Wow, it has been a crazy couple of weeks…Finally finding time to sit down and write. So here goes a quick catch up…
Survived Easter – Check
Spring Break event - Check
International World Changers trained – Check
Taxes Prepared – Check
Adoption Finger Prints Round…(I’ve lost count) – Check
USCIS Paperwork – Check
National World Changers trained – Check
T-Shirt designs – Almost Check
It has been an interesting ride and the summer seems to be more of the same, a few more hurdles and look out Romania and Chattanooga, here we come.
Here’s a quick look at the next few weeks:
May 16 - Grad Sunday, AM Service
May 21-22 - Graduation Weekend
May 23 - Preaching during AM Service
June 2 - International World Changers final meeting
June 11 – Leave for Romania
OK God, feeling stressed, fill in the gaps and prepare my heart!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
GO-Kart Frenzy
I had a blast with our students riding Go-Karts and playing mini golf during spring break. I had the chance to get to know a few students better and really enjoyed hanging out! Here are the long awaited pictures. I have also created an album on the Gum Branch Facebook page.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Re-Connect
How shallow can we be? We hide our inmost pain and fears from others as we keep the people who could help us at arms length. What are we so afraid of? Hurt, separation, mocking are just a few of the things we are afraid of. Why do we struggle so? The Bible teaches us that if we share our burden it is eaiser to bear. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says: “Two are better than on because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? And if somebody overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands in to easily broken.”
We know it is easier to share our burdens yet we don’t. Why? We have become so self centered that others have no place in our lives. We have become a society of individuals without a connection to others and most importantly we have lost our connection to God.
The loss of our connection has been a slow process it was not lost over night. Because of this the journey back will not be an overnight process.
Rediscovering our connection begins with the realization that the connection has been lost. To regain your connection with others you need to surround yourself with good Christian men and women who will help nurture you and who will provide you with a safe environment to share your thoughts, struggles, burdens and other demons. Your connection to and with God is the easiest and yet the hardest to regain. You must first put aside anything that is causing the separation and confess any unconfessed sin in your life. Then just talk to God and tell Him what’s on your mind. Daily quiet time and prayer help maintain the connection and strengthen your relationship with God by conforming your will to His.
May God bless you as you get re-CONNECTED.
We know it is easier to share our burdens yet we don’t. Why? We have become so self centered that others have no place in our lives. We have become a society of individuals without a connection to others and most importantly we have lost our connection to God.
The loss of our connection has been a slow process it was not lost over night. Because of this the journey back will not be an overnight process.
Rediscovering our connection begins with the realization that the connection has been lost. To regain your connection with others you need to surround yourself with good Christian men and women who will help nurture you and who will provide you with a safe environment to share your thoughts, struggles, burdens and other demons. Your connection to and with God is the easiest and yet the hardest to regain. You must first put aside anything that is causing the separation and confess any unconfessed sin in your life. Then just talk to God and tell Him what’s on your mind. Daily quiet time and prayer help maintain the connection and strengthen your relationship with God by conforming your will to His.
May God bless you as you get re-CONNECTED.
Monday, March 8, 2010
TRANSFORMED
As we live a life consumed by God we will find our lives being transformed into His likeness. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says: “We all with unveiled faces are reflecting the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.” I find the more I think about transformation two questions come up. First, do I want to be transformed and second, how am I transformed?
Do I want to be transformed? Transformation has a cost and am I willing to pay the cost? What will I have to sacrifice in order to be transformed? These are personal and often times painful questions we must ask as we search our hearts. Take a moment to soul search before you continue. Do you want transformation in your life?
So you want to be transformed. What next? First you must have a relationship with God through His Son Jesus. For He is the Only Way, the Only Truth and the Only Life, you cannot connect to God without Jesus in your heart and life. Titus 3:5 says: “He saved us not by works of righteousness that we had done but according to His Mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit." After establishing that you have a relationship with God you must put aside things that are not glorifying to Him. Ephesians 4:22 & 23 tells us our old selves are corrupted by deceitful desires and our minds will be renewed by the Holy Spirit when we put them aside. Romans 12:2 says: “Do not be conformed but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good pleasing and perfect will of God.” How do we renew our minds? Let’s see, read your Bible and pray…regular worship attendance and discipleship with other believers helps too!
Transformation is a long process and you could argue that it is never complete in this life. Are you ready to begin? Take the first step.
Do I want to be transformed? Transformation has a cost and am I willing to pay the cost? What will I have to sacrifice in order to be transformed? These are personal and often times painful questions we must ask as we search our hearts. Take a moment to soul search before you continue. Do you want transformation in your life?
So you want to be transformed. What next? First you must have a relationship with God through His Son Jesus. For He is the Only Way, the Only Truth and the Only Life, you cannot connect to God without Jesus in your heart and life. Titus 3:5 says: “He saved us not by works of righteousness that we had done but according to His Mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit." After establishing that you have a relationship with God you must put aside things that are not glorifying to Him. Ephesians 4:22 & 23 tells us our old selves are corrupted by deceitful desires and our minds will be renewed by the Holy Spirit when we put them aside. Romans 12:2 says: “Do not be conformed but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good pleasing and perfect will of God.” How do we renew our minds? Let’s see, read your Bible and pray…regular worship attendance and discipleship with other believers helps too!
