I-DTS Week 6: Relationships

We are more then half way through the lecture phase and only have 5 more weeks until we send the teams out for an 8 weeks outreach to the Philippines. It is such an amazing privilege to serve here and facilitate an incubator/greenhouse for relationship/discipleship with God. Over the last 6 weeks the staff and I have been delighted in the goodness of God as we have watched and experienced His transforming power in and through the students. It always astounds me to watch God change the countenance of the staff and students. He gives beauty for ashes! Romance for shame! Life for death!

We take all of our good and bad and lay it at the foot of the Cross of Christ and declare the worthiness and glory of God and in return He gives us life and abundant joy! He is faithful and just to complete the good work in which He has started. He is forever more faithful and committed to us, even in our wanderings, than we could ever be to Him. It is His great delight to save us to the uttermost!

This week we had Jono & Mary Turner speak to us on the subject of "Relationships". It has been such a delight to listen to them! They have brought a very Christ centered and refreshing perspective concerning how we relate to others. The theme that bled through their whole teaching was based on the foundations of aligning our whole identity in Christ and Christ alone. That out of the wellsprings of life in Christ we would have the capacity and right understanding on how we relate towards humanity.

Here are a few quotes from the week:

"Western societies are so caught up with placing value on individualism that they have lost all sight of the importance of community."

"The journey in to our identity in Christ will take our whole lives. But, we need to settle the position of who we are in Christ for life, rights and inheritance. we need to have a strong understanding of our position as sons and daughters of God so that when things are hard or our faith is under trial we have firm foundations to stand on."

"There is a real crisis in the body of Christ in the area of relationships. Mostly out of past experiences that have left us jaded, insecure, envy, strife, fear, etc. The fact is that very few people in the body of Christ operate in right fruits when relating to others."

"Many people are very spiritual and theologically sound and are anointed to preach the Gospel, yet, they are horrible at relationship! Mostly because we live in a fallen world and just do not have the capacity to treat others as Jesus has commanded."

"It is impossible to maintain right relationship with others without the help of Holy Spirit."

"Any time God speaks to you the word will be tested. The test always involves time. Get word and you think it will happen in 5 years and it takes 20 years. When the word gets tested you may feel like God has forgotten you. But that couldn't be further from the truth."

"You become a great leader when you don't need to be a leader."

"God walks with you in every good and bad season whether you feel His presence or not. When things go bad God is with you! Even when our heart grows cold towards God, God is forever faithful to pursue us."

Please to continue to pray for us. In the next 5 weeks we need to see about 12,000.00 come in as a team to God to the Philippines. Stand with us as we press on!

Blessings :)