First, if you read this at all, sorry for not posting in ages. Really.
My spirits are on the up and up. Its been a while since I have been able to truthfully say that. Its crazy how aware I am that there are evil forces that want to drive me to a place that is far away from Him. Their primary goal is to see me broken and depending on me, because depending on myself always leads to failure. But He wants me to no longer depend solely on myself but on His provisions and sovereignty. I’m definitely not good enough at that yet, but I’m trying.
In light of some recent events, I’ve built walls around me heart to protect this so adequately called “well-spring of life”. I’ve always cherished friendship so much due to a distant relationship with my family on an emotional and spiritual level. I thought I had a solid friend to be there when I needed them and one that could come to me for council as well. But I wrong about them. They have made me question myself and the way I show love towards others. That friendship ended abruptly and my heart ached and ached for a while, as if someone had removed a piece with a dull knife and no anesthetic. But the recovery time was not as long as I had thought it would be, and things are, like I said, on the up and up.
So as I go through life, there are things that I experience and think to myself “I hope this is in Heaven”. Granted, most of these things are simple and worthless really, but its funny the things you hope to have in Heaven. So, I’m going to list things, so far, that I hope are there. Okay?
Frisbee
Bacon
Bowling
White Water Rafting
Honey Mustard
Telepathy
Okay, so I haven’t experienced telepathy, but the rest are legit. As I come across something that should be added to the list I will surely post it.
Wow, So God has been at work in my life for real. The whole Thailand situation has been really tough for me because I am called to serve there beyond a shadow of a doubt, yet here I am in Smyrna, Tennessee living in that ibetween stage of being called and being sent. He is showing me His sovereignty and timing and that I need to be patient. His plans for me far outweigh my own.
Another area of my life that He has been doing some amazing things in is the “relationships zone”. There has been some solid friendships emerge in the last few weeks that have taken months to establish. We hold each other accountable, lift one another up with encouragement and work together for the Glory of God. This has lead to some awesome things lately too. I served at a kids camp for a week and learned a lot about service and helping others out. It just so happens that we started a text devotional the same day we started the camp, so everyday has been filled with a group of people reading the same chapter of a book in the Bible (Daniel right now) and texting everyone in the group throughout the day. This is seriously, one of the best things I’ve ever been a part of because all day I get texts about God’s word that help me understand it and encourages me to dive deeper into His word!
These are only a few ways that God is at work in my life. How is He at work in YOUR’S??
If you read this, I would like to know who some of your favorite artists and/or bands are.
Just going to name some of mine that I have come to love over the last year to few months.
Jon Foreman
Glen Hansard (The Swell Season, The Frames)
Sufjon Stevens
Amos Lee
Joe Purdy
Phil Wickham
John Mayer
Rachael Yamagata
John Butler (Trio)
Coldplay
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Iron and Wine
Ray Lamontagne
There are “some” of mine. Throw out some of yours please!
I have failed in the arena of blogging for a while now, so let’s play catch-up.
I have been called to missions. Specifically missions in Thailand. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be there sometime in the future. For a while, it looked like I would be going to Thailand in a year, but now it appears that the date has been set back (for me) by about 6 months. There are things that i need to take care of here. Some discipline needs to be put in to practice in a couple of areas of my life.
Its super hard when the Lord calls you to something in particularly and then you are in that “in between” stage where you know your calling, but you aren’t there yet. Its been a rough few weeks here lately in regards to the Thailand calling. More to come later on that though…
I want you guys that read this to know about my friends Jared and Erica that are currently serving God and His people in Brazil. Erica is there for one month and Jared is there for two. They are doing work for God and for the Glory of His name. Pray for them please!
Also, a really good guy (Aaron Ivey) that I know has come out with a new album that you MUST CHECK OUT!! Its seriously an amazing musical masterpiece that screams the Gospel and speaks for those in need! Check it!
Thanks for reading. Hopefully I will make this a bit more regular!
