On Tour

It’s been a long, hard week. Tonight was a PERFECT way to wrap it all up. Let me explain.

Tonight after I got home from spending time with friends, April called me. She knows better than anyone when something is wrong, she can just read me like that. As I began to explain something to her, I broke down in way I haven’t in a few weeks. It’s only the second time ever that I can recall that I broke down like I did. The other was two weeks ago when God put the fire inside of me. Tonight, I wept. I began to explain something that made me uncomfortable tonight. Without going in to what made me uncomfortable, I explained to her how convicted I felt.

After explaining all that, I heard God speaking to me. He led me in some words with April that was powerful. It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. I felt like I was emotionally at my peak. And at my peak, I couldn’t hold anything in any longer. I wept with April tonight. After the weeping, we got on our knees and poured it out straight to God and wept even more. It was one the most powerful prayers I have ever prayed. A prayer that came from the deepest part of my heart, so full of love, passion…and humility. Tonight I felt the presence of God. I was reminded of the night a few weeks ago when God simply embraced me and whispered “I’m right here with you.” It’s a feeling that is indescribable. When it feels that NO one else around us lifts our arms, we know that we can turn face-to-face with God and feel Him embracing us like NO one else can do.

Let me share some of my prayer…I pray that God continue to disturb me and make me uncomfortable. He has called me to lead April towards Him. I pray that we glorify Him through our love for one another, that we lead by example. I pray that over the next few weeks leading up to the wedding, that we not lose focus of Him, that it not be just about us, but that we point the way towards Christ.

Tonight I was made uncomfortable. Tonight I was disturbed by God. We were in the presence of God tonight. The coolest part of it all…I got to share the moment with April and we were in the presence of God together.

Today has totally sucked! Talk about a crappy day. I don’t mean to be negative, but I really just need to VENT. Let me just bring you in to my world for a moment. If nothing else, get on your knees for me.

I hunted for TONS of jobs again today and found nothing!! In last minute desperation, I applied at flippin’ Wal-Mart. It’s going to be very hard to make ends meet. Any job leads, PLEASE send them my way. If I’m unable to find anything in Savannah soon, we’ll be here until the church starts in January. Not only that, but I’m willing to work 12-18 hour days if I have to in order to get by. April doesn’t feel that way though. I suppose that is a good thing…

We sent out wedding shower invitations last week and asked to people to send regrets. No one sent anything luckily. However, as we called people we found out that half the people were not coming we invited. Basically, our family will be there with a couple friends. April and I both are really bummed and trying to keep our heads high. Everyone had legit reasoning too…

I broke a piece off of my bumper today with my garage door. Don’t ask…

April and I are hardly getting to spend any time together. Our work schedules just don’t align. I’m off when she works and I work when she is off. Totally sucks. I spent the day by myself.

I don’t mean to bring tons of negativity, it’s not me, but it’s just what I’m feeling right now. It’s getting really hard to focus. Little things are bringing me down. Today was one of those things. It made me just want to crawl in a dark hole until tomorrow. Any encouragement would be nice…

Many know I work with the county in public safety, dispatching for two different law enforcement agencies and the fire department. This week was exciting. Being the technical guy I am, it’s really cool stuff, so I just had to blog about it. Following a recent upgrade to our computer system, the patrol officers received one too. They all have computers in their cars where they can run tags, license information and so on, but NOW they can see all of our calls on their computer too. Basically, they see exactly what we see in dispatch. We can completely dispatch officers to calls, have them go en route, on scene and clear the scene without saying a single word. AWESOME!! Without this it creates safety issues with officers due to the amount of radio traffic. Officers can even put themselves out on a self-initiated call including calling out at the gas station for a bathroom break or something. Very cool stuff. I talked with our director about some of the technical stuff that actually makes this thing work and it’s very technical. I love it. What a good time to be a patrol officer. They get a cool car with a bunch buttons, a gun and even a cool computer inside their car. What a bunch of cool toys!!

I just had to do a shout out to April. I didn’t have time to do it yesterday, so here it is today.

Happy Birthday babe!! Love you!

I’m reminded often of the work to be done in Savannah. Not of the service projects or anything like that, but about the work of Jesus. I’ve been following many churches with the series One Prayer. I was thinking about if I had one prayer for Canvas. It would not to be better or compete, to be “cool”, to just feed people, my prayer would be to make the name of JESUS famous. My prayer IS that people come to Christ. We do that by creative services, creating community in small groups and going out in the community and BE the church and show the love of Jesus.

I’m praying hard that the people farthest from Christ will hear the name of Jesus and go to heaven. At Canvas we are about transforming a city by transforming lives. We do that by reaching people for Christ. We do that by groups, gatherings and service. I’m praying hard that people will see Christ. If you want to be apart of THAT, one way is by going here…The 249.

I’ve had quite a week this past week. Here are some highlights:

-My birthday was great. I’m now 21! I spent most of it feeling like crap with an all the sudden sinus infection. I’ve now been to the Dr. 3x’s and have been sick 4x’s in the past 3 months. Stress?

-Hunted for jobs. I found a few potentials. I applied to one today for Communications Officer with Armstrong University PD. I’m really excited. I have a few certifications behind me. I’m looking to work a few part time jobs to help make ends meet for us.

-Everyone seems to be getting confirmation on just about everything. So are we. I think April and I are about to lease an apartment in Savannah and be ready to move in within a few weeks. We’re getting together to pray about that tonight. She already has a job after the wedding and hopefully me too soon.

-Praise GOD April and I don’t have to sell a house.

-Fed the homeless Sunday. That was awesome. City of Refuge is an amazing organization. Got a little taste of the future.

-Saw The Love Guru. It sucked. I love Mike Myers movies. I expected better. It was funny, but just…dumb. There needs to be another Austin Powers movie instead.

-Six weeks until I’m married. I can’t wait. I’m thrilled, but also nervous. I’m ready for the wedding to be over with.

This morning I was thinking about what happened to me last night. It was amazing. April and I have been through some tough crap lately. It’s seems like it’s one after another. Last night, as I was watching baptisms and thinking about the fire that God has placed in me, I felt this holy presence over me. I felt as if someone were touching me and holding my arms. It was as if someone were telling me “I’m here with you.” I’ve been on my knees countless times over the past few days and I can’t explain the presence that was with me last night. It could only be God. That presence was so powerful. Doug talked about a spiritual battle the other day and how he felt disturbed the other night, so disturbed it awakened him. This life is a spiritual battle. Last night was truly amazing. I praise God for who He is. I praise God for embracing me last night and simply saying “I’m here with you.”God is much bigger than any JERK like Satan who wants to destroy what God is doing.

I shared this all with April this morning and I broke down. I asked her to just listen to what I had to say as I shared this with her, about this awesome presence that was embracing me. God IS with us all the time and from time to time He will come behind you and speak words in to your ear and embrace you. That’s where it happens. Behind closed doors, on your knees, even at the weirdest moments. God has called us to reach people for Christ. I’m on fire for Christ and I’m not going to stop what HE has called me to do. I’ve got God on my side…