Rest Assured :)...

Yes, I am still alive! :) For those of you who still read this and have been wondering for MONTHS whether I ever made it to Norway and back, I DID! The combination of a tremendously busy last few months of school and the introduction of Facebook into my life caused me to neglect this blog quite severely - so here's an update on where my life stands right now and what God is up to! :)

• After spending an absolutely wonderful month home with my family and friends, I am back in Redding! It was in my heart and God's for me to spend just ONE more year up here in Northern California, sowing into the arts scene at Bethel Church, continuing to serve in a variety of areas, and investing my time and heart into key relationships/friendships that may be changing in this next season... I am living in a new house with the most WONDERFUL girls and am very much looking forward to spending the year with them :)
• I've had some GREAT opportunities open up to me since the summer began - toward the end of the school year, I was intensely seeking God for what this next season would look like and one of the things in my heart has been to learn and get more technical training in my creative gifts. A dear friend and mentor of mine gave me a prophetic word that she felt there would be an apprenticeship of some kind for me in this next year, and SURE ENOUGH, that was God! The door opened up for me to be connected with an amazing man at Bethel - Brad Webster - he has been doing freelance graphic design for a number of years and his wife is a pastor on staff in Bethel's school of ministry. It has been on his heart in recent months to begin to expand his work in graphic design and to teach others who are hungry to learn - I am so blessed to say that he is now teaching me everything he knows, ans as soon as I've mastered the basics, I'll get to start working with clients alongside him! I am SO in awe of how God works because before I ever dreamed of coming to Bethel, I was considering majoring in graphic design at an arts school in San Francisco! He is SO good at bringing things full circle! :)
• Currently, I am also in the midst of helping a dear friend coordinate and organize her wedding - coming up August 1st! It's crunch time now, and it has been such a fun journey! I can certainly organize and administrate but have NEVER done any wedding coordination before so it has been such a great time of learning to trust God as I step into new territory! Honestly, I can't think of any place I'd rather be than having to completely depend on Him. I want to live my life JUST beyond the borders of the territory where I am comfortable - in that place where His voice and His presence are the very breath I breathe.
• In stride with that, this season with God has been more precious to me than any other in my life... It seems as We go on year after year, season after season, my relationship with Him because more and more priceless... I value His nearness and increasingly cherish every little moment. Should it be any other way? This season is more about trust than it has EVER been before, and He's teaching me SO many new things about rest. I am certain that I'll be writing a book about rest someday... I know He has purposed that to be the legacy of my life :). He told me not too long ago that this season would be about "Rest, Re-Creation, Renaissance, and Repentance." What does that mean? Rest- More than ever, He wants me to understand that rest=TRUST. He longs for us to enter into His rest and to cease from ALL striving and works, just as He has - and we do that by listening to His voice. (check out Hebrews 4...). Re-Creation - Haha, this season I am purposing to have more fun :). My best friend Kate and I have committed to have more PLAY time together, hiking, cycling, and all things active! It dawned on me not to long ago that there is a deeper meaning to "recreation". There is something that is literally renewed in us as we engage in the things that we purely love and enjoy! Renaissance - God told me a month or so ago that I was entering into my own personal renaissance. The word renaissance means "rebirth", "new birth" and "revival" - ever since my heart started burning to see a new Renaissance of His creativity released on the earth, I've been asking Him to START IN ME. How can I give away something that I haven't experienced myself? Our purpose must be to have an encounter with Him so that we can BECOME an encounter with Him so OTHERS in turn can encounter Him as well! I am being "renaissanced" by my Father so that through me, OTHERS may experience His all-encompassing, life-transforming love that makes all things new. And finally, Repentance - simply said, repentance is changing the way you think, and I KNOW that God is determined to change the way I think about MANY things in this season :). He has been challenging me in the best ways, and He makes that such a SAFE process, even when things I've ALWAYS known or believed are being shifted and changed!

SO there's an update on my life, though all of that just scratches the surface! Not sure how often I'll get to post on here but I'm sure my grandma will keep reminding me when this gets outdated ;). Love you, Grandma!

Love and blessings,

Melissa

Overflow from San Francisco, and headed for Norway!

Hey Family and friends!

