Awakened

Hey Everybody,

I "officially" started work at the BSHOP (Bridge Street House of Prayer) last week. It was good, but for some reason, it was a lot more stressful than just hanging out there like I've been. I'm working there every wednesday and friday now.

Started classes yesterday. My german class is awesome, and I love it. I dropped my entrepreuning class cause the instructor said some things I did not agree with at all. I added a world geography class in place of that which I'm a lot more excited about.

I've found a new group called "Grand Rapids Christian Connect (GRCC for short)" that meets every wednesday. My good friend Charlie Gies just moved away to college, and I don't really have any people I can "open up to" really.

I still haven't found a car, if you were curious. My chinese exchange student from China gets here tomorrow, so pray that she arrives safely.

1 Cor. 3:7 "So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God gives the increase".

Prayer Request: My job situation for this fall isn't looking too good. Please pray there are more orders at my workplace, and/or I can find a new job. Also that I can find more christians that I can talk to and hang out with or w/e.

Thanks and God Bless,
Josh

How He Loves

Hey everyone,
Looking at my last few posts, I kind of realized that they were a bit too long, also for how many followers I have *cough!!* haha JK. So I'll try to keep them short and sweet from now on.

Last week I "got the job" at BSHOP (Bridge Street House OF Prayer). I technically don't start until September, and I'm only "working" there about twice a week as of right now. I'm pretty excited though to see how the Lord is going to use me down there.

I also just found out I have to buy a car this fall. I'm really not too crazy about it, seeing as I hardly don't have like any money, and I'm only going to be here for like another 4 months. I'm still working and stuff, but it wont be very often especially with me taking classes this fall. But oh well, what can you do I guess..If this is what the Lord is calling me to do, it will happen.

Romans 13:10 "Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

Thanks for following,
Josh

Never Let Go

Hey guys,
I really don't know how to start explaining what all happened this past week. I've been going through a lot of spiritual ups and downs since I've been home, but last week was pretty difficult for me. Ever since I've been home, I guess I haven't had a lot of friends who I've been able to talk with and pray with and get some encouragement. Last week was the most difficult I've had since I've been home. I really had no motivation to work, do ministry, or anything. It almost felt like I was starting to become surrounded, and I had to get out, or do something. My friend Charlie told me about another prayer house downtown which I went to on thursday, and it just totally rocked me. I finally got to pray with people and be encouraged and stuff, it was pretty awesome.

After getting some motivation, I FINALLY was able to make it down to BSHOP (Bridge Street House of Prayer) where they have that free coffee shop/ministry thingy. The director gave me an application to start working down there, so I'm pretty stoked about that. It's unpaid volunteer work, and it's 5 days a week from 12-5. If I get the job, I'm not exactly sure when I'll be working.

I finished signing up for classes too. I'm taking German, Weightlifting, Camping and Canoeing, and Entrepreneurship. It's only 9 credits, but it' better than nothing I suppose. Classes start in about 3 weeks.

Psalm 66:20: "Blessed be God. Who has not turned away my prayer. Nor His mercy from me!"

Prayer Request: That my dad has a quick recovery from surgery. He just had back surgery today on a ruptured disk in his spine.

thanks for following,
josh

Surrender

Just got home from a little family vacation for a week in Tennessee yesterday. I don't really think I needed a vacation, but I guess my parents did, and they invited me along, so I was like ok. We rented a cabin in the smokies with people that we traveled with in China when we went to go get Lia. It was fun, but it was super hot. Lia got to see all of her little friends too, so I think she enjoyed it. Got to do some white water rafting on the way back, and we stopped at cedar point, too.



Before I left, I got the chance to work on a new habitat for humanity house downtown with crossroads community church for one day. It was this like 100 year old house that they were just re-modeling for the new people moving in. It was the first time I ever worked on a habitat for humanity home, and it was a really cool experience.

I've been doing a lot of wrestling with God about going to Hawaii for University of the Nations for photography in January. I've really just been kind of blowing it off and not trying to think about it, but it kind of all sparked again when I was reminded by Ryan at the house of prayer downtown, that God wants followers, not believers. And if you want to follow him, then it's going to be all, or nothing. I was also kind of convicted with this verse too:

Revelation 3:15-16, "I know your works, that you are cold nor hot. I wish that you were neither cold or hot. So then, because you are neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth."

It's been something he just keep nudges me with, and I finally just had to give in, and realize there's no way I'm gonna win this fight. I'm really really trusting God for this one, because I'm still kind of confused on why he wants me to go there. I'm trusting that there's a reason. We'll see.

prayer request: that everything goes smoothly while applying

if you're following, let me know who you are!!!
thanks,
josh