ariel brittany’s blog
replace this ariel view with Your aerial viewIsrael
I apologize for not posting updates on our trip to Israel sooner. The past week has been a bit of a whirlwind as I’ve been getting past the jet lag and packing for the next 6 months, in addition to connecting with as many friends and family as possible before heading out.
The trip to Israel was amazing! Thank you for all of you who prayed and contributed! I think most of you were probably able to keep track of our itinerary that we posted on the other blog site (arrows4israel.wordpress.com). So I won’t go through detail by detail. I’ll just write about a few highlights and things that the LORD did and revealed. And I am sure that I will continue to blog about the trip into the future since this trip seems to be much like an onion – many layers thick. As soon as I peal one layer, a new one is revealed.
IDF Visit…
Shortly before we left for our trip I was surprised to learn that many Jewish Israelis are actually not religious, but rather secular and even atheist. The LORD began to help me understand this and perhaps some of its roots during our time in the land and especially during our visit to one of the Israeli Defense Force bases. It was such a privilege getting to meet with, talk to, and bring goodie bags to the troops on one of the bases.
As we visited and talked (in addition to our tour of Yad Vashem – the holocaust museum) I realized just how raw the wounds of the holocaust still are for the Jewish people, even among the younger generation. Though the holocaust occurred before their time, many have grown up hearing at very early ages the horror stories of what happened to their family members and relatives. I knew that wounds still existed, but I guess I did not realize just how raw these wounds still are. And I realized that perhaps there is a connection between this reality and the secularism/atheism that exists in many.
It comes back to the age-old question that I’ve heard people ask my whole life. How can there be a good God with so many horrific things that go on in this world? And of course the response that many have chosen is to therefore conclude that this is evidence that God does not exist. This argument is not a rational response, but rather a window into a heart that has been wounded and embittered and is in need of great healing.
When we become wounded it is very natural for us to become disappointed with God. And when we do not deal with that disappointment rightly by bringing our disappointment to Him and allowing Him to deal with it and root it out of us, it becomes a wedge between us and God that leads to bitterness and hardness of heart.
I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know how He intends to heal an entire nation. In my own mind it seems overwhelming and nearly impossible. But I believe that God can and absolutely will do a wondrous work of healing in this people unto the fulfillment of His promises for her and Romans 11:26 – “that all Israel will be saved.”
This is definitely something that can fuel our prayers for this people.
A Song…
Before we left, the LORD gave me a song. At first it seemed to be for myself and I did not expect to share it in Israel. But I brought it just in case. During one of our meetings with a messianic pastor in Tiberius, at the end of worship, the LORD made it very clear that I was supposed to sing it over him and his family. Jim was prompted that there was still something more to be sung and so between his stare and Holy Spirit hounding me I decided to play it for the first time in front of people. The whole time, I was praying that God would confirm that I was supposed to play it – that I was, in fact, truly hearing Him correctly. I’m not a songwriter, but thankfully Jesus is. And afterwards the pastor said it was a real prophetic word that they really had needed to hear in that moment. Praise God!
It’s not a song specifically about Israel, and at first, as I mentioned, I didn’t think it was for Israel. But after our time with the pastor that night, and after sensing a lot of weariness from the people in the land, I can see that it was absolutely not only for myself but also for them as well.
“Not Over Yet”
Just rest, just rest
Lay your head on My chest
Just rest
Don’t fear and don’t fret
The story’s not over
I’m not finished yet
Just hold on, be still
This is not where it ends
I’m the Author, the Finisher
I see it all through an eternal lens
Fix your eyes, on things above
Look to another age
My beloved, the one I love
Let Me be where you glance where you gaze
It ends better than you think
Beyond your wildest dreams
No eyes has ever seen
What I have for the redeemed
Thanks Benjamin for praying that the Lord would send forth His new songs!
The Golden Gate…
We got to go on the Temple Mount. Seeing the Dome up close was interesting. Seeing the trash yard just a few meters in front of it was even more interesting. 
But my favorite part was being up close to the Golden Gate (the Eastern Gate). This is the gate that it is prophesied the Messiah would and will come through (Neh 3 and Ezek 44). The Muslims have done everything possible to prevent the prophecies from coming to pass (even though “they don’t believe them”???!!!!!!). They have walled it up and put a grave yard in front (which according to Jewish law, is unclean and unfit for a messiah to tread upon). Funny how they’d go to such great lengths to prevent something “they don’t believe in!”
