sing2gether.com

NOT a Dress Rehearsal?

2012-01-24T14:50:00.001-05:00

I read a Relevant Magazine article by Jeff Goins today that really got to me. One of the lines that especially stood out was...

'This is your life—today. It’s not a dress rehearsal for the future; it’s all you have.'

Wow!

Then I realized today, that yet again God had done something in our life... without our help... knowing what we needed... and I am sure He did not even sweat!! He is Faithful!

The thing God seems to keep putting in front of me is this...

Are you doing the best you can...
with what you have...
where you are???

God allows us the crazy opportunity to Breathe and have a Heart Beat... God blesses us with Hope, Relationships, Time, Gifts, Resources...

But are we faithful with the things He has given us to steward over?

Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust].
-1 Corinthians 4:2 Amplified Bible

It's a good question. In those things that we are not found faithful... I feel like we are being reminded that it is time to change it up because we still got time left in the game.

Don't give up Hope... with God all things are possible!

Remember... this is NOT a Dress Rehearsal!

Be encouraged and blessed friends! God is for you!

Purity is worth it...

2012-01-19T21:00:00.002-05:00

I was reminded today of a conversation I had with a friend about our desire to see God move. In our conversation He shared this from the Bible:

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. -Matthew 5:8

We both shared that we wanted to see God and to see God move.

Purity is worth the effort in every way. One of the greatest struggles we will ever face while robed in flesh is sexual purity... but I think a close 2nd is that of having pure motives.

In both of these area's we have a choice.

To walk in the flesh... or in the spirit. Which will you choose?

When we hear the word purity do we instantly think of people we know that have fallen in this area or do we acknowledge that we have all fallen short according to Romans 3:23? I thought of this while I reflected on some people that from my perspective, have made some decisions that seem to have been birthed out of ill motives. As I wandered how they could do or say the things they have... God reminded me that if I do not strive to walk humbly and in purity... I could make the same decisions and fall.

So... let me encourage you to walk in purity. It will be worth it.

I want to continue to see God move... and one day we will see him face to face!

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. -Psalm 51:10-12

Be still...

2012-01-09T10:32:00.000-05:00

When I was a kid I hated nap time. Now I would pay for a nap. Often my mom would take us to the library to get books... cause books are good and the library is free... but when she wanted us to read I decided to do everything but sit still. Now I can't read enough because I have learned not only do I not have it all figured out... but people have something to say. I am learning... more important than people... God has something to say.

Unfortunately we rarely take the time to listen or reflect on what He is speaking.
Often we go to church and hear a message but half way through we start thinking about lunch and before we get to the football game... we forget it is even Sunday. Maybe I am the only one that struggles with this... if so... this is my James 5:16 confession time.

Many times in the gospels in some way, shape or form Jesus makes reference to people having 'eyes to see' or 'ears to hear'.

Realistically whether you are a follower of Christ or not... you too struggle with getting caught up in the craziness of life without taking a second to breathe and reflect on what has happened.

This past week on numerous occasions God stopped me in my tracks and showed me that He is not only mindful of us... but He is speaking.

He probably has been speaking all along... I just wasn't listening... a l l a l o n g.

Truth: He has something to say... and He will get the glory.

So take some time...

Take a deep breath...

and be still...

Psalm 46:10 (NIV) ¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Be encouraged friends!

It is hard to believe...

2012-01-05T19:06:00.001-05:00

But before we were even born God had a plan for our life.

Monday night God reminded me of something else...

January 2005... 7 years ago God called us into full time ministry.

We have grown closer to Jesus every single day.

We have grown closer in our marriage as we serve together.

We have learned what it looks like for us to actually walk by faith.

We have been blessed to build incredible friendships with amazing people.

We have seen people embrace Gods calling on their life.

We have learned that we have to earn the right to speak into somebody's life.

... and most importantly...

We have seen people walk from death to life!

It has been an incredible 7 years... but we know we are just getting started. God is birthing His vision for our life daily. A long time ago I heard Joyce Meyer say 'God didn't call us to be busy... but fruitful'.

This is a daily struggle... but well worth the effort.

In Matthew 22:35-40 Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was... and His response was simple yet profound.

Love God.

Love People.

Every day we are striving to do this more and more. God has done so much and we are so thankful. But we can't wait to see what He has in store.

Be blessed and encouraged friends... God is most certainly mindful of you! At times I have taken my focus off of Him... but I am grateful that He has never taken His hand off of us. He has great things for you. Don't settle!

-p.jimmy

In alert expectancy such as this...

2011-12-19T11:17:00.002-05:00

2011 is coming to a close.

I need not leave it behind without blogging at least 1 more time.

Romans :1-5 The Message (MSG)

^1-2By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.
^3-5There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

In the NKJV verse 5 starts off by saying... Now hope does not disappoint...

God is so FAITHFUL.

He has given us HOPE.

And Jesus is daily birthing His VISION for our life and things that are to come.

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

You are loved, valued and God has a destiny for your life.

To all of our friends and family we just want to say we love and appreciate you!

Be blessed and encouraged.

The best is yet to come...

What would happen if we did?

2011-12-14T10:55:00.000-05:00

Have you ever felt like a jacked up hamster stuck in a noisy spinning wheel that gives the illusion that if you move faster you will actually go somewhere?

Are you tired of being stuck on repeat?

This morning the Holy Spirit reminded me of this text.
The excuses may change... but our response often stays the same.
Jesus is still asking us to follow him.
He's got us.
We just have to drop our (But First's)...
What would happen if we did?
Entertaining this question may cause a fire to stir in your heart.
Do something with it!

Luke 9:57-62 -⁵⁷ Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” ⁵⁸ And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” ⁵⁹ Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹ And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” ⁶² But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

-p.jimmy

what do you see?

2011-10-24T11:24:00.003-04:00

In Mark 8:22-25 there is a story of Jesus Healing a man that was blind. It is an awesome story and I recommend you check it out. God brought me to this passage while reflecting on all God has done in me and my wife's life while on a plane from Baltimore back to Florida. We have some Incredible stories, testimonies and experiences to say the least!

A few weeks back I was really struggling with stuff and a conversation with Jesus via my wife changed everything! She challenged me not to forget Psalms 84:10 ..a scripture I often quote. My focus was off and I did not even realize that God was trying to speak to me and teach me in my struggle! Sometimes we need to change our perspective... and I thank God for His mercy and grace as I worked through those tough few weeks. And no doubt I will have to revisit these scriptures many times to remind myself of His goodness.

So many times we settle for what we have in front of us instead of resting in His promises.

We easily default to walking in the flesh instead of walking by faith.

We've all done it.. but I believe He is still asking... 'what do you see?'

He is not asking because he does not know. He does not want us to walk in confusion. He wants us to pray and live by faith.

But we have to take our focus off of our circumstances and struggles and stay focused on Jesus! I know it is easier said then done... remember my 2nd paragraph above referenced a struggle in my life... so I am there. I have been there. But God is still with us! He has not forgotten about us... He is beyond mindful but we have to from time to time take a moment and respond to this question....

'what do you see?'

Lastly... I would also encourage you to not stop seeking Him. I am not going to argue about the theology or symbolism that can be found in Mark 8:22-25... but if you just take the word for what it says.. Jesus touched the man a 2nd time before His vision was completely restored. Not that He had to... but Jesus chose to heal him in this manner. Gods ways are higher than our ways. All I know is I need Him... You need Him... and if you are not seeing clearly...

don't. quit. seeking. Jesus.

Your best days are ahead of you! Greater things are yet to come! Be encouraged friends! You are not alone!

-p.jimmy

Provision comes after obedience...

2011-08-18T22:33:00.001-04:00

a few weeks ago we were faced with many needs in our life. Some that we shared with people...some we didn't. Some were tangible needs...some were so overwhelming we didn't really know how to share them. Regardless... God came through as usual. Something I learn more and more every single day...

God...

Is...

Faithful!

That Sunday, the day after I preached my grandmothers funeral I sat in the office at my grandparents house in Bel Air, MD and just started to thank God for all He had done! He has blessed us so much... and we (just like the children of Israel) too quickly forget about all of the blessings in our life that are clearly from God alone. Sometimes we hear someone share salvation in a alter call and we grow anxious because we know what they are going to say...

but have we to easily forgotten that the greatest miracle that we could ever see takes place the day someone surrenders their life to a Jesus that died on the cross for their sins! He died for us... but we forget what redemption feels like because our relationship with him sometimes grow routine... when every day he calls us to draw nearer still... nearer still...

God reminded me of one of my favorite passages in the Bible... Joshua 3:1-17. He reminded me that 'Provision comes after Obedience'. I felt like he wanted me to share that with you today. He reminds us in John 14:15 that if we love him...we will be obedient.

Be encouraged today! God is more mindful of you than you realize friend! Be blessed...and check out Joshua 3!

-p.jimmy

this could change your life...

2011-07-23T15:59:00.004-04:00

Check out Dave Ramsey at www.thegreatrecovery.com/live/

Clara Akers

2011-06-30T12:29:00.000-04:00

Yesterday my incredible grandmother went home to be with the Lord! Her whole life literally shouted the love of God! My family appreciates all the love, prayers and support. Her viewing/funeral info is as follows:

Mccomas Funeral Home
1317 Cokesbury Road
Abingdon, MD 21009

Viewing friday July 1st 7-9pm

Viewing Saturday July 2nd 10-11am

Funeral Saturday July 2nd 11am

Burial will be @ Bel Air Memorial Gardens

Thanks again friends!

-jimmy

'Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!' -Psalm 34:8

What are you doing with your open door?

2011-05-30T14:36:00.002-04:00

Revelation 3:8 (Msg) 8"I see what you've done. Now see what I've done. I've opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don't have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep my Word. You didn't deny me when times were rough.

This scripture has always intrigued me. I recently heard it again and I have not been able to get it out of my head.

Many times in my life I have prayed and asked God to give me direction and when he didn't respond the way I wanted or expected...I hesitated or even at times missed an opportunity that he had right in front of me...but I did not have the eyes to see what he had opened up in front of me.

The last few years I have sought God more and prayed for wisdom and direction more than ever before...and something I am learning is that an open door that God opens needs to be walked through! I am learning so much about my faith in this beyond amazing Jesus. Our Pastor recently has been talking about us understanding our place in the Kingdom and having the faith to believe that anything really is possible...but we gotta do something with the door he has in front of us.

1 more thing...

Psalm 119:105 (NKJV) 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

I heard Dave Annasco a missionary to the Philippines several years ago share about this Scripture. He reminded us that they didn't have LED's or Mag lights back in the day...they had a candle or oil lamp at best. And in order for their path to be illuminated..they had to keep walking...because without moving forward...the throw of the light only went so far..and so did they!
Friends...if he is opening a door or has an open door in front of you...trust him to walk it out! Stay faithful to him...he won't lead you wrong! He knows our strength is limited...but His has no limit! What are you doing with the open door or doors he has placed in front of you?? Jesus is coming back...and we need to make the most of the time and the door we have been given!

Be blessed and encouraged friends!

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

-p.jimmy

It is about way more...

2011-05-14T20:52:00.002-04:00

after a great work out this morning...we are currently hanging out with good friends. Earlier we were watching a movie and I was texting a friend and God dropped some revelation on me. A little background before I share it with you.

I was raised in church. I have always known that God had a great plan for my life. In fact...I believe God has a destiny for everyone! So...as God has blessed me and my wife and challenged us time and time again to step out in faith...there has always been this sense of purpose behind what he was calling us too. A few months ago...God did it again. We were serving in Delaware and God challenged us to trust him and migrate south to Clermont, Florida! A big step for a whole bunch of reasons but God has never let us down...that is how he rolls! Florida is our new home!

When we arrived we were told by multiple people that they had been praying for God to send someone here...and that we were answers to prayer. As humbling and as appreciative as I am that people have prayed for us...and for the affirmation...God is saying even more! The Bible reminds us in Psalm 37:23 that God orders our steps. We have fully embraced the fact that God has brought us to Florida to do a great work for His glory...but he is showing me that there is even more!

It is not just about what he is doing THROUGH us...more importantly...he wants to do a great work IN us!

To frequently we (christian folk) are so busy trying to do the good stuff that we neglect the God stuff...the stuff God is trying to do in us!

I remember when I was a teenager my Pastor, Chris Dutruch shared several times that God was not as concerned with our comfort as he was with our character. Even though the process is tough sometimes...how incredible is it that our God cares about us THAT MUCH!

Anyways friends...It is not just about what he is doing THROUGH you...more importantly...he wants to do a great work IN you! So...be encouraged!! Jesus did not die on a cross for you and I to just barely get by... John 10:10 clearly shows us God has incredible things planned for us...and we need not be deceived with the comfort blanket of Apathy or Settling! God wants to continue to use you...but he also wants to grow you! It may be tough, it may not always feel good...but it is gonna be worth it.

Philippians 1:6 (Amplified Bible)

6And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

-p.jimmy

PS. testimonies...God is blessing us so much! And even though it has only been 2 months...we have already seen fruit and blessings in our time here! And the best is yet to come. In the health department...we just completed our 2nd week back in the gym. Our goal is to work out 5 days a week mixing it up between cardio and strength training. God has given us the strength and grace to make some changes in our eating habits..and honestly we feel incredible. A little tired and sore...but we know it is gonna be worth it! Not Settling!! Just know...you can do it too!

Don't lose heart!!

2011-05-01T17:24:00.008-04:00

The last few months of our lives have been an incredible whirl-wind of crazy, busy, worn out and amazing all rolled into one...

Sometimes we forget simple truth's that God has already spoken through his word!

Galatians 6:7-9-⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

So many times I have found myself discouraged or distracted because stuff that is happening...even though it may be good or even incredible stuff when combined with other stuff can be a little overwhelming...but if we will just hold on...the blessing is coming over the horizon!!

Sometimes I need this reminder because of ministry, sometimes trying to work through our finances, sometimes trying hard to get healthier...but what ever it is...this scripture is still true!

So whatever you are carrying today...maybe it is stuff you have been carrying for a while...let me encourage you to turn it over to the one who won't struggle picking it up for you! If you are tired, discouraged, hurt, or overwhelmed...let me encourage you to focus or re-focus on Christ...don't lose heart...cause it's gonna be worth it all!

Lastly...let me share a note that a girl from our church wrote today and shared on her facebook.

by Elizabeth Rivera on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 2:14pm

God has placed this on my heart and I hope and pray it blesses you.

Focus. I know when I think about that word, I always think of a camera. If the camera isn't focused, then the picture doesn't turn out too well. We have to focus on schoolwork, when we are driving we have to focus on ten million things so we don't get hurt. If you realize it or not, we have to focus.

