Accidentally posted this on Barney Blog...whoops!

Today would have been the first day of driver week which tends to be one of my most favorite days of the summer.  Drivers arrive nervous, scared, excited, and in total dependence of God.  That recipe always seems to produce a life changing week which is the catalyst for the rest of summer.

Even though we are not running camp this summer, we can still posture our hearts and minds in total dependence on God.  I am reminded of these scriptures:

2 Chronicles 26: 3-5 - Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem.
4 He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done.
5 Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God.* And as long as the king sought guidance from the LORD, God gave him success.
6 Uzziah declared war on the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built new towns in the Ashdod area and in other parts of Philistia.
7 God helped him in his wars against the Philistines, his battles with the Arabs of Gur,* and his wars with the Meunites.
8 The Meunites* paid annual tribute to him, and his fame spread even to Egypt, for he had become very powerful.
9 Uzziah built fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the angle in the wall.
10 He also constructed forts in the wilderness and dug many water cisterns, because he kept great herds of livestock in the foothills of Judah* and on the plains. He was also a man who loved the soil. He had many workers who cared for his farms and vineyards, both on the hillsides and in the fertile valleys.
11 Uzziah had an army of well-trained warriors, ready to march into battle, unit by unit. This army had been mustered and organized by Jeiel, the secretary of the army, and his assistant, Maaseiah. They were under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's officials.
12 These regiments of mighty warriors were commanded by 2,600 clan leaders.
13 The army consisted of 307,500 men, all elite troops. They were prepared to assist the king against any enemy.
14 Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and sling stones.
15 And he built structures on the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled large stones* from the towers and the corners of the wall. His fame spread far and wide, for the LORD gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful.
16 But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the LORD his God by entering the sanctuary of the LORD's Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.
17 Azariah the high priest went in after him with eighty other priests of the LORD, all brave men.
18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is the work of the priests alone, the descendants of Aaron who are set apart for this work. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have sinned. The LORD God will not honor you for this!"
19 Uzziah, who was holding an incense burner, became furious. But as he was standing there raging at the priests before the incense altar in the LORD's Temple, leprosy* suddenly broke out on his forehead.
20 When Azariah the high priest and all the other priests saw the leprosy, they rushed him out. And the king himself was eager to get out because the LORD had struck him.

21 So King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house, for he was excluded from the Temple of the LORD. His son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace, and he governed the people of the land.

2 Chronicles 27
1 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.
2 Jotham did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the LORD. But the people continued in their corrupt ways.
3 Jotham rebuilt the upper gate of the Temple of the LORD. He also did extensive rebuilding on the wall at the hill of Ophel.
4 He built towns in the hill country of Judah and constructed fortresses and towers in the wooded areas.
5 Jotham went to war against the Ammonites and conquered them. Over the next three years he received from them an annual tribute of 7,500 pounds* of silver, 50,000 bushels of wheat, and 50,000 bushels of barley.*

6 King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the LORD his God.

So......Who Is Jesus? Top 10 list

I love how DJ ends this sermon series with Hebrews 1 & 2.  We started this journey asking the question, Who is Jesus?  We need to look no further than the response the author of Hebrews offers.


HEBREWS 1:1-4
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Who Is Jesus?
1. God has chosen to speak to His people through His son.
2. He is the Heir of ALL things......yeah, that's everything!
3. He made the universe! 
4. He is the radiance of God's glory.
5. He is the exact representation of Gods being!
6. He sustains all things by His word.
7. He provided purification for our sins.
8. He took a seat next to the Big guy!
9. He is superior to the angels.......duh!

HEBREWS 2:8-9
In putting everything under them,[d] God left nothing that is not subject to them.[e] Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.[f] 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10.  He is our Lord and Savior!

-Reid

The Good Shepherd / I AM HE

The Good Shepherd:

Blessed are we who get to hear The Voice, experience a life under The Care of,  and understand and now The Heart of the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd who speaks so very clearly to us, and teaches us to recognize His voice.

