It's crazy how fast time flies by sometimes.
The last three months of my life have radically altered and completely changed my life. I didn't believe such transformation could happen in such a short amount of time.
And now, I'm about to leave Kona and head to China for another three months. What is God going to do in these three months? How much more will my life be flipped around?
We're leaving in five days. December 28, 2010. We fly from Kona to San Fransisco to Beijing to Dalian. China, be prepared.
Our team has also been given the opportunity to go into North Korea. This means I will need to raise another $700. God has provided for this whole trip in such incredible and awesome ways. I know He will continue to supply what we need.
Thank you all so much for all your prayers and support over these last three months of my life. Please keep me and my team always in your prayers. Please consider giving so that our team can also go into North Korea. No amount is too small. God wants to use you to impact the Chinese and Korean people.
I am so excited for what these next three months have in store. God is so good.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
the stars proclaim the glory of the Lord
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Last weekend some of my friends and I took a little road trip to Mauna Kea, the highest point in Hawaii. We packed into a car and drove up the twisting and winding roads. We stopped about ten miles from the top. It was literally freezing. I was hoping to see some snow, but Mauna Kea highest point is above the clouds, which means no precipitation at all. We got out early to adjust to the temperature. The higher we climbed, the colder it would become. We spent a little while and then huddled together in the car to warm up before we drove to the top of the mountain.
It was dark at the top of Mauna Kea. The only lights were from our car and from the stars.
I cannot begin to describe the sight. Thousands and millions of stars dotted the sky. I could only stare at the beauty of the scene above me. The stars twinkled in the night sky. Several shooting stars darted across the blackness.
And all I could say was "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty." How could I not worship?
Our God is so great and so big. Looking at that night sky made me see how small I was. And as beautiful as the sky was, God considers us to be the most beautiful of His creation.
Let us magnify His name forever.
He is Holy.
"Be holy as He is holy." 1 Peter 3:15
Look at the sky. See the greatness of our holy God. And worship.
Last weekend some of my friends and I took a little road trip to Mauna Kea, the highest point in Hawaii. We packed into a car and drove up the twisting and winding roads. We stopped about ten miles from the top. It was literally freezing. I was hoping to see some snow, but Mauna Kea highest point is above the clouds, which means no precipitation at all. We got out early to adjust to the temperature. The higher we climbed, the colder it would become. We spent a little while and then huddled together in the car to warm up before we drove to the top of the mountain.
It was dark at the top of Mauna Kea. The only lights were from our car and from the stars.
I cannot begin to describe the sight. Thousands and millions of stars dotted the sky. I could only stare at the beauty of the scene above me. The stars twinkled in the night sky. Several shooting stars darted across the blackness.
And all I could say was "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty." How could I not worship?
Our God is so great and so big. Looking at that night sky made me see how small I was. And as beautiful as the sky was, God considers us to be the most beautiful of His creation.
Let us magnify His name forever.
He is Holy.
"Be holy as He is holy." 1 Peter 3:15
Look at the sky. See the greatness of our holy God. And worship.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Support Update
Dear Family and Friends,
Aloha from Kona Hawaii! I’m writing to update you on my YWAM DTS training and to let you know what God has been doing in my life.
The training here has been so completely amazing. Every day I go to class with the anticipation that God is going to teach me something radical. My whole life has been completely turned around. My old thoughts that were focused on myself and my future have been replaced with the desire to follow God where ever He will lead me next. I have been growing in hunger for knowing God more. I wake up each morning eager to see what God will teach me through His Word and through the teachers here in Kona. I cannot wait to share the life and joy God has given me to others I meet, both in China and also back home in Grand Rapids.
I cannot thank you enough for all your prayer support for my journey here to Kona and also for this time of training. God has been creating friendships here that will continue to last far after the trip is over. He has been forming a community of support and unity with the common goal to share God’s love to the nations. I am excited to see how God will continue to use these relationships. Thank you for all your prayers.
Thank you so much for all of your financial support. God provided the money needed to pay for all of my training here in Kona and also to pay for my ticket to China. I cannot thank God enough for His favor in my life. I am still trusting God to provide the last $3,060 needed for me to be in China for three months.
I am so excited to share about what our team will be doing in China. Our team consists of two leaders, five guys, and eight girls. We will be leaving Kona and flying to Beijing, China on December 28, 2010. From Beijing we fly to Dailon, China. We will be staying in Dailon for most of the three months with a couple trips to Dangdong. We will be staying at a YWAM base when we are in Dailon. We are hoping to work with the university students leading Bible studies and discipling the students we meet. The area is so hungry for knowing more about God. I am so excited and eager to share with them.
I am trusting that God will provide the rest of the money needed for the trip. Please pray and ask God if you can give to help support me while I am ministering in China. Also ask other friends and family if they would be willing to give. Thank you so much!
You can send money to my home address:
Lanning Family Ministries
576 68th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49548
or online using Paypal on my blogsite on the upper right side of the page.
May God continue to bless you with His love, peace, and grace,
Julianne Lanning
Aloha from Kona Hawaii! I’m writing to update you on my YWAM DTS training and to let you know what God has been doing in my life.
The training here has been so completely amazing. Every day I go to class with the anticipation that God is going to teach me something radical. My whole life has been completely turned around. My old thoughts that were focused on myself and my future have been replaced with the desire to follow God where ever He will lead me next. I have been growing in hunger for knowing God more. I wake up each morning eager to see what God will teach me through His Word and through the teachers here in Kona. I cannot wait to share the life and joy God has given me to others I meet, both in China and also back home in Grand Rapids.
I cannot thank you enough for all your prayer support for my journey here to Kona and also for this time of training. God has been creating friendships here that will continue to last far after the trip is over. He has been forming a community of support and unity with the common goal to share God’s love to the nations. I am excited to see how God will continue to use these relationships. Thank you for all your prayers.
Thank you so much for all of your financial support. God provided the money needed to pay for all of my training here in Kona and also to pay for my ticket to China. I cannot thank God enough for His favor in my life. I am still trusting God to provide the last $3,060 needed for me to be in China for three months.
I am so excited to share about what our team will be doing in China. Our team consists of two leaders, five guys, and eight girls. We will be leaving Kona and flying to Beijing, China on December 28, 2010. From Beijing we fly to Dailon, China. We will be staying in Dailon for most of the three months with a couple trips to Dangdong. We will be staying at a YWAM base when we are in Dailon. We are hoping to work with the university students leading Bible studies and discipling the students we meet. The area is so hungry for knowing more about God. I am so excited and eager to share with them.
I am trusting that God will provide the rest of the money needed for the trip. Please pray and ask God if you can give to help support me while I am ministering in China. Also ask other friends and family if they would be willing to give. Thank you so much!
You can send money to my home address:
Lanning Family Ministries
576 68th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49548
or online using Paypal on my blogsite on the upper right side of the page.
May God continue to bless you with His love, peace, and grace,
Julianne Lanning
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Rise Up in this Kingdom
Welcome to the upside down and backward Kingdom of God.
This is unlike any fairytale story book you have ever read about a kingdom. This is not a kingdom surrounded by a high wall to keep out people. This is not a kingdom filled with only rich people in fancy dresses. This is not a kingdom of hopelessness and despair with an evil king.
This is the Kingdom of God. It is unlike anything you could ever imagine.
The constitution of the Kingdom is God’s Word.
The law of the Kingdom is to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your heart. And also to love your neighbor as yourself.
The language of the Kingdom is story and parable.
The currency of the Kingdom is faith.
The greatest in the Kingdom are servants.
To enter this Kingdom, you must become like a child.
This is the Kingdom of God.
You are called to this Kingdom. You are called to rise up and to become a part of the Kingdom. This Kingdom has no bystanders. Everyone who lives in the Kingdom is called to belong to the Army of the Kingdom of God. You are called to be a Warrior in this Army.
Welcome to the Army of God.