I actually started exploring and tried to get up near it. Some Muslim guy started railing at me. I backed off, but I did a little dancing near it (though my preference would have been ON TOP) before I left! I was hoping the wall would crumble, just like the walls of Jericho! LOL! One day!!!
For more info on the Golden Gate go here: http://www.bible-history.com/jewishtemple/JEWISH_TEMPLEThe_Golden_Gate.htm.
Some other neat moments…
My favorite site that we visited was the waterfalls at En Gedi. They were absolutely beautiful! And we got to jump into them. Whitney has the pics. Hopefully I’ll be able to share a really neat one that she got of me jumping soon.
We got to meet with the Ortiz family while we were in Ariel. If you are not familiar with their story, I would highly encourage you to visit the website and watch the videos: http://www.amiortiz.com/.
Another highlight was our visit to the Temple Institute when we were in Jerusalem. It was fascinating to learn that the Rabbis believe when the time comes, the Temple will be rebuilt very suddenly. They therefore have made around 70 out of around 90 of the needed instruments, articles, and equipment that will be used to carry out all the functions, rituals, and offerings of the temple. They are getting all ready to go so that when there is finally the open door for the rebuilding of the temple to take place, they are all ready to go! Visit their site here: http://www.templeinstitute.org/
As I mentioned, there is much more to tell. I am sure much more will come out in the weeks to come. The majority of the pictures are up on Facebook.
Walmart makes me cry…
Actually, Walmart itself doesn’t make me cry…the people in Walmart make me cry. I’m not really sure why, but going into that store is quite an emotional event for me. It happens other times and places too, but for some reason especially Walmart. I’ll just be going along doing what I’m doing and then suddenly just get hit with this spirit of mourning for people who seem to be struggling whether in the physical or spiritual. It’s this sudden ache of wanting to help them, but not really knowing how – or not feeling like I have what it takes.
After going to Walmart last Wednesday, it happened again, but this time in greater measure. I had that big gulp in the back of my throat and was fighting off tears all the way through the store and the check out line before I got into my car and just started balling! It’s actually kind of funny. Who starts weeping for “no reason” after a trip to Walmart! So I’m driving afterwards and sitting at stop lights and the people in the other cars around me must have been like “what tragic thing happened to her?!” …she went to Walmart!!! What?!?!??
So anyway, I realized that in the past I’ve often dismissed this weird range of emotions as “one of those days” or “that time of month” but I really couldn’t dismiss this past time that way. And it made me realize that I need to start taking it a little more seriously and go deep in trying to figure out what God is speaking through all of this. I think He’s bringing it all to the surface as I’m about to have this period of 6 months when I can go deeper in a lot of things I’ve wanted to go deeper in – but haven’t had time. It will be interesting.
Additionally, I was listening to a teaching by David Pawson a few days ago and he was talking about how many Christians value the gift of speaking in tongues more highly than the gift of speaking in boldness (PARRHESIA). Yet all through the book of Acts it is the disciples’ boldness (more than the gift of tonges) that sets them apart and causes the gospel to spread like wild fire. (see Acts 4:13 for example).
(Just a little side note…on the other hand many Christians DON”T believe in/value the gift of tongues, and to those I’d say, you must realize that this gift of boldness that was released in Acts 2 came in and through and during the release of the gift of tongues! So I’m not at ALL diminishing the value of tongues or Paul’s plee in 1 Cor 14:5 “Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues.”)
If you will notice, the disciples were not naturally bold (ie: Peter couldn’t even stand up to a little servant girl and admit he knew Jesus). And we see in Acts 2, they did not go into the upper room and muster up some encounter that would create boldness. They simply obeyed Jesus by waiting in the posture of prayer. Isa 64:4 says, “No eye has seen a God like You who acts on behalf of those who wait.”
In the midst of this deep desire to help those in need, I am brought face to face with my lack. I am not naturally bold. I do not naturally have a gift of speaking boldly. I do not naturally have the right words to say nor the anointing to lead others in the level of transformation and deliverance that God has been putting upon my heart in these instances like in Walmart. I’ve actually at times even tried to step out of my comfort zone in faith and provide help/prayer/etc apart from having the boldness and anointing, and while the LORD smiles and uses it non-the-less, it’s way less than His fullness for my life and for those around me.
