I am 20..... WHAT?

                It has been a long time since I last posted and I am so sorry for that. I have been slammed packed with all kinds of things going on. Get ready, buckle up, and enjoy this long post.

                So exactly a week ago today marked the kick-off and ending of 180 weekend. This year I was blessed to have 6^th grade boys. Now you’re probably thinking why would he want 6^th grade boys? Well it wasn’t my first choice but it was God’s way of teaching me something incredible. Over the weekend we had loads of fun skits and even Justin Bieber came!!!! GASP! Ok… fine it was me. It was such a great time! The most important thing I learned over the weekend was patience and God taught me that I just have to be patient and wait on His timing and all He had in store for me. (Jeremiah 29:11) I was blessed with an incredible host home, and incredible students. I loved working with students because they have hearts that are ready to learn about Christ and always are interested in hearing new things each and every single day. The coolest thing that happened all weekend was on Sunday. We had a lot of great group time but on Sunday during the worship service I was given the opportunity to lead the song “Our God.” That song was song all weekend and to see over 130 middle school students singing their hearts out I really can’t explain. All I can say is I got to see God move in a unique way over the weekend and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. God is using the students of 180 weekend and its awesome! Not to mention the 40 day fast was incredible and I wouldn’t trade the time with the Lord for anything.

                Last Wednesday I called The University of Mobile to ask them a simple question about the Fall 2011 semester and when it began. As I spoke to my advisor I asked a few questions and then he said, “Aaron congratulations you have been accepted!” All that was rushing through my head was…. WHAT???? God taught me at 180 to be patient and the whole week I wasn’t worrying about the school and God just made everything work out. I am so excited for what God has planned for my life and I can barely hold back my excitement. Now I am fully trusting He will provide all the funding that I need to go to the school. It is so awesome to see how God works in His timing. It may seem stressful at times but if we fully rely and depend on Him then we wouldn’t be stressing or getting worried about the simple things.

                January 22^nd 1991 the day I was born at midnight in the middle of a blizzard. Saturday was my 20^th birthday. Little did I know that my friends, family, and church family had something up there sleeve. Paige, Hillery and Beverly  took me to eat at Chick-Fil-A. Then we went and ran some errands and ended back at the church. Now all week I have been asking my parents what we were doing for my birthday and didn’t get a single reply so it was kind of interesting to me. We got to the church and I saw the cars of a lot of people I knew. We walked into the gym and everyone screamed surprise! I didn’t know what to do… I was surprised even though it seemed like I knew I was surprised. Not only was it a great birthday it was greatest of all. I got to spend my birthday with friends, family, and my church family. What a blessing! I owe a big thank you to everyone that had something to do with the party. I also want to thank my parents and family that I love very much. I am so richly blessed to have a great church family at RidgeCrest and words can’t even begin to thank them all.

                As I leave behind my teenage years and move to adulthood I look back and think of all the incredible things God taught me. That also excites me to think about all that he is going to teach me here in the near future. I can't wait to look back again 20 years from now and just be amazed at how awesome and wonderful our God is and all that he continues to teach me.

                My prayer for this week is that God will continue to use me at RidgeCrest and that I will fully rely on Him and not stress and worry about the simple things because he is fully in control. I challenge everyone this week to spend 20 minutes just singing out praises to the Lord. If that means singing that you’re thankful for the food you have so be it. It is really cool to see how God can speak to us through the little things.

Have a great week! 

SNOW!!!!

                So as most of you I am sure have heard Mississippi pretty much shut down this past weekend for a winter storm. Now when I say winter storm your thinking like a foot or two of snow people stuck inside…… Yea that didn’t happen here. It makes me smile to think we all freak out over the little things. Snow is such a beautiful thing and yes it can be very dangerous but it also can be just a simple beautiful thing. I will say the one plus to the winter storm was no school on Monday the downfall is we cancelled church and I really enjoy being with my church family on Sunday’s, so that was much missed.

                180 weekend is this week and I am so pumped to see all that God has in store for the students here at the church. So I ask one thing of you this week and that is to pray for what God has planned for this weekend and that we will follow the Lord and His direction for us.

