Exciting News

This fall I will be attending the Foundations for Counseling Ministries (FCM) school through the University of Nations in Kona, HI. A 6 month, 24 credit course, the school is held on the YWAM Kona base and is the first of 2 years worth of classes/internships towards me receiving a BA in Biblical Counseling! At this point I'm not 100% sure that God will have me there that long, but I am excited to being this pursuit of education & equipping! 

Over the past several years God has begun writing blue prints and vision into my heart. Reaching out the broken hearted, the hopeless, the ones trapped in darkness: the destitute. As I have worked with and amongst many who would fall into that category my heart has been wrecked to see them reach a place of wholeness, joy and freedom! Society has come up with many band-aids to help these people such as housing, food, money, education - and these are good, but they don't deal with the heart issues at hand. Observing the impact God's presence has on a person's heart, mind, body and soul has completely fascinated and inspired me to pursue whatever is necessary to facilitate His Presence here on earth. With that as the vision I feel a need to become equipped in Biblical counseling & inner healing. To walk alongside the destitute in hopes of helping them reach a place of healing, restoration, freedom and ultimately reconciliation with Christ is my future. This is how God has designed me to participate in His Kingdom work and I am so honored, humbled and excited to start this process of training! 

The 3 month FCM lecture phase begins Sept 27th and is followed by a field assignment/internship. While in lecture I will learn about relationships, Christian identity, helping skills, personality restoration, forgiveness, law and grace, & the work of the Cross all in a counseling format. The first part of the course will cost roughly $4,500, $1,000 of that I've already paid (thanks to my summer job here at the foster facility). There will be more details about the field assignment/internship later so keep looking for that in the coming months.

I appreciate your prayers as I begin this exciting journey of equipping in the University of Nations, Kona. Should the Lord so move you to help me financially I would love to talk with you more about it so please feel free to email me at lovingreflections.marisa@gmail.com 

Love Always

One Question with a Powerful Answer

A week ago I had the opportunity to take my sister to a night of worship at our church. IT was a phenomenal time of giving glory to the One who deserves it all and I was beyond blessed to worship Him along side my little sister. Afterwards I met a woman, her son and daughter (both in their 20s) and was able to briefly share with them the journey God has had me on the past few years. They were amazed that I would devote my life to His glory at such a young age and were so encouraged by my testimony of grace and love from Him. Towards the end of our conversation the woman looked me in the eyes asking, "So do you still struggle with anything? All that you've done and the way you have experienced the Lord, I mean... How do you ever struggle with anything?" This took me aback and responding with a lighthearted joke of still being human and made of flesh just the same as everyone else I stored that question to return to. You see something about her question brought conviction to my heart. Yes, I am no where near perfect in my relationship with Him - and that's ok. BUT there have been so many times that I doubted His salvation, doubted His love for me, that I refused His forgiveness and freedom... I have blatantly turned from Him and sinned at times - fully knowing that it hurt Him, and still done it. I am a horrible daughter, not worthy of the title of "Ambassador of the Kingdom of Heaven." Early in the spring I watched this clip of an elderly woman who has taken that title and made it her mandate. It inspired me and I want to be just like her. Sure, I have done the work of a missionary, I have lived a life of "faith & trust in the Lord" for years, I have seen the sick healed, brokenhearted mended, the lost found, the slaves set free and I have seen life after life transformed by the miraculous power and salvation of Christ! Yet I still struggle with complete devotion to Him. I am a fallen human made of flesh, looked upon by the Almighty God who stares at me lovingly and says, "That's my girl." I am not worthy of a glance from Him, yet He chooses to love me. I am baffled by His love and am moved to tears by this fact. That He Loves me, though I am broken, weak, selfish, stubborn and foolish. He Loves Me. 

You see, when that woman asked me how I could still struggle with such faith to live for Him, she was speaking words from Spirit that would bring me back to the elemental truth of the Gospel. God created man to be perfect, to share in life with Him and have relationship with God. But at the trickery of Satan, a vengeful angel who is consumed by control issues, man sinned leaving a gapping mess of separation because a perfect God cannot be united with sinfulness. The punishment for man's sin was death and someone always has to pay. So God made a way through His Son, Jesus, to come and die for our sins, that we would no longer have the separation of our sin from God. After living a perfect life, Jesus was crucified and after 3 days rose from the dead with the keys of hell - that Satan would not have his victory of eternally keeping God's beloved separated from Him. Because of such a magnificent and emotional sacrifice, God made a way for man to once again choose relationship with Him! He loves each one of us so much that He sent His One and only Son to come to a world, that had almost entirely turned away from Him, and bring forth redemption. Now we can live in the fulness of the promise of His Presence once again so long as we accept the salvation that He has already paid for us. What a God! This is why I am so captivated by His love, why I am convicted of my sinfulness and why it is that I choose to love Him above all else. It is a joy to serve Him, just as a wife loves to bless her husband, so do I love to worship my Beloved. For He is truly worthy of it all! 

