Being Light in the Dark Place!!!

“So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain …” Romans 15:28

For the Last 6 months God has had me in a very interesting place. Right now I am Home Stateside in San Diego California. A few Major things have happened while I have been Home. I am working with the Pastoral Support Team at my Church,Serving in our young adult ministry (1825) I have a job as a Promotions Coordinator, and I am DJing consistently every weekend. God has used these things to create a catalyst for some Huge Ministry in my own home town.

At the Beginning of this year I was left with a choice. My Choices where prepare and try to raise support to go back to Spain this summer for a missions trip or stay Home and join the PST team at the Rock Church. After much prayer and waiting on the Lord I Chose to stay home, get equipped and reach out to my Home town. Because I chose to take this opportunity it has created a great movement in my heart. After Joining this group I was given the opportunity to go to Catalyst West. A Huge Conference held in the United States for Pastors and Young leaders. The Theme of this conference was “Courage”. The Biggest Point I took away from this Conference was “Take Courage: Have the courage to stay when it is easier to Leave.” Because of this I have been able to stay Home and love on my community better. God is opening my eyes to many things that are happening at home and even in my own church where we need to address Love better.

This has also led to me being able to get deeper involved with the young adult ministry at my church. Because of this Have been enable to really hang out and pour into the people in my community. God is opening doors to raise up new leaders. Recently God has been revealing the fruit of our ministry and I am seeing people from the last five years falling more in love with Him and really walking out their faith.

So out of all this one of my biggest prayers was that if I am Going to stay home God will have to provide me a job where I can Budget and pay off my debt and be able to have a sustainable income. And God has given me this. Right now I am DJing consistently at least twice a week or more and I am working with a local ultra lounge as their promotions coordinator. God has Given me vision to pay off my debt and save up for another trip Spain. This has been great because I get to serve in my community. This has also open up opportunities to contribute the Love of God through my talents at the local “Pride”(Gay pride) festival as well as many clubs and Bars around town. Being able to be out and about and Love on people well has been amazing. God is so Unique and works outside the box.

Mark 2:16-17: “When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Its so crazy when you read the gospels, how Jesus is always going to the sinners, the broken people, and just hanging out with them. Jesus, the Messiah, the example, is the first one to go and be among the “sinners”. He Brings Light to the Dark Places. All He has to do is be in the midst of all the Darkness and the fact that he is Light attracts.

I heard a quote: “we should not blame the darkness for being dark, but we should blame the light for not doing its Job”.

Also when we look at the story of Jesus, he wasn’t the guy who was always throwing scripture after scripture in every situation, but he was the man who was looking out for the needs of his disciples and the people who were around him. Even as a great teacher, and always giving great wisdom Jesus knew when people were hungry. Unlike many “Christians” today Jesus wouldn’t keep blabbering on if this is right or wrong he would see the need and said you know what I see you’re hungry let’s go eat and then we can talk.

Jesus is the guy who always shows up. I mean His First miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding party. Now back in Jesus day a Jewish wedding would last 7 days and it was the family’s responsibility make sure there was enough wine for the event all the way until the end. I think sometimes this part of the story can be missed very quickly… On the third day (John 2:1-11) we see that what was supposed to 7 days worth of wine for a more than like Huge wedding was already gone before the week was Half way over. These people were definitely having a heck of a party and getting very drunk. Jesus doesn’t Condemn the people for over drinking, or for under planning, but rather Jesus sees the need and provides a miracle for the need.

Mathew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

The Heart of the Gospel is Love!!! Jesus is this shining example. One of the biggest ways we can share the gospel is by loving our neighbor. Merriam-Webster defines neighbor as: “one living or located near another.” This word is very broad, but makes a very huge point. When a person accepts the Gospel it is not just a defining point in their life, but this “Gospel” is actually an active part of ones life. It is because of the reconciling back to God through the gospel that we are able to love others. In Fact, when the gospel is truly in your life it will cause one to do good works… it is not that Good works are done to attain Gods favor, but the opposite. Because we are “Hidden in Christ” (Colossians 3:3), God doesn’t see us and our brokenness and failures, but he see the perfection of his son and we are seen as righteous.

So these are just some of the things going on here with me…Thanks for your time, love and support!!!

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