1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
2For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.
3But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
Chapter 12 spoke of spiritual gifts the Corinthian church which was extremely gifted but the more flamboyant gifts were being desired(tongues) by the church.
Chapter 13 "the love chapter" was to let the Corinthian church know that love should be the first desire before spiritual gifts.
If they take care of those first we come to chapter 14. Desire the gifts that edify and grow the church. Even though all gifts are good the ones that are the best are the one which do the most good.
"Every gift of God is a favour from God, but then those are to be most valued that are most useful" Matthew Henry
Are your gifts being used? Are we desiring others to be changed by implementation of God working in our lives? Do we desire to edify others or do we want to figure out our lives first or clean up our lives first?
Love others, deny yourself this is the pattern that Paul set down for us in 1 Corinthians i pray that i would follow his example and the Lord's teaching.
love others more than yourself that is how your ministry will be fulfilled.
pray that i would use my gifts for the most benefit of others. thanks for your prayers i need them.
i'm out
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Is this what passion is?
So after so much talking and thinking yesterday with my friends i went to church last night.
the message was pretty good and as always the Spirit can use God's word and He did again in my life. consecrated, committed, and consistent.
I don't believe that the consecration comes from myself(after all God calls us and sets us apart for His divine purposes) but the commitment and the consistency do. So God again worked on my heart but what i wanted to tell you guys was this.
Me and Jeff were talking about some profound things most involving where we are at personally and where we are going (which was a resounding not sure) but we also talked about emotion and in particular the Spirit of God and His presence in our lives.
It just seems that sometimes I don't feel the presence of God. All the time knowing that He will never leave me nor forsake me but just not "feeling" it. So yesterday before the service I asked God just let me feel your presence i want to feel you.
Now you are probably imagining crazy stories of people and their experiences with such things. But i want to assure you first of all that you might read this and be dissapointed that there weren't fireworks or flashes of light or explosions but I felt the Spirit inside of me...
I was told last night about an opportunity for the kids in my discipleship class. An opportunity to spend time with their new leader and also a chance to journey deeper with God. To be committed to something that will impact their lives.
The catch: the best time to do this was during the discipleship class hour. I was asked sincerely asked not ushered into or forced into but asked if I would be willing to give up my class so they could have this incredible opportunity.
For once it just wasn't about me...
I cried last night and was devastated that my class was gone. For you teachers out there, there is no greater joy than teaching teachable people. I felt the Spirit inside of me grieve but reassurance that this was God's sovereignty working itself out not only for the students but also for me and Kristen.
Now i have to go back to teaching kids that frankly could care less about learning. I'm being negative and some might even say that im putting a limit on God but understand that I'm not but its just not the same teaching people that want to learn and grow and expecting to teach those that just don't get it (jeff you feel me here, i know)
So pray for me, and more importantly for those kids. They are going through the roughest part intellectually in their lives and they need a guide. Maybe God wants to use me in the class that i will be going to, or maybe its just another part of the separation process. I don't know God hasn't revealed that but i know that im going to miss that class but im thankful that God answered my prayer.
I felt His presence, thank you...
:)
out
the message was pretty good and as always the Spirit can use God's word and He did again in my life. consecrated, committed, and consistent.
I don't believe that the consecration comes from myself(after all God calls us and sets us apart for His divine purposes) but the commitment and the consistency do. So God again worked on my heart but what i wanted to tell you guys was this.
Me and Jeff were talking about some profound things most involving where we are at personally and where we are going (which was a resounding not sure) but we also talked about emotion and in particular the Spirit of God and His presence in our lives.
It just seems that sometimes I don't feel the presence of God. All the time knowing that He will never leave me nor forsake me but just not "feeling" it. So yesterday before the service I asked God just let me feel your presence i want to feel you.
Now you are probably imagining crazy stories of people and their experiences with such things. But i want to assure you first of all that you might read this and be dissapointed that there weren't fireworks or flashes of light or explosions but I felt the Spirit inside of me...
I was told last night about an opportunity for the kids in my discipleship class. An opportunity to spend time with their new leader and also a chance to journey deeper with God. To be committed to something that will impact their lives.
The catch: the best time to do this was during the discipleship class hour. I was asked sincerely asked not ushered into or forced into but asked if I would be willing to give up my class so they could have this incredible opportunity.
For once it just wasn't about me...
