Another Move...

So many changes are happening in my life right now from, updating my phone, email address, finding my way around a new town, starting up an online business, and so on.  My learning curve is just about maxed out.  The update I really want to tell you about is the new and improved blog!  This will be the last post here at blogger.com for my adventures have moved me once again, only this time the packing was much, much easier.  The donate button will still be active on this site if you wish to send me some greens.  Otherwise I will meet you over at my new place greenpokeadots.wordpress.com, where the door is always open.  You will be able to read about more of my adventures as soon as I get settled in and I will share all about my online business endeavor.  Come on over and tell me what you think.

-C

Philly Mission

Hello friends,
  
My next adventure is with a group of 7 people from my church to Urban Hope in Philadelphia, PA. They are a church to the neighborhood to reach the lost, broken, poor, and sick for Jesus. Many of whom are caught up in drug use, alcohol abuse, prostitution, etc.  Secondly it is a training center where teams can come and gain experience in inner city ministry. 

In past years, my church, Origins, has shown up to help facilitate a large children’s camp that included up to 300 children.  They attended their house churches, worked with the teens, built relationships with the neighbors, and enjoyed the culture.  This summer’s trip will be a bit different.  Kerri, our leader, is good friends with a couple on the Urban Hope team, Bethany and Ryan.  These two love the Lord and have a huge heart for Philly.  One of their hopes is to become foster parents, but their house is not ready.  Our primary goal while we are there is to get their house as up to code as possible.  In addition to the work projects, we will have some unique chances to plan some teen events, experience the culture, and celebrate 4th of July Philly-style with the people of Urban Hope.

 
The reason I am writing to you about this is to primarily ask for your support in prayer and secondly your potentially support financially as we are each raising $430 for the trip.  I am looking for at least 10 people to support me in prayer.

To commit to be on my team would include that you pray for me as I prepare for Philadelphia for what I will see and how I will serve, pray as we corporately raise our financial support, pray for the lives of the children we will be with and the adults/parents we will talk with, pray for our safety, and anything else that comes to mind.  I'll update my blog with stories and pictures once we return to Austin!  Will you join team Westling?
 
To support me in prayer simply respond to this email and let me know you are on board! I'll send you a confirmation email with many many thanks.  To support me financially, feel free to send me an email as a notice and/or send a check payable to Origins Church and in the memo line right "Christine Westling". Checks can be sent to:
 
Christine Westling

1809 Michael Wayne Dr.
Austin, TX 78728


or you can send me direct support with credit card via the DONATE button on my blog :)

Please pray about both of these and respond however the Lord leads.
I am thankful for you and your encouragement.  May the Lord bless you and keep you as life continues to move us all forward!

Christine

Totally Texas!

This past Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I spent photographing the Q2 premier user conference for my sister's work. In total over 550 pictures were taken and I was ready for a nap in the posh room we had at the Barton Creek Resort. The whole event was engrossed in the epitome of Texas from armadillo races, to chips and queso, to margarita machines, and even a saddled longhorn for a great photo op. The events all had matched acts with the amazing food prepared by the resort and The Salt Lick. Employees, customers, and vendors alike all went home with full bellies, answered questions, and excitement for next years conference.

Spiritual Gifts

During my time in New Zealand I learned about many things including spiritual gifts. Below are some of the notes about the gifts. Have you discovered what your gifts are? How are you using them? What are your thoughts on spiritual gifts?

Motivational Gifts:
-God (Father) given gifts
-Born with/creation gifts/Can not change
-Inherent tendencies/Inner drive and motivation

     Romans 12:6-13
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing/giving to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Purpose: Serve God’s will

Ministry Gifts:
-Jesus given gifts
-Office gifts
-Must be appointed/sent out by church

     Ephesians 4:11-13
11 It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Purpose: Equip believers

Manifestation Gifts:
-Holy Spirit given gifts
-Can be added/Encouraged to seek/can have all
-Super natural/Move in as Holy Spirit empowers

     1Corinthians 12:7-11
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
Purpose: Profit the church


Manifestations of speaking in tongues:
1. Speaking in an unknown language that requires interpretation
1 Corinthians 14:5-20, 14:26-28

This is mostly in a church setting and overlaps with the gift of prophecy

2. Speaking in an unknown language that is understood by others, therefore not
needing interpretation,
Acts 2:1-12
This is often in a community setting where the speaker does not know the language but the hearer does. eg the girl in Fiji who was praying in tongues while they were pig hunting and the Indian hunters were amazed as they understood that she was praising God in their own tongue or language.

3. Speaking in “other tongues” as a devotional
1 Corinthians 14:4

Thank you Mary Turner for all of your insight!

Check out my new blog!

ChristineWestling2.blogspot.com

Check it out and feel free to leave a comment or two :)

No Such Thing as MINOR Victories

There is no such thing as only a MINOR victory. Every victory should be called just what it is…a VICTORY. No matter the depth or weight in which it may appear to carry. It is still a victory and not to be dethroned by adding the word minor as a prefix. Stop hiding your quests in a corner or shoving them in the shadows of other seeming “larger” quests and celebrate each and every one!

Ran for a full 7.4 minutes today. Raised a wild turkey, if only for 3 days. Having a needed conversation I didn’t want to have and it went well. A friend giving just the words at just the right time. Found inspiration for a blog. Developed friendships all over the world. Washed dishes. Survived sand fly bytes. Still looking for any reason God created sand flies. Found the perfect stand-in teddy bear until I get home to my beloved Space (Yes, his name is Space, I was like 5). Moved to another country and fit in quite well. Discovered how good Swiss chocolate is especially when received from a Swiss friend :) Talked to friends and family all day long. Own a motor cycle and know how to drive it!!!! Reminded that every day starts new. Got off my bed and exercised. Learning how to focus on the good. I fit back into my pants, if only for 3 days. Discovered it is possible to fit back into my pants. Learned how to drive manual on the left side of the road with a 11 passenger van on gravel roads. Concord feeding 40 people everyday for 3 months. Ran around in a rain storm and got drenched. Spun in circles with arms out and head back in the middle of Christchurch square. Read a book in 3 days. And then another. Continually finding children at the door looking for me. My computer works! Having a well needed cry. Friends cooking for me. Overcoming myself and pushing through the hard lessons to grow. Being inspired by a T.V. show…

What are your victories?

DTS 2009

Reaching a point in life were it seemed my faith had hit a plateau, a big leap needed to be taken for any change to happen. Hearing about the adventure program at Oakridge I knew that was my leap. I threw myself into everything from the get go wanting to get as much out of every moment as possible. The more I let go the more gifts God gave, for example writing poetry for the first time in my life. If there was one word to describe my DTS it would be FREEDOM.