Some things I've learned about clay

Sometimes the dried hard clay needs broken up and a little water added to it so that it will be usable again. Sometimes it needs to be kneaded because it has sat idle too long and needs to regain it's consistency. Some smashing may occur. Some forcing will occur. There will be a LOT of shaping. But most of all, the clay cannot be formed of itself, it needs the hands of a skilled potter.

I'm alive... I think... also quite a bit of reading (sorry)

Life has been great as of late. Nay, God has been great. A few things have happened in the past weeks where God has been breaking me down. In preaching for one and in other situations also. We are finishing up the book of Job in our church services just about to the end where God shows himself to Job and his greatness and infinite wisdom. Job confesses his vileness and God's supremacy and sheds his pride. It has been something that I have needed. God reminded me that I am vile and that I am just a sinner saved by grace. The breaking process can be painful but it is a great feeling to have a friend so close to console you, comfort you and sing you songs of deliverance.

The reason for the title is the fact that I could not find my birth certificate. Still have not and may never. I had to order a new one. But for what reason, you ask, do you need your birth certificate? For my passport. I am trying to get things rolling for my passport so that I can have it before the middle of May. I am planning on going with Bearing Precious Seed ministries to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and I need a passport to go to Mexico. I found out about this trip from a newsletter from Chick Publications. I am very excited. Juarez Mexico is a mess, over 2 million people in one of the most dangerous places on earth. At least 8 people a day are reported killed. Drugs run rampant as well as gangs. But the real heart of the problem is sin. They are without God and without hope and through this campaign I hope that things will change. We, should God allow me to make it, will be passing out half a million Spanish John and Romans. After each of the five days we'll be there, there will be a message preached in a public place to the people of Juarez. It's going to be work, it's going to be different and, perhaps, in some cases, uncomfortable but it would be worth it to see even one soul saved. Pray for these people who are going, the hosting church, Valley Baptist in el Paso, TX and the people of Juarez. Please pray for me too because I can see that it is going to be a fight to get there, against the flesh and other circumstances.


I am pretty sure that I have needed something like this for a long time. I have seen my heart get hard toward missions and souls. I once had no greater desire than to be a missionary. That was my goal. But I allowed myself to get cold and let the world get a hold of me. I dabbled with this and that and there were periods of fervency and then frigidness making for an overall of lukewarm but my biggest problem was that I lost my vision. And without a vision the people perish. Lately God has been working on me and reminding me that there is an eternity where people will spend in one of two places and the majority will not be in heaven but in the darkness of hell. I have a certain friend who claims to be an atheist and it has been one of the millstones that has been breaking me down. I see the sadness that he lives with and his hoplessness. These things bother me and bring me to tears. But then I think about a whole world filled with people who have a lack of hope that there are people everywhere who need Christ. And others who have never heard about God or Jesus, ones who live in bondage trying desperately to please the spirits and gods of their culture, the gods and spirits who do not care for them but hate them, the ones that use and abuse people. I would that God would give me a courage and hope to reach more and more souls, to see liberty brought to the captives before his short return. Pray for me as I am but flesh and most likely will become distracted with this or that once again.


I guess I will fall on the grace of God. I will see what he does. I am excited because lately it seems I have started a new route in life, we'll see where God takes me. I have been falling in love with my saviour again, and with good reason. He's so lovely. He's so kind. He's a friend who loves with a holy love. His mercies are new every morning. He gives me peace and strength. He sings songs to my heart to lift me up. He is my all. I love him. I owe him all, for that is the only reasonable thing I can give.


Scripture to ponder:
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
...
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

What is your life?

What is the point of life? Are we aimlessly stumbling around to obtain a good job, a spouse, a nice home and a handful of kids? To have our little niche in the world where you go to church and have your happy little family? Where you go out day after day to your workplace to maintain your cozy little nook in the world? Or is there perhaps a higher calling? One where you are sent out to live a life of basics and sacrifice so that others can hear the gospel. A life where your little nook is constantly challenged. About whether or not you can live well, let alone comfortably. Where health is sometimes out of grasp. A life that is lived on your knees. This life is not lived for ourselves but first God and then others. It is a life lived this way so that the cause of Christ rings loudly and clearly. When others see this life lived they are taken back at the way God uses you and the grace he shows you. This life is that of a christian- he who gives all he has with all his might to obtain something that cannot be lost. This is the life that I want to live. Whether I have just a hammock in the jungle, an apartment in the city or a box on the street, I would that my all is given to Christ.

Determination or purpose.

I am heavy with several friends and comrades falling to the rush decision to get into a relationship or get married and last night I finally had enough when I recieved some bad news. Some of you might read this or I should say two of you(and you know who you are[and I'm praying for you btw]) and possibly think that it's directed at you, well it's not. I just want to show other kids my age and younger that you can do it the right way and that whenever/if ever I get married that I did it the right way. So here's my determination.


