holding.it.all.together

When God is at work in peoples lives, you know it. You can feel His presence. It is heard through the weeping, seen through the tears, expressed through joy, and felt in the peace that engulfs the room.

Two weeks ago in one of our Bible college classes, I had this amazing experience take place. We were watching a video but Louie Giglio called "How Great is Our God". I have seen this video many times before, but never once has it ever affected me like it did that day. The Holy Spirit was very much at work on that particular Thursday and it was evident that every single one of us in that room had an amazing encounter.

More and more in my life, I find that God is so much more than I have ever imagined. He is at the core of who we are. I was lost in the presence of God that Thursday morning, wondering how I have missed Him in the past couple of months. I was so overwhelmed with joy that day that I could not help but cry. God revealed Himself to me in an incredible way. It was another time in my life that God brought me back to His great love for us. So often and especially in the past few months with school, I become so lost in all that I have to do that in the midst of it all, I forget the little things that God has done. And by little, I mean big. Little to God, but big to us. Things like the stars, life, breathing, nature, all of the wonderful gifts that God has blessed us with. These blessings of life so often go overlooked by us. For me, God us wanted to remind me that He loves me that much to have created everything so perfectly and He is what holds it all together. At the end of the day, I know that this life has been a complete blessing and that God is to thank each and every time.

I thank God for every time that my life doesn't make sense, or things seem to be falling apart, that He is the one who in the end is really holding it all together.

.my.joy.

It is finally here and I cannot be more excited. Although I am already stressed and behind on chapters of reading, I am looking forward to the end of my final year of college at ASU. I have learned so much in the academic world through high school and college and I going going to finally be able to apply it.I am looking forward to what God has in store after this chapter of my life is over. I will still be working on my bible college degree in Missions and I know that God has big plans for that area of my life.

I think more than anything though I have learned what it means to have a relationship with God through everything.I am thankful for a Father who has loved me through my darkest and happiest times. I have been through a lot of hardship and pain in relationships and friendships, but God has always proven himself to be faithful. He is the constant foundation in my life and I have run to him so much in the past few years.


Above all, He is my joy, everything I will ever need is found in Him. Seek His heart and you will find abounding love.

.light.in.the.dark.

I was driving home last Friday at about 9:50 from Starbucks. On my way, i was thinking to myself, I really need to stop spending money on stuff and just save it. So, I was almost home and I turned the corner and there was someone pushing their truck in the middle of the street. Without even thinking, I pulled into the gas station on my side of the street, and ran over to help push. I didnt know if it was a guy or a girl(probably not the best situation at first) anyways, I was like do you need help and the lady was like you, you are an angel. So we pushed her truck into the gas station opposite my truck. I told her good night and walked back to my truck. I was going to drive home, but something inside me just felt like I needed to make sure she was going to be ok. So I drove over and asked if she was going to be alright. She asked to use my phone and I let her. She left the person a message, asking if they would come pick her up.
She told me she hadnt made it to the bank that day and had no money at all and hadnt even gotten food stamps. My heart broke and told her I would fill her truck up. She was amazed and I told her it was really no problem. Trying to fight back the tears she told me about her daughters and the situation at her apartment. Before leaving, i just handed her some money and told her I would pray for her.

It was an amazing night and I know that God wanted to show me that He blesses us so that we can bless others. I really had to be put in check and know that God gave me all that I have and its His money, not mine. I really thank God for that night and for everything that He has blessed me with. I have not had an experience like that for a really long time.

This verse is a daily reminder of God's love and faithfulness to us. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).

evangelism.marketing.

Evangelism Marketing

The American Marketing Association defines marketing as, “the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large” . Marketing tends to be seen as a creative industry, which includes advertising, distribution and selling. It is also concerned with anticipating the customers' future needs and wants, which are often discovered through research and assessment. Since marketing is dealing with the customer and his/her needs, it must stay relevant, so it is constantly changing and re-inventing its processes according to the times and the culture. I have been taught that you have to know how to sell yourself. Every single person on the face of the planet sells himself or herself every single day somehow. We all have something to sell, or something we want other people to catch on to or like about us. Lets take for example a baby. The cry is the selling point. Either the parent will buy it or reject it. Teens and adults all want to be accepted by other so maybe it is their personality or their idea that they are going to sell to other people. Remember that everyone has something to sell.

