Dear family and friends,
We are over half way done our TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) training here at YWAM (Youth with a Mission) Discovery Bay. Wow – it has already been crazily intense, to say the least! We are learning an entire 4 month semester in 5 weeks...so we have been in the books and producing lesson plans and assignments intensely!
Highlights
Here are some highlights that are apart from the studying, note-taking, homework and presentations I have been up to! Some of them may seem trivial, but are all so special to me and know God has caused them to come to pass simply because He is good and He loves me!
- Clam digging/Goe Duck Hunting – one of the Camp Directors gave us a lesson in clam digging down at the beach front of the camp before he left for China. I was able to be a part of making homemade clam chowder....from the shell, as well as the adventure of digging for Goe ducks – we caught quite a few and a family on base had fresh sushi – mmmmmm!!
- Olympic National Park – our class took a Saturday morning and all chipped in for gas, etc. and went to the mountains, which are about 45 minutes away. There was so much snow – it was a shocker....our Mongolian friend gave each of us a face-wash like I have never experienced. What passion for snow!
- Provision – in the last number of weeks there have been two more families that shared with me that God has impressed on them to commit to support me (Word of Life Missions Director) and our work on a monthly basis – Praise be to Jesus! We are not far from the 12 committed monthly partners!! Luke 8:3...!!
(Also...the complete amount for tuition for our 5 week training also came in for the glory of the Lord! Woohoo!!! )
What is to come:
We have two and a half more weeks remaining of training and then we have the opportunity to go to Ukraine and volunteer teach for one month. This will allow us to complete our required hours of practicum teaching, which we need to receive our diploma’s as TESOL instructors.
This is not only a great way for us to get our practicum hours done in a short time, but mostly it is a means to go and serve the people of Ukraine (Turnopil) and see them advance in the skill of English, which for many of them is what they are working on to advance in work and school.
We will be working with the Youth with a Mission base in Turnopil and will be offering our classes for free out of their base. Each one of us going is required to have full support for all of our travel, work, and stay so that it is no cost to the Ukrainian people, and rather that it be a blessing to them.
We are definitely starting to get very excited about serving, loving and blessing Ukraine. Because of some of the common national issues : poverty, human-trafficking, many orphaned children, etc. we are also hoping to help and serve in various outreaches that are taking place there in our spare time.
If you are passionate and prompted to help with the Ukraine project, please contact me. We are hoping to buy more English curriculum to leave in Ukraine for resources.
Praise report/prayer
- My new guitar – God spoke to a dear friend to give me their Seagull guitar that has been an instrument of worship in many nations already. This happened about a month ago, but I am still in awe at Jesus’ gift in this!
- God’s faithfulness – again to give God the praise for providing the resources to take this training – that the entire amount for tuition and my flight to Seattle all came in good time!
That’s ALL!
So...for now...that is it.
Your prayer is always more than welcome...as we keep moving forward with all God has for this year...to be a witness of Jesus and His love in 12 nations of the world! Nothing is impossible for those that believe!
Love you all and am so thankful for each of you and am praying for you all regularly :)
Allison
Thoughts, experiences, revelations - all inspired by Holy Spirit for your reading and pondering and commenting!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Goe Duck Stomp and Assortments
Wow - how good is GOD!! So good I could go on for eternity (and will) describing His awesomeness!
I have been in Washington State for over 2 weeks now...and it has been quite the time already.
There is a constant sense growing for such a need for a greater Fear of the Lord. This was overtaking me as I was home in Canada for a few weeks and has not stopped. IT is the beginning of wisdom. It is clean and pure. It is to keep our way pure. The fear of the Lord and humility lead to riches, honour and life.
Here in this place, known in the past as a haven for hippies and new age, God is speaking so strongly of my greater need for the Fear of the Lord. A greater surrender to who He is and His place in my life and heart and actions. Oh for a greater encounter with the Holiness of God!
In this place of desiring and learning to fear Him more, by His grace, I find that Jesus is pressing me to enjoy people more. To encounter His holiness and walk in His fear (or reverence) is so connected to loving Him and loving people. To walk with Him. To be where He is and do what He does. To speak what He speaks. To rest in Him. To love in Him. To live in Him. And the by-product of remaining in Him is His holiness. Is a reverence for Him and all He is.
God is not common. Nothing He does is common. He is Holy. There is no one like Him. Yet - in His awesome holiness He desires that it be tangible and relatible to all those that desire to touch Him and know and live in His holiness. His holiness is not untouchable - it is actually the most touchable. It is real. It is Jesus Christ - living and changing lives of the highest or lowest of society!
Holiness is not segregation from the world, but it is seperation from sin and all that brings death and an empowerment to touch the world with the love and grandness of the One true God! Holiness is James 1:27 and Isaiah 58! And so much more....just starting to somewhat receive from Holy Spirit a little better understanding of what He desires!
