Well I'm finally back with another update. It's been a bit over a month, and I've been meaning to write in here every other week but unfortunately I was without internet until late last week; my apologies for not keeping you all up to date, but thank you for being interested and praying in the meantime.
The last few weeks have been fantastic. I've been tested and challenged a lot on a bunch of different subjects and areas; I'll recount what I can, there's quite a bit that's happened, though, so I'll be try to be concise.
Since the last time I updated we've had a teachings on songwriting, the tabernacles of David and Moses' and various teachings on worship in general (go figure). The lady who taught us songwriting, Karla Adolphe, is an absolutely phenomenal teacher, and an even better artist, which is saying a lot, and she made songwriting a very attainable thing for me, who has never done any songwriting at all. By the end of the week I was feeling very comfortable with songwriting and I've even helped a couple DTS students write a song using a lot of the practical points that Karla had given us; consequently, the songs turned out great. Anyways, I'd encourage anyone and everyone with taste to check out Karla's music, she has an album up for free on her site (karlaadolphe.ca).
The teachings about the tabernacles were fantastic as well. I just love the intricacies of the bible. When Jesus said that all scripture is actually talking about Him He meant just that! I was blown away by the beautiful symbolism of the tabernacle of Moses and the way that every single detail was mapped out in great detail by God, because it was to prophesy about His coming Son. I haven't had much opportunity lately, but I'm excited to further explore the first five books of the Bible, especially Leviticus.
We had a week with David Power's who talked about prayer and worship. I loved the way He spoke about the Word of God. Not with legalism or religiosity but with a reverence and shocking intimacy that really challenged me in, well, everything really. Something I really started thinking deeply about and analyzing as a result is the way that I pray (aka talk to God). I've been asking myself a lot in the middle of praying and after praying, "Why do I talk to God that way?" Most of the time I talk to God quite different then I talk to people. Of course I don't mean on like a reverence level I talk differently, that's a given and a should. I mean different as in the vocabulary I use. How many times do I say, "I just ask/pray/declare" or say "Father" or "Lord" or "Jesus" etc. over and over as if He needs reminding of what His name is. And I believe that it's a result of how I view my relationship with Him. Does not our speech evolve and adapt as we get to know somebody (whether our knowledge of them is true or not. If we know God as an egomaniac sittin in the sky with His feet resting on the backs of angels and being fed grapes by a throng or cherubs (very descriptive, I know) we'll address Him accordingly. But He doesn't want to be known that way, He desires intimacy and friendship with us, and longs to converse with us on that level, just as He did with Moses'. But I digress.
Also as a result of that week I've begun to write out the five books of the Bible, and maybe the rest too, just as the Kings of Israel were supposed to do. I'm not terribly far in yet, I take an hour a day to do that and my goal is not to get through it but to fall in love with it just as David did, but I've been learning a ton and noticing a bunch of stuff that I just skimmed over before. I've actually taken time to find out the meaning of the names of people listed and what I've learned in that alone is really remarkable. God really doesn't say anything in the Word without a purpose.
God has been moving greatly in my life these past few weeks, and I can hardly believe that it's already week 8, though in a sense the start of the school feels like a really long time ago. A couple weeks ago at the church I've been going to here in Denver, Renovation Church, God gave a word to me through Bryan Schwartz and his wife, it was a really simple one-word... word. They both just said, "Nations," almost simultaneously, and before I knew what was happening I dropped to the floor like a rock. I felt such incredible clarity and confirmation in that moment: I knew, without any doubt, that that word was truly from God and that what was always in my heart was placed there by God, and I'm stoked to go on that adventure with God. I realize now, where it was just a theory before, that God has me here at YWAM right now to train me, disciple me, if you will, for what He wants to do with me next, and I'm stoked for that. It helps me a lot to look at this time as a training, or practice. It brings it to the level of seriousness that it should be at for me.
Please continue to be praying for me; I feel all your prayers, they've been very effective and appreciated. Pray for continued humbling, for grace, for wisdom, for discipline, and for an open heart and mind to learn all that God wants to teach to me. Also I'm in need quite a bit of support for the schools I'm to do this year and my trip to Uganda next year (God willing, of course) so please pray that doors would open up like only God can open them and people would offer to support me and the vision that God's given me. Already He's provided for me in awesome ways, and I'm really thankful for the people in my life that so selflessly have given to me, and I'm even more stoked to see the ways God blesses their socks off.
Thanks again all who read this for your investment in my life, and everyone else who still care. I love you all and pray for you constantly with a whole lot joy and gratitude to God. Blessings!
-Jonny
