reality in my body and heart, pouring out His joy. I am full of His joy! Even when we're praying for someone else, I grab the blessing for myself as well, not choosing to be a spectator. This week, a door opened in me for intercession for others, because it's also a blessing for me. One day I was laying on the floor and said "Lord, I can't make it happen." and He said, "No you can't. Why don't you just give everything to me and let me lead?" This school is not about a season for me - it's about a lifestyle. Just to know that I am His and He is mine.

Suicide to Salvation

Last weekend one of our first year students received news that her Grandmother was terminally ill in the hospital and wanted to die. In Belgium (where the student and her family live) euthanasia is legal and practiced. We immediately began to pray as a community for her family and unbelieving grandmother. One of the saddest things was that when asked if she wanted to talk to a pastor before making the decision to end her life, the grandmother replied "I have no sin." Our hearts broke for this woman and the way she had been deceived. We began to declare LIFE over her and ask God to come and change her heart. Over the course of the week we waited for reports from Belgium on the grandmother's status. The student's parents are believers and spent every moment they could with the grandmother, sharing the gospel with her. Then, late Thursday night, we got the news: the grandmother had a revelation of her sin and had accepted Jesus! There is no way I can express the jubilation in our community as we heard those words. Not only is God working in her spirit, but her whole body used to be in pain and now there are only two places that hurt! We are believing for a full healing in the natural and that she would declare God's goodness to the rest of the unbelieving family! Amazing - from suicide to salvation in one week. God is so good. This is just one more example of how what the Lord is doing in the lives of the students here at the school is making a difference in their families and home nations as well. We are also very aware that Belgium is one of the nations the school is going to on outreach this year and that this is only a firstfruits of the life that Yeshua is going to bring! Come Lord!

Streams Girl

I have absolutely loved working on the Streams in the Desert events this year. Not only has it been stimulating for the side of me that loves to plan and organize things, but it has deepened my heart for this island as well. It is my third year living here and praying for Cyprus. I see that God has a divine purpose for this place and these people, but connecting on a deeper level hasn't always come easily for me. I've pressed through in intercession because I know that it's true, not so much because I feel it all in my heart. But at the last Streams event, God did something in me for Cyprus that I've never felt before. I know that I will carry this nation with me in intercession for the rest of my life. I consider it one of my biggest privileges to get to know the believers here. Because my job is very hands on emailing people the answers their inquiries and making announcements at our worship gatherings, I've begun to build relationships with these people, putting names and stories with the faces. And they've gotten to know me as well. Many will come up to me at an event and ask, "Are you the Chelsea from the emails?" Or if they see me somewhere else, they'll say "Oh, you're the Streams girl!" I love that. I love getting to know these precious people. I see what an honor it is and am so grateful for this opportunity.

Love that Tickles

Last Saturday night worship, God came and heaven kissed us. Our worship time that closes out our shabbat are scheduled to last from 6 - 9pm, but often run into the wee hours of morning. Last night was one of these nights. After worship, some began to share testimonies of what the Lord did on a recent outreach into the Cypriot city of Paphos. Before we knew it, the Holy Spirit took control and a string of prophetic words were released for different members of the community. Some wept in the revelation of God's love, some groaned prostrate on the ground in intercession, and some were doubled over laughing in the joy of the Lord. As the hours went on and God continued to come and touch us, some of the kids began to drift off to sleep. Myrrh (the 5 year old daughter of our leaders) was laying in my lap fighting the sleep that was inevitable when she heard a new wave of laughter from the Lord break out. She suddenly sat up and asked "Why are they laughing?" I tried to explain to her that God was just showing them how much He loves them when she asked "Is God's love tickling them?" I smiled at the thought of it - the reality of heaven coming and tickling our hearts. Abba, I love your joy, come and tickle us with Your love!

Heidel Kiddos

Every Thursday from 10 - 2 I have the privilege of baby-sitting these German darlings. Yahron, Aviel and Rebekah Joy are the blonde beauties of the Gateways Community and watching them is one of my favorite responsibilities. Also, due to the fact that they are more bilingual now than I could dream of being, they're helping me work on my German:)

One of their favorite activities is going on long walks along the winding streets of their mountain village, Trimiklini. This last week we came across the treasure of a line of caterpillars. It's so fun walking with the kids and rediscovering the small treasures in the world around us.

The kids also loved taking pictures with the self timer:)

Oh Cyprus, Stand with the Righteous!

This past Saturday we had the opportunity to celebrate Jesus at the second Streams in the Desert event of the year, hosted at New Life International Church in the capitol city of Nicosia. An exciting part of this gathering was the afternoon seminars offered before the corporate worship in the evening. Our desire is to serve the people of God in any way that we can and have had requests on these topics. We do not assume to know everything or have all the answers but we do have a sincere desire to bless the body here on the island. Because this was the first time for these seminars, we had great expectations for what the Lord wanted to do during this time of equipping the saints and connecting to His heart in worship. We were not disappointed! The two seminars that took place simultaneously were powerfully anointed. Matthew shared with worship leaders and worship teams about how they can step into a new dimension of prophetic worship, while Pastor Norm shared on the glory of the Bridal intercessor in the place of intimate encounter with the Lord. Both seminars closed with ministry time and powerful prayers of impartation. There was so much immediate fruit from this time including a release of prophetic songs in the Greek language. We are so encouraged and believe that this is just the beginning of what the Lord wants to do in Cyprus!

The power and beauty of the afternoon carried right into the evening worship time when the Lord released His spirit on the people in the song and the dance. As we danced together, bringing an offering to the Lord, He led us into a time of intercession for the island where we cried out “Oh Cyprus, stand with the righteous!“ After worshiping through song and dance, we continued worshiping through exhortation from the Word. Matthew shared a burning message about God’s heart for this island that challenged us to throw off complacency and believe for what looks impossible to man. It is time to take a passionate stand for the Lord’s purposes and to align ourselves with them, no matter the cost. Many came forward at the end of the evening to receive prayer and prophetic ministry from the Lord.

Over the course of the day a prophetic word came forth about a stronghold over Cyprus being broken. We are believing and standing on this word, also knowing that something was also broken in our hearts for this island that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. God tells us to just ask and He will give the nations to us. We are asking and believing for Cyprus, declaring to this people, “You belong to the Lord!“

Streams in the Desert - Extravagant Worship from GBI on Vimeo.