Post #100: "I will be with you!"

31 07 2007

Moses was confronted with the biggest task of his GREAT life. The Lord had seen the oppression of His people and heard their cry. He decided it was time to act. Who did He call to act on His behalf? Moses! But…But…But…was Moses’ reply. “I can’t go back to Pharaoh.” “What will my people say?” “Who am I Lord that I should go?” Basically Moses is saying “Why me?” He asked God “Who am I?” What was God’s response? I love this every time I read it. “I will be with you.” That was his response to who Moses was. What is God saying? “Moses, IT’S NO ABOUT YOU!” I am more and more convinced that the Scripture is trying to teach us who it’s all about. “But God what’s your plan?” “But God I need this.” “But God if you’d only do this.” “But God what about me?” God’s answer to us is “I will be with you.” That’s all we need to know. Whatever God is calling us to do. Whatever task needs to be done. Whatever word needs to be spoken God wants us to know, and to remember “I will be with you”. That’s STILL His answer. He won’t always reveal His plan. He doesn’t HAVE to explain Himself. He doesn’t NEED to butter us up with who WE are CAUSE IT’S NOT ABOUT ME! “I will be with you.” Should be enough for us. Whatever we face. Whatever we do, we are not alone! Couldn’t think of anything better to post for my 100th one. I read that story today in my devos and was encouraged again to know He is there.

In His Presence,

Jeff


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Categories : Life, discipleship, personal

How must God feel when…?

5 07 2007

Ever get one of those moments where you say “How must God feel when…”? Ya know, God is smart! I know, I know what you’re saying: “That’s what you’re blogging about Jeff?” NO! Well, yes, but NO! Everything in this life…EVERYTHING, is meant to point us to God. One of the greatest things in life that is meant to be a picture of God is the parent/child relationship. I got a taste AGAIN of that today. It was a beautiful morning so I decided to do my devos out on our back porch swing. I’m up before everyone else and was reading my Bible, praying, when out walks Makalah to the swing. She climbed up and cuddled up next to me as only a tired little child can. I immediately said “Do you want me to go turn Little Bear on for you?” (Little Bear is her favorite morning cartoon right now) She didn’t even look up, just kept her head rested on my arm and said “No, I just want to be with you.” WOW! Immediately God spoke to my heart. I wrote in my journal “Imagine how God must feel when we come to Him without requests, burdens or needs, but just to be with Him.” You see it’s really when we just want to be with Him that our burdens, needs and requests are FULLY met! They are met IN Him not just BY Him. I need to learn that truth more.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Life, discipleship, family, personal

Five Things From Today

2 07 2007

Grant said I stole his “Random Thoughts” title for a post. So since apparently who owns the rights to that name now, I’ll call this “Five Things From Today”.

1. After my devos this morning I received an email from a guy who attended preview service yesterday. Great guy, enjoyed the service, gave some great compliments following the service. His email though was weird, hard to read. It was suggestions on what we could do better and what kind of church Cheyenne needs. I know his intentions were well meaning but MAN it was our first EVER service. Some of the things mentioned are things we’re doing but he hasn’t been to them or been to Unplugged to know who we are or what we’re about. I hope he comes to Unplugged to find out what Element is.

2. This morning another guy walked into the office from Preview and his take was 180 degrees different. He was lit up about Element. He’s a former staff pastor at a church who has been looking for a place to belong. He’s probably 40, retired military, and LOVED Element. He gave me a hug following church and said “God used you today brother”. Him and his wife are very excited. He emailed 25 people yesterday and invited them to Element. Really cool guy. Said “you wouldn’t believe how many good Christians can’t find anything here in Cheyenne.” Those of us who were in the office talked with him for over an hour. It was awesome. They are coming to Unplugged this week.

3. Two teams from OWU stopped by the office today for a while. The one team who helped us yesterday was here and then another team that is working at my sis’s church in Greeley, CO this week were here. It was cool seeing there genuine excitement for what we’re doing and being servants to us and encouragements to us. The team that helped yesterday SAVED us. They really were HUGE in the service.

