Lady Gaga...

...random I know.

But after her "shocking" arrival at the Grammy's last night I couldn't stop thinking about the platform she has created for herself and wondering how she got there. (for those who missed it she was encased in what looked like an egg?)

Note: I'm not promoting that one should or should not support Lady Gaga and her theatrics. I'm just sharing a few opinions of my own :)

When Lady first stepped onto the scene I did find her quite odd...but it was just too easy to pick up on the new tunes and dance around all silly-like with my roommates. Therefore, a few of Lady's songs became fairly popular. I don't even know how it happened but one day I decided to count the number of songs that I knew of hers...and found it alarmingly high. I had no idea I'd slipped into the craze! But she seemed to be EVERYWHERE. I mean...in the past 2 years alone she's had 6 number 1 hit songs. I think it started off as a joke to sing her songs...but either way...they seeped in and were on repeat in my head.

I never found her music to be moral, that's for sure and I was always taken aback by the latest music videos...not being able to watch them without thinking something seems completely wrong and then realizing I just shouldn't watch her videos because they have no fruit, no light, no life coming from them. I can't necessarily deny the artistry she carries...however I admit it's definitely a bit off.

I don't think anyone would be shocked by 'Christian groups' calling her crazy or protesting her in every way. But the thought of that actually started to make me sad and I felt convicted of my own judgments towards her. I watched an interview she had with Barbara Walters...and for some reason when you see a person's childhood photos they become all the more real to you. And it hit me: She doesn't know Jesus. I know...that's apparent...but how many times have I skimmed over the fact and had negative thoughts towards who she is.

I think you can tell by now but the Lord actually started giving me this big heart for Lady Gaga (formally known as 'Stefanie Joanne Angelina Germanotta'). God actually gave her this wonderful, amazing talent. He gave her a voice and an ability to be creative...she just isn't necessarily using it to give glory to His name, but why would she. She doesn't know Jesus.

While speaking with Barbara Walters she said she wants to be a teacher to her young fans who felt just like she felt when she was younger. She wants to free her fans to be fearless and help them know that they have their own place in the world. On an interview I watched with Cooper Anderson on 60 minutes, I watched as she told fans at one of her concerts to let go of all insecurities and reject anyone and anything that's ever made them feel like they don't belong. Then she yelled for them to free themselves of those things. Her fans were sobbing. I mean breaking down, tears and snot everywhere. My heart broke.

They're all looking for something more. What's so sad is it's the enemy who's blinding people to Truth. Our society is more humanistic than ever and Lady Gaga's answer to feeling rejection is how to empower yourself and how to overcome obstacles by rising up in strength.

If I were to sit and listen to someone tell me they had a dream to set people free from past insecurities, I'd think they were on a pretty good path. But it's where we tell them to get healing from and draw strength from that lies a big issue. How many of us have/have had insecurities or issues of rejection from our younger years. The feeling of being left out and not belonging. I know I had some super awkward years and I just wanted validation that I wasn't a big weirdo. Thankfully I had a community around me who accepted me and pointed me to Jesus and I found my belonging in Him. But what about people who aren't as fortunate to hear about Jesus and His extravagant Love? We're all looking for healing. We're all looking for a place to belong. We all want to be loved. And what's happened is Satan has twisted the minds of so many to believe that God either doesn't exist or is mean and judgmental. And now a lot of times a second thought isn't given to God or Jesus because it's all about ME! As someone said today in our Prayer Room set, Satan has blindfolded people and then set them into confusion. So it doesn't look like anyone is worshipping the devil or anything...it just looks like a world of worship to me, myself, and I.

Humanism.

It's a stronghold we must pray is broken. It's an area where we must EXALT the name of JESUS. It's time to press in. Lady Gaga went to a Manhattan private school, Convent of the Sacred Heart. I bet she heard about God. I bet she was rejected for being maybe a little bit weird. It's been brought to my attention recently that in this world of music...a lot of the music and musicians that have brought a 'new song' forth have been rejected by the church. Ouch. So where do they turn?

