Fear on the Road

22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. Ezra 8:23

The fear was that they would be attacked by enemies on the road but they knew that God would not allow anything bad to happen, yet the fear was there and they still took their leap of faith on this journey. They prayed and petitioned to God about it all and God answered their prayer. God is always willing to listen and help because of his great love. What road are you scared to take today? Why are you scared if God is there? God works differently with all of us, sometimes he will take this fear away and other times he will say no you keep the fear and just trust me 100%. What is God asking of you today while you stand on this road?

God bless,
Jesse

Self Help Books????

8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8

I cannot count how many times I see people buying those self help type books. You know the type of books that help you be a better person or help you succeed in life. There is even a very funny movie called “Yes Man” by Jim Carie that deals with bettering yourself on a program made by some person. There are books that help you be a better business man or salesman. In my business we have a saying “ABC” always be closing this came from a movie but I am sure it came from some type of book that helps you succeed in business. But God wrote a book this is a book that teaches you how to live a better life, it teaches you to be a better person in all parts of life. God asks us to follow everything written in it for our lives. If you truly put it in your heart to follow this book called the Holy Bible and ask Jesus to come into your life and forgive your sins you will truly be a changed person. I know change scares us sometimes but change from God is always good. If you want to be better in life and forgiven of your sins then follow Jesus and read the Bible and apply it to your life. After all this is Gods self help book to US and who is a better author than God?

God bless,
Jesse

He Took More Than A Bullet For Us

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:5-6

If we were out now and someone tried to pull out a gun and take a shot at you, all of a sudden I jumped in front of the bullet for you and get hit. After it is all said and done and I come out of the hospital you would feel like you owe your life to me. Jesus took more than a bullet for us, he died on a cross for our sins. No matter if you think you have sinned or not, the bible clearly says we have all gone astray from God. Meaning we have all tried to live our life our own way not really caring what God thinks of how we live. God has an outline for us in the bible of how he wants us to live. He has a plan for our salvation and it all starts by us realizing that we HAVE sinned against God no matter how much we think we haven’t. Once we realize this then we must ask for forgiveness of these sins and ask Jesus to come into our life and clean us, lead us and teach us how he wants us to live for him since he jumped in front of that bullet for us and now we get a second chance to spend eternity with him in heaven. Do you want to spend eternity with him? Do you want to try a new life? Then don’t be shy and just ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, to come into your life and mold it how he wants it to be. Ask him to become your leader. Ask him to change in you what he wants to be changed ask this in Jesus Name.

James 1:12

12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Sometimes parts of our life get so hard that what we really want to do is turn around and run the other way and as far away as we can. What are you wanting to run away from today? Is it your family, job, friends, relationships or is it someone you show attention too yet feel ignored by? Have you asked God what to do about this situation? What has he told you to do? If he told you to leave and forget it then it’s ok to run away but if he told you to stand and endure then don not run away because that is being disobedient to what has told you. Sometimes people might think you are a push over or make fun of you, but those who wait on God, will always be redeemed at His time. Will you allow God to redeem you? He will redeem you not only here on Earth but in heaven. So break free from the chains of sorrow and embarrassment and worship Him as you wait patiently.

God bless,
Jesse

Waiting Patiently

Psalm 37:7
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;

Today I was listening to a pastor preach and this was the main point. This is probably one of the most difficult things for us, to do be still and wait patiently. I have been waiting for a while but at times I have not been too patient in my wait. This is something that is very hard for us to do because we like things when we want them and sometimes God says no its not time yet for this, first I want you to learn a few things and I want the people around you to learn a few things as well. But if we are impatient we miss the lesson and make the wait longer. The good thing is that with patience in him we will be exalted when the time comes. God is always good and his promises are the real deal we just have to follow his direction. Will you wait patiently? I am trying to be still and wait patiently and it is not easy but you can do it with Jesus.

