The Journey

Recently I have been confronted with the need to spend some time thinking of my future. Crazy, huh? I can remember when my "future" consisted of thinking of what I was gonna do later that evening, but not what to do with my "future, future." If you know what I mean.

I've thought about my walk with God, the path He has set me on, and how He has blessed me so. I wonder if I have made Him proud, (if that is an attribute that God has) or if I have disappointed Him.

I think of all that God has done and of what I have failed to do. I think of the time, the joy, the laughter, the smiles, the difficulties, the friends, the places...What a journey it is.

It's a strange thing, thinking this way. It is foreign to me, but I guess its normal for everyone who comes to this point in their life. What "point in my life" am I talking about? It's different for every person, but you'll know it when you get there.

When do we stop growing in our faith? When do we stop being stretched by the Master's hand? When do we say, "I've got it?" Never? Will we ever stop growing? God will always be leading us to be more like Him. There will always be new challenges, more struggles, more laughter, more smiles...but what a journey it is. I'm glad to be on it. Humbled to be living it.

God bless you and thanks for taking the journey with me.
Sammy

Heading into the unknown

This is what I saw yesterday morning as I stepped out of my house. Crazy fog. Have you ever driven a scooter when there's heavy fog? Tip: Don't. I was soaked when I got to church.

I've been thinking about the fog. Life can sometimes be foggy. Scary with uncertainties, confusion and fear. If you've never experienced these feelings, believe me, they will come.

Look at the verse I read this morning.
2 Timothy 1:7
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

That's such a comforting verse. I remember getting ready to go into my Oral Examination while completing my Masters Degree. I was going to be questioned by four Music Professors on anything that I had studied for the last 7 years of music studies. I was a bit nervous to say the least.

There I sat, outside the room where the exam would be held. That is the verse I read.
It was very comforting then and it still is today.

We are about to go in to a series entitled, "Days Like These." This sermon series will focus on the Lament Psalms, from the Book of Psalms. These are the laments of our heart in times of trouble, failure, distress, persecution and chaos. Beginning this weekend, this series will be really good.

The promises of our God are never changing.

Sammy

Days Like These...

It's a new year and look at what's coming up. A new sermon series; Day's Like These, Laments from the Psalms. You are gonna love this series. We will look at different chapters from the book of Psalms to help you to deal with days when you are discouraged, or when you are in trouble and others. You will not want to miss this.

Speaking of the book of Psalms, which I love by the way, I was recently reading through Psalms 89. Look at verse one and two:

I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
through all generations.
I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

I love these two verses for a couple of things;

1. It is my desire that as long as I live I will worship our Lord and share my passion for worship with all of those around me.

2. How amazing is the faithfulness of our Lord. His faithfulness is established in heaven itself. Wow!

Have you taken a look up to the heavens recently? I have. It's huge! That is how the faithfulness of our Lord is. Incredible!

Well, here we go. Welcome 2011.

Peace,
Sammy

Thanks

Well, I completed the Miami Ironman 70.3.

Thanks for all who prayed for me, who encouraged me and supported me. It was a beautiful day. Shortly before the race I wondered, "And why am I doing this again?"

Once I dropped into the water, I knew it was game on. It was a clean race, with no accidents, injuries, or mechanical problems. However, I did get stung by a bee. Oh yeah. Who would of thought that would happen?

Probably the coolest thing was the support of my family who endured all the prep to the race and race day itself, and my friends who asked me about the race, who encouraged and supported me. Seeing my friends along the bike course was so awesome. It brought huge smiles to my face, 'cause I knew they really cared. So cool. It still brings me a smile. I loved it.

So now, I catch my breath and look at where I can improve. Recount the day and smile. Oh I'll keep training, and remembering how blessed and thankful I am. So good.

Peace

Here We Go

Okay all my friends, please say a prayer for me. That I would have health and be a witness. I begin the race with the swim at 7:08 a.m. on Saturday, October 30th.

Pray that I would be safe and that I would have an opportunity to share about our precious Lord.

Well, here we go...

Peace,
Sammy

LoveMiami2010

It's been a beautiful week. Christ Fellowship members have been all over the city showing the love of God in tangible ways; from taking care of special needs children, to painting, to landscaping and more. It has been nothing short of amazing! And the fun continues.

I was so excited to see the Palmetto Bay Staff and the Starting Point Small Group come together at Perrine Elementary. It was so great. We did some incredible landscaping, yes I said incredible. We had fun, it was a beautiful day, great friends, and I made it without getting any poison ivy or poison oak.

There is still time for you to be a part of this. Go online and check out LoveMiami2010 for thousands of opportunities. Sign up and join the fun!

Peace,
Sammy
Romans 5:5

I have no words

This is all I will share this week. I have no words;



3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9 For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.

11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;

13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.

15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.

16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;

17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 The days of the blameless are known to the LORD,
and their inheritance will endure forever.

19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish:
The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,
they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;

22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be cut off.

23 If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;

24 though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
Psalm 37:3-15


Peace