Happy New Year!

I cannot think of a better way to ring in the new year than with my wonderful fiance, Paul Czaszewicz and 28,000+ people worshipping the Lord together!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

MAY THE GOD OF ALL PROSPERITY

AND PEACE GRANT YOU EVERYTHING

YOU NEED FROM HIS NEVER-ENDING STOREHOUSE!

Party pix and engagement pix

Paul and me at Crown Center.

Last hurrah with Donna and Tom Cole...they head to Hawaii to join YWAM in early January, and will be sorely missed here!

I remembered that when I first moved to KC, one of the first outings I had in a group was with Scott and Marcie Adams and Tom and Donna Cole...so, things have come full circle with the added blessing of Paul!

It's been a BUSY season, and I am quickly posting before I leave for the Christmas holiday!

Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas and Ministry Update!

Here is wishing you an amazing Christmas season, filled with the JOY that only Jesus can give!

Quick ministry update: In November, I travelled to Hungary and Romania for both a friendly visit and a ministry trip! It was fabulous to see so many good friends, eat a lot of great food and be able to give away a slew of copies of my book, Walking Forward - Discoveries in Freedom and Forgiveness to many non-believers as well as believers! Pray that the Lord uses it to draw many to Himself! I also gave away copies of a wonderful tool called Adoration Prayer Book put out by Deeper Waters Ministry here in Kansas City. Again, please ask the Lord to bless this profound but simple tool! (Let me know if you would like to get a copy of either of these books!)


Some significant highlights of that trip include:

Ministering in four different venues through teaching the Word of God, receiving and giving prophetic words of love, encouragement and comfort, and praying with and for people. I am so thankful for all the open doors the Lord provided for ministry. One very significant story I want to share: My dear brother in the Lord, Bela, transformed some of his crop-land into a Christian ministry "tent" that will hold about 200 people very easily for gatherings! I asked Bela how the "sacrifice" of his crop-land space had impacted the amount he harvested this year, and his response is such an incredible testimony to the Lord's faithfulness: "I got MORE from 80 plants than my neighbors got from 200 plants!" Hallelujah!


Meeting with, laughing with, encouraging and praying for my former 30-somethings gals, Eszter, Gabi and Anita! I was blessed to see Anita's newest baby, a girl, Petra, as well!

Enjoying one-on-one and group gatherings with old friends and colleagues.

Being able to "introduce" my Hungarian "family" to my now fiance, Paul Czaszewicz (pronounced Chazwick) via a video Paul and I recorded before I left for Hungary!

All I can say is THANK YOU for your continued prayers and partnership with me in ministry! I look forward to our continued partnership in 2011, as the Lord is already opening doors for possible ministry opportunities:


Potential trip to minister with a team going to Mexico in February.
Potential trip to minister with a team going to Texas in March.

Please keep these in prayer as well as all the planning for my wedding, which will take place either April 30 or May 1.

One last note: Have you finished your Christmas shopping? If not, visit my online shopping website, where YOU can receive rebates for selected purchases you make from this site:

https://shop.ytb.com/default.aspx?ytbid=899070


In addition, if you want your OWN FREE SHOPPING WEBSITE...no strings attached...so you can get more rebates when you and other people shop on YOUR site, let me know! It's FREE and requires ZERO maintenance! May the great Immanuel, Prince of Peace, bless you and keep you this season and into 2011!

With much love and thankfulness for you, in Jesus,Arden

All I can say is....BUSY!

I have had one of the busiest weeks of my life I think! Whew! I should be in bed now because I am completely exhausted and I have a 9:30 appt. to go see yet one more wedding/reception venue. I am enjoying the process, but it is tiring and because many places are already full/booked, it's challenging. In fact, we may have to change our date by one day...but that could actually end up being a good thing in the end. :-)

So, amidst the planning, there's also the preparation of the bride and groom and all that fun pre-marital stuff you have to work through. It still feels really surreal most of the time...but very fun!!!

My book, Walking Forward

Even though I have a separate blog for my book, Walking Forward - Discoveries in Freedom and Forgiveness, I want to print the latest feedback I got from a friend here as well:

"The chapters on Locked Doors and Stillness cut straight to the core of my heart!"

I continue to ask the Lord to bless this book, get it into the hands of those He wants to read it, and set people free through reading it! Join me in praying these things!

Loss of a friend

Syble and Ed Courtney (Ed is on the far right).

We received sad news yesterday. A dear and precious brother in the Lord, Ed Courtney, went home to be with Jesus after suffering a heart attack.

You know, as a follower of Jesus, the reality is this: Ed's passing is a tragic loss for his wife, family and friends; for him, it is the most glorious transition one could ever experience! As He now looks on His Lord and Savior, face to face, eye to eye, knowing the perfect love and peace that he spoke about all the days of his life in absolute perfection now.

And so, there is joy in the midst of sorrow--yes, one of the greatest paradoxes of our existences as children of God.

We will miss you Ed, but our missing is truly, at the heart of it, simply a longing for the home where you have arrived ahead of us!

Chicago for Thanksgiving

Diane, Paul's sister, Uncle Pete, and Paul.

Ah, chilly Lake Michigan!

Paul and his sis, Diane.

Paul and sister Beth.

It was a chilly Thanksgiving in Chicago-land, but Paul and I had a great time as I got to meet his family and some of his friends!

Big news!

I remember years ago when I was in my mid 20s, sitting in a kitchen in Cobham, VA with some friends, talking with a single missionary woman who was in her late 40s or early 50s at that time. My friend asked her point-blank:

"Do you ever wish you were married?"

