"Are you saved?"

During my time here at BCOM, I've been enjoying the unique experience of giving plasma. Enjoying, you may ask? Yes! Though needles don't really bother me, that's not really the extent of my enjoyment, rather it's in the unique and diverse people I meet there, in the luxury of getting off campus for awhile (as nice as it is, I really like a change of scenery!), and hanging out with my other friends who also give.

This past Sunday afternoon I went for my fifth time (yay for $50!!!) and was seated next to a guy dressed in the usual "gangsta garb" and who had a hood over his mouth (he looked kinda sick-- or at least like he wasn't enjoying giving plasma:). I smiled and said hi, asking him if he was okay but he didn't really seem to want to talk. So I got all hooked up and was about half way through the process when the same guy looked over at me and asked,

"Are you saved?"

Hey, I'll take that question any day!!!

"Yes, I am."
"For how long?" he intently asked.
"About fifteen years. Are you?"
He squirmed and gave a sort of painful smile then said no.
"I just saw the Bible you was reading and I was kinda curious. You know how those people downtown pass out all those, those...what do you call them?"
"Tracks?"
"Yeah, tracks-- they darn ALWAYS give them to me!"

He went on to tell me how God kept coming up in his life and how he was struggling with it. He knew that if he decided to be saved his life would have to change a lot. "I'd have to give up smoking, 'coz I smoke. I'd have to give up drinking, 'coz I drink. I'd have to give up sinning, 'coz, yeah, I sin. That'd be really hard. Really, really hard."

This guy was really counting the cost.

I could tell he'd really been thinking about it a lot, and he seemed in such a good place! His heart was soft and he was open, but it was very difficult for him. He asked where I went to church and said he hadn't been in a really long time. "I'm a little scared, ya kno'? I'm a sinner." I invited him to come to my church and verified that, yes, it is hard, but guess what? It's worth it!!!

And to sum it all up, his name is Mr. McKenzie, and the look on his face when I told him my name showed me that God used that too. The Hound of Heaven, the Jealous Lover, the Longing Father is after this man! PLEASE remember him in your prayers!!! God gave me a glimpse of the glory He would receive in this man's life, and family, we need to fight for this friend that our God is pursuing! Prayer is powerful, so on behalf of God's Kingdom may we beseech the Father for Mr. McKenzie's salvation.

P.S. Last week I sat next to another "gangsta'" named Chris. He's a student at a local university and was the loudest guy in the whole plasma place. hehe. He thought my name was pretty cool and told me that his "homeboy's" last name was McKenzie, and I'm pretty sure that the guy I met on Sunday was him!! God placed Chris on my heart to pray for, so please remember him as well! Salvation in Jesus' name!

Incomplacent Contentment

Today these eyes of mine beheld their first Minnesota snow flakes!!! They were just little flurries, but hey, it counts!

Even as winter rolls in, God continues to warm my heart as He sancifies me with His loving refiner's fire. Every week presents a new challege that builds on the old, and lately God has been teaching my heart who I am in Christ. This past week was a powerful one spiritually as God revealed to me all the idols that have been in my life. Many of these idols were deceiving, as they were good and praiseworthy things (like going on missions trips, giving gifts to people, playing sports...) but God showed me that I was using them to define who I was, and therefore was worshipping them and esteeming them above God. So what a powerful thing it was to confess, repent and renounce each of these idols as the Spirit led and then declare that my identity was no longer found in them, but in Jesus Christ alone! Though I didn't feel a whole lot, I know that much happened in the spiritual realm, and that day I realized that for the first time in my life I could say that Jesus was Lord of my life, that I worshipped Him alone, that I was in right-standing with God and was exactly where He wanted me to be. That was (and continues to be) so freeing! I feel as though finally I am ceasing my striving and resting in the place that God has me, all the while hungering and seeking after more. I believe I have found contentment and not complacency. I would really appreciate your prayers regarding revelation in my heart about who God says I am! If I'm not defined by being an athlete, an artist, a pastor's daughter, or a missionary (and so on), then what am I defined by? And more importantly, WHO am I defined by? And who really is that Who? :)

Thank you for your prayers!!!

--Kenzie

The Journey Towards Love

It is a LOVELY day in Bloomington, MN!
Vibrant blue october sky, the remnant of golden leaves lifting their arms up to the sun, and a graceful breeze that dips itself gently through the trees all add to my delight in the Creator of all today!

Life continues to be FULL but incredibly good. I am ever thankful for this season of rest and growth. We just finished a one week course on Old Testament Poetry and Literature taught by an incredible woman of God who is full of wisdom, honesty, and has a lifetime experience of pursuing God. The goal of the course was to "awaken the student's heart to strong desire for God through an understanding of His emotions and desires, especially as revealed in the Old Testament poetry and literature." God has certainly used this class, among other things, as tools to do just that in my heart! Every day I'm realizing that God is crumbling faulty mindsets off of the foundation in my life.