Whether you have been comforted that you're not the only screw up who declares His Name, or you're inspired by His love and moved to repentance yourself for running from such a beautiful gift as salvation and relationship with HIM, I hope that this has touched you in some way or another. God bless you as you read this and may He reveal His love for you even more than you anticipate! He is so Good!

Love Always

Epistle to Diognetus - The Christian Way

Reading through Water from a Deep Well by G. L. Sittser and he included an excerpt from the Epistle to Diognetus. Likely written around 130 A.D., it describes how Christians viewed themselves in contrast to the larger pagan world. After looking up the full text I spent some time meditating on my own walk with God and seeing how I compared. The testimony of the early church is phenomenal and I can't help but share an excerpt with you as well. May it inspire and encourage you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called - a citizen of heaven, child of God, and beloved of Christ!

FOR the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking method of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring.
They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life. They are poor, yet make many rich; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.

To sum up all in one word-what the soul is in the body, that are Christians in the world. The soul is dispersed through all the members of the body, and Christians are scattered through all the cities of the world. The soul dwells in the body, yet is not of the body; and Christians dwell in the world, yet are not of the world. The invisible soul is guarded by the visible body, and Christians are known indeed to be in the world, but their godliness remains invisible. The flesh hates the soul, and wars against it, though itself suffering no injury, because it is prevented from enjoying pleasures; the world also hates the Christians, though in nowise injured, because they abjure pleasures.

The soul loves the flesh that hates it, and [loves also] the members; Christians likewise love those that hate them. The soul is imprisoned in the body, yet preserves that very body; and Christians are confined in the world as in a prison, and yet they are the preservers of the world. The immortal soul dwells in a mortal tabernacle; and Christians dwell as sojourners in corruptible [bodies], looking for an incorruptible dwelling in the heavens. The soul, when but ill-provided with food and drink, becomes better; in like manner, the Christians, though subjected day by day to punishment, increase the more in number. God has assigned them this illustrious position, which it were unlawful for them to forsake.

Love Always

Home Sweet Home!

It's been a week and a half since the internship at the International House of Prayer (IHOP-KC) ended and I returned home! Hardly believe it myself as I have been coming to terms with the fact that it is in fact, April, and not February. Home has been wonderful and I feel so blessed to be here at this time and having not much more on my plate than resting, spending time with family and meeting our new family member, Gunner! It has been so needed as I really haven't had an opportunity to rest since summer 2010. I've found that I'm sleeping more than usual and while it was a little puzzling at first, a woman I met put it well saying, "there is something about being home after a long voyage that just puts you at ease, and you find yourself able to do things that you hadn't in a long time." It's so true - I now have time to rest, to read my Bible on my own time, and I've also taken up writing chapters of the Bible to begin a cover-to-cover study/read through of the Word. Things I hadn't been able to do while staffing with YWAM or interning at IHOP, but now I've got all day to do - Praise the Lord for rest! 

Last week I had an interview at Christ's Haven for Kids, a sort of privately owned foster care/children's home, for a summer rec job. My mom already works for them and my younger sister too, volunteers at their horse barns, and the three of us live here on the campus. It was not certain that I would get the job and the week before returning home it seemed over and over that things would not work out, but upon the interview I was hired on the spot and now will have a steady summer job! It's going to be great working with about 20-25 kids aged 7-17 every day this summer AND getting to do devotions with them as it is a Christian organization, and I'm getting paid to do it! Bondye Bon! ("God is Good" in Haitian Creole)

Easter weekend I had four girls from IHOP-KC come down and stay with me to attend TheEstherCall, Dallas. It was a 2 day women's conference where women gathered from all over the US and even some internationals, standing up as Esther's in this day and age. Together these women were standing in courage and boldness, speaking out against the murder of millions of babies that society calls Abortion. Starting with several hundred women gathering in front of the Dallas courthouse (where Roe v. Wade was passed, legalizing abortion in America) to several thousand gathered at the convention center it was an awe-inspiring day. To see thousands of women, who had an abortion(s) themselves or who had been affected by abortion in other ways, fasting and praying together for HOURS - I've never seen anything like it. I'll be writing more about the conference and how I got to serve these women soon, so be on the look out! 

