Jan. 27th

Hi! Thanks for stopping by.

Shaun is part of our core team at C3, and as we begin the week, please pray for recovery and healing for Shaun's step-Dad. He was experiencing some shortness of breath on Sunday, and yesterday he had an angiogram, and had a stent put in. 

Please also pray for one of the men that we have been able to get to know over the past month or so who is homeless. He did something today that took a lot of courage and trust- more than I can possibly explain. It is a reality that we can find complete forgiveness in Christ. It is also a reality that sometimes our decisions and actions have negative consequences that cannot be avoided. 

You know, sometimes helping someone do the right thing makes you weep. 

Blessed be the Name of the Lord,

Jeff

Jan. 22

I am so grateful that God lets me do this. 

Seriously, I love what I do. I get to spend my life involved in some really awesome stuff.

 

-I get to meet and build relationships with lots of people. 

-I get to help build community with many of those peeps. 

-I get to play great worship music with some really talented musicians who are also my friends.

-I get to teach and share the Gospel with people in all kinds of situations- some are "normal", some are crazy; but they are all amazing.

-I get to use what God has given me to serve Him and His kids.

-I get to be a part of starting a brand new church. (This is so cool, I can't find the words.)

-I get to share this adventure with my incredible wife and daughters. (This is also way too cool for words.)

-I get to be the hands and feet of God to some of His creation. 

-I get to be His messenger by sharing His Word. (This puts the "awe" in awesome)

-I get to love God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) every single day, and cultivate an abiding connection with Him, that will carry on into eternity.

Do bad things ever happen? Well, sure they do. I suppose I could make a list of those things, too. But why? I mean, we don't exaclty need to be reminded of the bad stuff in our lives, do we?  It seems to me that it's the good stuff that can be so easily overlooked. 

And I guess that's my point: We get to choose what we focus on.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  

-Philippians 4:4-7

This Scripture doesn't say "pretend things are good," or "change your life by thinking happy thoughts." It is reminding us that God has given us the ability to choose joy- even in difficulty. That our Mighty God is ready to hear our requests, and take up our cause. That He can give us a peace that goes beyond any one's ability to comprehend, and that-even in difficulty-we can be thankful.

So what do you have to be thankful for? My life is in no way trouble-free. But those things I listed above really are amazing to me, and I get to be a part of them all the time! 

I'm not telling you that you have to make a list like mine. But an exercise like that sure can put things into perspective.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory 

that will be revealed in us.  -Romans 8:18

Thanks for praying for C3! Please join us this week in thanking our Great God for all He has done and is doing in His church! 

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Jan. 14th

This week it's actually cold here in Houston. It rarely drops below freezing here, so I know I have nothing to complain about! But I mention the temperature for another reason.

Recently, many of us at C3 have begun to get to know a couple of guys who are living on the streets near an I-10 overpass. Yesterday during lunch, I offered to get them to a place where they'd be out of the cold, but they were hesitant. Why? I'm not sure. Fear, skepticism, pride, doubt- these things don't disappear when you become homeless. When we finished with lunch, it was incredibly hard to say goodbye and drive away. We've tried to make sure they have warm clothes and sleeping bags. 

It was below 28 degrees last night here, and they were outside.  

We cannot make a decision for anyone else (Christ-followers should truly understand this), but we can certainly pray that God will softly speak to their hearts. 

Ironically, I was able to share the Gospel at length with them yesterday, and they were eager to talk (the conversation was driven by their questions, which was great). But the Good News of Jesus Christ goes beyond talking. When we say we love Him, it only makes sense that our words would be followed with action. 

Please pray that we are showing the Gospel every bit as loudly as we speak it. And please pray for our new friends.

Thanks!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Jan. 7th

What a cool and crazy holiday season!

C3 had our first worship gathering "out of the house" on Christmas Eve. Although many of our core group were travelling etc., we still had a great turnout! The facility we rented was pretty ideal for our adults, but since it has only one room, we are still looking for a space that will give our children's ministry the space they need, too.  Please continue with us to pray that God will help us find the right place. We don't want to "lock in" to a long lease, or make a purchase too quickly, so we will be perfectly content to rent on a weekly basis right now. 

While I'm excited about Christmas Eve, our biggest news comes in the area of "Serve the world." 

In early December, I met a couple of great guys who were living under one of the overpasses at an I-10 intersection. From this meeting, some of our core group have begun what we are (for the time being) calling "the overpass ministry." 

I know, creative. 

Anyway,  the name isn't the important part. What is important, are the ways we are getting to know some great folks who don't have a place to live, or sometimes anything to eat. This is not "charity" work, or a handout. This is the Kingdom of God. When we serve someone that might be regarded by some as "the least of these," we are serving Christ Himself. Please join us in praying that our great God will lead us where He wants us to go with this opportunity.

Thanks so much for praying!

In Him We Live,

Jeff