Yesterday, my pastor delivered a message that shook the walls of our church. He let everyone know about what God is doing in and through LifePoint Church. I knew this message was coming and I knew it was going to be a big one! I can’t tell you how excited I was to hear this message. He told us about the the things God is doing right now and some specific calls for the church. If you don’t know, there are multiple places around the world that we are partnered with in missions. India, Mexico, West Africa to name a few. Well, yesterday he told us about two places we are going to in the near future; they are Belgium and Thailand.
Then we were asked to lay our “YES” on the table. We were asked to say yes to whatever God is calling us to. We are all missionaries whether its going far away or nextdoor, we are all called to making deciples to the end of the earth and to spreading the good news!
I have laid my yes down, but I am waiting to share what that means on here. Hopefully YOU will lay your “yes” on the table.
After this coming Sunday, I will have much to talk about. The subject has been a little hush-hush but is being revealed by our pastor on Sunday. I’m super excited!
I just returned from a week in New Orleans spent working on the rebuilding of a city that still broken in many places from the levee breaks that occurred during Hurricane Katrina. This one particular woman named Miss Ruby is somewhere between the age of 72 and 76 and has been living in her tiny FEMA trailer since 2005. Last year, LifePoint’s college group (now called Illuminate) worked on her house. When we left there was ply-wood for flooring and dry wall up and primed. Apparently, in the year since we left almost nothing, if anything, had been done. So a group of 4 out of 28 went to her house and did all we could after we had worked on another house earlier in the week. There was a group there from Athens, GA working on her home as well. We laid hardwood flooring in three rooms while the other group laid tile in the kitchen, hallway, and bathroom. Now all Miss Ruby lacks is water and some minor things and she is completely ready to move all the way in.
After we had done all we could, three of us just stood around and listened as she poured out wisdom with story after story of times and event throughout her life. She told us about her brother and how he would come to her house while she was at work and clean her bathroom or clean out her shed and then he would be gone by the time she came home. She said that if her other siblings did that, they would still be there when she came home and ask for money.
Also, there was one moment where she began to clean up some of the trash that accumulated throughout the day of working and I asked her to let me do it and she said “I can do it. I may be old but I can still do stuff. You know, I watched my mother and grandmother get to the point where they couldn’t do anything for themselves and they didn’t want to live anymore so I make sure I keep doing things.” When miss ruby walked through her house after we have ended for the day all she could say was “this is a miracle.” She called us sons of God as she hugged us that day, a day I will never forget.
I have this feeling in my heart that I can’t explain but we all know. Like when you have your first kiss or right when they call your name to walk across the stage to get your diploma. I think it is a combination of things going on. There is a ton of opportunities before me and friends of mine and before those at Illuminate (The official name for LifePoint’s College Ministry).
For one, there is a very close friend of mine (Emily) heading to India this Friday. I am super excited for her and what God is planning to do with her on this trip. I think it will be an unforgettable experience for her and those going. They are going during a time that is very special in India and there is going to be a lot of ritualistic celebrations happening. So I will be praying for safety and a softening of the hearts of those there and an openness towards The Gospel.
At the same time, there is a group of us in Illuminate that are going to be in New Orleans as of Monday. We are going to do some building of homes and such that is still needed since Katrina hit back in 2005. This is going to be my first mission trip ever and I do not know really what to expect. The best I can do to prepare I guess is pray for God’s renown to be known all over the city and that we all be willing to work hard toward the goal of bringing fame to the LORD. This is where I feel God moving in me, when I think about New Orleans and being there for five days and things God is going to accomplish there while we are there and after we leave and getting to see what has been accomplished before we arrive. Its going to be an incredible experience!
Last, there is the amazing stuff happening within Illuminate. I see God revealing more and more of Himself to us every week. And on top of that, we are growing like the mustard plant. WE started so small and are now at double the amount of people we once were and people are hungry for the LORD! I mean a good 60% of us are going to New Orleans! I’ve been a part of ministries that go nowhere fast. And while it is scary to follow after the Lord sometimes, its also exuberating to be in a new territory and be able to point others to God and say “there He is and He wants you no matter who you are or what you are doing or have done.” I can’t wait to see where God takes us in the coming months!