I've never forgotten her response:

"EVERYDAY! But today I am single and and the Lord has given me His grace for today!"

I can't tell you how many times I've recalled that conversation in that kitchen and pressed into the grace of God during my 46+ years of singleness, counting every day joy, even amidst the struggles that accompany being single, recognizing the AMAZING life I've been graced to live as a single missionary, able to serve in ways and places that only a single person could!

That season is coming to an end...again, by the grace of God...as HE has brought a mighty man of God into my life and heart and this past Saturday night, Paul Czaszewicz (pronounced Chazwick in English) asked me to be his wife, his Mrs. Chaz!

I probably should have clued in when Paul arrived at the airport to pick me up after my 17-hour journey from Hungary home to Kansas City presenting me with a dozen red roses, but somehow, I remained clueless! Another clue should have been the tablecloth, cloth napkins and wine goblets on his table and sweet music playing in the background while he served me a wonderful dinner he had cooked. It wasn't until he had me read a letter he had written to my parents that I began to awaken to the reality that he was about to pop the question! Of course I said YES, and then we made our way to downtown Kansas City, to Brush Creek where he had arranged for a romantic boat ride, complete with a long-stemmed red rose, sparkling cider, chocolates and a message in a bottle which he plucked out of the water, I opened, read and was brought to tears.

There's so much I could say about my Chaz...but for now, I'm simply relishing the moment and thanking God for bringing this mighty man of God into my life to walk out the rest of our days together, loving Him, each other, and all those whom He brings into our lives!

Oh, the single missionary woman I met in the kitchen years ago? I heard a number of years ago that she too met a wonderful man when she was about 55 and happily married! Ladies, it's never too late, and well worth the wait!

Quick recap of trip to central europe

Bea, Arden, Bela, Dori, Regina and Eszter in the Szoreg "Tent of Meeting"!


Pizza party with former English teacher colleagues in Szeged, Hungary!




Worshipping together in the Budapest, Hungary Prayer Room!

This blog entry will be very quick...mainly because I am sooooooooo tired and am heading off for my first nap of the day after travelling 19 hours yesterday and the day before...well, whenever it was that I actually left Hungary! ha!

God sooooooooooooo blessed my time in both Hungary and Ukraine! I realized early on that going for 10 days was far too short a time as I did not get to see many friends (you tend to build a lot of friendships when you stay someplace for 11 years!), and even those I saw, the few hours we got together flew by! That said, the Lord really blessed the time and both meeting friends and being blessed with numerous opportunities to minister to and pray for people made this trip an absolute BLAST!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone who made the trip possible! My faithful supporters, my wonderful friends in Hungary and Romania who hosted, housed and fed me, and my friends in KC who looked after my cats and house!

I am especially excited to see how God waters His seeds planted in both Romania and in Hungary, specifically in Szeged and Szoreg, and in the Budapest Prayer Room and their ministry school! Please pray that God would continue to water and grow all those seeds!

I received soooooooooo much love and encouragement from individuals and had so much fun catching up with people! I was able to give away lots of my books (Walking Forward-Discoveries in Freedom and Forgiveness), as well as Adoration Prayer Books (by Bob Hartley) and Pure Heart (by Tom and Donna Cole). Again, pray these tools will be used by the Father to bring people into His heart of love!

More pictures to come later.......now I'm off to bed for my first nap of the "day-after travel!"

Some pix from Romania and Hungary

As I continue to serve with Christian Educators Outreach (www.ceokids.org) and team with other ministries, God is lifted up and glorified, Holy Spirit sets them free, and we pray His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven!

This is Mary Jill Callery, Arden Campbell, Jackie Ramsey and Cathy Williamson in Romania.



International Christian Fellowship in Szeged, Hungary, started in 2007 and has evolved into a house church type of gathering, with food, fellowship and discussion of the Truths of God.




Two of my long-time friends, Kati Engi and Maria Jakucs, both English teachers at Deak Ferenc Gimnazium in Szeged, Hungary.




Mary Jill Callery and Cathy Williamson in Szeged at ICF.

Two of my precious friends, Barbara Bikadi Kis, and Larisa Zamboni, enjoying and evening of laughter and catching up at Barb's house!

From Hungary with love!

Full days and nights are keeping me on the run here in Hungary for this very short visit. I'm having a blast reconnecting with people, realizing I've lost very little of my Hungarian (which motivates me to keep it fresh!), and I look forward to the next visit, whenever the Lord opens that door!

Thus far, since arriving in europe, I have travelled by train, car, bike, trolley, and on foot. Ya gotta love europeans. I've met over 50 "old" friends and met a slew of new friends, and have enjoyed some very typical Hungarian dishes!

God is so good to bless me in this way...and I still have 3 full days ahead of me!

I'm leaving on a jet plane....

I was chuckling at the prayer meeting this morning at Deeper Waters as we finished off the morning by standing and singing, "I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again." Ha! I am literally leaving tomorrow for Hungary, with a jaunt into Romania as well! I cannot WAIT to see my friends, whom I miss terribly! Now I wish I'd planned a month trip...alas....

I'll try to post, but no promises...people are a bit more important than blogging! I would love your prayers as I know the Lord is going to release much!

From 30-somethings to 30 and 40-somethings

As we four sat and stretched out legs out on a wonderful ottoman that held all four pairs of legs and feet, I was struck by the goodness of God. For nine years in Hungary, I met with three precious women and we studied books, the Bible, we prayed with and for each other and our families, and we loved the Lord and each other.

