Trying to think what in particular has happened in the last week or so...the usual crazy life of YWAM'ers I guess. Our intense week 3 ended, for one thing. I was pretty relieved to have all the work of that week behind me. The weekend consisted of the usual random stuff we do around here - aka cafe ministry, beach life, food, football, movies, etc. The guys went hunting for snakes and alligators on Sunday at a park and ended up bringing a baby alligator back to the base. It was so cute! Justin was cuddling it all day pretty much and it bit Wilson. The video of that is pretty great. Jordan accidentally wiped his butt with poison ivy that same day, so he ended up in the hospital because he couldn't sleep on Saturday night. He was supposed to go with a group of students going to a church in Lake City on Sunday morning to do dramas and talk about missions, but he couldn't because he was at the hospital, so Judah had to go and play his part in the Redeemer drama instead. Then it was hilarious because on Monday the new speaker for some reason asked "Did God make poison ivy?" as a rhetorical question and the entire classroom burst out in hysterical laughter. He was like "...whaaaa?" It was great. But then on the way back from Lake City which is like an hour and a half drive, the van broke down, so they had to wait for people to come get them. Oh well, they did tell us at the beginning that there was one key word to YWAM: Flexibility. Haha and they were right.
So yup, that was the weekend in a nutshell. On Monday morning we were sitting in class waiting for our speaker to get there from Orlando. He walked in the door, put his backpack down and started teaching right away. It was great. His name is Ezra Griffiths and the topic he's teaching on this week is the father heart of God. He told us his story for the first part of class Monday morning and it was quite the story! Told in such a funny way that I cried laughing at some parts, but yet an extremely powerful story and awesome to see how far God's brought him.I think at least for me personally it made me much more interested to hear what he had to say, because it's not like he's some person who's been in a Christian bubble all his life. He's been through all the world had to offer and knows God's the real deal. So far the material he's been teaching on involves stuff like God's character and nature, knowing God as opposed to just knowing about God, the revelation of God's Word in relation with the revelation of God in our hearts, and then today alot about trusting God with everything you are and have. He talked about the "worries of the world" that keep us from doing what God really wants us to do. So far I really like this week's classes. It's really challenging me to a closer intimate relationship with God on a daily basis, not just a head knowledge. Also to really look at my life and identify the specific things in my life that stop me from following after God wholeheartedly.
Next weekend we're off to Cincinnati, Ohio for the "Finish" conference! Should be an awesome roadtrip and also a sweet conference. Robby Dawkins is speaking, apparently he's pretty famous. I've never heard of him though.
In small groups today my small group carved pumpkins! I've never done that before hahah and I still don't know why people enjoy doing that every October, but it was fun. I carved the Canucks logo into it with "Canucks" carved under the logo. Nobody had any idea what it was except Sergei hahaha, but I thought it was cool anyway.
Other than that...the last week or so has been tough for me. I guess I kinda thought for awhile that God would take hard stuff away from me because I was trying to follow Him or something stupid like that. Someone pointed out to me that it doesn't necessarily go away, but your relationship with God gives you Someone who will never leave you and who will always be with you through it. I heard a super powerful testimony this last weekend - actually completely randomly stumbled across it on youtube - that changed me. I related to it so very much and it gave me hope that God does indeed "heal the brokenhearted and bind their wounds." I know I'm definitely not the only student here who has problems - wounds, broken hearts and stuff like that. But I also have seen God working in so many of us here already and doing specific stuff in their hearts and changing them and healing them. And I know He will continue to do so, in them and also in me. I really believe that not a single one of us who came here to do this DTS, no matter what the reason behind doing it was, will leave after the 5 months the same as they were before they came. God's changing us all so radically and I know He's far from done.
Tonight I got the opportunity to spend awhile walking with Morgan. We had a really good conversation and God really used her to speak into my life. Also the last few days, not specifically through a single person or anything, but it's just been popping up alot, this concept - that God relentlessly pursues us. And that although there might be times when you turn from Him, He doesn't turn from you. Although there might be times that you feel hopelessly alone, He's right there with you even if you might not feel Him. There's a song that we sing in morning worship alot, and the words have really spoke to me. it's called "You Never Let Go" by Matt Redman. The lyrics....
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?
(Chorus:)
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth
(Chorus)
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
That song speaks such a powerful message and encompasses so many parts of the Christian life. It's so full of praise and hope. I just love it so much! I need to be constantly filling your mind with God's truth to replace the devil's lies.
Mmmmyeah. I think that's all I have to write about at the moment. I miss all you people in Abbotsford and everywhere else I know people. But I really do that where I am right now is where God wants me and it's where I need to be. Yes it's tough sometimes but overall it's been a great experience so far and it's only gonna get deeper. I'm excited to see what else God is going to do by the end of the school! He's giving us so many stories to share with the world already.
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| Typical weekend at YWAM Jax... |
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| My Vancouver Canucks pumpkin! CANADA REPRESENT!! |
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