Throughout the darkness there is Light. The Light over powers the darkness. The Light is in me. That Light is Jesus. Jesus lives within me and as I walk through the darkness of the city. Jesus is the Light that shines within me. I want to see the people the way that Jesus sees them. I want to look through the eyes of Jesus. Those who are living in this world who feel as if not a soul in the world cares about them, I want my hand to reach down to them, and say you are loved. Why? Because that is what Jesus would do. Jesus is asking me to follow in His steps, and His steps are leading me this way.
I have been working hard on gearing up for Mission Adventures, and one thing I want to be is an example for the young people that will be joining us. I want these young students to learn to look through the eyes of Jesus. I feel that God wants our hearts to break for what breaks His. I feel God has already broken my heart for these people that are alone. I feel that the desire continues to grow the more involved in the city I become. The more I prepare for the ministry, the more I feel God readying my heart to serve Him more. To live for Him more. To shine for Him more. God has been doing something in my heart that I would have never dreamed of just a year or so ago. God has given me a dream. That dream is being fulfilled. When God first asked me to step out in faith and follow Him, I thought what He was asking me to do was impossible. I thought that I was the wrong person for the job. I don't think that anymore. God showed me that I can do anything He asks me to. God has used my weakness and turned it into His strength.
This week I took a few of the staff down to the rescue mission. We all served the men in the mission some dinner, and all of the men there were very grateful. They were friendly, and happy to see us. It was awesome to work for God that way, and to see the joy on the guys' faces. I was able to see them through His eyes. These men were once broken down men with no where to go, but God has transformed them. There are many more people out there who need a transformation. So many people need to hear about Jesus, and be told that they are loved. They need to be told that they are valuable. God wants me to go and be a leader. Being a leader isn't a natural gift that I have, in fact I naturally am not at all a leader. But there is Someone else in me who is. His name is Jesus. Jesus is my leader and His is going to lead me and teach me how to lead others closer to Him. He is strong in my weakness, and I can rest assured that with His strength I can do whatever it is He asks me to do.
"For I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has been my strength... Kings will see you and rise up, princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy one of Israel, who has chosen you." Isaiah 49:5,7
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Yes, He Can
We live in a very unpredictable world. A world that is full of fear, and despair. But one thing that is certain is God is still in control of this world and not a thing can happen without Him knowing.
In my own personal life I have many struggles that I have to deal with on a day-to-day basis, and each day I have to learn to leave all of them at the Throne. They are out of my control, and I have a choice to either worry myself sick about them, or I can say, "God I can't do this, but I know You can." God is a big and mighty God, and the things we struggle with are a "piece of cake" for Him to handle.
After my DTS, but before I joined on full-time staff with YWAM, I felt God calling me to do some pretty radical ministries, and to start some some ministries in San Diego. I felt that what He was calling me to do sounded pretty extreme for a few reasons. One of them because I feel very unqualified for the job, and the other it sounds like something that I am unable to do. How many of you had ever had those thoughts? If you are honest with yourself, I'm sure that you can say you have had similar thoughts, if not the exact same ones.
But I am here to tell you that God is the God of the impossible. He has shown that to me in countless ways. One of the biggest ways He has, is by leading me to where I sit today as a missionary for Him. It was quite a struggle to get to this point, but I knew that I had to persevere and keep charging through the struggles that came on my path, and with His strength I have done that, and with His strength I will continue to do that. When I say I am unqualified, or unable I am sounding exactly like Moses. Look what God did through him... look what He did through David, Daniel, & Paul and several others. Did any of them have the easy way? Of course not. Did they find themselves in situations that seemed impossible? They sure did.
So when I think about the stories in the Bible, and the stories from others today, I have one thing to say, "Yes He can." God can do anything. God led called me to city ministry, starting in San Diego, and I know that God will lead me through it. It won't be easy, there will be challenges, but God will lead me through them. I am very excited about this new ministry. God's dreams for me are being fulfilled. Though I may not know what the next step will bring, I do know Who will be there. I know that He knows what lies ahead, and I have to trust Him as my navigational Guide. He knows the way better than anybody.
God will lead you through your challenges too. As long as we step out in faith and be obedient to Him, He will lead the way and provide for our needs. There is nothing impossible with God, and we can do all things through His strength.
In my own personal life I have many struggles that I have to deal with on a day-to-day basis, and each day I have to learn to leave all of them at the Throne. They are out of my control, and I have a choice to either worry myself sick about them, or I can say, "God I can't do this, but I know You can." God is a big and mighty God, and the things we struggle with are a "piece of cake" for Him to handle.