16 months ago, I moved to Kansas City, leaving behind those precious friends (physically, not emotionally by any means); last month, a dear friend here suggested four of us get together to read and discuss a book together, pray with and for each other and our families, love the Lord and each other.

This is a precious kiss from the Lord for me to have a very different group of gals than those in Hungary, but so very similar in hearts' desires, to sit, drink tea with, and explore the deep things of God together!

In Hungary, it was the 30-somethings...with me the token 40-something. Here in the U.S., it's the 40-somethings with a token 30-something. I feel like the Lord is saying, "Location is unimportant; bloom where I plant you, enjoy the love that I bring into your life through fellow sojourners on this journey toward being loved by God and loving Him back."

With both groups, it took intentionality to make it happen. The fruit is worth every effort.

Movie

If you haven't seen it yet, go see "Secretariat"! Fabulous film on many levels, and it's clean! Faith produces perseverance, perseverance hope, and hope does not disappoint!

The heart of Big Red...oh that I would have such a heart for the Lord Himself and things of the Lord! Secretariat was created to RUN...we are created to love God and love others....that we would RUN in those commandments the way Secretariat runs that final race in the movie (sorry if I ruin it for anyone), truly nothing would be impossible because it would be 100% Christ IN us, the hope of glory!

Does prayer work? I think so!

I am currently doing research on human trafficking with Exodus Cry. I'm also leading an hour-long prayer focus on Wednesdays where we pray for the Lord to stop human trafficking, specifically in Eastern Europe. During the month of October, there has been a recurring emphasis on Romania...various people in our group continued to come back to this nation (along with other nations), but today, I was floored by something I read.

In my research this week on human trafficking in Romania, I came across an article about a MAJOR bust of a child-trafficking ring out of Romania, trafficking children into the UK, which occurred in October!!!

God pretty much blows me away with His goodness and His reminders that He does indeed answer prayer!

Transition

Life is simply full of transitions, isn't it? Clearly, this is how God intended it to be, that we would forever be in the process of change, growth, moving from one level of maturity to the next, all the while growing in increasing trust in Him as the perfect Father.

It doesn't matter how perfect your earthly father is or may have been (or how imperfect) because God the Father is so far beyond any father we could begin to imagine when it comes to love, goodness, mercy, grace, true justice, peace, kindness...the list goes on. Our filters are sometimes (most of the time) so clogged up that we easily fall into the cycle of forgetting what our heavenly Father is really like and begin to project our own images upon Him, thus bringing ourselves into valleys of doubt and unbelief, leading to mistrust and finally self-preservation.

What do transitions do? Throughout Scripture, God brings people to points of transition, where they are asked if they are willing to go here or there, say this or that, do this or that, be this or that. Because the Father will never over-ride a human will, we have choice...we can walk into His transitions full of hope and trust, knowing that our Daddy has our very best in mind, along with His ultimate glory, or we can ignore His voice, continue on our own merry way and miss out. His love for us never changes, and He continues to delight in us because we are His kids! However, I can imagine that His heart is grieved in some ways because He sees the big picture, He sees the end result, He sees the finished tapestry.

As I move into yet another season of personal transition, I have been faced with my own severe short-comings, my own idols of self-preservation, my own "issues" and the Lord, in His grace and mercy, has been patient with me, and has stuck with me, persevering because He knows what is BEST for me. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited about this next transition because His goodness, love, grace and mercy is ALL over it, and through it, the Kingdom is going to move forward with power like never before! More to come....

Matching gift!

Who out there wants to participate in a matching financial gift blessing? A friend has agreed to match, dollar for dollar, every dollar up to $800 given over and above the cost for my book Walking Forward. This means if you buy a copy of Walking Forward for $20, ($10 for book + $2 shipping) then $8 will be matched with another $8 to be given to the Budapest Prayer room in Hungary. Deadline: November 6th!

Sowing

Hey blog readers,

I'd like to sow financial seed into the Budapest Prayer Room when I go there in November. Here's how you can be involved:

Buy my book, Walking Forward - Discoveries in Freedom and Forgiveness.

Just $13 gets you the book (including shipping) and ANY financial gift over that amount will go directly to the Budapest Prayer Room! So, you get a book AND you sow into the nations.

Email me: tmhunarden@gmail.com and let me know how many books you want, your address, and I'll mail them to you! I have heard nothing but good things from people who've already read it, and many want to share it with friends...so, keep it in mind for Christmas gifts as well!

Blessings on you as you help advance the Kingdom world-wide!

Check out: www.walkingforward-arden.blogspot.com

More Walking Forward feedback

I finished reading your book and I LOVED every single chapter!! It made me think, made me laugh, the questions at the ends of the chapters were excellent ones to really get you to think, some of the stories were hilarious (you write like you talk so I could JUST hear you saying certain things!!!!). Can't wait for you to write another book :)

Opportunity to Sow...

Opportunity to sow...
The REAL reason I am writing is to promote my book. Let me be perfectly blunt here! A number of people have read it now and the feedback is super positive. The head of community care here at IHOP and I met last week and he will be adding my book to a list of books for small groups here to consider using in their small groups. This got me thinking about you all out there in various churches and missions groups and the blessing that this book could be to people around you! So, email me back and we can talk about how you want to get your copy (or copies) and how we can get it into the hands of the right people at your church!


