Trust

 This past week at VBS was all about trust.   Trust when we wonder/doubt, trust when we are alone, trust when things are hard, and trust when we need.  God used me to co-teach this past week with an older gentleman named Ron.   We went through various Kid's Ministry curriculum to describe these lessons on different days of the week.    God used us to share the gospel that week and teach the children what Jesus did for us on the cross and how he has given us life through him.    

April 14th

 After two years of waiting to get married, God worked it out for Amanda and me to get married.    There were a few things that were not included in the ceremony we wanted but it was still a beautiful day.   God worked out all the details for us to get married on April 14th.  

After I proposed April 29th, then moved to Austin shortly thereafter we had been in a waiting period.  Amanda's roommate's parents decided to build her a house in January.   That started the process of us trying to figure out when/where to get married.   A few years ago, we wanted the Chapel at the Gruene.  We were hoping to get married at a local church's chapel, but they took a while to get back to us.   Then we finally decided on the Chapel Dulcinea.   I got my suit/pants/new shoes a month or so after we decided when to get married.  

That month before we got married in April all the details just worked out.   Amanda's best friend helped plan the ceremony.    She used a Google doc to plan out all the details.   I organized various things such as buying tables, chairs, etc.   Amanda and I went back and forth on a reception restaurant.  Then we ended up going out to eat at Aba Austin then officially decided to do the wedding reception at Abba.   Also, God worked out the details regarding the cake since we found a great gluten free cake place called Sweet Treats about a month after deciding on the wedding.  Sweet Treats ended up being just ten minutes.  

My friend Jordan and I picked up the cake the Saturday before the wedding.  My best friend Andrew Boone came in later that night.   Jordan and Andrew and I went to church that Sunday before the wedding.  My friend close friend from college Kurtis came in later that morning and we went to the rehearsal afterwards.   After the rehearsal, we had my bachelor party all day that day.   We went to a Thai place, sports bar to hang out, hiking, and Salt Lick barbecue for dinner.  

The morning of the wedding was a long but amazing day.   The guys and I moved my bed out and Amanda's bed in my apartment.  We went to the chapel at seven fifteen to get there early and I hid in the groom's room.    I was excited/nervous for that day.    It was amazing to read my letter to Amanda I wrote.  

I was excited for the ceremony to take place after all the waiting that morning.   My excitement to see Amanda as she walked down the aisle was high.  I almost cried while reading my vows.   The ceremony was amazing though a verse was left out, the wrong verse was said, and we forget the worship.  At the end of the ceremony, I was excited to finally kiss my bridge and ring the bell.    We did our dance and enjoyed cake/toasts afterwards.  

The reception at Abba was a great time with family and friends.   They did a great job with providing us with a wide range appetizers, drinks, food, and desserts.  It was great to finally be married.

Habbukk

 The book of Habbukk shows that we can cry out to God with our complaints.  It is okay to question God with our frustrations in life.    God wants us to bring our doubts, cares, frustrations, to him every day.  He wants to know what is going on in our life.  The book of Habbukk also shows that it is okay to question God why certain things are happening.  Lastly, the book helps us see it's okay to ask God why wicked people are thriving.

In Habbukk's prayer at the end of the book in Chapter three, he remembers God's glory, power, and majesty.   He remembers God's good deeds and what he has done for us people.  He remembers how God delivered his people.   He recalls how God is over creation and the seas.  Lastly, Habbukk is in awe of how God judges all things.  

He closes by saying that he will rejoice in the Lord and he will have joy in God my savior.  Verse 18 says, "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.  I will be joyful in my God my savior."  Ha Habbukk is able to rejoice in God despite the circumstances and put his joy in the Lord.    Lastly, Habbukk says, "The Sovereign Lord is my strength, he makes my feet is of a deer; he enables me to tread on heights."  This shows Habbukk's full confidence and trust in God.   He trusts in God despite the circumstances. 

Phrases in Jeremiah that repeat themselves

 "The Lord is our Righteous Savior."

In Jeremiah 23:6 and 33:16 both are prophesies of Jeremiah speaking about God and the coming of Jesus Christ.    23:6 says, "In his days Judah will be saved, and Isarael will live in safety.   This is the name by which he will be called: "The Lord is out Righteous Savior,".   These repeating verses are a foretelling of the coming of Jesus Christ. Jeremiah 23:1-7 section encompasses the Messianic prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ.   They also act as a play on words describing the current king Zedekiah.  

Jeremiah 23:5-6 describe Jesus Christ has the righteous branch.  All people will come to him to be saved.  Their new king, Jesus Christ, will reign justly and rightly in his decision making; verse 5.   The new king Jesus will teach the people true righteousness, verse 6.  God is reminding us that our righteousness comes from Christ alone.  

In

Ecclesiastes Big Ideas

 Ecclesiastes talks about a few big ideas in the book.   It is written by King Solomon at the end of his life.   He discusses how everything in life passes away.    Also, how everything has their own time and season in life.  There is a time for death, work, and life each has its own season.   His main theme centers around the "fearing God" because everything else passes away at the end of our life.  

The book discusses the fleeting nature of life.   Life passes away in an instant, but God is there at the end of time.  Death passes away, toil passes away, and life passes away.    The hardship we endure in life passes away as well.   God never passes away; he is eternal.  

The preacher says at the end of the book that God will judge all things at end of our life.   Fearing God centers our life on God in the midst of life.   God will bring everything under his control.   

Trust in God's Plans For Us

 Right now, we my fiancée and I are trying to trust in God's plans for us in our life.  We are trying to trust in God's provisions for the right career positions and finances for a wedding.    Both of us are in jobs we currently do not enjoy.    She works at a kid's preschool in at Austin Oaks and I work in the Deli Production department at HEB.  In both jobs, the pay is not enough to pay for a wedding.  

God is telling me that we need to remember Jeremiah 29:11 for our life.   We need to remember that God has a plan for us and our life.   Also, to remember Proverbs 3:8-9 daily.   We have to trust in the Lord with all of our heart and lean not on our own understanding.   But acknowledge him, and he will make our paths straight.   God is calling us to keep trusting him in all his ways and acknowledging him every step of the way then he will lead and guide us.  

Lastly, we have to daily abide in him for everything.  Jesus talks about this in John 15:4-5.   This process of abiding is a everyday process.   Also, it's a step-by-step process that takes our entire life.   When we abide in him, then our faith will grow and multiply.  

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.