You are a Warrior. Your job is to fight for the Kingdom of God. Your job is to fight for the King.
So stop fighting for yourself. Stop thinking that this world that you live in revolves around you. You are the Warrior- not the King. It is your job to represent the King.
When two kingdoms go to war, it is really two kings fighting between each other. Neither of the Kings actually fight. They are too afraid that if they are killed, their throne will be taken over and toppled by another king. So stop trying to take control of your life and what is going on. You are not the king. If you try to be in control, you will begin to be afraid of what will happen next to you. Let the King be in control. When you let yourself be on the throne in your life, you will get attacked.
It is your job to become so focused on the King and His Kingdom and not yourself. You are only just a foot soldier in His Army. You are His Warrior bringing His Kingdom to the world. You fight to return what belongs to the King. You fight to make the King’s Name known to the world. You fight to bring glory to the King. You forget about yourself and strive to serve the King in everything you do.
It is time that the Warriors of the Army of the Kingdom of God arise and conquer and take back what belongs to the King.
This is no ordinary Kingdom. It has no walls. It does not need to protect itself. For God is the King. And nothing can come against Him.
This Kingdom is releasing its Army out into the world to reclaim what belongs to God. It is extending the borders of the Kingdom to reach every person alive. For all are welcome in the Kingdom of God.
Warriors rise up. Put on your Armor from God. Do everything you can do to stand firm. Wrap truth around your life as a belt. Protect your heart with the righteousness of God. Guard your heart with only thoughts of God and His love. Fit your feet with the readiness to run to the whole world to shout out God’s message of love and peace to a dying and hopeless people. Take up your shield of faith in Christ Jesus to protect yourself from the arrows of lies the devil will shoot at you. Protect your head and your thoughts and your mind by remembering your salvation through Jesus Christ. Nothing can ever take that away from you. And Warriors, sharpen your swords. Immerse yourselves in the Word of God. Know what God says about you and about those you are rescuing in the world. Live out His Word wherever you go.
And pray. All the time. Everywhere. For prayer is your greatest weapon against the evil schemes of the devil
This is the Kingdom you have been called to. Rise up and take your place.
Friday, November 12, 2010
shaking up my life
Hey!!!!
I realize that it has been basically forever since I last posted. I do apologize for not informing everyone what God has been doing in my life. He has just been so busy shaking me up that I've simply forgotten to tell everyone about it.
On Friday, October 29 I needed to have all of my school tuition paid for my lecture session here in Kona plus enough money to pay for my plane ticket to Hawaii. This sum was around almost $4,000. In crazy ways God provided more than enough money to finish all my lecture payments and purchase an $1,800 plane ticket. God is so good. I had people just walking up to me and handing me wads of cash. It was incredible. I ended up giving away a bunch of my own things, including my computer, which also explains why it's taken me so long to post anything. I know that God will continue to provide what I need. He is so faithful.
That week at school we had a crazy intense teacher named Andy Byrd. The fire of God just pours off of this man. I woke up on that Monday (October 25) with this burning passion in my soul that God was going to bring deliverance to my life and that I needed to fast. God met me like crazy. I was just lying on the floor, crying my eyes out, weeping in my soul. The next day a bunch of students in my class all got together to be baptized in the pool. I felt like this was something I needed to do as an outward sign of the new person I was inside. God has changed me so much that I don't even remember the person I used to be. On Wednesday I just got hit with the power of God. It was so crazy intense. I had also decided to fast Wednesday thru Friday in order to raise the money for the trip. The whole week was so incredible.
After a super intense week with Andy's teaching, I had hoped the next week would be a bit more laid back. I could not have been more wrong. We started off strong right away on Monday. Our class was divided into our Outreach groups and given a topic to discuss. After discussing our topic in my China group, we selected one member to present/preach what we talked about. Of course, that person was me. I went in front of the class and received the microphone. Instantly the power and confidence of God blew through me. I honestly could not tell you what I all talked/preached about for a good five minutes. It was simply God's words coming out of my mouth with my voice. I now that God has given me the gift of both preaching and teaching. I began to reach deeper into the heart of God to seek after the other gifts he has for me.
The rest of the week was super intense just growing closer to God and discovering what He all has in store for my life and my future. We heard some super powerful messages about truly living our lives for the gospel of Christ. I'm going to say these things and they are true. And the truth may cut deep and hurt:
Gossip is a sin. Talking about anyone negatively is a sin. God has given us our tongues to speak life into people not to cut them down.
Harry Potter is witchcraft. God hates witchcraft.
Rebellion is also witchcraft. (1 Samuel 15:23) So is any form of drug use that alters the state of your mind.
Lust, sexual immorality, and pornography are sins that hinder you from entering heaven. (1 Corinthians 6)
Worshiping God with music downloaded illegally is still stealing.
This past week has been so amazing. We have been going thru a book called "Freedom Class Manual: Knowing Christ Intimately, Experiencing Life Abundantly" by Brain Brennt and Mike Riches. Both of them have been speaking to us these past two weeks and have been teaching us about breaking thru strongholds in our lives. It has been a radical week. I have never felt so free before. In order to break down a stronghold in your life (such as anger, fear, passivity, shame, rejection, and unforgiveness) you must:
Repent of the sin. (Acts 3:19)
Receive God's forgiveness and cleansing. (Psalm 103:8-12 and I John 1:9)
Rebuke the enemy's hold on you because of this sin. (Matthew 4:10 and James 4:7)
Replace all lies with God's truth. (Galatians 2:20 and Ephesians 5:18)
God wants to give you freedom in your life as He has done in mine. I am not the same person I was six weeks ago when I got on a plane and flew to Hawaii. God has radically altered and shifted my life.
This past week I have been fasting from all foods and most drinks, besides tea, milk, and water. I started on Sunday, November 7 and will finish my fast tomorrow on Saturday night. God has just been drawing me so close to His heart. He has been showing me so many things and answering the questions I've been wanting to know for awhile. I have also been pressing in to Him for the gift of evangelism and healing and for even more outpouring for the gift of prophecy.
I want to share a story that happened this past Wednesday. A group of us were getting ready to go downtown into Kona to witness to people and tell them that God loved them so much and desired a relationship with them. Before we left I prayed and felt that I was going to find a man who: did triathlons, had wanted to do the IronMan here in Kona, had not be able to compete in it, and also had knee problems. So our group set out to the town. We talked to a bunch of people and asked if we could pray with them. We got rejected over and over, which quickly helped me get over my fear of man. You get used to rejection really quickly. We saw two men talking to each other on the beach and decided to talk to them. Don was Lutheran, and Dennis was Catholic. We talked with them for a while. Don was wearing a shirt that read something like "Tiki Triathlon," so I asked if he ran triathlons. He did and talked about how he had always wanted to do the IronMan in Kona. I knew instantly that this was the man that God had showed me before. I asked him if he had knee problems, and he did. I told him that God had told me that I was going to meet him and that I wanted to pray for healing. I also began to prophesy to him about things that God wanted to do in his life. He said we could pray for him but didn't really believe that God could heal. We prayed for the two of them and said goodbye. It was super amazing.
I don't know if Don was healed right then, but I do believe that God wants to heal him. I know my God heals. Yesterday I was praying with a girl in my class because she was suffering from a hemorrhoid for the past couple of weeks. She told me today that God instantly healed her. We also prayed for a little boy in class today that was unable to see out of one of his eyes. The doctors had said that his brain had stopped receiving images from that eye and that he may be blind. We prayed for him, and he started seeing. God is so good.
As you can probably tell, God has been doing super amazing and crazy things here in Kona. I am so excited what He will continue to do in the next 6 weeks here and also in the 3 months in China. My team leaves December 28 for China. Because God provided the money for the ticket, I am able to go. I still am in need of all the money it will cost for me to live in China for three months. This is probably going to be around $3,000-4,000. I also need to buy a plane ticket from Hawaii back home to Michigan, which is at least $500. Lastly I need to buy a new passport and have that expiated so that I can apply for a Chinese visa, which will be around $200. So, I need at least another $4,000 buy November 24. I know that my God can provided that. He is so big and so great.
