We always hear the statement 'God works in mysterious ways'. Of course they are only mysterious to us.
On May 19th 2008, the pastor of King's Pasture Community Church lost his youngest son Joshua (or JZ Unit) after a year long battle with a nasty brain tumor. Josh was loved by everyone he knew. On May 23rd, at his memorial service there were around 100 kids who prayed to receive Christ. Chad took Austin to this service and saw the amazing hand of God on this family, church, and student body.
On August 8, 2008 another family at King's Pasture lost their teenage son, Ethan (or EZ-E) in a car accident. I took Austin to Ethan's memorial service and saw that once again, kids prayed to receive Christ.
Who knew that the loss of these two beautiful young men would have such an impact on a community. The lives that have changed to live FOR Christ as a result of their deaths are an inspiration.
During football season Austin wanted to go to 5th Quarter which is the post game after party that King's Pasture throws after every home game. We took him to one of those and shortly after made the decision to visit the church for a Sunday worship service. We enjoyed the church we were in but after 7 years away for Seminary we were really ready to get deeply involved while we waited on God's time for the church plant we feel led to begin over near our home. We visited one Sunday and never looked back. We were home the minute we walked in the door. Yes, being from 'Small Town Georgia' we knew some people there already but even the people we hadn't met yet made us feel like family the minute we walked in the door. We got involved immediately in the different activities going on and joined the church soon after.
One of my prayers for Austin has been that he would step out of his comfort zone more and find some true friends in the youth group and get involved. God answers prayers!! Over the last several weeks we have really noticed a change in Austin. He is starting to show more concern in his grades, his looks, his behavior towards Noah, etc. He has also gotten involved with a young men's Bible study on Sunday nights. Another prayer I have had was for God to show us how we were going to be able to have another vehicle around when this child starts driving. We have been EVERYWHERE lately and we MAY all be home together for 1 or 2 evenings during the week. It has been hard, with only one car, to get things done.
Last week one of the guys at church, Zach, had told some of the kids that he had been praying and felt led by God to GIVE his 'old truck' to another kid at church, Andrew. Andrew had a 93 Toyota pick-up and had been wanting Zach's 99 Chevy Z71. I think someone said that he was trying to figure out a way to buy it from Zach. Well Zach was obedient after praying for a WHILE to make sure that is what God wanted him to do, and he gave Andrew the truck last Tuesday. Thursday morning we get a call from Andrew. (Keep in mind that these guys all knew that Austin didn't have his license yet because they were giving him rides back and forth to places from time to time. I don't know that any of them were aware that we only had one vehicle.) Andrew said that he knew that God had blessed him through Zach and that he felt that God was telling him to bless Austin. He asked us for permission to GIVE Austin his truck. We told him that if he felt like God wanted this to happen there was no way we COULD stand in His way! He cleared it with his parents, got the title taken care of, etc. and surprised Austin with it last night. Now of course it's Austin's turn to 'pay it forward' as they say. We have advised him to be in prayer for God to show him what it is that he is to do for someone else.
We have been amazed at the love that these young men, and the rest of the youth at KPCC, have shown for God and for others. I haven't seen anything like this before. What teenager (or adult for that matter) do you know that would be completely obedient to God by GIVING away their vehicle, even when they had a replacement? God is doing some awesome things with the youth and college students at KPCC and I honestly believe 'We ain't seen nothin yet!'. He is moving in ways that can ONLY be attributed to HIM. During the snow storm last weekend HE kept all of these kids safe, provided alternate shelter for some who couldn't make it back home over the mountain, and showed up in an AWESOME way Tuesday night to let them see once again HIS hand and HIS love.
God is going to move whether we want Him to or not. We might as well pray for Him to 'GO FOR IT' in our lives and the lives our families and watch him work! Ask Him to put you where HE wants you to be and give you the tools to do what HE wants you to do then be obedient to His guidance.