I loved the example provided about the home phone, where we must over time learn to know a voice which is significant and recognizable. When we are disciplined in learning the Voice of the Shepherd, it will become UNMISTAKEABLY RECOGNIZABLE.  I long to know this voice so intimately.

I also loved the piece shared about the canoe. I, and many living in these crazy times, have NO idea where I am going. And yet, Jesus sits, leading out in front knowing what is coming for me, and you, laughing. This adventure is about trust, HE KNOWS WHERE WE ARE GOING!

Lord, would your voice speak so clearly to me that I will never mistake it for a thieves. Would you be my guiding light, and would you inspire me to submit and engage with the adventure you have called me to each day. AMEN.

I AM HE:

I love the question initially posed at the beginning of this sermon: “Did Jesus himself ever claim to be the living God in the flesh?”

The referenced text of John 7 and 8 is challenging, and sheds light on how Jesus comes in to the world and our own lives – BOLDY proclaiming that He is indeed the living God, whom we seek to worship. Jesus, in the middle of the feast, tells us exactly Who He Is, the Great I Am.

I feel a constant questioning by Jesus asking me “Whom do you seek?”, Always followed up by an “I Am He.” How I pray that every time I am asked this question, and Jesus answers, that I would just submit and fall on my knees in worship.

Because of Jesus claim, we no longer need worry about what to do with our lives, or to try and discover who we are on our own! All things we do can be answered y looking to The Living God in the Flesh, may we never operate without reference to Jesus. May I surrender to the one who knows how to live, and is Life itself!

WEEK 9 - Unexpected Coincidence -- The Son is the radiance of God's glory. He SHINES forth God.

Given that the camp's name begins with "SONSHINE" I felt inspired and defined by Darrell's proclamation from Hebrews that the SON is the radiance of God's glory and that the SON SHINES forth God.

Yesterday I went off topic to share about yesterday's devo from the Barney blog. Unbeknownst to me the passage from the Barney Blog/Sonshine Devo yesterday is the same passage that Darrell used to preach the sermon we're listening to this week. 

I'm sitting here amazed at the incredible intersection God has led me to this week as I reflected on our Memorial Retreat..... from Darrell's proclaiming of SON SHINE to yesterday's Barney blog on Hebrews 1 to today's sermon on Hebrews 1 I feel God is going above and beyond to drill into my skull that  (with or without the Memorial Day retreat) His grace is sufficient, His gospel will not return void, His kingdom will come, and His son Christ will achieve the perfect victory of God both now and tomorrow and (cuz he's kind) will invite each one of us along for the ride. Yee haw!!

The Best News Ever!

I am not often speechless in my life, and even if I am quiet there is normally something going on in my head. This left me with not much to say at all. I mean it is irrational to try to operate without Jesus, it is only logical to surrender to him. He is the best news anyone can ever hear.

I just finished going through the book of Leviticus with a small group from school and one of the final questions we sat and talked about was how understanding a bit more about this book would change how we share Jesus with those around us. When it came to it we all realized that it puts the good news in perspective. It answers why Jesus is the central figure of the new testament and why we need him. He is the ultimate sacrifice and the high priest. He wants us to bring our best to him but knows we will fall short time and time again, but he will have greater grace.

The Gospel really is the best news that I have ever heard, and the more I dive into relationship with him the more I come to understand why that really is.

Posted this on the Barney Blog. Post discusses Memorial Day Retreat so I'm posting it here too! Peace!!

Today's devo discussed the unfailing, unstoppable love of Christ which unites us with God when we are too weak and ashamed to approach His throne and presence. 

Memorial Day retreat serves as THE weekend for us to come out of hiding and boldly proclaim with full-throated praise that Christ is king and we are part of His stunning gospel story. 

The devo today was a great reassuring to me personally that when the scaffolds and supports of our Faith -- for example the Memorial Day Retreat -- are (literally) taken away, Christ, by grace, with all authority on heaven and earth, is perfectly and absolutely, on our behalf, advocating and uniting us to God by His blood, by His passion, by His plan, and by His voice---- (Hebrews 2:13) ---- "Here I am, and the children God has given me."

