Judges

My first three hour teaching. "Don't panic...For the one hundred sixty eight hours you put in studying..."

"Rynn, I got this!" God chimes in the midst of my nervousness.

And then, I walk into class and begin, as calm as can be.

My teaching on Judges focused greatly on the covenant and establishment of government. Going into the promised land, God designed a form of loose government based upon the peoples ability to live according to the law on an individual level. Parents were to teach their children how to live properly, passing on not only the heritage and morality, but also the relationship with their God. This morality was to extend into every area of life, pervading their culture so thoroughly that eventually, they would be the light to all nations--God's original intended destiny for the Hebrew people. They were to be following the covenant laws, in a love relationship with their God. Thus, following a code of conduct by adhering the commandments and laws on an individual level. With everyone practicing this self-government, God would be undisputed king over Israel.

Unfortunately, as we know, the Israelites did NOT follow the covenant laws. Their failures resulted in what I called the R.O.R.R.R. cycles!

R. Rebellion (the falling into idolatry and sin)

O. Oppression (the invasion of other nations into Israel and oppressing the people)

R. Repentance (the decision in which people cried out to God for deliverance)

R. Restoration (God bringing in a liberator to free the nation from the oppressing nations)

R. Rest (the period of peace following the deliverance)

As we moved through these cycles, we looked at the steady decline of the Israelites. The nation would deteriorate heavily for a generation or two, and when the people finally turned back to follow God, He would then raise up a judge (in Hebrew the word means 'liberator' rather than our modern day idea of a judge). Deliverance of the would follow this, and the Israelites would for some amount of years follow God. However, the next decline into rebellion was consistently worse than the previous decline, and for more years, and more severe.

The message that I brought to the students was that these cycles did not have to happen. At any point within this history, the Israelites could have made choices to remain faithful to God. The cycles of sin within our own lives do not have to happen either! We CAN govern our behavior, and we CAN make changes. I challenged the students to examine their hearts for cycles of sin that they were allowing in their lives.

Sarah.

Friday afternoons are always cloudy. I know this, because every Friday afternoon is local outreach, and my particular outreach is always meant to be outside. Three of six outreaches have been rained out. One was a near miss on a thunderstorm, and the one sunny Friday I was sick with a fever.

But last Friday, it was not raining, nor was I ill. So, downtown Madison found Chasity and I giggling our way down the streets on our way to the YWAM Madison Phos House (campus housing for international students). It was the last week before all the college students finished their finals, and left for the summer. It’s amazing how quickly bustling streets seem to experience quarantine in a matter of days. Empty.

Typically on local outreach days we set up a prayer table for people to come and receive prayer. But that day, we felt that God wanted us to do a prayer walk down town.

“Who should I approach, Lord,” I asked silently, as Greg Ruhland and I walked up State Street.

“Relax. I’m bringing them to you.” Ten minutes later, I asked again, and received the same response. I was beginning to feel as though I were slacking on the job, just waiting silently for someone to approach ME. (This doesn’t happen often in taciturn Madison.)

“Be patient, Rynn. I know who’s coming.”

Moments later, just as I was beginning to pester God again, a woman walked up to Greg and I. We had been walking quickly, in mid conversation.

“Please excuse me, can you help me?” She was a heavy set African American woman, looking to be in mid-thirties. Her hair was pulled tightly back from large brown eyes that were wet with tears and bright with distress.

“This is the one I told you about,” God whispered.

“I need some money. I just got a phone call, my mom is in the hospital with cardiac arrest, and I’ve got to get to Milwaukee. Please, can you spare some money for the bus fare? Please? I’ve asked churches, and charities, and no one is giving me anything. Please, can you help me?”

Greg began asking her questions about herself, her mother, where she was from, what she was doing in Madison. As he did,I prayed. God brought to memory an envelope he asked me to make while I was doing my budgeting for the month, several weeks earlier. ‘Put aside twenty dollars for me’ he had asked, ‘I will tell you when to pass it on.’ I labeled the envelope‘His Blessing Goes’, and it crawled into the back of my mind as I waited for Him to tell me when. And now it was time.

“I’m her only girl. I’ve been living in the woman’s shelter downtown. I’m from New Orleans.”

“Were you displaced from hurricane Katrina?” I asked. Her face grew sad and stubborn.

“Yes. But I don’t want to talk about that. I lost a lot of family in that. I don’t want to talk about it. I moved to be close to my family here. I’m trying to go to school at MATC. But I don’t have money.”

“What’s your name?”

