Wednesday, January 26, 2011

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!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

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.