The Critic!

The longer I'm in ministry, the more aware I have become of critics. Critics in church, outside of church, in business, in politics, in life, online, in person, etc etc. People who have ideas on how to do "ministry" or life better, so they think. Things that we do that we shouldn't. Things we don't do that we should. Things that may or may not have been said. People having advice that may or may not be productive or necessary. People being offended. People that hate Christians...the list goes on. This occurs in every ministry, business, or area of life. Everywhere you turn, there is a critic.

As I've talked to Pastor's about the criticism they've received or have noticed how they've reacted to criticism, I find a common denominator. It doesn't matter that there are 100 people encouraging you for helping them in their relationship with God. It always seems to be that one person that offers their criticism that discourages you or plants the seed of doubt, anger, or frustration in your soul. It's hard to ignore because that one person can easily rattle your brain. You want to defend yourself or feel like you have a great response for your critic. So you respond, maybe even appropriately. But the fact remains. They are a critic. They always will be a critic, whether they know you personally or not.

Here's the facts. If you are doing any kind of ministry, in the church world or not; if you are doing any kind of good deed for someone else, there is always going to be some kind of criticism. Why you may ask? It's because we live in a fallen world with imperfect people. Satan hates what you are doing. My dad use to always say, "If you don't have any opposition in any form, you probably aren't doing Kingdom work." That is because we have a very real opponent who will do whatever he can to discourage or distract you from doing what God has called you to do. Gene Edwards puts it this way, "There is no kingdom without discord. Even God had his critics in heaven, you know." Wow! We forget that Satan is a constant gnat; a fallen angel. He is your biggest critic and he will work through anyone at any time, even the closest people around you. Remember, we are in a spiritual battle, not a flesh and blood battle. The opposition knows you better than you know yourself. With that in mind, keep plowing fields. Keep focusing on Jesus. Keep praising God because the critics never stop!

Angel Of Light

Last night I taught my students on the subject of being fearless. Satan's goal is to destroy us but he doesn't want us to realize our power in Christ. When it comes to spiritual warfare, especially for teenagers, it's easy to put the devil into one of two categories. We either fear him and put an emphasis on his 'power' or we completely ignore the existence of his reality.

Ephesians 6 talks about putting on the full armor of God. What that really means is knowing and memorizing Scripture. But have you ever noticed the 'armor' described in this passage? It protects the 'soldier' from head to toe but it only covers the front. It leaves the 'soldiers' back completely exposed. In war, this was the case to discourage any warrior from fleeing the battle. If one fled, they most likely would be killed because nothing protected their backside. Armor was meant to face your opponent head on! The same is true in Christianity. God gives us the power of His Word and when we put it to heart we can stand our ground, standing firm in the Lord, facing Satan head on! The moment we turn and flee in fear is the moment he defeats us. Be encouraged, God has given you the ability to face your opponent head on. Stand firm! Isaiah 7:9 says, "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all!"

In 2 Corinthians 11:14, Satan is called the angel of light. That is a crazy thought. Satan literally will disguise himself as an angel of light. His lies won't always seem like lies because they sound good, tolerant, and politically correct but just because they sound nice, doesn't make them true. Lecrae says it this way, "A wolf is no less a wolf because he's dressed in sheepskin and the devil is no less the devil because he's dressed as an angel."

But here's how you see right through Satan. Knowing Scripture! Are you the type of person who believes everything you hear because it sounds good? Or do you seek and memorize what the Bible actually says? When you let the Word of God manifest in your heart, it changes the way you view life. It changes the way you view people. It changes the way you view Satan!

All Have Sinned

If there is a message that I want to get out more than anything else, it would be a message of grace through the love of Jesus Christ. I believe that there are many people today who don't fully understand the amazing reality of grace. They feel condemned, unworthy, and lost. They are overpowered by guilt, discouragement, and shame. It doesn't help that all people, including Christians, are hypocrites to some degree. No one has their life together but we all like to front like we do. Maybe if we look happy, dress well, and speak Christianese, no one will ask us the tough questions and everyone will assume we are the 'perfect Christian or family'. I don't know why we like to fool each other, even in our walks with Christ. The more open you are about your brokenness, the more useful you are for the Kingdom of God. Remember, it is impossible to reach broken people if you yourself have not been broken.

When you hear of the Romans Road way of evangelism the first verse that comes to mind is Romans 3:23. I would assume that all Christians know this verse. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This is true. Most people believe that 'Christians' are supposed to be perfect and therefore are just a bunch of hypocrites. But that's the problem, no one is perfect. That is why we need Jesus, daily. See, we all know Romans 3:23 but I'd be curious to know how many of us know Romans 3:24? I think it is wrong to quote 3:23 without quoting 3:24! Verse 23 says again, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Verse 24 continues that thought and says, "AND ALL are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Pretty much we all suck, Christians included. But we all have grace given to us freely because of what Jesus did. And without knowing Jesus, it is impossible to know grace...it is impossible to be free!

Tullian Tchividjian explains grace this way, "The operation of God's grace on our behalf doesn't imply any lessening of his demands. God has always and will always demand perfect obedience. But his grace is experienced when we realize that those demands for perfection for each of us have already been met by our Savior, Jesus. Jesus fulfilled all of God's conditions on our behalf. Christianity is the only faith system where God BOTH makes the demands AND meets them." Wow. Take a moment to marinate in that. The point is, it's all about grace. Our obedience should not be a result of fear or guilt rather, we obey from the secure basis of grace. Your obedience then becomes the natural overflow of your love for Christ.

Thankful

In a year that has been the most crazy and inconsistent for me, I have a lot to be thankful for. First perspective, I'm alive and healthy. I have supportive and loving parents, who I miss greatly, but I'm thankful for the time we get to have together. Each year my brothers leave a bigger impact on my life and I'm thankful for the kind of men they are.