Lately, God has been gently correcting me on where my focus is. Christ needs to be our #1 focus. Not the boy or girl who thinks we're cute, not the bills that need to be paid, or what the hottest trends are but Him. When we take our focus off our Christ, things get bumpy. While God wants us to be blessed and have nice things, that should not be our#1 focus. While God wants us to be happy and have a cute little love story, that shouldn't be our focus. When we put God first, those things fall into place so easily and beautifully you have no choice but to stand back and thank God.

"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."-Hebrews 12:2
Focus and surrender to Him and you will be amazed!

I am proud of Elizabeth and for her sharing what the Lord put on her heart!

Be blessed and encouraged friends! Don't lose heart!

-p.jimmy

PS. What God is doing in our lives and in our church and in our youth ministry is stupidly-off the boat incredible! Wanted to share that because I am pretty sure...he is just getting started! The best is yet to come!

Thank YOU Jesus!

2011-04-22T14:18:00.004-04:00

This Easter weekend, people all over the world will be Celebrating the life, death & resurrection of Jesus Christ! We have so much to be thankful for...but what he did way, way back in the day on this weekend...a thank you barely seems like it is enough.

One month ago today we flew into Florida to begin our new season...in a new state, a new apartment, in need of a vehicle...and super excited and blessed to start serving at our new church home. In the last month God has blessed us in our new apartment, with the vehicle and $$ needed to buy it, and the last month with our church and our youth ministry has been rid-unc-u-lously amazing! And tonight we will be leading worship with friends at our church for our Good Friday service.

As a kid I used to wonder why they called it good Friday. Jesus was beaten and hung on a cross on 'Good Friday'...I always thought it should be called sad Friday...but as I have grown in my faith...I have come to realize why it is so Good. Because of what Jesus did...I am redeemed! I am forgiven! He paid the price for US! Even though the pain he took that day is beyond anything I can even compare it too...I am healed because of it! It is a sobering Friday...a Friday to reflect...but yes...because of Jesus...it is a Good Friday!

...and don't forget...Sunday is coming!

Jesus answered, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me."-John 14:6

Thank YOU Jesus for dieing for me! Thank you for being the way! Thank YOU Jesus!

-jimmy

follow me...

2011-03-07T14:26:00.004-05:00

¹⁸ And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰ They immediately left their nets and followed Him. -Matthew 4:18-20

When I was 16...I rededicated my life to Christ at an old fashioned tent revival outside of a christian coffee house in Baltimore and I decided that I was finished going through the motions of calling myself a christian but living contrary. It was time to really follow Jesus!

August 20th, 2004 I married my beautiful wife and we made a decision that we would not only be committed to each other in everything...but that our marriage was a covenant between us and the Lord and that we would surrender our will to his will and that our home would honor him and that together we would follow Jesus!

March 2005 We were called into full time Student ministry at New Covenant Church of God (my home church for 13 years) and we served there with all of our hearts! We experienced the blessings of God and the struggles that life and ministry presented...but through it all...we pushed through to follow Jesus!

February 2009 We felt God calling us to the eastern shore. Some ministry opportunities were presented..but none were his will. We couldn't sell our house but we stepped out in faith...moved to the shore and began working...a lot! Amber work 50+ hrs a week apprenticing at a salon and I work 70-80hrs a week at Wawa and Chick fil a. We did that for 7 months...and in march we found an incredible church...Dagsboro Church of God!

They had a youth pastor, the worship team was full and there seemed to be no need for me and amber. But after 3 weeks of visiting...we knew God called us here...regardless of where we fit...we knew....we.were.following.Jesus.

August 2009 we were brought on staff part time to serve the students of this great church and community. Eventually coming on full time staff...God continued to bless us. And since coming to DCOG God has blessed us with amazing opportunities including:

Becoming a part of an amazing staff and leadership team whom we will always respect and thank the Lord for, being a part of the worship team, serving students - attending their sporting and school events, getting to know their families and serving this community as youth pastors, connecting and working together with other student ministries in our community, working with LCS students, speaking in their chapel and other christian schools in the area, teaching purity classes for LCS 7th and 8th grade boys, working with our B&G club and trying to be a positive influence in kids lives as well as helping the club move forward, being a part of the amazing changes made in our kids ministry including leading live worship for the kids each week, leading worship and speaking at the Stockley center...and being a part of an amazing church family who we love dearly!

A few months ago...we felt God stirring us to seek him. Once again...he is calling us to follow him...and we are.

We have 2 more weeks left as of the date of this Blog to serve DCOG and this community. We have been blessed and honored to be here and to be embraced into this great family...but we are all part of an even bigger family...the Body of Christ!

God has presented us with the opportunity to go and serve the community of Clermont Florida with Pastor Chris & Julie Dutruch at Celebration of Praise Church of God. God has had his hand on our lives and we are so excited for all he has in store. There is much work to be done...and we all need to be doing what he is calling us to.

I have recently shared James 2:20 with people...

²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

The last 6 years we have preached the gospel and shared our faith! Since I was a young boy I have been singing and writing music about my faith and now I get to sing with Amber. Since I was 16, my goal in life has been to follow Jesus and to walk by faith...not by sight, and if we are not willing to follow him when he calls...if we are not willing to step out and trust him even when we don't have it all figured out...my friends...all of these things have been done in vain.

But...

we have heard Him...

we have peace that He has got us...

we are walking by faith...

and once again following Jesus!

God is so incredible! He is literally beyond amazing...and to think...for even one second that we get to follow Jesus...

We will!

We love you all and I want to tell you...God has called you to also do something great for him and for the Kingdom of God! He loves you! He has an incredible plan for your life. If you haven't yet...choose to follow Jesus. Accept him as your savior and start experiencing the abundant life...and eternity that John 10:10 promises.

And if Jesus is calling you to do something...will you answer his call? Will you follow him?

-jimmy akers

I can play the background...

2011-01-19T01:19:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I was driving our church van full of teens home from our snow tubing trip. We listened to a good selection of music from my ipod but when we got about 45 minutes from home...a song from Lecrae played through the speakers and I instantly felt the presence of the Lord.

I don't know if you have ever had that experience before but the words rang out...

I could play the background
I could play the background
'Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
And I could play the background, background
And you could take the lead

...I started to reflect on 3 things: what God has done, the times I tried to be 'the man' and run the show and the area's God is challenging me to trust him in right now!

John 3:30 says...He must increase, but I must decrease.

This passage is so opposite of how we think. We wanna shine, we want credit, we want to show people how great we are...but we forget that there is one much greater...and HE alone is Worthy to play the lead role!

I don't want to fumble through life trying to find my way when all I gotta do is seek him...cause he is the way! I want him to lead the way...I want to follow! I want to play the background!

Tears almost came because I was so overwhelmed with the love, peace and joy that only comes from God. Nothing can replace those moments! I want to find myself there more often for sure!

We will never be satisfied if we take the lead. In fact...eventually our fun and good feelings will fade away...and if we don't have him...one day we will be eternally separated from him.

But what if we allowed him to take the Lead?

How would our life change if we chose to play the background?

-jimmy

PS. Be encouraged friend...and if you have not already...I strongly encourage you to allow Christ into your life! Recognize and accept him as your savior, repent and surrender your life to the Lord and allow him to take the lead! The background is the best seat in the house!

thank you...

2011-01-11T09:48:00.003-05:00

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.-1 Thessalonians 5:18

so...the CD release weekend has come and gone. It was an incredible weekend! We kicked off Saturday 1/8/11 in Dagsboro, DE with close to 70 friends and family hanging out with us. The weather was a little shady with snow early in the day...but we still had a great night! We packed up Sunday morning after church and headed north to Bel Air, MD. About 140-ish friends and family joined us there for a night of worship and a celebration of all that God has done! Many have asked how many CD's we sold. Well..we sold/gave away 111 CD's as of yesterday. I said sold/gave away because before we even recorded the disc God put it on my heart that we needed to trust him to provide and not limit someone from getting a CD if they did not have the money. God proved himself this weekend for sure. Many gave way more than a CD would typically cost...and truth be told (quoting my friend Corey's awesome song), that not only blessed us...but it makes it possible to bless those that may need to hear something on the CD even when they don't have the money to afford it!

So...there are so many thank you's to throw out and I do not want to miss anybody but there are a few that I wanted to list here for sure...thank you:

1st- Jesus for everything! You are the reason why we sing! I love you so much! Surrendering my life to you is the greatest decision I have ever made! To you alone be the Glory!

2nd- Amber...it is hard to describe how amazing it is to have you as a wife. Together we live, love, worship and serve God!

3rd-Corey, Jeremy, Brad, Adam, Willet and Garrett for blessing us and making this recording possible! Thank you so much!

4th-Amber, Derrick, Jeremy, Wayne, Marvin, Keina and Don...it was incredible to worship with you this weekend! You guys are incredibly talented and a huge blessing! Thank you for serving with me!

5th-Everyone else that has been there, supported or prayed for us, those that have purchased CD's, guitar picks or Amber's earrings and those that came out this weekend...thank you is hardly enough...but we are so grateful and blessed to have so many people that love and support us in our lives! Also thank you to our DCOG family and Pastor Kim and our New Cov. family and Pastor Cliff for hosting the CD release nights!

WOW! That is a great word to describe our weekend...but it is even beyond that...because we sing and play for more than just a good time! The hope that we have in Christ is the greatest reason to live a thankful life! Our hope and trust is in him alone...and all good things come from him!

A few more things...several people have asked about buying the CD online. I am working on this and hope to have it available via itunes and a few other outlets asap. For the time being...go to the contact tab at the top right corner of this page and you will find my email address there. Email me your name, phone number, and mailing address and in the subject of the email write: I want to buy (CD, guitar pick or Amber's hand-made earrings), and I will follow up with you via email and give you the address to send a check to and then get your order out right away.

We are in the process of booking a few places to play in the near future so keep checking back for more info. Last but not least...be encouraged! You are not alone! I heard it for almost 7 years at Joes Place from brother Shannon and I will say it again...you are loved, valued and God has a destiny for your life!

Thank You!

-jimmy and amber akers

PS. if you're going through some junk...just hold on...cause Daybreak is upon us!

Opportunity!

2011-01-04T17:10:00.000-05:00

I have heard that word many times in the last few days. Maybe it is because it is the 1st couple days of the new year...but for some reason the word opportunity keeps coming up. And today this verse came to my memory. At the end of Esther 4:14 Mordecai shares this statement with Esther...

...And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

For such a time as this! Opportunity!

Some think they are alive by chance or accident...but I believe that God brought us into this world for a reason! We are here on purpose, called to live a life of purpose on purpose! And I believe that he has called us all...to live for such a time as this!

The question is...will we respond to the God Ordained Opportunities?

They will come...will we trust him enough to say yes...whether it makes sense or not?

This week I want to Love God more than last week! I want to bless and love my wife beyond just words! At 24-7 this week I want the Holy Spirit to speak through me without any hindrance as I share Gods word! This weekend at the CD release nights of worship I want to sing and share the hope I have in Christ clearer than ever before! I want to seek, grow, live, give and love like Jesus in 2011 louder and more effectively than I ever have before!

And I believe...that if we trust God...with the opportunities he gives us...He will get the Glory and lives will be changed! May we follow him! May we respond to God Ordained Opportunities for such a time as this! Hallelujah!

New Tomlin Chorus...

Where you go, I’ll go. Where you stay, I’ll stay.
When you move, I’ll move. I will follow you.
Who you love, I’ll love. How you serve, I’ll serve.
If this life I lose, I will follow you

...um yes!

Daybreak is upon us...

2010-12-22T10:12:00.002-05:00

We have written songs and recorded them, prayed and prepared. The artwork, website, pictures, flyer, copyright and chord charts are finished! The CD has been ordered and all that is left to do is pray and practice for the CD release weekend Jan. 8th & 9th, 2011!

I am grateful and humbled by the support and encouragement that has come from our family and friends. It is hard to predict what God has in store but we have a great anticipation that it is way bigger than us and that he alone will get the glory! I hope that he uses us and these songs to encourage, challenge and help people to engage in worship!

I remember as a 13 year old kid...sitting with my guitar on the stoop of my moms apartment building. I would come home from school and play for hours outside! Not only has God blessed me with other guitars to play on and new songs to sing since then...but he has also given me someone to sing with...my wife Amber!

I have never felt a stirring like I do in my heart and life right now. I know of many friends in transition and crisis that have struggled like never before.One thing is for sure...now is not the time to back down friends! God has brought us this far...and we gotta keep on moving!

One word that describes the moment the light pierces the darkness is 'daybreak'. Sometimes it feels like the dark seasons in our life will never end. We may feel like all hope is lost and we might as well just give up. But remember this: one of my pastors used to often share...the darkest part of the night is often right before the sun breaks through on the horizon!

So friends...hold on! You are not alone! Be encouraged...Daybreak is upon us!

-jimmy

new years resolution in december anybody?

2010-12-15T10:12:00.000-05:00

If you are like me...January brings both excitement and struggle!

Excitement for a fresh start. I was the kid in class that always liked the 1st week of school...fresh fro, new clothes and new opportunity to become the big man on campus. (no pun intended...being I am the big man) Anyways...there is something about the thought of a new beginning that refuels us! Another bonus for 2011 for us is the Release of our new CD!

...on the other hand...

January brings struggle in the form of memories of failed new years resolutions. You know like..I am gonna read my bible and pray at least 15 hours a day! No more soda, snacks or dairy queen! And I am gonna lose 173.5 lbs in 67 days! We all try to start off well. But somehow we lose it. We tend to lose steam sometimes way to quickly.

So I have decided I am going to make a new years commitment in December! Along with weight loss, financial, and other goals for the year...my 1st focus is gonna be to seek the Lord! I love God! He is worth it! And instead of trying to shoot at 20 different targets...I am going to aim at him and allow him to help me to reach everything else...his way!

Matthew 6:33 (The Message)

^30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

God has got 2011 figured out! So let's seek him 1st!

God bless you! Be encouraged because he is mindful of you!

-jimmy

December Updates...

2010-12-07T15:33:00.000-05:00

So...if you haven't noticed the blog looks a little different! The best part is I have no clue what I am doing but I am proud of the progress on this blog site so far. You no longer have to remember the blog URL because www.sing2gether.com is now up and running so you can get here through that much easier!

On the musical note...I am so excited for the CD Release worship nights in January 2011! Check back for more updates as I attempt to add more to the site and keep you in the loop!

Last but not least...God has been so GOOD! Seriously...he has been showing us how mindful of us he really is! You do not have enough time to read all of the blessings I could type out right now...but I would encourage you to let him know how thankful you are for all he has done for you.

One thing I know much about is that it is way to easy to focus on your struggles and forget all that God has done! He woke us up! We have been blessed with another day and for sure we have much to be thankful for!

⁸ Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see— how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.

Psalm 34:8 -the MSG.

Be blessed and encouraged friends! You are not alone! God is mindful of you!

