King of pop dies. It seems that he has left a legacy with every generation.
I remember where I first taught myself the "moonwalk." I would wear
my white crew socks and would slide across the kitchen floor. I
wondered if MJ's feet were made of butter.
MJ didn't always have the best wrap in media, but I always saw his
talent. I watched many documentaries about his life and felt
compassion. His brokenness was just amplified with the life that he
lived in the spotlight.
My friend Robby and I were reminiscing today about his life. Robby
asked "Did Michael Jackson really love what he was doing?" "Was he
happy?" Some would assume the King of Pop lived the life he wanted, but
did he?
People always think about life when death knocks down the door. I
would like to think someone with such influence and his love for rhythm
and dance is what compelled him. I saw a certain freedom in his
performance but did he feel it in his heart. Did he feel alive?
I have now been in Mijas, Spain for less than two weeks and am
finding a whole new depth of the Lords freedom in my life. I want to
not just dance free and live in a freedom but set all those around me
free. I want to be free of all religion. Jesus despised religion. I
want to set the captives free.
This past year has wrecked me. I am alive. I desire to see people
come alive. To see the sleepers arise. For the Lord will shine upon
them.
Even though MJ and I never sat down and had a good cup o' joe, I
pray that his family and friends would come to know the glory of the
Lord. Redemption and freedom is here. So next time I slide into the
"moonwalk" I will toast to freedom.
To check out the Spain blog site for Generation 42, go to http://blog.g42global.org I will be blogging every Friday and the rest of the group will be blogging on the other days. To learn more about what I am doing go to http://www.g42global.org/leadershipacademy OR go to my last blog on the left titled "SPAIN. The next step in my life."
While I was busy with
ministry work in Ukraine, I discovered that I still have about $1, 389.24 left to
raise. I HAVE JUST 3 DAYS TO DO THIS! I have kept a close watch on my support level
throughout the Race, however the monthly amount of pledged financial assistance
has been steadily decreasing since the New Year. Just recently, I was informed by my
organization that the remainder of my support must met by the 20th
of May. If you are reading this, I do
hope you can help me =) Please take some time to prayerfully consider
supporting me & if you can donate then click "Support Us!" on the left-hand side of your screen. I want you to know, it
sincerely makes me glad when I think about all those who have faithfully given
every month & to those who gave what they could, when they could. I know God will provide in these next 5
days...so THANK YOU in advance!
A fter 13 countries, 4 continents, 1,000's of
orphans, 30 different cultures, 21 languages, countless number of people
experiencing God's love all in 11months: My journey has just begun.
God took me around the
world to show me His love for all of humanity. In the midst of this crazy journey, I saw and experienced a lot of
suffering. Instead of fleeing from God,
I saw a deeply rooted love He has for each person. In the places where some would say God
abandoned, that was where I found Him. The hope and love that God expressed through me transcended all language and cultural
barriers. The message of Christ pierced
thousands of hearts this year and I can't wait to be dancing and singing with
them in heaven for-ev-er.
With all of your
prayers and support a girl has walked away from a life of prostitution.Coco, an
African mother suffering with HIV, has finally found hope for her eight children. A tiny church body in Guatemala is encouraged and strengthened. A Myanmar village hit by Cyclone Nargis (May 08) heard
the name of Jesus for the first time. A
Thai masseuse felt the power of the Holy Spirit and was healed from her thyroid.
A Gypsy village in Romania starts to understand the power of loving one
another. And a young 23 year old American girl was gently guided to death of
herself only to find a life worth living in and for Christ. Above: Moldovan sunrise. 5:30 a.m.
Like I said, my
journey has just begun. After
experiencing the amazing power of God, I can't help but live a life sold out
for Him.
God has revealed my
next step in life. I have been praying
about how I am to be used in His Kingdom. This year has allowed me to dream freely and think beyond any
limitations I have placed in my future. Adventures
in Missions has partnered with Generation 42 Leadership Academy located in Mijas, Spain. More information http://www.g42global.org/leadershipacademy/index.html
The academy will be a
perfect transition for me after the World Race. G42 and the World Race is rising up leaders for the Kingdom of God. They
are passionate about empowering generations to use their gifts in the way God
is calling them. They are passionate
about the Kingdom being planted all over and seeing the church arise.
I see this school as
being a next step in discovering more of the ministry God has started in
me.
I am planning on
attending the academy June 15th and will be there for six
months. Please pray about supporting me
in this next journey in prayer and financially. To support me click here or click on "support me" on the left hand side of this page . Just type in Tara Stephenson and
any money given whether is says World Race or not will go directly towards my personal G42 account.
Here is a short video about Spain made by a past World Racer and a current student enrolled in G42, Sean Smith.
I was sitting talking with my good friend Josh Bruce about the Holy Spirit and how it can sometimes be so complex and that my little mind makes it more confusing that it really is. (like that sentence We were talking about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I brought a verse in 1 John where it talks about how we know He is in us by His Spirit. I have an understanding that the Spirit of God came to dwell in me when I made that decision to follow Jesus. I sometimes find it hard to understand the baptism of it all.
Then Satan tries to shoot lies out about comparing my walk with other people that are having these crazy out of body experiences. As Josh and I were talking, I came to understand that as I am walking this out in love following Jesus, that alone is a pure miracle from the LORD. To love my enemies. To turn the other check. To choose to love when knowing it won't be received. To forgive and expect nothing in return. To give only because of joy. TO LOVE. It has started to become natural that I am not having these "crazy out of body experiences." Is that part the baptism? Did I have to fall and speak in a tongue for it to happen? Did I have to shake and see all these blind men see to really believe that the Spirit of the LIVING God lives in me? Our do I need to walk out the purpose that God has laid before me in confidence and not compare.
