battle cry...

Regina Spektor's song 'The Call' has a very special place in my heart, and always seems to come up at times like this - when I'm moving (again) and saying 'goodbye'.

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word
And then that word grew louder and louder
'Til it was a battle cry
I'll come back
When you call me
No need to say goodbye 

Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never
Been this way before
All you can do is try to know
Who your friends are
As you head off to the war
Pick a star on the dark horizon
And follow the light
You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say good bye 

Now we're back to the beginning
It's just a feeling and no one knows yet
But just because they can't feel it too
Doesn't mean that you have to forget
Let your memories grow stronger and stronger
'Til they're before your eyes
You'll come back
When they call you
No need to say good bye

I just listened to this song about 5 times, and the first verse really struck me. With me leaving, and stepping out into what God is calling me to, it took on a new meaning. It all did start out as a feeling, then it became a hope, then a thought, then a word, which grew louder and louder, and now it's my battle cry.

I don't know what will happen after this, but I will come back, 'cause this is home. I like that there is no need to say goodbye. It's a 'see you later', which is more hopeful and exciting.

Everything is changing, but it has happened before. All I do need to do is hold onto my friends, and Jesus (my star and hope on the dark horizon). And just 'cause not everyone understands my passion, doesn't mean I should ignore it, but rather embrace it and let it fuel me.

So here's to me heading off to war, following my Jesus - full of the passion and battle cry that have been building in my heart. I am a warrior princess, cloaked in authority and power through His anointing and Spirit.

a day away with God...

Our church, Pinelands Baptist, has been running an Alpha course on Wednesday evenings, which I have been privileged to help facilitate. It has been a great time for all of us to go deeper in our faith - even if that is in the beginning stages of questioning and discovering.

Yesterday, we went away as a group to Kleinmond for a 'Holy Spirit day away'. On some Alpha courses, this is a whole weekend away, but since many of our participants have families, this wasn't possible, so we did our own day-long version. So much prayer and preparation went into this weekend, and with such God-results!

The drive up was beautiful - mist covered the ground, and the sun peeped over the mountain, visible through the mist. God is so creative!

Craig co-lead the day, mixing the DVD teachings with his own, on who the Holy Spirit is, what He does and how to be filled with the Holy Spirit, followed by a time to put this all into practice. It was wonderful hearing people's questions, confusions, doubts and understanding all coming out and being challenged. We had some discussion time in smaller groups, which again was fascinating! Over lunch, I got to hear two ladies, both who started this course not knowing Jesus personally, saying how glad they are that they have done this course and how many of their questions have been answered. Praise God! During the practical time, we invited the Holy Spirit to come, and prayed for each other to receive a fresh filling of Him. It was so beautiful to watch as each person experienced God in their own unique ways, as God met them where they were at and loved them. There was tears, laughter, peace, joy, freedom, love, passion and healing being poured out all over that place!

God is doing such amazing things all over the world! Amazing is too small a word... It doesn't wrap up how crazy or huge He is!

On the way back, we took the coastal route, which reminded me again that Cape Town really is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and that it will always have a special place in my heart, no matter where in the world I am.

During that time, I had this weird feeling growing in my stomach - a nervous excitement is probably the closest I could come to describing it. I wanted it to go away, 'cause it was weird, but at the same time, I didn't want it too. I asked God what it was, and He said it's for the things to come - what He is about to do, that will far exceed anything we could ever hope or imagine!