We had no service last night, but something great happened on monday. Tell later.

Though I Suffer Many Trials
5-12-03


Though I suffer many trials
Though I am afflicted with many pains
I know that you are still here

Though many obstacles stand in my way
And tragedies surround me
You still favor me

Though sometimes I cannot see at all
Though sometimes I may not hear
I know that you still love me

Oh Faithful One
God of all the earth
How faithful you are my Jesus
You will never leave me
You will always favor me
you will always love me

Though the enemies surround me
Though I don't see a single friend in sight
I know that you will save me

Though surrounded by burning fire and flames
And I can see no way out
You will protect me

You family lay dieing
Though friends turn away from you
You've delivered me and will deliver them too

Coooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool things happened tonight. No. Hot things happened tonight. God is really doing great things on campus. I preached tonight. I had actually gotten the first three points of the message last Thursday or Friday night and hadn't got the chance to tell anyone that God had given me the message for this Tuesday night. Anyway, I was pretty sure up until this afternoon when I told Jayson that I had a message. Then when I was trying to take a Naz nap, Chris walked in and he told me, "God has given you the message for tonight." He was right. I asked him if Jayson or God had told him and he said both. Anyway, I've never thought of myself as a preacher. I never thought that I could really speak, but tonight everything just flew out. I believe that I have been more spiritually led tonight than any other time in my life. Anyway, my message was right on (did I tell you I added a fourth point while seeking God today?) and it spoke directly to Chris. He got so tickled and God led him to confess something he had been dealing with before us after I spoke. I can't wait to see what God is going to do next.

I left my notes down in central complex, and I must get to bed as soon as possible, so I will post the notes on this site, underneath this text in the afternoon, or whatever time I get to do it. God is so awesome. Bye!

God’s People Have Been Down For Too Long! Or Should I Say Up?

Main Verse: II Chronicles 7:14
Other Verses are 7:1-3 and 11-16

Four things that the church must do today (it’s quite simple)
1. Humble themselves
Confess sin and give it up to God
2. Seek God’s Face
Not second best, but first
Must seek forgiveness for ourselves and our family and friends
Must seek his presence in our lives and his blessings
God’s blessings are not just for priests, pastors, or special “saints” but for all who trust in him.
3. Turn from our wicked ways
Begin to be conformed to the image of Christ rather than what the world wants
We must not stop at seeking Gods face but go farther
It’s a continual process
4. Accept God’s blessings
We must not stop at sanctification, but receive God’s gifts of blessings for us as we walk in obedience.
We must not think that after or during sanctification we have it all, because God wants to give us more. No matter what kind of blessings God has already given us, he wants to give us more. There is no limit to his wonderful blessings. We must not hold back, we must continue to give up the reigns and not be afraid of what God might have for us. There is always more, and if we take the throne back, we will fall down and become just as we were before. Don’t hold back on what the Holy Spirit wants to do

I have to share this. It's so cool. Or at least that is what I think.
Remember the story of Stephen, the first martyr? What a servant. Before his stoning, Stephen labored to show the Pharisees and all the other hypocrites what they really were and that they didn't have it all, like they thought they did. Though he labored with all of his courage and strength to persuade them about Jesus, they didn't listen to him. It's because of what Jesus said in John 3:19-20 "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that he deeds will be exposed." Then he saw a vision of Jesus at the right hand of God. Perhaps this would be to give him strength to labor a little longer. Then he told them of the vision and they just didn't want to see that they were wrong and Stephen was right. So they killed him.
Then there is the perfect example; Jesus carrying the cross. He didn't just carry it, he stumbled and struggled and eventually could not carry it all the way. Jesus isn't just the ultimate servant; he is the ultimate man. He took up a challenge that he knew he could not do on his own, and he did it for us and for the Father. He did it because it was needed, not because he could. He did it because he loved us. What else do you think kept Jesus on the cross, the nails? Jesus took up an impossible task, and did it for the ones he loved. That is the image of a true servant. That is the image of a true man.
I believe that a servant does his work because he loves his master. In the same way, a man does his work cheerfully because he loves his children. I want to be a man like Jesus. I want to be a servant like Jesus. I want to labor for my God, my friends, my current family, and my future family.