However, this blog post I want to focus on where God has me right now. I can honestly say for the first time in 2 years that I am content with where God has me. I'm not wondering about what's going to happen next in my life or where God is going to lead me or how this season is going to set me up for the next great adventure. God has truly blessed me by putting some incredible people in my life. I am blown away by the generosity, the genuine love, and the amount of fun I am having doing ministry with the people of Cornerstone Church. I'm excited for what God is going to do in and through us this year. I'm excited for the people who are going to hear Jesus. I'm excited for the people who are going to be blessed through our generosity. I'm excited to see a small church in southern Indiana blow up the nations for the Gospel of Christ. I'm thankful and expectant. I'm ready, are you?

On Our Face

The book of Ezekiel has been rocking me lately. As I shared last week about the impossible mission he was given, I find many lessons that we can learn. It is also encouraging to note that he went through many of the emotional roller-coasters that we go through today. This post however is about a moment he had in the presence of the Lord. In the first chapter, verses 26-28, we see this encounter. I hope it challenges you as much as it did me. It says, "Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I (Ezekiel) saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking."

First things first, God sits on a throne. This is a throne of glory, a throne of grace, a throne of triumph, a throne of government, and a throne of judgment. He is King, Holy, and Sovereign! He reigns over all. All while sitting. God is not standing, pacing, or worrying about the mistakes going on in mankind. He is sitting, in charge, reigning with His feet up on the ottoman (Hebrews 1:13). In this picture from Ezekiel, the Lord is surrounded by a rainbow, which is the symbol of His covenant, representing God's mercy and love to His people. We need to stop thinking that God is upset at us. He is a good God, a loving God, and deeply cares about you. His mercy and grace covers you at all times. There is nothing you can do that can separate that (Romans 8)! Maybe you need to just dwell on that this morning...

But what I want to focus on today is this...What Ezekiel the prophet of God saw was only to prepare him for what he was to hear! It was only when he fell on his face that he heard the voice of God. God delights in teaching those who humble themselves before Him. When was the last time you fell on your face in worship? In praise? In prayer? Or in love over the simple fact that He shed His blood for you?

When Discouragement Hits The Fan

Discouragement is something that I believe everyone battles, especially believers. I have pointed out before that the devil works in four ways. Through pride, fear, shame, and discouragement. There is nothing that will satisfy the devil more than when we face discouragement. If we let it, it will affect our walk with God, our ministry, our friendships, our families, and the way we evangelize. When you get down in the dumps, it's easy to not want to do anything that will impact anyone for the Gospel of Christ. This is the place where the devil wants us most! Ineffective for the Kingdom of God because we are disappointed about something or our expectations were not met. We then walk around feeling sorry for ourselves as if we have the power to 'save' anyone anyways. News Flash: the only way someone finds Jesus is if Jesus softens their heart to hearing His message. Our only responsibility is to live like we know Jesus and preach His good news of the Cross. That's it! Everything else will fall into place. Sometimes we just need to realize that we are not the heros; we are only the messengers. Simply mail-men constantly being chased and harassed by the devils dogs. Discouragement is common, but sometimes you just need to kick it in the teeth and remind yourself that you are a child of the King!

I have been studying Ezekiel lately and the Lord has given me a new perspective and appreciation for the ministry that many of us get to be apart of now. In the first 3 chapters God told Ezekiel to go back to the Israelites and preach His Word because they were acting rebellious. He warned Ezekiel to not rebel like them or be afraid but to stand firm and continue to preach whether they listen or not. God then tells him, by the way, the people of Israel will not listen to you for they are hardened and obstinate.  At the end of chapter 2 after he had received the mission from the Lord, it says that Ezekiel went in bitterness and in the anger of his spirit; he sat near the Kebar River for 7 days deeply distressed and overwhelmed! 

Imagine being given that ministry job. God tells Ezekiel to go and preach boldly but he won't see anyone convert, no repentance, no heart change...nothing. Ezekiel is not going to see anything positive. You don't blame him for getting bitter and angry. You understand the discouragement he must have faced. Of course he is going to be overwhelmed and distressed. He's literally doing mission impossible. But that's not the point. God told him to go and he obeyed!

We don't save anyone. Our only mission is to be obedient to God. I thank God that I actually get to see the fruit of His Word. Maybe you are in a season in your church where it seems like nothing is progressing. The fact is, your situation isn't as bad as it seems. You will see life change in the name of Jesus. Are you willing to obey Him? Are you willing to keep going, keep living, keep preaching the name of Jesus? If so, you've already won because Jesus has already won!

Black Holes

There are a lot of books out there that say the same things in different ways. Sometimes, it is those perspectives or different ways of hearing things that finally strike the chords in our lives that cause breakthrough. In Pastor Tullian Tchividjian's book Jesus + Nothing = Everything, he says some things that really challenged me as a young youth pastor. I encourage you to get yourself a copy!

In chapter 4 titled Black Holes he says, "Our performancism leads to pride when we succeed and to despair when we fail. But ultimately it leads to slavery either way, because it becomes all about us and what we must do to establish our own identity instead of resting in Jesus...the most dangerous thing that can happen to you is that you become proud of your obedience." Our obedience proves our love for Him (John 14:15). It should be something that is natural for us as believers but rarely do we obey the FIRST time God speaks! When we do obey immediately, we begin to feel pretty good about our obedience because it doesn't happen as often or as naturally as it should. What a wake up call! Tchividjian goes on to talk about the beauty of grace by saying, "Disobedience happens not when we think too much of grace, but when we think too little of it...Progress in obedience happens only when our hearts realize that God's love for us does not depend on our progress in obedience."

Man, I've been in that place a lot before. Thinking that God loves me more when I'm obedient and the opposite when I screw up. Maybe you've thought those things too. Maybe you too have been impressed with your obedience. But that is not the Gospel. Again, grace is way more amazing when fully understood. My obedience does not gain love. My disobedience does not lose love. In terms of 'justice', we don't deserve grace but it's my understanding of grace that brings freedom. The true kind of freedom that Christianity talks about. Doctrine and theology are important but I know way too many people who know a lot of doctrine and theology but don't know who Jesus is. The law was fulfilled when Jesus said, "It is finished!" Live in His grace today because nothing you do can separate you from the love of God (Romans 8:35).

