Seeking Comfort Through Pain

I have really been super busy over the last few weeks getting settled into the routine of school and have not been able to write so with a break between classes today seemed like a great time to get back in the habit of writing.

Since I have been back to school my prayer has been to really invest in those in my circle of influence and ask pointed questions to see how they are doing. I have clearly noticed that those around me are hurting and they are confused about why God would allow these things. Whether it be trying to work through seeking God and loving Jesus over the world and the confusion that comes with that or having to cope with parents splitting up and moving on without each other or having to hear that you may not be able to see loved ones again or hearing your parent has a chronic illness. We all have those things we could feel the blank in our minds with. Those around me are hurting and for the first time in a while, I am understanding what it means to bear those burdens with each other. When I hear these stories of situations and circumstances, I have been brought to a place of burden for them and it has brought me to my knees praying for each situation.

But God. There is hope is those simple, yet complex two words.

God gives us, as believers, a hope that is incomprehensible to anything we can conjure up on our own and I can find hope and rejoice in that. With the hustle of school and life in general, we must take the time to invest in those around us and point them to the King, by word and by deed. This is hard at times for me because I am thinking about what I need to be studying and what book I need to be reading for class, but it has given me a rejuvenating feeling when I have recently been vocal about God's love for my friends and been able to pray with them about things that they are going through. It is an incredibly basic concept that pastors tell believers all the time, but honestly, I haven't really been diligent in doing so. I have so thankful that this summer was a time where God made prayer really intimate and grew in me a love for praying and just communing with God. I truly believe He was preparing me to come back to Ouachita and be a light and offer hope to those trying to seek comfort through the pain of unfair and confusing situations that my friends are going through.

So my challenge to those reading this and my continued challenge to myself is that believers would seek God in a real way and ask him to create a love for those around us and for us to be aware of those around and care enough to ask how they are and when we do, be prepared to listen and not just use it as another thing we say in passing.

This can be hard, but it is going to be so worth it. Just be real with people, let them know that we, as believers, do not have it all together and we have struggles and hinderances that we work through, but through Jesus' death on the cross, we are made righteous and presented holy and blameless to God so that we can ministry to other as we make much of God and less of ourselves.

Love God. Love People.

-Kyle

Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. - Psalm 119:76-77

August Is Here....Summer is Over.

This summer I have had the amazing opportunity to serve as the student ministry intern at First Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, OK. The people that I have met this summer started out as strangers for the most part, but I have been able to build relationships and do life with some amazing people while serving for an amazing church! The student ministry that I had the tremendous privilege of getting to know students from 7th-12th graders on all levels of spiritual levels, but one thing unites them. That thing is Passion for God and the desire to make Him known. It doesn't matter who you talk to within the ministry, you will be welcomed as family as I have. I am sure of it. 

This summer has been great also in that God has used being able to preach and teach students as a complete affirmation of my call to be a vocational Student Pastor. I have learned that I get no greater joy thus far in my life than when I am able to stand before students and preach boldly the truths of our Savior given to us by the Scriptures! 

But the summer had to end and it will be wrapping up in about two weeks and I will travel from Oklahoma to Arkansas and move back into the dorms and get ready to start my last full year of school! It is an exciting, but nervous time for me as I start to think that I will be graduating next December and then I am out in the real world again, but just this time with a college degree! As I think about coming back to Ouachita, (picture above) I am getting excited about things like WOW, Homecoming Week, Seeing the Tiger with a TAIL...(OBU'ers know what I mean), Refuge, and numerous other things. 

As I write this and realize how God has blessed me this summer, my response is to fall on my knees and praise Him for the blessing of not only allowing me to make friends, but family this summer! I am excited to have people that I know will be lifting me up in prayer as I am for them as the semester gets started and before I know it, Oklahoma will be calling my name again to come back, God willing, to serve with a very special group of ministers at a very special church! 

To everyone that may read this: This summer is wrapping up, but God's work in our lives is far from done.....let's continue making much of Him and less of Us! 

Love God. Love People.

-Kyle

Amplify Project 2010

So last week I travelled with about 60 students and adult leaders in 5 vans and 1 U-Haul to Kansas City, MO for Amplify Project 2010. It was an amazing time of being the hands and feet of Jesus through various service projects around the Midtown area of Kansas City. This area of Kansas City is extremely diverse to say the least. On one section of the community you would see these extremely nice old houses following on the next street by project 8 housing. The variety of people was something quite refreshing, but the lines were drawn of where each group stayed. That was clear. 


Well our goal for the week was to engage the community through the service that we were doing! Our students did wonderful with all the tasks that they were asked to do! It was great seeing them all week be selfless in service so that these people can live their daily lives better! 


So to the students and adult leaders that may read this....THANK YOU SO MUCH! I know I have said it a lot, but you guys and gals did great! It challenged me to serve more because of your actions! 


Love God, Love People. 


-Kyle

Forgotten God

So recently I have been able to read through a book called "Forgotten God" by Francis Chan and it has impacted me greatly in such a short time. The idea that we as the Church have forgotten about God the Holy Spirit is something that has hit me because it has required me to think about my own life and if I actually engage with the Spirit of God as I pursue engaging times with the other two parts of the trinity. 


I believe that this is something that, as Chan states, could get a variety of strange looks, comments, and vibes from people, however, God has really challenged and convicted my heart to engage with the Holy Spirit on a daily basis because it is only by the Spirit sustaining me that I am able to do anything. That is something that I have been chewing on for a couple weeks now. 


What would happen to each one of us as believers if we engaged with God the Holy Spirit daily? How would that change how we treat each other? How would that change how we view the other two parts of the Triune God? That is the journey I am on as I embark on this challenge of diving into God's word to pursue a better understanding of this "Forgotten God". 


Love God. Love People.

-Kyle