34 Wait for the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;

God bless,


Jesse

Matthew 7:24

24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24


We live in Florida and we know how much damage a hurricane can do to us. A couple of years ago we had a hurricane I believe it was Wilma, wish I could go back to that year but I digress that hurricane caused a tornado to pass by my area and it tore off 80% of my roof. But my house stood because the foundation was well placed on the ground. Jesus is the rock were our house is built we need to hear EVERY word he said and put it to practice in our life, we need to ask for forgiveness when we sin and ask God to help us be perfect like his son. We need to study Jesus and have a relationship with him so that we like a well built house on a rock can withstand the hurricanes of life and have the promise of a lifetime with God in heaven.

Do you want to accept Christ as your savior and ask for forgiveness of your sins?

God bless,

A better place?

37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:37-39

Everyone wonders what it takes to make this world “a better place” you always hear new ideas on TV and the radio. There are tons of people out there trying to make this world a better place to live but everyone is doing something different and at the end of the day this world is not better than it was in the morning when we woke up. From all the ideas I have ever heard to make this world and “better place” the best is straight out of the bible and that is Matt 22:37-39 if everyone in the world followed these two commands I know this world would truly be a better place to live in. Think about it for a while and you will realize that this is the KEY to living in a better place this is the key that will set this world freer from its shackles and will allow it to be a better place for us, our children, and their children. Like everything else the answer is in the bible. Let’s make this world a better place, lets spread the word of CHRIST, lets love Him and one another.

God bless,
Jesse

Beautiful Creations

Here we have an awesome Sunset. I think Sunsets are one of Gods most beautiful creations. I have seen a lot of picture perfect sunsets and sunrises while out on my boat.



This is one of my favorite places to be on Earth. A nice tropical beach I love the Ocean and I thank God for it a lot believe me lol. I dont get out there as much as I wish but I enjoy it when im at the beach or out on the boat. This is a truly beautiful creation by our Lord.


Ahhh and the last place I will talk about. I like Space it facinates me, how it works and all the things in it. Truly a beautiful place to explor, too bad I dont work for NASA jajajahahah LOL. Another picture perfect place made by our God.

Why did I just take you on a tour of some of my favorite places? Well because they all share one things in common, they are beautiful creations made by our Lord.

But God created one more beautiful Creation his name is Jesus Christ. He died so that we could be forgiven of our sins, if we just ask and so that we could have a direct relationship with God. Jesus was obedient to God and died on the cross for us because of the Love that he has for us. Because he wants us to get ahead in our walk with God. Do you think that God would let his only Son die on a cross for us and then make the Christian walk impossible?
No way!!!
Sure it is hard and we fall from time to time but he is there extending his hand so that we can get up dust our self off and continue to walk with Him.

That was truly the most beautiful creation God ever made, forget the sunsets, tropical beaches, and space. Jesus Christ is truly the most beautiful creation ever made out of love from our God. Thank you for taking me from who I was and what I said I would do in life and makeing me into who I am now and who I will be, thank you for telling me what to do with my life. Now life truly makes sense.

Thank you Jesus for everything I love you!

Watered Down

Christianity has been watered down so much that some think that we need to blend into society in order for society to accept Christ but this is far from the truth. We need to be different than society so that society sees God in us. I am not saying you have to wear a tie to church and I am not saying that women need to wear skirts. What I am saying is we need to remember that the bible tells us to dress in a humble fashion so as to no attract attention to our self. Let’s be real guys, this has nothing to do with a women using make up or painting their nails and everything to do with excessively baggy pants and pink and green hair. How is your friend going to see a difference in you after you come to Christ if you still speak, dress, and act the same as you did before you came to Christ.

How Still Should One Be???

I know I have not blogged in a long time, I am sorry. So figured I would throw something new and see what YOU have to say.

I have had something important in prayer for about 9-10months now. I get a yes answer from God. But when I ask when, he just says be patient, still, relax. Don’t worry about what it is that is in prayer some of you know what it is, what matters is how still should one be? I mean God does require that we do certain things for example if you pray for patience you get the opportunity to have patience. So when God says to you be still and know that I am God, when he says did I not tell you if you believe you will see my glory, when he says why do you worry, did I not say have faith. These are obviously not direct quotes but are the scriptures God has thrown in my face time and time again over the last few months regarding my prayer. But my question still remains how still does one have to be? I know for a fact that I am not still enough as a close friend proved to me last week. As every time I am not still enough I seem to mess things up a bit. So you tell me how still should one be when God says BE STILL.


