There is one thing that I have been neglecting to do these past few weeks. It is not spending time with God in His word. It is not school work. It is not spending time with family. It is not commitment to the student ministries at church. What I have been neglecting is something that American society as a whole has seemed to devalue as time has passed. What I am referencing is reflection on what is happening around me and who is in my life at this moment. Even in the midst of this turbulent time with school, church, and, as of recently, work, I still need to take time to look at life as it is happening around me. In doing so, I see more than just my life but the lives of others. I try to imagine what other people are doing in situations. Why are they there? I wonder to myself, what drives them to get through the day? What is there motivation? For me, the answer is easy as it is to live for God. I cannot speak for others but after realizing this, I come to see the peace and security I have laid in Christ no matter what my circumstances are. That alone brings a comfort to me that is not laid upon material things. The comfort I am speaking about is that which comes from the knowledge of God's grace. Nothing can surpass comfort that has knowledge of God as it's foundation. So in getting myself out of and above the soup that I refer to as life here, I am able to see what is around me and more importantly it allows me to see that God is above it all. God's glory and sovereignty is manifested in a distinct and sharply defined way that is beyond the scope of understanding of our minds. We realize the distinction exists but cannot fully grasp the complexity and reach of it both in the physical and metaphysical sense. God illuminates the "soup" in a way I could never conceive of alone with my own eyes. Regardless of this fact, the amount of peace and comfort that God bring to my life is beyond explanation......and I am completely fine with that. There is no need for explanation. Just savor it.

Maybe at one point in your life you have been stripped.....of rank, position, ambition, dignity, or during a search. Regardless, each of these things results in a person being humbled as a consequence of some action taken. Most people would associate these situations as being unfavorable. However, when it comes to my faith, to be humbled, to be stripped of all that I hold in high esteem in regards to my character and values is a good thing. It is far too easy to forget about what is important in life (God) and to spend time, money, and focus on. God makes known to me what my focus and priorities are in life and whether they are in line with His desires for my life through such experiences. Life is more than just living to make it through, living to have wealth, and living to be good. Rather, we are called to be obedient to God's calling, not to put it in the back closet to pull out at the end of it all when we deem that we have the time for it. His calling does not cease, it just changes in manifestation.

Luke 12:15 - The He (Jesus) said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."

After being away from home, friends, and the community that I considered myself to be a part of, it is quite the shock to return and find everything that I once knew has changed drastically. Who could have imagined how much change can take place within a span of 2.5 months? I certainly did not but in some ways I guess I was naive as I knew it would happen, but I never expected to such a degree. At the moment I am at a loss for finding community. Also, I have come to realize that some of my friendships seem to be less than what I thought they were. It is sobering to come back an realize that people who I considered friends have been taking me for granted.

After losing what has been built up over the course of 3 years in one swift move, new community cannot be established as quickly as it was lost. Community takes time to develop as it requires the building of trust and camaraderie through which deep personal connections, support and fellowship grow and thrive. It is my hope that over this next year God will place me where I need to be in terms of community and fellowship, wherever that may be. It is also my hope that God would surround me with friends who truly care about mutuality required in a friendship as one sided friendships are doomed to failure.

At the end of October, the 30th to be exact, Josiah Venture is coming to the Phoenix area to share with people what God has been doing in Europe and what may happen in the near future. It is Josiah Venture's vision to see their ministry double in fruitfulness in three years time. So come and check it out! Its free! All you have to do is RSVP.

Check out the 2x3 Campaign website for more details and to RSVP for the event.


One Percent from Josiah Venture on Vimeo.