Stop.

On Average it Takes:


4 seconds to scan my blog posts and choose whether or not to read it.

3 minutes 36 seconds to read a whole post.

2 hours, 12 minutes, and 45 seconds to read every post I've written.

It's taken you 15 seconds to get this far, so why not spend the next 3 minutes 21 seconds in prayer.

It doesn't matter about what.

Just pray.

Talk.

Listen.

Celebrate!

One year ago Beth and I had a conversation with two people(who became friends) about leading a group at gracespring (our church) that would be targeted towards reaching college ageish people. 

That stage of life is a crucial part of our journey spiritually and we wanted to provide a safe and welcoming environment for those struggling and thriving through this part of their journey. Those two people shared our excitement and brought onboard their amazing community group. Six months, lots of conversations, and almost as many meetings later God blessed us with, Awaken. 

Tonight Beth and I celebrated at Bennigan's with those same two people, that same amazing community group, and a young woman named Elizabeth. Elizabeth came to Awaken nine months ago as a shy college age girl who didn't know Jesus. Tonight we celebrated because she is now a member of the family of God! This past Sunday she dedicated her life to Christ and she is planning on being baptized in the next few weeks. 

The best part about Awaken is that we have let God lead from the beginning. We don't have it all figured out; He does. We are blessed to be a part of something God is doing! 

Welcome to the family, Elizabeth!

See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us 

His children, and that is what we are! 

1 John 3:1

I Am Afraid...

my thoughts:
I have so much respect for parents. Especially parents of young children and students. You have embarked upon this selfless journey that requires you to give up sleep, personal preference, personal bubble, movie choices, and countless other freedoms. I realize that I have listed purely negative items so far, but this plays directly into my fears. I fear the kid.

Although, I will admit that over the past few months I have become much more open to the idea of raising a child...oh wait, that was about owning a dog. Sorry, scratch that.

what i've heard:
Parents have told me that their is no greater joy than raising up a child and seeing them successfully enter adulthood and develop a love for Jesus. If I didn't work with students, I probably wouldn't have anything to say on this topic and I would stick to reviewing video games and iPhones (the iPhone 5 is awesome btw). But, after working with students for the past eight years, I am more convinced than ever that the role of parent is the third most critical role a person can have in life (number one is being a child of God, and number two is being a spouse).

what i've seen:
You provide love, care, support, guidance, hugs, discipline, boundaries, smiles, identity, stability, and the list goes on. You can never invest too much in your child's life. 

And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deut. 6:6-9

bringing it home:

Thank you parents for all that you do. May the Lord bless your efforts to raise your children in a Godly home. Keep perspective. See the end goal. Fight through the attitude. Refine them for God's glory. 

I am looking up to you and willing to support you in anyway I can!

Leave! (...no seriously.)

It all started when...

This past week I have been reading in 1 Timothy. 1 Timothy is one of my favorite books of the Bible because I relate to Timothy as a young pastor and I envy him for having Paul as a mentor. 

Combine that with the book, 'Too Busy Not to Pray' by Bill Hybells that my church is reading right now and boom goes the dynamite...you have this post. 

the what:

Paul begs Timothy to pray for 'all' the people in his life, direct and indirect. He wants Timothy to pray for the government, random people he comes in contact with, and naturally the people that he lives alongside in his community. 

'All' in the passage is referring to a significant amount of people and yet the greek word (netbible.org) leads me to believe that he is making sure that Timothy knows to pray for them individually. By name, or face, or position, or by authority, or by social status, or by affliction, or by... I don't know about you but I am quickly overwhelmed by this amount of prayer I should be offering up!

the ah-ha moment!

In comes Hybell's book. Early on in the first chapter reminds me that an aspect of prayer is my ability to leave my junk with God. To bring my desires, struggles, fears etc. before His throne and then ask Him to take them. 

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

bringing it home.

Do I need to be spending more time in prayer? Yes. 

Do you? Probably.

Do you have to pray everyday for every person, place or thing? No.

But, when we are overwhelmed by the people, situations, or struggles we are offering up we must remember that Jesus wants us to leave it with Him. Let Him take over. Give Him control. 

_________________________________________________________________________________

who is God laying on your heart to add to your prayer list?

what have you been talking to God about, but not leaving with Him?

thank God for taking the burden off of you and placing on His shoulders. I know I am!