"God changed the most evil city in the world in a moment because somebody was obedient for a second and said 8 words."
These words that God spoke through Dan Lance have been ringing through my head since last Sunday. I desire to be one of those people.
I HAVE A GREAT CALL!!
I was confronted with this thought as well. Sometimes I feel like I am not being used by God to my full capacity, especially with the call that I believe God has placed on my life with youth. Maybe that is because I run sometimes when the opportunity rises to serve and be used and then I rationalize that because I am still in school that it is better that I focus on school. But God uses Jonahs... and God uses Dan Lances... God uses crazy people with their foolish things to turn the world upside-down.
I feel like I have been listening to the wrong voice. The voice that tells me I'm not good enough to be used by God, the voice that tells me I'm too busy, the voice that tells me to focus on school... the voice of satan. This is what has been keeping me from believing what God has called me to. The best thing is, that I was reminded of, is that satan has no authority. Jesus has it all. And he has commanded me to go and make disciples.
Not only that, but Dan spoke some encouraging words. I have come to the realization that I CAN LIVE MY CALL WHERE I'M AT! I can do this with my mistakes and insufficiencies, with my monotone voice, and with my sometimes shy personality. And not only that, God has brought me to Simpson University for many purposes. And not only that, God HAS been using me a lot the past three years... I just fail to see the fruit of it sometimes. He has also called me into a position of leadership for next year here at school where I will be used, and I will live out that call to be used by Him as a Resident Assistant.
God will change peoples' lives because James Spencer was obedient for his life and spoke words of truth and love to them.
Now I desire to live a life more worthy of the calling. I desire to put away distractions. For lent I decided not to totally give facebook up, because i know that I will fail to give it up fully and once lent is over I know I will just go back to using it all the time. Rather I am using lent to limit my use to once per day and to only 30 minutes total. That way I will get into a routine of a limited useage of facebook.
And after Friday's chapel, I am now realizing the importance to be filled daily by God. This is something that I have longed to do for a while, but have never been able to do. Lets just say I need help... lots of it.
Lord,
Help my desire to be purified and filled by your Spirit daily to come to fruition. Lord I realize that part of the reason that I don't see the fruit of my service come to fruition sometimes is to keep me humble. Lord help me to listen to your voice only, and to be devoted solely to You. Lord thank You for speaking words into my life through Dan. Lord use me more and more for Your glory. Thank You for calling me into the RA position for next year. I pray for opportunities to encourage people and change them into the people you want them to be. Help me not to run away from the calls you have placed in my life, and help me to live them out where I am.
I love you so much,
Jonah... AKA James
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
My foot is waaay better!
Thank you all who have been praying for my foot. I went to the doctors last friday morning, and they told me that it was nothing with the bone, but they used some fancy term basically to say that I had a pinched nerve in my foot. Doctor told me to get off the crutches and put this cream medication on it. So far, I've used the cream twice and my foot is not experiencing any pain at all anymore. Praise God!!!
I just want to thank everyone for being there for me. For caring for me and asking how I was doing with the foot. For encouraging me when I hated being on crutches and hated that my foot hurt. Thanks!
I just want to thank everyone for being there for me. For caring for me and asking how I was doing with the foot. For encouraging me when I hated being on crutches and hated that my foot hurt. Thanks!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Brown Paper Bag Lunch Extravaganza!!
Today I went on an extravaganza with some AWESOME people! The Idea of the Day was to make a bag lunch out of a brown paper bag like the ones your mom used to make you in elementary school and Jr. High because it was too hard to bring a real lunch box and all the cool kids had the paper bags with their name written on it. We then took our bag lunches to Kid's Kingdom (the place of Dustin's death to his former self AKA his injury) and had a picnic.
It was nice to take a break from everything and just relax and bask in the sun and the simplicity of life. It was great to get away from the cafateria and have some fun and smiles with everyone. Hannah S made some awesome bean dip to go with chips. After we all ate, we decided that playing ultimate frisbee was not a good idea since it was soo windy. So we elected to play Catch-Phrase. Though we weren't keeping track of points, it was fun to get everyone's brains active by playing a game.
I have decided that I love being with people. Which reminds me of the last chapter of Blue Like Jazz that I read. It was called Alone: Fifty-Three Years in Space. It was talking about how people go crazy when they aren't around people. He shared about his own experience of being around soo many people all the time and then the dramatic change in getting his own apartment and living by himself. He became fantasized with the writer Emily Dickenson... to the point where he went to the old house that she used to live in and claimed he saw her step outside the door and run back inside.
