Oct 24, 2012
Tonight after an amazing prayer meeting at Gospel for Asia, a group of friends and I decided to hit up a great restaurant called Cafe Brazil for some food and fellowship.
Today however, I called my mom and walked around outside while I caught up with her for a bit. I really miss her, so it was cool to chat with her about what’s going on in our lives.
While I was chatting with her a guy stopped by drinking a red bull. I asked his name, and he said it was Tony. I was on the phone so I couldn’t really talk much to him.
Sam then came out and joined me and so I hung up with my mommy and invited Tony in to hang with the group hoping that we can share about Jesus with him, but after a little while he decided to leave.
I really think I should have shared the Gospel with him. God loves him and brought him there to meet us for a reason. Sadly I didn’t share Christ with him, but I will be praying for Tony.
Can you join me in prayer for Tony? That he will learn of the Truth and maybe one day we will see him in Heaven praising God with us. 🙂
Thanks for reading and for praying!
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Oct 20, 2012
1) You will encounter Jesus Christ like never before.
2) Grow more Christ-like in character under the love and guidence of godly teachers and mentors.
3) Build lifelong friendships.
4) Serve Christ and reach the lost in an incredible way.
5) Live passionately, with eternity in mind, to win the lost to Christ.
6) Make a difference by interceding for the lost world regularly.
7) Gain practical life experience working in international ministry headquarters.
8) Learn and develop practical life skills like time management and public speaking.
9) Practical opportunities to put your faith into action
10) Oh, and everything is bigger and better in Texas!
These are my Top 10 Reasons!
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Oct 19, 2012
Recently my friend Sieka and I were going to hang out at our friend’s house after work and just chill. A seemingly simple task right? Well, it didn’t quite turn out the way we expected, but I think it was better that way.
After work we had decided to take her car to the store, pick up some super healthy ramen, head over to our friend’s house and eat it there, then just hang out the rest of the evening. We got to her car, and our plans were changed right then and there, as she went to turn her key in the ignition, it wouldn’t budge. Her car was locked, we tried everything from holding in the brake pedal, to turning the steering wheel while trying to turn the key, but nothing worked. Eventually we called our friend Kevin who knows cars better than most people I know, and even he couldn’t fix it! So, we decided to just take my car instead.
We head over to my apartment, so we can change out of work attire and into comfy clothes. As we get to my door, on the third floor of the apartment complex, I discover that I left my house key on my desk at work, behind a locked door. So instead of changing, I drop Sieka off at Kroger to pick up the food as I drive 10 mins back to the office to retrieve my key.
As I get to Gospel for Asia, I realized that my key, to get into the building, is with my housekey behind the locked door (and the key to get into the office is with the housekey as well). So I call Sieka, and at this point we just laugh at this interesting adventure that our simple journey turned out to be. Thankfully she left her purse in my car when I dropped her off at Kroger, and her key was in her purse. So I took her key, let myself in the building, tracked down someone who could help me get my keys from behind the locked door, drove back to Kroger, picked up Sieka, drove back to my apartment and changed, and then FINALLY we arrive at our friend’s place with a rather exciting story to share.
Overall I am glad that I had Sieka with me, would have been very frustrating to go through alone. And this way we are building memories as our friendship continues to grow. 🙂
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Oct 18, 2012
Most people I know out “in the world” have this desire. And each of these people are seeking it in different ways.
Like the shy little girl at school who wants to be known by her teacher so she studies her planets for hours. To that young woman who desires to be known by some guy, so she does whatever it takes to get and keep his attention. Or the guy who has practiced his throws all year long so he can be known by his coach, his team, his father. And maybe someday a major league football rep. To the person who sings their heart out on some TV show, so they can one day have their name at the top of the Billboard charts. To the young intern who works well over 40 hours so the boss and company will know they are worth being a part of the business.
All, so each of them can say “Here I am! “Accept me.” “Know me!”
And often times without even knowing or understanding it they are really saying “LOVE ME!”
To be known is to be loved and to be loved is to be worth something to someone. Yet at the end of their search they find being known by others in the world is not enough.
Yet as believers we know something many of them reject as folly or to good to be true.
THEY ARE KNOWN!
THEY ARE LOVED!
THEY ARE WORTH SOMETHING!
They have been known from before the foundations of the earth and God has always had a plan for them.(Ephesians 1:4-5)
God knit them in their mothers wombs (Psalm 139:13)
They are loved so much and worth so much that God sent Jesus to die on the cross for their sins (John 3:16). Even knowing the very depths of their sin and that in the end they might reject his perfect gift. (Romans 5:8)
We know as believers that being known and loved by God is not temporary and empty like the worlds love and attention. So I hope and pray we always remember this: That God knows us, down to the rotten, and loves us anyway! He calls us to love one another and tell the world of his love! For He is Great and soooo worth sharing.
So may we Keep Seeking and Keep Sharing! and Keep Loving!
Chantelle
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Oct 3, 2012
Natalya Do you see a difference In your payer life after joining the School of Discipleship?
“Before I came here, prayer was difficult at times. I would pray, but I longed for a closer prayer life. I loved when I could feel the presence of God when I prayed, but it was a struggle to stay focused. I never really prayed outside of my personal Bible time or church, and never in public gatherings. I liked to be the quiet one.” – Natalya
Jonathan what shocked you about the times of prayer at Gospel For Asia?