After my DTS, but before I joined on full-time staff with YWAM, I felt God calling me to do some pretty radical ministries, and to start some some ministries in San Diego. I felt that what He was calling me to do sounded pretty extreme for a few reasons. One of them because I feel very unqualified for the job, and the other it sounds like something that I am unable to do. How many of you had ever had those thoughts? If you are honest with yourself, I'm sure that you can say you have had similar thoughts, if not the exact same ones.
But I am here to tell you that God is the God of the impossible. He has shown that to me in countless ways. One of the biggest ways He has, is by leading me to where I sit today as a missionary for Him. It was quite a struggle to get to this point, but I knew that I had to persevere and keep charging through the struggles that came on my path, and with His strength I have done that, and with His strength I will continue to do that. When I say I am unqualified, or unable I am sounding exactly like Moses. Look what God did through him... look what He did through David, Daniel, & Paul and several others. Did any of them have the easy way? Of course not. Did they find themselves in situations that seemed impossible? They sure did.
So when I think about the stories in the Bible, and the stories from others today, I have one thing to say, "Yes He can." God can do anything. God led called me to city ministry, starting in San Diego, and I know that God will lead me through it. It won't be easy, there will be challenges, but God will lead me through them. I am very excited about this new ministry. God's dreams for me are being fulfilled. Though I may not know what the next step will bring, I do know Who will be there. I know that He knows what lies ahead, and I have to trust Him as my navigational Guide. He knows the way better than anybody.
God will lead you through your challenges too. As long as we step out in faith and be obedient to Him, He will lead the way and provide for our needs. There is nothing impossible with God, and we can do all things through His strength.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Blessings
Christmas has come, and now we await for the New Year. It was a wonderful Christmas spent with my family. I am blessed to have a family to come home to, as well as a church family to see and share with what I am doing these days. I am blessed to have an abundance of people praying me through, and supporting me along the way. The words of encouragement I receive from you, all are priceless. I cherish all the the encouraging words I receive, and all the prayers you pray on my behalf. Thank you for being there for me.
Now 2010 is about to come to a close. I reflect on the ups and downs this past year. I can reflect on how much my character has been built. I can see how God's hands were in every detail of my life, and throughout the year. When my heart was heavy, God gave me the extra strength I needed to push through. Through the few surgeries, God gave me the healing I needed to be better physically. Through those painful and hurtful moments, God turned them around for His glory and perfect plan. Though 2010 may have been a challenging year for me, I can say that it was a year full of God's faithfulness, and I can look back and see how God worked through everything. God has blessed me beyond measure, and as I walk forward He continues to lead me through the impossible. I can continue to receive a bigger glimpse on how much my Savior loves me.
I look forward to what God will do in 2011. It may not be an easy year, it could be a year filled with more challenges... but you know, I say bring it on, because as God has demonstrated in the past, nothing is impossible with Him. As long as I live, I will serve my King. There are millions of people out there who need Jesus. I believe God has placed all of us here for such a time as this. So may we continue to move forward in Him, and through the storms of life, I know that God will be there, and will continue to work through all things for His perfect plan.
Heavenly Father, Thank you for the blessings of Christmas. Thank you for Jesus. I want to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas always, praising You for Your amazing love. God thank you for blessing me with an abundance of encouraging people in my life. God I pray that You will be with them, bless them, and may they be uplifted and encouraged by You. God I pray for the year of 2011. Draw me closer to You. I pray that You will continue to guide and make the paths straight. Please be with all of the people You have placed in my life: my family, church family, friends, and YWAM family. Lord I pray You will provide for them, and continue to guide them. Lord in whatever challenges or storms they may be in now, I pray that they will feel Your loving hands over them. Thank you Lord, for never leaving us, nor forsaking us. God thank you for the greatest gift of all, Jesus. Thank you that we have been made free in You. I love You Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen
Now 2010 is about to come to a close. I reflect on the ups and downs this past year. I can reflect on how much my character has been built. I can see how God's hands were in every detail of my life, and throughout the year. When my heart was heavy, God gave me the extra strength I needed to push through. Through the few surgeries, God gave me the healing I needed to be better physically. Through those painful and hurtful moments, God turned them around for His glory and perfect plan. Though 2010 may have been a challenging year for me, I can say that it was a year full of God's faithfulness, and I can look back and see how God worked through everything. God has blessed me beyond measure, and as I walk forward He continues to lead me through the impossible. I can continue to receive a bigger glimpse on how much my Savior loves me.
I look forward to what God will do in 2011. It may not be an easy year, it could be a year filled with more challenges... but you know, I say bring it on, because as God has demonstrated in the past, nothing is impossible with Him. As long as I live, I will serve my King. There are millions of people out there who need Jesus. I believe God has placed all of us here for such a time as this. So may we continue to move forward in Him, and through the storms of life, I know that God will be there, and will continue to work through all things for His perfect plan.
