Wise O Solomon

As I sit in my tall-hoodie (dreaming of snowboarding) on this rainy Sunday, I am reflecting on the words of Solomon in Proverbs 8

"Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud: 'To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. Listen for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. All the words from my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her." I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgement are mine; I have understanding and power. By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full. The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world. I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it Blessed is the man who listens to me watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."

The bold or bigger words are the ones that I have blocked in my Bible. One day I just flipped to this page, I'll admit I'm not big on the Psalms or Proverbs just because they always seemed like riddles to me. So I would avoid them but when I need a pick me up they are the books I go to. Anyways Wisdom is something we all want and ask for so I ripped this passage apart. I had so much more understanding.
To be wise is a great thing, it doesn't happen over night it happens through experiences throughout our lives. That happens through trying new things and breaking out of our everyday molds. "As the first of his works" that's pretty sweet that he had all of us in mind before the deeds of old. Before anything was made! It blows my mind every time I read this! To think that God had you and I in mind before anything else was created is so amazing! Think about how many humans there are on the earth! Just amazing!

Make up your mind!

So it's becoming winter here in the great country of New Zealand. While it's becoming winter the weather cannot make up it's mind. It's really supposed to be fall but it depends on the day. Today was amazing sunshine, really hot out. Yesterday was a rainy, windy, cold day. It's a guessing game that we're all playing. It's like one of those "Wake up and see" seasons. I find that's the same for what's going on in my life right now. Some days I can't decide what I'm going to do. I find myself dreaming of all these possibilities but in the end I realize I can't be in 5 places at once.
Long-boarding is something that brings me great joy. Feeling the wind in my hair and the pavement under my feet. Putting my ray-ban's on and cruising is something that is so freeing. Until I crash and get up quick to see who saw that. That is one thing I can decide on is to go for a good skate down by the beach. What I'm realizing in this season of my life is that we are all on different walks in life.
Looking back to where I was last season to where I am now. It's pretty amazing. The different people God puts in our lives at the different times. Last season was 15 crazy snowboarders for me and this season it's more of a solitude of seldom people. I like each season because I'm learning different things. Breaking the mold of what "I think it should be" is something that the Lord is grinding into me. That it's OK to be on your own for a few months. The House of Prayer is going to be like this for 3 months so might as well get used to it. After my long-board today I went and sat at the beach for a while. Watching the surfers and people walk up and down. I love the smell of  the sea breeze. It's so refreshing and so life giving. I learned something new this week that 95% of the worlds water is salt water. That's amazing! Then I thought, why is it so gross to drink? Anyways, just random thoughts is all.

I leave you with this quote:

"We lose ourselves in the things we love, and we find ourselves there too."

The Update

So where to begin. I think I'll start with a bit of a back story:

So going back 6 months ago I staffed the Snowboarders DTS. Which was the experience of a lifetime. I wouldn't have changed any of it! God totally knows what we need and when we need it. In my head I was just thinking, I'll be base staff until my commitment is up. Serving in the kitchen. In order to finish my Basic Leadership School (BLS) I needed to lead an outreach team to show that I could lead in certain situations overseas. Once I completed that I graduated in November 2011 with the SDTS. I was looking at staying on base and serving them in whatever way possible. Well God had something different in mind. Whenever I would pray about the next step all I kept getting was Tauranga. Go to Tauranga and I'll give you your next step. Well I was already planning on coming to Tauranga for Christmas with an amazing kiwi family that I've known for a while. Anyways so I came up here looking to be here a month for the holidays and that changed within a week. I kept feeling this pull towards the House Of Prayer. Which is probably one of the last things I was willing to do. So I debated with God a few weeks on the subject but in the end I put my application into do the Awaken Internship at THOP.

So without further ado, I've been accepted! I will be starting April 23rd and graduate July 13th.

What is the Awaken Internship?

The Awaken Internship is the primary onramp to all that happens at the Tauranga House of Prayer Missions Base. It is a 12 week immersion into the mandate and lifestyle of night and day prayer and worship. Interns spend 4-6 hours a day before God in the Prayer Room and receive daily teaching that’s aimed to equip them to cultivate and sustain a life of deep and authentic communion with God.Awaken is a unique training program in what it offers and where it takes place. As we impart understanding of the vision and values of day and night worship and prayer, we will lay a clear foundation on Biblical themes of intimacy with Jesus, intercession and urgency. These subjects – Intimacy with Jesus, Intercession and Urgency – are communicated in an environment of prayer and worship so that interns can establish a personal root system in God (as opposed to just hearing lectures).

Where Will I be Living? 

I am living with an amazing kiwi family in Tauranga. I will be living here during the Internship. 

America?

I will be home at the end of July. Not sure for how long but for a few months at least. 

I've found that God always makes me do the things I least want to do. Not that the internship is something I don't want to do, it's just something that I put off my radar. I'm super stoked to have this opportunity to serve God and get to know him in such an amazingly new way. Sitting in his presence for 4 hours daily will be a challenge but I'm so ready and excited for it! 

If you would like to support me in this time I would greatly appreciate it prayerfully and financially. For more info on financial support and ways to do it just send me an email and I can give you further instructions. courtodd@tds.net

Many blessings to all of you and I will keep you more up to date on what's happening! 

-C-