What I was going to write about today doesn’t seem so important anymore…Give up 30 minutes and watch this video….it was posted by a pastor I met in the blog world and have been keeping up with….you will be stretched and challenged by this families faith!
click the link below…
Alright, it’s 8:10AM on Monday and I’m up….I totally wanted to still be asleep this morning but God Bless text messages from students at 7:50AM!!! Anyway, I figured I’d highlight how the weekend went….A few things come to my mind…
–The way we worshipped through song…that was only the second time I’ve ever experienced that….It was awesome!
–God showed up! He stirred in our hearts about moving from where we are to where he wants us to be. He showed us that we constantly need to be asking ourselves this question, “Who am I becoming?”
–WOW!
–Thank You! Thank you to the KING who rocked me to the core this weekend! It was absolutely flippin incredible!
-I’m a little late in getting this up today…I have an in-town retreat with my students starting tomorrow night and as you can imagine…there’s a lot to do! I’m already worn out!
-I am speaking for an FCA in the morning for a high school near my church…I was going to talk about drama and the bitterness that comes from that but God is really stirring in me another idea…I think I’ll go with what he is whispering to my heart right now
-I am staying at my brothers house this weekend…I currently live about 45 minutes from the church that I work at and having to be there all weekend, it isn’t wise of me to drive back and forth from my house…he lives only about 5 minutes from the church…i’ll even save some money on gas this weekend!
-My oldest son is amazing me right now! (my youngest too…he just doesn’t get things like his big brother does right now) He keeps wanting to tell me about the Easter Story and various other bible stories…He keeps telling me how Jesus had to die for his sins so that he could be with God…he’s starting to get it and I hope my life will also lead him to Jesus…I hope he sees Jesus in me!
-I am just so pumped about this weekend! I can’t even get over it!
It’s interesting that tonight I’m speaking to a group of students about a topic that I know they struggle with…it’s something I struggle with too! We’re talking about worry and how that can hold us back from becoming what God wants us to become..how it can hold us back from going where God wants us to go…how it can hold us back from doing what God asks us to do….it’s funny that this weekend I have an intown retreat for our students and I’m totally worrying about every little detail…I’ve had this talk planned for tonight for about 8 weeks now (i don’t usually plan that far out–usually just 4 weeks out) and wasn’t really sweating this weekend back then…now, the time has come to sweat the weekend and of course, tonight i’ll be putting a mirror up in front of me because i need to hear tonights message as well…why am i so gripped with worry? i mean, i have seen God prove himself faithful so many times…why do I still worry about stuff? It consumes me and can take over..i”m a chronic worrier i think….i all day can tell people they need to Trust God and let him work it out….i need a dose of that right now…I’m going to give God what I can’t do, I’ll do what he asks me to do, and flat out Trust him and know that he is near—regardless of what happens…..How Can I keep From Singing???
Do you worry?
Brian
I have taken the day off today from being at my office but I’m sitting here at the hospital right now because my Dad is having some surgery (surgery #2 on his knee from his replacement 364 days ago) and then I have yard work to do when I get home. It’s funny that when I have a day off I’m still slammed with stuff to do…I’m kinda looking forward to winter already so i won’t have any grass to cut, shrubs to trim, and mulch to spread….I guess what I really just hate is that even on my day off, I didn’t get to sleep in at all…oh well, sometimes that’s life!
-I had the chance to speak at an FCA this morning for some middle school students—although they are fairly crazy and sometimes immature (who cares, so am I!) they are still fun!
-I am taking my boys to watch a high school baseball game tomorrow night. One of my former students is playing in the game and my boys really liked this guy and grew attached to him during our time at this church….should be fun to reconnect.
-What is the world is going on with gas prices right now? I think I’m going to go buy a motorcycle and use that instead of my car…somethings got to happened because paying $3.40 a gallon (and only getting 20 mpg) is nuts!
-For the first time in a few days, Our family is sitting down to a dinner together at home…it seems we are getting busier and busier but we are trying to make sure we don’t get to busy where we sacrifice our family time.
-I watched a pretty cool video that I can totally identify with…I know what this guy meant with working to much…I walked his shoes!
Alright, i’m hoping i have more than just a few readers on this thing…i need your advice…I’m thinking of making a bet with my students and have the stunt i’ll pull be something big…like if they did this or got so many people to this then i will_________……I’m thinking i’m willing to shave my eyebrows off…i mean, who needs them..i might look strange for a while and if they don’t grow back, i’ll have a pretty cool story to tell….yeah this might be another stupid and crazy idea from a student pastor but if it’s what i have to do to get students somewhere that they will hear about Jesus, then I’m willing to do it…..Here’s where you come in….
What bet is worth me shaving off my eyebrows?!?
-Praying for my mom
-I’m worn out right now for some reason—feel mentally and emotionally exhausted
-Praying for my family
-praying i’ll never lose a desire to keep growing and learning
-hoping we will just let go
-praying we will recklessly abandon ourselves for HIM
-wanting to give everything I have for HIS kingdom’s cause (Hillsong <paraphrased>)
-can we be the church for once
-can we not be so wrapped up in tradition and rules and just love people
-will we take God directed risks
-can we stay focused
-praying for our student retreat in two weeks
-praying God will make us uncomfortable
-praying we will seize opportunities God provides
-praying we view obstacles as doors, not walls (steven furtick <paraphrased>)
-praying our focus is on what is important and really matters
-will we think outside the box
-will we recognize that people really need what we have and are desperate for it
-will we give it to them
-will we just love Jesus enough to give him away to those around us?
-will we fall on our face before him
-will we realize that sometimes change is good
-are we willing to give everything up for HIM
-am I willing to give everything up for HIM
-are we continuing to fall in love with Jesus?
Does any of this resonate with you?
Brian
Brenden is my youngest son (he’s 3) and he reminded me of a lesson last week…I was laying down with him last week and I woke up to someone tapping their finger on the back of my head….I looked over and he uttered these words through his quivering lips, “daddy, I’m scared.” I said ok bud, come here and I’ll hold you. He maneuvered right over to me and snuggled up as close as he could…He went right to sleep…As I sat there I thought about why he did that. He as scared of something obviously (i never asked of what) and he went to someone who would provide him comfort, would help him rest, who he felt like could protect him….It reminded me how I should I act when i’m scared…..Believe me, I know what it’s like to sit up at night wondering how the bills are going to get paid and if you are going to lose everything…I know what it’s like to be heading for a parked car at 45 mph and the car in front of you is stopped—you know that fear you get right before you crash….that’s what I’m talking about….I know what it’s like to have a child who is rushed into NICU right after delivery because there are “complications”…I know what it’s like to have your mom undergo surgery and have the outcome uncertain….I have experienced fear before….the difference however between my son and I is that sometimes I don’t go to my “daddy”…..I try to deal with it on my own…My son, always comes running to me or my wife..but me, I sometimes try and deal with it….The lesson is that when we try and handle something we can’t—it holds us back from becoming who God wants us to be—it holds us hostage in our own life—it causes us to lose focus—-so, when you are gripped by fear, Seek HIM and he will provide comfort and rest!
My mom had her stitches removed this morning and the incision is healing well….they said she could start driving again and can begin washing her hair in 2 more days (she’s real excited about this)—-nothing really new unitl some more DR appts on May 2…..oh, the pathology report did come back confirming it was a malignant tumor related to her thyroid cancer from 1976…how it’s related, i have no idea..i’m not even sure if they know….oh well….We will rejoice!
In between blogs