I honestly have no idea how many people still read this because, in my busyness, I've neglected it so much! But for the sake of the few who may still read, I wanted to post a quick update before I head off to Bergen, Norway tomorrow morning! For starters, my trip to San Francisco about a month ago was ABSOLUTELY incredible! It was honestly the best missions trip I've ever experience and co-leading the team with Kate - my best friend in the world- was a total joy in every possible way! We're STILL putting together all the testimonies of what God in pouring His radical, unconditional love over the city through us, but I have some I'd love to bless you all with :). This first portion describes our mission of love to a transgender bar in the city, and the second is a  story from our  healing meeting at Promised Land church :). The rest of the stories I will post soon will be from our other outreaches in the city (Hippie Hill, UC Berkeley campus, etc) plus just fun ministry along the way :).

In other news, I JUST had my 21st birthday and was SO blessed by all my friends and family! I'm SO looking forward to what this year holds for me - I know it will be one of partnership and unity with Jesus like never before! :)

I'm also adding to this email my itinerary for Norway, and SO covet your prayers over me and my team! We are expecting Norway to experience the unconditional love of the Father, healings and miracles as displays of His goodness and power, and for people to be transformed by the creativity of God as we release the Arts all throughout the city! PLEASE PRAY specifically for us on FRIDAY because we will have been traveling for 24 hours straight and will be doing a youth meeting THAT NIGHT. I have NO doubt that Holy Spirit will come in a mighty way because we'll be SO utterly surrendered to Him :).  I'll start with the schedule for Norway, and then the testimonies from San Fran! 

I love you all SO much, and declare that THIS is the year of the FAVOR of the Lord being radically displayed over you!

Melissa

Bergen Itinerary

 

Friday March 13th
•    5pm arrive at the airport. EXCHANGE 1/3 OF MONEY AT AIRPORT. Cars will be there to pick us up and drive us to the church.
•    6pm Dinner. The church will serve us pizza! J
•    7.30 pm – 10pm Youth meeting. (BSSM team)(70 teenagers)

Saturday March 14th   

•    9am BSSM Team Meeting
•    10am – 1pm Seminar on inner healing (Theresa and team) (100 people, open conference to church network)
•    1-2 pm Lunch at the church
•    2-4 pm Two different Outreach seminars 1)Treasure hunt (50 people) and 2)prophetic art (30 people) (1 hour teaching + 1 hour outreach to multiple sites in city)

•    4pm Testimonies from Outreach!

     5: 30 pm Dinner at host homes
•    8 pm – Open Conference “Rik Nok for Alle” (Rich Enough for All) 200+ people.

Sunday March 15th   

•    10 am  BSSM Team Meeting
•    11 am-1pm  Sunday morning service at Christ Church (250 people) (Theresa speaking and  team does ministry J)
•    12 pm Separate Sunday service at Fellesskapskirken (Peter speaking and portion of team with him) (50 people)
•    3.30 pm Half of the team drives to Voss (1.5 hours away, possible snow) for Sunday night meeting at Sverre’s latest church plant (Jesus Fellowship). Theresa and team (40 people) 
•    5.pm Dinner in Voss. 
•    7 pm Evening meeting in Voss. (Theresa and team)
•    7 pm Other half of our team will minister to two new house churches in Bergen. (At Sverre’s home) (30 young people)

Monday March 16th   

 •    8.30 am Worship at Veien Bible School
•    9.00 am Class (Open teaching time in school for Bethel Team)
•    10:45 – 11:15 am lunch (eating at the school)
•    11:15am – 1:00pm Class ( Open teaching time in school for Bethel Team) Possible visit to public High Schools to minister during lunch time…

•    1:15 pm – 4:15pm Sightseeing in the city! Play time! J ( Exchange the remainder of team money)
•    4:15pm – 6:15pm Team Connection time and worship together.

       Evening FREE to REST at host homes! TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS NIGHT!

Tuesday March 17th   

•    8.30 am Worship at Veien Bible School
•    10 am – 12pm OUTREACH throughout the City! Treasure hunt, prophetic art, feed the poor etc.
•    12 pm Lunch at different locations in city.
•    1.30 pm Share outreach testimonies together back at church!
•    2.30 pm BSSM Team Meeting
•    7.00 pm Celebration party with Ministry students! (Dinner, worship, and Holy Spirit FUN!100+ people. First and second year ministry students with  BSSM team)

Wednesday March 18th   

•    8.30 am Breakfast with senior pastors and youth leaders from the city (30 people).
•    10 am – 1 pm (Same Format as Monday – Open teaching time in Veien Bible School). Lunch at the school.
•    1:30 pm BSSM Team Meeting
•    7.00 pm – 9.00 pm Healing House at Christ Church + Mobile Healing Units to visit people in homes. (Invites sent to ALL churches in city to have the sick come for healing!) We are pioneering this event for the FIRST TIME! Set the atmosphere for encounters with worship, dance, prophetic art stations, etc.

