Heavy Load

Sometimes God gives us challenges that we really don't know how to face. Generally when it seems like a task to big for oneself you look for different alternatives then what God has to offer. Instead of asking Him how to face the challenge He has presented, you run and hide. But running and hiding is the worst thing to do and the challenge that you thought once to be daunting just got bigger and harder to solve.

If we present our problems directly to God when they happen things become much easier to cope with. “He himself shall dwell in prosperity . . .” (Psalm 25:13). God will cause us to “dwell in prosperity,” keeping us at ease, even in the midst of tribulation, misunderstanding, and slander, if our “life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). The previous sentence is something that I read in My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. It rings true in my heart right now. While here at Malibu, dwelling in prosperity seems much easier than back in the real world. Maybe it is due to the feel of this place. Some call it a thin place, meaning its a step between heaven and earth. It feels that way to mean. Life at times seems so much more clearer while I am here. Life is more at Peace.

So as these worries, tribulations and challenges come our way we need to turn and present them to the Lord. "Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything, with prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your request to God. By the Peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your heard and your mind in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7. Let us present our request to God with everything that is on our hearts. For as we walk with Him, He will guard and guide us in the ways of righteousness.

One of the ODC's challenges for work today consisted of moving an 11 ton generator. For those of you who don't know what 11 tons are.. that's 22,000 pounds of machinery. Well this problem was one where if I faced it alone.. I would have no idea how to solve it. You see, we weren't moving this 22,000 pounds with a tractor or lift. We were doing this with our hands, chains, jacks, wood, straps, pulleys, I-hooks, and metal bars. The first step which I wasn't there for and probably took the most time was raising the generator 3 feet in the air. Oh one minor detail if the generator fell backwards away from where we were moving it to, it would fall into the ocean. So slowly and carefully Gil(single handedly for the most part) raised the generator up 3 feet. This step took about a week or two since Gil didn't really focus on it all at once.

The second step to moving the generator happened today. As an ODC which consisted of me, Bruce, James and Gil we managed to move the generator a total of 15 feet and turned it 90 degrees. So to perform this ridiculous human feat we used wood to make skids for the generator to "glide" down. Then we used come-along pullies that were chained up to the generator to pull the thing the distance we needed. We used metal bars and placed them under the generator (with jacks) to help with the gliding the beastly thing. As we pulled from different I-hooks with pulleys and there you have it, 11 ton generator moved. I will soon have pictures hopefully. We also took a time lapse of the process which I hope to have up here at some point.

May God guide our lives constantly.. not just in the heat of battle.

Just burnt

You would think that the time in between camps would be really laid back and relaxing. It was exactly the opposite for me this week. I was constantly trying to figure out some problem or moving some sort of construction material for the new buildings. I found myself working a complete day, even past dinner, one one problem in particular and that was a water heater tank. It was the death of me. No matter what I tried to do I always seemed to mess up somehting with it. For instance when I put a plug on a pipe I wasn't going to use, I used a plug with a hole in it.. then when I was finally finishing up the project I connected the hot to the cold and the cold to the hot.. that set me back a good 45 minutes. All in all though.. I finished it.

Today was the nicest day this year for me. It had to be in the 70s and completely blue skies, not a cloud in sight. It was great. I got totally burnt. But I always say the burn turns to tan baby!

The other interns here right now are sooooo great. I like em haha. We are a very diverse group of people but I think for the most part we mesh quite well. It is weird to think that we only have part of our squad up here so far. I just got introduced this new board game by my soundtech buddy Nick and his wifey Stacy called

I might be a little addicted already. We played the past two nights. I didn't either of the games but it was something new. I would describe it as a mix between risk and some other game.

The Lord is very comforting.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Let the adventures begin

As soon as I take a step off the water taxi I finally realize that I am back. I am back in a place that has a special place in my heart. And let me tell you, it felt gooooooood! After saying my hello's to everyone, it was time to change right into my work clothes because there was a camp coming in 4 hours. There was grass to mow. As I equip two other interns and myself with landscape tools we go to work and take down grass that measures up to a foot high. By the time we finish up, the horn is blared indicating that the Malibu Princess has rounded the corner and everyone needs to report to outer dock. This was the beginning to an amazing opening weekend to my summer of 2011.

