PRIME ATLANTA

2009-10-01T17:46:00.000-07:00

Please follow this link to our newest blog & for the latest information....
http://primewoodstock.blogspot.com

2009-09-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

Prime is officially back every Monday night starting at 7:30pm sharp!
Check out this link for up to date blogs, info., etc.
http://primewoodstock.blogspot.com

2009-08-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

We had a great night last Monday at our final Summer PRIME Series!

Andy Savage gave an incredible talk on relationships.

Who can forget the chart?!

Many of you asked if the message would be available.

It will be in September when we begin our weekly meetings starting Sept. 14th.

We hope you'll join us for a brand new Fall Series and bring some people with you!

See you in a few short weeks...

New Series starting Monday, September 14th at 7:30pm.

2009-08-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

Ladies, it's not too late for Breakaway. THIS Saturday, don't miss it!

Sat. August 8th 11:00 - 5:00

$10, includes coffee bar, lunch and snacks.

Call #678-494-2778 for more details.

www.onedaybreakaway.blogspot.com

2009-07-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

August PRIME
Monday, August 10th is our next gathering. Join us for this final monthly meeting in the summer and get ready to go weekly beginning September 14th! Andy Savage is back with a great talk on relationships and the PRIME band is gearing up to lead a great night of worship.

Come be a part of something very special. It's a privilege to be a part of serving the Kingdom with this generation.

Steve Gillis
College/20's Pastor, FBCW

2009-07-09T07:51:00.000-07:00

Summer PRIME #2 this Monday, July 13th!

Hey Everyone,
Well it's been a great summer so far and we are back on this Monday night, July 13th at 7:30pm in the Warehouse. Andy Savage is back and the PRIME band will lead worship. Bring a friend and come be challenged to live a life that counts.

Steve

2009-06-11T07:51:00.000-07:00

Summer PRIME #1

Monday, June 15, 2009- 7:30pm Warehouse

(Prime Band/ Andy Savage/ Tacos)

Summer Schedule:
June 5 - Movie on the grass at Brooke Williams'

June 15 - Prime, 7:30pm (Warehouse)

June 25 - Church on the Street service projectMeet at church at 5:15 to carpool

June 28 - Cookout / Volleyball with upcoming seniors/Prime (1:00 - 5:00)

June 28 - July 3 - West Virginia Mission TripContact Charlie.minney@fbcw.net

July 10 - Ice Cream Party (at the Bledsoe's)

July 13 - Prime, 7:30 (Warehouse)

July 25 - PrimeServe*

August 7 - LaserShow at Stone Mountain

August 10 - Prime, 7:30 (Warehouse)

August 22 - PrimeServe*

2009-05-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

Summer is upon us!
Join us this summer, and keep up with updates on FaceBook (look for Prime Woodstock PAGE and become a fan).

Summer Schedule:
June 5 - Movie on the grass at Brooke Williams'
June 15 - Prime, 7:30pm (Warehouse)
June 25 - Church on the Street service project
Meet at church at 5:15 to carpool
June 28 - Cookout / Volleyball with upcoming seniors (1:00 - 5:00)
June 28 - July 3 - West Virginia Mission Trip
Contact Charlie.minney@fbcw.net

July 10 - Ice Cream Party (at the Bledsoe's)
July 13 - Prime, 7:30 (Warehouse)
July 25 - PrimeServe*

August 7 - LaserShow at Stone Mountain
August 10 - Prime, 7:30 (Warehouse)
August 22 - PrimeServe*

*Event where you can join Prime to serve our community

2009-05-13T10:08:00.001-07:00

Hey PRIMERS-
This Monday night will be our last PRIME before we "break" for the summer. PRIME will continue to meet in various ways through events, service opportunities and monthly gatherings throughout the summer, so there will be a great opportunity for you to connect with others and serve alongside of them.

