but a breath.

to breathe in means to take in the beauty all around.

peering from side to side His wondrous works abound.

i gaze at the dew on the freshly woven grass.

at every blooming blossoming flower i pass.

as i take in the sight and scent my heart starts to expand

i ask You oh Lord to protect this beauty with Your hand.

for when I breathe out i shrink to see who i truly am.

my life is but a breath yet i am Your treasured pure lamb.

so when i breathe in may i thank you for the dying of Your son

for it is no longer i who live but the man who said “It’s done”

as i breathe out i will boldly proclaim Your goodness

for you oh Lord deserve my life

breath

and nothing less.

my friend kenzie gave me a picture a couple of days ago and I was inspired to write this poem. i started this internship with the idea of “breathing in His beauty. breathing out His goodness.” the only way to breathe out His goodness is by taking in His pure authentic beauty and choosing to become “a vapor in the wind.” it is no longer I who live, but the man who said “It’s done.”

I'll stop trying to control you, I'll stop trying to resist you,
I'll just let you love me, I'll just let you love me.


Today I am going to be sharing my testimony with my core group... 14 of us all living in the same building... 3 different rooms. Such beautiful girls. Reflecting on what I am going to say today I realize it revolves much around the word "Control." Being the first born as well as a perfectionist I have tried to control many situations in my life. And so the lyric above rings true as it says "I'll stop trying to control you." What a sweet release as I allow the Lord to move in and just let Him love me. I received a beautiful picture yesterday of standing under a waterfall and all the old, useless, ugly layers falling off. So refreshing. As Oswald Chambers says, "Freshness does not come from obediencce but from the Holy Spirit." I also thought of when I was younger and my dad would launch me in the pool when I stepped into the palms of his hands. With God, I imagined myself going miles and miles away. So lovely.


And so it is day number ten and I have stories upon stories. Sigh... so good.
Hailley Jo

“Stay true to yourself. And love to be loved.”

Recently, a letter written to me concluded with these words.

What a brilliant way to end a letter.

Staying true to myself means acknowledging the truth inside of me. The law of God is written on my heart and He stirs up the love inside of me. To flee from what He has placed and written on my heart would be running away from my origin, identity, and purpose.

Love to be loved. Ah isn’t that sweet. That is why I am here… to be loved by Love. This is what my time at IHOP is. A time to rest in an abandoned posture at His table and feel His love. How fortunate I am to have this opportunity. I realize daily the incredible privilege I have in being here. Because God has put certain desires in my heart and I have taken this time to clear my mind and my heart of any distractions I get to just be with Him and discover how much He loves me. We prayed out verses from Ephesians today… “Being rooted and grounded in His love.” What a dynamic relationship I have a chance to be a part of… all of us do.

Be blessed.

Hailley Jo

“I melt in Your peace, it’s overwhelming”

This song lyric resonated in my heart a couple of nights ago as I danced in the front of the room worshipping my King. One of my favorite sayings is, “Joy is when peace is dancing. Peace is when joy is resting.” As I danced I knew God’s peace was and is so strongly present in me. Then last night I spent a four hour chunk in the prayer room. I asked for God’s desire and strength to just stand before Him and worship with singing, dancing, and praying for two hours. As I glanced back at the clock, I smiled realizing it had been almost two hours. I love just being in His presence.  

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?"
Later in the psalm it says, "You have given him dominion over the works of your hands."
Wow. We serve such an incredible God who loves us more than the moon and the stars... who is ravished by our hearts. I experienced so much peace last night as I worshipped the Lord with singing and dancing. I could feel His love for His child. BEING His child is enough.

Tonight while talking with a dear friend I was able to reflect on the past couple of weeks. What God has been profoundly and constantly speaking to me is... I am His baby. His precious baby who He will comfort, take care of, and support. While I was at the conference in Kansas City, One Thing, I would worship and randomly hold my arms with my hands in the position of holding a baby to rock back and forth. On the third night of the conference a girl approached me as the speaker instructed people to come up for prayer. As I stood there weeping she ended up hugging me and continuously holding the back of my neck. She said she felt like she needed to hold the back of my neck. God was saying, "He supports you. He knows your needs. You are His baby." And then earlier this week I was able to pray with my mother and she prayed out, "You are God's baby."
And so I am starting off my journey with this precious thought that I am His baby.
I so long to rest in His arms.
Please pray I will abide in Him as I rest and soak in His presence. Please pray for the adjustment as well as the road trip I am taking with my friend Jess to Kansas City. God has so much in store.

Word of the Year.
Sanctification... the process of being cleansed and purified by the Spirit. resting in the certainty that He will do the work in and through me. Trusting the Spirit to be my guide, my inspiration, and dwell inside of me. 


Phrase of the Year.
Open my Eyes. 
I believe God desires for my eyes to be opened more to His people... His beautiful creation as well as healing me of my poor eyesight. People have said my eyes are like sunflowers... I desire them to be in full bloom.