The Power of Crying Out - Bill Gothard

God allows times of crisis into our lives to remind us of our human weakness and His divine power. He wants us to cry out to Him for His supernatural work.

The more things look hopeless, the greater the possibility of God's intervention in answer to our cry, because He gets greater glory. Again and again in Scripture, the miracles of God occur in circumstances of human hopelessness.

On that evening when the wind and the waves so terrified the disciples in their boat, it's amazing that Jesus didn't rise up on His own and calm the storm at once, but instead waited until the disciples cried out for help. This is the Lord's pattern and program to keep us in close fellowship with Him and His power. He knows we don't do well with ease and prosperity. We try to become independent and live as if we don't need God.

The End of Another Chapter.

Well, on Thursday, April 7th 2011 I will be officially graduating from the Unashamed Ministries Bible Institute.

So much has happened during my two year stay here on Prince Edward Island. Some times I feel as if I've lived mutiple lifetimes. I realized that the reason for that may be the fact that God doesn't waste time. Ever since I gave my life over to seeking the Lord and working for Him, time seems to have sped up, as well as slowed down. I know it's sound wierd...I've just decided to call it: "GOD TIME". for the first 20 years of my life, I had been comfortable with living in "JOSH TIME". My comfortable, easy, self-seeking lifestyle catered to what i wanted to do and rarely thought of others, unless there was something in it for me of course. So needless to say, jumping from that life into a life dedicated to seeking the Lord and working for Him has been quite an adjustment. God seems to stretch time, or rather, slow time in order to do impossible amounts of good. It amazes me what the Lord has done during the past two years. It blows my mind. It's so impossible that I can't actully type it all out. There's so much that I wasn't able to write it down in my journal fast enough, and now some things are forgotten. Perhaps I can write down a few highlights:

1. Went on 2 cross-Canada tours with celtic fiddle band, The Sky Family. Total traveled distance just for these two tours averaging just over a month long each was over 22,000 miles! We traveled in a 15 passenger van (think homeschool family), with 12 people, pulling a trailer filled with gear and personal bags. When you average over 12 hours a day riding in a van stuffed with people, the fact that no one killed anyone else is qute a miriacle. Not only was there not deaths, but God poured out his grace upon that vehicle, and aside from a handful of dissagreements, there was an amazing sense of unity and peace about us.

2. Last summer, a few of us who usually stay up late at night decided to start going into Charlottetown to street evangelize the people coming out of the bars and clubs. We drive in at about 11 p.m. and stay until 2 or 3 the next morning. God has really blessed our time spent there. Many friendships and interesting connections have come from our street ministry. A few people have really taken what we've said seriously and are seeking the Lord to help them get out of drugs and alcohol. It's amazing to see God work in their lives. It's been a real encouragement to see how God can work through anyone when they step out in fath to reach the lost. Since then we've also started a bible study on Wednesday nights, called QUESTIONS ABOUT JESUS. Anyone is invited, and we've had many of our friends from the street join us.

3. God has really awoken a strong desire to write music and play for His glory. I'm really looking forward to this summer to play out in the fields and sing to the Glory of God. I hope to be able to record some stuff throughout the next few months. If and when I do, I'll try to post it on FB.

I could go on and on. There are so many things that the Lord has done, and is doing in my life, and in the lives of everyone here. Schools over, students are starting to travel back home, and most everyone else is prepping to head out on an 8 week tour down the eastern coast of the states. So for the next two months, It'll pretty much be me and God. I hope to be able to rememeber to post the things I will be learning, in order that you too may be encouraged and strengthened in your walk with our awesome savior.

May God bless you.

Renovation UPDATE

So the blog looks totally different now...as you probably have noticed. Not sure if I'm going to keep the name the same, still thinking through some other options. But for now, it'll work.

I know this isn't much of an update. All I've managed to do is state the obvious. However if this post was somehow helpful...or...um...gee i dunno.

Josh

BLOG RENOVATION

If anyone out there still checks my blog once in a while, I'm going to attempt to start posting again.

However, there's gonna be a drastic revamping of the blog look and probably a name change which will preceded the new posts...so stay tuned!!

God bless you all!!

Josh

I'm a Christian..

I'm tired of hiding behind the label of Christianity. I'm tired of caring what others might think if I speak about my faith.

I will no longer be ashamed of my savior Jesus Christ. I am such a sinful person, yet He died for me and gave me a place in heaven with Him. Who else would do such a thing?