 

Thursday March 19^th

 •    8.30pm Worship at Veien Bible School
•    9.00 – 1.00 pm (Same Format as Monday – Open Teaching in Veien Bible School). Lunch at the school.
•    1.30 BSMM Team Meeting
•    7 – 9 pm Healing House at Christ Church. Same as Wednesday!

Friday  March 20th   

 •    10 am Leave for outreach to four different cities and churches! Divide the team between Voss, Sandane, Stavanger and Haugesund!

Saturday March 21th    •    Outreach to other cities/churches!

Sunday March 22nd    •    Morning services in other cities/churches!

 

• Arrive back in Bergen – soaking sessions to refresh, meet with team at 6PM! Testimonies from weekend! GO TO BED EARLY! We must be at the airport the next day by 5:30 AM!

On a Mission to Be Lovers in San Francisco!

(Testimonies from SF Team led by Kate Eifert and Melissa Cordell)

 

This entire trip was so strategic and empowered by the Lord, and we were in awe at His radical grace, love, and goodness that overshadowed our team throughout our time in San Francisco. We knew that above all things, He was calling us to be radical lovers of the people in the city, and that was our heart and mission when we went to a transgender bar on Friday night.  No agenda – just to LOVE these people toward a revelation of the desire of God FOR them. I cannot even begin to describe the supernatural grace that empowered us the entire time we were there! 9 people from our team spent about 4 hours in the bar, and during that time, one man received Jesus as His Lover and Savior, multiple people got healed including a man who’s leg grew out, and countless people told us that they had NEVER experienced anything like this love from Christians before! A man and woman from our team were talking with a transgender man in the bar, and at one point he just stopped the conversation, turned to the woman and said, “I saw you when you came into the bar tonight – I watching you, and I KNEW you weren’t transgender or lesbian. You are clean and pure.” Another woman from our team was spending time with a gay couple, and one of the men, throughout the whole conversation, couldn’t stop saying (in total sincerity), “You are so beautiful… You are SO beautiful.” The radiance of God’s glory and love emanating from us, and THEY could see it!! One thing that we felt led to ask the Lord for was the birth names of the people in the bar because many of the men were dressed in drag, had undergone major surgeries, and now went by “alias” names like Tiffany or Marisela when their true names were Richard or Steven.  So as one team member was talking to a particular man named “Victoria”, the name “Steve” dropped into her head. She asked him, “Does the name Steve mean anything to you?” He responded, “Well, that’s the owner of the bar- but you can’t have access to him!” Immediately we knew that was an assignment of the Lord because we had also been praying for connection with influencers in the city! Finally, at the very end of the night, the team was standing on the stairs, asking people if their names were “Steve” because we hadn’t found him yet, and SURE ENOUGH, he walked right up to us! We thanked and blessed him for being such a wonderful host, and asked if we could pray for him – he said yes, and as the team proceeded to prophesy over him, he began to cry and was totally touched by the presence of God!! It was truly amazing! As we left, countless people thanked us for coming, and said they’ve never felt so loved by Christians before!

 

