Approved
I just received word via e-mail that my student Visa was approved! I can now officially "study" in the country of Australia until January 17th when my Visa expires. Thank the Lord that it only took ONE DAY for it to process and be approved! Wow!
Another great thing to report: God has been doing some reformation in our youth group and our church. Tonight was no exception. In praise & worship, I have felt the youth group begin to act on their own as far as desiring to get into God's throne room. Stephanie & I, at one point, both felt like we should have just laid on our backs and soaked in Dad's presence. We weren't even remotely close to each other, but it was corporate, especially because Kara Deparsia (a girl in our youth group) was already on her back before God. HOW AWESOME!
YAY for GOOD NEWS!
Countdown to DTS: 74 days
Late Breaking News
We have just received word that there is late breaking news of a breakdown in the automobile, I believe it is a Plymouth Neon, of Miriam S. Dumlao. Yes, a breakdown of Miriam's car only two weeks after her vehicle was repaired. It had been six months since the car first died, and now it is said to have been stranded only two blocks away from her work/church.
In an interview with Miriam, she stated,"This is such a disappointment. I can't afford to fix this clunker again!"
On a more pleasant note, God used others to keep Miriam's spirit up on this slum day. As she feared the worst had come, Miriam found that with prayer and patience, God's provision will come in a time of utter helplessness.
Thank you, Stephanie, for your encouragement and for your attempt(s) to be nuturing!
Thank you, Papa Dan, for picking me up off the side of the road and towing my car to the church!
Thank you, Jeff & Mel, for the encouraging support!
Last but definitely not least, Thank you God for giving me grace to stand!
Countdown to DTS: 75 days
Extremely Humbled
Growing up in the midst of charismatic, Christian fellowships, I had never visited a more traditional, Baptist church before this year. It was not that I was against the Baptist church by any means. We are all of the same salvation - faith in Jesus Christ! Yet I have to be honest, when I was younger, I never thought I could even have the opportunity to lead worship in a Baptist church, let alone like it! So when I went to the First Baptist college group here in town to help a friend/co-worker of mine lead worship, I was thrilled to find out just how much I love playing there. It is definitely not the more traditional church, in fact my friend, Jamie, and I have coined the terms "charis-baptist", "pente-baptist or my personal favorite, "bapti-costal".
All that to say, yesterday I sat down to open my mail as I usually do. As I did, I found an envelope with the First Baptist logo/return address. It was a little note from Pastor Brad, the college pastor, along with a generous donation to my
YWAM tuition fund! Needless to say, I was extremely humbled by the whole situation. Not because they are Baptist and I am Pentecostal, but because I do not even go to their church yet they felt led to help send me into the ministry God is calling me to.
Thank you, Jamie! Thank you, Pastor Brad! And thank God for allowing the fullness of the body of Christ come together in support of each other!
Countdown to DTS: 81 days
Pride of Life!
I have no "real" news to report, besides the fact that I had a wonderful day! Now, how many people are really able to say that? We live our lives day in and day out as if we have crawled straight out of hell! Good God! Yeah, God, remember Him? We use His name as some sort of seal of approval, as if He is going to "damn" the little indiscrepencies of our day just because we desire Him to! Give Him the credit He deserves! Has anyone seen the blue skies and the glorious sun lately? Don't throw your sunglasses on in resentment; shut your eyes and allow its fiery rays hit that pastey skin of yours for a change! Love life! Better yet, love the God who has given it freely to us!
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth His handiwork..."
Psalm 19:1, KJV
I've updated my
journal. It is an entry dedicated to my English teacher,
Doctor Jane Dominik. Check it out, she is fabulous!
Countdown to DTS: 85 days
Wisdom has left me
On Friday I went into surgery for the extraction of all four of my wisdom teeth. Funny thing is that I feel a great deal WISER than before, having been drugged, revived and completely cohearant after everything took place. I did not have some of the usual side effects that you might expect from having oral surgery, THANK GOD! Maybe I am just a special case, or MAYBE God poured an extra dose of His grace for my surgery knowing that my mouth is the muscle in my body that I use the most. (I suppose technically it would be my jaw muscles...)
I'm waiting to hear from all of you kids... give me your addresses:
JCrhythm@hotmail.com
Countdown to DTS: 88 days!!!
raging on!
i'm still going strong and i'm raging on
i gotta keep my head up, keep singing my song...
yeah, i'm starting a rap career in hopes to raise more money for my DTS tuition! just thought i would say
THANK YOU! to all of my supporters who have already financially sacrificed to get me to Perth.
THANK YOU! to all of you beautiful people who have been keeping me in prayer, and
THANK YOU! to all of you beautiful people who are reading this and are about to show your support! i'm prophetically calling you into existence in Jesus Name! haha...
$648 dollars and counting, about $1000 to go before i get to purchase my airfare. God is SO GOOD! i am SO EXCITED!
oh, i have a praise report! MY CAR IS FIXED! WOO HOO! so miriam is mobile once again!
i have updated my journal - the link's to the left...
love you all and ROCK ON! (what is up with all of those capital letters... does it sound like i'm excited cuz i am actually just faking it...)
Countdown to DTS: 100 days
