Wow! Boy, when God answered my hearts desire of full-time ministry, he answered it! I never in my life would have imagined the craziness of it all! I knew this week was going to be even more time consuming for me than they already are so now it is time for rest.
"The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile. He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat." (Mark 6:30-31)
When the apostles were giving an account to Jesus concerning their ministry tour they were "spent." Jesus lead a busy life but he also knew the importance of rest. He said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." When people, events, and things are pulling you at every direction there comes a time when you need to find a quiet place and rest ahile.
So what about you? Have you been working hard for the kingdom and need a break? Even Jesus knew the importance of leading His apostles to rest. Is He leading you?
My wife and I will leave this afternoon for a short rest to a quiet place to celebrate our "5th Wedding Anniversary." We are going to rest. I pray you have the opportunity to rest too.
God Bless your soul.
Beck
Friday, September 28, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Three Night Intensive
We have been having a three night intensive led by our Pastor, Michael O'Neal, on the subject of "Being Guided by the Holy Spirit." Tonight he will conclude the intensive as he teaches on the "Seven Spirits of God."
We will be having our own intensive tonight in the student ministry and the Carey Amos band will be here to led our students in worship as well.
Tomorrow I have the humbling opportunity to speak to our "Prime Time" ministry (senior adults) on the subject of "Spiritual Sons and Daughters." I am humbled and looking forward to it!
Construction has begun on our home renovation project. The men who are working on it have been working hard and non-stop to get this completed by the holidays. We are blessed to have people in our lives to help get the job done.
This Friday, my wife and I celebrate our "5th Wedding Anniversary." I can't even begin to describe to you how excited I am about that. We will celebrate out of town at a "Bed and Breakfast."
Have a wonderful week and God Bless!
We will be having our own intensive tonight in the student ministry and the Carey Amos band will be here to led our students in worship as well.
Tomorrow I have the humbling opportunity to speak to our "Prime Time" ministry (senior adults) on the subject of "Spiritual Sons and Daughters." I am humbled and looking forward to it!
Construction has begun on our home renovation project. The men who are working on it have been working hard and non-stop to get this completed by the holidays. We are blessed to have people in our lives to help get the job done.
This Friday, my wife and I celebrate our "5th Wedding Anniversary." I can't even begin to describe to you how excited I am about that. We will celebrate out of town at a "Bed and Breakfast."
Have a wonderful week and God Bless!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Family
"I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected-even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands." (Exodus 20:5b-6) NLT
To know that my sin WILL affect my childrens, childrens, children causes me to shudder. We must realize the importance of our actions knowing that they not only affect us but future generations.
"He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church." (I. Timothy 3:4-5)
God places so much emphasis on the family that he places it even before ministry in His church. If we have no "ministry" at home we have no ministry!
To know that my sin WILL affect my childrens, childrens, children causes me to shudder. We must realize the importance of our actions knowing that they not only affect us but future generations.
"He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church." (I. Timothy 3:4-5)
God places so much emphasis on the family that he places it even before ministry in His church. If we have no "ministry" at home we have no ministry!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Pouring In then Pouring Out
“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.” (Phil. 2:17-18)
“…I’m being poured out like a drink offering…”
One thing I strive to do each and every day of my life is to pour out the life of God that is in me into other people. I strive to pour the life of God into students, teenagers, those around me, my family, and just people in general. However, there are two things we must realize before this takes place:
1) You cannot pour into others what you have not first allowed God to pour into you.
· If you are not making deposits into your own life when those around you begin to make withdrawals you will be “used up” because you have nothing to give.
· You make “deposits” by allowing God to pour into you. Seek Him daily by being still, reading his word, and spending time in his presence worshiping Him.
2) You can’t give others what you don’t have yourself.
· If you aren’t full of the love of Christ then you can’t go out and spread that love. You can’t give what you don’t have. You can spread what you don’t possess.
Before we can pour into others we must allow God to pour into our lives by spending time with Him!
“…I’m being poured out like a drink offering…”
One thing I strive to do each and every day of my life is to pour out the life of God that is in me into other people. I strive to pour the life of God into students, teenagers, those around me, my family, and just people in general. However, there are two things we must realize before this takes place:
1) You cannot pour into others what you have not first allowed God to pour into you.
