i can't type well with one hand so all i'll say is that i had a great vacation in wyoming until i busted my hand up in a go-cart accident.maybe pics later
-AG
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Camp Testimony, hopefully my life testimony
Wow God taught me so much this past week at Crooked Creek Ranch, through Pine Ridge Ministries. The speaker was Doctor John Getch (sp?). He’s the vice president of West Coast Baptist College. He’s amazing. I was blessed to be in the same cabin with two of my closest friends, Stephen Ayon, and Matthew Rivera. Well, I’m going to get right into what God impressed on my heart. Part of the reason I’m doing this is to get my thoughts together for a testimony tomorrow, because there’s so much to say.
I didn’t make any decisions proper, but I was greatly encouraged and impacted with the decisions I’ve already made. First of all I want to just say that it’s become even more vividly clear than before that the best, most enjoyable place to be on this planet is in the center of my God’s will. I’m not sure what God would have for me in the long run as an occupation, but I have a few things I need to get worked out right now, as soon as possible. Jesus didn’t spend the last three years of his life preaching to just preachers, but rather his disciples, Christians. The Great Commission found in Matthew is not a Great Suggestion, No!, it’s a Command. I am to take up my cross daily and live for Christ.
While I was at camp Dr. Getch preached a sermon on Hell, and God laid one of my unsaved friends on my heart. I can honestly say that if I don’t tell him about Christ, I don’t think anyone will, he’s not running in any circles that would have Christians. God laid him on my heart; I need to give him the gospel. That message also brought to vivid reality how much a lost and hell-bound world is looking to me as a Christian example. What I do, the decisions I make every second, could impact someone’s eternal destination. I need to work on my testimony big time. I was convicted about that months ago, but it has become clear to me that I’m going to have to rebuke my old self that I had last year, and explain to every one why that was wrong and what Christ would have done. In order to do that I am challenged to memorize scripture that would show from the Bible, how what I did was against God’s character. I am expecting persecution, because Christ Himself said to expect the same treatment as Him, if we are living like him. Persecution I believe could be used as kind of a measuring stick, of how Christ like one is. Well, I don’t think this really expresses my heart fully, but I try. All this is impossible for me to do by myself. But I can do all things though Christ which strengthened me. His Grace is sufficient for me. He’s all I need. I am praying that that wouldn’t change. This world tries to say I need its things, but I don’t. “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Paul speaking to the church at Philippi.) And something I caught on the last night was that I can be greatly used of God, though my cup was once filled with dirt and filth, He can fill it with his abounding mercies, grace, justice, and good will. The Apostle Paul may have been one of the Church’s biggest enemies, before he met Christ. But when he met Christ, he did a spiritual 180. He took up his cross and followed Christ, to become the writer of over (I think) half the New Testament. He was greatly used of God. So from his life I see, without a doubt that God wants me 100%, otherwise he wouldn’t have saved me. He wants all his disciples, whether Pastor, Evangelist, Photographer, or husband to a family, to “hear my [Jesus’] voice and FOLLOW ME.” His sheep are commanded to follow Him, being the Good Shepard. Again I say these things are impossible for me to accomplish without Christ, so I need to of course do my part, vital part in my relationship with God. I don’t feel ready. I don’t feel qualified or ready. But the Bible says Now is the accepted time of salvation, so now is the accepted time to take up my cross. I get to run on what little I know of my God, and keep learning, and let Him carry me though. What’s the worst that could happen to me? Die and go on Heaven, to spend an eternity with a holy God. That doesn’t sound bad to me, for me to live is Christ, to die is gain. What’s the worst that could happen to Christianity? To do nothing. To be a sheep in wolf’s clothing. But if I were that, I’d have a reason to think twice about my salvation, because James says, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Holy God, that faith without works is dead. So pray for me. Pray that I would excel in scripture memory. Pray I would excel in another task Gods has given me for this time in my life, School. I admit, I don’t enjoy the thought of the as much in itself, but when I see it in the eternal perspective, I see that’s the center of God’s will, right where I want to be.
I have to say the defining word of the burden God has laid on my heart is nothing extraordinary, but very special, Sanctification.
I didn’t make any decisions proper, but I was greatly encouraged and impacted with the decisions I’ve already made. First of all I want to just say that it’s become even more vividly clear than before that the best, most enjoyable place to be on this planet is in the center of my God’s will. I’m not sure what God would have for me in the long run as an occupation, but I have a few things I need to get worked out right now, as soon as possible. Jesus didn’t spend the last three years of his life preaching to just preachers, but rather his disciples, Christians. The Great Commission found in Matthew is not a Great Suggestion, No!, it’s a Command. I am to take up my cross daily and live for Christ.
While I was at camp Dr. Getch preached a sermon on Hell, and God laid one of my unsaved friends on my heart. I can honestly say that if I don’t tell him about Christ, I don’t think anyone will, he’s not running in any circles that would have Christians. God laid him on my heart; I need to give him the gospel. That message also brought to vivid reality how much a lost and hell-bound world is looking to me as a Christian example. What I do, the decisions I make every second, could impact someone’s eternal destination. I need to work on my testimony big time. I was convicted about that months ago, but it has become clear to me that I’m going to have to rebuke my old self that I had last year, and explain to every one why that was wrong and what Christ would have done. In order to do that I am challenged to memorize scripture that would show from the Bible, how what I did was against God’s character. I am expecting persecution, because Christ Himself said to expect the same treatment as Him, if we are living like him. Persecution I believe could be used as kind of a measuring stick, of how Christ like one is. Well, I don’t think this really expresses my heart fully, but I try. All this is impossible for me to do by myself. But I can do all things though Christ which strengthened me. His Grace is sufficient for me. He’s all I need. I am praying that that wouldn’t change. This world tries to say I need its things, but I don’t. “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Paul speaking to the church at Philippi.) And something I caught on the last night was that I can be greatly used of God, though my cup was once filled with dirt and filth, He can fill it with his abounding mercies, grace, justice, and good will. The Apostle Paul may have been one of the Church’s biggest enemies, before he met Christ. But when he met Christ, he did a spiritual 180. He took up his cross and followed Christ, to become the writer of over (I think) half the New Testament. He was greatly used of God. So from his life I see, without a doubt that God wants me 100%, otherwise he wouldn’t have saved me. He wants all his disciples, whether Pastor, Evangelist, Photographer, or husband to a family, to “hear my [Jesus’] voice and FOLLOW ME.” His sheep are commanded to follow Him, being the Good Shepard. Again I say these things are impossible for me to accomplish without Christ, so I need to of course do my part, vital part in my relationship with God. I don’t feel ready. I don’t feel qualified or ready. But the Bible says Now is the accepted time of salvation, so now is the accepted time to take up my cross. I get to run on what little I know of my God, and keep learning, and let Him carry me though. What’s the worst that could happen to me? Die and go on Heaven, to spend an eternity with a holy God. That doesn’t sound bad to me, for me to live is Christ, to die is gain. What’s the worst that could happen to Christianity? To do nothing. To be a sheep in wolf’s clothing. But if I were that, I’d have a reason to think twice about my salvation, because James says, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Holy God, that faith without works is dead. So pray for me. Pray that I would excel in scripture memory. Pray I would excel in another task Gods has given me for this time in my life, School. I admit, I don’t enjoy the thought of the as much in itself, but when I see it in the eternal perspective, I see that’s the center of God’s will, right where I want to be.
I have to say the defining word of the burden God has laid on my heart is nothing extraordinary, but very special, Sanctification.
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