-jimmy

DAYBREAK IS UPON US CD RELEASE

2010-12-01T11:29:00.003-05:00

'he sings all the time'

2010-11-27T21:44:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving day we did as we always do...we drove for hours and hours to spend time with our family! Aside from the driving so much part...the rest is always enjoyable and a blessing! Thursday evening as we were winding down at my moms someone had the bright idea to pull out baby books that chronicled the early years of me and my brothers growing up into the 'beefcakes' we currently are! (no kidding) My wife just happened to find this paper that had a line for every 6 months of my life which included a hand written note from my momma about something I did or attempted. Without the paper in front of me I can not remember how long the list went but almost every single line shared something that involved music!!! I re-read that paper a few times...I had no idea that it existed but reading it seriously jacked me up! I was recently sharing with a friend about my recent musical endeavors (including our new CD release nights of worship planned for Jan. 8 & 9, 2011) and I told him that no matter what I do...my days are always filled with a backing soundtrack! I told him that no matter what I pursue or how hard I try to focus...my mind wonders to a song, a CD theme, a drawing project that may end up on a merch table, or being able to impact the masses through the medium of music and art! We were brought up in church, my mom sang all the time and my dad played the piano in church and with many groups! I remember long weekends in jacked up station wagons and vans that included late night Wendy's and spiritual conversations that could lead to world impact! Some of my favorite times were those spent on tour buses with my dads gospel groups. Even though we mainly only toured the east coast...it felt like my world was expanding! I was the best stinking 9 year old roadie you have ever met! I actually enjoyed hauling heavy junk at all hours of the night! I loved helping lead worship when my grandfather would be preaching! Little did I know then that God was calling me to both lead and write worship music and to preach the word of God! Recent highlights along with sharing the word of God at 24-7 our youth group, dcog our church and other preaching oppurtunities...some of the most fulfilling moments have been spent leading worship with my wife at various places! not completely sure why I am writing this blog...maybe just to unload thoughts that have been filling my mind! Colossians 3:17 tells us whatever we do in word or in deed, do it all in the name of our Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. I am thankful for all God has given to me...currently trying to work on doing it all for the glory of God! 27 years ago I started singing...I still am! I wonder where I go from here? 1 thing God confirmed this week...while listening to Francis Chan via the catalyst podcast...he shared about calling. He said we focus so much attention trying to figure out what God is calling us to and neglect what he has already shared with us through his word! He said we focus so much on tyring to fulfill our calling and forget about being obedient to what God has already said to do! These words satisfied and challenged my heart like only God could do... I know...I have been called...to love with God with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength! To love my neighbor as myself! To love, cherish and bless my wife! To lead worship and write music and to preach the word of God! I am called too... Other stuff...but in all, my hope and drive is for God to receive the glory for all of the above! One of the lines that was repeated many times on the paper my wife found was 'he sings all the time'. Let's see how God wants to use that... oh yeah...even though this post was very much me just sharing my thoughts I want to encourage you! God has great things in store...the best is yet to come! Don't give up on the things you feel God has called you to! May we start to live out the dreams and desires that bring glory to the Lord..and not just temporarily satisfy our selfish desires! Break our hearts for what breaks yours God...everything I am for your kingdoms cause -Hosanna - Brooke Fraser

God is with you!!!

2010-09-17T10:35:00.003-04:00

I just felt led to send a word of encouragement your way! I am gonna get vulnerable for a minute so bare with me... Tuesday night I was talking to my wife and I kind of broke down for a minute. I had a moment of reality blow up in my mind! We have been extremely busy...working on stuff for 24-7 and trying to reach teens, moving to Delaware, digging out of financial bondage, helping to build a b&g club board, prep 4 our new CD to get done, in helping our children's church expand and doing live worship for our kids every week after the worship time in our sanctuary is over...all while my wife works close to 50 hours a week at her salon and yet still trying to maintain consistency in our faith walk! I am not in anyway complaining...we are amazingly blessed! Our life is incredible! I am a christian! I have an incredible marriage! I get to serve @ Dagsboro Church of God! God has done so much in our lives...and all the above things are great things...but at times it can be overwhelming! I have a friend who recently gave his life to Christ! Every time I call him he is at a breaking point because he too is overwhelmed! I have been trying to speak life into his situation and bring hope..and Tuesday night I had to be reminded that the same hope (Jesus) I was sharing with him, is also mindful of me and he knows how I feel! However...there are some adjustments he wants me to make in order for my life to produce less busy (even though with good things!) and more fruit! 1 of those things is to once again allow the reality of my weakness to result in surrender to him!! I don't have to have it all together all the time...but my life does need to point to the 1 that does! Living for Jesus Christ is worth it! Also..you give your time/talent/treasure to those things that matter most to you! I believe God is challenging me to once again evaluate how I am 'spending' my life and make sure he is 1st, my wife is absolute 2nd and that time with him and her take precedence over everything else! Then...do everything else that I do for his glory alone! So I said all of that to get to this! If you are tired, overwhelmed, discouraged, broken or lonely...know that you are not alone! If you are confused why you feel this way (because as a christian we shouldn't right?) know that you and I are still robed in flesh...and again I say...you are not alone! Also...know that the Savior of the world...the King of Kings is mindful of you today! he wants to heal you!! Set you free!! Give you hope!! And overwhelm every aspect of your life with his presence and ridunc-ulously unconditional love! I heard it for almost 7 years at Joe's place and I say it again: You are loved, valued and God has a destiny for your life! I encouraged you to walk it out! And if you need to...take a second...inhale............exhale! God gave you that breath! You are blessed! Be encouraged friends!

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) ¹⁷ The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

-jimmy akers

Selah

2010-08-24T10:15:00.005-04:00

WOW! School starts for our kids, teens and college students..my farmer friend who knows a lot more about everything than I ever will..told me northern clouds were in the sky yesterday which is a sign of a soon coming fall (all my friends tired of sweating say...yeah!!)! The battle between good and evil continues and for some reason in the middle of the tension found in moving to Delaware in 2 days..the checking account being totally tapped out and having so much going on it is hard to know where to start..I can't help but feel this sense that God is saying yet again... ...jimmy...take a deep breath...slow down...it is going to be ok...I got this! Yesterday as I made another trip to Salisbury to run some errands I had to pick up a shower curtain rod. As usual the store is as busy as it was the weekend of Y2K and I stood in line behind this lady with way more kids than she had arms and food that barely fit in the cart with her baby's carriage thingy! I had to buy the shower curtain rod that I could afford and as I stood there I wondered if the $2 more I didn't have..to buy the next size up would mean another trip to walmart this week! Frantic mom lady in front of me looked at me and said...'if that is all you got..go ahead of me! If you are in a hurry just go ahead!' Now..not sure if I somehow telepathically told her how I felt but my response shocked even me! I said.."no..I am fine! I have been in a rush most of my life..taking a breather won't hurt!' She smiled and thanked me for being patient but something incredible happened...I felt the presence and peace of God fall on me like a waterfall! So I said all of that to say..no matter how hard or overwhelming your day, week, month, situation or circumstance is...DON'T QUIT! God is not through with you! If you have a heart beat you got something to be thankful for! I remind myself of this even as I type this out! I find my self in the struggle often..but my Jesus is never struggling! He is all powerful..fully alive and bigger than any junk you and I are battling through today! Be encouraged friends! God has not left the building! Some words my friend Jeremy Ferruccio has recently spoken that I believe that we need to consider...let us all start..livin' the dream! -jimmy akers PS. A chorus and word to hold on to.. I just can't give up now I've come too far from where I started from Nobody told me..the road would be easy and I don't believe he brought me this far..to leave me! via wikipedia - Selah (Hebrew: סֶלָה‎, also transliterated as selāh) is a word used frequently in the Hebrew Bible, often in the Psalms, and is a difficult concept to translate. (It should not be confused with the Hebrew word sela‘ (Hebrew: סֶלַע‎) which means "rock.") It is probably either a liturgico-musical mark or an instruction on the reading of the text, something like "stop and listen". "Let those with eyes see and with ears hear" is most concise. "Selah" can also be used to indicate that there is to be a musical interlude at that point in the Psalm.The Amplified Bible states Selah as "pause, and think of that". The Psalms were sung accompanied by musical instruments and there are references to this in many chapters. Thirty-one of the thirty-nine psalms with the caption "To the choir-master" include the word "Selah". Selah notes a break in the song and as such is similar in purpose to Amen in that it stresses the importance of the preceding passage. Alternatively, Selah may mean "forever", as it does in some places in the liturgy (notably the second to last blessing of the Amidah). Another interpretation claims that Selah comes from the primary Hebrew root word [calah] which means "to hang", and by implication to measure (weigh). -Selah

I believe in you!

2010-07-20T12:13:00.003-04:00

we all need to hear those words sometimes...but we also need to say them to others!

God is teaching me so much! This past week I was way humbled as I struggled with stuff that I never knew was present in my life. A sense of abandonment overwhelmed me...which led to hurt and loneliness...which in turn led to me struggling to offer forgiveness! This process was huge...maybe because I know what forgiveness looks like...I have received it and given it...but may we never forget...even though this basic principle is foundational to our faith...at times it is still a process that is difficult to walk through!

That being said..I have surrendered those things to the Lord and have forgiven the people and the junk that caused such a road block...but that led me to this amazing word from Gods word in the latter part of Romans 8:31...if God is for us who can be against us?

This word reminded me not only does God believe in me..but he won't abandon me! He also wants us to share that hope with others! To speak life!

That brings me to my last point..

A 6 year old boy named Josiah in our B&G Club seems to be drawn to me! He is always trying to sneak into my office, I have caught him on many occasions standing in my office with a bass guitar in his hands. 1 thing about him is he is always in trouble! He is usually sitting at a desk by himself because of something he did! But 1 thing I aim to do in volunteering and working with our B&G Club director is to be a positive impact in the lives of these young people!

For whatever reason Josiah seems to be drawn to me! I hope I can be an encouragement to him! A person that is consistent and that can listen. I showed him in 2 Chronicles 34:1 where he is listed in the Bible! Verse 1 says Josiah became king at 8 years old. He couldn't believe that this Josiah was only 2 years older then him when he became a king! What we did not get to yet is verse 2! I pray Josiah and you and I would come to a place to understand that someone believes in us..and that there is a verse 2! After I showed him the verse we did our secret handshake..and as he walked out I told him...if Josiah in the Bible could be King at 8..you-Josiah can be good and become somebody great and do great things and stay out of trouble! I then said..'I believe in you!' 1 day I pray we would all come to truly understand..that God believes in us! And if he is for us..it doesn't matter who is against us! Jesus showed us how much he believed in us when he died on a cross for our sins!

Be encouraged! God is mindful of you! The best is yet to come! God is for you!

-p.jimmy akers

I have something to tell you!

2010-06-07T14:40:00.004-04:00

Jesus Christ changed my life! Let me share my story with you! This is the 2nd week of 'we unite' (a month where our youth group is joining up with 2 other youth groups! Last week was off the charts! This week our theme is 'we unite to reach!' I was looking through the bible for a text and this is where I believe God is having me to share from...specifically these verses! Mark 5:18-19

¹⁸ And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. ¹⁹ However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”

Essentially Jesus is telling this man that he does not need to leave home and follow him physically, but that he did need to go home and testify what God did in his life!

I frequently share all the great things God does in my life because he is that awesome! Truth be told...I can't keep up with all God does for me and my wife and others...but I try! However in the midst of sharing everything that he is doing.. I never want to forget or negate to share about the greatest thing that has ever happened to me!

Simply put..I was a church kid! Heard about God constantly. I knew when to raise my hands, how to cue tears, how the offering worked and how to find most books of the bible! I loved the songs because I loved music period..and I felt like I was a good kid!

At many services and revivals we attended while growing up I heard an alter call. Usually involved talk of hell, fire and burning forever! I ran to the alter maybe hundreds of times.

Funny though...I kept responding! Clearly the decision to surrender my life to Christ never really stuck because I never really surrendered! And the talk of just hell at that time in my life wasn't enough of a reason to turn around!

My 16th birthday party was on a Saturday. A christian coffee house I started to play at was having a tent revival (aka a tent in the grass cause it was nice outside). My drummer Danny was preaching and he gave an alter call. He said there is someone here..and God has been tugging on your heart for a long time. God has a plan for your life but until you surrender your heart to him...nothing is going to change. He said Jesus wanted to change my life! Instantly I knew he was calling me out without saying JIMMMYYY....I am talking to YOOUUUU! He waited and kept sharing the same thing...2 more times in fact! I hesitated because 2 of my friends from school were there. To my knowledge they were not Christian's even though we often had conversations about God.

Finally I knew...it was time! Regardless of the outcome or what my friends thought I needed Christ and I knew I needed a REAL relationship with him!

I went to the alter in the grass that night, and cried like I never had before! I literally felt like God was under that tent and that he did want to change my life! Suddenly the cross became more than a piece of jewelry commonly hung on necklaces and on walls! It was on a cross that Jesus paid the price for me and he died and then rose again to save me and set me free!

I accepted him! Jesus Christ literally SAVED MY LIFE!

Jesus Christ died for me and I accepted him into my life that night..to be my Lord and savior..he forgave me of my sins and he gave me hope and a purpose!

And he wants to do the same for you!

Like the man described in Mark 5 I often want to just hang out with Jesus! Why not...he saved me! And honestly...I don't hang out with him enough! I am striving to change that because he is worth more time! However..God has also called us to share him and what he has done in our life with others!

So..if you don't know him..he wants a relationship with you! He is worth living and dieing for! Those are strong words but they are too true! Ask him to come into your life, to forgive you, to change you! Ask him to help you to learn to love him and love like him..to live for him! Jesus Christ is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me! He is the reason I live, move and breathe! Do you know him?

To conclude...please pray this week! Pray these middle and high school students will come to a greater understanding of their need for Christ and the fact that we all need to share him and the story about how he changed everything!

Be encouraged and know that God is so mindful of you!

-jimmy akers

ps..not for shock or to be funny but that day is such a strong day en grained in my brain. Clearly my encounter that night with Jesus Christ will never be forgotten but...1 other thing. My 'red haired friend' (there is a reason for such description), Tom wore a shirt that day that I will never forget. It said 'pimp tom pimp' and the kid on the shirt had red hair, wore a fedora and had a girl on each arm. I am in no way endorsing the term or lifestyle of a pimp! That night I walked away with Christ! And as funny or as offensive as that image on that shirt may be to someone..it is strangely tied to the greatest moment of my life! I share this thought because if my friends that came that night with me read this blog..I hope they too will remember!

no more fat kid syndrome!

