His name is God and He is Faithful.

This week in lectures we are learning about Lordship. Our speaker's name is Mark Parker and at the beginning of the week I was skeptical and throughout the entire first day I had a horrible attitude about this week, not realizing that even in those moments the things Mark was saying was sticking with me and hitting me harder than a lot of the other teachings i have had so far. And I have had a LOT and have learned a LOT!!! Now slowly coming into the end of the week I am seeing how much God has been speaking to me just this week, I am seeing where He has been speaking to me in the last few weeks, I am being challenged in many different ways to trust Him FULLY, AND I am starting to have some of biggest questions and prayers answered! How about an example for each? Sure why not!!! But first things first. The reason why I am updating my blog AGAIN within the same week is not by my choice but by my obedience to God. I really felt earlier this afternoon and again in small groups tonight that God wanted me to give y'all and even more recent update on everything just from this week since in this one week alone SO much of my life has changed...and I know that before the end of the week, a ton MORE is going to change. So, if two blogs in one week is too much...sorry. Anyway! So God has been speaking to me a lot this week...me writing this blog right now is a physical response from me to something God has been speaking. So that is example one. Example two: God has been speaking to me in the last few weeks. SUCH AS!!!! A while back I got a tug on my heart to write and encouraging note to a very specific person, however i don't know this particular person very well and I am almost certain this person use to think I did not like them. So for me it was awkward to feel the need to write them a note and I was uncomfortable with it, so i ignored the "feeling" and just "put it off" until later. (Meaning I never wanted to do it.) Well since then this person has been growing a lot and they are becoming a strong leader a little everyday and they are starting to trust God more and that encourages me and inspires me just by watching them so my "feeling" to write them a note kept getting stronger. Then today in lectures, i couldn't deny it anymore. I was just sitting in class, listening intently, when all of a sudden I had a HUGE thump in my heart telling me to write this person that note of encouragement right in that moment. I realized and recognized and accepted at that point that it had been God telling me to do it all along and I was just being a scared, prideful, arrogant jerk beforehand pretending it wasn't coming from the Holy Spirit. So, I finally wrote the note, gave it to them and afterwards I felt a huge feeling of relaxation come over me. Shocker I know...listening to God and obeying?? How is THAT relaxing?! <-- That is a joke obviously...anyway I get frustrated when I know God has been speaking to me and I push it aside out of fear for long periods of time. The THIRD example: Trusting Him FULLY!!! This one for some reason has been my ultimate struggle for this entire DTS so far and I am SO done with it. There is NO reason why I shouldn't be trusting Him. He has done NOTHING to deserve my doubt. And even though I need $4000 within the next week, I am done doubting God because He is faithful, He has called me to this DTS AND to Malaysia and He WILL provide the funds for me before January 15th. I don't know how or where it will come from but I know I will receive it because He is faithful and He IS our provider. Fourth example is about Him answering my questions and prayers. Long story short, He has answered MANY MANY MANY prayers but the one I am thinking of specifically is very personal and I don't want to give every detail but I will tell you that it has to do with the fact that He is starting to clearly reveal to me some of the reasons why He has me here in Australia and not home in Arizona for this period of time. And I am very grateful for it and relieved to know the purposes. SO! As of right now I am in a place of complete vulnerability and I am surrendering myself and everyone and everything I have completely to God and giving Him all my trust. And this is something I need to do ALWAYS...not just in my times of need. God is good and He is SO faithful and He deserves ALL of our trust ALL of the time. What is the point of worrying about the things around you you can't change? And even if you COULD change them, why would you want that burden???!!!??!! God is our provider and He takes care of us and the ones we love and it is a BLESSING that we don't need to worry about anything BECAUSE GOD IS GOOD AND HE IS FAITHFUL! I hope you all find my blogs somewhat interesting and maybe helpful in some ways. I love writing them but even more so I love sharing my heart with everyone and being able to share the things I am learning with everyone. I hope to continue doing so...even after my DTS is over. Thank you all for your prayers. I ask that you continue to pray and please pray specifically for the $4000 to be given within the next week. God can do anything. Just pray in faith and trust. Thank you all! I love you all and I miss all you Arizonans!!! <3

With love and blessings, Christianna!