“Sarah. My mom’s name is Rosemary.” I looked at Greg and nodded slightly. Passerby flowed by us. “Would you let me talk to my friend for a moment?” He asked. She nodded and walked a few steps away. I heard her ask someone for a smoke. A click of a lighter ignited the slim cigarette a man at the bus stop gave her.

“What do you think,” Greg asked, looking rather doubtfully at Sarah.

“I’m supposed to give her money.” I quickly told him about the envelope, and God’s confirmation that this was the one to receive his blessing. Greg remained dubious. “Let’s pray quickly,” I said.

After a moment, I looked at Greg. “He said she’s lying about her mother being sick, but he said she does need the money.She needs to get to Milwaukee. And I’m to give it to her.” He smiled, and nodded, trusting me and the peace he felt God gave him for the situation.

The wind bustled about us and whipped the smoke away from our faces as it rose from Sarah’s cigarette. “Sarah,” I said, and her wet eyes met mine. “My friend and I are Christians. A few weeks ago God asked me to set aside some money for someone He told me would be needing it. He said you’re the one.” Sarah broke into tears. Her hands covered her face. Ash fell on her jeans. “The bus fare to Milwaukee is about $17. The last $3 should be able to get you a taxi to the hospital.”

“I’ve got to give you a hug, thank you! Thank you!” Twice, I received a big bear hug, so sincere my ribs burned. Before she left us, Greg and I prayed for blessings over her, and shortly after another round of tears, thank you’s and hugs... she left...

Greg and I resumed our walk toward the capital, now blazing white in the growing sunshine. He glanced at me. I was beaming. I noticed his look, and smiled even more brilliantly,

“God and I were waiting for her.”

The Revelation of Holiness

Last week we began talking about holiness in our class. Holiness has always been one of those things that I heard spoken of in churches, but had never understood. Spoken of often, and in lofty tones, "We must be holy as God is holy!" And yet, somehow, hearing it became a numbed area of uncertainty. Who really understood it? I didn't.

Until last week!

Holiness is to be set apart for God. To live a life committed to following, obeying, and living a lifestyle of repentance is to be holy. It does not mean to be perfect, without the slightest mess up. But rather, it means to live according to what I know.

As God started to bring revelation of his holiness, there also came the understanding that he created me to be holy! He has created me to be without sin. With this came a whole new revelation of how intensely God therefore hates sin! It robs us of our created identity.

I had always known God hated sin, but as we've been reading through Leviticus, I have had an entirely new revelation of this truth! In the Old Testament, the punishment for intentional sin was DEATH! I began to think of how many times I intentionally sin...and what this would mean if I lived under the Mosaic covenant. Sin is such a serious issue, that the punishment for it is death. Either for you, or for the sacrificial animal.

I have begun praying for God to put such a hatred of sin in my own heart! I want to grow more in the fear of the Lord and holiness. Already this knowledge has changed by outlook on life--now I want to see it change my behavior!

Chasity Theissen

Edited by Rynn Davison.

Does Prayer Matter?

by Alice, Bible School for the Nations (BSN) student

Before I came to YWAM three years ago I had never heard of intercession. (Intercession is praying for others, and especially listening to God as He gives us insight so we can pray more effectively.) It was such an exciting new thing to pray for nations and to receive images and words from God about islands and countries I’d never even thought about.

But over time, intercession became monotonous and dry. I no longer anticipated it and struggled through sessions.

When I came to BSN, we spent time talking about intercession — what it is and what it isn’t. Then it occurred to me that I had totally missed a vital point to intercession: God doesn’t just want us to intercede so that we can understand what’s ahead of us on outreach, or so that we get a better understanding of what is happening somewhere spiritually. God wants our prayers so that He can act!

I was amazed to realize that I had not grasped that prayer actually makes a difference – it isn’t just a good spiritual discipline or done out of duty. It is inviting God to bring real change in this world.

This understanding has radically changed my perspective on how to intercede. Now I’m inspired to ask God to show me His heart for the nations, so that I can pray and He can act.

Since I Last Wrote...

Since I last wrote, many, many things have happened. I have spent countless nights awake studying. I went home for Mothers Day, and spent eight lovely hours with my family. Caleb came in for a surprise visit and waited on me hand and foot (while I studied!). I held six pretty kittens, one week old. I have had four outings downtown. I met Caleb's best friend and cousin, Christian, and loved him. I have been on three amazing outings with my one-on-one, Chasity. I have become sick with a dreadful cold. I have sat through dozens of classes, innumerable meetings, and countless prayer times.

But one thing I have NOT done is posted on my blog. And for that I am quite sorry!

Please understand, it was not done without frequent pangs of guilt and remorse that my faithful blog-followers were without updates on my life!

So, let's make amends. Shall we?