These Things Told for Peace

           

        “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. As we look back on 2012, I think we will find that it was a busy year. I think we can look back and find moments of peace, but also look back and find moments of trouble. I look back over the past month and find moments of trouble, from the deadly shooting in Newtown to the fiscal cliff that seems to be drawing near. But, amidst this trouble there is the peace that is brought as we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. We know that we live in this imperfect world. We know that this is a sinful world and there are daily reminders of this. But we can’t settle for this world. We know there is something greater than this world. Even in our greatest joys and moments of peace, it is nothing compared to the ultimate gift that is waiting for us.

            As we look ahead to 2013 there are things that we are looking forward to. There will also be times of trouble in this next year. But, through the peace that only God can provide, we will move through those times of trouble. The picture in this post is probably my favorite picture ever. For one, there is the beautiful sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains. I like this photo also though because it is a reminder to look ahead. The start of a new year is often a time when we look ahead. We set those New Year’s resolutions and set the goals in which we hope to achieve. Often times those goals and dreams include things that benefit us, things that will have a direct impact on our own life. I think though that as we look ahead, as we look out onto the horizon, that we need to do so without expectations or preconceived notions.

            This picture was taken at a place called Rattlesnake. It is this mountain top, that on a clear day, you can look around in all directions and see nothing but the tall Blue Ridge Mountains for miles and miles. This is a favorite campsite that we go camping at every summer. What if we approach 2013 in the same way that we see the view on top of a mountain? What if when we look at 2013, we see the vast endless possibilities that await us? What if when we look at 2013, we see the beauty of God’s creation? We see his handiwork in the beauty that is. To do this, we must condition our hearts. We must turn our attention and focus to what is important, to what really matters.

            So, as we welcome in the New Year, let us remember to “keep our eyes focused on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Let us look ahead and be ready for what will be and what is to come.

Seeking Jesus... Day 30 Mon. Oct. 1, 2012

    Today marks the final day of my 30 day quest to intentionally seek Jesus daily in my life. I am thankful that I made it 30 days and was able to post every single day. Granted though there were a couple of days where I didn't feel like I had anything to post, I still posted something and reflected upon the seemingly nothingness of the day. I wish I could tell you know I feel a huge difference and feel change in my life but I can't. I wish I could tell you that there have been some major life revelations over the last 30 days, but I can't. What I can say is that the past 30 days have been small daily reminders that Jesus is in my life working, one piece at a time. I guess I have come to that realization that is how Jesus works most of the time in our lives. Often times we expect these big miracles to occur daily in our life. Or maybe we have those mountain top experiences and then when we come down from that mountain, everyday life seems mundane. I would argue though that the small and simple everyday occurrences that Jesus has in our life are just as important if not more important than those mountain top experiences. But, unless we realize the work of Jesus in our life daily, then it will be for nothing.

   I have realized that there is a lot going on in my life lately. Almost too much. Seminary is overwhelming. There is always something to read, the reading assignments never end. Sometimes I can understand what I am reading while other times I struggle to get through the chapter. The soccer problems are never-ending. Once I get through all the email in my inbox or resolve a problem another one appears. There is always work to be done at church, meetings to attend services to plan, events to attend. It's in all this busyness and stress that I must take time to slow down and seek Jesus intentionally.

     One of the many things I miss about camp is the focus that I have while I'm at camp. While I'm at camp, there is only one job that I am focused on. All of my effort and energy is spent into that one job. That is something I love and miss about camp. Speaking of camp, today the applications opened for the 2013 summer. I have submitted application for this coming summer. For the past 4 summers I have served as a counselor. I have loved serving in that position every summer and have never regretted it. This summer though I want to move out of the counselor role and into another area of camp. Camp Ministry is a direction that I see God possibly calling me to full time. If I am to explore that calling more, I need to get experience in camp in areas other than being a counselor. I have submitted my application, now it's a waiting game. It all depends who returns from last summer to fill positions, what positions are open and who all applies for them. I am hopeful and prayerful that there will be a place at camp for me next summer while I am still trying to keep an open mind as to the direction that Jesus would lead me.

