Right now I am reading through the book of Deuteronomy. I've started this 100 days of reading through the bible regiment. Only the regiment picks out certain portions of scripture so in essence you get the main storyline of the bible the whole way through, not the book in it's entirety. But Deuteronomy was not one chosen, so when I got to the end of Exodus and about to skip ahead to Joshua I thought to myself I really want to read through Deuteronomy because I never have, so here I am.
This morning I came across this verse that I have heard before but it was awesome to read it again and meditate on it. Deut. 8 talks about remembering the LORD Your God. Specifically Moses is recounting to the people of Israel all that God has done for them and reminding them of how good God has been through their rebellion. He tells them that God is giving them a land that has everything they will ever need to live, be wealthy and fruitful. He goes on to warn them in verse 17, that they not think too highly of themselves. That all the things God is providing for them, that they not say I did this or my power has brought me that. My hard work has gained me all that I have. Essentially Moses is telling the people, be careful not to forget that all that you have is a gift from God.
So think about everything that you have. The car, the house, food on the table, money to spend on this hobby or that activity, the water that comes out of your tap. Do you believe that all these things are a gift from God or do you think that you have earned these things by your own power and the strength of your hands?
Did you know?.?.?...
America represents 6% of the world's population but we consume 40% of it's resources.
92% of the people in the world do not have a car.
1 billion people do not have clean drinking water.
800 million people will not eat anything today, 300 million of them are children.
1 million people live on less than $1 a day.
WE ARE SOOOOO RICH!!!!!!
The majority of people in the world suffer every single day from simple things like not having anything to eat or anything to drink, yet we complain when our iPhones don't load the Pizza Hut menu fast enough.
DO NOT make the mistake of thinking that your world is THE world. Furthermore DO NOT make the bigger mistake of forgetting that all you have is a gift from God. The question is will you use these gifts to serve yourself or Him?
Jesus has called, is calling and always will call us to live in a way that serves others. How can you use your car, house, food, money to serve Him and in turn serve others?
May our LORD be with you
Josh
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Flipadelphia
A few weeks ago I got to go on a day trip with my two best mates, Mike Greek and Tory Pinto. We had been planning this trip for about a year. A year ago we went to the Philly zoo and then went and got a cheesesteak in South Philly. We wanted to Rocky steps but didn't have enough time so the idea for this trip was born. We decided we would go, just the three of us, down to PHilly and run up the Rocky steps and get a cheesesteak at both of the big places claiming to be the King of Steaks, then compare.
It was the best trip and one of the best times I've ever had with the guys. Here is a picture of the glorious steak, cheese and grease, to give you an idea:
It was the best trip and one of the best times I've ever had with the guys. Here is a picture of the glorious steak, cheese and grease, to give you an idea:
But the whole night was great!! First we saw a car on fire when we got on the turnpike. No one was injured, thankfully. Here is a video to get an idea. By the way I just figured out how to upload pictures and videos into this blog so I am going all out!!!
On the way down we realized that we didn't have directions, so we got some from Mike's phone and kind of winged it. We made it successfully to the Philly Museum of Art and ran up the steps without dying, it was easier than I thought it would be. Stallone made it seem a lot more intense than it is. But we went to get cheesesteaks, drove back to the turnpike witht the top down, it was a great trip.
We enjoyed some time on the steps of the Art Museum, talking, viewing the skyline and getting a little sentimental. Then Tory made a comment that really made me reflect on God and how good He is. He said, "The weather tonight is really nice!" Now I don't know if you can remember but we have been having pretty RAINY weather as of late. So it was actually odd that this night the rain had stopped and held off.
That made me think. This was the perfect night for us to have this trip. The weather was great, not too hot or cold. All of our schedules allowed us to do this and not have to get back super early for anything super early the next day, it was perfect!!
I'm not trying to sound conceded here but I believe that God orchestrated that perfect night just for us. Now I know it wasn't JUST FOR US, but I do believe it was for us. This trip is one of the last ones we will take before Tory gets married in October. Now that doesn't mean after he is married we aren't going to hang out at all but marriage and such does change the landscape of life a little.
This night will hold a special place in my memory for the rest of my life. It was a great trip with two brothers that I love dearly and I praise God that He gave us this special night with all it's jokes and quirks and good times.
