My mind and the way I think;
My knowledge and understanding.
I'm on a journey of discovery.
I'm finding that what we believe
Changes everything.
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So what happens when our lives disagree
With who we were created to be?
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Saying, "I will always struggle with these things,"
"I will never be free,"
And, "I will never be clean."
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Or maybe you're on the other side saying,
"Living righteously
Is just religiosity."
And, "The Bible isn't really for me."
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So we live in the yolk of sinful slavery
And then we say,
"I'm only human, it's okay."
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Lord, help us with our unbelief.
Our minds need renewing.
Lead us to repent and change the way we think.
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My humanity
Was meant to display beauty,
Not an excuse for me
To keep sinning;
I am not a powerless human being.
I know that my flesh is weak,
But I have Christ in me
And my spirit is willing.
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So now I'm left wondering,
Do we really believe
What the Father says about you and me?
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He said he made us holy,
Adopted us into His family,
And into the fellowship of the trinity
My home is in the heavenlies.
The throne room is where I'm living.
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I entered in boldly
And listened to what He told me.
He said He was for me
And then all my fears left me.
So who can be against me?
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Certainly not my fleshly
Desires that used to rule me.
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I traded my pride for humility
And acknowledged my great need.
I laid down everything
And proclaimed, "it's not about me."
It was then I was set free
Because Jesus now had me
And I received Christ's identity.
"Beloved one with whom I'm well pleased,
Come share in my divinity."
So now I am transformed for glory
Into the likeness of my King;
Through Him I am holy
And I can live accordingly.
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He told me,
"Be holy as I am holy."
Jesus, your grace empowers me.
November was marked by laying our lives down for Jesus. 10 students and 2 staff members got baptized and left their old man in the water. They stepped into freedom for the first time and committed to a life of righteousness! The old is gone and the new has come! WOAH thank you Jesus for a yolk to righteousness.
Last Friday we had about a 16 hour-long ministry day where we listened to what the Holy Spirit wanted to do. It was INCREDIBLE to see the power of God come when we give Him space. Sometimes I think He is just waiting for us to say yes to Him. During the day, all of the students and staff laid their lives down symbolically at the altar, professing that Jesus has their life. We brought things to the cross like our passports, saying that we will go anywhere God calls us. Many students laid down their plans to go to college and said they would actually ASK the Lord what He is calling them to do, even if it is to go to college. They laid down their families, their dreams, their rights to get married, and the list goes on and on.
When our lives are COMPLETELY surrendered to the Lord and He has ALL of us, THAT is when we step into the fullness of the Gospel. We are to pick up our crosses daily and follow Jesus and where He is going, not just invite Him into our days. God is searching for a generation who He can trust to obey Him at any cost.
During that day, the Lord was speaking to all of us about His holiness. The fear of the Lord fell in the room and we were convinced that Jesus is worthy. It was the most powerful thing to see nearly 32 young 18 year olds commit to a life of purity before the Lord. They repented of their sexual immorality, pornography and masturbation addictions, and lusting after others. They asked God to give them the fear of the Lord when it came to their sexual purity and they committed their lives to Jesus and his righteousness. TALK ABOUT FREEDOM!!!
For this school, we really have felt that God is stirring up a desire for long-term missions in many of the student’s hearts. A lot of the students came to do their DTS here because of the Lord speaking to them through Matthew 28. Many students also committed to serving on the mission field for a period of time, some committing even two or more years. How beautiful are the feet on the mountains that bring the Good News!!!!
There is HOPE for this generation, and we WILL GO wherever He is sending us, and we will SAY YES at any cost! He will show Himself strong through us! Amen amen amen!
A couple of prayer points:
- all of the logistics of transportation, accomodations, and finances would be taken care of smoothly
- team unity and vulnerability with each other
- yieldedness to hear what God is saying and to trust His leading above our own
- HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE WE REACHED TO BE CHANGED BY THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST! Salvations, healings, miracles, repentance, rededications, baptisms, and revelation of the power of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives.
MY HEART SCREAMS OUT A BIG HUGE THANK YOU to y'all for keeping me in your prayers and staying in contact as I am here. Seriously, keep praying because it changes everything. My heart is FULL of THANKS and I could not be here without you! I MEAN THAT! If you would like to donate to me financially, click the link below! I still need to raise about $2,000 before I head to Papua New Guinea in a couple of weeks! YAHOO!!!!!
- Laur