   As I close with this final post for this 30 day adventure I would leave with this final thought. "The more we seek Jesus, the more we find him. The more we find Him, the more we love Him." If we seek Jesus with all our heart, he will find us. He will find us in the mundane everyday life. He will find us when we are at the lows in our life and when we are on the mountian top expiriences. He will be with us all the way.

The more I seek you,
the more I find you.

The more I find you,
the more I love you

I wanna sit at your feet
drink from the cup in your hand.
Lay back against you and breath,
hear your heart beat

This love is so deep,
it's more than I can stand.
I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming 

"The More I seek You"-Kari Jobe

Seeking Jesus... Day 29 Sun. Sept. 30, 2012

Only one day left. One more day of reflection for this 30 day challenge. It's hard to believe that it's almost over. There have been nights when I have wanted to skip the blog post, but I posted anyways. There have been a couple of nights when I just haven't really had anything to post. Today has been a very productive and busy day, as most Sunday's are. Tomorrow will be the first day of October. October begins the busyness time of the year. Hopefully, I will find some time within the next month to take a vacation... we'll see... More reflection tomorrow.

Seeking Jesus... Day 28 Sat. Sept. 29, 2012

Today was a special day in the Streeter family. Today we celebrated my grandfathers 80th birthday at his church. There was  good turnout of family and friends at the party. Above is a picture I took at his church in the sanctuary. The church is a very special place for my grandfather and grandmother and I am glad that he was able to celebrate his birthday there.

I don't have much to reflect on today other than I am well into some heavy reading tonight trying to get it done so I don't have as much to do tomorrow. Sunday's are work day and are busy and non-stop. If I had one thing to reflect on, it would be that picture above. Look the beauty of it, the magnificence of it and the power of the cross. Remember the power of the cross each and every day of your life, for we know not how much longer we have on this earth. We are not guaranteed a tomorrow. We could live to be 80 years old or more or we could live for only a few more hours. We don't know when our time will be, but we do know the power of the cross and the importance of it. Always live for Jesus.

Seeking Jesus... Day 27 Fri. Sept. 28, 2012

      This afternoon I received an unexpected, but welcomed text message. You may recall at the beginning of this summer, during my first session at camp I had a couple of difficult situations to deal with. Today, I received closure and resolution to one of those situations today. A camper let me know today that he had made the tough decision that he was dealing with and that he was doing well. He talked about how God had guided him through this decision and that through God and the help he received at camp, it had been a huge help and he was able to get through the situation.

         I have to remember that a certain level of humility is needed when God reveals these types of things to us. But there is a certain level of pride that I do take from this in knowing that I did make a difference in this kids life. There have been times that God has revealed the results of the work done at camp in my life. Those times are far and few, but when I look back, they have come at the right time. They have come at the time when I need that validation or that boost of support.

     In a couple of days the staff applications for the 2013 summer will be open. The decision to decide to go back or not will be upon me soon. The events of today are validation that there is always work to be done and that God can use those called to camp that summer. Over the next few days I will need to consider, has God called me to summer camping for 2013? I can't go back next summer just because the past summers have been fun, or because I will greatly miss the campers and staff if I don't return. I can only apply for next summer if I feel that that is what God has called me to for that summer. We'll see what happens...

Seeking Jesus... Day 26 Thurs. Sept. 27, 2012

"Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective, a lot of hope is dangerous. A spark is fine, as long as it's contained."

      Today I watched the Hunger Games for the first time. I purchased it on DVD when it came out because it was on sale at Target, but I hadn't gotten around to watching it until today. I like watching movies. I have about 250 movies probably in my collection. And now with Netflix, I am able to watch so many more. I am intrigued by the movies that seem to captivate you and take you to another world that is much different from the one we live in. These are the movies that are typically set in different settings, often the future or some unrealistic setting but sometimes even the past. Movies like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Avatar that make you wish you could escape to there even if only for a moment. Or movies like True Grit that make you think in the past and wonder what it was like to live back then and if you truly could survive without a cell phone or any electricity. 

