Series finale 9.1.10

What up?! Just wanted to remind you not to miss the conclusion of our AYM series, “Do Something” this Wednesday night, 9.1.10 at 7pm. I’ve had a great time sharing this series with you! For the past 3 weeks we’ve alked about Noticing Needs, Overcoming Numbness, and Comforting the Afflicted. I hope that you, and your comfort level have been disturbed, and stirred by God! As a result I hope you feel moved, and motivated to “Do Something.” I know I have. It’s time we begin being the change we want to see in the world! See you Wednesday night as we conclude this series by talking about doing something that isn’t easy, and has a ripple-effect. If we want to see changes we’ve never seen before, we have to do things we’ve never done! Let’s GOOOOOOOOO! 

-J-

Don't care what anyone says, belly flops hurt!

Hey guys! This has been an incredible summer so far! We’ve had great weather so I hope you’ve been able to enjoy it! You ready for this though?! The new school year is only a few short weeks away. Summer always goes by so fast huh?! For some of you, this new school year you’re starting at a  brand new school. Some of you are going to college. Some of you are starting high school. Some of you are starting middle school. Whatever grade you’re about to begin, I hope you’re ready, because it’s right around the corner!  

I know that statement illicits a vast array of different emotions from all of you. Some of you are excited to go back to school, some of you are nervous or stressed out, and some of you are indifferent about the whole idea…

Our hope at AYM, is that you’re not only looking forward to going back to school, but you’re looking forward to going back to school and making an impact for Jesus! Here’s what I mean. Each year Lilia and I take some of you guys to the DR for a short term missions trip, and the excitement you guys feel is easy for us to see. You’re excited to see the people, you’re excited to communicate to them that there’s a God who loves them unconditionally and wants to change their lives from the inside out, you’re exicted about opportunities to pray with and for people, and as your pastors, Lilia and I love seeing that! We also love watching all of those things happen in the DR, and the change it causes in all of you. It’s amazing to watch, and that’s why Liia and I will always give you guys opportunites to get outside of yourselves and do foriegn missions. 

Now, you ready for this, we want you to feel that same way about going back to school! We want you to be excited to see the people at your school, and find ways through relationships to communicate with them about a God who loves them unconditionally, and wants to change their lives from the inside out! We want you to be looking for opportunities to pray with people! Bottom line AYM, our friends need to hear about God, and the hope He offers as much as the people anywhere else in our world, so why, do we sit back and wait for someone else to bring the message to them?!

If we really believe what we say we do, then we should be overwhelmed with joy, hope, and a new perspective on life! We should carry a burden for all people, whether they live in the DR, sit next to us in Science class, or have the locker next to ours! We should want to find ways through relationships to share what we have with whoever will allow us the opportunity! We can’t afford to sit on our hands anymore, it’s our time! As the song Hosanna says,

“I see a generation, rising up to take their place, with selfless faith. I see a near revival, stirring as we pray and seek, we’re on our knees!”

How about this, “Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.” 1 Peter 3:15 the message

We need to step up to the plate, live the right way, and be ready share what we have when people ask us! We need to rise up and take our place! We need to have a faith that is selfless, not selfish, so that we can see that our faith isn’t just for us, but it’s for others! We need to pray for our schools, and seek God’s direction, as we initiate relationships with the intention and hope that we’ll be given an opportunity to share God with our peers, and as a result see a revival! We need to, “Do Something!”

8.11.10 - 9.1.10

Our new series, “Do Something” starts on Wednesday night August 11th, and will conclude on September 1st. We’re going to end the summer at AYM encouraging you guys in your faith, encouraging you guys to notice the needs in your schools. Overcoming the numbness we feel towards others sometimes. Comforting those who are hurting, and doing things that will send ripple effects through our schools! We’re gonna encourage you, as the future of the church to, “Do Something” that matters! ”Do Something” that will point people towards God, and the hope that we’ve found in our relationship with Christ!