This is one of many reasons why I’ve decided to “shut down business as usual” in my own life and go into the place of waiting and prayer. If along with many others, Jesus Himself was in the place of prayer and waiting for 30 years before beginning a 3.5 year ministry that turned the world completely upside down and forever changed all of history, why should I think I can abide and walk as Christ without waiting in the place of prayer?
We live in such a fast-food ministry mentality of “have it your way right away” in our Western church culture.
Confession From NARAL Founder
Confession From NARAL Founder…
http://bound4life.com/blog/2009/06/09/shocking-video-confession-from-naral-founder
wow, God bless Mr. Nathanson for his humility and willingness to speak truth.
The Letting Go
Back in November when I began to sense the LORD’s call for me to move to Kansas City, MO to do the 6 month One Thing Internship, I felt incredibly torn. The LORD seemed to be pointing me in that direction, but then there were so many reasons why this kind of decision did not make sense. The idea of letting people down was overwhelming. And it felt as though I could not clearly discern what God was really saying. But He always knows when we really are listening – or at least wanting to listen. And thankfully He wants us to hear Him even more than we want to hear Him!
In the midst of this tug of war that I had going on inside of me, I had a conversation with a friend that God used to make the light bulb go off. I listed both sides of the argument – to go or to stay. After listening to all my confused thoughts, she pointed out that all the “reasons” I listed for not thinking this decision was really of the LORD had more to do with the process of letting go, rather than being actual, legitimate, God-given reasons for not leaving Richmond. She used marriage as an example – how with every big life change there is not only the element of embracing something new, but also letting go of the old. It was definitely one of those “duh!” moments!
I thought I was willing to let go, but there was more to it than I originally thought. However being able to define and separate the difficulty associated with letting go from having actual, substantial, God ordained reasons for holding on was immensely helpful. And that moment was a turning point. All the confusion quieted and the peace that I have had ever since that moment until now has been beyond what I can describe.
This same peace of the LORD has continued to carry me through these past few weeks. Last Friday was my official last day of working at the CCA office. While I don’t think it has all fully sunk in yet, I am grateful that a large part of the reality of leaving behind things and people I love is sinking in more quickly than expected. I really did not want to have to wait a few months before it hit me! And I am finding it easier to deal with the pain associated with this process by continuing to remember that this is all part of the package of letting go. Somehow this brings comfort. Most likely because with this perspective my emotions have very little room to become doubts. I am able to expect and embrace the emotions and by the LORD’s grace not allow them to become anything more than simply emotions.
When it all comes down, God spoke clearly and confirmed what He spoke in many ways. It was a call into something new. Something good. Everything good has a price. And every call of obedience unto His abundant life begins with death. Yes, letting go is hard. Yes it hurts. But sort of like the pain of exercise, the pain of dying to self is often, ironically, a “good pain.” I don’t know how else to explain it other than to quote Mike Bickle in saying that “walking with Jesus on the water is far safer [and more peaceful] than being in the boat without Him.”
the dance of the new age
the dance of restoration is the dance of the new age; a dance that renews, reconstructs, and recreates; a dance that builds up and a dance the breaks; a new dance for a new day to mold and to make:
look…
watch…
can’t you see?
its happening even now.
though its from another city.
a kingdom of dancers will be found.
the spine curves as she feels His strong hand
suddenly with one breath the lungs expand
she melts down slightly and then she stands
simultaneously the sea becomes dry land
the head tilts then whips around
lilies spring up from fertile ground
barren soil no longer to be found
fields and fields of green abound
twist, contract, explode, suspend
movement in sequence without end
a jump, a swivel, a turn, a bend
a garden to grow and this is how we tend
a new way to work, a new way to rule
a kingdom of priests who use dance as their tool
be fruitful and multiply with one soutenu
with each new movement something is subdued
follow His footsteps and dance in His tread
stomp, stomp down hard, let the poor be fed
swing low then high to raise from the dead
strike heel to the dust and crush the serpent’s head
forces of nature and principalities of the air
bow as they dance this physical prayer
for those not of this world, it is time to declare
a new dance for the new age. come arise and prepare!
luke 18
Tuesday night before I went into RIHOP for the Richmond Sacred Fast watch, I sat in my car inspired to start writing a poem on Luke 18. Little did I know that Holy Spirit was moving in hearts of most everyone who would attend the watch with words about Isa 40 and Luke 18. It was a profound time of revelation and intercession and unity (the more time goes by, the more I realize just how truly supernatural unity really is).
a bearing long after bearing long
breakthrough so close
faith became sight
you could taste smell touch
but then it took flight
seasons nearly changed
answers appeared to come
speedy justice at hand
celebration had begun
joy snuck up suddenly
then the relief slipped away
rain cleared, dawn appeared
but night again overtook day
long awaited promises
a freedom contended for
something from nothing
then that something was no more
at least that’s what I saw
but His thoughts outnumber the sand
things are never as they seem
and I heard Him ask, who do you say that I am?
though I bear long, will you stand?