   I think I would put the Hunger Games in that category in the sense that the setting was so different and makes you think when you really begin to think about it.  The Hunger Games is a distant futuristic setting. If you've seen the movie and really thought about of the moving pieces then you have probably begin to see the complexity of the movie. It is a movie filled with action, romance, and young people, which teenagers will be attracted to this type of movie. It's also filled with this idea, that when I began to watch the movie, it seemed sick and uncomfortable to me. (I have not read the books nor did I know much about this series before I watched the movie today). The idea that children in a society were being forced to fight to the death every year was unsettling. I was talking to a camp friend about this tonight and the movie and he made a good point. This could be a good idea that society needed to hear in that, sometimes we can go too far in what we are willing to allow or subject ourselves to in an effort to have a good time or please ourselves. 

But, I don't want to focus this post on my personal biases or observations of the movie. Rather more the quote that I posted at the beginning of the blog. It is talking about hope and fear and you may recall it from the movie. It made me think about my own hopes and fears in my life. What do I hope for. What do I fear. There are things that I wish for, that list may be a little bit longer while the things that I truly hope for may be shorter. It also made me think of these personal hopes and fears. Are they driving factors in my life? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? That is something maybe that we all need to consider. Do the fears or hopes in our lives drive and dictate our lives and actions? Is that good or bad? Maybe we need to refocus or even let go...
   

Seeking Jesus... Day 25 Wed. Sept. 26, 2012

What a day of serving Jesus... The morning began at 6am this morning.Our first "See you at the pole event" for First Priority and FCA (a youth led school group) at Discovery Middle school began at 7am. 75 7th and 8th graders gathered for small group time and a time of prayer. It was humbling to see the student leadership lead their fellow peers this morning. After that much of the day was spent working at church, preparing for upcoming services and other events. 

This evening at church I encountered another humbling opportunity to serve Jesus. I had the opportunity to have a conversation with a youth who was dealing with some issues. At the end of our time together we closed in prayer. It was truly humbling to be able to talk with this student and do my best to offer support and prayer to him.

Humility is a trait that Jesus demonstrated on a daily basis. It is a trait that many of us, including myself, struggle with. We often want recognition for what we have done, our accomplishments and successes. I often struggle with this during the summer at camp. I often want recognition for what I am doing from my peers, how I am impacting others lives. There are so many ways that we impact lives of others while at camp that no one else knows about. But God knows. Just as he knows every sin we commit, he knows our good deeds and where our hearts are in service to Him.

I have used the word humble a few times in this post. I have to remember that on a daily basis as I am given these opportunities to serve Jesus, I must do so with the greatest humility. It is not about my own recognition or fame, but that Jesus is amplified through my actions.

I am thankful today for the opportunities that God has provided for me to serve Him today. I am grateful for the strength that He provided to meet all the challenges of the day and I am thankful for the opportunities that lie ahead. 

Seeking Jesus... Day 24 Tues. Sept. 25, 2012

I am on my last 6 days of this blog post. There have been a couple of days where I have found it difficult to reflect and find God working  in my life. There have been days when it couldn't have been more obvious. Today is Tuesday. Tuesdays are spent at church for a majority of the day. We have a staff meting that begins mid morning and usually runs until early afternoon. By the time we're done with that, we've missed lunch so we usually all head out together and grab a late lunch. After that, it's usually back to work as there are even more items on the to-do list after a staff meeting.

Today I find myself looking at where I've been and where I'm going. Over the past 4 years things have been very consistent. I have spent the summers in North Carolina and then returned and worked at Trinity during the school year as well as attend college. During the year, I have worked different part-time jobs.There have been things that have been comfortable about that. Having that consistency and being able to do stuff that I really enjoy have been a good thing. With this consistency, there has also been inconsistency. All of this stuff that I am doing is part time. I am getting to the point where I'm ready to settle down. While I have a consistent pattern in my life, it doesn't seem like it. It seems like I am constantly looking for conisstency. I'm not sure if that came out the way I meant it to, I think it did...

I want things to settle down. Right now, it doesn't seem that way. If I could pick a job right now and begin work full time, it would be camp ministry, hands down. That is where my passion is. I would be happy in church ministry too, but again, it's finding that job. In looking for a full-time job, it's difficult too. I have 3 years of seminary to go and I know that will take up some time as well. Looking ahead, the next three years seems like the last four, a lot of consistency but also some inconsistency.... We'll see...

