Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Be Strong and of Good Courage
Everyday it is so easy to coast through the day with out really facing the thoughts we have stored neatly in the back of our minds. How easy it is to file them away and allow them to collect dust as we constantly create more and more files. These files continue to accumulate and the information inside holds the identity and purpose of our lives. And yet, there they sit day after day.
What if, instead, each morning we decided to wake up and pull out each file one by one and meditate on them? What if we began to sort through files and make sure the content has been dealt with in the proper manner. Sort out the trash, fix the mistakes, study and learn how to make it a part of everyday life, or simply REMEMBER the greatness, and make sure every necessary step has been taken to write it off as complete. What if we made time every day to purposefully face each file, each situation, each thought?!
The key always seems to revert back to discipline...is it worth putting in the time to see the outcome you desire? Are you willing to spend the time in prayer, fasting or studying the word to see every area of your life become healthy and balanced? Are you willing to give the immediate gratifications in order to become long lasting, rooted and grounded in Him? Are you willing to do what He asks in order to have what He has promised? Of course our immediate response is yes, but the actions that follow generally say that we are only willing to do just enough to be satisfied in the present instead sticking it out in order to receive the abundant over flowing life God promised (John 10:10).
All these thoughts lead me to one question I have never taken the time to ask myself, "Why does thinking/meditating about something difficult, hurtful, or confusing in our lives have to be a bad thing that we avoid at all costs?" Some avoid it with a substance, some with the business of the day, and others by constant empty relationships. Why can't we look at those files presumed "bad" and say "challenge accepted!" Let it be something we analyze, think about, and figure out with Christ, and do whatever it takes to make sure it gets fixed? We waste so much time (hours, weeks, years) trying hide and run from those thoughts instead of purposefully selecting the file and deciding the time is NOW!
We could climb the mountain that stands before us so much faster if we would quit acting as if it does not exist and quit trying to find another pathway. We have simply been asked to "Go This Way,"...not to the right nor to the left but up (Josh. 1:8). Not just asked, but commanded and yet we continuously seek another alternative. Imagine how far you would be if you continued to go up further instead of making an excuse as to why you should come back down! You don't come down because a friend has not followed behind. You don't come down because you don't know where the path will end. You don't come down because you are scared of what me be just around the corner. No! You press forward regardless of what the narrow path (Matt 7:14) looks like. You push towards the top regardless of what that path way may make you face (forgiveness, humility, family issues, brokenness, etc.) instead of pretending that it was never there.
Why is it so bad to do this? God reminded Joshua three times to "Be strong and of good courage." (Josh 1:5-9) Reminded would not be the proper term. God commanded Joshua! "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for The Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (v9) God has commanded us to quit being afraid of the mountains and face them with HIS strength and HIS courage every day, every hour, every minute! It is time we fight for the abundant life God promised us and make the decision that we want a life of more than enough and to "Go This Way." Every movement and decision is based on following Him even if it takes persistence (Luke 11:8).
I challenge you to face ever thought you have ever hidden from. Yes, it may be hard and it will most likely hurt, but do not let the fear of "what might" happen in facing the thought keep you from ever overcoming the mountain that thought has become. Be strong and of good courage and to fully trust the partnership you have with Him. Remember Joshua 1:5, "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will NOT leave you nor forsake you."
Friday, January 4, 2013
A New Chapter In Life
It is day 6 of my return to NZ and it has already been field with amazing stories to tell. Just a week or so ago I was in Knoxville, TN closing up chapters in one portion of my life so that I might be able to open up others on the other side of the world. Those last few weeks were filled with excitement, nervousness and simply not having a clue what would come for the next year of my life! I got through my sister's wedding, moving from one house to another, Christmas and then off to NZ I went the next day. While there were moments of thinking, "what in the world am I doing?!" there was no hesitation of doing what I knew God was calling me to do. I got on the plane, strapped myself in and sat back to hear God says, "Are you as excited as I am?!" All nervousness and lack of peace immediately fled as a smile came across my face and pure joy filled my heart. There is nothing like the feeling of knowing you are exactly where God wants you to be at the exact time!
