Archive for January, 2010

⁷ Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem,
by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer:
Don’t excite love, don’t stir it up,
until the time is ripe—and you’re ready.

Song of Solomon 2:7 Message Bible

Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you
by the gazelles and by the does of the field:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.

Song of  Solomon 2:7 New International Verson

It seems that lately I have heard a lot about struggling marriages in Christian homes. I think Christians have the most difficult time with our marriages because we feel we should be the last to have problems. This especially applies if both spouses are Christians. It seems that if both are Christians, then people believe surely between the two people that they should be able to have a loving and peaceful marriage, and it should be that way at all times. I think people set up false expectations in this way. What being in a Christian marriage does for you is to give you the tools you need to work through problems through prayer and the Word. It doesn’t mean that you won’t have any problems. Anytime that you put two humans together day in and day out, while dealing with the daily stresses of life, conflict is going to arise. It is inevitable. Just as God never promised our lives would be trouble free, He also never promised our marriages would be trouble free. Unfortunately, when we expect perfection, then we often decide we must have “missed God” on this whole marriage thing to begin with, and that maybe it would just be best to ask for forgiveness while both parties move on.  I am not going to take time to debate the divorce question, but rather just to encourage someone in saying that your commitment is honored most highly by God, and He is willing to help you deal with it if you ask Him.

With all that being said, I realize that most of the Hillside group is indeed not married yet. Perhaps, you can take the previous words and apply them later in life. Meanwhile, I do have some thoughts on pre-marriage. I think all young girls grow up waiting for Prince Charming. While I do believe this generation has pretty much moved on from Cinderella’s version of Prince Charming to a much more realistic version, I also feel that most are still looking for the perfect man. After they find the perfect man, they can then move on to the perfect marriage — right?

Yesterday, I took a personality quiz which intrigued me. I learned some things about myself that I have probably known for a while, but had never really seen it written out in paragraph form like that. My particular personality type tends to believe everyone should think like we do. They also get frustrated when the other person does not think or act in the way we think they should and that also applies to relationships. They often search for the perfect relationship and never find it. I do agree I have found myself having those types of thoughts, but am realistic enough to know every relationship has problems. I am wondering if several other personality types don’t have similar thoughts when it comes to relationships. How many young girls are searching for the perfect man, willing to go through however many until they find him?

I would like to insert a different strategy. First, perfect man, perfect woman, perfect marriage — they don’t exist. The only perfection in this world is God. Ok, so maybe everyone knows that. Secondly, anything even close to perfect doesn’t exist either — with one exception. The exception to this reality would be that there is such a thing as God’s perfect will. There is a “perfectly imperfect” person out there that God has waiting for you. Together, He wants you to have a “perfectly imperfect” marriage that honors Him.  You can force it and you can try to create it, but it won’t be right unless you wait for God to send it as the verse above states.”Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.” Just as you are preparing your heart to love as God would have you to, there is a man somewhere doing the same. There are parents out there praying for God to send the right godly man or woman for their child. When the time is right, this plan will come to fruition. Don’t worry, God will not forget you. He has a plan for you, too, if you wait patiently on it. One day, when the time is right, you will celebrate the first anniversary of your “perfectly imperfect” marriage and know that, with God, all things can be made whole — no matter what life throws at you.

The other day, I was talking to a friend.  It was kind of a serious talk.  I was trying to resolve some stuff that had come up in our friendship.  There was a lot of assuming without much communication at all, which led to some tension that I had finally decided needed to be taken care of, and was finally brave enough to do so.  We were talking, and it was going absolutely nowhere . . . until I said something — something that I didn’t intend to say, and I didn’t even mean it.  Things blew up at that point.  I’ve been working and praying all week for it to be resolved with no knowledge as to when we’ll be reconciled.

The worst thing about the whole situation is that I had been praying so hard for this person that they could seriously experience the love of Christ, and that a real and authentic relationship with the Holy Spirit could be a part of this person’s life.  And, with one simple slip of an unthought-out sentence . . . I feel like it’s all gone.  It’s going to take a lot of work to get this friendship back, if my friend is even open to it.