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Thanks Jesus for this invitation to come to you.  Thank you for perfectly, completely, and absolutely paving the path to intimacy with God by your wounds and blood.

I love you

I am He!

I was contacted by a former staff this week who was a boat driver back in 1987-88.  Marybeth McCullum enjoys writing, teaching, and speaking about her Christian faith and how it intersects with everyday life.  Her goal is to encourage, challenge and inspire others with Biblical truth. 

While listening to "I am He" I thought of her latest blog post (yeah she has her own blog) and how the "I am" so personally met Marybeth on houseboats.  I thought I would share her post!  I hope you enjoy and are encouraged.  

Be Inspired again......by Marybeth McCullum........

Sitting on the roof of a houseboat, I settled in for the evening program. The sun dipped low in the sky, glinting on the water. In the distance, a boat sped past causing a patch of reeds to sway in the ripples of its wake. Teenagers lounged in contentment on either side of me, listening as their youth pastor taught. Although I was serving on staff at camp, I was only a few years older than most of the students. I wanted to believe that I was more mature than them, but the pastor’s words pierced me with fresh conviction.

I’d arrived just a few days earlier, showing up 24 hours after my high school graduation. Since I’d attended the camp with my church in prior summers, I felt confident in my ability to be a leader. Working at Houseboats had been my goal since my first time as a camper. Fun with friends, water skiing, sunbathing, and dynamic leaders had drawn me back every year. I liked the way I felt at camp—there was a sense of Christian community that was authentic and meaningful.

In spite of all this, I was nursing serious self-doubt as a leader once I got there. I felt like a fraud. Even though I’d accepted Jesus as a child and had gotten confirmed as a teenager, an ingredient in my spiritual life seemed to be missing when I compared it to others on staff. I’d straddled the fence between my Christian faith and a worldly lifestyle for the majority of my teen years. There had been moments of deep connection with God at camps, but I hadn’t pursued Him consistently in daily life. Now, I felt like I’d missed out on so much because I’d drifted through my teen years with a lukewarm faith.

When my first group of campers had arrived, I’d enjoyed participating in their nightly programs, singing worship songs, and hearing their youth pastor teach. He had kicked off each evening by reading one chapter from Robert Boyd Munger’s My Heart Christ’s Home. The booklet is an allegory depicting a new believer inviting Jesus to live in his home. Together, they tour all the rooms which represent different aspects of our lives. For example, the dining room represents our appetites and desires and the rec room encompasses our fun times and friendships.

Listening along with my campers, the Holy Spirit began showing me areas of my life that I’d been holding back from the Lord. Perhaps the most impactful for me was hearing about the living room, where Jesus and the new believer planned to meet every morning to talk and study together.  At first, they met daily, but after a while, busyness interfered with their regular time together.  Here’s the portion of the chapter that struck me most:

“As I passed the living room, the door was open. Looking in, I saw a fire in the fireplace and Jesus was sitting there. Suddenly in dismay I thought to myself, ‘He was my guest. I invited Him into my heart! He has come as Lord of my home. And yet here I am neglecting Him.’

I turned and went in. With downcast glance, I said, ‘Blessed Master, forgive me. Have You been here all these mornings?’

‘Yes,’ He said, ‘I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you.’ Then I was even more ashamed. He had been faithful in spite of my faithlessness. I asked His forgiveness and He readily forgave me, as He does when we are truly repentant.

‘The trouble with you is this: you have been thinking of the quiet time, of the Bible study and prayer time, as a factor in your own spiritual progress, but you have forgotten that this hour means something to me also. Remember, I love you. I have redeemed you at great cost. I value your fellowship. Now,’ He said, ‘do not neglect this hour if only for my sake. Whatever else may be your desire, remember I want your fellowship!’”

