Arise, my love

Arise, my love.

I recently came across a quote, and it made me shutter inside.

“We live like zombies.

 We wake up,

 carry out habits,

and go to sleep.

Only to wake up

 and do it again.

You exist,

but do you feel alive?”.

“This isn’t right!” I wanted to scream. This is not how Abba has created us to live, walking around like zombies?  But when I took a step back, this is how the vast majority of us live. I look at our families, our city, our nation, and my heart breaks. We walk around this earth tired, hurting, broken. It’s as though we drift through this life asleep.

I look back at my own life, and remember. I remember the emptiness of boring, daily routines. I felt like it was slowly killing me. I could be around people all day, but still feel so alone. My days were filled with small talk. People at work asking “how are you?” as I passed them in the hallways. They never even stopped walking. 

I knew Jesus. I had a relationship with him. He kept calling me to go deeper with him, and I kindly put him in a box,  holding him at a comfortable length. Where I didn’t have to surrender anything, and I still held all of the control. I felt like I was in a season of waiting. Waiting for what? I didn’t really know. But I knew that there had to be more. I felt like one of the disney princesses, waiting around for my life to begin.

Then, I fell madly in love with Jesus. His love for me lead me to surrender, and from that surrender came freedom. Sweet, sweet freedom. 

He kissed my forehead and awakened my soul.

Now I am fully alive! I have daily adventures, just by being with him. I know exactly who I am. I grasp the royalty that I am, as His daughter. I live in freedom and grace. I glow with the radiance he gives. I shine under the delight he bestows upon me. I know the love he has for me. 

Then, this morning, I was reading one of my favorite passages of scripture. It comes from Isaiah 60 and it reads;

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn…

 Then you will look and be radiant,
    your heart will throb and swell with joy.

Papa showed me something that I hadn’t paid any special attention to before. His first call is to arise. Wake up sleeper! It’s the gentle and loving kiss on your forehead from your daddy, as your all snuggled up in your own comforts. He’s calling you to get up! Get out of this zombie funk you’ve fallen into. 

Awaken your soul to His love. Awaken your spirit to live this life! Then, oh only then dear one will you shine. Because His light has come, its here! 

Can’t you hear him?

 “Arise, my love. It’s time to awaken, it’s time to live”.

    

21 great things things about being twenty-one.

21 great things things about being twenty-one.

Two days after turning twenty one, I was laying on my bedroom floor, dreaming with Jesus. He told me that this next year was going to be a crazy adventure. 

He did not disappoint. 

This year past year has been a crazy ride. From living in Africa, to moving to Georgia. I have fully stepped into myself, into who he has created me to be. I have been set free. I have overcome so many fears.

I have become the woman I have always dreamed of becoming.

It is all because of Jesus, and I will take that as one of the best birthday gifts I could ever ask for. But what are some of the awesome things that happened this year? I’ve narrowed it down to 21.

1. Bringing in the new year with friends, in the old streets of downtown Traverse City.  We froze our bootys off with the temperature hovering in the single digits. But it was worth every minute.  

2. Meeting Kenzie. My friend, my new sister, “my person”.

 It was only a day after meeting you at training camp, we hadn’t even said ten words to each other yet. But somehow I just knew you’d be as weird and as crazy as I am, and I told you so.

3. Waking up in Johannesburg, South Africa. The sun warmly drifted through the window, onto my face.  I slowly awoke, and smiled. I was in South Africa. This was a dream come true.

4. Living in Swaziland, Africa. It was like being on a honeymoon with Jesus, and it was all a dream come true. 

5. Getting picked up on the side of the road, and riding in the back of a pickup truck, flying down the highway (Swaziland).

Yes, it was crazy. Yes, we almost died. Yes, it was awesome. 

6. Seeing a giraffe in a field, as we casually drove past (Swaziland).  Apologies again to my teammates for my loud squeal of pure joy.  But seriously, it was so great.    

7. Holding those precious african children, as they fell asleep on me almost everyday (Swaziland). One of the best things ever.

8.  Worshiping under the vast blanket of African stars. You really can’t beat it…

9. Receiving approx. 100 marriage proposals. (Swaziland).

It was really rather awkward in the moment, but they make for good stories now!

10.  Playing in the waves of the indian Ocean, at St. Lucia beach (South Africa). That was one of the best days of my life. 

11. Living in community with my “Swazi family”. I had the most amazing teammates. Doing daily life with them, serving along side of them day after day. It was an amazing privilege.

12. Receiving my Swati name (Swaziland). My Swati name is Buhle, and it means “beauty”. Its pronounced kinda like “boo-jay” only, you kinda stick your tongue out when you say it.

13. That African safari through Kroger National Park (South Africa).  Elephants, Zebras, giraffes, Lions, oh my! 

14. Stepping off of that airplane, and being welcomed back home by an airport full of people that I love. 

You all sure do know how to make a girl feel loved.

15. Spending my summer in Northern Michigan.

Sun, lakes, small towns all along lake Michigan. There’s no place like home.

16. Visiting in Indiana. 

I had the privilege of staying with an amazing family in northern Indiana for a couple of weeks in July, and they spoiled the living day lights outta me. 

