South African soil is our home for not much longer... It's crazy to imagine what we' ve been through these 7 weeks of training! God has been so amazingly faithful! It's with an amazing joyful spirit that we charge into the nations!
February has really been a teaching filled month. After our time in the Transkei, we appreciated the little things so much more, a carpet, flushing toilets and butter with your bread! If one thing, this challenges you on simplicity living – this is a lifestyle I want to adapt in every area of my life. Global Challenge is not just a gap-year.
Upon arriving back in Jeffrey's, from the Transkei, we spent the night in the GLA school. So now, "sleeping on a desk" can be ticked off from my to-do list (and I never even thought of putting it on)!
We hosted Inofest, where 13th Floor, Pneumatix and UCSA come together and shared in each other's ministries. This was an amazing time of prayer! We started every morning with corporate prayer – just focusing on God and seeking His face. You can not bring the presence of God if you can't be in the presence op God. It's not that God showed up. He's always here. When you wait upon Him, earnestly, He will allow you into His presence.
After Inofest we had a weekend off. What a privilege! I was blessed to go to Oubos, a private beach about an hour from Jeffrey's. Most beautiful place in the world! Amazing sunsets, sunrises, walks on the beach, swimming in the lagoon, badminton, playing bowls and even a few tennis games! What a blessing! Most beautiful tennis game of my life – with the sun setting over the sea as background. But wait, there's more. I experienced the first spring tide of my life! The sea was drawn back about 100m. It was such an eerie feeling! Thick mist, the moon blinking through every now and again and walking into the sea, around rocks that are usually barely seen in the water. Amazing!
Back to training! We had a week dedicated to children's ministry. Presented by a lovely couple from White River, Johan and Lenda Muller. God loves kids so much! And He uses them so that we can rediscover life. We spent the mornings learning practical ways to work with the kids; games, songs and storytelling. The afternoons were dedicated to practising what we were taught. We spent some time at Itemba, playing with the kids, laughing with them and just loving on them. They have such an immense need for love! And just giving your time is an incredible gift to them! This might be obvious to you, but it really challenged the way I look at kids. Through God, the same Spirit that is in me, is in a child too. They might experience God differently than me, but they still experience the SAME God!
From there, we moved over to teachings on world missions with Jeff Pike. Wow, does this man know what he's talking about!! It was so inspiring! Not so much because I'm still wondering about the need for ministering to the nations, that's immers why I'm here this year. But more because of the fact that I can (and will) make a difference in the world! There are only 6 non-Christians for every true believer! And only 3 of them are in unreachable places. That feels so do-able!! Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and now that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Finally, the last course on our spiritual training menu: Joe Erwin – The working of the Holy Spirit. What an anointed teacher! Incredible prophet from Scotland with so much love, wisdom and stories. He taught us things and released the Holy Spirit in ways I never knew! I know the Holy Spirit is not always preached in all churches, and in many ways misunderstood, but I can tell you: His power is real! I've never experienced so much constant love, joy and revelation in my life! Joe really likes practical implementation of what he teaches. This had us prophesying over each other, interceding, healing and even singing in tongues. Still, God is a God of peace and order. You can read all about it in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. Understanding God's authority in your life gives you understanding in who you are. And it works all the more in you! What he reveals, He heals. Now just to clarify, the things we learned in this week, doesn't cause us to not sing and worship the songs we did before. It doesn't take away anything from what I was taught and believed in, in the past. What is does is to encourage us and brings us closer to God and grow us deeper in Him. It brings authority and it brings God glory!
Don't only depend on previous lessons from God. Listen to the new things He wants to reveal to you.
Ps. 89:14 "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne, love and faithfulness go before you." And when you follow God, it goes before you as well and you can life your life in it.
If you don't have anything to overcome, you wouldn't have to trust God.
You can't conquer of you're not in a battle.
Temptation is not sin! Your will is the bridge between temptation and sin. If there was no chance for choice, there would be no true love.
The best place you can be, is in God's will!
Gen 12:1 – God first tells you what to leave, before He tells you where to go.
Give an offering from your life that actually costs you something. Never give God something that you got for free. Bring Him the best! Testify out of the overflow in your life, but sacrifice what's most important. He sees your heart and will reward you for it!
God wants to do more than change the world this year, He wants to change me too!
Please pray with me:
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For our first country, Brazil. We're flying out on Sunday, 6 March. Pray that our hearts will break for the people of the nations, that the soil will be prepared and we'll be willing instruments in God's hands. We're arriving in the middle of the Carnival, so please pray for divine appointments.
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That I might have a teachable spirit and a willing heart to step out of my comfort zone and share the good news to a world in need.
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Finances that still needs to come in. Deut 28:12 "The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none." God spoke it, so I'm ready to receive!
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For my role in our small group, the yellow team. That I might lead them as Jesus did, with a true servant heart.
With all that said, it's time to remove our training wheels and start the journey. I can't wait to share it with you, world-wide!
Blessings!
Linel*