The most profound recently has been in the area of perfectionism and how I believe God to view my failures and my humanity. Though I have not completely grasped this yet, I'm growing to believe that God really doesn't want perfection, He just wants ME, and that perhaps He truly is like a Father, a Master Artist who's painting a masterpiece and is delighted that His little girl wants to join in. He gives me a paintbrush, guiding my hand, and even if the canvas is brown in the end for lack of my knowledge of color, He is enamored that I try. And when I spill the paint all over myself, He is not full of wrath, but like a patient and compassionate Father He wipes the color off my nose and smiles, knowing that I'm a little girl but simultaneously seeing that one day, I too shall paint a masterpiece, giving the world a glimpse of the image of Christ.

What a wonder has been done in my heart now that I'm soaking in the truth that with one look of my eye I have ravished His heart; that God not only loves me but likes me.

I am setting my heart on a pilgrimage: to love the LORD my God with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my strength. The end. :)

The Dance of Autumn

Fall is here in all it's glory.

I've decided that October is my new favorite month of the year.

Vibrant colors crown the trees, contrasted by a piercing yet soft blue backdrop. The sun shines like a pure jewel in the sky while the leaves magically dance around, propelled by the wind, encircling me as I wade down the path. There is an adventurous journey and I'm on it, engaging it, finding it both enthralling and hazardous to a certain part of me. My encounter with healing has been through tears, and redmption has come from desolation. In the clearing I see that God is far more gracious, far more compassionate, far more loving, far more inviting than my heart thought. And as He beacons me, my once timid step becomes quickened, my bashful gaze lifts to meet His eyes and my heart shifts, filled with awe that this God has kindness, not condemnation in store for me. I'm learning to receive, to trust, to remain.

My soul dares to breathe, trusting that the air is fresh, not putrid.

And in the stillness, the silence, I hear His Voice.

"You are Mine, McKenzie."

Okay. :)

Wednesday morning, 6:30 A.M. my roommate's alarm clock went off.

I'd been up late talking to my mentor but felt prompted to go spend some time with the Lord. Then our door opens and I distantly hear "Kensy, Kensy, you come exercise?" Susanna! I stumbled out of bed and a few minutes later we ventured out into the dim outdoors, greeted by a rush of cool, fresh fall air. My eyes were still struggling to open, but I eagerly took in the beautiful full moon making it's way west and the first gleams of dawn. Radiantly turning leaves lined the pathway and a soft mist covered the green grass as we ran on. Susanna bursted out with the most delightful laughter as her young heart reveled in the morning, silky black hair dancing back and forth to her pace. "Goodmorning Jesus!"

I have enjoyed this sister SO much! We've started a tradition of running and communing with the Lord as we exercise. I love to hear Susanna pray and it is so good to give the Lord the day and to offer up all my needs, desires, worries, concerns, and PRAISES! My heart is continually filled with gratefulness as God provides for ALL my needs and continues to answer prayers, some that I recall offering as far back as 10 years old. His ways are perfect.

This morning we had our "Power of the Cross" class taught by an incredible local pastor. Today it was about Lordship and we had the opportunity to go before the Lord and repent and ask for His Lordship in the many detailed areas of our lives. I love how God ties things together in our lives! I had a conversation at dinner yesterday about this very topic and then last night my mentor and I went through some "surrender" issues. God is so good to prepare us and to bring consistency in our lives. He brings things up in His perfect timing and provides for all that is necessary to bring the hurts, fears, and desires into His restoration and sanctification. He is so good!

After the class we went back to our dorms for our "cell groups." These consist of about 8 students and 1 mentor and 1 advisor who all live on the same side of the hall. Every Wednesday we come together and do different things. I look forward to posting some pictures of my group and I'm sure I will be sharing more about them- what an incredible group of women! Today we had an incredible time of being vulnerable with one another, praying and encouraging each other. I have experienced this before, but not at this level! My heart is so full of thankfullness because of the trust, safety, love, and focus on Jesus in this group. Today we TRULY experienced the power of confession, repentance, healing, love, and accountability! What a powerful thing the body of Christ can be!!!

This weekend all the students at Bethany will be participating in the One Thing conference here in Minneapolis. We'd appreciate your prayers for unity and that we would each encounter our Living God and truly be a people of ONE THING!

I pray you all are doing well! Grace and peace to you in abundance today and thank you for all of your love and prayers.

--McKenzie :)

Entering His Rest

Wow. I can't get over how incredible and divine God is! Daily and in more and more ways (various ways, detailed ways, simple ways, profound ways :) God ushers my soul deeper into His rest.

