Week 3 - Identity of a Worshipper

Hey everyone,

You wouldn't believe it but we're already walking in a snow capped winter wonderland here in Montana. A few days ago on my birthday we got hit by a blizzard out of nowhere and since then its stuck so HELLO winter.

Some major news worth reporting is my outreach locations that have been set. Following our lecture phase of this school, we will be flying out a few days before Christmas to Spain and will be taking a sail boat called a 'Mercy Ship' on the Mediterranean Sea to France. Once we hit france we will be doing ministry in the southern cities for a month. After a month in france we will flying to Budapest, Hungry for the second portion of our outreach. We're still praying about what type of ministry we will be doing but it will be during Christmas so we might be doing some time of street ministry and playing Christmas carols. Please be praying for this opportunity, that we might be able to seek God's heart for how we can reach these people across seas.

This weeks lecture content was on the "identity of a Worshipper." Matt Atkins, a pastor from a church called Mosaic in Washington came and challenged to take responsibility for our lives, being vulnerable, honest and open with people, the balance between humility and confidence as well as Christ-likeness in the ministry. I was impacted by how much freedom can come to our lives when we can stop blaming our problems on external circumstance and past experience and take responsibility for our own lives; being honest and transparent with our shortcomings and confident in our strengths.

I did a character study on John 13:5 where Jesus washes the disciples feet. It was interesting to see that because of the disciples bickering about who would be the greatest in His kingdom, Jesus gave them an object lesson to show them what their real position was under Him. He tells them, "He who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves." He shows them that they must be willing to do whatever task, even the most menial; that is necessary for the good of their brothers. This passage gives an incredible light to the character of God who gave up the power and glory of being God to become a man. We see that our Creator, the Almighty God, is first and foremost a servant. He is willing to serve his own servants!! How could we NOT serve this God! I hope this challenges you as it does me as we seek to deny ourselves for the service of others.

"let this attitude and purpose and humble mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God did not think equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained But stripped himself of all privileges and rightful dignity so as to assume the guise of a servant, in that He became like men and was born a human being" Philippians 2:5-7

Because he FIRST loved us

Jer