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This week’s thought – “It’s A Wonderful Life”

Ok…. corny as that may sound, here is the reasoning behind me choosing that. Tonight at my friend’s house we watched the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life”. I haven’t ever seen that movie before. As the movie progressed, my mind wandered as usual. It made me stop and think about some things. I sort of completely didn’t pay attention to the movie during the part where the guy was seeing how his town would be if he wasn’t around. Now, unlike the main character George Bailey, I haven’t saved my kid brother’s life or saved a company… but when I stopped to think about what my world would be like without me in it. It gave me a lot of encouragement to think about how many people’s life I affect.

Also, while we are on the subject of friends…. Two of my very good friends got married this weekend. It was a beautiful wedding. Those two are so blessed to have each other and I am glad to see them together. I was thinking tonight and this weekend when I was staying with my friend and his wife about how blessed I am to have the friends that I do. Yeah, so I don’t have many friend’s my age, but hey, I am growing up, I am getting older. What is the problem with having friends a little older than me? LoL…. I am so blessed to have the friends and the family that I have. I could never ask for better friends.

Well all, this is my extremely long winded message. I hope you all take to heart that your life really is a “Wonderful Life”. Through the good and the bad… it still is a good life.

Later,
- J -

I am alive! Sorry for not posting… life has been busy and is only getting more busy! I’ve been putting in some extra time down at Crossroads for our Christmas drama. That is finally over, but the DVD and VHS of the production came out wonderful!

Well, like I said, life has been hectic. I’ve been running around so much it isn’t funny. Tomorrow is Friday! Which, is good… but I have a wedding this weekend at my church that I am the Video director for, so I will be staying with some friends all weekend, again! So, I won’t be around, so you’ll have to call my cell phone if you want to speak with me!

It is amazing how God does so much for you. If someone told me six months ago that I would be going to church in Circleville and doing all that I do… I would have laughed and told them that they were crazy. It is hard to believe that January will mark my six months at Crossroads. I couldn’t have made a better choice.

Speaking of Church, I was thinking about this the other day, and I thought I would share with you all who read this. For those of you who are thinking of ministry or are just starting in ministry, here is a bit of advice.

1. There is a fine line between ministry and being taken advantage of. I will guarantee that you will find this out after you’ve been taken advantage of… so keep an eye out for it. I’ve experienced about three months of going from Ministry to being taken advantage of at one church I attended.
2. Sometimes when you think God is speaking to you about a totally off the wall idea, make sure you stop and listen. This summer as I became closer to God, I found that He was speaking to me about changing churches. I thought driving 45min., leaving the church that was close to me, and going somewhere where I knew only two people, was totally crazy. In the end, after dealing with the church that I left, I’ve seen that this move was only for God to expand my ministry. Always in the moves that I’ve done in churches, God has taught me something. The last move taught me to trust God, He will work everything out. The last church I worked at I was isolated strictly to the Video Production ministry. Now I am involved in the Sound, Lighting, Video, IT Repair, Graphics Design, and Network Administration… plus a few other odds and ends here and there. I am excited to see what God has planned for me and Crossroads.

So any ways, that is my wise lesson for the week. LoL… any ways, I hope you all have a wonderful week! I will try and keep this thing updated from now on… Leave me some comments!

Later,
J

Today’s Thought – You are not an accident
Today’s Verse – “I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born.” Isaiah 44:2 (CEV)

Good Evening everyone. Let’s see… I guess nothing spectacular has been going on. I’ve been busy with work and such… nothing else though… Turkey Day is this week, so that is cool. I guess I will jump into the serious part of my post this evening.

Yesterday I started my “40 Days of Purpose”, reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Which, even though I am only on day 2, I suggest you all go get a copy and read one chapter a day, and do your “40 Days of Purpose”. Today’s thought really was interesting to me, and I wanted to post a poem out of the book:

You are who you are for a reason.
You’re part of an intricate plan
You’re a precious and perfect unique design
Called God’s speical woman or man

You look like you look for a reason
Our God made no mistake
He knit you together within the womb
You’re just what he wanted to make

The parents you had were the ones he chose
And no matter how you may feel
They were custom-designed with God’s plan in mind
And they bear the Master’s seal

No, that trauma you faced was not easy
And God wept that it hurt you so
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you’d grow

You are who you are for a reason
You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod
You are who you are, beloved
Becasue there is a God!

Remember that poem as you go about your week, and remember you are not a mistake, you are here for a reason and you have a purpose. I hope that you all who read this will take my advice and pick up a copy and read though it.

Well, it is late, and work starts early… so I am going to take off.

