Layers of Cake

It's been past a month now since I wrote last and I just wanted to let you know I'm doing insanely well and am overflowing with thankfulness for this season of my life. This week made me stand in complete awe of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

As I was typing an update to my friend, words were spilling out of my heart into my fingers and I knew I should probably just also turn it into a blog post. So we are I think on book #15 now in SBS and here I was expecting to have massive revelation each book, each chapter because in my mind I thought that is what determined learning. The truth is; I have not been blown out of the water with each book and to be honest a lot of those 14 books were not all enjoyed because of my attitude an many times my ungrateful heart.

This past week we studied 1 Corinthians. My, o my, was I blown away. 1 Corinthians 2: 10-16 I have read before, but that is the beauty of the Eternal Word, there is so much to each word that God just can't help but reveal more and more at just the right times which can  provoke hunger, thirst, and action. So, the Corinthians were seeking after wisdom and found great importance in wisdom and knowledge to be portrayed as spiritual and to be thought highly of. The problem was that they weren't seeking it from God, but from man and man does not understand power of God. Who understands the power, the wisdom, and the knowledge of God? The Spirit. Yes, yes, yes, the Spirit! When I came to vs. 10 'these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the DEPTHS of God.' I was completely stuck and struck on the word 'depth.' The word depth is insane and is defined as; from top to bottom, known as several layers; quality of being deep; complexity and obscurity; gravity; seriousness; emotional profundity.

Those who believe in God and have believed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, have the Spirit of God in them. Therefore, we have ACCESS to the depths of God if we want. I don't think it just happens just because one calls themselves a Christian, I think it happens when you seek after it and ask.

So to sum up why I was so moved by this or what he revealed to me because of what Paul says in the beginning of chapter 3 (He is basically telling them they are immature and like children because they didn't seek after God or didn't take the gospel seriously, or didn't seek after the Spirit to learn the depths of God, which made them remain as they were when Paul first visited them.) What I realized is that I have access to the Spirit of God because the Spirit lives in me and in these past few years I have really sought after Him and the Spirit has revealed much to me about God which has caused great growth and maturity in my life. Thinking back and realizing growth is great but what He revealed to me is that there is MORE--continual growth if I so desire. If I desire it and want it then I will spend time and ask the Spirit to reveal the layers upon layers there are of God...the vastness..I described it to my friend as maybe an unending cake with every flavor imaginable plus more and flavors you can't even think of, plus layers of frosting and maybe ice cream too, different textures..I could go on and on but I think you get the point.

Well friends, I'm onto 2 Corinthians this week and then 2 Timothy--May you have a blessed week.

He's Never Gonna Leave Me Dry

It feels as though there has been much more time in between March 20 and April 21, but reality is that it has been just a month and a day since I arrived in Taiwan and there is 8 more months to go. I love it here and from day one I've felt like those that are surrounding me quickly became family. It's a beautiful picture of the body of Christ and a great picture from Acts 4:32, "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul and now one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common." No, I am not meaning that we like to eat all the same things and study the exact same way, but I don't know that that is necessarily what matters or what we should all have in common. The one thing we do have in common is believing in Jesus Christ! 

The school and place where I live is located in the Danshui District which is in the North of Taiwan and about an hour away from Taipei City. I'd love to share more about the culture, but I believe in this blog post I need to let you know how I really am doing.

I believe there is a reason for me typing my blog today, as I have wanted to for the past couple weeks but just wasn't feeling like I should. I think it's to encourage many of you reading this and for me to be transparent with you. 

The question has often been asked by many of you, "What is the weather like there?" My response is, "It's always raining, and we've maybe had two days of sunshine." You say, "O, isn't that depressing?" It hasn't really been depressing, but I am seeing what a JOY it is!

Why? Because today as I was sitting meditating on these last couple weeks, the Lord reminded me that He is never going to leave me dry. These last couple weeks I have totally turned to self reliance. I've been trying to read the Word and do all my work on my own strength, my own understanding, my own time with the result being; anxiousness + a sadness that 'He isn't revealing anything to me through His Word and I can't connect my heart and mind!' Well, of course I can't--I simply can't do anything without Him, and neither can you. The truth is that 'I am broken, I'm thirsty, and I'm in need of him, I'm desperate for His Spirit.' It's a joy to be reminded by rain, that it's Him who I am in need of. We need to be filled by His Spirit in order to do what Jesus has called us to do. Without being filled, I can't share the gospel again and again without getting sick of it, I can't do anymore studying without wanting to quit and having a bad attitude, I can't walk in the gift of encouraging others or sharing His heart with classmates, staff or Taiwanese without being filled by His Spirit again and again. 

I hope this encourages you and I want to share more about what my day to day life looks like while I am here, but this post could get lengthy, so I have an update via e-mail that I've sent out on what life looks like here, as well as prayer requests. If you want to be a part of that e-mail list, please comment on my Facebook. I am so thankful for many of you who have been supporting me financially and through prayers, every time I think or pray for you, I become overwhelmed by His goodness through you. And just an update of where I'm at in school, we have went through the books: Philemon, Titus, Galatians, Ephesians, Mark, Luke and yesterday we started Acts!

Peace to you my friends, please enjoy this song below. 