A dear friend of mine here who is a Hebrew scholar...not that that has anything to do with anything...is reading the book and says, "It's incredible! It might just be because so much of what you are talking about I am walking through right now, but I am being touched by every chapter!" I hope you all know me well enough to know that I am in NO WAY tooting my own horn. I am completely, utterly humbled by the feedback I am receiving. My prayer from the outset was that God would be glorified and that ONE person would come into the Kingdom as a result of reading it. I am also PUSHING it now because in November, I am heading to Hungary..... ....Yep, I am heading back to my second home for a visit which has turned into a MAJOR ministry trip. However, the part connected to my book is this: I want to BLESS the prayer room in Budapest, which started a worship school last fall, with a much needed financial gift. So, every dollar that comes in over and above the $10 cost of the book (plus $3 shipping; retail is $14.99) will go directly to the Budapest prayer room ministry!!! Wouldn't you just LOVE to be a part of sowing into the Kingdom in and through Hungary while receiving a book at the same time?

So, to make a long letter longer, write to me and let's get a copy out to you and bless the nations at the same time! I'm ending my tome here and looking forward to getting a FLOOD of emails from each of you! ha ha ha! Thank you and love you all so much...cuz it's all about Jesus and His Kingdom anyway, right? Always by grace alone, Arden

Rescue of Chilean Miners...a picture of the Kingdom!

The rescue of the miners in Chile is such a sweet picture of building the Kingdom of God: They were "lost", with seemingly no hope of rescue; a way was made for them; and one by one, slowly, carefully, they are brought from the darkness into the light & reunited with families, natural and "spiritual".

I sit here weeping as I watch the live video of families being reunited...such love! Thank you, Jesus!

The law of sowing and reaping

I simply couldn't stand it any longer. The harvest of pumpkins from my garden has been bountiful this year. In fact, I received a harvest of 18 large pumpkins, and today was the day to determine from exactly how many seeds those 18 pumpkins grew.

Back in the spring, I planted 4 pumpkin seeds at the suggestion of my wise father, who said I didn't need many. Today, I learned for a fact, as I was yanking the dead vines out of the garden that only 1 of them actually germinated. ONE. ONE!!!

From ONE seed grew EIGHTEEN pumpkins! I'm not very math-savvy, but I think that is an 1800% return. The reality of sowing and reaping, especially reflected in Jesus' parable of the the seeds, has been lived out in my backyard this year!!!

You see, Jesus talks about FOUR seeds. Hmmm.....I planted 4 seeds. In His story, the first fell on the ground and the birds immediately came along and ate it up. The second fell on rocky soil, sprang up and yet had no root...and thus produced no fruit. The third fell amongst the weeds, which grew up and choked the seed off. Only the fourth seed took root and germinated, producing much from little.

God still floors me as He graces me with real-live tangible pictures in the natural of these biblical truths. So, not only do I have pumpkin 'stored away' in my freezer for pies, muffins, cookies and soups, but I have given away pumpkins as well. Isn't that how it should be in the Kingdom? :-)

LOVE IT!

The day has come....

Sadly, the day has come....

Blondie found her way into the house....

Now she thinks she can come in anytime I'm not home and feast on whatever she finds.....

For some reason, my once bold and confrontational boys are allowing her to have her way....

....to eat their food....

....to be in their territory....

She dashes OUT the cat door when I come home.

This provokes me to some spiritual musings, of course.

First, I have nothing against female cats...or females in general....my beef is with this spirit that has been around since Old Testament times.

Jezebel. I know, I know, people throw around, "She's such a Jezebel," or "He's under a Jezebel spirit," like discussions around the water cooler on Mondays after NFL football Sunday.

And truly, this is not that serious of a blog entry. It's just interesting for me to see this blonde kitty (no, this has nothing to do with her being blonde either) wants control and exerts control; she is not seeking to love and be loved, but control and take over as evidenced by the sad submission both my male cats have fallen prey to.

Over-analyzing? Of course. Seeing spiritual truths in everyday life? Trying. Desiring to provoke any readers to wakey, wakey? Absolutely.

Toby and Simon's girlfriend

A beautiful, blonde has discovered that two handsome boys live in my house. Lest you are shocked by that opening sentence, let me reassure you that I'm talking about cats! :-) Both Toby and Simon are being regularly pursued by this little blonde female kitty who really prefers Simon over Toby. Toby hisses at her if she tries to approach him and so she rubs against the back screen door and looks longingly inside where Simon sits and stares, wanting to go outside but feeling very afraid of this very forward woman!

It's quite hilarious!!! Simon reminds me of the shy boy in middle school who the most beautiful and popular girl in school takes a liking to and he is beside himself because he doesn't have a clue what to do! Pretty much the only time Simon goes outside now is when I am outside with him...he's just too intimidated by this female. Now keep in mind, this is the same cat who successfully cleared out the courtyard of other cats in Hungary, chasing them up trees and out of his territory. Mr. Bold has turned into Mr. Shy-boy, by a woman no less!

The latest update

Dearest ones! Well, I am finding my feet and working on getting into the rhythm of being a part-time intercessory missionary and a part-time market-place missionary...well, I guess you could call me a full-time missionary, huh? Someone asked me recently what my typical day looks like...I chuckled...no day is typical, but I am trying to establish some rhythm and schedule.

I try most mornings to get to a prayer meeting from 9-10 with Deeper Waters, a marketplace ministry here. Their message of HOPE is transforming cities and nations and I truly feel the Lord has something He wants to do with and in me there. I spend 12 hours per week in the prayer room, which is spread out over 5 days right now. My service hours (as they call them) are divided between inner healing prayer ministry, prophecy team ministry and research and writing for Exodus Cry (fighting human trafficking). A true blessing started yesterday with the gathering of four amazing women! We will be studying a wonderful book by John Eldredge called Journey of Desire and meeting every two weeks to pray, discuss and encourage one another. I've moved from a 30 somethings group to a 40 somethings group of women! A young lady approached me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I would mentor her. We meet weekly and I know the Lord is opening more doors with young women who need older women to pour into them, so I am blessed to "be available" to Him.