Success

For me, as a young youth pastor, it's easy to get caught up in or strive for 'success'. Success can be a wide range of things but one of my favorite quotes on success is one by Henry Blackaby. He says, "Success can distract you as you seek to follow God's will." Tony Miller says it this way, "We are hindered by our last great success because we believe that's the only way God can do it again." Wow, think about that. We can actually be so caught up in our 'success' that we either stop seeking daily after God or, we never change or do anything different because it worked so well before.

In ministry, it's not about a spectacular experience but about a sincere and faithful heart towards God. Do you rely more on the momentum that you have created to carry your ministry, marriage, friendships, etc. When was the last time you stopped to listen what it is that God has for you today? Focus on your own walk with God, then watch as others will benefit from your obedience!

Recovering Legalist

I was visiting Willow Creek Community Church a month ago in the middle of a transition in my life. I was really looking forward to hearing from Pastor Bill Hybels when Steven Curtis Chapman was brought out on stage to do a morning of worship and share some of his life stories. Now if you're anything like me, you would have been immediately disappointed and wondered how a morning of worship with an outdated, old school, corny Christian songwriter would impact your life but I was so very wrong!

First off, you never know where someone is going until you know where they've been. You never really know what someone is going through or how their life experiences have changed them. We are so quick to judge based on what we see with our own eyes without really trying to understand how or why people react the way they do. I had heard of some of the horrible stories that happened to the Chapman family but when you really get to hear from someone why they wrote a certain song or how they hold onto God even in the darkest moments of their life you find a new perspective and appreciation for them. This particular Sunday morning rocked me in an unexpected way.

Steven Curtis Chapman would profess himself as a recovering legalist. He grew up in the Church and knew all the right things to do and say. He found himself judging others and trying to stay in line with the traditions of the Bible, all wrapped around the idea of doing enough good and 'earning' your salvation. The sad reality is that this sounds like many of the "Christians" who attend churches today. We compare ourselves constantly and have a cheap understanding of grace. We think that if we do enough good, 'bad' things won't happen to us and we'll live in our comfortable, middle-class homes, doing just enough 'church' to get by without conviction. We really ignore all the bases of love and rarely inconvenience ourselves to serve. Unfortunately we miss several opportunities to share the love of Christ daily.

Maybe you're a recovering legalist and you don't understand the Gospel fully, or you don't want to give some things up in your life that you deem as necessary, or you feel too judged or not 'good enough'. Whatever your excuse may be, God wants to communicate two things with you: that He loves you right where you are, and are you willing to trust Him?

Why I'll Always Be Part Of A Church That Needs Money - By Jud Wilhite

Here is a different perspective on generosity that was written by Jud Wilhite, a Pastor in Las Vegas. This is why we as believers should be the first to serve others with our finances. Not only is it biblical, but we could be missing out on the opportunity to bless others and honor God...

A while back someone sent me this story written by Don Linscott on why he is glad his church needs money. I found it very powerful and a good perspective for churches and members doing their best to faithfully be the hands and feet of Jesus to a hurting world.

Here is his story:

On July 23, 1970, my wife, Connie, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. For three years we had tried unsuccessfully to start a family so our joy was great with the arrival of what was to be our only biological child. We later adopted a daughter. Lance was born before it became acceptable for the father to be present in the delivery room. (A fact for which I have ever been grateful!)

I waited in the hallway just outside the delivery room. At precisely 4:13 p.m., I heard a sound I will never forget, Lance’s first cry. The nurse emerged with a smile and said, “You have a baby boy.”

I casually responded, “Yes, I know.” I had never doubted we would have a son. I could hardly wait to get Connie and Lance out of the hospital and back home so I could get my hands on them.

The wonderful glow of fatherhood was soon dimmed, however, when I was asked to visit the business office of the hospital. They wanted me to pay for Lance! In fact, it seemed to me that my wife and child might be held hostage until the hospital bill was settled. I wrote the check paying all the expenses in full, freed my family, and we made our escape. That check turned out to be only the first of hundreds, maybe thousands, I would write on Lance’s behalf.

Children are expensive. There was formula and food to buy. Doctor visits and vaccinations assaulted my banking account. Diapers and toys took their toll. And clothes were a constant drain. Just about the time we built a great wardrobe for the kid, he would grow, forcing us to start all over again.

As his age and size increased so did the expenses. Soon it was baseball gloves, Nike shoes and uniforms. There were glasses for his eyes and braces for his teeth. And then, disaster struck.

Lance became a teenager! Now it was cars and dates and name-brand clothes. Then came college. Lance had always, and only, wanted to be an architect. It seemed to me he would be in school until he was forty-two years old. Expenses soared! Tuition, books, and drawing tools led the long list of essential expenditures. But, of course, just like parents everywhere, we were happy to be able to help him and we did all we could to support his growth and his dreams.

And then, one day, Lance died.

On Halloween Day, 1991, we buried twenty-one-year-old Lance in our church’s country cemetery. That afternoon we walked away from his grave and since that day we have never spent another nickel on Lance.

That’s how I learned it.

Death is cheap. Death can be sustained without expense. It is living that is costly. It is growth that is expensive. Our dreams, visions, and hopes require sacrifice. Death doesn’t!

That’s why I will always belong to a church that needs money.

A living, growing, thriving church will always require the continual, consistent, and conscientious financial support of its members.

Acts 21

Have you ever had someone tell you what God's will is or try to manipulate God's calling on your life? Here's the fact: God sometimes uses people to help direct you in the way you should go or spark some kind of interest in your life but unless God reveals things to you, no one can tell you God's will for your life. If God says something to someone else, I'm sure He will let you know!

Or maybe you have someone discouraging you from doing what you feel God has called you to do. Don't be discouraged because it happens a lot. In fact, it happened in Acts 21. Starting in verse 10 it says, "A prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, 'The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.' When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, 'Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.' When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, 'The Lord's will be done.'"