Until that moment, I’d never considered how Jesus felt about the relationship we shared. I understood the sacrifice He made for all people on the cross, but I’d never grasped how much He loved me personally. Once I’d asked Jesus to be my Savior, I hadn’t nurtured our relationship. It was like I’d invited Him into my home, but had left Him standing in the entryway. I thought He’d mess up my plans and expect me to do things His way if I let Him in any further.

Hearing that booklet read aloud was a powerful turning point in my faith journey. On one of the final days at Houseboats, I sat on a small beach during solo time and told Jesus things were going to be different between the two of us. Digging my toes into the sand, I wrote a prayer telling Him I wasn’t holding back anymore. I was fully committing to Him, even though it meant making some big changes and hard choices when I got home. I was ready to surrender and have Him not only be my Savior, but my Lord as well. Since then, He’s continued to expand His presence in every room of my life.

My turning point happened over three weeks on a houseboat at the Sacramento Delta. But each follower of Jesus has a unique story about when and how this occurred for them.

Sonshine Ministries is the camp where I surrendered to Jesus.

Simultaneously the Stronger Man and the Good Shepherd

Hey everyone, I apologize for being MIA a bit; the past few weeks have been very stressful with finals and all! 

The Strong Man
There is a difference between knowing that Jesus is strong and powerful in general versus knowing that Jesus has power and strength over the devil and the grave. What an amazing God we serve that He would plunder the strong man's house and set His sheep free from the bondage of sin and lies!! He reigns indeed!

 He is the Good Shepherd
Jesus shows us what it means to be a good shepherd through His love and sacrificial heart! Throughout this passage, I just kept getting reminded of one of my favorite songs, "Reckless Love". One specific lyric stands out that says that His love chases us down, leaving the 99 sheep, until He finds us and brings us home! What amazing truth Jesus promises us!!

That song also reminds me of when I first heard the song at Sonshine last summer and although I'm super bummed that it had to get canceled, I'm praying (and know) that God would continue to work in our hearts of the hearts of the would-be campers wherever we are at through all of this! Sending lots of love and prayers to y'all!

Leadersheep

Jesus calls us by name and longs to have a personal relationship with us. He tends to his flock like a shepherd and carries his sheep close to his heart. He beckons us to follow him: he knows what lies ahead and invites us to trust in his direction. At one point the speaker said "leadership" but the way he pronounced it sounded like "leadersheep." I think this was an accident but I thought it was fitting for a sermon about the Good Shepherd! Haha Jesus has great leadersheep skills!

Jesus, thank you that you are the Good Shepherd. Thank you that you call me by name and that you care for me and provide for me as your own daughter. Help me to trust in your plan and to accept your invitation to follow you each day! Amen.

the one who calls us by name

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls us to follow him and he calls us each by name. I am reminded how much I appreciate when people use my name when they are talking to me. For me it makes me feel seen as an individual instead of just part of a larger group. There isn't a question about whether they are really talking to me or not. It establishes a sense of closeness that wouldn't be there if they just said "hey you". When Jesus calls his sheep, he calls us each by name making it personal. He sees and knows us as individuals. And when we hear our good shepherd calling us by name, we can trust that he knows what's best for us, because he really knows us. Jesus is the perfect leader because he is aware of the needs and carries the burdens of his people as individuals.

The Stronger Man

I listened to this sermon while feeling extremely weak. Jesus, The Stronger Man, destroys the weaker powers of this world, which we so often ignore. The great insight that we still live in a spiritual world where dark forces are constantly attacking us is so important. How often our society, and ourselves, ignore that fact! But Jesus is the stronger man, and the forces of darkness are no match for Him! Blessed are we who can declare in The Name of Jesus that He is victory over death and destruction. Amen

Phone Calls with Jesus

Ok so as many of you know Katie Maze and I have been roommates for the past year (until this whole covid thing sent us home), but before we were even friends I told her that she should work at houseboats last summer and to my surprise she was actually down. Our friendship because of this really started over the phone as we got to know the others voice. Each Saturday night of the summer we would get to sit and talk, if even just for a little bit and tell each other about the previous week, what the next week looked like and how we could be praying for the other. This was one of the sweetest ways to start to get to know someone. I believe it really shaped what our time together this school year would look like and I have been extremely blessed in this. Even though I may not have found out everything about Katie, I was able to catch a glimpse into who she was and how God was moving in her life. I got to know the sound of her voice. Even now as we are all separated from each other I find it so meaningful to talk to people over the phone rather than just through text. Just the sound of someone's voice brings you closer to them and stronger in relationship.

