swimming

I'm on an island. I'm on a missions base with some important ladies and gentleman. I'm in a place of beauty with salty ocean waves, roaring and crashing. I'm one of seventy-something students in a school about fire and fragrance. God is an all-consuming fire and we His disciples are the fragrance of who He is. So I smell like He is? Yessum.

I also smell sweaty. I like the fact that I walk to the dining room, to the prayer room, to class, to the shore. I like to sweat. I like to watch the ocean waves and think about how God's voice sounds like those roaring waves. I can hear His voice, but I also see that I move His heart. I gaze on His beauty.

Friday evening I was in the prayer room as it was full of DTS staff students. We were having a 24-hour session that we refer to as a "burn". Most people did not stay for the full twenty-four hours but a few did. I saw a picture of Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father. He was talking to some angels and it seemed like it was a matter of importance. He stopped suddenly and closed His eyes. I could see that He felt something inside of Him, in His heart. His heart was stirring and He smiled. "It's Sarah" he whispered. He listens and He continues smiling.

In my heart I whispered, "You are holy Jesus."

He whispers back,"And you are holy"

"You are mighty Jesus."

"And you are strong."

He smiles and turns to the Father and they laugh together. So that's what David meant when God delights in us. God delights in me and I saw and faintly felt the Holy Spirit twirling inside of me. This is the trinity, my God. It's a dance of love and friendship and for a moment I was caught up in it. I smiled and Jesus smiled. "I'm not just glancing at You, I'm gazing at You. We're all gazing at You." He smiles a smile that speaks of such deep joy, but no combination of facial features could come together and form an expression that could sufficiently show His heart.

That's why there's the ocean. His heart is deeper than the deepest ocean. His heart speaks of His emotions toward us. mmmm... there's no way anyone could ever take this in, we can only sink or swim or both. But we don't just swim alongside the angels. We have our own reservoir of living water within us and His deep calls out to our deep. And what if there's also no end to the depth inside of us... the depth of the impact of His affections for us? We are eternal beings.

Andy Byrd, the school leader, spoke to us the first week of the DTS. He mentioned that he'd love to have lots of children because they are beings that he helped create and they will live forever. We humans are remarkable. I've been thinking about how surreal it is that I am a human being, breathing air, talking to the living God, destined to live forever. There are some important people on this planet and then there's all of humanity. But the crazy thing about this whole of humanity is that each one was carefully lovingly fearfully crafted by God who had a dream in His heart for each one. This God is something else, in fact He is holy, unlike anyone else. He loves us ya'll. How does one respond? One could learn how to swim or one could learn how to sink.

a time to support

Hello beloved friends and family,

I write this letter to bring you news of what I’ve been up to, what my plans are, and to ask for your prayers and financial support.

I’ve been a student at the University of Texas for the past two years, but in following the leading of the Holy Spirit I decided to take a break from studies for this ‘10-’11 year. Hence I wasn’t in school this past semester, but in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. To that beautiful city I went to participate in the Intercessory Missionary Internship (IMI) for three months. This was connected to the Tabernacle of the Nations, a house of prayer connected with YWAM Amsterdam located in the middle of the red light district. For me, the IMI was a season of time in which I tasted what it was like to be an intercessory missionary: one whose primary occupation is to minister before the Lord through night and day prayer. I tasted and saw that it was good, realizing that the prayer room-the Tabernacle as well as the houses of prayer the Holy Spirit is raising up globally-is like the heartbeat of God in the body of Christ, which is Jesus’ bride! I have a new-found passion for the house of prayer movement and how this fuels everything that the body of Christ does, whether evangelism, church-planting, or works of justice. This passion comes from God’s own heart, for didn’t Jesus say that His house would be called a house of prayer!

Now I am in Kona, Hawaii doing a DTS (discipleship training school) called Fire and Fragrance. The purpose of the training is to call forth young people who will help build and/or plant houses/communities who seek first and foremost worship, intercession, prayer, and establishing a place for God’s fire to fall. From there His fragrance is released to the lost and broken, the communities, and the world through a bridal church whose heart is consumed with passionate love for Jesus. The desire of the leadership at Fire and Fragrance is to equip leaders to walk in a marriage of prayer and mission.

Information about the DTS:
The school runs for 5 ½ months from January 6th to June 17th. There is a 12-week lecture phase, followed by an 11-week outreach phase. God has already provided the money for the lecture phase, which covers my room, board, and tuition at the YWAM base.
I still need funds for the outreach, which would cover airfares, housing, and food. I don't know the location of the outreach yet, but the estimated expenses are $5000-$6000.

Find more information at their website: Fire and Fragrance

I ask that you partner with me in prayer. During my time in Amsterdam, I was very blessed to have people from home partnering with me in prayer and I hope for the same during my time in Hawaii.
Please pray and ask the Lord about supporting me financially for the outreach phase. Giving financially is a picture of what Paul says in Galatians 6:8 about sowing to please the Holy Spirit whereby reaping everlasting life. In giving financially into my trip you also reap of the fruit that will come from it. He is the Provider and in His Kingdom we can freely give and receive with cheerful and thankful hearts for He is a good Father.

If you would like to partner with me financially you can click on the Donate button located on the right hand side of this page.

If you have any questions email me at holacharah@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading this and thank you for your support. Blessings, strength, and encouragement to you from our Jesus, the Bridegroom, King, and Judge who is coming back soon!

~Sarah Elizabeth Strong

I'm still here

In three days the Fire and Fragrance Discipleship Training School starts. In three days I will be on a plane to Kona, Hawaii. In three days I will be seeing many new things.

Today I'm still here in Austin, Tx (well, suburbia of Cedar Park). I feel very much still here, in my mind, body, and emotions. I can imagine what it will be like, but I haven't tried. The excitement and butterflies have not kicked in yet. God is with me and I feel His Presence with me and we are together. God is present. He is where I want to be and He is the ultimate cause of butterflies in my tummy. He makes me excited. My eyes are on Him and we run together.

We run together spreading the fragrance of Him, the sweet-smelling aroma, the incense of prayer. I'm excited to continue this journey in Hawaii and into eternity!