What a friend we have in Jesus
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name, the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
John 15:12-17
I'm not into paintings of Jesus, but when I was looking at some images of Jesus' character, this painting struck me good. I can only imagine at the final day when he returns (I don't know what Jesus will look like), and when I see him, I know he will open his arms wide open like two friends who haven't seen each other in a long time.
God is a Friend
"How deep is God's love for us? Who can measure the depths of it, Lord? How far does Your love go?" These are some questions I was pondering when I was writing this blog. I can type up a novel for you to read, but to save you time, the important thing is God's character is rooted in one word, LOVE.
When I study F.O.J with a student, and we talk about the character of God, I ask them what do they know about God. Most of the answers I hear are like this, "He is like a father to me." I respond, "That's good. From what you said, how have you experienced God recently like a father to you?" Some students couldn't answer that or had no idea but have heard he is like a Father. It's sad to hear that but also gives me hope for our students at Collin College will KNOW the love of God. When I mean know, I mean experiencing it and not hear about it.
For me personally, I’m experiencing the love of God as a friend. Don't get me wrong, he is a Father and a king to me, but I can't pinpoint just one character of Yahweh. There are some friends I've grown up with in the past I do not keep in touch with as often or at all, and every year I know I make new friends. The love of a friend is so deep and powerful and lasts so far. Friends who love each other are built on trust and serving one another just as Jesus commanded. The best thing about the love of a friend is, they will never abandon the friendship. That is how I see God. He is consitent and has been with me through every good and bad seasons I went through. He has been the most consistent Father and friend to me. Because God is a good friend to all of us, the ones who know Jesus know the meaning of love that a friend gives. Special shout outs to all of my friends (I can't list them all, but you know who you are)
Listen to this song by Jonathan Ogden called "Friend." Please listen to this song and meditate on it. Please share with me your thoughts.
Updates on our ministry!
At Collin, we're continuing Deep Dive which is our replacement for TNF (just for this year, hopefully), and every Sunday from 4-5pm, we all meet at Garrett's backyard. When we had bad storms. we host Deep Dive over Zoom instead of in-person. I was blessed to give my first sermon to the students, and it was such an awe moment. We finished a sermon series called What it means to be a Christian, and my topic was confession and vulnerability. It's such a neat thing to see our students at collin college are engaging in God's word and growing in vulnerability in their core groups!
Spring Showcase is coming soon on April 3rd, and YOU ARE INVITED! Every year we host a fundraiser like Keep FOCUS Growing, but it's a fundraiser for our students who we selected to go to SICM (a campus ministry conference in Bellingham, WA). We will have a pre-show at 6pm and the show starting at 6:30pm. Typically our Showcase has had a flat ticket fee but this year people can give what they can at anyfocus.org/showcase. Folks will have access to the concert stream once they give at that link! We will also be selling limited edition FOCUS merchandise that will replace our art sale this year. So pumped! All proceeds benefit students attending the Student Institute of Campus Ministry this year! Please tell me if you plan to watch our spring showcase!
Please Pray:
1. Our students in and out of our community will continue to seek Jesus at a deeper level.
2. Caitlin and I are MARRIED! It's starting to hit me now, and it's wonderful being married to her. Pray God continues to bless us as we still continue to honor him in our marriage.
3. Pray for our whole general staff at FOCUS as we are looking forward to what God has planned for us in the next school year. Specifically wisdom, discernment, patients, and grace.
Please reach back to me if you need any prayers. I would also like to have breakfast/lunch with you at any day or time and plan it. Love you guys and super thankful for your support in campus ministry.
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