Early in the morning...

Jesus knew how to seek the Father and how to get away from all the distractions that come our way. I realized that in order for me to spend quality time with God in addition to working earlier (at 7:30am), I need to wake up earlier. I decided on Friday that I would get up at 5:30 am and even asked a friend to keep me accountable. Well, that didn't work out so well, but I decided to try again today, Saturday morning. Most people wouldn't even consider getting up at 5:30am for any reason, but I thought I'd give it a shot. The reason that I was able to do it I believe is twofold. One I had a friend keep me accountable and two I kept it in proper perspective. The purpose was to spend time with my Savior.

Also, I'm going to start working from 7am-9am as baker and then 9:30-5:30 in the snack shop. This way I'm not so rushed and I can enjoy my jobs more. This makes it even more important for me to wake up earlier.

Am I willing?

I've mentioned that I'm debating about whether or not to give up my cell phone at the end of this month.  The main reason to keep it would be so that I am available to the teens in my small group.

If I'm honest with myself, this is just an excuse that is covering up the fact that I want the convenience of having it.  I lived without it for many years.  I know It's helpful, but I certainly don't need it.

So Lord, I'm willing!

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What I want... when I want it...

I've discovered a way of thinking that has not only hurt me but those God has placed in my life. It is the thought that I can have what I want, when I want it, no matter what. This has gotten me into trouble financially. I have handled myself like a kid. I said, "I want it now even though I don't have the money."

It affects my relationship with God. I'm learning how to combat this way of thinking through meditating on Scripture and journaling. I'm able to see faulty thinking when I put it up against what God says in His Word.

Please pray with me and challenge me when you see me falling back into this way of thinking. Thanks!

Breakthrough!

Thanks for your prayers for the retreat.  My co-leader and I had a wonderful time developing closer friendships and trust with the guys of my small group.  We were challenged to find out where we are in our journey with Christ and to live our lives more fully for Him.  My guys were really open Saturday night and I'm extremely excited to see how God's going to use them to further His kingdom and His work.

One of the biggest things is that I want to live out what I'm preaching and teaching.  When I was in 9th grade (the age that my guys are), I went through the motions of the Christian faith.  However, through a similar retreat God captured my heart to help me start to make my faith my own.  I'm praying for wisdom on how to help my guys do that.

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Summit Lake

This weekend I am going on a retreat with my youth group at Summit Lake in Maryland. I'm excited to see how God's going to use this weekend for His glory.

3 Prayer requests

1. God would challenge the teens in my small group to more fully live for Christ through this weekend. Pray also that as leaders we would be an good example for what it means to live for Him.

2. Pray that my conversations to go deeper with the teens and other leaders.

3. That I would get up at 6am to spend time alone with God before the teens wake up. This will help me be more intune with what God would have me share with the teens.

Thanks for your prayers and I look forward to reporting about lives changed for Christ.

One question answered :o)!

Praise God! I met with my boss today and I'm going to work 10 hours of overtime a week. The cool part is that it will be as the baker and it is BEFORE my normal shift starts. In other words the only thing it will affect is the amount of sleep I get. However, I'll just need to be more disciplined to get to bed earlier. I'll be working 7:30-9:30 as baker. That takes care of the extra 400 dollars a month which will take the heat off some.

Thanks for your prayers!

More questions???!???

Lord God, where are You leading and directing me?

YOUTH MINISTRY

What is my role in youth ministry?

Why do I have a Bible degree?

What would a Master's degree help me accomplish other than enabling me to have another degree?

Am I going to be able to spend the next four years of my life with my current small group of teens?

COFFEEHOUSE/COFFEE

What is this passion for coffee all about?

Why did I get so much fulfillment from working at the Harbour?

MONEY

I want to sit down with someone else and really hammer out where I could save some more money and live on less.

Is my goal to be debt free by my 30th birthday realistic? or reasonable?

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Bye bye cell phone revisted

I've decided to get rid of my cell phone. So starting Dec 1st I can be reached on my land line phone. I know it's crazy, but it's what I need to do right now. :o)

Revisited... I posted this without thinking everything through. I'm going to make sure that this is wise and that it will actually save me money. If I had to make the decision right now, I'd cancel Verizon Nov 30th and try December without a cell phone. Then I'd re-evaluate it Jan 1st.

Passion

What are my latest thoughts?

1. God has placed a passion and love for youth ministry in my heart.

2.  God has made it clear that I need to hammer out my debt issue and take care of it.  First of all I need $1000.00 in the bank as an emergency fund and I'm no closer than I was 2 months ago.  This must change ASAP!

3.  I am passionate about coffee :o)

4.  I need $400/month extra to help me accomplish my financial goals

5.  Meeting with people to talk about this is important, but I need to do something about what I am learning.

6.  What price am I willing to pay to completely follow the Father's purposes for my life?

7.  How can I stand up for the "least of these"?

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Wow! Overflowing repost

I decided to repost this, but take off what I'm thinking careerwise for now.  This is from last weekend and the things God taught me.

Wow!  What a weekend.  I enjoy spending time with people.  However, this weekend I needed a break from the busyness of work to practice the discipline of solitude.  God blessed me with a "mini-vacation."  I found that God has blessed me so much today and this weekend that I wanted to share it with others.  I was overflowing and just had to share what God's been teaching me.

1.  Who I am becoming as a man of God is important and not my job title

2. God has clearly shown me that my ideas need to be measured against what God's Word says and then asking a few trusted advisors is extremely helpful.

3.  God has blessed me so much and therefore I want to be a blessing to others.  This can be as simple as a short note or a quick phone call.

4.  Even though life has not been easy for me by an stretch of the imagination, God has taught me more about Himself through these times than I ever would have otherwise.  In other words, if life had been easy I wouldn't have learn these crucial lessons.

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Ricketts Glen State Park

Saturday morning I woke up at 7am to go hiking with my dad at Ricketts Glen.  It was an encouraging and challenging time.  My dad enjoys hiking and I wanted to spend a significant portion of Saturday doing life together.  My favorite fall was Ganoga-Falls.  (Picture care of a Google
Search).

I can't think of a better way to spend my Saturday morning and afternoon.  I praise God for this time of encouragement.

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