Do something great for God, but it will cost you.

September 28^th, 2010 

So we’ve begun! The good news for all of you is that I’m now required to keep a daily journal while I’m here and it’s being done in the form of my blog! So you all get to be a part of my every day lessons and challenges and the way God is growing me. It’s kinda gonna suck for me because it’s all gonna be out there for everyone to see. Talk about accountability, right?

So let me just say, I can’t wait for this to really begin. I have waited so long for an opportunity like this. I remember when I was younger and even through my years at college, I’d complain to my mom about how I didn’t want to play the school game any more. I didn’t want to deal with getting a piece of paper that said I went to school and completed it. I just wanted to go learn. I wanted to go immerse myself in God and be trained for the mission field in his word and with people who have been there. I had no idea how that would happen, but I remember wishing so badly that it was that easy.

And I’ve finally found it.

YWAM is such an incredible organization. After hearing Loren Cunningham’s story and all the steps and visions of YWAM through the years, I’m so excited to get to be a part of it. I feel so honored. I was literally giddy for a while, I felt kind of silly. (If anyone is interested about YWAM and how it started, I’d really encourage you to pick up “Is that you Lord?” by Loren Cunningham. We’ll all be reading it here and it tells everything in a narrative form.)

Coming out of a DTS they want you to have encountered God by surrendering to his Lordship, have a biblical world view (making decisions based on truth and God’s word and knowing the difference between being successful and significant), be equipped for ministry by knowing our giftings and how to use them to make God known, and have missional living through out our lives no matter where we are.

 These are people that truly want to know God and to make him known all through out the world. And they do it by being open to hearing the voice of God in even the most unusual unexpected ways. But they follow it whole heartedly.

This is exactly what I want to be.

However I know that this comes with a cost. If there is anything God has been teaching me these last few weeks it’s been to learn to lean on his strength and know that he’s in control when I am feeling the most desperate. This is much easier said then done, but his comfort and presence has been so evident all around me. It’s been a driving force for me to push forward and fight for joy. But being my pessimistic self, it also makes me nervous.

I know that this is something that I’m going to have to learn in a very real way and I know that it’s going to take some time. I know that in a life given over to God and missions, along with the willingness to say yes to anything he asks of me, I’m going to need to know He’s in control. But the worrying side of me says… Something bad is coming. It’s just around the corner. God’s teaching you this now so that when certain disaster turns your life upside down, you’ll be ok. It almost makes me reluctant to receive it. But my God is a good, loving father. And I know that anything that happens is for His glory and the good of his daughter.

So that’s what’s new with me. I’m excited to dive in. DTS is going to teach me the skills and habits that I have been praying for for a while. Journaling for one, but we also have a few different bible ready plans that we can choose from to help us stay in the word daily. ( we have to write on them in our journals, so they keep up with you!) We have devotionals as well to study specific characteristics of God and then we have to present, we meet with our One to One weekly ( a staff member that you are assigned to), time with small groups, as well as lectures all through the week. We also have special times of intercession and prayer set aside for us weekly and evangelism and outreach each week. All of this while also preparing for our 8 weeks overseas and bringing the Love of Christ to the Nations.

Accountability with many, the truth of God being poured into our lives, a passion for the world, and learning to love Him more deeply. All in the most beautiful place on earth with some of the greatest people I’ve met. God is so good.

Now all I need is my family and my Scotty to be here with me and I’d be the happiest person alive. But God has me in a season on my own and I’m going to suck every ounce out of it. I’m not leaving this DTS with regrets.

Love you all so very much.

 Just leaving you with some verses for today.

1 Peter 4:10-11 “ As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God. Whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies- in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever.”

1 Corinthians 3:7 “ So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God gives the growth.”