Are you ready to take on a new day?

I thought I was ready to take on a new day, at least that's what I put on my facebook status this morning after I had some prayer time with the LORD. Little did I know what He had in store for me today. I asked the question, "LORD, what do you have for me to do today?" I asked that knowing that I wanted to make myself available for whatever God would have me to do. Let me back the story up a little bit.

I was suppose to go down to Lake Yale today and do some prayer walking for camp. I had it all planned out, I would go down with our new High School youth pastor, and two of our directors for media. Then starting last Thursday one by one they began to cancel, until the last one called me at 7am this morning to say that his wife's flight had been canceled and he wouldn't be able to make it. I was really looking forward to this trip. I wanted to spend some time with these men but I also wanted to just be at camp. I look forward to it every year and wanted some time to myself there where I could just talk with God.

Well after I had received the phone call, I knew that God had something else planned for me, that's why I wrote what I wrote. Well boy was I right. One of my friends here in Jacksonville, that helps me in the ministry called our office about 10am this morning to tell us he had just found his brother dead in his home. He didn't know when he had passed away but it had at least been a day or two. What a shock to find a loved one like that. I made it quickly to where he was and did what I could to help. I had barely made it back to my office when the receptionist called me to remind me I had a counseling appointment today (I had forgotten). This is with a teenager that I had the privilege of leading to the Lord about a month ago. He is really growing in his faith but has a lot of struggles. We had a really good talk, probably one of our best ones. I really pray God continues to move in his life. Then as I was about to leave I spoke with another parent on the phone that was having some problems with their child. I went by their house on the way to dinner and spoke with that student for about an hour.

It was definitely a full day. Full of people. Full of Life. Life has it ups and downs. It has good days and bad days. But it mostly comes down to people. I loved my day. It was hard, but I love getting a chance to love on people, talk with them, pray with them, be real with them. Hopefully I honored the LORD with every moment of my day today. It was definitely full, and I'm sure I won't have another day like it the rest of my life, but the adventure continues tomorrow. I pray that I will be read for a new day. Goodnight, ~Rev

8th Grade Mission Trip Training

We had a great time with our mission trip training today. We took about 35 8th graders out to two apartment complexes here in Jacksonville. One on Danese Ct and one near JU. We had about 30 kids come to both groups combined. The students did a very good job, I was proud of them. We still have some work to do before we leave for ATL in two weeks but overall the group is coming together really nicely. I feel almost all the students are going for the right reasons, because they feel called to, they want to serve the LORD, and they want to tell people the good news about Jesus.

Every year that we go out to do these bible clubs I come away asking myself why we dont do them more often during the year. There are so many people living in apartments less than 2 miles from the church but yet we almost never go out to talk to them. Also I notice that the poorer the neighborhood the more excited they are to see you. They are so grateful for anyone taking the time to show them that they care, and they are so appreciative of anything that we can do for them. I pray that I can take students out 3 or 4 times a semester in the fall.

Please be praying for our three mission trips coming up in two weeks. We will have close to 100 middle school students proclaiming the Gospel in Atlanta, Tampa, and Jacksonville. I sure do love my students, I just love Jesus more. Till tomorrow, the Rev.