"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Saturday, October 16, 2010
I LOVE Fall!!!
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Thursday, September 23, 2010
10 Personal Growth Questions
Saw this on Perry Nobles website and thought I would share it. Although hard, It is necessary as a Christian to evaluate our personal growth to determine if we are living out biblical principles in our life. I've added a little of personal commentary. Feel free to add yours!
1) Am I reading my Bible for information or transformation? (James 1:22-25)
2) Am I allowing people or circumstances to steal the joy that Jesus promised to me? (John 10:10)
This is a definite yes in my life. I let the busyness of life steal my joy. I have to, on a daily basis, focus my life on God and ask him to give me joy amidst the stresses of life.
3) Is there anything in my life that God is consistently dealing with that I am trying to ignore? (Ezekiel 14:1-5)
I know that God is constantly dealing with my need to control my life. For years I have ignored his working in that area of my life, and even now, that I recognize it, it is a daily struggle to relinquish control. I have found, however, the days that I give up control even if everything is hectic in my life, I have an inner peace knowing that it is not in my control.
4) Who are the people in my life that God has placed around me for the purpose of me sharing Christ with them and/or inviting them to church? (II Corinthians 5:16-21)
I have felt burdened about this lately, especially since we have started our new church service, Pulse. I know that, at law school, I am surrounded by people who need God, and I pray that God will give me boldness to invite them to Pulse.
5) Is there anyone I need to apologize to? (Ephesians 4:25:27)
6) Is there anyone I need to forgive? (Ephesians 4:32)
7) Is there a sin I need to confess to others and ask for help? (James 5:16)
8) Am I fully utilizing the gifts and abilities that God has blessed me with…or am I simply choosing to waste my life? (I Peter 4:10)
One of the greatest fears of mine is that I will get to the end of my life and realize that most of it was spent on things that are meaningless.
9) Do I know more lines from the movies that I love than verse from the Bible that I read? (Psalm 119:11)
10) Is there anything going on in my life privately that, if it became public, would cause me and/or the body of Christ to be embarrassed? (I John 1:9, James 5:16)
1) Am I reading my Bible for information or transformation? (James 1:22-25)
2) Am I allowing people or circumstances to steal the joy that Jesus promised to me? (John 10:10)
This is a definite yes in my life. I let the busyness of life steal my joy. I have to, on a daily basis, focus my life on God and ask him to give me joy amidst the stresses of life.
3) Is there anything in my life that God is consistently dealing with that I am trying to ignore? (Ezekiel 14:1-5)
I know that God is constantly dealing with my need to control my life. For years I have ignored his working in that area of my life, and even now, that I recognize it, it is a daily struggle to relinquish control. I have found, however, the days that I give up control even if everything is hectic in my life, I have an inner peace knowing that it is not in my control.
4) Who are the people in my life that God has placed around me for the purpose of me sharing Christ with them and/or inviting them to church? (II Corinthians 5:16-21)
I have felt burdened about this lately, especially since we have started our new church service, Pulse. I know that, at law school, I am surrounded by people who need God, and I pray that God will give me boldness to invite them to Pulse.
5) Is there anyone I need to apologize to? (Ephesians 4:25:27)
6) Is there anyone I need to forgive? (Ephesians 4:32)
7) Is there a sin I need to confess to others and ask for help? (James 5:16)
8) Am I fully utilizing the gifts and abilities that God has blessed me with…or am I simply choosing to waste my life? (I Peter 4:10)
One of the greatest fears of mine is that I will get to the end of my life and realize that most of it was spent on things that are meaningless.
9) Do I know more lines from the movies that I love than verse from the Bible that I read? (Psalm 119:11)
10) Is there anything going on in my life privately that, if it became public, would cause me and/or the body of Christ to be embarrassed? (I John 1:9, James 5:16)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
New Spring Leadership Conference
This past week, I (Josh) went to an incredible Leadership Conference where I was renewed and inspired. I wanted to share with you a few of the things I came away with. Below are my notes from the various speakers. I encourage you to check out each of the pastors and their churches. They are all doing amazing things for God!
