Work at Chili's still happens.
Sozo preparation occurs constantly.
And my new Birmingham life is always developing into something new.
Before I get to Birmingham, let's start with Charlotte.
I went to Charlotte not this past weekend, but the weekend of the 17th and 18th to surprise the students of Scotts Hill as well as some of the staff members. They were having a retreat consisting of mission/volunteer work at a local church, going to Elevation for Church on Sunday and spending their afternoons and evenings at the Great Wolf Lodge, which was an experience in itself. Ryan was the only one who knew I was going to be there and then Matt found out when I was 10 minutes out. I can't even describe to you how good it was to see the faces of those guys and all the students and just spend some quality time with each of them. I was able to hear about how the Lord has been moving in their lives, but also how they are struggling and what they need prayer for. I was in a room with Ryan, Fletcher, Christian Peoples, Ari, and Christian Baker. STUDS. Incredible times of devotion, pouring out hearts, and completely tearing down walls occurred in the lives of most of those guys and even in Ryan and I. That is what brings me joy. To see the desire of those guys to know the Lord and seek Him above all else, even if that means giving up friendships and relationships that have lasted for years, was absolutely amazing and gave me so much encouragement for the outlook of their lives. The weekend ended and we parted ways, but not before I was able to stay up until 3am the night before and pray and cry and love on those kids with all of my heart. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect glimpse of Wilmington and Scotts Hill. The Lord is FAITHFUL and GOOD.
We focused on Psalm 119:11 which says,
"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
And the chapter of Psalm 56, which part of it says,
"When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?"
When I think about the kids of Scotts Hill I can't help but think of Philippians 1:3-12,
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God. Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel."
Since then I've been in Birmingham, offering every day to the Lord and asking Him to move in ways that I cannot imagine. Each day is unique and even when I feel stagnant or complacent the Lord reveals that He IS moving and that I can trust in Him with all of me. I work about 5 or 6 days a week depending on scheduling at Chili's and go over to the Sozo office in my spare time to prepare things for upcoming Spring Break trips and our summer adventures. I just set out about 60 or 70 letters asking friends and family for support. If you are reading this and you didn't receive a letter, please forgive me, there were only so many address I knew. But I ask you to please be praying for me and my team here at Sozo. We are all suffering our own forms of spiritual warfare as we get closer and closer to our journey and it's actually sort of humorous to see the enemy try and tear us down for the good that we are putting forth for the Kingdom. He tries so many different ways to weasel himself into our lives and workplaces and with the help of the Lord, he fails over and over again.
If you would like to send support to our team here at Sozo you can mail it to:
Sozo Children
P. O. Box 382586
Birmingham, AL 35238
and write what you want your support to go to in the MEMO line. Thank you.
But back to Birmingham...I've grown closer to my roommates and some of the other members of the Sozo staff and it's been incredible to see the love the Lord has placed in my heart for the people here. Although I've only known most of them for only a month the Lord continues to pour out His love in my heart for them. I think it's because we all seem to have the same calling and desires on our hearts; to save the lost children of this world from a life of loneliness and shame and introduce them to a life of grace and freedom.
This past weekend I went to Atlanta, GA to visit my good friends Jordan and Alex Sasser. I went to college with Jordan at UNCW and we were roommates for a year. They got married over the summer and moved to Atlanta and have thus started a life full of God's joy and sacrifice for one another. It's a beautiful thing to watch and I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to spend the weekend with them and go to Passion City Church on Sunday, and also on Monday night for the launch of the #72daysforfreedom awareness campaign they are putting in place. Passion has committed to taking action and doing something now to end modern day slavery that is taking place all over the world. There are now over 27 million slaves on this planet, which is more than has ever existed. period. I watched the Christine Caine message this morning actually and was blown away by her passion for saving lives and ending such a tremendous tragedy that is constantly occurring. It gives me the desire to embark on a mission and stop hiding behind my comfort and possessions.
She used John 17:15-19 in her message which says,
"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."
Which I don't know if I've heard this and just wasn't moved by it, but this scripture hits my core. Jesus has sent us into this world because we are not of this world and we are to be used to reach the darkness and be the light. I loved the story she used about her daughter not being able to see the light from her flashlight in a lighted room. She asked her mom if they could go find some darkness. That is what we should be doing. Seeking out the darkness of this broken world and bring the light that Jesus Christ has given us into it.
I thank you all for taking the time to read what is going on in my life and praying for me and my team. It means a lot. You will be blessed for your goodness to His family.
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