Hang on For Life

Can you believe that we are in Day 3 of camp?  Why is it that 1 week of schools seems to drag on for 3 ½ months and 1 week of camp goes by in less than 15 minutes?  I am not ready for it to be over.  I am not ready for us to go back home and get back into our same old routines.  I am not ready to stop living life by the lake with the boats, tubes, skis and kayaks.  I am certainly not ready to leave the relationships that I have been allowed to build here, or the worship and teaching we have experienced. But, we have responsibilities and lives back in Rincon so tomorrow we will have our final session and head home.  So…, what are you going to do differently when you get back home?  Will you continue the sale old ways, doing the same old things, thinking the same old thoughts and living the same old life?  Or, will you take to heart what you have heard this week?  Will you remember those passages from Galatians, John, Matthew, Acts and others?  Will you apply these principles in your life?

As I was driving the boat yesterday and pulling the kids around on tubes, floats and hot dogs I began to think about how similar our walk with Christ is to being behind the boat.  See, there are a number of factors that determine how long the ride will last.  There is the condition of the water, the speed of the boat, the skills of the driver (Mine were great), other riders.  In life, we are faced with rough waters making a relationship with Christ difficult.  Jesus is driving the boat and He has all the needed skills.  Others in life can either encourage and build up or they can move around and make the tube get flipped over.   See, you need to keep your eyes firmly fixed on the driver and regardless of what circumstances are, HANG ON FOR LIFE!  Just know, when you get flung off and shot across the water, Jesus will circle around and pick you up.

mr mike  

FLAT TIRE-INFLATED GRACE

Well, day 1 of camp is officially behind us.  Where to begin?  What an amazing day we had yesterday here in Lake Placid FL.  This is a beautiful place on Earth that God has created and we are thankful that we get t spend a few days enjoying it. 

So yesterday our plan was to spend the morning doing some community outreach here in LP.  A local pastor here had arranged some projects for us to work on before the group from the other church arrived.  So as we get ready to leave one of my adult leaders, notices that one of the rear tires on the bus he is driving is dry rotted and has lost all of its air.  Now, it has dual wheels and the inner tire is fine.  We determine that is it safe to drive the 1.5 miles to the meeting place and then we will get it taken care of.  So as we are forced to change plans due to transportation issues we end up setting up a car wash at the local church.  This is a free car wash where no donations are accepted.  We talk about how hard it will be for some folks to accept a free gift.  We discuss how sometimes the person giving is the one being blessed.  I emphasized how important it was for people to understand that the Jesus in us compelled us to serve them in this way.

So, we are referred to a local tire shop by the pastor and when we arrive he had already called so we were expected.  The owner greeted us outside, knew the exact tire we needed. (It takes 4 days to order and receive this type of tire)  He happened to have a used tire in exactly the size we needed.  At this point he asked his employee to stop what he was working on and take care of the bus tire.  So in 20 minutes or so we were ready to go.  When I asked the total he shook my hand and said to have a great week!  I began to argue and insist that he allow me to pay him and his words stopped me in my tracks as he squeezed my hand a little harder he said, “Be blessed”.  Wow, who am I to argue with the guy trying to be an extension of God’s grace.  You know, some people have a really hard time accepting a free gift. 

Waiting on Him,

ML

Howdy Stranger!

Well, I am sorry that it has been so long.  I have truly missed sharing what God has been doing.  It has been a craze 6 weeks and I will not make any other excuses.  What I will do is tell you that GCC Student ministry has arrived in Lake Placid FL for our summer camp.  If you have not been to this facility, you should check it out.  It is beautiful

We have along with us 34 students and 9 adult leaders.  What a blessing to see so many willing servants and so many students that desire a closer with with HIM.  We will be joined later today by some students from First Baptist Church of Rincon and will spend the next 4 days with them.  Our theme this week is "Turning the World Upside Down for Christ" based on Acts 17:6.  In addition to worship, teaching, fellowship and studying God's word, we will be boating, skiing, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming and just having more stinkin' fun than the law should allow!

So, if you have a few minutes each day this week, will you please pray for our adult leaders and our kids.  Pray that God would reveal himself to us in a mighty way.  Please check back soon for more updates.  I promise to not stay away so long!