The chapter reminded me of a book I read called Reaching Out by Henri J. M. Nouwen. In one chapter he talked about the situation of being surrounded by people, yet being so alone. I recently experienced this, but quickly snapped out of it thanks to a wonderful person.
Believe it or not, we were star gazing with around twenty or so people and all of a sudden I felt completely alone. I rolled over and pretended like I was asleep and started praying... not that God would send someone to be with me at that time, but that I would be comforted by Him, that I would have strength, and that I would find my fulfillment in Him in this time of feeling alone. It was funny because moments later someone came and jumped on the ground next to me and wanted me to take pictures with them. I saw Jesus in that person that day and was thankful for God comforting me through the person and making me feel like I wasn't totally alone and that others, as well as God, loved me.
I feel soo blessed to be in the place that I am in at this moment. It is a fact that I have three roommates and am around people all day. In fact, I am around people soo much that it's even hard to find some time for myself. I almost never have to be alone. College is such a great experience and I love all the people in my life and thank God for them all the time.
There's something that I can't explain about being in a community with others, especially ones that love God too, that brings me even closer to my creator.
Lord,
Thanks for bringing me to Simpson University and surrounding me with the people I am around daily. Lord I love that in the midst of being alone, You are there with me to comfort me, to love me, to give me value, and give me worth. I thank You that I can grow closer to You when I am surrounded by people who love You and want to follow You. Thanks for the simple things in life... like brown-paper-bag-lunch-extravaganzas. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray...
Your son,
James
It was nice to take a break from everything and just relax and bask in the sun and the simplicity of life. It was great to get away from the cafateria and have some fun and smiles with everyone. Hannah S made some awesome bean dip to go with chips. After we all ate, we decided that playing ultimate frisbee was not a good idea since it was soo windy. So we elected to play Catch-Phrase. Though we weren't keeping track of points, it was fun to get everyone's brains active by playing a game.
I have decided that I love being with people. Which reminds me of the last chapter of Blue Like Jazz that I read. It was called Alone: Fifty-Three Years in Space. It was talking about how people go crazy when they aren't around people. He shared about his own experience of being around soo many people all the time and then the dramatic change in getting his own apartment and living by himself. He became fantasized with the writer Emily Dickenson... to the point where he went to the old house that she used to live in and claimed he saw her step outside the door and run back inside.
The chapter reminded me of a book I read called Reaching Out by Henri J. M. Nouwen. In one chapter he talked about the situation of being surrounded by people, yet being so alone. I recently experienced this, but quickly snapped out of it thanks to a wonderful person.
Believe it or not, we were star gazing with around twenty or so people and all of a sudden I felt completely alone. I rolled over and pretended like I was asleep and started praying... not that God would send someone to be with me at that time, but that I would be comforted by Him, that I would have strength, and that I would find my fulfillment in Him in this time of feeling alone. It was funny because moments later someone came and jumped on the ground next to me and wanted me to take pictures with them. I saw Jesus in that person that day and was thankful for God comforting me through the person and making me feel like I wasn't totally alone and that others, as well as God, loved me.
I feel soo blessed to be in the place that I am in at this moment. It is a fact that I have three roommates and am around people all day. In fact, I am around people soo much that it's even hard to find some time for myself. I almost never have to be alone. College is such a great experience and I love all the people in my life and thank God for them all the time.
There's something that I can't explain about being in a community with others, especially ones that love God too, that brings me even closer to my creator.
Lord,
Thanks for bringing me to Simpson University and surrounding me with the people I am around daily. Lord I love that in the midst of being alone, You are there with me to comfort me, to love me, to give me value, and give me worth. I thank You that I can grow closer to You when I am surrounded by people who love You and want to follow You. Thanks for the simple things in life... like brown-paper-bag-lunch-extravaganzas. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray...
Your son,
James
Monday, February 2, 2009
Problem...
So this past Friday I was playing ultimate frisbee. it was grand. however, my foot started hurting at the end of playing. At dinner I inquired some people as to what it might be. Kyle said a stress fracture.
Yucky!
So I did some research online and found that stress fractures are little chips/cracks in the bones of either your metatarsals or in one of the bones in your leg. I also found out that they take 6-8 weeks to fully heal. I also found that it is not easily diagnosed in the first two weeks because it doesn't show up on X-ray. So I probably won't know exactly what's wrong with my foot for a couple of weeks.