Night,
- J -

Well, all…. A week has passed. I’ve been so busy. Let’s see… My b-day was Friday. I bought a car on Saturday! Yep, I got rid of my 1998 Ford Taurus SE… Which if any of you rode with me, you all know why I got rid of it. Anyways, I decided to buy a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am GT, I will post some pictures this weekend.< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Life has been interesting, and busy. I’ve been getting in some extra hours at work. Then when I come home it is working on school and church stuff. I have so much to do this weekend; I don’t know where I am going to find the time to do it all.

Well, today on my way to work I threw in the MercyMe CD “Almost There” and played it on my way to work. Note – No, I am not using a car kit for a CD player like I used to, I was smart enough to buy a car with a CD player…. anyways, I was listening to the first track, “I Worship You”. This truly describes how I feel right now. Take some time a read the lyrics!

I Worship You
MercyMe

I’ve been walking with a big grin
Singing with my eyes closed
Lifting up my hands
I’ve been lost in the moment
Sending up praises
Now I think I understand
When I open up and let it flow
I feel your touch and then I know

CHORUS:
I can never live without it
And I’m never going to doubt it
Everyday it’s new, yeah
There’s nothing any better
I’ll be singing it forever
I worship you

I’m standing on the edge now
Looking to a new place
Going deeper still
The feeling is electric
The power and the glory
Just move me where you will
Cause you take the song and make it fly
Into my soul and that is why

BRIDGE:
I just want to dive into your grace
I want to feel your presence, seek your face
I just want to be where you are

I can never live without it
And I’m never going to doubt it
Everyday is new, yeah

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I will try and post again. Thanks for the comments!

Later,
- J -

Quote of the Day, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…”< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

Welcome to this evenings post. Tomorrow I am a year older. As I look back, I’ve experienced a lot during my 17 years of life. I have driven for exactly 1.5 years, I have attended 8 churches, 2 schools, worked in the church for 7 years, and I could go on… Yeah, so I’ve lived a not so excited life, what can I say? I’ve lived it for my Savior though, and that is what counts.

 

Since I haven’t posted in days I will have to make up for lost time. Well, nothing special has been going on. I am building more friendships at church, finishing up school, and been playing games on the computer like crazy.

 

On the Sunday before Veterans Day, the Quartet at church sang this song entitled, “I Will Sing”. I was listening to the lyrics, and found that this is exactly how I feel right now… Take a look and see what you think…

 

I Will Sing

Don Moen

 

Lord You seem so far away

A million miles or more it feels today

Though I haven’t lost my faith

I must confess right now

That it’s hard for me to pray

But I don’t know what to say

And I don’t know where to start

But as You give the grace

With all that’s in my heart

 

I will sing I will praise

Even in my darkest hour

Through the sorrow and the pain

I will sing I will praise

Lift my hands to honor You

Because Your Word is true

I will sing

 

Lord it’s hard for me to see

All the thoughts and plans

You have for me

But I will put my trust in You

Knowing that You died to set me free

But I don’t know what to say

And I don’t know where to start

But as You give the grace

With all that’s in my heart

 

That is so true for me right now. I hope that you can take those words to heart like I did. Also I have a poem by my favorite poet. Here it goes…

 

The Road Less Traveled

Robert Frost

 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

 

I think about what my life would be like if I took the road that was commonly traveled by the world. Today 13 years later after accepting Christ and taking the road less traveled, I can defiantly say with a sigh, “I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference”.

 

Later,

- J -

Verse for Today: “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Phil. 4:11, niv)

I am writing you all from my newly fixed iMac. Sounds like I am becoming a Mac freak… I attened the premiere release of MacOS X 10.3 – Panther. Yeah… me an about 200 other people stood in the cold in front of the Mac Store in Easton so we could buy our copy. Yeah… by now everyone is thinking… GEEK. Yeah… and I am proud of it… It is us geeks that make the big bucks $$$$ … So remember, when calling someone a geek, years down the road you are a cashier for Kroger… and they are the Lead IT manager… Being a geek has its wonderful benefits… lol…

Well, today was a good day. Got off at noon. Came home, went to the mall, came home, and now I am here. I take my ACT tomorrow… which should be fun… I hope that I do ok. Then my small group from church is going Frisbee Golfing. Something that I’ve never done… so it should be interesting.

Well, as you can see there is a Daily Verse for today/tomorrow. This is sort of my outlook for the upcoming months and weeks when thigns sometimes get really hectic, that I will be content in whatever situation God places me in… So keep that in mind…

Later,
- J -

Welcome to this evenings post. Well, today was a good day. I went to work, came home from work, worked on school stuff, worked on some church stuff… and that is about it. So yeah, welcome to my o so exciting life! Well…. maybe not exciting…. dramatic at the most… hahahaha….