Sunday morning I attended Gateway's Easter service and was moved by the teaching on the three absolute truths of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for our salvation: He died, He was buried, and He is Risen! After the service there was an alter call, as is usual on Easter sundays, but this time I was truly moved. As about 40-50 people came down to the front, making a physical statement that they were receiving Christ as their Lord and Savior, I began feeling the joy of the Lord for the souls being saved. Though I have seen and been apart of many salvation prayers, this time the reality of what was going on just hit me in a deep and tender way. As my heart swelled for the new brothers and sisters I was receiving and cheering on, tears of joy filled my eyes and I just wanted to run down and hug every single one of them! It was amazing seeing the church, this service probably holding a good 2,000 people, praising the Lord and cheering the 50 people as they walked to the front! Yes, Lord - I know you desire every man, woman, and child on the face of the earth to be your sons and daughters. I know how happy this Easter sunday made you, and I know that every day there are more and more coming into your kingdom, I want to be apart of it! Here I am, God, take all of me and use me to the furthering of your kingdom and the declaring of Your great Name among the nations! 

Love Always

Lovesick for my Beloved

The Lord is so good! Tonight I have just been in complete awe of the splendor of God. There's something to being fully released to a love so strong that it wrecks your heart even thinking about your beloved. As I sit in the prayer room with Misty Edwards leading us in adoration of the Lord most High - I can't help but think to myself, "this is the best place I can be." It's more than just a physical place to be, worshiping the Father with a couple hundred other people at 11pm, but it is really the place that I have felt my heart entering. This heart of mine is being captivated by a man who is God; the living Word, Alpha and Omega. He has been around for years, pursuing me as a friend and Savior, but He has caught my full attention. I am madly in love with Jesus, and can't seem to love Him enough. My whole body, soul and spirit are yearning to know Him more. To seek the secret places of His heart and learn everything about Him. To know every part of His story, what He's done, when He did it, the how's and whys; to learn about His Father; to learn from the deep well of wisdom and knowledge that He has. How I long for the Bridegroom!

Psalm 63:1-7 ESV

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.


I cannot wait until the day when I see Him face to face, though a great and terrifying day that will be! I miss you Jesus, though you're near you feel far. The secret place is where I will meet you; in the quiet and secret place is where we are together. You have called me and wooed me to yourself, and you have stolen away my heart! Now, teach me to love you more! You deserve and are worth so much more than I can offer - and yet you love me just the same. It is beyond my understanding, but I will forever give praise to my Beloved, for He first loved me!

I believe, but help my unbelief. I love, but teach me to love. I want you God, more than anything else, be the center of my heart. Captivate this lovesick heart and seal it up with Your Name, I am Yours.

Click here to listen to the Misty Edwards Prayer Set I am at!

Love Always

Dark but Lovely

I have no eloquent words, nor can my mouth confess the fullness of the goodness of God. In the prayer room this afternoon it was all I could do to pray, "Thank you God for who you are," over and over and over again as I paced through the room. When I first heard the song Dark but Lovely, I knew that there were depths to it I didn't understand and  remember asking the Lord to reveal Himself to me through the song. Not more than a  couple months later Misty Edwards begins playing it and I am all but moved to tears; a whole new perspective and longing kindled in my heart.  There is no full understanding of the great grace which He has bestowed on us, but I am no fool to say that if it were not for the abundance of His grace upon my life I would not be living today.  Though I am dark, He calls me lovely.  And in my greatest weaknesses the Lord's heart is captivated.  It is beyond me, and it brings me to my knees, that this Holy and most perfect God would call me His Beloved.  Oh but I long to know Him more, to know every part of Him.  Intimacy is what I delight in, Love is what I have. Weakness is my strength, and Beloved is my name. Praise be to the Lord or Lords!  All glory, honor, and power be to Him who sits on the throne and who's voice is like that of many rushing waters. For He alone is worthy, He is Holy, and I will joyfully pour out my life as an offering to Him. That sweet incense would arise from my lips to move His heart day after day after day.  

Dark but Lovely

I can’t understand

This work of Grace

How a perfect God

Would come and take my place

The stars, they don’t move you

The waves, can’t undo you

The mountains, and their splendor

They cannot steal your heart.

This God, who is Holy

Perfect in Beauty

Awesome in Glory

Is ravished by my heart

Though I am dark

You say I am lovely

Though I am poor

You say I am beautiful:

Somehow my weakness

Has overwhelmed You

Somehow my weak love

It has stolen away Your heart

Love Always