williamjonathan

So as many of you know I am in Charlotte planting a church with one of my mentors, David Docusen. It has been the ride of my life there have been moment when I have been in tears for multiple reason, happiness, peace, adventure, sadness, and loneliness, just to name a few.

Today was an AMAZING day, I woke up and read, prayed, and my normal routine, minus the tea. Then headed to Smelly Cat, to meet up with David and Ben Getz (you will hear a lot about this guy, he is new in my life, but is already woven in) to go over some stuff for Center City.

As we were sitting around the table brain storming idea, it hit me that this is it. This is my life, this what God has made me for moments in life just like this. Moments full of Creativity, Love, and Joy. Moments not about myself, but moments about something larger than myself.

What are the moments of your life composed of?

No, I am not talking about my personal fashion, even though most of you would say that I am stuck in a different time frame with my apparel.

A few weeks ago, I was a used book store, and I came a cross a copy of Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest, from 1935. But the reason for this blog isn’t the fact that my book is super old and I love it.

My Utmost for His Highest, is a daily devotional. I am not alway a fan of these types of book, but I can’t put this thing down. It has become a new highlight of my day, I look forward to reading it daily and love the diversity of insight that it a man so removed from myself can have in my life.

I love the words of the men and women who preceded in the faith of Christianity. They experienced different trials and saw things that we will never witness. One would have to be stupid to not seek out the insight and wisdom of those who prepared the way for us.

So right now I am working a part time job. One thing that is cool about where I work is that we have movie theaters along with our amazing restaurant and lounge area.

Some times when I work I check the theaters, on one of the days that I was checking the theaters I came across a patron, who was standing by one of the exits and was praying… At first I honestly didn’t know what he was doing, but after a second look I was sure that he was praying, and I noticed by the time of day , and what he was doing that it was safe to assume that he has different beliefs than myself, and that he was praying while he was at the movies, that he was not a christian.

One thing that stand out to me is that he had a dedication to his faith, to the point that he was in a very public place and was making sure that he was living by what his faith was calling him to.

This was a slap in the fact to me. It made me think, when was the last time that I prayed when I was in a public place other than over my food…

How bout you? When was the last time you prayed in a public place?

Last night I was at some friends house. They had invited some people over, and among the people who came are a few that are, how should I say a little boisterous. As the night progressed we eventually started to play cards and this is when the noise level went up a few decibels, which is not usually an issue. However, one of, and the only negative about their apt. is that they have sheared walls… a thin wall. So once everyone had come to the table, there came a knock from the door.

“I am sorry, but you guys are a little to loud, do you think that you could be a little quieter?”

I am glad this was not my house because, at this point, I had ran around the corner  and put a empt box on top of my head, kinda like a Ostrich (an unclean animal in Lev. 11:13-19) with it head in the sand.

So my friend came back and informed us that we were going to need to lower the volume level a bit. So I spoke up and said… ” If you scream your out of the game…”

So you know me after a few moments my mind started to move and the blog is a result of it. I started to draw the connecting lines to this reality to that of one’s spiritual life.

So many times we are just like this story. We are next to a thin wall, and when we get to a point of excitement or we become vocal about what we believe we are inevitably going to have a knock on the door of some one who is not happy about it. The only thing that is different is that we are called to be boisterous about our faith. We are called to be happy and an example of joy and love to the world.

Here is what Jesus say about it… “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man also shall be ashamed of him, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” -Mark 8:38

So here the question are you like me when the neighbor knocked on the door and I but a box on my head and stood in the corner, not really hiding just becoming the subject of laughter. Or  are you answering the door for those on the other side who are knocking…

once day…

I hand a talk a few days ago with one of my friends, that has helped me and may help you.

Lately I have been dealing with a major issue in my life. I have been having an issue with how i should feel/deal with the issue. Part of my issue is that I “know” how to handle this situation, so when I look, focus, or try to deal with it I explain myself out of it. NOT HEALTHY!

So I have been asking those who are close to me for their input, and talking to them about it hoping that in talking to them about the issue, I will ended up facing it.

The other night I had a conversation that I honestly think is something that was a breakthrough for me and could be one for you.

“Just pray about it once a day and THAT IS IT!!!”

Why is it the hardest thing in the world to pray and let God take control. Honestly I think that is one of the most common and over looked struggles, and dare I say sins.

Jesus talks about it in the Gospel of Matthew 6:25-34. “I tell you, don’t be anxious about your life…” He then continues to talk about the provision of God.

David writes in Psalm 31:3. “For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me…”

The last few days, I have been trying this, only praying once a day for the issues that I am having problems of letting go of and honestly I feel better. I am not anxious, I am not struggling as much.

So many times is can be the simplest words and thoughts that can be the biggest break through. I know for me this has been true.

So if you are dealing with anything that is consuming your thoughts or actions, simply give it to God. But only ONCE a day. Then when it come to your mind later in the day, simply push it away.

I open my Bible and see a small piece of paper on this verse.

“If any one lacks wisdom, let him ask God , who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him. But ask in faith, with no doubting, for the  one who doubts is like a wave tossed be the wind. For if that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

This is a hard one for me to post. Lately I have been asking God, I have been asking Him for direction and answers that I am lacking. I have been trusting Him to answer, and He is. So I can stand on this passage and know that He is with me. The funny thing is that even when he answers it is not always easy.

We have to trust and know that when we ask God that He WILL answer.

The real issue is not will He answer, the question is will we except the answer? Will you follow if He asks you to do something you were expecting, outside of your comfort zone, or not the answer you want?

Will you have true obedience?

Will you walk away?

Will you let go?

