Austin Bailey's Ministry Blog

“While optimism makes us live as if someday soon things will soon go better for us, hope frees us from the need to predict the future and allows us to live in the present, with the deep trust that God will never leave us alone but will fulfill the deepest desires of our heart... Joy in this perspective is the fruit of hope.” ―  Henri J.M. Nouwen,  Here and Now: Living in the Spirit I believe we live in a generation where optimism controls our hearts and our faith is not focused on God's promise but the results of the future to come. I've been thinking about the word hope, and what do I hope for in this life? Hope is a state of anticipation, and it is crucial for healthy human existence, and it is a really important concept in the Bible. I understand one of the Hebrew words for hope is "qavah," which means to wait for a tense expectation. Like a farmer who plants vines in the field and waits for good grapes. I often am hopeful for the next big thing in my life to...

 What. A. YEAR!!! The moment we've been waiting for has finally come. I was thinking about the song "Hit the Road Jack" by Ray Charles and we can all say to 2020, "HIT THE ROAD JACK"! This blog is going to be very short but with lots of pictures over the month. We ended our Fall semester with a winter worship night, and 50+ of our collin students came to praise our God. When the semester is over that doesn't mean we clock out from God. During the winter break, our staff team read over a book called Money & Power by Jacques Ellul (I know the title could be misleading). The book is about  the attitudes toward wealth from the Old Testament to the New Testament, Jacques Ellul discusses both societal and individual responsibilities related to the use of money and power. This book is a good read and challenging to think through, but it's helped me think differently about money and the role it plays. What has God been teaching you over the holidays? I had t...

Sometimes I think back to times in our ministry, like last year or a couple of years ago, when people would not have to wear masks, certain stores & cafes were open, and we could meet new students without being six feet apart. As I witness time moving forward in a global pandemic year, I have to stop and reflect and be grateful that God has blessed us over and over again. While we may be missing our weekly fellowship nights and after events, there is a flip side that is really positive; God remains faithful and promises to be by our side through the ups and downs.   " The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged "(Deuteronomy:31:8). " I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety.   They will be my people, and I will be their God " (Jeremiah 32:...

Finding the Lost Sheep Hey everyone! Happy fall! If you've been keeping up with my blog series, this is the last part over The Good Shepherd. To see the other two blogs click here to catch up. As I think about Jesus as a good shepherd, I realize the good shepherd knows if he's missing his sheep or not. In Luke 15:4, Jesus asks the crowds (tax collectors, sinners, and Pharisees) in verse 4, " Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? " Think about that question first-century Jesus asks that to us now. I was reading a commentary on this parable and the author brings up an interesting point about how shepherds that don't normally leave their flock behind... until Jesus shares this parable. "We are not told if he [shepherd] leaves the rest of the flock with the neighbors, though that is likely in the natural understanding of the situation, ...

Knowing the Shepherd’s Voice:       Hey everyone! If you are new to reading this blog, please check out I wrote last month called  The Good Shepherd: Who is the good Shepherd?  I felt called by God to share a three-part blog series on how I have seen God as the good shepherd in my life and on our campuses. In John chapter 10:1-18, Jesus teaches this metaphorical parable of a shepherd who looks after his sheep, and Jesus professes the truth that he is the good shepherd. The shepherd knows his sheep. Therefore God knows his people. But how do the sheep know and recognize the shepherd? Here's a video clip to see an example of how the sheep recognize the true shepherd's voice.      Three people attempt their best to mimic the shepherd's voice to call them over but failed. When they heard the shepherd spoke and called out to his sheep, their heads perked up and moved together towards him. All the sheep can tell by the distinctive tone of the ...

Intro: Who is the good Shepherd?      When you think about a shepherd, what immediate thoughts come to mind? Maybe my idea thoughts are identical to yours. I think of a middle eastern man dressed in a robe with a staff, and the sheep follow him. I did some research and learned that the success of a shepherd or shepherdess is in the compassion they have for each individual. This means being able to identify a sick or injured sheep or lamb within a flock of HUNDREDS or THOUSANDS of sheep. That is mind-blowing! We see in the Bible God is described as a good shepherd; why is that? In your own time, go read John 10:1-18, Psalms 23, Luke 15:4-7,  Micah 2:12, and Isaiah 40:10-11.       What's more extraordinary about Jesus' parable in John 10 is he calls himself the good shepherd, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down for his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). The most important feature of Jesus' role is that he lays down his life for ...

Our ministry came up with a plan to have in-person TNF small group. The students were very grateful to meet in person for the first time. Hey friends! Hope all of you are enjoying this summer season and staying cool. Somehow, summer in July is always hotter in Texas than June. I saw this meme that describes Texas summer and thought it was super funny! As the summer comes to a close, reflect on how God has blessed you this season. I think it's so easy for us to focus on the negative things around us and not look at the good things God has blessed us with that we should be grateful for. I'm thankful every time I get to spend time with my Lord, who teaches me, befriends me, and loves me every day, and that's so restful to me. One thing he's teaching me this year is one word, "patience." Why Patience? I can be very impatient when I make mistakes or want to see improvement in myself and it's taking a long time or being anxious to know what my plans and future...