INASTINA

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free —and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

God made it clear to me that I need my DTS students and staff to be able to grow. They are my family now while I’m in SA. I did not no how independent I am, to realize that hurts. But we need each other so we can grow in faith, love and character. We are all part of the body of Christ, if one part is missing the body is dysfunctional. 

On sunday some of us in the DTS where listening to a teaching by Francis Chan. He talked about the bible and the importance of reading it for ourself. So we really get to know what is God’s word and truth, so we can discern what comes from God and what comes from the devil.

Another thing God brought up that is important is that we pray for revelation, so we can understand Gods word while we read the bible. But we need revelation of God’s true nature too, His love, grace, goodness, kindness, faithfulness to us. I’m praying for revelation about God’s grace and love in my own life and heart.

I’m having a great time in South Africa. I have the opportunity to do the DTS with a group of awesome people. We have had teaching about the values of YWAM, the word of God and relationships. God is already doing a lot of work in all of us, but He has so much more in store for us. God is teaching all of us new things about Himself. What I really like about YWAM is that the leadership points out that we have all things to learn so the leaders are not above us but learning with us.

God aches for us! During worship one morning I feel this huge ache inside of me, a longing for more of God and everything He has prepared for us. After a while I felt that trough this ache God wants me to know, and all of us, that He aches for us. I had a hard time feeling the ache, but what I realized was that God ache for us is so much bigger and that we would not be able to handle that ache.

View from mountains in Worcester.

The theme for this year is prayer, to get more rooted in God and who I am in Him. To keep getting reminded of the theme I have made a tumbler (I think that is the right word for it) decorated with words. 

Thank You Jesus for providing us with what we need. Teach us to put all our trust in You, only You.