Thank you all so much for helping support me in your prayers and also financially. Do not stop praying. I always need it. Please ask God if He wants you to give more or if you know of someone who would love to be a part of what God is doing thru my life.
And if anyone knows anyone with a spare Mac laptop, I am praying and trusting God that He will provide me one to replace the computer I gave away. :)
May God continue to richly bless you.
Julianne
I realize that it has been basically forever since I last posted. I do apologize for not informing everyone what God has been doing in my life. He has just been so busy shaking me up that I've simply forgotten to tell everyone about it.
On Friday, October 29 I needed to have all of my school tuition paid for my lecture session here in Kona plus enough money to pay for my plane ticket to Hawaii. This sum was around almost $4,000. In crazy ways God provided more than enough money to finish all my lecture payments and purchase an $1,800 plane ticket. God is so good. I had people just walking up to me and handing me wads of cash. It was incredible. I ended up giving away a bunch of my own things, including my computer, which also explains why it's taken me so long to post anything. I know that God will continue to provide what I need. He is so faithful.
That week at school we had a crazy intense teacher named Andy Byrd. The fire of God just pours off of this man. I woke up on that Monday (October 25) with this burning passion in my soul that God was going to bring deliverance to my life and that I needed to fast. God met me like crazy. I was just lying on the floor, crying my eyes out, weeping in my soul. The next day a bunch of students in my class all got together to be baptized in the pool. I felt like this was something I needed to do as an outward sign of the new person I was inside. God has changed me so much that I don't even remember the person I used to be. On Wednesday I just got hit with the power of God. It was so crazy intense. I had also decided to fast Wednesday thru Friday in order to raise the money for the trip. The whole week was so incredible.
After a super intense week with Andy's teaching, I had hoped the next week would be a bit more laid back. I could not have been more wrong. We started off strong right away on Monday. Our class was divided into our Outreach groups and given a topic to discuss. After discussing our topic in my China group, we selected one member to present/preach what we talked about. Of course, that person was me. I went in front of the class and received the microphone. Instantly the power and confidence of God blew through me. I honestly could not tell you what I all talked/preached about for a good five minutes. It was simply God's words coming out of my mouth with my voice. I now that God has given me the gift of both preaching and teaching. I began to reach deeper into the heart of God to seek after the other gifts he has for me.
The rest of the week was super intense just growing closer to God and discovering what He all has in store for my life and my future. We heard some super powerful messages about truly living our lives for the gospel of Christ. I'm going to say these things and they are true. And the truth may cut deep and hurt:
Gossip is a sin. Talking about anyone negatively is a sin. God has given us our tongues to speak life into people not to cut them down.
Harry Potter is witchcraft. God hates witchcraft.
Rebellion is also witchcraft. (1 Samuel 15:23) So is any form of drug use that alters the state of your mind.
Lust, sexual immorality, and pornography are sins that hinder you from entering heaven. (1 Corinthians 6)
Worshiping God with music downloaded illegally is still stealing.
This past week has been so amazing. We have been going thru a book called "Freedom Class Manual: Knowing Christ Intimately, Experiencing Life Abundantly" by Brain Brennt and Mike Riches. Both of them have been speaking to us these past two weeks and have been teaching us about breaking thru strongholds in our lives. It has been a radical week. I have never felt so free before. In order to break down a stronghold in your life (such as anger, fear, passivity, shame, rejection, and unforgiveness) you must:
Repent of the sin. (Acts 3:19)
Receive God's forgiveness and cleansing. (Psalm 103:8-12 and I John 1:9)
Rebuke the enemy's hold on you because of this sin. (Matthew 4:10 and James 4:7)
Replace all lies with God's truth. (Galatians 2:20 and Ephesians 5:18)
God wants to give you freedom in your life as He has done in mine. I am not the same person I was six weeks ago when I got on a plane and flew to Hawaii. God has radically altered and shifted my life.
This past week I have been fasting from all foods and most drinks, besides tea, milk, and water. I started on Sunday, November 7 and will finish my fast tomorrow on Saturday night. God has just been drawing me so close to His heart. He has been showing me so many things and answering the questions I've been wanting to know for awhile. I have also been pressing in to Him for the gift of evangelism and healing and for even more outpouring for the gift of prophecy.
I want to share a story that happened this past Wednesday. A group of us were getting ready to go downtown into Kona to witness to people and tell them that God loved them so much and desired a relationship with them. Before we left I prayed and felt that I was going to find a man who: did triathlons, had wanted to do the IronMan here in Kona, had not be able to compete in it, and also had knee problems. So our group set out to the town. We talked to a bunch of people and asked if we could pray with them. We got rejected over and over, which quickly helped me get over my fear of man. You get used to rejection really quickly. We saw two men talking to each other on the beach and decided to talk to them. Don was Lutheran, and Dennis was Catholic. We talked with them for a while. Don was wearing a shirt that read something like "Tiki Triathlon," so I asked if he ran triathlons. He did and talked about how he had always wanted to do the IronMan in Kona. I knew instantly that this was the man that God had showed me before. I asked him if he had knee problems, and he did. I told him that God had told me that I was going to meet him and that I wanted to pray for healing. I also began to prophesy to him about things that God wanted to do in his life. He said we could pray for him but didn't really believe that God could heal. We prayed for the two of them and said goodbye. It was super amazing.
I don't know if Don was healed right then, but I do believe that God wants to heal him. I know my God heals. Yesterday I was praying with a girl in my class because she was suffering from a hemorrhoid for the past couple of weeks. She told me today that God instantly healed her. We also prayed for a little boy in class today that was unable to see out of one of his eyes. The doctors had said that his brain had stopped receiving images from that eye and that he may be blind. We prayed for him, and he started seeing. God is so good.
As you can probably tell, God has been doing super amazing and crazy things here in Kona. I am so excited what He will continue to do in the next 6 weeks here and also in the 3 months in China. My team leaves December 28 for China. Because God provided the money for the ticket, I am able to go. I still am in need of all the money it will cost for me to live in China for three months. This is probably going to be around $3,000-4,000. I also need to buy a plane ticket from Hawaii back home to Michigan, which is at least $500. Lastly I need to buy a new passport and have that expiated so that I can apply for a Chinese visa, which will be around $200. So, I need at least another $4,000 buy November 24. I know that my God can provided that. He is so big and so great.
Thank you all so much for helping support me in your prayers and also financially. Do not stop praying. I always need it. Please ask God if He wants you to give more or if you know of someone who would love to be a part of what God is doing thru my life.
And if anyone knows anyone with a spare Mac laptop, I am praying and trusting God that He will provide me one to replace the computer I gave away. :)
May God continue to richly bless you.
Julianne
Friday, October 29, 2010
let freedom rain
Open the FLOOD GATES of h.e.a.v.e.n. and let it <R><A><I><N>
Oh it’s raining. It’s pouring. The love of the Father is being lavished so richly out on His children.
Oh it’s raining. It’s pouring. The love of the Father is being lavished so richly out on His children.
Here we are God. Shake our nation. This is the Anthem of our Generation.
God has been shaking me up like crazy this past week- absolutely destroying every past thought or idea or concept that I have had about God and the life He is calling us to live. Destroyed. Gone.
Monday morning I woke up feeling the expectation of deliverance. I knew that I was supposed to fast because God was going to break the bonds of addiction in my life. He was going to smash the chains that held me back from the true and full life He has given me. And He did. Oh He did.
I began to pour my heart out to God, falling on my face in complete surrender and worship. He showed me this picture of my life. He showed me that I was stuck in this room, bound by the chains of addiction by the devil. I was trapped. My hands and ankles were bound so tightly that I could not move. Behind me was a fire. I could not see the fire, but I could feel like heat upon my back. I was trapped. And before me stood Jesus. He was holding the key that would unlock the chains and would lock the door to the room. He was standing, watching me, waiting for me to call out to Him to be free.
