Exhale

Stretch your arms high...... and inhale.

Waking up early this morning to catch the sunrise while doing yoga by the sea, I slowly understand that I don't have to be afraid in your presence. I am surrendering all my hurts knowing that I am in a safe place to be vulnerable, because you redeem and heal me.

I am walking into your presence because I can see you wherever I go now. Lord, you embrace me with your love once again - the warming and energizing sunrise, the calming and healing mediterranean sea, and the soothing and hypnotizing night breeze.

I am breathing in your grace...... and exhale.

Choosing to Be

The Kingdom of God is near. 

I see true community.

I see true unity.

I've witnessed true healing and true restoration  as we do life together in the sacred space prepared for us by Holy Spirit and your prayers.

Our true selves welcome us here.

They've been calling our names and it's so quiet and still here, this time we hear.

We've each been given traits that are like smooth stones.

Sometimes they feel burdensome but when they come together they form a monument of praise and worship to the One who gives.

Today, individually and collectively we are choosing to become...
Not missionaries, Not useful workers, Not even Christians.

We are choosing to know that we are Children of God.
Image-barers of our Daddy.
Choosing to receive the love that has been given to us...
Which means grace.

-Mandy

Lies and the Truth

Arriving in Altea, our team has been on a journey of healing, restoration, and finding the true identity that we have in Christ.  The time our team spent in preparation for this trip has led us to this place.  It’s been a beautiful thing to see how our team’s love and grace for one another has freed us to step into this process with vulnerability and openness.  We are learning to wrestle with the things in our lives that hold us back from fully being ourselves.  Two big questions we’ve been coming back to are these:

What lies are we holding on to that keep us from stepping into our true identity?

And

What Truth will we replace these lies with?

In my own journey here it has looked a little like this:

In humility I confess the lie that I must always exceed expectations and that admitting failure or struggles will always be seen as a sign of weakness.  I confess the lie that the way I was made for worship isn’t good enough and that my gifts are not valued.  I confess the lie that I will always have to prove myself in order to be able to use my passions.  I confess the lie that my heart will always be overlooked.

In response, I proclaim the Truth that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  I proclaim the Truth that BOTH my giftings and my shortcomings are beautifully woven together by my Creator to be effectively used for His glory.  I proclaim that my worship, whether on a stage in front of a congregation or alone in a quiet room, will always be received with delight by my King.  I proclaim that I do not need to strive in order to be valued, and I do not need to cover up struggles to be seen as a strong and capable leader.  I proclaim that God is good, His love is faithful, His teachings are gentle, and His timing is perfect. 

I proclaim this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.   Amen.

To all who mourn in Israel,

He will give a crown of beauty for ashes,

A joyous blessing instead of mourning,

Festive praise instead of despair.

In their righteousness,

They will be like great oaks

That the Lord has planted for His own glory.

Isaiah 61:3

The Three Waves of Our Trip

I am so excited for this work of restoration to take its course in our team. I am seeing our trip in three waves, each week on Sunday begins the new wave as we transition into the next phase of the trip.

Wave 1: Taking time and space to really invest in ourselves as individuals and what God is calling us to in our faith and our personal artforms. God has some good work to do and words to say to each one of us as we pursue our creative passions for His kingdom. EDGE program here in Altea creates an incredible environment for spiritual growth and stepping out to the surrounding culture. I imagine we will be better disciples because of our intentional time to pressing into this pivotal point in all of our journeys.

Wave 2: The Berliners come to Spain and we get to continue this pivotal journey, but together as we bond and grow with our Saddleback church family of artist from Berlin. We then begin to work more intentionally as a team with our art in the city, doing projects like Everyday Icons.

Wave 3: We take the roots of our growth and bonding over to Berlin. Out of an overflow, we pour into Saddleback Berlin and begin the process of rooting their people to use the arts in ministry to their city.

 - Jason