Will you take the step of faith He is calling you to?

I fear there have been many times that God has answer my and your questions and we have not heard, or worse heard and done nothing.

Today lets stand together, and move forward, in ANY and EVERY way He is answering.

It is so funny at time to look at a simple conversation only to find that it was not so simple. There is power in everything that we say and/or do. We need to understand that and respect that. In the Old Testament of the Bible it talks about speaking slowly and thinking about all that you say, and in the New Testament it talks about how the tongue is the directing factor of your body (James 3… so also the tongue is the smallest, yet it boast great things.)

Are you thinking about what you are saying?

Are you in control or your direction?

So it is 12:26. I am beat. For the most part my day has been non-stop.

I woke up this morning and started my day with a little time for reading, which was immediately followed by responding to emails and working on other stuff for Center City.

After this I went to the bank, deposited two checks.

Then drove out to David’s then went to the Bou (Caribou Coffee), to talk about what was happening in my life and how my trip to Florida went, then about all my fundraising stuff.

Then back to his house to watch the kids while David and Dara went to a meeting. I thought that maybe this time I could work on some stuff while I put a movie on for the kids. Honestly I don’t know why I thought it would work this time if it has never worked. So after David and Dara got home, we watch the games, well I have been on my computer the entire time, but still I was in the room. Does that count?

Now I am here. writing about provision… So as you know I am planting Center City Church with David in Charlotte, NC and working a part time job. So I haven’t been able to pay all my bills by myself, I have had some help, and today I deposited a check that was much more than just money, it was encouragement. It is someone believing in the call that God has placed on my life and the call that He has given then to partner with me.

It is in moments like today when I am signing the back of a check and I have to hold back tears that I know I am never alone and the God’s provision is there.

Thank You, no matter how small it may seem, it only takes a pebble to kill a giant and a seed to move a mountain.

Thank you.

This is a long awaited blog for quite a few people. This is the blog that is for everyone wondering what I am doing with myself, and where I am these days.

First off let me start with where I am. I am currently living in Up Town Charlotte, NC. Here is what brought that about: About a year I got a phone call from an old friend, David Docusen. David had met several years earlier and had just “clicked”, and for the past several we both knew that we were meant to be connected; however try as we may we never connected, until this call. So on that night I answered the phone and was asked a simple but very impacting question, “Do you have a few min to talk?”, and with question my life has never been the same. David and I talked for about a hour and forty-five minutes, which ended in a humble and altering prayer. After the conversation there was an expectancy that Holy Spirit started to build in my heart. My first reaction the this conversation was that I should pray about this opportunity , but I honestly was didn’t think that I was called to Charlotte, I mean I had never been to the City before. So for the next several months there was prayers and a few conversations between David and myself. For me one of the moments that really defined my calling to Charlotte was when I was studying Israel and Charlotte was calling me. I mean honestly, I was in the Land of God and I found myself praying for Charlotte a city that I have only seen on a map. So upon my return to the states I knew that I had to plan a trip to Charlotte as soon as possible to let Holy Spirit talk to me and let me know if this was the place that He was truly calling me to.   So about two to three weeks after I found myself boarding a plane to Charlotte. And Honestly at first I did not feel like this was the place that I was called to be after graduation. However, towards the end of week things changed. It happened on the last day that we were in Uptown. As we were walking, I was just trying to catch the vision and dreams that God had placed in David. As we were leaving David asked me if there was anywhere I wanted to go and out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of a little row of builds. As we were walking up the them I could feel Holy Spirit, shifting things in my heart and in my eyes. In a matter of moments He he revealed a portion of His destiny for my life, which ended with my crying in the middle of the street. Once I got back to Lakeland I knew that it was time to pray. After a week of praying I knew that this was where God was calling me. There were a few things that I had to work through but that is to suspected. So three days after graduation I was on my way with everything I owned.

Current Day… I have now been in Charlotte for a 3 or 4 months, and my heart has been captured. I have been bless with an amazing house and three amazing room mates at this point in time, Pat, Hunter, and Ben, all of which I would love to have until the day I get married. I am currently working as a “bouncer” at Mez. I honestly love my job, and I love the people that I work with, but I have come to a place where I know things are going to be changing and I will explain that I a blog soon to follow. BUT that is not the reason I moved here, I moved here to help David, my mentor, to “plant”, start, Center City Church in uptown Charlotte.

Over the next few days there is going to be an influx of new bloggs that go into further  details as to me and Center City.

Love in Grace through Christ.

The last 6 days have been some of the longest, telling, revealing days of my life. Over the last few days I was in my home state of Florida. I was blessed by my parents with a flight to Jacksonville. So on Sunday my little trip began. It started with a little confusion and fun, see earlier post. The first day I spent the Holiday with my family at my aunts lake house and a fun game of Evil Uno. Then it was to some of the business of the trip, meetings, meetings, meetings, and after more caffein than I have drank in the past three years combined, I find myself sitting at my father’s desk writing this blog, with a clear image of the Man God is shaping me to be, and the one I was all week long. The past three days were full of nothing but meaningful conversations full of love, grace, advice, and friendship.

It is funny for me to be writing this, but I feel like I am in the “World Series”. There comes a point in everyones life where they look at the dream that God is placing or has placed in their life. For me this is the first of many moments to come where I can look back and say, “Thank You God… Thank You so much for making me who I am today, for using me in others lives, for calling me to the path that You designed for me, for calling me to Charlotte, for calling me to be with David and everyone at Center City (next blog will fill you in).

I would encourage anyone who is reading these words, weather you have faith in God or not, to take a moment and thank Him for all that He has done and is doing for you and through you.