Transforming Love

^{Psalm 91:9-13}

⁹ If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
   and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
   no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
   to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
   you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 

This passage has been especially powerful to me lately. This was one of the most important passages to me when I was going through all I did as a teenager and it played a HUGE role in my ability to hope and trust in God to save me. It was sooo awesome to share it with so many hurting girls this past weekend at Bella Girls' Getaway camp and see them experience the freedom that comes from resting in God's hands!

It has been a busy couple of weeks! But I'll try to fill you in on as much as I can.

Me and some of the girls at camp

The spiritual climate is intense, but God is prevailing. I went to Girls' Getaway this past weekend. This camp is designed to bring the girls who participate in Shine in the school system away to an environment where relationship can be developed and the love and freedom found in Jesus can be proclaimed. We had about 30 girls, most all of whom are unsaved and come from lives of abuse, oppression, self-harm, suicide attempts, and more. On Saturday morning God gave me the privilege to share my testimony of  anorexia, depression, and suicide attempt and how God radically and fully healed me body, soul, and spirit. The response was huge!! Nothing to my credit at all, but I have never felt the Holy Spirit speaking so clearly and confidently out of me before. Many say it was the turning point in camp... One of the most powerful times is when they get Christian men from the city to come and speak a "fathers blessing" over each individual girl . The men get the names of 2 or 3 girls the week before to pray over and seek God over, and then on the final day they just love them and bless them. Many of the girls have never heard anything positive, let alone a blessing full of love, from a man. Its just huge! In the end about 10-12 girls accepted Jesus. There is one girl in particular who was on high suicide watch and was struggling with anorexia who found hope and healing in the love of Jesus through my testimony. She was radically radically transformed!! Praise God for his overwhelming love, grace, and mercy!!! Thank you all for your prayers for me and the girls. After the weekend I became pretty sick...along with about 3 or 4 of the other leaders! Satan did NOT like all that went on, but it was so worth it :) 

After receiving her "father" blessing

Jonathan went to help lead a group called "The Base" this past weekend while I was at camp. "The Base" is a youth group type setting for children and teens that are primarily on the streets and not plugged into a church. It's a totally different environment from the  normal "youth group," but one we are pretty comfortable with :) It was fun for him to go and be a "father" to the kids who have no earthly fathers. Just teaching a little boy a card game and holding him and spinning him around can do so much more for that child to show him the love of our daddy God than we could ever imagine. We are going to help "The Base" set up a website in the next couple weeks. God has really allowed us to use different giftings here and there to help people. I know that our administrative gifts have DEFINITELY been stretched. 

We are going "full on" with Easterfest. Stress is rising in that office as things get closer and closer. Easterfest City has DOUBLED its venues, artists, and church participants (check out more about EF City at www.easterfestcity.com). This means there will be artists all over the city, in bars and pubs too, worshiping on Easter Sunday morning. How cool!! Jonathan has done such an excellent job working to make this year's EF the biggest and best yet, and I'm so proud of him. More than that though, he is really being a light of God's peace, joy, and faith there... kind of like the eye in the middle of the storm.

Jonathan had his 22nd b'day this week. (I'll put up a pic tonight!) The EF office blessed him with the dessert of choice here, apple crumble cheesecake from "The Cheesecake Lady"...yummmm.... It was fun for him to celebrate his b'day BEFORE his twin brother for the first time in his life, thanks to the time difference. We hope to sneak away for a picnic or something together soon...that is if our schedule calms any :-). We get to go to dinner out in Oakey (the Moundville of the area) with a sweet sweet pastor we met through the Christian Leaders Network. This is the second pastor outside of Toowoomba City Church we have been able to fellowship with. It is such a blessing to fellowship and encourage each other in the faith.

I got to go to a group last night called "Ladies in Waiting." This is a group for women who are experiencing infertility to pray together, support one another, and rally each others' faith. It was so amazing to lay my hands on wombs and pray LIFE into them! When Pam was here last year, one of the ladies conceived the week that she prayed for her! I'm believing that for the women I prayed for as well. Our God is a God of healing. 

As we are now in the second half of our stay, we are really seeking God about any changes he wants us to make once we return home. We want make sure we are placing all of our time and energy into propelling God's kingdom, whatever that means for us. Please be in prayer as we seek God for vision and clarity to this regard. We trust His leading and will continue to be servants until he raises us up to whatever He has for us next.