Today. I went to the nurse, found out I no longer have health insurance, and got some crutches to walk with. Funny story, the first 2 times I used them it felt like hell because I was using them totally wrong. Now I know how to use them and it doesn't take so much energy.
Today I also went to a worship night. That was awesome. We sang joyous songs led by the ever-increasingly-talented Jenna Barney. Then we read Psalm 37:1-7, 23-24 (well 23-24 was mentioned later). We focused on the subject of trusting God. While for most people I would assume it is tought to trust God at times, I feel like it might be hard because we are afraid to relinquish our control. I think trusting in God requires us to "let Jesus take the wheel" and trust that He has our best interest in what he brings us through. I know that is what makes it hard for me to trust God at times. I think He is working on me in this area. While I could stop and complain about my situation with my foot, I have chosen to praise God despite my circumstances, and it is awesome! Last night at the Stirring was an awesome time of praising God and thanking Him for His goodness despite my situation (my foot hurt like none other).
I feel like this is the most positive I have been in a time of hurt, physical need, and pain in quite some time. People approach me to ask how I'm doing, and while I can't help but mention that I might have a stress fracture in my left foot, I don't let them leave my presence without mentioning that God is soo good. And isn't it true?!
GOD IS SOO GOOD!!!
I would be happy praising God for the rest of my life!!! (This was something that crossed my mind during worship at the Stirring last night... soo good!)
Lord,
Thank you for being good, for being faithful, for being just. Lord I thank you that I can put my trust in you knowing that you have what is best for me. Thank you for working on my attitude in my circumstances. Lord I praise your name despite the situation I'm in, because I know you have me there for a reason. Thank you soo much for your goodness! In the name of Jesus Christ I pray:
Your ever-praising servant,
James.
P.S.: Now that I have two metallic friends that will be following me around and helping me get from place to place, I feel like I should give them a name... any thoughts?
Yucky!
So I did some research online and found that stress fractures are little chips/cracks in the bones of either your metatarsals or in one of the bones in your leg. I also found out that they take 6-8 weeks to fully heal. I also found that it is not easily diagnosed in the first two weeks because it doesn't show up on X-ray. So I probably won't know exactly what's wrong with my foot for a couple of weeks.
Today. I went to the nurse, found out I no longer have health insurance, and got some crutches to walk with. Funny story, the first 2 times I used them it felt like hell because I was using them totally wrong. Now I know how to use them and it doesn't take so much energy.
Today I also went to a worship night. That was awesome. We sang joyous songs led by the ever-increasingly-talented Jenna Barney. Then we read Psalm 37:1-7, 23-24 (well 23-24 was mentioned later). We focused on the subject of trusting God. While for most people I would assume it is tought to trust God at times, I feel like it might be hard because we are afraid to relinquish our control. I think trusting in God requires us to "let Jesus take the wheel" and trust that He has our best interest in what he brings us through. I know that is what makes it hard for me to trust God at times. I think He is working on me in this area. While I could stop and complain about my situation with my foot, I have chosen to praise God despite my circumstances, and it is awesome! Last night at the Stirring was an awesome time of praising God and thanking Him for His goodness despite my situation (my foot hurt like none other).
I feel like this is the most positive I have been in a time of hurt, physical need, and pain in quite some time. People approach me to ask how I'm doing, and while I can't help but mention that I might have a stress fracture in my left foot, I don't let them leave my presence without mentioning that God is soo good. And isn't it true?!
GOD IS SOO GOOD!!!
I would be happy praising God for the rest of my life!!! (This was something that crossed my mind during worship at the Stirring last night... soo good!)
Lord,
Thank you for being good, for being faithful, for being just. Lord I thank you that I can put my trust in you knowing that you have what is best for me. Thank you for working on my attitude in my circumstances. Lord I praise your name despite the situation I'm in, because I know you have me there for a reason. Thank you soo much for your goodness! In the name of Jesus Christ I pray:
Your ever-praising servant,
James.
P.S.: Now that I have two metallic friends that will be following me around and helping me get from place to place, I feel like I should give them a name... any thoughts?
Honor: A Great Virtue
Tonight I was at Church, almost wishing I had watched the Superbowl, and God blew me away.
I wish I could realize how good God is to me more often. He has bought me through thick and thin, through loss and through gain, through darkness and into light, and has been by my side even when nothing was happening.
The past few weeks I have been hearing lots about Honor as a lost virtue. It seemed like a good subject to talk about, and I agreed with everything the preachers said... and then tonight happened. I was lost in wonder and awe at how good God is to me, and how he wants to heal people through honor.