Throughout the time those of our team were inside the bar, myself and another team member were out on the street in front of the bar, creating a prophetic painting for the city, and ministering to people on the street! We had more divine encounters than I can count! Two men driving by suddenly stopped in front of the bar, SHOCKED that I was painting on the street at 10:30 at night! We got to pray and prophesy over them, got a word of knowledge for one of them about his back pain, and he felt tingling in his back as we prayed! Another man who came by matched a Treasure Hunt clue from earlier in the day – “heartbreak” had been on my list, and we got to pray over for his heart to be healed from a painful relationship split. He had come from Sweden to San Francisco, drawn by the city’s promise of community but had been left alone and hurt – BUT we got to show him that GOD saw him and loved him! We also met the most incredible, Spirit-filled, Jesus-loving homeless man! He prophesied the meaning of my painting before I’d even finished it, and couldn’t stop praising Jesus for us being there! He kept telling me over and over, “I’ve been PRAYING that people/artists would come and do things like this!” At one point, in awe and worship of Jesus, this man took a ton of costume jewelry that he had in his suitcase, and threw it at my feet. I was SO blown away as he released his adoration to God. But about 30 minutes later, something even more profound happened – two transgender women came out of the bar and began to talk with me about my painting. Then one of them noticed all the jewelry and said “Is this yours? May we have some?” I told them “YES, of course!” And they proceeded to take ALL the jewelry that he poured out on Jesus in worship, and PUT IT ON THEMSELVES! They adorned themselves with that which was given in love for Jesus! I was stunned! More and more of that sort of thing happened throughout the entire night. I planned a second painting – it was to be the silhouette of a male and female figure (representing Jesus and San Francisco) about to kiss, with the words “Grace and love, like mighty rivers, flowed incessant from above – Heaven’s peace and perfect justice kissed a guilty world in love” written across it. As I began to paint the very basic outlines of the people, a beautiful woman off the street suddenly came up, talked to me for a minute, and then proceeded to commandeer my paintbrush, and painted the ENTIRE painting herself!! She, representing San Fran, depicted His love and radical devotion to her! And then, as the icing on the cake, JUST as I finished writing the words on the painting, a girl I had met earlier (who was REALLY under the influence of drugs and alcohol) came by again and read the painting LOUDLY, almost proclaiming it, for everyone on the street to hear! I was BESIDE myself with awe to hear the desire of the Lord released over them THROUGH HER!

Finally, at the end of the night as we were packing up our supplies, a woman named “Marisela” began asking me about one of my paintings – she wanted to buy it but I said that I had painted it in love for her and the city so I wanted her to have it for free. I don’t think she really knew what she was in for or if she had read all I’d written on the painting but she joyfully received it, and even wanted us to take a picture together holding it. After a loving hug and kiss on the cheek, she walked down the street carrying a soon-to-be-life-changing encounter with the radical love of Jesus. The painting read, “Do you know the way you move My heart? I love you – I want you – I choose you, San Francisco! I’m not disappointed, I’m not angry, I’m IN LOVE WITH YOU! This is the heart of God.”

"At the healing service on Saturday… Rachel and I (Melissa) got a word of knowledge for depression and that someone was struggling with addiction to medication because of it. A sweet, sincere man named Mark came up for prayer in response to the word.  He loved Jesus with all his heart and had been saved for 7or 8 yrs. He told us that he had been set free from alcohol but because in reaction to the lack of alcohol, his body was launched into depression. In his love for the Lord, he had attempted MANY times to break free from the depression and addiction but never experienced that healing and breakthrough which left him in hopelessness. Over and over he tried but could not get free! As we prayed with Mark, he began to receive the Father's heart for him - that He wasn't disappointed, and didn't see him as a failure. Hearing that TRUTH of the Father's love and delight in him changed EVERYTHING, and broke the lies that had been filling his mind! That night during the message, something Kate shared REALLY captivated his attention -  about the fullness of deity being inside of us, just as it was in Jesus. This message SO resonated in his heart – I said I would partner with him as HE declared freedom over his OWN body, according to that fullness which dwells in him! I knew the Lord wanted him to KNOW that HE WAS POWERFUL. So Mark began to declare that the cycle of depression was OVER, that he was taking authority over his body and releasing FREEDOM from those addictions! His face lit up and he was overwhelmed with the love of the Father for him, realizing all that Jesus had done to make him powerful! I could see the victim spirit leaving him, and he left a changed man!"

New Year with MANY new things on the horizon!

Hello family and friends! I'll be posting a 2009 update soon but I wanted to post the letter I recently sent out about my upcoming missions trips first! Prayer covering is going to be incredible KEY for me this year in the places I'm headed so as you read, open your heart to receive from the Lord for both Norway and San Francisco :). Here goes...

Beloved Family and Friends,

 

            As I begin this letter to you, I must tell you from the start that my heart is so full and in awe of our God… For some of you, it has been a while since you’ve heard any update on my adventures in the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, and for many, you’ve been sharing in my daily experiences and victories. Whichever the case, I am so thankful that we can be pursuing God together, with the same heart to see His love and glory poured out into the earth, that all would know and love our beautiful King.

