Grace, peace, and mercy from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
In addition to my work as a student, God has blessed me with a position as a supervisor in an active security department in my hometown. I am responsible for the safety of thousands of people and the officers on my shift. Incidents related to disorderly and improper conduct generally result in my contact with young people. I have taken time to speak with these youth. Despite the frustrations that they can cause my department, I have learned that these young people are crying out for attention, help, and love in any way they can. Criminal and irresponsible behavior is one of many avenues taken, often times combined with drug and alcohol use and promiscuous behavior.
The Lord convicted my heart last night when I was on patrol and became angry with the behaviors of the young people. I did not lash out, but my heart became angry and embittered. God immediately spoke to me, first warning me about hardening my heart. The heart is the dwelling place of the living God and any bitterness or anger in our hearts will diminish God's voice and negatively impact our relationship with the Lord. Then He spoke to my heart about the teens that had frustrated me moments before. God expressed how His heart ached because of these children. "They are not inconveniences, but broken, injured, emotionally wounded children. They need your love."
And then my heart began to ache as well. Not just because of the sorrows of the children, but because I had allowed my heart to become calloused to their needs. John 13:35 reads, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." And yes, there are times when a stern voice is needed - discipline is a Godly action and attribute. Yet discipline without love is condemnation. God does not condemn those He loves (Romans 8:1) and we are to speak to each other in love (John 13:35).
The world needs Godly men and women, particularly Godly young men and women, to stand boldly for God and be positive role models for these teens. Actors, rappers, celebrities, and gangs have stood up and decided that they would mentor these lost souls. It is time for Christians, young and old, to rise up, serve God by pouring into the hearts of our young people, and battle for the spirits of the next generation.
So are you going to join the battle or watch from the sidelines?
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Craig Amaker
Greetings in the Name of the Lord!
I want to take the opportunity to promote a new album of my brother in the Lord's service, Craig Amaker. He just released a 13 song album entitled "We Lift." This is an album of uninhibited praise to the living God. I had the privilege to backup sing for him on one of the tracks, "We Lift." You can visit www.myspace.com/mincraigamaker to learn more.
Craig will be on the Stephen James Program on August 26, 2008, which airs on 88.7 FM from 5 P.M. to 6 P.M. You can listen online at http://www.wnhu.net/. Alive Through Grace offers its prayers and full support to the ministry of Craig Amaker.
God bless you!
I want to take the opportunity to promote a new album of my brother in the Lord's service, Craig Amaker. He just released a 13 song album entitled "We Lift." This is an album of uninhibited praise to the living God. I had the privilege to backup sing for him on one of the tracks, "We Lift." You can visit www.myspace.com/mincraigamaker to learn more.
Craig will be on the Stephen James Program on August 26, 2008, which airs on 88.7 FM from 5 P.M. to 6 P.M. You can listen online at http://www.wnhu.net/. Alive Through Grace offers its prayers and full support to the ministry of Craig Amaker.
God bless you!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Change our hearts, oh God, make them ever true...
Grace, peace, and mercy from God our Father and our Lord Savior Jesus Christ!
I returned home early this morning from my small journey. And what an awesome journey it was. I had been driving so long that I pulled over in a rest stop to take a nap because I could feel my eyelids drooping. I thank God that He had His hand on my travels, protecting me from all harm.
I left Clifton Heights, PA on Friday morning and drove to Roseland, NJ, where I visited a dear friend, who is a leader in Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) at University of New Haven. She is a wonderful servant of God and she is lovingly called my "assistant," because she is so willing to help me with the ministry. I spent time with her and her family. We had a great time, especially sharing the goals and visions we have for Campus Crusade for Christ this school year. She and I even made a trip to a local Christian bookstore, where we found some more inspiration for CCC.
I left Roseland, NJ and traveled to Kearny, NJ to visit a friend and former co-worker. We ate dinner together, catching up and sharing old stories. He then took me for an aimless drive, using the ride time as more time to talk and share. We drove further from Kearny and closer to Newark, NJ. The neighborhoods grew increasingly dangerous and economically poor. And as my friend was driving, I could sense the emptiness in these neighborhoods. My heart began to ache. "Do the churches do outreach events to the community?" I asked my friend. "Not really," he replied. My heart broke more. Christians know the peace and eternal security that Jesus came to offer. He came that we might have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). How it grieves the very heart of God that this life is not shared with others. You are not your own, you were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). So why hold this life hostage and not let your light shine (read The Silence is Deafening below)?
