Bella Terra:: - Blog

Dead eggs.

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 08:56:05 GMT

I am reading a book called Scouting the Devine by Margaret Feinberg. Margaret goes on a journey of discovering God through wine, wool and wild honey. In this part of the book she goes to meet up with Lynne, a Shepherdess and learn about God as the Good Shepherd from the perspective of someone who lives it. Here is an excerpt from the book,

“I realized that one of the most meaningful spiritual lessons about God as a shepherd came from the geese in the barn. I remembered that they were constantly walking around.

“What are they looking for?” I asked Lynne.

“They’re looking for their eggs,” she said.

“Where are they?” I asked.

“I threw them in the creek,” she said.

My eyes bugged in disbelief. I couldn’t help blurting out, “Why?” Lynne’s action seemed cold and cruel – a far cry from the woman who loved her sheep.

“Because they were infertile,” she said. “They will never hatch. I need to get these geese back to their regular life. For three months they’ve been sitting on infertile eggs. The only way to get them back to the way they’re supposed to be living is to take away their dead eggs.”

Her answer helped me understand her action as one of compassion and wisdom. I couldn’t help but wonder how often I have sat on dreams that were never going to come to fruition or, worse, sat on empty promises of the enemy that would never yield life – only self destruction and death.

As I thought of the numerous times were God has been faithful to remind me, “It’s time to get back to the life I’ve given you,” I recognized that this painful lesson isn’t something I learn only once and move on. Like much of the spiritual insight I found on my trip to visit a shepherd, I will need to process, apply, refine, and reapply again and again the truth of what it means to live under the guidance of the Good Shepherd. Every step of the way, I’ll strive to trust God.”

Thinking about this story of these geese unknowingly sitting on eggs that will never hatch has got me wondering. Are their dreams that I am sitting on that are DEAD EGGS? Eggs that I am still waiting and hoping will hatch? I want to only sit on the eggs that will bring life and that will come to fruition because they are eggs given to me by God… Vision and dreams given to me by God to see birthed into destiny and reality.

Something to think about. Are you sitting on any dead eggs?

Breaking down our vision... and a song.

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:17:41 GMT

A song and a challenge!
Turning Point
by David Wilcox

Just one turn to steer your fate
or wait for fate to find you
Your trusting is fine, but much too blind
Your compass is within you

These days will pass you yearning
like empty pages turning
Your holding out for something real, oh yeah
You can't play pretender
cause you still remember
just how full your heart can feel
How long the distance getting through
Your hearts strong insistence says that nothing else will do

Chorus:
For you could try other distractions
wear some empty compromise
But its hard to breath inside some cheap disguise
You can live your life completely
that true path your here to find
or stay scared leave your destiny behind
right now, here's the turning point in time.

Just one thing can kill this dream
to compromise your vision
we find our truth, or live some lie
that rides on this decision

meanwhile those other voices
hurry up and rush your choices
try to second guess your fate, oh yeah
you can't wait forever
gotta pull yourself together
tell the time is running late
this time, right now. the turning point is here
look deep. see clear.
soon your chance will disappear

chorus:
Or you could drift into distractions
wear some empty compromise
But its hard to breath inside some cheap disguise
You can live your life completely
that true path your here to find
or stay scared leave your destiny behind
right now, here's the turning point in time.

** I like David Wilcox songs. They make you think. This particular song makes you think about your destiny and your vision and whether or not you have let the world and distractions compromise your calling. I want to share my vision here. To declare it and share it with everyone reading this, proclaiming to you that my vision will not be compromised and that I will live to see it become a reality. I hope you as well will speak your visions and share them with those around you, declare a turning point in time and go for it!

My vision:
To activate, facilitate and release leaders into their unique God-given destiny! Let me break it down.

Morningstar Church did a survey and discovered that only 5% of American church going Christians know their gifts. Then, only 2% of that 5% are actually operating in them. That means that only 1 out of every 1000 American church going Christians is living out their God given destiny.