            I could write volumes about all that God has been doing in and through me this year. For this letter, I’ll simply say that this third internship at Bethel’s school of ministry has been marked by divine favor, acceleration, and radical growth. He’s been equipping me for my dreams in incredible ways, positioning me as a leader in many different realms, and drawing me closer to Himself than I ever dreamed possible. More and more frequently, I’ll catch myself in the moment, and let the awe settle in – “God, look at what You’re doing… Can this really be happening?” J So many dreams and desires that I’ve had stored up in my heart are actually becoming reality, and it blows me away! How GOOD and mighty and FULL of GRACE our God is! He is purposeful and strategic in all His ways. That is truly something that has marked this season of my life, and is the reason I’m writing this letter – because this year, God has strategically positioned me to be sent to San Francisco, CA and Bergen, Norway on missions to expand His Kingdom!

            There has been such incredible fruit from the missions trips I’ve taken in the past, and as I dwell in thankfulness to Him for those breakthroughs, I have an overwhelming sense that He’s taking me from that glory to greater glory this year. I am honored and overjoyed to say that I have been asked to co-lead the missions trip to San Francisco with my most beloved friend Kate Eifert, and to assist my overseer Theresa Dedmon in the leadership and administration of our Norway trip as well! Both of these trips are incredibly strategic – meaning God has set them up them specifically for this season and time because of His heart for those places, and what He intends to release.

Many of you know that I have an incredible passion for the city of San Francisco, and I’m more aware now than EVER before of God’s overwhelming love and desire for the people there. So much has taken place in San Francisco in recent months, and many people would say that God has cast off the city in judgment of their sin but His very Word says that “where sin abounds, GRACE abounds all the more”! I truly believe that God has called me to this city, and has entrusted it to me to defend in prayer, so when I hear pastors or leaders around the world declaring God’s judgment over San Francisco, it causes such a fiercely righteous passion to rise up in me – because that’s MY city. I know His heart is FOR them, not against them. I sincerely believe that if the whole world says “judgment” but I alone say “mercy” then they will have mercy because I know God is love, and that He is moved by the desires of my heart. I can feel His desire for them resonating in my spirit- He longs to draw them NEAR to Himself, to lavish them with love, to make them understand that He is not disappointed, nor is He angry – He is in love with San Francisco! So what does all this mean for our missions trip? J Well, it means that February 18^th – 22^nd, our team of 16 people will be ministering throughout the city with one purpose – to reveal the radical, powerful, all consuming LOVE of God. Whether it’s through partnering with local ministries like Promised Land Fellowship and the Justice House of Prayer, targeting specific locations in the city with prayer, worship, and prophetic art, or simply ministering the love and power of God to people on the street – wherever we are, we intend to make a dwelling place for His presence and glory, that people would encounter who He REALLY is! Now, I’m always inviting you to partner with me in prayer, but this year, I feel a RADICAL increase in my need for covering, especially on this trip. Since the elections, there has been a lot of upheaval, hurt, and anger stirring in San Francisco against the Church. Honestly, the risk for our team will be much greater as we extend the heart of God to the people there. Despite the greater possibility of rejection and persecution, we know that NOW is the time more than ever to demonstrate the LOVE and POWER of God with purity and boldness. They need Him now more than ever before! So truly your covering in prayer is priceless to me.  Please pray this way:

·         That the hand of the Lord would cover and guard us in all that we do, and that reality would be greater than any opposition we might encounter.

·         That as our team is established in unity and love together, even just our very presence on the streets of the city would release the glory and love of God. That John 17: 20-24 would mark our team!

·         That we would walk in Acts 4:13, 29-31 – that people would know we have been with Jesus!

·         That His Kingdom would come and His will be done in San Francisco as it is in Heaven! That supernatural healing and miracles would abound!

·         That God would set us up with strategic connections in places, and with people, even influential leaders in the city, so we can extend the His favor, love and power.

·         That more than anything, San Francisco would have a revelation of the TRUE NATURE of God – that He is LOVE, GRACE, and MERCY to her, that He longs to MARRY her, and draw her to Himself!

