July 2024 Monthly Summary

Increasing Flexibility and Integration to Navigate Change

So much of my experience this July had to do with transition.

It’s hard to describe, but I believe I am somewhere between 2/3rds and 100% finished with what I was meant to receive from specific contexts and seasons.

• Nearing completion in some tasks. For example, I just finished the writing portion of my doctoral thesis and am now in the editing stage!
• Fresh grace opening up for new contexts, ability to connect existing network, supply needed skills
• Fresh grace opening up for familiar contexts, with a deepened ability to steer well
• Fresh grace opening up for long-term partnerships, deepening and expanding relationships
• Fresh grace opening up for practical strategy and provision
  • These tools will give me the grace and flexibility to participate more fully in long-term assignments to specific regions

As I responded to transition this July, it became more important than ever to maintain lifestyle rhythms that allow me to rest, reflect, and enjoy this summer season. Preserving these rhythms has allowed me to give my best yes or no, depending on different opportunities to connect with people or serve my family this month. I’m very excited for the fall, but still trying to remain steadfast as God opens up new things.

Levels: Major themes this July Season

In July, I noticed increasing grace for discerning precisely what God was doing in different contexts. As I untangled my attention away from specific groups, I had much more bandwidth to finely parse what God was doing more broadly. I’m grateful for the increased ability to focus in detail on specific spaces and hold distance from places that have felt overstimulating.

• Across Levels: The Importance of Stewardship
  • A real sense of delight in those who are in the wrestle but advancing
    • Believing that there is a tangible reward for good stewardship, and that they will see the goodness of God in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13)
  • A real sense of grief over the many of friends, community members, and acquaintances who have not stewarded their portion of the puzzle during this pandemic transformation season.
    • Believing that God will give an opportunity to re-enlist for those still trapped in fear
• Personally:
  • Breaking free from Intimidation
    • “Stay in place as I shift it”
  • The last portion of polishing before the next stage of leadership. Grace for ease in integration.
    • Imagery and real-life experience of restoring jewelry, representing whole lifespan integration.
  • My focus is still on diverse local people who are pure of heart and have good character. Clapping my hands in in delight over those who are willing and able to go on the journey!
• Seattle: Increasing connection between different Christian groups, sense of acceleration building
  • This trend will continue through the summer for some truly awesome partnerships this fall
  • The sense of increasing flexibility, freedom from both locked roles and structures that aren’t helpful. The increasing flexibility will help Christians move fluidly to respond to regional needs in the Fall.
  • A ridiculous amount of buzz in random interactions around the city about Jesus, consistent across various contexts
• USA: Humility that makes room for new leadership.
  • My prayer: Vision large enough that sets the stage for the entire nation’s healing, not just a political victory for one side.
• Germany: New pathways to find Jesus opening up for individuals who are seeking life and haven’t found satisfaction in the world. God is restraining a critical spirit so that these fresh perspectives can enter in.
  • My prayer: Resilience for elders to course correct. Grace and wisdom for new community members to forgive their elders and recognize that their perspectives are still needed. For the new generation in Germany to take its’ place!
• France: Building anticipation, Runners prepared to run their race. Celebration!
  • So excited to spend time with my Generations of the Nations team in September/October! We are cooking up some fun things for our first retreat behind the scenes.
• Prophetic Movement: Anticipation rising, continued connection, new expressions being celebrated or shared in private.
  • New leaders: Dressed elegantly AND in utility gear. Capable of going on the journey while still holding the standard.
  • New community members: Hunger for truth without defensiveness, simplicity and purity of heart. Trust in the goodness of the Gospel, drawn to Christ’s character embodied in different streams. Currently experiencing birthing pains. God is drawing them to the right resting places and will certainly finish the work he started.
• Youth Movement:
  • Increasingly visible that the new wineskin of the Youth Movement will use different strategies and tactics
    • The importance of responding to children, teens, and college students’ interests
    • Teaching them to steer from the seat of their heart/will/soul toward Jesus
    • Grace is for Ministries embedded in the Church, no longer Parachurch ministries
    • I will be sharing more about all this in my doctoral thesis. I’m hoping to defend this Fall!

Worship

Names of God

Each month, I give God a name that aligns with scripture and how he revealed himself to me that month. This month, I spent the majority of time knowing him as,

• God, the Fixer

Verses

Psalm 73: 1-28

1: Surely God is good to Israel,
    to those who are pure in heart.

28: But as for me, it is good to be near God.
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
    I will tell of all your deeds.

Music

Questions

• Matthew 14: How did Jesus use the experience of teaching the disciples to walk on water through the storm to prepare them for the shaking events that directly followed?

Media

Books

Parable of the Talents, by Octavia Butler

While this book isn’t for the faint of heart, I could relate to the main character’s struggle to innovate something new. The message of endurance and leaning towards life is in this book for those with eyes to see.

“People followed me, though,” I continued. “And they didn’t only do it because they were convinced that I could help them get what they wanted. They followed me because I seemed to be going somewhere. They had no purpose beyond survival. Get a job. Eat. Get a room somewhere. Exist. But I wanted more than that for myself and for my people, and I meant to have it.”

Movies

The Time Capsule, 2022

I was 100% here for this romantic sci-fi that explored themes of aging, change, serendipity, and right timings. It started off a little weird but got progressively more charming.

Prayer Requests

• Continued Endurance
• Continuing to add robust friendships here in Seattle; people at all levels of the process who can go on the journey
• Excellent fruit as I edit my thesis
• Excellent fruit as I work with a friend to build Generations of the Nations a website