Good Evening Friends,
I was reflecting today on last year as I am about to turn 24 and here is what came to my mind 'this was the best year of my life hands down'. The LORD has changed me and my heart longs to follow him and do his will. I look to him daily for sanctification and realize more and more how dependent I am on him.
Jesus describes how unclean men's hearts are in Mark 7:21-23 ' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean'.
I will be the first to tell you that I am guilty of many of these things and deserve to burn in hell....seriously. But Jesus came from heaven to earth, lived a blameless life, and died so that I might live. There is absolutely nothing I can do to earn my salvation...it was freely given to me by grace. But while I have received this great gift, it has also been put upon me as well as all followers of christ to share the gift of grace and salvation with others. Praise God for he is worthy of our best praise each and every day!
So 2009 started out with me getting involved with a bible study with a couple of guys. We were studying the book of Romans and I was just excited to finally be around some solid guys. Well on the side I was dating this girl (and I had been dating her on and off since I moved up here in June 2008) and I'll be honest...I wasn't doing this relationship the Lord's way. I had become dependent on her because I knew no one else in the area and was afraid to let go and trust the Lord.
It was in the small group where I opened up to the guys about my situation and my buddy Mike with a fierce loving truthful rebuke told me to run and run hard from this girl...not cause she was a bad person but because the sin I had been commiting with her had taken over me. So the following Monday night on my way to Church I called her up and told her that I couldn't talk with her any more...I had made the decision to surrender and trust that the Lord would be in charge from here on out.
And that is exactly what he did...he completely transformed my life.
It was like I got into a rocket ship and my relationship with him EXPLODED to new altitudes that I had no clue existed. God has blessed me with some of the closest friends that I could have ever asked for. He's blessed me with an awesome job and great people to work with. Well so after the huge explosion came another opportunity. He blessed me with the opportunity to lead two wicked awesome small groups this year.
God led our church to be planted as its own entity in the Round Lake Beach area! Helping to start a new church in a movie theater in the middle of Lake County, Illinois at the age of 23???? Are you kidding me??? How awesome to serve the LORD in this way. HE is steadily growing the congregation and has blessed us with an off-site office where we can conduct Tuesday night meetings and have a place to worship him away from the theater.
This past summer I was baptized in Genoa City, WI in front of the whole congregation. That was a memorable day to say the least! I also hit my first birdie on a golf course in Houston, TX (Jim was there to testify).
I think one of the best prayers God has answered for me has been this angel he brought into my life the day after Halloween. She came to our church and I pounced! I didn't want anyone else getting her! (Sorry Torch men)
So all in all this has been a great year. I cannot take credit for any of it but throw my hands up to Jehovah Jirah - maker of heaven and earth. HE is my rock and my redeemer, my God in whom I trust. The Lord covers me with his feathers and under His wings I find refuge.
I can't wait to see what 24 has in store for me!!!!
Your Brother in Christ,
Andrew
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