Seeking Jesus... Day 23 Mon. Sept. 24, 2012

Today was a difficult day to find God in my life. Nothing seemed to happen today that would point me to what he's doing in my life... Guess I need to sleep on this one too...

Seeking Jesus... Day 22 Sun. Sept. 23, 2012

Today I found myself doing something that I haven't done in a long time. During the sermon this morning in church I found myself opening up my bible and reading the sermon scripture during the sermon. Yes, I know that may sound bad. And I guess it is kinda... I just felt this morning like I needed to have my bible open and following along while the preacher was preaching. I think it was the Holy Spirit moving. I look back and think how many times have I just sat in church and listened. By opening the bible and reading the scripture, I was doing more. I was engaging the message and taking it all in. It's something that I need to do more. It's not enough to come to church on a Sunday and sit and listen. We need to process what we are hearing and apply that to our lives. That also means opening up the bible too on  occasion..

Seeking Jesus... Day 21 Sat. Sept. 22, 2012

Today was a beautiful day for soccer. I got out this afternoon and refereed a soccer game. This has been a passion of mine. A passion of mine that has lasted 10 years. This year I have stepped back from refereeing college games in the fall and High school in the spring. I did this to gain a litter perspective. I want to know if this is still my passion or if it's time to move onto other things. I enjoyed refereeing an AYSO game this afternoon, but I haven't missed being out in the middle of a college match yet. I have enjoyed this extra free time, but it has been filled with other AYSO duties, work and school. We'll see if I've hung up the whistle for good after this next year or if I find myself back out on the pitch again. I've been so thankful over the years that God has blessed me with opportunities to referee and travel. To work those "big" matches and to find passion in something that started out as a way to earn money. We'll see what God has in store.

Seeking Jesus... Day 20 Fri. Sept. 21, 2012

Yesterday I spent some time reading my co-counselors blog that he writes. I read his posts from this past summer at camp. There were some good memories that he reminded me of from this past summer. This evening I watched the end of the summer staff video. Doing this stuff has made me miss camp some but also help me reflect on the past summer. In a couple of weeks the staff applications will open back up.

I have been called each summer and there have been different sacrifices along the way. Will I be called back this summer or will pursuing something else instead of camp, be that sacrifice? What positions other than counselor will be open and will God call me to that position? Am I called to be a counselor again? Lots of questions and answers that will be revealed in time.

Seeking Jesus... Day 18 Wed. Sept. 19, 2012

Tonight I had the opportunity to watch as my mother was ordained as a deacon at Trinity Baptist Church. I am very proud of her and how she has answered the call that has been placed in her life. I am also thankful that I work at serve at a church that acknowledges the calling I both men and women in service in the ministry.

I am also thankful for the daily opportunities that God calls us to, opportunities that we can serve in His name.

Seeking Jesus... Day 16 Mon. Sept. 17, 2012

I've got nothing.... nothing to reflect on today.... At least that's the way it feels right now... Maybe something will come to me as I fall asleep tonight...

Seeking Jesus... Day 15 Sun. Sept. 16, 2012

Deacons serving the church, preparing for the upcoming year during deacons meeting today.

Teenagers leading in Sunday evening youth worship.

Two prominent reminders today that the call that is placed in our lives to use our gifts and talents is not for the select few. It is a call for everyone. We are all called to serve Jesus and make him the focus of our lives. We are all good at different things. It is how we use those gifts and talents that is important. If we allow God to work in us, he will use them, no matter how big or small. But, when we allow God to work, then he can use us to do thing beyond our own imagination. 

Seeking Jesus... Day 14 Sat. Sept. 15, 2012

It was a good weekend at Central Baptist Theological Seminary at the Nashville campus. I enjoyed my weekend with my fellow classmates learning about Pastoral Care. There are three students in the class. One of the things I enjoyed most was the interaction with each other and the instructor. Our instructor is very approachable. While each of us students has a different background in ministry, our professor was very intentional in relating what we were learning to each of our ministries. At lunch today we all went to Panera Bread together. It was a neat experience to fellowship with each other outside of the classroom. While there is still much work ahead, leaving this weekend has re-energized me for this fall semester.