You ready?! I am! Let’s goooooooooooo…

-J-

Reading this scripture, I became very aware of how impatient I can be sometimes when it comes to God, especially when I compare myself to David. I then asked myself, what is it about David, that made Him patient? Circumstances? No. I looked at the scripture again, and here are two things that jumped out at me, that I believe David recognized, and as a result, was able to be patient with God…

1. God’s RANK in his life…

“God, the one and only…” are the first words of this psalm. I don’t think David’s just saying these words either, I think he wholeheartedly believes them. David is acknowledging that God, as his one and only, God was ranked number 1 as far as David was concerned. That means God was ahead of anything and everything else, including himself and his wishes/preferences. As a result of God being his one and only, David was able to allow God’s plans/timing to supercede his own, and say things like, “Ill wait as long as He says.” As far as David was concerned, God’s number 1 in his life, so I’m going to go ahead and wait on Him and do as He says. And not just say those words, because it’s the christian thing to do, but really mean them. Whoever is number 1 in your life, is the one you wait on! If God doesn’t have the right RANK in our lives, it’s harder to wait on Him…

2. God’s ROLE in his life…

The words, “Everything I need comes from Him…” tell me that David recognized something very important about God. God wasn’t just an opportunity for forgiveness, a pal, or companion for David, God’s role was much bigger than that in David’s life. God was David’s source, and not just for some things, but for everything David needed. Because of this, David was able to say, “so why not?” when it came to waiting on God. As far as David was concerned, God was the source of everything he needed, so why would he doubt Him at all?! There’s no way He’d fail him because He not only knows everything that he needed, He’s also the only place he could get it, so why not wait for Him rather than try to do things on his own?! If God isn’t given the right ROLE in our life, it’s harder to wait on Him…

If we find ourselves being impatient with God and His timing, it may be because God hasn’t been given the RANK of our, “one and only.” Maybe the “me monster” is number 1 in our life. Maybe we’re treating our life and our opinions/preferences as an audition for God. If He can straighten my life out, THEN I’ll trust Him and make Him number 1. Perhaps we aren’t allowing Him the opportunity to play the right ROLE in our life, and rather than seeing Him as the source of everything we need, we’re running around chasing the world and all it has to offer us.

Anyway, this verse got me thinking, and as always I would love to hear your thoughts!

-J-

hmmmmm

During my devotions today, I was reading 2 Kings chapter 17. The whole chapter was about the people of Israel, and how they had been ignoring God and worshiping other “gods.” God would send people to warn Israel, but they wouldn’t listen and they’d continue with their way of life that God was displeased with. So, God exiled Israel to a foreign land as punishment for ignoring Him and His warnings, and choosing to worship other “gods.” As a result, people from all over began to move into the land that was vacated by the Israelites, and what was reportedof the new kids in town, really caught my attention…

“They honored and worshiped God, but not exclusively — They honored and worshiped God, but they also kept up their devotions to the old gods of the places they had come from…

And they’re still doing it, still worshiping any old god that has nostalgic appeal to them. They don’t really worship God—they don’t take seriously what he says regarding how to behave and what to believe, what he revealed to the children of Jacob whom he named Israel. God made a covenant with his people and ordered them, “Don’t honor other gods: Don’t worship them, don’t serve them, don’t offer sacrifices to them. Worship God, the God who delivered you from Egypt in great and personal power. Reverence and fear him. Worship him. Sacrifice to him. And only him! All the things he had written down for you, directing you in what to believe and how to behave — well, do them for as long as you live. And whatever you do, don’t worship other gods! And the covenant he made with you, don’t forget your part in that. And don’t worship other gods! Worship God, and God only — he’s the one who will save you from enemy oppression.”

 But they didn’t pay any attention. They kept doing what they’d always done. As it turned out, all the time these people were putting on a front of worshiping God, they were at the same time involved with their local idols. And they’re still doing it. 2 Kings 17:32-40 msg

• Are we worsiping God EXCLUSIVELY?
• What/Who else do we WORSHIP? (significant other(s), self, sex, status…)
• What devotions are we maintaining from the places we CAME FROM? (our pasts…)
• Do we take what God says about our behaivor and what it SHOULD BE seriously?
• Are we putting anything/anyone BEFORE God?
• How long will we continue to do what we’ve ALWAYS DONE, but expect something DIFFERENT?
• Is our worshiping God, nothing more than a FRONT?

No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

Those are the questions that flooded my mind when I read this chapter, and I was forced to hit my knees and repent. I had to admit that I ignore Him sometimes. I don’t take what He says seriously all the time. I’m distracted. I’m divided in my worship, and at times I worship other things. I hold back from God. I bump Him from first position in my life.

