Saturday, May 24

The Wanderer's Adventure Continues:
Virginia Times: Worship Monday Night

I finally got some pictures from the prayer meeting we had on Monday night, and I thought I would share them with y'all so you can see it. As you can see, the FOFs (Michelle, Emily, Tim, & I; see TEAM: Africa 2008) are back together again in VA. But we are joined by a bunch of new friends we met while there, and I would like you to "meet" some of them! However, I don't remember everyone's names, just the ones I've hung out with more since then (so bare with me if I don't mention everyone in the pictures!)

Above (L to R): David, Shannon, Dee, and Michelle Hartley...Don't you just love that stained glass window? Too bad there isn't a full picture of it!

Below is Paul playing guitar. He worships spontaneously, like Tim, and it's great!

Above is Faith, who is a great leader and friend with a heart of gold and solid after God!

Below, on the bench (L to R) is Dee, Michelle Hartley, and Me. On the floor curled up in a tiny ball is Shannon, then two guys, then Emily Ingole and Tim Wright...I would've been on the floor then too, but Em had just beat me to the last spot I could slide off a bench to.
Above is that row of worshipers on the floor again, but all of a like mind. Pretty cool picture, eh?

Tuesday, May 20

The Wanderer's Adventure Begins:
Traveling South

So, Sunday I found out my friends, Emily & Michelle were headed to Virginia Beach to meet up with Tim Wright and hang out. Well I wanted to go too, not only to be with them but to see me long-time college friend "Sooki" too (I haven't seen her in a year and they have an adorable little girl now). But the plane tickets to meet them were out of my price range, and I felt at peace with God--if that makes any sense--so I just went to bed figuring God knew what I wanted and if He wanted it for me, He's work it out. After all, I have also been dying to go down to Lakeland, FL too, but that will have to come in His perfect timing too...

Anyway, I woke up early yesterday morning at what I jokingly call an "un-Godly hour in the morning" (I'm a night person). While laying in bed, feeling quite peaceful and having had one of the most restful nights of sleep in a while I thought briefly of VA. Then had an odd thought: "wasn't there someone I knew going down?" I tossed the thought aside, and then it persisted. And with a name: Christopher!

Now I don't know why I had not thought of it sooner, he had been with us for the weekend and was leaving to go home soon! So I jumped up, asked Aunt Deb if he was heading out today and going straight through. She said "Yes" and that he was leaving in an hour. Well, I juggled my cell phone trying to get a hold of my friends--make sure they were serious about me staying with them in the their hotel room, and see if maybe they could get me back home later--while packing exceptionally fast!

Then another thought hit me fast. A friend of mine, Erin, in Lisbon OH, had been begging me to come and stay with her and her family. Her mom (Erin's a younger friend) had said she would drive out and pick me up and take me back later. So I called them up quick to ask if I got a ride back up there later this week, if they would get me back to Olean next week sometime...I got another voice mail.

I finished packing, asked Chris for a ride and we left shortly afterward. Thankfully, Erin got back to me just before we left so I knew if Emily & Michelle would take me home with them when they returned to OH, they could get me to Erin's (who lives near Emily's parents) and sometime Erin's mom would get me back to Olean.

I've never done anything so spontaneous in my life! and I still had not got a hold of my friends who were in VA when we left! And we were near DC before they finally called and said it was fine with them! My response was "Well, I sure hope so, 'cuz I'm on my way already!"

So last night, Chris dropped me and my small bags off on the Regent Campus where I met up with my friends in the Library's Prayer room where I then met several more cool people and had an awesome time of prayer, praise, and fellowship well into the AM hours. Then we went to a restaurant and hung out longer. And now, I'm off to bed and a wonderful time with my friends in VA till late Thursday night when we leave for OH...

I'm finally traveling on the road, on my own, just like me dream! Like Aunt Deb said: "and you thought you needed a car to do that?"

Sunday, May 18

Time Flies...

Oi! It's been a while since I posted anything and a lot, and I mean a LOT, has happened!

MAY 13-14:
There was a leadership conference going on back in Lima at EBI for a few days, and my Uncle Fred wanted to go up and meet with a few people he knew would be there around then. And I had been trying to figure out how and when I could get back up there to see my sister Becky before she left and moved to the YWAM base in Idaho. So together, Fred and I went to Lima Tuesday and Wednesday. Fred stayed with my dad an hung out with whoever it was he went to meet with--something about video bible school's making, etc--and I stayed with my Mom and both sisters.

