God Behind Bars?

          I recently had the opportunity to go minister in a prison and lead worship in front of a few hundred prisoners. Before going I was a little skeptical, I mean we are talking about prisoners, the rough-scuff tattooed men, who at some point have broken the law. Thoughts like “is this really going to be beneficial to any of these men” or “I bet they are just going to give us a blank stare the entire time” ran through my mind. Of course everyone has their own perception of what a “standard” prisoner looks and acts like, and my perception was hindering my thoughts of why I was really there. Of course after arriving my same perception of the standard prisoner were the same as they were before I had showed up, but what happened after the service started only an experience could describe.

I began to see and fill God move in the same way that I had seen him move in previous services I had attended. I seen grown men who were there for numerous accounts of charges still lift their hands and praise the same God that I pray to everyday. I heard their prison worship team sing about being free, while being behind 9 feet of fencing all at the same time. You could feel it in the atmosphere that God was indeed there and he was the same God that shows in our everyday lives. In Romans 8:38-39 it says “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

You see I have felt called to be a youth pastor and so many times I have questioned the full commitment to bringing Gods word to the next generational age. I have always doubted if I would ever be strong enough, and most importantly what if I were positioned in a church that seemed lifeless and Godless? I’m just glad to know these questions no longer haunt me because the same God who saved me in a room full of God fearing adults will be the same God who is with me to the ends of the earth just like he promised Moses in Exodus. Just remember if you are ever in a time of trouble,  the same graceful God who delivered his people from slavery in exodus is the same God on the throne that is over your situation.

~Jonathan

Dull Moments

Life will NOT be all fun and games, smiles and laughter, or kicks and giggles ... if anyone tells you it will be that's where my personal mission kicks in to inform you that it won't be that way. Now don't get discouraged, life will always have ups, laughs, and fun times but there will always, always, always, be that "dull moment" somewhere in life. You know what I'm talking about, that pause between music tracks or waiting to be seated at your favorite restaurant, so on and so forth we all know what qualifies as a "dull moment" for us as individuals. Getting to my point, What if we took all of life's "dull moments" and made them "Prayer Moments" instead? Think about it, we all know there's power in prayer, like world changing power. So why don't we harness that power and use every minute to its fullest potential?

*Nothing extensive, just food for thought*

 

~Alexis

For I Know The Plans I Have For You

I decided to join Master's Commission because I knew that I had a calling on my life to go into ministry, but I had no idea what it was. I imagined it would be along the lines of working with youth ministry, but I didn't know any of the details.

Throughout this year, little pieces of the puzzle have started to become clearer to me. For almost 3 months now I've been having the same dream, and it made me wonder if it was just a really good dream or if God was trying to show me something. I didn't tell anyone about it, simply because I wasn't sure what it meant. It bothered me that I didn't know, so I began praying about it every day, for God to reveal to me the meaning of the dream.

Then, I got a call from a friend back in Chicago that I haven't talked to in almost 2 years. She told me that she had a dream about me the night before, and then described the exact dream that I had been having every night.

Wow.

The dream was that I was working with the youth of Australia, ministering and counseling them as they walk through life. At one point in the dream I'm even running a huge worship event there (again... WOW).

Once I got the call from my friend, I decided to go back into prayer, asking God to confirm a calling that I have had on my heart for a while now. 

“Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

-Matthew 7:7

This past weekend, we participated at a youth conference called Surge the City. During the weekend, I was feeling really drained, and during the last service I found myself crying out to God and asking Him if His anointing was still on my life.

And then we all got called out.

Pastor Pat (the speaker) called the Master’s Commission students that were there to come to the stage. Long story short, I got called out and that whole room full of people suddenly knew that I had doubted the anointing on my life. But then Pat said something to me that put me at ease (and made me burst into tears). He said that he had doubted the anointing on his life for over 10 years, and that I wasn’t alone.

As I sat on the stage, both praying and crying, I heard God telling me that He was using the events of my life to train me for the anointing that I have on my life. That I was going to help bring the prodigals back to Him in a land that is far from where I am now. The whole time, I was seeing the images and scenes from my dream.

And for the first time since it all started, I felt completely at peace about it. Not only that, but I am EXCITED about the plans that God has for my life! I felt the chains of fear, insecurities, and self-worth begin to fall off, and a sense of confidence and joy began to fill my body.

I did a little bit of research this morning about Australia, and here is some of what I’ve found:

Only 9% of Australia’s entire population actively attends church and matches their actions with their faith.

In addition to that, out of the youth (ages 13-18) that is counted in that 9%, 1 in 4 will leave the church by the time that they graduate high school.

And now I know that I am going to change that.

