Aha!

I came across this quote while reading God's Generals. I got rather excited in this :)

You cannot win peopleby preaching against their church or pastor..if you get to preaching against churches you will find that sweet spirit of Christ is lacking and a harsh judging spirit takes place. the churchesare not to be blamed for divisions. People were hunting fro light. they built up denominationsbecause they did not know a better way. When people run out of the love of God, they get to preaching dress, meats, and doctrinesof men preaching against churches. All these denominations are our brethren... so let us seek peace and not confusion...The moment we feel we have all the truth or more than anyone else, we will drop.
- William J. Seymour

One Night..... I Laughed

This last night I went to Bed like every other night in my life...

2:00AM - " HAHAHAHA" I woke myself up from
2:10AM - "HAHAHAHA" I continue laughing
Timo (my roomate) "Tyler.... is it breakfast?...Ah its 2:10 man whats so funny? why are you laughing?"
"I dont know man... I just woke up laughing... well I have to go to the bathroom now"
2:15AM - I get up out of bed and as I walk through another room to get to the bathroom a guy passed out like a rock and he just says outloud " and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" At this I became shocked and I'm still laughing... and laughing hard now. I finally make it to the bathroom.
2:20AM after my bathroom break i decide i am thirsty so i go and get some water... "Tyler!!! hey, your still up! I just made you a card!!! here open it now" she said with a big smile. I opened it up and read You have a heart like Jesus. I was soo soo soo amazed and excited, still laughing, I wanted to cry.
2:30AM I make it back to bed.. "HAHAHAHAH" I continue laughing, a bit more quite now
2:40AM Asleep.

Proof: God likes to have fun and laugh. even if it is as 2:00 in the morning. I love it all the more!

It turns out he quoted a bible verse to me Luke 3:22
and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased

Big guy vs little guy

How in the world is this little boy going to move that giant sumo dude? there is just no way.. he is probably so mad at him but even with all his strength he cannot do it! It seems silly that he would even try, its like come on boy with one little flick your going get knocked out!

This is what it looks like when we tell God no, i want to do it my way. We start fighting him, and the idea sounds so funny (whether you believe God or not) that someone would try and fight God. I mean he is God who could even stand against him. But we do, I've been there my fists up and was throwing them at him... I am still there in parts of my life... fists raised to him and I am huffing and puffing. And what I am saying to God is my way is better, you don't know what you are doing... We are fighting him, I am fighting him at times....

I have another picture to imagine.... it's a battlefield all of us verses God. We have the best weapons we can produce. and we are going at him at full force. Then someone drops his weapons, flees from the fight and hides from God. All of the other people get mad at him, (rightly so, because you need everyone you can get to take on a God) They call him a coward, weakling, they mock him, shame him, and criticize this person, even try and kill him.

Where I am going with this will sound weird and I know you might disagree or at least your heart will disagree. 

But this man who fled the battle and hid... is what God is saying to us. Go and hide for you cannot stand against me. (merciful thought when it really comes down to it) And when we take that call and lower our weapons against God, people just like the army, will harass you because to them it looks like you are weak and a coward. But the truth is when he was hiding, he truly was not hiding from God (for who can hide from God Ps139) but hid in his arms, his fathers arms. Away from the anger of God, and became weak in front of man... But God became his protector... and his role now is not to fight the others but take refuge in God always.

I think its important to know you started this war.... we did God is only defending his name

It might be hard with so many people giving you crap,because they think you are weak, but one of my favorite verses in the bible say if God is for you, who can be against you!"  Romans 8:31

It does not matter where I am

ahh i am so excited right now! I cannot realy explain... God has brought me to Norway in some crazy way that is very unexplainable. For those of you who do not know I randomly picked up and went up to Norway within 3 days notice. =D and i just have to share about it not for my glory but to give a testimony about God and his faithfulness