For about a year and half or so I have discussed with Gary Hopkins baptism. I talked to him about what it meant and going into last year I had a great idea. I wanted to get baptized at Malibu. It was the place where my faith began and it was a place that will always be in my heart. The idea was to have Gary(my mentor) baptize me sometime during the summer. But our plans were squashed when it was revealed to us that under Young Life policy baptism is not allowed on property. This summer however I still had the burning desire to be baptized here at Malibu so I talked to Gary going into the weekend. It felt like the perfect opportunity, it was preseason, so there wasn't as many campers, there were a lot of friends that were here that I wanted to share it with, and I just felt pulled by the Holy Spirit that it was something that I needed to have done.

So as the weekend winded down and times for the baptism seemed to be slipping away, I decided to be baptized at night at 1130 pm. Now this water wasn't just any water. It was water that was below 60 degrees. And just to please the Young Life policy we all went out to Hamburger point which technically isn't YL property but it owned by the natives. As Gary and I walked out into the water it was apparent to me that Gary wasn't handling the water very well. He shivered and sputtered a prayer as his early signs of hypothermia kicked in. And so, in front of a group of friends, interns and property staff, in a place that is always going to mean a lot to my faith, I was baptized.

I am going to try to update this blog as much as I can throughout the summer. I hope to share my adventures and the journey that God has set before me.

Couple of crazy things that happened this weekend as well:
-Broke a wheel off a tractor, then fixed it
-Poured over 3 cubic yards of concrete
-Helped to push a 850 pound replacement part for the hydro with two tractor and plenty of hands up a hill
-Took part in three way plunging attempt to unclog plumbing ("this is bigger than the three of us")

God Bless!

Just felt the need

One thing that has been evident lately to me is the ability for a human to worry. Worrying is something that for the most part is pointless. We worry about things such as what we will get on a exam, or why someone(girl/guy) hasn't called me back, or when am I going to find someone, I hate being single. I believe that we worry so much about our future that we miss the very present that occurs around us sometimes. But it takes obedience and trust to really enjoy the present time. The Present time is when we grow the most.

The Lord has given me a lot of examples as well as scripture and stories in this area lately. He has made it evident to me that this is an area in my life that needs more prayer and attention. The times that we worry usually consists of times where things aren't going exactly the way we want them to go. First, we have to look at that bolded words... we want. It isn't what God wants, it is what we want selfishly for us. It's what we think the standard is for our life, which generally is a worldly one for the most part. When God rescued us from our sin and gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is in us and will always be with us.

Some believe that just because they have God in their hearts that life is going to come easy. That because God has a plan that this plan won't be hard. But you see God never claimed that if you believed in Him that your life would be easy. In fact Jesus said that life would be harder...

Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. John 15:20

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26

He never said that homework wouldn't be hard, that people wouldn't fall away, that divorce would happen, or any other struggles you would face. He never said he was going to prevent these things. He did however promise that through all these things He would be with you. That He would be your refuge.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

I believe that the Lord has a plan for each of us and as we grow closer to Him he will start to unveil the many riches that will come with it. He keeps things from us for a reason. He puts us through times in our lives so that we can become more stronger than ever.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

So as these times of worry come your way, remember that all you have to do is look up and remember that He is with you and He is never going to leave your side. He has the the master blue print but we only get to see a step at a time.

"Do not give in to fear or worry, those robbers of abundant living. Trust Me enough to face problems as they come, rather than trying to anticipate them." -Jesus Calling

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

Listen

God speaks through others to us. Sometimes however we hear what God has said and we don't want to accept it. Naturally we question it. We are clouded by what we had originally thought or what God was been saying to us. We don't take into account that God could in fact be speaking something new and different through someone into your life.

