Humility

For about the past week I have been participating in a program called Intensive Elective Training. This is an 18-week track that has three six-week phases. The first of these is the Spiritual phase.

This first two weeks of Phase One has been all about humility. Our assignment includes reading a book, listening to sermons, writing papers, Bible study, and much more. But that's not the difficult part. A vast majority of the study includes applying what you are learning in practical and unusual ways...

Acts of service for those I view myself better than, along with secret things that I wouldn't normally want to do have caused me to realize how much of an entitlement-mentality I have. "I shouldn't have to do that," or "I'll let someone else fill in," have been thoughts I have frequently had. I am being challenged to abandon those mindsets and embrace a servant's attitude, like Christ.

Another part of the program is that I keep a tally of how much I complain each day. This has made me see how ungrateful I can be, and has caused me to be more appreciative of the things that I have been given. In conjunction with this, I am required to take 2 cold showers and meanwhile list 10 things I am grateful for and also pray for the persecuted church. This has helped me to see how self-focused I am. I don't go through even close to what they go through, and yet I complain at the small frustrations of every-day life. This has helped me to see how truly blessed that I really am to live where I have all that I need.

Prayer and encouragement for others has really helped me to turn my focus off of myself. I see more clearly that my life is not about me, but about how I can be a servant of all. I serve because of the love that Christ has given to me, so that I may show that love to others and help them to love Him in return.

Are you operating in humility? I encourage you to look inwardly at your motivations. Do you work to make yourself greater, or are you preferring others and putting convenience or temporary comfort aside in order to make Christ greater through you? This week, I encourage you to join me in seeking the Lord as to how we can become more humble. God cannot use us when we are full of selfish pride. Will you let Him use you?

In Him,
Michael

A Lesson I Thought I'd Learned (apparently not)

For a while I've been thinking about truth, and what a Christian is supposed to be like. I started analyzing everything: people's actions, their hearts, and what the Bible said in relation to how they were acting.

This led to a lot of searching and also a lot of frustration. I was angry at the church and for all the falsehood that some people were bringing to it. In my search, I had taken my eyes off of God and forgotten the most important thing:

Love.

I forgot to love people-- those in the church and outside. In my journey for the truth about what a Christian is, I'd forgotten that Jesus already gave me the answer: LOVE!!!!!

(Insert conviction and repentance)

Since then I have been emptied of all the frustration and bitterness against people and have found peace inside the simple truth that is the love of God.

I pray that God would give me a continual understanding of this love and that He would constantly remind me of this truth. I pray this for all of you, as well.

In Him,

Michael

I am a Friend of God

This past couple of weeks I've felt very lonely, despite having 36 other people around me. I haven't been connecting in a meaningful way with anyone on my team, and it has been very disheartening.

A few days ago I realized that I was using people to try and fill a need that only God can fill. I have not been spending a lot of time in the Word or in prayer. This really dried me out, so I started looking for a water to quench the thirst. I thought it would be fulfilled in people, but it wasn't. Instead, being around people made me even more alone. Only when I turned to the Lord was this drought satisfied.

It didn't fix the lack of connection within the team, but the loneliness diminished. People will always fail us, especially when we look to them to fulfill us. But the Lord is perfect and will not leave His children dry. He will give us all we need, exactly when we need it.

Here is my challenge for you:
Are you looking to others to gratify a longing in your heart? When you notice yourself doing this, stop and take a moment to ask God what you are trying to fill, and then open up and let Him fill it. He will not leave you empty. Let Him show you His love and friendship and fill the voids in you. Be encouraged.

In Him,
Michael

Consider Others Higher

After loading out of the SAC one last time, we made the 2-day trek to Amherst. 

The bus ride was not very enjoyable for me, as I have been sick for the past week. The first few days I had the flu, but after mostly recovering from that I got both a sinus and ear infection. Needless to say I have not had the most pleasant of trips in a crowded bus full of loud people and no fresh air. But regardless of the circumstances I have maintained a good attitude. 

I'm learning in this time to put others before myself, even when I don't want to. Typically I had an entitlement mentality that said that I should be first because of how much I thought I deserved it. This week I have been seeing that I should prefer others, even if I think my own needs are more important. I cannot effectively minister to the people of God if I am sowing seeds of selfishness into myself. Instead I must sow into fruits of the Holy Spirit and let the Lord conform me into His image.

My challenge for you this week is to do the same:

When you feel entitled to put yourself before others, take a step back and let them in front. 

"...giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."

In Love,

Michael

The Second Commandment

This week I have been challenged in a variety of areas... Here is something that I've been learning:

I've been having a lot of tension in a couple of relationships with people; some of it has been false impressions that need to be forgotten, while others have more complex roots... In any case, I keep having to remind myself to love them as Christ loves them and to forgive as I have been forgiven... easier said than done, though, as we all know. But it's still simple. I want to love them, and I know what I need to do; the difficult part is actually doing what I know I need to do. I can hear from the Lord all day, but if I don't do what He says, what does my hearing matter? So that's just what I'm trying to do... "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

I challenge you to take a look at the relationships in your life. Are you loving people as Christ would want you to? If you are, good; keep going and don't give up, even in weariness. If you find that you aren't loving people, check your motivations and fix your heart. Surrender to the Lord once again and let Him make you more like Himself by His grace. Be encouraged.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
Ephesians 6:9-10

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
In love,
Michael

A Little About This Year....

This is a log of the adventures I will be having this year and the things I am learning from my trials. I hope you will partner with me and pray for me as I update you on my life. Also, if you have any advice or wisdom about anything, I'll leave my contact information at the bottom of the page :)

As many of you know, this year I will be working with Teen Mania Ministries as part of the traveling ministry team that puts on Acquire the Fire Youth Conferences across North America.

This year I will be serving as the financial specialist in our Merchandise department, distributing a bank to each of our stores and counting, processing, and guarding all of the revenue that comes in from our stores and each offering every weekend. I am super excited for this position, which requires a high tolerance for stress, a quick mind (and quick feet for getting on and off the concourse in only a few minutes), and a whole lot of integrity, as many times it can be very tempting for someone when they are surrounded by money. Please pray for me as I take on this role that I would have wisdom on how to do it to the best of my ability, and that I would be able to bear the weight of it with the grace of God.

While on this tour, I am called to armor-bear for my leadership and to lift up my team in what I say and do. I want to be a pillar and a backbone for this team and be someone who leads by example in the things of Christ. Please pray that I would have wisdom to know how to do this.

In order to participate in this year, I will need to raise another $5400 to support Teen Mania. Because most of my year will be spent on the road (with the exception of a few weeks plus the summer on campus), I do not have the opportunity to do many fundraising events. For this reason I am in need of monthly sponsors so that I may stay and work for the Ministry. If you can and are willing to help, please let me know. Also, please pray that God would build my faith and that I would continue to learn to trust Him with everything.

Thank you for all your prayers and for your willingness to participate with me in what the Lord has called me to this year. :)

If you want to get in touch with me, here is my information:

Michael Prescott Hosmer
22392 FM 16 W
Lindale, TX 75771

903-920-9419 (text me first, I may not get a call)

brother.prescott@gmail.com
michael.hosmer@teenmania.org

I'm also on Facebook. Search for me with my full name, as listed above.

Hope to hear from you soon! :)