Seeking Jesus... Day 13 Fri. Sept. 14, 2012

Some days we forget
To look around us
Some days we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

"Thankful" By Josh Groban

Today the reflection is simple: Thankfulness. There is so much in my life that I have to be thankful for. Life is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. There are still worries and concerns in my life right now, how long will it take for me to get caught up in all my reading for school. Will I find that second job that is the right fit that will give a little more financial security. But amidst these worries and concerns and more, there is so much more that I can be thankful for.

I am thankful today that despite the stress that the current AYSO issue has faced me with, I know that God has equipped me to handle it and will provide guidance in moving forward with some resolution. 

I am thankful for friends of Camp Ridgecrest. I am thankful that the NeSmiths have opened their home to me tonight as a place of rest in between my Friday and Saturday class. 

I am thankful for the challenges and joys of Seminary. Tonight was my first campus class for Seminary. I am taking a Pastoral Care class. We had a very productive evening of class and I am ready and excited for tomorrow's session. It is a lot of work, but it is more than worth it. 

As I close tonight, all I can think to say is Thank you Lord. It's not perfect, but it never will be... at least not here on earth. But... you have blessed me with more than I deserve. For that, I am thankful!

Seeking Jesus... Day 12 Thurs. Sept. 13, 2012

      Today was a busy day. It began with the BCM lunch at UA Huntsville. Trinity provided lunch for the BCM college kids at UA Huntsville. We took food over and served it. After that, we took left over food to 305. It is a ministry that serves the needs for special needs adults. Following that, we made two hospital visits. The first was for a church member who had just had knee surgery. The second was for a lady who had been coming to Trinity for a while. She had bronchitis. In the midst of this afternoon, an incident came up in a local AYSO Region that required my attention for much of the afternoon, all the way up until late tonight. It is slowly being resolved, but it has been stressful and unfortunate. As I reflect on the day, it's hard not to see God's hand in this day. From providing more than enough food for the lunch today, to being able to take that food to another worth cause. To being able to go on a few hospital visits, something that was unplanned for that day. Even the stressful events brought about in the AYSO world have shown that God had a plan for everything and had the right people in place to deal with the situation.
      Even now as I am still getting ready for class tomorrow in Nashville, with the To-do list still a million miles long, it's ok, because things will be done in time and it will all work out...

Seeking Jesus... Day 11 Wed. Sept. 12, 2012

   Well, I'm officially a part of the Trinity Baptist Church Staff. I am the Youth/College Intern again. I have held this position for the past three years during the school year. I am also taking on a new role within the church. I am filling the role of Seminary Intern. With this new role in the church, I will be working with the Outreach committee at the church to help develop and implement an outreach program. I will also be working in other areas of ministry around the church. Working in these positions will also help enhance my seminary experience as I will be able to relate and apply what I am learning through seminary and apply that to a real time church environment. I will also be surrounded by colleges who have gone through the seminary experience and they will be able to help and encourage me along my journey.

   I have spent the past week reading, reading a lot. When you procrastinate, the reading adds up. I have a paper to write, so I have reading to get done. I will also be going up to Nashville on Friday for my first on campus class. There is some reading to get accomplished for that as well before I head up there. I have found the readings thus far to be difficult. There are two books that I am reading for one class that have been easy to follow and understand. The third book has been difficult to understand and digest. I have found so far that there is much I don't know. Most of this material is new. This presents a different challenge than previous classes. With my undergrad degree, there honestly wasn't too much new material. I had already learned much of it. With the majority of the information being new now, it takes longer to process and digest. It's a new challenge, but one that I'm up for as it will payoff in the end. It is exciting to learn new material and to learn more about God's word, but also scary at the same time. Knowing there is much information to learn and that it is important to understand it all, is also scary. But that's part of the journey too...