Nate was talking tonight about David and Saul and how Saul was hunting after David to kill him because he was afraid of him and jealous of him. There were several opportunities for David to kill Saul and have his problem ended, yet in honor he humbled himself and asked "Who am I to lay a hand on that which my God has anointed?" even when there were prophecies that said that God was going to give David's enemy over to him so that he could do as he pleased to him. In the end, Saul died and their relationship was never healed, but honor is something that is so pleasing to God.
Just lastnight I blew up on my room mate and did something that was not so honorable as I stormed out of the room so that I could cool off.
Listening to this message convicted me soo much... I could not honor my roommate in something that was so meaningless when David was able to honor someone who was trying to kill him. Someone was out for David's head and he STILL honored him!!!!! I was definately not seeking God in this situation and was not honoring myself or my roommate.
The good thing is, I am still His Beloved in whom he is well pleased.
I was so upset with myself that I didn't want to come back to my room lastnight, yet I did because I didn't want to sleep in another dorm on some uncomfortable couch. I wrote some things down that were quite filled with emotion and made me look like an angel; but now I realize that what I was writing was not very loving.
I love how God speaks to us. At the end of the sermon, Nate asked those who knew they were called to leadership to come forward so that they could pray for us. I feel like this was also God working on my pride, because I am usually not the one to go forward for prayer, yet tonight I did. Two awesome men of God prayed for me and it was very encouraging.
One man that I respect soo much prayed for me. He layed his hands on my head and shoulder and prayed into my ear with his deep booming voice. He assured me that I was a man of God, His Beloved, that God was well pleased with me, and that God was working on my character, a character that is worth working for. Oh how I thank God for Ed Klose.
God overwhelmed me soo much with His love and His goodness tonight.
Lord,
I thank you for nights like these where you stir me up. I thank you that you are soo good to me. You overwhelm me with your love and goodness. Lord help me to live for an audience of one. Lord from here on out I want to orient my life around You first and foremost, because nothing matters without You.
Your Beloved servant,
James
I wish I could realize how good God is to me more often. He has bought me through thick and thin, through loss and through gain, through darkness and into light, and has been by my side even when nothing was happening.
The past few weeks I have been hearing lots about Honor as a lost virtue. It seemed like a good subject to talk about, and I agreed with everything the preachers said... and then tonight happened. I was lost in wonder and awe at how good God is to me, and how he wants to heal people through honor.
Nate was talking tonight about David and Saul and how Saul was hunting after David to kill him because he was afraid of him and jealous of him. There were several opportunities for David to kill Saul and have his problem ended, yet in honor he humbled himself and asked "Who am I to lay a hand on that which my God has anointed?" even when there were prophecies that said that God was going to give David's enemy over to him so that he could do as he pleased to him. In the end, Saul died and their relationship was never healed, but honor is something that is so pleasing to God.
Just lastnight I blew up on my room mate and did something that was not so honorable as I stormed out of the room so that I could cool off.
Listening to this message convicted me soo much... I could not honor my roommate in something that was so meaningless when David was able to honor someone who was trying to kill him. Someone was out for David's head and he STILL honored him!!!!! I was definately not seeking God in this situation and was not honoring myself or my roommate.
The good thing is, I am still His Beloved in whom he is well pleased.
I was so upset with myself that I didn't want to come back to my room lastnight, yet I did because I didn't want to sleep in another dorm on some uncomfortable couch. I wrote some things down that were quite filled with emotion and made me look like an angel; but now I realize that what I was writing was not very loving.
I love how God speaks to us. At the end of the sermon, Nate asked those who knew they were called to leadership to come forward so that they could pray for us. I feel like this was also God working on my pride, because I am usually not the one to go forward for prayer, yet tonight I did. Two awesome men of God prayed for me and it was very encouraging.
One man that I respect soo much prayed for me. He layed his hands on my head and shoulder and prayed into my ear with his deep booming voice. He assured me that I was a man of God, His Beloved, that God was well pleased with me, and that God was working on my character, a character that is worth working for. Oh how I thank God for Ed Klose.
God overwhelmed me soo much with His love and His goodness tonight.
Lord,
I thank you for nights like these where you stir me up. I thank you that you are soo good to me. You overwhelm me with your love and goodness. Lord help me to live for an audience of one. Lord from here on out I want to orient my life around You first and foremost, because nothing matters without You.
Your Beloved servant,
James
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