"Look On Up" #RelientK

A couple of weeks ago, I went to a Relient K concert here in Orlando. I listened to them throughout my middle school, high school, college years and beyond.

They played a new song they have - which I still believe is technically unreleased! But it's so good and relates to our "selfie" obsessed, SnapChat-loving, Instagram driven millennial generation.

Enjoy.



"I remember when a photograph was worth, A thousand words
Now a thousand pictures come my way, Everyday
And I “like” them all the same but they can’t take my breath away
I’m fighting the temptation not to look
But I’m still leafin' through the pages like the world’s my open book
Why don’t I have something else to do?
Feeling trapped behind the viewfinder trying to share it all with you
And that’s not what it’s about; I’m just so tired of missing out
Look on up, to the sky
Wonder why I put a filter between beauty and my eyes
Look on up, to Your eyes
It’s time to put down my devices and start to live my life
I’ll look on up, to the sky"

"I envy your STINT teams!"

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine gave me a thoughtful-out-of-the-blue card. In it, were some timely words of encouragement regarding the work my team and I do training STINT teams. 

Here is what she had to say:

Hannah,

I have been thinking about this lately and every time it comes up, I always think… I should share this with Hannah!

My life and ministry during STINT in East Asia would have looked so so so much difference if the Jesus Film app was available to us. Ministry and gospel conversations would have looked so different in a place where languages build a bigger wall than just verbally. It would have dramatic effect on how we functioned as a team!

All that to say, from someone who lived in a STINT world where all this wasn’t an option, thank you for doing what you do. It not only effects the direct ministry but if inwardly effects those doing ministering! You are helping people reach the highest potential in ministry, and again, from someone who could never break through all the barriers with traditional methods, I know it is making a difference – I envy your STINT teams!

- Liz

For me, it was a breath of fresh air! A reminder that there is a need for me to be training missionaries who are on the field on a daily basis. For the last 4+ years, God has placed me in an office role... but maybe one day, I'll head back to "field ministry" and be using film in relational ministry myself!

Under the sparkling lights of the Eiffel tower...

On my recent trip to Europe, I was blessed with a layover in my former city - Ris Orangis, France (about 40 minutes from Paris). It was super great to see old friends - both American expats and French friends!

Saturday, I spent the day in Paris with my French friend Charlene. We met 4 years ago when I was on STINT in France. At the time, she worked in the local grocery story as a check-out clerk. Our friendship began when I invited her to experience an American Thanksgiving at our apartment.

Me, Kevin, Charlene and Chelsea

Since then, we've continued to stay in touch through Facebook and other international texting apps.

Our day in Paris was super great - beautiful weather, saw lots of my favorite places in the city and enjoyed lots of delicious French food - including escargot with my dinner - which I had never had before!

Through out the day, we talked about life updates, what each of us do for work - which is why I was in Europe - which lead me to share more about Jesus with her, explaining the gospel and why Jesus is so important to me.

Charlene and I at the base of Sacre Coeur

After a late dinner, we made our way to the Eiffel tower to see it lit up at night (which is one of my favorite things in Paris!). On the metro, having recently talked about relationships - she mentioned she wanted to get married in a church. But to do that, the priest said she has to be baptized. She didn't see the difference between baptism and being a Christian - thinking baptism made her a Christian.

In simplest terms, I explained that deciding to have a personal relationship with Jesus is like engagement. God is a gentleman, with a gift to offer out of an extreme love because He so desires a relationship with us - He doesn't force it upon us - it's our decision. The wedding is like baptism - proclaiming to family and friends, your love for God and that He is now apart of your life. And marriage is growing in your relationship with Him - something that deepens over time.

Soon, we arrived to our stop around 11:30 p.m., enjoying the cool weather, people watching and waiting for the top of the hour when the Eiffel tower's lights would start sparkling! Right at 12:00 a.m., as the sparkles started, off in the distance we watched a couple, as the man got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend. Charlene and I were all smiles and giggles! I got goosebumps as I had just used that example of how God pursues us and is down on one knee, wanting to have a committed personal relationship with us!
 

 

Please pray for Charlene, that she would see ways God us pursuing her - wanting a personal relationship with her!

Inspiration... where are you? #grace

(Press play and listen while you read!)

  

Sheesh almost 2 months since I last wrote.

My blog currently doesn't exactly have a purpose. Will it ever really? Life is always changing - including my passions and experiences. And I think I write about those things most!

I started my blog 4 years ago when I moved to France. I wrote about new experiences, ministry stories, culture differences...

Over the years, this blog has since morphed into things God has been teaching me, random thoughts on various things, yet still interwoven with my ministry life.

And it probably still will.

One thing I feel God has recently taught me - rather is teaching me - is to : "be a learner, not a figure-it-outer". There is grace to be extended in that. I tend to hold myself to a high standard, expecting a lot of myself. Rarely had I considered myself to be the hardest on myself. Yet, it's true. I was - have been - mentally beating myself up for the "failures" in my life. Not extending the grace God extends to me.

No one should be requiring me to be perfect.
No one should assume I will get it right the first time.
No one should demand a polished Hannah.
No one, including myself.

So there is grace. His grace. And it abounds.

I got to help lead singing today at my church in Orlando. One of the songs we sang is called "How He Loves" (if you haven't started listening to it yet, just press play in the video on this post!).

There is a lyric that reads:

"... and I don't have time to maintain these regrets, when I think about the way .... He loves us!"

