A ride on the boat

Yesterday was a very interesting day. It all started out with my ministry partner and I working on putting names into the computer. There are a lot of them, and we are still not done. We have about 30 more to put into the computer. After putting names into the computer for a while we got a phone call and we learned that we would be going for a boat ride that day. Before we got to the lake, I got into the back of the pontoon boat that we were going to ride into the lake. The boat slid into the water and before I knew it, we were off. It was a semi-hot day, but it was nice out. I ate two little debby twinkies. I think I might have had a little too much sugar, but it was good just the same. Taking the boat into a shady area, our driver (Bill) had us drop anchor. I layed on the side of the boat and put my feet into the water. The cooling effect was almost instant. After that I pulled out my pocket Bible and it was sugested that I read something. So I read from John 6. After the reading we discussed the passage that was read. Someone mentioned the story about the Israelites and how much God had done for them, and how they still didn't trust Him. I remembered the time that I had a hard time trusting God by completely surrendering my life into His hands. I struggled with this decision for about 3 years and was sitting in the guys dorm, and decided to put my trust in God. Now back to the journal on yesterday: Sitting in the shade was nice, but when we were in the sun I sweltered. After enjoying a nice boat ride we loaded up and went back to the people who were allowing us to ride on their boat's house. On the way one of the tires had trouble and so we had to drop off the trailer at somebody's house. That somebody was very nice, and allowed us to leave the trailer with the boat on it at his house, until we could get the necessary equipment to fix the tire. While we were waiting we had a nice supper which consisted of Scalloped potatoes, cornbread, beans, a Mexican rice dish and choplets. After supper we talked a while, and then headed back to our place. When we got back I attempted to write this blog, and could only come up with half of it. I decided that I would write the next part down today. If I were going to choose a main lesson for that day, it would have to be "Trust God at all times in life." No matter what the difficulty we can always trust the One who made us.J He promises never to leave us or forsake us. The Bible says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path." Proverbs 3:5,6.

A wonderful Sabbath

Yesterday was a wonderful Sabbath day! It all started out with getting out of bed and having my devotions. After that we went to church and my ministry partner and I played Special music for the church we are working at. At Sabbath school we talked about Hosea and Gomer. After Church we had the fellowship meal. It was one of those meals where you piled all the food on your plate you could handle, and then supported the heavy load to the table. After that we went back to the house andd meditated on God's awesome love. I think that it is important to take time out of a busy day to sit and meditate on what God has done for us. I believe that this helps us put things into perspective. I know it has helped me put things into perspective. Then last night I got to share a few stories where God intervened in my life. After that I went to bed. Remembering what God has done for us encourages and strengthens our faith in Him and in His ability to save us. In Deuteronomy 5:15 the bible says

"Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day."

Arrival in North Vernon

When my ministry partner and I arrived at North Vernon, we stopped and ate chinese food. I had vegetable Lo Mein. The food was pretty good, and they had those rolls with sugar on top, and they were very good as well. That afternoon we arrived at our living quarters, and there were two choices of rooms that we were staying in. My friend and I are in the upstairs of a wonderful couple. They have two rooms upstairs that they are allowing us to stay in, and they have DSL, which is really nice considering that I like internet access, and it will also give me much opportunity to keep writing in my blog. I hope to be able to put my journal on here soon as well, but I have not finished copying it. It is absoloutly amazing to think of all the things that God has done for me. I think that when we write them down, they become more real. Now back to the topic at hand. I listened to Pilgrim's Progress, the story of Christiana. Chirstiana is a character in Pilgrim's progress who is in the city of destruction and she gets a letter from the Lord on how to get out of it. When she recieves the letter a friend of hers (Mercy). They all head off toward this gate and when they get there it says "knock and it shall be opened unto you." So Christiana knocks and knocks and finally someone answers and lets her and her children in. (This is a shorter version of the story). After that the door shuts, and mercy is left on the outside, but she knocks and knocks and no one seems to answer. Finally someone does answer the door, but when she gets in, she explains how she felt. She wondered why no one opened the door to her right away. The gatekeeper says that it was the enemy who tried to discourage her, but that if she knocked the door would be opened. I think that is how it is in a lot of our lives. We feel as if God is not hearing us and not opening the door to us, and in reality, He does hear us, but the devil tries to discourage us. Let us not let the enemy have any more ground. Let us keep on knocking on heaven's door. The promise is that the door will be opened. Last night I listened to a sermon on not being a critic. So many people out there criticize and call names, when they themeselves have the same problem that they are accusing everyone else of having. After trying to stay up late and downloading a whole bunch of sermons, I went to bed. The next morning I got up and had worship. While I was having worship, I remembered what I had done in the past when I would have worship. I would read two chapters out of the Bible every morning. Now the truth is that I had stopped doing this for a while, but I felt impressed to read two chapters this morning because of my experience with the story of Christiana. I am starting to realize that we need to be more persistant with God. We need to wrestle with God just like Jacob did. Well that is all for today, check back in tommorow for more:)

