YWAM Support Letter Blog Style.

Hello friends and family!

            Thank you for taking the time to open this letter and hopefully read it. If you haven’t heard already from either myself or some form of social media, God has recently spoke to me and changed my current path in life. Instead of returning to Kennesaw State University in the fall of 2014, I will be attending YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Discipleship Training School over in Derby, England. The training consists of a lecture phase that is coupled with urban mission work that lasts from September-May. After that we will leave for another location overseas in Europe to take part in international missions from May-June. This is how YWAM describes the lecture phase: “Alongside our urban mission, our Discipleship Training gives you teaching 2 days each week, focused on getting to know God personally, deeply and making him known. These teachings include The Character & Nature of God, Father Heart of God, Sin & Repentance, Worship, Intercession, Hearing God's Voice, Evangelism, Spiritual Warfare, Identity in Christ, Faith & Finances, and equip us in the adventure that is our relationship with God and fulfilling the purposes he has prepared for us to do. The teaching application takes place in a variety of interactive learning styles that includes serving with us in outreach & mission in Derby, small group discussion, Prayer, intercession and hearing God's voice, worship, practical work, as well as you being given responsibilities and tasks to lead and implement for the rest of the team.” What more can you ask for?! I cannot even begin to describe how excited I am to venture onto this path that God has put forth for me. He has called me to go to England and experience Him in a whole new way and experience His creation. What am asking of you fantastic people that God has so graciously put into my life is to help financially and spiritually. The total cost of the training will total at approximately $11,000. Now I know that is a lot, but there is absolutely nothing that God cannot do. I am not even the least bit concerned that finances will be an issue because God always comes through if it is in His will. Whatever you are able to give, I humbly ask you for. If you are unable to give or if you feel God is not calling you to give, then I ask for love and prayers. I ask that you spiritually aid me in this journey and just keep me in your thoughts and prayers as God takes me on this journey. I will be updating the status of the whole process on my new blog at www.andrewtcouch.blogspot.com. Feel free to read it and follow along with me. God has showed His unconditional acceptance in choosing me to carry His great and everlasting name overseas to Derby England just as He did with Paul and His other disciples. It is not by anything that I have done in which I have earned His grace, but it simply and beautifully His grace alone that I am embarking on this journey with God. And I will, as it says in 2 Peter 1, make every effort to grow closer to God and know Him more. If you feel inclined and called to give, send me an email at andrewtcouch@gmail.com and I will send you an address at which I can receive your donation.

”For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.” 1 Corinthians 15:9-11

In Him,

Andrew Couch

I'm Not Sure What To Do With My Hands

What a day at Passion City Church today. A beautiful night of worship with music off of the new album. I am truly in awe of God everyday that I so undeservingly am allowed to walk His beautiful creation. "Arms open wide, You saved my life. At the Cross I surrender my life and I owe all to You." "At The Cross" may possibly be my favorite track off of the new record entitled "Take It All." My hope is found in the cross. My hope is found in Jesus rising from the dead and conquering the grave. Paul says that if Jesus was not raised from the dead then our faith is futile and we are still in our sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17). I am not going to try and elaborate much on this passage of scripture because I think it pretty much speaks for itself. Christ rising from the dead is the cornerstone of our faith. If it not be true, then we are wasting our lives and are foolish. But the glorious part is, He did. And it was beautiful. He was crucified on a garbage dump. And it was hideous yet beautiful. Grace is the most gorgeous thing ever. Like come on now. I just need to remind myself sometimes that "WOW. He did that. He really did that. He loves me that much. I killed Him. My sins. My transgressions. And yet He drank from the cup of God's wrath instead of me." Praise Him for that you know?

I am not really sure where I am going with this currently. I am on little sleep but felt compelled to just write. I have had an absolutely phenomenal past couple of weeks and God is truly changing the vector that represents my life. You know, like the villain in Despicable Me? "Direction AND magnitude!" God is constantly shaping our situations and creating divine appointments for us to glorify Him and to fit our lives into His will. I think that is fantastic. He is ultimately sovereign and that is exactly the way it should be. He is God. I am not. That's it. I am kind of rambling now but I just wanted y'all to not forget how incredible our God is. His grace is a sea without a shore. I love you all. Praise Jesus on this day and every single day after.

