I will run you through a typical day and tell you my thoughts on it.
Wake up and be at the gym by 7 for workout.
The workouts are killer, I didn't know pain until I came here! It's so brutal but it really is showing me that my limits physically are much farther than I thought. They always focus the workouts around GOD and this generation which is really cool. Basically we do daily what most people won't, to do tomorrow what most people can't. I love how I feel afterwards but I feel like I'm going to die during it. I have never worked so hard in my life and that's honesty at its best. A few of us hiked the incline tuesday morning for fun without the rest of DLA. The incline is a mile of stairs straight up a mountain. And the stairs are brutal, the last half you are basically crawling up them because it gets so steep. A physically fit person will take more than a half hour to complete it. I stayed in the back and pushed people forward so I ended up at the top after 59 minutes. But I really think I could do better. But ya, workouts are very struggle-ful, but well worth it in the end. "We beat our bodies and make them our slaves."
Then we head to church for personal GOD time.
This is really fun. Light music is played in the background while we can do whatever we want. We can pray, read, worship, sit silently. I always pray, read a little, journal, then sit and focus as much as I can on JESUS and his personality. I really enjoy diving into silence and seeing what, if anything, GOD has to say or show me. I have gotten a lot of cool visions of his attributes and I keep forgetting to write them down but the point is engrained into my head. It's a great way to start off the day, keeps our focus in the right place.
Classes come next.
These are great and very informative yet casual. The classes we take don't ever make me think, "well when will I ever use that?" I had that happen a lot lot in high school but here it's all very practical and very heartfelt. My favorite class so far has been Aaron Stern teaching on Marriage/Famly/Dating. It's so cool to hear my thoughts put in to words and stuff I have always known but not known how to express explained clearly. I love learning about the impact of prayer and what it means to be a leader and different worldviews. I love it all.
Ministry tribes!
I'm a part of theMILL which is the college-age ministry here. It's such a blast and it's amazing to be a part of what goes on every friday. I get to help out around the office, help Aaron with his sermons, help with the short videos they make for fridays, and just make sure everything goes smoothly. They are so chill and funny there too, everyone is just so much fun to be around. Plus we get free stuff, but that's beside the point :P
Free time (quote-unquote)
We have it labeled as free time in our handbooks but there always seems to be something going on. Whether it be a speaker or something that we need to help with and get done. It's fine and I like helping out as much as possible, but I also really enjoy spending time with my host family and that free time is time to do what we need to around the house and be with them.
Nights
There is always something going on at nights that we get to help with. I love every second of getting to serve around the church. I get to hang out with junior/high school students on wednesdays, college kids on fridays, the adults on tuesday nights, and more throughout the week. It's so great getting to know different people from all over the church.
Overall
This program is designed to train leaders that will go anywhere, do anything, and pay any price to lead a generation in desperate pursuit of GOD. It's working very well, I can see leaders emerging all ready all over the place in DLA. They take you to your breaking point and are very real (they don't sugar coat stuff) and pour out their love into you. They get you focused on GOD and build you up in Him. It's working very well and I know this is where I am called to be. I'm part of an army that is storming the gates of hell, I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's teaching me patience, perseverance, humility, and a ton more. I can't wait to look in the mirror at graduation and say, "This is just the beginning!
That's just a small bit on my day and I never know what to expect everyday I wake up. I'm suppose to be here and I know it!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Just A Tidbit About Prayer
I wanted to write a little bit about prayer and what I feel it means to pray and have a heart of prayer.
Just kind of a reference scripture is Luke 11:5-9
This scripture talks about a man that has a friend visit him in the night. The host wants to feed him but has no bread so he desperately asks his neighbor. Then it goes on to say ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened.
This man is not prepared, but desperately seeking a need. In our prayers we do not have to be prepared with what we are going to say or pray about, we just need to call out to GOD and desperately ask what's on our hearts fervently.
GOD wants to hear the desperate ask anything of Him. The language you use is not important, the length of the prayer is not important. In fact in Matthew 6 it talks about not using vain repetitions. Also discipline is not important, and let me elaborate before you shun me from the church for teaching against discipline. I believe in discipline, but I don't think that is how true prayer begins in our hearts. It all starts with a desperate cry for help. It starts when we are broken, weak, needing, scared, sorrowful, and in our hardest times.
"Oh GOD! I failed, help me!"
"Oh GOD! The pain is too much, save me!"
"Oh GOD! Let me pass this test." "Oh GOD! Don't let my parents find out."