God bless you guys always,
Jesse

Thought of the DAY.

Some way some how, we all mess up. Every day is a war between us and our self to do right by God. We seek perfection in an imperfect world. But we seek perfection through a perfect Christ. But we still mess up, some way, some how. Sometimes its with thoughts, actions, or words but we sin against God. We are no longer the same person we were before Christ, so we hate when we mess up. I know that when I mess up I hate it with a passion. So when we mess up in our walk how should we take it. The devil wants us to stay down for the count and not get up, he wants us to feel so bad that we wont even look at God for forgiveness. But we have to get over that feeling and go to God and ask him for help. We need to do this because it will be the only way for us to continue walking with God. Feelings of guilt are good because they keep us on our toes. But they are not good when they keep us flat on the ground. Remember when God forgives you its is no longer an issue to Him. So we have to get over it and try to move on. If we fall again later, then repeat. We will always over come our vices because God is with us but we must be hungry for it, we must want it. We must seek perfection in his holy word, prayer, worship in order to grow and be fruitful. The only way for us to get near perfection in his path is by wanting it and striving towards it. We are perfect only through the blood of Christ so through him we will have the strength to fight to live as holy as possible. We will always mess up, thank God salvation is a gift from Him to us and we can do nothing to earn it. But our hearts have to be pleasing to God, always wanting to do right by Him.

God bless!

Getting Naked

So the one situation has turned into two now. This series at FRC has been about getting naked and I am going to get naked about my feelings right now, I will not go into details about the two things bothering me at the moment one of which came to the surface today. What do I feel being in the midst of these two situations? Well it is a mix of feelings it is hard to pin point as many times it feel’s surreal. But if I had to say words I guess it would be things like, hurt, frustrated, loss of control, and un happy. Is God in control of all this? YES He is. Have I talked to God about these two things? Yes, but like I said one came out in the open today the other has been answered and answered again to me and I just have to be still in Him. The new one well I guess it will be like a box of chocolates we will see what we get. If you look at the blog bellow you will see were God has answered yet one more time my first problem. But now we have a new one and its big to me, I am not sure if it’s as big or bigger than the first but its big nothing life threatening but it’s something I care about with all my heart.

Its funny how some people have told me things about my first problem, those more mature in Christ have understood why I am doing what I am doing concerning that because of answered prayers from God concerning that problem. I will listen to him and His Voice of truth.


Some of you might be wondering what is troubling Jesse so much but the truth is you don’t need to know the core of the problem you just need to know the feelings because being naked is about the feelings not the problems that cause them. I am happy and the way I look at all this is that I must be doing something right in my life because the devil keeps trying to bring me down but I am welded to the Rock. Some of you know both problems others just know one or the other. If you are from FRC Sawgrass pray for your Student Pastor Jesse so that the Lord keep him strong.

Thank you & God bless,
Me

Faith

its 11:20pm 8-2-08 Saturday. About one hour ago I was praying and asking God for a word of encouragement for a little situation I am dealing with some of you know it. I asked God to give me the word he wanted me to have. So after I was done praying I grabbed my bible and blindly opened it up to 2Chronicles 32:7-8 7 “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! 8 He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people.

then shortly after i signed on to my myspace account and someone because of an old word of the day i had done a day or two ago messaged me saying the following

"WHEN we speak of faith we think of one’s belief in God. The apostle Paul, in describing faith to Hebrew Christians, said: “Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.” (Heb. 11:1) An assured expectation has something backing it up. It conveys the idea that this expectation is guaranteed, that there will be a future possession. Some suggest that faith is like a title deed of things hoped for. Faith can also involve fidelity to one’s promises or allegiance to duty. One who has faith in Almighty God and in his Son, Christ Jesus, would want to show loyalty, acting in full harmony with God's ways and advocating them to others. Ps. 145:10, 11.
ENjoy"

My God is an awesome God huh guys??