The people tried to discourage Paul from doing what He felt God calling him to do. However, Paul was willing and ready to die for the name of Jesus Christ. Family and friends may try to persuade you to stay close to them when and if God calls you elsewhere. People will discourage you from selling everything and being bold in your faith, following Jesus wholeheartedly. People will claim you need to get educated, a good job, raise a solid family, etc. All those are great things and that may be what God wants you to do, but don't let those things distract you if you feel God is calling you to do missions or ministry elsewhere. Apostle Jamie Englehart says, "Unhealthy family ties resulted in Jonathan dying in battle next to Saul instead of dinning in royalty next to David. Loyalty to family comes second to loyalty to the Kingdom!" We should never discourage people from doing what they believe God has called them to do. "The Lord's will be done" should be our first response, not our last. God will lead you but you must be willing to follow where ever and whenever! Be bold and trust. God never forsakes those who seek Him (Psalm 9:10).

Quick To Hear

I've experienced leadership in all kinds of aspects: the good, the bad; the humble, the proud; the hard working, the lazy...the list goes on. There are all kinds of character traits that make up a solid leader but for me, the most important are threefold. Someone I want to follow as they follow Christ is a leader who is humble, a leader who constantly learns, and a leader who listens! For me, listening is so important and I'm not just talking about being still and quiet while someone else is speaking. I'm talking about the genuine care, "I'm actually concerned with what you have to say" kind of listening. I find this huge working with students. I quickly have found out that most of the time the 'thing' that the student is sharing isn't really the 'thing' that needs to be addressed. Often times what they struggle with is much deeper, and if you actually listen to what they are saying you will be able to get to the root of the problem; which usually leads to how they view God, or a lie that they've believed.

In the movie Bowling for Columbine there is an interview between Michael Moore and Marilyn Manson right after the shootings at Columbine High School. Marilyn Manson was taking a lot of heat because of his musical style and lyrics and he was being blamed for the horrible incident. It was an interesting conversation that the two had. Moore asks Manson, "If you were to talk directly to the kids at Columbine or the people in the community, what would you say to them if they were here right now?" Manson simply responded, "I wouldn't say a single word to them, I would listen to what they have to say and that's what no one did!" That response threw me off big time. I think these types of people in history were never really given a chance, maybe because no one wanted to listen to them because they were 'different'. Or maybe it's because we like to act like we don't struggle with anything and have life all figured out.

The fact of the matter is we all have a voice but no one is willing to shut up and listen. Few are willing to let go of the busyness of life and build into relationships. James 1 says to be quick to hear and slow to speak but in today's society, we are wired to talk over each other and voice our every opinion. Many forget that for 30 years Jesus observed, learned, and listened before He started His ministry. Leaders might have some great things to say and they often cast great vision, resulting in followers. But the day the leader stops learning and listening is the day he or she stops leading!

When Grief Strikes

Today, our family had to put down the dog that we have loved for 12 years. Her breed, the Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier is one of the best kept secrets among dog owners. She was a great dog and well loved and will leave us with many fond memories! I think the hardest part for me is seeing the affects that it has on my family as a whole. I say that because this has been the year from hell for our family. We have all been attacked and gone through the emotional stages that life often brings us but rarely is my first response to give God the glory. Here's a thought...When tragedy or hardships strike, do we immediately worship the Creator?

We all know the story of Job and the affliction he faced but I noticed something for the first time recently. In the first chapter, he is informed four times by four surviving servants of the loss to his oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, servants, sons, and daughters. Then verse 20 says: At this, he fell to the ground and worshipped! Wait, what?! The very first thing he did after he received the horrible news of the tragedy that literally took everything from him was he worshipped God. I read that and think about the trails and hardships I have faced and rarely do I worship immediately. There are countless stories throughout the Bible that show men and women worshipping God immediately after tragedy. Jeremiah worshipped after God used the Babylonians to judge Judah, Habakkuk worshipped at the reality of his abandonment, David worshipped following the death of his child, and Jesus worshipped in the Garden right before he was crucified. The point is, our first response should be worship in the face of tragedy. Unfortunately for me, it hasn't been.

Grief however, is something we all will experience. Grief is normal and apart of the recovery process but our attitude in our moments of grief determine our worship. After a conversation with my friend Reggi, he explained that there are three responses when life hits rock bottom and I wanted to expand on them. Our first response is we either question God with why He allowed this to happen or blame Him and turn from our 'faith'. Sometimes things happen and we don't understand why, nor will we ever receive an explanation but know this: God is more concerned with your development as a believer than He is with delivering you from your circumstances. Our second response may be that we begin to understand that God knows what we are going through. He knows how we feel and therefore we see God as sympathizing with us. We are comforted by His grace and are able to persevere through our moments of grief. The third response towards grief is being able to sympathize with God. We often times forget of what Christ actually went through. We forget how bad it was for Him! We forget that the religious people didn't like him, that His message was ignored, and that He constantly was mocked. We forget that He experienced the betrayal of one of his disciples, a man that He loved and had experienced life with. We forget that He paid our penalty on the cross and suffered more than any of us ever will. Our response to the grief we experience and the hardships we endure should be that we now have an idea of what Christ went through. God, I thank you for the hard moments because it gives me a glimpse of what you actually endured! "Our grief should cause us to sympathize with Christ!"

I Don't Understand?

One of the biggest lessons and challenges in Christianity is to be obedient to God even if it doesn't make sense. I do know that even when we don't understand, God has a much bigger purpose. You will one day look back and see that God had a plan all along and that the journey He took you on was building your trust in Him. The greatest thing I can do when I get discouraged or don't have clarity on an issue is to look at God's past faithfulness in my life. He always brings me through the trials and difficulties, so why do I still question Him?

God wants praise, in the great seasons of life and the tough seasons. God wants us to be an example of love, grace, and sacrifice so that people will see Him in us. David Platt says, "God blesses the human race, not because of any merit or inherent worth in us, but simply out of pure, unadulterated grace. God created humankind to enjoy his grace in a relationship with him, but also to extend his glory to the ends of the earth." The reality is, God initiates the relationship with us. We only need to respond. In that response, we have great freedom yet great responsibility to bring God glory in all things...living in grace, while extending his glory. 1 Corinthians 5:21 says, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus BECAME so that we could BECOME.