He is still there:)

My life has taken a new turn. I am learning that sometimes in life we have to say goodbye to our friends and those we care about because that is sometimes what is best. Yet to my delight, I have a friend who never leaves me through it all. I want to encourage you to know that you have a friend who will never leave you. You may have to make a hard decision in your life, but always remember that Jesus promises never to leave you. He cares about you more than eternal life. After all, He risked it for you:) You are very valuable in His eyes child. Don't worry about tommorow, He will take care of that, and He will take care of you.:)

Psalms 94:14 For the LORD will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear"

I was just going through my days like I was drinking water. I would find distracted bored and alone. Or so I thought. But I am learning that I am never alone. I want to say we, but for the sake of pronoun agreement, I will not. The verse that I want to focus on in particular today is Luke 14, and the end of verse 35. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." There are points in my life where I don't think that God is there, but this verse encourages me to listen more closely. Instead of thinking that I have all the answers in life, I need to listen more. Today I am in the process of learning that a verse in the Bible has many applications. That is so neat:) What else could this verse apply to? How about being lonely. In order for this verse to apply to being lonely it has to deal with the issue. When we are around friends, we usually like to hear what they have to say, right? To be totally honest, we need to hear more, because God is talking if we will listen:) "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

A long time in time

Hi everyone! I know that it has been a long time since I have been blogging, but I know that now is the time to enter yet another entry. It is so amazing how God works in and through our lives and circumstances. After doing an evangelistic series, I did not know where God was going to lead me. However, He has not stopped leading me, in fact, I am getting ready to start a program that is called Mission "IN" possible. I don't even have to leave the country and I am going to get to be a student missionary! I am going to have so much fun! I know that the Lord has His hand in this! Did I forget to mention that this same God wants to work in your life too? I wanted to say that because He does! He wants to be a part of your life and to help you grow:) Always remember this:

" Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phillipians 4:6,7

The day SIN DIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jesus has destroyed sin, and the devil and his works. Friend, if you are doubting, look up. Jesus raises His hands in victory for you and I, He won! He really won! I want you to know, He won for you!:) He defeated sin for you and I to live. We can walk, and breath and exist because of what He has done for us. He has made an end to sin. I am writing this victory letter to anyone who will read it and those who don't. Jesus has defeated the sin in my life as well. I fell, and sinned, and was accused of satan as having committed the unpardonable sin. Friends, don't you for one moment believe in that lie, if you are worried about it, then take that to Jesus, immediately, He will show you that you have been forgiven. He broke sin to pieces, and took the devil and threw him into darkness and destroyed his works. Jesus beat satan on satan's own terf. Jesus beat satan, in you. The victory is yours, and it is mine. When Jesus shouted "It is finished" He was saying that sin was finished, the devil torturing you with all these accusations is finished, the devil's evil lies are finished, and in the cross we see the justice and mercy of God combined!:) God can still be just and the justifier of those who believe in Him, because of what Jesus has done. "Oh death, where is your sting, oh grave where is your victory? Death has been swallowed up in vicory!" Jesus is soon to come through those clouds and to take you and I home to be with Him forever, not because of what we have done, but because of what He has already done! He beat satan on that cross. Jesus now offers this victory to us. Shall we accept it? Oh, friend, I pray that you will, I pray that you will realize that it's not too late for you. I pray that this letter will impress upon your mind the importance of turning to Jesus right now for help. Don't go to those around you right away. Go to Jesus, He is the one who is speaking to you right now, He is the one who wants to heal you!:) Amazing isn't it, the king of the universe wants to bring healing to you. He is the one seeking for you:) VICTORY FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!! GLORY IN THE HIGHEST!!!!!! That's what those angels were singing about in Bethlaham. Jesus reigns supreme:) Though this world may look like it's falling apart, look up! Jesus is not falling apart. His kingdom is an everlasting one:) God is right next to you. God is with you, Jesus is with you, the Holy Spirit is with you, the angels are with you. Don't give up friend, Jesus loves you so much. He gave us victory. He tore apart hell and it's dominion. Jesus ripped it to shreds. Look up you who have just watched a loved one be closed under a plastic casket, and do not expect to see them again. Jesus defeated death. Death is not the end! Jesus is the end!:) He is life forever more! Let us hold fast our profession of faith as the apostle Paul says. You don't have to have hope within yourself, all the hope you will ever need, Jesus has given you on the cross:) He destroyed sin for you and for me. We will live forever, because of Him and only because of Him. Now, that is something to praise His name about!:) Hope is found in the cross, it is not found in our works. Hope is found in Jesus:) Look and LIVE friends. LOOK and LIVE :) Jesus won! He really really won:) My Prayer is that everyone will be able to recieve this message in their hearts:)



Your new brother in Christ:)


Brandon