The Car has Arrived

I think in purchasing something of a large amount you are never quite sure how it will all come about. I have been looking at cars on Craig's List since I came back from Scotland. I had hoped that there would be an interesting story behind my purchasing a car... I love stories... And it just so happened that I do have an interesting one to tell.

About a month ago I was praying for direction in what kind of car to purchase. There were so many out there and I did not know which one to choose from. While doing a search for a Toyota I came upon a Volkswagon. Tricky how people put other words in their listing to get you to look. I then came on an ad for a VW Jetta and I realized that I really liked the style and shape of the car (what can I say I am a girl and we care a lot what a car looks like.) My dad said that they were good cars and lasted a long time. So I came the the decision to buy a VW Jetta.

There were a lot of Jettas, phone calls, and emails to my dad and brother before I found the one I came to buy. But there was always something wrong with ones that I looked at, and I didn't feel at peace about going to look at any of them. In making large purchases of things over the price of $50 I make sure I feel really good about it. Even more so in this because it was going to be over at least the price of $3000.

Finally, after looking on Craigslist and a ton of other sites, I came upon a 2000 Jetta that was under $4000. I was interested. I looked at the pictures and description and didn't understand why it was so inexpensive compared to the other Jettas of its kind. Then I looked at the location- it was located in Duluth. That could be a minor set back, but it still could work. After going through the ropes of seeing what my family thought about it, we all felt like it was a good car and that we should go up north and look at it.

On Monday afternoon my Dad and I set out on a road trip to Duluth. We drove through Duluth and about another 30 minutes north. While we drove on the dark back roads of Northern Minnesota, Dad commented that we must be almost to Canada. Indeed it felt like it was that far when we finally arrived at J&M Autosales.

Michael Nynes, the man selling the car, was young and friendly. He introduced us to the car and then we took it for a drive. My Dad listened to the engine and checked brakes and steering, while I checked out the heated seats and the inside features (I am such a girl.) We drove it back and looked it over inside the well lit building.

I liked the car a lot, but after not having a car for almost a year it was almost scary to think that I could actually drive home with one. That I would actually hand over the large amount of cash we brought with us to a person I just met. But I have been praying for a car for a long time and this car was everything I prayed for. It had to be God!

We handed over our money bag of cash and signed a whole bunch of paperwork. I was now the proud owner of a beautiful car. AHHHHH!!! I am so excited and happy! Now I just have to find a name for him. Yes it is a boy, that much I am sure of.

Sorry I do not have photos yet. I will take them as soon as I can get a car wash.

Segue is Moving

As of today the old Segue is officially closed. Not that it wasn't yesterday. But today everything is moved out. Our new place (above photo) is in a much better location and as you can see much larger. This is only half of the location. We arrived there when the Brown College Commercial Design Students were there. That is them in the above picture. As a class project they are going to help us design the new Segue. It is all exciting. The back of the building- which you can't see was full of lawn mowers and other stuff. We are not positive if we will rent the back space as of yet. Unless the finances come through.




Mike and Kate trying out the mowers. It was tempting to start them up!





The early packing crew- Jane, Me, Pat, Jenny, Mike and Kate

God is on the move

Last week was amazing. I have never had so much joy. The International Healing Conference started Oct. 11 and went until the 14th. It was an amazing time of God coming in power and changing people's entire lives. There were over 1000 healings and I laughed in amazing and joy when I saw tons of people come to realize the pain they had dealt with for a long time was gone.

Arthritis was gone, cancer was gone, back pain, bones were fixed, so so so many things. I can't even comprehend sometimes having pain in my body everyday for 8 years and then suddenly having it completely gone. Praise God! Over and over again I was awestruck.

Thank you God!

Fall

Enchanted Evening

Sometimes I think I may just be the strangest person ever, not that I mind it. The other day I was saying to some friends that because of a certain thing "I realized that I might be somewhat normal. Isn't that amazing?" They laughed and said that they hoped I wasn't normal.

My reasoning behind this statement is because around 10pm at night- give or take an hour, I like to go out and shovel snow. Last Sunday night we had a large snow storm giving us a foot of snow. Tonight we have more snow falling which could give us another six inches.

After arriving back from youth group I decided to go shovel. I put my flannel pajama pants on and coat and gloves and headed out. I can hardly describe the beauty of the evening as the snow fell softly and the air glowed from the lamp post light that reflected off the covered ground. I love how it almost looks like daylight because of all the light reflecting off the snow. I wish I could have had a camera to take a photo, for those who don't know the phenomenon.

