Epistles and Gospels and Acts, Oh My!

As of the very moment of writing this, I have turned in two Epistles, Ephesians and Galatians, and two Gospels, both Mark and Luke, and am gearing up to study Acts this week. Going through these books has been so rewarding as I learn more about the structure, themes, background information and core message. However, studying these books has not been easy by any means, and in fact, three of those books that I mentioned I didn't finish. However, I suppose I should explain what it means to not finish a book. The expectation for each book we study is that we will title every paragraph in the book, structure the book by splitting it up into large divisions, sections, and then segments, and study the background information by looking at Archaeological Study Bibles, and Bible Dictionaries. The biggest portion of our work is going through each segment that we made in the structure step and making observations on the text before asking questions about the text that will lead to interpretation and an application. Once we have observed and interpreted our way through the whole book, we write a book summary, summarizing the main idea presented by the author and what the text covers, finally we write down our "Final App" or final application, this is a personal application which we make to our lives in response to what God was teaching us through the book. All of this work we have done is graded and given back to us, so to not finish a book affects our grade pretty heavily. Not finishing books has really beaten me down but, by the Grace of God, I have overcome the frustration that has come with not completing the books and spoken against the lies that the devil has been trying to tell me in light of not completing books. One specific instance was while studying Mark. On Wednesday of Mark week, I woke up feeling very warm, having a headache and with major sinus congestion. I was out for two days a result and I knew that if I wanted to have any chance at completing Mark, I would have to work very hard on Friday and Saturday. However, the devil had other plans - "Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8. On Saturday, October 18th, I was that someone. While going through my segments, I would take a short break between studying to take a breather, all the while knowing that there simply wasn't enough time before the 5:00pm due time to complete the book. On one such break, I slumped back into my chair and a thought pierced my mind; "What's the point?" the first of a series of words that filled my head trying to tear me down. In the midst of it all my soul yearned for the hope, peace, and comfort that only the arms of Jesus could grant me. I spoke out "Lord please help me." I could tell that if I wanted Him I would need to get up out of my chair and seek him, either in my One-on-One or in my wife, or through prayer. But the weight of discouragement was felt in my body just as much as my mind and moving was a struggle. I turned to my left where a window was, looking outside into the early afternoon sun, I felt peace begin to wash over me, and the still small voice pierced the darkness of my mind saying, "You can do this. You can complete this course, you are not a failure." Gradually, I sat up straight, feeling the restoration of our good and gracious God. I knew that I still could not complete Mark, but I also knew that not completing it was not foreshadowing, of how the rest of the school would go. Filled with hope, restoration of Jesus, and the Grace of God, I dove back into Mark and finished what studies I could before turning it in at about 4:50. Since then, I have been uplifted by God and felt greatly encouraged to continue working hard and doing my very best in all the work that he has prepared for me.

As always, thank you all so much for your prayers, it is through your intercession to God, that Ali and I are able to study here at YWAM Lakeside.

May you all be uplifted and Blessed by Him who will keep you to the end,

Levi R Miller