Loneliness was a heavy weight I was bearing. I was grieving the loss of beloved friends. Never again would I see their smile or hear their laughter. I wouldn't be able to share life with them anymore, in times of rejoicing and times of sorrow, nor would I ever be able to hug them again.

Go ahead, call me biased, but I believe YWAM Tyler has some of the best teachers out there. Not only do they impart Truth, but they also unleash Love. C.S. Lewis once said, "The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts." Our teachers value each student and believe in the more that God has for them. They're willing to plow the weathered soil of hearts to help people discover real and lasting freedom. Their love for Jesus is infectious, and I'm thankful for the investment each one has made here. During #TeacherAppreciationWeek, we're recognizing a few of the many awesome teachers God has brought our way. 

Life is, often, not what you plan for yourself but unfolds in ways that may be surprising.

Yeah, the title can be a a little cliche. It's a saying that we hear a lot at YWAM Tyler. There's even a banner with the quote across it on the wall above my desk. For me, it is more than a catch phrase though. It's something God spoke to me during a transition period of my life that I have gone back to time and time again.

Recently, I was able to participate with an organization called YWAM, which stands for Youth With a Mission. For the first three months during class time, I learned about the character of God and how to have a deeper relationship with Him. We were discipled, so we could go out and disciple others as well, applying all the things we learned to the cities that we were traveling to.

Have you ever felt like the room is closing in on you? Have you ever been sitting in a class on introduction day, sweating at the thought of having to speak? Ridiculous, right??

Imagine gathering around an empty table with a slew of orphans to thank the Lord for food that wasn't there. Hard to even believe, honestly; yet, it's true. George Mueller trusted God to the point he was willing to sit at a barren table and offer thanks to God for the food that He was going to supply. God had promised to provide all Mueller needed in caring for those children, so in that moment of need, Mueller banked on God's promise, and sure enough God did it! The doorbell rang, and fresh bread was placed before them all to enjoy for breakfast.

The icy winter wind had howled all night long outside our uninsulated rental house near Santiago, Chile. As the dawn broke, two students, Carlos and José, emerged bleary-eyed from their sleeping bags, quietly slipped into warm clothes, and headed out into the dark for an early quiet time with the Lord.

In celebration of World Poetry Day, this poem just might be the needed inspiration to know that God speaks. Psalm 32:8 declares, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you." Twelve years ago I did my DTS and learned more about hearing from God. I read this inspirational book, Is That Really You, God by the founder of YWAM, Loren Cunningham, and the stories left me wide-eyed and wonder-filled. Learning to hear God's voice is a key part of all YWAM Discipleship Training Schools. I'm thankful I devoted five months of my life for this unique training. If you're wrestling with what it means to hear God's voice then do a DTS. You'll get to read this book and discover truths about Jesus that'll change your life.

At YWAM Tyler, students are graduating their Discipleship Training Schools with tons of memories, friendships, and passion for Jesus! Read some of the most recent reflections of students' experiences.

“What do you want to do after you graduate?”

I laughed nervously. I had been asked this several times during my senior year of high school, and I had no clue what I wanted to do. And graduation was just a few months away!

Ever questioned if you really believed all this God stuff? Ever wondered if God really hears your prayers? Ever hungered to know Jesus more? Ever needed convincing that what you were thinking was right? If so, than YOU'RE NOT ALONE!

Enter into these stories with me and see how God met my friends here at YWAM Tyler and answered the cries of their heart.