 

Now, soon after I return from San Francisco, I’ll be heading off to Bergen, Norway! March 13^th – 23^rd, I’ll be traveling with a team of 30+ students led by Theresa Dedmon to add to the revival fires that are ALREADY blazing in Norway! This trip is incredibly strategic as well because the word of the Lord over Norway is that their nation will be a catalyst for the presence of God to overtake ALL of Europe! For the past couple of years, there has been an incredible release of the love and power of God throughout the country, resulting in thousands being saved, healed, and touched by the presence of God. There is a POWERFUL movement of passion and boldness for God rising up in the youth, and they will accept nothing less than seeing His Kingdom come. So really, our purpose for this missions trip is simply to partner with what God is already doing, to add supernatural fuel to the fire, and bless them with what we uniquely carry. Since Theresa (who is head of the Arts Dept. here at Bethel Church) is spearheading this trip, we will of course be teaching and activating people in the Arts, and demonstrating what it means to partner your creative gifts with the Creator of the universe J. We will show them how to use the arts as worship to God within the Church, and as a carrier of the love and power of God to people in the community. We will also have the incredible opportunity to bless and minister to several hundred leaders from churches all over Norway! Needless to say, God has set us up for an amazing trip! Just as I know that NOW is the time for San Francisco, I know that God has very significant things He wants to accomplish through us in Norway, and I would SO appreciate your prayer covering for this trip as well:

·         That in all we do, the churches in Bergen, Norway would be strengthened, encouraged, and EMPOWERED by the presence of God in their midst.

·         That God would release mighty grace over me as I assist Theresa in administration for this trip, and as I coordinate our team J

·         That the momentum that has already begun in Norway would only continue to INCREASE, and that more and more people in their nation would come to realize the love of God!

·         That our team would walk in UNITY, understanding what God wants to do in any given situation, and that we would walk in HONOR toward one another.

 

I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am for both of these trips… And even beyond excitement, there’s an expectation in my heart, a conviction of what I know God wants to do. It blows me away that He has chosen me to take part in these trips because of what He has deposited inside of me! J There is something I carry that San Francisco needs! There is something in the depths of my being that Norway needs, and I intend to bring it to them! I must testify of the goodness of our God because all the money for my San Francisco trip has already been taken care of! J So I KNOW that in turn, God will provide all I need for my trip to Norway, and this is my invitation to you all to partner with me in that. The trip is $2660 total, and I have a payment coming up in the first week of January for my airfare ($1100) so whatever God puts on your heart to sow into this would bless me tremendously and will affect the destiny of Norway as a nation! Whenever we sow in faith, it is an act of partnership with God, and it opens the door for Him to pour out His abundance into that situation and into our own lives. I will NEVER forget when God provided the $900 more that I needed to travel to South Africa last year, and ever since then I have been resting in this truth – “God is able to make ALL GRACE abound toward you, that you would ALWAYS have ALL sufficiency in ALL things, and an ABUNDANCE for every good work!” What an incredible promise! THAT is how I KNOW He will respond to my needs for this trip, so I welcome you all to be catalysts of that promise! J My prayer over you is that in this season, you would overwhelmed by ABUNDANCE, that God’s grace would overshadow you, and you would find yourself in a place of greater freedom and thanksgiving to God than ever before!

I love you all so dearly, and wish I could communicate with words how deeply I am blessed by your love and covering. This is such a significant season for us all, and it is a JOY to run together with you!

 Sincerest love and blessings,

Melissa Cordell

 If you would like to support me financially, you may send a personal check written to me at 877 Partridge Dr. Redding, CA 96003.  If you would like a tax deduction for your contribution to my trip, you may send it to Bethel Church c/o Kristie Joyce, 933 College View Dr. Redding, CA 96003.  Please make your check out to “Bethel Church”, leave the memo line BLANK, and include a separate slip of paper with “Melissa Cordell, Bergen Norway” written on it.  Thank you SO much!

 

These November Days...