~Paige

You Are Chosen

            9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

            Lets break this verse down.  In the beginning of this chapter, Peter is describing evil behavior and saying that you are not like that.  He is saying that you are chosen.  You are not only set apart, but you are also royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.  YOU ARE GOD’S!!!  That should make you feel like you are on top of the world.  You are chosen to be a royal priest, a holy nation, and God’s very own child.  You are special.  But with great title come great responsibility.  You have to show others that you are chosen by showing God’s goodness throughout the world.  You must show others the way out of the darkness because God has taken you out of the darkness and you know the way out!  This verse shows me that I am not just an ordinary person, but I have a calling on my life.  I am set apart from everyone else because I have purpose in my life to fulfill and I’m not going to let anyone get in my way.  I AM CHOSEN!!!!!!!

 

6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.  Joshua 1:6

 

 

Living Love

Earlier this week I was asked a question. That question was "what is your favorite Bible verse?" Immediately I knew the answer to that question. I have a verse that I call my life verse (a life verse is a verse of scripture that you live your life by... Obviously). That verse of scripture is John 15:12 "This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you." If you ask me that is a pretty amazing way to live you life. But, then the question began to boil in me. I call this verse my LIFE verse, but do how much of my life do I really live by it? Instantly, I became hurt by that question. It was almost as if Jesus had slapped me in my face. How much of your life are you living by this verse? So, I thought about it and my thinking hurt me. The answer is, i'm not really living a whole lot of my life by that verse.

 

So, in order for my self to understand that you have to look at what the love of Jesus looked like. Let's talk about one of the most talked about story's in the Bible. The woman caught in adultery in John 8. In the beginning of this story we know that Jesus has come to the temple to teach people. While he was in the middle of teaching, the people who taught law and some Pharisees drug a woman to him and threw her in front of the crowd. Then they began to proclaim that she was not just being accused of adultery, she had in fact been caught in the very act. They yelled to Jesus and called him "teacher" if you don't know about the Pharisees, they were mocking him. They said to him, the law of Moses says they should all stone her to death. Then they asked Him what He would have them do. Now, we know in this situation, they were trying to get Jesus to say something that could incriminate him so that they could have him put to death. Yet, Jesus did not care what happened to him. He kneeled down to the ground in front of her and he began to write in the dust. It is not recorded what Jesus wrote. But, it does not matter, what matters is he wrote life in her situation. That is not the only significant thing in this situation. The accusers continued to antagonize and poke and prod at Jesus. He stood up and looked at them and simply said, "let the first person who has no sin throw the first stone". Then he immediately kneeled back down with her. What is so important about that? Jesus is kneeling down in front of this woman after he essentially just told them to stone her if they wanted to. He has put his own body in front of hers. If someone were to have thrown and stone in this situation, the first person to be hit would have been Jesus. He looked at the woman after no one threw a stone and he said, where has everyone that accused you gone, did they stone you? She replied no to him. Then he looked at her and he said, neither do I. 

This is an amazing image of the love Jesus has for all of us. He absolutely loves every single person on this planet without flaw. He doesn't even think twice about this women. He instantly portrayed the love that he has for her even though she had been caught in the very act of sinning. But, instead of condemning her, he just loved her and helped her remove the barrier of sin from her life. Think about the death of Jesus. As he was hanging there on that cross, beaten, tortured, flesh hanging off of him, barley living. Even when the people who were killing him were stabbing him in the ribs. He shouted out to God and asked for their forgiveness. Not because it was his job, not because someone told him to do it, not because he thought they would let him go. But, because he loved them. Just as he loves each and everyone of us. 

Lord, I pray that I can take your word and apply it to every corner of my life. Consume me with your fire Father until none of me is left, until you are the only thing that remains. Let me love like you love. Let the people I come in contact with not know who I am. But, let them know who you are. I love you Jesus. 

~Sean

 

"Truly Knowing How to Love"

1 John 4:20:  If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

 

 

I’ve realized Christian believers have to know how to love well because it is essential for true spirituality. 

I hope to always have the ability to recognize that I have to love, respect, and value people; also taking into consideration that I am not perfect and I’m not always right. Peter Sazzero references a Jewish theologian by the name of Martin Buber who wrote a great book called “1 and thou”. This book talks about two kinds of relationships, one of them being the best kind of relationship to have. Buber described the most mature healthy relationship being an “I-Thou” relationship. “ In such relationships I recognize that I am made in the image of God and so is every other person on the face of the earth. This makes them “Thou” to me. Because of that reality every person deserves respect that is; I treat them with dignity and worth. I do not Dehumanize or objectify them. I affirm them as having a unique and separate existence apart from me.

God, You have created each and everyone of us fearfully and wonderfully. I'm so grateful that you looked at us and said "it is good." We are created in your image

~Seny

 

 

Im Not Going Back

1 Peter 5:6-11 "So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does."

I've been thinking lately, and God is so good to us. Though we don't deserve it! It doesn't matter how many times we mess up, He's still there to pick us back up and brush the dirt off;  Even if we think he should just turn his back on us.