2010-05-31T21:29:00.004-04:00

Today is memorial day. This day is set aside to honor those that have served our country in the military. People that put their lives on the line so that we can have freedom! Pastor Curtis from our church, yesterday was sharing about those that died for our freedom and he started to share about Jesus! Like those soldiers that went into the military knowing the price they might pay..Christ gave his life willingly..so that we could have salvation and freedom! So now the fat kid thing! Today..I like tons of Americans went to the beach to enjoy time with my wife, friends and our day off! And it was awesome! Not as crowded as we expected..beautiful weather..and the beach! Just so you know..I frequently started to sing the chorus from that amazing plane movie..lol..'take my breath awwaaayyy'!! because the water was that cold! Still an awesome day though! Anyways.. I stood in the water, watched the waves and I started to reflect on my life and the word freedom! This thought..I am still 1 of the fat kids on the beach crossed my mind! Now before you start feeling bad...stay with me! I have been overweight most of my life..and have literally battled to change it! 2 years ago I lost 53.5lbs and felt awesome. I vowed never to go back and to press on..and like we do..I some how forgot my pledge and stopped working at losing weight and getting healthier. I gained some weight back and now I have been in the process of re-starting this journey! So today..as I am still 1 of the fat kids on the beach crossed my mind again..and God began to challenge my heart! As I reflected back on that weight loss process I realized that emotionally I changed, in word and even in deed I temporarily changed..but spiritually I still held on to those chains of bondage that I was so used too! And that is why I turned around..cause when I started to struggle with the fear of not being good enough or not appreciating the small but very big victory that I had already accomplished..I was still holding on to those chains! We all struggle with weight that we carry that we were not made to carry..and I am not just talking about pounds! We settle because we see other people that are carrying weight that they shouldn't carry, so we justify our junk because we are not as jacked up as they are right?! What is my point..tomorrow is June 1st! I plan to seek God, exercise, eat better and re-start this journey! I know Jesus died for our freedom! But it is our responsibility to walk in that freedom! He wants us to be free! I want to walk in it! Do you? 1 more thing..read Hebrews 12:1 and let God speak to you! He loves us! I thank Jesus for all he has done...he has changed my life and still is! And today I thank God for all those that have served and died to give me the freedom to share the hope that only comes from God! Be encouraged! God is just getting started with us! no more fat kid syndrome! -jimmy akers

2010 whiteboard sessions..uh yes please and thank you!

2010-05-22T14:08:00.004-04:00

yesterday I had the privilege to travel in a van down passed the river to the whiteboard sessions! It was a travel day that started at 5am and ended at 7:45pm...but what God spoke will go far beyond the 15 hour van trip! I got to go with some incredible people including Jeremy Ferruccio, his wife Ragan, Corey F. Murphy, Bishop Curtis Jones and Q! We met up with Pastor Rob and Pastor Buddy and headed inside for the conference! A few quick observations and then I will share some things I took away from each of the speakers and the day as a whole! On a side note: this blog will entail a bunch of stuff...but I could barely take notes fast enough! So much good stuff to share...it is gonna be a long blog! Also a quick definition just so you know what I am talking about...wibo is not a new workout video I made! It is shorthand for the whiteboard sessions! here goes: -I missed my wife...she had to work! However when I returned home I got to share some of the stuff from wibo with her and it was awesome! I am learning what it is to be the priest of my home and step up my game! She is amazing! I am so blessed to have Amber...I love her beyond this blogs parameters! -I like !!!!!!!! a lot! I am not yelling at you... but !!!!! is a small way to express the overflow that I got going on when I write blogs! -a trip is always more exciting when people over sleep and when the people that travel together are willing to share there perspective honestly! I appreciated the great convo all day friends! -I kinda felt like a rock star for 10 minutes when my friend used my phone to do a radio interview for an upcoming concert!! My friend is awesome and you will be rocking his jams on your ipod soon...but in order to not embarrass his awesomeness I am not going to tell you who he is! He is gonna change the world with his music though! -@ wibo ALL of the volunteers, sponsors and speakers/musicians that I encountered were approachable, kind and happy! It was an amazing event and well executed! -wibo provided free donuts, water, coffee, soda, cookies...and all the other free junk was awesome too! (junk is merely a term of endearment..not an insult!) -@ wibo they started on time...and ended on time! This never happens anywhere! But it did yesterday! Muchas gracias! -the wibo line up was diverse and incredible! Some of the speakers I have 8 pages of notes...some I have 2...but that is the point right? -Ben Arment is a great leader! I have never met him...I read is blog occasionally...but actions speak louder than words...and yesterday spoke for itself! Well done man of God and thank you! so now on to a few thoughts I took away from each communicator yesterday: Carlos Whittaker: he was the worship leader for wibo and he brought it! I got a chance to say hi...and he is such a humble dude! I bought his CD and after listening to hit I highly recommend you check out Ragamuffin Soul..his new album..Good stuff! His passion and desire to bring people through song into the presence of God is contagious and encouraging! Jonathan Falwell: - when a man of God dies, the work of God does not! -be who YOU are! -God called us to fill our own shoes! Tony Morgan: -are we truly helping people to become fully devoted followers of Christ? -too much bad communication leads to nothing...but noise and spam! -a giant inflatable blue monkey will change everything! (read his book!) Jon Tyson: -the most important thing as a christian, leader etc. is that we receive the love of God and respond to the love of God! -we are fickle people, but God is not! -we are not to remain solely in our love for God, but in Gods love for us! -how is it that we expect people to stay madly in love with God when we aren't! -the only way will be a people and a church that is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine is to be madly in love with God! -it is possible to do ministry with polluted motives! -Jesus is looking for a people that will sit still long enough to be washed clean! -look how resistant young people are to being washed clean in the bath tub! the churches unwillingness to sit still shows our immaturity! -Jesus won't be unequally yoked with his bride! -remaining in his love produces fruit! Perry Noble: -direct mail is not the key to Pentecost! -when we endure through seasons of pain God knows that he can trust us with more! -ministry is a fight! no book or seminary can prepare you for the pain! -the fire gets turned up right before Jesus shows up in a unique way! -3 battles of many that we will have to fight: criticism, depression and focus! -the critics come out when you do great things for God! -critics aren't the majority, just the loudest! -reading what the critics say is like reading verbal porn. You know you should not read it, you know it is unhealthy and if you continue it will kill you! So cut it out! -p.noble sharing what Craig Groeschel shared with him -focus on the blessings not the critics -we all need people that love Jesus and love us...but love Jesus more than us...so that they can speak truth into our life! -if you don't deal with depression it will cripple you and your ministry -the Bible calls those that will not work-lazy! but the bible calls those that will not rest-disobedient! -the devil never takes a day off..yeah but he's not our freakin' example! God is and he rested! -we need to have fun! God speaks to us the clearest when we are not trying! -we need time with our spouse and families! -pastors...if your church can not function without you-you taught them that you are the messiah! -most over sought words...be still and know that I am God! -we have to just be still! -if you don't get healthy your church/ministry will not get healthy! James MacDonald: -ministry will be lonely, uncomfortable, will include conflict and rejection...but in the end it will be worth it all! -God gives strength so that his message will be fully proclaimed! -ministry does not make sense without eternity! -when we get to heaven we are not going to be disappointed! -even the donkey knew that the palm branches were for the one that road on his back! it is not about us! it is all about Jesus! -how much more like Christ can we be then to forgive others regardless! -bitterness is stupid! it is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die! Eric Mason: -as humans we are functional reductionist! we take a huge thing and take just the piece of it that we want! -we reduce grace and love! the gospel is beautiful, smokin' and gorgeous stuff! -belief in the gospel is the activator! Al Mohler: -I am going to die, you are going to die, we are all going to die...nothing we can do about it! -I preach as a dying man to dying men! -we need to exercise our stewardship of this life for the glory of God! SOOO...yeah! ...a long blog I know! some things spoken I agreed with and some not as much...however so much to chew on! God spoke through these incredible men of God yesterday in a powerful way! Our general consensus of what was spoken..we generalized on the ride home: ministry and living for Christ is not always easy but no doubt it is going to be worth it! I hope and pray that you can take something from the above novel and apply it to your life! For these are just mere words unless we walk them out! I am grateful that I got to go to the whiteboard sessions and I hope to have the opportunity to be able to go again! Be encouraged..God is so mindful of you! He loves you more than you know and he has a great plan for your life! Don't settle with just getting by! Don't settle for just existing! -jimmy akers

for his eye is on the sparrow...

2010-05-19T13:13:00.003-04:00

Matthew 10:29-31 (NIV) ²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. ³⁰And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Why should I feel discouraged, Why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, And long for Heaven and home. When Jesus is my portion! My constant Friend is He. His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me! I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free, For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me! God has got you!!!! This old song has been on my heart for 2 days now...I am not sure why...but are you discouraged? Are you lonely? Are you longing for more?? Jesus Christ will CHANGE everything! He is worth living for! He is the reason why I sing! And he is more mindful of you and me then we will ever know! Are you happy? He will give you joy that does not make sense! Are you free? He whom the son sets free is free indeed and he wants us to walk in that freedom! I preached Sunday about moving forward...and God is calling us to do just that! He does not want us to settle! And surely...if he has the hairs on my dome numbered..surely if he is aware of every sparrow that falls down to the ground...he is also aware of all of our circumstances! You are not alone friend! You are loved, valued and God has a destiny for your life! Walk it out! Be encouraged today! God is faithful! -p.jimmy akers

Go that way...or maybe not!

2010-04-23T13:15:00.004-04:00

it has been a little while since I blogged so...here goes! God has been doing so much! I titled this blog 'Go that way...or maybe not!' because of what God has been showing me! I have been raised in the pentecostal church..and truth be told my upbringing is both foundational in my faith walk and it has hindered it! How?? Well..I have been told almost all of my life which way to go, what to do and not do, what to say and not say, what is okay to wear and how to live right! Unfortunately, for most of my life all of these different directions caused great confusion and I found a comfortable place to hang out..1 we know as complacency! I quickly figured out that as people would speak things into my life I had a choice of whether I would listen or not. 1 thing I really struggled with was that sometimes the things spoken contradicted them self! As a 16 year old teenager (several years ago) I started to seek God for myself and read the Bible for myself and God started to speak to me! I love and respect all of the people that have been a part of my life and have believed in me and spoken into me..but I want too and need too hear God more! so... I said all of that to say..God is doing so much. And regardless of hearing things like 'I think you are making a big mistake' or 'I don't think you should go that way'..I really feel like God wanted me to encourage and challenge you to seek him for direction for your life first! Everybody has an opinion and everyone has to make a decision on who they are going to follow! And I challenge you to follow Christ first! I listen to tons of different musicians, pastors and authors that have a lot of great things to say! But I have to hear God for myself first! Revelation 2:1-7 speaks to a church (people) that have left their first love (Christ)! -if that is you in verse 5 God says repent and start over! Repent, get into the word, pray and seek him and you will find him! Galatians 6:9 speaks to the weary! -if that is you..hold on! Why..because it's gonna be worth it! Luke 6:26 speaks to both the prideful and those wounded from people! -if that is you..remember that God has your back! Follow him..if your off track..humble yourself and..just turn around! Psalm 34:8 speaks a challenge for us to taste and see how good God is! -if you are searching..put your trust in him! And last but not least... I have tried to seek God for direction for my life! In the ministerial internship program me and my wife Amber went through a few years ago 1 of the assignments we were given was to write statements that explained who we were and who God was calling us to be. And this scripture continues to jack me up and keep me focused on what matters most! As you read it..I want you to know that you are not alone! Know that God is more mindful of you then you realize! Know that you are loved, valued and God a destiny for your life! The best is yet to come! I don't want you to go to hell..I don't want you to go the way that just feels good! But more then what I don't want..God wants you to do more than just exist! And as simple as this scripture sounds..coming to a place where you can really live this scripture out..I believe..will change everything! Hope is rising! You are not alone! Matthew 22:36-40 ³⁶"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" ³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." -jimmy akers PS. I am just starting to really embrace how much God loves me! God has called me and my wife to do some stuff! We are walking with more purpose then ever before! God is blessing us so much! And he wants the same for you! God is not partial! And..he never contradicts himself or his word!

WOW!

2010-02-23T22:46:00.002-05:00

it is 10:45 pm and I wanna share some stuff that God is doing so here goes! 1st-God has been so good to me! He woke me up this morning! My heart is beating...my lungs have breath and I am able to tell of his goodness via my eyes seeing the computer...my fingers typing words and my heart exploding with joy! I have a relationship with Jesus Christ! He alone is worthy! I have a wife that I love that also loves me that displays Gods love in ways that I have a hard time communicating! My family, friends and church are amazing...and I can go on and on and on! So yeah....God has been so good to me! 2nd-My dear friend Justin Hanneken and my new friend Jeremy Willet wrote a book called carried that you need to read! Now..I read a lot and I share books that I read and music that I listen too with a lot of people and some might think that I am sharing this book only because my friends wrote it...but truth be told you should read it because God gave the book to us to encourage, challenge, inspire and call us to walk out what God has called us too! I have put off blogging about this book because I believe in the potential it has to impact peoples lives so much that it is hard to describe it...but I am telling you...you need to read this book! All the proceeds from the book go to missions! It is a book that won't take up too much of your time to read it..but it has the potential to directly impact the direction of your life! The book is full of truth from the word of God and testimonies and stories of things God has done and is doing in the world through people who choose to make a conscious decision to follow Jesus and walk out what they talk about!!! So...that is a short blurb about the book but check it out for yourself! I would let you borrow my copy but I have had 3 copies given to me and I have given them all away! Buy a book for yourself...buy one to be a blessing to someone else...all the money will go to reach the world through missions outreach! The carried.book.tour came to our youth group at Dagsboro Church of God to start off the tour and I promise you..God will impact your life through this book! Go Check out www.carriedbook.com 3rd-this week a year ago my friend Pastor Jeremy Ferruccio came to my house almost 3 hours away from his home in Salisbury and helped us pack all we had into a little yellow box truck and moved us to the eastern shore...the next part of what God was calling us to! We moved with just enough money for our security deposit, a house not sold, lots of questions including where we would go to church and where we would serve, lots of doubts from people we loved just because it was hard to support such a blind move with no proof of assurance...but GOD was in it! I remember pulling up to the light right before the intersection of our new apartment and my wife was on the phone with her sister and she started to cry and she told her sister Ashley that she did not know why she was crying...but all she knew was that she was just really happy! It is hard to share all God has done in this blog..but 1 thing is for sure..God is with us! I know as a christian God is always with us..but moving away from all that we knew that was comfortable his presence seemed to be magnified as we stepped away from our home to move and literally walk by faith! God has blessed us through prayer from friends and family, financial blessing through people and places we never expected and doors that only God could open! 1 last thing on this whole move thing! No one can put their thumb print on us or take credit for all God has done! He alone can rescue..he alone can save as the Matt Redman song says..and he alone is worthy of our praise! He challenged us to step out in faith..he made a way..he gets the glory and he is just getting started! Hallelujah Jesus!!!! 4th-In December I got a chance to share from the word of God on a Sunday morning at Dagsboro Church of God our new church! My brothers, parents and grandparents came to visit that Sunday! That afternoon my grandmother made a statement...she said 'Jimmy is smiling more now then I have ever seen him smile before! He smiles more!' I did not think much about that at the time but a few weeks ago when I was reading 'wide awake' -Erwin McManus.. one morning when I was working out a statement brought back her words! Page 98 when he was trying to explain character transformation McManus says this.. 'Transformation is the ability to get up in the morning and look in the mirror and like the person you are becoming.' So...WOW! God is growing Amber and I so much we are actually starting to show in the natural through a smile or tears of joy that which he is doing on the inside! We are in this process of transformation...and we have by no means arrived but we are in this process and I can say as we have stepped out in faith..we are starting to like the people we are becoming because we are decreasing..God is increasing and we are believing God is going to use us for his glory! So...like this blog is not long enough I want to share something for you! Don't Quit!!! Don't give up!!! The 1st Pastor we served under as youth pastors..Pastor Chris Dutruch shared about how the darkest part of the night comes right before the Sun breaks through on the horizon! I don't know how long you have struggled or how long you have been waiting for a break through...but my friend...if you have breath and a heart beat..you still have an opportunity to follow him! God is so mindful of you and he is not finished with you! Hold on! Don't quit! Also...we still have rough days sometimes...but we can not forget what God has done! For in seasons of drought and lack we have to remember even though we don't feel like there is hope...that does not change the fact that God is still God and he is still in control and he is still worthy and he can still do more then we could ever even ask...and HE IS HOPE! So...don't forget and don't give up...but DO NOT QUIT! Read Philippians 1:6! be blessed and encouraged! thanks for reading! -jimmy akers

a challenge...

