12|31|08

The last day of the year.
Its been a little over 4 months since I've written in here and I'm not exactly sure if there's anyone to blame more than myself.

After speaking today at elev8 i feel like I need to get back to reading the word of God and meditating on it- it was so amazing to see souls just crying out for God- an act that the walls of our church seldom see.
This year has been amazing... growing and walking with God on a path with so many new believers and stronger believers.

A year ago i would have been ready to leave our church at this time- i would have felt the need to go on the greener pastures but- after the retreat in January 08- i don't think I'm Going to have to

At least, thats my prayer.

I do think we've grown stagnant and that we think this is some how a limit to how far we can go but- there is truly no limit to God. There is no place high enough for our worship to go and as Christians we have to continue climbing or... forget where we are and slowly end up climbing back down to where we were.

I can tell you guys that my life didn't change on one random day- i didn't become a true follower of God on one fateful night but it was a continuous process- full of blessings and trials, temptations and rewards. I fell- a lot. I rebuked God and turned away from him, fought him and ignored him. Cried out to him and questioned him.
Through it all i have grown in faith, i have grown in understanding, and i have grown in love.

2008 was a year of changes, mistakes, choices, blessings, endings, and new beginnings. It cant stop simply because we're starting a new calendar- 2009 should be 10x the blessing that 2008 was- a continuation of something amazing and new and fulfilling.

Expect blessing- know that he's promised it to us. With that knowledge comes fulfillment.

This is the rest of chapter 2 that i didn't speak about in my message- its so amazing.

Zechariah 2:8-13

8 For this is what the LORD Almighty says: "After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye- 9 I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. ^[a] Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me.
10 "Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you," declares the LORD. 11 "Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. 12 The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling."

Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ the Messiah is saying that to you. Zechariah was a prophet before Bethlehem happened- before the Census of Caesar Augustus- Christ was there from the beginning of time.

Look at the promise Christ gives us.
I AM COMING. i will live AMONG you. Many nations.
he has ROUSED himself. we are the apple of his eye...

its such a glorious promise. Such an impacting message. A true need for worship. A true need to understand how little time we have here.
This promise is made for God's children- a promise waiting at the end of the narrow path.
We know about this promise & we know about what's coming but- are we telling the one's we love? Are we telling the world?
As Christians we have a conviction- a need to plant seeds and tend gardens- reap the harvest.
Are we doing it?
was 2008 a blessing for God's kingdom? Are there new souls there- written in the book of life- that you helped bring into the light of Christ?

Isaiah 58:1

1 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.

Do not hold back.
Let 2009 be that year- where your voice is a trumpet for the Lord.