In my own walk with Christ, I can't tell you the countless times that I have messed up. All I can think about is his GRACE and MERCY, that follows me, even into the darkest places of my life.  My life use to be about getting my next fix or when I was going to be able to get the next 'solo cup' in my hands.

I thank God that I am no longer bound to those bondages and can say with an honest heart that I have NO intentions on ever going back to my life before God! He has brought me too far to look back. With my testimony it's my desire to help people know that there is more to life than the fix they need. I want to be able to look back and say that I helped numerous people with their addictions and through Christ bring them out of those addiction. With God's help all things are possible.

~Haley

 

January 1st 'VS' The First Monday

*New Year. New Life. New Me. New Perspective. New Attitude. New Priorities*

"My Time"

(This year will be different on so many levels)

 

 

Normal people do all their new year resolutions on the first day of the year, well this is just further conformation that I am not "normal".  As I sit in this office I realize that there are ALOT of things in my life that need to change if I expect to succeed at all in this season of my life.  So I have decided that my resolutions will not be "resolutions" but commitments to not only myself and those around me but also to God.  This year will be a year of S.H.I.F.T-ing for me.

*S.erve H.eal I.nspire F.ight T.each*

 

   *Serving- I will serve those around me with diligence and respect and will complete what I commit to with out over exerting and spreading myself to thin. 

   *Healing- I will let go and surrender all of me to the divine Healer in order to get over my "issues" and also to release others healing which will come through mine.

   *Inspiring- I will learn to look in high places for inspiration for not only myself but for those who need it, I will inspire my family, my friends, my community, my city, and in due time my country and the world with help from none other than my Lord and Savior.

   *Fighting- I will take my stance as a Kingdom Warrior and will from now on fight for not only my harvest but also my family; both physical and spiritual. My promise, my purpose, and I will fight to defend the Kingdom of God.

   *Teaching- I will take all that I have learned and in turn share with the world both near and far because I know that knowledge is power and if we all are to be Warriors of the Kingdom then we all need proper knowledge and training.  At the same time, I will learn more from those who I will come in contact with.

 

With this said, I make these commitments today and I've written them here not only for accountability but also to make an impact and a point, I love my life but I also know that I love god a lot more and whatever I have to do for him to be able to use me, this is my year to do it regardless of the cost to me.

 

*Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8; " To everything there is a season a time of purpose. A time to be born, and a time to die A time to plant and a time to pluck. A time to kill and a time to heal A time to break down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh a time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to cast a way stones and a time to gather stones a time to embrace and a time to refrain, A time to gain and a time to lose a time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to sew a time to keep silence and a time to speak. A Time To Love And A Time To Hate A Time For War And A Time For Peace."

 

This is my time, my time to step up and step out and become all that God had destined for me to be.  ~Alexis

Back To The Heart of Worship

James 3:13-18 says, "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

I love worship. I absolutely love worship.

But I love worship that is real and authentic. I love worship that at times is rough and raw. I love
worship where people take the talent that they have and they simply offer them up to the God who
loves them. And, in humbling themselves before God, He does amazing things through their gifts. When doing this, it reminds me of the song, “Heart of Worship.”\

I’m coming back to the heart of worship, And it’s all about You. All about You, Jesus. I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it, When it’s all about You. It’s all about You Jesus

It’s that sense of humility in worship, a humble offering of everything that we are, that comes to my
mind when I read these words from James. It’s an interesting position for a statement such as this. They come just on the heels of a verses describing the power of the tongue to either bring praise or bring destruction. And now there is this image of wisdom. When we’re connected to the wisdom of God, it will undoubtedly flow from the heart. And when it’s flowing from our heart, we see such things as peace, gentleness, obedience, humility, love. But there’s another side to the picture too. When we don’t have a sense of humility, when we’re not connected to the wisdom of God, it’s also going to show up in our actions. In that case, we’re going to be jealous, sinful and filled with bad ambitions. Maybe that’s why the heart is so important.
Here is a few questions to challenge yourself with: What’s your heart connected to? Is it the heart of
God that we find in true worship? Or is it the heart of the world?

- Haley

Broken BUT Rescued

"If the winds must keep blowing for me to trust in You... then Lord, I will hold on until You see me through. I may not know the purpose for this trial that I face, but please, don't let this

storm go to waste."

-"This Storm", McMillan and Life

As much as I love being in MC, because I really REALLY do, this is possibly the hardest thing I've ever gone through. And it's only the 7th week. It's still just the beginning, and I can't tell you how many times the thought of leaving has crossed my mind because of my feelings getting in the way.

Feelings of fear. Of stress. Of doubt. Of loneliness. Feeling like I don't belong, that I don't fit in. That I'm not enough for this group. That I'm holding the group back. That I don't have enough Bible knowledge. That I'm not as far in my spiritual walk as everyone else.