2010-01-05T09:36:00.002-05:00

that I have been pondering the last few days! James 4:17 (NKJV) ¹⁷ Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. With New Years Resolutions in mind I have been thinking a lot about goals for 2010 and past goals that were never achieved! Dave Ramsey shares a quote all the time on his radio/TV show that hits me heavy every time I hear it! "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over again and expecting a different result!" Then I read the above scripture in James and I look at past failures and have come to the conclusion that almost if not all of my past regrets come from me not doing something or not doing what I said I was going to do! I always used to say that I was afraid of failure and that was my excuse for not trying...but really I was just being lazy! I have little regrets about the things I actually worked at and failed! So... What has God been challenging you to do? Maybe your response or lack of response to what you feel called to do has not been a sin...but I know God is ready for me and you to step up! He tells us that He has called us to do great things...that he knew us before we were formed in our mothers womb...that the hairs on our head are numbered...and yet we settle all the time with just getting by! I am tired of it! Are you? What is he calling you to do? What has he called you to do that you have been not doing...even to the point where your lack of responding to his call has become disobedience and has become sin? I know we don't like to talk about words like obedience, or discipline (I know I don't)...but I wonder why that is? Is it because we like to settle? We like to stay comfortable? We feel satisfied with our lack of achievement? I know this blog has become more of a rant...but this is what God is trying to deal with me about right now! I am sure that I am not alone! And know that if any of this is challenging you...you too are not alone! Be encouraged...God is mindful of you! Not only does he want the best for you...I believe he has more for you and I then we realize! I wrote down some goals for 2010 that I am praying will become more than just words! The categories include my relationship with: God, my wife Amber, family and friends! Also physical, financial, education, ministry, music, travel and purchases. I know that the last 3 sounds selfish and trivial but they are things that I have been thinking about so I figured there is no harm in writing them down! To know what is right...to know what we are being called to...and to choose to do those things...to choose to take the 1st step...I believe...those choices to move forward in the things of God will not only make him smile...but more importantly will draw us closer to him! Thanks for reading...it has been a while and I have a lot going on in my dome! In the same words that Joe Sangl writes in his book 'I was broke. Now I'm not.'... let's hear the Lord say to you and me everyday... Pssssttt...I believe in you!

A book that you need to read is...

2009-12-22T16:43:00.002-05:00

PRIMAL by Pastor and Author Mark Batterson! I highly recommend that it be the first book you read in 2010 (after the Bible of course...but that was a given right?!?)! I have had the pleasure the last several years of following Mark on his blog www.evotional.com. That is how I found out that on top of being a follower of Christ, a husband, a father and a pastor he is also an author that God is using to communicate truth to a world and church much in need of God's word! I find Mark's writing to be both inspirational and challenging! I have read part of his 1st self published book I.D. and I have also read In a pit and Wild Goose Chase! I have tagged many of my own emails with his book quotes...Chase the Lion and Chase the Goose! But Primal is what this blog will be devoted too...so let me get started with that! I was extremely excited when I found out I was selected to receive primal and to write a review. I got it in the mail a few weeks ago and honestly...it has been speaking to me and challenging my heart and faith walk! The whole concept of the book is to examine the great commandment...the one that Jesus himself said should be at the top of our priority list! Mark 12:28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." 32"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." 1st off...loving God with all we have should be the most important thing...but Jesus says this again which communicates a few things. 1 being that obviously we don't all get what is most important or 2 we have forgotten what is most important! Mark writes a number of things that challenge the way we as American followers of Christ live our lives...but it does not just point fingers at the church...it forces us to examine ourselves! He breaks down what it means to Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength...but he also is constantly pointing to the fact that our acknowledgement of the word of God demands a response! In a Pit and Wild Goose Chase both communicated clearly a rally for God-sized courage, and faith that is not just preached but that is lived out! Primal does the same thing. Mark writes a statement in Primal that echoed some of wild goose chase where he talks about how our faith was never intended to be a noun or just a label....but it is to be walked out! Mark points out many injustices and needs that are represented in this world and challenges us to examine ourselves and how we fit in to what God is calling the church to do...not just talk about! He encourages us to look at what breaks the heart of God...and then to identify what our direct response to that should be! At the time of this blog I am 3/4 of the way through the book. For 1...I am a slow reader....but honestly...primal has challenged me so much that I am trying not to just breeze through it because I want to chew on what he is talking about! I want to be in pursuit of Christ and what he has...but when we just read things without processing them (which he also addresses in primal), we really miss out on what God has for us sometimes! Mark has a great way to communicate timeless truths in a relevant way that makes us question...what are we going to do with what God has given to us? Not just with our check books, or our relationships...but with our time...ultimately with our life! Out of all of Marks books so far Wild Goose Chase was used by God to jack me up the most but Primal has something for every reader no matter where they are in life! I appreciate Marks transparency in both his books and his blog! It encourages people and shows us that we can observe what God is doing in and through Him and NCC his church...but we too have a chance to do something with this life that God has given us! 1 more thing...if we have breath and a heart beat...we have an opportunity to choose to live a life of purpose on purpose! So I encourage you to read PRIMAL...but I also would encourage you to read In a pit with Lion on a snowy and Wild Goose Chase! Mark is voice that God is using to both reach the lost and challenge the Body of Christ! Mark has shared many times that he prays for the books that God gives him to be intentional moments in peoples lives! The Holy Spirit will speak to you clearly if you will take the time to listen to what he has to say! This Book does not take away or add to the word of God...but it does bring a fresh perspective to the truth that we know to be the living word of God! This concludes my review and blog on Batterson's new book Primal! Chase the Lion...Chase the Goose...and Love God with all of your Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength! -jimmy akers PS. ...and Love your neighbor as yourself! -Jesus to check out Marks blog go to www.evotional.com to purchase Marks book go to www.RandomHouse.com

1st month weigh in 10/25/09!!! and some other stuff!

2009-10-27T10:29:00.006-04:00

It has been a tough 10 months...not exercising much...not watching what I was eating...basically almost in survival mode, just trying to make it with having to pay for 2 homes and working up to 80 hours a week...but God has brought us through that...and now we are stepping into a new season! My brother has moved into the house that we used to own and he has lifted that burden...we got a sweet new 'matured' Subaru Forrester that we are loving thanks to some amazing friends...we are 2 months into serving on staff as the youth pastors @ Dagsboro COG seeing God move in incredible ways, loving our teens and gaining new brothers and sisters in our church family...our marriage is stronger then it has ever been...we are seeing some light as we are starting to turn around and climb out of the pit we call financial bondage...we are starting back on our belts getting looser...and most importantly...we are seeing God be God in our lives...we are growing in him...seeing his love transform us...and we are starting to walk with a great sense of destiny in our lives because of the faith he is growing in us! I said all of that to say...that God is blowing my mind with how amazing he is! I wanted to share my 1st weigh in with you so...here it is! Starting weight in September 2009 was 414.8 lbs...my weigh in this weekend was...... so I lost 14.2 pounds in my 1st month!!! I am pretty stoked about that. For 1...that is the most I have ever lost in 1 month...2nd...I am almost in the 300's...3rdly...I hope to be where I was at my lowest weight next weigh in...and last but not least...God gets the Glory! You see...it is easy to give up! It is easy to not get up and go to the gym...it is easy to settle on whatever you want to eat instead of what you need to eat...it is easy to live a 'status quot' kind of life! It is hard to push yourself when you don't feel like it! It is hard to say no to what you want sometimes...it is hard to go an extra 5 minutes when you want to just go sit down...it is hard to choose to be different and it is hard when you make the decision to stop living in bondage...whether it be the bondage of some kind of addiction, or food, or financial debt...or whatever...but you know what...it is going to be worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went to go hear Joe Sangl speak about financial freedom and we were talking about the biggest Loser show and he said he loved it and of course I 2nd that...but Joe made a statement! He said 'I am obsessed with life change! Anything that brings life change fires me up...I can't get enough of it!' Well Joe...I am in the middle of seeing my life change...and because of God and because of a amazing wife that believes in me and that chooses to walk this journey with me...we are seeing our lives change in a bunch of ways! As we step out of bondage and into victory...may you Jesus get all of the credit! As we stop surrendering to our flesh and start surrendering to the will of God...may life change be so evident in us that it becomes contagious! And you my friends that are reading this blog...may you be challenged and inspired by the greatness of our God! Know that he loves you...know that he has a plan for you too....he is not partial to anyone...know that you are not alone...and even if the whole weight issue or financial debt issue is not your issue...there is a man named Jesus Christ that is ready to walk with you through whatever it is that is holding you back! Be encouraged...chase the Lion...chase the goose...bear the cross to a world in love with kingdoms...there is hope...there is another way to live! Let us choose to Love God, Love people and follow Jesus 24-7! Let us start living on purpose...with a purpose! -jimmy akers PS. I know my grammar, punctuation and spelling sometimes can be re-dunkulous or her-ocious!!! Just pray through...lol! 2nd...check this out!

Hebrews 12:1-4 (The Message)

^1-3Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

3rd week of the belt is looser!

2009-10-13T09:53:00.005-04:00

So...last week I worked out 3 times but I did not stick to my diet nearly as well! I did not feel to bad about it until I went to the gym last night and weighed myself! I know it is not all about the scale...however I do know what it is going to take to see results...and unless I commit to the process for the long hall...real change is not going to occur! I was reminded about something I heard Dave Ramsey say a few years ago. He talked about something called 'The Momentum Theorem'!

-- (G) = M

(the above equations would not cooperate when I tried to type in the center...sorry. I know it looks dumb to the side! lol!) Focused Intensity over Time multiplied by God equals Unstoppable Momentum! So in order to gain that Momentum and to see Change...in our relationships, in our health, our finances, our spiritual growth, and our ministries we need to Focus! It is going to take Time! God has to be in the equation...and with all of those pieces working together...we will see Momentum which will lead to Change! I desire to see change...I desire growth...and I hunger for God to get all the glory...and he will! I am not giving up...I am not allowing discouragement to over take me! At the gym I watch people run on the treadmill or around the track! At our apartments I watch people run around the complex! I can not run...yet...however I will! Thanks for praying for us! Keep on praying! Youth group this week is going to be off the charts! God has been so good to us! Time to put the finishing touches on my message for Wednesday so...Be encouraged! God is so mindful of you! If you feel like you are running out of steam...stop running...and try to just focus on God! Give it some time...and your crawl or walk will start to pick up the pace...and before you know it...you will be running on purpose with a purpose! Momentum...here I come! -jimmy akers PS. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NKJV)

²⁴ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. ²⁵ And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. ²⁶ Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. ²⁷ But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (The Message)

^24-25You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. ^26-27I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

2nd week of The Belt is Looser Begins!

2009-10-05T14:41:00.003-04:00

Pledge cards are starting to come in! I am starting to get excited and nervous about the next 4 months! 1st I am excited to see what God does! This weight loss campaign is a way to raise money for the youth and children's funds at our church...but more importantly it is a way to glorify God with this Body he has given to me! I am looking forward to being able to do more as a result of this process! 2nd I am nervous because this is tough! Discipline is not easy! Watching what you eat and exercising is not always fun! I do enjoy the journey but day to day can be tough! God is able...I know I can do it...but these steps into victory are not going to be easy! Just an update...last week I was fighting a cold. I still am a little but it made it tough to work out. I did a Biggest Loser workout DVD 1 day and Saturday I worked with 6 teens alongside of our church food pantry ministry...handing out food with the D.E. food bank to a few hundred people! An awesome day to see the community impacted in a positive way with no strings attached but I also got a pretty good workout. I took at least 40 sacks of potatoes (50lb bags) to peoples cars! I was sweating pretty good! I felt good but it was no joke! I have been tracking calories...watching the Biggest Loser and praying for fruit as I begin to dive deep into exercise! Pray 4 me...I plan to hit the exercise giant HARD! God is good! Be blessed! -p.jimmy akers PS. we do not fight our battles alone and we do not need to give in to fear!

-Joshua 1:9 (NIV)⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Dance in the rain much???

2009-09-27T17:24:00.004-04:00

I got an email from a dear friend of mine and in the forward somebody had this incredible quote in the middle of one of the forwarded messages!