Please make sure to bring someone with you for our last weekly PRIME this Monday night at 7:30pm in the Warehouse! You'll get a calender of events and how you can follow what's going on throughout the summer months. Come help us welcome in summer with a BANG!

2009-04-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

WE DID IT!!!!

Dry Tears Update- GOAL MET!!

Well, God has done it! We have raised over $4,500 dollars, so we've met our goal! As of Monday night, God provided the funds we needed to drill a well in Sono, Burkina Faso! The people of Sono will now have acess to a clean water well, and ultimately, this will result in thousands of lives saved, and the name of Jesus will be magnified through this project as well.

Its been amazing to see how God has provided in miraculous ways. It took us six weeks to meet this goal, and at times I wondered if that was even possible. I have such little faith sometimes. But, we have to give God ALL the glory in this, because He loves Sono more than we ever could, and He wanted this well for them even more than we did. I'm reminded of several verses that talk about God's desire for His children to help the poor. "He who is gracious to the poor man lends to the Lord, And He will repay him for his good deed." (Proverbs 19:17) And, 'Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’' (Matthew 25:45). Its amazing to know that God has allowed us to take part in helping some of the world's poorest. And we acted in obedience to a request from our Savior to serve and love his children halfway around the world. I'm SO excited!

We'll be sure to keep everyone updated with pictures and progress reports as we continue to stay connected to Dry Tears and Sono!

- Emily

Thank you to ALL who participated and gave. And, thanks to Doug Ferdinand at Rita's for helping us get there! Thank you for your sacrificial giving, it looks a lot like Jesus. Come celebrate this achievement with us next Monday night at PRIME. Can it get any better than that painting last night along with the Revelation song? Come and see....

2009-04-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

Come to Ritas this Sunday and help support Drytears!

2009-04-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

NIGHT TIME EASTER EGG HUNT AND BONFIRE!

This Saturday night...
8:00 pm - Brooke William's home
5821 forest drive acworth ga 30102

**~~~~ dont forget a FLASHLIGHT and dessert or drink. Invite all ur friends!! Its gonna be a blast!

From First Baptist Church Woodstock:
When leaving church @ main entrance (lighthouse) Go right on Highway 92Cross over Canton Highway, cross over Bells FerryRoad, Go past Kroger Shopping Center (on rt.) Immediately turn right on Tyson Drive (@ CVS) Take 1st left (Springwood Drive) Turn right onto Forest Drive, follow thru subdivision, will become private road. Our home is 1st driveway on left between two black-fenced pastures.

From I-575 North:
Exit Bells Ferry Road, turn left. Go 2 miles to intersection of Bells FerryRoad & Highway 92. Turn left, go past Kroger Shopping Center (On right) Immediately turn right on Tyson Drive (@ CVS Pharmacy). Take 1st left (Springwood Drive), turn right onto Forest Drive – follow thru subdivision, will become private road. Our home is first driveway on left between two black-fenced pastures.

2009-04-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

LADIES ONLY!!!!!!!!

...(Sorry boys)

Just two more weeks to purchase tickets for Breakaway!

Breakaway is an intimate one-day event for college and young single ladies hosted by First Baptist Church Woodstock. It is a unique opportunity to learn from mentors who are eager to share how God has led them down the road of life thus far. These are some of the breakout topics we plan to cover:

Sexuality & Intimate Relationships
Contentment
True Identity (Who Am I really?)
Discipline
Healthy Friendships
How to Deal with a Crisis of Faith

To close out our day, our mentors will hold an open panel to deal with any questions you may have. Tickets must be purchased this week (at the church office), or next Monday night at Prime. Don't miss your chance!

http://onedaybreakaway.blogspot.com/

What: Breakaway
When: April 25 (11:00 - 5:00)
Where: Magnolia Room in the Worship BuildingCost: only $10 (includes lunch).

Tickets on sale through the church office or Monday night at Prime. If you have any questions please call the College and Singles Ministry, #678-494-2851.