I am determined that should God have me get married that I will do all things in the process correctly. I will not be secretive and go behind people's back, especially my parents. I will not be a back stabber. I will not disrespect my parents', my close (and godly) friends', or my pastor's advice. I will not shun other friends in favor of spending all my time with whoever she is. I will make God the center of our relationship and only move at his impulse remembering that this vile flesh in which I live cannot be trusted. I will not get too attached before I know that she is or is not the one. I will let the Bible be the deciding factor im my marriage to her. I will marry for God's glory and his alone.

That's my dad!

I have a different perspective on things since my dad makes pottery. I guess you could say that he's an artist. I get to see all the different things that he comes up with. Sometimes he comes up with a unique piece that is very useful, or maybe just different. He has some of the most beautiful glazes on some of his work. Not only do I get to see the end product, but I even get to see the process in which he forms each piece. It truly is amazing what one can do with a pile of mud.

Speaking of which, I was taking a walk today and was taken away by what my eyes beheld. I got to see the sun making its course toward the end of the horizon, all the while casting its golden rays so liberally as to say, Good night Dillon! Here's a little beauty to remember me by until I come back in the morning. And to see the glorious planet on which I have opportunity to abide in under such light, I was in awe. And the thought occurred to me... My Dad made this. My heavenly Father made this little ball of mud with all its splendor, and he has given me the eyes to gaze upon it. What a beautiful creation, and to think I not only know the creator, but he's adopted me. I am his child. Come what may he's coming for me one day. He'll take me up to my home where not hurt nor harm can reach. No sin, no sickness, no sorrow nor pain. I'll see Jesus who so lovingly gave himself for me. I will live in heaven for all eternity. I look around me and see this earth that while it may be beautiful, it's still fallen. But that this fallen earth can be filled with such magnificence, how beautiful Heaven must be! Oh that it were today. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.


Scripture to ponder:

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

An amazing summer. Part 1

I would apologize for not posting for so long and tell you all just how sorry I was for my lack of blogging except for the fact that I am not really sorry. Sorry for not being sorry.
This Summer has been great. It has been full of challenges, fun, excitement, change and commitment. But even better than having a great Summer full of blessings is the great God of the Summer of blessings. His mercy to me is far beyond my comprehension, why he should pity me is far from my feeble understanding.

First I will start with the Big Sky Bible Conference. I know that most people have had their little afterglow parties. That everybody has told of all the blessings they got. And I know that it's been a couple months since it was over too. But I haven't had mine.

This year was tremendous just as it is every year. I was praying for something specific and God answered. It's actually kind of funny. I was hoping for the first 4 days or so that God would just move like I have had before and that he would almost overwhelmingly like I am sure some of you could relate to. But it seemed like nothing. Like it was unusually quiet. God was speaking but it wasn't like I had hoped for or expected. (Funny thing: you can't expect God to sit in your little box and perform little tricks for you based on what YOU think.) What I had come to realize was that God has spoken to me on many different occasions before. This time it was more or less his confirmation on a lot of things that I have been iffy on. Let's just say that I am a modern day Gideon and that was one of my last tests, hopefully(you know how we as humans are). God wasn't showing me some new thing, he wasn't changing my direction to a better way for him, but rather he was saying, GET WITH THE PROGRAM, BUCKO! Let me confess something to you. I have lived a rather empty and selfish life up to this point. There has not been a whole lot done for God in the past several years that I have been saved. Before moving to Dillon my witnessing had all but died, my prayer life had been worse than poor, my Bible reading a joke. It still needs a lot of help, but by God's grace he draws me nearer everyday. I know what God wants and knew what God wanted besides all that I mentioned before and I had always been afraid of my calling. But on Friday night I hit the altar, I gave up. I was tired of fighting. All my fighting probably caused me more grief than if I had just surrendered in the first place. All that being said, I have had some more battles with this thing. I know what I am fighting now and a little better how to do so. Since then I have started doing a little in what I believe my calling is and to my surprise GOD BLESSED! WOW! To think that he would let me down just goes to show what sort of nature I have.

Besides all those blessings, it was great to have all the people from all over come and to have sweet fellowship with other believers! One day it will be a GRAND reunion. Here are some pictures from that.



Canoeing at Clark Canyon

 




Cliff Jumping at Clark Canyon

 


The Drink Table Ladies

                                       



Hike around Agnes lake





I also got to spend some time withe these...

 


...some of my very best friends.




This was found whilst straitening hymn books
You can tell the kids are paying attention

 It was a great time outside of the preaching too!




Scripture to ponder:

Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

More later

Just wanted to put something up since it's been so long. Here's a couple verses that always prick my conscience when I go to judge a lost person.

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

 Read the context on that one. Really convicting when I look at someone who is lost and want to judge them.


2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
                  What do I need to say here?


Praying for you guys.

Brandon W.