Of course, they were both working like crazy in the cafeteria of the school, but they did have off a couple hours in the middle of the afternoons, so I made it a point to be around then. Sadly, we only got one picture in of us together, and on the last day, but hey, at least we got one, right? We swapped our missions trips scrapbooks, found out awesome stories about each other's new friends (ones not even posted on blogs, so yeah I've got one over on all y'all! Muahahahaha!)

I did have a blast the whole time I was up there. Got to see a few people I hadn't seen in a while on campus, talked about the awesome things God's been doing in and through my friends and I, handed out a couple newsletters, etc. Ended up talking to my old, and close friend Sister Debby Krueger for longer then originally intended, but who ever regrets about talking with her? And it was such an incredible blessing! Isn't she great? And yes, all you former EBI kids, she's is still up there punching away at her computer and praying for all of us (she still has all our pictures on her same old cork-board!).

Tuesday night I went to the Lilac festival with a friend from my old home church, Christine, and we surprised another friend when we met up there--the second friend didn't know I was going to be in the area! Then Wednesday morning, at one of those unholy hours (I'm a night person, can you tell?), I got up and Christine picked me up before picking up another friend to take her to the airport. So I got to surprise to long-time and dear friends that weekend! And I had a blessed time telling them, also, all the cool stuff been going on with me--and making them a wee bit jealous, apparently...I also got to talk with my pastor's wife, the beloved Jeanie, for about half-hour on the phone as she was just getting back from visiting her new grandchild. Sadly, I didn't get to visit with her, but maybe next time I'm up?!

Wednesday evening, then, I went out with Mom and her fiancée Roy Libby to Ruby Tuesdays. That was a little interesting. It wasn't bad being with them, just different--and for me, too soon--having mom with someone else in her life...For all you who are wondering, they are engaged, and the wedding is set for the end of August with only the kids present. Thankfully, I'll be back from Honduras shortly before that! ...Anyway, back to the meal. During and after the meal, I had a good chat with Roy. About what I'm up to, what God's been doing, and about his two children (who are about 7 years younger then mom!). I'll get to meet them the day of the wedding, so we'll see if they are as great as they sound!

Shortly after that, Fred picked me up and we drove back home to Olean. And it was nice to crash for a little while!

MAY 16-17:
Friday, Deb and I cooked up a storm in preparation for Angie's wedding shower the next day. Then in the evening, the church had its usual bi-weekly coffee house, but I didn't go. Instead I stayed at the house and finished up the cool Jello creation Deb and I were working on for Angie's wedding shower the next day, while dancing and watching the Florida Revival live on God.tv. (It was a great service, as always--can't to go myself!)...Anyway, you should see that Jello thing! Not too many people ate it Saturday, but we had a good turn out and a great time! It was themed of a Luau because their honeymoon is planned for Hawaii...Oh, and the Jello was blue Jello in a wide vase-like thing with gummy fish and other sea creatures in it. Then Dad rigged up a paper boat for on top and put it right next to a large fish I had managed to get stuck in there with his nose out of the water! (if I get a chance to download a pic from my phone, and figure out how to format it differently, maybe I'll add it...with a pic from the Lilac Festival, and one of lovely Angie at her shower!)

MAY 18:
And today, at church, was incredible! I felt God so strongly I had a hard time standing straight. At one time I was bent over my guitar and eventually had to put it down and get on my knees for several minutes! Once again, I'm not sure what God did, but I know every time He is stronger in my life, and that I grow less and less--I care less about what people think now!--He does something! I did feel a stronger tingle in my hands and up my arms while kneeling and speaking in tongues; a sense that I am told, and beginning to believe, is what God does when His healing power in strong on my hands...time will tell what He does with that. And what I do with it! For now, I will try and be more in tune to His directions and begin to see things happen!

That's about all for now, but God bless! And I pray I encourage you to step into what God has for you too!

Christ's love to y'all!
<>< Hannah Joy

Feast...

I just had a vision of a feast table, set before His people. He's standing at the head, arms spread wide and inviting, and saying "Partake."

I believe God is saying this anywhere, everywhere, no matter what we are facing at the time. It's not just for Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, it's for all times. And all of His children. When we came into his Kingdom as a child of His, we gained free access to Him and all He has for us. We can enter His presence with boldness and confidence (Ephesians 3:12). In fact, everything we seek is in Him & as a part of Him, it is Him.

He did not ask us to be cup, poured out for others. Then to come back under the faucet to get refilled and refreshed. He asks us to remain under His fountain, to remain in the place where we will forever overflow. And the great thing is, that fountain is wherever we go. There for us to partake and continually partake of as often and wherever we are. Where a normal fountain is stationary, God is everywhere, just waiting for us to remain and continually cry out for more...Also, as we remain under the fountain, we overflow over all the sides of our cup, our vessel, (us, as a temple). Where as, if we were to go out, then come back to be filled up; if we were to continue to pour out, tip over, we only pour out on that one side for one person. Rather then effect all those around us continually. As God intends.

