I am finding it harder and harder to find the time to get my thoughts out here on "thewalk". But dont give up on me yet - I am steadfast in this journey as I share my heart on here. For me, this has been a wonderful avenue to keep my heart right, to have a chance to share my heart, pray, encourage and also to let others know that its okay to struggle and to doubt at times. I am real as I can be, emotional at times, but focused on sharing Gods word, His love, His grace to others.
So hang in there even if the posts are not daily like they used to be.

Yesterday was such a bitter sweet day being my moms 66 birthday. After spending Friday night and most of Saturday with Kyle and miss Emilee at the cabin having a great time together, out on the boat, fishing, tubing and meeting up with friends - it was such a great time as we laughed and smiled. Yesterday I stopped at Lowes foods and picked up some items for my message yesterday as well as some fresh cut flowers. I placed those flowers at the front of the room yesterday and asked God for my mom to be with me during my message. It was a message I had an idea to speak on coming from Matthew 19 but one that I didnt have much notes for. I wanted to focus on the passion of the message and bring what was on my heart yesterday. My mom I think in some ways would be proud of me for standing in front of all the students and teaching them about Christ. I think she would be proud of me for pouring 110% of my heart and soul into them and not only telling them about Jesus but also doing all I can do SHOW them Jesus. Though there are times that are really hard, even questioning why I am doing this, but all in all - I am really loving the journey together. I have a lot of great students, some totally on fire for Jesus and standing their lives for him in their schools and friends. Some are a work in progress and together hopefully we will continue to take inch by inch steps towards them really realizing that they can follow Jesus in an honoring way. With so much drama in the teens years, its really hard to do that walk - maturity is not anywhere close to really figure out what is the real deal or not. Regardless of surrounding, Gods word spoken 2000 years ago still is the same words He is speaking to us today - FOLLOW ME.
Peter left a fishing business, a family income and all he had known to follow Jesus. Not knowing where he was headed or if there was even a promise of what comes next - He dropped and went with Jesus.
Mom those flowers in the front of the room was to honor you yesterday because of what you have instilled in me, placed those important things in my heart but also for me to share you with my students yesterday. HONOR is such a big word and a lost virtue today. Though I may not have shown you honor in all my days - it is something I wished I had done more of when I had the chance to. Its something I try and press on my students to understand. Though there are some who also have lost a mom - they really understand and that bond we have is strong and often times - I can look at those students and know what is on their heart. We sometimes just smile and say - Its going to be ok.
It will ... it will be okay because I know where you are today. I wouldnt change the path you had to walk, the places you had to go, the stuggle you had to face because all things work for the glory and good for those who believe in him. I may not understand many things, but I understand that God is in control and the real blessings come when we praise His name and bring glory through our stuggles. You did just that mom and I reflect on that often because you set a great example for all those around you.
Yesterday I was sharing Matthew 19:16-26 but for some reason I got carried away in the text as I unpacked what Matthew shares with us and I read outloud verse 30.
Matthew 19:30 -But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Gosh it took me a good minute to recover. You served others first mom - you SHOWED me the way ... and not just told me the way I should go in life. Took some time to finally get it, had to endure a season of watching my mom submit her life to Jesus in the most horrible way actually because of cancer but its in those struggles, those long nights, those opportunities to sit and talk about real things - that your heart was revealed.

I opened the students yesterday to take a flower if they had someone they that needed a flower, a smile or maybe a reminder that someone was thinking about them. You passed those flowers on through those students yesterday mom. It was really cool to see those who took the challenge and stood up to come and get one. I pray those flowers passed on through those students brought a smile, a reminder and goodness through them. I think you would have loved that.
Matthew 28: Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones ....

I look forward to sitting with you again mom. This time there wont be any other reason to have to get up, run here or run there .... unless of course its to worship the one and real deal - Jesus. That will be a worship service to interupt so much we will talk about .....

Love and miss you mom. More than you know.
Randy~

If you are a leader in ministry, your ministry reflects you. Your passion for Christ is contagious. Ask God to increase your heart for those without Christ. He will. God will send someone - Maybe even a bunch of someone's - Whom you will care about. Some you will care a LOT about. Your love for them will increase. When that happens, you get it, and its almost impossible to turn off. Your prayer life increases. You are looking for opportunities to shift conversations toward spiritual things. You are ever aware that you are representing Christ. When you have IT, people tend to want IT. Your passion for Christ is contagious.