I still have two part-time jobs as I wait on the Lord to bring in full support, and I'm thankful to have them! I'm also thankful to each of you who is praying faithfully for me as well as to those who are financially sacrificing! Lives are being touched in powerful ways.

Some of you may have heard that the awakening meetings which have been taking place 4 nights a week since last November are being put "on hold" for a season. In no way is it because the Lord is not showing up and doing His amazing work of healing bodies and hearts; rather, there have been a number of words from the Lord indicating that there will be an even greater "wave" of awakening not only here but across the earth and the need now is to go into the place of prayer and intercession and prepare our hearts for what is coming. It's the Ezekiel 47 reality; we've been enjoying the ankle deep water and splashing about in the joy of the Lord, watching Him heal hearts of shame, emotional trauma, addictions and more, as well as bodies from tumors, paralysis, deaf ears and weak vision, just to name a few. There are reports from across the globe from over 6000 people of how they have been touched by God including many new believers in the Kingdom. All that in addition to over 1500 baptisms here at IHOP alone! The Lord wants to do more and human logic would say, "Just keep it going." But the Lord wants to do more His way; He wants to bring the entire global bride of Christ into waist deep water and then in over our heads; and so we push 'pause' on ankle deep, seek out the heart of the Father in the place of prayer, worship and intercession, and wait for His timing in sending the next wave. Truly it is we who need to prepare our hearts in humility. God continues to move with power in the prayer room here as well as across the globe, so the "awakening" hasn't stopped...it will continue!

Ok, this was to be a quick update and it has turned into another TOME. Sorry. The REAL reason I am writing is to promote my book. Let me be perfectly blunt here! A number of people have read it now and the feedback is super positive. The head of community care here at IHOP and I met last week and he will be adding my book to a list of books for small groups here to consider using in their small groups. This got me thinking about you all out there in various churches and missions groups and the blessing that this book could be to people around you! So, email me back and we can talk about how you want to get your copy (or copies) and how we can get it into the hands of the right people at your church! A dear friend of mine here who is a Hebrew scholar...not that that has anything to do with anything...is reading the book and says, "It's incredible! It might just be because so much of what you are talking about I am walking through right now, but I am being touched by every chapter!" I hope you all know me well enough to know that I am in NO WAY tooting my own horn. I am completely, utterly humbled by the feedback I am receiving. My prayer from the outset was that God would be glorified and that ONE person would come into the Kingdom as a result of reading it. I am also PUSHING it now because in November, I am heading to Hungary..... ....Yep, I am heading back to my second home for a visit which has turned into a MAJOR ministry trip. However, the part connected to my book is this: I want to BLESS the prayer room in Budapest, which started a worship school last fall, with a much needed financial gift. So, every dollar that comes in over and above the $10 cost of the book (plus $3 shipping; retail is $14.99) will go directly to the Budapest prayer room ministry!!! Wouldn't you just LOVE to be a part of sowing into the Kingdom in and through Hungary while receiving a book at the same time?

So, to make a long letter longer, write to me and let's get a copy out to you and bless the nations at the same time! I'm ending my tome here and looking forward to getting a FLOOD of emails from each of you! ha ha ha! Thank you and love you all so much...cuz it's all about Jesus and His Kingdom anyway, right? Always by grace alone,Arden

New Website

Ok, go check out the cool new website I just created tonight.


http://www.heartforthenations.info/default.html


Kinda fun!

The latest feedback on Walking Forward

Here's the latest feedback on my book, Walking Forward - Discoveries in Freedom and Forgiveness:

"I finished your book. It's phenomenal! I want to get a copy for a friend of mine!"

This is my heart's cry: that it will get into the hands of those who need to read it and encounter Jesus! Get your copy today by going to my other blog:

www.walkingforward-arden.blogspot.com

Prayer room encounters

Yesterday, as I sat in the prayer room working on my second book, I noticed a man I thought I recognized sitting a couple of rows in front of me at a table. Then I saw what he was reading: MY BOOK, Walking Forward! :-)

I stood up and walked over to him...he is a good friend of mine...and knelt down to whisper: "Hey, I know the author of that book!" HAHAHAHAHA!

I guess what humbled me the most was that he said he really likes it and he showed me that he'd been underlining things and writing notes in the margins. Clearly, I was taken aback...there are many, many things that are rising to the surface in my heart and soul in connection with this book. I have prayed that God would use it in people's lives to bring them closer to His heart...well, He's using it in MY life to clean out things in my heart that still need to be healed!

So, all this to say, I guess this book is accomplishing it's purpose...in everyone's lives! This is my prayer...God, use this for Your glory and to draw people closer to Your heart and Your Son Jesus!!!

Tomatoes in September

Well, as my garden dwindles, I still have vines and vines of tomatoes...green tomatoes...probably about 50 of them...and it's SEPTEMBER! My last 3 pumpkins are ripening as well, and then comes the clean-up of my first garden.

What an amazing adventure it has been to garden. The Lord has taught me so many things about Himself, what He is doing in my life and heart, and where He is taking me in this short span of years called life on earth! One of the most profound lessons just hit me this morning:

This garden got planted in one place, the plants sunk their roots down deeply into the rich, life-giving soil, and they grew and produced much fruit. The "gardener" came along, made sure the weeds didn't choke out the good plants, watered it when necessary, pruned, and collected the fruit in due time. The garden didn't travel to many nations; it remained rooted and grew exactly where it was planted. May this truth be true in all of our lives!

