Sunday, April 10, 2005

You wouldn't know that we had 102 in our two services today by looking at the crowds - I thought we would be around 90 or so, but we cracked the 100 mark again, and it is amazing to me!

These two services were very good. I felt the worship, although slightly shaky at times from the praise team, was great in both services. Today we focused on the idea of offering - offering ourselves and everything we have to God - and focused on the fact that GOD is worthy of our offering and praise! I felt during the worship that we needed to focus on these things, and our people are responding and really beginning to grab ahold of the essence of worship. I was reminded on Saturday at our men's conference of the power of worship in my own life - I need times to just worship - especially for me just seeing the words on the screen of one of the songs - "For Your glory, for Your kingdom, for Your name, O Lord, here I am." That is my prayer, my surrender - and it is something I desire for The Journey people to feel.

Beyond the worship, I actually preached a message for the 2nd time in a year! I did so because we are talking in April about Experiencing the Care of Jesus and last week I spoke on TRULY trusting God, TRULY relying on His care. This week, I carried on with that theme and spoke on "Going Deeper into God's Trust," speaking specifically on giving and launching into the deeper parts of faith. The message overall was good, although I felt that I was a little unclear in a few places - hindsight being 20/20 - just a couple of points that I could have been more definitive on, but nothing that was majorly hindering.

So far as visitors, we did have one - the girlfriend of Kathy's son. I didn't get a chance to speak to her but just for a moment. However, we did have Tom and Terry with us again along with their kids, and I really hope that they stay with us. Also, Rick and Michelle were with us for the third week in a row, and I would like to get to know them a little bit more, and connect with them. I hope to have a chance to do so.

I thought today was a good day - all the way around. I am so excited about some of the new people that are with us - Andreas and Jane, Kregg and Veronica - and I just pray that the Lord will use The Journey more and more to help them grow.

I would like some prayer for this week. On Wednesday I will be performing my first funeral in Maine for Cherri Cocco's father, and I just want to be a blessing. I have never done a funeral before, but I am not worried very much about it. I just pray that I can bless that family. Her father was a Christian, so that makes this easier. Please just pray for me and for this opportunity.