2009-04-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

Peace with God

“ Their bloodguilt, which I have not pardoned, I will pardon." For the LORD dwells in Zion!”
Joel 3:21

John Bunyan, well known author of Pilgrim’s Progress, was deeply tormented in his soul. He desperately longed for peace with God. One day he crossed paths with a small group of impoverished women discussing spiritual matters. He became deeply convicted by their strong love for God and devotion to Him… yet he doubted. Whenever he considered the sins of his youth, he could not comprehend that a holy God could forgive him for what he had done. Until one day when God sent His answer through His Word.

Bunyan read Joel 3:21, and the truth of God’s cleansing forgiveness expressed in that verse struck a chord. God had forgiven him. A fresh sense of God’s presence in his life was proof that God’s Word was setting him free!

Consider the difficulties and trails God has allowed into your life. Could they be one way He is calling you to return to Him? Ponder the condition of your own heart in the light of God’s call for genuine repentance. Has sin quenched the Spirit’s presence in you, or are you enjoying peace with God?

2009-03-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

Acoustic PRIME was awesome this
past Monday night. The band opened with an old rendition of a Beatles' classic tune, "Blackbird". Will Goodwin and Lauren Boyd led an incredible worship time, and Dave shared a poignant message from the book of Revelation.

We also heard from one of our team leaders and the challenges of clean water and disease that she experienced growing up in Africa. That led us to our Dry Tears emphasis and our "Fill our Cup to fill theirs" campaign. We are raising $4,500 to dig a well and provide clean water to 30,000 people in a very specific region of Africa. And, we are off to a great start. We hope you'll be able to jump on board with us in the days to come. Emily Walters is leading the way for our team in this effort. We are grateful for her heart and the opportunity that God has given us to be such a blessing to those on the other side of the world, the sometimes forgotten. Not to us.

2009-03-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

Looking back, looking ahead...

Next Monday, March 23rd is going to be a very special night with an out of the ordinary setup.

This past Monday, we saw the effects (& stats) of those that are affected by dirty water. One of the first projects that we've taken up as a group who want to make a difference is to dig a well in an African village where 30,000 people will be the beneficiaries. It's amazing to see how God can use a group from Atlanta to impact the lives of so many so far away. We'll be hearing a real account next week of just how difficult it can be. And, we'll have a visible reminder of how we can make more of a difference together than we can apart.

Dave reminded us all last night that our God is a creative, amazing God. Join us in the next few weeks to see how He uses people in His creative process. We're grateful for all the support we've seen at PRIME, now we want to get the word out and make the biggest possible contribution to God's Kingdom and to hurting people that we can possibly make. Please consider this week who you can invite to next week's PRIME and let's go make a difference in our community and our world.

2009-03-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

Tonight,

Will Goodwin and Lauren Boyd lead worship.

7:30pm start. Hope to see you there!

You'll also want to check out our emphasis on our "Dry Tears" campaign. http://www.drytears.org/

We're putting our dollars together and digging a well in Africa. All the details tonight.

See you then!

2009-03-02T14:35:00.000-08:00

Next week, Monday March 9th is Q & A night....
Last time, Dave was able to get to 17 questions.
Bring your phone and get ready to text to "PRIME 313131" to ask your question....

Food following in the foyer!

2009-02-18T11:55:00.001-08:00

Check out this video I ran across today. A beautiful glimpse into how God has worked in and through Nick Vujicic's life.

2009-02-17T13:44:00.000-08:00

Last night was a great gathering. Seth Condrey and Chris Coleman and the PRIME band combined to lead worship. It was very engaging, very real. And, Dave continued his series "Field Tested". He left us with some very thought provoking statements, such as: "For those that have more knowlege of the Lord, you are responsible to help those who have less". And, then he told a story of a smurf, a party, & a very odd opportunity to share his faith. Had to be there to get that one.

We continue to hear about lives that are being transformed as a result of the ministry of PRIME. Our hope is that God will multiply that transformation ten-fold in the months to come.

