C.A. Spokane Monday, August 25, 2008
i'm reminded of how strong the chains of addiction are and can be in the lives of so many people, as i sit in on the meetings(as i did last night)...for so many, its a minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, day-by-day process to get through one more day without falling back into substance abuse...
when i think of those that i sat with last night, listening to stories of recovery, i can't help but thank the Lord for pulling me out of my own addictions 13 months ago..with no desire to return to the whirlpool of addiction that can drag us under, and that has claimed so many lives in the process...
when people speak of a higher power in those 12 step meetings, its hard to know exactly what or who their higher power is..with me, there's no question that the only reason i'm here today is solely because of Jesus Christ, and His unfailing mercy, grace and love for those He calls His own...
hearing the stories of relapse last night, it reminded me, too, how easy it is to fall right back into the addictions..and if it weren't for the faith that we hold onto in Him, it would be so easy to be right back where we were...but i know His promises, i trust in His Word...and in Him.
our faith, in many ways for some of us, is also a minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, day-by-day process...and we need to remember that to make it through each day is all we need to or can do..not to fear what today holds, and not to worry about what tomorow brings...when we submit our lives to Him, and allow Him into our hearts..He will see us through each moment, each trial, each struggle..and each joy!
where does my help come from? it comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth..and in Him completely will i trust...
God bless and strengthen each of you today as you continue to walk with Him...
Tags: Recovery Deliverance
Celebrate Recovery... Longview, Wa July 24, 2008
what an awesome venture this has turned out to be..no question that the Lord led me to southwest Washington state for a couple of days...
i was blessed to meet a Christian brother and some of his close Christian frenz and family.
this particular stop on my trip enabled me to draw even closer to God, realizing my absolute need for Him in all things...
it also gives me the chance to remember, being reminded through several scriptures, just how important it is to let go of my own goals and plans, and to completely submit myself to Him.
to be effective for Him, i need to be submissive to Him...
to understand His will in my life, i need to trust Him totally with every single thing...
it was an absolutely fantastic night of food, fellowship and making several new Christian frenz here in Longview...what a blessing it was to get to meet new Christian family...
ron, rod, don, sue, debbie, crystal, steve, justin(awesome rap, bro), lucy..and of course, joe...God bless each of you so much, and i will see you all again.
p.s.- debbie, watch those purse fires;)
Spokane, Wa August 2, 2008
it's like being home again...this town, even with its growth and sprawl, is such a familiar part of my life.
arriving just after midnight today, after several hours of traveling through scenic desert(and mountains), brought such an overwhelming sense of peace..thank you, Father, for this day.
when i ask the Lord to open doors of opportunity, He does just that. whether it's the woman selling tickets at the bus station, or the brother(10 months saved and clean from substance abuse)..He continues to bless me with the way to share Him and encourage others in their faith.
still, the thoughts i had while listening to those around me(on the bus trip here) reminds me what a lost world we live in...there are still so many around each of us who continue to walk in blindness, ignorant of God and completely deceived..this dying world needs to know their Saviour..
please continue to support this mission as we continue to reach out to a people in need of a relationship with Jesus Christ..
Street mission: day one August 14, 2008
Praise God from whom each of our blessings come...!!!!
i walked into the downtown area today to spend some time communing with the Lord(rather than taking the bus), praising and worshipping Him..with Casting Crowns in my headset;) once i got into the downtown area, i just kinda waited on the Lord to lead me where He would have me to go..asking He send someone my way, or vice-versa..after walking through some of the areas where homeless people congregate, i found myself hitting a dead-end, and turned the other direction towards a skate-park my friend had told me about...once i got there, i noticed about a half a dozen or so skaters scattered throughout the park..
i perched on one of the ledges at the far-end, just hanging back and continuing to be open to whatever the Lord's will was..one of the skaters gravitated my direction and landed about 10 feet away..we small-talked and then i realized, after being offered something..that he was a dealer. i turned down the offer, and he went about skating, but kept coming back to the area where i was sitting..
after a few more half-attempts at convo, he asked where i was from, and what i was doing in spokane..thank you, Lord!!! i had the opportunity to witness to him, telling him how i'd been delivered from drug abuse last year, and told him what i was doing in the area..he asked if i was on this missions trip because i wanted to...so, maybe he thought initially that i was a mormon;)
regardless, the Lord completely opened up the door for me to share a bit with him, and while he was doing a few tricks on the pipe, i wrote down my info for him..however, when he came back my direction, this time he sat within a matter of feet from me..obviously, he wasn't turned off by my honesty about being a Christian, and instead, was almost literally drawn to me..praise God!! i handed him the piece of paper and told him if he ever needed to talk to someone, or needed prayer to get ahold of me..he said he would, and that he'd give me his number when i took him up on the friend request here..
we said our goodbyes, and i walked away towards the downtown riverfront park, feeling absolutely blessed that of all people the Lord would lead me to that it would end up being a dealer...i prayed downtown that the Lord would open his heart and eyes, and i'm praying that some seed was set in place today..
after sitting in the park for awhile, i began to pray out in the open..and nobody else happened my way, so i decided to make the 2 mile trek back here, in 96 degree weather..sandals wearing holes into my feet, blistered and bleeding..it was all worth it..
and as i came back, i thought...Lord, even if You only send one person a day my way, please don't let me be discouraged that its not more, and let all i do go to glorify and honor You..and then the thought crossed my mind of how awesome it would be to see this guy accept the Lord, and the trickle effect that it could have through the local skater/drug-culture community...
all praise and glory to Jesus Christ...
