wind.waves.sand.Son

First off, I often find that God chooses to meet with us when we least expect it.

That being said, I wasn't expecting an encounter with Him when I went to Clearwater beach at 10:30 at night with a group of friends.

We goofed around for a while before walking down to the water. It was a windy night, so the sand was blowing and the waves were crashing. Perfect, if you ask me.

Now, I have to say, the beach is one of the most spiritual places for me, so it shouldn't have surprised me that God was trying to communicate with me. But alas, I was surprised.

You see, lately I haven't walked very closely with Him. Through my lack of discipline and my own sin, I wasn't in tune with Him like in the past. But a few days before this beautiful Saturday night, I had come to a breaking point with some situations in my life, and my path back to communion with Him had begun.

With that background setup, I found myself walking down the beach communicating with Him. At first, I was thinking about how strange it seemed that I wasn't being social, but the more I walked, the less concerned I was.

Then the subject came to everything I was experiencing, questioning, struggling with, and excited about. I declared to Him that I only want to do His will, that I was tired of struggling with my sin, that I didn't understand why people act the way they do. Then He answered.

All of a sudden, in the midst of everything, as I heard the wind roaring and felt the sand and waves beneath my feet; as I looked out over the water and up at the night sky, I heard the still soft voice say, "I have it under control. I am the God of the wind you hear, the waves you feel, and the sky you see, and you just need to walk with me, cling to me, stay faithful to the course."

And as I continued to walk, I listened to David Walker singing "How He loves," and I was overwhelmed as I heard:

"We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way that He loves us."

In that moment, as the wind roared around me, I FELT those words instead of merely hearing them. I was being held by Him, and I didn't want it to end.

I would love to say that after that moment, my troubles went away, but they didn't. But I know that it is ok, because He knows about them and He knows what He is doing with them. And as I walk with Him, all things will be revealed.

I know this was kind of long, but thanks for staying with me. And thanks to my crazy beach going friends for a spiritual night.

Champy ><>

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:29-30

So this is the new year...

Well, it's 2009 now. It's crazy to think about how fast last year went by. I've been reflecting on the last year, and it was a huge year for me. And 2009 is going to be even greater, I can feel it.

In my reflection, I had to look at the good and the bad. Where God allowed me to succeed, flourish, and grow, and where I took the reigns and failed. It's humbling, to say the least, but I was encouraged on Sunday the 4th when Pastor Jeff emphasized that 2008 was gone and we have to move forward. So that's what I'm doing.

And I'm setting some goals for this year. You can call them resolutions, but that word just carries a connotation of eventual failure and I can't bring myself to call them that. I'm calling them goals so that I strive for them and work for them, and don't give up on them when I fail.

So here goes:

1) I hope to read one chapter or more of a book everyday. And not just read the chapter, but internalize it and apply it. And if that means I only read half of a chapter one day, then so be it.

2) I want to blog more. I started a blog here and I haven't updated in a while. My hope is that I can share what I'm learning in my books or what God has taught me in my time spent with Him. At least one posting a week is my goal. Check back!

3) Invest in my 6th grade boys community group more. They are a gift; crazy at times, but still a gift, and I want them to develop a closer walk with the Lord.

4) It's on the top of a lot of lists, so it might be cliche, but I do want to work out more and eat healthier. That's all I'll say about that, but I'm going to work on it.

And a constant goal that I won't add to a list because it isn't something you check off of a list is to continue to grow in my relationship with my Creator. Through more time spent with Him, Bible study, worship, and prayer.

So, there they are. Ask me how they are going. Hold me accountable to them. If you took the time to read this, then you have my permission.

Be Blessed,
Champy ><>

Catalyst

It is simply amazing how God will tell us what we need to hear at just the moment we need to hear it.  It isn't a surprise, but it constantly blows me away when He does it!  

God made my calling to ministry clear over the summer, and He used many people to confirm that.  And since then, I've said "God, if any door opens, I'm walking through it." So, I got more involved and it's been incredible.  Then another opportunity seemed to open up, and I jumped at it.  I really wanted it to work out, but so far, it hasn't.  And I got down about it.  Last Wednesday, I was really struggling with that.  As if that was the only opportunity I would ever have!  