With that being said, the Lord is leading me away from Valley Church. I don't know where or why but I do know that God is in control and He had this planned from the beginning. I absolutely love the staff and they have been nothing less than family to me. I will miss you all! I love the volunteer leaders we have in the student ministry. You are all amazing and going to do incredible things for the Kingdom of God as long as you keep focused in prayer and seek after God in every area of your life. To the students: You have all impacted my own walk with God tremendously. The week of camp we had will go down as one of the greatest moments in my life. To see the Lord work in you guys throughout the week and to actually see the heart change was incredible. I'm so glad God called some of you into a relationship with Him and others of you into full time ministry or missions. You all have the ability and potential to rock a generation with the Gospel of Christ! Stay focused, stay obedient, and trust that God is in control. The journey He takes you on is so amazing and worth every tear and heartbreak...even the tough lessons you will learn. To everyone else that walked into my life here at Valley, I appreciate your kindness and love.

Sometimes our expectations don't line up or our personal preference gets in the way. Other times, God just calls you elsewhere and you don't understand the unknown questions or reasons for why He does things. The only requirement of me is obedience. God is more concerned with my obedience and character as a follower of Him than where I do ministry. The same is true for you. It's not about who leads but about following the ultimate leader, Jesus Christ. God wants all your heart. Not half, not 99%...all of it! Are you willing to give up the fancy things, the friendships, and your 'rights' to walk with Christ and obey Him in every area of your life? I can't control how people will think of me or what they will say but that's not for me to be concerned about. I don't know why God does or allows the things He does but who are we to question Him or claim to know how He works? (Isaiah 55:8-9) It just comes down to trust. I wish you all the best! I am always a phone call or Facebook message away. Much love, Cory!

Con or Man

Lately I have been religiously watching the show White Collar. It's about a former con man turned FBI consultant named Neil Caffrey. In season 2, there is a scene where Neil is contemplating his old lifestyle when one of his friends says, "You can either be a con or a man, but you can't be both." It was a simple sentence but it completely changed the thought process. He was given a choice: either to fall back into his old habits; lying and stealing for his own benefit or continue in the lifestyle that gave him new meaning to his life, one that was filled with honesty and responsibility for his actions.

The same is true with Christianity. There are many people who claim to be Christ followers yet their lifestyle rejects Him. The choice is extremely simple: either keep living in sin with guilt and the 'not good enough' falsehood, going back to momentary pleasures that never satisfy or surrender your life to Christ; depending on Him for grace, love, and guidance. I say the choice is simple because it is. We often get caught up in the 'things' you must give up or the so called 'rules' that you think you have to live by, but the choice is still simple. You see, when you understand the cross and what Jesus did for you, love begins to make sense. You realize that you can't earn your salvation and your heart begins to soften. Then God begins to change your wants and desires to match up with His. The Bible isn't a rulebook, it's the guidebook to life and life to the fullest. You either are going to make the choice to reject Christ or accept Him, but the choice must be made. The choice is simple, the process will be difficult, but the reward is eternal. You can either be for God or against Him, but you can't be both!

When you live a life above reproach with full integrity, people notice. One of the greatest defensemen of all time is current Detroit Red Wing captain Nick Lidstrom. In fact, not only is he great at what he does but he has the entire leagues respect. Coach Mike Babcock is quoted saying this about him, "I think the number one most impressive thing about Nick Lidstrom is the kind of man he is and when you see him around his family, around his teammates, and in the community, how can anyone that good be that humble."

What type of person are you?

Fan Mail - By Shaun Groves

I was twenty-four and I knew everything. I had a diploma from a university where I’d studied music composition.
I moved to Nashville to save the Christian music industry – starting as an unpaid intern wearing a tie, making copies at a music publishing company. But someday, I thought, I’ll ditch this suit, and get paid to write better music than what’s on the radio.
“It’s not art,” I’d preach.
Art was god.
Then, one day I saw Joel Lindsey in his writing room down the hall from my office, reading a piece of paper and sniffling. It was fan mail sent to him by someone who loved those radio songs. God had used a song Joel had written to comfort the letter writer – to partially mend what was broken inside her.
It’s a mistake to appraise the value of a created thing on the basis of my ability to appreciate it rather than God’s ability to use it.
“Art” is a moving target, with a relative definition at best. “…the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.”
Significance?
Ultimate significance – Christian significance – isn’t found in chord progressions, simplistic or complex. Or production techniques, vocal timbre or range, instrumentation, rhyme scheme or metaphor. Ultimate value is measured in the secret spaces of the heart and mind, and across the span of eternity, by the Creator of us all.
How immature and unloving to turn love of “art” – however we define it in this culture and generation – into disrespect and disdain for one another. Or an entire industry. God, forgive me.
If only we could read everyone’s fan mail.

Actions Of Deceit

One of my favorite hip-hop artists, Andy Mineo, raps in his latest hit Whatever Comes, "I wrote this on Good Friday, but why they call it good? An innocent man was beaten and nailed into wood. It's only through the lens of grace we see, who that really should have been hanging from that tree, who the nails should have been put it...me." It's a reality that we often take for granted until this week every year. Those lyrics made me think a lot about how we deceive ourselves. It's only through grace that we see what Jesus did for everyone yet how often do we try to earn it? Actions are important but many times we can be deceiving, trying to prove to others that we are 'good' people. If you don't truly believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God and that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9), the cross means nothing to you. "Live the Cross, it ain't a chain or design cause sin is whack; don't wear one on your chest if you don't bare one on your back." (Andy Mineo, Pick It Up)


Dr. H. L. Wilmington puts a little perspective on it and paints it this way. "Imagine yourself in the vicinity of the Garden of Gethsemane on a warm April night 2,000 years ago. As you watch, a man walks up to Jesus and begins kissing Him. You would probably conclude, 'How this man must love the Master!' Shortly after this you are shocked to hear another man bitterly cursing Christ. Now your conclusion would be, 'How this man must hate the Master!' but both times you would be wrong. Judas, the man who kissed Christ, really hated Him, and Peter, the one who cursed Him, really loved Him." We've all made mistakes but grace is what brings us to the all-knowing, all-powerfull, all-forgiving Father. You either hate Jesus or you love Him. There is no in-between!