And He brought freedom. He brought deliverance. He brought what He had promised for me.
Each day continued to open up the doors of heaven. Each day drew me closer to knowing God and being known by Him. Tuesday was radical. A bunch of people from our class met together at the pool here at school. And we were baptized into God’s new life. It was the outward sign of the inward changes that were happening in our lives.
And Wednesday was even more intense. God began to open up my heart for His children. He tore me apart. He ripped out my selfish heart focused on things of this world and replaced it with His own heart. I began to see His people as He saw them.
GOD LOVES GRAND RAPIDS. His heart is beating and pounding for them to be restored to Him. He cries out for them. They are searching in everywhere possible to look for love and acceptance. They are so broken and hurting…and they don’t even know it. God is calling them by name. He has amazing plans for our city. He is rising up a new generation. The schools and universities will be restored unto God. They will be filled with His passion and love. They will strive to know Him and to share His love with those they meet. I can hardly wait.
God broke my heart for my city. He shook me up…and didn’t let me stop shaking for several hours. I fasted again on Wednesday, spending my time in prayer and intersession for the children of God in GR. I had the most intense Jesus high. I was so consumed with Him and His love. I felt like I was floating. I couldn’t stop shaking and laughing and moving. It was so incredible.
And so today. I am still fasting. I know that God is going to provide the funds I need for this time here in Kona. I know that I am called to be here. I was born for this. This is my calling and passion. And God will not let me down.
I need less than $500 for my lecture fees. Around $5-6,00 for my trip to China. And another $400 for my plane ticket from HI to MI. God can provide that.
Monday, October 18, 2010
just five dollars
Hey! I hope you are doing amazing! I am thankful for this opportunity to share what God has been doing in my life this summer. God has been calling and teaching me in many ways.
One of my favorite quotes is: “When you have the courage to let go, you don’t have to wait for God to catch you; He’s been holding your hand the whole time.” The past couple of months have been an amazing experience learning about trusting God completely with my life. I want to share what has been going on in my life.
God has been speaking into my life lately in ways which I never imagined possible. I’m choosing to step out in faith and trust that He will continue to guild my life into the future. I believe that God is calling me to join a Youth For A Mission Discipleship Training School (YWAM-DTS). This program includes 12 weeks of training at the University of Nations in Kona, HI, followed by a 12 week mission trip.
I am currently in Kona, HI and have been learning so many things about God’s grace and love and also what it really means to live out the Kingdom of God here on earth. Every day of class is an incredible challenge to learn more and to live out what I have been learning. We have already been using what we are learning in class to reach out to the people living here in Kona. It is such an incredible experience so far. The program began at the beginning of October. I arrived here September 30 and have been learning so much every day since that. I can hardly wait for what God will continue to teach me next.
Near the end of December I will be leaving Kona and flying to China. I will be in China for three months. Our team is still not sure which parts of China we will be ministering to. We may possibly be working in the cities, some universities, or working on farms near North Korea. I am so excited to see where God will lead our team when we arrive in China.
China is still a pretty closed country when referring to sharing about Jesus or God in general. We cannot openly go around talking about Jesus. We will have to show God’s love through our actions and help transform communities for Jesus. At the same time, however, many of the younger people are very eager to learn more English and more about the American culture. Many times they will approach English speaking missionaries to practice their English. This presents a perfect opportunity to tell them about the love of Jesus.
At the end of March I will return back to Kona and fly home to Michigan from there.
This whole opportunity excites me so much. I am thrilled to see what God will do through me to reach out to other people in different countries. I am hoping that you can also help be a part of this opportunity that God has given me.
The full tuition price for the school is around $10,000, including room and board at the school and also on the mission field. I am still in need of at least $8,500 just for the tuition of school. I also need to still purchase a plane ticket from HI to MI when I return in March. That ticket price is around $400. Lastly, I am in need of a new Pastport. This is an additional cost added so that I can minister to God’s children throughout the world.
I am asking you if you could partner financially and prayerfully with me in this ministry. No gift is too small. I am trusting that God will supply all the funds needed for the trip, which totals to around $13,000. I know that my God is more than apply to supply everything I need and then some. I hope and pray that you can be a part of what God is doing in my life and be blessed through this.
I am just asking if you would be willing to send at least $5. You can send more than that if you want. If each of my friends sent $5, so much of the money could be raised so quickly. What is $5? Instead of buying lunch one day, you would be helping share the gospel of Jesus Christ who have never heard of Him before. It's only FIVE DOLLARS. Send that and tell other people to know. Challenge them to make an impact to the world.
I am very excited about how God will use me and what He will teach me through this experience. I hope not only to be a blessing to those I serve but also to you. My desire is to go as your representative of Jesus Christ. I hope you will prayerfully consider being part of my ministry. Thank you so much!
In Christ’s Love and Peace,
Julianne Lanning
Donations can be sent to:
Lanning Family Ministries
576 68th Street S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49548
A tax write-off will also be sent to you.
One of my favorite quotes is: “When you have the courage to let go, you don’t have to wait for God to catch you; He’s been holding your hand the whole time.” The past couple of months have been an amazing experience learning about trusting God completely with my life. I want to share what has been going on in my life.
God has been speaking into my life lately in ways which I never imagined possible. I’m choosing to step out in faith and trust that He will continue to guild my life into the future. I believe that God is calling me to join a Youth For A Mission Discipleship Training School (YWAM-DTS). This program includes 12 weeks of training at the University of Nations in Kona, HI, followed by a 12 week mission trip.
I am currently in Kona, HI and have been learning so many things about God’s grace and love and also what it really means to live out the Kingdom of God here on earth. Every day of class is an incredible challenge to learn more and to live out what I have been learning. We have already been using what we are learning in class to reach out to the people living here in Kona. It is such an incredible experience so far. The program began at the beginning of October. I arrived here September 30 and have been learning so much every day since that. I can hardly wait for what God will continue to teach me next.
Near the end of December I will be leaving Kona and flying to China. I will be in China for three months. Our team is still not sure which parts of China we will be ministering to. We may possibly be working in the cities, some universities, or working on farms near North Korea. I am so excited to see where God will lead our team when we arrive in China.
China is still a pretty closed country when referring to sharing about Jesus or God in general. We cannot openly go around talking about Jesus. We will have to show God’s love through our actions and help transform communities for Jesus. At the same time, however, many of the younger people are very eager to learn more English and more about the American culture. Many times they will approach English speaking missionaries to practice their English. This presents a perfect opportunity to tell them about the love of Jesus.
At the end of March I will return back to Kona and fly home to Michigan from there.
This whole opportunity excites me so much. I am thrilled to see what God will do through me to reach out to other people in different countries. I am hoping that you can also help be a part of this opportunity that God has given me.
The full tuition price for the school is around $10,000, including room and board at the school and also on the mission field. I am still in need of at least $8,500 just for the tuition of school. I also need to still purchase a plane ticket from HI to MI when I return in March. That ticket price is around $400. Lastly, I am in need of a new Pastport. This is an additional cost added so that I can minister to God’s children throughout the world.
I am asking you if you could partner financially and prayerfully with me in this ministry. No gift is too small. I am trusting that God will supply all the funds needed for the trip, which totals to around $13,000. I know that my God is more than apply to supply everything I need and then some. I hope and pray that you can be a part of what God is doing in my life and be blessed through this.
I am just asking if you would be willing to send at least $5. You can send more than that if you want. If each of my friends sent $5, so much of the money could be raised so quickly. What is $5? Instead of buying lunch one day, you would be helping share the gospel of Jesus Christ who have never heard of Him before. It's only FIVE DOLLARS. Send that and tell other people to know. Challenge them to make an impact to the world.