Now you may be thinking, how do selling and evangelism go together? In the Bible it says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). The Bible commands us to go and make disciples. The key words here are go and make. Now I see this as go and sell/market your message (good news) to all nations. Now that we have our command and our target market, let’s look at what it means to make or in other words evangelize.

The word evangelism is defined my Merriam-Webster as, “the winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ” . A spicier version of the definition of evangelism is found on Wikipedia. Here it is defined as, “the intention of most evangelism is to convert those who do not follow the Christian God to Christianity for the purpose of effecting eternal salvation. Evangelism is done in obedience to the Great Commission, a command from Jesus to his disciples to proselytize, according to accounts in the New Testament. Christians who specialize in evangelism are known as evangelists, whether they are in their home communities or acting as missionaries in the field” . Even better is the original Greek definition of the word. Evangelist comes from the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον (transliterated as "euangelion"). The Greek word originally meant a reward for good news given to the messenger (εὔ = "good", ἀγγέλλω = "I bring a message”) and later "good news". Putting all of this together, we have a command to go and make disciple and to do that we must evangelize which means marketing our product, in this case, Christ.

I should not think my knowledge is too limited to teach someone else, if I knew enough to become a Christian I know enough to tell others about it and how I did it. In life, we are advertised many things, concepts, and ideas, but which ones do we really buy into. What have you been hooked on or into buying? I f we know enough to buy something, then we know enough to tell others about it and get them to buy it. This especially goes for if we like the product, idea, or concept and want other to have what we have.

One of the strongest and most effective forms of marketing is word of mouth marketing. If you have a product and like it, you want other people to know about it, so you tell them. Evangelism marketing is an advanced form of word of mouth marketing. Within this realm of evangelism, the particular product is the message of salvation. We as Christians believe so strongly in this product, that we now freely try to convince others to “buy” and use it. Is there an incentive to this whole thing? Of course, seeing those people that we have reached out to become Christians. They now have the hope that we have and that means spending eternity with them one day. Tell me what could be better than that?

Now let me ask you are you willing to be a key influencer? To what extent are you willing to influence? Although together we are the called the body of Christ, we as believes work independently. With this independence, we have the power to influence people’s lives. We are to be so driven in our beliefs in our product (salvation/Christ) that we cannot help but preach in an attempt to convert others.

Evangelism marketing is an interesting concept and there are some important areas that should be looked at more closely in order to be most effective in reaching people. These areas are:

1. Freely share your knowledge.
As I said before; I should not think my knowledge is too limited to teach someone else, if I knew enough to become a Christian I know enough to tell others about it and how I did it. Growing up we learn so much, all of our life experiences are going to be the knowledge we need to lead others to Christ.

2. Make word of mouth networks key.
Many times when there is something going on or a new product is going to be hitting the market, there is a buzz about it. We need to keep our word of mouth evangelism buzzing. Keep it creative and connect it to the people you talk to. Most of all, keep it relevant.

3. Keep the environment and community of believes growing
As more and more people accept Christ through your evangelism, help point them in the right direction to continue the growing process. Regularly meet with them and encourage them in their walk with Christ. Most of all, be that role model and example to them. Relationships are key to being an example. If they trust you, they will usually follow you.

4. Make bite-size chunks
As you continue to evangelize, keep it simple. You do not want to over complicate the message that you are trying to present. You want people to bite and the cookie, which presents the window of opportunity for you to minister to their lives. Keep the method simple, but have fun and be creative at the same time.

5. Create a cause
You have a commitment now to evangelize and to keep the people you have brought to Christ growing. Make them your cause. Think of them as your industry. What can you do personally to make the world, and them your industry better?

God has given us such a great command and has placed an amazing calling on each of our lives. The greatest thing though is that we all have the tools to effectively communicate to a lost and dying world. Look at where we are today with technology. We have come so far in the past twenty years. Computer, cell phone, email, and texting are all common ways of communicating. Social networking is huge now through websites such as facebook, myspace, and twitter just to name a few. Blogging is huge also, a word which is so odd, but yet now s common. It is unreal to think how far we have come. There are so many avenues to reach people on. It is up to use to be creative, open our minds and use the tools and resources that God has given us to evangelize.

sunday.afternoon.

