God is always working

Our youth from church have been on a retreat at the lake this week. The last two nights I have listened to some friends share their stories and to challenges our students, and I have been challenged as well.

My friend and local pastor Derek Layman talked last night about the moments in life that often define us in various ways. We all have a testimony. Those moments make our testimonies, and those moments remind us that God wants to use us. There's always purpose behind what is going on.

Derek challenged us to remember three things as we go through the moments of life that define us. Each of these items are true and strong. Acknowledge these

God is always present for you.

Psalms 139:7-10 NLT

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

Don’t question His presence or His purpose because He is for you and with you always. The situation doesn’t matter. Whether good or bad, strong or weak, stressing or stress relieving, God has not left us to ourselves.

God is always working things out for our good.

Romans 8:28 NLT

And we know that God causes everything to work together^[a for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

He is working. He knows best. That is how our God can take what seems wrong or is crooked and make it is completely right. Let Him work!

God is preparing a task for us.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

There is a task. There is a purpose. It might have far reaching outcomes or something simple and short, but God has a plan.

His presence in our lives, His working in our lives and His task for us will make our testimonies and our work much fuller. I look forward to the days ahead!

See you at church this Sunday.

Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" (brand new book)

One of the most powerful preachers, writers and leaders of our time, in my opinion, is Francis Chan. His first book, Crazy Love , revolutionized my thoughts about God's love as well as my interacting with God. Now it is time for a brand new book from Chan being released tomorrow, September 1st. The book is Forgotten God . This is a phenomenal book about the power that Christians and the church can and must tap into. All of it is within the Holy Spirit. Francis talks about the power that was seen in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit began to move among people. It is true that many have avoided or maybe forgotten what the Holy Spirit is all about. And like the Savior who poured out His life and blood so we have reason to rejoice, we were made to lay down our lives and give until it hurts. We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and ac...

inspiration from C.S. Lewis

There are many people, past and present, who get our attention by what they write or say or share. For me C.S. Lewis is one of those. He was a prolific writer who continues to grab the attention of thinkers from many different points of view. Lewis first grabbed my attention when I was in 5 th grader, and our teacher, Mrs. Foy, shared The Chronicles of Narnia with our class. It was a powerful time that this dreamer opened doors to thinking like I had never lived before. He wrote of faith, of far off places and of strong figures who found their character rooted deep in God. C.S. Lewis was born in 1898 and died in 1963, 7 years before I was born. It wasn’t until his 30’s that under the influence of his friend Tolkien that he came to be a Christian. He was raised in a traditional church going home, turned away from God as an Atheist in his teen years and through trying to stay away from God and faith returned to God with...

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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