Heavenly Father, Thank you for the blessings of Christmas. Thank you for Jesus. I want to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas always, praising You for Your amazing love. God thank you for blessing me with an abundance of encouraging people in my life. God I pray that You will be with them, bless them, and may they be uplifted and encouraged by You. God I pray for the year of 2011. Draw me closer to You. I pray that You will continue to guide and make the paths straight. Please be with all of the people You have placed in my life: my family, church family, friends, and YWAM family. Lord I pray You will provide for them, and continue to guide them. Lord in whatever challenges or storms they may be in now, I pray that they will feel Your loving hands over them. Thank you Lord, for never leaving us, nor forsaking us. God thank you for the greatest gift of all, Jesus. Thank you that we have been made free in You. I love You Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen
Friday, December 10, 2010
YWAM Celebration in Hawaii
What an amazing opportunity Laura and I had to be able to attend YWAM's 50th anniversary celebration in Hawaii. Shortly after Thanksgiving Laura and I flew down to Kona, Hawaii. It was an amazing time spent there as we had the chance of a lifetime to celebrate with YWAM 50 years of God's faithfulness, as well as explore the big island of Hawaii. Loren and Darlene Cunningham as well as YWAM's president, and a few others shared with us about what God has done through the years, as well as powerful messages about following Jesus' command to "Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations," as stated in the Great Commission. Jesus' last command to the disciples before ascending into Heaven.
The Great Commission in one of YWAM's key verse of what they're all about. Loren shared with us how we all need to take the flame and go forward. Not to let the fire burn out, but to continue to run forward for God's glory, and making sure that every person on earth has a chance to hear the gospel. By the year of 2020 the Bible will be translated into every language of the world. People of every tribe and every tongue will be able to have the Bible in their own language. That will be pretty amazing that's for sure!
Loren shared some powerful messages and ones that spoke boldly to me. Many of them were challenging as it meant that I had to continue to move forward and stretching my faith. So many times I struggle with stepping out of comfort zones and taking more steps forward, but I know that God asks me to keep moving forward and trusting in His guidance. It is never an easy thing, but who's to say that life is easy anyways. I know that it is not an easy road, and the roads on the mission field usually are extremely challenging. As I heard some of the stories shared during my time in Hawaii I felt God was speaking to everyone there that He is in control, and He has some pretty amazing things in store for us.
Laura and I also had some wonderful times around the island. It was our first time ever being to Hawaii and we wanted to be sure we enjoyed every minute of it! We had some wonderful times on the beach, driving around the island, exploring various places, and just absorbing God's marvelous creation. We were exposed to nearly every climate zone their is which we were both in awe of. We explored the desert, the rain forests, the ocean and all kinds of other places that we have never seen before at least not so close together and quite like that. We both had an amazing time in Hawaii, and were glad that we were able to go.
I am glad God opened the doors for me to attend the 50th in Hawaii as that celebration was very important to me, and because I wasn't able to attend the celebration in Tijuana. It was an experience that neither of us will ever forget!
The Great Commission in one of YWAM's key verse of what they're all about. Loren shared with us how we all need to take the flame and go forward. Not to let the fire burn out, but to continue to run forward for God's glory, and making sure that every person on earth has a chance to hear the gospel. By the year of 2020 the Bible will be translated into every language of the world. People of every tribe and every tongue will be able to have the Bible in their own language. That will be pretty amazing that's for sure!
Loren shared some powerful messages and ones that spoke boldly to me. Many of them were challenging as it meant that I had to continue to move forward and stretching my faith. So many times I struggle with stepping out of comfort zones and taking more steps forward, but I know that God asks me to keep moving forward and trusting in His guidance. It is never an easy thing, but who's to say that life is easy anyways. I know that it is not an easy road, and the roads on the mission field usually are extremely challenging. As I heard some of the stories shared during my time in Hawaii I felt God was speaking to everyone there that He is in control, and He has some pretty amazing things in store for us.
Laura and I also had some wonderful times around the island. It was our first time ever being to Hawaii and we wanted to be sure we enjoyed every minute of it! We had some wonderful times on the beach, driving around the island, exploring various places, and just absorbing God's marvelous creation. We were exposed to nearly every climate zone their is which we were both in awe of. We explored the desert, the rain forests, the ocean and all kinds of other places that we have never seen before at least not so close together and quite like that. We both had an amazing time in Hawaii, and were glad that we were able to go.
I am glad God opened the doors for me to attend the 50th in Hawaii as that celebration was very important to me, and because I wasn't able to attend the celebration in Tijuana. It was an experience that neither of us will ever forget!
Monday, November 22, 2010
What Breaks my Heart
Holiday season has officially begun. Thanksgiving is just a couple short days away, and Christmas will be coming shortly after. These times are a time of remembrance, a time of reflection, a time of joy... but what about those who don't have that joy? Those who are alone? Those who don't have the hope, and the love of Jesus within them? What about them? These times can be a time of pain for so many people. People who are grieving, who are suffering, and people who spend day in and day out without even being noticed... who feel like they don't matter to another soul in the world.
