The Great I Am

Proclaim Yahweh's greatness with me; let us exalt His name together. (Psalm 34:3 HCSB)

For Yahweh, the Most High, is awe-inspiring, a great King over all the earth. (Psalm 47:2 HCSB)

For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God. (Psalm 86:10 HCSB)

For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. (Psalm 95:3 HCSB)

For the Lord is great and is highly praised; He is feared above all gods. (Psalm 96:4 HCSB)

For I know that Yahweh is great; our Lord is greater than all gods. (Psalm 135:5 HCSB)

Yahweh is great and is highly praised; His greatness is unsearchable. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love. (Psalm 145:3, 8 HCSB)

I, I am the Lord, and there is no other Savior but Me. (Isaiah 43:11 HCSB)

Yahweh, there is no one like You. You are great; Your name is great in power. (Jeremiah 10:6 HCSB)

I am the bread of life. (John 6:48 HCSB)

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:5 HCSB)

......"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6 HCSB)

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Revelation 22:13 HCSB)

Everytime You Run

I was heading to work this morning listening to Air1 and the song by Manafest came on, called Everytime You Run. I have heard this song many times, but this morning it just got a hold of me and made me think. The chorus goes like this:

Everytime you run,

Everytime you hide,

Everytime it hurts,

Everytime you cry.

Everytime you run away,

Everytime you hide your face,

And you feel so far away,

I'm right here, with you.

When we make mistakes, I feel we sometimes turn away from God. When things don't go the way we expect them, we run from the outcome or consequences instead of running to Jesus. Once we run and turn away from Him, we sometimes feel as if He will not take us back. But that is not true.

Here is what you do. Stop from running in the direction that you are running. Do a 180. Open your arms up, and run back into His arms. Matthew 11: 28-29 says:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28, 29 NLT)

Rest! Rest for your soul. We must not run from God fearing he will not take us back, we must run to God knowing he is a loving and forgiving God who is always waiting for you and ready to take you back. This also reminds of the Prodigal Son. How the father forgets about his sons wayward past and receives his return with open arms and compassion. Like it says in the final verses of the chorus of the song: "When you feel so far away, I'm (God) right here, with you."

We must remember, me inlcuded, that no matter what has happened in the past, or what mistakes I am bound to make in the future, God will always be right there to forgive us and welcome us back with open arms.

"....and I will give you rest!" - Jesus

Compassion

I am excited about what me and are Nicole are doing for a small child in Haiti! We just sponsered a young child by the name of Jevry. He is 10 years old, and lives in the town of Petit Goave. This town is where me and our mission team stayed back last year on our mission trip.

Me and Nicole have been talking for awhile about sponsoring a child, and I was set on sponsoring one from Haiti. After being there where this child is staying, and getting to experience what this child lives in everyday, I just feel compelled to pick a child from that area. The exciting part for me though is, if i can make it on the June trip coming up, there is an great possibility that I will get to meet Jevry!

This would be a blessing for yong Jevry. To actually meet the person who sponsers him. To know that he does matter and that people care, even enough to come see him in another country. This could speak mountains wto his faith and to his self respect. I can't wait to send him letters, to send him picks, and to be able to tell him that there is a good chance I will get to meet him in person soon.

Please pray for Jevry and pray that our donation to support him each month will truly change his life. That God will protect him in his situation, and allow him to prosper into a amazing man of God!

Also, pray that things will work out for me to make it there in June to see him. It would be a great birthday gift for me, because my birthday is June 9th, and the trip is from June 2nd - June 9th.

God is Good!!

Haiti Journal Readings: Day Seven

Haiti Mission Trip: Day Seven (4-15-2011)

From my reading of Radical:

The key is realizing-and believing-that this world is not your home. If you and I ever hope to free our lives from worldly desires, worldly thinking, worldly pleasures, worldly dreams, worldly ideals, worldly values, worldly ambitions and worldly acclaim, then we must focus our lives on another world......If your life and my life is going to count on earth, we must start by co

ncentrating on heaven. For then, and only then, will you and I be free to take radical risk, knowing that what awaits us is radical reward.

(Lord, I pray that I keep my eyes and mind off of the things of this world, and that I focus on the eternal reward you have for me, and that my focus is to set a place for me in heaven, to worship you in your majesty for all eternity.)

My bible reading:

Philipians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I can't believe the end of our trip is finally here. What an eye opening experience this entire trip has been. God has shown me many things, and I have learned a few things from the people of Haiti, and what it truly means to want and to desire God. If I could only want and desire God the way the Haitian Christians here do, I will be blessed. I have never seen someone love and want God so much as to do what these people do to even have church to worship God. I have seen people walk miles in some of the most mountainous areas just to go to church for two hours. then turn right back around and make the 5-10 hours trek back home. It is motivating.

On the other side of things, I have never seen such poverty. It just blows my mind how such a beautiful place can be so impoverished. The Haitian people are so blessed with God's beauty, but waste it in the way some of them choose to live. My prayer is that the love of God can open their eyes to show them that they don't have to live this way, that through Him they can change their circumstances.

I believe the things I will miss the most is the children. They have to live the way they live because of the circumstances their parents have created for them. It breaks my heart. The children are so loving and look for so much affection and attention, because sadly, the don't receive it at home. I pray daily that they can grow up knowing God's love for them, and that through faith in Christ, they can change this small nation of Haiti. I pray that the love of Christ we have showed them will be a stepping stone in that direction.

