The Need To Know

“The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” Proverbs 20:24

In the last few years, I feel God has been trying to teach me this principle stated above.  I’ve had a real longing to be in control of things – to understand where things are heading, how we’ll get there, and everything in between.  He’s been showing me that the more I know about the process, the less faith that is required of me. 

The Scriptures are clear that, “without faith it is impossible to please God,” so I believe that God will often leave us without answers so that we learn to trust Him and give over the control.  My job is to stay close to His presence, hear His voice, and obey Him.  The rest is in His hands.

Why try to know everything if God is the one directing us?  

TIME & DISTANCE REVEALS

I think one of the things that reveal what is deepest in our hearts is how we feel when we’re distanced from the things we love.  When I’m away from my car, I don’t miss it at all.  When I’m away from my TV, I don’t even notice it.   I can also be far away from lots of people I know, but it doesn’t bother me too much.   However, when I’m distanced from my top priorities (God & my family), I feel like junk. 

[GOD] The last couple weeks we have been so busy trying to move our stuff, buy things for our new apartment, and prepare for our first South Bay Church event that it has been really hard to have consistent quality time with Jesus. 

I feel such a longing for Him right now.  I hate feeling distanced from Him.  My attitude is not as good, my personality is not as friendly, my patience is limited, and my love is not as deep.  I’m a much better person when I’m in close proximity to Jesus.  When I’m not as close to Him as I want to be, I feel it strongly and deeply.  He’s been my biggest motivation for getting our house in order quickly, because it’s really hard to focus when you’re living in an apartment full of boxes!

[FAMILY] Today I’m heading out to Kansas city to spend 5 days with one of our sponsor churches.  I’m happy for the opportunity, but I absolutely hate being away from my family.  I think of them all day long.  I think of Lily singing her songs to me at night, I think of Cailyn trying to bite my nose and cheek, I think of the great intimacy I feel when Mandy and I are spending time together over dinner…  I miss them beyond words. 

The good part of all this is that I 1know I love God and my family more than anything on this earth.  I can be away from many things for a few days, including ministry, and not miss it too much, but you get me away from my God or my family and I’m a miserable man. 

“The Lord is close to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him sincerely” Ps. 145:18

Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival

I'm so excited about this weekend!  It's our first ever event as South Bay Church.  We committed to bring 20something volunteers to this festival to help set up booths, clean up, play with kids, and serve in whatever way possible.  A team from Lakepoint Church in Texas came out yesterday and they're staying through the weekend to represent South Bay Church and serve the city with us.

The city people are so shocked at our initiative to serve.  The said they have never had a church volunteer at one of their events!  We also have our own booth and we're excited to meet some of the 50,000 people that will be coming by.  We're right in between the wine booth and the beer booth - quite ironic. 

Please pray that people will recognize our service as a practical way to show God's love toward them.  

Here's the link to the festival page: (click here)