Encouragement

Life can be confusing some times, and often we are left wondering what do we do. Here is a verse that I found in my daily reading that has encouraged me a lot this week:

Exodus 31 -Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.

This was just a huge reminder that God has a plan for my life and that He has given me gifts talents and abilities for a purpose and I need to trust and obey Him and He will show me what I need to be doing and how I can best use the gifts He has given me to bring glory to Him. Hopefully this encourages your heart as well, God has a purpose for you and He wants to use you to bring Glory to his name.

Waiting

Last night at student ministry we talked about Prayer, one of the things that is hardest to except about prayer is that some times God says no to your request or sometimes he says wait. I think waiting can be one of the most challenging things to do, I mean who likes to wait for anything nowadays that’s why we created the internet, email, cable news, cell phones, fast food joints, and convenience stores. But last night I was challenged that when God tells me to wait it is doing two things, first off it is growing me spiritually and second off it is teaching me to rely on the Lord moment by moment. Sometimes it’s not comfortable, but if you trust in the lord he will give you strength you will mount up on wings like eagles you will run and not grow tired, you will walk and not become faint.

Tired

Have you ever had those times in your life when your just exhausted? Mentally, fiscally, emotionally? That's about where I'm at right now, but the Lord is still active and real, and he cares about us. Rebbecca Ready spoke at youth to day and she did a great job reminding everyone that God will never give us more than we can handle and that he will sustain us.
Quick story, Randomly was driving home from downtown Columbia and saw a Billiards store. I decided to stop in on a whim and see what there prices were like. I had been looking at some new stuff for the youth room but it was going to run us like 1000 dollars. I told the guy what we were trying to do and he responded by telling me that he wanted to donate everything we needed so that we didn't have to pay a penny. Wow even when we are tired God is always there. That was Gods little reminder that he cares.

Summer

So it has been months and months since my last blog so I figured i'd catch you up on the summer. It has been fast and furious, crazy and exciting, fun but exciting. The summer started of the second most important day of my life, my wedding. The wedding was amazing fun but stressful at the same time, it was so cool seeing so many people from my past all at the same place at the same time. There were friends and family from Texas, Florida, Virginia, Arizona, and a few more states as well, it was incredible. After that I took my beautiful bride to Jamaica for our honey moon. We got back and immediately started the construction and preparation for day camp. Being that this was the first year it took a lot of prep work. The next week was day camp and there were little chillions running around from 8 in the morning till 6 at night. (i have decided i want to wait a long long time before i have a kid). The week after that was summer camp. Summer camp was great, rush of fools was the band and rob turner was the speaker both were excellent, but the week was exhausting. I got back and found out that I was in charge of running a VBS for a church across town in one week. So the week after camp was prep for VBS and then of course there was the week of VBS. as soon as that ended we started on the week of the all-nighter. And O my goodness it was amazing, but staying up all night, Friday night and having to preach two times on Sunday is rather difficult. Any ways it is a new week and things look like they are going to settle down a little, but I must say it has been one hectic summer.

Lord you are good and your mercy endures forever

Wow, God is amazing, they say He is alive and working, they say that He is interested and involved in our lives, but some times its hard to see. I must say that I am amazed though, how God has showed his presence In the student ministry here at Friend Church. It is truly amazing to see people saved, lives changes and hearts moved. God has been blessing and I am one of the fortunate ones that God has allowed to be apart of this. What is the “this” that I’m talking about? It’s the future, the present the past, it’s the excitement, the life change, the over whelming joy of a ministry that is being blessed by God. You see God has blessed me so much lately and one of the biggest blessings in my life is (blessed Jeanie) the student ministry here at Friend Church. Many people try their whole lives to be somewhere where God is moving and make himself known. Where Christianity is not a stagnant religion, but where it is a vibrant relationship that changes people in a unique way when they come into contact with it, with Him. This past week I have seen people Saved from a mediocre life that leads to a spiritual death, and given a life full of meaning and purpose, which will lead to life everlasting. Many of these people don’t know what it means to have this meaningful life, but I am so thankful that God has placed me here so that I can lead, guide, direct, and above all, walk beside them on their path of spiritual birth and renewal. Thank you lord for giving me this opportunity to make a difference. Now please give me the power to follow through.

I WIN

Holy bajeebers I win, I was told that in order to be ordained I would have to beat greg in ping pong. I said bring it and Greg brought it, point after point we were neck and neck spiraling our way upward toward the fateful number 21. Finally with stubborn determination I pulled ahead and beat the master at his own game...O what a glorious day. I can be ordained.

Death to stereotypes

I enjoy playing ping pong, BUT IT STINKS ALWAYS LOOSING. Lol but I guess that’s how we all feel sometimes, we try and we try but we just keep loosing. It’s especially hard because I’m incredibly competitive. One of these days I will rise up out of this stereotype “bad ping pong player” and take on the masters (Greg, Kevin, and Bob)…I WILL BE VICTORIOUS.

Tired

I have been at friend church 2 weeks now, I am exhausted but at the same time energized I love my job, the people i work with and the people i get the serve with, but most of all i count it a blessing to be able to serve my Lord Jesus Christ.

The truth is though that im human just like the rest of you, and I need to start pacing myself a little better, i feel like im in a sprint, but there is no finish line...lol...

that was pretty much puke on a page, just some of my real feeling and thoughts. ill end this post simply by saying that back in November i preached a sermon and i talked about being blessed, and what that truly means at that time i new i was blessed, but i did not feel or see blessings in my life. I prayed that God would change that and bless me...today i can truly say i have been blessed i look around me and i Have an incredible job, an amazing fiance, and an awesome God.