17. The road trip down to Georgia.

I got to travel down to my new house with my momma. It was fantastic.

18. Living on my own (Georgia).

Miss independent. Need I say more?

19. Doing life with my Georgia community.

These people are amazing, and I am so blessed to call them my friends. To be challenged, encouraged, and loved by them. 

20. All of the opportunities I get to lead worship (Georgia).

It is a pure honor to gather with other believers, leading them in praising our King.

21. Exploring the grand adventures of the future Abba has for me, daily.

My twenty first year was the best one yet, and I can’t wait to see what’s to come for my twenty second!

Thankful

Thankful

The cold wind hit my face hard, as I took a deep breath in. The air, crisp and clean. Big, chunky snow flakes fell softly from the sky, joining the heavy white blanket of snow that already covered the ground beneath my feet.

I was home.

Suddenly it was like I had never left, and Georgia had never happened at all. But Georgia did happen, and now? I have two places I call home. My season here is so unbelievably good, that sometimes it still feels like a dream. Sometimes I still can’t believe that I get to do life like this.

 Last week, I broke down and started crying, simply because of the Lords goodness. He’s crazy faithful, and I just got so overwhelmed by Him. I got so lost in His love, as it covered me like a blanket. I was drowning in His affection over me, His delight. 

He has brought me so far to be in this place with him. He has pursued my wandering heart so fiercely, to bring me to be doing what I do. I used to be so fearful, wrapped in chains of anxiety. Then he brought me into His glorious freedom, and now I get to proclaim it to others.

Abba has lead me to living in the bush of Africa, and now he’s lead me to live in a cute little house in northern Georgia. He’s lead me to be a part of Center for Global Action. I rarely ever understand His plan when its still far off in the future, but he’s brought me to a place of being so in love with him that I have the trust to take the jump, fearlessly. 

But in all of this coming and going, the Lord has also blessed me with people who are willing to take the jump with me. Family, friends, and even complete strangers who say YES to papa, and make the sacrifice to give to my serving adventures. I couldn’t do it with you.

So, thank you. Thank you for saying yes. Thank you for your obedience. Thank you for supporting the Kingdom. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for your sacrifices, and faith. Thank you for your selflessness, thank you for loving me. I pray for an abundance of blessings for you, and your family, both now, and forever more.   

A look back: Center for Global Actions. (first semester)

A look back: Center for Global Actions. 

(first semester)

It’s seven days until Christmas. Tomorrow morning, I hop on a plane to take me nine hundred miles north. Today, I finish up on my work projects, say countless goodbyes, and praise the Lord for all of the amazing things that have taken place over the past four months here. Today wraps up my first semester at Center for Global Action (CGA).

My time here has flown by! It’s been rewarding, hard, painful, and some of the best times of my life. I’ve grown in more ways then I can count. I am pressed with new challenges daily to help me grow, and I welcome them, gladly. I live in a community of like minded believers, who are on fire for the Kingdom. As iron sharpens iron, we sharpen each other.

I was honored to be a part of  Worship Track. We dove into the heart of worship, and what a lifestyle of worship looks like. I had four amazing leaders, who are full of inspiring wisdom, knowledge and freedom. Through this course, I gained deep insight to the power worship brings, and the ways it’s able to literally change atmospheres, cities and nations.

They caught wind of my singing, and ran with it. They took the time to pour into me, and challenge me in such loving and honoring ways.  I’ve had the honor of helping lead worship down at our cities square, in local churches, in Pennsylvania, for our all staff Monday morning worships, and lead two hour sets, at our twelve hour burns. Then I had the incredible privilege of leading at the first ever     Beauty for Ashes Retreat, for teen girls. 

 I completed my two classes of  “Dangerous Jesus” and “Calling”.  

With these, I had my mind blown weekly. The knowledge, wisdom, and power of the Holy Sprit that was present was insane. 

In Dangerous Jesus, I learned of the radical way Jesus calls us to live, and what that looks like for me. I was challenged, pushed out of my comfort zone, and poured into. I learned what biblical discipleship looks like, and how to go out and disciple others myself, among so many other things. In Calling, I was given the tools to look back and dive into what the Lord has already put in place for my calling, that I was totally unaware of. I was coached and encouraged, and at the end of it all, I can confidently say that I know what the Lord’s calling on my life is.

I have worked in the department of “Short Term Missions” (STM) at Adventures in Missions. I have learned first hand all of the work that go into sending thousands of missionaries onto the field. I’ve gained real life skills, and grown in networking with other missionaries, and I get to influence thousands of people (literally) through my work with our social media marketing.

This season has been the start of my life in full time ministry, and I am so overjoyed that the Lord chooses to use me. My relationship with the Lord these past four months has been incredible. He’s leading me into a deeper intimacy with him, teaching me obedience, and showing me that no matter whats going on around me, all I need is to keep my eyes on Him. 

