Jun 17, 2010
In class today with Troy, we were going through chapters 5 and 6 of True Discipleship by William MacDonald, I was reminded of what I wrote about in a previous post. We were in chapter 6 where William writes about faith, and how it’s based on promises from God’s Word. Here’s the section that really stuck out to me:
“Now true faith is always based on some promise of God, some portion of His Word. This is important. The believer first reads or hears some promise of the Lord. The Holy Spirit takes that promise and applies it to his heart and conscience in a very personal way. The Christian becomes aware that God has spoken to him directly. With utter confidence in the trustworthiness of the One who has promised, he rekons the promise as sure as if it were already fulfilled, even though, humanly speaking, it is impossible. Or perhaps it is a commandment rather than a promise. To faith, there is no difference. If God commands, He enables.”
How awesome is that?! It seems like every message that I hear, and every time I read from the Word, this message sticks out to me. Last Saturday, I led a house devotion in James chapter 2 where it talks about “Faith without works is dead.” How true is that? If God tells us to do something, and we trust and believe that He will enable us to do what He’s asked, then it’d be almost like slapping God in the face if we don’t do it.
I’m not saying that I don’t do this every day, because I do, I’m just asking…. why? Why do we let our flesh get in the way of acting on our faith in God? Is it because we don’t have enough faith in God and don’t trust Him? Do we find what He’s asking us to do foolish? I hate how I usually fall into that trap of not trusting or putting my faith in God, but more on my own human understanding and perspective of situations.
God knows all, sees all, loves all, and has the most perfect plan for us if only we would believe and follow without question. I’m glad that God is convicting me of this personality defect of mine, and I pray and know that He will continue to drive it out of me. I’m just glad He doesn’t give up on me when I say “I know that you’ll be with me God, and I know that with You here I can do this, but I just don’t feel like it right now, how about later?”
God is good, patient, gracious, and merciful, and I love Him so much for that. He is awesome!
Anyway… thanks for letting me rant for a bit 🙂
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Jun 16, 2010
Today June 15th, 2010 I have been at Gospel For Asia and School of Discipleship for 10 months. However as much as I am mentally in denile of it-this fact is true. Recently I went home and was asked to descibe what my experience has been like. I honestly cannot do credit to how truly wonderful it has been. I have learned so much and in exactly 46 days I will be going home . There is a song I recently listend to and in the chorus it says:
“Now that I have seen, I am responsible -Faith without deeds is dead”
In light of all I have exerienced and learned I now echo her words-Now that I have seen I am responsible-Responsible for living a life contrary to the world, resposible for making sure Jesus’ name is proclaimed in all the earth, responsible to be a tool of God no matter the cost, responsible to LOVE (1 cor 13), responsible to pursue God with a fire like zeal, and responsible to tell others what I now know.
This I know is considered to be crazy by some, but knowing what I know now, it would be more crazy to do nothing.
No :)…………………………… I am going to be used by God to Change the World 🙂
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Jun 15, 2010
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy1:7
Recently, I have been reading through the book of Joshua in my quiet times. I really like Joshua because it seems as though God is always telling him not to be afraid, be strong and courageous, or I am with you whereever you go. Which really hits home for me. I can’t count how many times I will be in a situation that I have NO clue what I’m doing, or how I’m going to get through. So, while reading the book of Joshua, and having 2 Timothy 1:7 memorized, God always reminds me that He is with me. He will provide the wisdom and guidance and words to say in any situation if I ask it of Him in faith.
I don’t have to be afraid of ANYTHING because God is looking out for me every moment of every day. I don’t have to worry about the future, because God had a plan for me before I was even formed in my mother’s womb. I don’t have to focus on the negative, becuase I am a child of God, and I have Romans 8:28 to fall back on with the promise that ALL things work for the good of those who love God.
God is so good! He has provided promises for us to fall back on when things seem like they are getting worse, when in reality, God has it under control, and all we have to do is trust Him and go along for the ride.
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Jun 4, 2010
Earlier in the year, we went camping with the School of Discipleship people, and a few families. God used that to grow me in a way I never knew camping would be used for. Here’s what I said in my second newsletter about it:
So God is continuing to mold me and the people in my class, and even the leaders here so much, even in just these past few months. He has brought me, personally, through so much, that only a year ago, I would have not even thought possible. I have been taught, and am continuing to learn the value of being still and quiet before the Lord. Which may sound simple in some respects, but for me, it was really hard to learn that lesson. One of the things that I find the most uncomfortable is silence. I never really saw the importance of it. I would always have music going on in the background, or I would be fidgeting a lot because it is so hard to sit still. But a few weekends ago, over Halloween, the School of Discipleship went on a camping trip.
During that time, we were given multiple hours to spend alone with God, and spend time basking in His glory and His creation. While I was out there in the forest (I hadn’t been in a forest since I was back home in PA) I began to evaluate my motives. I asked myself multiple questions, and arrived at the same conclusion with God’s help. Not only did I need to spend more time in His presence, but I needed to say no to my flesh and its wanting noise and movement, and let all of my attention go to God, and God alone.
This is only one of the many things that God is showing me in my life right now. But it is possibly one of the most important ones. I say that because, in the silence, it is possible to really hear God speak. To really hear His guidance in my life. Silence truly is golden. Thanks again! And remember always… God is good!
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Jun 2, 2010
Dear School of Discipleship seeker or current student,
My whole life I had planned to join the military. I thought that kind of life would have been sweet and lots of fun. I have nothing against the military, but God did completely direct my life to a new direction in life. This just goes to show that we should all be completely open to God’s leading in our life even if it means a change in our future plans.
I had folks thinking I should have gone into the military or gone to college but I wanted to serve the Lord in missions for this is what I strongly sensed our Father calling me to.
I was blessed to have most people and my parents behind me in this calling. But I did have a few folks who didn’t understand what I was doing.
My encouragement for you brothers and sisters who are seeking whether or not you should come here for a year, is to always be open to God’s leading. Don’t be afraid to give up your college and career dreams. Anyways, this is only for one year and for me it was the best year of my life!
For those of you who are just graduating from high school and are planning to go to college or are thinking of it, I’d encourage you to think about giving a year of your life to come do the Gospel For Asia School of Discipleship. Do this for one year and then go to college or wherever the Lord leads.
When you are 60 years old you will not look back at this year in regret thinking it was a wast. One year goes by quick and will be one of the most significant years of your life…it was for me!
The bottom line is, the students after one year of being here know the Lord and His ways so much more. As a result they go out and have a profound impact on those around them, wheather in college, workplace or in missions. and change it for good.
My final encouragement brothers and sisters is to pursue Christ and His leading on your life.
Come here for one year and you will be equipped spiritually to go onto the next step of your life.
You won’t regret spending a year here and at the same time you will reach many people in Asia with the Gospel through the work that you get to be part of. Also you get to visit India and meet some of our brothers and sisters there.
Never forget the precious call of Jesus on your life and what He is really asking of you.
Gospel For Asia Nepal country leader Naryan Sharm told me personally that
“It’s wise to serve the Lord when you’re young!”
Those words have stuck with me ever since and I’d like to pass that onto you too. God bless you. Jesus loves you!
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