Prayer is just communicating to GOD. We have embraced our weakness and find we need GOD. The "strong" will strut and claim to know GOD while the weak will see miracles in their lives and the lives of others, and it's the weak that will seek and find GOD. You become stronger, the weaker you realize you are.
Start with what you can, it doesn't have to be a inauguration speech by any length. Just start with what's on your heart even if it's as simple as "Hi Dad, I love you." GOD delights when it comes straight from the heart. And He knows what is on your heart, so if you don't know how to express what you are feeling into words, He knows. Be open with GOD and he will embrace you and fill your heart. Start where you are at, "God I want a passion" "God I need a job" "God I'm scared for this person in my life"
David Perkins says that 99% of prayer is asking and 1% is the tingly feeling and miracles.
And remember remember remember 1 John 5: 14-15, He hears every single prayer, every single prayer. Even when you don't feel it or see it, He hears it and is acting on every prayer you pray.
"GOD you are awesome, I pray for a heart of prayer. I just simply come to you tonight and beg for your heart, your heart of worship, for the lost, for the sick, for the righteous, and mostly for your heart of prayer. Prayer is not something left to the holiest of us, but rather everyone, especially the worst of us. GOD work inside of us and manifest your life in us. I love you so much and I lay all of this at your throne."
I love you all,
Just A Fellow Saint
Just kind of a reference scripture is Luke 11:5-9
This scripture talks about a man that has a friend visit him in the night. The host wants to feed him but has no bread so he desperately asks his neighbor. Then it goes on to say ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened.
This man is not prepared, but desperately seeking a need. In our prayers we do not have to be prepared with what we are going to say or pray about, we just need to call out to GOD and desperately ask what's on our hearts fervently.
GOD wants to hear the desperate ask anything of Him. The language you use is not important, the length of the prayer is not important. In fact in Matthew 6 it talks about not using vain repetitions. Also discipline is not important, and let me elaborate before you shun me from the church for teaching against discipline. I believe in discipline, but I don't think that is how true prayer begins in our hearts. It all starts with a desperate cry for help. It starts when we are broken, weak, needing, scared, sorrowful, and in our hardest times.
"Oh GOD! I failed, help me!"
"Oh GOD! The pain is too much, save me!"
"Oh GOD! Let me pass this test." "Oh GOD! Don't let my parents find out."
Prayer is just communicating to GOD. We have embraced our weakness and find we need GOD. The "strong" will strut and claim to know GOD while the weak will see miracles in their lives and the lives of others, and it's the weak that will seek and find GOD. You become stronger, the weaker you realize you are.
Start with what you can, it doesn't have to be a inauguration speech by any length. Just start with what's on your heart even if it's as simple as "Hi Dad, I love you." GOD delights when it comes straight from the heart. And He knows what is on your heart, so if you don't know how to express what you are feeling into words, He knows. Be open with GOD and he will embrace you and fill your heart. Start where you are at, "God I want a passion" "God I need a job" "God I'm scared for this person in my life"
David Perkins says that 99% of prayer is asking and 1% is the tingly feeling and miracles.
And remember remember remember 1 John 5: 14-15, He hears every single prayer, every single prayer. Even when you don't feel it or see it, He hears it and is acting on every prayer you pray.
"GOD you are awesome, I pray for a heart of prayer. I just simply come to you tonight and beg for your heart, your heart of worship, for the lost, for the sick, for the righteous, and mostly for your heart of prayer. Prayer is not something left to the holiest of us, but rather everyone, especially the worst of us. GOD work inside of us and manifest your life in us. I love you so much and I lay all of this at your throne."
I love you all,
Just A Fellow Saint
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Reassurance
The feelings of anticipation for CO and sorrow for leaving IA didn't seem to bounce back in forth in my head but rather co-exist in a way as to create a new sorropation emotion. Despite telling people that I was extremely excited for coming to DLA I didn't honestly know how I felt until I got out here and met the people. I know this is where I need to be and where God wants me to be. It's not a question of whether or not I should be here, but a question of how can I use this to glorify God. These next 8 months will be in full, complete, unwavering, unstoppable, unflinching, desperate dedication to God. I desire to know Him on the deepest level and my life must revolve around Him for it to be fruitful. My focus is Him alone and creating habits that will keep my life ignited for Jesus. Consistent and unconditional prayer, immersing myself in the scripture daily, worshiping the Savior with a enthusiastic and teachable heart, and simply disciplining my body.