I recently read the story of Jesus walking on the water. Before Jesus identified himself to His disciples things were clouded. His disciples thought that it was a ghost on the water. They didn't understand, they were fearful, the story was unclear. But once His disciples recognized Jesus, things became clear and they could comprehend what was going on. Jesus clears up all.

This is the same when we find out something that just doesn't make sense to us. When God is speaking through someone to us, yet we initially don't want to hear it. We always presume that what we think is the right and what God has told us lately is always the most recent. That isn't always the case. If we just begin to look for Jesus within in the situation then things will become more clear to us. Jesus will clear the confusion and the heartache. He will comfort us especially when we cannot seem to understand it.

These lyrics really helped me in confusion,
"You make, all things work together for my good"



I find comfort in Jesus so once I find Jesus and try to look at where He is working within a situation it will bring peace to the area of uneasiness. There is also an underlying lesson about obedience. When someone shares with you what God has told them, you have to realize the amount that that person has trusted in Christ and being obedient to what they are being told. The ones who trust in the Lord in this way truly are the obedient ones.

"Our limitation is God's opportunity. When you get all the way to the end of your rope and there ain't nothin you can do, that's when God takes over." -Same Kind of Different as Me

Busy

I stole this from someone.. I am not sure where they got it but here it is...


STRATEGIC MEETING


SATAN'S MEETING: (Read even if you're busy)

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.

In his opening address he said,

"We can't keep Christians from going to church."

"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth."

"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their saviour."

"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken."

"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.."

"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:

"Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."

"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles."

"Keep them from spending time with their children."

"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice."

"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive." To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly."

"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."

"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."

"Invade their driving moments with billboards."

"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives..."

"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."

"Give them headaches too! "

"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere."

"That will fragment their families quickly!"

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas."

"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death."

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."

"Have them return from their recreation exhausted."

"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead."

"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences. "

"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus."

"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."

"It will work!"

"It will work!"

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.

Having little time for their God or their families.

Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge!!!!!

Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?

Home and off again

Well my time at Malibu is over... for now. As my time concluded I got the feeling that it wouldn't be the last summer I would spend there. It was hard for me to find any other way to spend my summer then to be serving the Lord at Malibu. It was just so productive in so many ways. I'll keep you updated but I really feel like God is leading me in that direction and it already has me excited.

I literally got home yesterday and tomorrow I will be moving everything up to college. I feel like I spent maybe a total of 7 days at home for the summer.

Tonight I had the opportunity to chat with Jed and Noah. They wanted to hear about my experience and I wanted to hear about what went on in their lives these past 3 months. One thing we talked about that seems to really be reoccurring with me is the topic of risk taking. By risk I pretty much mean trust and when I mean trust I mean trust in the Lord. Jed shared a time this summer when he felt like God was really calling him to something but it ended up not working out.

Think about how often we are too worried about what God has put on our heart. As if we don't interpret what He said the right way. We are so afraid of failure because we think failure in what God told us to do is a bad thing and that others can look down upon. When in reality it could just be a big lesson that God has put together this whole time, to help you realize something else. Maybe at the time it didn't make sense but in the big picture God has laid out for us it was right on.

We always seem to have a "back up" plan for what God has in store for us. We Trust in that direction but we numerous back up plans just in case God's doesn't work out. Are we saying that God's plans aren't good enough for us? That we have to have God's back just in case He gets messy with us? Noah talked about how one day we will be in Heaven talking to God about it and it might go a little something like this...

You: Hey God. Did you see how I trusted in your plan?

God: Yeah and I appreciate the trust you had but what about the "back up plans" you had just in case I didn't pull through for you? You really didn't fully trust in that I would take care of you. You didn't lay it on the line knowing that if it wasn't exactly the way you had planned that I would somehow still take care of you.

We need to risk sometimes. We have to know that God has our back. He is the God of the Universe. The Beginning and End. It might not make sense or seem right in our eyes but in God's the plan is going exactly the way He wants it to.

In his heart a man plans his course but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9