Unity.

But, speaking the truth in love,

may grow up in all things into Him who is the head---Christ--- 

from whom the whole body,

 joined and knit together by what every joint supplies,

according to the effective working by which every part does its share,

causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:16

I have this vision for the Kenai Peninsula.

It's a seemingly impossible vision but I believe in it.

In my vision I see a unity that is so deep we cannot wrap out heads around it logically.

A unity that requires so much intimacy with each other and the Lord the only answer is Jesus.

Unity is such a huge part of what we are called to be.

Everyone is called to unity.

Time and time again the Bible speaks of One.

Whether it is referring to a marriage, church, body, Himself, etc.,

it is always One.

The Lord uses marriage to create the relationship we have with Him.

He refers to Himself as the bridegroom and us as the bride.

Marriage is the most beautiful unity I have ever felt and here the Lord uses it to represent who we are to Him and vise versa.

The key to it is, Marriage is when two people become one.

Unity is when we step into a marriage with one another.

As a community, church, family and children of the living God;

we are called to step out in love, raising each other up to walk in the destiny of who we are in the Lord.

My vision for the Kenai Peninsula is that we will come together in marriage with one another.

That we will become one and lay aside all bitterness, anger, doctrine, pride, etc. and lift our eyes to the heavens.

I see our arms linked together and our words edifying each other.

I see truth pouring from our hearts in love and healing falling afresh.

When the Lord refers to the Body of Christ He isn't just referring it to your church or mine.

The Lord uses this image as a vision for THE CHURCH in general.

The church isn't just a building.

The church isn't just your building.

WE are THE CHURCH.

The church isn't limited to 4 walls.

The church is a body that moves outside of 4 walls as one.

Our community coming together as one body under the head--Christ-- that is THE CHURCH.

Dream, Jump, Fly.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9

 The Lord has been speaking to me about my dreams.

When we are children our dreams are endless.

There is nothing in the world that can stop our dreams from becoming reality.

Somewhere along the way comes heartache, and disappointment.

Our dreams become shut in a box of unbelief and hopelessness, tucked in the back of our closet.

Our hearts yearn to release the dreams tucked away.

At some point in my life I stopped dreaming.

I lost the vision I once had, the vision of so many different things.

I stopped believing that MY dreams could come true.

In my quiet time not too long ago I felt my heart bubble my dreams to the surface.

I cried out to the Lord, "Why are you torturing me? Why are you bringing up these dreams that will never happen?"

"Sarah, it is time to start dreaming again." 

I felt all these different memories connected with my dreams.

Some of the memories were good; most of them were not.

90% of them consisted of things I either told myself or believed from someone else.

"That's not possible."

"There isn't enough money."

"You're just a kid."

Wow, how much unbelief I have allowed in my life.

I claimed failure over myself without even knowing it.

I am not one who gives up very easily.

I didn't have one giant blowout and drop all my dreams.

I slowly let go of them.

I felt trapped in a cage looking at everyone else succeeding.

I had an encounter where the Lord was looking at me and smiling. Shortly thereafter 

an amazing woman of the Lord prayed over me and she said,

 "Jesus gave you the key. You are holding it inside this cage. It is in your hands."

The Lord, smiling, handed me the key and continued to look at me with a look that could stop anyone's heart.

He is in love with me and my dreams.

"It's time to start dreaming again."

Dream, Jump, Fly.

I realized the Lord was beckoning me to start dreaming.

Dream outside the cage,

Jump out of the cage,

And Fly.

SOAR in my dreams.

Soar in the presence of the Lord.

He desires to pour out of my dreams.

I felt the Lord tell me to write all of my dreams down, so I did.

I wrote every dream I could think of. 

Here are a few:

1.) Bring unity in the churches on the Kenai Peninsula.

2.) In unity, touch the community in a new way.

3.) Go to INDIA.

4.) Carry the Spirit of Intimacy with the Lord.

5.) Get a college degree in Human Services

6.) Open a halfway house for foster care

7.) LOVE WITHOUT LIMITS

8.) Create a new vision of "Revival" 

My list could go on and on, this is just the beginning.

Starting to dream again and go after my dreams has brought me so much closer to the Lord.

In this He has used Joshua 1:9.

 The Lord is with us.

WHEREVER we are, He is there.

It's okay for me to dream and jump because I am going to soar in His calling on my life.

It's so easy to become discouraged in our lives and fall into this rut of disappointment.

We walk in fear and there is no need to.

Be strong and courageous, not because there isn't going to be disappointment or hurts, but because the Lord is there to fly with us. 

To carry us through our trials and let us soar in our calling.