Last Night

Last night I had a great conversation with a young lady that I began praying for several months ago. She has begun to ask about salvation and church membership. Now, why would I write about this? I didn't have much influence on her. One of the members of our youth group did. How awesome is that? I am pumped up.

Honesty is truly a great thing, so I will be very honest here. I feel God's leading me to do something different. For the last year I have been serving as Youth Minister at my church. First I served voluntarily for about six months and I felt God leading me to go further. My church hired me as the interim youth minister and i continued to serve. Where I am at a crossrads now is should I pursue this as a full time job or not. I really don't know what I should do. Pray for me. Pray that God would open or close the door for me.

Why are we here? It's a question I've been asking myself lately. I wonder if we are in the place that we are currently inhabiting for a reason. I believe we are. God created us with a plan in mind. He desires our attention, affection, and worship. What are we giving those things to now that we need to stop? This is a quick hit, so think long and hard on it.

New Year, new stuff. We just had an awesome lock in for our youth and I am pretty pumped about 2009. 41 kids showed up and spent the night with us. They were challenged with a message from 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. We even wrote names on posters to display of people we want to come to know Jesus and are going to be praying for and inviting to church. I hope our kids take this serious. I feel like we could be the influence that our community needs for Christ and I hope to see it happen.

Excited for 2009,
Ike

Christmas was great. Wow, it seems like just yesterday that it was Thanksgiving. Now here we are after Christmas already. While I didn't receive lots of presents, I am amazed by the gifts I have received and am able to use each day. I have the gift of health. Yes, I am a little overweight, but I am really in good health. That is a real gift from God. I have some awesome abilities, but none of the things I can do are a credit to me, but rather a credit to God who gave them to me. My children are growing, healthy, and beautiful. Again, I can't take any credit for that. God blessed me with an awesome family. That includes everyone from Grandparents to In-laws. I sure can't take credit for any of that. God is good, all the time.
Just thought I would write a little note that said God made me and gave me an awesome life. That's why Christmas was great in 2008. God bless.

I figure no one is reading this yet, so I can say anything with no one to respond. Here goes. I am a Math teacher by trade, but I am also a youth minister. I am leading towards leaving the school system and doing ministry full time. Scary thoughts fill my mind.
I really feel called to do the ministry as a full time vocation, but some decisions that I have made in the past are affecting my finances and keeping me in bondage. I can't afford to leave my school job and do full time ministry because of my bills. I am torn. I have tons of questions and few answers. The cool thing is I feel like God will take care of the details if I just trust Him. We'll see where this goes.

Ike

First Entry

This is my official first blog ever. I look forward to sharing information and thoughts with you in the future. Until next time.

Ike