Interesting week...

So, I thought I'd take a few minutes and just ramble about what's going on in my world right now. First, God has some really cool new people coming to our community lately. One of our regulars at the coffeehouse has become a regular to our worship and it's neat to see our conversations grow through that. Also, our amazing YORK family keeps inviting all of these teens and 20 somethings to be a part of our Jesus conversations... and it's really great to hear them talk and interact with new faces.

As the weather has gotten a little warmer, it has put me in the mood to do some manual labor. I've been remodeling again at our 159 yearold building. I've been focusing on the worship room since we haven't done anything in there since June 2007. Plus, we've gotten some paint donated from a jobsite, so we're hoping to finally paint some of those areas of the church that have never been touched. Physical labor always leaves me bodily tired, but spiritually excited about doing something productive. I love this passage from Ecclesiastes:
9:10 "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."

It's been really incredible to dive into the teachings of Jesus with our people. I can't wait to see what God reveals to us this week from the book of Mark. I know that beyond all else, I'm trying to do a better job of both getting quiet and listening.

During my personal study, I'm cruising through the book of Isaiah. It's been incredible to re-read this prophet again. Today, this caught my eye from Isaiah 41:
17 “When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them. 18 I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. I will fill the desert with pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground. 19 I will plant trees in the barren desert— cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine. 20 I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means— that it is the Lord who has done this, the Holy One of Israel who created it."

Finally, learning alot about waiting on Jesus... listening to his voice... trusting in God's power alone... and other stuff too, but we'll save that for later.