Are You in a Place of Trial?

I don't know about you, but sometimes we are faced with trials in life that seem so overwhelming, so unbearable, and sometimes a feeling of pure helplessness arises within them. I want to share a word from Isaiah that I hope will encourage and strengthen you today if you should so be reading. It moved my heart when I read it. To imagine that God thinks of us the way that He does is just mind boggling. Enjoy this powerful, powerful word from the prophet Isaiah. 

Isaiah 43: 1-5

But now God's message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob

The One who got you started Israel:

"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.

I've called your name. Your mine.

When you're in over your head, I'll be there with You

When you're in rough waters, you will not go down

When you're between a rock and a hard place,

it won't be a dead end

Because I am God, your personal God,

The Holy of Israel, your Savior

I paid a huge price for you, all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in

That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you!

I'd sell the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you. 

So don't be afraid: I' with you.

WOW!!

Well I'm finally moved in. Boxes are almost gone. Paige has flown back to NC and I wont see her until the week before our wedding. OCT 10Th. Boo-Hoo! Yesterday was the first service for Free Chapel Austin. Service was great and everything went very smoothly. People seemed to be very excited about it and about coming back! Jeremy did great. No wierd noises through the sound system! haha. If you have a non "mega -church church", then you know what I mean! Things sometimes happen and you have to roll with it. I'm gonna have a book on that someday. But it was very good yesterday. Everyone involved did such a good job! One thing about it. We have some hard working volunteers!! I believe this is the first step in the journey of God using Free Chapel to impact Austin for His Glory and His name!! May God continue to anoint us in all our efforts!!

So Here I Go

Well I just drove a total of 1400 miles from Greensboro, NC, to Greer, SC and then to Austin, TX. I realized that I am totally not called to be a truck driver!!  I bet I listened to every song that could ever be put on the radio and Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" song......uh try 10 times!!!!! I can wait till "Next Summer" for that one! And man am I glad to not be in a truck getting 8 miles a gallon! I was pulling my toaster ...AKA (Honda Element) with a 16' truck which could barely make it up a hill without being passed by.....well.... pretty much anyone including cyclists. But I made it. If you didn't know, about a month ago I resigned as worship pastor of Ridgepointe Church in Inman, SC and felt God leading me into another direction. I had a great experience there and I will miss Pastor Shane and Candy a whole bunch. They are really good friends and will always be. I thank them for all they have done for me! I pray God with bless their efforts for the Glory of His name in the Spartanburg, SC area. So, I am now in Austin, TX as the worship pastor of Free Chapel Austin where my longtime friend from college (Jeremy Self) is the Pastor. I'm very excited about this opportunity to reach Austin for the cause of Christ. It's so amazing here and very different from anything I'm used to. But God is definitely stretching me and can't wait to see what He can do! Also, I am getting MARRIED (oh Yeah) to my lovely Paige in October. Can't wait for that!! So log on to Bed Bath and Beyond, Lowes, Belk, or Target and get us something!!! HA. ......No seriously! .....J/K...Ok, no I'm not. Well Ill write more later. Pray that Gods hand and favor will be upon us and the church here in Austin and also continue to pray for Shane and Ridgepointe Church.