Thank you Lord again for this opportunity you have given me. I can't thank you enough for allowing me to be a blessing in the lives of these people. I pray that it is possible for me to come back in the near future to see all of my friends again!!

(Lord, bless Ed and his ministry. And bless all his kids that made it a great week while we were here.)

Haiti Journal Reading: Day Six

(Sorry been so long since I posted on here. Had my gallbladder taken out on this past Thursday, that has kind of put me out of the loop)

Haiti Mission Trip: Day Six (4-14-2011)

From my reading of Radical:

Will we refuse to sit back and wait for some tingly feeling to go down or spines before we rise up and do what we have already been

commanded to do? Will we risk everything - our

comfort, our possessions, our safety, our very lives - to make the gospel known among unreached peoples?

Such rising up and such risk taking are the unavoidable, urgent results of a life that is radically abandoned to Jesus.

(Lord, I pray that you will take me out of my comfort zone. That in doing so I grow more in you. I want to want you more God. I want to desire you in such a way that giving you everything I have for you is not a second thought. I want more of you Lord.)

After I prayed this prayer, I read Philipians, and God reaffirmed my prayer by these verses.

Philipians 3:7-11

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which

is through in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in this sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

(God is Good)

It is hard to believe that tomorrow will be our last full day in Haiti. We have accomplished so much in this past week, but it feels like we haven't done enough. God has allowed us to touch so many lives this week, and yet I feel like the one who is blessed. We went up on the mountain today to a church Rock Bridge has fully funded to rebuild. The church is so far up in the mountains that the temp dropped atleast 15-20 degrees. People who live in the mountains don't live together like in a town, they are spread out for miles across the area. We saw people who walk for miles just to come to church. And not just any walk. This is intense mountain walking.

People will carry stuff for miles down to Petit Goave to the market, and when they leave at the end of the day, they will head back up the mountain with what they did not sell.

In america we complain about going to church even if it is just raining, then people will walk in the rain, across miles of mountain roads just to worship God. Again, I pray that I want God like these people want God!

I have learned so much from these people. I pray to God that I don't forget what he has shown me in my time here. And I pray that I take what he has shown me and use it in my daily life, and use it to ultimately glorify Him! God is Good!!

Haiti Journal Readings: Day Five

Haiti Mission Trip: Day Five (4-13-2011)

From my reading in Radical:

The way we use our money is an indication of our eternal destination. the mark of a Christ follower is that their hearts are in heaven and their treasures are spent there.

-We can stand with the starving or with the overfed

-We can identify with Lazarus on his way to heaven or with the rich man on his way to hell

-Or we can embrace Jesus while we give away our wealth, or walk away from Jesus while we hoard our wealth.

From my bible reading:

Phillipians 2:1-4

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also the interest of others.

(Lord, I pray that you make me in this manner. That I no longer look to myself as better than others. that I always take the welfare of others over my own. That I can love the way Christ loved, and continue to love.)

Today was a productive day. Me, Kris and Bruce helped build a roof over at Mano's church. We had a great time working together. Wish we had more time here to do more together as a team. We have created some awesome relationships with each other. Ed has been needing a few things done around his house. Mainly stuff made. Tonight me and Kris built a big kitchen table for him. He really like it alot!

Its amazing how we can take so many things for granted. Such as a kitchen table, beds or bookcases. We always complain about what we don't have, but usually never take the time to thank God for what we do.

(Lord, I pray that you fill my heart with joy for the many blessings I have in my life. I pray that I never lose sight of this, and that I am never afraid Lord of not having what I know you will provide.)

Haiti Journal Readings: Day Four

Haiti Mission Trip: Day Three (4-12-11)

From my bible reading this morning:

Phillipians 1:9-11

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.

(Lord, I pray this prayer for myself. I pray for your knowledge and for my purity so that I can remain blameless in your sight and to others so that I can become a blameless instrument for you and for your glory.)

Today was another awesome day with spending time with kids. They are just so receptive to the love we show them. We gave out school supplies to a small school in LaCul. It is crazy to think that just a notebook and pens and pencils could impact a child in the way that it will. The money it would have cost for the parents to buy these supplies can now go to food or another item that the family needs.

I made two new friends today while we were out! Their names are Pierline and Sherli. I don't know if they look to me as a brother or father figure, but I can feel their love when they are around me. It is the greatest feeling in the ever. I will truly miss these two amazing little girls.

It breaks my heart though because when we left them today, I found out they live in a tent city. Made we want to cry. All I know is if I have some sort of roof over my head, I will be forever happy. The Lord will provide. It boggles me to no extent how these people live their lives, so happy and not distraught by their circumstances. I pray to have that kind of peace. The kids don't have XBOX's, Wii's or smart phones. Give them a soccer ball and a hug, and they feel like the luckiest kid in the world. I pray for that kind of peace. Thank You Lord for what you have shown me today!

Also, on a awesome side note:

Ed Lockett, the missionary we are partnered with down here, knew my mom just before she married my dad! They were like best friends. Lord, you are miraculous to bring me and Ed together in this manner. He was so excited to see that my mom was in church now and finally happy.