Pumpkin lessons

I was super sad this morning when I discovered that my BIGGEST, ROUNDEST, most BEAUTIFUL pumpkin (from the outside) was quite 'mushy' on one side. Because I was dashing out the door, I didn't have time to do anything with it, but noted that I should probably cut it open and salvage the good parts while they were still good.

Well, lo and behold, I arrived home about 4 hours later and 3/4 of the pumpkin is now 'mushy' on the outside. So I gingerly carried the monster to the kitchen sink and proceeded to make the incision...a rancid, rotten smell came screaming out from inside where black gunk was eating its way throughout the meat. Off to the compost pile I strode, a bit heart-broken that my "prized pumpkin" was nothing more than a mushy pile of rotten flesh, coated on the outside with a beautiful orange shell.

In the Gospels, we read the story of the widow's mite...a poor widow walks into the temple and brings 2 pennies to put into the offering. Jesus commends her sacrifical, SMALL gift, shedding light on the reality that she has actually given MORE...a BIGGER gift....than those who have given out of their wealth. Many there on that day, apparently, possessed much, had big bank accounts and very beautiful outside appearances. I can imagine that this poor widow probably wasn't very clean or well-dressed, and may have gone unnoticed by most...but not by Jesus. Not only does He notice her, He turns the entire scene into a lesson that illuminates an eternal Truth.

What we may think is the biggest and the best, the most beautiful, the prize of all prizes, could actually be completely rotten on the inside. The outer shell hides what's inside, until finally, change comes, he's plucked from one place and put into another, and what is really going on inside comes bursting forth. Sometimes there is nothing to salvage and, like my pumpkin, it all has to be tossed out into the compost pile for the worms to devour and transform into something useful.

What is the "rot" inside of each of us...that secret, hidden sin that we think no one knows about or that won't affect anyone because it's only "about me" and only "involves me". That's the biggest lie ever, and the Lord is wanting to put a holy zeal inside each one of us, that His righteousness would reign from the inside out so that the meat, the seeds and the outside of the pumpkin are healthy and nourishing to others.

More feedback on Walking Forward

Here's more feedback on Walking Forward - Discoveries in Freedom and Forgiveness:

I ran into a young lady who has been reading Walking Forward, and here's what she had to say:"God has me in a season of rest and being still before Him. This is really hard for me to do as I am a "DO-ER". So, He reminded me that I need to be still, and I pick up your book and the next chapter in it is "Freedom in Stillness". Ok, Lord, I get the message!"

As life unfolds...

I've made some major decisions this week. Some will have significant impacts on my life and others'. I'm excited to see how everything unfolds.

I'm taking on a ministry opportunity I've never had before...it's connected with bringing to light the reality of human trafficking around the world. My world is going to be rocked, I'm quite sure of that. My first nation is my favorite adopted nation: Hungary. So, while researching the dark side, I am also praying and asking God, "What is your heart for this nation? How do you see these Magyar people?" The key, I am learning, to intercession is seeking the heart of God, through the lense of the true nature of God. Doing that increases compassion!

New Season of ministry

Check out my new video!

New Season of ministry

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

YWAM update from Grandview and Holden

Read this EXCITING NEWS!

God broke through in Holden and Grandview!

Team Xtreme, GX International, and Island Breeze all it the stage in Grandview and Holden.

Team Xtreme preached to a crowd of over 700 in Holden, MO a town of around 2500 people! TX member T.W. preached powerfully as the crowd sat motionless during the thorough explanation of the Gospel and watched as 85 (mostly children and youth) walked to the front making their declaration of surrender to Jesus.
The city and church leaders of Holden are excited to see what God is going to do tonight with GX International.

Also members of Team Xtreme, GX International, and Island Breeze performed at Forerunner Christian Fellowship to a crowd of over 1000. Using elements from all their shows they ministered with powerful testimonies and Mark Anderson preached the Gospel. Over 130 people responded when the challenge was given to commit their lives to Christ.

God is working powerfully already as we have seen over 330 people respond to the Gospel in just one week! Let’s trust God for continued breakthrough in the lives of those that desperately need Him.

Here's a WIN-WIN opportunity!

One of the things I loved about living in Hungary was how close stores were and how easily I could get the things I need.

Now, back in the U.S., I have to drive everywhere...I mean, everywhere! The closest store to me is over a mile away.

So, a positive development I see emerging is online shopping, which not only saves time, but also money! A friend of mine got me connected with Zamzuu and I now have my own Zamzuu website!

What does this have to do with YOU? And why WIN-WIN? Well, if YOU shop on my website, then YOU get great deals, rebates on selected purchases, and I get rebates and commissions too! I want to invite you to check out my website where you can get everything from pet supplies to clothing, and you can even book travel!

So, click on this website and check it out! By the way, you must ALWAYS click on the BACK arrow in your browser to return to the home page. Give it a whirl!

https://shop.ytb.com/default.aspx?ytbid=899070

Have a blessed weekend!

Impact World Tour - YWAM in Grandview, MO

Island Breeze Dancers

GX team

X-Treme team...blowing up water bottles til they explode!

Lives are being transformed in Missouri and Kansas by the Lord through YWAM's Impact World Tour teams.

Many went forward and made decisions to give their lives to Jesus last night after these teams of dancers, skateboarders and power lifters both performed and shared their testimonies of how God turned their lives around!