Sorry so long, but I had a lot to catch you up on. We love you all and miss you all greatly. This has been a slightly "home-sick" week for me personally, but its exciting to see the harvest here. Can't wait to dive back into the harvest at home too. 

Many blessings,

Jono and Mel 

Fruit is Good!!

OUR GOD IS A GOD OF VICTORY!!! Oh praise God that there is nothing within us that can do any good outside of the grace of God. How freeing is it to know that nothing rests on our ability or our leadership, our words, or our desires even...its all God's grace, which is more that enough for ALL people and for ALL sin. Our God won the victory and continues to fight for us (exodus 14:14). We don't have to be discouraged anymore. We don't have to be stressed anymore. Our God has performed a beautiful exchange of our depravity for His victory. 

LifeGen Youth Group we help lead

We saw God's grace in action this past week when one of the youth here accepted Christ!! Jonathan had the opportunity to lead a small group, and this youth was in His group. Little did Jonathan know that his powerful expression of the love of Jesus to this kid planted such a seed that would bear fruit so quick! How exciting :) We had a powerful night of prayer and worship last Sunday night as well. We definitely saw fruit as we laid hands and prayed over/with our bros and sis's in Christ. Many were released from bondage as they moved more fully into the powerful grace of God. We've actually had many awesome times of prayer this week...with groups our age, youth, and individuals, where we have felt the power of God so strongly.

The night J shared with the kid who accepted Jesus :)

One of the most powerful times of this past week was when a prophet from South Africa came and gave the Word of the Lord to the TCC staff (us included). He shared that God is moving us into a new season where we must progressively be taking territory for Jesus. The world is definitely a battle field right now. God gave Him the story of Abraham, how Abraham received fresh visitation from God and moved to new places on his journey with God. Each time he moved, he set up an alter of worship and declaration that that place was now God's. Abraham was actively taking territory for God to be able to access His people. Each of those alters continued on to be powerful places of God's access to His people (like Bethel - where Jacob received his dream and Elisha later called fire from heaven). We must be seeking God for fresh visitation and instruction, moving, and claiming territory for God! The battle lines in the spiritual realm are being drawn..... He also spoke a very affirming and specific word of Jonathan and I that assured us we are RIGHT where God wants us. Just like Elisha before the mantle was passed, we are in a time of servanthood, impartation, and acting in obedience until God releases us and raises us up into the specific purpose He has for us.

I also had an opportunity to share with a group of beautiful young women about how powerfully we can and should encounter God in scripture. I shared three things that God has revealed to me about His word throughout my journey, specifically when I was in the pit of depression and other issues as a teen. First, God's Word is not just a tool, IT IS THE LIVING BREATHING WORD. "In the beginning was the word, and the word became flesh (Jesus)." The Word is another expression of God to us. When you open it, it is like God breathing on you. How is your relationship with scripture?? Second, the Bible is our ultimate weapon against the enemy. Revelation tells us that Satan is defeated by the word of our testimony, and the Bible is one huge testimony of God's victory. Finally, the Bible is our ultimate place of Refuge. I shared several scriptures that sustained my life during my pain as a teen (Psalm 91, Rom. 8:26-27, Psalm 119:47-50). Man did God show up! God was giving such fresh revelation of His word and new hungers to know Him intimately through it! It has nothing in the world to do with me, but seeing God's fruit come when his name is proclaimed just makes me excited :) 

Standing over Brisbane

Sorry this is so long, but it has been a full full full week! This week will be the same. This coming weekend I will be going to "Girl's Getaway Camp", which is a camp for girls that City Women reach out to. I will get to share my testimony with about 25 8th grade girls as well as be a leader...I'm expecting great things. Please pray for me to have divine appointments with hurting and desperate girls who need to feel the touch of life from their true Father. Most of these girls have experiences abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts, and more. God just wants them to know they are beautiful, values, and loved. I get to be a vessel for that.

Blessings on you all! 

Jono and Mel (our Aussie names)

The Grace of God

Galatians 2:19-21


 ¹⁹ “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”


We have been getting involved in Life Gen leadership on Friday nights and having a blast. It is kinda bringing back old memories from leading TLC Uth Groop back home. No matter what I do It is nothing but the grace of God that can save people. Thank you Jesus for removing that burden of my back. Now that I understand that lets go have some fun, climb table top mountain, mens camp, crows nest falls? maybe. 


