Thursday, May 31, 2012

"Mom, I smell something."

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?" 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

One of Landon's favorite questions is, "Mom, I smell something." No question mark, but he is asking what's that smell. Logan recently picked up, "chick'n hous, euu-we!" (translation: chicken houses).

Smells for our almost 3 and 2 year old are huge. Their little noses pick up on everything. When Kari puts her feet up in the car Landon says, "Mom, your feet stink." Logan says, "Whts dhat?"

My little nose picks up on a lot too. If you are around me long enough and we eat together, you might notice I smell my food and beverages. I don't know when and where I started it and maybe it's habit that I smell whatever goes into my mouth first, but why wouldn't you, it might be bad!

Good smells versus bad smells; that's what 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 referring to. If the boys smell something good, they say something. If the boys smell something bad, they say something either. What do you do when you smell something good versus bad? (go on, smell you computer screen).

Our aroma is HUGE. If we are not permeating Christ, than death is our stench. If we are permeating Christ, then life is our smell. Only by Christ's rule and reign of our lives (everything about it) and constant surrender, do we achieve this good smell.

Good smells start with our face. If our face is not surrendered to Christ than it might look sour, unpleasant, strained, stressed or unwelcoming. Our face welcomes those around us with a smile and welcoming eyes.

Become aware of the scent you are permeating, God's word says it can bring life or death.

God bless.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Welcome to Bremond!

"You are moving to a huge mission field..." Brother Stan on the community and area we serve in.

Beginning our third week living in the Bremond area and serving at First Baptist Church Bremond, we have already been blessed by some many people in some many different ways.

The blessings started with the moving crew who helped us get from Highland Lakes Camp to Bremond. It was an amazing picture of Christ like servant hood right on our front lawn, storage building unload and getting us into our temporary residence. Amazing!

We live by an amazing couple who have blessed us. They love the boys so much and the boys love them. We see them almost daily and between the cows and frogs Landon and Logan our learning to live a little differently and it's a blast!

Not forgetting all the others who have blessed us through prayer, time, money, food and just an encouraging word, thanks to each of you. It's been amazing to see how God provides.

Upon serving, the immediate need has been working with the student ministry. Our first Wednesday night 22 attended. Nothing I did or said drew these students to church, but the new facility built by the church to reach the community seems to have drawn interest from the students. It's a great opportunity to share and teach the gospel to many who might not have heard it. I'd say the church identified a way to reach the community and it has become a vessel in which the Lord is given glory and honor.

Pray for the students as they begin their summer.

Pray for Kari and I as we allow God to use us in our new community.

Some job opportunities have popped up on the radar (I currently serve part-time). Please be praying that whatever other income and housing God has in store for us, we would recognize and follow Him.

Thanks again for all your prayers and support. God bless.

Monday, May 07, 2012

What does God have for You?

"I have found that there are 3 stages in every great work of God: 1st, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done." - H. Taylor

God is in the business of asking His people to do crazy things. They may not be crazy to Him, but certainly there are times when man just believes its crazy.

Moses left his native country of Ur to seek the promiseland.

David danced naked in the streets.

Noah built a big boat and was delivered from a huge flood (see Evan Almighty for a similar telling of the story).

Jesus healed and raised the dead hundreds of times.

God delivered Paul from being the hated and feared Christian murderer.

Story after story reveal that God is in the business of doing crazy things.

My family and I continue this crazy journey and follow Him to serve in a little town named Bremond. Most of you will google map it and some won't care, but it is a crazy scary time for us.

God is about to do some more crazy in our lives and we are looking forward to seeing what's in store.

What's the Lord told you to do lately that might look crazy to man? Share Christ with your neighbor? Help a stranger? Smile at someone you might have ignored before?

If you have a crazy God story, share in a comment below.

Keep us in your prayers as we seek after the exact location He would have us live

God bless.