I’m reminded of so many places in the New Testament that we are warned about our words.  James talks about the tongue being like a wildfire; like a rudder of a ship—a small part of a huge ship, but controls the direction of it.  Relationships are made and broken by communicating and talking. Not only that, in everything we do, we represent God . . . in every action, in every thought, and even in every word; those spoken in secret and those shouted from the roof tops.

And, the thing about words — they’re not as easy to recall like some lead-painted toy on the market.  You can’t put out signs, everyone mails them in, and you get your money back.  Words linger for much longer than you want them to, especially the hurtful ones that you speak. There’s no turning back once something has been said.  You can apologize, you can correct yourself . . . but sometimes you’re not offered the chance . . . and what you said is now truth in that other person’s life.

Hey guys…I just want to say we had another awesome night in the Lord, here at Hillside. I believe God is doing something great in all of your lives. Don’t let anyone or anything tell you differently. You are sons and daughters of the living God.  Remember, He is not mad at you — He loves you and is smiling upon you!

The word on the street is that school is out today. I just want to encourage all of you to take some of this time today when you would normally be at school, and just give God some time.  Talk to Him, and allow Him to speak to you. He absolutely cares about what you have to say. Jeremiah 33:3, one of my favorite scriptures says, “If you call upon me, I will answer, and show you great and mighty things, you do not know!” If you call, He will listen and answer — it’s a promise! So with your time today, take a few moments and fuel the fire that God has been pouring out on us! What we experience in here at Hillside, you can experience out there, wherever you are. Encounter and experience God today! Hope all of you have a blessed, long weekend : )

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!  According to the news reports, that’s what it’s going to do.  I looked at TheWeatherChannel.com, and according to their site, Columbia will be receiving 5-9 inches of snow by Saturday afternoon.  Now, if you live in Kentucky, you know that you live in Kentucky, and that means the weather doesn’t always happen the way the metereologist says it will.  But, if it does, what does that mean for you?  For students —- NO SCHOOL!  For employees, possible traveling difficulties to and from work.  For families, fun in the snow with the kids.  Now, I don’t have kids, so I won’t be out playing in it.  I’m not a student, so the school schedule doesn’t affect me.  Since we’re self-employed, we’ll just close down the stores if the roads are too bad. 

What do I like about the snow?  It’s pretty to look at :).  But, my favorite would be snow cream.  I haven’t had any for quite awhile, so I am looking forward to having some this weekend.   What are some of your favorite things about snow?  Comment below.  Since I’ve been sick for two weeks, staying at home will not be a problem; it will be another day.  As part of my illness, I can’t seem to think or concentrate too much.  So, instead of writing about something deep or profound, I picked out something “light”— like snow!

Ok, so my video link is officially dysfunctional, lol.  I am having trouble uploading my videos.  Hopefully, I can get it fixed by next week. 

Tonight, I want you to realize that “Bondage is a choice, but freedom is your Birth Right”.  Many times, we choose to live in bondage;  when as sons and daughters of God, freedom is our inheritance.  We were not born of the flesh, but of the Spirit and now are joint heirs with Christ.  Don’t choose to sit in the prison cell while the door is wide open.  Get up, step out, and live in your inheritance — FREEDOM!

Cya tonight at Hillside 7pm!

Over the past five/six years of my life, I have learned one thing about myself — I’m a restless spirit who desperately needs peace.  I live a fearful life, in doubt of the power that my God has over me and my situations I face daily.  I can’t count the number of times that I have sat in mourning, asking God to give me peace over my life.  I just expected God to supernaturally pour peace over me like syrup on pancakes, which I believe He could do at any moment He chose.

