THE CHOICE

For my bride on our 14^th Anniversary

We could have chosen to leave, but instead we stayed.

We could have walked away, but instead we prayed.

When given the choice, we considered ours made.

We had made our vows. There was no turning back now.

How different our lives could have been,

If one or the other had decided to just cash in.

But instead of giving up, and moving on,

We chose to forgive and that has made our love strong.

Now let’s not get lazy or nonchalant,

And forget the price that was paid to get what we’ve got.

Let’s keep giving ourselves in love for each other,

Not letting our hearts stray to another.

On this day let us chose to invest,

To give more to the other and take away less.

Let us promise today to always give to each other our best,

And not just what’s left over after we’ve served everyone else.

We could have chosen to leave, but instead we stayed.

And I’m so glad that was the choice that we made.

But it wasn’t just for then. It’s also for now.

So let’s keep choosing each other and live out our vows.

Burning Ones Don't Just Shine a Light They Light a Fire In Others

If God wills the evangelization of the world, and you refuse to support missions, then you are opposed to the will of God. - Oswald J. Smith


I love Jesus, and I write this because I love His church, and want to see it come fully alive in every part of the world!


I think the church in general (not every congregation or member) has become addicted to short term mission trips so much that they can barely understand the vague notion that the Great Commission is not a part time job no matter your vocation! Short term trips have there place, but we can't save the world in 10 days or less! They should be done no doubt, but not in place of long term missions. Both SHOULD and CAN be done simultaneously.


We start with the grand idea of Judea, Samaria and uttermost parts of the earth. However, we jump out of the gates with a sprinters pace and fade by the time we've reached our own neighborhood. Instead we should have the strategy of a marathon runner, who knows the race is longer than just what's around the first turn!


Instead of having the understanding and wisdom that God's funds are unlimited (Ephesians 3:20), we are happier to balance the budget and only dream what we can fund. We might take the church beyond the four walls but the real impact goes no farther than the newly paved parking lot!


I'm not saying we are to be fiscally irresponsible. However, we must apply the wisdom of Scripture, remembering our mandate to reach the WHOLE world and not just OUR world. At the end of the day, I believe the church of Jesus Christ is suffering from a corporate lack of faith.

We seek without vision, we listen without conviction, we pray without expecting so we do only what's comfortable. If it's the least bit risky or there's a chance for failure, we lower the bar of expectation. After all, why should we trouble God, He's busy running the universe, right?

I think we all need to be reminded that we serve the God of the impossible, the God of the infinite, the God of the immeasurable (Genesis 18:14). What is God telling you to do that you are not currently doing?


****NEWSFLASH******


If Jesus Christ is your Savior, then the Great Commission IS YOUR JOB! Yes, that's right. It's not just the work of pastors and missionaries. So let's get busy doing God's work in the world.

There are only 3 positions when it comes to the Great Commission - go, send or disobey (John Piper). Which one are you currently doing?

The Irony Of Italy

When you think of Italy, what comes to your mind – great food?....picturesque landscapes?...ancient monuments?...maybe, beautiful art…or inspiring music?...how about some the fastest sports cars in the world? Sounds like an incredible place to visit, right?

But there’s another side to Italy; one that most never see. Today I invite to you take another look, not through the eyes of a tourist, but through the eyes of God.

Contrary to popular opinion, Italy is actually a mission field. It have be “Christianized”, but it has NEVER been evangelized. It’s time to wake up Italy!

Of Italy’s estimated 60 million inhabitants, 95% identify themselves as Catholics, but only 5% actually attend mass regularly. Unfortunately religion is more tradition and convenience than a life-changing choice. Today even the veneer of religion is being worn away by ever-increasing secularism and materialism.

This leaves millions searching for answers about life. Instead of relying on a personal relationship with a loving Savior many turn to the occult. Last year alone Italians spent over $8.5 billion consulting with physics and clairvoyants for advice!

Those who are still searching in Italy for an authentic community of believers, will have to look very hard. Of Italy’s 33,500 cities only 1500 have an evangelical church of any Protestant denomination. 32,000 cities still have no church!

With so few churches is there any wonder why many in Italy have completely turned away from God? God has called our family to Italy help point others to the light of Jesus. We want to offer the millions in Italy who are familiar with Jesus, the son of Mary the chance to know him as Jesus, the risen Son of God!

However, we can’t do the work alone! We need your support through prayer and financial giving to go forward in sharing the gospel with the Italian people.

Will you pray and ask the Lord how you to respond? Will you help us to… Wake Up Italy?

In Pursuit of God

Today I wanted to share something I wrote during a very tough time in my life about 5 years ago. No matter how strong and prepared we think we are,  we are all vulnerable. For 30 years, I've walked with God, or should I say He's walked with me. It seems the more I get to know Him, the more I understand my need for Him.

Human nature says that maturity is equal to less dependence on others and more reliance on self. I think God defines maturity quite differently. It seems the longer You go with God the more dependent you (should) become on Him. As a result of more God dependence, you become more mature in your faith, and the less you depend on your self.

Didn't Jesus say that we couldn't enter heaven without the trust of a child? How crazy is that? Now I am not advocating throwing a temper tantrum in light of this revelation. Instead, I am suggesting a reflection on how much you are currently depending on Him and how much of your life depends on self reliance.