                I heard something today that really caught my attention. A child’s dad here at our church was telling me about his son opening his Bible one day and saying, “Dad there sure is a lot of blood in this Bible.” Now you’re probably thinking…. WHAT? He was talking about the verses in bold read but I was thinking to myself that is so beautiful because it is true. God sent His son to die on the cross for us and we are to live by His word. In my opinion God’s blood is all over the book because its His guideline for us and what he wants for us to do with our lives. I know the next time I see bold red words in my Bible I am going to thank God for all that he has done for me and rejoice that He has saved me from all of my sins.

                Finally I want to leave you with this question for today. Do you speak about God and all he has done instead of just thanking him all the time? 

Thank you Lord!

                Last Friday I drove to Kentucky to meet my family there to see my Pappaw because he was doing really badly. I was walked in the door of their house and saw how small and weak he had gotten it broke my heart. I needed a second to just break down and cry so I did so. We returned back here late Sunday night in hopes that my Pappaw would get to the end of next week. Yesterday morning we received the call that he passed. I am so blessed to have been able to see him a few days before and tell him how much I loved him and got to see my entire family which was great. May God be praised for the 89 years that my Pappaw lived on this earth and all he meant to my family, the community of Grayson Kentucky, and for fighting for our freedom during the war. I love you Pappaw and I am proud to be your grandson. (Jim Collier 1921-2011)

 

                180 weekend is just one week away and I am so excited for all that God has in store. As it approaches the fast is slowly coming to an end and yet I am not really looking forward to that because it has been so great to spend all this extra time in prayer. I plan to continue a fast but in a unique way and that is praising and thanking God every time I see Him working and for all that He has done for me. For He alone deserves all of the praise.

 

                I started my spring semester at Holmes on Wednesday and I am so excited for the classes I have and the teachers that I have this semester they are all so nice and I am just really blessed. It has been so incredible all that God has taught me during this time at Holmes Community College and all of the great friends I have made as well as people I have been able to share the word with. My prayer for this semester is that God will continue to use me at the school and that many will come to know him.

 

                I woke up at 5 am this morning from a dream that I received an acceptance letter from UOM( I have not received this yet waiting on god’s timing). I never wake up that early as well rested as I did today and I now see why. So as I walked to my car outside at 6:15 to head to school that early I was wondering to myself what in the world am I doing? I went and picked up some breakfast and got to class and as I listened in class all that was going through my head was overflowing thoughts of worship and leading worship. It was as if God was giving me a glimpse of what He has planned for me to do. I can’t even express the excitement that I felt. I feel like I am experiencing living a life of worship to an extreme or seeing a glimpse of it and I long for that. Now as my day progressed I got to work and just felt joy running through my veins until all the sudden I received a phone call and a message from a dear friend. Both of which were very discouraging and it is as if the devil was so mad at what I was feeling that he took a ton of bricks and hit me with them. All that God was showing me the devil hated and so he distracted me. A friend called me to pray with me and that was just such and encouragement. I then decided to go home spend some time with some friends of mine that are pretty much family. During that time of reflection, laughter, and prayer God just took that ton of bricks that was distracting me and discouraging me and lifted it. God was there for me to help lift me up when I was down. He is always there and it just amazes me. Now that I look back at those things that were distracting me I see just road blocks that I can go around and work through because God has a plan. God has a plan for me and my life and I am excited to see and know what that is but I have to be patient that God will bring it at His timing. While I wait I plan to continue to lift and praise up the name of Jesus. The devil doesn’t like it when we are close to God and this week the devil has been trying to attack me but I am putting on the armor. I pray each morning for the shield of faith to repel all fiery darts that come my way, for the breast plate of righteousness to protect and guard my heart and leak his glory to all who I come in contact with. God be with me, mold me, and use me in however you see best fit Lord.

                As I close this rather long post I just want to Praise the name of Jesus for who He is and will always be. I am glad to be saved by the grace of Jesus Christ and it is through Him that I make it through each and every day. PRAISE GOD!