I love it when all it takes is a simple invitation, a smoothie, and a beautiful afternoon to have a good time. Sunday afternoon called for lunch after church was out. I by no means had the time to go out and have lunch, but one of my high school girls was just going to sit around all afternoon at church, so I thought I would take her out. Needless to say we found ourselves at the smoothie shop sitting outside enjoying the weather. I am so happy that I have such wonderful girls in my life. Sharing life together, the good times and bad is what makes lasting memories. Simple times together, sharing about struggles and victories really gives meaning to life. Friends make life amazing and that is it.

אהבה

It’s not my religion; it’s my relationship with God. My place on this earth is not to preach, condemn, or judge, but simply,

to

love
[אהבה]

you.

This is my choice and my life. Plenty has happened in my lifetime that I pray would never have happened to you, however, to exist each day is a gift of grace. I cannot tell you why life is the way it is sometimes. All I can tell you is that grace is the only hope I've ever had to get me through the struggles of this life. Without faith, hope, love, perseverance, temptation, pain, tragedy, sorrow, struggle, and just as importantly, choice, what would you be if you had none of these to fabricate you? Find out what makes you, you.

Ask yourself . . .
What defines you?
What’s your purpose?
Do you use “human nature” as an excuse to be weak?
Do you hate with the same passion with which you love?
Rest assured . . . this is sincere . . . this is true.
Put your heart where your mouth is.

True Love:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

jump.in.deeper

Do you remember back 6, 14, 30, 47 years ago when you were that junior higher. Ahh yes, those were the days. Just leaving elementary school and you felt like you were on top of the world. Someday to be up there in high school where all the cool kids are. I don't think I would ever go back and choose those years to relive, but I almost do.

This will be the fourth year that I have been working in JrHi ministry. JrHi? Really, why JrHi? Exactly, thats what everyone always asks me. I think more than anything it just suprises people that someone would actually want to work in such close quaters with juior highers. In all honestly, yes I may be a little crazy, but I love them.

What is the side of things that people usually think of whe they think of JrHi students? A little crazy, annoying, dont want to listen? Yep those are them, and dont get me wrong, thats definately what they are, but let us go a little deeper.

I think for me it is seeing where they are at and realizing that they have so much potential. A lot of times, people over look them and are not willing to take the time that is needed to pour into their lives.I also enjoy the times that I get to learn from a junior higher. They have some much more life and have not had the chance yet to experinece some of the things that we have all been through and what a great way to teach them. They really are more willing to lisen, learn, and truly engage in life than a lot of people that I know. Every year has been better than the last and I am so thankful that God has placed a passion for JrHi students on my heart.

content.in.my.Fathers.love

I would definitely have to say that 2008 was one of the most intense years for me. So much went on and looking back on it I am glad to begin a new year and a fresh start on life. I have experienced so much and am grateful to say that through it all I have learned a lot about myself and how important my faith in my Father is to me.


The second half of this past year is where I have learned the most, and yes it was a lot but the greatest thing was finally realized just a couple days ago. For those of you who don't know, in June I met who I and he both thought was the person we would spend our lives with, however God had some different plans. Four months of some wonderful memories and fun times came to an end in September and I really thought my whole world had just fallen apart. Depressed for almost a month, I came out of it and tried to keep going on but it just wasn't happening for me. The happiness that I had know for those past four months was the happiest I had ever been and it was suddenly all gone. I kept myself busy, met a wonderful group of new friends, and started reading again to keep my mind off of things. Even more than everything that I began doing was praying. I know this sounds silly because we should be praying continually, but I never really have.


My source of strength to get up each morning and do my best, the peace that I seek when all seems wrong, and the joy that I have found despite my pain, all of this I have found in my Creator. I am more blessed than I know and my prayers attest to that. I am learning how to be content in my Fathers arms. His love is so great and it far surpasses everything that I have ever known. I know that despite my mistakes, shortcoming, broken and fallen times, that there is a Love, Friend, Father who just wants me to sit in His arms even if that is all I can do. Stillness before God has been a place that I have found myself in more these past few months than ever before and it has made me realize that I can be content in my Fathers love, because He will provide.