United with Dan on a Mission

6.2 So far this week we have done a lot of soul searching. On the 21^st we were asked in regards to Matthew 13:3-23 where our seed is. After some tough reflecting I’ve come to realize that my seed had in many ways fallen among the thorns. “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word of God but the worries, concerns and complications of life strangle them so that they cannot produce fruits”. Knowing the problem is half the battle already won.

On the 24^th we visited the story of Zacchaeus [Luke 19:1-10] followed by being asked the question: “How are you seeking God? Are you in the crowd trying to find Jesus in the chaos? Are you prepared to run ahead? Are you willing to climb the tree? What is your tree? Bible, Music… DTS?” Just something interesting to think about as one goes on.

I learned what it really means to have been made in God’s image. Originally we were made from the dust, flesh just like the animals, until God gave us a soul and breathed His spirit into Adam – Gen2:7. Thus a human being is made up of these parts, like God. This is what it means to be His image bearers. But after the fall, humanity was cast out of the garden, where our spirits could resonate with God, leaving our spirit to shrivel up. With the absence of the spirit the soul tends to dominate. The Soul is made up of our minds, emotions and will, and these facets fight for dominance. Personally this makes a lot of sense for me as to why my mind so easily dominates my emotions. Next it is important to understand who Jesus really is. He was both Divine and Human, Spirit and Flesh, and for the first time since Adam, someone was born containing the full essence of God. Eph 3:19; Col 1:22 + 45; John 14:7-11. Another revelation for me was what Jesus was actually saying when He spoke the words, “Father, why have you forsaken me”. He was in fact revealing to everyone who He was, and the fulfilment of prophecy, through Psalm 22. One of the first verses ever taught to Jews when they began to learn the Torah. So everyone present would have known the meaning! Additionally, I had the revelation of John 10:18 – Jesus didn’t die because God told him to, We didn’t kill him, Sin didn’t kill him, He gave his life for us! And finally, as the darkness covers the world and the curtain is torn, God’s presence re-enters the world, and He can finally be with us since Jesus washed away our sin. No sin is greater than God’s love!

Today while in conversation with a peer [Elf] she shared with me how she’d been struggling with chronic pains for the past 6 or so years. She has no idea where or how or what is causing it, and doctors haven’t been able to give them a straight answer. But it was just a really humbling experience for me as I listened to [Elf], as these chronic pains were much like my headaches. It sounded as if I was listening to myself, except, I knew why it was happening. I feel really privileged to have met her, and to have been able to speak to her and direct/ give hints and listen to what she had to say. I felt like I was talking to a past me. Like with my headaches, it made school hard for her too, people didn’t understand, but unlike me, because doctors don’t know what it is, she had absolutely no leg to stand on, or evidence to show people, to support her case. Over all, the ‘best’ part about it was listening to her determination to NOT let the chronic pains define her. She also claims that the pains have never interfered with God’s plans for her, or what God has told her to do. He has always provided for her when she really needed it most, and this makes her need to remain reliant, and continually remember and thankful to God for His providence. It really is inspirational!

25^th: In intersession today I had an amazing encounter with God. We were led to pray for the churches, and round about the time we finished, God gave two in our DTS group a vision: I shared that I saw a bucket, filled with melted gold, God was holding the bucket half tipped over, but not completely. It looked as if He was wanting to pour it out over the church. In other words, coat the church with His blessings! He wants to bless the church! “But why isn’t He tipping it?” [Cat] asked me. “ What’s stopping it?” After returning to prayer God revealed it to me – the church and this bucket of blessing were on a scale. For the blessings to be poured out, the weight of the church needs to increase. Then God led me to Proverbs 11:1 and said, when the church becomes honest, I will pour out my blessings upon them. There is a really deep meaning in this! Is the church honestly seeking God? Are people honest when they claim to know God? Are people honestly going to church for the right reasons? I really felt God! I know without a doubt it was from Him. He shared His heart with me. It was a truly humbling experience, but He also told me that it’s not my burden to bare.  He was just showing me His heart and that is that: GOD REALLY WANTS TO POUR OUT HIS BLESSINGS ON THE CHURCH!!!!

[Elf], also had a vision. She saw the crowds coming to church. Jesus was standing there with welcoming arms, but the people come in, brush past Him and entered into the church, closing the doors behind them, leaving Jesus alone on the outside. No one recognized Him.