current state

I really do not know what to write about today, I just feel a need to put something out for everyone who has been reading this. It is so cool to get a random email or when someone points out something they had read in my blog. Especially if I had never shared my blog address to them. Life has been very busy for the last few days.

I have been working til midnight nearly the last two weeks in order to be ready for our big presentation tomorrow in front of 150 investors from all over the world. We received a verbal commitment for $500,000 yesterday, a prayer answered. I just want to ask that you all keep this in your prayers over the next few days as we are completing this financial process. Thank you for keeping Hunter and I in your prayers.

Next Wednesday I am flying back to Birmingham for a week and I ecstatic to see all my friends. These people mean the world to me and I just looking forward to being in their company. I hope I can make myself leave, but it'll be hard as I will probably eat Full Moon Barbeque everyday I am there. I am really looking forward to attending Church of the Highlands both Wednesday night and Sunday. Pastor Chris Hodges always pours his heart into every message and it is awesome to see the Lord shine out of this man.

I am eagerly ready for work to slow down so that I can spend more time for prayer, church, my bible reading, Hunter, and whatever the Lord has in store for me. I spoke with my buddy Andy about working with his brother at the Denver rescue mission. This is the Jesus Saves center downtown and they work with homeless people, who generally have extreme substance abuse problems. I cannot wait to help out over there. I feel that I am lining up with God's path when I am spending time with people in these situations. And it is truly rewarding. I thank the Lord that he uses me for His work.

Love yall.

be blessed,
your boy elbow

work

I am sorry to all of you who read my blog, as it has been a few days since I have added anything. I have been so swamped at work, literally working at the office til midnight for the past few nights. This has caused a distance for me from the Lord over the last few days. I know that working is no excuse for this, but it has been hard to bring myself to the spiritual level I want/need to be at. I know God is watching over me through this busy time and I want to give Him all the praise and glory for everything He provides for me.

I have had a couple of chats with Dominic, Mike, and John about this and they all explained that as Christians we go through "dry spells." But I do not want to miss out from all of the amazing things the Lord has to offer me, because I am tired or not up to it after a long day. Those are merely excuses that I do not want to succumb to. Dominic shared with me the story of Jesus in the wilderness and how the Devil tempted him over and over. Jesus overcame the distance from God, through perseverance and dedicated faith in God.

I know God has all of my life in His hands, but I want to be so much closer so that I may be living the life God has planned for me. Because I know down His path there are abundant blessings waiting for me. I just need to strengthen my faith and trust in the mighty God we serve.

be blessed,
your boy elbow

growing up

I had a very meaningful conversation with my boy John Bryant this morning and then just a few minutes later I seemed to be having a very similar conversation with my friend Sarah. We talked about how we are ready to grow up and hope that are friends are ready to do the same. Both John and Sarah shared with me how disheartening is to see our friends waste night after night at the bars. John brought up one of our friends who is really struggling with this right now and he asked me to keep this friend in our prayers. The drinking has become such a convenient outlet for our friends to deal with their issues. I cannot judge them one bit, because I used to be in that very same boat. I just care about them so much that I want the best for them. And hearing from both John and Sarah it sounds like there are a lot of problems that come directly from their drinking habits.

In the same conversation with John we both shared how we are ready to move on to the next stage of our lives. We are both ready to settle down and have someone in our lives who we can intimately give our lives too. We both expressed that we want that special someone to be a strong moral influence in our life. Someone that we can grow with spiritually and emotionally is a priceless joy of life we are both excitedly anticipating. Giving all I have to the woman I love, so that all of her heart's needs and desires are abundantly met is a prayer I pray daily. It was so encouraging that John felt the same way.

I told John that I grow spiritually when God places someone in my life that needs help and I am there to guide them on their walk with Christ. When I am able to bring someone farther along on their walk with the Lord I receive so much wisdom and knowledge for my own life. For me there has been no greater moment in my life, when God used to me to lead Hunter to salvation. I believe there is no higher moment in big brother's life.

Thank you Lord.

be blessed,
your boy elbow

update

The idea of fasting has reappeared in my life over the last few weeks, so Hunter and I decided to do a two-week fast together. We wanted to do this in order to grow closer to God and depend on Him for all. We are now on day four of the fast. I was talking to a buddy last night and told him that I do not want this to be out me and my own personal gain. And to be quite honest, that is how it feels right now. I feel more distant from God, even though I want to be so much closer. I want God to guide me and walk me through this. It seems as if this has become a self will power, even though there have been times where God has eased my stomach pains. If anyone has any advice or wisdom over this I am certainly open to your comments.

On another note, I ran into Roland (the man God used to show me a vision) on Saturday. And I could not believe the transformation that has taken place in this man's life. When I met him he was very rough and vulgar. And just over the few weeks we had been apart God has worked wonders in his life. There was so much joy and life beaming from this man's heart. Roland was a new man and he accredited the Lord to his new beginning.

I tell you there is no greater joy in life than when God uses you to touch someone's life. Roland had shared with me that night we had shared together, when he had just gotten out of jail, was the Lord speaking to him. I certainly do not want to take any of the glory, but I am so joyful that God used me to show this man a life of eternal forgiveness and love.

Lastly, my parents have just left to move to Key West. I have never heard them more excited about anything in my entire life. I am so proud of them and know they will be used for God's purpose. My mom said to me this morning, "Can you believe we are moving to the beach?" A life long dream of theirs and no mom I cannot believe yall are moving to the beach. I believe God has gone above and beyond anything they could ever imagine with the situation He has placed them in. Not only will they be working together, which will strengthen their marriage, but they will be helping foster kids experience a wonderful life they were intended. It is just icing on the cake that this job is on the beach. I know my parents would have taken this even if it were in some podunk country town. God just decided to bless them for their obedience.

I wanted to thank everyone who reads my blog. It has really become a great tool in my life for me to express the things I am experiencing.

be blessed,
your boy elbow

Humility, Forgiveness, Repentance

I was listening to a podcast from Church of the Highlands this afternoon and it really spoke to me. I began listening to the message and Pastor Hodges was preaching about receiving a touch from God. As he started with this message I assumed I knew what he would say. I figured he would say we need to get rid of disbelief and grab on to the fact that God is with us at all times. Pastor Hodges always talks about people in church filling in the blanks on the notes section before he has even said anything. Anyways, hearing the message I thought I was going to hear made me think I am trying to what I thought he would preach and nothing is happening. Somewhat of a frustrating feeling

Well this was myself getting in the way of God's word. Because the first barrier Pastor Hodges opened with was selfishness. This struck me and I knew this was my problem, that I need to readdress this issue and rid it of my life. He explained living a life of humility and for others is what God wants of us.

The next was seeking a deep forgiveness of the things or people who bring us down. This is so true and something I also need to readdress. Living a life of abundant forgiveness is also what God desires from us. It is not up to us to judge others, but to love others no matter what.

The last point Pastor Hodges touched on was repentance. Getting rid of the things we do wrong and knowing that God will forgive us, if we truly open our hearts for Christ. This is something I need to strive for daily. Because I know I am going to mess things up, but seeking forgiveness will help guide me down a path of everlasting love.

I pray that I can work harder to contribute to these parts of my walk with the Lord.

This was a verse that struck me this morning:

Romans 8:26-28

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose.

be blessed,
your boy elbow