Oh, church… yeah… that is some of the coolest things going on right now. You know, I always wondered why God called me to another church, and as usual, as time plays out, I see all the wonderful blessings that abound from this move. Well, I now run PowerPoint, Sound, Lighting, and Live Video. I am also directing several videos that are actually going to be used in the church! Also, I may begin doing things musically with the worship team later in the year!

God has blessed me more than I have asked… as usual. I guess now that I look back, God has moved me, because he wanted me to be able to grow, and to learn to trust him more. As with a Mercy Me song, I said Here am I, send me! God did send me, maybe not to a far off land, but he did send me to Circleville where he is helping me grow in my faith and helping me reach out to others.

Well, there is no daily thought for today… maybe tomorrow. Just think about all that God has done for you, and if there is a calling in your life that you are ignoring….

Later,
- J -

Daily Thought – “He” Knows My Name

Today was a wonderful Sunday! Chuch was great, and I had a good afternoon and evening. After church my group of friends had our weekly movie night at my friend Julie and Jenny’s house. It is always fun just to hang out with all your friends and have a good time and eat. It seems like whenever all of us get together, food has to be involved one way or another, hahaha. So I am having a good start to my week so far.

Today’s thought is again based off of a song, “He Knows My Name”. I was thinking about this during my 45 min. drive to church. The God of the universe has time to spend with me and listens to me when I call, he sees me when I cry and when I am hurt, and he knows everything that I am thinking, and he knows everything about me, and most of all, He knows my name.

Think about that…. God knows your name! Take some time this week, if you happen to have the song, or look up the song on the internet, and think about that. God knows your name, and he cares for you! That thought alone should give you great amounts of encouragement, because I know it does for me.

Well, I hope everyone has a good week. Pray for me as I begin yet another very busy week.

Later,
- J -

Daily Though – Coming back to a genuine “Heart of Worship”

Welcome to this evening/morning’s posting. My week has been ok. I was informed that I was going to be only working 20 hours every week, which really is crappy, but oh well. So now I am in the process of preping for my next technical certification (MCSE – Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) and looking for a new job. So other than that, things are going great!

Well, as for my daily thought. In honor of it being Sunday and this is the day that most people go to church and Worship (except for you odd Saturday Night Vineyard people… , just kidding). Anyways, the thought is coming back to a genuine “Heart of Worship”

Based off of the Matt Redman song “Heart of Worship” is where the thought comes from. Throughout the year when I heard that song, I stopped to listen to the lyrics, and I mean I stopped singing and just read/listened to the lyrics.

Working in the Technical Arts ministry me, and many others make worship a job and not an act. So I encourage you to stop and read those words and think about them, and think about how you worship…

Heart of Worship
Matt Redman

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heart

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
All about You Jesus

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Ev’ry single breath

I hope that everyone has a great Sunday! Keep me in your prayers…

Later,
- J -

Well, tonight, has been an “interesting” evening. Why is it some people always feel the need to top whatever you do? Like tonight, I was talking to my friend, and she said she had something to tell me. I told her to tell me on AOL instead of calling me, because I was trying to get some work done so I could enjoy my evening. She told me that she had to tell me on the phone, I told her I wouldn’t be around until probably next week, because of schedule things going on, so it was either on the net or wait until next week.

She asked me what I was doing. I told her I was going to the Circleville Pumpkin show and I had to work on things on Friday and Saturday and Church was Sunday. Here is where the “topping” began. She said, “well that is fine, I don’t have time anyways, I am planning for future things”. So we began to talk about college, I just stated that I may be going to college out of state, and she got real sarcastic with me.

Finally I told her to feel free to lose my number, e-mail, and screen name. I could care less to talk to someone like her if she was going to be that way. Me, being the only person that doesn’t treat her like dirt, usually, she turns her attitude around and starts saying, well I care about you and all this crap, because she knows if I don’t talk to her, no one will, because she pulls this crap with everyone, and I am the only one that will put up with it.

Well, this time she has just gone to far. Besides her having that attitude with me constantly, she is practically pulling a case of phone harassment. She constantly calls my cell phone and home phone, and it gets old, fast. So she maybe after this she will remember in the future not to do this to people if she wants to keep them around as friends.

So, now that I have ranted long enough, let me talk about my day overall. It wasn’t too bad, I overslept though and was late for work, but my boss didn’t care. Yeah, I have a boss that really could care less if I am late, as long as it doesn’t happen all the time, and I get my work done.

Well, my long post is over, and I am going to bed. Keep me in your prayers… those of you who read this…

Later,
- J -