...A Good Book...

So far on my winter break from school I have been reading The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne; I am only 3 chapters through it and it is already blowing my mind.

No lie, what Claiborne has been talking about in his book has been dead on with where I feel God leading me in my spiritual walk lately...

He has shared how when he was in college, much like myself, he had this struggle with how church was being done and did not agree with most of what he saw in traditional churches, much like myself.

In the latest chapter that I read he talks a lot about how we, as Christians, are now the Christ to the world, which has been on the forefront of my mind as well.

The verse that really stands out to me with this idea of literally being Christ to the world is Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
What if we lived out this verse in our lives??
Every day??
What if we simply just believed this verse??
Wow!

Green Pastuers Vacation...day one

I'm calling it Green Pasture Vacation because of it reminds me of Psalm 23 and how in Psalms 23 it says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in GREEN PASTURES"
when i hear the words green pastures i think of when I was growing up and my family had some cattle (cows) and whenever we would let the cows have more field to eat from they would roll around and eat and sleep and never leave their new pasture spot. And it always seemed that whenever we would allow them out there they would gain some extra weight as well.
That is what i hope will happen for my heart this trip.
I hope that this trip is going to bring some extra food to my spiritual life...I NEED IT!
I don't necessarily need to gain physical weight but i am in desperate need of some extra spiritual weight.

the first day on the trip that I'm calling "Green Pasture Vacation" has been a restful one thus far...
yesterday was the long van ride to Nashville...i filled most of that time up with some extra sleep as ricky had a good time annoying Mark...

Today is the start of the conference and, if I'm not mistaken, David Crowder is going to be kicking off the day...can't wait to worship with 5,000 other youth workers!

A verse that stood out to me this morning was "Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him." (Luke 15:1)
The challenge that hit my heart immediately after reading this verse was this: am i hanging out with people who are not like me? am i being intentional about getting to know not-yet-believers? i would have to say no to both of those questions. It seems more and more each day that God is calling me to be in more relationships with those who do not know Jesus yet...

Fill me up Father!
I am nothing without You!
Use me!
Make me more like your Son, Jesus Christ!
and please...Increase my faith!!

Faith Like a Child...

What if we had a literal faith like a child??
What would that look like??

What if we truly believed that Jesus lives inside of us??
What if we seriously believed that concept??
The same God who conquered death, gave the blind sight, and had a love that never ended lives inside of His followers!!!
That thought alone gives me chills up my arm...

Now...
think if we lived out this truth in our daily lives...
what would that look like for us??

I know for me it would mean having more faith...
it would mean living like there is no tomorrow...
it would mean living a radical life...
a life of sacrifice and selflessness...


What do you think?
What would it look like if you had a faith like a child??
What would your life look like if you fully believed that Jesus lives inside of you and is yearning for you to let him take control?? from the inside out...


The apostles said to the Lord "Increase our faith!" (Luke 17:5)

Trying Too Hard..

I think I try too hard sometimes...
I start to think that I need to do things in order for God to be present in my life...
I start to believe that if I'm not being solid in my devos that He can't use me...
I'm starting to wonder now if it's my own fault that I can't feel God at all times in my life...

But alas I remember...
I remember that it is not about me...
it's not about what I've done...or not done
I start to remember that He has everything under control...
I can't change the Creator's plans...
and I definitely can't hinder them...
no matter how bad I screw up...

Thank You God! For always being my God. For giving me the opportunity to serve you through youth ministry. For giving me second chances. For the friends I have that continually challenge me...whether they know it or not...

life in transition...

God is on the move again in my life.
A time of transition is approaching as summer comes to a close.
I'll be living in a new place. A new community.
A new job is on the horizon (even though I don't know where that is quite yet)
And even new ministries may be down my alley.

God I ask for Your wisdom. I ask that you would guide my decisions and keep my mind clear.
I give You full control! And I ask that Your will be done, not my own.
You are an amazing God and I thank you for this season of my life!!

my prayer this Sunday night...

God!
Sometimes I don't know what you're doing...
Sometimes I think this isn't a good idea...

But I know You have everything under control...
I know You have a plan...

I ask that You speak through me to these kids...
I ask that these kids would see You and not me...

Give me passion!!
Give me energy!!


Let Your will be done!
not mine..

the summer so far...

It has been a very interesting summer so far.
It started out with a lot of expectations and a lot of energy.
We're just about half way through the summer and already so much has happened.
There's been a road trip from California to Michigan with Chrissy.
A camping trip with my camp kids at Camp Geneva.
An awesome 4th of July weekend.
Camp Rock (mon - thur)
Good times with family and friends the whole time as well.

This summer has definitely been full of "unexpecteds"...
It seemed that many things this summer were going to be as close to perfect as possible..
but God has proved my assumptions wrong again...

I seem to always get caught up thinking that my life is supposed to be easy and always the way I want it.
Then God always seems to smack me in the head and say, "Joe! you know this is not about you right? I have everything under control. Stop thinking you know best! because you don't."

I am still working on remembering that God knows best and that I am always in need of a little more faith.

Hope you all are having a great summer so far.

Keep seeking the Kingdom first!

Joe