Today Lord, make my heart for you contagious today. I am so excited for Java4Jamaica tonight at Rocky River Coffee company to help us raise funds for our mission trip in June. Lord I pray that you bring a house load, a heart load of people who see your bigger vision for our lives and want to be a part of these things. Help us raise the money by bringing in folks who are on board with serving others and even if they cant in this adventure we are on may they see it with helping us financially. Lord the students that are going, Kyle, Morgan, Taylor, Zack, Emilee and Kate may come back with changed hearts, bigger vision for the things of you and hearts full of compassion for others. So much so Lord that it changes them completely.
Lord as I lead the student ministry at church, help me continue to have the capacity to love these students. Help me see them with the heart that you have for them. Help me invest my time, energy and passion into them to bring them up and empower them that you have great things in store for them. Help them be at peace with their lives and the things of their past so that they can move forward in life and experience you in a mighty way. May this peace be extended outward Lord to reach others. Its because of your grace, mercy and love for us Lord that we can live this life with hope. May my heart be a reflection of you Lord in all I do, in all whom I lead and all who I set an example for.
I pray in Jesus name,
Amen

I am really pumped for tonights youth service. We have a lot of cool things planned, a great couple video's and my message should be good even though it is longer than I want it to be - I just feel like its the length it needs to be to bring home the over all message for tonight. Making peace with your past so that you can move forward in life.
So many of us have lived our lives far short of Gods expectations, I too am in that file drawer of unworthiness but only in the last few years do I feel like I am making steps forward and putting my file in another filedrawer. I am no where near finished nor complete in anyway but a continued work in progress. Stumbling at times and riding cloud 9 in others but all in all - I know what I am called to do.
So how do I go about doing just that? - This is where the hard part is right folks? You know you are called to do something, either full time, part time, in another location or place of employment - whatever the case may be - but how do you get there? What are the 5 steps for dummies to get where you know you need to be?
Its a process that has many different paths but in order to truly get there, we all must begin with God. Does our vision and what we feel God calling us to do really from his heart or our own? If it truly is in his will and in his heart - those prayers will be answered but if not ... Its a long road of trials and prayers that sometimes may never be ending.
There are times in life were we do need to step back, get a new perspective, take some time away from the familiar and comfort of those things we are holding so tightly on and really seek Gods face in the matter.
So how do we do that? How do we move from our past and into the future?
Let me share a few things that I am working on.. maybe they will help you in some way:
1. Draw near to Jesus by reading your Bible in a quiet place. - this really works best for me in the early mornings and those long nights I cant seem to sleep. God often times shows up when we least expect him.
2. Spend some time in prayer where you share with God what is on your mind and heart and then JUST LISTEN. Far too often we do all the talking, all the begging and we never take a moment to listen to what God wants us to hear. Sometimes we even ask God to hit us over the head with whatever it is we are praying about because we claim to be blind and stupid.
3. Use the spiritual gifts he has given you to serve others. The best way to get the focus off yourself is to serve someone. Go serve a meal at the homeless shelter. Write a note telling a friend that you love them and thank them for being in your life. Pick up a few of your daughters friends and take them for ice cream just because you can. Smile, laugh and chill with life being so serious
4. Be tight with other Christians who like you, love Jesus. Listen to them, share with them, and ask them to pray for you and ask them to hold you accountable.

When you start to do those things, you will begin to hear the heart of God in your life. Directions come after you seek His will and His purposes and direction.

Paul said in Phillipians 3:13 - Forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Get as close to Jesus as possible and then be still and listen to his voice - his heart will speak.

Someone needed to hear that today - myself more so probably - but someone out there as well.
Love and peace through Jesus today,
Lonnie

The day after mothers day.

