Sunday was a free day also to just relax and hang out. I took a local shuttle with several fellow YWAMers and attended a local church called "The Living Stone." It was so amazing!! On the shore of the beach, outside under an open tent, studying the Word of God while we were listening to the waves crashing in on the rocks. Another perfect moment to be captivated by God's creation. The message was taught on insecurity and aligning our thinking with "What my Father says..." versus what we see ourselves. Everything in your Christian life flows from you identity in Jesus and before God can fully use us, we need to understand we cannot do this on our own: We need Jesus. End of story. What we focus on fixes and creates the reality of what we operate under and until that changes, our lives will remain the same. In conclusion we must be people who endure until what we see matches what God says in the Bible. After supper we had the opportunity to gather as a class and share a mini personal testimony and how we got to YWAM and why we chose compassion. It is amazing the power of testimony and the spoken word. How much you learn about people in 5 minutes. It's like an appetizer to their life walk with Jesus. The honesty, and vulnerability is simply beautiful. The walls of people's heart just come crumbling down and it's just raw, to the core, "this is who I was..this is who I am now...and to God be the glory". I felt so much more at peace to know how many people were dealing with or have already walked through much of what I have as well. It just deepens relationships so much and puts a whole new meaning to a person. One thing I always like to relate to is "Never judge a man until you've walked a mile in their shoes." So true. I am estatic for this journey I'm going on with all of these fellow students and brothers and sisters in Christ. Doing life together, and doing it all for Jesus.
Monday. Day #1 of lecture, of class, of a scheduled day. I had been waiting for this day for months and these last couple days seemed to have drug on because I've been waiting with hopeful anticipation. Our speaker this week is Don Stephens. His heart and teaching will be focused on "The Kingdom of God". He wanted to answer the unending question everyone wonders...WHY?! Why was I created? Why am I here? Why do I do the things I do? In a nut shell, everything is created for a purpose and that purpose is God's glory. The world is like a mirror reflecting the image of God. His creativity, his beauty, his power, and his glory. Isaiah 43:7 says, "everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." God created love in our DNA because that's what we were created for. It all makes sense why people appreciate the pretty things of this earth so much. A sunset, a flower, a perfect harmony, etc. Because we long for glory in everything we do, it's how God made us. Would you rather live in a slum, or the fancy house on the lake? We desire glory. Our hearts are programmed to love the glory of God. A redeemed heart longs for beauty.
Now, the grace of God. Don Stephens put it this way..."Religion will make us terrorists without the grace of God." Grace is the free gift of God's favor, and his empowering presence. Without grace it's all about sin management and that's not the lifestyle God created for us to live. We desire these things in our life: restoration, healing, recovery and they cannot happen before our focus is set on the kingdom of God. We must "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you."--Matthew 6:33. He then discussed different things about the purpose of the law and the purpose of grace. It is impossible to live by the law and by grace. Jesus fulfilled the law so that we wouldn't have to. In conclusion to that, the law highlights the fall of man and gives us a new appreciation for grace and what exactly Jesus saved us from. It is opening my eyes to the vastness and appreciation for the gift of grace.
*This is day one of 12 weeks. My mind is already blown away and my eyes are being opened to a whole new light and meaning to life. I'm going to continue to try and blog daily or every other day or as often as I can. Our schedules are hectic, busy and I'm like a sponge absorbing so much I can't help but pour the life out to you. I appreciate all of you who are following my blog and bare with me as I try to keep everyone up to date. I'm getting rocked!! Hope you enjoy the journey as well!*
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