In my life I have often found myself crying out and asking God for what I want, it’s only after I give it up to the Lord that I notice that there was a lesson in there and that the seeds that He has given me turn in to a tree with more fruit then I could ever need.

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Wow! THis has been a full summer! THis blog will be an update from week 4 until now! I’ve been quite busy working at Camp Red Arrow painting, cleaning, building and even working alongside Lake of the Woods church Mission Team! The mission of Camp Red Arrow is becoming more accomplished every day! Also, I’m continuing my pursuit to get to know all the youth at Open Door Baptist church , and serve along side God’s people in ministry. I enjoy seeing how God keeps digging up strengths i have in me to be used for Him. I have been extremely grateful for the church family I have at Open Door Baptist Church- they have been very loving and welcoming to me. Along with these areas of ministry, ive been spending time with some new friends in Culpeper. We’ve been enjoying times of discipleship and just helping each other out in life!
Just yesterday, God revealed to me that since June until now,I have been walking on water! Here is the Biblical reference to what i mean:

Matthew14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28″Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29″Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

Since June, and the decision i made to act on faith in Christ Jesus to come to Virginia-with little prior knowledge of how my food and monetary income would occur, ive realized that God has sustained me abundantly monetarily, with food, and more encouragement and and loving support than i can keep up with!!!!!! I came to a foreign place by faith in Christ Jesus, with two suitcases and two carry-ons, and now He as richly blessed me with more faith in Him and His love for His people. I do not deserve the the kind of freedom and grace and love He gives me, but it’s not about who I am, but it’s who God is!!!! I’m even more grateful for my salvation i have in Him, and the calling He’s placed on my life as a Christ-follower. It’s a call to faith, to purity, to sacrificial love, to dicipleship in Christ. I have a long way to go- THAT’S FOR SURE- but God is doing wonderful things and He Has much more in store!!!

1 corinthians 2:9 No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has concieved what the Lord has prepared for those who love Him.

Tune in next time!

Please pray for me! Please pray that i would continue to have the faith and obedience in Christ that He desires from me!

_Peter Hansen

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so i struggle with this idea. so often people or churches talk about how they supported so and so or changed so and so life and now their life is totally changed.  are we making trophies for Jesus?  is this right?  what does Jesus think of it?  what about when we invest tons of energy, time, and money into someone just for them to walk away or steal your wallet.  is this a trophy for Jesus?  why do we do the things we do?  when was the last time you failed for Jesus….

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in the last two days, i have gone from crying with possible hope to rejoicing in the answered prayers. someone i haven’t talked to in three years communicated with me and now we are making plans to get together sometime soon. i can’t tell you how many tears i have cried, how many prayers i’ve offered, and how many days i have fasted hoping for this. thank you, my sweet Jesus. Proverbs 13:12

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The Great Commission

Wow! I dont think ive even recovered from week 2, but week 3 has already begun!

This week i began moving into my apartment in Culpeper, VA. From there i’ll be going forward to do my best work at Open Door Baptist church working with the youth, and working at Camp Red Arrow! My “landlord”, Mason, and i have already began some Biblical mentoring to keep effective! This week God has really laid it on my heart about His Great Commission: “Go into the world and make disciples…” I need to tell everyone about Jesus Christ and the changes He’s done in my life. Whether it’s in my new youth group or at camp Red Arrow or at the grocery store! I need to tell everyone about the Jesus Christ!

This week, Ive been able to go with the Open Door youth group to Spotsylvania, VA and do some mini golfing! I got to know some of the leaders and the youth a little better! I’m looking forward to spending more time with them!

On Friday of this week we left early to go to King’s Dominion as a youth group! King’s Dominion is an amusement park in Richmond VA. Also, after all the rides and fun and soda and snacks and (thankfully, no throwing-up of anyone’s stomach contents…) we gotto enjoy a concert session and a featured speaker! The speaker was amazing! and the main artists were Fireflight, Chris Tomlin and to close out the night was Toby Mac!
All this entertainment was fun and all……but here’s a question for ya: Whats the point? Roller coasters are short lived, coca cola doesnt satisfy, the Christian music artists came close with their songs that glorified God, but they werent the stars either… What really mattered to me throughout the day was that i got to spend some quality time with the kids from the Open Door youth group, what really mattered to me was that i got to know some of the leaders ill be working with, and who will become my new family. What really mattered was that Jesus Christ had planned for me to meet one individual from Washington DC while waiting in line for a roller coaster. His name is E. (to keep him anon.) I met E in line, and told him we were a church youth group from Culpeper, VA. I asked him if he had a church. He said no, people always made it too complicated for him…. THen, God helped me to explain to this man in a SIMPLE way how Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, He was our substitute. He rose from the dead! And if we want forgiveness for our sins, and a new life and assurrance of going to heaven..that he can freely go to God in prayer and ask for it. After the roller coaster ride, E and i talked more and He received Jesus Christ as his Savior!!!!!!! Praise God, i had packed a small pocket-sized Bible, i wrote a few key verses in it and i gave it to him. I am now in contact with him via cell phone and i hope to have a further relationship with him and help him to know Jesus Christ even more. THAT IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT !!!!!!!!! Not roller coasters, not Toby Mac(although i enjoy his music!) and not short lived entertainment….It’s all about introducing others to our King, our Savior, our God…and helping them to experience a whole new life God has planned for them!
That’s what it’s all about.