Exactly. Why reminisce on the failures, the mistakes, the regrets? He has forgiven us of them, and loves us despite them! As long as we maintain an attitude of being a learner, leaning into God's Holy Spirit that dwells within those who have a personal relationship with Him.

Thank you God for Your grace!

Do you have questions on what having a personal relationship with God looks like? Check out this video called "#FallingPlates"  or email me - I'd love to share with you.

Day 1,459

August 1st, 2010 was my initial hire date with Campus Crusade for Christ International.  My first "real job" out of college.

Tomorrow, I start my 5th year... day 1,460.

As a college student, my plan was always to work hard, maybe climb the corporate ladder, have a family and support full-time missionaries. Little did I know, GOD's plan all along was for me to actually be a full-time missionary - at least for this season of life.

Most of my STINT team

 Looking back on these 4 years, (it's enjoyable to reminisce and start to see reasons for various life events or experiences), there were many seasons. Seasons of adventure, hardship and tears, packing and moving, cultures and languages, forever friendships built, and many pioneering endeavors I would have never could have imagined or thought I'd get to be apart of...

The National Campus Office conference team.                                                                             Jesus Film Media teammate Nifer and I on a conference call.

 Recently, I was in Denver, Colorado to speak at a conference. My overall purpose was to cast vision to the leaders of the intern teams serving overseas (STINT), about ways their teams could partner and be digitally trained and coached using Jesus Film products and strategies on campus overseas. As I prepared for this presentation, I also took time to reflect how this project came to be:

2010 - Pioneering STINT in France to resource Christian minorities.
2011 - Intern with the Cru National Campus Office conference team.
2012 - Join staff with Jesus Film Media and raise financial support.
2013 - Report full time and develop the STINT Partnership project.
2014 - Continue to develop the STINT Partnership project, training a new team in the partnership process, and possibly model partnerships for other ministries from it.

During my time on STINT, I met several influential leaders in the Global Missions world. While working on the conference team, I built rapport with some really fun people who orchestrate a wide variety of Cru conferences - including ones for STINTers. And during both of my internship years, through various circumstances, I learned more about Jesus Film and their desire to "go digital" in ministry and wanted someone with a marketing/networking background on this new team.

Representing Jesus Film Media at the 2013 STINT Briefing

The combination of these timely life experiences could only be put together by the Creator of all things. I don't think I'll ever realized how blessed I am to have been apart each of these ministries, but I am thankful to have been able to take time to see how they all have come together. I am excited and trusting the LORD to continue to grow and develop this STINT Partnership in the coming years to magnify HIS Name to the nations!

#coffeetestimony

It's my coffee-iversary. The 2nd one to be exact.

All throughout high school, college and even my two years interning with Campus Crusade, I survived without drinking coffee. (Note: I still don't need coffee to survive, I know, it's just realllllly helpful in the mornings for a "night-owl".)

And then, New Staff Training happened.

Oh how I love Winter Park and Rollins College. So many memories! Early mornings, late nights, seminary classes, lots of reading - oh, and trying to have a social life too. To maximize my summer, I thought I would "give" coffee a try. Mocha... iced mocha, to be exact. Mmm.

The rooms we used for our seminary classes did not allow drinks inside. Sort of by force, my friends and I started "coffee day-care".

We'd drop off our mugs and cups right outside our class door, only to check back in during the break and finish (Towards the end of the week, there were some rebels sitting in the back... and I may have been one of them).

Over time, I've come to appreciate the flavor and warmth of coffee - yes, even beyond a mocha. I've now explored coffees from many of the places I've traveled to - including the Netherlands, Panama and Brazil.

I love my Bodum french press.

It's perfect with a stroopwafel from the Netherlands.

Panamanian Kotowa coffee had the #4 coffee in the world in 2006.

Brazil coffee is generally strong and bold in flavor.

In these last two years, with a cup-a-joe in my hand, I've had many quality conversations, heartfelt quiet times and moments of learning to enjoy the morning hours. (I think I also feel a little more like an adult for liking coffee - haha!) 

Cheers to your next cup!

A little more on Psalm 23 (part B if you will)

Several months ago, I wrote a blog post about Psalm 23.  This passage is just too good and speaks to my soul... so I decided to write a little more...

- No good thing does HE withhold.
- God determines what we need, and what is good for us.
- HE is my Shepherd and HE:

1. MAKES me lie down in green pastures. (not just any pastures, GREEN ones!)
2. LEADS me besides still waters (did you know that sheep only drink from still water?)
3. RESTORES my soul - strengthens, comforts, causes me to slow down and benefit from the green pastures and still waters
4. LEADS me on paths of righteousness - the way that is truly the best - for HIS name's sake! (It's all for HIS glory, not to fulfill my desires or wants)
                 (Then it turns even more personal)
5. Especially in the hard times, YOU are WITH me
6. YOU PREPARE lavishly and abundantly so my cup overflows in blessings (one reason we need to slow down and rest in those green pastures and drink from the still waters, is to appreciate how HE is filling our cup!)
7. YOU PURSUE me by YOUR goodness and mercy that follow me - (the phrase"follow me" in Hebrew ["radaph"] means - to attend closely to,  follow after,  pursue,  run after) (How cool is that? GOD is actually "running" after me, pursuing me with HIS goodness, and all to often am too busy to take time and appreciate it)
   
   
   

   

   Nerja, Spain. I'm a sunset kinda gal. I think God has made sunsets as a part of my "green pastures and still waters".
   I love watching God's creativity and beauty displayed differently every time!