Yet, I believe God has been trying to show me something about peace in my life; that peace can be given from the Father when needed, but, also. that to have constant peace in my life is a choice.  When I begin to become troubled by the cares of the world, I choose peace.  Money is tight and how in the world are these loans going to be paid after school — I choose peace.   Relationships aren’t going how I thought they should — I choose peace.  When the world tries to give you a falsehood of peace, I choose God’s peace.  I choose the peace that Jesus left for us — Holy Spirit peace.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid…

Peace, peace, wonderful peace.
Coming down from the Father above.
Sweep over my spirit, forever I pray.
In fathomless billows of love…

What’s up, Hillside? I have not been able to get it out of my head all weekend. Literally, everyday I have thought about the amazing service we had on Thursday night. The Holy Spirit was strong in the house, and it has been a long time since we’ve experienced a service like that together. I believe a lot of it had to do with your faithfulness to come out and spend hours in prayer last Thursday for the 24-hour prayer day. Thank you so much for all of you who participated! I believe we are going to continue to experience the Holy Spirit in stronger ways here in the near future, as we love each other like family, and seek the face of God with hunger and desire.

Thursday night was a night of restoration for many of us. It is never a bad thing when you have to stop and just sing to the Lord, “I’m coming back to the heart of worship, because it’s all about You!” I have read it somewhere that the grace of Jesus Christ is like that of an ocean’s tide — the tides of grace rush in and out around us all day long! We walk in His grace always, and we grow in His grace. On the front of my Bible, it is imprinted, “His grace is sufficient.” Jeremy Sharlow once picked up my Bible after a service and said, “Who’s Bible is this? It’s gotta be Jason Hood’s.” I looked at Jeremy and said, “Why’s that?” Jeremy laughed and said, “Because you need more grace than anybody!” LOL, it was vey funny, but the truth of the matter is, we all need that grace everyday that we live. When you call upon the name of the Lord, His grace is sufficient for you, and when you are weak, you are made strong! When you need the tides of grace to rush in over the shores of your life, just call upon the name of Jesus.  Come back to the heart of worship, and there you will find restoration!

Here is one of my favorite songs that never fails to bring encouragement. It is called, “Restoration,” by David Brymer.
Restoration

Hey, guys — we had an awesome service last night!  I truly believe God was there in a special way.  I believe God is transitioning us into a deeper level of His presence.  I wanted to thank all of you that were able to be there last night.  I also wanted to encourage you to continue to privately pursue God, so that our public gatherings will be just an overflow of what is happening in our hearts.  If you weren’t able to join us last night, I hope you can next Thursday. 

We showed this video last night from the trip to the Jefferson St. homeless shelter.  Thanks to all of you that went — it was great!

“ Taste and see that the LORD is good” —  Psalm 34:8

Last Friday, I was admitted to the hospital with dehydration, dizziness, and low potassium.  While there, I was diagnosed with mono and bronchitis. I had been on a two-week fast — not a total fast, but one where I was just eating fruits and vegetables on some days, bread and water on the others.  I thought I was taking in enough liquids (juices and unsweetened tea), but I wasn’t drinking enough water.  My body became deplenished, and I became dehydrated.  I was in the hospital until Tuesday, and the whole time I was there, I was hooked to an IV, recceiving fluids.  So, I broke the cardinal rule for fasting —  drink water, and lots of it! 

Just like our natural bodies need water, our souls need spiritual nourishment.  When we go long periods of time without praying or reading the Word, our souls will become “dry and thristy”.  And, even though we may be “feeding” our souls some things, if we don’t do it on a regular, daily basis, our spirits will become weak, longing for the richness and goodness of God.  Drink daily in His presence.  Fill yourself up with His righteousness.  Drink from the cup that will never run dry!

Matt 24:12 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

I have been in youth ministry for a little over four years now.  I have seen many young people come to know Christ and, also, walk away from Him.  In these years of ministry, I have one growing concern for our Christian culture – APATHY!  Many times, Christians will not blatantly walk away from Christ, but as time passes, their hearts grow apathetic to Him.  I find it so strange, that many times once somebody gets saved, it seems their entire Christian existence is spent just trying to survive.  Apathy does not happen overnight; rather, it’s a process similar to a candle waxing cold.  My question to you is, “Are you waxing cold or burning with the Fire of God?”  Tonight, I will share my heart concerning this subject — I hope you can join us – Hillside 7pm! 

(I apologize for not being able to put this preview in video format).