I realized after a while that the neighbors probably did not appriciate the sound of my shovel scraping against the sidewalk, so I didn't stay out there very long. Just enough to appriciate the beauty and to clear the walk.

I wonder what God was thinking when He made snow?

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

I don't know what it is about the first snowfall of the year. It almost never lasts the night and doesn't help traffic much. But I love it anyways. I love to stand outside and watch the lamp posts illuminate the small crystals as they dance softly to the ground. I turn my face up to them and let them land on my face like dozens of light kisses. You would not think I was a mature twenty year old woman if you saw me, for I always have to open wide my mouth and stick my tongue out to catch the wayward flakes. Tell me I am not the only one who does this!! Yes I am the weird one in the family, for I love to shovel snow in the winter as well.

There was a time where my relationship with snow was not at it's peak. On March 18 2005 it betrayed me by sending a blizzard as I was about to leave to go to Kansas City. There was a terrible storm where many of the roads south of the Twin Cities were closed due to the weather. I don't remember the last time we had such a blizzard. So I was delayed; I was so excited about going a day early to my internshipto see my friend Molly, but it did not happen. I felt betrayed- me the girl who always loved winter and storms. But I managed to forgive the snow, we took some counselling sessions together and than I was fine. I was glad I didn't leave anyways because as I drove south the next day I saw over 50 cars in the ditch. Thank you God!

Response about Conference

Ah I am sorry for not telling how the conference went. I can only say generally that God is amazing. My favorite part of the conference was Saturday afternoon. The speaker Charles Ndifon told people to call on their cellphones people they knew who were sick, and right over the phone these people were healed! My mom's friend Judy's husband was healed and he was not a Christian. It is amazing the love of God. There were so many people, some were healed of cancer, many of back pain. Lots of people who have had sickness or pain for more than 10 years or more than 20 even! I can hardly help weeping when I think of some of the people who were in such pain and agony. I prayed for a lady who was weeping while she told me what was wrong with her! Oh God heal her! I did not know if she was healed or not.

Sometimes I wish I had more boldness than I do. I know the power I have within me but I am scared to step out and try it. But I know I have to. Sunday night after it was all over with we had an opportunity to go pray for a little girl in the hospital that has E-coli from some Dole lettuce. She is our neighbor and her mom is a single mom. They are going through a lot and I was so thankful for the opportunity to minister for them. Please pray for their family there are three of them, Laurie is the mom, Amanda is 15, and Amber is 12 and she is the girl who got really sick.

I often cannot help but ask questions amongst all of it, there are a few people who have been prayed for many times, people in our congregation that we love so much and believe so much for but they are not healed yet. I can't help but wonder "why God?" but I trust Him a little more every day, and a lot more after this time where he just came down to earth and changed people's lives for the better. I love him so much, what a tenderhearted God we have, full of compassion and mercy on those he loves.

International Healing Conference

Hello! I am not sure how many people actually read my blog, but for those who do I wanted to let you know about the Healing Conference that starts tomorrow. I am very excited because God always does so much.

Last year I can pretty safely say that there were around 200 or more people healed. God is so good! If you know anyone who is sick please have them come. The night sessions are free and open but the day session do cost a fee, unless you want to vollenteer to work. A year ago or two years ago I think it was, during worship a lady got out of her wheel chair and walked! She hadn't walked in 8 years! There was a little girl around 6 years olf who had a back brace on and couldn't walk. I believe there was something wrong like her spine was twisted or bent or something. Well the mother held her little daughter and than started weeping because she could feel her daughter's back realign it self to the way it was supposed to be. God is so good!

Please come if you want your faith boosted or if you just want to worship! Daniel Brymer and his family from Arizona are going to be leading worship along with some members of our worship team, and there is lots of dancing!! Ah I need to sleep, that is one thing we lack most during the conference-- sleep.

-Here is the link-

http://www.rainministries.org/site/rezz_page.php?pageName=rz_rain_news_5&dirName=rain

It's Raining it's pouring

I didn't think too much of it when Ben told me there was going to be a bad storm tonight. So I didn't realize what a good idea it was when we took his SUV to youth group instead of my small Honda. I was thankful later.

