James 1:2-3

I apologize for how long it has taken me write another post. I promise it is not due to laziness or me thinking that it isn't important, it is just that I really haven't known where to begin, or how to go about explaining the things that have been happening. I suppose just dive into where my heart is the fullest, yeah? Yeah. I am now an engaged man who is madly in love with his future wife and the rest of his life!!!! I didn't mention her, Emily Ray Hatfield : ) ,  in the first post just because I didn't think it would be appropriate given the topic, that was probably dumb. I do dumb things sometimes.  She is the love of my life, and the biggest supporter I have, even beating out my mom...and that is saying something for sure! : ) I will elaborate more on Emily in my next post, which I promise I will dedicate the entire post to telling you all about me and her, including the pineapple story : )! But these days I have very limited time and limited internet access, because I am finally in Australia!!!
        I am roughly two weeks into my Not For Sale DTS which God has already been working through. I have been experiencing serious spiritual warfare like never before, desperation, depression and serious anxieties that sometimes it seems impossible to shake. But I have also been experiencing Gods unending love, and adoration for his children when they are obedient. I have been feeling God speak to me during times of worship or just simple fellowship with the new family that I am now a part of, and in times of meditation and prayer. It has been roughly two weeks now and I have been in a constant state of prayer, a two week long conversation with God going back and forth on the good and the bad hopes and dreams, plans for the future and concerns in my present state. Being awake during an open heart surgery, trying to walk around and carry on with normal life, despite all the pain and grotesque removal of fatal internal disease, is the only way that I can describe it. Feeling wide open;  like all of my insides and nastiness is hanging out for everyone to see all the while trying to pick up and hang onto the things that I am uneasy about letting go, but God has a way of gently whispering to me..."its gotta go Stuart" and I understand and reluctantly drop it and keep walking, all the while He is replacing these terminal illnesses with gifts and ideas and an understanding about life, myself, and Himself that I have never before understood or imagined. It is going to be a long procedure and an even longer recovery, but it is something that I would rather die than be without.
   My DTS is going to go something like this: six  weeks of lecture here at the base in Townsville, Australia. Lectures on Hearing God, Identity and Destiny, Clear Conscience, Character and Nature of God and Worship, Relationships, and a Not For Sale week. Then we will be going camping as a corporate for two weeks in March learning on Lordship. We will then return to base for a week and be taught on Spiritual Warfare. After that week we will be going on a mini out reach here in Australia for three weeks. When we return from that we will be back on base for two weeks learning about Missions and the Bible. Then it will be time for Major Outreach, locations vary from either Papa New Guinea or Thailand. Then after six weeks in one of those locations I will be back here for a week and then graduation. Wow! Writing it all down just now makes me fully understand how fast this time will fly! Its only been two weeks and I feel like a new man in Him.
    Please continue to pray for me during this time, I know that since I am walking in faith the enemy is going to be continually attacking, but my Dad is bigger and my Dad is stronger and my Dad loves me way too much to let me go so I know I will be fine, but I can use all of the prayer and encouragement I can get! I also promise that my next post will not be three months from now. I will be taking pictures and writing short updates every week from now on about how God is working in me and through me, I cannot wait!
       Thank you all so much for caring, praying, and taking the time to read what is going on in me right now. I hope I didn't bore you or lose you in the midst of my rambling, but God really is working miracles right here right now! All praise and glory is His. I miss my fiancee', I miss my family, and I miss  my dogs, but I will be a better man for them when I am done here, so please be patient with me, continue to love me, and I will be back soon

xoxo


God Bless you all!!!!!