By the way, coming up in a couple of weeks, we are having our always popular "Question & Answer" night, live. We'll let you text in questions and Dave will take them in real time. Last time, we were able to get 17 questions answered in an hour. It's fun. Hope you can join us.

2009-01-30T15:59:00.000-08:00

Questions

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts." ISAIAH 55:9

My 7 year old niece loves clothes and is quite choosy about the color and texture of most everything she puts on. One day last week she decided she was ready to go fashion “solo” for school. Sure enough, she was dressed and ready (even on time!) for two days straight. On the third day, she came to my sister and said “Mom, you need to put my clothes out for me again. I’m just too little for this much pressure.”

Out of the mouths of babes.

The more I study, the more I discover how much I do not know. I pray often that God would give me a teachable heart and a greater capacity to learn His ways. But I accept the fact that I will never know it all. There are clear limitations to what we have the capacity and intelligence to understand.

The Bible is the source for everything we need to know for this life (2 Pet 1:3), including how to know Him and receive eternal life through faith in His Son. But if the Bible doesn’t seem to have an answer to a question… be careful not to doubt the answers it has given you. There is so much about this universe and the God who made it that we simply do not know. The bottom line is on this side of life we will never fully understand God, or all of His ways. His purposes and what He has chosen to reveal to us of them, are moving forward according to His timetable.

As we continue to enjoy learning more about Him each week, let’s remember that He has chosen to reveal incredible truths to us. That gives us the awesome opportunity to study and learn from the treasure of His Word. It also gives us the opportunity to learn to trust Him with the things we do not understand.

Kelly

Ps 91:1

2009-01-20T13:07:00.000-08:00

When God interrupts…

WORSHIP The act of paying honor to a deity; religious reverence and homage.

Last night at Prime, we enjoyed an interruption by God. As we asked Him to do, He led us. And following the leadership of attentive servants, we ended up spending our entire night singing praises and worshipping our Lord.

“From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.” Gen 12:8

Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful with what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard a thing for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded. God will never let you hold a spiritual thing for yourself, it has to be given back to Him that He may make it a blessing to others.

Bethel is the symbol of communion with God; Ai is the symbol of the world. Abraham pitched his tent between the two. The measure of worth of our public activity for God is the private profound communion we have with Him. Rush is wrong every time, there is always plenty of time to worship God. Quiet days with God may be a snare. We have to pitch our tents where we will always have quiet times with God, however noisy our times with the world may be. There are not three stages in spiritual life – worship, waiting and work. Some of us go in jumps like spiritual frogs, we jump from worship to waiting, and from waiting to work. God’s idea is that the three should go together. They were always together in the life of our Lord. He was unhasting and unresting. It is a discipline, we cannot get into it all at once.

- Oswald Chambers

What a joy it is to seek truth and worship Him. I wonder what He will do next Monday…

Kelly

2009-01-14T09:48:00.000-08:00

What a great kickoff to the new year! And, what a great turnout last night.
We are expecting great things in 2009. Chris Coleman and the PRIME band did a great job last night and we are looking forward to having Seth Condrey with us this week (yes...I made a boo-boo when announcing that he would be here this past week, sorry Charlie).

We spent a couple of hours on Tuesday at Kennesaw State University with our friends from the Baptist Collegiat Ministries, handing out 25 boxes of free pizza and invites for PRIME. We want everyone in Atlanta to know that we are there every Monday!

Make sure to join us next Monday for the continuation of Dave's series, "Field Tested". And, bring a friend to our Visitor's Reception with Dave/Band/PRIME leaders after it's over. We'd be honored to get to meet our first time guests.

Mondays are good again in '09,
Steve

2009-01-07T12:20:00.001-08:00

PRIME is back Monday, January 12, 2009 at 7:30pm.
Dave's New Series "Field Tested" and Seth Condrey & the Prime Band.
See you there!