Seeking Jesus... Day 10 Tues. Sept. 11, 2012

 Today was a full day. It began with a 7:15am meeting at Discovery Middle School for a First Priority meeting. First Priority is  a student led group of kids who meet together to fellowship and learn about Jesus at school. It is a unique opportunity for discipleship. in the public school system. After that, a couple hours were spent at Starbucks studying and reading. I feel I am going to be spending more time and money at Starbucks as the semester goes along. Since it was Tuesday we had our TBC staff meeting followed by staff lunch at Panera Bread. Again... another  place that will be collecting my money over the next year. It's a good place to go to study and work. The afternoon was spent putting out fires on the AYSO front. The emails today seemed to be endless.

As I look back on the busy day, it is important to reflect on the small things. Remember what I am thankful for and how God's hand was at work in the midst of a busy day. I am thankful that I can work with a church staff that is so welcoming and inviting. I am thankful that I can work with them and learn from them as I go through this seminary journey. As I work through all of the issues in AYSO, I am thankful for a staff that works well with me and a staff that supports me and helps me run the Area. I am thankful for an Assistant that is always there to be my sounding board, to help me deal with difficult issues and to help me keep my composure and not pull my hair out.

In the midst of all the work that still must be done, all of the books to read, papers to write In the middle of the job hunt, finding that right job that will work well with my schedule and school work. Even with the uncertainty of what tomorrow will hold, there is comfort in knowing that God's hand is all of it, guiding every step of the way.

Seeking Jesus... Day 9 Mon. Sept. 10, 2012

   This evening I spent some time responding to the letter I received from my camper. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to do this and minister to someone else. I was also reminded of the mountain of work to be done this week. From church stuff, to school stuff to soccer stuff, the work is never ending. While there is some stress with knowing that this stuff has to be done and that I'm a big procrastinator, I need to also remember to be thankful that I have the opportunity to do these things and that these things are serving God's greater purpose. If I trust in Him to help me get the work done and to push through, then I will find strength in that.

Seeking Jesus... Day 8 Sun. Sept. 9, 2012

     The majority of the day was spent reading. For those who know me well, you know I am fairly organized. Also if you know me, you know I can procrastinate too.... School work is one of those areas where I am organized in knowing what needs to be done when, but I often procrastinate the work and put it off until the last minute. That was the case today. So, I spent much of the day reading and catching up. I did take a break from reading and went to church for a meeting and then the Sunday evening worship. It was a busy day all together and I thankful for a good nights rest.

Seeking Jesus... Day 7 Sat. Sept. 8, 2012

   After my second summer of Camp, I felt a need to continue my camp ministry even after the summer was over. For me I realized not only the importance of building relationships during the summer, but continuing those relationships during the year. So, to help in that, I decided to send letters to my campers during the year. I would send one in the Fall and one in the Spring. In these letters, I would let them know what I had been up to and share with them what was going on in my life away from camp. I would also offer some words of encouragement to help as they went through the school year. Sometimes I would get letters or other communications back from them, other times not. Regardless, of the result, it was another opportunity to minister and share Jesus with others and continue the important work that God had set out for me to do.

     I sent my fall letters out a couple weeks ago and today I received a letter from one of my campers from this past summer. I won't included his name, but I did want to share a little bit of his letter and how it has made me reflect today.

"I have started school and gotten off to a good start. When it comes to connecting with Christ though, I'm struggling. I agree with your point. When I'm at camp, I feel close to God, but when I leave camp and come back home, I begin to feel distant. At home, I am struggling to keep my distance between Jesus and me at a minimum. It seems like the only thing I can do sometimes is sin, like there's no other option. I struggle with sin every day and it's weighing on me. I need help getting strength from the Lord. How do I do that?

   We all struggle, don't we? How do we acknowledge those struggles? When I go to camp, I am always prone to be more open, honest and trusting of my fellow counselors. I can always lean on them. With the campers, we see campers come to camp with heavy hearts, struggling with a variety of issues. There is this openness at camp where you can express your struggles and seek resolution to them. When we go back home though, we often carry those struggles with us, or maybe we come to camp to escape those struggles and sin and when we return home, we are thrown back into the middle of things. 