I can't tell you how many times I've started to pack my bags, completely prepared to pack up the back of my car, and just drive. No destination point. Just drive away, as far as I can on however much gas I had in my tank. I've felt like that's my best option more than once.

Then my car BROKE.

When it initially happened, I was convinced that the devil was just attacking me. Now that I can step back and look at the whole situation, I can see how that wasn't the case.

God stepped in. He took control of a situation that could have taken me away from the calling He has given me. Away from the opportunities He has put in front of me.

I believe He broke my car. Not as a punishment... but as a reminder that I'm not in control. Or a reminder that He can take me out of a situation that I may not be able to handle.

Which is really, REALLY good. Because if my car wouldn't have broken, I would have been gone. I would have left over a month ago. I would have left before the process of growing even began.

We were told from the beginning that this program wouldn't be easy, and I don't think any of us thought much of it. The breaking process hurts... A lot. You learn so much about yourself, and you're stripped down to the basics so that you can create a firm foundation for ministry. I'm starting to see now just how beneficial the hard parts are.

I'm starting to accept the fact that God has me in this program for a reason... clearly. I mean, He BROKE my car. This program is hard. But it's worth it.

Yes, I feel alone sometimes, but I know that I'm not. I have a Daddy God that is always with me. And I know that He loves me unconditionally, even when I doubt. Even when I question whether or not it's worth it. He's got my back. He sees beauty in my brokenness. He sees potential in me. He has me here for a reason. And I'm finding so much peace in knowing that.

Blessings,
        Paige

Have you ever just enjoyed a sunset?

Have you ever just enjoyed a sunset? Maybe you were at the beach, or sitting on your front porch, or maybe just sitting in the grass somewhere. Wherever you were, you know that no picture could ever truly capture the beauty of all the colors; that fire in the sky!

I have never met a person that at some point didn’t stand in awe at the beauty of the sunset. Just this week I was sitting in my car, preparing to leave the mall and there it was, that fire in the sky. Reds, blues, pinks, yellows, oranges, just beautiful. But I became curious, what makes the colors in the sunset?

Obviously God paints a picture for us of His creativity. But I was reading at the beautiful colors that are in the sunset are the product of the pollution in the air. Yes, the pollution, that thing that everyone
hates. The thing that everyone says is dangerous and detrimental to the world. The sun shines through it and it is beautiful.

Isn’t that the same in our lives? The things people look at us and point at us and say is ugly and gross.
The things that make us “unacceptable” to people and that they say is so bad. What will happen when
the SON shines through? Those same people will be left standing in awe of the picture God has created with your “pollution” and will be mesmerized by the beauty that comes from it.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 1 it says:

26 Look carefully at your call, brothers and sisters. By human standards, not many of you are deemed to be wise. Not many are considered powerful. Not many of you come from royalty, right? 27 But celebrate this: God selected the world’s foolish to bring shame upon those who think they are wise; likewise, He selected the world’s weak to bring disgrace upon those who think they are strong. 28 God selected the common and the castoff, whatever lacks status, so He could invalidate the claims of those who think those things are significant. 29 So it makes no sense for any person to boast in God’s presence. 30 Instead, credit God with your new situation: you are united with Jesus the Anointed. He is God’s wisdom for us and more. He is our righteousness and holiness and redemption. 31 As the Scripture says: “If someone wants to boast, he should boast in the Lord.”

So today friends, let the SON shine through your “pollution” and watch it turn in to something beautiful that confounds even the wisest of men. If God be for you, WHO can be against you? God REALLY is working everything out for your good, so let Him!

Blessings,

Tami

Break Every Chain

To this day it still seems so unreal to be in a place that’s so far away from all the people that I love so much. I’m now 18 and living the college life. Today I just sat back and looked at all the things I’ve done, all the things I accomplished and all the painful moments. I started to think about the 2 months I tried to prepare for the next coming 3 years. But I learned you can’t ever prepare yourself to be broken by God. I finally stopped all my plans and my dreams that I had for myself and I began to focus on Gods voice. I now live in charlotte, day by day preparing for my future and being trained into a disciple for Christ. For so long I ran from my calling I ran from Gods voice, for this very reason because I was scared to death about the process, the process of being completely broken. I’m learning that being in ministry and being where God has called you for whatever season you’re in you still are being broken, being broken is a willingness to change, its where you start growing and cutting out all of the past and impurities you have in your life. The process is painful and extremely emotional but full of Gods mercy, he shows us the things that need to be cut out or dealt with but he also afterwards brings us through the healing process. 