Transformation is a long process and you could argue that it is never complete in this life. Are you ready to begin? Take the first step.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Consumed
I have been doing a lot of soul searching the last two weeks and have not found all the answers I am seeking but have come upon some thoughts I’d like to share. The first one is founded around the word consume.
CONSUME. To Consume: to do away with completely; to spend wastefully; to eat or drink especially in great quantity; to engage fully.
Consume can be either good or bad depending on how we look at it. If we let a situation consume us to the point where we are no good to anyone, including ourselves, we are consumed badly. I have allowed my circumstances the last several weeks consume me and rob me of my joy, this is a horrible way to be consumed and yet I have allowed it to happen. I know it is ok to grieve and be sad but I must not allow it to consume my every moment. God gives us grace to make it through so I need to keep my eyes focused on Him. Are you being consumed by something and allowing it to take your joy?
So, what is consumed in a good or beneficial way? In Psalms, David writes, "Zeal for Your house will consume me." God is referred to as an all consuming fire. It we allow ourselves to be consumed by the fire of God, we will put away things that separate us from Him and others. By doing this we allow Him to use and transform us into His likeness. By becoming more like Him, our lives will be changed along with the lives of those around us.
Allow God to CONSUME you, not the things that will keep you down.
Be CONSUMED and Transformed.
CONSUME. To Consume: to do away with completely; to spend wastefully; to eat or drink especially in great quantity; to engage fully.
Consume can be either good or bad depending on how we look at it. If we let a situation consume us to the point where we are no good to anyone, including ourselves, we are consumed badly. I have allowed my circumstances the last several weeks consume me and rob me of my joy, this is a horrible way to be consumed and yet I have allowed it to happen. I know it is ok to grieve and be sad but I must not allow it to consume my every moment. God gives us grace to make it through so I need to keep my eyes focused on Him. Are you being consumed by something and allowing it to take your joy?
So, what is consumed in a good or beneficial way? In Psalms, David writes, "Zeal for Your house will consume me." God is referred to as an all consuming fire. It we allow ourselves to be consumed by the fire of God, we will put away things that separate us from Him and others. By doing this we allow Him to use and transform us into His likeness. By becoming more like Him, our lives will be changed along with the lives of those around us.
Allow God to CONSUME you, not the things that will keep you down.
Be CONSUMED and Transformed.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Chase the Lion - Week 5
Embrace – to take up especially or gladly
Uncertainty – the quality or state of doubt and skepticism
Is uncertainty a quality that makes life better or worth living? I think so, uncertainty in life allows faith to enter giving you a great life, well not boring.
As long as you have spiritual certainty you can face circumstantial uncertainties. As long as you have a relationship with God, there is nothing you can’t handle.
Oswald Chambers said it best: “To be certain of God is to be uncertain in all our ways. You never know what a day may bring. This is generally said with a sign of sadness; it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation.”
Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
God asks us to give up our certainties to follow Him. What certainties do you need to give up?
God has plans for our lives, it is not up to us to know them but to trust Him!
Uncertainty – the quality or state of doubt and skepticism
Is uncertainty a quality that makes life better or worth living? I think so, uncertainty in life allows faith to enter giving you a great life, well not boring.
As long as you have spiritual certainty you can face circumstantial uncertainties. As long as you have a relationship with God, there is nothing you can’t handle.
Oswald Chambers said it best: “To be certain of God is to be uncertain in all our ways. You never know what a day may bring. This is generally said with a sign of sadness; it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation.”
Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
God asks us to give up our certainties to follow Him. What certainties do you need to give up?
God has plans for our lives, it is not up to us to know them but to trust Him!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Chase the Lion - week 4
Reframe - to recondition a mental attitude or outlook
Problem - a source of perplexity, distress or vexation
Who you become is not determined by your circumstances, but by your outlook.
We may not be able to change our circumstances but we can change how we view them.
“If you want to see yourself the way God sees you, you need to look through the frame of Scripture. If you don’t, you’ll have identity issues.”
Philippians 1:29
”For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him..”
God grants us the favor of suffering for Him…This is a hard passage for me to swallow. However, it helps me reframe my circumstances.
Here are a few of the verses that came up last night:
James 1:26
“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”
James 1:19-20
19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
James 3:14-16
14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
We all agreed that we liked the statement: “I may not want to write it, you may not want to read it, but God uses adversity to expand our capacity to serve Him.”
I challenge you to reframe any problems you have with scripture. Remember the adage NO PAIN, NO GAIN. Try this spiritualized version: NO ADVERSITY, NO OPPORTUNITY; KNOW ADVERSITY, KNOW OPPORUTNITY.
Problem - a source of perplexity, distress or vexation
Who you become is not determined by your circumstances, but by your outlook.
We may not be able to change our circumstances but we can change how we view them.
“If you want to see yourself the way God sees you, you need to look through the frame of Scripture. If you don’t, you’ll have identity issues.”
Philippians 1:29
”For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him..”
God grants us the favor of suffering for Him…This is a hard passage for me to swallow. However, it helps me reframe my circumstances.
Here are a few of the verses that came up last night:
James 1:26
“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”
James 1:19-20
19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
James 3:14-16
14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
We all agreed that we liked the statement: “I may not want to write it, you may not want to read it, but God uses adversity to expand our capacity to serve Him.”
I challenge you to reframe any problems you have with scripture. Remember the adage NO PAIN, NO GAIN. Try this spiritualized version: NO ADVERSITY, NO OPPORTUNITY; KNOW ADVERSITY, KNOW OPPORUTNITY.
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