As we drove north on 94 I began to realize. The sky was black in front of us and we laughed at how we were driving straight into the storm. It wasn't as funny later as we started to arrive in Brooklyn Park. For those who know as we turned onto 73rd from 252 the rain started to come down in sheets. We could hardly see in front of us and all of the light posts were out. We turned onto Humboldt about a 1/4 a mile from church and I never wanted to arrive at our church so badly before. We pulled in front of the emergency doors to the santuary and saw some of the kids standing there ready to open the doors. "You ready?" Ben asked me and we jumped out and ran. A little too quickly because as we stepped in the door I slipped on the wet floor with my flip-flops and my stuff went flying everywhere! A large bump started to form on my leg about two seconds later.

For those who don't want to hear the whole story you can stop reading now.

So there was around 20 of us at church and the lights were all out. We watched the water fall through the large windows. Eventually we were herded into the hallway out of the santuary. There was a little fear in the youth but mostly just excitement. Needless to say we didn't really have youth group that night. We all camped out in the hallway with only the emergency lighting casting a glow over us. A few people had small lights and all the cell phones were taken out to make sure others were safe.

I of course wanted to have a camera to remember the adventure but unfortunately I do not have one at the present time.

So we busted out the cheesecake and lemon bars Tari Dommeyer made and while the storm was at a lull we all headed out on the roads. Us youth leaders decided to meet somewhere to have our delayed leaders meeting at a place called Acapoco which is farther North. 252 was back up traffic but Ben and I still headed even farther north, only to hear after a 20 minute drive that they decided not to meet. So we drove another 30 minutes back to my house.

Brooklyn Park got hit hard, Humboldt Ave was covered with debree and at one point at Brooklyn Dr. there was around a foot or more of water. That was where I was thankful for Ben's car. We heard many sirens and saw lots of trees knocked over. In Brooklyn Center the neighboring city to Brook. Park there was actually a tornado touch down. Also we saw that our church sign was knocked over! Ah! I remember the money we put into that, I hope it is insured.

So there is my recall of an event full night that lasted about 2 and a half hours where we did basically nothing except drive around. I have to admit it was fun! Thanks Ben for being a good driver. I don't remember the last time I was in a storm this bad.

Just a reminder a hurricane has to be 10 times if not more than that worse than this storm. I don't know if I could have handled much worse.

MCP

Every year my church hosts two conferences. In January we host a Prophetic conference, in October we host a Healing conference. I always give as much time as I can to these conferences. Maybe some people wonder why, the truth is I was completely changed at one conference and I want others to have that same opportunity to be changed.

Through out my life God was always there and I read my bible and followed all the "rules". I loved God and couldn't imagine life without Him. But I did not have a passion for Him.

It was 2000 and I was 14 years old. My family did not go to the Rezz (Church of the Resurrection) yet, we were going to a church in Minneapolis. I had an opportunity to go to the Minnesota Prophetic conference, I had been to it before when it was in large white tents on the church's property in June, but now it was moved to January and to Redeeming Love Church.

It was a Friday night and I was sitting with my family. In the middle of worship a man(later known to me as Craig Nelson) brought a bunch of teenagers in front and had them pray on the mike. I remember sitting in my seat and listening to passionate prayer after passionate prayer coming out of youth my own age. Something inside of me stirred and I wished that I was like them. After their prayers they stayed up front and worshipped. I had wanted to go up there with them so much, than out of no where a girl was coming up the aisle telling us that they wanted all the youth up front. I couldn't believe it.

An American flag was brought forth and what happened next was an intense time of intercession for our nation. I found myself weeping and I felt like something was happening inside of me. I had a new longing for God and to know Him more. At the end of the meeting we were allowed to pray for people. It was the first time that I spoke in tongues, actually I had before when I was younger but I didn't understand and did not think it was tongues. I committed my life again to Him that night- "Lord I will serve you through everything."

What came later was a new zeal for God. That year was totally different for me, I did things I don't think I would have done before. I went on a mission trip to China and Korea that truely rocked my world. I also went to Washington D.C. for The Call, afterwards going on a lunch fast for 40 days praying for the new President that we were going to elect.

I want to encourage anyone else to come to the next conference in October it starts on the 12th and goes until the 15th. It is on healing and if you know anyone who is sick please bring them. There has been times where in worship alone a woman got out of her wheel chair and walked. But that is another story for another post.

State Fair

Ah another post about the state fair. Sometimes I wonder why I love it so much. We went with all of us at youth group we had such a good time. We walked around and went to many of the booths we hit up every year. AM 1280 the Patriot where I was able to shake hands with Michael Medvid who was doing his show out of the Fair, (he lives in Washington State), so that was exciting. I also went to the republican stand where I saw Senator Norm Coleman and Mark Kennedy who is running for Senate next year. I am sorry to say I got a little bit of pleasure out of the fact that the person running against Mark Kennedy was on the outermost part of the fair, by the tractors.

