June 25-July 1
Monday -- Service and teachings on the names of God and true femininity and masculinity.
Tuesday -- Service, prayer in the IHOP prayer room, inner city prayer and intercession
Wednesday -- Service, Manuscript study, Jodie, Sean, and I returned to Hope Faith to meet a high school volunteer group and share our testimonies (my first time doing this, and it was awesome!)
Thursday -- 6:00am 3 mile challenge run, service, prayer in a coffee shop, hang out at the boys inner city house
Friday -- Played a worship set at Hope Faith (exciting and humbling!), left for weekend at home
Saturday -- Morning run my beautiful bride-to-be friend Dahoni Dowell, afternoon wedding of Alyssa Shilling (Logemann), evening hang-out with HS friends
Sunday -- Church at home --WHCC!! Lunch with family, and on the rode again back to KC
July 2-July 6
Monday -- Service, teaching on names of God and communication (verbal and nonverbal)
Tuesday -- Service, prayer in IHOP prayer room,
Wednesday -- Day off! Book discussion of Collapse of the Brass Heavens, Inner city cook-out, WWI museum (very powerful), another cookout and fireworks at Corporate Woods park
Thursday -- Service (talked a prayed with a client for 2 hours), prayer room at the Barnes and Nobles at the Plaza downtown, girls night out with Ryan (our director) at the Orange Leaf frozen yogurt
Friday -- Service, drive to Pella, Spiderman movie! sand volleyball
Now here's a little what I've been learning/experiencing:
Lord and God -- those are the two primary names used for our Creator and Sustainer in your average English translation of the Bible. Turns out, the Hebrews were a lot more descriptive when they spoke about Him. A large part of our teachings with Ryan this summer are spent studying the names of God found in the Hebrew Scriptures and what those names tell us about how God interacts with His people.
Last week, we looked at the name Ruach, which literally translated means wind or breath and is the Hebrew word for the Spirit of God.
This week, we looked at the name Yahweh Elohim. These are actually two names, but are often used together. Yahweh is often translated as I AM, but carries the connotation of I AM from the Foundation of the World. Elohim means Mighty One and is the name that really stuck with me throughout the week. The ancient Hebrew word for Elohim is made up of two symbols, the oxhead and the shepherd's staff or yoke. The ox was the strongest animal in the Hebrew experience, and the shepherd staff or yoke symbolized leading.
One of the applications that Ryan shared was the picture of two oxen yoked together. In order to train a young ox, it's owner would yoke it with a strong, old ox who knew the path. The older ox would keep the younger pulling in the right direction. This is a picture of our walk with Christ. When we say yes to His yoke, he walks with us at just the right pace and teaches us to walk with Him. Sometimes we try to pull away to the right or left, but he pulls us along with Him. All the time, He is there, pulling with us and patiently teaching us to walk as He does. He is MIGHTY, but He is gentle as well.
This picture stuck with me throughout the week. Right now, I think I am walking with Elohim through a time of learning to be vulnerable and honest. I'm very good at being OK, even if I'm actually unsettled or upset. God is prompting me to own these feelings and share them with Him and my brothers and sisters. I'm seeing how humbly excepting the listening ear and open heart of others is a way of receiving His love and care. Sometimes I sit down and He has to drag me along, but He is faithful and strong to bring me more into step with Him!
Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for your prayers! I would appreciate prayers for an outpouring of God's love on us for those we are serving. We've been at our sites for six weeks now, and it's still great, but much of the excitement has worn off. Pray that we would be refilled by Him =) As always, please let me know how I can be in prayer for you. I have been so uplifted by your encouragement and want to hold you up as well!
One of the applications that Ryan shared was the picture of two oxen yoked together. In order to train a young ox, it's owner would yoke it with a strong, old ox who knew the path. The older ox would keep the younger pulling in the right direction. This is a picture of our walk with Christ. When we say yes to His yoke, he walks with us at just the right pace and teaches us to walk with Him. Sometimes we try to pull away to the right or left, but he pulls us along with Him. All the time, He is there, pulling with us and patiently teaching us to walk as He does. He is MIGHTY, but He is gentle as well.
This picture stuck with me throughout the week. Right now, I think I am walking with Elohim through a time of learning to be vulnerable and honest. I'm very good at being OK, even if I'm actually unsettled or upset. God is prompting me to own these feelings and share them with Him and my brothers and sisters. I'm seeing how humbly excepting the listening ear and open heart of others is a way of receiving His love and care. Sometimes I sit down and He has to drag me along, but He is faithful and strong to bring me more into step with Him!
Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for your prayers! I would appreciate prayers for an outpouring of God's love on us for those we are serving. We've been at our sites for six weeks now, and it's still great, but much of the excitement has worn off. Pray that we would be refilled by Him =) As always, please let me know how I can be in prayer for you. I have been so uplifted by your encouragement and want to hold you up as well!
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