The past few weeks have been so crazy, so many distractions, so many lies being made, so much he said she said but past all of it I’ve heard Gods voice so much. This past Wednesday night I was lying in bed talking to my roommate Tami about the song break every chain. We began to talk about how we sing “Break every chain” a lot at Judah on Sundays. I made the comment that past the repetition it didn’t matter how much we sang it. Because it’s the words of the song that changes lives. Not only that but those words were placed into someone’s heart by God to write. So those are Gods words to you. He wants you to break EVERY chain in your life, he wants your chains to fall, not only for them to fall but for them to never take hold again over your life. So my question to you is how would churches be different if we actually begin to believe God could break those chains? Not to just sing it but to believe we serve a big God that can break those chains. When we sing there is an army rising up, what do you see as you sing that? When I begin to sing “there is an army rising up” for me I begin to see an army that’s for God, running head on after the enemy that’s been trying to kill everything in their lives. But what the army has attached to them and what there carrying IS the armor of God. What they have on the inside is more powerful than anything the enemy can throw at them or try to kill them with. Having that armor on is going to help them kill the very thing or the very enemy that’s been trying to destroy them and as the enemy comes closer they will be able to strike with the purpose of completely killing them. (You could even look at it as your spirit man is trying to kill your fleshly man.) I also think about David, he believed that he could kill the giant not because of his pride or ego but because he believed that, what was his fathers was also his. He believed through God he could kill this giant. God used David in this story for a lot of reasons but one of the reasons were it didn’t matter his size or his strength or his age but the simple fact that he was called by God. God will use you when you have a willing spirit. So when it’s time to step up will you have all you need to fight? Will we believe and have faith that God is going to get you through this, the process might be horrible and you may have doubt at first but as you throw that first rock at the enemy as David did, will you miss because of the lack of faith in yourself or will you hit your target because of the faith you had in God and the faith God had in you? The next time you hear a song, don’t take it lightly apply it to your life and let God speak to you.

- Morgan

Mandate of a Believer

Let me start with saying WOW. We are entering into our 6th week of SMC now and it has already been a ride. But, the deeper we get into it, I become so grateful that I am here. I'm going to be completely honest, I didn't know if my "puzzle piece" fit into this puzzle. I felt like this was just a stepping stone in my life that could only last for a couple of months. I thought I didn't fit in with the other guys. I felt, well, I felt like I was alone. But, as they walls have began to fall down. I can see just how much we are all alike. We are all after the same thing and that is to glorify God. 

This week has been an eye opener for me. We have talked about the mandate of a believer. It blew my mind to see this words come to life from my bible and for God to begin speaking to me. 

Matthew 28:18-20 

"Then Jesus came to the disciples and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded of you, and be sure of this, I am with you always, even at the very end of age." 

This is the mandate of a true believer. Jesus came into the world so that every child of God could be saved. How can everyone be saved if some haven't even heard of him. The word "Nations" here in Greek translates to race. He isn't just talking about people of third world countries, He is speaking about all the people on this planet, every single child of God needs to know their father. 

Another piece of scripture that ties in perfectly with this one is one that Pastor Glenn has been preaching a series on. 

Mark 16:15-18

"He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel of creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs and wonders will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; They will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will be healed."

This just blows my mind. Once again He is telling us to GO. We can't just sit here and be idle. We need to get up and go in the name of Jesus. Believers are made and molded into disciples. Here he tells us that signs and wonders will follow those who believe. They will drive out demons in His name, DRIVE OUT DEMONS. Wow, that is pretty amazing to me. My faith can be so strong and my belief can hold so much power that when I walk into a room. The devil knows that Jesus is with me and that he can not stay there and I will drive him out! That is enough for me, but He doesn't stop there. He says we will speak in new tongues. Because we are believers, when we go to preach the gospel to all nations. There will be no language barrier, if your faith is strong enough you will speak in their language. Speaking a language that I don't know and I have never studied before, that is amazing. They will pick up snakes with their hands and when they drink deadly poison it will not harm them. They will place their hands on the sick and they will be healed! The very things that Jesus him self came into this world and did. We will be able to do in his name. It is so amazing for me to see how Jesus desires so greatly for us to be just like him.  

I won't to wrap all of this up with a quote from Pastor Glenn, "signs and wonders follow those who believe. Believers don't follow signs and wonders" 

God, I just pray that in everything I do I look to you for guidance. I pray that every where I go I leave a residue behind of you God. That people can look through me and see that you are my Father and want to know you. God, I pray that in everything I do it is for your will Father. I desire to make you proud God and to let the light of Jesus shine through me. Amen. 

- Sean

Purpose

I feel that this is the first 'normal' week we've had.

I am realizing how important it is to get to know people before we develop impressions about them. I say that because everyday I'm getting to know everyone better, I realize why they behave the way the do, which helps me understand and adapt to different personalities better. That is something I have definitely been wanting to work on, because I'm not much of a people person.

This week we have been taught more and more what our purposes are in Christ. Pastor Glenn talked about the fact that we are New Testament Levites, while Pastor Michael discussed how we should pray. It completely reconstructed my view on a lot of the things I was taught in my childhood.