I am having a blast and here is what got from mens camp. Have you ever slept in a swag? No Leemar, not the way that I walk I'm talking about a on person tent with a small amount of padding on the bottom. I now know how to use a GPS to navigate the bush of QLD Australia, and I have driven a small boat around Pindari Dam. While on the boats we got to go cliff diving, bouldering, and ply tag with the boats. 


Adam Grant gave two man talks, one on Saturday morn and the other on Sunday morn. The first talk was about the divine order of men taking responsibility. Ever since the garden men have been shifting blame onto someone else. He said we need to take responsibility for our physical health, our past, spirit man, and our purity. Concerning all of those the quote, "I did not feel like doing it but I knew it was good for me" I don't feel like taking a walk, reading my bible, forgiving others, or denying my flesh but I knew God would bless me for it. Second talk was about marriage and how men need to be able to cry and say I love you.........uh well something like that :) What he really said is that we need to love our families not just by providing but by being there physically and emotionally. Be the leader, Be the MAN of the house. Adam talked about what that looks like in a world where the father is either absent or portrayed as week. I love my wife as Christ loves his church giving himself unto her so that she can be made whole. Thank you Jesus for doing that for me.


To wrap things up we just had God bless Easterfest with ticket sales beyond any of our bets....I mean imaginations ;) Thank you lord for caring for us in ways we can't even imagine. Men, go be men and love like Christ and with the fathers heart. Woman, love us through our mistakes and maybe we can make it through till tomorrow. 


Peace out, Jonathan 

Digging In...

Hello Again!

 Wanted to give you all an update. Life is just lovely here...been perfect weather and more than that, we've been building our relationships with others more and more. We are trying REALLY hard not to fall too much in love, as we do have to go home to AL. But if God opened up a door for us here, I can't say we would jump on it (if God told us to that is!) If God told us to go anywhere in the world we would. That's definitely been solidified in me since being here... wherever in the world God sends us, we will be surrounded by family (bros and sis in Christ) and he WILL provide for us. We've said before, God has eliminated that "gap" of fear for us when it comes to new places and insecure circumstances. This time has only solidified that even more.

Jonathan is at "Man's Camp" right now about 4 hours away at Pandori Dam...having the time of his life rolling in mud, grilling on cinder blocks, and not bathing. I'll take my cup of coffee, homemade honey oat bars and time to do my nails any time! BUT there are several teen and young adult guys there that Jonathan has been building relatioship with. I'm excited to see how God opens up deeper conversation and opportunity to speak life and truth into them while he is gone. No better time for digging in to someone's life than around a campfire!

This coming week is going to be packed full. We have a presentation with City Women called "What's Happening to Our Girls" on Thursday. This will present the horrible and sickening effect that our culture has had on girls in Toowoomba and the world at large. Addiction, depression, abortion, drop-out, STD's, plastic body parts...its what our world teaches women to be. City Women (particularly Bella programs) seek to be a counter-cultural force, restoring value, worth, and the understanding of TRUE BEAUTY to these hurting girls. It's such a privilege to be working with Bella Chicks (a youth group for these girls meeting at the local movie theater), Bella Magazine (a magazine seeking to counter the horrible stuff found in things like Cosmo), and others to bring Jesus love, acceptance, and truth to these girls. In March I will be going to Bella Camp as a leader. There will be 25 girls who deal and face such issues as mentioned above. I have been asked to give me testimony of depression and anorexia at Bella Camp, and I can't wait to see how God uses it! Please pray for me and for the girls..that I could dig in to lives that they would be changed eternally. This Friday I will be going to a local school to be on a Q&A panel for teen pregnancy and STDs. High School girls will be asking questions all about these issues, and I will get the chance to make a lasting impression on girls that could be at a pivotal point of decision about the direction of their life.

Jonathan is still doing an amazing job with Easterfest...learning ALL ABOUT what it takes to put on such an event. So far we've sold around 120,000 tickets and expecting thousands more. It will be an awesome awesome event celebrating the Easter message...incense rising all over the city! Jonathan has mentioned half joking half not joking about applying to be CEO of Easterfest (the current CEO is leaving after this year). At first I was like "what in the world?? NO WAY are we qualified for that!!" But who am I to say what God has and hasn't qualified us for. I support my husband in whatever God tells him to do. It's so refreshing to follow....