We can have as much of God as we want. We can have all of Him. We can do greater works then Jesus did (John 14:12). We can be so consumed with Him, continually drawing from His never-ending source, that even that which we think of as dark--like our shadow--can be consumed with His glory and used by Him! ...I can remember a little girl I knew long ago, who used to be terrified of stepping on someone's shadow. In fact, she was afraid of her own shadow for a while and hated to see it following her! Yet that which can terrify, can be redeemed for His glory! Like Peter, our shadows could heal those we just pass by (Acts 5:15)! Or, we could do even more mind-boggling and greater works then that!

Praise God!

"This is my body, which was broken for you..." (1 Corinthians 11:24)
Do not stop partaking of Him, and all He has for us! Drink up! Soak in!

Christ's love to y'all,
<>< Hannah Joy

Monday, May 12

Soak it in...

WoW! Isn't God incredible! Ha, Ha!

I've been entering into His mighty presence every night for a while. I can't seem to get enough! And even just at nights it's not enough! Praise God! I'm starving! Ha, Ha! I keep being "distracted" by God. Trying to work on my Philippines scrapbook and get 2006 part done before going for a visit to Lima means working on it some more today. Because God had just kept "distracting" me! Not just at night, not just throughout the night, but throughout the day too. Sometimes I just get an urging, and I know I need a few minutes alone with Him. Find out what's up. I wake up at all hours of the night, with His presence so strong in the room that I cannot sleep. Nor do I want to!

There's is nothing more awesome then to LIVE in His presence. His constant, overflowing, presence. His peace, His joy, always right there. His filling, refilling, and overflowing...WoW! Ha, Ha!

I'm not even sure what happened Sunday night, when I attended the Florida Revival via the Internet (God.Tv). I didn't think much happened then. But I woke up this morning and so much had happened! More things were broken, and more healing occurred...God is here! And He's never leaving!

Oh, how I love it! God is sooooo good!

I should have been done with the 2006 part of the Philippines scrapbook last Wednesday at the latest. But GOD is the best "distraction" in the world! Woo, who! (Yes, even I squeal now!)

Ha, Ha! Soak it in people! There is a revival sweeping the nations and it's never ending!

Let it come, Lord! Let it keep coming!

Sunday, May 11

Don't Quit!

DON'T QUIT! I don't know that I can emphasis that enough! DON'T QUIT!

Again and again, we earnestly seek something and it does not come to pass!
Again and again, we pray for someone and see no results!

There is nothing more discouraging then praying for someone and seeing nothing happen. Then earnestly praying, earnestly pressing in, pushing for the Lord to heal this person and getting nothing. It is a lot easier to pray for someone or something removed from us; to pray when the person is not around, even, because then if nothing happens we don't 1) look like such a fool, and 2)we don't get as discouraged! When we are not around, we can stop praying after hours, lay down for the night, and when we next talk to the person and find nothing happened, it's all right. That was yesterday. This is today...perhaps it was impatience, but now it's complacency.

I don't know about you, but I get discouraged. I, for one, am not healed completely. I still suffer the after affects of the medicine I was on and the permanent crippling of the disease of Arthritis. I don't know how many times I've stomped and prayed till I was red in the face, or how many times I knelt and pushed, or how many times I cried in all earnestness till the tears dried up. Yet still nothing! I've been to prayer services, watched ones on the Internet, read the books, heard the preachings, tried everything I could think of. And I am thankful for being out of the wheelchair (don't get me wrong), but that's not enough! I've laughed hysterically under the influence of the Spirit, "fallen out" under the overflow of the Holy Ghost, and completely surrendered to Him till I was twitching uncontrollably or dancing like a maniac under the electrical power surges coursing through my heart; yet nothing physically has been completed! Don't get me wrong, again, it has started again; I grew an inch within a week after Philippines 2007 trip, I was delivered of my milk allergy while on that same trip, I've grown and matured in other non-physical ways, and begun to know and even feel the Divine Presence of the Lord as an everyday, almost minutely experience. YET, still, the physical remains bent and crippled. The straightening has started in my back, but what I would give for the foot over night! After all, if that was not impossible for me to believe as a child, why should it be any more impossible for God to do now that my mind knows how much more impossible that should be?