Betrayal

There are a lot of circumstances in life that bring a lot of pain. Pain that makes you weaker than the flu. Pain that turns your stomach, hurts your heart, and brings you to your knees. Loneliness is the only word that describes your feelings, even when supported by good people. I think we all have experienced different levels of pain, some much more extreme than others. Death is one, but I believe the worst kind of pain is that of betrayal. We see all kinds of different levels of betrayal in life. You see them in friendships, in love relationships, in marriage, with co-workers, with teammates, and in leadership. It leaves scars, unforgiveness, and bitterness. It brings you to a place of brokenness and grief with uncertainty of the future. This is the place that makes you or breaks you...

Here's a promise: Your grief will turn to joy! Jesus came to save the broken, the people in need! I think sometimes we forget how much Jesus experienced. He was betrayed by one of His disciples. Mark 14:34 Jesus says, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," because He knew what was about to happen. Jesus knows what you are going through. Kenny Luck says, "Leave room for the miraculous God that, with ease, creates and calls into being things which do not previously exist. You keep your eyes on Him and when your eyes and heart tell you 'it's over', just remember everyone said that on Friday and then Sunday came. He specializes in resurrection from the dead because when the dead rises, God gets all the credit." Your Sunday is approaching. Your test is happening and Jesus wants to know if you will stand firm when everything has collapsed around you. Do you trust Him? "Stand firm, and you will win life" (Luke 21:19). "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all" (Isaiah 7:9). "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Your rescue is coming, hold on!

The Fall

It's quick and easy to fall into sin. There's that brief moment to react to circumstances in our lives, and if we get it wrong it can cause a downward spiral into destruction. There's that saying that says it takes years to build up character and only a moment to tear it down. That is very true. That is why it is so important to stand firm in Christ and have the truth of the Gospel embedded in your heart.

Sex sells. You see it everywhere! Companies that have nothing to do with females, have women in loose clothing advertising their products. It is something that we will never get away from. For guys, the temptation of women has been around since the beginning. Just take a look in Genesis. Genesis 3:6 shows that Adam had an opportunity in the garden right after Eve fell into temptation. He had the opportunity to follow what God said and obey, or eat the fruit that Eve gave him. There was a moment in the garden where Adam had to choose. This moment played a pivotal part in humanity as Adam followed after a woman instead of the truth of Christ. Man has been chasing after woman ever since and it is something that we will constantly have to battle. It is so easy to get distracted and carried away from the plans that God has for you if your focus is on the opposite sex and not on God first. Don't allow yourself to be consumed by someone to the point of compromising your relationship with God. Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." When your relationships are God honoring, He blesses you in incredible ways. 

Paralyzed

What do you do when you feel paralyzed in your circumstances? What do you say to someone who is going through the worst season of their life? When life happens, times can get extremely tough. For those who have a daily relationship with Christ, thoughts of doubt that He is in control may creep in. The encouraging reality is that even when we are not faithful, He is always faithful. He will get you through. He always delivers. Jeremiah 29:11 is one of those comfort verses which says, "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 hope and a future." The reality behind that verse was that the Israelites still had to suffer for 70 years before they were delivered. You think their faith was tested? Or how about Noah. Do you know that it took him 120 years to build the ark. Imagine what his thoughts were after 2 years without the frame even completed, but he just kept pressing on. 

In Matthew 14, Peter was the only one that wasn't paralyzed by Jesus walking on the water. When Jesus asked Him to come, he wasn't paralyzed by fear, distractions, or discouragement. God has you in this season for a reason. Don't let it paralyze you from doing the things that God wants you to do. Trusting God may be the hardest and most challenging thing to do right now but just keep going. Just keep your eyes on Him because the moment you take them off Him, you'll sink.

Again in Luke 22 at the Last Supper, there is another incredible encounter with Peter and Jesus. Right before Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him three times, Jesus said that He has prayed for him. In fact, He says in verse 32, "But I have prayed for you, Peter, that your faith may not fail. And WHEN you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." How is this encouraging? Jesus knew that Peter was going to fall, but He also knew that Peter was going to rise back up. Jesus knew that Peter's going down would not be a staying down. We know this because Jesus said 'when', not 'if'. God knows you are struggling. He wants you to trust Him, even though you feel hopeless.

If you haven't heard a Word from God yet, keep praying, keep trusting, keep believing. Your time will come, don't waste it. God is preparing you for something great. Perry Noble says, "Before God wants to do something through you, He wants to do something great in you." Don't stay paralyzed. Get out of the boat and walk towards Him. Keep your eyes focused on the promise and have faith. God is preparing you for something great!

Invisible Children

You are about to read something that I hope will turn you into a critical thinker. If you were to ask someone about Joseph Kony today, they would most likely be able to tell you who he is (if not, you clearly don't know how to use Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube). The Invisible Children** non-profit organization released a video of him and his evil actions that has seen millions of views in less than three days. This video is all over my Facebook news feed and re-tweeted by people I follow on Twitter. I watched it and was deeply saddened. If you're like me, you are emotionally drawn to anything that has a sad story. The problem is, we often jump on the bandwagon of stories or organizations that speak of a 'good' cause without researching them. The bigger problem is, we don't get this fired up about spreading the name of Jesus.

We have also seen that evil isn't stopped by killing particular people (Hitler, Stalin, Bin Laden, etc, etc). Evil exists because Satan exists. Evil is a spirit. However, evil is reduced when people pray. When was the last time you prayed for an evil person such as Kony? If God's grace is for everyone, why won't most Christians pray for Kony's salvation?

Maybe it's time for you to use this Kony exposure as an opportunity to relate it to the Gospel with someone. Maybe it's a chance for you to talk about grace and love. Maybe it's a chance for you to pray for those who don't know Christ. Maybe it's a chance for you to realize the importance of giving your time and finances to a church and/or a non-profit that makes Jesus famous. Maybe it's time for you to use your social media account as an opportunity to be an example for Christ. Maybe it's time for you to stop hiding behind your social media account and live it! The choice is yours...