The Spirit of the LIVING GOD comes out in power. When Jesus comes, He comes in power. So if through a tongue or prophecy, or ministering to someone through encouragement, or in LOVE. There He is: The SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD DWELLING IN US. God's timing is perfect in all things. There is always more that God wants to do through us. But before any more comes I must proclaim once again that the Spirit is in me, alive and well, and decide that the lies and comparison dies.
And then I got an email from one of my girls that I lead at church from home. Actually I got an email from God 2 minutes after talking about all this with Josh. At the end of the email they wrote "1 John 4:13-17 you're livin it girlie!"
1 John 4:13-17 (New International Version)
13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because
he has given us of his Spirit.14And
we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of
the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that
Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in
God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is
made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment,
because in this world we are like him.
I am sitting here in Romania realizing I haven't told you one story from Malawi. I worked with Pastor Harvey a.k.a Pator Gansta. The 8 of us, Pastor G, and 5 other translators hit the road set out to plant three churches. We would pull up to a village in a white 80's painted van known as the "Love Bug." The sound system would blast and the people would come. Church planting included singing, dancing, and a lot preaching. So many people came to know Christ and now are starting to function as the church. But in all, dancing for JC is what brought the people in. I like to call it "Club Jesus." I don't think I stopped dancing in the 2 1/2 weeks we were on the road. This is my kind of church planting. Shaking it for the Kingdom of God. Enjoy this video made by Jen Crane. More to come on Romania......but first dancing for Jesus.
To wrap up the "Beauty From Ashes" weekend--here is a video that my fellow racer (katie rowland) made. Continue to pray for healing and a movement that will change the next generation of Swazi peeps. Love to you all!
After the Day of Ashes, our team wanted the the women see their beauty. Our inspiration for the whole womens conference came from Isaiah 61.
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and realease from darkness fro the prisioners, to proclaim the eyar of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion--...."
The women have so much to grieve. Some may of the women say that all they see is their ashes, but all God sees is their beauty. Once again, no words- just pictures.
....to bestow on them a
crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
One weekend in Manzini, Swaziland. Thirty women. Best three days of the race. AIM founder, Seth Barnes, has always had a heart for the broken in Swaziland. He had a vision of the women being put into an enviroment that would allow them to share their life stories and morn with one another.
He also had a vision that each woman would create a story book that would allow her to express her pain that she has indiviually endured.
The women in Swazi are taught to hide. To let their life and hardships be buried. To go unexposed. A small team of eight girls put together a womens conference called "Beauty from Ashes." We set up meals, team shirts, speakers, worship, a program, but GOD did the rest. He took women out of their pain into a place of freedom and restoration. This was the best weekend I could have ever been a part of and seen. I just sat back and cried. What I saw was church. I saw true worship. I don't quite have the words, so I thought the pictures would do the rest. When you look at each woman, know that she has been through the fire but came out victorious and refined. These are the survivors of Swaziland. Follow the journey with them.
I am sitting here in Johannesburg, South Africa reminiscence on my past three months on this continent.
My route includes:
January: Mozambique to Swaziland
February: down to South Africa and back to Swaziland
March: couple of days in South Africa and then a wicked 57 hour bus ride to Malawi, back to South Africa
And now I leave in less than 24 hours for Romania. Once again, completely different culture, climate, people, smells , food, style, language, transportation, etc.............
I have so much to update about Africa. I have found out that I am one-forth African. I always knew it was in my blood. My Irish skin and hair just covered most of it up!:) Looking forward to coming back.
I will be posting more pictures and blogs when I get a faster connection in Romania.
My remaining route:
April: Romania living in a Gypsy village
May: Moldova or Ukraine
Two months left and sometimes I feel like I just left. I know that sounds crazy. I think so myself. Looking back, I just see God's faithfulness on all His people. He TRULY is the only God of this world. His love reigns in the highest of heights to the depths of the sea. I HAVE SEEN IT! and can't wait to share more.......more to come on Africa---the land of spiritual wealth.
Swaziland:a tiny round dot in Africa located west of Mozambique and north of South Africa. This country has the highest rate of the infection of HIV in the world. Life expectancy: 31. The country consists mostly of grandmothers (nickname Go Go's) and thousands of orphans. The land is green and mountainous. The people are starving, unemployed and sick........yet despite the scenario most would label "hopeless," they have overwhelming amounts of JOY. The Go Go's life stories are filled with tears and strength. The orphans dance and consistently giggle.
The Go Go's take care of the orphans. They cook, work in the fields, and try to provide a means for the kids school fees. In most cases, the whole household is in survival mode.
These are some pictures I took of the Go Go's as a tribute to not only their strong hearts but the hope that radiates through them. I was able to visit many at their homes and I found beauty among their despair. I found the survivors of the countries greatest loss-people. They have an anchor or hope.
"We have this hope as an anchor for the souls, firm and secure."
experiencing God's love all in 11months: My journey has just begun. 
and thousands of orphans. The land is green and mountainous. The people are starving, unemployed and sick........yet despite the scenario most would label "hopeless," they have overwhelming amounts of JOY. The Go Go's life stories are filled with tears and strength. The orphans dance and consistently giggle. 