Street mission: day two August 16, 2008
my hope these past couple of days has been to have contact again with the guy from the skate-park, and he's been lifted up in my prayers(that God would open his heart and eyes)..as i walked back to the park today, i kept praying that the Lord would lead me back to him if it were meant to be..there were a few more skaters there than the other day, and i looked around to see if i could find my new friend..to no avail.
not wanting to come across as an "undercover", i walked past the group again figuring he wasn't there, and then we saw each other...smile on his face once he saw me, and he tried to remember my name..i knew it was ok to approach him at this point. as i got closer to him, i realized he was right in the middle of a transaction, and i almost hesitated..but he welcomed me over nevertheless..
we talked for a couple minutes, exchanged numbers, and small-talked for just a few..my prayer(besides his salvation)is that the Lord will continue to open the doors to speak to him, hopefully outside of that environment..in spite of me. i need to be removed, so that the Holy Spirit can minister to him...i said goodbye after a short convo, and walked away feeling elated.
on the way back to the downtown core, i happened across a trio of gutter-punks..and our paths kept intertwining enough to be able to hear their conversation...the oldest of the three was telling the other two how he didn't really have any friends, and my heart sank..i hesitated taking the time to approach him, but there again, maybe the Lord will allow us to run across each other at some point during my stay here...i'll keep him in my prayers until then.
as i was waiting for the bus back, an older woman(who had once been homeless) asked about my tattoos and if there was any significance in any of them..we joked back and forth for a few, and i told her i wouldn't be getting anymore..i showed her my last one i had done(which is the one on my left shoulder, remembering jerome who died in iraq last year)..she began to tell me what it meant(at least what she thought it meant anyways), and that was the beginning of a conversation that revealed her metaphysical views on life, sexuality, religion and Jesus...
she is a regular face in the downtown street community(obvious from the greetings from a number of people passing as we spoke), and was very open to share her views on God(or "lifeforce", i think she said)..and i wanted to use the opportunity when she mentioned Him to share with her, but she continued on about how all people are related by the same energy...very "new age" thinking on her part, but i waited until she was done before i spoke.
i told her i agreed that all people were connected, as we all came from the same beginning..and that i do believe in God, and that i'm a Christian..her hand went up, and she told me she didn't want to start arguing..that she didn't want to talk religion..i told her it wasn't about a "religion", but about Him being my Saviour..when i approached her from that angle, she understood i wasn't going to try and force anything at her..i wanted to share, not shove...
my bus pulled up, and she realized we were riding the same one..so, i was hoping our talk would continue until one of us got off at our destination..and it did. she sat down next to me on the bus, and continued to tell me her view on Jesus, buddha, mohommad..and was talking about paranormal youth being trained in the wenatchee area..almost a little x-files sound to the story, but i let her talk...
while i had the chance, i told her that Jesus was about love, and how we're to love each other..not condemn each other. she asked what i was doing in the area, and i told her..then she asked why i didn't stay where my "people" were and minister to them instead of heading out into dangerous, unfamiliar territory..and i told her that there was a burden on my heart to share Him with people everywhere, she just nodded..
we shook hands, and said goodbye as i got off the bus...and i thanked the Lord(yet again) for another opportunity to have the courage and the ability to witness to someone who is, in her own way, searching for the truth..if she keeps searching, she may just find Him...
Tags: Witnessing Missions Recovery Drugs Metaphysics
hey frenz and family, it's darren...d(heavenbound), and this is the ministry profile..this is what the Lord's been doing in my life since we last spoke...
well, i figured no better time than the present to begin updating everyone with the step-by-step progress that the ministry is making...