As I look at how I grasp to stay connected to people that I miss getting to see, I am beginning to realize that this is the relationship that God wants me to have with him. He wants me to know the sound of his voice as he knows every single hair on the top of my head. He wants me to come to him and through him as he guides me and fulfills me like nothing else can. He wants me to call him and just chat about my day. He wants to be in constant relationship with me. He is calling me and you by name, now the question is, are we actually going to trust him and follow?

On a side note Katie and I had a bit of fun the other day and if you want a good laugh at our cringy-ness go check out this video! https://youtu.be/f3dbnNMuM3k

Hearing the Good Shepherd's voice through the valley of the shadow of death

Culture Point - DISCIPLINE....
(I Cor. 10:26) - “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.”  When you realize that everything that you use or have is an undeserved gift from a gracious creator your countenance more clearly reflects joy, gratitude, and generosity.   Focusing on the fullness of your creator is a daily discipline.  The more you focus on your creator’s fullness, the more you perceive your own emptiness.  As the creator fills the secret, empty recesses of your soul your countenance reflects the creator’s fullness.  Leaders and followers are desperately seeking those who carry on them the fragrance of Christ. So why do so few seem to wear the person of Christ like a garment or perfume?  The challenge is that the fullness of your creator is not something that you acquire.  It is freely and extravagantly given.   What lacks is the discipline and resolve to commune intimately with the creator’s abundance. 

May we discipline ourselves in such a way that we focus on the fullness of the Good Shepherd this week and commune intimately with His abundance.  With camp now being postponed, it could be easy to lose discipline and not follow the Good Shepherd.  I pray more now than ever we hear the Good Shepherd's voice and follow Him through this valley. 

The Stronger Man

The most radical part I found to be true of this sermon was the fact that Jesus, the strongest man, had a demeanor that many viewed as weak right before His death on the cross. The Roman guards (and Satan) were fooled by His lack of retaliation, quietness, and humbleness while He was being scorned at, spit on, mocked, and beaten like a punching bag. But Jesus proved them wrong in thinking they had power over Him, because it is because of His death alone that set all the captives free from evil….He has successfully bound up the strong man!

“These spirits behind human trafficking, drug abuse, prostitution, confusion, etc. are strong but Jesus is stronger than you and you must let the captives go free.” Amen!

I loved being reminded to look through a multidimensional lens in order to live more realistically. If I acknowledge the unseen forces, I can equip myself to fight them off through the power of Jesus. But if I choose to be ignorant, I will continue to be deceived and be a captive of the world’s strongest enemy. Satan is indeed powerful and knows the ways in which I give him a foothold, but I praise The Stronger Man for not letting the devil have authority over me.  

the Good Shepherd

There was something super spiritual about listening to this message while checking cows this morning. The Cal Poly cows have been trained to respond to a call. In order to move the cows to a new pasture, we sit next to the gate and holler, "Come on cows, come on, come on!" All of our herds know that when we call them, we are leading them to a new field where there will be fresher food. When they hear us calling them, they run to the gate that we're calling from. Even the cows know to respond to the herdsmen. In the same way, my response to the Good Shepherd, who blesses us with life to the full, should be unwavering pursuit of relationship. I know that God provides an abundance of life. When I truly believe in what the Lord has for me, I run like the cows towards my Father's voice.