The bible says that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. That means that He will always be good, always no matter what. God does the right things for the right reasons everytime, even when we can't see it.
Even though things in our lives will change, He does not, He will always be good. I thought when we were on the steps talking that some day, we will come back to that place. I said to the guys we will be back with our families. We will see our kids running around the fountain, playing on the plaza in front of the museum together. That will be a huge change, but God will still be good.
God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!!
Here is one final video for you. Enjoy!!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Are You Listening?
I have recently been doing a study on the Holy Spirit. I needed a change in my normal study routine. I usually just read through a book of the bible, which is great but I wanted to do something a little different, to change things up. So I looked up scriptures on the Holy Spirit and have been doing a study of my own. Which has really been awesome and insightful and as an added bonus I have some material to write for the Daily Feast.
So can I start by asking a question? When was the last time you had a vision while praying to the LORD? When was the last time God gave you some direct instructions, to do or not to do something? When was the last time God told you to do something while your were fasting and praying?
I have been reading how the Holy Spirit speaks to us His people and I found some really interesting things. Let me tell you three different scenarios.
Philip was told by the Spirit to go talk to the Ethiopian in his chariot-Acts 8:29.
Peter had a vision from the LORD while praying-Acts 10:10.
Paul and Barnabas were set on a mission trip by the Holy Spirit-Acts 13:4.
So here we have 3 different times when God told one of His followers, directly, what they should do. When was the last time something like that happened to you?? My guess is a long time, if ever!!
Does this mean that God is different now than He was back then? Absolutely NOT!!! The bible is clear, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. That means that it's not God who changed the way He speaks, it is us who changed the way we listen. Do we give God the opportunity to speak to us directly? I don't think so. In this fast pace society, we don't take the proper amount of time to spend with the LORD.
In each of these examples the Spirit spoke because the person gave the time and was open to being spoken too. It says that after the Spirit spoke to Philip, "he rose and went." This means he was sitting and probably praying or meditating. Peter went onto the rooftop to pray when he had his vision. Paul and Barnabas were in the midst of a church-wide praying and fasting worship time, when the Spirit told the congregation to "set aside Paul and Baranabas for work that I have for them." Can you imagine?!? When was the last time your church had a whole congregation fasting?!?
These early believers made Jesus such a priority in their lives that they took time out of their day to pray and meditate and fast and worship and listen and be open to the Spirit speaking to them.
One other cool thing about these scenes is that they tested the Spirit. Now notice they didn't put God to the test. They tested the Spirit to make sure that what was being said was from God and not some other place. After Peter had his vision, Chapter 10 says while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit told him some men were looking for Him. After the Spirit spoke to the congregation is says, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them (praying some more) and sent them off.
So not only did these characters simply pray, they then took time to meditate and ponder or pray some more about what was spoken. They made it a priority each day to spend a great amount of time in the LORD's presence. It wasn't a fly by, do this as quick as I can to get it out of the way thing either. When I was a youth my pastor encouraged us to just take 5 minutes out of our day. 5 minutes!! Really...my Creator, Savior, LORD, God only deserves 5 minutes of my day?!? Let's get real.
Friends hear me on this, what I am talking about is real growth and maturity in our walk with Jesus. I have been feeling over the past months that it is time for us, me especially to stop living half way for Jesus and start producing some real fruit and maturity. Honestly that is what I want for all of us who claim to love Jesus. This is my soap box thing!!! I'm not trying to sound radical or anything, (of course all the "radical Christian things" I hear about today actually line up with what scripture says we should be doing, but whatever) I truly want to see us, followers of Jesus grow and mature and be effective.
Spending personal time with God is one of my biggest struggles. I am becoming more and more convicted of my lack of discipline, and I think it time for others feel this way as well. Maturity is not going to happen by itself, I need to make it happen. That means I may need to get up a half hour earlier to pray and study. Or quit this sports team or that club because it is getting in the way of what really matter. Or stop taking time to watch this TV show or that movie because it is hindering me from having an eternal focus. Do what I have to do!
God is the same today as He was back then, so He will speak to us the same direct way, if we are open to being spoken too. It's not that God can't or doesn't speak to us on fly by the moment situations but I believe we need to slow down and take time to hear His voice. When we give Him the opportunity to speak to us and open ourselves up to the Spirit, I have confidence that we will hear Him.
