The Blurr...

Hello Beautiful Family & Friends,
Well I have titled this blog "the blurr" because that was the month of January for me. I did a course called the Titus Project which is trains graduate students from the School of Biblical Studies in teaching and preaching skills. The goal is for those students to then take Bible teaching to places where there is great need. The school consists of a 3 week training period and a 2 month overseas outreach. In the training time several teachings are given on subjects such as Preparing a teaching, Presenting a teaching, the seven intelligences and learning styles, how to teach inductive bible method & bible overview, teaching oral communicators, etc.
I did the 3 week training course but did not attend the outreach portion for various reasons. During this school I felt so equipped for teaching God's word, it was an experience that taught me a variety of things and helped me to improve my teaching skills in so many ways, based on several different evaluations that were given to me from staff and other classmates. We gave several teachings within the training course and I felt incredibly blessed by each time, even the ones that were more of a struggle for me to get through.
I really learned a lot about myself during this school, I learned that I have a new sense of what I am doing for God here in Taiwan, that I am called to several things here but in the aspect of being a bible teacher I have an excitement in my heart that is growing each and every day. During the school there was a call to surrender everything that you are to God, whatever that looks like even if it were death would we be willing to give up our lives for the sake of the Gospel, and I stood that day, believe that I would have that complete faith in God that if that time came I would be willing to give up everything for the sake of making His name known, so my prayer in that is for true strength and courage that when I face those times, I would stand by the commitment I made.
One other pretty incredible thing that God has been teaching me is on the topic of reconciliation, during Titus we taught through the book of Philemon, and we also gave a sermon, mine was done on reconciliation...and nothing really hit me that hard while doing that, but it was after Titus had finished (and I had time to breathe) that I was reading through a book that was based on forgiveness and reconciliation, and I realized I had a huge area in my heart that was holding onto relationships in a way that was incredibly unhealthy and I began to sit down and pray & cry as God was showing me these relationships in my life that I needed to reconcile...needless to say after many hours and days I was able to write some incredibly important letters to these people & have seen God doing some restoration that is true and real. I am so thankful that God is doing this in my life, sometimes its just a matter of being obedient, even when it is PAINFUL.
Although I could talk for a lot longer I don't want to keep you reading my blog for hours on end.
So I will close with a couple prayer requests:
1. That I would continue learning to speak Chinese & become a successful Mandarin Speaker :)
2. The God would continue providing for me financially! Praise God for all he has given me so far!
3. That Relationships in my life here would continue to grow and deepen & my relationships back home would sustain all that they are--that I could really find the balance in both area's.
4. That my relationship with God would continue to be first in my heart & that I would know him in greater ways each day.
5. That God would really be with my family as I am so far away from them, that God would comfort all of us & bridge that separation until we can see each other again.
6. Praying for Money to buy a Moto :) (I know that scares some of you) ha.

PRAISE REPORT:
1. My relationship with someone very important in my life is being restored & I am so thankful for that! :)
2. God has shown himself faithful to me EACH DAY!
3. I get to see my friend Saul in March, he's coming for a visit!

Happy New Year!!!

I love seeing how God is working so deep in each and every one of us. Last night a group of us had a worship and prayer time on my roof top here in DanShui, worshiping God for His incredible faithfulness in our lives. God is so overwhelming, he is so worthy of our lives. Our lives are but a breath, and that we can use those lives to give God our EVERYTHING, He is so worthy. Each one of our hearts were crying our for God to plant his dreams and desires deep within us for this next year, that we would follow after Him without ceasing. That our Spirits would be willing, even when our flesh is weak..why? because he is worthy.
As I look ahead to this new year I see a God that hears our prayers, a God that's love is so deep for his children he is reaching out for us just to take his hand. He is God who is my strength when I feel weak, a God full of mercy and grace when I fail and make mistakes. That I would have a WILLING heart this next year to do what he asks, that obedience would be deep within me, that no matter what I am facing that I would walk forward without hesitation because I see Him who I serve. That I would love AS my Father loves and I would love WHO my Father loves. I am believing God for big things in my life as I step into 2010, that is what I challenge you with as well, to believe that you can dream big and live out those things that He has planted so deep within your heart. His Glory Dwells within YOU! Find ways to practically walk out what he asks of you. I wish you all a Happy New Year, and pray that you would see God at work in your life.

December 26

Hey Guys!
Well I have have been in Taiwan almost 2 Months now. Since being here I have been in Chinese Language learning classes, and can now speak a very small amount Chinese. I am adjusting to living here in this beautiful place, It has definitely been a journey for me. Leaving a home of 5 years wasn't an easy move, but I have experienced so much of God's peace and presence in such a deep way that I know I wouldn't have known without stepping out and fully trusting in Him to sustain me in my weakness. I finally have my feet planted in a direction it seems, which I am really looking forward to. I will be taking the Lecture Phase of the Titus program, which will basically teach me how to teach, things such as inductive bible method overview, and books of the bible. This will then benefit me to staff the upcoming School of Biblical Studies that begins in March, which is a 9 month School, where students study through each book of the bible 5 times using the inductive method. As staff for that school I will have different responsibilities from teaching books of the bible, to grading students homework, leading a small group, etc. I am really excited to see what God is going to do not only in my own life but in each and every student and staff he brings.
I just celebrated my first Christmas in Taiwan and had an incredible time I feel so blessed to be here, and am loving getting to know my new YWAM family.
Merry Christmas to you all.
As always I am beyond thankful to have the support I have in my life, amazing family & friends, prayer support, financial support...I couldn't do any of this without those elements in my life.
Blessings!