Thankful!

I'm so sorry that it has taken me so long to blog. I believe that in over a years time I have never gone this long without updating my blog. Life is so good and at the same time so busy. But many of you know what I have overcome this past year. I am so thankful for the peace that feels me. I am learning every day to give God control over my life. Giving up control does not come easy to me. But I have decided that If I remain doing things as I always have, I am doomed. I want God to lead me in the right direction. I want to seek Him in all I do. I love you all and I pray that you too will be filled with thanksgiving. We are all so very blessed. Take time this holiday season to rejoice in the gifts God has given you. Get ready for something BIG to happen in the near future. Be expecting great things. I promise God won't disappoint you. He loves you more than you will ever know.

What do you want?

Tuesday night several of us attended the service at South Plains Church in Levelland Texas. We got to hear Coffey Anderson lead praise and worship and then Jesse Duplantis shared a great word. One of the points he made was that God doesn't need us but He wants us. He holds the stars and planets in the sky. He is very capable of doing anything and everything without us. But He loves us and wants relationship with us. Jesse was encouraging us to ask God for more. God is a loving Father who doesn't want to just meet our needs but to fulfill our wants. In His word He says that He will supply all of our needs according to His riches in Glory. If God says He will do it, then why do we continue to beg. It's either done or it's not. The Lord also says that He will do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. I can think of pretty big things but He will do more. We serve a big God with big ears. Don't be afraid to ask. What does your heart desire? Let Him know.

Hunger Pains!

In January, we are going to be doing a 9 week book club with the ladies of CJC. I am so excited about the author of this amazing book that has recently been introduced to me. My girlfriend Bethany just forwarded me the authors latest blog and I wanted to give you a sneak peek. I pray you are touched as much as I was. Start marking your calendars for Sunday nights at 4:45 to 5:45. Can't wait.

We cannot bear to feel empty for very long. In America we often have fast food restaurants every few yards, as capitalists cash in on our reluctance to experience hunger for more than a few minutes. The obesity epidemic confirms that we cannot bear the sensation of emptiness, that we are driven to satisfy the physical discomfort of hunger and the emotional discomfort of life: we want it NOW and we want it to wow the mouth.
We crave our junk food, however devoid it may be of real life-giving nourishment. We eat that which satisfies only briefly and makes us hungrier still. Eventually we may learn that what we’ve consistently fed ourselves has not only failed to nourish us, it has slowly stolen all vitality and strength of life; all because we cannot bear to be hungry.
But hunger is a gift, given by God to cause us to seek the nourishment we require for living. We must learn not to be afraid of it, or rush to fill the discomfort of it, with candy for the soul. God uses the word hunger as a metaphor for the neediness of the soul. We tend to do the same thing with the hunger of the soul that we do with physical hunger: finding it uncomfortable, we rush to fill our emptiness.
Our souls need love…peace…contentment…connection. Absent these for very long, we become frustrated and reach for anything to distract us from that hunger, like a Twinkie for the soul. Repeatedly turning to things which satisfy only briefly does not nourish our souls, and may even leave us addicted…to food, drugs, gaming, wrong relationships, and every other compulsion. Fast food is deceptive: it not only fails to give life, it actually takes life from us, day by day.
Don’t run away from your hunger, or rush to fill it with that which leaves you even more needy. Offer your hunger to God, of whom the ancients wrote, “You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” (Psalms 145:16, NIV)
Wait upon God in trust, and give Him a chance to satisfy your soul…for he cries out to his children, “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.” (Isaiah 55:2-3, NIV)