I am writing this to proclaim that if you do not know Jesus, your time is running short. He is coming soon, are you ready? Do you know Him? Knowing Jesus isn't going to church, reading your bible or even praying...though it includes those things. These things will not get you to heaven, they will not cause you to grow or be satisfied if they are not done with an actually love for the Lord. Yet in our sinful condition, it is impossible to love the Lord because anything that we love or run to for our comfort besides Him is a false god. So what do we do?

Admit.

Tell the Lord that you're sorry for sinning against Him. Admit that you can't have a true love for Him because you love other things more than Him. Ask Him to forgive you. Ask Him for the strength to live each day spending as much time with Him as you can, repenting when you sin, and getting rid of anything that distracts you from Him.

There are no easy roads. There are no other options. There isn't much time.

For those who ask the lord for forgiveness. For those who ask the Lord for strength each day to live only for him. For those who throw out their worldly entertainment and anything that would distract you from the Lord. You have a place in Heaven with Jesus. Heaven is a real place, a physical place where there are no more tears or pain or death. Heaven is a place where we can explore vast mountain ranges on horseback, sail endless seas in search of islands filled with animals and plants we have never dreamed of before. Heaven is a place where we will live forever, where time loses it's meaning because there is no end. Heaven is where we will have bonfires on hillsides, sitting next to countless missionaries, presidents, and people like ourselves, telling stories of God's faithfulness and provision. Heaven is a reward for those who love Him.

However, If you have not asked the lord for forgiveness. If you are not doing EVERYTHING you can to rid yourself of the things of this world, and constantly asking Him to change your heart and living only for Him...then when He returns, He WILL deny knowing you and you will spend forever in Hell, a real place where we have burning passions that cannot EVER be satisfied.

What's your decision? Make it now. You have no way of knowing if your next breath will be your last. Are you ready to meet your Maker?

Gain the world, lose your soul.

"At least I'm (it's) not..."

Have you ever used those words to justify your actions? Ever thought what you were doing, listening to or watching was acceptable just because there are worse things out there? Ever have that feeling that maybe, just maybe you shouldn't be watching a certain movie, listening to a certain artist, or acting a certain way? If you're like me, you quickly discard the thought. You think: How silly, at least I'm not...

See that? Just because there are worse things doesn't make what we are doing right.

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

I really have been convicted of this over the last few months. I thought cause I prayed a prayer that I was all set. I had my "Get out of Jail Free" card, and I could now do whatever I wanted to; as long as I wasn't murdering people or doing drugs. Funny thing about that, one little lie from my mouth and I am just as guilty and punishable by death as that guy who killed three people in one week. I was so full of self-righteousness and I didn't even notice it. Whenever that feeling of conviction would come upon me, I would just resort to my old standby: "At least I'm not..."

I have come to the glorious revelation that the ONLY things worth doing or watching or listening to in this world are those that bring honor and glory to the Lord. Everything else is garbage. It doesn't matter if everyone thinks it's cool or popular. It doesn't even matter if YOU think it's cool or popular. Chances are, anything you do for the Lord will not be popular. In fact, more often than not, you will be questioned, rejected and even mocked for the things you do to glorify the Lord.

Get used to it.

Throw out all you ever thought about the christian life being a fluffy, airheaded, care-free lifestyle that leaves you unchanged... This is real. This is where the rubber meets the road, this is where holes in your jeans appear from constant prayer and seeking the Lord. This is a battle. Stop whining that your lemonade is being spilled and pick up your Sword!

Once we get it through our heads that we have chosen the roughest road, we realize just how impossible it is to survive on our own. With arrows and swords flashing all around, and our friends dropping left and right, it's only a matter of time until we too are killed.

But there's Hope.

John 16:33

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

The Lord is able to save us. The Lord is mighty in battle. This is the same God that helped David slay a giant. The same God that gave strength to Josheb-basshebeth, who defeated 800 men at one time with just a spear. This is the same God who gave hundred of thousands of christians in other countries the strength to face terrible torture and even death.

Jesus is the the answer. We need to cry out to Him. Repent of all the times we do things that displease Him. If it's not honoring, it's dishonoring. There is no neutral ground. There is no compromise. There is no such thing as: "Well it's a secular artist, BUT IT'S NOT BAD MUSIC." This may be so, but is it honoring the Lord? Does it talk about Him mighty acts of salvation? Are they expressing the unquenchable thirst for the Lord's presence? Are they telling of the glories of heaven? Do they praise the Lord for His unfailing Love?

We cannot hold this to secular artists alone. We must filter "christian" music as well. There are just as many "christian" artists out there that are only in it for the fame and fun of standing on stage in front of sellout crowds. The bible says that signs of the last days will be evil having the appearance of Godliness. We must be careful.