I've mentioned before that we are helping with the church's youth group. Last night was an "all girls" night, and it was just awesome. At one point the leaders presented each girl with a special card telling them a character quality that is admirable in them. You could see the power of "words of life" spoken over those girls. It's so important to speak life over people...especially teens...for some of those girls it could have been the first time in a LONG time someone encouraged them personally. All the youth have attached to us...I think its the accent personally haha! However, at least one girls last night wasn't so attached...she pulled the chair out from under me only to discover four bleeding scrapes down my spine. Bless her heart, so was so embarrassed and upset later. What a great time to tell her she is loved :)  It does hurt a little though....

Finally, I did want to mention quickly about the flood situation here. While it has lost news coverage now, the impact from the floods here in Toowoomba were DEVASTATING! Hundreds are living in tents on their once thriving farm land...owning nothing but their pride. The city and church (as in body of Christ) has rallied so much to help, but there is such anger, bitterness, despair, and deprivation that has engulfed so many of the flood victims. Please continue your prayers for the recovery here. While some have been open to help from the church, others are just angry at God and man.

If I'm failing to write about some major point of interest for you, please shoot us an email or comment! We'd love love LOVE to hear from you there....

Family Shout Out: I miss my momma :) I love you mom!!

Blessings

Living in God's Paradox

"The same power that raises the dead lives in me!" 

Wow what a powerful statement. I really don't think we could ever FULLY grasp the power of the Father that lives, works, moves, and rises within us. It has been a cry of my heart for God to reveal that more fully to me while we are here in Australia. So many need God's power in their life....His freedom, a fresh movement, and fresh word, and moment of tangibly feeling His love. How I so desire to bring that fullness of life that is in Christ into the world. Oh God would your power rise more and more and more within me!

The view from our home!

This is Melissa here :) While we have only been here for about two weeks, this has certainly already been a journey for me. It seems as though Jonathan doesn't always need a "journey." When God wants Him to have something, he just gets it! I have to work at suppressing my jealousy of that gift from God, but maybe its good that one of us takes a little more time to "chew" on things.

I know that God has revealed many things to me about myself...how I truly am when I'm stripped away from all that is normal, all that is comfortable, all that is easy. Not that life at home is easy, and not that anything here is anywhere close to difficult, but change is always something..umm....new. Our God is such a God of paradox. Our God is constantly making all things new, yet he never changes. He is our solid rock, yet he stirs movement throughout His people. I desire to be ever moving with God's "pillar of fire," yet I also desire to never be tossed to and fro by the winds, but to stand firm on God's rock without flinching. How do you get to that ultimate place with Jesus. How do we reach that place like Enoch who was walking with God yet so utterly, steadily one with God that He was taken to the reality of how he was living on earth...living in God's Kingdom. I'm just sitting here so empty before God and so hungry to be completely consumed with Him, while still being consumed with living out His love through relationship with others.

The "flat top" mountain Jonathan is climbing!

I'm sure you would like to know more the specifics of what we've been up to... LOTS haha! Jonathan is currently out with some guys climbing a mountain for one thing. Haha, he woke up singing Miley Cyrus "It's the Climb" this morning as he assured me that he would return in one piece. This week has been a full week of working with Easterfest and City Women. It's awesome how God had the perfect spots of need for us that match our giftings. I have been working hard on the City Women website. I even learned a new website creation program! Get ready TLC for a new website when we return :). I am also going to be working with the Bella Magazine, specifically marketing and promotion in schools across the nation. If you have never heard of Bella Magazine, please look it up!! It a magazine meant to counter the horrible, disgusting material that our young girls and women are reading everyday. It is all about true beauty, worth, value, and purpose as a women created by God. If anyone has a connection with Lifeway, please let me know! I am also the volunteer coordinator for all the Bella activities at Easterfest. Thanks my wonderful mother-in-love for your training in volunteer management.

Jonathan has been doing an AMAZING job in his role at Guest Itinerary Coordinator for Easterfest. Working with headline artists to secure flight info, hotels, schedules, meals, etc is no small feat, especially when you don't know the area. He has also designed the entire 3-day schedule for the event...organizing every minute of 3 days with artist concerts, speakers, etc. He has grown so much in his administrative gifting, and I'm super proud of him :) Oh how I LOVE LOVE LOVE my husband!! He delights in me as I know God does..what a blessing.

Us with little Alyce and Ben - Isaac's (CEO Easterfest) beautiful children

I will get to help lead worship tomorrow. Super excited about that :) We have a pool party tonight with the young adults, and our host family leaves for a 3-week "holiday" to New Zealand on Tuesday...so we will be on our own! We love you all so much and are praying specifically for many of you. We trust God in your life just as we trust him in ours.