I found out today that "Bethany" was the town Jesus went to for rest. How beautiful! Tonight I had the pleasure of spending some time with this vibrant woman of God:


Her name is Susanna, and she has such a free spirit and a beautiful passion for God! Her delight for the Lord it contagious. :) Tonight we were talking and we were led to pray for one of our classmates, which turned into prayer for many things! What a refreshing time. I again was struck with gratitude for the many ways God has provided. I can go just feet from my room and enter the presence of God with others.

This is another beautiful woman of God who has already ministered so deeply to me!

Her name is Emily and she has such a gentle spirit and is a profound listener! God has really been making my heart tender this week, and God has used Emily to help lead me into that. Thank you Jesus for Jesus-loving and abiding friends who lay down their lives for others!

Emily and I also took a trip to the "Sally Ann" today (it's a type of thrift store that we have here on campus, except everthing's FREE!) and recruited quite a few old books, frames, lampshades, and a big hope chest, among an assortment of other things to use to CREATE! Emily shares my passion for art and creativity, so we're both excited to take these old things and make them new.

This week is the last week for our Old Testament Survey class. I've loved it!! I wish it went on throughout the whole year. We always start out the class singing a hymn or song accapella and then our teacher leads us in genuine prayer. It's moving to study the text in an environment of teachability, openness and hunger-- the Word of God is so alive! It's so powerful to go through the Old Testament in detail and discover the cultural keys that shine light on the stories I've heard my whole life. Every day my jaw drops at the beautiful typology of Jesus that fills the Old Testament! How intracite and purposeful our God is! This class has definitely whetted my appetite to go after this more.

I'm loving my practical training! This week I've been answering phone calls (sometimes accidentally picking up the receiver and saying, "Hi, this is McKenzie with Global Expeditions!"... after doing that day in and day out last year I think it's ingrained in me!), setting up some campus visits for students who want to visit Bethany, and I've given two tours! Who hoo. :) I'm really enjoying it. I've also been able to learn a little photoshop thanks to an amazing computer whiz that works in the office. Fun stuff. :) The Director of Admissions is an awesome guy named Richee Parks, and he's all about loving Jesus and loving people! I get so energized from being in the office and I really feel free to run after my job and create.

Thank you Jesus!

The goodness of God

"Surely I will taste the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."

Who knew?! Who knew that you could actually experience the goodness of God?! Well, that sounds kindn of slanderous, but honestly I don't think I did! Admist the dry and arid times of forming and growing and learning these past few years (or even my entire life), I wondered if I'd ever find what I was looking for, if God would ever answer my prayers, if my soul would ever find rest. I may be young, but those years seemed to take forever! Forever of crying out for God, of disciplining myself, of seeking the Truth, and of clinging to the hope that God's promises would turn into reality. And tonight, I realized,

I'm living in the reality of answered prayers.

I'm living in the reality of answered prayers!!!! I was writing in my journal tonight and I went on for three pages of "counting my blessings"... and I'm not even half done! After God spent these past years tilling the soil in my life, pulling the weeds (some had really deep roots and that hurt!), and establishing a foundation, these past couple of weeks I've been finding little green buds emerging from the fresh earth! I really do believe God has brought me to Bloomington to Bloom!!! Let me share with you just a taste of the goodness God has blessed me with!

This is the incredibly comfy chair that resides in the lovely and peaceful room that I share with an amazingly considerate, peacable, Jesus-loving roommate named Heather. :) I like to read for my Old Testament class here and talk on the phone.

Well...I'm out of time, but I'll post more of my blessings soon!

Hello All!

I'm excited to give more frequent updates on this for your enjoyment. :)

I've just finished my first week here at Bethany College of Missions! In this photo is myself and my lovely roommate, Heather. We're excited to be here! I find this campus incredibly peaceful with amazing staff and students. All of the Directors, Teachers, and Leaders here are obvious Jesus-Lovers and they are so friendly, kind, humble, and they genuinely care about not only us as students, but everyone they encounter! There's definitely a family atmosphere here, especially as this place was founded by 5 families who sold everything they owned, moved in together, and after seeking the Lord, began a place to train missionaries. The more I'm here and the more I learn about this college and its history, the more grateful and excited I am to be here. The teachers that I will be learning from have a vast amount of experience already on the mission field, so they aren't just teaching out of a textbook, but out of real life experience and from their hearts. I am quite confident that after my time here I will not only know the Lord so much better, but also be adequately equipped and prepared for a future in missions!

This weekend I've been starting homework from our first class, (we have a module schedule, so we'll be taking only one class for 3 weeks at a time) Old Testament Survey. In addition we will be reading through the entire Bible during our time this year, so it's cool how they correlate together.

If you could be praying for an UNDIVIDED HEART for me. My greatest desire is to know Jesus Christ and for my heart to be completely His.

Thanks for all your love and support! More to come... :)