Week 4 is off to a great start! Already, my church family has reached out and took me to dinner, and given me ways to make money and help them out! Also, on tuesday, i’ll be working at Camp Red Arrow! There is so much work to be done, but God continuously provides all that is needed! God is showing Himself to be faithful at that camp! it’s looking amazing! Structures are being completed, projects are being finished-it’s looking good! “Hey, campers! we have a camp for you as of 2011! Come check it out and learn about our true God! ”

I need prayer. Pleae pray that i would continue to obey Christ’s Great Comission, with love and discipline and courage…. Please pray that i could learn enough spanish to communicate with the large spanish population in Culpeper, VA.

Thank you all for your love and support!
In Christ, Peter Hansen

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Wow, just fast as week 1 ended, week 2 began!

I was off to a fast start!

I had 10 young men from ages 3rd grade to 6th grade, 1 had special dietary needs, Another camper had anger problems and had random outbursts of anger towards me , another camper decided to mess his pants every day of the week- so i ended up having help to wash all his clothes that had been contaminated by the messes or smell…and another camper was very disrepectful to me and other authority figures. Then i had 6 others to watch out for! Woo! Camp can be challenging!

The verse i had for the week was Colossians 1:11 Strengthened in all might according to His(God’s)…[parentheses added by me for clarification.] …glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.

The emphasis…”unto all patience and longsuffering..” Would you ever believe it!

In order to continue to answer each individual with kind words, and not blow up- and in order to continue to preserve good character within me….my only hope was to be PATIENT….i needed to be strengthened with God’s power all week long to have His kind of patience!

Through out it all, one of my campers received Christ Jesus as their personal Savior!!! I was ecstatic! It was during a chapel service, and i had been keeping my cabin “in line” throughout the whole service and the speaker decided use some time at the end to call anyone to the back if they have any questions about salvation. I remember praying something along the lines of “God, this is what it’s all about! …i’m ready…” Then one of my campers came to the back. We talked, i showed him some key verses in God’s word, and after praying together – he said he understood that he was going to heaven!

Wow!

AND that was only week 2! I know God has more exciting things in store!

Tune in for week 3!

In Christ, Peter Hansen

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At this point, I’ve completed week 1 and week 2 of CBM camp!

Week 1
My verse for the week from God’s word was Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Who knew how much i would need God in that way.

I had a cabin of 9 young men, ages 3rd to 6th grade, and i had one junior counselor to help me out.(Thanks again Jonah!) We had a record high week for heat and humidity. We battled dehydration, bad attitudes, and sleeplessness…..patience was necessary, pools were refreshing!

Through it all: the games, the fun, the activities, the chapel times, and missionary times…i was able to help some of my campers gain assurance of their salvation in Christ Jesus! AND help one of my friend’s campers recieve Christ as their Savior!

It’s all worth it!

After it’s all done, i feel the stress and the strain from the week and the tiredness, but the joys of God working in people’s lives last even longer!

THanks for all your prayers and support!

Tune in for the review of week 2 and other upcoming events!

In Christ, Peter Hansen

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We are not in the position of the Holy Spirit to judge someone’s faith and salvation. Jesus states, Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement. -John 7:24 We can only inspect the fruit to know the outcome of someones faith.

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When you have lived for awhile, you begin to understand that God knows more than you do. And you even will thank God for unanswered prayers. You will thank God that He said no to you at an earlier time, because you will realize, with 20/20 hindsight, that you didn’t know what you were asking for at the time. So don’t ever be afraid to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Luke 11:2).

I want to expand on this thought above as I have just recently experienced this truth. I look back at so many homes we tried in some instances to force our way in and God said no! Looking back from where He has placed us now, I am so grateful that He knew better than I to allow us to “suffer” (not really) longer to get to a place where we would fit best. Not only that we are able to minister and help a single mom in the process strengthen her faith in God and save her home that she did not want to go back to the bank! God is truly good and the longer I live and listen to Him the more Greg Laurie’s statement above is true. Thank you God for saying NO!

I can honestly tell you that I am at true rest and peace inside knowing that God knows better than I. I really needed the experience of waiting that past 7+ yrs to understand how to wait on Him. I honestly don’t think there is much that could shake the foundations of my Faith in God after enduring what my wife and I have gone through with our special needs daughter and the home we were living in.

***please post the above and below the full blog

eric alber

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THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010

Just Ask!

“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
— John 16:24

One of the many reasons we should pray is that it is God’s appointed way of giving things to us that we need in our lives. And there are things that God may want to give you, things that God may want to say to you, things that God may want to do for you, that have not been given, that have not been said, and that have not been done simply because you have not asked.

James 4:2 tells us, “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.” Maybe you wonder why you don’t know the will of God for your life. Could it be that you do not have because you do not ask? Maybe you wonder why you are unable to lead other people to Christ. Could it be that you do not have because you do not ask? Maybe you are struggling financially and barely scraping by. Could it be that you do not have because you do not ask? Maybe there is a certain illness or problem in your life that has continued on and on. Could it be that you do not have because you do not ask?

I am not suggesting that God always will give us everything that we ask for. Nor am I saying that He will heal every person who asks for His touch. But He will heal some. And what if there were something that God wanted to do but it has not yet happened because you simply have not prayed about it? Maybe He will say no. But what if He says yes? What do you have to lose? That is why we need to pray. It is a privilege of the believer.

Have Pastor Greg’s devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!
Greg

Eric Alber

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