Easter Sunday Funday

Well Hoppy Easter everybody! If you think that is a typo then you obviously don't have a sense of humor like I do. Or maybe I am just a complete doofus (just asked my brother how to spell doofus so that gives you a better idea on how to answer that question). I ate three bagels this morning so there is that. Eating habits are pretty solid I think. Did I mention I am currently listening to the David Crowder Christmas album? It's April. Alright I moved rooms. Now sitting on a couch. Yes Andrew Couch is sitting on a couch. So how was your Easter Sunday so far everyone? I realize that this is a rhetorical question as I am typing words onto a website and not in an actual conversation. I'll be right back, going to grab some jelly beans.Okay I am back. SO GOOD. Anyway, let's get to what really matters. Jesus. Today is Easter. What does that mean? That means that Jesus Christ, rose from the dead. Paul said that if Christ did not rise from the dead than we have wasted our lives. The cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ are the two cohesive events that define our faith as followers in Christ. I am going to kind of piggy back off of what my pastor Louie Giglio talked about today at our Easter Sunday gathering by simply using the same section of scripture. I was going to basically just give you some notes from todays sermon but I won't be doing that because God is telling me write something else. Well first, I just want to take a second and say that I am so grateful to God for creating the situations in my life in which I would end up at my home Passion City Church. I absolutely adore serving as a Door Holder and being a part of the choir. It is truly my home and where I belong. Back to scripture. "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed." 1 Corinthians 15:3-10Now let's dissect this a little bit. First of all, Jesus specifically stayed on this Earth for 40 days after His resurrection to go and tell others that He was alive. He didn't just show a few people either. It says that after He talked to the twelve disciples, He saw and spoke to over 500 people. He wasn't trying to keep this a secret. Jesus is pursuing you. He wasn't trying to keep the fact that He had DEFEATED DEATH a secret. Jesus had specifically designed to tell over 500 people about what had happened and show them that He lives and show them the scars. Jesus chose the disciples for a reason. It is no coincidence that they were just so willing to go. Jesus chose them. "Follow me." He said to them. Now I want to specifically look at verses 9 and 10. Paul says that he was the last person that Jesus talked to before He ascended back into heaven. And what does Paul have to say about that? "Hahaha Jesus chose me. I am better than you all." How about, "I guess He saved the best for last." No. Paul says, "I am the least of the apostles and not even fit to be called one. BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM." Are you serious? Giving all the credit to God? Come on Paul you had to have done something right to deserve this right? Wrong. Paul, just like the rest of us had not done anything extra special to earn the love of Jesus. This is what we call "unconditional acceptance". Jesus Christ chose Paul. A man who regularly persecuted Christians. He hated the church and wanted absolutely nothing to do with Jesus and yet he was chosen to lead a ministry to make the name of Jesus famous and to help build the bride of Christ that is the church. Paul then goes on to say that God's election of Him would not prove to be vain. He references this fact again in Philippians 2:16 "Holding fast the word of life so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain." God's grace to Paul would not go to waste. Paul got to work. He worked harder and did more teaching on our savior Jesus Christ than anyone else who followed Him. And again, Paul makes it clear that it was only because of Christ working in him that he was able to carry out the ministry of Jesus as effectively as he did. 

What I take from this is a call. What are we doing with our time here on Earth. Our lives is described as flash. Over before you know it. God has a purpose for all of us. Will you be like Paul? Dedicating your life to Jesus? I am not saying that everyone who follows Jesus has to be a pastor or a theologian like John Piper. We aren't all gifted the same way. I am saying that God is calling you to do "immeasurably more" in Christ. No matter what you are being called to by God, you do it and you do it with your highest efforts. Look at 2 Peter. 

"Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control,perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, theyrender you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For hewho lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosingyou; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble ; for in this way the entranceinto the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you." 2 Peter 1:5-11

Do not waste your time here on Earth. Celebrate that He died so that we may live and that He is risen every single day of your life. Make every effort to not only better your own knowledge and understanding but as Matthew 28:19 says, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit." Do what God calls you to do and glorify Him in the highest in whatever that may be.

P.S. I use NAS translation for all scriptures posted unless stated otherwise. 

P.P.S. Happy Easter!

Life

Well hello everyone, or more likely the two people that will actually take the time out of their day to read this. I have been wanting to start a blog for a little while now but as a result of life and stuff (Netflix and eating) I have put it off until now. I woke up this morning to my alarm and hit the snooze four times before I finally got up. Have you ever read Proverbs 20:13? If you haven't that is okay because it is my least favorite verse if I ever had one. "Do not love sleep, or you will become poor; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food." Do not love sleep. C'mon man. With that being said, I will say that sleep is amazing and a gift from God. Even God rested. But alas, like with all else that the flesh does to us, we cannot become a slave to it or let it dictate us. I like sleep but I don't love it. I just like it. I really like it. Like really really like it. Particularly in the middle of the day for an hour. #NapTime. Anyway, let's talk about Jesus now. I recently have been accepted into the YWAM DTS over in Derby, England. And it's apparently pronounced Darby and not with an e sound. English language is strange. I digress. Jesus has called me to attend DTS in Derby, England beginning in September of this year and I am beyond excited to see where Jesus takes me. It is going to be beyond incredible and the way He continues to work in my life is beyond any measure given to me by man. Infinity times infinity plus infinity and then infinity squared is a rough estimate of the amount of love and grace that I have so unconditionally been given. Unconditional acceptance is a beautiful thing isn't it? He truly makes beautiful things out of us and out of dust. Thank you Gungor for such a beautiful worship song. What I am asking of my friends and loved ones is prayer. If you all can just continually keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I go through this journey in my life that would be fantastic. I am not going to demand you all give me money because that isn't who I am and I know God will provide me with the means to go through with this chapter in my life. I do want you all to be a part of this journey with me however. If that means God is calling you to give, then do so. If He is calling you to walk through this with me strictly through prayer, then do so. Whatever God is calling you to do, I say do. If giving is something you feel called to do, then email me, call me, text me, or send a carrier pigeon to my house. I love you all and have an amazing day and week during this Good Friday and Easter week. Speaking of which, don't forget about Good Friday. Some of us just want to jump straight to the part where Jesus rises from the dead. We can't do that though. Don't forget that Jesus was made the victim so that we can be saved from our transgressions and dive into the beautiful relationship with God that is the New Covenant.

Email: andrewtcouch@gmail.com