Children have such incredible faith. They'll believe anything you tell them. I remember when I was about 6 years old and my Dad was joking one night about not wanting to take out the trash. It was raining and he said he might melt! To this day, I can still hear my little sister begin to weep uncontrollably as he stepped outside with the trash. Mom kept trying to console her and tell her Dad would be back shortly. But when I explained she might have actually believed Dad would melt, we all waited. And as soon as Dad came back, Mom made sure he went to my sister and showed her, and told her, that he had only been joking and was perfectly fine. Being a resilient child, she was fine within a few minutes and off having fun, but I'll never forget that example of a child's simple belief.

When nothing happens as we pray and continue to seek God for a miracle, and we get discouraged, we--or at least I do--ask what happened. I always want to know why it didn't happen. Did I not have enough faith? Or perhaps the person I was praying for, did they not have enough faith? We are reminded constantly to be like little children (Mat. 18:3), and told that in order to have a peace that passes understanding (Php. 4:7) we have to give up our right to understand, yet we still ask. We still want to know what we can do.

Well, I wish I knew. I really do. But the one thing I do know, God will work regardless of any seeming hindrances, when it is time! After all, He is God of all things. Hindrances, principalities (Rom. 8:38), lack of faith (Rom. 3:3, II Tim. 2:13), etc, all included!

SOOOO: DON'T QUIT!
Don't give up! Between us all, I'm sure all the hours are filled with prayers for the same people and situations. Between all of us who continue to persevere on other's behalf, or stand firm with them, I'm sure the hour will come when deliverance comes in the flesh again! But what will happen if we don't stand firm? It'll probably still happen, but you'll miss out on your part, your blessing of persevering.

"Ask...seek...knock, and it will be opened to you..." (Matt. 7:7 & Luke 11:9)
DON'T QUIT!
Yeah, it can be embarrassing to stand at the proverbial door at 3am (which is the time it is now) and bang on it loud enough to wake the neighbors and then some. But if we truly want something bad enough, we'll be willing to suffer all (to sell all; see Matt. 13:44) to get it. Even if that means we look stupid when nothing happens, the neighbors wake up and yell at us, and yet we go back again and again, night after night! (see Luke 18:1-8)

I used to think it was bad to want something really bad from God, like healing. After all, wasn't it possible we were looking for Him to do something for us, instead of reaching for Him? Yeah, it is. But even if that is the case, even if a miracle happens in another country to a few unbelievers, does it not point the way to God? by showing them His miracle-working hands, are we not showing them Him, even if only the smaller part of just His hands?
I had a vision in January, in it I saw all the gifts, all the miracles, all the desires we have ever sought from Christ. And they were not sitting in front of Him. But rather, they were Him. They were in Hi gut! And by reaching for them, we were reaching for Him!

So How much of God do you want? Enough to be called foolish? Or look stupid?

Enough to NOT QUIT?!

I hope so...I pray together we both remain in this fight, and together, I know we will all see the full manifestation of Christ in and through us--the Person of Christ, in the flesh, our flesh--once again!

DON'T QUIT!
And it will come to pass!

Luke 18:1 "...to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart..."
I Cor. 16:13 "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."
Eph. 6:10 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might."
II Tim. 2:1 "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

Stand with me!
<>< Hannah Joy

Saturday, May 10

Burning Bush...

I fell asleep last night watching the rerun of the Florida Revival on the Internet (I had watched it live, already, I just wanted something decent to rest in God's presence to for a bit). Next thing I knew, I had fallen asleep (which I almost never do to any noise at night!) and then I was waking up to Misty Edwards live from the IHOP prayer room. I do not remember what she was singing, or what all was being said--I know it was incredible--but in my half-awake stupor I caught the words about a flame, or a fire, or something on that line. Suddenly I broke out in a cry in my heart, and though I never fully woke up, I prayed earnestly and fell back asleep with this cry on my lips (copied from my journal & heart).

Why do I copy it for y'all to read? So you may be witness to it. To hold me in prayer, and to know what the Father is doing in my life! And, perhaps, to be a witness and encouragement to you too! For what we desperately cry out for, what we earnestly seek, that we shall find! "seek, and ye shall find..." Let us find it together!


Father,

I don't want to just
bring Your fire, I want to be Your fire! I want to be consumed! I want to be a burning bush to the nations! I don't want to just sit on the side-lines and watch, I want to be! Be You, in the flesh, again! Be Your fire! Be Your peace! Be Your bush, a burning, unquenchable, all-consuming bush!

I am desperate! I'm not content where I am! I want more, much more! But not just for a short time; continuously over-abundance of You! To be consumed, filled to forever overflow!