· If you are not making deposits into your own life when those around you begin to make withdrawals you will be “used up” because you have nothing to give.
· You make “deposits” by allowing God to pour into you. Seek Him daily by being still, reading his word, and spending time in his presence worshiping Him.
2) You can’t give others what you don’t have yourself.
· If you aren’t full of the love of Christ then you can’t go out and spread that love. You can’t give what you don’t have. You can spread what you don’t possess.
Before we can pour into others we must allow God to pour into our lives by spending time with Him!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Never too early...
"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!"
(Psalm 127:3-5)
This past weekend we had a lot going on between the church and youth ministry but there was one thing that took place that took priority over them all-a daddy daughter date. My little girl Gracen is only 14 months old but I believe I can never start to early "dating" her.
Over the past few years I've seen and learned from many other ministers mistakes of neglecting family in the name of Christ or for "ministry." The Bible says "how can you manage the church if you can't manage your home?" I am determined with the help of the Lord to show my little girl the love and attention she needs so that she won't have to find it somewhere else. I don't want to spend so much time "ministering to others" that I don't take the time to "minister to my family."
My wife dressed Gracen and then I took her out to our favorite place to eat-McAllisters. We took turns feeding each other and we had the best time visiting outside.
I encourage you this week to take the time to "minister" and love on those closest to you-family.
Have a great week!
(Psalm 127:3-5)
This past weekend we had a lot going on between the church and youth ministry but there was one thing that took place that took priority over them all-a daddy daughter date. My little girl Gracen is only 14 months old but I believe I can never start to early "dating" her.
Over the past few years I've seen and learned from many other ministers mistakes of neglecting family in the name of Christ or for "ministry." The Bible says "how can you manage the church if you can't manage your home?" I am determined with the help of the Lord to show my little girl the love and attention she needs so that she won't have to find it somewhere else. I don't want to spend so much time "ministering to others" that I don't take the time to "minister to my family."
My wife dressed Gracen and then I took her out to our favorite place to eat-McAllisters. We took turns feeding each other and we had the best time visiting outside.
I encourage you this week to take the time to "minister" and love on those closest to you-family.
Have a great week!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Rollin...Rollin...Rollin...
I hope and pray everyone had a wonderful Labor Day. To say mine was interesting would be an understatement but we won't get in to all what went down.
My brother-in-law Josh Hutson spoke at both Jr. and Sr. High CCS Chapel Service's yesterday on "Serving". He is a wonderful young man of God who is pursuing the call of God on his life.
We had over 120 students and volunteers last night in our E3 Student Ministry Service. Worship was powerful and we continued on our current series "Locker Room Talk."
I will be carrying our 8th grade students from CCS to Grace Place Ministries in downtown Monroe this upcoming Wednesday. A group from Family Church cooks and serves lunch there every Wednesday. The students will be applying what they've learned about serving these past few weeks in Chapel. The word says in the book of James, "Be doers of the word not hearers only deceiving yourselves." If we don't apply what we hear from God's word we are deceived!
We are set to close on our house today and have the money by next Tuesday for the major remodeling that will take place. Please be in prayer for my family and I as we take on this next major project. It is very exciting but very consuming as well.
Have a great week!
My brother-in-law Josh Hutson spoke at both Jr. and Sr. High CCS Chapel Service's yesterday on "Serving". He is a wonderful young man of God who is pursuing the call of God on his life.
We had over 120 students and volunteers last night in our E3 Student Ministry Service. Worship was powerful and we continued on our current series "Locker Room Talk."
I will be carrying our 8th grade students from CCS to Grace Place Ministries in downtown Monroe this upcoming Wednesday. A group from Family Church cooks and serves lunch there every Wednesday. The students will be applying what they've learned about serving these past few weeks in Chapel. The word says in the book of James, "Be doers of the word not hearers only deceiving yourselves." If we don't apply what we hear from God's word we are deceived!
We are set to close on our house today and have the money by next Tuesday for the major remodeling that will take place. Please be in prayer for my family and I as we take on this next major project. It is very exciting but very consuming as well.
Have a great week!
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