Saturday July 5th, 2008...
i need you to check through your church, your local ministries(or even your own personal ministries), and pray and see what is needed...if any of you are aware or know of a local situation in your area that is needing assistance in some way, please obtain the necessary information and email me with it as soon as you're able to...
i have ideas of where i'd like to begin, but i really want the Lord to lead me to where i'm needed to begin with..and as i hit certain areas that are close to any of you, then we'll begin to make plans to spend time together and fellowship...
i would love to spend as much time with all of you as possible, and attend services with you at your home church..even if there was an opportunity to speak(check into it and let me know if you're aware of that possibility..this would primarily be a chance to share my testimony and speak about the mission)..but, my main focus has to be on ministering to the people in yer areas that are most in need of Him...
i am completely relying on Him..and have already committed to the fact that this is not about me, or about how it will benefit me..only how it may bless others, how it will bless and glorify and bring honor to Him and build His kingdom, and be a blessing to myself in the process, i suppose..but that will only come through being in service to those i come in conatct with...
i am absolutely fine with meals at the local missions, as well as lodging there..this is not going to be nor is it supposed to be a high-end mission by any means..this is me getting on the streets, and into the communities where He is needed the most by those who are considered by many to be the least..
this is about me humbling myself to take His message to the ones who are in the most need..and i'm sure i will find myself in some very humbling (and possibly dangerous)situations, but then again, that's what i'm planning on...
the seed gifts that come into this ministry are not going to be spent on luxuries or accomodations..only travel expenses from one location to another..however God chooses to bless me through any of this is totally in His hands and His plans...
CCM is not about me, but about Him...not what i am, but what He's already done and continues to do through me...Lord, please continue to use me as a vessel..
in the meantime, stay strong..submit yourselves daily to His word and His will in your lives
stand strong in Him, and share Him with whoever you can..know that He is God, and that Jesus Christ is Lord!!!
God bless each of you today...and every day
thank you so much for your prayers and support...
yer brother in Jesus Christ alone,
d
Matthew 6: 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
i am a man who has left it all behind to follow my Lord...
i am a man who longs to see people saved...
i am a man who longs to see people delivered...
i am one who cries over his friends' concerns, needs, lives...
i am a man who wants to climb these mountaintops and proclaim the name of the Lord at the top of my lungs...
i am one who wants to share what He has done for me and through me...
i am one who will rest in His hands, and follow His lead...
i am one who will encourage a new-found brother in his walk...
i am a man who will pray in the parks, crying out to God to forgive us for turning our backs on Him..and asking Him to forgive me for not doing this before now...
i am thankful for His grace..
i am one who needs to be on my knees in prayers daily and ask Him to use me as the vessel...
i am a man who will spend each remaining day sharing Him, serving Him, loving Him...
i am a Jesus follower who would not have it any other way...
i am one saved only by His grace...
nothing that i do is of my own strength..i need Him every minute of every day...
i want the world to know their Saviour..i want them to know Jesus Christ...
i am one who is so blessed to have the opportunity to do as He's asked..
i am His...
may our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen, protect, and guide each of you daily
"..believing is not about seeing
and faith is not about reaching,
and on this journey, i keep learning
flying is not about wings.."
"Not About Wings" Downhere.................................................................................................................................
i've had a major burden on my heart since 2007 to witness and minister to as many people as the Lord will send my direction, or vice-versa..
in late june of 2008, the Lord laid on my heart what He wanted me to do with my ministry..what you are witness to right now is the very early stages of what is to be a cross-country missions trip to several cities and towns across the U.S.
i've completely laid myself open to wherever He leads, and whatever doors He opens, i'll go through...doors and offers have already begun opening up across the country..
the venture began in my hometown of Olympia, WA..and from there i boarded a greyhound bus and headed out to follow Him, going wherever He leads..the road is completely open, and there is no timeline to this mission, other than His...
what i would ask of any of you is prayer for this mission..that the Lord will continue to open the doors for ministering opportunities, and to give me the strength and confidence(that only He can provide) to share Him with as many as will listen..
i'll be using this profile to update y'all as much as possible with where i'm at, where i'm heading..
my primary mission is witnessing and sharing Him with people..my secondary mission is meeting and fellowshipping with as many of you as possible, whatever's in His will is what i'm praying for..
my testimony is another testament to the Lord's amazing grace and neverending mercy and love for those that He calls His..
God bless each of you as you continue to seek and serve Him in your daily lives..
anyone who God gives me the opportunity to share His message of salvation, truth and love with...
He's already given me some amazing witnessing opportunities over the past year, and i pray daily that he continues to do just that..
looking forward to spending time in fellowship with my myspace Christian brothers and sisters when i make it to your area..
"Father, Spirit, Jesus"
Lord, the worship we bring
Is more than songs that we sing
It's a reflection of our ever-changing lives
The best we have to offer
We don't just lift up our hands
Lord, we lift up our lives
For we know that You are worthy of our praise
To You our lifesongs raise
Rescued from darkness
We are walking in marvelous light
For we are children of the King!
SING!
You are worthy of all honor
Glory, praise and power
King of the nations
You are holy God almighty
Clothed in brilliant majesty
Father, Spirit, Jesus
Casting Crowns
if you or anyone you know is either in need of some inspiration, or in search of the truth...The Lord's Message is here and is worldwide!!!
The Lord's Message is a testimony-based website that features the stories and testimonies of people's lives, and will show what God's amazing grace and mercy can do...
you can join up on the link below:
Tags: Witnessing Missions