IWT is doing a major outreach here for the next 10 days...we're believing that 3000 people will come into a personal relationship with Jesus!!! It's exciting to see 15 different churches working together to come alongside these new believers and get them into small groups and be discipled!

Flowers, kitties and gardens

My jungle-like garden

Simon, eating grass from the garden...yes, it truly is a jungle now!

A yellow lady-bug!

There is reward to slowing down.

Toby's domain! These wild-flowers have done well!

Creative ideas for Kingdom work

Do you know who is one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) contributors to helping orphans world-wide? I didn't...til the other night when I learned who it is.

The founder of Chik-fil-a!

Yes, the owner of the fast-food chain, which is closed on Sundays, is a self-sustaining missionary who gives more to helping alleviate the plight of orphans than anyone...and not only gives but goes himself!

Why am I blogging about this? Well, everyone out there knows how challenging things are economically, and most of my missionary friends and I are experiencing the crunch of the economy as well. I attended a meeting this past week where I learned about the owner of Chick-fil-a and how all of that came about.

You see, he had a passion: his passion was to minister to orphans. So, he went to the Lord and cried out: "God, you know that ministering to orphans is my passion!!! Show me how to do this! Give me Your idea!"

As the story goes, the Lord responded something like this: Chicken sandwich.

And so was birthed this booming business, through which this man is able to fufill his God-given passion to help orphans world-wide!

Why do I blog about this? Because I have passions for the Kingdom...fighting human trafficking, planting houses of prayer across the globe, ministering to people in inner healing so that they can walk increasingly free in their relationships with God, orphans. So, I am asking God: "Give me Your idea(s) as to how to see these passions come to fruition!"

I know He is going to do it, because all these passions are on His heart as well!

First, I hope and pray that my first book, Walking Forward - Discoveries in Freedom and Forgiveness becomes a BEST SELLER and is translated to many different languages! I don't want this for my sake, but for the furtherance of God's Kingdom work world-wide and the passions He's placed in my heart for His glory!

Second, I hope and pray I will receive even more responses to my questions for the book idea the Lord gave me called "The Senders"....and that it too becomes a best seller...again, for the finances to flow into the work for the Kingdom!

Third, I am praying about some other creative ideas for financing Kingdom work! Father, give us all YOUR ideas, that Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!

Randy Bohlender's blog

If you would like a good read, click on Randy Bohlender's blog (see blog links to the right). He's got a brilliant mind and clear insight.

Garden friends

During my perusal of the garden this afternoon, I spied these friends. Tough to see in this picture how incredibly HUGE these praying manti really are! Yikes!

Garden again

I looked outside at my garden today and I can hardly see the wooden frame anymore. The one pumpkin seed which sprouted has spread and overtaken everything! I am now waiting for 11 pumpkins to ripen...and probably more!

One seed...one seed....one seed....producing much fruit....

What a project!

Inside sample.....


Back Cover....

Front cover....

It's one thing to write for oneself...it's quite another to "put it out there" for others to read. I think my next writing will be on humility! :-)

If you want a copy, email me...see address below!

Here it is!

After heeding the advice of a few friends, I decided to self-publish writing I've been working on/sitting on for the past couple of years.

The book is called: Walking Forward - Discoveries in Freedom and Forgiveness

An encapsulated description: it's a cross between a journal and a devotional.

The book includes stories and events from my life through which God taught me lessons about both walking in increasing freedom in the Lord and learning forgiveness. My hope and prayer is that people who read it and grapple with the one or two questions at the end of each chapter will be challenged and encouraged to draw closer to Jesus and walk forward into more freedom and forgiveness. I also hope that it will inspire people to hear the voice of God in their every day experiences and how He wants to speak to each of us through those situations.

If you want to buy a copy, email me: tmhunarden@gmail.com

It's almost time.....

.....for the unveiling.....

I'll be posting here soon......

.....a fun surprise.....

Home from a LONG journey!

Yes, you read the odometer in the picture above correctly. 1860.3 miles! What a great east-coast trip I had seeing over 50 friends and relatives, enjoying lots of good food, laughter, serious soul-searching talks, and catching up on lives!

I'm staying home for a while now...at least that's the plan!

Driving

As of today, I have logged over 1700 miles on my rental car in 12 days! Today, as I was driving to Charlotte, NC, cars ahead of me, all going 70 mph, began to swerve to miss something in the road. I caught a glimpse of what it was...a very large piece of shredded tire from a truck. As drivers would approach this piece of rubber, they would swerve to try to miss it, but instead, they would hit it, flinging it and consequently cause the next driver to swerve another way to try to miss this dangerous road hazard.

I got to thinking of how nonchalantly we can be cruising along in life, going with the flow, when suddenly people around us begin making quick moves or start doing things out of the ordinary in order to avoid striking something harmful, but in the process, everyone around them is affected. Sometimes, in our attempts to avoid an "accident", we could be causing another one in our wake.

Back to driving many miles....tomorrow, I will log some of the last "long" miles on this wonderful rental car, driving from Winston-Salem to Raleigh, NC. Along the way, I will see 2 former students from my Covenant days, and my first teammate in Hungary in 1991!

I am going to need a few days...if not a couple of weeks....to process all the conversations I've had with people. It's been a great two weeks of reconnecting with many, and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity! Honestly, I have to admit I'm very excited to get back home to Kansas City, see my cats, and sleep in my own bed!

East Coast Trip

I'm on the east coast of the U.S. I cannot post photos here because thus far, I have seen nearly 50 people, with more to come in the next 3 days before I head back to the midwest! So, if you are on facebook, go to my profile to catch a smattering of photos from this trip. If you are not on facebook, get on it! :-)

Tired, but very happy and thrilled to have seen so many friends so far! I am blessed!

