Testimonies

As I've been learning and growing in the past couple months, it has continually been revealed to me the importance of sharing about what the Lrd is doing in my life. There is a song by The Desperation Band called "Overcome" that has been a theme for me lately. There is a verse in it that says:

We will overcome,
By the blood of the Lamb
And the word of our testimony
Everyone, overcome!

Speaking out the work of the Father is one of our tools in battle against the enemy!
So please hear some of my battle cries; this is me claiming victory, exclaiming words of truth and proclamation with courage and confidence in the power and authority of JC!!
(I first wrote this as an email to some friends, and from there was inspired to share it with all of you!)

A few weeks ago at our Young Adults group, my friend was playing keyboard and leading us in songs as the Lrd brought songs to his mind. I was having a hard time getting my heart and mind focused on wrshp. The Lrd inserted a LOUD thought in my mind to just apologize to Him--I had been thinking, "Lrd, why cant I connect? I just want to wrship, what's going on?" so after that loud thought, I just said "Lrd I'm sorry! Here is my heart, ready to praise you!" That was all it took. At that point I felt like Audrey disappeared and my spirit was just completely connected with the HS. My friend started playing many songs in a row that I've only really heard about 10 years ago, all around the time I gave my life to the Lrd. I associate these songs with when the Lrd really grabbed hold of me and revealed his all encompassing, unfathomable love to me. The keyboardist didn't know this but I told him the next day just how the HS worked through him in my life. It was awesome.

A few times in the past 2 months (Since my healing!) people have told me they think I have a gift of healing, imparted to me since I was healed. I've received their comments, and just said to Gd "Lrd if this is from you then that is wonderful and I will continue to pry in faith." I know all healing comes from the Lrd, and it doesn't matter who He uses because it is all in His power. There have been a few times I've asked for healing in my own body in the past 2 months and I've felt the Lrd work almost instantly. Also with one friend's tummy the other day, and with another friend's breathing a few weeks ago. Last week Timothy pry anointing on me for me to heal more, but he only knew of my praying for the stomach pain in our friend. It's all been amazing to see, but I also haven't thought much of it in regards to being a "gift" I have. I guess I don't understand if "healing" can be a gift that I, Audrey, have. It doesn't seem like a gift specific to me, because it's not anything I'm doing, but the Lrd.

In switching jobs this month, I've been preparing for a different financial situation. I will now have more expenses to pay, and no monthly stipend from work like I've been having the past year. I am working on fundraising now, but I've really not felt worry or stress about any of it. I really believe in what the Lrd has set out for me and I trust He will guide me in the right ways. As I began prying about the whole situation many weeks ago, the Lrd provided me with more tutoring hours with one family, and a possible second family to tutor for.
Two weeks ago my dad finally (after many failed attempts by me) got through to my student loan lender to have my monthly payment lowered with ease no penalty. That is a huge relief!
Three days ago, an unexpected $ amount showed up in my bank account! I asked my sending organization at APU about it and they said it wasn't a mistake! I'm still shocked about this.

Sunday morning the lrd told me to really examine how honest I was being with Him--why I felt so compelled to be open and honest about my shortcomings and sin with the humans I feel close to in my life, but try to be "presentable" to the Lrd. At the end of the message, the speaker asked if anyone had anything to share and I knew I had to share this with the fellowship. 3 different people talked to me in the day or 2 after that telling me they needed to hear what I'd said, ptl.

About a month ago at our pryer group, Jemimah shared with us about her fasting and Gd really spoke to me. I've never really fasted too seriously before. That week I really fasted and the Lrd met me in a way I've never experienced before. It made me want to fast everyday, never wanting to be apart from such intimate and intense communion with the Lrd. I am learning a lot and have decided to fast at least once a week now, but seeking to learn how to live in a constant mentality of fasting and surrendering my flesh to the Lrd.

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Sharing these personal stories is a wonderful feeling. I feel blessed and humbled by the Father and I hope reading about things He has been doing in my life can be encouraging to you. I want to encourage you to start looking for His involvement in your own life, and to share!
If you have testimonies I would love to hear them! You are all an incredible encouragement to me, thank you for running alongside me as I continue on this journey :)

--Song noted: "Overcome" by The Desperation Band

I'm HEALED!!

I think many of you know that I have been dealing with a gluten-intolerance for a few years now. Gluten is found in wheat, barley, oats and rye. I haven't been eating any bread products, baked goods, crackers, even some things such as soy sauce has gluten in it. In the past few months my symptoms had been changing and getting worse. I was pretty sure the intolerance was developing into celiac disease.
I also have had allergies to shellfish, as well as lactose intolerance for a long time.
In February, I pryed with some friends about many things, including my food allergies and intolerances. Gluten intolerance was the main one that effected my daily life, but I never really thought it was something I didn't have to have, or that the Father would heal me from it. After this pryer time, I would test to see if I was healed yet, by eating a cracker or piece of bread. I was still getting sick. One day, without thinking about it, I ate some soup at a party and afterward, I realized it had been crab soup. I didn't have an allergic reaction! PTL!!! :)
In the middle of March, I went to Ha Noi for a conference and some of my spiritual mentors pryed again for healing for me (the same people I pryed with in February), and I fully believed and felt Gd do something within me. About 15 minutes later I ate pizza for lunch with a cookie to follow...and I didn't get sick! And then for at least one meal following that everyday I had wheat, and still--not sick! Here I am almost 2 months later, and STILL not sick! PTL!!
So I am praising the Lrd for His amazing power and love. He is the Gd of healing, deliverance, provision, grace, peace, mercy and salvation. I am walking daily in the freedom He gives to eat without fear of sickness, and to live without fear. I am now using/making/baking all of my gluten free supplies more frequently, not feeling like I have to save it or make it last :)

Work Changes

So much has been changing and happening since my visit to the States this past February. The Lord definitely spoke to me through many people while I was home and prepared me to start thinking and prying about change and following His leading.
While away from Vietnam, I began realizing and identifying talents and passions I have in my everyday life, as being valuable assets to Gd and that He created me to be this way on purpose, for His purpose. I've been learning now how to embrace these things as wonderful and not comparing myself to those I see and revere as "all-star" believers, serving the Lord in "better" and "more valuable" ways than I am.
I am a SUPPORTER, ENCOURAGER, and even a MOBILIZER! =) I am continuing to learn about this and discover what it means, but I am loving the process and finding so much freedom in accepting His calling on my life and I am excited to see what else He will teach me and reveal to me about the work He is doing and how He wants me to be involved and join Him. I have no doubts that there are many surprises and revelations waiting for me around the corner. What an incredible state of expectation to be in, not hoping for the Father to reveal Himself, but expecting Him to with confidence and assurance.
As of May 15 I will no longer be teaching English at the English center, due to some recent changes in policy of the HIS Years program. I have started volunteering with an organization called Orphan Voice (www.orphanvoice.org). They do orphan relief work, child sponsorship, medical care, etc. I am the "Friendship Team Coordinator." I organize and coordinate volunteer teams who will come here to serve, helping them with travel arrangements, accommodations, scheduling their activities and service while here, and everything related. I've also taken on tasks of assisting the director of the organization in his travel planning, as well as some administrative duties like filtering information for him to read and giving him summaries of important documents. I LOVE IT. I never thought that these "guilty" pleasures I have could be what the Father created me do to in support of advancing His kingdom. I thought it had to look a certain way, or you weren't doing EVERYthing possible to serve Him. I am so humbled in learning this, and also so overwhelmed by His love and power. He is THE creator and the author of THE master plan. How cool is that?? Amazing.