Ha ha - simply - less of me, less of "kosmos" (or the common sense of the world) and MORE of Him, more of Heave invading earth through my mind, will, emotions and actions!
Let it be! Start in me!
In the midst....I am here taking a TESOL course....encountering God's holiness in English grammar and preparation to reconsile nations to Christ through something as simple as the language I speak!
Holiness
Fear of the Lord
I have been in Washington State for over 2 weeks now...and it has been quite the time already.
There is a constant sense growing for such a need for a greater Fear of the Lord. This was overtaking me as I was home in Canada for a few weeks and has not stopped. IT is the beginning of wisdom. It is clean and pure. It is to keep our way pure. The fear of the Lord and humility lead to riches, honour and life.
Here in this place, known in the past as a haven for hippies and new age, God is speaking so strongly of my greater need for the Fear of the Lord. A greater surrender to who He is and His place in my life and heart and actions. Oh for a greater encounter with the Holiness of God!
In this place of desiring and learning to fear Him more, by His grace, I find that Jesus is pressing me to enjoy people more. To encounter His holiness and walk in His fear (or reverence) is so connected to loving Him and loving people. To walk with Him. To be where He is and do what He does. To speak what He speaks. To rest in Him. To love in Him. To live in Him. And the by-product of remaining in Him is His holiness. Is a reverence for Him and all He is.
God is not common. Nothing He does is common. He is Holy. There is no one like Him. Yet - in His awesome holiness He desires that it be tangible and relatible to all those that desire to touch Him and know and live in His holiness. His holiness is not untouchable - it is actually the most touchable. It is real. It is Jesus Christ - living and changing lives of the highest or lowest of society!
Holiness is not segregation from the world, but it is seperation from sin and all that brings death and an empowerment to touch the world with the love and grandness of the One true God! Holiness is James 1:27 and Isaiah 58! And so much more....just starting to somewhat receive from Holy Spirit a little better understanding of what He desires!
Ha ha - simply - less of me, less of "kosmos" (or the common sense of the world) and MORE of Him, more of Heave invading earth through my mind, will, emotions and actions!
Let it be! Start in me!
In the midst....I am here taking a TESOL course....encountering God's holiness in English grammar and preparation to reconsile nations to Christ through something as simple as the language I speak!
Holiness
Fear of the Lord
Friday, February 19, 2010
Caminando!
Somewhat less 'revelatory'....yet still in Spirit and truth....this blog post is coming in the midst of a torrent of activity and exciting things!
If there has been one thing the Lord has spoken to me so clearly this first week is simple:
The BLOOD of JESUS is one of the most powerful weapons that we could ever possibly possess and we must be aware if His blood, the power of His blood and we must apply it in our lives. No enemy of God can come against the blood of Jesus...and in His blood we have victory over sin, the grace (power) to obey His word, and protection from death!!
That is the only tidbit I can give for now...and it is worthy of our contemplation and wonder of the greatness of God - "the precious blood of Jesus Christ, redeems, forever I am alive, restored, set free" (From "To Know Your Name" - Hillsong)
On a more informational level:
I have completed one full week of my assignment here already and it has been totally BLESSED of the Lord and fruitful! From quality time with the kids (that is priceless for us all), to reaquainting with old friends and family in Christ, to sharing Jesus' love with women of the street/cantinas, celebrating the Lord with others, having intense prayer times and preparation for teaching Bible College, sharing and getting to know the Bible College students.....wow...and on and on and on.
For a place where the heat makes one somewhat sleepy at given points of the day, when I reflect at what we can accomplish by the Lord's strength and grace, I am in AWE!
One definite perk is being able to write this Bible College course while I sit/lay in a hammock!! Praise God for the person who received that idea :)
So, currently we are into the second week of our work and it is almost time that it is kicked up to another level. Bible College classes start next week....so my time will be very focused in prepartions, teaching, prayer, study, etc. This has been a good challenge for me....having to sit still for a longer period of time even to study and prepare so I can be ready!! I reached a point the other day that I just wanted to start to summarize the lessons, rather than write them out point by point for the students' notes!! Ha ha ha - I am recieving more patience and the grace to sit still for longer periods of time from the Spirit of God :)
We have just received a team from Centralia, Ontario....and so we have 23 more Canadians on base for a few more days. They are delightful and so full of God's love. They have been serving various part of the work at Fe Viva and have already been an encouragement to many. Please pray for them as many of them are out of Canada for the first time....