Perry Noble (New Spring Church, Anderson, SC)
If your always' accessible to people then your inaccessible with God.
You can't experience intimacy if you are always going 900 miles an hour
The reason I don't like to get alone with God sometimes is that He always tells me the truth.
Listen to God and do what He says and see what He does next.
Deal with your sin or it's gonna get dealt with.
Don't rejoice in your activities rejoice that your name is written in the book of life.
Judah Smith (The City Church, Seattle, WA)
Jesus has left us in His physical presence and He uses willing vessels. You don't know the then and when.
When you try to make God a mathematical relationship, then He will make sure that your equation doesn't work.
What do you do in the meantime?
The meantime matters to God and what you do in that meantime is what drives your visions and ministry.
Apart from God we will never to get to the next steps or vision that He gives.
Admit that your not there is the first step to getting to the other side.
Just because you are delayed does not mean that your dream is denied. Galatians 6:9
Stay in the boat no matter what the wind and the waves are telling you.
It is by His grace and Love that takes us to where we are supposed to be.
Francis Chan (Cornerstone Church, Simi Valley, CA)
To boast in anything we've done is ridiculous. It is all the hand of God that has placed us exactly where He wants us.
Moses said “God if you don't go with us then I don't want to go there”. Make that my prayer God, that I don't want to go anywhere without you.
That's stuff to brag about.... “I know God” and He answers in the little things.
When we read scripture it seems perfectly normally to not know exactly what happens next.
When you look at your life on the page of scripture does it really look Radical or would you just skip over to the next page.
Philippians 1
The same God that allowed Elijah to call down fire from heaven is the same God that can use someone today to call down fire from heaven.
People will come to God when we know for sure that God has conquered our enemies.
I know my God is coming through so why would I ever be afraid. Satan wants to take your courage and faith away. It's always been about Him not our gifts, leadership, and vision abilities. If satan can take away our courage and boldness, then the world will never notice.
Are people stunned by the boldness of the people of our churches???
Steven Furtick (Elevation Church, Charlotte, NC)
Have we become immune to the firework show that God wants to show in our lives?
Don’t be afraid to do things that no one has ever done.
If no one has laughed at the size of your vision lately, then you are not dreaming big enough.
There is something about immediate obedience the God loves to use.
Some of us have lost our wide-eyed ability to trust God and do what HE is calling us to do.
There are powerful things inside of you that God wants to do through you but in order to do them we have to believe that all things are possible with God.
There’s noting more powerful than one of God's promises in our lives.
Andy Stanley (Northpoint Church, Alpharetta, GA)
Churches gravitate toward insiders not outsiders. Church was never supposed to be for insiders because when the church started there was no such thing.
There should always be something about the church that attracts the culture around us because Jesus attracted the culture around Him.
We must focus externally.
Big church is nothing, growing church is everything.
Church gravitates toward the law and not grace. Churches gravitate toward complexity not simplicity.
God has seen every story and wants to redeem every story.
Acceptance isn't approval but acceptance paves the way to influence.
Jesus by the way that he lived always took the risk with people far from God but did so with grace and truth.
May we be the church in town that people think of when crisis happens.
Partner not pioneer with people that are already doing great ministries that you would never be able to do with excellence.
Churches want to preserve not advance.
Always try to think like a church plant. When we don't we think about all the things we have to lose.
God has not called us to protect anything he has called us to advance.
Jud Wilhite (Central Christian Church, Las Vegas, NV)
May we be called the “church” the people of God that saved my life. 98% of the people polled said that his church had changed their life.
I have to put my hand to the plow and not look back.
The church is the most powerful and important thing happening on the planet.
Jesus sovereignly choose to interact with the woman at the well instead of the ones in power. Reach out to the broken and you will always have an audience.
Who is hurting that we can help and how can we reach those who are not be reached??
Find the Yes, don't stop in your church because of constrictions.
The bolder we become about preaching the truth of who Jesus is the more impact I will have on people's lives that are far from God.
