Dear Tara Venable

Dear Tara,

On this day, May 28, 2012, I am writing...to tell you just how wonderful you are. You are such an amazing person, and I see this in you daily threefold:

1. You are a Wonderful Mother. In just 3 short weeks, we're going to be parents. And you're going to be a mom. This is a bit premature, but I can already bear witness that you will be the best mom that has ever walked this planet. Even better than my own mom. What?! Yeppers. You're going to outshine them all. Your love, affection, tender heart, grace, compassion and numerous wonderful qualities have already manifested themselves in your pregnancy. So I seriously can't wait for those to come to full fruition with sweet Jude. I'm truly excited to parent alongside you, and to simply witness the mother you are going to be for our first boy. He's a lucky little dude, and I know he's going to be attached to you like no other. Like father, like son.

2. You are a Wonderful Wife. You epitomize the excellent wife. Define her with grace and ease. Define her with beauty and loveliness. I honestly believe you are the standard and model wife for all others to follow. I couldn't brag on you enough, and believe the girls in our student ministry have no better example to follow. None. They need to look no further than what you live out for them right in front of their eyes. You set the bar. And the best part? It's not an act. You are genuine and live the same at home. And that sets you apart. You live out Proverbs 31 on a daily basis, and I thank God for you every single day. You are a gift. A privilege. An honor. And my crown. Thank you for truly being an excellent wife. There is none better, and God had blessed me incredibly with you as my helper.

3. You are a Wonderful Woman of God. The best part of number three here is that without this quality, the first two would be hollow. There would be no life or substance to either one. So because you serve and live you life for the living God, the Lord shines in all areas of your life making you the best mother, wife, and woman I believe has ever existed. God has been especially good to me with you as a spiritual helper. You keep me grounded. Anchored. And so supported. You seriously help in me more ways than you know. I am more confident, more sure of myself, and hold so much more value for myself because of you. You have boosted me tremendously in all areas of my life. I have little doubt about anything because I trust in the Lord with you as my wife. So thank you. Thank you for loving Jesus more than me. Thank you for prioritizing your relationship with the Lord over your relationship with me. And thank you for taking personal accountability to grow. This has been noticed and most certainly made a huge difference in our marriage and especially myself personally.

So on this day, May 28, 2012, I am writing to honor you. To love you. And lift you up. I'm your biggest fan. Your biggest supporter. And I want you to feel better about yourself than you've ever felt. More loved. Supported. Attractive. Beautiful. Appreciated.  Because you are the best. The most excellent. And undoubtedly wonderful. I love you Tara Beth Venable.

in CHRIST > john venable

Living a Better Story: Ethiopian Eunuch

Two weeks ago we kicked off a new series titled Living a Better Story. All of us are living a story. Our lives tell a story of who we are every single day. But have we stuck to the script? Held true to the storyline? Or have we missed our cues, forgotten our lines & stepped out on the author of our lives?

It's time we begin living a better story. God has written it out for us so perfectly. And even for our benefit! Our job is to simply follow the director of our lives & live in obedience to the Word of God. Star living His story for your life today. 

This past week we scoped out the story of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40. And how similar he is to many people today. Filled with worldly goods, knowledge, prestige, position & education. Yet still searching. Looking for something more. Something meaningful. Ultimately, looking for satisfaction & fulfillment in this life this world cannot offer. 

Thankfully, the Lord directed Philip to help him find what he was looking for. To point him to the good news that is only in Jesus Christ. And the eunuch found it. Found love. Forgiveness. Salvation. And significance in life. 

Have you found it? Found what's missing? And if you have, how far have you taken it? Has this good news and life change traveled to the ears and eyes of others?

Living a Better Story: Peter

Last week we kicked off a new series titled Living a Better Story. All of us are living a story. Our lives tell a story of who we are every single day. But have we stuck to the script? Held true to the storyline? Or have we missed our cues, forgotten our lines & stepped out on the author of our lives?

It's time we begin living a better story. God has written it out for us so perfectly. And even for our benefit! Our job is to simply follow the director of our lives & live in obedience to the Word of God. Star living His story for your life today. 