I cried last night and was devastated that my class was gone. For you teachers out there, there is no greater joy than teaching teachable people. I felt the Spirit inside of me grieve but reassurance that this was God's sovereignty working itself out not only for the students but also for me and Kristen.
Now i have to go back to teaching kids that frankly could care less about learning. I'm being negative and some might even say that im putting a limit on God but understand that I'm not but its just not the same teaching people that want to learn and grow and expecting to teach those that just don't get it (jeff you feel me here, i know)
So pray for me, and more importantly for those kids. They are going through the roughest part intellectually in their lives and they need a guide. Maybe God wants to use me in the class that i will be going to, or maybe its just another part of the separation process. I don't know God hasn't revealed that but i know that im going to miss that class but im thankful that God answered my prayer.
I felt His presence, thank you...
:)
out
Friday, June 22, 2007
100th post
man 100 posts, i can't believe i have actually stuck with this thing and im more amazed that people actually read this thing.
i am starting a new thing in my life trusting God with who I am and not with my effort so i've done something crazy that some people will laugh at and others will freak out about.
But im into symbolism, big time. God used symbolism to clearly express to people what He wanted them to know and understand about Himself.
well i did that yesterday. new area, new outlook on grace and life, and a dedication to depend on God (almost seems like a contradiction, striving to depend on God...)
but enough of that what to write about in my 100th post. I will leave you with some advice that i received from my parents that somehow works. They have told it to 3 people 2 of them are now married with kids and 1 is plannin to get married.
its also in the book true faced.
"we can't wait for perfect people before we trust people"
no one is perfect its true. My mom and dad tell singles that seem to be struggling to find that "one" this information.
Quit trying to find the perfect mate, because when you do you usually push away the ones that actually care and love you.
people aren't perfect they are flawed, however as im learning you can't look at saved people as sinners.
it gives you a reason to reject and not love them. if you see them as a sinner they will dissapoint and sin and you will reject them. if you see them as a saint they sin and you sympathize with them you care and want to keep them accountable.
how do we look at ourself? how do we view others? is it the same way that God looks at them and us?
if you ask yourselves those questions you might find out more about yourself than what you bargained for.
pray that God will allow me to see people as he does and that i will realize that i am no longer a sinner but a saint because of the overpowering, underserving grace of God through Jesus Christ. And should live like a saint depending upon God in every part of my life.
Love you guys and thanks for reading this and caring about my life. It truly means alot.
God bless
i'm out
i am starting a new thing in my life trusting God with who I am and not with my effort so i've done something crazy that some people will laugh at and others will freak out about.
But im into symbolism, big time. God used symbolism to clearly express to people what He wanted them to know and understand about Himself.
well i did that yesterday. new area, new outlook on grace and life, and a dedication to depend on God (almost seems like a contradiction, striving to depend on God...)
but enough of that what to write about in my 100th post. I will leave you with some advice that i received from my parents that somehow works. They have told it to 3 people 2 of them are now married with kids and 1 is plannin to get married.
its also in the book true faced.
"we can't wait for perfect people before we trust people"
no one is perfect its true. My mom and dad tell singles that seem to be struggling to find that "one" this information.
Quit trying to find the perfect mate, because when you do you usually push away the ones that actually care and love you.
people aren't perfect they are flawed, however as im learning you can't look at saved people as sinners.
it gives you a reason to reject and not love them. if you see them as a sinner they will dissapoint and sin and you will reject them. if you see them as a saint they sin and you sympathize with them you care and want to keep them accountable.
how do we look at ourself? how do we view others? is it the same way that God looks at them and us?
if you ask yourselves those questions you might find out more about yourself than what you bargained for.
pray that God will allow me to see people as he does and that i will realize that i am no longer a sinner but a saint because of the overpowering, underserving grace of God through Jesus Christ. And should live like a saint depending upon God in every part of my life.
Love you guys and thanks for reading this and caring about my life. It truly means alot.
God bless
i'm out
Thursday, June 21, 2007
a list
1. kristen got to see the Boston Red Sox play yesterday and that has got to be one of the coolest things ever. I've always wanted to see the Red Sox, Cubs, and Yankees play live. only the yankees so i could boo every second.
2. the Boss was at work yesterday to check out the work area that i just took over....yesterday!!! Needless to say they are completely result driven and want it done and are trying to give me a way to do. I love the challenge but it flat wore me out yesterday.
