Faith In Action

Good morning!

God has been doing some exciting things this week here in the Gold Coast. We have spent our time in lectures, small groups, one-on-ones, doing acts of service, work duties, and community outreach.

We started the week off with church on Sunday. A group of us went to Set Free Christian Church. I really enjoyed it; it reminds me a bit of OCC (not that I could ever replace OCC!) :)

This week, our lectures were on the topics of Intimacy With God and Hearing God's Voice. A staff leader, Dave Barsch, did an amazing job teaching us on these topics. He is so passionate about Jesus and had a lot of great insight on how God speaks to us. He explained that there are three voices that you can hear: God, Yourself, and Satan. It allowed me to realize that I spend a lot of time wavering in and out of the realm of the Holy Spirit and the realm of "self". My own thoughts, emotions, desires, and fears often get in the way of hearing God's voice and hinder my intimacy with Him. By focusing my mind on God, spending time in the Word daily, dying to myself and my own selfish interests so that Christ can live in me, I can walk in the Spirit and grow deeper in my relationship with God.

Some revelations I got out of Dave's lectures this week:

• God speaks to us in a limitless amount of ways, including pictures, visions, an audible voice, music/worship, through his Word, people, nature, during prayer, through feelings/impressions, dreams, revelations, books, dramas/dance, movies, art, etc.
• The more intimate you are with God, the more clearly you will hear his voice. John 10:1-5: His sheep are those who know Him, and those who know Him recognize His voice.
• Listening to God requires a heart committed to understanding his message, even when it is different from what you want to hear. Reading the Word shows commitment to receiving God's message, giving us wisdom and discernment (filters truth from lies).
• Meditate on the truth. Persevere in seeking God and believing his truth.
• Knowing God and hearing His voice are inseparable. The character of God is our compass in every moment and in every aspect of life.
• Hearing God's voice builds faith. Things happen when you believe!
• Our knowledge of God's character changes our lifestyle. Meditate on God's character. Reinforce and confirm those aspects in the Word.
• 1 Chronicles 28:9-10: Know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will be cast off forever. Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.
• We will hear God's voice at the same depth to which we desire to know him.
• There is no relationship without trust and there is no trust without vulnerability. Invite God into all areas of your life, at all moments of your life (not just the storms). Your relationship with God will flourish!
• John 15: Remain in the vine. Stay connected to the life source. Only then will you see the fruit from intimate relationship with God.

• Faith is demonstrating our trust in God by aligning our actions with the truth of who God is.
• Obedience is faith in action!

• His ways are not our ways- Never put limits on God. Our minds are finite- God is infinite!
• Be obedient and trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
• When you feel as though you don't hear anything from God, analyze your heart. After analyzing, you may find you are asking the wrong question. Seek and you will find. Request council from other believers- wisdom is found in council. Move from the realm of "self" into the presence of God, and pursue God's heart on the matter. Our minds are confusing, but God gives clear direction and understanding.

We have also done some community outreach this week. On Tuesday, I went with a small group to a homeless ministry through Set Free Christian Church called Set Free Care. Every Tuesday and Thursday, they convert their church into a cafeteria and have a free lunch. After lunch, the pastor gives a sermon for anyone who wants to stay and listen. During lunch, we were asked to go and sit with the men and women to try and stir up conversations about Jesus and just be a light and encouragement. I absolutely LOVED my time at Set Free Care. I was able to move around and talk with several people. I felt God telling me to listen intently to instill Christ's love and value into each person. I had some great conversations about Jesus. Daniel (a staff leader) and I were talking to a man named Mark (seemed to be a Christian) who is an alcoholic and is struggling to get the finances to afford Rehab. I told him my testimony of how God provided me the money to join YWAM, and encouraged him that if God wants him to go to rehab, he will provide the financial means if you put your trust in him. Then Daniel and I spent time praying over him- it was so powerful! The presence of God was so evident in that room. I am excited to go back next week!

Another outreach event we did was friendship evangelism. We all went to the mall on Saturday afternoon to try and initiate conversations about Jesus with people. I was not sure how this would go- I was a little nervous. It seemed strange to not really have a reason to talk to someone, but I when I was thinking about it, I talk to people randomly all the time, so I realized I had nothing to be nervous about. I walked around the mall praying "Okay God, who would you like to encourage in here? Please lead me to someone you would like to encourage." I felt God leading me outside to the bus stop. I sat down next to a man, and pretended to wait for a bus. I started making small talk with him, and he asked what I was doing in Australia. What a fantastic question! I told him all about YWAM and what God's been doing in my life these past few months to get me here in Australia. I was so open with him- things just started pouring out in my enthusiastic way. He seemed really interested and asked a lot of questions. I feel like it was totally from God, because I only had 20 minutes before we had to leave, and the man's bus came exactly 20 minutes later, so I was not the one who had to end the conversation. I am anxious to develop various methods of evangelism- I really enjoyed that.

I am missing everyone at home, but know that I am right where God wants me. I am soaking up every moment here. I am in awe of God's goodness and love for me... he must really love me a lot to send me to the Gold Coast with all these wonderful people! I love you all and am so thankful for all of your prayers. Your support means so much to me. Thanks for reading!

Love and blessings,

Stephanie