"God is Super Good" Ornament Benefits NCS Nicaragua Mission Trip

Norfolk Christian Schools is taking a group of students to Nicaragua this Summer on a Missions Trip.  To help the students raise money for this trip, these ornaments have been custom made and are on sale for $20.  Contact Leigh Ellen Rodriguez at lerbeach@gmail.com.  All profits will go towards the NCS Missions trip.

Defining Principles

From 7-19-13

It’s time for me to put the principles I preach in practice. 
Bravery over safety, Blind Faith,  Uncircumstantial Joy

You Stoop Down

4-23-2013

Evening:

Father,

You have opened my eyes to your glory.  I can get wrapped up in joy merely by walking down a path at sunset.  I have seen your beauty, your complexity, your infiniteness.

What amazes me is that, despite how beautiful you are, you love me.  While I am dirty and cursed and sick, you stoop down to cleanse, bless, and heal me.  You have made me into one of the beautiful things I admire.  Therefore, my sole purpose is to proclaim your greatness and worship your glory.  Open my mouth and allow me not to keep my wonder for you in my eyes, but also in my voice. 

You are beauty and grace.

Mark

Change

6-27-13

We live in a world of changing and unchanging circumstances, but I believe that God has given each of us the ability to be joyful in everything. What areas of my life am I always complaining or grumbling about? I can change them.

Note: 
Then Mark applied the above to a specific situation.  
1.  He asked God to show him what "had him so bummed"
2.  He wrote down the specific situation
3.  He admitted he had been complaining and grumbling
4.  He acknowledged that the situation was not within his control to change and that God had put him in it
5.  He thanked God for the good things in the situation 
6.  He asked for what he wanted and told God what he hoped would change
7.  He then prayed for other people related to the situation
8.  He asked for what he needed if the situation didn't change

 

PLEASE

5-22-13

When the veil broke, it wasn’t just that we could now have a relationship with God.  To Him, finally, He could have a relationship with us.

Evening:

I am my beloved’s,

And his desire is for me

Song 7:10

--He loves me and longs for me

--I am a treasure to him

--I want to have that beautiful connection with him I see in people like Misty Edwards*

--I want to be so caught up in his love that everyone can see it

--I desire a real, romantic, relationship with God

Prayer:

--I desire an intimate love with you
--I’m opening the door, please come in
--I am your garden
--Come in, PLEASE
--Change me! Overwhelm me with your love
--I want to live a life of passion for you

*Mark admired the intimate relationship that Misty Edwards has with Jesus Christ. 

To Listen to Misty Edwards' "Garden" click here
To Listen to Misty Edwards' "You Won't Relent" click here 

Revolution

5-18-2013

Morning:

I have blotted out your transgressions

Like a cloud

And your sins like

Mist;

Return to me, for I have redeemed you.

Sing, O heavens,

For the Lord has done it;

Shout, O depths of the

Earth;

Break forth into singing,

O mountains,

O Forest, and every tree in it!

Isaiah 44:22-23a

Prayer:

--Thank you for seeing my sins, forgiving me, and wanting me anyway

--I love that you’re so incredible that all Creation shouts your name

--If the trees and the mountains do it, why aren’t we??

--Trees can’t even see, but all your wonders are laid out in front of us and we still hide your word.

--We let embarrassment, persecution, and fear of losing our reputation silence our vision and our voice of an all-consuming God

--I pray for more than a revival, I pray for a revolution

--I pray we would cast off the chains of wanting to fit in and not offend anybody, and we would begin to proclaim your name loudly.

--I pray for the strength and wisdom to start leading people in this revolution

--Put my focus off of me and onto you.

--I pray for the gift of learning languages quickly, so that I may share this revolution with other parts of the world.

Ask for the Gift

4-15-2013

Father,

My generation, at least much of it, is full of hopelessness, fear, negativity, and yearning.  We cling to the shadows thought they are the source of our blindness.  We chain ourselves tighter as we search for liberation.  Because of this seemingly endless cycle, the Color Life fades grayer and grayer.

Father, you’ve given me a gift; the gift to see.  I get swept up in your light and love to the point of giddiness.  You have shown me the value of peace and joy, and taught me that I have nothing to complain about.  This is a very, very powerful gift.  I cannot be comfortable keeping it to myself, I must share it with the world. 

May your love and your spirit be a fuel for my eyes that never goes out.  Take over and touch the world through me.

Mark