Pastor Glenn discussed that as Levites we are called to minister to God, which I believe we get a little backwards sometimes, because we always expect God to touch us and minister to us. This really resonated with me. It's important for me to remember as a worship leader, because we as humans are so accustomed to having 'horizontal' and face to face interactions that we have a hard time adapting to a 'vertical'  and seemingly one-sided relationship with God. In worship, we are too eager to try to minister to a congregation, and we tend to get discouraged whenever the crowd does not respond the way we would like. That's not right, we should worship God in Spirit and in Truth, not in congregational approval. 

Pastor Michael, on the other hand, spoke about prayer. This really helped me this week because the Lord has been speaking to me more and more about who to pray for, when to pray for them, and what to pray for. This is something I've never been comfortable with, but that's what I'm here for, right? I've always followed the model of prayer he talked about, which is praise, repentance, asking, and yielding. I don't remember where or when I learned this, but as long as I can remember I've prayed this way. It was interesting for him to explain this through the process of which the Priests came to Moses' temple. It truly brought light to and made sense of that idea. I plan on studying that more at some point, because no one has ever taught that to me, which is becoming the norm of a lot of things I'm learning throughout the week. Every week gives me a new perspective on my relationship with Christ. and I really believe it has already solidified my faith that much more.

- Danielle

What is Fear?

Websters Dictionary states that Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. 

For about two weeks, the enemy was attacking me every way he could. physically and mentally.  I have never dealt with anything ever like this kind of fear before in my life.  I would lay awake in my bed at night clinching for dear life to my pillow shaking, thinking that something was standing over me, waiting for me to move and as soon as i did it was going to start attacking me.  I would look in the mirror while getting ready and i would see someone else besides myself, and i would just stare at what i was seeing in the mirror.  I couldn't tell you who or what it was that was staring back at me, but i do know, that it was the Devil trying to overcome me, and make me think that as long as i stayed in this program, he was going to be there, waiting for me to take a step forward.  As soon as i did, he would be there to drag me back 7 steps backwards.  

Finally, one night I had enough, and sat all the girls down and i told them EVERYTHINGthat was going on.  I didn't know where to start or what to say, so i just poured it all out to them.  I felt like we needed to anoint our apartment.  One of the girls had some anointing oil, and we passed it around and grabbed hands and started praying together.  Then we split up and anointed every door post, window seal bedpost, door knob.  If there was something that we could anoint, we anointed it. We prayed for hours it felt like, it wasn't some minuscule prayer either.  God showed up in that apartment, and the holy ghost started moving.

I could see God working and moving in the girls while we were praying, but i couldn't feel anything.  I prayed and asked God why i couldn't feel him.  The enemy was in my ear telling me that God didn't hear me and that when i prayed i was wasting my breath because God wanted nothing to do with me.  I started believing the enemy and was contemplating of packing my things up and going home, because when i was at home i didn't deal with anything like this.  The devil would tell me that if i just went home he would leave me alone and i wouldn't have to deal with him anymore.  

As soon as he said that, i knew that i was where i was supposed to be, and the Assistant Pastor at my old church told me to look up; 2 Corinthians 10: 4-5: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

Once i read this, God just begin to pour scripture into my spirit, and a peaceful spirit just settled in my room, and that night was probably one of the best nights of sleep that i have had in a very long time.  Now every time that the enemy begins to stick his head back into my business, i just start quoting the scriptures God gave me. 

Joshua 1:9- "Have i not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go."

- Haley

  

I will trust in YOU

This week officially started a new chapter in my life as a Shabbach Master's Commission student, and it has already been such a life-changing experience for me. We started the week off with a small ceremony, where Pastor Michael talked about how we each came here with baggage, and that it was holding us back from giving our all to God. We then each had to choose a rock that we thought resembled the size and weight of the baggage that we each brought with us. We had to take that rock everywhere we went this past week, and also write on the rock anything that we think we have dealt with that has kept us from truly devoting ourselves to God.

My rock was huge.

And let me just say, carrying that thing around everywhere for an entire week was interesting. Once I actually wrote on the rock and gave names to each piece of baggage I found myself carrying, it made the scenario real to me. Yes, this rock was heavy. Yes, it was beyond annoying and hard to carry around. Yes, I got tired. The same emotions I've felt from the weight from my past.

So why was I carrying all of that "weight" around emotionally? Why had I not asked God to take these burdens away, to ease the difficulty of walking through daily life with these weights on my shoulders?

The biggest word on my rock (literally took up a whole side), was the word TRUST. When I wrote it on my rock, I wrote it because I have a very hard time trusting in people, because I have a fear that they will either reject me, hurt me, or leave me (or a combination of them). Because of this, I rarely let people in or talk about what's bothering me, until I am very confident that I can actually trust them.

