week one in Kona.

okay, i'm going to try and catch up on blogging starting at week one. i've failed so much but thankfully we are required to keep a weekly journal so i'm going to just take some things from that.

week one - the kingdom of God:

Wow, the past 4 lecture days have been so intense, challenging and awesome! I've learned so much and my eyes have been opened to so much truth - it's great!

The first three days we were here we each gave our testimony and a lot of the girls talked about how for so long they've been believing lies of the enemy (and I'm so in that boat as well). But we are taking back from Satan what he has stolen from us for SO, SO long! No more! He will not have power over us ANYMORE! "Truth (aka Jesus) produces LIFE in us!" And that's all I want.. life, truth, Jesus! Truth not only produces life but it also produces FREEDOM! It gives us a tangible feeling of freedom! What a beautiful thing Jesus blessed us with!

So if truth produces freedom it's the lies that hold us in so much bondage. WHY do we let the devil prevail in our lives so many times?! Satan, you will not win! Just in this week Satan was throwing doubt, fear, and confusion into my head but I've stayed strong and I will not believe the lies over Jesus' precious, amazing, freeing TRUTH!

I LOVE worship and music so much! It gives me such a special connection with God! But sometimes I get so, so weary and overwhelmed! Yesterday morning during worship I just was not "feeling it". Then I kept thinking about how I do NOT have to "feel it" to worship Him. He deserves ALL the glory and praise forever and always! It doesn't matter how I feel. Man, if we based everything off of feelings, it'd be BAD! But the reality is.. we do. (Gotta change that.) He deserves all my praise - He sacrificed His sinless, perfect life for our very sinful, selfish lives! If someone gave me something huge - like a donation for YWAM.. as an easy example - I'd not even question thanking that person and if possible somehow returning the favor or simply showing my gratitude. But then with God I say, "Hmm, I'm just so tired." or "I'm not feeling it this morning." He gave us something so amazing, He sacrificed HIS wholesome self.. therefore He deserves ALL of me!

discussing the kingdom of God was such a great start for our DTS. very great foundation!