Relationships R Important

We get so caught up in our daily schedules that we forget the relationships that we are in or either building. This past Sunday Joel and Kayla Carter spoke on, “Remembering your first Love.” They talked about how we loose sight of that in these three areas: Service, Sin, and Distraction. As Christians we do our best to do as must as possible in the church. This is because people really want to be true servants of Christ, but sometimes we get so much into things that we forget the relationship that we have with God. This relationship is very important and should be first on the “To Do” list. God longs for a relationship with His people, it is just up to us to accept Him and start that nice long journey of a relationship with Christ. Also she talked about Revelation 2:2-4. Verse four says, “ Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.” So see after even being acknowledged for doing all that good stuff in verses 2&3, still they have forsaken the first love. Now to flip things a little, the part in the message that I really liked was when they talked about how worship is a great way to remember that first love. I find myself rolling worship songs in my head all the time that allows me to remember God and what He did in my life. Also how He changed my life. I thank Him every day for the relationship that we have and I am working every day to make it a better one, because every personal relationship with God can always be better.

“ Remembering Your First Love”

The work doesn't stop here......

It has been a great and awesome time being home and serving at the local church. As God works in your life, serving becomes apart of your life. This week finished up practicum with a few things. Now tuesday I was at the doctors all morning, but that evening we had the tuesday night youth service. I played the drums and ran the slides for Chafik's message. That wendesday the worship and drama team along with Chafik, myself, Ben, Eleesha, and David went to minister to the youth group in Hillsbourgh, NC. It was an awesome time and God did what he wanted to do. Thursday was back to the doctors for me. Friday Chafik and I went to Virginia Beach for a VACOG Youth Camp Planning Retreat. This was held for two days and a great opportunity it was to be apart of something like that. I felt I was most beneficial in getting the theme and advertising done for this year's church summer camp. I was least beneficial from not being able to give time in the full week due to going to the doctors. I did about 10 hours of services. God really spoke a lot to me during this time. He says stay focus be encouraged and keep me at the center of your life. 

Practicum Week three

It was a great week full of exciting things to do. During the week I continued to work on the advertising for this summer's Summer Camp program. Also that Monday we helped set up and prepare for the New Year's service which was a great turn out, seeing God's people bring in the new year through worship and prayer is such an awesome experience and wouldn't trade it for nothing. On Wedensday we did the middle school class which is still in the growing process, but what God is in, He will bless. Thurday is now called Farm Day. We went to a lady's farm named Ms.Diana. She had ask for us to come and help  her move some stuff on the farm. At first I was a little wacked out about doing it but as we got into the work I realize that sometimes service work isn't always clean work. Because of Gid useing us to serve her, we ended up seeing her in church sunday. I thank God for a group of people that is willing to serve. On Friday I was given the opportunity to help Ms.Yvonne Alexander prep the dinner for the Sunday IMPACT youth auction. I love to cook and that was a definite highlight in my week. I would say that I have completed 10 -12 hours this week. I was most beneficial in cooking projects we had this week. I was least beneficial in having certain things be better then they were. My favorite part of the week was the New Years service. My least favorite was the farm but, even in the things that you don't want to do God will make a way for His glort to be shown. The thing that God has been revealing to me this week is that just because some people do wrong doesn't mean you have to. Also as things begin to come aganist you in this life stay focus on Me and I will take care of the rest. Romans 8:28- "All things work together for the good of those who are in Christ Jesus."

Service

This week I went on a christmas vacation with Ella and Chafik. Didnt do anything. I really enjoyed my time this week. We did have some devotions through out that week. God has really been speaking to a lot. To be honest being patient and focusing on him was a main topic. God speaks to us in the strangest ways, but when we listen no matter how crazy it is things will always be better in the end. Just to add little side note, "No matter what your STORM, God is in control."

As I served, So should you

Mark 10:45 says, for I did not come to be served but to serve. The act of being a servant is from the heart. This week at home for the Christmas break has been pretty good so far. On Tuesday we helped Ella, Chafik and some of the youth leaders to plan, set up and clean up for the IMPACT youth group Christmas Party. On Wedensday Eleesha and I helped Chafik with his middle school gathering that is held in the evenings during the same time as the Wedensday night bible study. I really feel  that God has been calling me to invest in middle school kids and it was an awesome experience to see first hand a group session with middle school kids. This is a class that Ckafik is putting together so that when I come from school I can fall right into a group of middle schooler and begin to impact their lives the way that God wants me to. On Friday Jevon and I had the honor of spending the whole day with the After School kids by taking them to the Moon Bounce. Jumping, having fun doing what they love to do. Lastly I have been put in charge of planning for the South Hill Church of God 2013 Summer Camp, and have been working on this a few days out of the week. With this camp I decided with the approval of Chafik and Ella I was able to make a Camp Flyer that we would take to the elementary and middle school to advertise for the coming summer camp. This week's hours consisted of about 8 to 9 hours of service. One of my main observations was that in ministry if you want to be successful preparation is the key Another thing is that when you have a team that is willing to work together you can get things done and done right with excellence. Although I stay with Chafik and Ella, and they are my spiritual parents, I found myself most beneficial when I took on the challenge of preparing foor summer camp. I found myself least beneficial in working with the pre-school kids. Even though I didn't mention it earlier my favorite aspect about this week was that i was able to feel out my Exhorters Application  so that I can prepare for taking the test to get my ministry license after school. Through out this week God has been telling me, no matter what happen or what the world may throw at you, just remain focus, and continue to listen to My voice.

Merry Christmas to you all, Be Blessed and continue to have a great break.

Little Lord Jesus

Sometimes we allow things in our life to hender us from seeking God to the fullest. This past Sunday the youth pastor at freedom church preached a message on how Jesus came to this earth in humility. He mentioned three points that really spoke to me that I would like to share with you today. The first is "humility activates the grace of our King and unlocks the truth of His Kingdom. The second is " pride creates the illusion that you are king. The last one is "humility restores what pride destroys." The past few weeks I have been working on controlling my pride in situations. This message taught me that when you allow pride to get in the way of what God is trying to do in your life, things will be destroyed. As a fellow christian and leader pride is something that I don't need in my life. It is one thing to sometimes be a little aggressive, but prideful , that is just something you can't be in any given situation. Have you taken a look at your own life and wondered if pride is the very thing that could be keeping you from moving to the level that God want you to be.  

Born 2 Lead

Everyday is a challenge and how you handle it will determine your future. Sometimes we wake up and go out into the world and just dive right in to whatever there is to do. What I have realize though is that what God want us to do is for more important than what we want to do for ourselves. See John 15:5 says, " I am the vine, you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing." It is very simple that without Jesus we can do absolutely nothing on our own. I think as Christians we loose sight of how God speaks to us; He speaks through our circumstances, the word, prayer, and the church. Allowing God to only speak to you through some of these ways is just as doing things on your own without God. We must be in God's word everyday and allow it to speak to us in ways that we don't normally do. We must watch the way our life goes and be careful to examine our surroundings so that we can hear from God in our everyday life, step by step. The average Christian prays 8 mins. a month. If we start in our own lives to develop a intense personal prayer life with Christ, then will our life begin to be guided the way God wants it to.

Trust and believe in Christ, and let Him lead the way. Phil. 4:13 " I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me."