»Prayer is the Key!

I still believe prayer works.
I believe it still does.

In preparation of the message for this Sunday, I felt like I could not get it on paper... I always use notes to guide me when I teach or preach (I'm not that skilled as just to teach without notes. Hehe).
Anyway, I was having a hard time... I knew what I wanted to say, but I could not write it down. Ugh! That is so frustrating!

So, I prayed simple, short prayer and started to write. I'm stumbling around. Point 1... then Point 3... Conclusion... Read it over again. And again. Write Point 2. Oh, the Introduction.

Yea... it has not been this hard for a long time. And if you are not a preacher, you might undermine this job... but to tell you the truth, it is hard work.
Some people may say about preaching, "Oh, that's easy... just write what you want to say... get on the stage... say what you wrote down on paper and waste 40 minutes of people's time."
O.K. It's not that easy, smart one!

I was feeling a little mad... I got up and went outside to catch some air... I breathed in and out... You know. I did everything I could.
Then it hit me.

And that's why I know that this message will impact people this coming Sunday.
I started praying. Again. But differently.
Not this prayer: "Dear God, I will be preaching your word this coming Sunday. I thank you for the opportunity. You are so kind and merciful to let me have this assignment. Lord, I need you to help me in the preparation of this message."
No. Not that prayer.

I prayed a prayer of faith.
O.K. don't spiritualize it. I just prayed a simple prayer of faith, believeing that He would be the one guiding me.
I told him... that it was His word that I would be teaching this Sunday and not mine.
I told Him... that He was going to do miracles and convict people to start walking a simple journey and not me.

After that short session of prayer, I'm not going to tell you that it was smooth.... but I have got tranquility and peace, knowing that His word will be taught and preached and not mine.

Let's get back to prayer.
Let's get back to relevant Bible teaching.

"Jesus, thank you... and please don't wake me up in the middle of the night to tell me something. If you have something to tell me... tell me now. Goodnight."

People, I was just kidding about that last part.
Geez! Are you serious?
Can you take a joke?

Go pray.

»"The Simple Journey"

This Sunday will be off the hook! I can't wait. Really.
As you already know, the series that we are teaching from is: "The Simple Journey of A Disciple."
I will be teaching with the title: "The Simple Journey."


-How do you start walking this Journey of a disciple?
-How do you make it through when things get rough?
-What do you do when disciples that are with you go through hard times?

Oh, it will be amazing! I can already see it!

If you don't have a church home or just looking for some relevant Bible teaching, stop by Starting Point this Sunday at 10 AM.

I believe Jesus will be there this Sunday.

»Birthday Month!

Well... It's all over! All the excitement! All the Suspense! IT'S OVER!!!
Another year has overtaken us (Ruthie and I)... and I am excited for what Jesus is going to do in my 22nd year of life in this Earth.

I turned 22 on Saturday!
Ruthie turned 21 on Wednesday!

To read about hat Ruthie did for my birthday, go to her blog. I'll do a post on my birthday later... Let me give honor to my lady for being with me for all this time.

Thoughts on Ruthie and her 21st Birthday:

• She is the best girlfriend! (I need to marry her!)
• Had lunch with her at Panera... some good soup!
• After work, I rushed over to Party City and got her some balloons... You know, the big silver "2" and the big silver "1". Wow... those were cool!
• Yeah, but... while I was talking to her friends outside of Tokyohana (the restaurant)... one of them told me to look up, and to my dismay... the big silver "1" was flying away!!!
• Thank God Party City was in the same shopping plaza of the restaurant... so I bought another big silver "1".
• Stupid number.
• Her friends enjoyed the party, I hope so.
• Tokyohana has good food and the cooks cook your food in front of you... It was so cool when they start playing around with the knives and making fire...
• Ruthie got a lot of presents.
• Ruthie loved it.
  
  And that's all that matters.

November has brought me a good month... Well, Jesus has.. you know what I mean.
I thank Jesus for my life and for the life that I treasure.

Ruthie, I love you.

»Sunday Highlights!

I am so pumped up! It is scary! I am going crazy... Jesus is doing some stuff at Starting Point and I am thankful. Here are some highlights:

• Ruthie came to service with me. I just enjoy having her with me in service. She really is an inspiration to me. I love her so very much. (Hint: Her birthday is on Wednesday!)
• The band set up differently this Sunday... and it was a good setup. They rocked like always! Those guys are amazing.
• I really enjoyed the worship...
• We started "The Simple Journey of a Disciple" this Sunday... and it felt so good to teach.
• It felt that I preached for a short time... On the other hand, I'm used to services lasting 4 hours, and I'm serious.
• Thank you Jesus that service did not last 4 hours, just kidding. Hehe.
• I hung the posters in the hallways of Starting Point and they look awesome. A huge shout-out and thanks to my girlfriend/designer.
• Oh... My mother and sister showed up as well... with Joel, a good friend of mine!
• I connected with Dave, a first time guest, and he told me that he had not been to church in 12 years, and today he felt so good to come back. Praise Jesus!
• I am so tired... I actually came home and took a nap! I'm not a good nap-guy. I wake up grumpy.
• I just woke up to write this blog. Hehe. Just kidding.
• I met another guy at Starting Point today. Kevin is his name. I loved his energy during worship.
• People are starting to CELEBRATE!

I am really excited for Starting Point. Pray for its future. Pray that Jesus grows His Church. Tnak you Jesus.

• I'm going back to sleep. Big day tomorrow.