Hard to believe so much has changed over the years. As you get older, there is one thing you really realize when you finally take a few moments and pause.... that time keeps going on by. You have to keep up with it or you feel like you get lost because life just keeps happening. It keeps going right on past us and what is important to us today - years from now wont be.
Its like that middle school girl wanting her belly button pierced or that tattoo when you are a Jr in high school. If they just hang on a little longer, they will be thankful they waited because things change. What is cool for you today wont be a few years from now. Music changes, tastes changes, those tattoo's will change .... friends change and those deeper relationships sometime change.

Yesterday was a tough day but a day after the first few mothers days - you seem to be just okay with it. I mean focusing on the negative will surely take you down a few notches. Celebrating the moms you do have in your life, like my awesome wife Carol, Barbara, Donna, Carol M and my aunt Sharon and grandma's - there is reason to smile.

We sent a handful of students yesterday to the womens and children center, the Center of Hope, yesterday through the Salvation Army. Being that its mothers day I am sure those moms there enjoyed a hot meal served with a servants heart and a warm smile. Proud of our students and leader going yesterday and taking time out of their mothers day to serve.

I want to share Psalm 126 today and though I dont have anyone specific person in mind, I think it applies to all of us really who have went through a season of time that has been a bit of a struggle.
Psalm 126: 4-6 - And now, God, do it again! Bring the rains to our drought stricken lives so those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest, so those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessings.

Our tough days are behind us loved ones, press on to the finish knowing that there is such a great prize at the end! Live this life today making the most of it and trade in your universe of happiness for a thumbnail of JOY! - Its all in perspective and today I am thankful that the blessings in my life are from Christ and every big dream you have has a small beginning. NO EXCEPTIONS! Every tree was a seed once upon a time.

Peace,
Lonnie~

1 Corinthians 10:23- "I have the right to do anything," you say - but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything," - but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

I started my post this morning with that in mind. There are several people around me today that find themselves in a tough place because they chose to experience, knowing that it would probably not turn out good, but did it anyways without seeking Gods will and His wisdom for their situation and decision. Far too often, when we put our own desires in front of God's desires it turns out badly for us. Why do people do such things? Why do folks bring these hurts and painful things into their lives? Why do folks refuse to listen to wisdom when it speaks?

It is especially tough in student ministry and living a good part of my heart with teenagers. Its the battle ground but these choices happen to every one no matter our ages. Last night was a good night for our student ministry. Speaking from Matthew 15 with Jesus walking on the water and Peter getting out of the boat was a good illustration for our faith and how we need to take steps sometimes that are uncertain but trusting in the Lord. Peter didnt have a garauntee that all was going to be okay nor did he wait for Jesus to invite him out on the water. As a matter of fact, Jesus was intent on walking on by until they noticed him. Peter in his excitement got up and cried out to the Lord and in faith - took the step of faith out of the boat and onto the water. Remember there is a storm taking place, they were scared out of their mind and while the story shares with us this faith step of Peter and Jesus - the rest of the disciples were not even mentioned because they never even got out of their seats. They missed the opportunity for something special and something amazing. I wonder how many times we go about our day with those missed opportunities? How many times, God walks right by us, in a soft spoken word from a friend, a smile from the lady at the store, a phone call from a friend ... I wonder about those times something special taking place in my life that I miss because I didnt recognize it or see it coming. -
Last night as a challenge to my students, I asked them to post on FaceBook 3 things they are thankful to God for in their lives today. They could post 3 things in one post or 3 seperate things - and I asked everyone to check on each other. Like or even comment on those posts and lets start using this tool of facebook communication for something positive instead of the drama and social things that it is. There are far too many folks on there who think its their purpose and right in life to be emotional and express their feelings on there as they announce to their most 751 closest friends. We tend to forget about our audience in life and what we are showing them. Some things are meant to keep private - so by being thankful today - maybe it will spur a storm of activity and comments and posts all for the glory of God.
Jesus when he sent his disciples out to go to the other shore after a LONG day of teaching thousands of people that day - He knew full well there would be a storm that night. He knew there is no easy safe thing when it comes to faith and fear is one of those things in our minds and lives it keeps us from doing something - often times turning us around right then and head back to safety. Faith and fear often times means to push through, face the fear and trust God during so that your faith may grow. Often times faith will push us deeper into scarier and more fearful things. God can use us there because he has us right where he wants us ..... dependant of him.

