IHOPU Highlights

I officially finished my freshman year at IHOPU on May 18th.  What a wonderful, challenging, stretching and God-given gift this year has been!  There is so much to say about this last year!  There have been so many moments when the Holy Spirit has encountered my heart with the love of God, so many times when Word has came alive like it's never come alive before, so many incredible people I've had the privilege of running with and so many difficult moments that I wasn't sure how to navigate but the Lord brought me through and taught me a whole lot along the way!  All of that to say, this list of highlights will not do justice to all that the Lord has done in my heart, in this community and in the cities of Kansas City and Grandview, MO.

Here are just a few highlights:

*Learning how to intentionally love my neighbors.  This is one of my greatest highlights!  I've seen the Lord use the weak and willing love of my roommate and I to transform our relationships with our neighbors.  Through prayer, consistent love, random acts of kindness, notes of encouragement and gifts, the Lord is transforming our relationship with our neighbors and giving us access into their lives so we can love them in an even greater way and pray for them when they need it. God's love being poured out through us has produced trust in their hearts towards us.  This has been supernatural and I am blown away by the goodness of God!  I am so grateful to the Lord and I long to see my neighbors and my community fully healed, restored and living for Jesus.  

*Learning how to study the Word.  Having a consistent life in the Word has been one of the hardest things for me in my walk with God, honestly.  I have so enjoyed this season of being in the Word consistently, learning how to study God's Word and developing my own life in the Word!  I feel like the fog is starting to lift off of my mind regarding God's Word.  The Bible seems so much clearer, more enjoyable and like bread to me.  This is one of the greatest gifts I have received from this season here at IHOPU.  I am so excited for next years classes!  I will be taking Biblical Hermeneutics and Old Testament Survey which will bring even more growth in my understand of God's Word.  I'm so excited!

*Living near Kristi, Shane and Noah. It has been SOOoooooo wonderful living near family in this season!  I have really enjoyed watching little Noah grow, learn and experience new things!  He was 8 months old when I started school and is now 18 months old!  He has grown in every way possible and we're in love :)  I love that kid!  I am so thankful to be near some of the most encouraging, helpful, discerning, loving people that I know.  Kristi and Shane have walked with me through many of the difficult moments when I thought I couldn't keep going and the many triumphant victories that we got to celebrate together.  We've cried together, laughed together and grown so much together in this new season that we're all embarking on.  It's such a privilege being a part of the House of Prayer family and the YWAM/CALL2ALL family.

*Running with a large group of like-minded friends.  The Lord has graciously given me many brothers and sisters to run with in this season!  I have a good group of friends who challenge me, provoke me, encourage me, love me and teach me SO many things!  We really do go farther in our love for, understanding of and knowledge of God when we search Him out together.  I have made some life-long friends and I am so grateful.  My roommate has been such an incredible blessing to me in this season, as well!  The Lord has used her to encourage my heart, strengthen me and provoke me in incredible ways.  We sharpen each other and love each other well. Our love for one another, honesty and vulnerability with each other, unity and mutual respect towards one another, accountability and prayer for each other has created a space for the Holy Spirit to rest in our home, resulting in exponential growth and peace in my heart.  I am so thankful for her!

*LOVE.  This is the greatest highlight of my time here.  I love Jesus more today than I did when I came to Kansas City in August.  There's nothing more that I could ask for!  His love compels me to live with intentional love in my heart for God, myself and for others.  I want the Great Commandments that Jesus has given me (and you) to overflow into the Great Commission going forth in my life.  Oh that I would love God with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength and from that place that I would love my neighbor as I love myself.  Literally.  From that place of experiencing and knowing Love, I want to proclaim the excellencies of Jesus, who has brought me out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

May you be filled with His love and His joy and His peace today.  I am really excited to come home, share more about what the Lord is doing and hear about all that He has done in your lives and hearts over these last few months!  God is moving and I can't wait to share stories, mutually encourage each other and increase faith in our hearts!  If you have a testimony you'd like to share, feel free to leave a comment testifying of His goodness :)