Growing

When I think of March, I picture the beginning of spring, flowers, trees, green green grass....everything is beginning to grow. Then my mind jumps to goals. I think about how most the time we have to grow in order to accomplish our goals. But don't get discouraged because you can't accomplish them from where you are...start where you are and grow until you can reach them!!!!!!

Growth= growing pains. It means ditching the comfort zone. Feeling uncomfortable and probably stupid sometimes. But guess what???????? Growth is EXCITING!! It means you understand better, you can see more, and you can do more for God. It is exciting, an adventure. It is worth the pain.

I want to challenge you, to give you a nudge towards growth. Think outside the box. Get the big pictue. Go beyond yourself-get into God. Once you are beyond yourself and your comfort zone you suddenly realize how much you need God. You began to realize just how sweet He really is. How powerful and amazing He is. And its then that you realize that you don't want to get too comfortable. You don't ever want to quit growing.

Summer is coming and maybe you don't know what to do...maybe you are gonna graduate and you don't know where to go. Here are some ideas that will grow you. Jump out in faith!!! I dare you.

1. Volunteer 6 months or 1 year of your life to Inner-city teens.
2. Learn a language...this is very helpful in ministry these days, esp. Spanish
3. Start a small group for your friends from church
4. Go on a short term missions trip
5. Write a book
6. Learn to play an instrument

These aren't things you can't do, or just a list of things you could do. NO!!! These are things you can and should do if you want to!!! Let God do great things with you. I am surrounded by people everyday who are doing big things for God. Don't get left behind.

For information on how to do any of the things listed above just write me. I can help connect you with people who can get you started on your adventure.

Prayer Power

I need your help. I am asking you to help me pray for a miracle at my site, before I leave in May. There are 5 specific things I am asking for: 1. For a bus from church to come for the people from the Nursing Home who want to go to service 2. That I will be able to connect with a boy named Jose and help him get plugged into church 3. People from the site to start coming to church on Sunday 4. The hill behind our site cleaned up 5. Begin to develop relationships with the families at the houses right by where we hand out the food

God is really starting to work at my site. I can sense in my spirit that God is on the move. This also means that Satan is going to bring opposition. It is my hope that there will be so much prayer support that the devil won't stand a chance!!!!!

Btw, next week I am in charge of rounding everything up to get the hill cleaned off. Please pray that I will be able to get the equipment I need and everything will run smoothly. I want people to be able to see a difference when they come to the site.

I am excited!!! I am EXPECTING God to do great things at 5th and Union before I leave!!!!!!!! As my favorite quote by William Carey goes, "Expect great things from God, Attempt great things for God.

Today I drove the Food Truck into one of the worst parts of LA. And you know what I saw??? God's power at work!!! Food Truck has been going there for 3 years, and God's love is making a difference. It was today out there, that I once again revelled in the treasure of a smile, a hug, and a wave. Gestures of approval in a place where walls are high, life is hard, and love is little. Those gestures are not to be taken forgranted, they are the testimony of God's work.

So today, as you are standing right in the middle of your ministry, maybe neck deep and on your tip toes. Take just a second, stop worrying about staying afloat, and think about how God is at work. Is there now 4 kids on your bus instead of 1? Has a parent started helping in your class? What about that kid that opened up to you this week- that would have never happened 6 months ago?

When you start thinking of the changes, and I know there are.... PRAISE GOD. The small changes are progress, victories, opportunities..God IS at work. Praise yourself right to next level!!! It is amazing how when we get so excited about what God has already done, He seems to move in a way we couldn't have even hoped for. Elevate your ministry to the next level through praise!!!!

Feel free to share something that God has done in your ministry that you were reminded of when you read this!!! I wanna here from all my Bible College homies and all my other peeps out there in ministry...God is helping us to make a difference!!!!

Little Things

This Valentine's Day I was able to make cards for a few people at my site and for the people at the Nursing Home I visit. It was so amazing to see how God took the "little" thing I did and used it to bless people. This week a lady commented on how beautiful it was and how much she liked it. Wow, that meant so much to me, it meant I was able to express Jesus' love to her in at least a small way. Thank you God for letting me be Your hands... for letting me touch lonely hearts for you. How did God use you to show His love this week or month??? What is something you are gonna do before the month is over??? I want to hear your testimony. It will encourage me!!!

February ...the month of love

This month I want to focus on creative ways to show love to people. A pastor that I heard recently made a comment that made me stop and think. He said "we should love people with no hidden motives, we shouldn't love them so they will get saved. We should love them because Jesus loves them. We should love them even if they never become a Chistian."

Stop and think about that. Are you loving the people in your life? Love means to do what is best for them. Love means sacrifice. But when you sacrifice for love, it doesn't really seem like such a sacrifice.

The catch is -we can't really love people the way we should unless we are in a love relationship with God. Are you loving God? Can God pour His love through you to a hurting world. I believe so!!!! And I can't wait to hear about how God is using you to change our world!!!!

You showing love on someone doesn't mean that you don't have to share the love of Christ with them. If you have a chance- DEFINATELY do. But love them regardless...and guess what? You probably won't even have to say much, they will notice that you are differnt than other people in their life.

Love somebody today. As you sit at school and wait for your kids, pray for everyone that passes your car. Tip someone who isn't expecting it and tell them to have a good day. Start visiting a nursing home once a week. Busy dad, take your kids out for an icecream.

Let Jesus' love flow through you. I really, really, really believe that it is the love that we let Jesus pour through us that will change the entire world. Start changing your world today.

Why I Blog

When I think about blogging...I think of time. Time spent. So when I write I want there to be a purpose. And my purpose is to encourage, inspire, and nudge people to do more with what God has given them. It is my desire that my blog will be a place where people can come to get refreshed or get resources to do their ministry better. Wanna join the fun?? When I bring up a subject, please add your ideas and suggestions. The more the merrier:)