I'll leave you with this quote I heard today at a ladies meeting:
"If you don't have change you don't have butterflies"
I thought that was fairly fitting for all God has been stirring within me :)

Blessings!

Everything Is Meaningless

Remember Your Creator While Young

 ⁷ Light is sweet,
   and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
⁸ However many years anyone may live,
   let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember the days of darkness,
   for there will be many.
   Everything to come is meaningless.  ⁹ You who are young, be happy while you are young,
   and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
   and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
   God will bring you into judgment.
¹⁰ So then, banish anxiety from your heart
   and cast off the troubles of your body,
   for youth and vigor are meaningless.

 There are two things that last, the word of God and the souls of men. These things are not meaningless. I have been very busy working at the Easterfest office, and even when I am not here I catch myself thinking about it or something else. Right now I am asking God to maintain the divine order in my life that I would not conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Inside of this order I can have PEACE. I don't have to worry or fret about anything. I'm happy staying busy and love to work but I cannot let myself get caught up in all this work if things are not in order in my spirit. I have been blessed with a peace beyond all understanding and thank Jesus for that. Inside of Gods divine order I find purpose in doing everything not just as if I am doing it for him but I am doing all for him. 

I don't want to let anyone think that I feel the work I'm doing is meaningless but if it remains just work it is. I have the Joy of working with amazing people and doing work that will change peoples lives. Data entry, Email, mail-out, pick up the mail, take out the trash, meetings, ect.......

ALL MEANINGFUL :) 

Love the friends and fam back home. Talk to y'all soon.

Work :) and the "Red Hornet"

"Then the Lord reached out His hand to me and touched my mouth and said to me, 'Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." Jeremiah 1:9-10

We feel God beginning to touch our lips and guide into building and planting more of His kingdom here in Toowoomba. While we have just begun to build relationship and gain our bearings, we feel God's presence over us. As we begin the "real ministry" next week, we anticipate the words of God being placed into our lips flowing out more and more. More than anything we are seeking to be an "anchor of peace" in the midst of Easterfest, City Woman, and the other ministries of Toowoomba City Church as many are rattled and nerved by the recent flooding and the overwhelming spirit that many times attacks ministry.

So I (Melissa) finally get to write one!!

On a fun note, today was "just lovely" (what everyone says here instead of awesome haha). We went to the park  with Issac, his beautiful wife Mel, and their oh so funny children. Man is the weather and landscape here beautiful!!!! I just can't get enough of it. We got the "Red Hornet" today, our lovely Ford Festiva. The one hicupp....stick shift...on the left side hahaha. Jonathan had fun learning to drive a stick while driving on the wrong side of the road in the wrong side of the car using the wrong hand to shift gears. Me...lets just say I was slightly nerved. Got groceries though! Enough PB and J to last a couple months I'm sure. Everything cost way more here... but we have been so blessed with meals and coffee courtesy of our hosts, Issac, Adam, and      others. Our God has provided so well.

Beginning Monday Jonathan will be working 8-5 on the Easterfest staff. Isaac (CEO of Easterfest) said today, "Big J, I believe you will be a bit of a help more than I anticipated". Big compliment to my amazing husband. Jonathan has caught on quite fully to the Aussie sarcasm, but I'm still getting there. Maybe I have a little more southern hospitality in me! I will be working 8-5 with City Women, beginning on the magazine editorial team for Bella magazine, which is an awesome magazine geared towards the inner beauty of women. I will also eventually work in the schools with a program called "Shine", which seeks to restore worth, strength, and purpose to abused, hurting, depressed, etc. girls. Closer to Easterfest, we both will work with the Guest Coordinator to provide guest services to the artists (like Switchfoot, Shawn McDonald, Petra, Darlene Zcheck). We also are joining in on a weekly gathering for Christian Leaders here in Toowoomba as well as church staff meetings to soak up any God-given principals for ministry and experience some awesome Holy Spirit inspired city unity in the body of Christ. Finally, we are joining in on the youth group and young adult group to disciple youth and young adults a little. We will be busy!! We are so excited though. There are many other things we will join into. Here are the links to Easterfest and City Women to find out more about what we are involved in:
http://www.easterfest.com.au/
http://www.toowoombacitywomen.com/

So I'm going to leave you and enjoy this 120km view of the sunset. Don't know how I'm ever going to leave this!! Here are a few pics from the past day or two to enjoy. Please comment! We'd love to hear from you :)

Blessings
Melissa