Not everything we do is beneficial nor constructive but when we seek Gods will and His heart in our lives, in our decisions - we will find ourselves getting out of the boat. What is in your life today that is keeping you in the boat, maybe too scared to get up out of your seat, maybe tired from pressing on against the storms and the wind - maybe its time to do something about it.
Jesus didnt let Peter sink and drown and he wont do that to you as well. Doesnt matter loved ones, if you lose your focus on him - He has his focus on you and that is what really matters when you are at the bottom of the waterfalls or sinking over your head.

Look for my thankful posts on facebook today. Add yours if you are thankful to God today.
Lonnie~

It has been well over a week since my last post. I fully enjoyed some much needed down time with family and going back on a cruise, after the last one, well lets just say it took a GIANT step in faith to get that done. I am so glad we did. Though there was little drama, some really but nothing major - I would again take a cruise trip in the future. I would love to go to another island or destination and experience something refreshing and new. I love the people of the Bahamas and meeting all the world folks who work on the cruise line. Our waiter during our evening dinner was from the Philippines and our head waitress was from Lithuania. She was the most upfright, friendly, eager to please person that just wanted so bad to give you a good meal and to enjoy the few hours together. Mr. P took care of our room and had everyones name memorized in the first hour of our trip and I bet that went for however many staterooms he had to cover. Bartenders were friendly and just seemed to really enjoy their job even if they were gone from home and family for months at a time. Working long hours in shifts probably would stink after awhile but being with so many different people around the world has got to be exciting.

I want to share a few pictures of our trip. I am busy getting message notes together for my message tomorrow night for LOL - handouts, music lined up, Jamaica moving forward with a big coffee outing next week and mothers day this coming Sunday. Dang it busy and its not long to get my feet back in the fire ....

I want to mention first that my grandma is in ICU in Mt. Airy if you can keep her in your prayers. I got some great news from my Aunt Sharon which she shared with me Psalm 34:4 - which she has held onto for a long time while battling her illness but with and through the power of God - she has no more symptoms and is off her medication. That is a praise report which I cant wait to share with everyone at LOL tomorrow night. God is in the details and in control even when we dont see it, feel it or at a place in life where we are so low that we dont even believe it. God often times shows up in big amazing ways just to remind us.... He is there - Its His glory he does what he does. Its not about us, its about using us for his glory. I understand that these days and reminders like these are awesome to say the least.

Enjoy have a few snapshots of the Bahamas..... :) I will remember the trip fondly.

Peace and joy loved ones,

Lonnie

Gosh its been a busy day wrapping up things here before I hit vacation with my family and extended family. I am so looking forward to some down time and in many ways needing it pretty badly. We all had a great visit from Kate this past weekend. She is in such a great place now and I am so proud of her. Yesterday while at church during prayer, she grabbed my arm and held on to it and it was really hard not to let the tears fly. We have been through so much together and I am just so delighted she is in a good place and life is in front of her now instead of behind her. We had over 700 folks come to our Easter services yesterday. It was crazy and that alone makes me excited, pumped, overwhelmed and crazy all in the same breath.
I get excited thinking about the up coming opportunities we will have to reach so many new hearts and faces for Christ.
It will be hard not thinking about them this Sunday when I am not there and wondering who I am missing. But - I will come back refreshed and ready to step up a notch or two.
Tomorrow we are being interviewed by the local paper for our upcoming mission trip to Jamaica in June. Excited about that as well as the rest of my team. Its going to be a great experience - I am really excited to hear everyones heart as to why they are going and what they will be doing. Sometimes speaking from the heart is the best way to handle these kinds of things. No thought out answers!

Bahamas on Wed - headed out - stay tuned for pictures and updates from the trip. Love some family time .... it should be a few days of smiles and memories in the making.

I will sign off with a little encouragement. Colossians 1:28 - To be mature is to be basic. CHRIST! No more, no less. Thats what Im working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously give me.

Even while in the Bahamas and in all the travels the next few days - ministry will continue cause God has enabled my heart to share and to love those who cross my paths. Excited for those coming opportunities - Pray for them.... they will come. Thats an awesome God putting things together for those willing to do the work. Use what you have ...... right here right now.

Have a blessed week everyone!
God bless,
Lonnie