For my life to be focused on Jesus I will need to solely rely on Him and give everything I have to Him. So understand that I will be limiting myself from extended communication with everyone that I love so much back in IA. It would be too easy to fall back and rely on my friends and not God. I must place him at the center and with Him at the center my life, my friends, my relationships, my wife, my kids, my everything, I will prosper for His glory.
It's funny but for this season of my life I desire to struggle. I long to be pushed to my limits emotionally, physically, and most of all spiritually. God must must must be my single source of peace and strength. And for that to happen, for me to fully and completely rely on God, I have to be pushed past the point where no one but God Himself can help me. I desire this and I know in my heart that God desires to see me grow in Him. I need to shed this pride and rip off this outer coating of my heart for Jesus to reign unmatched. This will be one of the hardest times I will ever face and I will struggle and yearn for rest. But it is so necessary that I be here, right here, right now. It's good.
"While we are looking at God, we do not see ourselves--blessed riddance" -Pursuit of God
Everything we are doing here is everything that is on my heart. Jesus is coursing throughout this place and these people. I have never made friends so easily, and already found a person that will most likely be my best friend and is basically me. I'm happy to say that I am looking forward to this year more and more as time goes by.
I will be praying for all you iowans and love you all so much. Please keep me in your prayers cause I will need all the prayer I can get. Please don't pray that my struggles will be easy, pray that they will be tough and God will be faithful to see me through. Miss you all already.
"Jesus you are awesome! I thank you so much for this amazing opportunity to get to know you better and grow with your help. Build in me a desire for your name, a desire to pursue you in every aspect of my life both great and small. Live your life through me so that I can advance your kingdom and be souled out to you. Bless these eight months that I get to live in Colorado, reveal to me who you are, show me the meaning your love, bring me to your throne in awe of you daily. Lord I pray that you bless des moines fellowship, continue to reign in that church as you have so abundantly already. Break down walls, let them openly worship and pray and live for you without fear of what others might be thinking. Bring joy to their hearts and bring them all closer as a church family. Let none be left alone. I pray that there will be struggle and we will look to you as our solitary source of hope, understanding you will finish what you have started. I love you so much and can't thank you enough for this life you have given me. We lay this at your throne, Amen."
For my life to be focused on Jesus I will need to solely rely on Him and give everything I have to Him. So understand that I will be limiting myself from extended communication with everyone that I love so much back in IA. It would be too easy to fall back and rely on my friends and not God. I must place him at the center and with Him at the center my life, my friends, my relationships, my wife, my kids, my everything, I will prosper for His glory.
It's funny but for this season of my life I desire to struggle. I long to be pushed to my limits emotionally, physically, and most of all spiritually. God must must must be my single source of peace and strength. And for that to happen, for me to fully and completely rely on God, I have to be pushed past the point where no one but God Himself can help me. I desire this and I know in my heart that God desires to see me grow in Him. I need to shed this pride and rip off this outer coating of my heart for Jesus to reign unmatched. This will be one of the hardest times I will ever face and I will struggle and yearn for rest. But it is so necessary that I be here, right here, right now. It's good.
"While we are looking at God, we do not see ourselves--blessed riddance" -Pursuit of God
Everything we are doing here is everything that is on my heart. Jesus is coursing throughout this place and these people. I have never made friends so easily, and already found a person that will most likely be my best friend and is basically me. I'm happy to say that I am looking forward to this year more and more as time goes by.
I will be praying for all you iowans and love you all so much. Please keep me in your prayers cause I will need all the prayer I can get. Please don't pray that my struggles will be easy, pray that they will be tough and God will be faithful to see me through. Miss you all already.
"Jesus you are awesome! I thank you so much for this amazing opportunity to get to know you better and grow with your help. Build in me a desire for your name, a desire to pursue you in every aspect of my life both great and small. Live your life through me so that I can advance your kingdom and be souled out to you. Bless these eight months that I get to live in Colorado, reveal to me who you are, show me the meaning your love, bring me to your throne in awe of you daily. Lord I pray that you bless des moines fellowship, continue to reign in that church as you have so abundantly already. Break down walls, let them openly worship and pray and live for you without fear of what others might be thinking. Bring joy to their hearts and bring them all closer as a church family. Let none be left alone. I pray that there will be struggle and we will look to you as our solitary source of hope, understanding you will finish what you have started. I love you so much and can't thank you enough for this life you have given me. We lay this at your throne, Amen."
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