May our LORD be with you
So can I start by asking a question? When was the last time you had a vision while praying to the LORD? When was the last time God gave you some direct instructions, to do or not to do something? When was the last time God told you to do something while your were fasting and praying?
I have been reading how the Holy Spirit speaks to us His people and I found some really interesting things. Let me tell you three different scenarios.
Philip was told by the Spirit to go talk to the Ethiopian in his chariot-Acts 8:29.
Peter had a vision from the LORD while praying-Acts 10:10.
Paul and Barnabas were set on a mission trip by the Holy Spirit-Acts 13:4.
So here we have 3 different times when God told one of His followers, directly, what they should do. When was the last time something like that happened to you?? My guess is a long time, if ever!!
Does this mean that God is different now than He was back then? Absolutely NOT!!! The bible is clear, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. That means that it's not God who changed the way He speaks, it is us who changed the way we listen. Do we give God the opportunity to speak to us directly? I don't think so. In this fast pace society, we don't take the proper amount of time to spend with the LORD.
In each of these examples the Spirit spoke because the person gave the time and was open to being spoken too. It says that after the Spirit spoke to Philip, "he rose and went." This means he was sitting and probably praying or meditating. Peter went onto the rooftop to pray when he had his vision. Paul and Barnabas were in the midst of a church-wide praying and fasting worship time, when the Spirit told the congregation to "set aside Paul and Baranabas for work that I have for them." Can you imagine?!? When was the last time your church had a whole congregation fasting?!?
These early believers made Jesus such a priority in their lives that they took time out of their day to pray and meditate and fast and worship and listen and be open to the Spirit speaking to them.
One other cool thing about these scenes is that they tested the Spirit. Now notice they didn't put God to the test. They tested the Spirit to make sure that what was being said was from God and not some other place. After Peter had his vision, Chapter 10 says while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit told him some men were looking for Him. After the Spirit spoke to the congregation is says, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them (praying some more) and sent them off.
So not only did these characters simply pray, they then took time to meditate and ponder or pray some more about what was spoken. They made it a priority each day to spend a great amount of time in the LORD's presence. It wasn't a fly by, do this as quick as I can to get it out of the way thing either. When I was a youth my pastor encouraged us to just take 5 minutes out of our day. 5 minutes!! Really...my Creator, Savior, LORD, God only deserves 5 minutes of my day?!? Let's get real.
Friends hear me on this, what I am talking about is real growth and maturity in our walk with Jesus. I have been feeling over the past months that it is time for us, me especially to stop living half way for Jesus and start producing some real fruit and maturity. Honestly that is what I want for all of us who claim to love Jesus. This is my soap box thing!!! I'm not trying to sound radical or anything, (of course all the "radical Christian things" I hear about today actually line up with what scripture says we should be doing, but whatever) I truly want to see us, followers of Jesus grow and mature and be effective.
Spending personal time with God is one of my biggest struggles. I am becoming more and more convicted of my lack of discipline, and I think it time for others feel this way as well. Maturity is not going to happen by itself, I need to make it happen. That means I may need to get up a half hour earlier to pray and study. Or quit this sports team or that club because it is getting in the way of what really matter. Or stop taking time to watch this TV show or that movie because it is hindering me from having an eternal focus. Do what I have to do!
God is the same today as He was back then, so He will speak to us the same direct way, if we are open to being spoken too. It's not that God can't or doesn't speak to us on fly by the moment situations but I believe we need to slow down and take time to hear His voice. When we give Him the opportunity to speak to us and open ourselves up to the Spirit, I have confidence that we will hear Him.
May our LORD be with you
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Confession Time
It really bugs me when I have long periods of no writing. I feel like I let myself down, I let the people who read this (if there are any) down and I feel like I let God down. But there is a greater sin that disappointment, that is doing this for my glory and gain. When I discovered that I kinda had a nack for writing, I decided right away that I would use it for God's glory and not my own. I would love to be an author of some kind, as long as God is glorified through it.