Jeremiah 2: 13 says that God's people had turned their backs on Him, stopped seeking Him for answers, and dug their own wells. I believe at the center of every sin we commit is pride and self reliance.


13 “My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
   the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,    broken cisterns that cannot hold water. - NIV

We don't say it out loud, but our attitude and actions shout "I got this one God. It's cool. You can relax and go help some drug addict, pimp, prostitute, gambler, adulterer, etc. You know, some bad person. I'm good God. I'll call you if I need you."


Personally, I don't think a man can truly be saved until he realizes the depravity of his own soul apart from God. Paul said it in Esphesians 2:8-9 this way:


⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. 


Salvation is truly a miraculous work of God in the human spirit. It's from this revelation that God helped me articulate the following. Enjoy - 

In all my wanderings, in all my sins, in all my piousness, in all my pride, in all my weakness and humility, in all my joys, in all my sorrows, disappointments, fears, doubt and unbelief……….YOU WERE THERE.

IN PURSUIT OF GOD

I expected a parade and a speech, loud music and excitement; but somewhere in all my disillusionment you quietly slipped in the backdoor of my life. Unnoticed, you sat on the last pew.

You waited and waited and waited some more. Until I had spent my last effort, last dollar, last fear, last word, last breath. Without much ado, you knelt beside my lifeless body; enveloping me in a grasp that brought security and hope, and restored my faith and strength.

Ironically in all my efforts to find you, you found me. And so where I thought the journey ended, I found that I had just begun….MY PURSUIT OF GOD.

Until All of Italy Hears,

Stephen and Brandy Verner

TEAM Missionaries to Italy

706-201-5570

www.theverners.org

vernerverbiage.blogspot.com

speedofthepen.blogspot.com

www.teamworld.org

When I Look Upon Your Face

WHEN I LOOK UPON YOUR FACE

© Words by Stephen D. Verner – Wed. 5/25/11 – 9:35am-10:40am

VERSE 1:

There’s a longing deep inside my heart

I couldn’t tell you when it began

Or how to find its start

All I know is that I love You now

And that will never change

I’d go anywhere, do anything

In the power of Your name

CHORUS:

Jesus, name above all names

You’ve changed my life forever

I’ll never be the same

And though I cannot see you now

I look forward to the day

When I look upon Your face and hear You call my name

VERSE 2:

There’s a desire deep inside my soul

To see others come to know You (the way that I do)

Lay down the rights to their lives

And let You take control

All I know is that they need You now

Though through veiled eyes they can’t see

The way, the truth, and the life or they would believe

CHORUS:

Jesus, name above all names

You’ve changed my life forever

I’ll never be the same

And though I cannot see you now

I look forward to the day

When I look upon Your face and hear You call my name

BRIDGE:

Awake O Sleeper, awake now Dreamer

For your day has come

To see the light of Jesus shine

Your victory He has won

Put down your heavy burdens, let go of guilt and shame

Let Freedom sing a brand new song

“He’s broken ALL your chains!”

CHORUS:

Jesus, name above all names

You’ve changed my life forever

I’ll never be the same

And though I cannot see you now

I look forward to the day

When I look upon Your face and hear You call my name

Desire Of My Soul

DESIRE OF MY SOUL

© Words and music by Stephen D. Verner and Brandy M. Verner

started Wed. 4/13/11 @ 11:17pm, finished Thurs. 4/14/11 @ 1:14am

VERSE:

Lord, we’ve waited for You

The desire of our soul is for Your name

For You alone we take up our call

In You alone we are made strong

CHORUS:

So I make You the desire of my soul

I take hold of You, I take hold of You

I let go of all of my control

I take hold of You, I take hold of You…God

BRIDGE:

You are the one who broke my chains

(You) captured my heart and set me free

You are the one who stole my shame

You are the one who ransomed me

BUILD:

You are the One

You are the One

You are the One, who ransomed me (key change up)

Repeat Chorus

Cost Of My Rescue

COST OF MY RESCUE

©  Words by Stephen Verner Wed. 4/13/11 and Wed. 5/25/11 at 4:13pm

Inspiration – Ecc. 1:4, 5:7, 11:5, Song of Solomon 1:4, Ps. 49, 50:2-3 and 66:3

Verse 1:

GOD, Maker of all things

We stand in awe of You

Generations come and go, but You remain forever

We don’t want to be like those who live only for the moment

There’s so much more to You than what we can see

Chorus:

Lord I never knew

What it cost to make me new

Lord I never knew

The cost of my rescue

What it took to bring me to You

But now I know, and I don’t ever want to let You go

But now I know, and I want You to know

Just how much I love You

Verse 2:

God, you blaze into view

You’re not shy in your coming

Seasons come and go, but we’ve never seen anything like you.

We don’t want to be like those who live only for fame

Let us live for the glory of your name

Repeat Chorus

Bridge:

So now that I am new

Take me now away with You

Let’s run until Your love comes into view

I want to shout it loud

And live it long

Let’s sing together  “My chains are gone,”

That’s Victory’s Song

Repeat Chorus