Tuesday 17 May 2011

Quiet Miracles

Quiet miracles. Like I mentioned in the previous post, God has been showing me how to express gratitude even in the small things, the quiet miracles. Here are a few of them that I've experienced in the last 6 weeks:

1) A check (that equalled the remaining amount due for tuition) that was left on the bunk I chose in my room

2) I was in need of toothpaste for about a week, and had been using some of my roommates'. On May 7th, I went to a festival in downtown Denver, and there was a booth about oral hygiene and they were giving out toothbrushes and toothpaste. So not only did God provide toothpaste for me, but also two new toothbrushes!

3) Upon God's prompting I shared the last provision in our all-base worship time, attributing thanks to God for how He was providing, and declaring my trust for His continued provision - in money for laundry, cell phone bill, car insurance, gas, etc. Later that day, 5 people offered to help out with my laundry, I received 2 anonymous donations of $20, and a check for $50. WOW!!! My friend Yi Rang, also filled up my gas tank!

4) Quality time with a girl in my school who I'd been wanting to get to know better!

5) Prompting and confirmation to do something God's been challenging me to do.

6) Deeper friendship with the girls in my school (as I'm pretty close to a few staff members, but was praying to go deeper with girls in my school). God blessed me with times of one-on-one with several of the girls this past week!


I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:30

Thanksgiving

I know it's not November, when the topic of thanksgiving is more often brought up, but this has been a great theme in my school. The very first week, we were challenged to have a "thankfulness" page, where we could turn to and write down things that came to mind that we are thankful for. Some of the things written down were these:

mercy

friends

poetry

sunshine

green grass

intimacy

clean water

healing

But we were also challenged to go deeper. If we didn't have the luxuries of our lifestyles right now; if we were locked in a dark place being persecuted for our faith, what would we - what would I - be thankful for? Our teacher that week, Mary Jane Powers, asked us to write down heart conditions and the transformation that took place upon receiving Christ's redemption. What did I move from? To? And what Bible verse can express this?

liberation from strongholds to being aligned with the Spirit - 2 Corinthians 10:5

from defensiveness to allowing God to be my vindication - Isaiah 50:7-8

from a wall/prison to safety in Christ's grace - Psalm 84:11-12


My heart has contiued to be awakened to a lifestyle of gratitude. I am learning to continually attribute even the small things, the "quiet miracle", to God, and out of the overflow of my heart joy is expressed!

Saturday 14 May 2011

Korea

Here at YWAM Denver, there is a multicultural DTS (Discipleship Training School) that has a focus on South Korean students. South Korea is the 2nd sending nation for Christian missionaries, and the YWAM bases there have waiting lists for their DTSes. YWAM Denver has made a point to partner with South Korea to train young Christian leaders, by providing a DTS that has Korean translation.
Over the last 6 weeks I have made many Korean friends, and one of my closest is Yi Rang, who is on staff for the MCDTS.

In a couple of our times of intercession (praying on behalf of others), we prayed for the nation of North Korea. It is such an isolated country, and I really knew very little about it before this week. Even Christians in South Korea have an apathetic, and sometimes resentful heart towards North Koreans. But, the Korean students and leaders here have helped us get a glimpse of their culture, and all of our hearts have been softened to the devastation of North Korea's current condition. We are believing for a miraculous revival to come, and I have faith that as we've been fervent to pray this week, God is hearing our cries and pouring out His Spirit on that nation.

Please watch this video and allow God to give you a heart to see change in North Korea also. Please pray for revival and that spiritual strongholds will be broken and demolished by the power and love of Jesus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwwyzpEnK0M