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Tim. 4:3-4)

Jeremiah 2:13 (Amplified Bible) For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and they have hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns which cannot hold water.

Music is only one part of our analysis of our lives. I would have to write a book in order to cover them all. Luckily,? FORTUNATELY, PROVIDENTIALLY, there already is a book. The Holy Word of God.

Don't roll your eyes at me. If you say you Love God and want to please Him in all you do, then come back here and keep reading.

The Bible is The Filter for anything we encounter in our lives.

2 Corinthians 13:5 (Amplified Bible) Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you--unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?

We MUST bring everything we do to the Lord and offer it up to Him. We must be willing to give it up if we know it's displeasing to the Lord. No matter what it is. Is it worth gaining the world, but losing our soul? Is it? IS IT??

The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

During group prayer tonight, The Lord convicted me of how I'm spending my time. Not just watching certain movies or listening to certain music, but even the words I speak. Are they glorifying to God? Would what I'm doing with my free time please Him if he returned at this moment?

I grabbed a pencil and the back of my homework and started writing...

What are you doing?

What should you be doing?

What will you be doing?

When Jesus returns will He find you out in His fields, doing His work? Or will He come upon you doing something you would be ashamed of?

What are you doing?

What will you be doing?

No one knows the day.

No one knows the time.

Is it worth the risk?

Is it?

When the Almighty Creator of the universe and Savior of our souls comes for His people, will you be counted among them? Will you be overflowing with joy to see the Lord's face?

Or will you hurry to hide the things you value more than Him, hoping He won't notice?

What are you doing?

What will you be doing?

Is it worth the risk?

Hello from Prince Edward Island!

Well folks, if you're wondering what I've been up to...check out the pictures on my Facebook page. Unfortunately because of time restrictions i don't have time to post them to my blog...and since it's faster to post them on facebook...i posted them there.

God bless you,

Josh

Thoughts

By now I'm sure everyone is used to my post consistency. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: I love working on my blog...but as I've been learning over the past few years, "There are some things that must come first."

God has been teaching me so much, especially in the last few months. I've been struggling like never before...facing things I never could have imagined.

God has allowed me to try to make it on my own for a long time. There have been times I thought I surrendered to God the things that were separating me from Him, only to find there are many more things I was unwilling to let go of. I've had to slowly, one by one, offer up the things I valued more than Him. I noticed a difference, the things I "gave up" in the past were things that I really could live without, they were minor things, easily given up to satisfy my flesh that I was still obeying God, but still holding on to the things that were really "Important" to me.

When I truly let go of something that was distracting me from Him, it was hard. I'm not talking, "Oh this is a bummer to give up, but oh well." I'm talking, "I can't live without this thing. I value this more than anything. God, I can't give this up without your help. Please take this from me."

The change wasn't instantaneous. There was no flash of light or thunderclap. There are things God is still helping me release that i offered to him years ago.

But for all the pain and heartache, for all the times I've fallen willingly into sin, for every time I've cursed God name, for every time I've hurt family, alienated friends, and harmed myself I would not trade ONE MOMENT of sorrow, one twinge of guilt. These painful memories help me remember the Goodness of the Lord. As Voddie Baucham says: "I'm not who I should be, but Hallelujah! I'm not who I was."

I write this for those who are where I am, or even where I was. I write this also for myself, to have a reminder of the Faithfulness of Jesus. I hope you are encouraged as God reveals his UNFAILING love to you in your own circumstances. I'm urge you to take a look at your life. Be honest with yourself, what do you value more than God? Whatever it is, you need to pray about it. Talk to your parents about it. Your parents are vital to your...well, life! I regret not telling my parents about things I was struggling with years ago. They have so much more wisdom than we do, and having others to pray with and to KEEP YOU ACCOUNTABLE is a priceless asset. It's easy to tell yourself that you will cut back on a certain thing when there is no one to answer to if you fall back into a harmful pattern.

So let's recap shall we?

1.Be honest
2.Find out what is distracting you from God
3. Tell you parents, update them frequently, keep the communication open.
4. Pray not only in your personal time, but also with your parents.
5.DO NOT GIVE UP. Just because something doesn't happen immediately, doesn't mean God not working. If God was a Drive-Thru, we wouldn't need faith, or 1 Thess. 6:17: "Pray continually"
6.Remember, you're not who you should be, but Hallelujah! You are not who you were.

For His Honor and Glory.

YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS..

Please take an hour to watch this video with your family. It's very powerful.

http://www.hcmissions.org/resources/conference_messages

(click on the session called "DEEPER BREAKOUT". the video will need to download, but it's worth it.)

