I loved hearing his testimony about how he discovered Jesus at a young age, found Him to be real, had a personal relationship, and how prayers were miraculously answered in a way that only God could do. $700 exactly?! Wow.
Back to dollar duties
Then headed out to help motivate my buddy PaintingSmiles buddy J move out the claw tub, ol bed frame from the garage attic, and clean up a bit in preparation to move out, sell the house, and start a new season of life
Dear heavenly Father,
Thank you for the opportunity to see the effects of Your Love in our life. I pray You continue to fill me with your Holy Spirit. That I can be used like the wind to do Thy will without falling into the fallacy to looking for anyone else’s recognition than the one true God. I pray all this in Jesus name. Amen
Late start to day since I got home late from Jose’s house and needed a bit more sleep. I still had plenty of time for my morning routine and not be in a rush for 10am huddle. Serving coffee is fun.
One gentleman said that he was having a bad day and was thinking of not coming to church today, but he was encouraged to go because he wanted to see me since I usually had a smile on my face. That was a wonderful God wink to let me know I must have been in the right place at the right time.
Steve came up to me a few months ago after I presented my testimony to the church and said that he was able to resonate with it. He messaged me after I left church today just to tell me that he had not been to church for a while and he came today not feeling the best. He saw me, but did not say ‘hi’ and felt guilty. Another God wink to let me know that I did and do help in some ways in the past that can ripple into the future.
VentiMish Sermon by Taylor Hunt
If the shoe fits series: slides
A man that was literally pinned to his mat. Pinned to his cross. Waiting for change. Waiting for a miracle. For 38 years [roughly the average lifespan then, roughly the number of years the Israelites were lost in the desert]. It was his mat season.
What is my mat?
Am I stuck on the idea that I am useless?
That I have nothing to contribute?
That I am inefficient?
That I am not smart enough?
That I am not tall enough?
That I am not strong enough?
That I am not valuable enough to keep around?
John 5:6 – when Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, He asked him, “would you like to be well?”
Hebrew word used here for “be well” can be used as “be whole” or “be free”
Do I want to “be well”
The question is not asked sarcastically, menacingly, nor rhetorically. Jesus did not ask it because He didn’t know the answer. He knows that you need to say, believe, and achieve the answer.
John 5:7 – “I can’t, sir,” said the sick man, “for I have no one to put me in the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone always gets there ahead of me”
What are my excuses that prevent me from being well?
Someone else is better suited to help
Someone smarter, taller, stronger, funnier would be enjoyed more than me in social circles
What if I do it wrong?
Someone will judge me
That I would be left alone
God has the big (better) picture
Microcosm! Ref
A professional photographer knows how to take the perfect photo. Takes great care to prepare by taking into consideration the size of the frame, the subjects in the frame, the placement and movement of the subjects, the lighting on them, the focus on them, the role the background plays, the color composition, the story it tells, and then how to achieve it through the settings, capability, and limitations of the camera. That’s the setup for just a millisecond snapshot of time. As the subject of the photo, how much do you think it helps the photographer if you had a “great idea” to make the photo “better”? Low probability.
God created each of us as a work of art. He created us, formed us, shaped us through other people (iron sharpening iron), thru the environment, seasoning us (hardships). He is not done until He decides to bring us back to Him. We often think our way is a “great idea” and will produce a “better” result.
I may have screwed up my story, but it is not done. “Do not put a period where God puts a comma”
I pray my plans fail because yous are better
Then. Baptisms.
Love them. Celebrating because he left the 99 for another 1
Then. Fellowship
Ash and I procrastinated until today to get shoes for the “practical help item” of the month. We went to Camarillo outlets to get a pair
But not before lunch at Finney’s
We went to the converse store. Found a pair of converse that looked good and we’re on sale in about 7 minutes. Then… We saw a sign that said “buy one and get one for 60% percent off”. What a deal! The ones we picked didn’t qualify. After another couple peruses…because we had to get a couple of clarifications of the fine print… We found another sweet pair. Checked out… To be the same price as the first pair…
There has to be a lesson somewhere in there.
Don’t doubt? Trust your initial instinct and stay on your firm foundation? Grass isn’t always greener? Don’t get swayed? Don’t get distracted? The kid getting the first pair would have been just as stoked to receive those. Now we were just trying to get a good deal? Silly.
Time never wasted with the Lord
Went back to 6pm service to drop off the shoes…. I mean since I am there already, I minus well stay for sermon and more baptisms!
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are the perfect potter. Your creativity is beyond all of humanity’s comprehension. You freely gave us everything, yet we still sinned against you. I do not deserve your mercy, yet you continually and faithfully give me Grace. You sent your one and only son to die for my sins. Your mercy is greater than my failures.
“That would have been enough for me, but you want me at your feast” (song by …..)
That is wild. You are not bitter or annoyed. Thank you for the feast today. Your daily bread is satiating and living water fills my cup.
I pray all my family, friends, and Framoly will continue to pick up their mat and come to the table.
