Quiet time?

Quiet time? What the heck is that?  How often do we actually take that time.  So rarely do we sit down and just enjoy peace and quiet.  A time to sit down and listen for God's voice.  I don't sit enough, unless it's 1130 at night.  We have to find ways to MAKE that time.  For our spirituality and our sanity.  "Be still, and know that I am God!"  In this ADD society, the idea of "being still" is almost taboo.  We don't have time, we have too much going on.  But we need to do it, we HAVE to do it.  5 minutes... 30 minutes... how ever long we can get!  We have to have it to keep ourselves closer to God.  He's there, but are we looking for him, or are we too busy to acknowledge him being there.  To busy to turn to him to give him the problems that make us stress and not stop in the first place.  How much happier would this world be if we all took that time to find some peace... just sayin' :)

Who's Next?

Who's the next John the Baptist of this world? The next Peter? The next Socrates? Abraham Lincoln? MLK? Billy Graham? This may sound like an absurd question, but think, during Jesus' time they asked who the next Noah or Job would be. When Lincoln was a kid, people wondered who would be the next George Washington. All through history we've looked back and wondered who would fill those shoes, not thinking that that person could be walking the earth already. That person could be in our schools, youth groups, or even working at our local Starbucks. We worry so much about focusing on fixing nothing but ourselves. We cast off the next generation as unsavable. We have a chance to not only save us, but to save our future in the process. We sometimes get so close minded on us. How can we fix ourselves, save ourselves, perfect our own lives. We forget about the future. We forget what's to come. Not to say our lives aren't important, we have to focus on us too. We have to have our lives in order too. But we cut money from our schools, youth programs in churches, inner city programs, etc. Why? Because we don't get the instant gratification that we desire. We want instant emotional, leadership, or financial gain. Those things though take time. We don't want to put seeds int he ground that we have to nurture and take care of and make stronger... we want already prettified plants there that we don't have to wait on. Most of us have heard the saying "Rome wasn't built in a day." That's exactly it! George Washington wasn't born the leader he'd become. He was nurtured, taught, and guided that way. We've got to take up the charge to not only get our lives in order, but to begin to nurture, shape, teach, and guide the next generation. We've got to plant seeds and know that it'll take time for them to prettify. If we don't, we leave a huge void. One have an opportunity to fill with good. If we don't, the evils of this world, along with Satan, could and will fill it without a second glance. We've got to take the charge and the time. We've got to be patient. We've got to be open to what's new and different. If we don't, we risk so much. The next great leaders are out there. MLK, Ben Franklin, Ghandi... They're out there. Do we let them go? or guide them to help make the world better for generations to come?

A wooden table and a latte...

You know I sit back today and laugh. You would think with all that's happened in my life, I would expect God's amazingness. You would think that by now, I would never be surprised. I would just be prepared to come in, be amazing, and me to be enjoying it. But God never ceases to amaze and put me to silence (which is rare for me you all know that)

Now has anything happened in particular today to show me that, no. But I'm sitting here at Starbucks trying to reboot my brain. I have a pretty crazy few weeks ahead before a short lul, then onto the insane craziness of summer, and God shows me his amazing love in a little wooden table and a iced double tall toffee nut soy latte. Many people come to a place like Starbucks to get their fuel to survive the day, and me, I come to do the same, but it's not the coffee that does it. It's not even the place, it's the love of an amazing God that crops up everywhere I go. But today, I sit here and talk to friends I have here, I don't have any big plans except avoid the bad weather that's coming in today. I got up with no major expectations on today, and I found God sitting with me at a little wooden table here at the 'Bucks. And the funny thing is, there was no booming noise, just a peace in my heart letting me know that all will work out great when I continue to let him take it all. It's so awesome how he always amazes me, when I should always expect it. The funny thing is, if I go out looking for it, it's harder to find than if I just relax and let Him do the finding :) I love my God, he's so amazing!

Father, continue to be with me. Guide me and protect me as I prepare for summer and beyond. Lord give me the strength to keep on doing your will. I sometimes feel my spiritual cup drained from filling so many people, but you never let me run dry. Please help me continue to grow stronger in you! Lord be with the youth of Texas City. Help the talk this weekend be an amazing and enlightening one for them. Be with Jason as he prepares and speaks. Guide him and give him a peace that the words he says will be from you. Thank you father for everything!!!! I love You and praise Your name on high! In youre name Daddy, I thank you and love you! Amen!!!!

I am a thief...

"...I've been sentenced to die for my sins. I've been put up on a cross next to two men. Man, there's alot of people out here to watch us die. What are they screaming? They're yelling such mean things at this man next to me. Wait! That's the Jesus guys I've heard about. I heard everyone was cheering for him just the other day. I've heard he's done such good, why is he on the cross next to me? I've done so much wrong, I deserve this, why does he? These people are treating him so awful. I can't believe it! Even the other murder next to us is making fun of him. We're paying the price for the awful things we've done, he shouldn't be up here. I can't believe this! I have to say something..."

Many of us have heard the Easter story, but have we actually put ourselves in the situation to gain a better understanding? This Easter, think about being in the shoes of someone related to the events. Peter, Judas, Mary, Mary Magdalene, the Thieves on the cross, Pilot, or Jesus. They're all so interesting when you think about their situations, and help you to get a better understanding of what happened. Hopefully, it ultimatly helps to grow closer to God, by becoming more in tune with the season, and the reasoning behind it.

May you all have a blessed Easter! Put yourself in those shoes. They're enlightening to say the least! Many Blessing to you all!

Chris :)

Finding God In Times Of Trouble

It's easy to say to someone that's having a hard time that God is there. It's so much more difficult to prove that same statement. It's hard to prove that God is there to someone when stuff's hitting the fan. Especially when things in your life are going well. People have a hard time taking advice during hard times from someone that's not having the same hard times. The crazy thing is that God is big enough and amazing enough to shine in both of those situations. God has this amazing way of showing us he's there in the great times, but appearing to help us rise from the ashes of the hard times. I have to remind myself sometimes when times are good, that they may not always be that way and to know how blessed I am in those times. I also have to remember how it feels to be in those hard times and how hard sometimes it is to see God there. I sat back on Sunday after hearing about this horrible accident in Texas City, where 1 student was killed, and many more were fighting for there lives, and I prayed. I prayed about those families, for the youth of this town that know those kids, and for myself. Why? I sat back and asked God, "How do I reach out to help these youth that are probably questioning how a loving God could even exist at a time like this?" It's not easy to prove there's a loving God at a time like this. God is so amazing that he will help us all rise from the ashes when all has collapsed around us. He is loving enough to show us his reasoning at times that don't seem like there could ever be one.

God, please help this town to feel your hand. Help TCHS to see your face and feel your love in times when it would be easy to turn away say you're not there. God I feel you in this town and know you have great things in store. Bless the families here that need you in this time of turmoil and heartache. Bless me as I'm here doing my best to prove you're still here and still caring for us. Guide me to do your will. In your precious and holy name Daddy, I thank you and I love you! Amen!