Stepping out in faith...

I feel that God is challenging me to step out in faith and take a scary journey with Him. Things aren't completely confirmed yet, but I can see that He's leading me on an unknown journey which will build me up and expand my vision and experience. When I think about it, I'm so fearful and I want to not do it and just stay comfortable where I am. But God says "no." So in obedience and great fear I walk out in faith, excited, knowing that He will meet all my needs, grow me and challenge in ways I can never imagine. I will speak more about this in the near future as things become more clear...

Right I feel like I just need to focus on a few things: to spend more time with God personally, to give all I can to relationships, and to give all I can to ministry.

And Lord, you are incredible, I can see that you are using me in many ways, thank you Lord! The other day I spent a few hours with one of my best friends, just talking and sharing from the heart and encouraging each other. That was a God moment for us! I look forward to cell group where I can serve Him...

-Amen-

Come to us like the rain...

Today after work, I had some things on my mind. I like to do things on my own strength, in my own timing. I can be an impatient person. I don't always like to wait for God, His timing and leading. The next thing that usually happens is that I either get anxious, worried, doubtful, or overwhelmed. As I prayed, I just felt like God was saying that He wanted my heart to be tender towards Him. That He's working at making me soft and humble, so that I can listen more clearly and with much more acceptance.

It started to rain....

I thought of the verse: Hosea 5:15 - 6:3

Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt.
And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me."
"Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.
After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.
Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

This is exactly what I need: more of Him and less of me. More openness. More seeking. More obedience. More humility. More praying. More asking. More times on my knees. More listening, and less talking. More pleading. More crying. More waiting.

-And now I am ruined, for anything less that all of You-

The power of encouragement...

Hebrews 10:24

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.


Today at Sunday service, Pastor Jeremy gave an inspiring and powerful message about encouragement. I was convicted and reminded how powerful encouragement is in the family of God. This happens when we allow God to use us to speak His words, show His love in action, or even just being there for someone. We were challenged to think of a few people that we could encourage, and I thought of 6 people. I just pray that God will give me wisdom to know how to encourage these people. One of them is my ex-girlfriend. I've just been feeling recently that I need to encourage her. But I'm not sure how. In truth, I care about her a lot, but I have been sooo terrible at expressing it. I pray for her....well God lead me to know how to reach out to her as a friend and brother.

We also had our deepwaters meeting, where we shared about our new direction and vision for the future. We shared about how the Deepwaters ministry has really encouraged everyone there. I think that's what it's all about: being in a place where God can use you! I shared about my experience with Deepwaters. I remember when I was maybe 20, and when I was not part of the ministry, I attended one of their conferences. At the end of the conference, I was on fire and passionate for God. It was such an amazing turning point for me! From then on, I became hungry and passionate for the Lord. Looking back, I can really say that encouragement is powerful.

My prayer is that I can be an encouragement to everyone around me...

-All Glory To God-

Ready To Serve....

Today at service we had the Executive Director of Urban Promise come speak to us about encouraging young people because God cares about them and they are our future leaders. This message really just affirmed my conviction to lift up, and encourage those who are weak. I just pray that You will lead and open the doors for me to impact the people who are the weakess and most vulnerable.

Zechariah 7: 9
This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.

Isaiah 1:17
learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. [ Or / rebuke the oppressor ] Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

Isaiah 10:1-2
Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees
to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.

James 1: 26-27
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Thoughts about the past....

It's been more than a year since my last relationship. Some people ask me "So how's your love life?" and I reply by telling them "I don't have one." I've just recently reflected on that last relationship and I still feel that we could have been good together. When two people come together, there has to be adjustments and flexibility. We are two different people, but I think we have the same values. The difference was that we approached these values differently. I still think it could work, and I could have learned a lot from her. I guess I just really liked her character. I really appreciated that part of her..................well................

..........God has been teaching to wait and be content in Him and in His timing. God has been teaching me a lot this year to really use my singleness for Him. I feel I have a lot to learn, and maybe it's just better if I learn while I'm single. I'm serving Him with all of my heart, and spending so much time with the Lord. I'm so open to His leading, and perhaps next year there will be new challenges and opportunities for growth and service. One of the things I have to wait for, is for that special girl. Perhaps she is already in my life, or maybe she's not and I haven't met her yet.....I dunno!....but that's okay! Only He knows! And I have great faith in His timing and all things will be made beautiful by Him.

Walking with Christ....

I've learned a lot over the past weeks and months. I am just basically learning to walk with Christ. I think that's what the Christian life is all about: walking, walking and walking.

I just finished my devotions from Mark 3: 31-34 -

Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."

"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked.
Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

This little passage speaks to me a lot. It tells me that the Christian life is all about walking with Him. That each step, decision, thought and action should please Him. We just need to be faithful in whatever tasks, visions or convictions He gives us. It's thinking how best to use our resources and our time to glorify Him. It's knowing Him, knowing His heart, and living to fulfill what matters to God.

I'm also learning to wait on God for many things. There are a few things that I've prayed for and have not received yet. But I truly do believe that they will be given to me, in His time. I'm learning that before I can receive these things, there are things that I have to learn. I'm learning to seek God and not the things that God gives.

On Sunday, I wrote on a piece of paper some of things that that I get anxious about and then I gave it back to God.

.....Sometimes I'm confused about what I'm feeling. Sometimes I'm confused about the future. Sometimes I'm worried. Sometimes I cry out to God. Sometimes I'm too emotional. Sometimes I cry. Sometimes I have pain. Sometimes I have questions. Sometimes I'm afraid. Sometimes I wonder if you really care and hear me. Sometimes I get so angry at God....I've made my requests to Him, and now I have to wait.

1 Peter 5: 6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.


Every time I hear this song, I get emotional. I think it's a good sign that God is working in my heart. He's shaping me to care about the things He cares about. This song is really my favorite song, it warms my heart, and moves me to continue on...

From The Inside Out

Joel Houston

A thousand times I’ve failed
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
I’m caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out
From the inside out
Lord, my soul cries out, Lord