On May 19th 2008, the pastor of King's Pasture Community Church lost his youngest son Joshua (or JZ Unit) after a year long battle with a nasty brain tumor. Josh was loved by everyone he knew. On May 23rd, at his memorial service there were around 100 kids who prayed to receive Christ. Chad took Austin to this service and saw the amazing hand of God on this family, church, and student body.
On August 8, 2008 another family at King's Pasture lost their teenage son, Ethan (or EZ-E) in a car accident. I took Austin to Ethan's memorial service and saw that once again, kids prayed to receive Christ.
Who knew that the loss of these two beautiful young men would have such an impact on a community. The lives that have changed to live FOR Christ as a result of their deaths are an inspiration.
During football season Austin wanted to go to 5th Quarter which is the post game after party that King's Pasture throws after every home game. We took him to one of those and shortly after made the decision to visit the church for a Sunday worship service. We enjoyed the church we were in but after 7 years away for Seminary we were really ready to get deeply involved while we waited on God's time for the church plant we feel led to begin over near our home. We visited one Sunday and never looked back. We were home the minute we walked in the door. Yes, being from 'Small Town Georgia' we knew some people there already but even the people we hadn't met yet made us feel like family the minute we walked in the door. We got involved immediately in the different activities going on and joined the church soon after.
One of my prayers for Austin has been that he would step out of his comfort zone more and find some true friends in the youth group and get involved. God answers prayers!! Over the last several weeks we have really noticed a change in Austin. He is starting to show more concern in his grades, his looks, his behavior towards Noah, etc. He has also gotten involved with a young men's Bible study on Sunday nights. Another prayer I have had was for God to show us how we were going to be able to have another vehicle around when this child starts driving. We have been EVERYWHERE lately and we MAY all be home together for 1 or 2 evenings during the week. It has been hard, with only one car, to get things done.
Last week one of the guys at church, Zach, had told some of the kids that he had been praying and felt led by God to GIVE his 'old truck' to another kid at church, Andrew. Andrew had a 93 Toyota pick-up and had been wanting Zach's 99 Chevy Z71. I think someone said that he was trying to figure out a way to buy it from Zach. Well Zach was obedient after praying for a WHILE to make sure that is what God wanted him to do, and he gave Andrew the truck last Tuesday. Thursday morning we get a call from Andrew. (Keep in mind that these guys all knew that Austin didn't have his license yet because they were giving him rides back and forth to places from time to time. I don't know that any of them were aware that we only had one vehicle.) Andrew said that he knew that God had blessed him through Zach and that he felt that God was telling him to bless Austin. He asked us for permission to GIVE Austin his truck. We told him that if he felt like God wanted this to happen there was no way we COULD stand in His way! He cleared it with his parents, got the title taken care of, etc. and surprised Austin with it last night. Now of course it's Austin's turn to 'pay it forward' as they say. We have advised him to be in prayer for God to show him what it is that he is to do for someone else.
We have been amazed at the love that these young men, and the rest of the youth at KPCC, have shown for God and for others. I haven't seen anything like this before. What teenager (or adult for that matter) do you know that would be completely obedient to God by GIVING away their vehicle, even when they had a replacement? God is doing some awesome things with the youth and college students at KPCC and I honestly believe 'We ain't seen nothin yet!'. He is moving in ways that can ONLY be attributed to HIM. During the snow storm last weekend HE kept all of these kids safe, provided alternate shelter for some who couldn't make it back home over the mountain, and showed up in an AWESOME way Tuesday night to let them see once again HIS hand and HIS love.
God is going to move whether we want Him to or not. We might as well pray for Him to 'GO FOR IT' in our lives and the lives our families and watch him work! Ask Him to put you where HE wants you to be and give you the tools to do what HE wants you to do then be obedient to His guidance.
*The picture above is the back window of Austin's 'new' truck. He is soo thrilled with it and very glad the sticker was already there!
