Week 6...I'm 1/4 of the way done with my DTS...how crazy!?! It's been such an awesome experience so far, and as usual, I'm learning and growing so much! I'm so unbelievably grateful for this experience--I've been deeply blessed! ...Especially by all of you who have supported me both financially and through prayer--may God bless you abundantly!!

This week has been pretty rainy and chilly...kind of a bummer compared to the amazingly warm weather we had last week. :( Hopefully it decides to start warming up again...and to stay that way!!

Last night one of the schools here on base hosted a 24 hour prayer session for outreach and finances and i participated from 12:45a til 3:15. It was pretty intense and i think we did some definite damage to the enemy and his strongholds on those areas. I feel like I got a prophetic word for my outreach--someone was praying for Swaziland and the people of the country who have HIV/AIDS. They prayed that the women of the Sports DTS (me and a teammate Desiree) would be able to speak purity to especially the women there, and how even after it's taken that it can be restored through Christ. It was very powerful...I also felt like we are going to be bringing hope and light to a nation where there is very little of either. It excites me even more for outreach and for what we're going to be doing. :D

Speaking of outreach...just a finance update--my total is coming down...slowly but surely. Finances are due in 3 days and i do still have a need but God is still coming through and showing His faithfulness and generosity while I continue to press in for that release...praise God! :)

This week's lecture topic was the Fear of God. It was such an incredible week for me because I've never really known what the FOG (Fear of God) was, but it's such an important and necessary thing in our Christian walks!!...so i'm glad i now have that knowledge! :) It also helped me understand myself and God's character so much better. Our speaker was Ari Sloots--a base leader here--he was incredible--very vibrant and interactive. I took the most notes i ever have--12 pages! ha! :) One of the most important things i learned was the actual definition of the FOG--#1 to hate sin like God hates sin, and #2 to praise, revere, honor and stand in complete awe of God--to have a deep passion for Him.

One of the key things that Ari highlighted all week and that i was really convicted of was that i need to have an undying passion for God--to be in passionate pursuit of an ever-deeper intimacy with Him. The thing that finally connected for me was that this passion, this desire for intimacy is a choice--MY choice...YOUR choice. It's not just going to fall into my lap and i can't just pray it into my life. I have to actively make a daily choice to pursue God and to engage with Him. After all, who wants to be in a one-sided relationship?? God doesn't want to be the only one consistently pursuing us (b/c He does and is always)--but He wants us to be pro-active, to lean into him. Ari used sports as an analogy to the FOG and it was perfect! For example, what would happen if an athlete tried to go into the big game or match with no preparation, no excitement, no fire? He/she would be dominated!!--especially by someone who is passionate about it. The exact same thing happens when we go into worship, prayer, quiet time or our day in general without passion or excitement--Satan completely dominates us! He has that desire to hold us back and to hinder us from being in an intimate relationship with God--and the sad thing is, I've let him win! Now that i've finally realized that and made that connection, it's so much more clear to me--i need to daily throw of heaviness, tiredness, homesickness, etc. in order to deeply connect with God and be as in-tune with Him as possible.

Another thing that Ari talked about that really struck me was the topic of fearing man (Proverbs 29:25). I realized that i've struggled with this area quite a bit in the past. For example, I worry about what others will think about me in situations, I want to be everyone's friend--I avoid conflict at all costs, or I fail to correct someone or something I see because I'm afraid of what they will think. If I fear man more than I fear God, it will only be a stumbling block for me and I will end up forgetting about or ignoring God's desires for my life in order to please people around me. It's definitely an area where i need a greater FOG.

So...Key of the Week: Ecclesiastes 12:13b--"Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man"...Fear of God=a passionate pursuit after God. Make a choice!!

Hope you all have a great week...God bless you in everything you do!
Love, Rachel

ps. if any of you still want to donate just send me a fb message or an email r.steckly@hotmail.com Thanks!!!