'You're never gonna leave me dry, no you don't no you don't, 

Your always willing, my cup you'll be filling."

This song, 'Never Gonna Leave Me Dry' by Cory Asbury was used by the Lord this morning to really speak to my heart, so I thought I'd share :)

 

 

The Wind and the Leaves

Fundraising is completed. Jesus poured all finances in this past week as I gave pedicures to many of you for my upcoming adventure/season. I stand in awe of the God we serve and as a friend heard that all finances came in she quoted someone, "where God guides, God provides." I do agree with this quote as it seems to be quite true in my life. Never did I imagine that Jesus would guide me to go through YWAM and then continue in it for another season, but as He has confirmed it time and time again, I couldn't help but be obedient. When I said 'yes,' in my heart to following the leading of leaving the salon, things weren't all so clear, but I believe that is the whole idea about being obedient. Romans 1:5 Paul says, "obedience comes from faith".

"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you can not tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8 (Jesus speaking to Nicodemus)

Today, as I discovered a set of bleachers to my right while driving in Kansas City I decided to park my car and go sit on the bleachers thinking maybe I would read a book or draw a picture. The wind was warm and the sun inviting. I lay down on the bleachers and shut my eyes and wonder at the sound of creation. The wind was blowing and I could hear the leaves moving. Meditating on the sounds, the wind reminded me of Jesus's Spirit moving around me. The sound of the leaves moving sounded like footsteps, people walking to and fro. As I thought about it, the leaves represent people: some leaves are sitting on the surface of the grass and other leaves have been stepped on or have become weighted down by other leaves or maybe the rain. The other thought that comes to mind while typing this out of my journal is that some leaves have settled in because it is comfortable and don't want to be moved out of comfort. 

I want to be like the leaf sitting on the surface of the grass. As Jesus's Spirit is blowing whether it is a strong wind one moment or a light breeze another moment, I want to be moved by His Spirit. His Spirit is what lives inside of us and it is what directs us. I desire to be like the leaf all the days of my life. 

"Jesus, may I sit on the surface of the grass, letting the wind of you Spirit move me to where you want me to be. May I not become comfortable but always willing to be moved by You because you say Your Spirit moves wherever it pleases."

As I share this raw entry in my journal with you, I pray that it would be encouraging and resonate with where you are at right now. And for those of you who feel stuck or comfortable, my prayer is that the Holy Spirit would come underneath and 'un-stick' you. 

Thanks for being so encouraging in my time being home and leading up to this next season of dedicating it solely to the Word of God. I've been witnessing Jesus moving in crazy ways since I've been back in Sioux Center and I believe it's been because of many of your prayers. Would you please continue to lift me up as 5 weeks from tomorrow I will be leaving to attend SBS (School of Biblical Studies) for 9 months. I've been told by others and the Lord has revealed this to me through many that this upcoming season is going to be intense. I invite you to lift up the class, teachers, and staff in Taiwan. 

Kortney

Transformation

Being home in the midst of family, great community and processing my time away has brought a crazy amount of joy to my spirit, soul and body. There has been days where I pray, "Jesus help me control this joy so others can have room to speak." I can't explain this joy, hope and love that consumes me but as He keeps drawing me back to observe and meditate on the beginning of the transformation by His Holy Spirit in my life, crazy revelation is being released and I believe that is where this joy is stemming from!

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the 

Lord's glory, are being transformed

 into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, 

which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 

                                                                   2 Corinthians 3:18 

I've wondered for days on end at Jesus as He reminds me of the process of transformation that has been happening in my life. This verse Paul wrote has been a verse the Lord highlighted to me before I left for YWAM and as I have returned home has brought me into deeper revelation of this verse. 

As I made the choice to recommit my life to Jesus the veil was removed from my eyes and I began to have an understanding that "I am a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17 He rescued me from guilt, shame and redirected me to the path that the Word gives light to. I feel like a newborn baby that craves pure spiritual milk because I really have tasted that He is good, He is the one to satisfy and no earthly thing will do.  He redirected me but also began to transform me into His likeness. I love the word, being. It reveals to me that in this life, transformation will never end. We are being transformed into his likeness, with ever-increasing glory until the day He returns. 

My process of transformation so far has been enjoyable, painful, and full of many challenges. I come home to the challenge the Lord has put before me: How you are at home is actually how you are. For me, I believe further transformation into His likeness starts in the home and might be the hardest part of the process so far. I say the hardest, but I also want to add that much joy, thanksgiving and learning have taken place in my time home. Family is beautiful and I believe is often the first place the enemy will try to have his way--creating division and hurt through lies, annoyance, tiredness and miscommunication, etc. 

I can't go after this challenge by myself, but there is one He has sent to help me; the Holy Spirit and I couldn't have asked for a better teacher, counselor, or comforter. As I've been home I feel as though He has helped me to set the tone and many times I have messed up but often times those are the times when I've relied on my own strength.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; 

my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.

My heart leaps for joy and 

I will give thanks to him in song. 

                                                          Psalm 28:7

I am home for sure until March because I have felt Jesus confirm to do an SBS (School of Biblical Studies) in Taipei, Taiwan. In the time that I am home leading up to this school, I'd love to hear what Jesus is doing in your heart and if you would like to do coffee or hang out to know more, contact me!