FYI
**The producer of this Kony film quoted the government and said that the government won't get involved unless it compromised the United States financial interests. So it's about money...Did you know that non-profts are rated on a 4-star scale? They are rated on a finance report and by accountability and transparency. It's important to know the impact that non-profits are making and where the money is actually going. You might want to research somebody before you give your money away. Although Invisible Children is a great cause, only 31% of your donation actually goes into charity work. The rest of the 69% goes to film making, travel expenses, and salaries. Just something to think about.**

Amazed vs. Transformed

I've been reading through the Gospels a lot lately studying the life of the disciples and the ministry of Jesus. I keep noticing the reaction of people in different cities as Jesus taught or performed various miracles. It often says that 'people were overwhelmed with amazement' or that 'they were amazed at His teaching because His words had authority'. The things that Jesus was doing were incredible. He was doing the impossible and He left people in awe, sometimes resulting in praise. Then God laid this thought on my heart. Am I amazed by Him or am I being transformed by Him?

The difference between those two thoughts are crucial to our faith. It is the difference between head knowledge and heart change. It could be the difference to where you spend eternity. Jesus wants us to be amazed by Him because He is worthy...because He created everything. We should constantly be amazed by the things He does in our lives daily. The people we encounter, the opportunities that lay in front of us, and the emotions we experience are all because of Jesus' amazing love and grace. The question to ask yourself is, does it impact you enough to change you? Meaning, is your heart and mind transformed to bring God glory in everything you do, say, and think?

The response to the things that Jesus did was amazement. These people however, are simply amazed. Their lifestyle doesn't change. We go to a sporting event and Shaun White amazes us with his perfect 100 at the Winter X Games (Perfect 100: AmAzInG). We go to concerts and Jonny Greenwood amazes us with his guitar solo's (The Best of Jonny). We even might watch some illusionist who "wow's" us on stage or on television (I still don't understand this...). The fact is, many people and things amaze us, especially the work of Christ, but is it simply just amazing to you or does it change your life?

Savior or Miracle Worker?

Have you ever wondered why Jesus would constantly heal people but then respond along the lines of "See that you don't tell this to anyone." There are many stories in the Gospels where Jesus does a miracle by healing someone of their sickness or casting out demons and then tells them not to tell anyone that He healed them. I used to think this was bizarre. Why wouldn't the Son of God want people to know that He could heal them? That is exactly the issue. Jesus did not want to be known as the miracle worker who healed the sick. He wanted to be known as the Savior of the world who took on our sins and died for us on the cross.

In Matthew 16, Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They respond that some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others one of prophets. Then Jesus asked Peter, "Who do you say I am?" Peter responds, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

Whether you believe it or not, Jesus died for your sins. He is not just a sinless human who did incredible wonders. He is the Son of God who rose three days later to conquer death and sin. He is to be worshiped and honored. He wants your heart, not because you want to see miracles but because you believe He is the Savior.

Whose Standard?

Dr. Joseph Stowell always used to preach, "We are a fallen race in a fallen place." That couldn't be more true but my question is: if people don't know that they are 'fallen' people, how can we as believers hold them to the standard of the Gospel? You see this all over the news and with celebrities. We talk about Tiger Woods and his exposure, Whitney Houston and her crack addiction, people sleeping with whoever, etc, etc. We are so quick to be so disappointed in what we hear around the world when in reality, they don't know better. It shouldn't surprise us that people are sleeping around, doing drugs, beating people physically and verbally, etc. If one doesn't know they have a disease, how can they be willing to accept the cure?

We do it all the time as church goers when 'different looking' people walk into the building. We judge people based off what they wear and how they talk before we know what they are going through. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 says, "What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside..." We can't expect non-believers to act like a believer so why do we judge them like one? Why do we get surprised when worldly people live worldly? If true believers would understand this, more people would be inside our churches hearing the Gospel. We would have a wider range of people willing to talk about their issues. We would see people for who they really are and genuinely love them like God intended. The real surprising and sad issue is the amount of believers who know the truth yet walk in a manner similar to Tiger Woods.

Words With Meaning

We throw around phrases of 'love' and feelings. We know the 'right' things to say and Bible verses to preach. We tell people we are praying for them and their circumstances. We have all done it, throw out these 'comfort' words but if you were to evaluate the words you say to others, do they render true? Do you prove your words of affirmation with actions? Do you live by those words of advice and Bible verses you know? Do you really pray consistently for the people you say you will pray for?

I am asking you to be a person that diligently lifts people up in prayer. If not, don't bother telling people you are praying for them. It's not hard to take 20 minutes out of your morning to cover the people you love in prayer. I started doing this my senior year of college. I wrote down all the names of my friends, family, and the ministries that I had ties too with the prayer requests they had. I posted it right next to my bed on my wall and prayed for each person every morning and every night. I challenge you to do the same. It will only benefit your prayer life and the lives of those you love. Pastor Carl Lentz of Hillsong NYC said something last week that rocked me...He said, "Don't allow the enemy to take up land it does not own. How can you occupy all streets with the Gospel if the devil occupies your street?" Wow. The devil doesn't own your life but he is constantly fighting for it. We need to fight back and it starts with prayer. In the book of Job, the Lord asks the devil twice, "Where have you come from?" The devil responds, "From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it." 1 Peter 5:8 says that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. The only time the devil fears you is when you are praying. How much stronger would we be if we lifted each other up in prayer!

The Storm

I came across an interesting fact the other day. In Matthew 14:22-36 is the story of Jesus walking on the water. He had just fed 5,000 plus people with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Then it says that Jesus told his disciples to go by boat to the other side while he went up the mountain to pray. The wind was against the disciples so they were battling the high seas all night. They were about 3 or 4 miles off the shore when Jesus decided to walk on water. When the disciples noticed Him, it says they were terrified and cried out or shook in fear. Have you ever been so scared in your circumstances that you shook with fear? Immediately Jesus said to them, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Peter then wants proof, so Jesus gives him one word, "come". Just one word! Not a sentence, not a promise, not assurance that Jesus would hold him up. Think about that...how many times has God asked you to obey Him with one word? How many times do we ask for a sign or assurance or details? God only wants you to obey, even if it's one word!