I am very excited about how God will use me and what He will teach me through this experience. I hope not only to be a blessing to those I serve but also to you. My desire is to go as your representative of Jesus Christ. I hope you will prayerfully consider being part of my ministry. Thank you so much!
In Christ’s Love and Peace,
Julianne Lanning
Donations can be sent to:
Lanning Family Ministries
576 68th Street S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49548
A tax write-off will also be sent to you.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
so...this is love
So...this is love.
Feel the music sweep you off your feet and let yourself twirl around. This is not a fairy tale. This is real. This is love.
I'm sitting and looking out the window. I see palm trees standing tall with their huge leaves whipping around with the breeze from the ocean. The grass is green. The leaves are green. The plants are green with burst of colored flowers. And the ocean is blue. The ocean.
So...this is love.
The ocean. Is huge. As far as I can see- I see the ocean. The blue ocean. If I were to jump into it, I would see thousands of animals. Hundreds of thousands. There are animals we don't even know about mile under the ocean. Isn't that beautiful?
As far as the ocean is...so is God's love. As deep as the ocean is...so is God's love. His love is further and deeper than the ocean.
So...this is love.
I take my gaze off of the view outside and look around inside the the room. God's children are worshiping Him. They sing and cry and shout. Some kneal; some sit; some stand; some dance. Voices raised singing, "Baptize us with the Holy Spirit. Baptize us with fire."
So...this is love.
This is a new generation rising up against the negative influence that the world has taught them. They live a new life imursed in love and grace. The old laws and chains that held them have been cut off. They worship the God who has freed them and given them life. They worship because He loves them. They love Him.
So...this is love.
They have entered into the circle dance of God- joining with millions around the world. Living a life of love. Living in the relationship with God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and all others who love Him.
Dance. Twirl and swirl around. God, the creator of the ocean and its creatures and also of every person, absolutely loves you. Dance. God, the son and savior gave up His very life sot hat you could experience the fullness of love, absolutely loves you. Dance. God, the Spirit that moves and breaths life into and comforts and counsels your soul when you are weary, absolutely loves you.
Dance- This is love.
"There is no one like you. You are Holy, Holy, Holy." They sing with the angels in heaven. They sing with all creation.
This is love.
Love is not a list of rules and laws. It's not a "don't do this. don't do that." It's not going to condemn you or make you feel ashamed. It does not hurt you. It doesn't force you to do something. This is not love.
Love is beautiful. Love is watching a grown man cry. Love is dancing. Love is simply living and following Jesus.
So...this is love.
Will you please come and dance with us?
Feel the music sweep you off your feet and let yourself twirl around. This is not a fairy tale. This is real. This is love.
I'm sitting and looking out the window. I see palm trees standing tall with their huge leaves whipping around with the breeze from the ocean. The grass is green. The leaves are green. The plants are green with burst of colored flowers. And the ocean is blue. The ocean.
So...this is love.
The ocean. Is huge. As far as I can see- I see the ocean. The blue ocean. If I were to jump into it, I would see thousands of animals. Hundreds of thousands. There are animals we don't even know about mile under the ocean. Isn't that beautiful?
As far as the ocean is...so is God's love. As deep as the ocean is...so is God's love. His love is further and deeper than the ocean.
So...this is love.
I take my gaze off of the view outside and look around inside the the room. God's children are worshiping Him. They sing and cry and shout. Some kneal; some sit; some stand; some dance. Voices raised singing, "Baptize us with the Holy Spirit. Baptize us with fire."
So...this is love.
This is a new generation rising up against the negative influence that the world has taught them. They live a new life imursed in love and grace. The old laws and chains that held them have been cut off. They worship the God who has freed them and given them life. They worship because He loves them. They love Him.
So...this is love.
They have entered into the circle dance of God- joining with millions around the world. Living a life of love. Living in the relationship with God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and all others who love Him.
Dance. Twirl and swirl around. God, the creator of the ocean and its creatures and also of every person, absolutely loves you. Dance. God, the son and savior gave up His very life sot hat you could experience the fullness of love, absolutely loves you. Dance. God, the Spirit that moves and breaths life into and comforts and counsels your soul when you are weary, absolutely loves you.
Dance- This is love.
"There is no one like you. You are Holy, Holy, Holy." They sing with the angels in heaven. They sing with all creation.
This is love.
Love is not a list of rules and laws. It's not a "don't do this. don't do that." It's not going to condemn you or make you feel ashamed. It does not hurt you. It doesn't force you to do something. This is not love.
Love is beautiful. Love is watching a grown man cry. Love is dancing. Love is simply living and following Jesus.
So...this is love.
Will you please come and dance with us?
Saturday, October 9, 2010
this is the only race worth running
It's been over a week being here in Kona. 8 days actually. It feels like I've been here for months because God has moved our relationship to an increasing level of intimacy. Every day I grow closer to Him and want to know Him deeper and deeper. I cannot begin to describe what He has done in my life.
This being said, God has been really working hard on my heart because I have been feeling very discouraged and worn down and isolated by the devil.
So...apparently Michigan is just out of the loop with triathlons or something. Because there's this thing, and it's kinda a big deal. It's called IronMan. It's a triathlon...but the athletes swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run a marathon...which is 26.2 miles (in case you are like me and didn't know). So yeah, that's a bit intense. Okay...so really intense.
The University was asked to volunteer to be Security for the competition. This required me to get up at 3am this morning so I could be downtown by 4am till 10am. It was super fun watching the athletes jump into the water, swim out into the distance, wait about an hour, and see them crawl out of the water and run to their bikes. I wasn't able to see the transition from bike to running, but what I did see of the race was super incredible. The passion and desire of the athletes was so intense. There was nothing that could distract them from the task at hand. I loved watching the bikers fly past, still putting on their shoes. They were just committed to the race and going as fast as they could. They didn't even have time to put their shoes.
I kinda wish I would have gone down to see the end of the race. I ended up taking a nap. Waking up at 3am kinda wears me out.
After I finished working, I did come back and take a nap. But something happened first. I felt this deep sense of rejection and isolation. I didn't want to be here. I wanted to go home. I didn't know why or what I would do if I did go home. It was this feeling of oppression- that no one wanted me to be here, that I was worthless, that there was no point in me being here.
I struggled against these feelings, knowing that they were not from God, yet not willing to rebuke the lies from the devil. It was this conflict within my soul. I went to the Prayer Room here at school and just cried out to God, telling Him what was going on inside of me. I laid it all out before the God who loves me, protects me, cares for me, wants me, desires me, adores me. I broke myself down.
I cried out to God, telling Him I wanted to go home. And He told me I was home. Whenever I'm with Him, I am where I am supposed to be; I am home. He reminded me of His everlasting love and passion for me.
And then I took my nap.
Fours hours later I got up and decided to go for a run. Watching all these crazy athletes this morning kinda motivates you...or makes you realize that you're really lazy. I stretched for a bit and then took off. I ran up a slow slopping hill and rounded the corner, running further than I had run in this direction before. I saw a metal guard rail and made that my finish point before I turned around and ran back to school. I reached the rail and decided to keep walking up the hill a bit more.
Every step along my run I just kept singing in my head and worshiping Jesus. I praised Him. But when I stopped running, I began to talk to my Lord out loud. I began to yell to Him, telling Him that I wanted to follow Him wherever He decided to lead me, that I belonged to Him and that I would trust Him to guide my life. I reached the top of the hill feeling so broken and yet healed at the same time, just simply feeling loved and accepted by my Saviour.
When I reached the top, I saw that a bit down the other side of the hill was a little portable out-house thingy...and I kinda had to go to the bathroom. I walked there and walked back up the hill. I began to sing out loud,
"Hungry I come to you for I know you satisfy. I am empty, but I know you're love does not run dry. So I wait for you. So I wait for you. I'm falling on my knees. Offering all of me. Jesus, you're all this heart is living for. Broken I run to you for your arms are open wide. I am weary, but I know your touch restores my life. So I wait for you. So I wait for you. I'm falling on my knees. Offering all of me. Jesus, you're all this heart is living for."
