Embracing the Mindset of a Farmer

"Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." (James 5:7-11)

This last weekend I gave a short word to the IVC family about us being in a season of farming. Farming requires great patience, trust, and work without seeing fruit right away...a hard concept to grasp for us who are part of the microwave generation.

In my early years in Christ I had a lot of zeal..a zeal that caused me go from hype to hype...always looking for the next great meeting, sermon, book, worship experience, encounter, etc. (granted I was hungry too). However, when we live like this over a long period of time, never learning contentment in Christ and life, we can become a lot like the man described in James 1: double minded, driven, tossed, and unstable in all his ways.

This last Sunday morning God spoke to my heart and reminded me that His sons and daughters go from glory to glory, not hype to hype. He was also reminding me personally, as a loving Father does, to not measure growth and success by what I see but rather by my obedience to His word (Joshua 1:7). I have been a bit restless coming off of an incredible year and entering into summer where everything changes, and the pace moves from running to a slow walk as about 60% of the fellowship scatters for the summer. Having ministered in IV for a decade now, I know the summer season is a crucial time of resting and preparing for the next year, though each year by the grace of God I have to adjust to it and embrace rest.

In a culture filled with messages of instant gratification, the kingdom of God gives a message of eternal satisfaction...which means at times you might not always see the fruit, the reward, or the promise.  Yet you know you're sowing and laboring for something that pays great dividends both in this life and the life to come.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6)

Art With the Kids

A few weeks ago our dear friend Allie, an IVC and DP House alum who now lives in the Bay Area, came over to do some art lessons with our children.  She teaches art to 4-7 year olds in her hometown, and was excited to share her expertise with our family!  The kids had such an amazing time and it was so great seeing their creativity as she encouraged them and showed them some new mediums to work with and new ways to use them!  We try to do art once a week in our own "homeschool" and have used lots of different mediums before, but oil pastels is one of the few we haven't used and that was what she brought for them!  They did a combo of oil pastels with watercolors and made some impressive creations.  Thank you Allie for doing this, and thank You Jesus for all the different people You've put in our lives with so many different skills and gifts that they share with our family!

The Del Playa Gals

This year concluded our 9th year of the Del Playa House (aka the "Jesus Burger House") where 8 guys live on the bottom and 7 gals live on the top.

I am beyond thankful for the people that God picked to live in the home this year...these 7 gals are women of faith and are going to be missed greatly from the home! Fortunately, a few of them are sticking around after graduation and Claire (the one in the zebra shirt) is living at the home again next year.

The last picture is of Lindsay and Annalisa who are like daughters to Holly and I. We met the two of them their freshmen year and have been family since...Annalisa is beginning a House of Prayer in IV this summer, we are super stoked for what God is going to do!

The Covenant of Marriage

The Bible opens up in a wedding and ends in a wedding...God is all about weddings, especially those that are rooted and grounded in Him!

Mac & Braelyn got married this last Sunday, it was absolutely a beautiful day - full of love, joy, and celebration! Both Samuel & Hope were in the wedding too, as they love M&B so much!

I couldn't be happier watching our worship leader take another step into the destiny that God has made him for...and Braelyn is a woman of faith, hope, and love...these two individually are amazing and now they're one flesh!

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5)

Jesus Burgers - Video

http://www.vimeo.com/24969380

Consider It Joy...

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1)

It's that time of year...the great exodus of students out of IV for the summer and the extravaganza of our friend Mitchell collecting furniture and everything else from the streets of IV to bring it back to our house to sell.

June is a crazy month for us, fortunately we love IV, we love Mitchell, and have been given grace to live where we live and do what we do. It's easy in life to waste our trials (ie complain through them, take on a victim mentality, etc), rather then see the sovereignty and goodness of God in allowing them into our lives.

June has traditionally been a month of trials for me, tbd how this month goes...I am stoked for growing older in God and having a greater perspective for life and why curve balls get thrown at you.

And the end of the day the bedrock foundation never changes: God is good, always!

DP House Brothers

This year concludes our 9th year of the Del Playa home...8 guys on the bottom and 7 gals on the top...I always say if it wasn't for Jesus the majority of these people would not be living together. However, because of Him it brings people together from all different backgrounds, interest, and life experiences. And not just together, but it bonds them as brothers and sisters and allows the world to see a love that is really supernatural!

"How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity...for there the LORD bestows his blessing,even life forevermore." (Psalm 133)

"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35)

Baptisms & More Baptisms

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16)...these last two weekends 10 people have entered the waters of life and experienced the joy of their salvation!

My heart is overwhelmed at the goodness of God this year, as this last Sunday marked the end of the school year...finals for UCSB are this week and once done many students begin the great exodus out of IV for the summer.

This year has been a 'more than we could ask or imagine' year (Eph 3:20), as we have watched God transform and set so many people free! Not to mention, the family in IV continues to grow and become stronger in Him...more faith, more hope, and more love!

I believe God is positioning the believers in IV for a major move of His Spirit in the coming years...please continue to pray for IV and like Paul said in Ephesians 6, "pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,"

The Glory of God in IV

This is a video that captures a bit of what we are doing in IV...this video is specifically about the Upper Room, which is what we call the time together before Jesus Burgers on Saturday nights.
 
http://vimeo.com/24588120