Airport fever

Here i sit, amidst a bustling crowd destined to step onto a steel bird to be whisked away to far away places..i seem to be no differnt.

I am waiting for my connecting flight to NOVOKUSNETSK, Siberia. we seem to have spent more time hanging out at the airports, waitinn fo flights, than we do actually flying. I'm not complainin though, it`s kinda fun. the only hard part is that im so tired.

imagine a world where once it hits about 10 o`clock at night, it is immediately noon th next day...that's the world ive been livin in for the past few days. so needless to say, im prety tired.

the excitement never seems to stop. i ca't wait to tell you all the things that have already happened.

God has done some amazing things...and we have not yet arrived in siberia! can't wait to see what he will do next.

well, i guess i'm gonna go now..i think wearergoigto our gate to wai the next 2 hours till we board.

thank you all for yor prayers, ill see you on the other side.

JOSH

I'm off!!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I hereby announce my departure to another world. I am flying to Siberia today...and shall not return for 10 days, if i make it back at all.

Thanks for the prayers and support, please continue to keep our team in prayer as we travel...I've heard those Russian airport officials can be kinda scary.

I will hopefully be able to post on this blog daily.

Until I return, I remain faithfully yours,

Josh

Maybe office work isn't so bad after all...

The Great Office War - Watch more amazing videos here

Sword Fighting in the Snow.

Dear friends and Family,

I am writing this to let you know that, effective immediately, I will be cutting myself off from computer use, including Facebook, Email and all general internet use.

This is something i feel is needed, even though i don't really want to ...haha. My life is all over the place, i've lost my focus and I need to remove disctractions in order for God to bring me back. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.

I'm not sure how long I will be "gone". Lord willing, it'll be only two weeks.

God bless, stay safe. I'll see you on the other side.

SIBERIA

I wanted to share with you an exciting announcement. Most of you already know, so this if for those of you you have not yet heard.

I have the opportunity to travel to Siberia in late march with a group from our church to reach out to the people there. We will be involved in work at an orphanage and with the drug addicted people inside the city. The first day we will be in Moscow, then we travel east from there to Novokuznetsk (500 miles north of where Mongolia meets Kazakhstan). We will remain for two weeks, I'm really looking forward to it.

Please pray that my visa will arrive on time with everyone else's. As my passport arrived later than the rest of the group.

The main purpose of this letter is to ask you for your prayers not only for me, but the entire team:

That God would work in our lives, and in the lives of those who we come into contact with.
For protection as we travel by plane, bus and car.
Financial provision for those of us still short a few bucks.

Your prayers would be most appreciated. I am excited to see what God will do there, in the locals, and in us.

An average day in the lueken household...

A moment in the life of a warrior...

Made this for my cousins Anna and Aidan just to prove that i really do have the force...Watch carefully...

10 Minute Cleanup

10 minutes to clean the living room...can we do it?

You might as well know....

I love hoodies.
I love jeans.
Dogs are better than cats.
I played with Hot Wheels cars as a kid.
At some point in time I wanted to be a firefighter.
I owned a N64...and still do.
I used to be obsessed with Power Rangers.
I love to go crazy and not care what people think.
I talk with food in your mouth.
I love to shop.
I cried watching The Notebook.
I have more than 10 pairs of shoes.
I have many scars.
I’ve been told I’m attractive by a complete stranger.
I’ve laughed so hard I’ve cried.
I’ve glued my hand to something.
I’ve had my pants rip in public.
I’ve had chicken pox.
I’ve driven / riden over 200 miles in one day.
I’ve been on a plane.
I’ve been to Canada.
I’ve been to Niagara Falls.
I’ve been to Europe.
I’ve been to Florida.
I’ve gotten lost in my city.
I’ve seen a shooting star.
I’ve wished on a shooting star.
I’ve gone out in public in my pajamas.
I’ve pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
I’ve been to a casino.
I’ve caught a snowflake or snow on my tongue.
I’ve sat on a rooftop at night.
I’ve played a prank on someone.
I’ve ridden in a taxi.
I’ve eaten Sushi.
I’ve been snowboarding.
I’m single.
I miss someone right now.
I’ve cheated while playing a game.
I’ve ran a red light.
I’ve been in a fist fight.
I own something from The Gap.
I own something I got on E-Bay.
I own something from Abercrombie
I open up to others easily
I sing in the shower.
I care about grammar.
I love spam.
I bake well.
I know how to shoot a gun.
I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
I laugh at my own jokes
I’m good at remembering faces.

(Thanks to Tai for the idea...)