Breaking the Bubble

It is so hard to try and step out of your comfort zone. You must first acknowledge that you have a comfort zone and be humble about how big (or small) it really is. Then you must realize that just because you do not know what might happen away from that "bubble" does not necessarily mean it may be bad or harmful. We have to be able to take the initiative of making the first step. If we are able to do this then God will grab our hand and guide us from that point. We have to show our faith that we trust God will guide us down a path of righteousness and safety. If we show Him our trust then He will make our gains and rewards great. We have to be able to get out of the way so that He may lead us. I pray that I can "pop" my bubble and use my life in ways that I can't understand but that God will make evident to me as long as I have faith.

More than a haircut!

I went to get my hair cut today and heard a lot more than I had planned on while I was there. The lady who cut my hair, Sylvia, asked me about the "church" t-shirt that I was wearing. So I told her about it and that I was the youth pastor at a church here in town. She began to tell me her "life story" while she cut my hair. Sylvia was raised by a single mom and given way too much responsibility by her teenage years. At age 14 she came to Lexington looking for a job and found the infamous lifestyle of prostitution. She worked as a prostitute for a couple of years until she saved money to make it to Miami. She continued the prostitution while she was there. She got hooked up with a pimp that beat her 2-3 times a day. She received her money and he provided the clients. She became involved with various types of drugs (cocaine, heroin, lcd, etc,). She became an alcoholic and had no direction in her life. She had a boy through one of her clients but she doesn't know which one. She had to raise the child on her prostitution income. She eventually found Jesus Christ through someone at a shelter and moved back to Lexington while leaving the prostitution lifestyle behind. She is now a volunteer worker with drug addicted people and with a battered and abused women's shelter. She proclaims Jesus to these women and tells her story so that hopefully they don't have to go through the same things she went through. Sylvia is a bad-to-good story of how Christ reaches people through the unlikeliest of circumstances. God worked in Sylvia's life so that He could use her to work in the lives of many other women. Praise God!

Humble Pie

In studying Luke 1:26-38, I have realized how God used the insignificant Mary to bear the greatest event of all-time. She was a devout Jewish woman who had done nothing spectacular and had no claim to fame. But, God chose her because she would not question His will nor His process for carrying out the miracle of the virgin birth. Mary was humble and filled with humility. Her greatest concern was if she was "good enough" for the task at hand. She wondered why God would choose her for such an important event. In the same way, I wonder why God would choose me to minister and teach students how to know Him more. So many times, I don't feel like I am worthy (and I am not) but I do know that God works through me. I know that it is not me doing the ministering or teaching. I just have to remain humble and understand that all of the success that comes my way comes because of what He does through me. It is not of my own good deeds but it is the work of the Holy Spirit through me. God is so GREAT!

Vision is...

Vision is something that a lot of us have but do not necessarily cast or state unless we are required to. Vision for what we plan on doing in the future must be carefully thought out and have solid Biblical foundations in order for it occur and be successful. Vision must follow the God's will which can only be discerned through prayer to God and studying of His Word. We must be open to what God has planned for us and look to follow His lead and leave behind our own wishes which often lead to pain and destruction. Vision is God-led and we must have the courage and faith to trust He knows the path.

Reality Check

A man by the name of Mike came by the church today and wanted to talk to a minister. I was here and met with the man in the stair well. Mike had a lot of things happen in his life: schizophrenia, alcoholism, drug abuse, pornography addiction, etc. He is facing a lot of persecution as a disabled individual through medicare and soical security issues. His family has albeit disowned him and will not aid or provide him in anyway. This man has a heart to help people and wants to be used for good. He believes he has been born again and had a lot of knowledge of the Scriptures to back it up and support his life and the things he has gone through. Mike just wanted me to listen to him and provide an open ear for the trials and temptations in his life. I was able to do so and I learned a lot through listening to Mike. God revealed to me that the world we live in is fallen and that we all stumble and we all are persecuted and tried everyday. It was reality check for me to hear first-hand that an individual was going through these things and that he desperately wanted God to help him. I think God is helping him and I explained why I thought so. The Holy Spirit lives in him and he speaks in a way that shows the fruit of which God has blessed him. Mike made me realize that I need to be more in-tune with what is going on in the world around me. Our world is evil and God is the only good we have. Many people are going through things just like Mike and we as believers need to be there to help or just listen to what they have to say. I will continue to pray for Mike and his situation.

New to blogging!

This is my first blog ever. It is exciting to think I have finally created a blog. So many people have them and I enjoy reading them but, I had never created one until now. The plans for this blog is to write down the things I am involved in as a student minister and how the Lord reveals various things to me. It will also include random thoughts of whatever comes to my mind. Let the BLOGGING begin!