Saturday, June 26, 2010

Georgia!

This past week I have been extremely blessed by the mission team from Georgia.  It is amazing to see God work through people's lives of all ages, and of all different cultures.  It was great for me specifically, because it was encouraging to know that we are not alone.  Sometimes I get into this mode of thinking that there are not many out there who want to give God everything anymore.  But this week, God reminded me that He has his people throughout the world, living to glorify the Father.  It reminds me a lot of the prophet Elijah, when he felt that he was the only one left for God, but found out that there were seven thousand that still worshipped Him in his his area.  (1 Kings 19)
I loved serving with them by passing out flyers to the surrounding neighborhoods of the church.  We passed out 3500 flyers in 3 days!!  They did so with such a happy heart.  We also had a great conversations together about so many different aspects of life.  It really felt like they were family, which they are! The family of God is so powerful.  

I am looking forward to the friendship that I will have with them in the future.  
They are in my prayers daily!



Thank you God, for your blessings. 

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Hospitality to a stranger - God's call for us to do

God has been working on me a lot lately.  He has been revealing to me what the church is, and what it should be.  I have been so blessed to take in what God has told me, and I feel that if I don't apply it I am a hypocrite.
Well God put me to the test today. I went to Subway with my mom for lunch today. As we were standing in line, I saw a man named Scott (about my age) just sitting there with a look of anticipation.  After we had gotten the food, Scott stood up and went to the counter. He asked for an application. But the manager told him that there were none left, and that he can go online to get it. The look on Scott's face was heart breaking. I saw him walk out of Subway and go to his bike.  He just stood there for awhile, as if he were thinking of a way to get that application.  So my mom and I walked to the car, and right when I got in I felt so tense. I knew that I just learned about how the church is supposed to get out in the community and serve.  So I got out of the car and walked towards this gentleman.  Not knowing his name yet, I said, "hey man. I am gonna get you your application, if you just wait here. I'll see if the one a few miles down has it, and if not I will print one off of my house". I could not believe the joy I saw in this guys face, but it was a humble joy. And realizing he did not have any money, I gave him a few bucks to get a drink while he was waiting for me.
So mom and I drove to the next Subway to get an application, and sure enough there were none.  God wanted us to work for this :) So we ran home, I got out of the car quickly and printed off an application for him. But before I ran out, I got a Bible (one of my favorite ones) and I put the bookmark on John 3:16.  We took off and got there, and sure enough Scott was standing there with a drink in his hand. (I appreciated that he used the money the way I asked him to). So I gave him the application, but insisted that in order to take the pen to fill it out, he must take this Bible. I explained to him that I am not pressing a religion down his throat. But that I am totally in love with Jesus and His word, and I promise you that if you take this book and read it you will never be the same again.
I then asked his name, and I told him I loved him and was praying for him. As we said bye, he said thanks again for the bible. How cool is that?! Not thanks for the application, but thanks for the Bible.
I was so excited. I am praying that Scott finds eternal life and the King of Kings through reading God's word.  Pray for him. 

I can't shut up

Psalm 71:8 "My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long".

My morning verse today really spoke to me. Usually when I pick my verse, its from something I read that morning in my studies.  But oddly, today was different.  The verses I read were very meaningful, but I felt led to flip through the book of Psalms. And I came across this highlighted verse.  
As I pray this scripture, my heart jumps with joy. I jump with joy with the possibility of reaching that stage in my life.  To literally give praise to Him and declare it all day long.  I am praying that my life will be so full of Christ, that its all that I can think of.  I mean, imagine that lifestyle!! I personally would love to hang around someone with this way of life.  But what is funny, is that it is achievable in all of us to live this way.  God is so loving, so gracious, so infinite that we can marvel about it through eternity.  But we are so dumb, I just worry about the government and how we can pay the bills. 
What happened to just sitting down and being in awe of the creation around us? What happened to finding people crying in the morning during the Bible study, at just how amazing God is in their life?
I know God is still as amazing as when he first started! We just forget to wake up and smell the coffee. Let this serve as a reminder to set a time in your life every day, to marvel at his works.

Not only is it so joyful to declare His beauty all day, it does something else for us too.  It takes away the sin in our life. The devil can't distract us into our dull life if we are so focused on the conquering King of Kings.  Its like what I heard from Adrian Rogers when it comes to sinful thoughts.  If I were to tell you to not think of an elephant. You most likely will have an elephant in your mind, its just natural.  You see, that is not the way in going about battling sin.  Its not "I will not do this sin, I must not do that sin". Its rather, focusing on what Jesus is. And through focusing on Jesus, there is no room to focus on anything else. and when you focus on Jesus,  it becomes automatic to serve and preach the gospel.

Be encouraged family, God is in control.  Lets get to caught up in his majesty that we can't shut up about Him.

Monday, June 7, 2010

JESUS

I am currently reading "Confessions of A Reformission Rev." by Mark Driscoll. And I am loving every bit of it. I am not saying that I agree with Mark Driscoll on every issue, including drinking and I am still trying to study extensively on Calvinism, but regardless, anyone can come away with something from this book.

The book is about how Driscoll planted Mars Hill and records all of the ups and downs of the church.  It gives great insight on how you can handle trials that will be experienced as a pastor.  So far, a lot of the stories are quite identical to the planting of Heart Cry Church AND Heart Cry Gathering.

But what I am loving most is how he has handled the church as a shepherd.  Especially in the area of dealing with the wolves.

p131 “Over the years, I’ve just accepted that if I do not quickly open the back door when God is trying to run people out of our church, I am working against God by keeping sick people in my church so that they can infect others”

His whole philosphy is to keep the ones in church that are focused on the lost.  As I look at so many churches in our area, it breaks my heart.  People love their church because their gym is awesome, or they have a pool party every week, etc. What happened to the church existing for reaching the lost? What happened to the sole focus of the gospel?
It is so refreshing to read about a pastor who only cares about the lost.  He focuses the members of his church to focus on the lost.  Its all about the great commission.  

God is waiting for more churches to stop entertaining one another like some breakfast club, and start weeping over the ones who have not met Jesus.
Its all about Jesus.

Jesus is the center. Not relationships.  If you focus on Jesus, relationships will automatically become a bi-product.