As many of you know I was orignaly supposed to leave at the beggining of September to take a School of Evangelism. and i believed God spoke to me about taking one. but i was not seeing his provision and was not having peace what so ever it was just very stressful. And so i took a day to seek God in prayer, studying and was led to Eclesiastees 3 ( a time for everything)  and i tore it apart, i did word studies and looking up similar verses.. it took all day. and i recieved an answer i was not looking for it was niether yes go, or no. It was it is not my timing and i recieved a huge amount of peace with this answer, not to leave at this moment. And with that i assumed it would be next year or sometime in the distant future. So i got a job starting studying a lot.and was taking steps not to let this passion for jesus die out. and about September 22 was a night i was riding my bike home and I was just so satisfied in God, and how happy i was to be with him no matter where i am. And i just told him how in love with him i am, and thanked him that night I had a dream... It was me talking to my family holding their hand saying "I have loved my time in America, but now I must go" and when i woke up i had no idea what it meant and i felt wierd, and not morning weird. But inside weird and again i spent all day trying to understand i sought prayer from some friends, and i sought in prayer my self. And God led me to Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." i said to God "that is what i am trying to do, but what is that?" i was instantly reminded of my dream. and Norway just hit my heart... out of curosity i looked at plane tickets and the cheapest one was for the September 26th. but thats not what made my decision it was later that night, when i recieved a message from someone (did not know what was going on) saying i really feel like you should be in the SOE..... and the 26th is the last day you can join. and thats when i knew.... everything was laid in place so perfectly... in ways i cannot describe to you.. For example i was taking the train up and another train broke down so i was stuck there in Portland and my friend called me and told me she felt like she should take me to the airport. oh it was amazing. God was confirming it over and over again, This is how i know i am meant to be here at this time. it is soo soo soo good.

This was Gods timing to teach me the lesson of being sattisified in him no matter where i am. Its about loving him with everything!

Hebrews 11 By faith

Praise for being himself

Have you ever just reflected on the greatness of God? and how amazing he is? If not I highly recomend that you stop reading this right now and go do it.. even if you have done it, you'll know what I mean when I say go do it again! You can never get enough if it... there is so much to think about, be thankful for, giving praise to him, and just think of his awesomeness.
I've been doing this for about a week now, and as i say it now it seems like a long time to dwell on it, but when i look at it it went by so fast! I have been filled with an overwhelming joy something i cannot explain...thinking about his holiness how just he is. Is what is keeping me going through the days! dwelling on his grace and mercy. i cannot explain this emotion through words it is so comforting to give the lord praise just for being himself! I like that that giving the Lord praise for who he is and what he does in his way, not my own way that I have fabricated.
He is soo sooo sooo GOOD, he is soo sooo sooo JUST, he is soooo sooo sooo  HOLY, he is sooo sooo soo God. And he is right when he says in Isaiah 28:21b "...The lord will rise up to do his deed, strange is his deed and to work, alien is his work!"
When i read this my head is swinging in the yes position I dont understand God fully noone does, and when he acts its so strange and alien to us.... but it seems just right the way happened, even if we dont see it right away sometime in life we will look back and have somewhat of understanding and see the best of it. That thought when I don't understand God or his ways i remind my self of this verse and also Isaiah52:8-9 And i just know God is good, and i reflect on it.. and its always so amazing what happens when I do.

Psalms 5:11
"Bet let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
     let them ever sing for joy,
 and spread your protection over them,

     that those who love your name exult in you."

Joy

I have had this thought for the past couple of days God has really been challenging me on this, and my mind has been pondering it and i even went to a group last night and the topic was Putting your Joy in Christ. So I asked my self is my Joy in Christ. and easily I said yes, of course! But I thought about, I asked myself what if I lost my job, all my money was taken away, my friends left, and everyother thing in my life went wrong. Would I be able to turn around look to the sky and say"God you are so good, and I love you with all my heart!?" I could not answer as quickly I honestly thought about it.. and it is hard to stick your self in situations that you have never been in but I tried hard to imagine waht I would say.

God is our infinite Joy it is one the promises he gives us through his Holy Spirit who dwells/lives in me and anyone who says Jesus is Lord. And Joy is gladdness in the heart something that cannot be tampered with, no matter what. This is such an amazing thing God has given us, he is our provider, our Father, and so no matter what happens he is going to take care of us that is why He gives us everlasting Joy because when we aknowledge it, when bad things happen it sucks dont get me wrong but we can continue to turn to God, our Father and say God you are good, and I love you no matter what!." and without a doubt I know with confidence God will show up and fufill his promises. because he is faithful.

I want to come to this point in my life, what ever happens in my life having the confidence that God is faithful in his word that what ever happens I can look up and smile and say "How could this dampen my spirit, God I love you, you are soo good to me."