“Their fervency and consistency has impacted me. Never have I seen a big group putting prayer at such a focus. It’s the life ofthe ministry, and they have really impressed upon me the necessity of it.” – Jonathan
Natalya how has being in a new place affected your time with the Lord?
“Prayer is still difficult, but since I came here to a strange place, surrounded by people I really don’t know anything about, I find that my prayer time with God has blossomed! Being taken from everything familiar has made me turn to the One I do know. He has been there; I feel Him. And even when I don’t feel Him, I know He still is there. I honestly feel when I pray now, I’m crawling into my Daddy’s lap, and I feel protected, loved, and very safe. Prayer has become the familiar thing I turn to.” – Natalya
Jonathan how has your relationship with the Lord changed you?
“As I learn more about the love and grace of God, I get so overwhelmed. I have lived my life in a strict works-to-keep-salvation attitude. This has left me in a lot of bondage. But now as I see how much God cares for me, I realize that He isn’t interested so much in my works as He is in my heart toward Him. As I give myself completely to Him, the works naturally follow and my relationship with Him greatly increases.” – Jonathan
“I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless.
I pray because the need flows out of me all the time – waking and sleeping.
It doesn’t change God – it changes me.” – C.S. Lewis
Join us live in prayer!
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Oct 2, 2012
When we submit to the Lord and don’t make decisions on our own understanding, God can work in our lives in ways we wouldn’t expect! I am not saying that is will be easy. There will be trials and tribulations because it happens whether you are a Christian or not. The difference about Christianity is that from all religions, God comes down to man, instead of man trying to get to god! The one true living God is the only one who has actually shown us the example of what He expects from us.
One of the stories in the Bible that displays the life of submission is Joseph. He had dreams and decides to tell his father and his brothers that he is going to someday rule over them and this made them furious! How would you like to hear that! Joseph ends up getting beat up by his brothers and sold as a slave. Knowing the dreams he had, he doesn’t give up hope for God’s plan. Since God is the ultimate authority and has placed earthly authorities over us, Joseph submits to Potiphar and does it joyfully. Potiphar finds favor with him and allows him to take care of the whole place. Potiphar’s cunning wife comes along and so Joseph leaves the building to not be distracted – later ending up in jail, as Potiphar’s wife came up with many reasons that weren’t true. Joseph through his heart attitude of submission finds favor with the authorities because of his love for God – they see his honesty and respect. They allow him to pretty much run the place. Next Pharaoh has a dream and Joseph is able to interpret it. He is set free after 13 years from jail and later becomes the priminister for 43 years! Through submission to God’s authorities, even though they weren’t perfect, (they are accountable to God), so we need to just obey and submit with our hearts, unless it is sinning against God. Joseph submitted with a good attitude so God blessed him by having him become the priminister! This whole time he knew he was supposed to be a leader but he had to go through a process of humbling in order to be fit for the job! Submission brings testing and trials but through it all God is molding us into who He has made us to be, and the only way to experience His blessing upon our lives!
The story of David is quite amazing, as God sees his heart in how he handles a little – such as herding sheep, God blesses him through this and later he becomes a King! God told Samuel to anoint David as King because Saul wasn’t submissive – he offered a sacrifice without waiting for Samuel and that was disobedience. Even knowing he is going to become King he faithfully serves Saul; plays his harp and becomes his armor-bearer. Next David kills Goliath and Saul becomes jealous as the focus of everyone is now on David. Saul ends up getting an army together trying to kill David. This went on for years, and through it all he still respected Saul’s authority, even the times he could have killed him, he chose not to, even when his friends were telling him to. David didn’t let outside negative influences run his life, rather his creator, God! Saul’s heart softened when he realized David’s respect towards him.
The life of Jesus and the others in the Bible like Joseph and David show us that we can live godly lives on earth, as long as Christ is the center! Submission isn’t being a doormat but rather we are able to use our skills and abilities God has given us, and use them in the most effective way. Only through submission can God work through us and use our strength for His greater purpose and our spirits are filled. Be open and patient; allow God to direct you in life even when it doesn’t make sense, He never gives us more than we can handle. We can stand against the schemes of the enemy no matter how much we are tempted. Jesus was tempted and that isn’t sin, sin happens when we give in to our wrong emotions and thoughts. We can overcome the strongholds in our lives through the power that Christ gives us!
When I heard of The School of Discipleship, I thought that this would be the last place I would choose. In my own reasoning it didn’t make sense because I kept more to myself which makes me not used to hanging around people. I did not like computers, homework, reading, written assignments, and I have health problems. Literally everything was going to be a challenge, but I was going if God wanted me to. I realized that God spoke though my parents who encouraged me to go. Seeing it through His perspective I realized that at the School of Discipleship, I am able to get discipled, study scripture, His life, and reach out to the lost people of this world in ways I could never have done if I went anywhere else! It is amazing how much peace He has given me away from home, as that was a struggle I thought I would not be able to overcome. My health is actually doing much better, and He is providing in so many ways! It’s not exactly fun or easy, but my spirit is filled, and I know I am where God wants me to be; He always has the best in mind!
Through being at the School of Discipleship, He has also given me a better understanding about what it means to know more of who I am in Christ. It is accepting and loving our weaknesses! If we desire God’s will for our lives, only in our weaknesses will we succeed so much more! The reason why is because then we are humble, having to rely more on Him, and His will is accomplished. This way God will be glorified. The kind person God is looking for is someone with a joyful attitude of submission, and this is how we can be used in a powerful way! When we honor God He will honor and bless us (1 Samuel 2:30b).
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