"life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass It's about learning to dance in the rain!" -vivian greene

I have read that quote a few times now and it encourages me every time I read it! We get so focused on looking for a way out of our trouble and the hurdles in life that we forget to enjoy the journey as Joyce Meyer would say! God is doing so much in us right now words like "overwhelmed" and nice christian-ese sayings like "God is just stretching us" do not begin to describe what is happening! But regardless of how big life feels to us right now the amazing, faithful, alive and well Jesus Christ is doing a thing in us and through us that only he can get the glory for!!! I want to encourage you to stop looking for the sun to come up in your dark situation for just a second and take a look at the son who is riding that dark storm out with you! Not trying to ignore hard times...we all have them and if we just avoid them they will never get dealt with...however there is a victory that is only found in surrender and worship! Which leads me to dancing in the rain! God has been doing some things in my life that I want to share! 1-God has been using Amber in a pretty incredible way! I don't want to get in my flesh and boast in a prideful way so I am not going to share specifics because I want all the glory to go to the Lord...but let's just say it is challenging me to want to bless people more than ever! Wow! Just wanted to testify to God's goodness! 2-Our first 4 weeks of leading 24-7 student ministries has been amazing! We are meeting new people and teens everyday and slowly but surely he is leading us! Praise God for bringing death back to LIFE! 3-The Belt is Looser 2 officially started today! I weighed in at 414.8lbs! I plan to run the fund raising campaign for our youth group and children's church from now until Jan. 2010! I have gained some weight since I stopped the last campaign however I still have held on to 35+ pounds of my weight loss last year! You who read this may be disappointed to see I gained some weight back...and I was too when I first stepped back on the scale for the 1st time in close to 9 months! But God is bigger than my set back...he is bigger than my guilt and shame...and with him I am going to move forward in my journey to get healthier! Me and Amber are both working on getting healthier so pray for us! Oh yeah...and this tuesday is the 3rd episode in the new biggest loser season! Amazing!! 4-some tough things have weighed on us recently...1 having not sold the house and 2 the loss of our car! But can I testify...God has humbled us, provided transportation when we had none...Lord willing my brother J takes ownership of our house next weekend and God gets the glory! We have prayed for relief and strength and God is proving in huge ways that he is still a provider and he has not forgotten! 5-today at church P.Kim preached on generosity and honestly I would have to say I have never seen generosity more than I have in the last year of my life! Literally loaned cars, checks in the mail, grocery drop offs, prayer and support that attest to the fact that the Body of Christ has not stopped breathing...honest to God today God overwhelmed me with his greatness! I am not feeling well and we helped lead worship while P.Jeremy and Ragan were away and God proved himself strong! Seriously...I think of the blessing I have in my fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord...some spread throughout the world and I just thank God! So today I make a choice...instead of looking for the sun to rise...even though it will if God wills it...I am looking for the son of God to rise and be glorified in my life! I type this right now feeling like poop telling you that I am going to Dance in the rain! Why? because God is worthy! I got no groove in my natural body to dance yet...but my spirit is laying it down harder than any B-Boy you have ever seen! I choose to dance in the Rain! What about you??? -jimmy akers PS.Psalm 34 (The Message)

Psalm 34:1-10 ¹ I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. ² I live and breathe God; if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy: ³ Join me in spreading the news; together let's get the word out.⁴ God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears.⁵ Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him. ⁶ When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. ⁷ God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray. ⁸ Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. ⁹ Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness. ¹⁰ Young lions on the prowl get hungry, but God-seekers are full of God.

my 1st day!!!

2009-08-31T19:08:00.002-04:00

I have too much going on in my head and not enough time to write a long blog but let me just share a few thoughts about today! -God blessed me with a new day! -my wife is amazing and beautiful! -my 1st day at dagsboro church of God has been crazy amazing! as pastor Kim called it yesterday "a destiny realized kind of moment"! a little overwhelmed in an awesome way! -I feel like I am about to explode...seriously God is about to break some stuff loose! from death to life! more to come...God is good! be encouraged! -jimmy akers PS. be praying...our 1st 24-7 youth group service takes off this Wednesday! pray expecting!

moving forward!

2009-08-05T17:22:00.000-04:00

so....we are stuck in some jacked up traffic...so I figured this would be a great time to get my blog on! we are moving forward with God's help! a few updates... -amber is doing so good at designers edge! most apprentices do not work with there 1st client until after there 1st year but amber is 7 months into her apprenticeship and her book is totally open, she is pretty much running the satellite salon they have set up in victoria park retirement community and she is growing so much in her craft! it blesses me so much to see God blessing her with this incredible oppurtunity and to see her straight killing it!! seriously...it is amazing!!! - in 2 weeks we are taking our vacation and celebrating our 5 year wedding anniversary! God has blessed us so much! a week off together will be so good! after working 70+ hours a week for 5 months I am totally ready to chill with my incredible wife and reflect, regroup and get refreshed for the new season we are entering into!!!! - my 26th bday is tomorrow....pretty crazy! I am so blessed! God is so good! ...and another thing only God could do... - a few weeks into moving to the eastern shore God led us to dagsboro church of God! after a few weeks of being there God confirmed that this was the church we were going to serve in, grow in and grow with in this new season of our life! we have been serving on the worship team and getting to know our new church family! God has been doing alot in us during the last 5 months...but the newest blessing that God is opening up for us is....that as of the 1st week in september we are going to be serving as the new youth pastors at the church! what???? God....are u kidding??? well I could not make this up if I wanted to...God is doing something crazy in us! we are blessed, humbled and overwhelmed to have this oppurtunity! there is too much to write in blog...but let's just say God is doing alot! -and God gets all the glory! he is the only reason we have breath in our bodies...heart beats in our chest....he is the only reason we stepped out in faith and he is going to get all the glory as the lives of young people are impacted in and around sussex county! we feel such a crazy anticipation for what God is about to do...only God can do all that he is doing! ...so...thank you for praying...thank you for the encouragement...thank you for being a blessing...thank you for reading! there is so much more but this blog post is long enough! be encouraged!! God is no respector of persons...he is soooo mindful of you! seek him...trust him...worship him! God is good! thanks for reading! -jimmy akers ps. walked 1 1/2 miles home from work yesterday! felt pretty good...God gave me strength to make it home after working a 15 hour day! ...more great things that God is doing to come...hopefully our house sells soon! ...we are moving forward!

hope is rising!

2009-07-25T21:09:00.003-04:00

within my heart! there is a song I have been hearing recently on the radio that echo's the words 'hope is rising' and I can say right now I feel that way! I am currently in o.c. on the beach at night trying to write this blog on my phone (never tryed before so this could quite possibly be the worst post grammatically I have ever written!) but as I sit hear listening to the waves and seeing the tide come back in and feeling the wind blow...a great anticipation is stirring up in me! God has been doing so much! I will be sharing real soon about some of it...but I just want to share some encouragement! looking back at...almost 5 months of working 72-75 hours a week and feeling physically and emotionally exhausted!...financial pressure I never knew existed with us still paying for a mobile home that has not sold!...having to hold on tight to my wife as we experience what real faith and walking in it feels like!...moving away from all that we found comfort in!...and fighting through the doubt, fear and negative junk people have tried to throw our way because they have a hard time seeing God work 'like this'! ...I can trully say...it feels so good to be in God's perfect will! that's why hope is rising because God is glorified in us and through us more and more as we surrender to the Lord! we are not walking as people may want...or even at times the way we might want....but it is what God wants! praise God! he has been so good to us! the Lord is so good! Blessed be his name! So...surrender your hurt and defeat to him! my pastor preached a message last week about anxiety...and as we give our anxiousness to the Lord he will give us a peace that does not make sense! praise God for peace that doesn't make sense! praise God for a hope that is only found in him! don't give up...it is going to be worth it! chase the Lion! chase the goose! rain is coming! get ready! while you are waiting...worship him! depressed?? let him fill you up with a joy that can not be found in any addiction, chemical or be bought! broken?? let him heal you and take those broken pieces and create an amazing piece of art! alone?? find comfort in a heavenly father that prepared you for a purpose...in a savior that died for you...and in the holy spirit that is always there..moving and working regardless of how much you try to jack stuff up! God has got you! let hope rise within your heart! God is not done yet! don't quit! BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!!! p.s. went to my 1st dave matthews concert last night that blew me away! blessed to hang out with brad as I got to listen to one of my musical influences and musical child hood heroes! amazing display of giving all you got through music! God has given dmb incredible talent and influence! How awesome would it be if dmb came to know the one that gave them all they have! there is hope! p.s.s. be encouraged! Hope Is Rising!

the LORD is Good!!!

2009-06-17T16:28:00.005-04:00

Psalm 34 is off the charts...but I wanted to take a few moments to post on 1 verse that is speaking to me so clearly today...and share that with you of course!

Psalm 34:8 (NKJV) - 8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Psalm 34:8 (The Message) - 8 Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see— how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.

We fail sometimes to realize how good God is! Every breath, every new day we have, every time God speaks to us and we acknowledge him, every time we walk by faith, every time someone blesses us, every time God does something that no one else could ever take the credit for and we get to see it...even in the hard times when you have nothing else to offer, when your body is past exhaustion, when you need a friend and you realize God is there, in the moments of pain that seem to be unending, in the midst of brokenness that won't quit...God is still so Good!

He is always moving, always speaking, always up to something...we need to stop long enough to taste and see it! The LORD is Good!!!

...but that is not all...

...blessed is the person who trust in or runs to HIM!

....so...taste and see...he is Good!...taste and see...he is God!...taste and see...HE IS!...trust Him!...trust in Him!...Run to him!

read psalm 34 and be blessed! be encouraged!

-jimmy akers

PS. God is true to his word! You will see when you taste and see and trust in him!

ever felt overwhelmed? and a few more scattered thoughts...

2009-06-10T20:22:00.006-04:00

I feel like I have told the story a million times about why me and my wife Amber moved...but to recap in just a few words...we stepped out in faith trusting God because we knew he wanted us too! So now what??? Currently we are walking by faith pursuing God! I don't mean just praying over our meals or casually going to church, I mean we are really pursuing God! Once again I reiterate that faith is a walk not just a talk and it is tough a lot of times! So recently I have been feeling overwhelmed in a bunch of ways! I know tons of other people that are overwhelmed too...so I just wanted to share a word of encouragement with you...if you are in the same boat...here it is! Joshua 3 is a powerful chapter where God tells Joshua to take some folks and step in the water before he sees provision. (you should read it!) There is one verse that has become a big reality in my life in this great story of what faith looks like. Here it is: -Joshua 3:15a Now the Jordan river is at flood stage all during harvest....

So...the river was overwhelming just a little for Joshua and the folk following him but he still did it! The rest of that verse and the next few verses say...

Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

The miracle happened...the provision came but if Joshua and God's people would of turned around before the river opened up...they never would of seen what God does when you trust him! HE PROVES HIMSELF TO BE GOD and TRUE TO HIS WORD! So...the river is still raging and we are still in between...but we are not alone! God has been so faithful! One thing is for sure...we are not getting out of the water! God wants us to be right where we are and we are going to continue to trust him.

It feels like the waters are going to overtake us at times but we serve a real Big God who is able! We are not walking away from the Lord or back out of the water! And I wanted to tell you...you don't quit now!

Blogging for some could be looked at as a way to vent or share how you are feeling but I want to tell you something...God is for real! He is faithful! You keep going! You keep pursuing him!

A scripture to hold on too...

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Scattered thoughts...

-God is blessing Amber so much at Designers Edge. She will be on the floor officially cutting hair July 1st. She has already done a lot of hair but they are opening her book! She is working hard...God is blessing her!

-Sunday night at our church Dagsboro COG we helped to lead worship for the masters commission graduation. The whole service was amazing but during the worship there were a few moments that I just got lost in the presence of the Lord! It feels really good to be there! Praise God!

-God is giving me strength I can't create! He is showing me things I have never noticed! He is helping me to realize how much in need of him I am! I do not really know what he has for us but I am really thankful that we have him!

-I am starting to work my way in to dropping more lbs. for the Lord! Pray for us! We are both working on it...this week I started journaling what I eat again which really holds me accountable. God will get the glory!

Be encouraged! I too feel overwhelmed at times...but God is with us! Let us continue to run with perseverance!

-jimmy akers

don't give up! you are not alone!

2009-05-20T19:14:00.005-04:00

I only have a few minutes to blog but I wanted to share something that God is currently reminding me! I am not alone...and I want to remind you...You are not alone! I remember 1 Sunday morning at New Cov before the morning service started I was in my office early doing something (I can't remember the something right now...), but I do remember the feeling of doubt, fear and loneliness and discouragement that for whatever reason had gripped me that morning. When things pile up, the weight of the world seems to rest on us and it is too heavy for us to carry! If you have been there you know exactly what I am talking about! Anyways...while I was busy working on whatever it was I pulled the Jason Upton site up...don't remember why but music was playing and I left it there on that page while I worked on stuff. At some point this song of his began to play and these words came out of the speakers... "You’re not alone...You’re not alone...I never leave you...I never leave you..." I could hear the words...but the words were more than just a song! They were penetrating my heart and ministering to me and literally bringing me out of the bondage I felt that morning! I really needed to hear those words today...and God is reminding me...that we are not alone! He is for us! He has a plan! He is God! He is in control! He is with us! He has not forsaken us! So...I now say to you...You are not alone! God is for you! God has a plan for you! God is still God! God is in control! God is with you! God has not forsaken you! Be encouraged...the King is mindful of you! We are all here for such a time as this to do something for him! I battle daily with discouragement, fatigue and worry....but God is bigger than those things! We are victor's through him...so...don't give up! you are not alone! -jimmy akers PS... Joshua 1:9 nkjv-Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 the message - Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take."

Waiting on God...ever been there?

2009-04-08T19:57:00.002-04:00

Isaiah 40:31 (nkjv) - But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Just thinking out Loud!!! When we the (fast food, I want it now, MY way, etc...folk), have to wait on anything we rarely feel our strength being renewed, nor do we feel like we can fly and maybe I am speaking for myself but I can't run even when things are going great (at least not yet!). In fact, usually when we are in the the waiting room of life for anything that really matters we usually find ourselves feeling drained, exhausted and we battle discouragement. But I want to share a few things that I have been thinking about a lot, especially the last few weeks. By the way, I have to keep reminding myself of these things a lot...so here goes! When I looked up the word wait a couple words used to describe it were: 1) to wait, look for, hope, expect So...waiting on the Lord means to wait on God (it is tough), but we need to look for God to show up (and he will), and we need to hope for him (real hope and peace are only found in him anyways), and we need to live in expectation (this in it self can go both ways but we need to expect Him to do what he says he is going to do because he is God and HE WILL!) I don't know very much about flying but I can speak for myself from recent experience and say God is true to HIS WORD! Haven't left the ground yet but...here it is! Things are not perfect, we have not sold our house yet, our finances are tapped out (more bills than money), I am working 70-75 hours a week between 2 jobs, my wife is working like crazy, we have very little time and we are still praying for directions in a lot of different area's...this is starting to sound like a bad country song (almost joking)...but the song's not done yet! Things don't seem perfect but we believe with ALL that we are that we are walking in the perfect Will of GOD! It's not easy to walk out your faith but it is going to be worth it! We have not sold our house yet...But God is the author and finisher of our faith and the word YET breeds opportunity...and GOD is going to make a way! We are struggling with bills right now but God is so faithful! Just 3 days ago friends drove several hours to hang out and eat dinner with us and they showed up with bags of groceries (Brad was there to view the blessing)! Yes I am working 70-75 hours a week and yes it is exhausting but you know what...it is only for a season. God has a plan! There are days that I feel totally wiped out after working 7 hours, then to have to head home to change to then go work 8 more hours the same day 5 days a week is crazy, but God is giving me the renewed strength to do it! I have 2 jobs when a lot don't have one. I have benefits through the 1 when most don't have any. Working at a convenience store and a fast food restaurant are not glamorous but as I am waiting on the Lord...he is teaching me that if I live my life for his glory it does not matter what my job is as long as I am walking in his will, loving God & people with all I am and doing all I do for his Glory! And as far as the seeking direction...yeah it is frustrating sometimes to wander what in the world to do but as along as we seek him...he is going to take care of the rest! So waiting on God...yeah I have been there too! I am still there! I pray for strength, I pray for financial resources to come in, I pray for direction but I am also learning that part of the renewal comes from gratefulness! Thank you Jesus for another day, thank you for saving me, thank you for my wife Amber (my bride, best friend, partner in every way and a tangible view of unconditional love), for my family and friends, my jobs, my car, my food, for putting up with my doubt and complaining and for forgiving me........thank you Jesus for every thing! He is helping us! You too can pray for us for the house, $ and direction! All prayers are appreciated but just know if you have been waiting on God you are not alone! Know also that he has not forgotten you...even though you might feel like he has. Also know that HE IS TRUE TOO HIS WORD! I leave you with 1 more scripture... Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Be encouraged. Every time I think out loud about my discouragement my wife tells me 'it is going to be OK'! Sometimes she says 'don't go backwards'! So...it is going to be OK! Don't go backwards! Be encouraged! God is in control! Wait on him! God WILL come through! Just look at what Jesus already has done! Jesus is still there! -jimmy akers PS. I hope to start working out regularly again, I have been working on some new songs (starting to dream again), and being with my wife is worth more than money could buy! God is about to do some stuff! Not sure yet what or when but it is coming! I am waiting...EXPECTING! PSS. Sorry this is so long! In the words of my buddy John Call 'that's how I dooze it'! ...and thank you for reading!

