[[ The Giver of Newness ]]

Jesus has always been the giver of newness.

Its january and a new semester has already begun. Each semester looks different than the one before. Praise God for that. I named this blog "The Giver of Newness" because i am in a completely different place. Really. A different city doing something different. While, on the surface, living life for me may look alot different, granted i am not in school this semester-but rather in between schools. I am not living in Auburn. I am living in Montgomery. I am working at a Church and not Gap. I live at home with mom, dad, and sister as opposed to Riley, Walker, Rus, and James Robert. So those are the details that have changed on the surface.

All of that is new. Considering the fact that i havent left Auburn in 16 months (excluding trips). But it is Good. Real Good. I am seeing the things that the Lord has engraved in to my life since ive been in Auburn. That is always exciting. To visibly see what the Lord has done. Because He has done soo much to see.

But Jesus has become more to me in this place of newness. I feel his pleasure just being here and saying yes to him asking me to go. Now He didnt ask me to go across the world or to china or africa...just 40 minutes down the road. But each day i am seeing more and more my purpose and reason to me being here. That stirs passion and life in me. To know that the God of the universe and i had a conversation about his people in a specific region in a small state on a small planet, that he created to point us to Glory...then make all the doors come open for me to land slap dab in the middle of those people we talked about. That might sound really confusing, but work with me here...im bloggin.

I am also coaching basketball with my dad. He is a varsity boys basketball coach at my high school...None of this seems interesting for a college kid to come back to. "Why would you ever want to go back there?" Someone asked. Its crazy, because i never thought i would want to go back either. I hate Montgomery for the most part. But, as ive learned, when you surrender all to the Lord, he puts things in your heart you never thought you would feel. Thats where i am right now in life. Im doing alot of stuff that is only jesus. I never thought i would not be going to college at auburn but rather taking Bible College classes online from Atlanta. Yeah, i start that in May. The great thing is...I wouldnt have it any other way.

I love this freshness the Lord has allowed me to partake in. Even the things im studying and learning about in the word are fresh and new. Ive been digging and taking apart Ephesians and ive got to say that Jesus is supreme. He is the one whom my hope is found in. He is always the one to whom glory is pointed to. I could go on and on. Ultimately he has breathed fresh life into us. Thats what happend when we became fully alive in Christ. He made us new. He breathed into us a new breath. Amazing.

I have been clinging to this statement of truth in this new season(if you call me and dont get me, you will hear this on my voicemail..as some people have gotten a kick out of it, so i hear)

"who we need most and what we need most is the same thing...its jesus."
-matt dean

But really, it is. Because he is ultimate and supreme. Nothing else satisfies, nothing else grants me what i need. Nothing else proposes joy in surrendering like jesus does.

If you've read this...
please pray for me. that i would proclaim with boldness the gospel. that revival would break out in Montgomery. and last for my family. thank you and may He give you a taste of fresh water today.

::johnchristian