A great birthday celebration weekend

 I had a great birthday celebration weekend with some friends, the weekend of March 22-24.   On Friday night, Amanda, my fiancée and I grabbed dinner with my best friend Andrew Boone at Cava.   I had never been there before since moving to Austin last May.  Andrew said he loves Cava and Amanda wanted to take me there since I moved here.    It is a healthy burrito/bowl Mediterranean type food.   

On Saturday morning, a few friends that came in town: Jordan, Andrew Boone, and Olen met my fiancée and her good friend Miranda to go share the gospel with Bethel church at 10 am.   My friend Russ from Austin Ridge Southwest met us there.   Russ, Chad, and I asked some people by kids' area at the mall for prayer but they said "no." Then we prayed for a guy's back for a little bit, and we were able to share with his cousin.    We asked if his cousin would want to pray to receive Christ then but he said, "maybe later at home."  Lastly, we were able to plant a seed when we tried to share with a Turkish guy by the cologne/perfume area at the mall.   His friend that we exchange contact information with ended up being a believer.  

Then, we went to lunch at Way South Food truck for a while and hung out there for a few hours.  Amanda and I got food from a Mexican food truck and hung out while the guys played corn hole.   After that, we went to McKinney Falls State Park and hiked for about half an hour before going to see Big Daddy Weave.  The waterfalls were amazing and it was a beautiful day.  Jordan, Olen, and I were a little late because Jordan put the wrong name in his GPS and not the full address.  We ended up getting there for end of Austin French and saw all of Big Daddy Weave.  

On Sunday afternoon, Amanda and I went to church and then served at church.   After that we went to lunch with Wes, Miranda, and Joel at Galaxy Cafe.   

Friends that God has blessed me with

 At the end of this month, I am celebrating my birthday some of my friends that he has blessed me with through my life.    My best friend moved something around so that he could make it.   It is the mark of a best brother in Christ.   My close friends in Fort Worth: Joel and Wes who are Biblical counselors are also coming.   Jordan Jackson who is a tennis coach will also be coming for the weekend.   A few of my friends from the Austin area might come as well.  

We had been talking about finding men community on Thursday night Men's Bible study.   It reminded me of the biblical community in my life that he as blessed me with.    It reminded me of how when I do not have biblical community, I can become lonely.   Biblical community is necessary for us to grow in godliness.  We need biblical community to grow and mature as believers in Christ.  

It is amazing the friends and biblical community God has blessed me with in my life.    The Thursday night study also showed me that I need more of that in my life.   I need more people in Austin building me up and encouraging me in my faith.   A have a few friends but not enough guys that are really encouraging me every day.   God showed me I need more guys in the area that are praying and helping me seek out God's will for my life as well.   

Bible Study recap podcast

 The Bible Study recap podcast has showed me how I need to constantly look for Jesus in the crevices of the Old Testament.    It has reminded how the whole Bible points to Jesus Christ.    God uses small things to point to something bigger.  God uses various Scripture to point to the greater coming of our high priest and savior Jesus Christ.   We have to look for Jesus even all parts of our life.  

Acts 3

 God has been teaching us through Acts 2-3 to shine the light of Christ wherever God places us.   The disciples were praying and hanging out in the temple before they healed a man that had been there for a while.   Then, they were persecuted by the Sadducees. They were merely listening to God and his direction as they went about their day.  In the same way, God calls us to shine the light of Christ wherever he places us.   We are to be bold and look for opportunities to share what God has done for us in our life.  

The Greatness of God

 We cannot try to speak for God.   God is God alone.   Job 38 and 39 God answers Job out of a whirlwind when we seeks an arbiter for his claims to come before God.   God asks Job in 38:4, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?" Verse five "God says where were you talking to Job when I marked out the dimensions of the earth.  Verse seven God asks Job "Where were you when the angels sang together?"

In chapter 39 we see a picture of Christ in the midst of the Old Testament.   In verse nine God says, "Will the wild ox consent to serve you.   Will it stay by your manager at night."   We can see a small picture of animals surrounding Jesus at this birth and the manager.   God wants us to see glimpses of his Son even in the Old Testament.   We have to look for God all across the Bible.  

Lastly, 38 and 39 show God as Lord when Lord is in all CAPS.   God is Lord over all creation..  God is Lord over all the animals in 39:10-30.    He is Lord over the birthing cycle in 39:1-4.    God is Lord over land and seas in 39:5-8.  

Job

 Job declares himself right before God.   He still clings to God amidst the pain.   He holds onto God midst the belittling of his friends.    Eliphaz, the youngest person that speaks to Job says he speaks for God.   Only God can speak for himself.  God is God alone above all heavens and the earth.