I think I just wanted that to work out so I wouldn't have to tell people, "God called me to ministry," and when they ask me what field, I say "Not sure yet, wherever God opens the door." That gets a little tiring.  So anyway, I'm sitting there feeling sorry for myself. I finish doing my ministry stuff and I start talking to some one who I don't spend much time around or know that closely, and God just uses him to confirm my calling, to show me I'm on the right path, and I just have to be patient.

Then, Sunday, I had an interview at the Apple store.  What a cool job that would be.  But it isn't ministry, and I'm just wondering why God would seemingly open that door. But it would pay the bills.  So, I start waiting to hear back about that.  Then, God paves the way for me to go to the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta! Then, I hear today that the Apple store thing isn't going to happen.  Now, I actually felt okay about that.  I know God wants me to do ministry, so I'm cool with not working another retail job.  But part of me was upset because I've never interviewed for a job that I haven't gotten. That sounded really cocky, but it's all because of God's provision that I got those jobs.  So anyway, I'm thinking, "why wasn't I good enough?"

(Almost done) So then, I'm reading my Bible today, and I'm in Philippians 3.  And from verse 1 to verse 11, Paul talks about our confidence in the flesh and how he has so many reasons to put confidence in his accomplishments and abilities, and how he counted all of them as rubbish compared to Christ.  Not a coincidence.  What a freeing moment this morning where I could truly let go of those thoughts and just know that God has something huge planned for me!

Sorry this was so long, but it's been a while since I've updated.  I'm off to Catalyst this evening and I just know based on the events of the last couple of days that God has something to say to me there. I covet your prayers and I can't wait to write about what God speaks to me in Atlanta!

Until then, many blessings,

Champy ><>

Side note...

The 30 days are going well.  Not as well as I would like, but each day is a new day, so I'm walking in that confidence.  More to come on that.

I just wanted to take a minute to shamelessly plug a band that I believe very much in.  Their name is Anberlin.  And they have a new CD coming out tomorrow.  I saw them 

play an acoustic set last week and it was nothing short of incredible.  They recently got picked up by Universal and I have a feeling that it is going to be big.  These guys are great. Listen to them if you don't already.  And go buy the CD.  It's called New Surrender and it is pretty cheap at a couple of stores.

That is all.  Have a great day.

Champy ><>

3 down...

So, how is the challenge going? Alright.  I've missed some of the things each day, but I am focused on getting things done.  I'm just starting fresh everyday.  

I have found a good friend to pray with every evening.  We talk about our days and what we need prayer for.  And he is doing the challenge as well, and I trust and respect him, so it's a great situation.

And as for the useless activity that I'm giving up, God has shown me a couple.  But the one I am excited about is giving up Facebook and MySpace.  I never realized until Monday when God revealed it to me how much I use Facebook to waste time.  And it's not even to "stalk." If I'm doing homework, I'll just click on it to check it just to distract myself.  And while the convenience of both is great, I just don't need them for 30 days.  It's been tough so far.  I've had to set up ways to keep myself from going on it, but it will be good.  I can't wait to not need to use it all the time, and be content with not checking it frequently.

And I'm reading Philippians right now, which is one of my favorite books.  As God reveals application to me, I will be sure to share it with you. One thing I learned yesterday comes from chapter 1, verses 3-6.  I need to be more diligent about praying for people.  And the way Paul phrases it, he thanks God every time he remembers them.  So when I think of someone during the day, I should use that as a prompt for prayer.

Alas, I've rambled on.  Until next time...

Champy ><>

30 days from now...

The 30 Day Challenge.  Pastor Jeff laid it out at Late Nite last night.  It is definitely a challenge, but one of the best that I have been faced with.  Jeff told us to make this personal, to not just go into this halfheartedly.  So I'm going in wholeheartedly.  

Do I know how it will look? No. 

Will I get everything done everyday? I hope and pray so.  

But a couple things I do know: God wants me to step it up, and He will work this out in ways that I can't even begin to imagine.

I will update as much as I can during this 30 days with stories and the progress.  I'm sure I'll have something to share.

In the meantime, go to www.the30daychallenge.us to see what the challenge entails.

Until next time...

Daniel ><>

Philippians 1:3-6

Hmm...

Well, hello there.  Welcome.

I can honestly say that this is not my first blog.  I've written some before on other sites and for some other jobs.  But, I'm hoping to stick with this one.

There will be more to come...promise.

Until then, be cool.

Champy