4. We received this email today from a young man that came yesterday. I emailed everyone who filled out a connection card a thank you for attending preview. This was his response.

“Thanks for the email! I really enjoyed your service and so did the friends I brought along with me. I also thought your preaching style was a nice break from the norm. I was glad to go! I also enjoyed helping your crew take down the musical equipment, because it gave me a chance to get to know everyone better. I’ll see if I can make it to the service you are having over at the Holiday Inn this Sunday. No promises though, as I also help out here at the base chapel with worship. I also help teach the youth, but they are currently on vacation for the summer. But I would definitely like to get involved with what your church is doing here. Cheyenne has needed a church like yours for quite sometime, so it’s nice to finally see it happening. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you guys soon!”

That is what it’s all about!

5. This one just capped off the day. We took our kids to the spray park tonight to have some fun and relax. I thought Sab and I would get some time to talk and we both took a book to read. I opened up my “Courageous Leadership” by Bill Hybels and the story begins. The guy next to me asked what the book was about. I said it was written by a pastor so it’s more of a church leadership book. He asked what church I was with. Told him Element Church. He remembered us doing the gas buydown. Anyway, we spend 30 minutes in a heart to heart where he opened up and shared about difficulties in his marriage he’s having. He wants to get back into church and took one of our cards. It was AWESOME how God put us next to him at the park and he opened up and “happened” to be looking for a church. He grew up in church and had attended another church here in town until their pastor had a moral failure.

Anyway, there are five cool things that happened today! I love this stuff.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Life, church planting, updates

Good Gifts

17 05 2007

Sunday, May 13th was our daughter Mariah’s birthday. She turned 4. She REALLY wanted a Leapster. It’s an educational electronic game thing. Kinda like a gameboy only all the games are educational and it’s not really as cool as a gameboy. But for a 4 year old it’s GREAT. Sabrina and I agreed that if we got her one it would be the only thing we got her. It’s been a crazy month with MAJOR car trouble for us, a trip to Oklahoma and back, doctor bills, etc. God has wonderfully provided for us some amazing things but if we were going to get the Leapster this month we’d have to be careful what we did financially. We dipped into our small savings and got the Leapster. We couldn’t wait to see her get it. We knew from one of the Grandma’s she had got a leapster game to go in the Leapster. So I devised a plan to let her open the game and then tell her how sorry we were she didn’t have the Leapster to play it. I strategically hid the Leapster we bought behind the couch and after all the things were opened I played the dumb dad and said “Oh, Mariah you missed a present back here!” She came around the corner and yelled “MY LEAPSTER, MY LEAPSTER!” She hugged it, kissed it, jumped up and down. We’ve all had those moments as kids that we remember. Immediately my thoughts went to what I read in Luke that morning for my quiet time. In Luke 11 Jesus says: If your child asks for a fish, do you give a snake? If they ask for an egg, do you give a scorpion? NO! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, HOW MUCH MORE will your heavenly Father give the HOLY SPIRIT to those who ask him. My heart leaped in that moment. If I get this much joy out of giving a stinkin‘ Leapster, what must our Father feel when we ask for His Spirit. Not when we ask for more money. Not when we ask for health. Not when we ask for a better job, better home, better friends, better possessions. FOR HIS SPIRIT! That’s all that matters. And Jesus said HOW MUCH MORE will your Heavenly Father give it. He’s saying as much as we LOVE to give to our children, GOD WANTS TO GIVE SO MUCH MORE!! I don’t think we get it. We want all the possessions and God’s waiting to give His own Spirit. THEN the possessions won’t matter. And notice how Mariah responded to the Leapster. SHE WAS THRILLED! What’s our response to what God gives? I know at times for me it hasn’t been what it should. Anyway, another moment taught from a child.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Life, personal