My response to Him is ok Lord I will sit silently and still until your promise is given to me and only take the steps you tell me to take...

Thank you Lord

Why are only WE frowned upon???

Why is it that homosexual activist can start protest and advertise the rights they want to have. They can say anything that is on their mind and share their opinions openly. But the moment a Christian shares what he or she wants to say people look down on them. Why is it that we as Christians are looked down upon if we protest to defend rights we already have. Why is it that we as Christians are looked down upon if we practice our freedom of religion, a right granted to us by the constitution of the United States of America out in public. Why do people want to shut us down and have us worship only in our churches pray only in our homes. Why can’t a child pray in school and give thanks for the food he is about to eat during lunch time? Why is it that ONLY the things we do can offend others and we have to limit our actions. Don’t they think that the actions that others take in PUBLIC offend God why aren’t others frowned upon and told to take their actions to their homes? Why do other groups have more say in society than us Christians?

Why is it that a country that was formed with a Christian back bone is going down financially little by little. Hasn’t anyone noticed, as they have slowly taken God out of the country, other parts of our successes as a nation have diminished. This county stood strong next to Israel and still defends them today and this is one reason that God smiles on this country. But as they slowly strip us of our rights we can see how slowly the country starts to lose its power.

When is it going to stop? When are we as Christians going to speak up about how they try to shut us up and take the rights we already have? When are we going to wake up and realize that we need to speak up and let the truth be told. We have a universal recognized human right to practice our belief. All the while other groups who have no universal rights keep getting more and more rights in the USA. Think about it, make sure to pray about it. Because it’s a sad truth, that when we speak the word of God we are told it has no place on our streets. But when someone holds up a sign against God it is perfectly fine.

What do you think?

Today In Sawgrass Student Ministry

Guys this weekend was GREAT!!!

Everyone did awesome some of our students brought friends so a special shout out to our guest's today Branden and Brett it was a trip to have you guys join us today!!!

All the volunteers did a great job thanks for all your help!

Scott was there in his cast and leading his guys small group

Jimbo was awesome with the lights and sounds.

Lauren with her awesome taste in decor.

Jonal and Alex thanks for all your help with all things that needed to get done!!!

it was a great weekend and i am so happy because it’s only a taste of what’s to come!!!

God bless!!!!

oh yeah and the BAT MAN MOVIE IS OFF THE CHAIN!!!

7-4-08 Student Service at Sawgrass

So this weekend we were short on leaders and band members but God was there and we served him. Here is a video from the awesome acustic worship we had this weekend. Great job guys!!!


This weekend God put in my heart to have Craiger bring us the message. It was about being an authentic Christian. Meaning we must be living examples and really walk the walk not just talk it... You cant really hear him that well but trust me God spoke that morning to everyone!!!




If you are reading this and have not been out to sawgrass then hey come on out and visit us and see what God is doing inside a movie thater and in the life of those who come to seek him there.. Sundays 8:30am and 10:00am God bless!!!

I received good news today

So most of you know or saw me at HS camp on crutches. Well I actually got completely off them yesterday and my foot is feeling much better. Today I had my Doc apt and after some X-Rays I was told that I had some inflammation in nerves in my heel and had mild tendonitis. It has been getting better little by little praise God so the Doc said it should be fine in time. I Just cant run or jump on the heel or put extra pressure on it so no working out legs for a while now lol. The Doc didn’t send me any meds but the Doc I work with will be scripting me something that will help out.

I want to thank everyone who prayed for me especially my new friend Scott. I know he must have been praying hard both him and his wife Shannon. I know Scott has been through a lot with his ankle and achilies problems. Almost every day if not every day Scott told me he was praying and I know it was because he has been there and is there with his problem and would not want that on anyone else. Thanks Scott and everyone else for your prayers it was those prayers to our living LORD that healed my foot a little every day.

And MOST of all I have to thank God because no matter what situation I am ever in I can always seem to smile and find joy in Jesus. I look back to the past years of high school or middle school and never could I say that I was happy in middle of problems. Thank you Lord for the peace you have given me in the face of problems. I love you JESUS..


GOD BLESS YOU GUYS!!!