Service last night in Berkeley!!

Last night we went to church in the interesting city of Berkeley, CA. If you have been there, you know what I mean. We had church with their church, and we had such an awesome service. If you live in Berkeley you need to go to International Pentecostal Church on Chestnut St! There were not many people there and it was in a small space, but God moved all over everyone in that place. Bro. Baker was supposed to be preaching but him and his wife sang a couple songs and God just took over. After we had prayed a while, Bro. Baker got up and said a few words to the young people he felt he should say. It was really good.

Afterwards they fed all of us chicken, rice, and salad. I didn't have dinner that night, so I got seconds. :) Thank you to the Pastor's wife for cooking for everyone! (Sis. Kifle) It was great to be with their family, especially HANNA! We had a good time catching up and fellowshipping. Hope we do it again!

On the way home we had a fun car ride. My mom and 2 girls from our church were singing really loud and "having church." lol Pentecostals know how to have FUN!

First, then.

I have noticed in life that many times certain things that we would like to have or want to attain must be preceded by a certain accomplishment. It's like stepping stones or stairs; You must first start at the bottom to get to the top. You can't get to the top without first being at the bottom. When a young person enters the work force, they don't typically go out and get hired as manager, because they have no experience. They must work their way up: There are just some things that must come first.
The other day I was reading my Bible and came across a passage of Scripture that I have seen many times. This time it stuck out to me a little more and I saw something new, which I would like to share. Psalm 51:10 - 13 says this: "10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee."

Verses 10 - 11 are the 'First." Verse 13 is the 'then.'

We need to realize that before we can show others the ways of God, we really have to live it.

FIRST:

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

If we don't have a heart that is clean towards God, and if our spirit is not a right spirit, how will be able to show others the way to heaven?

"Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me."

We need to be led of the Spirit of God, and stay close to His presence. Sin seperates us from God. We can't have sin in our lives if we want to be used of God to lead sinners to Him.

"Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."

If we have no joy in our lives, we are just like everybody else. The world doesn't have real joy, and they need to be able to see a joy and a peace in the people of God that they cannot find out in the world. Sure, we all have bad days and we don't always feel joyful, but we can receive joy even in the hard times through touching God in prayer. If we will press through our feelings and touch God, He can give us peace and joy in the midst of a trial, and I have found that to be true.

So, when we have a clean heart, we are staying close to God, and we have the joy of God in our lives,

THEN:

"Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee."

If we will live how we are supposed to live and do what we are supposed to do, we will see revival. If I stay full of the Holy Ghost, and I have that joy and peace in me, then I can show people the way to God, and I will see sinners be converted. We'll see our churches fill up! The hard part is US. Overcoming our flesh. We can do it with the help of God.

Remember what needs to come FIRST, and THEN we will see results.

Thanks for reading today!

Macro Plastics Fire

I got a flat tire last night on the way to revival service, so my dad came and put on my spare tire, and I got my normal tire fixed today. On the way to get it fixed we noticed a lot of smoke in the air, far away. My dad said, "Wow, that can't be a cloud, it's gotta be a fire." It was a LOT of smoke. I kind of forgot about it as the day went by, until my aunt text me and asked if I had heard about the fire.

Turns out the Macro Plastics plan she works at had a major fire. She called 911 - said it looked like a bomb had exploded. I am SO glad she is ok! Especially after I searched for pictures online and came across these:

Needless to say it was quite the day for her. I'm thankful for God's protection. As far as I know there are no confirmed injuries.

Prayer

Some of you know there were 3 kids in church, Hannah, Wyatt, and Joe, who were hit in a head on collision by a distracted driver. Hannah's neck is broke and she is going in for a very serious surgery right about now. Her spinal cord was severed, and now it's no longer severed. Praise God! Her brother Wyatt is out of the hospital, and Joe had surgery on his legs and is doing good. Please pray for a complete recovery to all three of this kids, and that God would guide the hands of the surgeon. This is not first hand info, so sorry if it's not totally accurate! I do not know these kids personally, but they need lots of prayer.

