Day 170/252 - Saturday 12th April

Had a mini DTS reunion with Amal, Keith, Karen and Martina. Then slipped and fell, injuring my back, ouch. Still managed to stay up until midnight to finish my work. Tomorrow is a new day :)

Day 169/252 - Friday 11th April

Still working on Song of Songs... I’ve been impacted by the interpretation that the lover was defiled by the king and she was rescued by her beloved who created a safe environment to build love upon. He calls her our of the cleft in the rock and creates a safe environment for her to be with him. He is gentle and he is kind with her, loving her no matter what has happened and rescuing her from her place of shame. Both their names in Hebrew are from the word for peace, so their relationship was built upon peace. 

This book is so healing for my thoughts on what love really is and how God intends love to be between one man and one woman. Someone called it 'The original design of True love'. I’ve cried over this book many times this week because I see God’s heart of what he has for us in relationships, in safety, protection and vulnerability. 

Day 168/252 - Thursday 10th April

Song of Songs today with Vicky... So much healing, beautiful words...

Day 167/252 - Wednesday 9th April

This morning was rubbish nothing was going right, then....had a fun time with friends, got my light fixed, got an amazing shoulder massage, and took photos of Brian and his banjo! I always forget how much I love taking photos!! :) was happy for the rest of the day!
Had lunch with Stephie, she's here visiting, love her <3
Then small was so fun, we drew shapes then had to make a picture around then and it was supposed to mean something phycological, love that stuff!
We had the oikos meal and a fun eve..turned out to be a great day!

Day 166/252 - Tuesday 8th April

Again, just loving this group I'm with...tonight I learnt my name in Korean, Japanese and Chinese!
The sun was out today which made everything just more brighter and the feeling that summer is well and truly on it's way :)
I read song of Solomon today...wow, that will be a fun lecture on Thursday with Vicky!!
Read ecclesiastes too...interesting wrestling with lifes big questions. 

Day 165/252 - Monday 7th April

Proverbs today! Don't have much time to really get into it in depths but got a really good overview and finished my assignment.
We have song of Solomon and ecclesiastes this week so want to keep on top of my time management.
Remembering how much I love the people on this course, I am so fortunate to be part of this school with such incredible people.
We've all been so happy to be back together today, it's been a good day. Although most of us would agree we could do with another week off :)
There's a new dts and bcc here now so it's full steam ahead into the third term.
This morning after worship we went to the classroom and Andy posed this question.
Which are the 3 books we're doing this week...wisdom: proverbs....love: song of Solomon....what is the point: ecclesiastes.
Bring it on..... :)

Day 164/252 - Friday 28th March

Yay, almost finished for the second term, and I can't wait for a holiday!! But I've loved this term and can't believe how amazing the OT is :)
Abbey and Phil's wedding is happening here at TKL tomorrow, so people everywhere, busying about all with a job! I've been helping to lay the tables and other bits and bobs!
Now for a week at home... :)

Day 163/252 - Thursday 27th March

English for Missions (EFM) graduated tonight and we had a dance party latino style :) they also performed a drama depicting their teachers... I seriously haven't seen anything so funny in a looong time. 
Really loved doing Job this week, beautiful, thought provoking book.

Day 162/252 - Wednesday 26th March

Today we had lectures specifically on Job and the use of Mythology - Andy loves this stuff, ancient sea creatures and all that jazz! Awesome stuff :)
In the night we had a Q and A with Andy, we got to ask him whatever q's we wanted, it was really fun and a lot of my views are being challenged, but that is good!

Day 161/252 - Tuesday 25th March

Beautiful literature in Job...one of my favourite verses 'heavenly storehouses of snow'

This fascinated me, that even though the writer is not clearly stated we can know so much about him (From lecture notes):

·               Remarkable poet and genius

o                   Best/complex Hebrew poetry

o                   1020 lines of poetry in Job

o                   over 60 triple parallelism

·               Some of finest words in literature

·               Wide knowledge of mythology

• uses mythololy from all over the known world
• very well travelled or well read?
• knew different cultures, languages very well

·               Impressive general knowledge – a class above rest of ot in writing ability (As Luke and Hebrews were above NT authors)

o                   5 words for Lion(4:10-11)

o                   Animals described in detail (38:39-39:30)

o                   13 words for gems (28:15-19)

o                   Knowledge of /human body got together (10:8-11)

• Of weather patterns (7:9,36:27-37, 38:34-38)
• The constellations (9:9, 38:31-33)
• Mining practises (28:1-11)
• 6 words for traps (18:8-10)
• Caravan routes (6:18-20)
• Knowledge of past history & culture

Also that when he suffered his friends tried to fix him... 

• Rejects easy answers
• People who have suffered don’t want people to explain what’s going on, they want people to comfort them. They reject quick explanations about what s happening and why. APPLICATION - Do I do this? Do I try to fix my friends!? Instead I should listen, comfort and love. 
• Suffered himself?
• Bold and original thinker
• Challenges excepted views
• Wise man?

Day 160/252 - Monday 24th March

Today I heard this quote:
"Aim high because you never know if you will hit it, Aim low and you will always hit it."
It was a simple statement but it seems to strike a chord with me and I've been thinking about what that could mean to my life. 

I really enjoyed our lecture of an Introduction to Wisdom Literature. Something that really impacted me was the teaching about the meaning of wisdom in the ancient world. In the ancient world if someone had a craft that they were skilled at and they practically put it into action they were considered wise. The definition of wisdom biblically means that you fear the Lord, put your skill into good use and therefore you are wise. 

