Lesson from Haggai

This week we are doing a survey of the entire Bible. So far it is probably my favorite week of the DTS.

This morning we read the book of Haggai and I found it very applicable to us now. Haggai's message was to call the people to rebuild the temple. He gets their attention by pointing out how they work hard but somehow they never have enough. It is like their money bag has holes. How often have we felt this way?! We work hard. Sometimes the money just doesn't cover all we want, like a new pair of shoes, or even what we need. 

God tells them that they never have enough because He is blowing it away. Why? They cared more about their own homes and needs then God's. But, when the people  changed their ways and were obedient to God and invested in building His temple God encouraged them to be strong and to not fear. He reminded them that He is with them and He blessed them with His glory and His peace.

I just thought this is a cool message for us today. We need to remember to surrender our finances to God rather than chasing after financial security, because ultimately it is Him who provides for our needs.

Blessings!

Week at an Evangelical Convent

This past week I had the opportunity to go to an evangelical convent called Kanaan. It was really cool. I had a bedroom to myself which was really nice change after sharing a room with 8 other girls. It was also a really refreshing week of contemplating on all that Jesus has done for us and just taking time to smell the roses. There were roses everywhere--different kinds and colours and they smelled so wonderful. 

The following are a couple of quotes that spoke to me this week from Mother Basilea Schlink:  
 
"I never want the Holy Spirit to have to tell me something twice."

"My gift of love has no equal. But there is one condition: that you make room for it... Empty your heart of everything filling it, and you will find the most valuable gift, the most wonderful gift in all the world: a love relationship between you and Me--the deepest, closest, purest, holiest and strongest possible. Surrender all else, and you will find it!" My All For Him page 28

"Jesus as Love everlasting

Descended from on high

To show to sinful beings

The way of love divine.

Jesus as Love everlasting

Enkindled many souls

To dedicate their everything 

For love of Him alone.

Jesus with love still seeking

For hearts aglow with love

Their lives and longings yielding

To Him who's from above.

Once more the Saviour is knocking

At every heart and door.

Oh, can't you hear Him pleading,

Accept me as your Lord."

My All For Him page 28-29

And here are some pictures:

Picking apples to help the sisters get all the apples off the trees before the frost. They have so many apple trees and other fruits and veggies too.

 A view of part of their property.

They publish material to share the Gospel in so many languages around the world. It is really awesome to see it all. I even found a bookmark in Khmer but I couldn't read it...as it has been too long.

Here are some of the sisters leading worship.

 Here is a picture of myself and two of the sisters who are from Canada.

Two girls from our team in their main chapel where we went for a liturgical prayer service every day.

Here is another picture of some of the grounds.

They have a special path where you can walk through and reflect on the suffering and resurrection of Jesus. It is a really cool experience to go through each station and really reflect on Jesus' actions and what they mean for us today.

 

 

 

 

It was an amazing week! I recommend checking out this place if you are ever in Germany and remembering the sisters (and there are a couple of brothers too) in prayer for all the work they do to bring Christ's love to this world.

Happy thanksgiving!

Happy thanksgiving!

This week the topic was on the father heart of God and it was very good. Last weekend I found myself dealing with painful memories and I was wondering why God was showing them to me. This week felt like God was bringing healing to the repressed pain just because He loves me. It is really cool to be reminded of how much God loves us. The scripture verse that I keep coming back to is 1 John 3:1a "See what kind of love the Father has given to us in that we should be called God's children, and that is what we are!" (CEV) God really loves us! He loves us so very much! I am so grateful to have parents who have shown me a reflection of the Father's love!

May you have a blessed thanksgiving!

Some Photos of our DTS Group

Identity!

Who am I? How did I become the person that I am today? What has shaped me? This week our lectures were on identity and it was a really good reminder of who I am. It is so easy for us to look to others to shape who we are- to constantly seek the approval of others. Past hurts and feelings of rejections, unforgiveness, and bitterness take root in our lives and begin to shape who we are. 

A couple of months ago i was at the gym doing some stretches and I looked into the mirror and I did not like the person looking back at me. I saw all my flaws. My eyes were void of joy. I felt trapped and disappointed with life. I wondered how I got to this place. How did I lose my joy for life? How did I become this person that I didn't like looking back at me in the mirror? I remember crying to God to restore His joy in me and to help me be the person He wants me to be. 

This week really spoke to me. The core message was that our value has to be found in God. It's a simple Sunday school message but it was a good reminder. I don't need to find acceptance by constantly doing things and trying to achieve and impress. I don't have to prove myself to anyone because I am loved and accepted by God. I have listened to all the negative words spoken over me and have worked so hard to try to prove that they are wrong. I was told I was lazy, selfish, stupid etc... some were lies i told myself. I have been living my life trying to prove that these lies are wrong. I felt like a failure in relationships so I felt like I needed to prove that I was strong and could do it on my own. To show that I wasn't lazy I tried working hard and taking on more then I could handle because then everyone could see that I am not lazy. In the end I just felt like a failure because I could not live up to my own expectations for myself. I became a miserable person who would lash out at those I loved the most. 

It is freeing to know that my identity is received not achieved. "In all of this, i remember that success or failure changes nothing about who I am... I must remember that my sin means I couldn't prove myself worthy even if I wanted to, but that Jesus has done everything for me. There is nothing for me to prove to anyone if I am in Christ." (Author unknown)

Tag der Deutschen Einheit

Yesterday we celebrated the anniversary of the reunification of East and West Germany. In our castle evening a couple people shared their experience growing up in the east. They shared about the role of prayer in bringing about this change in their nation. One person brought a piece of the wall to show us. It was really cool to share in celebrating the day of unity. I am so grateful for the freedom I have known.