Activate: (set in motion, trigger, stimulate, make active, rouse, quicken, inspire, excite, kindle, motivate, initiate)

Awaken a multi-generational generation (The 42nd Generation -- I will write more on this topic soon) to understand their identity in Christ and find their unique voice, which is the intersection of 3 things: skill set, passions, need in the world. In helping one find their voice we help them discover what their skill set is, or how they are uniquely wired (talents, education, strengths, spiritual gifts, motivational gifts, what others recognize in them, etc.). Then we help them determine their passions, or what it is exactly that makes them come fully alive. And, finally we help them connect with a need in the world which requires both them and God to be a part of it. Then we activate and ignite their passions so that they can be unleashed to become who they were created to be; fully alive and fulfilling their destiny. To read more about discovering your voice check out Stephen Covey's book entitled "The 8th Habit."

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you" Isaiah 60:1

Facilitate: (make possible, equip, prepare, provide, endow, help, aid, assist)

Our goal is once leaders have determined their unique voice, then we equip, or prepare them by providing an environment for them to practice using their voice. (local church, classroom, community, as well as overseas) This is a time of encouragement and strengthening, as leaders step out of their comfort zones and begin to walk out their destiny, or Kingdom dreams.

Release:   (make public, discharge, free, let go, let loose)

This is the exciting part. We get to teach leaders to soar and then release them and watch them fly.    The practical side to this phase is that leaders now develop a plan and a strategy to go and live out their destiny by starting a ministry, a business, or whatever it is they are called to do. And, we get to watch them create and live out their Kingdom dreams.

I helped G42, the ministry Joshua and I will be working with in Spain, come up with their tag-line which coincides perfectly with our vision:
              IGNITE PASSION. UNLEASH FREEDOM. GO TO THE NATIONS.

Oh, I remember clearly God's voice in Mozambique, "Tara are you willing to give up your dreams to release thousands of others into their?" Now, that is MY DREAM!

Video from Budapest, Hungary

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:04:11 GMT

My baby girl. 8 months old.

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:02:13 GMT

Thriving in my role as a MOTHER.

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 03:16:15 GMT

In learning my role as a physical mom I am also learning my desire and role as a spiritual mother. As a mother I realize that I embody both the essence of life itself and the creative ability to grant that life to others. I now understand not only the ability to physically give birth, but also to create, nourish, and enhance all facets of life.

Being a MOTHER has so many meanings. One is the ability of a mother - to take something from the state of potential, develop it, and bring it to actualization through her creative abilities. Her role is to nourish it throughout its life, helping to actualize its latent potential and helping this life to develop and experience its utmost expression. I have this innate desire to speak into the potential that is within them, develop it and see them living out that potential, fully alive. I always wondered why I see so much potential in people I meet, dreaming and hoping on their behalf, seeing what could be if they only believed and knew their unique identity and voice.

Another aspect of being a MOTHER is representative of allowing others to fully experience life. As mothers everywhere understand when you give birth physically it is painful, but the most joyous experience as a life you created emerges from your womb into the world. Then a mother continues to nurse this life, feeding and sustaining it physically, emotionally, and spiritually. You pour yourself out for this life literally. But, my role as a mother goes beyond actually giving birth to a child. I have a desire to “mother” and see others fully experiencing life fully alive. I want to walk through the mess/pain with others to help them birth and discover the joy of life; giving birth to new levels of ability and depth of life experience.

I love how God allows me to create life. I get to create life by speaking life into others, birthing new realities into this world. I get to go into the barren places and transform them into places of Eden. I am excited to walk into this role as a MOTHER with other women in the future, helping them to see barren dreams restored and hopes painted into a beautiful tapestry that becomes their reality. This is where I thrive.

*****************************************************

My daughter Isabella has given me a tangible and living example to the truth of the power of the spoken word. I have spoken life over her every single day since she was born, speaking specific words over her and she has become those exact things. Every day I pray LIFE, PEACE, JOY, GRACE over her. I of course have prayed other things, but these four specifically. She IS full of LIFE – so much energy and radiance and just the pure essence of life. She IS full of PEACE as she is so calm and patient and doesn’t get frustrated or upset, she knows she is loved and trusts us so much, she never cries really and she brings peace to me when I am around her. She IS full of JOY. I mean she is always smiling, always happy! She IS full of GRACE. I can’t really explain it, but she just is… Grace.

