Don't Blame God

It is Sunday morning and I am sitting in my office at the church. I have not blogged in quite some time, so figured maybe today could be the day. I guess to be quite honest I've never seen myself as a blogger! :-) I find it a little 'intimidating' that I have no clue who all will be reading what I write...but it's good to get out of your comfort zone. (Or so Shawna Sletten told me once)

Sometimes, things are going to come your way that you don't understand. That is not the time to give up on God! I have been asked many times, "How could God let this happen to me!" I want you to understand that God does not JUST LET THINGS HAPPEN! God has given us that wondeful opportunity of choice. He didn't want puppets hanging from a string! How can we worship God if we are just puppets! He gave Adam and Eve free roam of the garden, but they couldn't resist the one tree that they were to leave alone!

God has given us the freedom to make choices in life. When something bad happens to you, think about the events that led up to it! I guarantee, it was not God's fault! There were most certainly choices that you made or someone else made that led to the events!

But rest assured, when you stand back up, God is there with a hand stretched out to help you get up! The bible says in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil". God wants to bring you peace if you just lean on him! Don't ever get mad and blame God for what happens in your life.

P.S. Leave me your thoughts...let me know I'm not typing in vain! :-)

Youth Leaders Retreat

Wow...Amber and I just got back from Bismarck a few hours ago. We went down yesterday for the Youth Leaders Retreat. What a GREAT time we had! Bro. Vaughn and Sis. Wendy Pearson were our speakers. We had a great message yesterday, followed by fellowship, a scavenger hunt, and pictionary charades. This morning we had another session followed by lunch. There was a great spirit amongst the ND Youth Leaders, and you could tell that each one has a passion and dedication to the youth of this great state.

ND Youth - we always tell you that you are the best young people there are...but I want to say behind every great youth group there is a great Youth Leader! Appreciate your leader, and let them know how much you appreciate them! Get behind them and you will see great things in your youth group!

We love you guys,
Tony and Amber

He's Never Failed

Hab 3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Life throws many things in a person's path. Sometimes we think we just can't continue on, that life is getting to be a little too difficult for us. Growing up as the son of a home-missions pastor, life could be pretty tough. Amber and I were at the Dickinson's 20-year Church Anniversary yesterday, and listening to Michael and Sara talk about all the trials of growing up in a home-missions church brought back a lot of memories.

But reading in Habakkuk we read that when all goes wrong - when the fig tree doesn't blossom, when the vines produce no fruit, and the fields no meat, and all seems as failure, STILL, I will rejoice in the Lord!

Mt 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.