3. I anticipate starting anew and afresh with mine and kristen's life.
4. truefaced is an awesome book. still struggling with trying not to try its so weird to me.
5. right now im thinking how much are groceries and utilities and stuff im sure they are a joy.
6. job, dwelling place, money, more school, church, are all things im trusting God for.
7. man this is officially the worst time for sports and no i will not be a fan of nascar.
8. 2 of the 4 polls have this team at No. 1 in the country
9. as for the schedule can you say kentucky, tennesse, arizona, georgetown, gonzaga, and the matchup of the two biggest freshmen in the country usc. We play some folks.
10. we lost 4 last year and guess what we made it to the elite eight for the second year in a row sorry duke and unc, and that was after we lost our 3 top scorers.
be scared america very scared as dickie v would say "they're awesome baby!!!"
continue to pray for me and kristen we need it thanks everybody love you guys
out.
2. the Boss was at work yesterday to check out the work area that i just took over....yesterday!!! Needless to say they are completely result driven and want it done and are trying to give me a way to do. I love the challenge but it flat wore me out yesterday.
3. I anticipate starting anew and afresh with mine and kristen's life.
4. truefaced is an awesome book. still struggling with trying not to try its so weird to me.
5. right now im thinking how much are groceries and utilities and stuff im sure they are a joy.
6. job, dwelling place, money, more school, church, are all things im trusting God for.
7. man this is officially the worst time for sports and no i will not be a fan of nascar.
8. 2 of the 4 polls have this team at No. 1 in the country
9. as for the schedule can you say kentucky, tennesse, arizona, georgetown, gonzaga, and the matchup of the two biggest freshmen in the country usc. We play some folks.
10. we lost 4 last year and guess what we made it to the elite eight for the second year in a row sorry duke and unc, and that was after we lost our 3 top scorers.
be scared america very scared as dickie v would say "they're awesome baby!!!"
continue to pray for me and kristen we need it thanks everybody love you guys
out.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Trust
well i've been struggling with a few things lately and knowing that i need to address them i've been seeking answers.
pride and lack of trust.
i got a book recommendation from JR (thanks by the way) its called truefaced. The entire concept is that we need to stop striving to please God and instead trust Him.
to be brutally honest it seems to easy. Shrug off your burdens upon the shoulders of God and realize that its not you to lead or strive but instead only follow where God leads and rely on Him to show you nothing else.
No need to clean, no need to feel ashamed.
we are not saved sinners but instead transformed or more clearly created saints.
God's grace transformed us into a new creation, perfect in God's eyes through Christ, so why in the world do we see ourselves as broken pieces not fit for God's service.
This effort and workload breeds more sin, sin that i know all too well, pride, envy, comparison, anger, shame, all of which are results of the thing that we are working towards!!!
But is it this easy? Honestly i still have a hard time believing that it is. Am i trusting God fully???
NO im not but i am a little which is more than i have trusted in the past and for that i am thankful for God's overwhelming grace none of which is deserved.
pray and let me know what you think...is it really this easy??
out
pride and lack of trust.
i got a book recommendation from JR (thanks by the way) its called truefaced. The entire concept is that we need to stop striving to please God and instead trust Him.
to be brutally honest it seems to easy. Shrug off your burdens upon the shoulders of God and realize that its not you to lead or strive but instead only follow where God leads and rely on Him to show you nothing else.
No need to clean, no need to feel ashamed.
we are not saved sinners but instead transformed or more clearly created saints.
God's grace transformed us into a new creation, perfect in God's eyes through Christ, so why in the world do we see ourselves as broken pieces not fit for God's service.
This effort and workload breeds more sin, sin that i know all too well, pride, envy, comparison, anger, shame, all of which are results of the thing that we are working towards!!!
But is it this easy? Honestly i still have a hard time believing that it is. Am i trusting God fully???
NO im not but i am a little which is more than i have trusted in the past and for that i am thankful for God's overwhelming grace none of which is deserved.
pray and let me know what you think...is it really this easy??
out
Saturday, June 16, 2007
The Sizzler
Well i've always wanted to talk about this so i think it will be interesting to see what people think about this:
In marketing, we say that we don't sell the steak we sell the sizzle.
well what about church, where is our focus. Is it on the steak or is it the sizzle.
Our purpose of servanthood to Christ and overall purpose to worship and bring Him glory will always remain the same. Is that what we are about or not?
just thought about this the other day in class...interesting i thought.
i'm out
In marketing, we say that we don't sell the steak we sell the sizzle.
well what about church, where is our focus. Is it on the steak or is it the sizzle.
