Challenges and Rewards

It has now been about six months since I have come on staff with the School of Biblical Studies here at YWAM Montana. It has been both difficult and exciting with a lot of work involved and yet a lot of fun as well. When I said yes to coming back to Montana to help staff the school I knew it would be challenging. I also knew that it was what the Lord had for me and I was going to grow and learn a ton while also being able to help teach and disciple others. Let me tell you, it has been amazing so far. Though my schedule has been probably busier than ever before in my life, the Lord continues to give me strength and I feel His leading on a daily basis. I don't think I have ever before been so aware of my desperate need for Him, which I hope and pray will never change. If there is one thing that I have seen more and more as I continue to study the Word of God and have relationship with the Lord, it is that God is so good to us even in the midst of the hardest and most difficult circumstances. I am so blessed to be able to serve and know the God of the Universe, the God of the Bible.

I have taught three books so far (Philippians, James and 3rd John) and will be teaching at least two more from the Old Testament before the school ends in June. It has been fun stepping into this different role of teaching, but challenging as well. I have gotten a lot of really good training and critiquing as I have gone through so far and it has been very helpful. I have also learned a ton, not just about teaching and how to do that effectively, but how to really allow the Lord to speak through me and He is showing me more about being sensitive to what He wants me to share rather than me just being a talking head, haha. My prayer is that I wouldn't be up there just blabbing but that God would really speak through me so that my words are full of His truth and that they show His heart to the students. I think the most rewarding thing is to see when the students really grasp on to what something in Scripture means and I get to see this light bulb click on and see the excitement they have about what they just realized to be true of God's character. I am seeing 43 students from 9 different nations gain a deeper love for the Lord, a desire to know His Word and make it known, and become more excited than ever to share the love of God with those around them and in the world. These students are going places and that gets me pumped! I strongly believe that we have students that are going to be willing to go to the ends of the earth to share God's Word with the world.

So far I have loved building relationships with people here and just being able to witness what the Lord is doing in all of our lives. Since the school has begun we have seen both physical and emotional healing, a deepening in faith of students, and people have even received callings from the Lord on there lives. I believe that what the Lord is doing here is not just for us but for the entire body of believers and it is exciting. I know that as we learn to love each other here and learn truth and speak it out with each other, it will set a foundation for the rest of our lives to be doing that with others, no matter where we go. I love that you all are apart of what God is doing here because you don't have to be apart of YWAM to be apart of the Kingdom of God and I pray that the fruit that is happening here would be an encouragement to you in whatever place or ministry you find yourself in at present.

God is so good and so worthy to be praised. His love reaches even the darkest of places and illuminates the darkest of situations. I am praying that no matter what situation you find yourself in today, you may know that truth that the Lord sees you and He cares about what is on your heart. You matter to Him more than you will ever really be able to comprehend, and that is true no matter who you are. May you be blessed.