As I ran, I felt broken and weary, physically drained from the run and the heat. Tired. But then as I ran, something crazy happened. I was sweating like crazy and prolly looked nasty. But for some reason as I ran, this truck-full of guys drove past me on the other side of the road. And being silly boys, they honked and waved and laughed at me. I just kinda laughed inside and shook my head a bit.
And then I realized what God was trying to show me.
I'm weary, and I'm broken. I can't do this on my own. I need Jesus. I'm running this race of life that God has called us all to. Over and over in the New Testament, Paul uses the illustration of running a race. I know I had been running, and I knew that God was running with me. But I hadn't realized that I was tired. The running of the race had begin to wear me out.
And the devil was using this to his advantage. If he could get me to think that I wasn't good enough- that I wasn't running the race as well as I should have been- then he could get me to drop out, to stop running at all. The oppression I had felt all day was because I was tired and broken and weary. Running was hard.
Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." <NIV> "Do you see what this means- all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running- and never quit. No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins." <the Message>
I was tired in this race of life, but that doesn't matter. Although I feel like crap and look awful out there running, there is a great cloud of witnesses and pioneers who are cheering me on. It doesn't matter how well I feel like I'm running or struggling; I'm being cheered on and so I'd better run.
Hebrews 12:2-3 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful me, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." <NIV> "Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was heading- that exhilarating finish in and with God- He could put up with anything along the way. Cross, shame, whatever. And now He's there, in the pace of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostitiy He plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls." <the Message>
Focus on Jesus. The race is hard and long. But He did it first. He showed us the way to run, the direction to run, how to run, and how to not grow weary.
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will five you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden in light." <NIV>
I finished my run, taking a lot longer than I expected it to be. I was so tired. I was thirsty and couldn't watch my breath very well.
"I am the Living Water." "I am the Breath of Life."
Jesus is all that I need.
Colossians 3:1-2 "So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ- that's where the action is. See things from His perspective." <the Message>
2 Timothy 2:22 "Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness- faith, love, peace- joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God." <the Message>
2 Timothy 4:7 "This is the only race worth running. I've run hard right to finished, believed all the way. All that's left now is the shouting- God's applause! Depend on it, He's an honest judge. He'll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for His coming." <the Message>
This being said, God has been really working hard on my heart because I have been feeling very discouraged and worn down and isolated by the devil.
So...apparently Michigan is just out of the loop with triathlons or something. Because there's this thing, and it's kinda a big deal. It's called IronMan. It's a triathlon...but the athletes swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run a marathon...which is 26.2 miles (in case you are like me and didn't know). So yeah, that's a bit intense. Okay...so really intense.
The University was asked to volunteer to be Security for the competition. This required me to get up at 3am this morning so I could be downtown by 4am till 10am. It was super fun watching the athletes jump into the water, swim out into the distance, wait about an hour, and see them crawl out of the water and run to their bikes. I wasn't able to see the transition from bike to running, but what I did see of the race was super incredible. The passion and desire of the athletes was so intense. There was nothing that could distract them from the task at hand. I loved watching the bikers fly past, still putting on their shoes. They were just committed to the race and going as fast as they could. They didn't even have time to put their shoes.
I kinda wish I would have gone down to see the end of the race. I ended up taking a nap. Waking up at 3am kinda wears me out.
After I finished working, I did come back and take a nap. But something happened first. I felt this deep sense of rejection and isolation. I didn't want to be here. I wanted to go home. I didn't know why or what I would do if I did go home. It was this feeling of oppression- that no one wanted me to be here, that I was worthless, that there was no point in me being here.
I struggled against these feelings, knowing that they were not from God, yet not willing to rebuke the lies from the devil. It was this conflict within my soul. I went to the Prayer Room here at school and just cried out to God, telling Him what was going on inside of me. I laid it all out before the God who loves me, protects me, cares for me, wants me, desires me, adores me. I broke myself down.
I cried out to God, telling Him I wanted to go home. And He told me I was home. Whenever I'm with Him, I am where I am supposed to be; I am home. He reminded me of His everlasting love and passion for me.
And then I took my nap.
Fours hours later I got up and decided to go for a run. Watching all these crazy athletes this morning kinda motivates you...or makes you realize that you're really lazy. I stretched for a bit and then took off. I ran up a slow slopping hill and rounded the corner, running further than I had run in this direction before. I saw a metal guard rail and made that my finish point before I turned around and ran back to school. I reached the rail and decided to keep walking up the hill a bit more.
Every step along my run I just kept singing in my head and worshiping Jesus. I praised Him. But when I stopped running, I began to talk to my Lord out loud. I began to yell to Him, telling Him that I wanted to follow Him wherever He decided to lead me, that I belonged to Him and that I would trust Him to guide my life. I reached the top of the hill feeling so broken and yet healed at the same time, just simply feeling loved and accepted by my Saviour.
When I reached the top, I saw that a bit down the other side of the hill was a little portable out-house thingy...and I kinda had to go to the bathroom. I walked there and walked back up the hill. I began to sing out loud,
"Hungry I come to you for I know you satisfy. I am empty, but I know you're love does not run dry. So I wait for you. So I wait for you. I'm falling on my knees. Offering all of me. Jesus, you're all this heart is living for. Broken I run to you for your arms are open wide. I am weary, but I know your touch restores my life. So I wait for you. So I wait for you. I'm falling on my knees. Offering all of me. Jesus, you're all this heart is living for."
As I ran, I felt broken and weary, physically drained from the run and the heat. Tired. But then as I ran, something crazy happened. I was sweating like crazy and prolly looked nasty. But for some reason as I ran, this truck-full of guys drove past me on the other side of the road. And being silly boys, they honked and waved and laughed at me. I just kinda laughed inside and shook my head a bit.
And then I realized what God was trying to show me.
I'm weary, and I'm broken. I can't do this on my own. I need Jesus. I'm running this race of life that God has called us all to. Over and over in the New Testament, Paul uses the illustration of running a race. I know I had been running, and I knew that God was running with me. But I hadn't realized that I was tired. The running of the race had begin to wear me out.
And the devil was using this to his advantage. If he could get me to think that I wasn't good enough- that I wasn't running the race as well as I should have been- then he could get me to drop out, to stop running at all. The oppression I had felt all day was because I was tired and broken and weary. Running was hard.
Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." <NIV> "Do you see what this means- all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running- and never quit. No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins." <the Message>
I was tired in this race of life, but that doesn't matter. Although I feel like crap and look awful out there running, there is a great cloud of witnesses and pioneers who are cheering me on. It doesn't matter how well I feel like I'm running or struggling; I'm being cheered on and so I'd better run.
Hebrews 12:2-3 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful me, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." <NIV> "Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was heading- that exhilarating finish in and with God- He could put up with anything along the way. Cross, shame, whatever. And now He's there, in the pace of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostitiy He plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls." <the Message>
Focus on Jesus. The race is hard and long. But He did it first. He showed us the way to run, the direction to run, how to run, and how to not grow weary.
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will five you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden in light." <NIV>
I finished my run, taking a lot longer than I expected it to be. I was so tired. I was thirsty and couldn't watch my breath very well.
"I am the Living Water." "I am the Breath of Life."
Jesus is all that I need.
Colossians 3:1-2 "So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ- that's where the action is. See things from His perspective." <the Message>
2 Timothy 2:22 "Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness- faith, love, peace- joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God." <the Message>
2 Timothy 4:7 "This is the only race worth running. I've run hard right to finished, believed all the way. All that's left now is the shouting- God's applause! Depend on it, He's an honest judge. He'll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for His coming." <the Message>
Thursday, October 7, 2010
the God who loved me
Ahhhh....adjusting to this hot Hawaii weather and 6 hour time difference has been a wee bit interesting. I've finally been able to sleep thru the night without waking up at like 3 am Hawaii time.