10 things I am thinking about right now...just in case you wanted to know!

2009-03-15T17:39:00.002-04:00

10-it is raining and I used to not like the rain...but I am starting to like it more now that God has used the rain to remind me that he is God and that he is still in control! Plus...we are alive to be able to feel the rain on our skin...so thank you Jesus for another day! 9-days off never seem long enough! It makes me appreciate every moment even more! 8-the church we have went to the last 2 weeks shares the gospel during both worship services every Sunday morning...last week and today people made decisions to accept Christ! As pastor perry noble says all the time...that never gets old! It actually has been challenging me because I wonder why it is so easy for us to get so comfortable with not seeing people hear the gospel message...or for that matter sharing it ourselves????? 7-I miss folks from home (family & friends)! We love you all! We hope to see u soon! 6-faith is a walk...not just talk! -James 2:20 says...But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ...I say that because us moving and walking by faith is a huge step in our walk with God! But if we are not going to walk it out...it is just words! so it is not easy...but it is going to be worth it! What is he challenging you to walk out??? 5-my current places of employment that rhyme with 'rara' & 'rick-mil-way' are crazy busy and are just plain crazy at times! just wanted to throw that out there! 4-I love being here with my wife. How I missed her when we had to live away from each other for almost a month and a half! God has blessed me with an incredible woman of God! 3-I really stink about keeping up with this blog! 2-I am bout to watch 'fireproof' the movie again with some folks...it is a great movie! Stoked! ...and the #1 thing on my mind presently is... 1-I don't know what God is going to be doing with me and Amber here on the eastern shore but I know he has called us here for a reason during this season of our life! I still struggle with moments of doubt and lots of questions...but he is God and if he says he's got us...I know he's got us! We are all here on purpose for a purpose...us and you! Don't forget that Gods got you! And if you choose to follow him and trust him...you can't go wrong! be encouraged and blessed! Keep chasing the Lion & the Goose! thanks for reading and thanks for praying! -jimmy akers ps. still checking my pastorjimmyakers@gmail.com even though I currently hold no pastoral position at a specific church. holla back!

good day to you...

2009-02-08T14:33:00.002-05:00

A few things... Our last day at new covenant 2 Sundays ago was amazing. We got to spend time with a bunch of folk we care a lot about and I got to preach my last sermon that night at the church. We got blessed in many ways including hugs, prayers, encouraging words and some money that will help us in our move in a pretty big way! Thank you Jesus...and Thank you everyone that came and blessed us! My favorite part of the day by far was at the end of the service when I got to lead some songs of worship to God with my new cov. friends. It felt so good to just worship God! He is worthy! We have about 2 1/2 more weeks left until I move down and we move our junk into the apartment. Thursday Feb. 26th is the move day so if some of you folk that volunteered to help wanna come...holla and let me know. We showed the house this week...it went pretty good...and we are still praying for God to help us sell it or to give us the money we need to pay the loan off so we can bless someone with the house! How awesome would that be! He is able! Also keep praying for financial provision. God has blessed us so much in ways that we don't deserve...but without him this is not gonna work out. I guess just pray for us to trust him...because there is no doubt he is gonna help us through it all. He is God...so yeah...just pray! Thanks! 2 more things...this morning...I played drums with a new band I am in (side note: the jim akers band is not over) but anyways (it is pretty funny cause I don't even have a drum kit...lol) and we got to play pre-service at premier winterfest in O.C. Maryland this morning. It went really well. It was a great opportunity and experience and I pray that God was blessed in what we did! We also got to see some of our teens and friends from ignite! So last thing...sometimes people ask me why I share so much personal things with people (some examples: needs, worries, my weight battle, financial stress and spiritual battles). So why...well I say why not? There is some things I do not share...but I believe that God may be able to use my lack, doubt and struggles to encourage someone else. You are not alone...and by sharing in the battles sometimes the victories and testimonies seem to be sweeter! I try to walk out what I talk and live a transparent life. I am a screw up and I am nothing without Christ...but through him I can do all things...in him I can live, move and have my being...there is hope and strength found in who he is! I am a real person in need of a savior and Jesus is that! We serve a BIG, HOLY and AMAZING GOD! I don't understand all he is up too....but I know this! GOD IS GOOD! Be encouraged! -jimmy akers a child of the King!

Another b-e-a-u-tiful day to live life! UPDATES!

2009-01-23T11:55:00.003-05:00

So...Lot's of NEW things happening! I will try to be brief but we all know that rarely happens. 1st off...God is so GOOD! We get so caught up in our junk that we forget to acknowledge that the God that created everything loves us and if we still have breath in our body and a heartbeat in our chest...then that means we ARE BLESSED! Thank you Jesus for another day! Hallelujah! ---Psalm 34:8 -8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 2nd...Amber has been working in Salisbury for about 3 weeks. Her job at the salon and apprenticeship are going great! God has blessed her with this amazing opportunity and it is something that she has always wanted to do so we thank God for it! 3rd...some things to praise God for! -We needed $2,576.00 for our security deposit and 1st months rent. We got a move in deal where if we paid $199 of that deposit by the end of December we would get $150 off every month of our rent for our 18 month lease but we did not have the money to send. Seriously...some folks that are very close to our hearts straight up showed up at our house and Handed us $300! God provided that $199. I preached and lead worship with my band at a church and we never charge. But they sent me a check for preaching at the church for $500! So I dropped $576 more off towards our deposit! I needed my job transfer and a 2nd job in Salisbury to open. I am happy to say I have 2 jobs waiting for me in Salisbury. We wanted a 1st floor apartment but they only had the 3rd floor apartments available. When I went to interview for job, drop off the $576 and see my lovely wife it just so happened that, that day someone on the 1st floor turned in notice that they we were leaving in 30 days...so we are getting the 1st floor! There is so much but one other thing...I have needed a 2nd job here in harford county until I moved...the Arena club is letting me come back and giving me a 3rd night to work but I did not have a car to get there. Thanks to some other dear friends I will have wheels next week. Not to mention the fact that God has provided transportation from friends and family everyday that I have Needed it! SO...Praise GOD for all he has done so far! so much for being short... 4th...things to pray for... -we still need at least $2000 for our security deposit and some extra $$$ to help with the move -we still need to sell our mobile home! We are only asking what we owe so...God is able! -and last but not least...that we would continue to trust God! Stepping out in faith is incredible but it is not easy! God's will is not always easy but it is going to be worth it! We are trying to be obedient and to trust him totally! Look at what he has already done...and there is so much more...it is just so hard to keep up with all God is doing! Praise be to him! 5th...lastly...this Sunday January 25th is our last Sunday at New Covenant. I am preaching and I pray that God would use me once again. I have been blessed to be at the church for 13 years. I proposed to my wife in the church parking lot! I preached my 1st sermon there! We got married there! We have been blessed to be the youth pastors for almost 4 years! God has done a lot in 13 years! This Sunday will be our last Sunday at the church! We would love to see you! This is the closing of one season of our life but the beginning of a new one! Our relationships with people will endure the distance and the changes! God is a big God and we have been blessed by so many people! We love and appreciate all that have befriended us, supported us and prayed for us! Hopefully we will see you Sunday! so...I am done for now! Thank you for reading and praying! We love you all! be encouraged! We serve a Big and awesome GOD! He is able! Chase the goose! Chase the Lion! Pursue Christ like never before! Jesus is still there! LIVE LIFE! -jimmy akers pastorjimmyakers@gmail.com PS. more to come!

2008 weight loss and MORE!

2009-01-12T18:42:00.007-05:00

Soooooo…

1st off I am sorry that it has been so stinking long since I posted on this blog. I hate it when I go to websites and they are never updated and I admit that I have become an official website updating slacker! I will try to do better for real!

Now the totals for 2008 and the belt is looser….

Above is the picture of me before We started our weight loss journey and I had reached my highest weight ever which was a whopping 450.5! (never again by the way) Below is the picture of me getting my bike on while watching the biggest loser and it was my starting weight for the belt is looser which was 409.4!

Instead of repeating myself again I will just let you know where we are today!

Also I wanted to share how much money has been raised as of this blog... Before I go on. If you still want to donate you can mail your donation to: New Covenant Church of God 2530 Conowingo Road Bel Air MD, 21015 Make checks payable to New Covenant Church of God. Please make sure you put in the memo "youth group belt is looser donation" so that it goes into the youth fund! SO I was 450.5 and I am now floating around an incredible God is amazing 387.4 lbs! I have come so far but I am not done. My goal for 2009 is to lose another 75 lbs! God is able! I am going to try! Thank u's go out to.... Jesus Christ, my incredible and amazingly beautiful wife Amber, and everyone that has prayed, emailed/called/texted or given me any words of encouragement, also to all that have donated already to ignite youth group and all who may still donate! Your donation has and will be used to impact the lives of teenagers for the cause of Christ! Now...2008 is over and God is up to a lot! I will be posting a new blog in the next 2 weeks about all that God is up to in me and Amber's life including (a moving update, some testimonies...and more)! This blog will continue to be a place where you can keep up with our lives and all God is doing even though the belt is looser is over! Have a great day! Be encouraged...the King of Kings is mindful of you! God is able! Chase the GOOSE! Be blessed! -jimmy akers P.S. GOD IS WORTHY! GOD IS ABLE! GOD IS GOD AND I AM NOT! GOD IS GOOD!

more updates...november 2008 so far...

2008-11-15T21:06:00.003-05:00

so... -I am still working at the church part time but I started a new full time job and a new part time job! I got a new sick bike...that I use to ride to one of my jobs when I can which is a 5 mile round trip which is a great workout! Plus my jobs have me on my feet from 8-12 hours so that is a huge change of pace! -God is moving us to the eastern shore in the next few months! I am stoked to see what he has in store! He is moving us crazily out of our comfort zone! It is amazing to feel so much anticipation and peace in actually walking in God's will...no matter how crazy it might seem to some! -My grandmother just went home to be with the LORD a few days ago! Keep my family in prayer...God is still God and he is faithful! -we went to dare 2 share! STEVE FEE AND LEELAND were off the charts! The challenge to step up to the plate sharing our faith was off the charts! -Joshua 1:9 (The Message) Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take." -just a note on the above scripture...God is with us! AND he has got us! We gotta trust him and WALK out our FAITH! Faith is more than words but we have to walk the talk for that to be true! PS. he is not a respecter of persons...he will do the same for you! -be encouraged! God is mindful of you...and me! thank you Jesus! -jimmy akers pps...I am still trying to battle through my weightloss journey! Keep us in prayer as God helps us to stay on course! And if you have not heard it yet...check out my new song on www.myspace.com/jimmyakersmusic it is called 'daybreak is upon us'! It kind of explains where we are really well!

updates as of right now 11:23 am on october 22nd!

2008-10-22T11:22:00.007-04:00

-# of pledges that I have received thus far: 23- -of those 23 pledges 14 people have turned in their donation- -so far each pound that I lose is worth: $36.50- -so far the amount of money that has been raised (turned in): $596.55- -I also have a friend (Sean Miller) that is going to use this donation per pound idea to raise money for his youth group...which I thought was pretty cool that someone is using our idea!- So...this month has been tough. I have had a lot of things going on... honestly it has felt like a constant up hill battle! As of Monday, 2 days ago I had not lost any weight for the month of October (which is very discouraging), but I am not done! I watched the biggest loser last night and I was reminded of the fact that this is a 1 day at a time thing. They work out for 5-6 hours per day on the show, they cut there calories as low as possible (w/ doctor supervision) and one of the biggest dudes on the show only lost 2 pounds for the week! So...I am not done! I am not giving up and I have a bunch of people that are watching me go through this process. I am trying to grow in the discipline of counting calories and kicking my tail in the gym as much as I can! I lost 12.2 lbs in the month of September which brings my total loss for the year to 53.3 lbs! But I am not done! I am not sure yet if my weigh in is going to be this Sunday or the following, but whenever it is, I will stand up and show what I have done...whether I have lost or not (I will keep you posted). Don't give up! You hear me??? Don't give up on your dreams, on the things God has called you to do! A wise man told me in recent weeks, that people think walking in God's WILL is easy! It isn't! It was not easy for Jesus to say: Father, your will be done and than to follow through and go to the cross for US! It was not easy for the early church to undergo persecution, a lot of them facing death because they wanted to live out their FAITH! Life is not easy and following CHRIST is not easy and pursuing the things he has called us to do is not going to be EASY! But...as the Rita Springer song so appropriately says...IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT...IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT...IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT ALL! Be encouraged! Keep Chasing the GOOSE! Please keep praying for me and amber as we continue on this journey! And whatever you do...don't give up! IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT ALL!

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV)

8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. -jimmy akers to God be the GLORY!

more updates

2008-10-22T11:22:00.006-04:00

are soon to come!

so...things have been crazy...

2008-10-16T11:36:00.002-04:00

and I have not blogged or sent out an email in a while..sorry for that! Things have been crazy, God is still blowing my mind and I can not help but wake up with expectancy! For some reason I have this overwhelming sense of great anticipation and whether I have a good day or a bad day I still feel excited! My weight loss this month seems pretty much non-existent, but I still have hope and I am going to keep moving forward even if my numbers have not dropped yet! The election is coming up...political agenda's are all over the place, the economy is going crazy, and people are freaking out...but GOD is still GOD! Things do not always work out the way we expect/want...but the fact still remains...GOD is still GOD! I preached at youth group last night about..."Don't forget...TRUST!" And towards the end of my sermon God gave me this scripture!

