How Intense are you?

I have been going through this time of awakening in my life like I have never experienced before, and I am so thankful to God for it. We just finished Youth Camp last week and we are working really hard to prepare for the Community Yard sale next week, so the intensity level is pretty high for me right now. I know this may sound strange, but this is what God has been teaching me through it. If my intensity goes up to finish a project or prepare for an event I can accomplish a lot in a short period of time. So if I would put the same intensity into reaching out to people what could happen? This is what Jeremiah had to say:

Jeremiah 20:9 Sometimes I tell myself not to think about you, LORD, or even mention your name. But your message burns in my heart and bones, and I cannot keep silent.

Here is what I think it takes to turn up the intensity till it becomes like a fire in your belly, or your bones.

1. We need to have a vibrant and connected relationship with the person Jesus (This comes through time spent with Him)
2. We must care about the things that He cares about, and the people that He died to save.
3. We must realize that Jesus doesn't really want you to be safe, He wants you to be dangerous.
4. We must deal with your selfishness with extreme prejudice.
5. We must live for Him like it is all that matters, because it is.

I really believe that God is calling us to a new level of intensity so that it will become hard to get to hell from this region. this is our responsibility and it is what we will have to give an account for.

Nathan I love this verse
Hebrews 9:12 Then Christ went once for all into the most holy place and freed us from sin forever.

Jesus died and once and for all time He freed us!

I believe that Jeremiah is now at his destination so remember to pray for him!

III'MMM BAAACK

Man I am getting old(er) and I still hate winter. I used to be able to stay awake for the whole weekend of youth camp and be set to go on Monday morning, but I have got to say between lack of sleep and freezing certain parts of my anatomy off, it has taken me a few days to recover. One thing that hasn't changed though is the boost I get out of seeing God work in peoples lives, especially young people. It was so fun seeing God challenging them in their thought and life patterns to make a step or two toward Him!

Which sort of brings me to my point today, and that is, How is it going with your next steps with God? Are you staying comfortable or are you allowing Him to push you out of your comfort zone. Are you living for Him 100% or are you still holding back from asking the question "What do I still lack?" I promise you I am going to stay on you about this issue because there is a world out there waiting for you to become dangerous and live for God with some intensity. Steven Furtick posted about changing the world a couple days ago I think it says a lot!

Please keep Sunday in prayer, we are starting the WHY series and I am believing God for many to come to know Him. Also think about who you can invite, it should be a moving service!

Have a great one

Sunday Night Reflections

Wow! I am so tired, seven hours of sleep all weekend. What a great time we had up at camp with our young people! Here are a few Highlights of the weekend.

1. The youth worship team did an awesome job at leading us into the presence of God!
2. I could tell people were praying, because right from the first few minutes of our Friday night service the teens were responding and I felt like they had really open hearts, and were really wanting to meet with God on the weekend.
3. Kathryn Fleming was amazing! She was honest, transparent, challenging and inspiring (also pretty cool :)
4. We have an amazing group of young men and women in our church and they make me feel very positive about our future!
5. We have some really funny, and creative guys in our youth group and I want to thank them for make me laugh all weekend.
6. Nathan is working on a video of the camp experience so hopefully you will get a closer look soon!
7. Several young people made some serious steps forward in their relationship with God and I am so thankful and amazed that God has given me the opportunity to serve these amazing people again after a three year absence.
8. God is absolutely amazing and I am thankful that whenever we take the time to seek Him He always does great things!
9. A big thank you to Pastor Paul Yuke for speaking in the morning service at Jubilee, I have only talked to a couple of people, but I heard that you all had a fantastic morning also!

Here are a couple of things for all of you to think about.

1. What would you attempt if you knew that you could not fail?
2. What is God asking you to do that is making you feel uncomfortable?
3. What are you doing to keep your love for Jesus white hot?

Have a great night!

What a great weekend!

What a great weekend! I really enjoyed the beautiful weather and got a lot done. I was really happy with the way everything went in our service. On the weekend someone told me that it is getting harder and harder to just sit around in our church because the message is pushing people to get involved. Someone else called and told us that they had been really moved by the messages to start being as outreach minded as they were when they first gave their heart to the Lord! those two comments made my weekend because I believe that this is what God has really been doing in my life and I believe He wants to do in the life of the Church. Here are a few things that we could all keep in our prayers.

1. Youth Camp is this weekend and I really want to see our young people experience a fresh connection with God, and also that they would see how valuable they are to us as a church and to God's Kingdom. That they would know that they have a part to play in reaching our community for Christ.
2. Pray for the community yard sale, that many would come and that we would be a blessing and encouragement to our community through it.
3. Ask God about what He thinks your part in reaching our Community for Christ.
4. Pray for our Life Groups, that we will be able to reach out to the community through them! We have eleven groups this time so that is the most ever!
5. Pray for Jeremiah as he is away over seas serving our military.
6. Pray for the weekend service, that God would lead people to it and that their lives would be changed by it.

Don't forget to invite someone to church this weekend!