I’m setting apart a people preparing My way
will I really find faith when I come?
when everything’s shaken, will you still gaze?
Streams Photos Up
First batch of Streams photos (by Elsbeth McCormick) are up. Click to the right (under Twitter updates) to see them all. And more are still to come so be sure to check back.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
Dear CCA Students and Teachers,
STREAMS was absolutely beautiful! I just want to thank all of our talented dance students and teachers for doing such a wonderful, annointed job in leading us in worship through dance! I honestly can’t think of anything about the evening that I would have changed (and I can be quite the critic!). The LORD was faithful beyond faithful in every way and it was an evening I’ll never forget. I love each one of you way more than you can know. Thank you for dancing and praising your hearts out!
Love, Ariel
STREAMS: sneak peak and prayer request
STREAMS. a worship dance concert. Friday, May 8. 7pm. In the Gym at West End Assembly of God. (401 N. Parham Rd, Richmond, VA 23229). Presented by the faculty and students of the Christian Center for the Arts Dance Department.
We are doing something different for our end of the year “show” at the Christian Center for the Arts this spring. This Friday (May 8) we will be having a “Worship Dance Concert” called Streams. The past three years we have done “dance dramas” that tell Biblical stories with current day themes/morals. This year we are exploring what it looks like to lead our “audience” into a place of worship and communing with God through dance.
The first half of the concert will be “a story told” where I have edited a retelling of John Eldredge’s “Sea Lion” story (about a Sea Lion who has lost the sea and ended up in a desert and eventually realized that he must move out of his place of complacency and pursue that which he was made for…the sea!) in between different pieces of choreography set to worship songs. The second half of the evening will be “a response to unfold” – live worship music with dance – both choreographed and improvised – and an ultimate invition for everyone to join in the dance!
Other interesting elements are that it is a 360 “audience” that will be wrapping around the dance area. We are bringing in bleachers to help with sightline issues. I also have had a stirring in my spirit that while the title is “Streams” that like the Sea Lion we are actually to go after the Sea [of God's love]…read Ezek 47 for more!
My heart is to see this be a night of fruitfulness. Our theme verse is Jer 17:7-8 along with Eph 3:17. It is a call for us to become more deeply rooted in the love of Christ, that we would be as trees planted by the water…that are not anxious in the year of drought and that do not cease to yeild fruit.
I was thinking the other day about how the religious spirit often comes against the incorporation of dance during worship. I was reminded of David’s extravagant, undignified dancing before the LORD and Michal’s antagonistic response. I find it interesting that as Michal was operating in a spirit contrary to the freedom and love of God, that the consequence was barreness for the rest of her life. (“Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.” 2 Sam 6:23)
I have wondered if this was possibly one way that God chose to communicate the extreme unfruitfulness (barreness) that comes from the place of religiosity. Perhaps the LORD was indeed confirming to David and Michal that He absolutely will use the weak and foolish things to shame the strong and wise things. And perhaps He was communicating that it is out of that place of extravagant body, soul, mind, and STRENGTH worship – worship uninhibited by the religious spirit – where abundant fruit springs forth.
This does, after all, line up with the message of Jer 17 and Eph 3:17. As we are rooted in trusting and loving God (body, soul, mind, and STRENGTH) and knowing His love towards us, we indeed won’t be anxious in the season of draught/recession (spirit of adoption replacing spirit of fear as described in Rom 8:15) but will watch and be amazed as extreme fruitfulness comes forth!
Prayer Request: Please be praying that God has His way completely. Pray for all the details to go smoothly (esp with the seating issue). Pray for divine wisdom as I lead this event along with the worship during the second half of the evening. Pray for extravagant worship to release many from that (often subtle) place of a religoius spirit and propel us into a place of fruitfulness – that starts in hearts and then overflows to the rest of life. Pray that what happens this upcoming Friday, May 8, is of eternal consequence – that whatever work is accomplished, will remain after it’s all said and done 1 Cor 3:12-15.
Thanks for partnering with us in prayer for this event!
