The Cost...

As a team we are reading through the 4 Gospels together and we just started on July 1st. I feel like we are a family to be honest... Ahaahaa and I Love It! =D

So, today we were assigned to read the book of Matthew chapters 9-10. As I was reflecting upon the passages, I was reminded once again that each time God called His disciples, they had to be ready at the exact moment that they were called, no matter what circumstance they were placed in. And that's when the verse from Matthew 16: 24-25 about what Jesus told his disciples came to mind:

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

Of course, God chose these disciples and so He knew their hearts and that they were ready. But, I remember reading this verse over this past summer and reflecting on how easy it is to say these words, but so hard it is to actually live it out each and every day. 

I mean following after Christ, truly is hard on so many different levels. It costs us to surrender much, to forego our own worldly desires at times, to be different, and also to live a life that can be uncomfortable at times. But then I came across this simple quote. It's so simple and yet filled with so much meaning that I wanted to share it with everyone. =D

It costs to follow Jesus Christ, but it costs more not to...

Reign In Us

You thought of us before the world began to breathe

You knew our names before we came to be

You saw the very day we'd fall away from you

And how desperately we need to be redeemed

Lord Jesus 

Come lead us

We are desperate for your touch

Oh Great and Mighty One 

With one desire we come

That you would reign 

That you would reign in us

We're offering up our lives 

A living sacrifice

That you would reign 

That you would reign in us

Spirit of the Living God fall fresh again

Come search our heart and purify our lives

We need your perfect love

We need your discipline

We're lost unless you guide us with your light

We cry out

For your love to refine us cry out

For your love to refine us cry out

For your mercy to keep us 

Blameless until you return

So reign please reign in us

Come purify our heart we need your touch

Come cleanse us like a flood and send us out

So the world may know you reign you reign in us

 I had the day off today, so I decided to go running...ahaahaa, I say running but it was more like jogging/walking. For sure... running with one other person definitely keeps me accountable to do this correctly.

So, anyhow, this song by Starfield came on and struck my heart as a prayer for our church. For God to truly reign in the lives of us, for He is the one who knew we'd be on this church plant, and as we have come faithfully desiring to be used by Him, I was reminded of just the desperation that we need to have for God to reign in our lives.

On a funny note...=D. It rained the other night here in Austin while my roommies and I decided to talk a long walk around the city. Get it...reigned/rained...puahahahaa...this is Jenny Vick! =D

But anyhow, it was soo refreshing to walk around the city and chat and to finish it off with at least 15 minutes of being rained on...ahahaa. Everyone around us was fretting and trying to stay dry...but not I. I was loving every moment!! =D It was soo REFRESHING and carefree... everyone should try it!! =D

But yes... may God continue to work in the lives of people at our church and reign in each and everyone of our lives, for He is the Great and Mighty King and there is no one else or anything else I'd rather live for!

Love Yous and Im praying for Yous!

But seek first...

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well"

Ahaha I started this entry about one week ago with this verse and I am finally going to blog about it. Wow, during these past 2 weeks, I got a job a a dental office, I went to Philly for the AMI conference, we have been doing little outreaches to get to know the few people that we have met, and all in all God has used all these moments to teach me to just seek him first. 

Life is so funny when I think about it. Life here on earth is temporary and all the materials and prestige that we strive to live for are exactly that. TEMPORARY! These things last and are used for only a period of time. But why is it that I continue to get caught up in a cycle of striving to achieve and receive the very things that will only satisfy for so long. 

Ahahahaa. Lately, Im just taken aback by the fact that God is gracious, his love is unconditional, and he knows the depths of my heart so well that he will provide accordingly.

Even when I got this job at the dental office. Ahahaha, it was seriously only given to me when I was at the point of ultimate surrender and dependence. God works in His mysterious ways and even though I dont understand during the process, it is so clear in the end of why things work out the way they do.

I worked my first day today and the doctor is so amazingly nice! He is starting me off slowly with the patients, so I only saw 7 today and as the weeks pick up I will see more patients. If the other 2 positions had opened up, then I wouldn't be where I am today, so praise God for closing the wrong doors before opening the right one.

Oh yeah and today I read the book of Ruth. Ahahaha, I want to be as devoted and loving to this church plant as Ruth was to Naomi. She is one women, who knew what would honor her mother-in-law and God blessed her life because of it.

God is Always gooD!

While PB was gone!

On Sunday the 8th of June, we went to visit a church called Celebration Church. They had an amazing service with an amazing welcoming team (or at least that was what we experienced with a welcomer named Keith). Afterwards, we went to eat at a Japanese restaurant, that was eh... okay. =) Ben, got the Beef Don and stated, "it's not as good as Saica."

This was the last meal with just PB and the U-Soulers, before he left the following day to fly back to AA and pick up Rachel and his family.

WHILE PASTOR BEN WAS GONE ::: THIS IS WHAT THE U-SOULERS HAVE BEEN DOING!

Take1: A regular pose.

Thursday, the 12th of June 2008.

After a day of breaking fast together with cali rolls and yakisoba, walking around campus and talking with students, playing 2 games of Texas Hold 'Em, this is how we wanted to end the last night with just the u-soulers (matt flew into AA the following day for Rebecca and Jon's wedding...ahhhhh).

Take 2.

With 10 seconds before the picture, Ben decides to UNLEASH and be his crazy self. So, he falls onto Matt squishing him and Matt still trys to look at the camera and smile. I try my best to retain a cute smile with my hands doing something weird (I have no idea what type of pose that is)...puahahahaa and I kick my leg up, so that the boys don't fall onto the space that Michelle and I are occupying. And Michelle is on the side looking like a bird who is squawking about the crazyness that Ben just started!?!

Take 3.

Michelle thought of the movie Kung Fu Panda, and it's one that PB really wants to watch. So, we decided to take a picture like the animals...puahahahahahaa!! =D

Featuring...

Ben Lee: Crane

Matt Jorgensen: Mantis

Jenny Vick: Tiger

Michelle Lee: Monkey