Teach the truth and release it in love. The goal should always be Jesus in whatever we do not us. Tell the truth and don't apologize for it, it is God's truth not ours.
Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill Church, Seattle, WA)
If you want God to use you greatly then He must wound you deeply. You will suffer because of your faithfulness. Jesus suffered so that when we suffer we will become like Him.
God's word always come through God's servants and not His rock-stars.
God must prune before harvest comes. To have a great harvest you have to have a great pruning. Suffering I the way that God prunes the church.
Suffering is correction from a loving father not a angry God.
I must preach out of my loses not my wins.
The closer I get to Christ the more of my sin I see.
Are we in a religious culture where we don’t' think about suffering and shame. We must repent of our religious sins.
The church is a family and like any family we annoy one another.
God uses the church the nobodies from nowhere just like Jesus was to impact the nations.
Perry Noble (New Spring Church, Anderson, SC)
If your always' accessible to people then your inaccessible with God.
You can't experience intimacy if you are always going 900 miles an hour
The reason I don't like to get alone with God sometimes is that He always tells me the truth.
Listen to God and do what He says and see what He does next.
Deal with your sin or it's gonna get dealt with.
Don't rejoice in your activities rejoice that your name is written in the book of life.
Judah Smith (The City Church, Seattle, WA)
Jesus has left us in His physical presence and He uses willing vessels. You don't know the then and when.
When you try to make God a mathematical relationship, then He will make sure that your equation doesn't work.
What do you do in the meantime?
The meantime matters to God and what you do in that meantime is what drives your visions and ministry.
Apart from God we will never to get to the next steps or vision that He gives.
Admit that your not there is the first step to getting to the other side.
Just because you are delayed does not mean that your dream is denied. Galatians 6:9
Stay in the boat no matter what the wind and the waves are telling you.
It is by His grace and Love that takes us to where we are supposed to be.
Francis Chan (Cornerstone Church, Simi Valley, CA)
To boast in anything we've done is ridiculous. It is all the hand of God that has placed us exactly where He wants us.
Moses said “God if you don't go with us then I don't want to go there”. Make that my prayer God, that I don't want to go anywhere without you.
That's stuff to brag about.... “I know God” and He answers in the little things.
When we read scripture it seems perfectly normally to not know exactly what happens next.
When you look at your life on the page of scripture does it really look Radical or would you just skip over to the next page.
Philippians 1
The same God that allowed Elijah to call down fire from heaven is the same God that can use someone today to call down fire from heaven.
People will come to God when we know for sure that God has conquered our enemies.
I know my God is coming through so why would I ever be afraid. Satan wants to take your courage and faith away. It's always been about Him not our gifts, leadership, and vision abilities. If satan can take away our courage and boldness, then the world will never notice.
Are people stunned by the boldness of the people of our churches???
Steven Furtick (Elevation Church, Charlotte, NC)
Have we become immune to the firework show that God wants to show in our lives?
Don’t be afraid to do things that no one has ever done.
If no one has laughed at the size of your vision lately, then you are not dreaming big enough.
There is something about immediate obedience the God loves to use.
Some of us have lost our wide-eyed ability to trust God and do what HE is calling us to do.
There are powerful things inside of you that God wants to do through you but in order to do them we have to believe that all things are possible with God.
There’s noting more powerful than one of God's promises in our lives.
Andy Stanley (Northpoint Church, Alpharetta, GA)
Churches gravitate toward insiders not outsiders. Church was never supposed to be for insiders because when the church started there was no such thing.
There should always be something about the church that attracts the culture around us because Jesus attracted the culture around Him.
We must focus externally.
Big church is nothing, growing church is everything.
Church gravitates toward the law and not grace. Churches gravitate toward complexity not simplicity.
God has seen every story and wants to redeem every story.
Acceptance isn't approval but acceptance paves the way to influence.
Jesus by the way that he lived always took the risk with people far from God but did so with grace and truth.
May we be the church in town that people think of when crisis happens.
Partner not pioneer with people that are already doing great ministries that you would never be able to do with excellence.
Churches want to preserve not advance.
