Living a life that Matters

I spent like 10 hours at church yesterday. But what a day it was! We had a mission board meeting and we took time to pray for all the missionaries we have sent out from Cornerstone. In the past, we have always adopted missionaries already out there and supported them. But now, we are having more and more people in our own church step and say, ‘I want to go’. Its been awesome to see. I love reading their blog pages and seeing what God is doing in their lives.

We also started mapping out what 2009 is going to look like. It was hard for me to contain myself because I have a huge hard for many of the countries we are going to. But I’m sure God will direct me in where he wants to be. I’m just excited for Cornerstone to be a part of God’s plan for the nations. We are building some amazing relationships with people out there that need to hear the love of Jesus Christ.. October 19 is missions Sunday at the church and we have some amazing stuff planned.

I hit the 5pm service at Cornerstone after my board meeting and loved the guest speaker. I think we have had guest speakers the past 6-8 Sundays with Pastor Linn being gone. But I loved the message on all of us are a part of this unique body of believers and we all play a part in it. And that the Holy Spirt gives us these gifts and talents that we are to use for his glory.

Speaking of the Spirit. I’m enjoying my own personal study of the Spirit. As I left Cornestone to attend a late night service at Praxis, I listened to a sermon on the way on the Spirit. It was a simple message that basically stated we are to repent, be filled with the Spirit and to be baptized. Sounds simple, yet we make it complicated. We asked the question, ‘do we have to be baptized?’. Or ‘when did the Spirit come in me?’ It doesn’t matter.. In 1 Peter is says that not even the prophets didn’t fully inderstand God’s power. Its very clear in scripture what we are to do. Salvation is more than a get out of jail free card, it’s about living our Christian lives to its full potential.

Then I heard a message at Praxis on discipleship. Its funny how all three of the messages I heard all tied togther. God has a funny way of doing that. We are great as churches in bringing people in and bringing them to Jesus, yet we suck at training them to be disciples. We as believers need to strive at being more Christ-like.We are to be full of the Spirit and demonstrates God’ love to others. I love this.

So I got off to a good start of my week with all of this. But I did get some sad news today. Last summer, a young kid named Michael (early 20’s) was brought in to see me and Jude. He had made some bad choices and was just released from jail. He was looking for a life change. We tried to get him to come to Camber. I told him of my past dealing with drugs/alcohol and my time in the can. I wanted him to know how God’s grace changed me. I could tell he wanted that. But he just couldn’t bring himself to allow God’s love to comsume him. He would leave church halfway through the service and go hang with his friends. I tried calling him several times. But I eventually lost contact with him. Michael was found dead this week of an overdose.

Here are my thoughts on this. It is NEVER too late to start living a life for Christ. I didn’t get Christianity until my 30’s. God will use you at any point of your life. Also, he can use ANYONE. Don’t believe that… then let me tell you my life story. Hear about all the crap I have been involved in and then see my life now. God’s grace changes us. But you have to accept that gift. This is why I hang around young adults. Life is too precious to give up on it. Experience God’s love and let it consume you!