I’ve Got Something to Say

I’ve been doing student ministry full time for a full decade now… and I love it. I love that moment when you’re with a small group of students and you ask them to share what they are processing. I love that awkward moment of silence and curious facial expressions and worried facial expressions and I really, really love the moment that one students begins to clear their throat because they have something to say…

Last night in our last small groups session, one of our young men cleared his throat and began to share how he had a new understanding of who was and who he is created by God to be.

That a profound thought! Who I am in this very moment and connecting the dots to who I should be in Christ Jesus. Two totally different worlds… different people that are now in a collision course. When who we are collides with who Christ has called us to be… everything changes. EVERYTHING!

World it’s time for us to listen up then next time this young man clears his throat and mutters the words, “I’ve got something to say…”
This young man is about to speak truth into his world and everything in his world is going to be held responsible for their response to TRUTH.

The “IF”

 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

What does the “if” mean to you?
How often do you consider the “if” that Jesus was speaking of?

God has really been speaking to me about the “if” today.  I would love to hear how you are processing the “if” in Jesus’ statement right now.  If you have a chance comment below.

a gate called Beautiful

a man crippled from birth was being
carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day
to beg from those going into the temple courts.3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.  Acts 3:2-3

Every find yourself wanting, wishing, hoping for something more or just something else.  Maybe it was a middle school crush that went south, or finishing up high school, hoping for a higher SAT or ACT score to get into your dream college.  Maybe in exiting college there were hopes of 6 figured salaries, or a God made mate for you to start your family with.  Maybe your there right now.  Wanting… Wishing… Hoping for…

It’s very possible that you are at the gate of Beautiful, and have no idea about the beautiful encounter you are about to have.  More than you could ever have dreamed, more than you could ever have wished, and higher than you could of ever hoped for.  That moment when the blurry becomes crystal clear, when ahhh turns into an ahh-ha!, when the purposeless loses the less and your life becomes full of purpose.  It’s that moment when for you Jesus goes from being a religion to a relationship, from ritual to romance, from avoidance to adventurous.  Jesus becomes TRUTH, SALVATION, HOPE, PURPOSE, PASSION, LIFE, YOUR WAY, LIFE

When you encounter Christ at the Gate of Beautiful EVERYTHING changes!

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God,10 they
recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple
gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement
at what had happened to him.
Acts 3:6-10

EVERYTHING changes!