Well, as you all would probably guess, my life continues to be incredibly busy and FULL but I have GREAT news - God's still giving me the grace for every moment to be enjoyable! As long as I stay connected to Him, stress is FAR from me :). I feel like the overriding anthem over this season for me is "Without You I can do nothing but with You, ALL THINGS are possible!" There's this divine tension that exists between those two realities... and I honestly love having to ACTIVELY pursue Him for His grace for all the responsilibities I've been given in this internship. It scares me when I get comfortable, when I become too secure in my own ability apart from Him - I want to be accutely aware of my need for Him every moment of the day, constantly in tune with the truth that my every breath flows from Him, that HE is empowering me in all I do! :)
Something AMAZING that has been happening lately is that God has really been opening doors of promotion for me in my internship. My leader has been asking me to carry more significant responsibilities - She had me teach her Prophetic Arts AMT class (I taught on partnership in the Arts, one of my FAVORITE topics EVER, and during the class time, God's presence was SO strong. One of the students even felt like God wanted to heal someone's back, and sure enough, He did!), lead a group time with all of our Small Group/Coaching leaders, do class transitions and prayer in her place, and so much more... There's a new level of trust and heart connection that's been growing between us, and it's SO life-giving :). In the very same day, I was also asked by our 3rd year leadership to lead an interactive teaching and discussion on one of our "Kingdom Keys" lessons! It's a series of lessons on the foundational principles of our faith, and I'll be leading a group through the truths of Jesus' Deity and humanity :). SO EXCITING! 
Yet ANOTHER exciting piece of news: It's time for missions trips again, and guess where I'm headed?? San Francisco and NORWAY! :D This is actually another place of promotion for me because I'm co-leading the San Francisco trip with my best friend Kate, and I'm Theresa's right hand girl for our trip to Norway. We met with our San Fran team last week, and they are absolutely PHENOMENAL - the unity of our hearts is so strong already, and I have no doubt that the 17 of us will have a PROFOUND impact upon the city in February. In step with that, we had our first Norway Team meeting yesterday, and I feel the very same way, though with a different flavor - our team is carrying SO much. There are many different gifts and passions but UNITY OF HEART remains, and that is the KEY. Our trip to Norway is definitely a setup from God because there is a powerful revival happening there already. Thousands saved and healed throughout this past summer... We just get to pour gasoline on the flames as we partner our lives with them in March! I am just so in awe of all the Lord is doing, and my heart is set on stewardship - I want to handle well everything He's pouring out so His glory is seen and His heart revealed through me. I don't want to miss a thing! :) On the note of missions, I'll be sending out letters with more details VERY SOON so if you'd like to receive one, please just email your name and mailing address to m.jadesfire@gmail.com. 

I suppose you're curious about all these pictures :). I've been a busy girl in my artwork as well! That's been another HUGE area of expansion for me in this past month... Not only has He been giving me increased clarity in my visions from Him but He's been opening doors for commissioned work (if anyone's interested, let me know because there's a GRACE on that for me!), and continuing to give me and my friend Katie paintings to do TOGETHER :). I so feel this beckoning from the Lord when it comes to artwork... there's something really deep and profound He's inviting me into, and I'm not sure what that looks like yet. But I'm hungry for people to ENCOUNTER Him when they look at my artwork... The painting I've posted pictures of is a great example of that desire becoming reality. I had started this painting not really knowing what it would be or who it was for but God put so strongly on my heart to paint something regarding the issue of LIFE and the ending of abortion. I painted the background with my hands, and was just worshipping Him as He reminded me that EVERY CHILD is a dream of His heart... the red coming up from the bottom of the painting was the cries of the children that have been lost through abortion, their blood crying out from the ground. But then HIS BLOOD is answering from heaven with love, declaring that they have NOT been forgotten. A week or so after that, I was playing around with the painting again, and my friend Alicia began to share her testimony with me, that God had radically transformed her life and brought her back to Him after she had an abortion. Right in that moment, the Lord told me this painting was for HER, for the call on her life to bring His redemption over this issue! So the hands are hers - she has such a beautiful thing of sacrifice and surrender upon her life, and it it releasing a fragrance of worship up to heaven before the Lord. And His response to her is to pour out His anointing and healing power upon her life, and the authority to save these babies from death, and instead release them into their DESTINIES. Each one of the babies were ones that could have been forgotten and aborted but I saw a gateway open up in the spirit, and BECAUSE OF HER LIFE, they were being ushered through this gateway of LIFE and REDEMPTIVE POWER. They will LIVE and NOT DIE. She is a steward and guardian of the DREAMS of the heart of God! Wow, I can feel the fullness of that even now as I'm typing...   THIS is the kind of encounter I want to release through all my art, through every bit of creativity that comes out of me. Please pray for me in this, that everything God has spoken over me with regard to the Arts and my future will come to pass!

(This is our garage studio with many things in process...)

All I can say is THANK YOU, to whoever reads this... Press in to the Lord. Take advantage of the season we're in - SO MUCH is available, and NOW is the time to partner with what is in His heart. Let Him deposit in you that which you are destined to carry...

