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HouseMates

Shabbat

Birthday chocolates!

Seaside reflections…

Birthday picture

Snow day

For those of you who prayed for me on Friday morning, thank you. It was an amazing time of sharing the revelation that God had put on my heart to share. I entitled my message ‘The One Thing’ talking from Romans 5. I talks about how one man entered the world and brought sin condemnation and death. Then one man entered the world and brought life, justification and love. Stating that every violent act demands a response. The act of living, dying and rising again is violent as it goes against the flow and what is our response. Our response is to be empowered by his love and to reciprocate this love to him and then to others. I was inspired to write a small piece of prose. It is a little personal, yet it reflects the work that God is beginning to do in my life – He is softening my heart and helping me to be more vulnerable. I am not a finished work, i’m just learning how to love him and others better each day.

I’m in Love, in love with the one man who will never let me down, never lose control, never leave me or give up on me. In fact he sees me as beautiful. When he looks on me my heart is captured and I faint with anticipation. He looks at me and his eyes are intense with beauty. He was there when I was formed, in fact he took part in the planning of my life.

He loves me with a love that will not fail. This love is patient – waiting for me to reciprocate. He shows me kindness, leading me to repentance so soft and with no condemnation. Self seeking is not his nature, he constantly looks out for me, in all that I turn my hand to.

True love.

A Love that stops my thoughts, steals my heart, shakes my world; destroys my ideals, drives me crazy, makes me want to cry, run shout, laugh, sing, dance, my heart has been won by him. Mind, Emotions, will all captured and enthralled by him. When I close my eyes he’s there, wooing me into a dance, inviting me to join him. He is enthralled by my beauty, passionate about my life, his eyes do not divert – he has one fixed gaze – for his bride to be. You see, with all the passion he loves me as an individual, he also loves his church – he is passionate about them, his eyes are fixed on her. He existed for the one. You see there is you – the one, then his bride – the body of believers, the nation of Israel only one, yes only one.

On Sunday, a group from the community went down to Limassol to share Jesus and see what happens. The 2^nd years, Interns and some staff all went. We were encouraged to seek God for treasures. Just before I left Scotland, I was at a conference and bought a book called The Ultimate Treasure Hunt by Kevin Dedmon. The book is about asking God to show you treasures, writing them down and then going on a treasure hunt to find them. Once you find a treasure, the idea is that you share Jesus and God’s love and pray a blessing over them dependent on how the Holy Spirit leads. I was really excited as God had given me a few names/treasures in a dream.

We arrived in Limassol and broke up into teams of 3 or 4 and went searching for treasures. After a few conversations, we saw a man with a cast on his arm – I had seen in my dream someone sleeping and they were given an injection to their hand and immediately they woke up. We approached the man and after a few moments asked if we could pray for him. He was very hesitant and his English was not great, but he allowed us to pray for him. After we prayed he said his arm still felt the same, however his whole countenance had changed from sullen to smiling – he felt the love and compassion of Jesus for him!

Later on we all met up to exchange stories, we discovered that 4 different people from our group had felt led to pray for him. A few moments later, he came to us with an older man who knew a lot more English, we asked if he felt better and when he said it was still the same, we asked if we could pray for him again. This time he was so happy and God was clearly doing a deeper work that just healing his arm. The older man engaged in conversation with one of the intern students who has a huge burden for Iran. It turns out that this man is from Iran. It was a great time of sharing the Good news and seeing God’s hand at work.

Another week in the life of GTS II, I have enjoyed our week of teaching from Matt (our trusted leader!) Diving into the topic of our destiny and calling. The week was a little unfinished as we had a surprise visitor who took a morning session. Dan from Canada, a leader from the conference that is happening in Limassol in May with John and Ann Arnaud and Heidi Baker.

This week, I have found new depth of peace and love from God. God is so good and His love for me is so vast. I am excited to hear His voice speak clearer and stronger in my life. It is exciting and challenging to be in this environment of accelerated growth. On Saturday night at worship, I watched the under 5 year old kids – it was a new experience for me 8 children of various stages all at once. I went into worship later and it was really hard to connect with what was happening, however towards the end of the session, Mrs Rudolph was challenging us to be let God take more control of our lives and to allow the Holy Spirit to move in and through our lives in a deeper way. The presence of God was so peaceful and I was so blessed by the time that at the end I didn’t want to leave the worship room. I was not alone in this thought and so a few others sat in the presence of God for a good 15mins – it was very sweet. At the end of that time Mrs Rudolph spoke to me and I realised that during my time at home, I had allowed my flesh to take more control of my life and neglected God. I spent some time repenting to God and receiving forgiveness – it was amazing. Thanks be to God! Teaching us this week is Asher Intrader, he taught us last year with authority and great revelation. Today he was exhorting us about the father’s love for us.

Coming up this week for your prayers on Friday, I preach to my fellow students for 20mins. All of the second year students are to preach out of Romans, right now I am looking closely at the content of chapter 5 and seeing what revelation unfolds as I meditate and hold dear these words of Paul. Also on Wednesday, we are having an evening in Limassol where Asher is going to speak and we will do the worship which will be great.

Praise for this week:
Physical rain – the island still needs tons of water!
Personal health and strength

Prayers for this week:
Receive more from God
Preaching on Friday
Rain for the Island both Spiritual and Physical
Physical health and strength

CYPRUS 2009

The travel here was really easy. I am exctied by what God has already begun here and enjoying the lifestyle again. Our schedule feels a lot more relaxed this year, however the class times are a lot less spoon fed and a lot more research based. Mon- Fri in the mornings we have class with different teachers which is great. This week Matt is teaching us on destiny, calling and spiritual giftings which, so far, has been great and very intense. A lot of introspective thinking!

In the afternoon, we have various sessions. Monday is Research of different countries for more effective prayer. The country I am researching is Gybralta – small island i know! It should be really interesting. Tuesday we have living room sessions, when we spend an afternoon with one of the leadership couples and can have discussions based around a topic. Wednesday we have small groups. Thursdays we have our bible study time which we are going through the book of Romans – should be great! Friday we have lifeskills class which we will learn different things about life and ministry. The usual Saturday day off and Sunday for outdoor pursuits and other things as they come up.

Celebrated my birthday in style, the house all had breakfast together which was great. Then in the afternoon my class (all 6 of us) plus Serah and Rachel went down into Limassol and shopped for a wee while, then walked along the beach to the pier taking pictures and enjoying each other’s company. We finished our time by getting Coffee/hot chocolate and then headed back for our first Saturday night worship. Worship was amazing, the Spirit of God fell and really touched and began a work of healing in many of the student’s lives. I felt God’s presence in a real way and the smile of God on my life. At the shabbat meal, the guys all dressed up in mock kilts and with their best Scottish accents sang Happy Birthday to me. It was hilarious – I was laughing so hard! Pictures are to follow as I did not take any so still waiting on receiving some.

Prayer requests:
Up coming Israel Trip (5th March-5th April approximately)
Good relationships to continue amoungst all the students and staff
Maintain Good health
Deepening of my relationship with God

Thanks for:
Safe Travelling both for me and my luggage
A great first week of learning
Great weather (not as cold, however seeing a lot of rain which is good for the land)