I'm surrendered

God I can't take this anymore
I can't do this on my own
I've tried to hold onto these little stains
The guilt and hurt drive me insane
God I can't do this anymore
If I'm made perfect in weakness
You've got a lot of work for sure
My way not yours is what I've said
Tryied to achieve your will with thoughts in my head
God I can't do this anymore
Holding onto what's left of me
When all the junk you can still see
All I desire is to be free
Humbly surrendered on blended knee
God I can't do this anymore
Take the "I" out of me
So not my will but Yours will I see
I'm surrendered!

Another original from me!

Being Challenged

I love a good challenge.....usually on my own terms. As of late I have been challenged in just about every area of my life.

My walk with the Lord..... While this is the one area of my life that always remains the strongest it can sometimes be a challenge to remember that I am nothing without Him, when my own big fat head gets in the way.

My marriage.... Again this is usually one of the strongest areas of my life, but sometimes you get so caught up in things that you forget how much your spouse means to you and take them for granted which at times, yes I can even do that. I love my wife, and sometimes when stressed aggravated or just being consumed with activities can find it hard to show her or make her feel loved! So working on that.

My job...... I actually had to recently switch jobs yet again, due to a lack of income coming in from the job like it was specified I would receive. Wasn't exactly what I or my wife wanted, but financially it had to be done. It has cause quite a bit of stress on us both all around the board, but it should be better in a few weeks.

My kids...... I always try to make a special day of the week for them each week that we can just hang out. Whether a movie or just going somewhere and hanging out. This is one of the few things that I have kept up on. Plus I have been coaching my daughters soccer which has actually been quite enjoyable despite me despising soccer.

Youth Group..... A lot has been going on in this aspect of my life. There have been a lot of changes going on. Our Youth Pastor has resigned and is moving on to go plant another church. Steve and I are assuming the role of teaching. There have been many trials going on with the teens in our Youth Group that weigh heavy on my heart, and some days it takes all that one man can take not to allow it to consume them! Youth Camp is a short 2 and 1/2 months away, and I personally cannot wait to see what God does there to transform these kids! We will have like 15 first time Rush Campees! Cannot wait!

School..... I was a little worried that I was taking on too much with school, but after seeing this last week and experiencing what I have to look forward to I know that I am up for the task! I am confident that my choice of career path while still applies with Christian Ministry, but I am not 100% sure which of two paths I am taking yet! I have to very clear choices laid out in front of me, and I am personally leaning towards one than the other, but still praying and awaiting confirmation from God on which one He wants for me!

A reflection of my Blog's Title

A little over a year ago my family and I had about all we could take of Church shopping. We had visited many church's and went several different communities looking and searching for what God had called us to. We had discussed helping a friend plant a church in another town and we had also begun meeting in our own home with some friends who were much in the same boat we were in! We were really struggling with where we were going in Christ, and seeking Him for all of the right answers.

This brings me to my blog and the title of it......"Hearing God's Call".

I really felt like God was drawing me to learn how to be a discipler of His people and to study Ministry to bring Glory to His Kingdom, and last November I started seeking out ways to do so. I found Indiana Wesleyan University and their online program for Christian Ministries and I began to check into enrollment into this program. God was leading me to this.

After we began checking more into this program and the start dates and some other aspects of me beginning we felt as though God was saying this is what I want you to do, but now is not the right time.

Four months later we discovered a church plant (Elevation) in our very own community. Since God led us to Elevation there have been many blessings in our lives and God is doing wonderful things in this body of Christ and in our Community through Elevation. Diana and I began to discuss the IWU option again for us, and decided that now is the time for me to take this course. God has His hand in this and is putting us in the right position for GREAT things to further His kingdom.

As it stands right now for us 2012 looks to be very spiritually rewarding and God in His infinite wisdom is fulfilling His lifelong plan for my life!

A Few Announcements!

I am, for the time being putting a hold on my daily devotionals from the 365 Day Christian Blog.