So I walked around for a week, with the issue of trust (along with many others) physically weighing me down. But I wouldn't let someone help me carry it when they offered. Why not? Because I was afraid they would judge me because of my rock. Because of how ridiculously heavy it was, and how many words were written on it, and the choice of words that were on it. I didn't trust anyone with it.

Until I had to.

It took me until Pastor Michael picked up the rock, put it directly in my face, and said "Look at it." When I had to face everything that I wrote. I had to realize that there was an even larger trust issue than I had thought. It isn't just that I don't trust people, its that I don't completely trust God.

That's a smack in the face. I thought I trusted Him. I thought that me being here in this program would be so eye-opening because I'm following where God is calling (don't misunderstand me, it completely is and will continue to be eye-opening). But if I don't trust the people that He has surrounded me with here, how am I trusting in the plan He has for me here? How have I ever fully trusted in Him if I haven't ever trusted the surrounding He has given me?

The answer is: I can't. My issue isn't that I don't trust people (which I don't). My issue is that I don't fully trust in God to take me where I need to be and be okay. I've lived my life the past several years in fear of not being accepted, not being loved, not being enough, and getting lower into a life that I don't want. So I, naturally, run from my issues. I keep to myself. I don't let people in.  I attempt to stay as emotionless as possible.

I'm tired of living life that way.

By the end of the week, I was tired of holding that rock. My back and shoulders hurt, and my arms literally couldn't take it anymore. We had our covenant ceremony, and during that we were to finally get rid of our rocks. I walked down by the lake where all of the leaders were waiting, my huge and obnoxious rock in my hands. I was told to hold my rock out in front of me, arms completely extended... and I couldn't. Physically and emotionally, I was done.

It was in that moment that I finally understood what my rock was supposed to teach me. I couldn't hold that rock on my own any more, to the point that both Pastor Michael and Pastor Glenn had to help me hold it out in front of me. So why did I think I could handle everything from my past on my own? Why was I holding all of those things back, when I should be giving them to God, and let Him take the weight off of me.

When I threw my rock in the water, it didn't come back up, and I didn't dive in after it. I gave that rock to the lake, never to be seen again. But more importantly, I gave those issues to God, and I have faith that they will never weigh me down again. It will take some work to finally be able to say that I'm over each of the things that I had written down, but I'm finally TRUSTING in God to bring me through it.

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." -Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)

During our chapel service this week, God brought this verse to my attention. I was reminded that God is working on molding me in to a new creation, into the person that He is calling me to be. All I need to do now is trust in Him through it all, no matter how lonely or hard it is for me. He's holding me in His hands, and I'm suddenly finding an extreme sense of peace in that.

- Paige

Where God Can Blow Your Mind!

Recently during my quiet time, I have thought about Shabbach Masters Commission slogan, “Where God can blow your mind!” While thinking about that phrase I pictured what this year at Masters is going to be like.  I began to think about what I want to get out of this year, what I want God to do me, and how I want God to just blow my mind out of the waters. 

Have you ever seen a 5 year old getting ready to start kindergarden and how he has so much excitement and has big dreams and expectancy for his first year of school? I’m that 5 year old getting ready to start my second year of Masters Commission. I have realized lately that everything you do and decisions you make will either move you forward or set you back to reaching what & where God has for you. So as I walk into Shabbach MC 2013, I enter with a mindset that everything that I am handed to do, is going to prepare me for the mission field. Everything that is being poured into me needs to be soaked up like a sponge and applied to my daily lifestyle. 

Every decision I make needs to be thought of in the way of “is this going to benefit me or set me back in the long run.” In order for me to gain anything from this year, I need to take it in myself. You can have someone pour and pour into you but if you never stretch out your hand and grab it, you will never receive what they are saying to you. This year I am entering into a year where i want EVERYTHING that is being poured into me, and I want to run with it. I want to allow what’s being poured into me to advance me to much greater things that God has in store for me. 

Blessings,

Katlyn

Life Song

A simple reflection from a Shabbach Master's Commission student. 

Nine months ago, I was a nervous wreck, stepping off of an airplane in faith, not really knowing what I was getting myself into, but going where I heard God loud and clear tell me to go. I can do nothing but thank God for everything He has done in such a short time! 

Recently, as I was spending time with the Lord, reflecting on my first year here at Shabbach Master's Commission, I had my guitar in my arms and was just sitting on my front porch steps singing with the birds. I began to think about the fact that if someone would have said to me even a couple of years ago that I would be sitting here right now, I would have told them to go play in traffic, at that time I was a lot more interested in doing what I wanted to do without care of what God wanted for me. That is because a couple of years ago I was attempting to direct my own life. As I was thinking about that, the Lord spoke to me, "You cannot direct something correctly that you did not compose or that you haven't read the music to" 

It hit me hard as I let those words marinate. Music is my heartbeat, when I think of a director and a composer I think of an orchestra. To compose means: "to form by putting together" The composer of the music, takes time, effort, heart, and passion to compose the beautiful music the way he/she intends it to sound. To direct means: "to dominate and determine the course of" Isn't it funny? God has composed the music for our lives, just as He intends it to sound. However, He gives us free will, allowing us to direct whether we hit all of the right notes or not. God has given us an entire book of music to read. That is, what HE has written.