Yesterday I noticed a homeless lady on the corner, I saw the pain in her eyes. I almost broke down right there in tears, I had to grip it because I was driving, but my heart broke for her. Her eyes were filled with sorrow. There are millions of people in this world who don't know Jesus, and millions who filled with sorrow. Suicide rates are rising, because people are searching for a way out, and come to the point where they feel like death is their only option. It is incredibly sad to know this, and hear about it. I still think of all the people I talked to in San Francisco, all the time. I visualize their faces, their tear filled eyes, and I can still hear them tell me that they feel like a nobody... they feel worthless. I can still hear them share with me their story, what people have done to them, things that have happened in their life, and wishing they had someone who loved them. I was not ashamed to put my arms around them. I wanted them to know how much they mattered, and how much their Savior does love them. I want that mission to continue, and God has placed that passion so strongly on my heart.
There is no greater love than the love of Jesus. This is the time of year we celebrate it, but I hope we will celebrate it year round. As the joyous season comes along, I don't want to forget the true meaning of it. I don't want to be so caught up in the busyness of it that I don't notice the hurting person standing on the corner. My heart's passion is to love those who don't know what love is. To be the hands of feet of Jesus. I pray that Jesus will shine so strongly in me, that when people look at me they see the light of Jesus. I pray that God will melt the heart of stone. I pray that God will move radically within the walls of the city, and throughout the hearts of every young and old person there is. God is the God of the impossible, and He can and does far more than what we can ever imagine. God chooses His children to be His instruments, to be ambassadors in His Kingdom. May His Kingdom come.
God has ruined my heart for Him. Something that I can't explain in words. I completely want my life to be surrendered to Him. I want my life to be all about giving Him the glory, and letting people know who Jesus is. That is my calling. To live for Jesus my Savior. God and God alone. I am here to sit next to a hurting person, to listen to there broken hearts and to say you are valuable... so valuable that God gave His one and only Son to die for you.
I cannot look in the pain in someone's eyes and ignore it. Each time I notice someone alone my heart does break. I know that Jesus weeps over them. Jesus feels their pain, and Jesus does care. I pray that they may feel Jesus over them, and His loving arms holding them tight. I pray that God will use me to uplift them, and that God will work in their hearts. I pray that their pain will be healed, and they can live as another testimony of how great our God is.
Yesterday I noticed a homeless lady on the corner, I saw the pain in her eyes. I almost broke down right there in tears, I had to grip it because I was driving, but my heart broke for her. Her eyes were filled with sorrow. There are millions of people in this world who don't know Jesus, and millions who filled with sorrow. Suicide rates are rising, because people are searching for a way out, and come to the point where they feel like death is their only option. It is incredibly sad to know this, and hear about it. I still think of all the people I talked to in San Francisco, all the time. I visualize their faces, their tear filled eyes, and I can still hear them tell me that they feel like a nobody... they feel worthless. I can still hear them share with me their story, what people have done to them, things that have happened in their life, and wishing they had someone who loved them. I was not ashamed to put my arms around them. I wanted them to know how much they mattered, and how much their Savior does love them. I want that mission to continue, and God has placed that passion so strongly on my heart.
There is no greater love than the love of Jesus. This is the time of year we celebrate it, but I hope we will celebrate it year round. As the joyous season comes along, I don't want to forget the true meaning of it. I don't want to be so caught up in the busyness of it that I don't notice the hurting person standing on the corner. My heart's passion is to love those who don't know what love is. To be the hands of feet of Jesus. I pray that Jesus will shine so strongly in me, that when people look at me they see the light of Jesus. I pray that God will melt the heart of stone. I pray that God will move radically within the walls of the city, and throughout the hearts of every young and old person there is. God is the God of the impossible, and He can and does far more than what we can ever imagine. God chooses His children to be His instruments, to be ambassadors in His Kingdom. May His Kingdom come.
God has ruined my heart for Him. Something that I can't explain in words. I completely want my life to be surrendered to Him. I want my life to be all about giving Him the glory, and letting people know who Jesus is. That is my calling. To live for Jesus my Savior. God and God alone. I am here to sit next to a hurting person, to listen to there broken hearts and to say you are valuable... so valuable that God gave His one and only Son to die for you.
I cannot look in the pain in someone's eyes and ignore it. Each time I notice someone alone my heart does break. I know that Jesus weeps over them. Jesus feels their pain, and Jesus does care. I pray that they may feel Jesus over them, and His loving arms holding them tight. I pray that God will use me to uplift them, and that God will work in their hearts. I pray that their pain will be healed, and they can live as another testimony of how great our God is.
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