So call it impatience or restlessness, whatever. I have not written anything in a few months and I was really feeling the itch, but also feeling not ready. As I said in one of my previous posts God has been teaching and growing me in the last few months. But I was chomping at the bit to write...so I did.
I don't know what you think, but my last two posts have not felt right. They have felt awkward at best. I'm not saying that God can't use them to speak to someone, He is Soverign. I just haven't felt right.
Then it hit me, I have been writing things about God, without feeling the inspriration of God. Why?? Because I wanted to put stuff out there. See I have this terrible longing to be well known or famous in the "Christian community" for my amazing writings and thinking. I see guys like John Piper, Francis Chan, Rob Bell and others and think, "Man, I want to be in the spotlight just like them." The only problem is, when I pull the spotlight off of Jesus and onto myself I have completely lost the purpose and focus of my writing. Even when I'm writing about God, I, personally have to stay focused on God. When I begin to focus on myself and wanting the credit and acclaim for anything, I have spat in God's face.
So....I am sorry. I aplologize to you (the reader), I ask forgiveness from the LORD for this fault in myself. Even I have to go long periods without writing, I will not writing or say anything with out the prompting of the LORD. That is just the way it has to be.
So call it impatience or restlessness, whatever. I have not written anything in a few months and I was really feeling the itch, but also feeling not ready. As I said in one of my previous posts God has been teaching and growing me in the last few months. But I was chomping at the bit to write...so I did.
I don't know what you think, but my last two posts have not felt right. They have felt awkward at best. I'm not saying that God can't use them to speak to someone, He is Soverign. I just haven't felt right.
Then it hit me, I have been writing things about God, without feeling the inspriration of God. Why?? Because I wanted to put stuff out there. See I have this terrible longing to be well known or famous in the "Christian community" for my amazing writings and thinking. I see guys like John Piper, Francis Chan, Rob Bell and others and think, "Man, I want to be in the spotlight just like them." The only problem is, when I pull the spotlight off of Jesus and onto myself I have completely lost the purpose and focus of my writing. Even when I'm writing about God, I, personally have to stay focused on God. When I begin to focus on myself and wanting the credit and acclaim for anything, I have spat in God's face.
So....I am sorry. I aplologize to you (the reader), I ask forgiveness from the LORD for this fault in myself. Even I have to go long periods without writing, I will not writing or say anything with out the prompting of the LORD. That is just the way it has to be.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Old Memories
For the past couple of days more and more photos with me in them have been appearing on facebook. Not just any photos. Photos taken during my childhood and teen years, mostly at YFC functions or hanging out with YFC people. This has stirred within myself some very strange feelings. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing and laughing at the "good ole days," but most of the time when I can be found in a photo, the image makes me want to die!!
Why, oh WHY!!! did I ever let myself do some of the things I did or let myself be photographed doing them. Now I realize that in the grand scheme of things this is not a big deal and the embarrassment is mostly shared by everyone else, so like I said not a big deal. We all did crazy things in our youth and especially if you were a "YFCer" crazy and embarrassing was part of the deal.
I have never thought of myself as a sentimental or nostalgic kind of a man but I have to say these photos have provoked some deep thinking with in me. I look back on my photographed childhood and think, "Was I ever crazy and at times immature." Not only do I think about my teen years but the years leading up to and after high school. I think about the paths I have taken to lead me to the place I am at right now. Life certainly has not turned out the way I planned and thought it should. Don't get me wrong I would not trade my experiences and my life for anything. I couldn't imagine my life without Abby and Zion, even though when I was 14 and these photos were taken I didn't know her or even think, "hey some day I'm gonna marry that girl."
All of the choices I have made, the achievements (though few), the failures (though many), all of it has played a significant part in shaping the person I am today. Even though there are some things in my life I wish I could improve or change, i can find contentment knowing that God has been guiding me this whole time.
Most of us who are followers of Christ know that verse in Jeremiah that says I know the plans I have for declares the LORD, plans for a hope and future, for good not evil. Even though God was speaking to the Jews I believe this verse can apply to each of us individually.
Think about this!!
We have the freedom of choice, God does not make us do anything, we have freewill. However, do not forget the kind of limitless, infinite God we serve.
GOD IS BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE THE CHOICES AND EVEN THE MISTAKES WE MAKE AND FIT THEM INTO HIS PURPOSES!!!