Always try to think like a church plant. When we don't we think about all the things we have to lose.
God has not called us to protect anything he has called us to advance.
Jud Wilhite (Central Christian Church, Las Vegas, NV)
May we be called the “church” the people of God that saved my life. 98% of the people polled said that his church had changed their life.
I have to put my hand to the plow and not look back.
The church is the most powerful and important thing happening on the planet.
Jesus sovereignly choose to interact with the woman at the well instead of the ones in power. Reach out to the broken and you will always have an audience.
Who is hurting that we can help and how can we reach those who are not be reached??
Find the Yes, don't stop in your church because of constrictions.
The bolder we become about preaching the truth of who Jesus is the more impact I will have on people's lives that are far from God.
Teach the truth and release it in love. The goal should always be Jesus in whatever we do not us. Tell the truth and don't apologize for it, it is God's truth not ours.
Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill Church, Seattle, WA)
If you want God to use you greatly then He must wound you deeply. You will suffer because of your faithfulness. Jesus suffered so that when we suffer we will become like Him.
God's word always come through God's servants and not His rock-stars.
God must prune before harvest comes. To have a great harvest you have to have a great pruning. Suffering I the way that God prunes the church.
Suffering is correction from a loving father not a angry God.
I must preach out of my loses not my wins.
The closer I get to Christ the more of my sin I see.
Are we in a religious culture where we don’t' think about suffering and shame. We must repent of our religious sins.
The church is a family and like any family we annoy one another.
God uses the church the nobodies from nowhere just like Jesus was to impact the nations.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Why I'm in Law School
My contribution to the "Students for Public Interest Law' bake sale gone VERY VERY bad!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Without Excuse
"For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood form what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:20
When a good thing becomes a God thing, it's a bad thing.
This morning our church, Immanuel Baptist Church (www.ibc-lex.org) started a new service designed to reach 20s and 30s. It was awesome to see our church taking strides to reach our community, which is full of young professionals. Josh had the privilege of preaching this morning and did a FABULOUS job! God is really using him to help give the church vision.
His message was about the things that we let take the place of God in our hearts. Isn't it so true that we let the mundane, the routine, the temporal things to run our lives and rule our hearts? We let the small things become the big things in our lives. While our jobs and our commitments and our hobbies are not in their nature bad, they can become sin in our lives when they take the place of God. Therefore, to quote my husband, "when a good thing becomes a God thing, it's a bad thing."
What things are you letting take their place on the throne of your heart? A throne only meant for a King!
"You shall have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3
His message was about the things that we let take the place of God in our hearts. Isn't it so true that we let the mundane, the routine, the temporal things to run our lives and rule our hearts? We let the small things become the big things in our lives. While our jobs and our commitments and our hobbies are not in their nature bad, they can become sin in our lives when they take the place of God. Therefore, to quote my husband, "when a good thing becomes a God thing, it's a bad thing."
What things are you letting take their place on the throne of your heart? A throne only meant for a King!
"You shall have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3
Thursday, June 24, 2010
The MARY KAY Opportunity
I know you were all anxiously awaiting the return of our blog, so here it is! We have, believe it or not, been super busy. I actually think I have been busier these last couple weeks than I was when I was in school, if you can believe that. One source of my business is my new job- being a MARY KAY consultant. For those of you who know me well, you are probably a little surprised that I would choose to do this. I am not a huge make-up person nor can I be defined as a social butterfly.
So you ask why Mary Kay?
Well, I did the research and I discovered that I could make some decent money only putting in a couple of hours of work a week. It's a great opportunity for me to make some money while I'm in school and start paying down some student loans and just do some extra fun stuff. Also, I figure if I can grow my business over the next two years of law school, then when I graduate I can work part-time as an attorney and part-time as a Mary Kay consultant. I have been thinking for awhile that I would ideally like to work part-time once I have a family and doing Mary Kay in addition will allow me to do that. After what seems like forever of odds and ends jobs and trying to figure out what I want to do with my life, it seems to be falling into place this summer. Thanks be to God who is faithful on all his promises.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
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