The interesting fact I wanted to show however comes after this scene. Starting in verse 33 after they climb into the boat and Jesus calms the wind it says, "Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying 'Truly you are the Son of God'." This is the first time recorded in the Bible that the disciples worshiped Jesus and it wasn't until they had been through a 'storm'. Storms are designed to grow our faith. Take courage, don't be afraid. God is with you and will bring you through this storm in your life. Listen to Him, obey His commands, and praise His name for He is worthy! Trials change hearts, and your breakthrough is just around the corner.

Riley's Fishing Club

I just experienced something this week that I hope no youth leader or parent ever has to go through. Riley Laymon, 17, from Charlotte, NC past away Friday, January 20th in a car wreck. He attended Elevation Church and was one of the students that I personally mentored. His family is one of the nicest, loving, God-centered, and generous families I have ever met. I appreciate Tom, Lisa, and Ellie more than they know and their constant love for me impacted my life tremendously. They had me over to their house constantly, sometimes unannounced and Lisa would have a ten-star meal prepared within the hour. Not only are they great people, parents, and friends, they are a walking testimony of what it's like to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Riley was an incredible kid. He never seemed to stop laughing and smiling. We shared many laughs together...cheating in cards, teaching me how to hold a shotgun, making fun of my car and explaining to me how we could lift up the suspension (I still don't know what that means) all while making jokes about how his feet were sitting in a puddle of water (my car leaked), throwing the football, punching him in 'charlie spots', playing pranks at camp, yelling at strangers, messing with waiters, and teaching him the 'bush push'. He would text me stories of how he got some of his friends to fall for these childish pranks. More importantly, he trusted me. He asked me questions about life and Jesus. He asked me how to be a better witness. He left a legacy that will change the city of Charlotte forever. In fact, over 50 people accepted Christ at his funeral. The combination of the Gospel being preached with his walking testimony of love left people wanting to experience a new life with Christ. His father said it perfectly, "He wasn't fast but he had friendship quickness." Riley knew what it was to be a friend and to genuinely love people. Acts 20:18, 24 says, "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you...However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace." Life is short. Now is the perfect time to start living a life sold out for Christ for you don't know when He will call you home. Riley only lived 17 years but his legacy will live on forever. He loved like Jesus, daily. How will you leave your legacy?

24/40 Principle

Those just graduating college or changing seasons sometimes struggle with the meantime. Judah Smith puts it this way, "You're not where you used to be but you're not yet where you're supposed to be." That time in between can be full of anxiety. God wants you to trust Him. He knows what He is doing. He has already figured everything out for you. You were God's plan way before you were your parents plan. The only thing you are to do is marinate in His love. He never forsakes those who trust in Him and seek Him daily (Psalm 9:10).

Here's the tricky thing and I hope this encourages you. I was talking with my friend Reggi and he said, "The lie that the devil will want you to accept is that you need to be doing at age 24 what you will be doing when you're 40." Specifically for me, I know what God has promised me but I know it will take some time before I am there. I can often times get distracted and discouraged because I'm not doing yet what I believe God has called me to do. He keeps telling me that He just wants me to trust Him! Rest in Him and be still (Psalm 46:10). He must take you through a journey of pruning first with many trials. You will experience many ups and downs but God is with you always. Do what God has called you to do now and let Him open the doors in His timing. Be encouraged, you're doing a lot better than you think you are.

Boasting Before Battle

I was reading in 1 Kings the other day and came across a verse that is in my opinion the ultimate chirp (if you don't know what 'chirp' means ask a hockey player). It is found in 1 Kings 20:11 when Ahab King of Israel responds to Ben-Hadad King of Aram, "One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off." Ben-Hadad had just sent Ahab a message that not only was he going to attack the King of Israel but that he was going to destroy the city so severely that 'enough dust will remain to give each of his men a handful.' Ahab responded with such confidence because he knows that the Lord fights for Israel. In fact, it is recorded in 1 Kings 20:29-30 that Ahab's army inflicted over a hundred thousand casualties in one day. Talk about not being able to back up your words...

This happens a lot today especially in the sports world. Guys talk a big game or put out 'guaranteed wins' in the media before the game is played. Then when their teams lose, they look like idiots. This boasting before battle got me thinking about the Christian perspective on life. Many times, believers in Jesus will take the exact opposite approach in life. For some reason, we are scared to go into battle or stick up for our beliefs because we forget that we have already won the war...or maybe we just lack faith. Jesus has already risen from the grave and defeated death and sin, but why don't we act like it more? Why do we allow ourselves to be enslaved to sin? (2 Peter 2:19 says, "People are slaves to whatever has mastered them.") Why do we get so scared of the devil? (Romans 8:31 says, "If God is for us, who can be against us?") ... If the devil is the defeated enemy, then why does he have so much victory in our lives? It's time for us to boast in our King!

Prayer

There is no reason why we should not ask for great things. Without a doubt, we will receive them if we ask in faith (James 4:2-3, John 14:14), having the courage to wait with patient perseverance for Him and meanwhile doing those things that are within our power to do. I think we skip over the word 'meanwhile' in that previous sentence. We don't fully understand what that means or how long that requires us to wait. Horatius said, "There is no such thing as prayer unanswered or unnoticed by God, and some things we see as refusals or denials are simply delays." God's delay is intentional, just look at the life of Lazarus in John 11. Jesus delayed going to Lazarus to heal him of his sickness. In fact, he waited until he had already been dead for 4 days. This delay shows His glory and His delay in your life will in time show how awesome and in control He truly is. "When God delays, He is not inactive." (John Henry Jowett)

God listens and knows your heart.
In 1 Kings 17, Elijah prays for God to raise a child from the dead. Verse 21-22, "Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, 'Lord my God, let this boy's life return to him!' The Lord heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived." Again in 1 Kings 18, Elijah prays for God to send down fire on the altar to prove to the prophets of Baal who the true Lord was. Verse 37-38, "Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench." God responds to our prayer!

Prayer is nothing more than an offering of faith. Frederick William Robertson said, "When we give into laziness, moments of prayer that are missed can never be redeemed. We may learn from them, but we will miss the rich freshness and strength that would have been imparted during those moments." God says He will move on the behalf of some...so Father use my faith to move and bring others to faith in you. Help me to trust you and to know that you are working even in my uncertainty.