2009-01-06T13:30:00.000-08:00

Mermaids

Christmas Eve I pulled my 3 year old nephew close and asked “If you could be either a cowboy or an Indian, which would you be?” Unbeknownst to him, I was getting him ready for the tan cowboy chaps that were hidden beneath the pretty paper in the box he’d been dying to open all day.

His eyes lit up and he leaned into my face and whispered… “A mermaid.”

You can imagine my surprise.

The air is full (aside from the falling rain) of the crisp hope of a new year, a new start. Enjoy this new year… think outside the box. This journey we’re all on called life is full of joys and sorrows and I truly believe they all add up to help us know and understand our purpose and the One who designed us for this journey.

Enjoy your new start, enjoy being who your Creator made you to be, and most of all enjoy pursuing Truth.

Look forward to seeing you next week!

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jer. 29:13

2008-12-23T13:30:00.000-08:00

What a great way to bring 2008 to a close, hope you enjoyed our last Prime of the year last night. What a blast! We had three winners in our "Tacky Christmas Sweater Contest", and enjoyed closing out the year with Dave Edwards and our musical guests Seth Condrey and Chris Coleman.

We wish you a blessed Christmas and New Year with your families, and we'll see you at the next Prime... January 12th, 2009!

Where are your sweaters fellas?

... there they are!

2008-12-10T14:39:00.000-08:00

Lights

Ok, so I got home with a little light left in the day (a pretty rare occasion), and got overly ambitious. I grabbed the Christmas lights and step ladder and darted outside. My house is comfortably situated on a hill. Let me clarify, I have friends that have refused to park in the drive for fear their brakes would give in to the grade… so suffice it to say it’s pretty steep.

My project began well using clips and a nifty pole to attach lights to the gutter, which appeared rather simple in the instruction pictures. About 6 minutes into my fun little Christmas project I had almost given up… the pole wouldn’t lock and kept collapsing each time I would almost reach the edge of the gutter and the clips were flimsy and popped off breaking into pieces. In my impatience I threw the not so helpful pole aside, climbed up on the handrail, leaned out over the edge and put the clips on with my bare hands. I have a few splinters to prove it.

About the time I neared the corner, holding on with one arm and reaching well beyond where I should have been (feeling pretty good about my progress I might add) I glanced down. Suddenly I realized I was leaning out over what would be a 12 foot fall onto hard concrete and at that moment my feet didn’t feel so sturdy.

Now I didn’t fall… as an experienced klutz this would not have been unfamiliar territory. But as I finished those last few clips the words of one of my favorite Psalms came into my mind. I have to admit the only verse I could recall (over and over for those final few reaches) was “He will not allow your foot to slip”.

Before I went to sleep that night I read through the rest of Ps 121, and was reminded once again what a privilege it is to worship a God who watches over my steps (even when they might be careless), does not grow tired or need sleep, protects me from evil and (this is so powerful) keeps my soul.

The more I learn of Him, the more I trust Him.

Kelly

He will not allow your foot to slip.

He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel

Will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper.

The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun will not smite you by day

Nor the moon by night.

The Lord will protect you from all evil.

He will also keep your soul.

The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in

From this time forth and forever.
Ps 121:3-8

2008-12-10T14:20:00.000-08:00

Fill it up one more time...
PRIME adds December 22nd date!
We only have 2 gatherings left in '08, so make sure to stop by the Warehouse and see us at 7:30pm. on Dec. 15th & 22nd.
We're also collecting candy and donations for our Single Parent project coming up on Dec. 19th at the church. Feel free to bring it with you on the 15th. We'll be collecting it on that night.

See you Monday!
Steve

2008-11-24T12:34:00.002-08:00

Secrets

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 04:45PM

I remember those early days on the playground when a juicy secret was usually offered only with a double cross of the heart and a promise to stick a needle in an eye if not kept. Growing up with two siblings, I had plenty of chances to keep (and even more often leak) little secrets. There was always such an excitement that came from the keeping to the telling.