July Newsletter.

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:41:37 GMT

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Covenant Relationships

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 03:14:28 GMT

Koinonea, “fellowship, sharing in common, communion," forms the basis for our understanding of what church should look like. The first time koinonea is used in the bible is in Acts 2:42-47 – They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.(NIV)
Koinonea is a deeper level of depth and intimacy in relationships. The profound commitment to one another that makes this dynamic possible is called “covenant.” This term has all but lost its meaning in our individualistic, transient society. It is hard to commit when neither you nor others know with any certainty whether you’ll be there in the next year. True covenantal relationships are based on shared responsibility and mutual accountability. When we do find koinonea, we find a part of ourselves that we never knew was missing. We become complete as we fulfill our role in something much bigger than ourselves. We become more alive as part of a team. We were born to be team players, not renegades, yet too many Christians have never found their team. When at last we find it, the dynamic we experience is koinonea; the church.

Joshua and I understand the necessity of true covenantal relationships. Over the last year we have entered into covenant with Andrew Shearman as our spiritual authority. As we have learned you have, "no authority unless you are under authority." We are commited to serving the vision of G42, sharing in the responsibility of the fulfillment of the calling God has given Andrew, "raising an army of 100,000 to plant the Kingdom of God across the globe. To seeing a glorious church arise by bringing dominion to the empty and desperate places on earth." We are honored to be in covenant with a man of such passion, love, wisdom, consistency, and grace. This is a man who speaks and things come alive because he is so committed to following after Christ and seeing a generation awakened into true kingdom living and real destiny.

I have also entered into covenant with my best friend, Tara Stephenson. I know, funny how we have the same name. And, we are both 6 ft. tall! We call ourselves, TNT... "explosive"... because when we are together there is such power and joy and energy that overflows to all those around us. We change the atmosphere of a place by our presence.

Let me tell you a little more about our relationship. We met on the World Race in 2008. Both being insane extroverts and having lots of energy, we connected pretty quickly. And, over the course of a year we got to know each other in a raw and deep way --seeing each other through the joys and struggles of living as a missionary for a year. Then, we both went to Spain to be a part of the G42 Leadership Academy and there our friendship transformed into something even deeper. During our time in Spain we realized that our vision and passions for people were very similar, wanting to awaken people, to activate them and release them into their dreams. Our relationship is the perfect balance where we can be goofy and silly one minute and the next share spiritual insight and wisdom. We encourage each other to dream and share our deepest fears. We speak life over one another, pray for each other and pour our hearts out as is, however messy and tangled up they are. There is no hiding. It is being raw and real and naked (not covering anything up) And, we just pour out love, truth and grace to the other.

Let me tell you more about Tara. She is incredibly beautiful, full of love, passionate, an evangelist by nature because she just loves people as they are, exudes joy, is creative, animated, great at acting and impersonations (especially a giraffe), full of life.. and so much more. She not only is my best friend, but she is a sister to Joshua and an aunt to Isabella (Aunt T). She is family!

Joshua has recently entered into covenant with Robby Riggs. I can't speak for them, but I can say that I am so thankful for Robby being in Joshua's life (and mine). Robby and Joshua are just like Tara and I in that they too have found balance of doing crazy things and having those deep heart to heart, man to man talks. Robby is so full of life and power and the Holy Spirit. He has such an incredible gift to shepherd as well as prophetic (speaking encouragement and life). Robby is a forerunner, a David of this generation. Robby is unique, rare, and an amazing leader. Joshua and Robby, like Tara and I, transform atmospheres with their presence. They spew joy out of their being and can make anyone laugh! Seeing the two of them interact brings joy to my soul. I am so thankful for the man Robby is! He is a huge answer to prayer and I am so thankful that he is Joshua's best friend, and covenant brother. He is a brother to me as well! And, he loves our daughter, Isabella, like she is his own (he is Unlce Wobby to her).