Here on base, the Spirit of God is moving amongst the full time missionaries and bringing a real love for one another through times of fellowship and getting to know each other. It has been a treat to get to be a part of this (and lots of joy in the Spirit of God!) There has also been an intense time of spiritual attack...but Jesus has conquered - and we are victorious in Him :) Keep covering us all in prayer....we need the love and unity of each one :)
I'm out for now.....more to come later :)
If there has been one thing the Lord has spoken to me so clearly this first week is simple:
The BLOOD of JESUS is one of the most powerful weapons that we could ever possibly possess and we must be aware if His blood, the power of His blood and we must apply it in our lives. No enemy of God can come against the blood of Jesus...and in His blood we have victory over sin, the grace (power) to obey His word, and protection from death!!
That is the only tidbit I can give for now...and it is worthy of our contemplation and wonder of the greatness of God - "the precious blood of Jesus Christ, redeems, forever I am alive, restored, set free" (From "To Know Your Name" - Hillsong)
On a more informational level:
I have completed one full week of my assignment here already and it has been totally BLESSED of the Lord and fruitful! From quality time with the kids (that is priceless for us all), to reaquainting with old friends and family in Christ, to sharing Jesus' love with women of the street/cantinas, celebrating the Lord with others, having intense prayer times and preparation for teaching Bible College, sharing and getting to know the Bible College students.....wow...and on and on and on.
For a place where the heat makes one somewhat sleepy at given points of the day, when I reflect at what we can accomplish by the Lord's strength and grace, I am in AWE!
One definite perk is being able to write this Bible College course while I sit/lay in a hammock!! Praise God for the person who received that idea :)
So, currently we are into the second week of our work and it is almost time that it is kicked up to another level. Bible College classes start next week....so my time will be very focused in prepartions, teaching, prayer, study, etc. This has been a good challenge for me....having to sit still for a longer period of time even to study and prepare so I can be ready!! I reached a point the other day that I just wanted to start to summarize the lessons, rather than write them out point by point for the students' notes!! Ha ha ha - I am recieving more patience and the grace to sit still for longer periods of time from the Spirit of God :)
We have just received a team from Centralia, Ontario....and so we have 23 more Canadians on base for a few more days. They are delightful and so full of God's love. They have been serving various part of the work at Fe Viva and have already been an encouragement to many. Please pray for them as many of them are out of Canada for the first time....
Here on base, the Spirit of God is moving amongst the full time missionaries and bringing a real love for one another through times of fellowship and getting to know each other. It has been a treat to get to be a part of this (and lots of joy in the Spirit of God!) There has also been an intense time of spiritual attack...but Jesus has conquered - and we are victorious in Him :) Keep covering us all in prayer....we need the love and unity of each one :)
I'm out for now.....more to come later :)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Back to Guatemala
Hey all...a quick word in a place where internet is not as permanent!!
I am here...Guatemala - blessed nation of the Lord.
The Spirit of God is mighty in this place, mighty in my heart...lots is coming, lots is shifting....and time is moving. I have to run back to the missions base...as I only had a short time to connect with the outside world, but wanted to say that He is faithful to complete all He has begun here in Guate and in every one of our lives.....He is GOOD!
Peace, love and hope!
I am here...Guatemala - blessed nation of the Lord.
The Spirit of God is mighty in this place, mighty in my heart...lots is coming, lots is shifting....and time is moving. I have to run back to the missions base...as I only had a short time to connect with the outside world, but wanted to say that He is faithful to complete all He has begun here in Guate and in every one of our lives.....He is GOOD!
Peace, love and hope!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Real Love
Check out this link to see a video taken of me sharing about real love and a caption of my experience coming into the real love of Jesus :)
http://www.findingthehope.com/life_stories.php?s=v1
(If it does not take you directly to my video...go to the home page of http://www.findingthehope.com/ and scroll down until you see my face and click to see video.)
Personally, I think I look pretty funny, but that is what happens when you don't usually see yourself talking!
Enjoy!
http://www.findingthehope.com/life_stories.php?s=v1
(If it does not take you directly to my video...go to the home page of http://www.findingthehope.com/ and scroll down until you see my face and click to see video.)
Personally, I think I look pretty funny, but that is what happens when you don't usually see yourself talking!
Enjoy!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Northern Lights
A fairly recent prose the Lord gave me....enjoy!
Northern Lights
Allison Kach (Sept.3/09)
Allison Kach (Sept.3/09)
I’ve seen the Northern Lights,
A twinkle in Your eye for me.
I’ve seen showers of (shards) of light,
Dancing to the rhythms of Your grace.
Colours imposed from heaven,
Echoing life onto a dark-night canvas.
Mixing, moving, turning,
Across the horizon in leaps.
Expanding whirlwind disturbing the stars,
While shrinking back from the bottomless black.
Alive and vividly appearing,
Perhaps a mirror of my own heart’s longing.
To be in the centre of the Master Painter,
Shimmering beauty as I follow His finger.
Pointing, brushing, dreaming, seeing,
All that He has planned for the future.