When someone confides in me today I don’t usually have to cross and pledge, but it’s really not that different. Years later I think I can honestly say I’ve learned the value of keeping confidences without the need for crosses or needles. I have also learned that when someone confides in me, it deepens the bond between us. It conveys the message that this person considers me trustworthy and that he / she is willing to place in my possession something that is of great value to him. More often than not, I am far more touched by the gesture than I am by the secret itself. To be told a secret is about being chosen, set apart because a secret by its very nature is something that is not known to everyone.

Being entrusted with a secret by someone is an awesome privilege; being entrusted with a secret by God Himself is the ultimate.

In John 2:1-11 we get a glimpse of Jesus at the wedding of a friend and are privy to His very first miracle. The wine runs out early, and at the request of His mother Jesus instructs the servants to fill six stone jars with water then to serve some to the master of the reception. What must have gone through their minds? They knew what they had put into those jars. As we read on, we learn that the master of the reception not only drank water that had been turned into wine, but was shocked that the bridegroom had saved his best for the end of the party. But did you see it?

“He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.”

In the midst of the live music, honored guests, fancy clothes, a bride, bridegroom, and master, the lowly servants were the ones who held the sacred knowledge of where this wine had come from!

The servants’ job that day in Cana was more than likely what they did everyday. They held one of the most humble and lowly positions in life, but in the end they enjoyed something more precious than anyone else in the room; the intimate confidence of the Savior. They listened to the voice of Jesus and quietly filled His request, and in the midst of their faithful service received a revelation they could have never imagined.

I am challenged by their faithful service, and eager response to the voice of Christ. Out of all those that were in that place, God chose to reveal Himself through a miracle to those who were simply obeying in the “dailyness” of life.

Enjoy Him this week,
Kelly

2008-11-24T12:34:00.001-08:00

Annoying things....

Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 04:01PM
This image cracks me up. What's funny about it is that I had a Costa Rican teenager show it to me during a mission trip two years ago. It's never quite left me...."Charlie....Charlie...Chaarrrrrlllliiieeee". It gives me nightmares. At the same time, I have that same type of dry humor. It's a love/hate relationship.
How is it that this video still plays in my mind? It's triggered at different times...someone says something or I meet someone named "Charlie". Wow, these things are powerful and often times very annoying.
There are plenty of things that annoy me. On the top of my list would be taking my dog out to "go potty" (you learn these sayings when you have a little girl in the house). I am on the dog's time schedule, not mine. That doesn't sit well with me, especially when it's 4 degrees, raining, and he's out smelling the roses and enjoying the scenery. I tend to say things that I have to apologize for later (just seeing if you are awake...I don't apologize to my dog). But, I do think of what it would be like for someone to put that kind of pressure on me in that vulnerable time...but I digress.
That's just one annoying thing that really gets my goat. There are others of course.
Thank God for his patience. It gives me a standard to shoot for. I recall a time when two blind men were begging on the side of the street (Matt.20:29-34) as the multitudes came walking by, and Jesus. When these guys heard Jesus was passing by, they became annoying (from our point of view). They began to "cry out" saying "Have mercy on us, O Lord, son of David!"
When they cried out like that, the multitude (disciples included I'm sure) told them to be quiet! You know what they did? They got more annoying. The Bible says "they cried out all the more". Here's the difference. We see annoying, just like the crowd. Jesus stood still and called to them. He asked them the question, "What do you want me to do for you?" They responded that "their eyes would be opened".
Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
Next time someone gets on your nerves, remember the compassion of Jesus.
And, next time you have a need in your life, maybe you need to become a little more "annoying".
Steve