Musings

A dear friend of mine started blogging again after a year. (See blogs I read to the right and check out Marcie's blog) She inspired me to reflect on the past year, and since I have realized that it's been a year since I really and truly settled in to life in Kansas City---that occured when I brought both my cats back with me from Hungary in August 2009---I thought that indeed, a reflection on the past year is in order. I hope I'm not copying Marcie's ideas too much...just her inspiration.

A year of loss: I lost an aunt who lost her battle with cancer; I lost a friendship; I lost body fat (have, unfortunately, gained it back :-)

A year of learning: Learning so much in Intro that it was like drinking from a fire hydrant; learning a lot about narcissism and it's many facets and subtleties; learning that falling in love is sweet...and trying to stop loving is really challenging; learning who my true friends are and what I really want and need in friendship; that relative proximity to family is precious; learning that it's never too late to reestablish ties with family members; learning that God is much bigger that I ever conceived and loves more deeply than I could ever imagine....and this category could go on and on and on...but I will stop here.

A year of firsts: First time living in the mid-west; first time buying a new car in the U.S.; first time to come face to face with people who chose to be "enemies" and be able to love them and bless them; first time ever experiencing spontaneous physical healing in my body; first time growing a vegetable garden; first time helicopter skiing...again, a plethora of firsts...but moving right along.....

A year of encounters: with Holy Spirit; with so many amazingly broken people who willingly and whole-heartedly seek the Lord for healing and freedom; with naturally supernatural people; with the love of the Father to depths before unknown; with amazing people; etc., etc., etc.

A year of disappointments: a friend who turned her back on me; a friend who still cannot own up to pain inflicted; inability to keep weeds out of my garden :-)

A year of BLESSINGS: easy transition back to American culture; enough food and clothing and money to pay every bill; faithful friends; encounters with God that have transformed everything in a positive way; realizing my true love language!

This could very well turn into a tome, which I don't want, so suffice to say these are the things that popped into my head first...it's been a GOOD year!

On the east coast

There is nothing like seeing old friends! Thus far on my east coast excursion, I have met with a friend I'd not seen in 18 years, family I'd not seen in over 10 years, and other friends, the years between our meetings which we couldn't even figure out! How BLESSED I am to have such precious people in my life with whom, after all this time, I can simply pick up where we left off and move forward!

Pumpkins

Pumpkins are popping up and growing fast in my garden. These are pictures of just three of them....

New hair

Some friends wanted to see my "new" haircut. Growing out my hair...and getting it closer to its original color.

Amy Carmichael

"Never be shaken in hope. Never be cooled in love. Never get tired of loving and hoping---yes, and believing." (Amy Carmichael)

More God tweaking

There's nothing like editing your own writing to help you recognize how deep-seated perfectionism resides in the heart. Even more revealing is when you realize that you forgot to edit something very important before giving it to someone. Yikes!

So, I'm beating myself up a bit tonight as that perfectionist streak comes raging to the surface once again, and at the same time, hoping that I can have a second chance to edit one more time.

I'm learning the ways of the Lord in how He deals with us. As I edited chapters, and each one was finally "complete", I began to sense things coming together. Then, just when I thought everything was completed and ready, bang, I realize another onion layer needs to be peeled off. It's not yet perfect. I'm not yet perfect. This writing venture has shown me that even when the final product is completed, I am sure I will read through and say, "Boy, wish I would have worded that differently!"

Perfection comes when we cross over from here to there, from the temporal to the eternal. Until then, God's tweakings will continue, and He truly is the perfect "editor".

Godly Tweaks

The moment I began logging on to my blog, the warning sirens for tornadoes began to blare. Mind you there is not a cloud in the sky...this is just a test of the emergency broadcast systems. I can hear the sirens in the distance, but it's not very loud, and my home is completely silent. My ears must be attuned to the warnings or else there could be trouble. How true this is in our relationships with the Lord.

"WARNING! DANGER! STOP! CHANGE! TURN AROUND! DON'T GO THERE OR DO THAT!"

Our heavenly Papa sees and knows, everything, the end from the beginning and every detail in between. The mystery of that reality of His sovereignty combined with the human free will is enough to give a real thinker a headache. Somehow in the grand cosmic scheme of things which God designed and orchestrates, we humans have a tremendous power: our free will. If we didn't, Love would not be love.

Early this morning I bolted awake at 3:35. Immediately, I inquired of the Lord and sensed His almost instantaneous response: Proverbs 17:17. Then I heard Him whisper in my spirit: "remove that chapter". Then the battle of the will began: "But God, there are so many good things in that chapter! Think of all the people who will be able to relate to what is written there! Some of the greatest points in the whole book are in that chapter!"

Again, the small still voice..."Proverbs 17:17...delete that chapter."

I've learned from limited experience that awakening in the wee morning hours and hearing the Spirit of the Lord speaking is usually something worth heeding. So, when I finally awakened again at 7:30, I turned on my computer, pulled up my book again, read "that chapter", cringed at the thought of deleting it, and then read Proverbs 17:17: "A friend loves at all times..."

A friend loves at all times....a friend loves at all times....a friend loves at all times.

Deleting that chapter meant loving a friend...at all times and in all circumstances.

So, while many excellent points, lessons and truths are now 'missing' from my book (self-publishing by the way), the peace of God, which passes ALL understanding, is guarding my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, and I have loved a friend in the process.

Ironically, the deleted chapter was entitled: "Let God Be God". My heavenly Papa has such a great sense of humor!