The moment I got of the plane it was time to get started. We packed for Getaway Camp, picked up some kids, and then were off to Cooks Beach. I immediately began to have a heart for the kids at South and knew that this year was looking to be a good one. The services were wonderful. Great worship and dynamic preaching from the C3 crew pushed the kids to a new place in their walk with Christ. Every night there were new kids in the altar longing to surrender their lives to Christ and just as many being filled with the Holy Spirit and called into ministry. I have admit it was quite amazing to have a camp at a beach. It was amazing weather and literally one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen!
Not only did God allow me to get to know the wonderful group from C3 South and South Primal, but I was also able to reconnect with those I had gotten to know from my previous trip. Many of the young adults that were in the C3 Leadership College had moved on to run their own Primal. I got to hear the many stories of what God was doing all over NZ and know what was happening in the Primals we had launch earlier in 2012.
The next little bit I will be taking time to settle in the the NZ way of life. I am excited to be in a place that will stretch me and force me out of my comfort zones. As we all know, you can never expect to run a youth ministry the same every where you go. It cannot be placed in this box that you expect to be the magic key....especially in different cultures on the other side of the world! I have a lot of learning to do. Different country means different issues and different demonic strongholds. The good thing is God never expects us to do it on our own nor expects us to make Him move. He simply wants us to jump on board and move with Him! Where He goes I go has never been more true. I have been stripped away from everyone I know, everything I have known, and place in a brand new place with a brand new start!
We anticipate launching 6 new Primals all over NZ which will put us in every major city in NZ by the end of 2013. There is a lot of training and preparation to make this happen, but I believe that is why God has placed me here at this time. Years of doing outreach all over Knoxville has given me much knowledge and passion for street evangelism. The weeks of walking the streets and going door to door to invite kids to church has trained me for these very moments in NZ!
We will all be hitting the ground running this year and all for the glory of God. No more sitting back and waiting for people to come to us! There are to many youth taking their lives and too many broken lives to not be aggressive with the things of God. I look forward to sharing these moments with in the future as God opens new doors and leads me in this new chapter of my life. Many of you have been the support that has helped get me here today, and I can never thank you enough!
The moment I got of the plane it was time to get started. We packed for Getaway Camp, picked up some kids, and then were off to Cooks Beach. I immediately began to have a heart for the kids at South and knew that this year was looking to be a good one. The services were wonderful. Great worship and dynamic preaching from the C3 crew pushed the kids to a new place in their walk with Christ. Every night there were new kids in the altar longing to surrender their lives to Christ and just as many being filled with the Holy Spirit and called into ministry. I have admit it was quite amazing to have a camp at a beach. It was amazing weather and literally one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen!
Not only did God allow me to get to know the wonderful group from C3 South and South Primal, but I was also able to reconnect with those I had gotten to know from my previous trip. Many of the young adults that were in the C3 Leadership College had moved on to run their own Primal. I got to hear the many stories of what God was doing all over NZ and know what was happening in the Primals we had launch earlier in 2012.
The next little bit I will be taking time to settle in the the NZ way of life. I am excited to be in a place that will stretch me and force me out of my comfort zones. As we all know, you can never expect to run a youth ministry the same every where you go. It cannot be placed in this box that you expect to be the magic key....especially in different cultures on the other side of the world! I have a lot of learning to do. Different country means different issues and different demonic strongholds. The good thing is God never expects us to do it on our own nor expects us to make Him move. He simply wants us to jump on board and move with Him! Where He goes I go has never been more true. I have been stripped away from everyone I know, everything I have known, and place in a brand new place with a brand new start!
We anticipate launching 6 new Primals all over NZ which will put us in every major city in NZ by the end of 2013. There is a lot of training and preparation to make this happen, but I believe that is why God has placed me here at this time. Years of doing outreach all over Knoxville has given me much knowledge and passion for street evangelism. The weeks of walking the streets and going door to door to invite kids to church has trained me for these very moments in NZ!
We will all be hitting the ground running this year and all for the glory of God. No more sitting back and waiting for people to come to us! There are to many youth taking their lives and too many broken lives to not be aggressive with the things of God. I look forward to sharing these moments with in the future as God opens new doors and leads me in this new chapter of my life. Many of you have been the support that has helped get me here today, and I can never thank you enough!
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