Psalm 37:23 says that "A person's steps are made secure by the LORD when they delight in his way." The music is already written for your life, the greatest composer has already finished it. The question is, are YOU taking time to read the music, and making your life a sweet symphony to God's ears? Or are you taking advantage of the fact that you are the director, and hitting all flat notes? I would strongly encourage you to make time to read your song. Ask the composer what you can do to help the song of your life sound beautiful. James 1:22-24 "But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was." Don't just hear the music, play it, sing it, live it. 

Proverbs 14:15 "The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps." 

If it is not in the music, don't play it, sing it, or live it!

Just Me,

Tami Shroll

Humility at the Derby

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May 6th 2013

Humility at the Derby

ShabbachMC, along with Pastor Michael Goins and Patrick Goins, spent our time working the Kentucky Derby this week.  We would start our mornings at 5:00AM bright and early so that we could arrive at Churchill Downs by 5:30AM.  It was after the first morning that I realized that this week was going to be a character building week for me.  Most of my day consisted of carrying food and drinks up and down "The Beast" for other workers and clients.  Now before I go any further I should probably describe what "The Beast" is.  The Beast was a huge structure with six flights of stairs on it.  In the structure were different rooms where clients could eat and hang out on different floors.  While this was no easy task on its on, the heat and… sometimes uncooperative clients made for a long 12 to 16 hour day of work. 

By the third morning of RISE AND SHINE my bad attitude had already been set.  While on break that day however another group, also working the derby, helped change my outlook on the situation.  I noticed that even though they were just as tired and sore as I was none of them were complaining.   Their leader then explained that by starting a day negative it can make the rest of our day just as negative.  After being around this group for a day I noticed myself trying to complain less and focus my attention on the good.  Their positive outlook and willingness to serve was encouraging and contagious.

One of the last days of the Derby we had to be at work before sunrise.  I found myself at the top of The Beast looking down on the track while the sun came up.  Down on the track a few of the trainers had their horses out warming up for the days events.  While looking out at them I realized why God makes beautiful moments like the one I was experiencing.  I believe that God gives us moments like that so that we have to stop the hustle of our day and just admire His work.  Starting out my day with that picture made me want to make the rest of my day positive. How much better would our days be if we just took time in the morning to notice God?  Even though it wasn't always easy, for the rest of our duration I did my best to focus on how I could make the clients time more enjoyable than my own.  Being at the Kentucky Derby wasn't about what I could get as much as it was about clients seeing how real Children of God work and serve.  What beauty is God trying to paint for you this week?  Maybe starting your day with Him will give you just the right start to bring clarity into the rest of your day. Don't let The Beast distract you from the real picture! 

Have a blessed week,

Keyona

The Beast

The Real Picture

How to Win Friends & Influence People

        In Shabbach MC we are assigned a book to read each month as well as completing a chapter summary. This month we are reading Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends & Influence People"   The first part of this book focuses on "three fundamental techniques in handling people." Don't criticize, condemn or complain, Give honest and sincere appreciation, Arouse in the other person an eager to want. 

        "Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person's precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment." Criticizing someone is easy but finding good in their fault can be difficult. We can often go about our day casting blame where we think blame is due. It is much easier to make someone else the cause for our pain then ourselves. Author Dale Carnegie touched on the subject by using Al Capone as an example. Al Capone said " I have spent the best part of my life giving people the lighter pleasures, helping them have a good time, and all I get is abuse." It was easier for Al Capone to blame other people for where he was than to see that he was his biggest enemy. Instead of looking for places to cast the blame this week try to focus on what you can fix in yourself, and/or find good in the person who, in your eyes, is to blame. 

      " We provide them with roast beef and potatoes to build energy, but we neglect to give them kind words of appreciation that would sing in their memories for years like the music of the morning stars." Are you spewing flattery or giving genuine appreciation? The definition of "flattery" is " excessive and insincere praise, that is given to further one's own interests." Are you saying nice things for your own selfish motives or are your intentions true? This week is a good week to focus on others; Seek after random acts of kindness as each day passes. Carpe Diem.

       " If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your own." There are a lot of people who are only concerned with themselves.  Someone who can put aside their own selfish desires for others is admirable. Philippians 2:3 " Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." Even if you don't agree with a point of view, its wise to be able to understand other prospectives. We spend enough time wrapped in our own busy lives but we MUST try to train ourselves to follow in His footsteps and we will discover a life of selflessness.

Have a blessed week,

Keyona

Verse of the week: Philippians 2:4 - Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.