During the year, I work at a local church. When I'm working with the youth group, I don't see the same struggles that I see at camp, I don't see those same battles that I see at camp. I feel like they are there though. Sometimes I feel that when we go to church we have to put on this act, we have to "have our stuff together". We can't let the struggles that we face or the sin that we battle leak out of us.  But that's not right. We shouldn't feel like we have to have it all together to come to church. We should be able to come to church, broken and in need of our savior and able to express that.

I think though it's difficult for young people and even adults do be that open. Sometimes it can feel uncomfortable to do so. For young people, they are still learning how to express their emotions. Often they have this perception of how they are supposed to do so, but it is often the world's view and not the way God intended. Adults can struggle just as much with this same thing. Often they may feel like they have to have it all together too because they have to be strong for those around them.

But I feel we must have a certain element of vulnerability in ourselves. If we have that vulnerability then God is able to creep into our lives and change us. Others are also able to support us and be that hope through our struggles.

Seeking Jesus... Day 6 Fri. Sept. 7, 2012

Tonight was the highly anticipated James Clemens vs. Bob Jones High School Football game in Madison, Alabama. James Clemens opened this fall as Madison's 2nd high school. Trinity Baptist Church hosted a tailgate party right before the game and all were invited, friends and strangers. I had the task of purchasing all of the food for the event. 25 bags of Family size Lays chips, 150 hamburgers and 200 hot dogs later, we were grilling out on a beautiful, but slightly warm summer evening. While the tailgating event was a way to bring our church together at this sporting event, it was also an opportunity to minister to our community and to other families. Being a disciple of Christ means showing Christ's love for others through our own actions. Sometimes we display Christ's love through hamburgers, hot dogs and fellowship. I am thankful that God provided this opportunity to me today to minister and fellowship with fellow church members and the community.

Seeking Jesus... Day 5 Thurs. Sept. 6, 2012

    For the past three days, I have been watching a Louie Giglio series on Grace. It is a video series of 6 talks that are about 20-30min each. I have watched a session each night right before I went to bed. It has made for a late night most nights, but it's well worth it. This idea of seeking Jesus in our lives daily is important. When we are doing this daily, there is a noticeable difference in our lives. It takes devotion and work though. I have 25 more days of this blog and of seeking Jesus, but it's my hope by the end of this journey, I will have a greater appreciation and desire to seek Jesus on a daily basis.

Seeking Jesus... Day 4 Wed. Sept. 5, 2012

         Music.... there are many types of music out there these days. Music is something that many people can relate to. While tastes may differ, most people can find some connection in a type of music. I tend to lean towards contemporary Christian. At camp, the only music we are allowed to play is Christian labeled music. Even among Christian music there are different flavors. There is Christian Rap, there is Christian Rock, contemporary Christian, gospel, and even praise and worship songs. Outside of the Christian music realm I barely drift into country with Rascal Flatts. I also venture into the rock/pop genre with Maroon 5 and One Republic.
        Music can shape us as humans. The music we choose to listen to can shape who we are, our beliefs and even values. Music can also effect us depending on what mood we are in. When running and exercising  an upbeat/ rock mix is helpful for the run. When I'm sad or in a mood, then I have a play list for that. When I need inspiration, I have another set of songs I lean towards. If I'm studying or doing work, then I have another set of songs.
        The music we chose to listen to and share with others can have a positive or negative impact. Tonight, I was putting together a playlist for Friday night. Trinity Baptist Church will host a tailgating party for the Bob Jones vs. James Clemens Football game. It is an opportunity for outreach and to fellowship with others. While I have of course chosen songs that I appreciate, I also wanted to remember my audience, and look for songs that they could connect to, maybe in a subtle way. Daily opportunities present themselves to share the gospel of Jesus, some obvious and big and others more subltle, like the music playlist at a High School Football game.

