Confession

I really love Jesus.
I don't have it all figured out yet.
I don't have all the answers.
I am still learning.
And I really love Jesus.

Life worthy of the Gospel

So we are doing RAW right now (ready and willing) a social justice conference for youth that we run every year out of the War College and last night I was completely challenged by what was taught.
The guest speaker isn't a Salvation Army guy, but lives in a Christian Community in the DTES alongside us.
Two phrases that stuck out to me and jolted my system were:
"If you have more than you need you have what belongs to someone else".
We try to adhere to the "simplicity" lifestyle, but it always grips me when you think of the reality that people are actually starving to death, dying from curable diseases and it IS correlational to how we are living in the West.
The other (perhaps more controversial)was:
"When they come for the poor, if they don't have to step over your bloody broken body, a curse on you and your religion"...
I think that one sent our whole leadership team into tears.
Are we doing all we can to protect and defend those that are being abused, starved, discriminated against, violated, stolen from...fill in the blanks.
This IS uncomfortable. If reading all that Jesus wrote and instructed ISN'T making you uncomfortable, you are probably reading Him wrong.
It's a high calling. No doubt.
I humbly confess that I am horrible at this.
I like things. I like being with people that smell nice.
I like living in a nice, neat, comfortable world.
But that's not the life worthy of the gospel. As much as that may suck to hear for me or anyone.
Let the name of the Lord be praised.

Lord, we need your mercy, grace and strength.
Help us, please.

I love 614 Vancouver

So...I don't know if anyone will even be checking this blog, since I haven't written in it for ages, but I just wanted to say that -
"I love 614 Vancouver!"

I am so blessed to be living in a community where there is such great community, so much fruit, great leaders, inspiring teaching, people who love the LORD and love their neighbours as themselves.

Last week three people got saved, there's like a dozen people being trained to be soldiers, we had an enrollment this week, new people are coming and being such an encouragement, cells are doing great, and we've survived ups and downs and it has made us stronger.

How good and pleasant it is when we dwell together in UNITY!

I really believe that this year at 614 we will see a lot of fruit from our labour, and obviously thanks to the GRACE of God. Trust me, we've all been humbled enough to know it's only by his grace!
Much love to my brothers and sisters, and to my esteemed leaders.

Grace and love,

Kirsten

I'm just really sad today.
Being honest...

Life Update

So I think facebook killed my blog, but for those who aren't facebookers, I will write an update!
Life is good (more or less). God is good - and that remains, when all else fails, He remains strong. Never-changing. Hallelujah.
I moved into a new place at the beginning of January and live with two wonderful young ladies who are a blessing to my life. We're in a co-op housing unit in the Downtown Eastside, and it's really working out well for us. Community is great.
I got a new job working in a female shelter, Belkin House, for the Salvation Army. I haven't been working for too long, but I love it. The women bring joy into my life, and I am learning so much about resources and other aids. It also gives me lots of time to pray, which is a huge gift.
God is good and is speaking. He's been teaching me to truly bless others and pray good things for their lives, regardless of what they think of me. It's about His Kingdom, not mine. Ha! How silly. It's so easy to bless and love those who love you back. Don't get me wrong, it's still wonderful and rich, but it's just a lot harder to bless those who don't reciprocate the love. You feel me?
The LORD is restoring my zeal for His word, which has been a long time coming, so Praise God for that. I also feel like God has been showing me a lot of my selfishness, and pride, BUT He has also been encouraging me with hope. Rather than getting down and feeling horrible, I see where God is taking me FROM and bringing me TO. I'm trying to stay humble, laying at His feet. "My Deliverer is coming, my Deliverer is standing by". So Glory to Him. His love endureth forever. Amen.

Awake, and sing

The LORD is gracious and compassionate.
Hallelujah.
It is good to be alive and well - happy, saved and free. Amen.
Just got back from two weeks in New Jersey, New York City and Harlem.
I was in a car accident today, but other than that I am healthy and extremely happy to see Rochelle and John as they are fresh from Zimbabwe here with us for the holidays.
...
I've noticed that Paul often starts his letters with a greeting and blessing of peace and grace to people. I stopped and thought about that. Many people in many walks of life are going through a spectrum of circumstances, but a true, deep blessing of peace and grace would be rich for anyone.
What if we greeted each other with grace and peace? What if we prayed that, blessed that, LIVED that out with each person we came in contact with.
We are so grace deprived!
In our community we always say "grace" when we leave each other, but often times it can lose its meaning.
We can become subject to trying to live without the need for grace. Ha! As if...
The LORD is gracious and compassionate.
We are ALL in need of the LORD. Bless me, Father, for trying to prove to you, to myself, to the world that if I try really hard, I won't need your grace.
I need it. I need your mercy, your love that is endless, your compassion, your strength.
I need you. The more I know you, the more I know that I need you. And I feel bad asking for more, yet I know, as you look at your children, it is with great joy that you pour it over us.
Cure me, cure us, rid us from this "Messiah Complex" that can bring death, haughtiness and decay.
Fill us with love, mercy, grace, and your peace. Let that emanate from us. Let it pour out, reach out to the lost, the broken, the lonely.
I run into your arms and lean fully. I find my solace there.

My laptop and desktop computer died - thus the desert in the blogs...

I've been going through a hard time lately. Thought things would get better, but still working on them. Hey, that's life.

Your prayers would be deeply appreciated.

Much grace,
Kirsten