God's Chisel

Coming Home For Christmas

I am excited as I begin to move towards the next chapter in my life. I am not sure what God is going to do or what He is currently doing in me. My heart is constantly being transformed and sometimes even bulldozed by God. He is hitting me right now left and right with ideas and changes, I love it! I know that everything works out for the good so even though I may have to endure some changes everything is going to be alright. I know I have said this more than once but I don't really care for change but I do welcome it none the less.

Leaving Wisconsin and preparing for Costa leaves me full of questions and uncertainty but I am excited! I have enjoyed being here and I am going to love using what I have learned in future ministry work. Whether that is in Costa Rica or even during my 4 months at home. I don't know what God is going to do today or even 4 months from now but He is in control so I will continue to go wherever my desires, passions, and His love lead me. I know God blesses my efforts  towards spreading His Word.


If you have a few extra minutes listen to this awesome music video from the youth band at RiverGlen!

Crazy Love

So I picked up this book again, Crazy Love, after going to a Bible Study last night. Then before I went to bed I started to read Chapter 8 where Francis Chan attempts to describe the profile of the obsessed. Chan is describing what someone's life looks like when they are obsessed with Jesus.

Now that I know what an obsessed person looks like, what makes someone obsessed with Jesus? What words can make someone obsessed? What looks can make someone obsessed? What worship music can make someone obsessed? What sermon can make someone obsessed?

I would dare to say none of the above. God is the only one that can make someone obsessed. We can't make someone obsessed with Jesus, that person has to discover Jesus for themselves but in this crazy world filled with sin it is possible as followers of Christ to be a light of hope.

However in order to be a light we must look different  than the things around us. We can't just blend in with the world there has to be an evident change in our lives, we need to be obsessed with Jesus. We need to love the Lord and love others. We need to love the "unloveable".  We need to forgive those who hurt us deeply. We need to expose our sins and surrender everything over to God.  We need to be faithful to our first love.

So my question is what are you obsessed with? Do you put God's Kingdom above all else or have you created a world in which everything revolves around you (your safety, your status, your money, your family, your security, your looks)?

I stand in awe

It is great to be reminded of how small I truly am and how wonderful and amazing God really is. As I closed the hallway in KidVenture (the children's ministry) today I was brought to a sudden stop when I looked out the window at God's masterpiece in the sky.  The sunset was so beautiful that all I could do was think of our Creator.

While looking out I wondered why God has me on this journey in life and why God seems to care for me and love me so. I see His love for me every day sometimes it is in a sunset and sometimes it is in a note written by a loved one. God's love and grace always seems to amaze me. In response all I can do is say....

Lord, I am Yours,

  and I must belong to no one but You.

My soul is Yours,

  and must live only by You. 

My will is Yours,

 and must love only for You.

I must love You as my first cause,

 since I am from You.

I must love You as my end and rest,

 since I am for You.

I must love You more than my own being,

 since my being subsists by You.

I must love You more than myself,

 since I am all Yours and all in You. 

Amen. 

I know that I am not my own so I will continue on this journey and glorify the Lord. 

(The prayer in this blog is from the Prayer of Saint Francis de Sales)

Life Song

When I was a freshman college I had to give a speech in Composition class about a song that would describe my life and the song I chose is by Jeremy Camp. "Walk by Faith" is my life song. These are the words that I remind myself of daily...I will walk by faith even when I can not see. I never know what is going to happen from one day to the next but I know that He is faithful and I know that He has prepared a way for me. There are times that I can not see through some of life's problems and complications but I know God can see them and I have faith in Him.

Falling Forward

Anyone that knows me really well knows that I cannot walk in straight line. They also know that I tend to fall a lot and I usually end up falling forward (I am accident prone as my mother would say). I never plan on falling forward it just seems to happen. Although, there have been a few incidents when I did have some help falling forward.

Sometimes in life we need help moving forward so instead of stepping forward we end up falling forward. That is how I feel right now, I am falling forward. I asked God for a while now to make it clear to me whether or not I should stay in Wisconsin for an additional 3 months (from January until March), and I received my answer today. I will be leaving Wisconsin come December. I am very thankful for having the opportunity to do an internship here and for my wonderful host family and for the great friends that I have made here. I am not always sure why God keeps me in one place for the amount of time that He does or why He has me leave, but I trust that He is in control. 

My Prayer

Take my Life by Chris Tomlin