Well one of the first things He taught me is that His plans are bigger and better than mine. I may have to wait a good amount for it to unveil, I may not. He first showed me this in Numbers. The Israelites were being led to the promised land. It took them a heckuva longer time to get there because of their lack of faith. But it was so much bigger and better than they ever imagined. He then showed me that in my life. How you ask? By giving me a job as a bellman. I thought I was going to get a minimum wage job. Scratch that. I thought I would end up at fast food. Scratch that. I thought I wouldn't meet very many people outside my co-workers. scratch that. I didn't think I would really grow because of my job. scratch that...I get paid a good amount. So much, that God has answered a prayer to provide for the increase in housing this coming school year. I am moving to a different dorm for ministry purposes and that is a $1000 increase in cost per semester. I will make enough money to have some to spare. I work as a bellman and I meet many many many people. hundreds. I even get a free lunch at work, which is a blessing in and of itself. And also working 40 hours a week for ministry purposes changed my outlook on so many things. I will not be so lazy for things that matter in the future...like school. I will do it all for the glory of God.
The next thing He showed me may be the biggest impact this summer. A friend of the project, Melissa, said some very wise things to me. She is a person very in tune with the Spirit. It is great to hear God speak through her. She also went to Hillsong College and is now a worship director here in Anchorage.
So here is what she said to me:
"Ben, right now you are kneeling with your head down in front of Christ. He is lifting your chin saying 'Stand up my son. Be proud, be courageous, stand tall in my name! Go forth and do the work I have set out for you'"
"Ben, right now you are kneeling with your head down in front of Christ. He is lifting your chin saying 'Stand up my son. Be proud, be courageous, stand tall in my name! Go forth and do the work I have set out for you'"
Why is that so important? It is so important because I have really been waiting to do what God wants. I have always felt God has big plans for me. I haven't just done them. And now I am. God is giving me a chance to do so with the leadership role He has given me here on project. The staff is leaving in a week and handing the project over to us. When they do that, they give each of us various roles. My role is an action group leader. That means I lead the group of guys I am living with. Pouring into their lives, lifting them up, seeking growth for them. I will lead various discussion between those guys and help come up with reflection questions to look over every week to reflect on the previous week.
Isn't God so amazing that He just points out things like that and just gives me a shove??
The next thing God showed my on my backpacking trip the July 4th weekend. The theme of the weekend was communication. Communication with each other, like our whereabouts for safety reasons, and also so we are on the same page with things. and Communication with God. We are all told how to pray to God so many different ways. But one important thing often gets spoken of very little or not at all. That is listening to God. As simple as that. Be still and know that I am God. God can speak through various things; His word, other Christians, His creation, worship, and other things.
We should also test what we hear with various things as well through; His Word, other Christians, having a holy life, and familiarity with the voice.
We should also test what we hear with various things as well through; His Word, other Christians, having a holy life, and familiarity with the voice.
My backpacking group. Since we had a large group, we split our camps up.These were my boys...We got hot on the way down, so what else to do than take our shirts off?
This past monday we went on another hike. We went up wolverine mountain just outside of Anchorage. It was a "moderate" hike. I chugged a bottle of chocolate milk right before we started climbing, so needless to say, I didn't feel very well at first. One of the purposes of this hike was to meditate on the scripture.
The verses I meditated on was Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the LORD establishes their steps.
Also, when we felt that the hike was getting hard (which it did quickly), we began praying for others....not for ourselves to have the strength to make it through. By taking the focus off ourselves and praying for a friend in need, we were able to stop focusing on the pain we were experiencing and focus on God and His glory. Once I did this, it was kind of like I got a second wind and finished the hike quickly. One of the things I learned here was a way to battle sin is by praying, not for yourself, but for someone else. It sounds crazy, but it works. Try it!
Anchorage from Wolverine.
All the Glory to God.
rely on Christ completely
r.o.C.c. on!
Be still and know I am God