²⁵"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. ²⁶But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:25-27

New Aim

¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
²for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you. ³Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴So you will find favor and good success^[a]
in the sight of God and man.
⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
⁸It will be healing to your flesh^[b]
and refreshment^[c] to your bones.
⁹Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
¹⁰then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
¹¹ My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
¹²for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.
Proverbs 3:1-12

So I want to do something different with my blog and this piece of scripture is what I am aiming towards. Coming to know God, binding his commandments on our hearts, accepting his reproof on us and coming to love him and his ways more! it was really hard for me to name this blog my options were this or Amos 5:1-17 and i really like that passage as well its main theme is seek the lord and live but it also is packed about Gods glory, justness,and Holiness. And it shows it through how he speaks to the Israelites in this time were they chose to abandon Gods ways. Bassically Hosea paints a good picture about what it means to leave God. He says when we leave God its like leaving our husband for prostitution. We are made ot be with the Most High yet we prostitute ourselves.... thats crazy to me. And I am not writing this in the perspective "the world needs to hear truth!" that is true though,w e all need to hear truth... but I am writing these firt and foremost because these are my struggles things that happen in my life... and my hope is that through what God is teaching me and giving me revelation that it can help you, the reader in any way! cause in no way do I want to become like the people in this verse. (these are people approaching Ezekiel the prophet to hear the word of God, and in this context God is speaking to Ezekiel)

"And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain."

Ezekiel 33:31

Being where I Belong

 Psalm 51:6 - 13

Surely you desire the truth in the inner parts;

you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and i will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast lvoespirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach your transgressors your ways,

and sinners will turn back to you.

 ¨This is why I do what I do with God, Because he has resored to me everything my hope my salvation, being able to be with him. Now I want to spread this hope to others who do not have it, because God has done it to me!

Colombia!

Hey all, Wanted to let you know whats going on in Colombia!!!
But since i dont have so much time to write in my blog, we have a team blog that if you go there you can see.

http://ywamskien.wordpress.com/


Find the Colombia Posts!

Serving the Big Guy

I get to go to Colombia in 2 hours.... It is so exciting. This is what we have been working towards. Knowing God, and now its time to make Him known. It is so amazing to serve Him. I cannot even describe it, the Joy He brings, the laughter, and healing that He has. It is so great to be in His hands. And when I am with Him all I want to do is Honor and Glorify his name. Serving Him. Its tremendous and I love every part of it.... there is nothing I would change about it. He knows my heart and He wants to be my God, and I want HIm to be my God.  The past couple of days I have been so full of Gods peace, joy and life...And now I want to share it with other people and only bring glory to my Father. Whether thats doing random work duties, hanging out with children, doing small practical things, only to show the love my Father has for them. This year has been quite the experience and I am so glad the direction he has given me to continue to follow the way he has prepared for me, and what he has in store for me. Its exciting and i cannot wait to see whats in store for me.





Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

In Awe of Him

 I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You're beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It's all proclaiming who you are
You're beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity's shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we'll sing
You're beautiful

This song melts my heart everytime it is the cry of my heart, and the last verse is what I hold onto so much I get to go Home, An awesome promise tears will be no more, and death only a memory. Thats so wierd to say but my heart longs to be there with God, and I know he is longing to be with me.

I love the stars so very much, I could literaly stare at them for hours and hours and hours. And I am so amazed at the bauty of them and how amazing they are. And when see how many they are and how great they are, and there so indescribable the beauty of space and everything up there, and it just describes my God in how much I love Him. He is indescribable. Truly. And the universe truly points to his glory. Procaliming who He is.

Romans 1:20
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

Thankfulness

Currently -2 C(28F) and I am sitting in Fredrikstad, south of oslo, the sunshine light beaming through the window, Feeling so blessed by Filips family. Life is good in Norway. and yes this is now a comfortable temperature for me to be in.

Life is amazing in Norway such a beautiful country, I am so lucky that i am getting to spend part of my life here. And I have to admit Norway with all of its snow and coldness was not my first choice in life, when I first kind of considered YWAM I actually applied for the one in Australia. And i ended up in Norway haha quite opposites sides of the earth. and very different climates. But I love the snow the cold the fresh air, and  everything here, I am just so thankful for it all.

Its good to be thankful in life, even at the worst of times. Just to remember what has happened to you and all the good things that have happened and all the promises that are to come. And its funny when you say what your thankful for, aloud, it turns yours spirit around and you start looking at the bright side of things. And it sounds so stupid to do and maybe that you are trying to escape what has happened. But its not escaping, I cannot change what has happened  or you cannot, I only want to look past things and see the good out of all things as my Father does.