Our purpose of servanthood to Christ and overall purpose to worship and bring Him glory will always remain the same. Is that what we are about or not?
just thought about this the other day in class...interesting i thought.
i'm out
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
On the horizon
im looking forward to a couple things in the not so distant future:
1.getting married very psyched
2.graduating college to be done with school but not with learning is a large desire of mine
3.bein on my own for a while it seems like it will be relaxing to come home to my apartment (after hanging out with kristen all day cuz we'll be in the same zip code)
4.new challenges. I love a challenge and i just love workin my butt off to get it done.
5.and most exciting is seeing God's hand orchestrate my life. I don't know how or when but its gonna be awesome. Thanks to some advice (i.e. Kristen Barfield) the worrying is subsiding.
Look out world im headed for the horizon.
i'm out
1.getting married very psyched
2.graduating college to be done with school but not with learning is a large desire of mine
3.bein on my own for a while it seems like it will be relaxing to come home to my apartment (after hanging out with kristen all day cuz we'll be in the same zip code)
4.new challenges. I love a challenge and i just love workin my butt off to get it done.
5.and most exciting is seeing God's hand orchestrate my life. I don't know how or when but its gonna be awesome. Thanks to some advice (i.e. Kristen Barfield) the worrying is subsiding.
Look out world im headed for the horizon.
i'm out
Monday, June 11, 2007
What's on your mind J.C.?
well i'll tell you:
1.unfortunately still worried about the job trusting is so much harder than doing.
2.had four total people in discipleship class is this a coincidence or a sign of things to come???
3.i'm trying to work on practicing humility, it will happen more at work than anywhere else. can God reveal things to me if im not absolutely on top of my game? is anything keeping me from seeing something or is it just not time?
4.what difference does my life make. is it enough am i laboring enough am i giving enough
5.kristen barfield is unbelievably creative. i knew this from the start but now that she is behind planning an entire event and is the leader of that process its awesome the ideas that she has and how she is producing our wedding day.
6.there is obvious tension at Crosspointe. the discipleship class is completely a refreshing time for me and you can cut the air in the service with a chainsaw or a plasma cutter whichever you prefer.
7.i'm gonna miss all the friends that are leaving...it seems like more and more its me and God and kristen. is this to make my move easier or to teach me some crazy lesson that i need to know.
8.first test of the summer today im pretty psyched about it. Why? semester is almost over and the 10th of May gets closer and closer.
9.im ready for football season please hurry.
10.my 21st bday is coming up in 2 months what should i do? power rangers party anyone?
please continue to pray for God's provision and not only that but His revealation of what He is doing to me and Kristen. thanks for everything to the people who read this thing im thinking of a title change any ideas let me know.
Beefy, Cheesy melt from Taco Bell = Awesome!!!
i'm out
1.unfortunately still worried about the job trusting is so much harder than doing.
2.had four total people in discipleship class is this a coincidence or a sign of things to come???
3.i'm trying to work on practicing humility, it will happen more at work than anywhere else. can God reveal things to me if im not absolutely on top of my game? is anything keeping me from seeing something or is it just not time?
4.what difference does my life make. is it enough am i laboring enough am i giving enough
5.kristen barfield is unbelievably creative. i knew this from the start but now that she is behind planning an entire event and is the leader of that process its awesome the ideas that she has and how she is producing our wedding day.
6.there is obvious tension at Crosspointe. the discipleship class is completely a refreshing time for me and you can cut the air in the service with a chainsaw or a plasma cutter whichever you prefer.
7.i'm gonna miss all the friends that are leaving...it seems like more and more its me and God and kristen. is this to make my move easier or to teach me some crazy lesson that i need to know.
8.first test of the summer today im pretty psyched about it. Why? semester is almost over and the 10th of May gets closer and closer.
9.im ready for football season please hurry.
10.my 21st bday is coming up in 2 months what should i do? power rangers party anyone?
please continue to pray for God's provision and not only that but His revealation of what He is doing to me and Kristen. thanks for everything to the people who read this thing im thinking of a title change any ideas let me know.
Beefy, Cheesy melt from Taco Bell = Awesome!!!
i'm out
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Just something to think about
Love God then Love people. that is how it was laid out. Jesus said it.
I'm a manager, my job is to get people to perform at their best.
