So life is really really good right now... School this semester is so amazing, building friendships with people, work is awesome, CHURCH JUST ROCKS... but... God is doing some things in my life right now that I have to wrestle through.
The main thing right now is the whole after college. I have always been told time and time again that in order to be a minister, I have to go to seminary as soon as I graduate. Right now, I do no have a desire to go to seminary. In fact right now, I just want to get as much practical experience of learning about being the hands and feet of Christ. Right now my heart's desire is to network, pour into college kids, and passionately pursue people who are far from God. Now, I know that God may lead me to go to seminary in the future, but right now I desire to pour all I have into doing ministry and not sitting in a classroom. I have been doing that for almost four and a half years, and honestly I am getting tired of learning theory. And so I am wrestling with God. Wrestling hard to determine to if after the summer if it is God's will that I go to seminary of if I will get a job that enables me to make a decent living while doing the very things that I am so passionate about.
I am processing a lot of information, and seeking advice from those who are in the ministry, both "ordained" and non "ordained." The weight of the call is so heavily burdened on my heart and all I want to do is be obedient. Some of the things that I have to process through deal with the issue of my flesh. Since I am rebellious in my ways, some good some bad, is not going to seminary after the summer really my flesh, or is it a direct call from Christ to gain practical ministry experience for an a season that I really have no clue how long it will last?
I do know one thing, and that is Christ will determine my steps. He has already prepared His perfect plan for me. I know that I will be a minister, and that I will pastor people. I take joy in knowing that I cannot see my self doing anything else but to preach His Word.
I know that after Monday I will have a better clue as to which direction God wants me to go. It's just that the waiting is the hardest part. I have been waiting it seems for a very long time haha.
Tonight, I had a great a time with my battle buddy, my armor bearer, Jonathan Reeves. Jonathan is soo anointed, so in tune with the Holy Spirit. He always has a way of being a mouthpiece for Christ in my life. It's always good to have someone assure about the Goodness of Christ. It is always good to have someone in your life who tells you the very things that make you squirm, and uncomfortable. It is always good to have someone who can encourage you, and gently rebuke you. I love Jonathan Reeves, he is the brother I never had, but always wanted. HA! but The LORD worked it out!!!
I do feel challenged, but yet at the same time, I have more of a peace in my spirit about the future. Jeremiah 29:11. Habakkuk 1:5. Hebrews 11:6-7. God is soo good, and I know that the best is yet to come!!!
Just felt like being open and honest with you guys!!!
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Why Am I So Passionate About Christ?
People often ask me why I am so hyped up about Jesus. People often ask me why I am so crazy about life, and why am I so joyful all the time. People ask me why am I so passionate about the Gospel even though it seems dead and irrelevant to this day and age. What is it that makes me enjoy life?
My passion is to see Lost people become saved. To give hope to the hopeless, to give strength to the weak. To seek out lost, lonely and broken people and show them Love of Christ. Why? Because I know a Savior who has redeemed me. I know a Savior who has given me life. I use to go through life hating my self and trying to live up to the standards of the world. I use to feel as if I had to fit in. I thought that if I had sex I would fit in more with my friends. I thought that if I got plastered, then I would fit in. I thought that if I smoked a few joints here and there I would be cool. On the outside, I was cool, very cool in fact. But on the inside, I was so hollow. The more I did those things, more lonely I felt. I found out that all my friends were lonely as well.
I just want people to find hope. I just want people to come into an intimate relationship with Jesus in order that they can be set free. I have been set free. I have a Savior who died on a cross for my sins and who rose from the grave in order that I may be able to have a relationship with Him. I want to see people healed. This Savior loves me freely, unconditionally. If I can love people the way Christ loves me, then I can sow seeds and help to point people to a better life. I want to see a generation, specifically my generation raised up and become great leaders. I want so see an army of people sold out for Christ and who can show Christ's love to a lost and broken world. I ask my friends to come to Church because I see them suffering from the weight of sin. I see them hurt, lost, lonely and broken. They are carrying around so much baggage and it hurts me to see them struggle to try to fix it themselves. I don't ask them to come to Church because I am judging them. I want them to come to Church so that Jesus can save them, and give them a life that they can enjoy. A life where they can live out their full potential, the potential that Christ put in them before the universe was formed. I don't see junk, I see potential. I don't see dimly lit coals, I see burning flames. I don't see followers, I see leaders.