And I, His light, fill in between His strokes,
Blending and bleeding the colour of His love.
Into this masterpiece for seeing eyes to see,
With such care and gentleness flowing.
Yet in a moment, as if in a blink,
I fade into the black without a trace.
The reflection of heaven returned to its place.
The audience below not missing,
What it had not seen or heard,
Or expected to continue,
Any longer than it should.
And I stand as one steady in wonder.
In the still black night,
Giving ovation for such a production.
To the ONE
Behind the curtain, under the colour
The hand that holds it all together.
With expectation bursting forth,
I say
Come out from behind heaven’s cloud
And receive praise and accolade.
You who time cannot change,
You with the eyes of fire
That works such beauty for Your pleasure.
Show us Your face and save this display,
For Your light is brightest and fullest,
And perhaps today is that day.
When I will see You face to face.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Possessing the Kingdom
The book of Daniel the Prophet.
Some intense revelations are found in that place, but what else is Jesus and His Kingdom if not intense. Intense is an understatement to the minds of men coming into the mind of the Spirit.
"But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come."Daniel 7:18
Truth from the Spirit of God regarding that which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man. Truth of the Kingdom of God. Truth of our inheritance as children of God, led by His Spirit, and if children, joint-heirs also, with Jesus Christ. Heirs of what? What was Jesus, the Son of God, given when He presented His risen self to His Father in heaven?
God states in Daniel 7:14, "And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed."
Jesus was given dominion, glory and a kingdom. He has, by such grace that will take eternity for us to wrap ourselves around, extended all He has to those that are in His family. Surely, He deserves and is worthy of all of the light, life and love of God ~ His glory, yet He pours out His glory on us so the world may know we are His. And dominion and His kingdom.
He has given us a place as children of God, as His Spirit reminds our spirits. We are co-heirs with Jesus Christ. Just as the Lord states in Daniel 7:18, we the saints of God, receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom. Interestingly enough, it is not sufficient to receive the kingdom, but we must also possess it. If it was not so, God would not have made a distinction here in His word.
Imagine the household of the famous Prodigal son. The brother of the prodigal was living in his father's household for all of that time, working hard, not expecting anything extra from his father. He was being a "good" son, according to his notion of what that meant. Then, when his wayward brother returns, having made a mockery of their family name, and more severely a fool out of his father to the other of their community, the mould of what a "good son" looks like is broken. The Prodigal, although having messed up in a big way, returned and was welcomed home and given all the resources of his father, even, may I say, in an extravigant manner. The elder brother became furious and confronted his father for such "unjust" behaviour. The father's reply was simple. "Son, all of this belongs to you to, you have just never asked for any of it".
Herein lies the difference between receiving the kingdom and possessing the kingdom of God. Just like the older brother in the story above, we may live in the Father's house but have never really seen it as our own. We may have always seen it as Daddy's...and at the right time, when our older brother dies, or Daddy calls us over and gives us special permission to do some of the stuff we have been dreaming of doing then maybe we might be able to almost feel like we are an owner of all of these amazing riches of our Father.
Well - SURPRIZE - He has already given us the title deed to everything in and through Jesus' work on the cross. We have received this truth in and through salvation, but many times we are waiting to possess it until the day that it is handed to us. It has already been handed to us, by Jesus Himself!
Remember, Jesus said, "The Kingdom is within you." Hmmm - we definately have received it and for it to be activated in us we must be in a state of possessing the kingdom, or owning the kingdom. It is my Father's Kingdom and as His child, it is my kingdom too! The things that He has revealed to the prophets belong to me and my children. He has revealed the Kingdom through Jesus, the Prophet, and therefore it belongs to me and my children.
We own it. We make it our own. Not because I deserve it, but because He gave it to us and it makes Him infinitely joyful when we come into being the way He has made us to be - His kids!
In the Kingdom, we have received a call to Go, Preach, Raise the Dead, Heal the Sick, Cast out Demons, Cleanse the Leaper - FREELY WE HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY WE GIVE! We receive this by faith and then we possess it and act and live in it and then we can give it away as we are possessing it. I can not give away something that does not belong to me - that would be stealing and Jesus isn't in to that!
As we possess the kingdom we are laying hold of the very purpose for which Jesus laid hold of each of us (Philippians 3:12-13). We are believing God at His word and taking His word and owning it and allowing it to order the way we talk, the way we think, the way we act, the way we relate to others, etc. We are actually manifesting the kingdom of God in our everyday living because we have begun to possess that which we have received from Jesus - HIS KINGDOM OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, JOY AND PEACE THAT CAN NOT BE SHAKEN! Our kingdom as joint-heirs with Him.
Let's get radically hungry to possess more of God's kingdom today, so that more peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him.
It's all about Jesus!
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