I just really like this somehow. 

Day 159/252 - Sunday 23rd March

Today I went out for coffee with Jacki, for a much needed catch up :)
Praying a lot about my future dreams.
Well hello Job (Book #40) you're an interesting character! Looking forward to studying this book before our 'Easter break'.
Watched Amazing Grace tonight, seen it before but somehow tonight I was profoundly touched by William Wilberforce's life. 

Day 158/252 - Saturday 22nd March

My finished timeline (well proud of it!) and part of my application...

I was really impacted with the hope that the book ended with, that when everything is going horribly wrong and all of God’s people are away from their promised land, there is still hope in David’s line. Jehoachin gets released from prison and ends up eating at the kings table! I like that it leaves on a cliff hanger like this and stirs up hope inside that God has got his hand in this and he IS going to redeem his people for the sake of his name. I love that God is a redeemer in this book, that it ends with hope and there are gems of redemption dotted through it. They are a bright light in an otherwise hopeless time. 

Day 157/252 - Friday 21st March

All week we've been building Jerusalem! I was in the team in charge of the walls (they were the best damn walls!) then after reading of how Israel and Judah went into Exile the staff took us outside to the fire pit to burn down Jerusalem! It felt really like a tiny 1% of how they must have felt to have their city burnt to the ground. So much for the golden age and the time when Israel was thriving as a nation... now comes the next part of the story... 

We also had out King's banquet to finish the weeks teaching. We all were required to dress up as a character from 1 or 2 Kings. I chose Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. (The Queen of Sheba was taken!)

Day 156/252 - Thursday 20th March

So... all my work I did last night was wrong! Only third time I've cried over my work, last time was to my sister over my tabernacle to scale!

But, day improved greatly... we had Evangelism Day and I got to go back to visit my little old lady in the council estate!! I was so happy. William came too with his labradoodle which absolutely adored :D

Also had last ever meal out with the Media team, a goodbye to Lee and Lyndon after all their hard work in the office over the last 2+ years. Defiantly the end of an era for the three of us, but God is moving us all on. 

Day 155/252 - Wednesday 19th March

The DRBS girls led worship and intercession this morning, we prayed for the different church denominations, which was eye opening and educational!
Andy laid out a massive Risk game to demo all the battles, pretty cool. 
Stayed up late to finish my Kings table. REALLY not into all these details (kings, names, dates, battles) but pushed through to get it out of the way so I can focus on my timeline! 

Day 154/252 - Tuesday 18th March

Today we began Kings! Book #38
My boots ripped. Can't believe it, I only bought them in September.
Had really good comments from my grader which was encouraging :)

Day 153/252 - Monday 17th March

Today we were asked in worship... When you were 17 what did you hope for? and Who was there to help you?
We prayed for 17 year old boys amongst us and in our nation specifically. Amazing to think these will be the next leaders, fathers and influencers in our society. 

Day 152/252 - Sunday 16th March

Day off...woohoo!
Sunny day, DTS are back, soo good!
Tonight we watched Forrest Gump and got really moved by the scene when his braces fall off his legs... such a powerful message of breaking free. 

Day 151/252 - Saturday 15th March

My Psalm. 

I am weary, O Lord, my soul is tired,

Yet there is nothing than can shake my love for you,

But I am weary and my hearts aches.

Then in moment I remember

Your sun warms my skin and I remember,

Your sun shines and I feel you close by,

As a city dweller longs for fresh air

And for the traffic drone to cease,

So they can hear the birdsong,

So I’ve longed for you, O Lord

I’ve been searching for truth,

I’ve looked for the right way,

I’ve climbed up to the mountains,

Journeyed over much ground,

Through high valleys and deep caverns,

Through many oceans and seas,

I’ve met princes and paupers,

Been acquainted with rich and poor,

I’ve journeyed with many, I’ve journeyed with few,

You have been with me through everything

I’ve been searching for the truth,

I’ve looked for the right way,

I’ve looked up to the heavens,

Squinted at the clouds and stared at the stars,

I’ve gazed at the depths, fathomed the earth

And the oceans dark mysteries,

You have been with my through everything

I’ve been searching for truth,

I’ve looked for the right way,

I’ve pondered the culture of now and

Listened to the knowledge of man,

I’ve contemplated my generation and

Wondered through the opinions of society,

You have been with me through everything

Then you led me O Lord in your unfailing love,

You took me from my wanderings and

Set my feet on a straight path,

I was walking with obstacles,

You cleared my path ahead,

You led me O Lord because you are faithful,

You have been with me through everything

Then you led me O Lord in your own way,

Through those dusty roads and ancient gates,

Through stones walls and green hillsides,

Through early kingdoms and bloody battles,

Through humble homes and bustling streets,

Through golden fields and worn out tents

I feel the dust on my skin,

I taste the manna on my lips,

I smell the tent canvas,

I hear the battle cries,

I run my hand along an old stone wall,

My senses are alive, my body is there

I am sitting in David’s throne room,

I am working with Ruth in the field,

I am walking a dusty road with Paul,

I am waiting with Issac for his bride

I am there, but they don’t see me,

I am there, but they don’t know me

I will never forget but they don’t know,

They’ve taught me faithfulness,

They’ve shown me truth,

They’ve taught me obedience,

They’ve shown me love,

I’ve been searching for truth,

I’ve looked for the right way,

I’ve found it in you O Lord,

Through the faces of old,

Those ancient souls have brought me life,

Now I know your truth, O Lord

I’ve found it in you

You have been with my through everything

I am weary no longer,

My God, You have made me alive