I am so excited that I serve a Church that gets it. I serve a Church who would pay to have college kids picked up at their school by party buses. The same buses that take them to the clubs and back during the week are going to take them to and from Church in the morning without judging them. I go to a Church that is not ashamed to say, Church is a party. A party that does not leave you hung over, but a party that motivates you to seek Christ more and more each day. Elevation Church has been called many things, but one thing it is not is afraid. My friends who party hard, and I mean hard say that the Party Bus is an awesome idea. They are actually thinking about riding the bus and giving Church a try. Why? Because someone actually gets the fact that they want to change their lives and is providing a really cool way to do so. And you know what... we are not going to play just Christian music, but secular music in order to make them feel comfortable and that we care about them. I have been praying about this for over two years, and now we have the means to show them Christ's love in a radical way.
And the best part is that I do not get credit for any of this. Christ, and Christ alone gets the glory, and I am so fired up about that fact. How awesome is it that J.R. Hopson, a freshman, is heading up this project. Praise God for raising up the next generation to boldly advance His kingdom.
"Makes me wanna STOMP!"
My passion is to see Lost people become saved. To give hope to the hopeless, to give strength to the weak. To seek out lost, lonely and broken people and show them Love of Christ. Why? Because I know a Savior who has redeemed me. I know a Savior who has given me life. I use to go through life hating my self and trying to live up to the standards of the world. I use to feel as if I had to fit in. I thought that if I had sex I would fit in more with my friends. I thought that if I got plastered, then I would fit in. I thought that if I smoked a few joints here and there I would be cool. On the outside, I was cool, very cool in fact. But on the inside, I was so hollow. The more I did those things, more lonely I felt. I found out that all my friends were lonely as well.
I just want people to find hope. I just want people to come into an intimate relationship with Jesus in order that they can be set free. I have been set free. I have a Savior who died on a cross for my sins and who rose from the grave in order that I may be able to have a relationship with Him. I want to see people healed. This Savior loves me freely, unconditionally. If I can love people the way Christ loves me, then I can sow seeds and help to point people to a better life. I want to see a generation, specifically my generation raised up and become great leaders. I want so see an army of people sold out for Christ and who can show Christ's love to a lost and broken world. I ask my friends to come to Church because I see them suffering from the weight of sin. I see them hurt, lost, lonely and broken. They are carrying around so much baggage and it hurts me to see them struggle to try to fix it themselves. I don't ask them to come to Church because I am judging them. I want them to come to Church so that Jesus can save them, and give them a life that they can enjoy. A life where they can live out their full potential, the potential that Christ put in them before the universe was formed. I don't see junk, I see potential. I don't see dimly lit coals, I see burning flames. I don't see followers, I see leaders.
I am so excited that I serve a Church that gets it. I serve a Church who would pay to have college kids picked up at their school by party buses. The same buses that take them to the clubs and back during the week are going to take them to and from Church in the morning without judging them. I go to a Church that is not ashamed to say, Church is a party. A party that does not leave you hung over, but a party that motivates you to seek Christ more and more each day. Elevation Church has been called many things, but one thing it is not is afraid. My friends who party hard, and I mean hard say that the Party Bus is an awesome idea. They are actually thinking about riding the bus and giving Church a try. Why? Because someone actually gets the fact that they want to change their lives and is providing a really cool way to do so. And you know what... we are not going to play just Christian music, but secular music in order to make them feel comfortable and that we care about them. I have been praying about this for over two years, and now we have the means to show them Christ's love in a radical way.
And the best part is that I do not get credit for any of this. Christ, and Christ alone gets the glory, and I am so fired up about that fact. How awesome is it that J.R. Hopson, a freshman, is heading up this project. Praise God for raising up the next generation to boldly advance His kingdom.