When I look at these photos and reflect on all the bad choices I have made I don't come down on myself, I realize that the God who loves me without end has taken my decisions and used them for His purposes. So even though I am not where I think I should, I know that because of my relationship with Jesus I am right where He wants me.
Why, oh WHY!!! did I ever let myself do some of the things I did or let myself be photographed doing them. Now I realize that in the grand scheme of things this is not a big deal and the embarrassment is mostly shared by everyone else, so like I said not a big deal. We all did crazy things in our youth and especially if you were a "YFCer" crazy and embarrassing was part of the deal.
I have never thought of myself as a sentimental or nostalgic kind of a man but I have to say these photos have provoked some deep thinking with in me. I look back on my photographed childhood and think, "Was I ever crazy and at times immature." Not only do I think about my teen years but the years leading up to and after high school. I think about the paths I have taken to lead me to the place I am at right now. Life certainly has not turned out the way I planned and thought it should. Don't get me wrong I would not trade my experiences and my life for anything. I couldn't imagine my life without Abby and Zion, even though when I was 14 and these photos were taken I didn't know her or even think, "hey some day I'm gonna marry that girl."
All of the choices I have made, the achievements (though few), the failures (though many), all of it has played a significant part in shaping the person I am today. Even though there are some things in my life I wish I could improve or change, i can find contentment knowing that God has been guiding me this whole time.
Most of us who are followers of Christ know that verse in Jeremiah that says I know the plans I have for declares the LORD, plans for a hope and future, for good not evil. Even though God was speaking to the Jews I believe this verse can apply to each of us individually.
Think about this!!
We have the freedom of choice, God does not make us do anything, we have freewill. However, do not forget the kind of limitless, infinite God we serve.
GOD IS BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE THE CHOICES AND EVEN THE MISTAKES WE MAKE AND FIT THEM INTO HIS PURPOSES!!!
When I look at these photos and reflect on all the bad choices I have made I don't come down on myself, I realize that the God who loves me without end has taken my decisions and used them for His purposes. So even though I am not where I think I should, I know that because of my relationship with Jesus I am right where He wants me.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
It's been too long!!
The title really says it all. It has been way too long since I wrote on of these. I have to confess, I always feel guilty when I neglect this and not write anything for a long time. My last post was in January, that is just pathetic.
However, this time I am approaching resurrection of my "blogging" (I hate 21st century terms like that) in a totally different way. I see now that those times when I don't write anything for an extended period, those are the times that God teaches me the most and hopefully the times that I learn the most. All the ideas I get for my writing and sermons and such comes from these times of silent growth. I truly hope that this time I can keep up with this and produce more devotionals but I don't feel so bad leaving such a long time period in between times when I'm really cranking them out and when I have nothing to say.
I do apologize to any of you out there who enjoying reading these. I don't mean to purposefully neglect writing (and anyway y'all should be reading and studying on your own). But it is in these times that God teaches me and I actually have something to write about down the road.
It has been a wild couple of months. With the church planting going up and down, back and forth and finally landing at a place we can let God do his thing, I have learned a great and grown a great amount.
That is the point though isn't it??
Something that God has been laying on my heart recently is what the bible calls sanctification. Which is a big fancy word that means the process God takes us through to take on more godly characteristics and become more like him. Rich Mullins once said "God became one of us, so we could become more like Him."
I have been more and more convicted that if I am not growing and maturing in my relationship with God and becoming closer to him, than I am staying stagnate and in essence dying. As followers of Christ we should be striving to grow closer to God and falling more in love with Jesus. He himself said if you love me you will obey my commands. To obey the commands of Christ is in itself to draw closer to him. You can't have one without the other.
Paul says in Galatians that we should walk by the Spirit. I believe that is allowing God to transform and change you. Don't think that it can't happen to you. Sometimes when I look at people like Francis Chan or John Piper, I think that could never be me. But the only thing they and others have going to keeping in step with the Spirit. Paul also says that we should say Yes to the Spirit and not the desires of the flesh. When we say yes to the Spirit and no to the flesh (because they are polar opposite) we are becoming more like God.
