Something Cool

Lately I have been doubting my abilites to complete the calling God has placed on my life. I take a look around at the tough conversations that Wesley has to have and it scares me knowing that I will be in that situation eventually. I call out to God telling Him that I don't know if I can do what it is He has called me to do.

Tonight, I got to talk to a lovely young lady by the name of Ashley Evans. I don't know Ashley extremely well like I do some of the other leaders, but she is a SOLID leader! From the few conversations I have had with her, she is an incredible person. Ashley approached me today after youth and wanted to talk to me. She could tell I have a lot on my plate and how stressed out I seem to be at youth (I always want to make sure everything runs as smoothly as it possibly can) and that I have been too hard on myself (which is true, don't get me wrong). But then she said something to me that brought me to tears. She looked me dead in the eyes and with the most sincere voice said "There is something special about you. God wanted me to tell you that He has some big plans for you and that you need to hang in there."

Wow.

That ministered to me SOOOO much! More than she probably knows it did. God, help me to stay faithful to the calling you have laid on my heart!

The 21 Day Daniel Fast...

Pastor Jim Carpenter has asked me to blog on our 21 day daniel fast. Paul Sims officially set up this blog for me, so here is the link...

http://compass.ath.cx/blog/

Does this mean I will stop blogging here? Heck no, it just means for the next 21 days, go there instead, cause I'm too busy to write two blogs. So go check it out.

-Andy

Spontaneous Baptisms

Man what an unbelievable day! Jim preached a message on Biblical Baptism and how when people got saved in the book of Acts they repented of their sin, they were saved, and they were baptised THAT DAY! He spoke on how TODAY was that day for many people. We got to see 39 people get baptised spontaneously today and it was unbelievable! I loved every second of it! I am so stinkin proud of the staff who stayed late at the church pretty much every night this week to make sure that we were able to pull it off (seriously, most of them worked close to an 80 hour week this past week to make sure everything was set). I am so stinkin proud of the volunteers who were faithful to their positions and who sacrificed two services to make sure that those being baptised were taken care of! And lastly, I am so stinkin proud of all those people who stepped forward to be baptised this morning. It took lots of guts, courage, and boldness of faith. It had to rank on my top 5 compass moments of all time. Such an incredible day.

A New School Year

Man, this is one post I wasn't looking forward to at all simply based on the title. It's not that I don't like moving forward with my life, but I feel like I am dreading this year more than any other year in years past. And maybe that's something that will happen EVERY year until I graduate, who knows. But for now, I am just sick of school. And I mean it. I don't want to go back to school every day doing the same thing I have for the past 15 or so years of my life. It's become so routine for me and I am ready to just move on to something else. All I have ever known my entire life is school and I am ready for change.

Unfortunately for me, the bills have already been paid for my tuition, classes have been signed up for for months, and at this point I see absolutely no good sense in not going to school simply because I don't feel like it. I am honestly considering taking a year off next year, but that is something that needs serious prayer and consideration. I think a year off would be good for me. But when I completely surrendured my life to Christ I have made it the prayer of my heart to go WHEREVER he tells me to go. If he tells me to take a year off, I will absolutely take a year off. If he tells me to stay in school next year, then I will stay in school!

I need to remember that prayer and not give into my selfish desires. Trust me, there is nothing else in this world I would rather do than to take a year off and just work and live on my own. But unless God tells me that's what He wants out of me, I'm gonna stick with school. Pray for me, cause school sucks. Especially when you don't care about most of the stuff you are learning at this point.

Sore Teeth, NewSpring, and an Incredible Upcoming Fall

Had to have four fillings today, put me in a little sour mood so I have been somewhat bitter to people lately. Not exactly the mood I would prefer to be in, but it has been a little frustrating day today especially with these teeth. Pray that I show people mercy and I take a moment to breathe today.

Got a chance to visit NewSpring for the first time this past sunday, and I must say it was pretty awesome. Perry gave an incredible message about people who are in the church but aren't in the Kingdom. Really awesome message, I'm going back this sunday as well.

Can't wait for this fall's 706 messages, we already have an incredible year planned out! Can't wait to speak on September 9. All I'm gonna say is my message is titled "God Isn't." Should be awesome! If you are in high school, get your butt to the 706 wednesday nights!

-Andy