I love you all more than I could ever express!

Love, blessings, and GRACE,

Melissa

The words of His mouth - The most refeshing thing in the world...

Hey everyone! I'm being so sweetly blessed by the Lord this morning, and since my cup is overflowing, I thought I'd pour the overflow into you :). I'm just so overwhelmed by the life and peace that comes from the words of His mouth... Just in the past few days, a couple different people have given me prophetic words, and it rocks me more than anything to know that they came from His mouth... That my Beloved one has spoken, that He has intentionally put His heart out in the open for me... He is so beautiful and good.

So these are the words He has freshly spoken over me, and I share them 1) so you may be able to receive life from them as well, and 2) that you might partner in praying them over me with the knowledge that this is the DESIRE of GOD over my life right now in this season!

Isaiah 54:2 -- "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited. Do not fear for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame... For your Maker is your Husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth... 'My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed' says the Lord, who has mercy on you... Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression for you shall not fear; and from terror for it shall not come near you... No weapon formed against you shall prosper... This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord.' "

Wow, can you just feel the strength and power that flows from that word? Remember His words over you! Go back to verses that have been rhema to you - He wants to REFRESH and FUEL you with those words!

Love you all! Be blessed by the words of His mouth over you!

Love,

Melissa

Just a quick testimony: I preached yesterday :)

Just thought I'd share this fun story with you guys - Part of my third year internship classes involves training and activation in PREACHING, and yesterday we preached our second sermons of the year! :). My sermon was called Love and Power: The Fruit of Intimacy, and I was SO pleased with how it went. It could've have been better in some areas, and I really wish we weren't limited to 6-8 minutes but all in all, it was some great, new experience under my belt :).

The testimony from that time was this - while I was preaching, a guy in my class named Preston was so overcome by God's presence that he wrote this awesome poem/song about my message! One of the biggest desires of my heart is that by sharing my own encounters with the Lord, those around me will be ushered into encounters of their own, and I got to see that happen! SO much fun!

This is what he wrote (read it in a spoken word sort of style) :

"A beautiful song of process, they lost this
But you found it, can't get around it,
A seal upon Your heart, to start to believe it
Is written on Your arm, so it's time to receive it.
This is love, He is love, and you ARE love."

Ah, I love it! Spontaneous creativity!

Enjoy His presence,

Melissa

Revelation anyone? :)

Hey beloved Family and Friends!

Jesus just gave me some incredibly freeing insight into resting and abiding in Him, so I thought I'd share the bounty with you! He's been promoting me in so many areas of my life, inviting me into places of greater responsibility and influence but in processing all of that with Him, I was honestly feeling a bit overwhelmed my it all. My heart is to steward well everything He gives me but with all the increase that's been coming my way (new connections with people in the arts and other realms, new levels of trust and influence in leadership, etc), I've been unsure as to whether I'll be able to invest in the growth of all these things! Ah, but thank You, Papa God, for the words of life that only flow from You... He reminded me, with the sweetness and strength that He always does, that He never sets me up to fail - only to succeed- and that He's giving me all these things because HE thinks I'm ready. His confidence in us is SO empowering! :D He is so wonderful!

Anyway, so the revelation He gave to me was through John 15:16 and 26, and 16:13-15. Apart from abiding in Him, and receiving GRACE from Him, we can do nothing. And this is what rocked my heart this morning, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear much fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." How incredibly refreshing to know that HE has CHOSEN us! As we make intimacy with Him our priority, He causes the fruit to come forth in our lives AND He guards that fruit. Not only that but we also have the Holy Spirit as our Helper, our paraklete - which means intercessor, comforter, helper, advocate, and counselor. Jesus tells us in Chapter 16 that when the Helper comes "...He will guide you into all truth...whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."

So whether we're in the midst of promotion and increase, difficult circumstances, or just our everyday lives, if we rest in the Holy Spirit, He will declare the resources of the Father over us. ALL THINGS that the Father has have been freely given to us by Jesus... how generous and full of love He is! ALL grace, ALL peace, ALL wisdom - He has said "Everything I have is yours."

I don't know about you, but I am SO eager to know this kind of fellowship with the Holy Spirit constantly! There's is so much more available to us than we can possibly imagine...

I love you all! Be refreshed and strengthened in Holy Spirit today! Let Him be your Helper! :)

Blessings,

Melissa