Barnabas Group

Yesterday was the kickoff for my 2nd semester Barnabas group.  This is the first time for me to lead this group of guys, but all them I have played with on the TFC soccer team.

Last semester my friend Travis was leading, but told me ahead of time that this semester he couldn't due to his student teaching at another school-so he asked if I would take on the challenge.  After praying for a few weeks and pondering about what I would do, I sensed a bit of a push and challenge from the Lord and of my own desire to go ahead with this.  Thankfully, I somewhat knew what I wanted to pursue in these group of guys, and Barnabas group on Thursday fit just right.

I guess I have categorized this years "theme" in my walk with the Lord as He has repeatedly brought up in the past few months, as being INTENTIONAL to practice offering myself daily to the Lord.  By this, being REAL and open with the Lord to be dependent on His Spirit to convict, guide, lead, speak, empower  .  The whole practicing to reflect each day on what the Lord has opened my heart and eyes too.  Giving my time to share, encourage, reflect with other brothers and sisters in Christ is a way in which we worship the Lord and sometimes I feel that many of us yearn for this opportunity, if only someone would be willing to listen.

I hope for this Barnabas group to come to that point where they are comfortable in sharing their thoughts, feelings, struggles, convictions, questions, and amazing things God is doing in their lives with others in the group.  I know that there are some who desire this opportunity to simply want to share the awesome things God has been teaching them.  A verse I read not long ago reminded me that my relationships with my friends is up to me to be there for them.  Galations 6:3 "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  "Love your neighbor as yourself!"

Well that's just a bit of what my Barnabas group is going to be focusing on this semester.

Buffalo Bills

Well my vacation in Congo is just about to end! I"ve been in the Rep. of Congo since December 11 spending Christmas break with my family.  I had another amazing trip with my dad hunting out on the safari plains.  This ended up being one of the biggest hunts of my life as my father and I took down 3 buffalo in the first day of hunting.  But what makes me reflect more on this day is how AWESOME the Lord answers the littlest of our prayers.  Before we set out to go hunting, my father and I sat down and just spent some time in prayer for the safety of out hunt and to actually find some buffalo.  Sure enough, we came back with 3!  hahhahaha, the Lord is GOOD and enjoys to give us our desires-even buffalo :)  So be encouraged to bring everything before the Lord in prayer, even if you seem it is ridiculous.

Bill out

Loving them like Christ did!

I'm in Congo right now-been here for about a week on Christmas vacation visiting my family.  Thank the Lord my dad and sister got in from Senegal last night-they were held up a day because the of fighting going on in Cote Ivoire.  Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit two orphanages here in Brazzaville.  The first one we went to only had a few kids when we arrived, so we didn't stay long, cause we had to visit another orphanage.  But what really touched my heart was how excited and loving these kids were to see me and hug me when they'd never seen me before.  And what amazes me over and over again, is that these kids will be overrly joyful to see you everyday!  Like-it doesn't get "old" for them to see us all the time.  The down-part of my day going to see the children was hearing some of their stories how they ended up there-but not only that, what all could I do to help?  I don't have much money that would make a "dent" in their life, and I'm not even here long to be with them-what I possibly do for them.  It was then that my friend Barb Sorensen (a missionary here with the C&MA) reminded me of the most practical and effective way of showing a represenation of God into these kid's lives-Loving them like He did!  A lot of times I forget that simply loving someone shows a lot of who He is and goes a long way in one's life.  To these kids, they didn't have much, and they weren't in an orphanage that shared God's love everyday.  It brings me back to  "it's all about building relationship" that reminds me of how we are to share God's love.  Someone asked me how can people possible establish relationships in a short period of time (relating to short-term missions).  And when I think of the kids at Hope House (the orphanage in Libreville, Gabon) I think of how much of a testimony they will be able to declare when they grow up and look back at all the times the Interns, work teams, and missionaries spent with them.  To see all the joy, excitement, and love that these children take in when short-term teams come to visit, there is nothing that can convince me that these children will not remember "us."  Some of them later on in life will hopefully look back and be thankful that someone came to spend time with them, to love them, play with them, sing and dance and play soccer with them even though they didn't know a lick of french.  Maybe because of the time you gave up to Love someone, they experienced Christ. I pray you will do the same!