Click the link below to listen to Week 2 of in the series Living a Better Story: Peter

Living a Better Story: Peter (5.9.2012)

Living a Better Story: Jonah

Last week we kicked off a new series titled Living a Better Story. All of us are living a story. Our lives tell a story of who we are every single day. But have we stuck to the script? Held true to the storyline? Or have we missed our cues, forgotten our lines & stepped out on the author of our lives?


It's time we begin living a better story. God has written it out for us so perfectly. And even for our benefit! Our job is to simply follow the director of our lives & live in obedience to the Word of God. Star living His story for your life today. 


Click the link below to listen to Week 1 of in the series Living a Better Story: Jonah


Living a Better Story: Jonah (5.2.2012)

Dirty Laundry: Week 2

Last night we wrapped up our series titled Dirty Laundry. So many of us have so many things we try to keep hidden. Try to keep secret. But we need to realize the freedom in confession, and the consequences in concealment. So clean out your closet, air out that dirty laundry, and come clean with a repentant heart to the LORD.


Repentance leads to restoration. 

Click the link below to listen to Week 2 of 2 in the series Dirty Laundry.

Dirty Laundry 2 (4.25.2012)

Dirty Laundry

Last night we kicked off a new series titled Dirty Laundry. So many of us have so many things we try to keep hidden. Try to keep secret. But we need to realize the freedom in confession, and the consequences in concealment. Nothing is hidden from the LORD, and your sin will indeed find you out.

So clean out your closet, air out that dirty laundry, and come clean with a repentant heart to the LORD.

Click the link below to listen to Week 1 of 2 in the series Dirty Laundry.

Dirty Laundry 1 (4.18.2012)

NEXT

We just wrapped up a 4 week series called NEXT: Discovering the BIG truths that surround some of the most famous verses in the Bible. 

Click on the links below to listen to each weeks study!

NEXT 1: Romans 3.23 (3.7.2012)

NEXT 2: Romans 8.28 (3.14.2012)

NEXT 3: Romans 10.9 (3.28.2012)

NEXT 4: John 3.16 (4.11.2012)

Live Different 4

Week 4 in a 4 week series called Live Different. To live so different, others can tell a difference. Others will want to know what the difference is. Who the difference maker is in our lives. Let us live so different from the norm others want to know the difference Jesus can make in their lives.

Click the link to listen in: Live Different 4

2.29.2012

Live Different 3

Week 3 in a 4 week series called Live Different. This week's focus was on pursuing holiness in all we do & letting that pursuit of holiness shape our lives. Not to avoid sin because we know we can't or shouldn't do it - but to love God & His ways more so that a pursuit holiness becomes our sole motivation.

Click the link to listen in: Live Different 3

2.22.2012

Contact Without Contamination

As a Christian, God has called us out. God has called us to be holy. To be sanctified. To be set apart for His purposes.

Basically, God has called us to live different. And to live so different, people notice a difference. And that difference be so significant, this world desires to know the difference maker. Curious to find out who & what makes the difference in our lives.

1 Peter 2:9-12 tells Christians they are God's "chosen" people. We have been chosen to belong & live for God exclusively. Not to live for anything else in this world - but to live for God alone. Furthermore, this passage of Scripture makes it very clear this world is not our home as Christians are then called to live as "aliens & strangers." When we realize we don't belong to this world, we don't follow the patterns of the this world. We don't immerse ourselves in all the ways & habits of culture. We don't let the norms of culture & sin become normalized in us. Essentially, we don't apply for citizenship here. We don't belong.

Now, the point here is not to live isolated. Because this world desperately needs Jesus. This world desperately needs the love, influence, and witness Christ has called us to show. The point is we don't get infected. Separation is not isolation - it is contact without contamination.

The challenge again is we live so different it makes a difference in the lives of others. Instead of following the pattern of this lost world, we show this world a different way of living that leads to unconditional love, forgiveness, and freedom from sin. And the hardest part is understanding the way we live is a direct advertisement for this difference.

In 1805, Christian missionaries presented the Gospel to a council of Native American chiefs & leaders. Upon hearing the Gospel, Chief Red Jacket had this response:

"We are told you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These are our neighbors. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while, and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good, and makes them honest, and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again what you have said." 

They were waiting to see a difference. Waiting to see a change.

Now is this world waiting on you? Waiting to see something different in your life? Waiting to see change? Waiting to see if Jesus makes any difference at all?

Live different. And show this world the difference maker in your life.

JV