Happy 18th Birthday, Coco!

Publically announcing today is Coco's birthday, and he is now 18. Everyone knows who Coco is, and you can wish him a Happy Birthday in the comments section! Coco is the tall Ethiopian brother I never had...lol Happy Birthday Coco!
I still remember when you were young and I was taller than you. Long ago. Have a good day!

Youth Service with Burbank Youth

The week after Pacific Coast Camp, Elder and Sister White came to be with us and brought their youth group! Elder White preached a great message, "Overcoming Satan's Bluff." We had a good altar call and fellowship afterwards. Some young people from a couple other churches came to be with us as well. They were a blessing to our church!

Elder Phil White

Eliana's poor broken toe...

Abel, all alone...is that 2 baskets of food? And what's that symbol in the corner of the table? lol :)

Kindreds :)

I was bearing Eliana's burden.

Does that guy have a purse? Wonder who that is....lol Won't mention any names. No, don't worry, it wasn't his. But that's what happens when you decide to wear one, people take pictures.

This picture is priceless. Meaning, no price. It's free...nobody wants it. lol Just kidding. :)

Awesome Church - Pics!

Yesterday we had great church for both services. We have Kid's Church in the sanctuary before our regular morning service. We have been having more and more kids come recently and it's great to see pews start filling up! Our theme right now is "King's Orchard," and the kids are learning about the Fruit of the Spirit. It has been really good!

2 big kids in the back...no eating in church guys! ;)

Kids singing a song

Bro. Zach giving his P.O.P. (Power of Proverbs) Our youth group does this the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. One of us does a little devotional on a verse from Proverbs. He did a good job! :)

I have been teaching a Bible study to this girl and her younger sister. They come to church with their mom, who is a new convert. This was the first time she ever prayed like this! God really moved on her and I know it won't be long until she gets the Holy Ghost!

Young people praying

This young girl below got the Holy Ghost at Pacific Coast Camp this year. Her mom has not let her come to church very much since then and doesn't want her to be baptized. Please pray for this young girl and her mom. God can make a way! God really touched her again yesterday morning.

Thank God for all that He is doing!! We went door knocking on Saturday and had some good contacts made. A girl from our church who was on the same team as me knocked on a girls door who was very interested. I walked over there and we started talking with this girl. She's 19 years old and she was asking a lot of questions about church. We encouraged her to come and she said she wanted to come by. She came last night with her mom and God really touched both of them! They had tears streaming down their faces and were reaching out to God. Bro. Baker was with us both services. We did not have any preaching in the morning service because God just took over. Sunday night God took over again, and while people were praying Bro. Baker started talking about the woman with the issue of blood, and how we all have a problem and need to reach out to God like she did. People came to the altars and God touched them. It's exciting to see God touching people like this! I love it! It's what it's all about. Who says door knocking doesn't work? :)

Yesterday

Yesterday at church we had a young couple come in and sit in the back. I could tell by their attentiveness and the looks on the their faces that they were really listening and soaking up everything in the service. After service my dad was talking with them and asked how they found our church. They responded, "We're just looking for God. We know we need him." The girl was about ready to burst into tears. It made me wonder, how many people out there that look like they have it all together are really searching for God? People know they need Him. I want God to lead me to these people. People have no direction and are wandering aimlessly. An evangelist preached at our church Sunday morning and talked about the verse that says "save yourselves from this untoward generation." Meaning, this generation has no aim! They aren't going anywhere, but floating through life with no purpose. Thank God we have a goal and can press towards the mark.

It doesn't really matter where God places us in the body of Christ because it is not about us, but about the Kingdom of God and reaching these souls. Some people put an emphasis on certain callings or positions in the church, when really every single member is so important! If I can just win souls I will be happy! To pray, to know God's word, and share it with others is what I want to do.