So last week Robby came to visit. Joshua also had a surprise for me and Tara Stephenson flew into town. They both just finished leading a World Race squad, only being home now 3 weeks. So the four of us were together!!!! Now, you just read the descriptions of them so you will understand that you now have four people who are uninhibited and can't help but pour out joy. So, we LAUGHED alot! And, for a week straight we just enjoyed each others company, laughing and asking hard questions. The four of us challenged one another and brought life. There are some pictures below of our week together! I hope you enjoy them. Cheers to covenant relationships.

An article I wrote for the Smoke Signals this month.

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:08:52 GMT

Mission trip to 11 countries in 11 months proves 'hope is alive'

Two years ago my husband and I lived in Canton, GA where Josh was a Special-Ed High School Teacher and I was the Children's Ministry Director at Watermarke Church. We had just bought our first home where we were planning to start a family. But, after going on a short term mission trip to Kenya we came home and decided to sell everything and go on the World Race; a Christian mission trip that travels to 11 countries in 11 months. Participants live out of a backpack, survive on a limited budget, and find themselves in situations where faith is the only reality to choose from. In partnering with existing missionaries and ministries, World Racers develop relationships with the “least of these”, and through acts of service see communities and nations transformed all over the world.

During our World Race we witnessed miracles of healing on four continents, saw many people come to know the Lord (285 just in Malawi), trained pastors in Mozambique, worked with orphans in Guatemala and Swaziland, developed feeding programs in South Africa, worked with girls rescued from sex-trafficking in Thailand, ministered to Vietnamese students, and loved on Cambodian street children.  We spent the year sleeping in tents and tree houses and eating all sorts of unidentified foods including bugs and worms.  We witnessed poverty, devastation and brokenness first hand and despite the abandonment and lack of comforts we would do it all over again.  Our lives have been transformed and we have seen places of chaos restored into places of Eden and the hope and love of God is alive all over the world. After what we have lived and seen we can no longer settle for the typical status-quo life. We have been wrecked and are committing our entire lives to activating, facilitating and releasing others into their God given destinies. If you would like to read more about our experiences in detail please visit our blogs: www.tarabruce.theworldrace.org and www.joshbruce.theworldrace.org.

While on the World Race I got pregnant and after we came home for 3 weeks we decided to be a part of the G42 Leadership Academy in Spain. After 3 months, we returned home to Big Canoe, where both of our parents live, so that we could have our daughter, Isabella Grace. We are currently living in Big Canoe and are now in the process of returning to Spain to be full-time missionaries working with G42 to fulfill our vision to help leaders realize their unique voice (where their gifts, talents and passions intersect with a need in the world). Then we will help these leaders develop a plan of action to actually go out and live their dream by creating ministries and businesses all over the world.   Besides mentoring leaders we will plant a church in Mijas, Spain and work alongside friends who are creating a ministry to restore women rescued out of sex trafficking.

Sex trafficking is a haunting industry and it now has a face, the face of a precious 9-year old girl in Northern Thailand. She came and stood in front of me with her makeup stained face, swept her bangs across her face to cover one eye and peered at me with the one that was uncovered as if pleading me to somehow restore her innocence that was stolen. This little girl was rescued just a day before I met her at the Destiny Rescue home in Chaing Rai, Thailand.

I will never forget that little girl that gave sex-trafficking a face nor will I forget the laughter that echoed in my ears as I held the 9 year old girl, knowing that hope was still alive and that although her innocence was stolen it was not lost. Josh says, “The television shows these videos of crying babies and children with swollen bellies and flies on their faces and yes, we did see these things, but what they forget to show you is that despite all of that there is hope and we have seen hope in Guatemala, Mexico, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, England, South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Romania and Ukraine.”

G42 Videos:

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 16:08:12 GMT

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G42- Interviews from Sean Smith on Vimeo.

G42 Vision Week from Di Dinnis on Vimeo.

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world race video::

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:58:26 GMT

The World Race from Adventures In Missions on Vimeo.

JOSH IS IN THE VIDEO: You will see him throwing children up in the water in Cambodia. My brother, Johnny, is launching the children up in the air with him.