2008-11-24T12:33:00.002-08:00

Warmth

Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 09:51AM
I don't know about you, but I hate to be cold. It always makes me a little sad to see Fall fade into Winter, leaving the warm days of Summer behind. I enjoy wearing jackets and sweaters for about two minutes, then I'm ready for Summer again - sunshine, tanning lotion, picnics and outdoors.
These past few mornings have helped me remember my appreciation for warm and cozy (how in the world I shivered through 9 winters in Hungary I do not know).
You know what else my warms my soul?
Snuggling with my nieces and nephew (when they slow down long enough), reading a good book by the fireplace, laughing so hard it hurts, learning something new, strong hugs on hard days, bonfires out at Brooke's place with smores and good conversation (really warm!), and...
each Monday night when we gather together and ask God to draw us a little closer through Prime. Our incredible volunteers who pour love, prayers and time into each other and those who come each week - what an honor it is to serve alongside you! I am warmed by the energy, love and truth of Mondays.
See you there!
Kel -

warming up by the fire after Prime

2008-11-24T12:33:00.001-08:00

Thirsty?...

Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 06:44PM
If you live anywhere in the Atlanta area, you too have enjoyed the unexpected gas shortages of recent days. Many of us have pulled into a station only to find it empty, or at painfully high prices when we finally hit the jackpot.
Today I waited for 20 minutes in line at a local station with about 939 other nearly empty (and impatient) drivers. Although I’m better at it than I used to be, patience has never been a particular strength. But today was a rare exception, I was sincerely grateful to have found a source of gas after much searching. After witnessing some near brawls, I left happily (and poorer) with my tank full.
“ but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14
Jesus explains to a Samaritan woman at a well that He could offer her a drink of a different kind - a water that wouldn’t run dry, or fail to quench thirst. I’ve thought about this verse many times, and wondered “Lord, I get spiritually thirsty a lot, and I know people that get tired, weary and thirsty too”. Whether it’s a gas shortage, broken relationship or circumstances beyond our control one thing is clear… life is hard. What did He mean that if we drink the water He offers we would never thirst again?
I’m no scholar, but I think that the key is realizing the source. I’ve found Christ to be the only real source of forgiveness and relief for my soul, and unlike gas these days, His offer never runs out. If we’ve never met Him there, that is our first invitation. If we’ve already met Him and experienced forgiveness, the point is not that we’ll never become spiritually “thirsty” again. I think the point is that when we do get “thirsty”, we now know where to go to get our thirst quenched.
Just like I’ll have to return for gas when I’m running low, spiritually I need to return to Him as my source to nourish my soul on a regular basis. And the good news?... That kind of source never runs dry.

Enjoy knowing Him,
Kelly

2008-11-24T12:32:00.000-08:00

Break the Silence

Friday, September 12, 2008 at 08:46AM
Have you ever heard the phrase, "the silence was deafening"? What in the world does that mean? I think about the person who has no hope, sitting in their room...no where to turn, no one to turn too. That's a shame. I've been there. I remember how loud the silence was....when I first set out in college to live all out for Jesus. All of my friends all did the same things. I wanted a change. I ended up in a place of isolation after making that decision. Welcome to the desert (not the jungle).
I wouldn't change a thing. I know what it's like to hear the deafening silence. I know what it's like to not have anything to do or anyone to hang out with on Friday and Saturday night. But, I also know what it's like to see God work in ways that were unexpected and over the top. He turned those things around for me. He gave me more friends than I could have ever imagined.....all because I trusted Him in a very difficult, and dark season of my life.
You know, Jesus calls us to follow recklessly after Him. He didn't say it would be easy. Matter of fact, it's going to be very hard. I see the benefits now of choosing to follow Him despite what my circumstances looked like. Those circumstances turned around. It just took some time and a true commitment on my part, the testing in the desert.
This is one of my favorite quotes, "the people who need our help the most are the very ones who cannot ask for it". This Monday night and all the ones to follow, there will be people sitting in the silence all over Atlanta....and it will be deafening. Prime is more than a meeting. We want to break the silence in people's lives. We want to get on the journey with Jesus and recklessly throw ourselves at His feet and watch Him do "greater things" in and through us.
Keep your eyes open this week. Your invitation, your kindness can break the silence in someone's life.
Think Kingdom,
Steve