Are you striving or even wanting to be more like God or take on more godly characteristics? I'm not trying to sound judgemental but if you claim to be a "Christian" but have no change in your life or desire to change anything in your life, I would rethink that title you give yourself. Like I said I don't want to come off judgemental but I think the time has come for truth and not political correctness. Paul said if there is one who claims to be a believer but their life does not reflect it, cast him out and let him come to repentance.
Read the bible for yourself and see if your life matches up with what God is calling His people too. If you are not growing and maturing or obey Jesus' commands...really what is the point of calling yourself a follower??
However, this time I am approaching resurrection of my "blogging" (I hate 21st century terms like that) in a totally different way. I see now that those times when I don't write anything for an extended period, those are the times that God teaches me the most and hopefully the times that I learn the most. All the ideas I get for my writing and sermons and such comes from these times of silent growth. I truly hope that this time I can keep up with this and produce more devotionals but I don't feel so bad leaving such a long time period in between times when I'm really cranking them out and when I have nothing to say.
I do apologize to any of you out there who enjoying reading these. I don't mean to purposefully neglect writing (and anyway y'all should be reading and studying on your own). But it is in these times that God teaches me and I actually have something to write about down the road.
It has been a wild couple of months. With the church planting going up and down, back and forth and finally landing at a place we can let God do his thing, I have learned a great and grown a great amount.
That is the point though isn't it??
Something that God has been laying on my heart recently is what the bible calls sanctification. Which is a big fancy word that means the process God takes us through to take on more godly characteristics and become more like him. Rich Mullins once said "God became one of us, so we could become more like Him."
I have been more and more convicted that if I am not growing and maturing in my relationship with God and becoming closer to him, than I am staying stagnate and in essence dying. As followers of Christ we should be striving to grow closer to God and falling more in love with Jesus. He himself said if you love me you will obey my commands. To obey the commands of Christ is in itself to draw closer to him. You can't have one without the other.
Paul says in Galatians that we should walk by the Spirit. I believe that is allowing God to transform and change you. Don't think that it can't happen to you. Sometimes when I look at people like Francis Chan or John Piper, I think that could never be me. But the only thing they and others have going to keeping in step with the Spirit. Paul also says that we should say Yes to the Spirit and not the desires of the flesh. When we say yes to the Spirit and no to the flesh (because they are polar opposite) we are becoming more like God.
Are you striving or even wanting to be more like God or take on more godly characteristics? I'm not trying to sound judgemental but if you claim to be a "Christian" but have no change in your life or desire to change anything in your life, I would rethink that title you give yourself. Like I said I don't want to come off judgemental but I think the time has come for truth and not political correctness. Paul said if there is one who claims to be a believer but their life does not reflect it, cast him out and let him come to repentance.
Read the bible for yourself and see if your life matches up with what God is calling His people too. If you are not growing and maturing or obey Jesus' commands...really what is the point of calling yourself a follower??
Thursday, January 20, 2011
BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!
It's kinda funny the way things work. The past couple of weeks a lot has happened to Abby and I, let me give you a run down of what's been going on. In the past 3 weeks, our oven stopped working, one of the burners on the stove top quit functioning correctly and our crockpot died. So Abby's dad let us use his convection oven, which stopped working before we could cook any food in it.
Then the only computer that we have right now, that we plug into our tv so we actually have stuff to watch (because we don't have cable) and use for everything else a computer is supposed to be used for, broke. The battery does not hold a charge, and the tip of the wall plug in broke off making it impossible to plug in and use.
Then our beloved son put Abby's cell phone in the dog dish, I guess he wanted to baptise it in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The only problem is the phone could not take the spiritual experience and died on the spot. Which is not a huge deal except the fact that phone company has no sympathy for us and won't activate another phone with her number, rendering us to one functioning phone.
Then the key for our only car broke, now the silver lining is it broke off in the ignition so we can still start it and drive it but that is only a temporary fix.
Our dogs have been freaking out lately, digging into the trash and spreading it all over the house and using out living room carpet as their own personal bathroom.
And last night Abby and I found out that some rumor's have been circulated throughout our youth students, pretty much slandering Abby and I all in an attempt to stop kids from coming to out Group.
Now you may be saying to yourself "Wow that sounds like a lot of stuff" to which you would be correct. But you may also be wondering why I am telling you this. Believe me it is not to complain, as crazy as it sounds I am rejoicing in all that is happening, let me explain further.