Grace and Peace,
Patrick

Seeking Jesus... Day 3 Tues. Sept. 4, 2012

           Today it's hit me; there are a lot of moving parts in my life. There are many things that need to be done, some more important than others. Just as soon as I have answered all of the emails in my inbox, another arrives. There are many things going on at church to be a part of. Then there's school, lots of books to read and a paper to write this week. My first seminary paper! Then there's the new job working with Soccer Shots that starts this week.
      I like the busyness though. Every now and then I need a break, but generally, I always like to be doing something. It's my personality I guess. As I look back on today and look at everything that went on, if I hadn't been thinking about this blog tonight and reflecting, I probably would not have attributed any of this today to God's will and direction. Something that I need to work on is while I'm going throughout my day, all my actions need to be focused on serving God. I need to constantly ask myself, how is what I am doing today serving God. By focusing each day, whether busy or not, on Jesus, then it helps me stay directed towards his will and purpose, but it also helps steer away from sin.

Seeking Jesus... Day 2 Mon. Sept. 3, 2012

       Today I spend some time working on a video for a special friend. Will NeSmith was the camper who collapsed this summer at camp during the first week from a brain hemorrhage. He has fought an uphill battle over the past few months, but he has come so far. This video included a personal message as well as a song. The song was "Never One' by Matt Redman.The message of the song is simple. Jesus will never leave us, he will never allow us to walk alone. When we face trails and joys in life, he is always there with us, sharing in our emotions, in our joys and our pains. This song reminded me of Will's journey over the past few months. Below is the link to the video I made.
      While God spoke to me today through this song and through the message of this song, I also feel that God spoke to me and reminded me of another thing. As Christians, we are called to reach out to our brothers and sisters in Christ. God will provide us with opportunities daily to do so. We just have to pay attention to those moments. Often times they will be subtle opportunities or opportunities that seem small. But it is those small moments that can make the biggest difference.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1015120156733906 

Grace and Peace,
Patrick

Seeking Jesus...Day 1: Sunday September 2, 2012

              

             Sunday, the one day that we intentionally set aside as a day of a rest, a day to worship Jesus. The sermon this morning was on forgiveness, a message that we all need to hear, but that’s not what stuck out to me today. No, it was something that happened earlier in the day. This morning, as youth began to gather in the youth room for Sunday school, the weather outside began to turn dark. Right before Sunday school began, it started to pour rain. Although I was supposed to be roaming around the youth room, greeting folks, I was distracted. I found myself too often going over to the window to watch it rain, or stepping outside to watch it rain. When I stepped outside and saw the rain, heard the rain and smelled the rain, it took me to another place. It reminded me of camp. It reminded me of those summer days where a mid-afternoon rain shower might halt our plans or temporarily change them. It reminded me of how mid-afternoon thunderstorms during rest hour were welcomed because that often meant an extended rest-hour. It also reminded me of how too often we would take opportunities of extended rain periods to make our own slip-n- slides around camp. You would be surprised at how many different ways you can make a slip-n-slide when it’s wet.

                Once I got past those feelings of nostalgia, I saw the importance of this moment. While it was a nice reminder of camp, it was an even stronger message. For me today, it was a reminder to enjoy the world that God has created. Too often we look at the elements of nature and either sees them as a nuisance or just let them pass by. We look at unexpected rain showers as a damper on plans. We look at cold weather or hot weather as a nuisance to our own comfort. When it rains on a summer’s day do we stop and take a moment to enjoy it, to enjoy what God has provided? God not only reveals himself through prayer, through scripture, and through worship, but he reveals himself through a summer’s rain shower, through a sunset on the beach, through a mountain top overlooking the vastness of God’s creation. God is here daily, in our lives, ready for us to seek him and to find him.

30 Days of Seeking Jesus...

I have set out on a mission. The mission is to grow closer to Jesus and to seek him every day. For the next 30 days, I’m going to keep a daily blog post. The purpose of this blog is to reflect. To reflect on what God has spoken to me on that day. To reflect on how God has revealed himself to me in that day. I am convinced that God reveals himself to us each and every day. Often times though we are not looking for him or we don’t expect to see him. The busyness of this life can often distract us from Him. But, when we seek Him, we will find him. So, that’s the goal, to seek Him on a daily basis. Like any attempts to intentionally seek Jesus, it will be difficult. It is a discipline to spend intentional time with Jesus every day. But, it’s a challenge I’m up for. Here we go…