DTS has started! All students have arrived, staff team completed with the presence of the last staff member (thanks for the prayers) and week one of orientation gone by.
The first few days of DTS we shared our life stories. A definite highlight of last week. I realized we all have our stories, past, burdens but we are all here for the same reason. Jesus.
This is my story (in a short version).
For so long I was lost, I did not know who I was. God pursued me. I didn’t think much of myself, so I treated myself as unworthy. God pursued me. Smoking and alcohol consumption until memory was lost, feelings numb and waking up next day embarrassed, heavy and empty became a habit. God pursued me. I was seeking my value in other people, getting into bad relationships and getting frustrated with myself. God still pursued me and finally I started to listen and respond. That’s how I ended up here :) I needed Jesus. God showed me how He loves me and created me for more, created me for intimacy and relationship with Him. I am transformed by His love.
On the Friday we walked down to the beach to have some time and listen to God. The sun was shining, the sea looked like eternity itself, the mountains standing majestic, the grains of the sand countless and even the moon was visible on such a sunny day. It was so beautiful. I closed my eyes, and God showed me a picture. I see all of us sitting in a row and wearing crowns. It’s almost unbelievable. The admirable majestic and beautiful creation makes my jaw drop but we are above all that and that blows my mind away. God LOVES us. The world reflects God’s beauty but we are the only thing in this world created in His image. We are valuable, more than anything in this world, not because of what we do but because who we simply are. How God sees me is so different from the way I see myself. He sees treasures, sons and daughters and beloved ones.
This is what we felt the theme of our school was (Isaiah 61). God wants to give us beauty, joy and praise instead of all the heaviness, emptiness, burdens that we have carried and show us our true identity.
Isaiah 61
To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
Love and JOY
/e.
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