In the same 3 weeks that all that stuff has happened, this is what else has been happening. The kids in our Youth Group are going through some really tough times and we are making some great breakthroughs helping these families out. We are so close to getting to the root of some problems and what we are studying is extremely life changing.
Crossway Community Fellowship had it first "Public" service which we had 22 people, then last week we had our second with 28 people. Our services are really awesome, the worship is great, we are praying for each other, sharing each other's burdens. It's been amazing, and God is really moving.
I started school again and am jazzed to get this class under my belt.
That rumor about us, after all the dust settled, gave us the opportunity to invite one of the Mom's of two youth students to our church, who has been looking for a church to go to.
Does anybody else hear that?? The enemy is shaking their boots.
Jesus said in John 16:33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. but take heart I have overcome the world." I think this is especially true if you are a follower of Christ in this world because we are moving towards a higher calling and the enemy does everything they can to keep us from that calling.
Now we could look at all this that is going on and be discouraged and give up. But I'm not giving up I know that God is moving and making our efforts worthwhile. He is doing great things in us and we just need to trust in Him and keep pushing through.
So let me say this, Satan you can do to us whatever you want we are not giving up, we are not backing down. As the great philosopher Tom Petty once sang, "you can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won't back down." I know that God is upholding us in all that we do, so give it your best shot, we are not going to stop. Jesus has already conquered you and I am putting my faith in him anew, every day. Bring it on, because you are not going to win, we are going to plow forward and God is going to change lives and save his people!!!!!!
Then the only computer that we have right now, that we plug into our tv so we actually have stuff to watch (because we don't have cable) and use for everything else a computer is supposed to be used for, broke. The battery does not hold a charge, and the tip of the wall plug in broke off making it impossible to plug in and use.
Then our beloved son put Abby's cell phone in the dog dish, I guess he wanted to baptise it in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The only problem is the phone could not take the spiritual experience and died on the spot. Which is not a huge deal except the fact that phone company has no sympathy for us and won't activate another phone with her number, rendering us to one functioning phone.
Then the key for our only car broke, now the silver lining is it broke off in the ignition so we can still start it and drive it but that is only a temporary fix.
Our dogs have been freaking out lately, digging into the trash and spreading it all over the house and using out living room carpet as their own personal bathroom.
And last night Abby and I found out that some rumor's have been circulated throughout our youth students, pretty much slandering Abby and I all in an attempt to stop kids from coming to out Group.
Now you may be saying to yourself "Wow that sounds like a lot of stuff" to which you would be correct. But you may also be wondering why I am telling you this. Believe me it is not to complain, as crazy as it sounds I am rejoicing in all that is happening, let me explain further.
In the same 3 weeks that all that stuff has happened, this is what else has been happening. The kids in our Youth Group are going through some really tough times and we are making some great breakthroughs helping these families out. We are so close to getting to the root of some problems and what we are studying is extremely life changing.
Crossway Community Fellowship had it first "Public" service which we had 22 people, then last week we had our second with 28 people. Our services are really awesome, the worship is great, we are praying for each other, sharing each other's burdens. It's been amazing, and God is really moving.
I started school again and am jazzed to get this class under my belt.
That rumor about us, after all the dust settled, gave us the opportunity to invite one of the Mom's of two youth students to our church, who has been looking for a church to go to.
Does anybody else hear that?? The enemy is shaking their boots.
Jesus said in John 16:33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. but take heart I have overcome the world." I think this is especially true if you are a follower of Christ in this world because we are moving towards a higher calling and the enemy does everything they can to keep us from that calling.
Now we could look at all this that is going on and be discouraged and give up. But I'm not giving up I know that God is moving and making our efforts worthwhile. He is doing great things in us and we just need to trust in Him and keep pushing through.
So let me say this, Satan you can do to us whatever you want we are not giving up, we are not backing down. As the great philosopher Tom Petty once sang, "you can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won't back down." I know that God is upholding us in all that we do, so give it your best shot, we are not going to stop. Jesus has already conquered you and I am putting my faith in him anew, every day. Bring it on, because you are not going to win, we are going to plow forward and God is going to change lives and save his people!!!!!!
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