If you still want to see samples of my writings and devotionals, I will be posting them on here from time to time as well.

As of right now my schedule is about to get pretty crazy and that is one thing that had to be put on hold.

As of February 7th, I am beginning classes at Indiana Wesleyan University for a A.S. in Christian Ministry. God laid this on my heart over a year ago and we were not financially able to make that commitment, but things have changed in the meantime, and now I have received my acceptance letter and will be in class on Feb 7th.

I will be continuing my blog through school, and writing as often as time allows me to.

Pray for us, and for me as I got back to school for the 1st time in 15 years!

It's Been a Little While, let's play catch up!

It has been several weeks since I have updated my blog, so here we go!

No juicy God topics, just a little recent history lesson on me.

We have been very busy, EVERY weekend has been PACKED full of running to and from everything from football, to soccer, to church, to Youth Group, and some other things mixed in.

Although we have been extremely busy with all of those things I wouldn't trade any of it!

Austin is shining at football when he gets the chance, Julie has almost scored a couple of goals in soccer (big change from last year when all she played was defense), Elevation is always a blessing, and Youth Group is even more of a blessing..... and the Youth Group has grown so much!

Last weekend we went to a bonfire at my cousin Brent's house. That was a bit awkward, this was the first family event there without my Aunt Betty or Uncle Jody (both of whom owned it before they passed) and it was very hard to be there, so so many memories.

I am very excited however about the events that are coming up we have so great events ahead of us at Elevation.....

Like.... The Elevation Student Lock-in

and the Elevation day of community service......

Elevation has grown, our students have grown, there are so many good things happening in this community of believers, I guess if you don't believe it the only way to experience it is to come and see it for yourself! We have so much going on that you will always find somewhere and someone to spend your time with. The people are so inviting and friendly and we have some of the best cooks on the planet in our community of believers.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that we have these cool groups starting up in a couple of weeks called Catalyst Communities, aka Life Groups, aka........

Book Review: Forgotten God by Francis Chan

First let me start off by saying that in no way am I an avid reader. However, since I have made certain decisions in my life regarding my walk with the Lord, and pursuit of what His plan is for me, I thought it would be wise to indulge in some books that leaders in our church (Elevation), and other churches around us are recommending!

My first book that came in the mail out of the 4 that I ordered was Forgotten God by Francis Chan. I also have ordered Primal by Mark Batterson, Radical by David Platt (Pastor Craig has been reading this one), and The Winner's Manual by Jim Tressel (I have just always wanted to read this one).

It took me about 24 hours to read "Forgotten God". I was so in tune with this book and the things that FC (I can call him that since I was so in tune with his book) was saying in this book that I flew right through it. It is in no way a "radical, charismatic, holy roller-coaster" about the Holy Spirit. It is truly just basic knowledge information about what the word of God says about His "Holy Spirit", and to my knowledge does an outstanding job of describing what the Spirit is, does, how it intercedes, and performs as God in the Spirit!

I absolutely loved this book, and for all of you people out there who are struggling with the "Where is God in my life", or "When is God going to show up in my life" type statements, READ THIS BOOK! I think that even for someone who is trying to walk in His Spirit as I am on a daily basis, this book taught me a tremendous amount of who He is, why He is, and what He is supposed to be doing in my life, as well as what my expectations of the Holy Spirit are and should look like or more profoundly put, what His expectations of me should look like!

Galatians 5:16 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

And,

Galatians 5:25 "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."

My absolute favorite paragraph in the entire book says this " I want to live in such a way that I am desperate for Him (The Holy Spirit) to come through. That if He doesn't come through, I am screwed!" Francis Chan.... He goes on to say that maybe he shouldn't have put it that way in his book or used the word "screwed", but I have to say that this kind of in your face mentality is very refreshing and real to the pursuit of what it is God is capable of doing in and through us!

This is an amazing book, loaded with truth about the power of the Holy Spirit. Check it out!