Something I just want to go ahead and say that I am so thankful for while being here is how I have so much more time. I have so few distractions. I have already found myself reading the scriptures so much more often and really having the chance to spend so much more time with God and truly grow in my knowing of who He is and growing my own personal relationship with my glorious savior Yeshua.
What have we done this week here at YWAM Urban Missions DTS here in Derby, England you might ask? Well, one thing that has really stuck out for me personally so far is how we really went through and dissected prayer. What does prayer really mean. Interceding when we pray and truly hearing God's voice. It was very encouraging to just sit and pray for long and extended periods of time and not praying for stuff we want or think we need but praying what God desires us to. I am so grateful to have a savior who pursues me and is ultimately sovereign over all. Thank You God for Your incomparable grace and indelible righteousness.
It has already been such a fantastic in simply growing with my leaders and fellow trainees. Our small group here is just absolutely amazing and on fire with and for Jesus. I am so grateful to God for blessing me with such amazing people here that love Jesus and are simply so dedicated to making His great name famous and building His kingdom. Today was actually one of my favorite days so far. We took about a 35 minute train ride into Derbyshire and hiked up a trail alongside a little mountain. After about 20 minutes of being semi ratchet I finally got this picture to attach to this post. ANYWAYYYYY, it was truly remarkable to just walk in the country and along these beaten paths and simply rest in the glory of God. His creation is absolutely remarkable and you know what is amazing?! Heaven is going to be (sooooooooo) * (infinity) much better! Thank goodness for technology so that even though I am all the way across an entire ocean I can still listen to the messages that our pastor Louie brings every Sunday. So grateful for such a wonderful leader.
I want to just take a moment to thank everyone who has been praying for me, and who financially supported me. There is absolutely no way I could have gotten here with the generosity and care of my loved ones. Your support and encouragement through both prayer and financially has made the difference. (Mainly because if I didn't have enough money then I couldn't go to the school)
But seriously, I can feel the prayers from everyone. Thank you so much. My true gratitude could not possibly be measured by any words typed on a computer.
Now, I also wanted to just briefly share one of my study sessions with God from this week. Rachel (You know Rachel. My amazing and wonderful lady) are doing a reading plan together through the four gospels, Acts, and Romans. So at one point during the week I found myself studying in Romans 2.
The overall theme of the first sixteen verses in wonderfully laid out by the brilliant John MacArthur as follows:
Having demonstrated the sinfulness of the immoral pagan (1:18-32), Paul presents his case against the religious moralist-Jew or Gentile-by cataloging 6 principles that govern God's judgment:
1. Knowledge (verse 1)
2. Truth (verses 2-3)
3. Guilt (verses 4-5)
4. Deeds (verses 6-10)
5. Impartiality (verses 11-15)
6. Motive (verse 16)
So thankful for you John MacArthur. While I was reading chapter 2 of Romans, the main thing that stuck out to me was verses 6-10. The scriptures always teach that salvation is NOT the basis of salvation.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8
Paul describes the deeds of two distinct groups: the redeemed (verses 7 and 10) and the unredeemed (verses 8 and 9). The deeds of the redeemed are not the basis of their salvation but the evidence of it. We are not perfect by any means and in fact are prone to sin, but there is undeniable evidence of righteousness in their lives. James 2:14-20 plainly in black and white tells us this. We have a call from God. That call may not all be the same for everyone. Not everyone is a pastor. Not everyone is called to go live in Africa in a hut and preach the gospel to people who have never heard the name of Jesus. However, we all are made to glorify God in absolutely everything. He is the only One that is deserving of the glory in anything in life. I greatly encourage you all to read Romans 2 with the outline of the principles of divine judgment written above and study it that way. I know for me it made reading and studying this particular portion of scripture much more effective and purposeful.
Thanks again to all who have been praying and interceding in this season of my life! I love you all.
It has already been such a fantastic in simply growing with my leaders and fellow trainees. Our small group here is just absolutely amazing and on fire with and for Jesus. I am so grateful to God for blessing me with such amazing people here that love Jesus and are simply so dedicated to making His great name famous and building His kingdom. Today was actually one of my favorite days so far. We took about a 35 minute train ride into Derbyshire and hiked up a trail alongside a little mountain. After about 20 minutes of being semi ratchet I finally got this picture to attach to this post. ANYWAYYYYY, it was truly remarkable to just walk in the country and along these beaten paths and simply rest in the glory of God. His creation is absolutely remarkable and you know what is amazing?! Heaven is going to be (sooooooooo) * (infinity) much better! Thank goodness for technology so that even though I am all the way across an entire ocean I can still listen to the messages that our pastor Louie brings every Sunday. So grateful for such a wonderful leader.
I want to just take a moment to thank everyone who has been praying for me, and who financially supported me. There is absolutely no way I could have gotten here with the generosity and care of my loved ones. Your support and encouragement through both prayer and financially has made the difference. (Mainly because if I didn't have enough money then I couldn't go to the school)
But seriously, I can feel the prayers from everyone. Thank you so much. My true gratitude could not possibly be measured by any words typed on a computer.
Now, I also wanted to just briefly share one of my study sessions with God from this week. Rachel (You know Rachel. My amazing and wonderful lady) are doing a reading plan together through the four gospels, Acts, and Romans. So at one point during the week I found myself studying in Romans 2.
The overall theme of the first sixteen verses in wonderfully laid out by the brilliant John MacArthur as follows:
Having demonstrated the sinfulness of the immoral pagan (1:18-32), Paul presents his case against the religious moralist-Jew or Gentile-by cataloging 6 principles that govern God's judgment:
1. Knowledge (verse 1)
2. Truth (verses 2-3)
3. Guilt (verses 4-5)
4. Deeds (verses 6-10)
5. Impartiality (verses 11-15)
6. Motive (verse 16)
So thankful for you John MacArthur. While I was reading chapter 2 of Romans, the main thing that stuck out to me was verses 6-10. The scriptures always teach that salvation is NOT the basis of salvation.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8
Paul describes the deeds of two distinct groups: the redeemed (verses 7 and 10) and the unredeemed (verses 8 and 9). The deeds of the redeemed are not the basis of their salvation but the evidence of it. We are not perfect by any means and in fact are prone to sin, but there is undeniable evidence of righteousness in their lives. James 2:14-20 plainly in black and white tells us this. We have a call from God. That call may not all be the same for everyone. Not everyone is a pastor. Not everyone is called to go live in Africa in a hut and preach the gospel to people who have never heard the name of Jesus. However, we all are made to glorify God in absolutely everything. He is the only One that is deserving of the glory in anything in life. I greatly encourage you all to read Romans 2 with the outline of the principles of divine judgment written above and study it that way. I know for me it made reading and studying this particular portion of scripture much more effective and purposeful.
Thanks again to all who have been praying and interceding in this season of my life! I love you all.
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