As it heats up, the grass dries out and we start feeding alfalfa. At the beginning of the summer, they get excited and follow any white truck that drives through Chorro because they assume that it's bringing them food. After being disappointed, they begin to recognize our white truck. They learn to differentiate between the good vehicles (the ones with food) and everything else. Similarly, only through repetition can I recognize the Father's voice. Through constant encounters in relationship, I am able to familiarize myself with his voice and follow him diligently. When I am not intentional about following him, I can get confused and listen to the world about what satisfies and how I should be living my life.

What a good reminder to trust in the Father!

The Devil's World?

"The Stronger Man" sermon, in a word, was encouraging to me. Lately, the enemy has been getting to me; and I didn't even realize! If I am being honest, I am struggling to find hope right now. Even beyond my personal complaints, the fact that there currently is no end in sight to this virus and the suffering it causes makes me feel powerless. But this sermon reminded me that it is okay to be powerless, because it's not us, but Jesus who fights evil. I liked how DJ discussed how in the biblical worldview, the 4 dimensions include the 'unseen forces' of evil creatures, but also of the Living God. I am encouraged by the idea that the Lord is working in ways that I couldn't dream of-- He is battling the devil and changing hearts everywhere, even if His ways are unseen to me or beyond my typically 2D worldview.

Stronger than the enemy

Such a powerful message. Through a campus ministry, I did a bible study this semester over Mark, so it was cool to have a more in-depth look at some of the interactions Jesus had with demons.

With the demons inside of children, Jesus had power over them. With the man who could not be bound by chains, stronger than anyone, Jesus had power over him. Jesus is stronger and mightier than any foe we could ever face. There is nothing to fear with Jesus by our side. The world has been infested with evil, but that does not mean that all is lost. "Jesus is the stronger man who comes to the strong man's house and sets the captives free."

Living in this world is going to hit us with some significant struggles from evil. We are NOT strong enough to fight the evils of the world on our own. Jesus saves us, and we must hold him close to us so we can survive.

The Light & The Stronger Man & The Good Shepherd

Hey everyone! I am a bit behind on these blog posts (ya know finals), so I am going to do a catch up post. I hope you are all doing well! 

The Light:

• “Jesus is the light that never goes out.” Wowza! I don’t know about all y’all, but I get so frustrated when a light bulb goes out. Instead of changing the light bulb, which probably takes like a minute max, I leave the dead bulb and adjust to the slightly darker environment. It doesn’t have to be this way! Jesus is the light of the world, and he will never burn out. In the times and seasons of darkness, we just need to fix our eyes on the light that is Jesus. Like a bug drawn to the light, be a person drawn to Jesus! 

The Stronger Man:

• “Jesus binds the strong man.” Another good sermon! Gosh I loved the image this one painted for me in the aspect of the moment Jesus died on the cross, death lost its grip and its power. I’m sure each of us have our own giants, struggles, and battles, but we can rest assured that Jesus is BIGGER and stronger than it all! Yes & Amen! 

The Good Shepherd:

• “He longs for us to trust him with all the uncertainties that lie ahead.” Oh boy, this one hit hard. Being in this crazy time of life with each day bringing new challenges and new unknowns this sermon really hit home for me. Am I listening for the invitation held in Jesus’ voice? Am I trusting that Jesus will come through on his promises? Am I trying to know Jesus more and more each day? While the answers to these questions can fluctuate for me, this strange time of being home with more time than ever has taught me to trust the process. Trust that there is something greater that I cannot see and cannot fathom behind this chaotic and crazy time. Praying that you and I can allow Jesus to radically change us through this season. 

I love you guys & miss you more than ever. Praying some big big prayers for each of ya & the time I hope we can spend together soon. 

-Abby 

The Stronger Man

I wasn't familiar with this parable so it was cool to learn about! I love that Jesus refers to himself as the stronger man who has tied up the strong man and is plundering his house. It's just such a cool metaphor for Jesus defeating Satan. Like he doesn't just defeat Satan and leave- he TIES HIM UP and ROBS his house!! Cue the Mission Impossible theme song.