I am thankful for:

Jesus, My family he has given me, life, Norway, each and everyday, all my friends, the sun, the ocean, the mountains, music, my dog olga!, the city of Eugene, the church, rest, joy, laughter, love, America, freedom, Holy spirit, God wanting to use me, God trusting me, the bible, each and every breath I take, for being my protector and my understanding. I could go on and on and on and on.

I thank my God for all he has done for me, what he is doing and what he has promised me. And starting my days with him and saying this to him, is such a great way to start my days. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

           "Be Joyful always; Pray continually; give THANKS in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

  

for when you give thanks to him this what you do

Proverbs 3:5-6

             "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

I miss you guys all so much, Ill see you in 3 months!

Ecclesiastes 3:11

            "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

Running in Circles

1 month until I go to Colombia! crazy!!! so crazy, It feels like just a month ago I moved to Norway and now in 1 month I will go to COlombia with 7 others. Fantastic. I have just been so thrilled on what has happened in my life and what will happen where God is leading me, its quite fun and the thing my heart has always been longing for.

          Have you ever wondered why it takes a kid so long to learn something? and its extremely frustrating after you think he or she has figured out what your trying to tach them and then some time goes by and he has completely forgot what you have told him and you do not even want to try and teach him anymore.. I know this feeling even though i do not have kids but I have done a lot of work with youth in my long 18 years of life. You know what is even funnier, that I am like that toddler so many times I am taught a lesson and so many times after some time has gone by I forget it, and how frustrated the person must be that teaches me these things. To bring it to more of a here and now, it happens over and over with me, God will show me something or give me a really big revelation and you know some months go by and I'm dealing with the same problem and going to God again and again and again. And the best part about that is time and time again God never gets frustrated with me, He is more than willing to show me again and again. That is such great mercy and grace He is showing to me.

           The lesson that God is currently refreshing in my mind is his sovereignty and through that humility. And how this came up is I get so caught up in the things I have (spiritual and physical blessings, materials, money, ect.) and I am reading through the book of Daniel and I was just so amazed how God proved himself to the king and again and again showing him that He is the living God and He is the Most High. and when he learned this he fell to his feet and worshiped and gave praise to his the Lord. and I was thinking the whole time "Why can't he just learn!" and then i thought Why can't i just learn? How many times has God shown His power to me, how many times has He demonstrated His love for me? to many to count. And everything He has given to me is from him he gives to who He pleases to. Because He is Sovereign and He is Lord over this world. Daniel  4:17b " So that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest men." this verse slapped me in the face when i first read it, all these things are from him. I really pray that I do not have to learn this lesson again but that I can constantly be reminded of this and live it out giving thanks to my God for what he has done.

           Also in the story of Daniel, over and over again bad things happen to Daniel and his friends, thrown into a lions den, thrown into a furnace, hunted by the king. And Daniel trusts in his God so much  and knows that he is faithful that he looks at these problems and shrugs his shoulders because he knows his God will deliver him and keep him safe. and every one of these God spared his life. He took refuge in him and God kept him safe because is a faithful God. And this is something else I am being taught.... that i can take refuge in him and when I am in him no matter what comes my way I cannot be s And I cannot be shaken and will not be moved, because my God cannot be moved and I am living with him. I can literarily see Daniel yawning as he is being lowered into the lions den, because he does not fear death. And I want the trust Daniel has. This is what i want.

Psalm 27:1-5

"The Lord is my light and my salvation-

        whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life-

        of whom shall i be afraid?

When evil men advance against me

        to devour my flesh,

when my enemies and my foes attack

        me,

        They will stumble and fall.

Though an army besiege me,

        my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me,

         even then will i be confident.

One thing I ask of the Lord,

        this is what i seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the

         Lord all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

        and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble

        he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle

         and set me high upon a rock."