This community living with 7 other girls has been a bit of a challenge as well. Our room is trashed right now, and I had to plunge a clogged toilet yesterday because no one else would. God, please teach me compassion and grace.
Monday was technically the first day of class...but our class took a field trip to the beach. :) It wasn't very warm out, but it was pretty nice still. I was so close to falling asleep lying in the sand several times. This is paradise. After we got back from the beach and cleaned up, later that night we met together as a class and just jumped into worshiping God. It was so incredible the way God met us all in the way we all needed.
So...Tuesday we actually had class. It was beautiful. I'm just going to share one thing we did and try to explain what God did...so just bear with it. lol.
One of the school leaders asked us all to close our eyes and imagine coming before the throne room of God. This is what I remember seeing and imagining:
There was a wooden door standing before me. The door was closed with a faded brass doorknob. I reached forward to grab the doorknob and open the door. As I touched the doorknob, it turned from a dark bronze to bright gold, shooting out over the whole door until it all glowed gold. I swung the door open and looked down at myself. I was instantly wearing a white, light-weight dress. I twirled it around and wondered why I was wearing a dress, feeling so beautiful. And I heard the voice of God say, "Because you are my princess." I looked around the room and saw nothing. It wasn't dark, but it wasn't bright. There was just light. And all of a sudden I felt the Spirit begin to dance with me. He pulled me wildly around the room and until He and I were one dancer. He was inside of me and moved with me. His dance was free flowing. And as quickly as it began, it ended. And the Spirit was gone. I saw Jesus walk toward me. His face was that of a groom as he stares lovingly and in awe of his beautiful bride dressed in white coming down the aisle. He looked at me and stared and smiled. His smile was constant and loving. He held me one hand and put his other hand on my waist. We began to waltz slowly around the room. He never stopped looking at me and smiling. He lead me slowly around the room. I could count the one-two-three step in my head as we danced. And then He let me go, still smiling. He stepped away from me. And then I saw the Father. He came towards me. I could not see a face or a body or anything, but I knew it was Him. He wrapped me in His arms and just swayed back and forth with me, rocking me. I wrapped my arms around His waist and just held tight to me. He said, "My daughter, I have been waiting for you. I don't care where you've been or what you've been doing. You are here now. You are with me." He took me by the hand and led me to a table. It was in a beautiful and warm place. I sat down and drank tea with my Heavenly Father. He rubbed my arm and touched my hands. He watched as I ate and drank. He stroked my face and brushed my hair out of my eyes. And then He said, "I want to show you something." He showed me the beautiful lands He had created, the beaches and mountains. He showed me the world- the green land and the blue ocean- as we looked at it from above. Then we dived into the water together, looking at the fish and the creatures under the sea. And then He led me away. We looked at the world and then continued into the galaxies. We looked at the stars and then He grabbed one and pulled it towards me. He looked at me and smiled. He said, "I made this star just for you. I knew that you would love all the beautiful stars I have made. I have created you and your eyes to sparkle like these stars so that others would see me thru you. You are beautiful." Then we returned to our table and sipped tea together with the Father just looking at me and touching me. Then I had an intense desire to worship the God who loved me. Although the Spirit nor Jesus nor the Father had said they loved me, I felt their love. I could physically feel the love of God. I got up and began to create a dance. It contained a piece of each of the dances from before. I moved freely and spirited and then slid into a three-part waltz step and then ending with a slow dance. I danced over and over before the throne room of the God who loved me.
It was beautiful. God has been teaching and showing me so many different things; and I’ve only been here for a couple days. God is good.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Home Sweet Hawaii
After the basket fulls of tears were shed, hours of riding on airplanes, crossing almost 4,000 miles, I have finally arrived in HAWAII.
I flew out Thursday morning around 11 am from GR to Chicago. From there I flew 4 and a half hours to L.A. and then another 5 and a half hours to Kona, HI. I landed here around 7:30ish HI time....which is 6 hours behind MI time. The time difference is kinda driving me bonkers. lol. I've been super tired all day long. It's almost 9 here...but almost 3 am back home. I'm prolly going to go to bed soon. lol
My room is quite lovely. lol. There are 8 girls in here. 2 are 17, 3 are 18, 2 are 19, and one 20 year old. There are four bunk beds...and of course I somehow got stuck up on the top bunk. lol. This will be an interesting 3 months. lol. We have a small bathroom with a shower and toliet, a kitchen sink, microwave, and a small fridge.
I got up early this morning 'cause I kept waking up and just lying in my bed. 5 am here is 11 am at home. So...I kinda slept in. lol. After breakfast we had orientation and a greeting from the native Hawaiian people. After all the orientation jazz finished, we had lunch...and then more orientation stuff. lol. I'm not a big fan of all this prep stuff. I'm so ready to just dive into what God wants me to learn.
My DTS school is focused around Community Transformation. About 80 people in this program...prolly 30 guys/50 girls. We had an incredible afternoon just worshiping God together and listening to Him. It was amazing.
After our lovely dinner...which I did try some sweet potatoes and coconut (good) and coconut buns (not so good)...we had a hula. It was so beautiful watching the native people show us how they worshiped God thru their culture. We then had a crazy time of worshiping God thru other songs in English. It was so amazing. God is so good.
I'm super excited to see what will tomorrow and the rest of this weekend will bring. I think I'm getting up early to run so I have to crash now in bed. Jet lag is not so much fun.
If you want to write me, my address is:
Julianne Lanning
University of the Nations
75-5851 Kuakini Hwy. #432
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 USA
I flew out Thursday morning around 11 am from GR to Chicago. From there I flew 4 and a half hours to L.A. and then another 5 and a half hours to Kona, HI. I landed here around 7:30ish HI time....which is 6 hours behind MI time. The time difference is kinda driving me bonkers. lol. I've been super tired all day long. It's almost 9 here...but almost 3 am back home. I'm prolly going to go to bed soon. lol
My room is quite lovely. lol. There are 8 girls in here. 2 are 17, 3 are 18, 2 are 19, and one 20 year old. There are four bunk beds...and of course I somehow got stuck up on the top bunk. lol. This will be an interesting 3 months. lol. We have a small bathroom with a shower and toliet, a kitchen sink, microwave, and a small fridge.
I got up early this morning 'cause I kept waking up and just lying in my bed. 5 am here is 11 am at home. So...I kinda slept in. lol. After breakfast we had orientation and a greeting from the native Hawaiian people. After all the orientation jazz finished, we had lunch...and then more orientation stuff. lol. I'm not a big fan of all this prep stuff. I'm so ready to just dive into what God wants me to learn.
My DTS school is focused around Community Transformation. About 80 people in this program...prolly 30 guys/50 girls. We had an incredible afternoon just worshiping God together and listening to Him. It was amazing.
After our lovely dinner...which I did try some sweet potatoes and coconut (good) and coconut buns (not so good)...we had a hula. It was so beautiful watching the native people show us how they worshiped God thru their culture. We then had a crazy time of worshiping God thru other songs in English. It was so amazing. God is so good.
I'm super excited to see what will tomorrow and the rest of this weekend will bring. I think I'm getting up early to run so I have to crash now in bed. Jet lag is not so much fun.
If you want to write me, my address is:
Julianne Lanning
University of the Nations
75-5851 Kuakini Hwy. #432
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 USA
Monday, September 27, 2010
clothes lines and tables
matthew 19:13-30
"Little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, 'Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?' 'Why do you ask me about what is good?' Jesus replied. 'There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.' 'Which ones?' the man inquired. Jesus replied, 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.' 'All these I have kept,' the young man said. 'What do I still lack?' Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, 'Who then can be saved?' Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' Peter answered him, 'We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?' Jesus said to them, 'I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.'"
I've heard this passage dozens upon dozens of times. I've heard many different thoughts and ideas and sermons and books and whatnot about this passage. Some say it's a metaphor. Some say it's real. Some say we should give some of our stuff away. Some say to give everything away.