I had a quiet drive home with my God. God has readied my heart for whatever it is that lies before me. We often pray for God to change our hearts, to conform them to His heart. And if we draw closer to the Lord, we can almost physically feel the change begin to occur. The Word describes the process as dying to ourselves and becoming alive to Christ. (This happens at the point of salvation - we become alive to Christ. However, dying to self continues and is a part of sanctification, the process by which God makes us more and more holy.) I pray that you, my brothers and sisters, are alive to Christ and dead to yourselves. I pray that this process would be a continuous one in your lives and mine.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come!
I returned home early this morning from my small journey. And what an awesome journey it was. I had been driving so long that I pulled over in a rest stop to take a nap because I could feel my eyelids drooping. I thank God that He had His hand on my travels, protecting me from all harm.
I left Clifton Heights, PA on Friday morning and drove to Roseland, NJ, where I visited a dear friend, who is a leader in Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) at University of New Haven. She is a wonderful servant of God and she is lovingly called my "assistant," because she is so willing to help me with the ministry. I spent time with her and her family. We had a great time, especially sharing the goals and visions we have for Campus Crusade for Christ this school year. She and I even made a trip to a local Christian bookstore, where we found some more inspiration for CCC.
I left Roseland, NJ and traveled to Kearny, NJ to visit a friend and former co-worker. We ate dinner together, catching up and sharing old stories. He then took me for an aimless drive, using the ride time as more time to talk and share. We drove further from Kearny and closer to Newark, NJ. The neighborhoods grew increasingly dangerous and economically poor. And as my friend was driving, I could sense the emptiness in these neighborhoods. My heart began to ache. "Do the churches do outreach events to the community?" I asked my friend. "Not really," he replied. My heart broke more. Christians know the peace and eternal security that Jesus came to offer. He came that we might have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). How it grieves the very heart of God that this life is not shared with others. You are not your own, you were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). So why hold this life hostage and not let your light shine (read The Silence is Deafening below)?
I had a quiet drive home with my God. God has readied my heart for whatever it is that lies before me. We often pray for God to change our hearts, to conform them to His heart. And if we draw closer to the Lord, we can almost physically feel the change begin to occur. The Word describes the process as dying to ourselves and becoming alive to Christ. (This happens at the point of salvation - we become alive to Christ. However, dying to self continues and is a part of sanctification, the process by which God makes us more and more holy.) I pray that you, my brothers and sisters, are alive to Christ and dead to yourselves. I pray that this process would be a continuous one in your lives and mine.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Ring the Bells
Grace, peace, and mercy from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
The Lord has led me out to Pennsylvania, where I have been spending some time with some Godly people. I left Connecticut on Tuesday and traveled to south central Pennsylvania, not too far from Harrisburg. On my journey, I could just sense the very presence of God as he began to calm my heart and prepare me for what lay ahead. After five hours on the road, I was ready to hear what God wanted to speak into my life.
I reached my first destination where I met a former deacon in my former church (lots of formers) and his wife. As I walked into their new home, I could sense the peace of God. Their house was not just a home, but a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit. I spent two days with them, sharing with each other about the goodness of the Lord. We even visited a Christian theater company, which certainly caught my interest. When people honor God, their very words can bring sweet renewal and their presence can breathe life into your being. I certainly left their home renewed and vivacious.
The next part of my journey brought me to Philadelphia. The drive east to Philadelphia was an amazing one. God spoke some very personal things to my heart. We laughed together too - God definitely has a sense of humor. I asked God to remove from my heart the desire that I have to smoke cigarettes. I feel that He has - I have not had one since Tuesday morning.
I arrived in Philadelphia and visited the Liberty Bell right away. There is something about that bell that I love. It symbolizes the freedom that Americans so deeply value. The Liberty Bell historically rang for several reasons. For example, the bell may have sounded to call a meeting or to call the militia to prepare for battle. It may also have rung to celebrate freedom or a victory. And like the Liberty Bell, the resurrection of Jesus is the key to the gates of freedom for Christians. Like the bell sounded for victory, the resurrection was the victory over death. And as the bell called soldiers to assemble and prepare for battle, the resurrection has resulted in Godly warriors who battle temptation and the enemy on a daily basis.
