Active Service

2 Timothy 2:4
No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

Matthew

I woke up early this morning and started listening to the book of Matthew. I listened to chapter 2 -8 and its so good. As I listened I just wanted to start posting everything. Matthew is so rich with encouragement and conviction. Here are some of the things that stuck out.

Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Christ has made us a light in this dark world of sin and deception. Live to His glory for many are watching. In every moment of every day, Christ through you, let your light shine before men.

Matthew 7-11
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him.

This was encouraging to me, to know that when we ask of God, as His children, His intent is never to give us something bad but always something good. To know that He loves us dearly and will provide what is best in His timing.

Matthew 7: 24-27
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock."Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall."

May we act on these precious words of Christ, for as we do we build on a firm foundation that can not be washed away:) Praise His name!!!

Matthew 8:24-27
And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.
And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!" He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"

I feel the same way sometimes... When the storms of life begin to rage and their giant waves threaten to smash me into the rocks, my first reaction is to panic. I think God looks down at me and says the same thing he said to His disciples, Why are you afraid Paul, you of little faith?

-What's Happening-

Hey everyone,
Sorry for not writing more lately... I've not really been in the writing mood.

What has happened?

1. Our tour has officially been pushed back since 2 weeks ago. We set out in late July some time and finish early September. Ill post the new dates as soon as I can. I know I'll be in KC on the 15 of Aug:)

2. I'm looking for a permanent place of residence, which isn't easy. Everything is so expensive out here... for a 600 sq ft pad, its around $1000 a month. So pray about that, that God provides a place in His timing. Room mates may be an option but I'm praying God gives me my own place so that you all can come visit and stay over:) God knows:)

3. It's fathers day today:) I called my dad and wished him a good one:) He is a great guy:) I never knew how much I appreciated my dad until now. Always taking the time to teach us over and over again about how important it is to be committed to the Lord. I remember when I was younger, he would wake the boys up at 4am every morning and go through Proverbs with us. When I was a kid I just thought it was fun, but now after moving out and being on my own these last few months, those verses have meant so much to me and have pushed me on in my walk with the Lord.

4. DJ and Crystal will both be gone this next week due to business, so I'll be holding down the fort till next Sunday.

5. The "Tour Video Opener" should be pretty cool... We are going to try a new little editing technique which should be fun. I'm not promising anything though:)

6. I busted my knee on some rocks yesterday while carrying my board back to the rental shop:( The board looks like a surf board but its not. It's really long and all you do is stand up on it and paddle out around the ocean. You can ride the waves if you want but it's not really meant for that. So after i finished my ocean adventure on the board, I brought it back to the beach, picked it up and started carrying it over some big rocks when a gust of wind came from behind, caught the board and threw me straight into these rocks:) My knee was all bloody and gross:) It's hard to walk up and down stairs now:(

7. After my beach adventures, I headed to "Jack In A Box" (a small fast food place) picked up some food to go, rolled down the windows, slid back the moon roof, turned on some good tunes and went driving in the back hills/mountains of Montecito.... If you are from KS they are Mountains, if you are from CO they are hills:)... It's so peaceful back there in the mountains. It reminds me of back home when driving out to the country. It was so calm and quiet, slightly cool with a nice breeze, and the view , the view was to die for:) My sister Anna and I would go driving for hours on end and get lost in the planes of Kansas:) Loved those times:) That's what it reminded me of yesterday, except I was all alone:( That's ok, it was still fun:)

8. Christine and Sherilyn Pramann , will be visiting this week:) Super excited about that!!! We will get to spend some time in SB and then have some dinner at her aunt's house:) Looking forward to that:)

9. I need to go shopping for food tonight or cut off my right leg and eat it:) I've been so lazy about the food thing, I keep going out to eat but I really shouldn't. I know it will kill me if I continue:)

10. I'm excited to see what God has down the road in life...

Continue to pray for me, that I stay committed to the Lord.

~Joy in Life~

~Who determines our attitude in this vapor of life that God has given us? Is it Christ, or is it us? Many times I find myself discouraged with the process of His plan. Sometimes I wonder if I have trained myself to only see Christ in the seemingly good things that happen but choose to forget Him in what the world deems bad. Don't allow the joy of life and the wonder of His mighty hand to go unnoticed during the hard times, but rather find joy in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS."For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

~When you wake up tomorrow, know that His compassion's never fail for they are new every morning. Praise Him through these times, for He is continually faithful:) In every moment look to Him, always being renewed with His unfailing strength. Allow the light of Christ's love to burst through in every moment, toward every person. Live to the glory of God's Son Jesus Christ, for only in Him do we find joy inexpressible.

"May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing."

~Isaiah 40:31~
Paul

~New Every Morning~

Lamentations 3 :21-24

Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

~Isaiah 40:31~

Who can know the depths of God?

Romans 8: 26-28
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

1 Corinthians 2: 10-11
…for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

What an amazing truth… The same Spirit that searches the depths of God not only abides within us but also intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words and causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Job 11: 7-9
Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea.

Trust Him, because He knows...

Philippians 4: 6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.