I'm a leader, natural and learned. I am always seeking to improve myself. One of the reasons that we succeed as a belt is because my people always know where i stand.
If you mess up i'll let u know and then let u know that u can do better. If you are doing good i'll let u know that as well.
Reading John C. Maxwell and also the many, many, many textbooks and lectures that i've heard in my buisness classes i know how to approach people and what works and what doesn't.
So i pose this for you to think about. If God judges the thoughts and intents of the heart. Is it you loving people as a leader or is it using them as a resource?
Do we do everything out of love? Or do we do it for ourselves?
Watch it pick it up and fix it. I pray that God would make me more sensitive to people's needs and to truly love them.
And that my ministry would never be about me but about others.
Love you guys. Pray for me.
I'm out
I'm a manager, my job is to get people to perform at their best.
I'm a leader, natural and learned. I am always seeking to improve myself. One of the reasons that we succeed as a belt is because my people always know where i stand.
If you mess up i'll let u know and then let u know that u can do better. If you are doing good i'll let u know that as well.
Reading John C. Maxwell and also the many, many, many textbooks and lectures that i've heard in my buisness classes i know how to approach people and what works and what doesn't.
So i pose this for you to think about. If God judges the thoughts and intents of the heart. Is it you loving people as a leader or is it using them as a resource?
Do we do everything out of love? Or do we do it for ourselves?
Watch it pick it up and fix it. I pray that God would make me more sensitive to people's needs and to truly love them.
And that my ministry would never be about me but about others.
Love you guys. Pray for me.
I'm out
What's up with J.C.
well let me tell you:
1.i'm waiting on marriage, graduation, and a job in a place that is not Memphis but is in Greenville, SC
2.anger, confusion, sadness all rolled into one event at a place where love should be the main characteristic is absence.
3.excited about discipleship class. This class has revived me. I'm psyched every week to teach and this is in no way a joke im serious. I'm psyched and pumped every week. Spiderman 3 tomorrow and its gonna be awesome.
4.cooking again today in hopes that somehow it will prepare me to aide Kristen in our future food endeavors as a family. Basically so she doesn't have to cook all the meals in our household.
5.waiting on a job and its frustrating really frustrating. I definitely am learning how to truly trust God.
6.I've never said this with so much meaning. Long Distance sucks!!!
7.Somehow God is setting up the life for me and Kristen and I pray that sooner rather than later He would let me in on exactly what it is, but i'll be waiting.
love you guys thanks for your prayers, pray for me and Kristen and the stress of planning a marriage and also for me and finding the job not just a job. God wants me to impact people at a certain place and I need to make sure that i don't miss it.
keep praying, keep hoping, keep striving, and keep waiting on God.
I'm out
1.i'm waiting on marriage, graduation, and a job in a place that is not Memphis but is in Greenville, SC
2.anger, confusion, sadness all rolled into one event at a place where love should be the main characteristic is absence.
3.excited about discipleship class. This class has revived me. I'm psyched every week to teach and this is in no way a joke im serious. I'm psyched and pumped every week. Spiderman 3 tomorrow and its gonna be awesome.
4.cooking again today in hopes that somehow it will prepare me to aide Kristen in our future food endeavors as a family. Basically so she doesn't have to cook all the meals in our household.
5.waiting on a job and its frustrating really frustrating. I definitely am learning how to truly trust God.
6.I've never said this with so much meaning. Long Distance sucks!!!
7.Somehow God is setting up the life for me and Kristen and I pray that sooner rather than later He would let me in on exactly what it is, but i'll be waiting.
love you guys thanks for your prayers, pray for me and Kristen and the stress of planning a marriage and also for me and finding the job not just a job. God wants me to impact people at a certain place and I need to make sure that i don't miss it.
keep praying, keep hoping, keep striving, and keep waiting on God.
I'm out
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
well what to say
to be honest i fear for writing this blog today because even though i will write it in love people will think that I'm not so im going to take as much of me out of it as i can and just leave it up to scripture and God to show you some things.
First Nehemiah 4
its sad that people are building and they have to fend off attacks not only from the enemies but also from their own people.
Second
Third
An Encouragement for Freedom Church and mostly from me to J.R. and Todd
First Nehemiah 4
its sad that people are building and they have to fend off attacks not only from the enemies but also from their own people.
Second
Third
An Encouragement for Freedom Church and mostly from me to J.R. and Todd
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