God Bless America!

I just wanted to take a quick moment on this day on which we celebrate our country's independence to say Thank You!  First Thank You to God for all of the blessings you have bestowed on us and our country.  We may not be perfect but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.  We have the freedom to speak our minds, freedom to worship you, and countless other freedoms that many times we take for granted.  Dear Lord I ask for your continued guidance of our country, our servicemen and women, and our political leaders.  Be with your churches that they continue to complete the mission your son set before us in the great commission.  All I can say is Thank You God for your grace and your unwavering love for us.  Secondly I want to take the time on this day to thank all those who have sacrificed and served our country.  May we all fight as Americans to never forget you sacrifice or forget what you were fighting for...our freedoms.  We don't all get along in this country but the fact we can all have our opinions and we can all have our beliefs is what makes this country great and what makes all those who have sacrificed for country truly heroes.  Happy 4th of July America.  In closing I want to quote Lee Greenwood and say "I am PROUD to be an American were at least I know I am free and I won't forget the men (and women) who've died and gave that right to me."  Thank You God and Thank You Soldiers past and present!

I Miss My Time With You!

This particular post is not about the youth or a Scripture, this is just a simple realization from this humbled Christ follower who got a wake up call and thankfully I had my listening ears on at that moment in time.

On Palm Sunday this year I put together a prayer journey for the students and also invited the congregation to join us. The theme of this prayer journey was simply to Get Real with God. The main point of this prayer journey was for each individual to to focus on their personal relationship with God. The journey took each person through 7 prayer stations with the last one being a communion station and a chance to thank God for his love and for the sacrifice Jesus made. It was amazing evening a great way to start the week of Easter. However there is one station during this journey that has stuck with me and been on my mind ever since I set it up. The station was number 5 and it was titled Conversation with God. This station was set up in the old sanctuary which is now the fellowship hall. I set up 10 pairs of chairs facing each other through out the room. I lit one lamp in the room and the cross was lit above the old baptismal. Participants were to sit in one chair and to imagine God Himself sitting in the chair directly opposite of them and to have a conversation with God. They were suppose to ask questions, tell Him their thoughts and also to be patient open up their hearts and listen to what God wanted to say to them. This was a pretty powerful and enlightening room for a majority of the attendees. After I got done setting up the room I realized that I used to talk to God that way once a week in that very same room. I used to sit in a pew, late at night, with some christian music playing over the sound system, I'd have the very same cross lit and I would just talk and listen to God, sometimes for hours. There were times I listened, there were times I worshipped, there were times I yelled, and there were times I argued with him (funny thing is I always lost). No matter what happened in those conversations I always got so much from that dedicated time to talk with my friend. As I looked into that dimly lit old sanctuary I realized I was missing that in my life. Sure I pray and sure I spend time in my bible, but I missed my one on one conversations with my friend, my Lord, my Savior. The funny thing is I think He was telling me the same thing, "Jeff I miss my time with you."

So if your feeling the tug on your heart saying talk to me it might be God saying something similar to the words from the old Larnelle Harris song "I Miss my Time with You"

"I miss my time with you
Those moments together
I need to be with you each day
And it hurts me when you say
You're too busy
Busy trying to serve me
But how can you serve me
When your spirit's empty
There's a longing in my heart
Wanting more than just a part of you
It's true
I miss my time with you"

Don't wait any longer MAKE time to Get Real with God.

Take Ownership

If you want to "go deeper" then "go deeper" (what's stopping YOU) and if you want to get to know the Bible better then you have to read it. These simple words were spoken by a minister in Virginia at the church that Polly and I attended. Those words have stuck with me ever since I first heard them. I have heard from people over the years that they wished Sunday School or Preachers would go deeper into the word on Sundays. I have come to the conclusion that it is my responsibility as a Christian to take ownership of my Bible Study and Bible knowledge. I shouldn't count on a sermon, blog, teacher, etc. to help me go deep and truly learn the Bible. I have to say "I OWN THIS" and put my best foot forward and study the word daily and I don't mean a casual glance but a real "deep" study of God's Word. So I challenge you as I have challenged myself to "GO DEEP". I am attempting to make the Bible not just something I read because I should but because I desire a DEEPER relationship with God. No preaching and/or teaching could ever Deepen your relationship with Him more,than you spending quality time in His word.

I close with one of my favorite sayings and I hope it encourages you to take ownership and go deeper in your study of God's word...

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”

Go Deep, the only thing truly standing in your way is YOU !

Why don't we hear him?

One of the best moments for me is when I walk into the house and my 2 year old son comes running to me as soon as he hears my voice yelling "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy's home!" My daughter used to do the same thing when she was younger, there is no greater feeling than to have your own child so excited just because you are home. This got me thinking, God must feel the same way about his children when they recognize his voice. The problem is, how many of us are truly listening and ready to hear him?

My bible reading this morning took me to Luke 1. I had forgotten about Mary's visit to Elizabeth after the angel gave her the news that she would be giving birth to the Son of God. What was awesome about this meeting was that Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant and when Mary greeted Elizabeth the baby (John the Baptist) leaped in her womb. The baby in the womb recognized the voice of the woman who would give Birth to Jesus. Is that not powerful what the Holy Spirit can accomplish and alert a person too, can even put you in tune with what God is trying to say to you.

So if an unborn baby can recognize the voice of a woman who would eventually give birth to Jesus, why dont we hear what God is saying directly to us? Are we not listening? Are we afraid of what he is trying to tell us? Is our own faith not strong enough? Or does the world simply overtake our desire to truly follow God? The question becomes if we are not listening how can we possibly help the students in our church hear the voice of God?

God is in CONTROL !

This is just a quick thought and reminder about what a Great and Wonderful God I serve.

I was reminded this week that God knows what he is doing and I must remember to trust him. As I have put goals together and laid plans to accomplish those goals with Grasp Student Ministries I began to sweat the small stuff. God in all most a humorous manner gave me a couple of gentle reminders this week that he would take care of the small stuff I just needed to continue to follow his plan and count on him to give me the resources needed to pull off HIS plans. I serve an amazing God who has put some incredible people in my life who will help us accomplish HIS goals for the students at MCC and in Mahomet. I just wanted to say Thanks God, first for you amazing grace and second for the reality check this week.

"I Know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted"
Job 42:2 (NIV)


"I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans.
Job 42:2 (Message)

In The Beginning!!

My first post and my first blog, it has begun!!!

I opened this blog 2 weeks ago but have dreaded making my first post, then I woke up this morning ad decided to stop worrying about what I was going to say and just say something.

This blog will contain updates and stories from my daily walk as a christian and as a youth pastor. I hope it will be an encouragement to anyone who follows it as well as a chance to laugh as I am quite sure my dealings with the students will be if nothing else amusing. God is amazing, and he shows me everyday something new about my life and our relationship. I hope to pass these insights along and hopefully touch at least one life for him.

Thanks in advance for taking time out of your day to read my rants, stories, or observations.

It has now officially begun - no turning back.