"Makes me wanna STOMP!"
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Something About The name JESUS
B and I recently drove up to see my grandparents on Sunday to celebrate my Grandpa's birthday. It was really awesome. On the way, we listened to "Something About The Name Jesus," by Rance Allen and featuring Kirk Franklin. Talk about a Holy Ghost moment.
Well this morning, as I got up early to pray, I watched the youtube video of that song. I thought that I could listen to some music while I read my bible. Ha, when that song came on, all I could do was to stop reading and start praising the Lord. There is something about the name Jesus, there's something about who He is. He is everything to me and when I hear His name being praised, well all I can do is stop what I am doing and start praising His name.
Let me give you another example.
Last night, at small group Andy and I went to the McDonald's near his house. It one of those gas stations/McDonald's that was on a busy road in the middle of the country. Lots of people stopped by to get food and gas and it was interesting to watch them. Well as Andy was telling me about who he would like to see "Come Home" this guy sat down near us and started eating his food.
And every time Andy would talk about Jesus, saying His name, and how good Jesus is, this guy looked at us. I guess that's understandable, and it did not surprise me. I mean hey, we are in the South and everybody talks about God, and throws around the name of Jesus to sound religious. It is something we do down here.
But what was so interesting, was when Andy was pouring out his heart to me about who he would like to see "Come Back Home," come into a relationship with Jesus Christ, this young man stopped his eating, and just watched us. It was just so obvious, and it seemed as if he was trying to make it not obvious. Something about the name Jesus.
Anyway to make a long story short... after Andy had prayed for us, this young man approached us.
"I am so deeply touched and moved to hear you guys talk about Jesus in a way that is real" something like that. "I have recently given my life to Christ this past year, backslided, and I would like have a better relationship with Him." etc you get the point.
My point, is that even by saying His name in our everyday conversations, people's lives can be transformed. We as the Church should not be afraid to lift up the name of Jesus in our daily lives.
I leave you with some quotes from Kirk Franklin.
Well this morning, as I got up early to pray, I watched the youtube video of that song. I thought that I could listen to some music while I read my bible. Ha, when that song came on, all I could do was to stop reading and start praising the Lord. There is something about the name Jesus, there's something about who He is. He is everything to me and when I hear His name being praised, well all I can do is stop what I am doing and start praising His name.
Let me give you another example.
Last night, at small group Andy and I went to the McDonald's near his house. It one of those gas stations/McDonald's that was on a busy road in the middle of the country. Lots of people stopped by to get food and gas and it was interesting to watch them. Well as Andy was telling me about who he would like to see "Come Home" this guy sat down near us and started eating his food.
And every time Andy would talk about Jesus, saying His name, and how good Jesus is, this guy looked at us. I guess that's understandable, and it did not surprise me. I mean hey, we are in the South and everybody talks about God, and throws around the name of Jesus to sound religious. It is something we do down here.
But what was so interesting, was when Andy was pouring out his heart to me about who he would like to see "Come Back Home," come into a relationship with Jesus Christ, this young man stopped his eating, and just watched us. It was just so obvious, and it seemed as if he was trying to make it not obvious. Something about the name Jesus.
Anyway to make a long story short... after Andy had prayed for us, this young man approached us.
"I am so deeply touched and moved to hear you guys talk about Jesus in a way that is real" something like that. "I have recently given my life to Christ this past year, backslided, and I would like have a better relationship with Him." etc you get the point.
My point, is that even by saying His name in our everyday conversations, people's lives can be transformed. We as the Church should not be afraid to lift up the name of Jesus in our daily lives.
I leave you with some quotes from Kirk Franklin.
“Even when we take God for granted, what’s so amazing about God is Paul says He does not treat us as our sins deserve. So that means that even in my imperfections God is still perfect with His grace and His Mercy.
"That's why I don't want people getting comfortable praising the Lord, just when He gives them something. See you gotta learn how praise Him because of who He is, because, see, when you praise Him for who He is you don’t have to wait till the trouble come, to learn how to praise Him.” ~Kirk
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)