By the Power of Christ in Me

When you feel that you are being stripped down to the bone and cry out to God b/c you are weak and you know you can not do this on your own, He reminds us that it is right where He wants us. As a gardener prunes the vine so it can bear more fruit, He prunes us down to the core so that the only thing left...is Him. Father, may we respond with "Daddy, here I am!" Use me, strip me of my own abilities, so that whatever is left is YOU! May they just see YOU!

A song from Casting Crowns "In Me."

If you ask me to leave out of my boat on the crashing waves
And if you ask me to go preach to a lost world that Jesus saves
I'll go but I can not go alone cuz i know I'm nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong, makes me strong!

Cuz when I'm weak, you make me strong
When I'm blind, you shine your light on me
Cuz I'll never get by...living on my own ability
How refreshing to know you don't need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I'll stand on your truth and I'll fight with your strength
until you bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me.

If you asked me to run and carry your light into a foreign land
If you asked me to fight deliver your people from Satan's hand
I'll go but I can not go alone
Cuz I know I'm nothing on my own
The power of Christ in me makes me strong, makes me strong!

To reach out through your hands, to see the world through your eyes
To love with the love of the Savior
To feel with your heart, and to think with your mind
I'll give my last breath for your glory!

More of HIM!

The previous blog had updated everyone until Thursday. We were praying to reach 75% by this weekend. God did it, we are amazed! We were looking at an old newsletter last night. We saw that it took us from October-May to go up 10%. That is 7 months... and God just did it again in 7 days! Unbelievable! What a mighty God we serve!

This morning we spoke at a men's breakfast at South Main Baptist and went to service there with Larry's parents. The passage was about how Jesus fed the thousands with 5 loaves and 2 fish. How God is the one provides for all of our needs.

Later, we made it to our church at UBC. When our pastor started reading the SAME passage that we heard an hour earlier... I looked at Larry and smiled... "You think God's trying to tell us something here?"

When we got home I was able to speak with a family member that we had visited recently. That is when he told me that they would be supporting us...which put us right at 75%!

As I look back, I realize though that it is not about getting to 100%, or to the next "thing" in our life. It's about having a hunger and passion for more of God. Just Him-nothing more. He supplies our every need, He knows the desires of our heart. Our spiritual act of worship is to be living sacrifices. Lord here am I... send me!