So...who is correct.
Jesus is always right.
Last night I went to Evensong at Cornerstone University here in Grand Rapids, MI. Evensong is a college age worship event every Sunday night throughout the school year. I went there to catch up with friends before I leave for HI on Thursday. It was a great time. I got to see everyone I needed to see there and others I wasn't expecting to see. It was a lovely night.
Last night they had a quest speaker fellow. He was born in India, adopted into the states, and then returned to India as a missionary to orphans. He showed a brief video about things they did there.
As I watched, I felt my heart responding to what I saw. Those orphan children became more than pictures on a screen. They came alive in my heart. I realized that I could possibly be working with children like that for the next couple months of my life. The facts of poverty and hunger and starvation became a face of a little girl on the screen.
The speaker had my captive attention from then on. He told his story of when he first returned to India. He saw the poverty and hunger and told God that he would go back to the states, make lots of money, and then come back and take care of the children. Then a little girl next to him turned to her mom and said, "I'm hungry now." He realized in that moment that these children would not be alive in five years when he would return. They are hungry now.
They are hungry right now. And as I sat there and listened to the verse from Matthew 19, I heard God saying to me, "Julianne, go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. These children are hungry now."
And so I did. As best as I could.
This morning I gathered everything I owned and brought it out into my yard. I had every shirt and shorts and pants and whatever I owned. My books, lamp, alarm clock, mirror. My curling iron, my winter coat, my jewelry, my Bible. Everything. I set it out on my yard and stuck price tags on everything. Everything I owned now had a price on it. And I gave it to God.
As I sat there looking at all the things lying in my yard, I realized that I didn't need any of it. I didn't need anything but God. My family thought I was crazy and so did my boyfriend. I didn't understand. I thought these people who were closest to me would be those that would support me the most. I grew frustrated and discouraged. I knew this is what God wanted me to do, but I began to doubt myself as those around me tried to convince me that I was wrong, that I didn't hear from God, that I was doing this all on my own.
And then I realized that this was the opposition I had been waiting for. I knew the devil wanted to wear me down...and it had been working and I hadn't realized it. Since I decided to go on the YWAM DTS, I hadn't experienced any opposition at all. Everything had gone smoothly with the application process. But it was here and now that the devil was wearing me down, trying to get me to doubt what God had told me. I asked God for His strength and guidance. And then I waited.
My first customers pulled in my drive-way, looked out their van window, and drove away. My second customer came walking up my drive-way. The smoke from his pipe curled in the air around my things lying in the sun. He looked around a bit, picked up my machete, commented on the sheaf, and turned and walked away. And finally after several hours of waiting, my third customer drove up in her van. She walked around my items, looking through all my clothes. I watched and waited. She selected a t-shirt and continued to walk around. She picked up a half used bottle of perfume. She purchased both those two items and still looked around. She also ended up buying a couple bath rugs from my dorm last year. And then she left. And that was it.
I received $10 from that women. Another $10 from my friend Chelsie who came to sit with my at my sale and took home a scarf with her. A couple dollars from my little brothers and sisters. And $10 from myself because I bought my own dress.
Everything I owned was lying in my yard. I packed it all up and put it in the garage for the night. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow. But as I looked at the price tags...I realized that my life had a price.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells me that I was bought at a price. I have value and worth. Christ gave His everything for me. And I don't need anything but Him.
So...I only sold like 5 things. But I know I did what God wanted me to do. I am willing to give up everything for the Man who gave up His life for me.
"Little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, 'Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?' 'Why do you ask me about what is good?' Jesus replied. 'There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.' 'Which ones?' the man inquired. Jesus replied, 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.' 'All these I have kept,' the young man said. 'What do I still lack?' Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, 'Who then can be saved?' Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' Peter answered him, 'We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?' Jesus said to them, 'I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.'"
I've heard this passage dozens upon dozens of times. I've heard many different thoughts and ideas and sermons and books and whatnot about this passage. Some say it's a metaphor. Some say it's real. Some say we should give some of our stuff away. Some say to give everything away.
So...who is correct.
Jesus is always right.
Last night I went to Evensong at Cornerstone University here in Grand Rapids, MI. Evensong is a college age worship event every Sunday night throughout the school year. I went there to catch up with friends before I leave for HI on Thursday. It was a great time. I got to see everyone I needed to see there and others I wasn't expecting to see. It was a lovely night.
Last night they had a quest speaker fellow. He was born in India, adopted into the states, and then returned to India as a missionary to orphans. He showed a brief video about things they did there.
As I watched, I felt my heart responding to what I saw. Those orphan children became more than pictures on a screen. They came alive in my heart. I realized that I could possibly be working with children like that for the next couple months of my life. The facts of poverty and hunger and starvation became a face of a little girl on the screen.
The speaker had my captive attention from then on. He told his story of when he first returned to India. He saw the poverty and hunger and told God that he would go back to the states, make lots of money, and then come back and take care of the children. Then a little girl next to him turned to her mom and said, "I'm hungry now." He realized in that moment that these children would not be alive in five years when he would return. They are hungry now.
They are hungry right now. And as I sat there and listened to the verse from Matthew 19, I heard God saying to me, "Julianne, go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. These children are hungry now."
And so I did. As best as I could.
This morning I gathered everything I owned and brought it out into my yard. I had every shirt and shorts and pants and whatever I owned. My books, lamp, alarm clock, mirror. My curling iron, my winter coat, my jewelry, my Bible. Everything. I set it out on my yard and stuck price tags on everything. Everything I owned now had a price on it. And I gave it to God.
As I sat there looking at all the things lying in my yard, I realized that I didn't need any of it. I didn't need anything but God. My family thought I was crazy and so did my boyfriend. I didn't understand. I thought these people who were closest to me would be those that would support me the most. I grew frustrated and discouraged. I knew this is what God wanted me to do, but I began to doubt myself as those around me tried to convince me that I was wrong, that I didn't hear from God, that I was doing this all on my own.
And then I realized that this was the opposition I had been waiting for. I knew the devil wanted to wear me down...and it had been working and I hadn't realized it. Since I decided to go on the YWAM DTS, I hadn't experienced any opposition at all. Everything had gone smoothly with the application process. But it was here and now that the devil was wearing me down, trying to get me to doubt what God had told me. I asked God for His strength and guidance. And then I waited.
My first customers pulled in my drive-way, looked out their van window, and drove away. My second customer came walking up my drive-way. The smoke from his pipe curled in the air around my things lying in the sun. He looked around a bit, picked up my machete, commented on the sheaf, and turned and walked away. And finally after several hours of waiting, my third customer drove up in her van. She walked around my items, looking through all my clothes. I watched and waited. She selected a t-shirt and continued to walk around. She picked up a half used bottle of perfume. She purchased both those two items and still looked around. She also ended up buying a couple bath rugs from my dorm last year. And then she left. And that was it.
I received $10 from that women. Another $10 from my friend Chelsie who came to sit with my at my sale and took home a scarf with her. A couple dollars from my little brothers and sisters. And $10 from myself because I bought my own dress.
Everything I owned was lying in my yard. I packed it all up and put it in the garage for the night. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow. But as I looked at the price tags...I realized that my life had a price.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells me that I was bought at a price. I have value and worth. Christ gave His everything for me. And I don't need anything but Him.
So...I only sold like 5 things. But I know I did what God wanted me to do. I am willing to give up everything for the Man who gave up His life for me.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
New Post
And thus the goodbyes begin.
Hello, my name is Julianne Lanning. I am 19 years old. My life as I once knew it is about to become completely different.
I am about to leave my family and my house and my friends and everything else that I am used to. I'm going to leave.
I suppose this blog is going to be about my travels or adventures or whatever else I may encounter while gone. Or maybe it'll be about me and how I'm changing. Or...maybe something else. Something greater than I could imagine. I suppose we'll see.
It was nice to meet you.
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