Financial Support

Greetings to all who check my blog.  As I soon leave for Congo to spend Christmas with my family, I'd like to present beforehand what my financial goal is in order that this trip back to Gabon working with Envision be made possible.  I do not have any doubt in my heart that this is exactly what God has for me, so ultimately He will provide.  However, that doesn't mean I can sit back and do nothing.  With plane tickets, food, lodging, and some other expenses for 3 months is costing me $4500.  Like I said, I know God will provide in ways I won't be able to explain, but if you would like to help support me for this trip and be a part of the hands and feet of God in Gabon, then you can write out checks to ...... place my name in the memo to specify my account.

Global Ventures Office                                                     

The Christian and Missionary Alliance                           

PO Box 35000                                                  

Colorado Springs CO  80935-3500   

Thank you all for taking the time to read my updates and for praying for me.  God is good and He love endures forever.  If you would like to contact me, my email address is bubbazKix2008@gmail.com

God Bless

Give Me Faith...

As I was driving up with my girlfriend to Pennsylvania to spend Thanksgiving with her family, I listened to this song that captured my attention.  The song started out like this "Give me Faith, for You're all I am. I may be weak, but Your Spirit is strong within me, My flesh may fail, but your love will never let me go."  What powerful words! If there was a song that could sum up my thoughts, this would be it!  I left a week ago from a spiritual retreat figuring out what my role was as an individual for this summer working with Envision, and I was encouraged by others like myself sharing the same passion that this is truly what He desires of me.  I left also with the reminder that I need to support myself during this time.  Finances are never something easy to deal with, let alone talk about.  I have to come up with a large amount before I head off in May, but I'm not worried at the same time because if this is His desire for me, than He will provide.  "Father give me faith, for You ARE ALL I AM!"  In me alone I cannot come up with this amount before May, but through Him and your help, all things are possible.  Please, if you have the time to check every once in a while at my blog, take the time to read my updates and needs, requests, and prayers.  I can you all the prayer I can get :)
God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving

Strength in Numbers!

Oh. For those who haven't heard, I am going to be in Gabon this summer working for Envision (short term mission for the C&MA).  I am the Summer Team Coordinator in Libreville and will be heading out sometime in May after school.  Please keep me in your prayers as I have to raise all my support for this summer.  I will be sending out letters soon with clearer descriptions.

I shared earlier that I spent the weekend in Atlanta with the rest of the Gabon Team for Envision for a spiritual retreat.  God's presence was overwhelming and I was sad to leave to "reality"-back to school.  However, this doesn't have to end like this.  How do I maintain that Spirit-filled environment that was present with the rest of the team this weekend?  It was such a great time of sharing, reflecting, praising God, meditating- and Joe who was our worship leader did such a great job with music.  Before going to bed last night I knew that my morning to come would not be the same as I spend the time with the Lord.  In short, I understand how effective it is to be in numbers in the Lord.  To have a brother or sister in Christ by your side allows confession, sharing, comfort, and input that isn't always easily done when you're alone.  Strength in numbers is harder to be broken than if one were alone.
-Take advantage of meeting with your brothers and sisters in Christ to draw closer to Him.

Being Lead by His Spirit

This past weekend I was down in Atlanta for a spiritual retreat with the new Gabon team serving with Envision.  This weekend was probably the highlight so far into this year!  I needed to be broken and that is exactly what God did.  I felt so close to the Lord that I didn't want that weekend to end and I just want more of you oh LORD!  I was reminded during this time that I need to constantly be focusing and setting my mind on Christ and living out my actions in Him all the time.  It's not about having the little bit of time in God's Word and later forgetting all that I read, what the purpose if we don't retain and live out what He teaches?  Christ never says in His word that we need to have "devos" everyday.  He doesn't say to make sure that we read his Word every morning!  The practice of pondering, meditating and living out God's word is what's important. Being a true living testimony all the time!  That's why it's important to come at the end of the day and reflect and share what the Holy Spirit has been speaking to you about.  I left last summer from Gabon with an entire new view of God's Spirit.  I tended to just rely on God's Spirit for basic needs such as comfort, conviction, and understanding.  But Tim Brokopp challenged me to embrace the Holy Spirit daily in every movement.  Using our 5 senses (smell, see, hear, taste, touch, feel) to sense His Spirit and be guided.  The practice of intentionally reflecting on what He is speaking to us through His Spirit will allow us to more easily be guided and understand what He wants from us.

So this is my challenge to you; embrace God's gift of his Spirit and be lead.  The only way to accept this gift is by asking Him to allow us to be moved and transformed by his Spirit.  Take the time to reflect and sense his Spirit speaking to you.