I really liked at the end of the sermon was DJ was listing a bunch of results of sin and he was proclaiming Jesus' authority over them. I imagined Jesus proclaiming authority over the virus as well. It's so easy for me to feel alone, depressed, and frustrated with the virus and being confined to my house, but Jesus says "In this world you will have trouble but take heart, I have overcome the world!" Jesus is reminding me to find peace and hope in him during this time and to trust that he is bigger than any virus- he's ALREADY overcome death itself! The virus may not magically disappear, but Jesus has the power to heal and to comfort me when I'm lonely or anxious. I can remember that ultimately there is nothing to fear when I have Jesus on my side, because He's already taken out Public Enemy #1.

Jesus, thank you that you are a God who comforts! Help me to hand over my anxious thoughts to you and to receive your peace. Help me to remember that you are in control, even when I can't see it. And thank you for giving yourself up for me on the cross, binding Satan while setting me free! I love you. Amen.

Mission accomplished.

Demons and stuff

Hey y’all. I’m so sorry I’ve been MIA for so long on the blog. These past few weeks have been so overwhelming it's insane, but y’all are all going thought the same things so I’m sure you understand. I don’t know about you guys but personally, as a guy whose love languages are personal time and physical touch this quarantine period has felt extremely disheartening as if I’m completely separated from everything; my friends, my family(even though we’ve all been stuck in the same house for the past 2 months), and God. So, I think its rather funny how this week’s subject is about these struggles. Granted I don’t think DJ could have dreamed up the struggles going on right now but it's funny how God gave us this week’s topic to tell us we are not alone.

            At the beginning of this week’s sermon DJ talks about the supernatural aspect of believing in the devil and the demonic. I thought this was rather interesting as I personally think that the supernatural is really fun. Real-life demons might not be fun but the idea behind what demons were back then and the whole subject just interests me for some reason, I’m weird, I guess. So, I got hooked into this sermon from the beginning. But I think when he listing off the 2 implications, I really started to see how this message was a gift from God this week.

Implication 1(Personal): “We need no longer fear the evil one in his desire to destroy.”

We don’t need to fear what is coming. Though this may be a stressful time between homework, being confined, and worrying about the future we need not worry. God has it all in his hands and has a plan for the future for each and every one of us. Crazy as it is, this is all part of that plan.

Implication 2(Social): “Jesus has given his disciples his authority over the demonic.”

Sadly, I don’t think this means we have authority over any virus. I don’t think that anyone can go out and demand in God's name that the virus disappears and then SNAP it’ll be gone. I also don’t think this means that just because we believe in God, we are immune to catching the virus. I think here what God is saying to me is that the world is out of my control. I don’t control the government, I don’t control the virus, I don’t control overpriced college education, I don’t control my politics teacher that decided that we need to take a quiz and write 2 essays every week to account for not being in person. Pretty much I control nothing. But I can control how I feel. The stress, the depression, the lack of motivation, all the negative feeling the devil is extending to us through this time, I control whether I harbor them and give the devil what he wants or take the power that God has given me and relieve myself of these feeling by handing them over to God.

            So, I just want to close out by reminding everyone that you are not alone during this time, even if it feels like you are. When you feel lost, alone, worried, and/or depressed just remember that that is the devil trying to discourage you and you have the power to battle back. Go read your Bible, go for a walk, call a friend (and if you feel like you want to talk to someone but you feel like you’re going to be a bother, call me I’m always happy to chat). I’m gonna end this with a quick prayer real quick.

Yahweh, thank you for your faithfulness and power. I just ask that during this time you make your hand evident to your people down here on earth. You know the pain and sorrows we are going through down here and I know you weep for us. So, help us have faith, persistence, and hope during this crazy period in our lives. We know you have a plan for us and that everything that’s happening is part of your righteous plans even if we can’t see it at the moment. Allow us to use this experience to grow in our relationship with you and ourselves so that we can continue to be a beacon of your love for others.

Hope to see y’all soon,

-Trevor