Eesti

Five months ago when I first came to Norway I had no idea Estonia was even a country in this world, and who would of thought that I would be spending two weeks and traveling around in the country?? I sure did not see this one coming.... But I loved it, it was extremely fun and would not have it any other way or go to any other place it was oh so good.
     The first week we worked in Tallinn, the capital, there we worked with the food bank, soup kitchen, some children / youth work. We took the youth sledding and they had a blast throwing snowballs and running around... it was fun to throw snow at them, even though they were really good at dodging..... But on one of the days we worked together another DTS team from Latvia and we went out on the streets one day to go talk to people and we got such good conversations with such amazing people, they were so interested in what we were doing, and we were able to encourage them and just love on them, There names were Jonas, Victoria, and Maria. Those are the people we met and i do not know why but I'm constantly reminded of them by name, and God just showing me his heart for them, and I keep praying for them. Friday night we were invited to a youth meeting by our friend Timo, one of the coolest Estonians ever, he joined our team for the 2 weeks, true man of God. But we went there had a program and afterwords we had the great honor to pray for the kids who wanted to and oh my gosh it was so great and such a privelage to do that. Young teenagers so eager to know their God... ahh i cannot even explain it i wish you were there to see and wittness it.
    Second week we went to Valga, southern Estonia, and there we worked with Chris and Laura from North Carolina, moved there a couple years ago, and Kerli. We did a lot of Children work, and did dramas for them, played a lot of games and ran around with them. And on Friday night we hung out with the High schoolers and i was the oppurtunity to share what was on my heart and share how Jesus is so personal to me that he has completly transformed my heart and is still doing it now. It was so fun to do. The best part about being translated is you have time to think and gather your thoughts. hahah
    So through out these two weeks there's been a lesson that God has been teaching me just in life, so I have been studying the Bible so intently recently and really looking into to confide and hide in it, because there is where i find my rest, there is where i someone who loves so much. But I have been learning so much about just my self and Him. that he is mine. and im crazy for him. And I was reading a scripture in 2 Corinthians. and it said If i have lost my mind, its all for Jesus. It sums up me. I have lost my mind. My self 5 years ago would have not seen this coming.

And then I read this 2 Corinthians 4:8-9,11-12

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not Destroyed... For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you!'

Thats my life right there, no matter what happens in my life i can always turn to God and say " you are still God and I love you, and I will honor you for ever and ever, and anything God. Because you are the hope i am living for  :) you da man Jesus"

Last thing shout out to Lilyanna for being such an encouragement in my walk with Jesus, and that she is amazing women of God. Has such a big heart for people to know Jesus. your great Lilyanna!

Wrestling

I love that I am able to tell my Father anything and he turns his ear to me. I was in Grimerud for a workers gathering all of YWAM Norway was gathered for this. And God really was speaking to me about so much that he wants me to be apart of, teams and what not and also things going on now. And I became so overwhelmed and said "What God, you want me to do this?" and that night I went outside to alone to go confront God about all this and tell him what was on my mind,  I started shouting at him in frustration and confusion saying "God me I am only one man, and I cannot do this I am not ready, is this even you? is it?"and I kept going and going and then God said

"SHH" I was quiet so he could speak... after a couple minutes I heard nothing so i began to speak

" Go..."

"SHHH... Just listen" I sat there and as I looked up I saw God's angels standing off, linked together in a line. And i fell to my knees and began to cry. And he just reminded me "yes, you are just one man but I have sent angels to be with you and protect, the holy spirit lives inside of you, and you have me, these things are from me but always remember I will always be there with you." It was so humbling and I got up and all I wanted to do was worship him, and give him praise.

The next day I started realizing I've been hiding because I am scared to rise up and take the authority i have been given, and the call to leadership he is calling me to I'm scared people will look down on me and I won't be a good leader, to put it better words I was scared of what God was calling me to. And then someone cameup to me a couple hours later and prophesied to me to rise up and take the authority God ha given me, and people will not look down on to me. And i was thinking that is so accurate from what God has been telling me! it was so cool God is so cool. and loves to talk, talk, talk , and talk.

1 Peter 5:7

   "Cast out all your anxiety on to him because he cares for you."

1 Peter 4:10

   "Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others faithfully administering God's grace in it's various forms."

Lastly I leave to Estonia in approximately 10 hours now with my team and I am so excited to be going there. I have been asking for God's heart for this nation, and i believe he has given me some of it. and I cannot wait to be there. The first week we will be in Tallinn doing prayer walks and evangelism and the 2nd week we are going South to Valga, and we will be working with a Church with the youth ministry and children and such things

So just keep us in your prayers

Ruben

Jaanika

Annelisa

Tina

Barbro

Tyler

You guys are so amazing.