May I not only have the boldness, as in Ephesians, to come before You, but may it overflow to my approach to others! I have an unrefined bluntness, but I believe it is a gift from You which, as I said, is unrefined or immature! CHANGE that! Use me, Father! Make me bold for You!


A burning bush in the desert of other's lives! Consume me! So all the junk within will be nothing--less, even, then ashes--and all I have for You will be to bring glory to You as it shines brighter!

BURN ME! Set ME ablaze!

BURN ME! Make me
be Your burning bush, forever

BURN ME! ablaze in Your presence and to Your honor!

Your desperate daughter,
<>< Hannah Joy

Friday, May 9

Healing Ministry

I don't know if I dare post this, as it seems a bit bold, but I just "came to" (as it were) from what I believe is a vision. It started as more of a thought, or an imagination, but I know in the end it was so much more, so much more God controlled as when I "woke" from it, time had flown here in my bedroom and I had missed the sun rising and the day starting. Yet I feel it is worth saying, because of the pivotal role children will play in this move of God.....It started with the memories of all the prophecies I've received, and my desperate prayers, concerning my operating in a healing ministry. Of my thoughts on my trip to Honduras (Woo, who!) and many other future trips I know the Lord has worked out for my future. And both other prophecies and my own visions, of standing in front of throngs of people...and this is how it played out:

It was a church, appearing very much as the second one we had our Women's Conference in while in Benin this February. Cement walls, simple platform, skinny building yet crowded out with people. And more people outside...It was not as crowded as perhaps some of the prophecies have been, nor was it anywhere as near as large as what people have seen me in, but I sensed it was closer to the beginning of the Lord being gloried through His healing hands on mine.

I stood up and preached, I think--I definitely spoke for quite a while if I was not meant to preach. Oddly, now I do not remember what I said. What stands out was what happened next.

I had all the sick children, those who
wanted to come up for prayer and healing, to come up. And one by one I prayed over them...Then I did something that had never occurred to me before (it was as though I had done this in a few churches before?) and then asked those children who had been prayed for and where willing to go out and lay hands on the adults who were seeking healing from various ailments. I asked the adults to sit, and raise their hands, keeping them up till after they had been prayed for, and then I wondered the isles and prayed while the children spread out and watched the healing fire which had so shortly before been imparted to them, be spread to their parents and other adults!

I'm not a big kid-person. Kid's are alright, but better off playing with the people who prefer to play with them; the more energetic, fun loving, adults or baby-sitters out there, then with me. Yet every now-and-then, I get in a weird mood and suddenly notice a child or two around me. Once in the Philippines I noticed three young girls, about three years old, and ended up dancing and staying with them throughout the entire service. Why? Because I suddenly felt drawn to them and oddly felt as though I was looking at the next generation of people like myself (I had been drawn to Christ and had accepted Him as my Savior at age three), and I could no sooner reject the calling of God on their lives then I could enjoy adults who rejected it on my life while I was young!

And then I had this vision. And during it, as I was about to call all those who desired healing to come up and be prayed for, I suddenly felt that same odd feeling and instead asked the children who desired healing to come forth. I asked the parent's not to push their children up, but if their children wanted to come up, then I encouraged them too. And then I encouraged the children to operate in the healing, believing that as I had prayed for them I had imparted healing to them which is never something to be kept inside but to be shared! (as is everything else in the Kingdom!). I'm sure there were adults having issues that I, who they had asked to show up, had not laid hands on them. But I have never liked a name being attached to a healing, at least any other name but Christ's! So, in this way, I stretched their faith in healing being from God, regardless of who operated in it, and also in that God has and continues to call children to His kingdom!

We are to be as children! Simple faith, such a simple act! We make it so complicated, especially in the US, and especially us analytical thinkers! How I over analyze everything! Trying to figure out when, where, how...Yet true understanding, true peace, comes from a lack of understanding. An innocence to the situation, allowing Christ to truly govern in it all, and thereby bring true glory to Himself! A "peace that passes understanding", requires a lack of understanding. Some lack to the "grasping the concept" idea!

Are you alright with having your mind being blown away?
If not, then I pray your innocence will be restored! And His peace will govern your life as He takes the reins and you, well, you just enjoy the ride of your life! For was it not, when we were not fully trained in how to handle the reigns, that we enjoyed God and His goodness better? So let's give those reigns back! And lets see His children be restored to their rightful place in the Kingdom (and that includes us adults who are having our childhood restored in the Kingdom!). May we all have child-like faith, no matter our earthly age!


I hope this wasn't too blunt...but I thought I would share it!
Christ's love to y'all!
<>< Hannah Joy