I went to the international Bazar which is so enjoyable because it reminds me of all the stores we would shop in in the different countries I have been too. There is one store where I go every year because they have some leather bracelets that I like. I laughed when I went there this year because it is called Guatemalan Textiles! I had been going to a Guatemala store before I went to Guatemala. Well I will have to postpone the rest of my story about the fair because my bed is calling me, it is too late.

My State Fair is a Great State Fair

Don't miss it
Don't even be late!

Yes today I went to the "Great Minnesota Get Together." I wish that it was easy to describe. I was actually working at the Cattle Barn selling t-shirts to the 4-H kids. So I literally stared at the rear ends of dairy cows all day. But I don't know what it is but I still enjoyed being there. Not so much after the 8th of the 11 hours we had to be there passed. But when I got a break and walked around I enjoyed it.

I think MN has one of the best state fairs. There are so many people! So many families with their little red wagons and their strollers with adorable babies in them.

My favorite part was when I was standing at my booth and there was a little boy who must have been 2 or 3. He was standing in front of the cows and his dad was trying to take his picture. He was so happy with the cows that he hardly looked at his dad taking the picture he just looked at the big cows and laughed. Ah I loved it! I can't imagine when I have my own child someday, I think I will be taking pictures left and right. The dad looked and saw me smiling at his son and he smiled at me glad to know someone else was enjoying his son's cuteness as much as he was.

Was I realized today was that people like the fair because of its predictability. While my coworker was worried because our design was almost exactly like last years, I told him that the fair never really changes but everyone keeps coming back. So I thought that people will come to buy shirts because it is a new year and a new day.

I had my own disappointment about the fair, for those who know the fair I am sorry to say that the high dive performers that are usually by the water ride are not there this year. Instead is a go-cart course. How lame is that! The high divers were amazing! That is all I can say, I am too overcome with emotion.

Me in Minneapolis

Duties

It seems in life there are times where we take a job that we know nothing about doing it. This is how I am feeling now as I take on the job as Secretary for Republican Senate District 59 in Minneapolis Minnesota. Our very own famous chairman Steve Sumner asked me. Steve has been fortunate enough to personally meet President Bush, Condolezza Rice, as well as Karl Rove and others. I was asked to take on this position because their former secretary Sandy Burt is preparing to run for the state senate next year.

It is amazing this thing called politics. Many people think that all politics is dirty, or that all candidates are dirty as well. But most people do not know what happens at the grassroots level. They donÂ’t know the people that (excuse the language) who work their butts off for a person they believe in. They are just ordinary people who have a passion for having good people run this beautiful country of ours.

I feel so strongly about praying for our country, but sometimes we need to put actions where our prayers are. We want good judges who will put an end to abortion, but are we will to help elect the senators that will vote for those judges? Can we take some of our off time to use to help elect those people? God knows who they are, He knows that there are people lined up even now that are going to help overturn abortion one day. I am not going to say prayer is not enough, because I know that it is enough, (I think my whole blog is a working contradiction, but bear with me please.) but just as a group of us lined up in front of an abortion clinic with a piece of tape with the word “LIFE” we should also use our time to work this system we have in place called the democratic system. There are two things needed to have a good campaign, money and people. You can't do it with just money, you have to have people helping out. I get so frustrated sometimes because there are so many people out there that believe that they don't need to do anything because there is someone else who will. Excuse my rudeness but please don't leave the work to others and than turn around and complain about who the leaders are that are running our country.

I met many people as I helped with the PresidentÂ’s campaign; I was even able to meet one of the PresidentÂ’s cousins. For those who are against the Republican party, do not sign off on me. Christians have grown weary of this party, and on a national level there are a lot of things to be disappointed in. But donÂ’t give up hope on us. The one thing I remember most was the great respect that was given to Christians and Christian leaders alike, I am not sure if we would get the same respect in other parties. In fact if the liberal school I went to was any indication you could be severely scorned and mocked. I have listened to mockery of Christians an Republicans for two and a half years and I guess that drove me even more to run to the GOP.

Well all of this to say that please continue to pray for our country's leader's, and also please find a way to get involved in the politics of this nation. It is not something that should be left to the intellects or to the high and mighty, thealways alway a small community of people working hard and that would love some extra help.