Waiting on Him,

ML

Wet Paint

I have about a dozen of my students here to paint the exterior of our 2 youth buildings.  You know what excites me about this?  They are not here because they love to paint.  They are not here because they love working in 89 degrees with 150,000% humidity.  They are here for a couple very important reasons. 
1. They love Jesus and hence they are willing to serve in the kingdom even if it means painting in the heat.
          Ephesians 6:7 tells us to, "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people"

2. They love being together.  They truly cherish their brothers and sisters in Christ and enjoy the                     fellowship.     
             1 John 1:7 " But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

3. They want to be good stewards with the resources God has given us.                                                              
          1 Peter 4:10 (B)¹⁰ "as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms"

On top of this, the youth rooms are going to look awesome and allow us to show our kids that we value them enough to make sure they have a suitable place to assemble.  I love Grace Community Church!

What a privilege to see the hand of God forming and fashioning our next generation into Men and Women of God. 
God thank you for allowing us to see you at work in the lives of young people.  Help us not to be a stumbling block to them but rather empower and equip us to pour into them and to be a Godly example for them.  Selfishly, I thank you for allowing me to be in ministry and have a front row seat.  I am living a dream!  Amen.
Waiting on Him,
ML

OH GOODY- More trials!!

James 1 verse 2 tells us to "consider it great joy whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance"  Ok, so it's not enough to consider it joy, we have to consider it GREAT joy?  Really?!!  Well, I seem to struggle with this.  Anyone else?  Who like to have trials?  I much prefer smooth sailing.  I want everything to go my way the first time.  I want traffic to cooperate, the check-out line at Wal-Mart to move faster, peace and harmony in my home, enough money to pay bills and still have fun on the weekends.  You know, just the basics.  Is that too much to ask?  Seems like there might be a little bit too much, I, ME, MINE in this list of wants.

As I read through James 1 this morning I am again reminded that it is NOT about ME! (or you, I hate to be alone!)  We sure want it to be about us don't we?  I felt relieved when I continued on past the great joy part and got to the part about the long term benefits of trials.  See, in verse 1 it did not say "IF" you have various trials but rather "WHENEVER" you have various trials.  The implication here is that trials WILL indeed come. 

We have to decide whether we will allow those trials to mold and shape us into the men and women God desires for us to be or will we allow them to derail us and cause us to be seperated from our Lord and Savior?  James 1 goes on to give some wise counsel about dealing with these trials and promises wisdom if we will only ask and then beleive in faith.  Are you ready to face the next challenge?  Are you ready to grow through it?  Are you ready to be joyful in the midst of it? 

God, thank you for your word.  Thank you that you make provision for us and that you help us to grow closer to you during difficult times when surrender ourselves to you.  Help us to count it joy when you refine our faith with trials and help us to ask in faith for your wisdom.  Make us a bright light in a dark world.  Amen.

Waiting on Him,

ML

Resurrection plus 3 days

I am back from a short get away with my family.  We celebrated my oldest daughter's 16th birthday with a trip to Florida.  While there we toured Kennedy Space Center and the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne.  I am so glad to be back in the office and am looking forward to what the Lord has in store for the remainder fo this week.  It is amazing how a couple of days away from the office can seem like weeks.  I feel very disconnected and kind of like I may have missed something!

I am also feeling somewhat deflated because I did not make time with my Jesus a priority while we were away.  I have missed our quiet times in the morning and our talks about His Word.  I am missing that still small voice.  How are things with you?  Has the excitement of the Easter celebration worn off like a new toy at Christmas?  I am so thankful that Jesus does not put me aside like I do to Him some times.  He never stops paying attention to us.  He never stops being excited about seeing us live lives that are pleasing to Him.  He is always right there by our sides.  I have (re)learned valuable lesson this week.  Jesus is on vacation with us.  We do not leave Him at home like the pet fish and dogs and cats.  He tells us as much is Matthew 28:20b- "And lo I am with you always, even until the end of the age" 

God I pray that you will help me to remember to take you with me wherever I go.  Thank you that you do not leave.  I am so thankful that when I came to you this morning, you were waiting, patiently, lovingly and willingly.  Help us to continue to celebrate your resurrection until we see you again!  Amen.

Waiting on Him,
ML

The tomb is Empty!

<sup>Never before and never again will there be a need for a savior.  Never again will we celebrate the resurrection of another because the King of the Universe is surely alive.  Death nor the grave could contain Him.  Because of His great love for us, He came to earth as a man, died on a cross for the payment of our sin and arose on the third day as only He could do.  Thank God for your Son Jesus, for His work on the cross and for His payment for our sin.  Thank you that as we celebrate the empty tomb today, we also await your return and the promise of eternity together.  Come soon Lord, we love you.  In Jesus name, Amen. 

Matthew 28:
1</sup> After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
 ² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
 ⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 

Happy Resurrection Day,
ML