After my visit to the Liberty Bell, I walked a few blocks to visit the surrounding areas. I visited some shops, walked through some parks, and ate a true Philadelphia lunch (Philly cheese steak). After lunch, I head over to the National Constitution Center and took a self-guided walking tour. I took some time to learn about the founding fathers of our country. American students are required to learn about our wonderful history that resulted in liberty. Yet, how many Christians really know about the founding fathers of our faith? I know that I do not know nearly as much as I would like. I urge us all to learn about the founding fathers and the Founding Father of our faith. History books teach us about political and economical freedom and we are required to read them. Yet the Word teaches us about our freedom from sin and death - how much do we know about that book?
I left Philadelphia and traveled to a nearby town to visit a friend of mine from my former church. His parents are missionaries and he spent quite some time in South America in the early years of his life as his parents responded to God's call on their lives. It had been about four years since we had last spoken and we spent time catching up with each other. We have spent our time sharing what God is doing in our lives and what has happened to us over the past years. It has been very refreshing. I am writing this post to you at his apartment. I leave tomorrow to continue my journey to visit a good friend of mine in New Jersey.
I write these things because I am excited to share what the Lord is doing and in hopes that these words may encourage you. Brothers and sisters, God is alive. He is the same personal God today just as He was to the founding fathers of our faith. Ring the Liberty Bell, sound the trumpets, hear the praises of the angels, the Lord God Almighty reigns!
The Lord has led me out to Pennsylvania, where I have been spending some time with some Godly people. I left Connecticut on Tuesday and traveled to south central Pennsylvania, not too far from Harrisburg. On my journey, I could just sense the very presence of God as he began to calm my heart and prepare me for what lay ahead. After five hours on the road, I was ready to hear what God wanted to speak into my life.
I reached my first destination where I met a former deacon in my former church (lots of formers) and his wife. As I walked into their new home, I could sense the peace of God. Their house was not just a home, but a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit. I spent two days with them, sharing with each other about the goodness of the Lord. We even visited a Christian theater company, which certainly caught my interest. When people honor God, their very words can bring sweet renewal and their presence can breathe life into your being. I certainly left their home renewed and vivacious.
The next part of my journey brought me to Philadelphia. The drive east to Philadelphia was an amazing one. God spoke some very personal things to my heart. We laughed together too - God definitely has a sense of humor. I asked God to remove from my heart the desire that I have to smoke cigarettes. I feel that He has - I have not had one since Tuesday morning.
I arrived in Philadelphia and visited the Liberty Bell right away. There is something about that bell that I love. It symbolizes the freedom that Americans so deeply value. The Liberty Bell historically rang for several reasons. For example, the bell may have sounded to call a meeting or to call the militia to prepare for battle. It may also have rung to celebrate freedom or a victory. And like the Liberty Bell, the resurrection of Jesus is the key to the gates of freedom for Christians. Like the bell sounded for victory, the resurrection was the victory over death. And as the bell called soldiers to assemble and prepare for battle, the resurrection has resulted in Godly warriors who battle temptation and the enemy on a daily basis.
After my visit to the Liberty Bell, I walked a few blocks to visit the surrounding areas. I visited some shops, walked through some parks, and ate a true Philadelphia lunch (Philly cheese steak). After lunch, I head over to the National Constitution Center and took a self-guided walking tour. I took some time to learn about the founding fathers of our country. American students are required to learn about our wonderful history that resulted in liberty. Yet, how many Christians really know about the founding fathers of our faith? I know that I do not know nearly as much as I would like. I urge us all to learn about the founding fathers and the Founding Father of our faith. History books teach us about political and economical freedom and we are required to read them. Yet the Word teaches us about our freedom from sin and death - how much do we know about that book?
I left Philadelphia and traveled to a nearby town to visit a friend of mine from my former church. His parents are missionaries and he spent quite some time in South America in the early years of his life as his parents responded to God's call on their lives. It had been about four years since we had last spoken and we spent time catching up with each other. We have spent our time sharing what God is doing in our lives and what has happened to us over the past years. It has been very refreshing. I am writing this post to you at his apartment. I leave tomorrow to continue my journey to visit a good friend of mine in New Jersey.
I write these things because I am excited to share what the Lord is doing and in hopes that these words may encourage you. Brothers and sisters, God is alive. He is the same personal God today just as He was to the founding fathers of our faith. Ring the Liberty Bell, sound the trumpets, hear the praises of the angels, the Lord God Almighty reigns!
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