It’s a humbling thing to be 100% support raised. It’s humbling knowing that I’m paying for groceries with money that the Lord has provided for me, through my amazing supporters. It brings about full dependence on Jesus, and a deeper faith then I could have ever imagined. But I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without those who support me, from what the Lord chooses to do through you. So, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for your investments in eternal things. Because of you, the Kingdom of the living God is advancing. I truly think of you all as a part of this ministry team, and together, we are claiming souls, and taking territory for the Kingdom.

His Kingdom come, His will be done.

On earth as it is in heaven.

Merry Christmas, and an abundance of blessings to you and your families!

Much love,

-Brookie

I am only $3,200 dollars away from being fully funded! If you would like to donate to Adventures in Missions, on my behalf, check out all the ways you can give here: http://brookgelinas.blogspot.com/p/support-me.html

Why getting married isn’t enough for me.

Why getting married isn’t enough for me.

I grew up with the dream of getting married, having babies and being a mom. I mean, my mom and my grandma married young, so I just assumed the same would happen for me. I thought that my calling in life was to be a wife and a mother. 

But when high school graduation rolled around, no perspective husbands were lurking about, and I failed to find any college majors in “mommy hood”.  

Since then, and I’ve grown in more ways then I could ever count, and I've learned a few things about myself. 

 It’s not enough for me in life to just be married.

Let me explain.

I believe that marriage and motherhood is the most beautiful and precious thing. I believe that it’s the Lords design, and it’s something I still want and desire. 

But thats not my life calling. 

This is my life calling:

“Inspiring and leading others into a life of intimacy

   with the Father where they will discover their 

         full potential, freedom, and adventure”.

My life’s calling is so much bigger then what I had deemed it to be. It’s about bringing His kingdom to earth, its about proclaiming His love, His freedom, His life, and who He says that we are! It is this calling that covers every aspect of my life. In singleness, in marriage, in motherhood. 

Marriage is such a temporary thing for here in this life.  As John Piper says

“Marriage is meant (marriage exists) to display the covenant between Christ and his church”. 

Yes, I still dream of being married. But I have bigger dreams for my life then to be married, just for the sake of being married. I dream of being a husband and wife team, on fire for the Lord together. Being as one mind and soul, doing crazy, radical things for His Kingdom here on earth.

But there are ways I can better display this convent as a single woman now, then a married woman ever could. for example;

“She will bear witness that relationships in Christ are more permanent and precious then relationships in families. If she can leave her family without bitterness and regret, and build into the family of  God and build into His kingdom, then she will find treasures better then she ever dreamed of and flower her womanhood in such amazing and unique ways beyond anything you've ever imagined. She also bears witness to the truth that marriage is temporary, and finally gives way in the end to the relationship that it was pointing to all along.” (My notes taken from the podcast “the ultimate meaning of true womanhood -John Piper).

 Marriage is not the main thing.

 It's momentary. 

Jesus Christ is forever.

Today, I prayed for healing.

Today, I prayed for healing.

Today, I sat in my dangerous Jesus class, and I felt my heart begin to beat a little faster. Our teacher announced that we were being “sent out”.

A short time later, I found myself crammed into a small car with four other girls. Our assignment was to find someone who needed healing, and then proclaim healing over them in the name of Jesus.

I knew at that moment I had two choices.

 I could either revert back to the old habits of my flesh, allowing the chains of anxiety to overtake me. I could get away with hiding in the back, and let everyone else do the talking. I could stand frozen, letting fear control me.

Or, I could fully live out my freedom in Christ, rejecting anything but courage and boldness to spring up in me. 

I took a deep breath, feeling the power of the Holy Spirit within me, and I made a conscious decision to go with my freedom, relying upon the Lord for guidance, grace and courage. 

We ended up going to the home of a sweet older gentlemen, who has been experiencing numbness in his legs to the point of having to use a wheelchair most of the time. A result of his open heart surgery the year prior. 

We laid hands on his legs and prayed for healing.

Then we just continued to get to know him, learning about his late wife and his family. As the time drew near for us to leave we laid hands on his legs again, proclaiming full healing over him.

It wasn’t a miraculous moment. Complete and full healing didn’t come right away. But something in that room had changed, and he told us that his legs felt better! He stood up, walked around, and told us they felt better then before!

We left him with plans of visiting again. As I leaned down to hug goodbye this lonely old man, in blue overalls, and a cap on his head. He embraced me in his arms just as though I were his very granddaughter. I felt his joy, that someone would care enough about him to stop by. I felt a little loneliness leave his heart. I felt a new healing taking place in his body and soul. And all we did was spend thirty minutes with him. 

It hit me slowly, all of the times I’ve held back in fear. All of the times I miss the opportunity to show Jesus to those around me. All of the people who needed healing around me, and I selfishly kept to myself.

We have it! We have what this world needs. We know the Healer, we know the lover of their souls. We have the answer to everything this world is longing for. We have Jesus.

I want times like the one I had today to become my new normal. I want to love others so recklessly that I forget what is socially acceptable. Where I don’t even notice the awkwardness of it all anymore.

 I want to care so much for others that its not a competition against the selfish thoughts running through my head to go beyond just me and place myself in positions where the Lord has to come through. Because this life is short, and I carry within me what they need.

They need Jesus.

 I know Jesus.

 And that is the beginning of everything.