As I always say, there is nothing more valuable than HONEST, self reflection, especially when it comes to our relationship with Christ. Sometimes self reflection causes us to be aware of where we’ve failed, and as a result, feel like a failure worthy of condemnation. Or, it can lead us to a healthy place of realizing just how much we need Jesus, Hi direction, and His grace in our life because…

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 niv

Because of this scripture, I’m assured that Jesus doesn’t condemn me, and it’s ok to admit my mistakes to Him! He knows I’m going to blow it sometimes, therefore He doesn’t expect perfection of me, so I shouldn’t expect it of myself. My mistakes can and should lead me to Jesus, not away from Him! He’s not surprised by our failures, and doesn’t want to beat us up, or remind us about our mistakes, He wants to offer us forgiveness, and encourage us to try again, and make the changes necessary to not make the same mistakes over and over again! Love where it says to, “remember the covenant He made with you, and don’t forget your part in that.” We can’t expect Him to do it all! We have to allow Him to change us by doing everything that we can to make sure we’re in His presence more than anything/anyone else’s! Progress is what He’s after, and progress comes from knowing Him more and more everyday! So, progress is what I make my goal! As my life goes on, I want God to have more, and more of me, because I’m trusting Him more and more…

God’s after ALL OF US, our love, our attention, our life. He doesn’t want just part of us, or what’s left after everyone else gets their cut. He’s ready for MORE of us, but are we ready for MORE of Him! So, the million dollar question is, “Are we giving Him all of us, or are we trying to front?!”

-J-

AYM ODR 2010 team

I think it’s fair to say that none of us will ever be the same again after being available to be used by, and hear from God throughout our week long stay in the Dominican Republic. The trip was an enormous success! So much happened, that me trying to sum it all up in a blog entry would be foolish. Instead, here’s what we did each day, and I would encourage each of you to talk to one of our team members ASAP and give them an opportunity to share with you what God was able to show them, and do through them during their mission in the Dominican Republic!

Sunday – Our travel day started at 4am, and we arrived at our Dominican mission’s villa at 4 pm. We had dinner, and settled in for a busy week

Monday – VBS (story of Esther, two crafts, snack, games, and quality time) from 9am – 12pm with over 90 village children ages 5-12.

Tuesday – VBS (stoy of David, two crafts, snack, games, and quality time) from 9am – 12pm with over 140 village children ages 5-12. Teen Soccer tournament from 1pm – 4pm with 4 teams of 10 village teens ages 13-19, dramas, testimonies from the teens, and a message from yours truly, with over 65 people in attendance.

Wednesday – VBS (stoy of Moses, two crafts, snack, games, and quality time) from 9am – 12pm with over 140 village children ages 5-12. Teen Soccer tournament (3rd place game, and champonship) from 1pm – 4pm with 4 teams of 10 village teens ages 13-19, dramas, testimonies from the teens, and a message from yours truly, with over 85 people in attendance.

Thursday – Painted school for the children of prostitutes in one of the poorest areas of Puerto Plata, from 9am – 12pm. Walked through the Barrio (ghetto) from 1pm – 3pm handing out tracts, and 200 freeze pops to children in the village, dramas and testimonies from 3pm – 4pm on the boardwalk where we were then able to pray with people.

Friday – Team time consisting of a Jeep safari, lunch in the mountains, swimming through, and jumping off of natural waterfalls, some beach time, then out to dinner at Chris and Maddy’s.

Saturday – Painted the outer wall of MWCM’s school campus from 9am – 12pm. Then we got to spend some QT with the village children, visiting their homes and saying our “good – byes” from 1pm – 3pm. We were able to  do 4 dramas, testimonies, and I got to speak to and our team was able to pray with people at El Buen church’s youth/singles service in Puerto Plata. Over 300 people were in attendance.

Sunday – We traveled home…

Jason & LiliaODR 2010

This team was pheonominal!

Lilia and I couldn’t be prouder of them if they were our own biological kids, and know that God is smiling on them too! We’re already excited about next year’s trip, and the possibility that we may have to lead two seperate trips (a 9-12 grade trip, and a college aged trip) due to the growth of AYM! What a great season to be serving God, and Lilia and I wouldn’t want to do it with any other generation! They’re world changers when they’re in God’s hands, we’ve seen it firsthand, and look forward to what’s to come in the future… 

-J-