The reason I'm even writing this is because we have to know what we're up against. Yes, our God is greater and higher than any other and He wins. But it's a time where we need to be on our knees crying out for our generation whose role models are Lady Gaga, Eminem, Ke$ha, Lil' Wayne, Drake...and I don't know, whoever else is mainstream popular right now. We need to be praying for Divine strategies and most of all we need to be a LIGHT in the darkness. We have to tell people about Jesus. They need to know the truth. It's not fair that so many have been blindfolded to the incomprehensible love and goodness of our God.

So all that being said...this is a huge prayer need. This is what my team will be facing as we head to the Ivy Leagues in 3 weeks. We've been crying out for 5 months for Jesus to be exalted over Harvard...a school created to send out ministers and missionaries. Humanism is creeping in. We want to show people truth. Lead them to Jesus. He's better than anything else. He created us for His glory. He wants to set His children free from this bondage and confusion. There's just no hope without Jesus. But that's the good thing...there is hope. He loves us so much.

As written on Harvard's Emerson Hall: "What is man that Thou art mindful of Him?" -Psalm 8:4

Jesus, I exalt You.

(Oh, and add Lady Gaga to your prayer list too!)

Revival is a Reality!

I've been terrible at updating my blog!

Things here are going great! I'm still learning a ton and God is turning my heart more and more towards Himself and to His will. It's been a beautiful process.

2 weeks ago I had the wonderful blessing of 2 friends coming to town to sit in on the teaching by the AMAZING Amy Sollars. First my roommate, Kim, from Nashville who now lives in NYC came over...it's lovely having a friend only a train ride away! Then my bro, Josh, flew up for a few days! I'd say it was timely for all of us. It was so great to be able to see friends and family from home and I knew God would have some things of His own for those 2! The Lord was so faithful and good to bring refreshment to all 3 of us! Thank You, Jesus!

So now we're down to the final stretch. Only 4 more weeks until we head out on outreach!!!!!! Erik Fish & Brad McKoy were just here to talk to us about church planting on college campuses. Visit StudentChurch.org. It was such an awesome week!! They stirred up so much hope in me that WE CAN SEE REVIVAL on college campuses!! It's all about being bold in Jesus and in our faith and making relationships. I can do that...I like people...and I like making friends...and I love Jesus. So yea..I can do this. I want to be a willing vessel for God to do whatever He wants on these campuses. I can't wait to see Him move...a few from our team had the opportunity to meet 8 students from 8 of the ivy leagues and there is already a stirring on the campuses -- Revival is a reality.

Just to update you: We leave after the first week of March and make our way to Harvard for 4 weeks. Then after that my team of 8 goes to Dartmouth for a week. We'll connect with some of the Christian groups on campus but mainly we just want to make relationships with people who don't know Jesus yet. We're praying to meet 'person's of peace' who we'll find favor with and give us an entrance into their lives. Have coffee with them, hang out, read the Bible, talk about Jesus. So be praying for that we find favor with the students and that even more their hearts and minds would be open to hearing about Jesus and that they would know Him! We want to see these campuses turn back to their roots of sending our missionaries and ministers! (If you are interested in knowing about the origins of the ivy leagues, God on Campus, is a good book to read about their history and revival history as well.)

The beginning of April my team of 8 heads to Amsterdam! We'll be staying at the YWAM base and joining with current ministries. Pray that our time there would create a lasting impact and that the name of Jesus will be exalted over 'the city of tolerance'. We'll also be traveling to Paris for a few days and then to Berlin to join with the House of Prayer Berlin to do a lot of worship and prayer for these cities. Pray for Divine strategies for our ministry time in Europe. That we would find ways to effectively share about Jesus and that people would come to relationship with Him...because Jesus really is the best!

Oh also...click on this link! Fire and Fragrance Podcasts --You can listen to all of our teachings from the past 4 months (and a few more to come) -- there are some life changing teachings on here!

And seriously...thank you again for your continuous prayers and support for me! I couldn't do what I'm doing without you!!! Love you all so much (and miss you!!)!