Psalm 20:7-8 NKJV

-7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8 They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. Now...most of us do not have chariots or horses, but back in the day chariots and horses were signs of wealth, power, jobs, stuff, etc...and back in the day people put their trust in their to stuff, And we do the same thing today! God wants us to put our trust in him. Our stuff will let us down, our money will let us down, people will let us down...but GOD is still GOD! I know the statement "God is still God" does not mean very much to most people, but if we really believe that...if we really live our lives knowing and serving a God that is the real deal...if it is evident to everyone that this whole faith thing is more than just words for us and more than just a feeling of comfort...I really believe it will give hope! When things fall apart God is still God and he deserves the glory, when people hurt us or let us down God is still God and we can trust in the fact that even though things do not always make sense, GOD will not let us down! I am trying with all of my heart to remember that God is still God! And as I struggle and fight everyday and I try so desperately to live and walk by faith...I am once again reminded of my need for this God! Jesus...help us to trust you...help us to live for you...help us to allow you to live through us! Love you all, be encouraged, chase the goose! -pjimmy akers

junk...

2008-10-08T13:15:00.003-04:00

you ever have a lot of junk going on? well we all experience it from time to time...some junk is "good" junk and some junk is "bad" junk! So let me throw some "good" junk (a top 10 if you will) out there...God knows we got enough of the other kind! 1-God has blessed us with another day! 2-My weight loss adventure has been tough so far this month...but GOD IS IN CONTROL! 3-There is a lot of bad/confusing junk happening in our lives and in our world...but GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL! 4-The Belt is Looser fund raiser so far has rocked...I will update you on how much we have raised so far as well as how much a pound is worth very, very soon! 5-We saw an incredible movie that you should go see called "Fireproof"! 6-I am reading an awesome book..that I highly recommend called "Wild Goose Chase" by Pastor Mark Batterson. It is a sequel to "In a pit with a Lion on a snowy day"! 7-God gave me a new song yesterday called "Daybreak is upon us"! If you want to check out the rough recording that I did today go to my myspace and click on the title of the song - Daybreak is upon us! www.myspace.com/jimmyakersmusic 8-Saturday Oct. 18 I am playing at the harford fall fest (a fund raiser festival - free to get in - to raise money for the homeless of harford county) at 11:30 am for 30 minutes and 1pm for 45 minutes! Adam Bright is also playing! Here is the link for info www.harfordfallfest.com 9-I love my WIFE! you should love your spouse too (if you got one)! ...and last but not least... 10-ignite youth group tonight is going to be off the charts! thank you for praying...thank you for reading...be encouraged...try not to get caught up in the bad junk! -jimmy akers

the 1st months weigh in results!!!

2008-09-29T09:57:00.009-04:00

397.2 lbs!!! Jan. 2008 my starting weight was 450.5 lbs so that means my total loss for the year so far is 53.3 lbs! My total loss for the 1st month campaign for "the belt is looser" is 12.2 lbs! I wanted to hit 15 but 12.2 is not shabby at all! It was a tough month, but God helped me! He gets all of the Glory and Honor! I wanted to take a picture of the scale because for 1...I had a hard time believing I weighed 397.2, but also I wanted to share that moment with you. I probably have not been under 400 lbs for 5 years or so! My 1st big goal was 399 and God helped me to even pass that! Praise be to the one that gives me the strength and hope! So...be encouraged! Also...I wanted to give people an idea of what 53.3 lbs looked like to show how much I lost (idea came from Frank Timothy), so I asked Anna to come up! She weighs 49 lbs, but you get the point...God helped me to lose a whole Anna and then some!!! Pretty incredible! Thank you for your encouraging words and prayer. For those that are sponsoring me per pound you take 12.2 and multiply it by whatever you pledged. You just put that amount in a tithe envelope with your name, the amount and in the blank space write "belt" so we can keep track of the funds that are raised! God is so good! I am off to go pick up some junk and haul it...so thanks again for taking the time to read! And guess what...the stinkin' belt is getting a little bit looser! -jimmy akers

what does a good work out look like? and some more junk!

2008-09-26T20:16:00.005-04:00

I say a lot that I had a good work out, but a lot of people have asked what that means? I log what I eat most of the time and I always log when I excercize and I wanted to give you a glimpse into my idea of a REAL good work out! Here is what I did yesterday and today (in this order)! Thursday 9/25/08 weight & cardio day Elliptical Machine - 10 minutes - 148 calories Weight Machines 3 sets 10 reps of each (vert. press 55lbs, tri-pull 40lbs, curls 45lbs) Elliptical Machine - 11 minutes - 160 calories Weight Machines 3 sets 10 reps of each (rear delt. 37.5, pect. fly 67.5) Elliptical Machine - 12 minutes - 177 calories Weight Machines 3 sets 10 reps of each (weight row 85lbs, lat. pull 65lbs) Elliptical Machine - 13 minutes - 190 calories Tredmill Machine - 14 minutes - 128 calories Friday 9/26/08 cardio kick tail day! Elliptical Machine - 70 minutes - 1,025 calories Tredmill Machine - 20 minutes - 158 calories So these are 2 different examples of what I consider (for me) to be a good stinkin' work out! If I could work these in everyday along with eating well I would be a lot further along, but it is 1 step at a time! It is not anywhere near what the biggest loser does with 6 hours a day, but God is helping me to see results...and it is working! We will get there! Keep me and Amber both in your prayers as we strive to stay in pursuit of God, strive to keep losing weight (making the belt a little looser!) and as we walk by faith...for HIS glory! Be encouraged! -jimmy akers PS. To answer a few more questions that I have been asked... Father Tom Sanders is the one that 1st suggested the concept to me of losing weight in front of the whole church to help raise funds for youth group and for accountability for me to lose weight in april! Friar Brad Dembo is the one that helped me with the Logo...all in all...I am stoked to see what God is going to do! Goal poundage to try to lose for "the belt is looser" campaign = 60 lbs Which would put me at a total of 100 lbs lost for the year...heck yeah! How do we make our donation?...come this sunday for the 1st official weigh in and you will get that info! If you can't attend our church...email me and I will fill you in! pastorjimmyakers@gmail.com

We are back...and so is THE BIGGEST LOSER!

2008-09-17T12:05:00.003-04:00

that is right folks...the 1st show of the newest season started last night (Tuesday) at 8pm. WOW! I have been waiting for this season it seems like forever...and it is here! What a 1st show...I could barely sit still! I can not wait to watch every week...next week I will be leading worship with my band and preaching at a revival service in Baltimore on Tuesday so I gotta figure out a way to record the show...but I am so stoked. Monday I went to the Arena Club and got a quick 30 minutes in on the ol' elliptical! I have lost a few pounds since my weigh in a few weeks ago but I am not satisfied. Trying to retrain my big undisciplined tale is tough...but I know GOD is gonna help me. I have a week and a half until my first weigh in, in front of the church. I am nervous and excited! I have not really got to where I feel I need to be for the 1st month of "the belt is looser", but this is a process! I am really thankful I still lost a little while I was on vacation. It took 25 years to become this bountiful/husky/beautiful man that I am (so kidding), but it is gonna take time to turn it around! I have lost over 40 lbs so far...there is a whole lot more to come off! So...tonight is youth group...I am excited to sing, I am excited to preach, I am excited to hang with our teens and youth leaders...and I can feel God preparing my heart for all he has! Whatever that means...I don't really understand...but I am stoked! Thank you for your prayers and support...watch the show...be encouraged! -jimmy akers PS.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

vacation...

2008-09-17T11:58:00.002-04:00

So...vacation was amazing! It never seems long enough for some reason, but God really blessed us! Not only did he totally provide for us to be able to go away but he blessed us while we were away. He brought clarity to a lot of prayers and he really ministered to us in ways that words on this blog really can not explain well enough! Now the real deal...we did turbo jam (aerobic junk) 1 day, we walked a whole bunch, and we rented bikes 2 days and rode a heck of a lot of miles! I ate good some days, some days I dropped the ball, but none the less I tried! This pic is of me with the stallion that was my 2 wheel calorie burning machine! Keep checking in...more updates are on the way!

The Belt is Looser!

2008-09-02T11:29:00.004-04:00

So...the journey begins. I shared the campaign info with the church Sunday morning! Got a good response...it was great to see all of the folks that will support me in this thing! The Belt is Looser is my attempts to raise money for our youth group while I embark on my weight loss journey. So far I have 9 people that are going to sponsor my weight loss. January 2008 I was 450.5 lbs...yesterday when I went to the gym I weighed 409.2 lbs. I did not have a lot of time but I got 45 minutes in on the elliptical machine. Felt pretty good...trying to get in the mode of counting calories...I was under 1400 cal. for breakfast and lunch. I felt pretty good but I wanted to share a win with you. Last night while enjoying friends and food I somehow managed to eat a little more than I should of. I am not talking about just what I ate...but I ate to much. I really felt kind of weighed down and a little sick. So there was a new show premier on TV that I have been wanting to see...so I asked everyone if they would mind if I slipped down stairs to watch the show...everyone was cool with it, so I did. As I walked down...I noticed a treadmill folded up. So I had a choice...what should I do??? just lounge and watch the show...or do something that I should do??? here is the win...I pulled out the treadmill and got my walk on. I walked 45 minutes while watching the show. I felt so much better....even this morning, even though I was tired I felt good because I made a great choice yesterday! So yesterday I got a good 1 hour & 30 minutes of cardio in...heck yeah! So that is where I am..I am stoked for vacation ( we leave friday)...I am stoked to get to the gym today...and I am ready to watch God do what he does! So...you...thank you...be encouraged...know that he is mindful of you...thanks for reading...keep me in prayer...and thank you to all that have or are going to sponsor me on "the belt is Looser" campaign...and thank you all for supporting me in prayer! Be blessed...take care! -pjimmy akers PS...keep checking back for more updates!

our life is short...we need to do something with it!

2008-08-20T09:32:00.003-04:00

LeRoi Moore, the sax player for the Dave Matthews Band passed away this week...he was only 46. He got into an accident on his ATV and had complications. I have always been influenced "musically" by the DMBand. They are so talented...no doubt they were given there ability from God, but the loss of this man reminds me of how short our life is on this earth! Psalm 39:4 “LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. 5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah Our life is a vapor...we need to realize how frail we are! We are stewards...God gives us our life...we need to be doing something with it! I feel this is very applicable to my weight loss journey because I am starting to realize that I want to change the way I am handling my life! Losing weight and becoming healthier is a part of that. I weighed 450.5 lbs in January of 2008 and as of today I am bouncing around 410 lbs. That is 40.5 lbs of weight loss...I am stoked...but I am not satisfied. I know that I should rejoice in my achievements...and I have...but it is time for more! Today is me and Amber's 4 year wedding anniversary! We are gonna go have a nice lunch & dinner...but tomorrow...it's game time...straight up! I actually have a goal....I would love to get down to 300lbs by our 5th wedding anniversary (August 20th, 2009!) It is a huge goal...but I can do it! That would be 150 lbs of weight loss! It is not all about the pounds...it is about changing our lifestyle to be healthier...but the pounds are a part of that process!

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

So check out this photo....this is from the fall of 2007! I will not have to take any more pictures like this! Why would I post a picture where the buttons on my shirt are pulling? The answer...so you and I will be able to rejoice and worship God for his victory in my life as I step in to a part of my destiny...in becoming who he created me to be! Be Blessed & encouraged! -jimmy

2008-08-18T14:36:00.002-04:00

450.5 lbs...my Big tail in January 2008 on an incredibly sophisticated piece of equipment (which I no longer own)! Well...this photo is a little look into where I was...I am excited to see where God is going to take me! More details on my weight loss journey to come... -jimmy

sing2gether.com

NOT a Dress Rehearsal?

Purity is worth it...

Be still...

Psalm 46:10 (NIV) 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Be encouraged friends!

It is hard to believe...

In alert expectancy such as this...

What would happen if we did?

what do you see?

Provision comes after obedience...

this could change your life...

Clara Akers

What are you doing with your open door?

It is about way more...

Don't lose heart!!

Thank YOU Jesus!

follow me...

I can play the background...

John 3:30 says...He must increase, but I must decrease.

This passage is so opposite of how we think. We wanna shine, we want credit, we want to show people how great we are...but we forget that there is one much greater...and HE alone is Worthy to play the lead role!

I don't want to fumble through life trying to find my way when all I gotta do is seek him...cause he is the way! I want him to lead the way...I want to follow! I want to play the background!

Tears almost came because I was so overwhelmed with the love, peace and joy that only comes from God. Nothing can replace those moments! I want to find myself there more often for sure!

We will never be satisfied if we take the lead. In fact...eventually our fun and good feelings will fade away...and if we don't have him...one day we will be eternally separated from him.

But what if we allowed him to take the Lead?

How would our life change if we chose to play the background?

-jimmy

PS. Be encouraged friend...and if you have not already...I strongly encourage you to allow Christ into your life! Recognize and accept him as your savior, repent and surrender your life to the Lord and allow him to take the lead! The background is the best seat in the house!

thank you...

Opportunity!

Daybreak is upon us...

new years resolution in december anybody?

Matthew 6:33 (The Message)

December Updates...

DAYBREAK IS UPON US CD RELEASE

'he sings all the time'

God is with you!!!

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) 17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Selah

I believe in you!

I have something to tell you!

no more fat kid syndrome!

2010 whiteboard sessions..uh yes please and thank you!

for his eye is on the sparrow...

Go that way...or maybe not!

WOW!

a challenge...

A book that you need to read is...

1st month weigh in 10/25/09!!! and some other stuff!

Hebrews 12:1-4 (The Message)

3rd week of the belt is looser!

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (The Message)

2nd week of The Belt is Looser Begins!

-Joshua 1:9 (NIV) 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Dance in the rain much???

"life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass It's about learning to dance in the rain!" -vivian greene

my 1st day!!!

moving forward!

hope is rising!

the LORD is Good!!!

ever felt overwhelmed? and a few more scattered thoughts...

don't give up! you are not alone!

Waiting on God...ever been there?

10 things I am thinking about right now...just in case you wanted to know!

good day to you...

Another b-e-a-u-tiful day to live life! UPDATES!

2008 weight loss and MORE!

more updates...november 2008 so far...

updates as of right now 11:23 am on october 22nd!

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV)

more updates

so...things have been crazy...

Psalm 20:7-8 NKJV

junk...

the 1st months weigh in results!!!

what does a good work out look like? and some more junk!

We are back...and so is THE BIGGEST LOSER!

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

vacation...

The Belt is Looser!

Psalm 46:10 (NIV) ¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) ¹⁷ The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

-Joshua 1:9 (NIV)⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."