Can't Stop Church

The church isn't the building...it's the people. We are having church today. We will be having church tomorrow. We should have church everyday.

update for Family and Friends

I tried to go to sleep a few hours ago...but it just won't happen. I prayed for about an hour. I worshiped for a while. Then I laid down but I just can't sleep.

I wanted to let everyone know that I will be serving at the HPC Shelter in Donadsonville, LA until all of this is over or until we are moved. I leave at 2pm on Sunday to go over there.

If you want to keep in touch with me please sign up for twitter at twitter.com or by clicking on the link on the sidebar and making an account. My username for twitter is "hlstewart" so once you sign up you can search for me and then click to follow me. If you add your mobile device (cell phone) you will receive a text message everytime I update. the country code for the USA is 1. so if you were going to add your cell phone for mobile updates you would type
"+1 your area code and phone number" in the spot.

We are trusting God for his protection and my heart goes out to anyone in harms way. If you are in the LA area and need help find your way to one of the HPC campuses - Donaldsonville, St. Amant, the Annex, Highland Rd and Winbourne in down town BR.

God bless you all and protect you.

OK i am going to try this sleeping thing again...hopefully it works. :)

Lots to Learn

Today I have been torn. Hurricanes make you think about what is really important to you. It makes you think about the eternal perspective. Living through Katrina changed me.

I no longer think about my stuff. I think about the people. The souls. The hurting hearts.

Today I have been torn between what my flesh wants to do and what my spirit yearns for. The flesh says "run for higher ground" but my spirit says "stand firm and help those who need you." It is pretty difficult to explain why you are staying in the path of a hurricane, especially when you are talking to people who love you and want you to be safe.

Just like when I was trying to explain why I quit my job and went to the school of ministry. Just like when I shared my heart for overseas missions and when I explained that I was moving to Honduras. Ministry is full of difficult conversations. This life of service, is unconventional and therefore controversial.

I have chosen to obey my spirit, which I believe is God's will for my life. Today I received a note from a friend...it said, "may you obey God in all you do." Thanks Mr. Jimmy, I needed that today.

Obedience doesn't always make sense...that is why it's called obedience. If I am obedient...I trust that God will take care of me and my relationships.

Preparations

This is a picture of our Winborne Dreamcenter in down town BR. Pastor Dino took it with his cell phone. They were preparing for the elderly evacuees that have already begun arriving. My friend Kelly Pitts is standing in the asile in the red SERVE shirt. She is an awesome girl and loves to serve people. I talked to her a little while ago and she said that most of the elderly have arrived and they were getting ready to play bingo! I love it!!

I will try to keep u posted on what's happening in BR HPC-style. You can follow me on Twitter ( by clicking on the "follow me on twitter" link in the right sidebar) which is a text message thing for those of you who don't know.

Hurricane Watch

We are keeping one eye on Gustave and the other eye on Hanna as they approach the Gulf of Mexico. I wanted to let you all know that HPC is preparing to be a Healing Place for a Hurting World by serving one person at a time. We are gearing up to be a relief center for people as they pass thought Baton Rouge on their way to higher ground.

If you are staying in the Baton Rouge area and would like to be involved in the outreaches and serving that will happen if Gustave does indeed land in the area, go to www.healingplacechurch.org for the latest updates and serving opportunities.

Continue to stand in prayer that the storm will dissipate and not cause any damage at all. As Pastor Dino said..."we are preparing for the worst and praying for the best."

I will try to post about what is going on, but if we lose electricity I don't think that I will be able to do much of that. I love you guys!

Raise the Roof

The dorm in Rio Viejo has a roof, windows, doors, and electricity!!!!

I just finished reading the HHIM blog and I can't contain my excitement! God is moving quickly in Rio Viejo to ready the ministry there for a period of growth. I am so happy I just want to dance around!!

You have got to check out the hospital blog and look at all of the pictures. The story about how God has brought this about is so inspiring!

HPC Medical Mission Trip to Honduras

Healing Hands Mobile Medical Clinic took to the air this summer and went to Rio Viejo to minister alongside Dr. Martin, Wendy and their family. I was so excited to read the blog entries about the trip on Dr. Cheri's website, that I had to share them with you.

There are a few different entries so I have put links to all of them below. It would be awesome if you would take some time to read about their experience there and see what I am so honored to be a part of in Honduras!!

Happy Reading!!

Click Here to Go to Dr. Cheri LeBlanc's Blog and read the posts below

1. Table Before the Lord
   

2. Honduras Medical Team

3. The Gift - by Brenda Clark

4. Blessed Feet - by Sheila

5. Unity in Christ

6. Time, Love and Tenderness

Servolution Recap

Well Servolution was bigger and better than ever!! God really did one of those over and above blessing things that day. There were over 1400 people wearing red SERVE shirts in the Highland campus sanctuary and we spread out over the city of Baton Rouge doing 41 different outreaches! That not all!!! God moved in Swaziland and Moze on the same day...HPC Servolution Worldwide!!

It was such an awesome thought...my friends across the globe in Africa are serving it up Jesus style wearing the same red shirts, and carrying the same Jesus loving hearts around in their chests. WOW.

I had the amazing opportunity to lead an outreach at an assisted living facility here in town. I was with the greatest bunch of people...young and old alike. It was so cool watching them walk into the building not knowing what to expect. We were armed with a deck of cards, a few board games and a bag full of nail polish...but no matter the method of delivery...we were spreading the love of Christ. I saw about 30 timid outreachers go boldly into the unknown world of assisted living and I saw God show up.

After a few hours no one wanted to leave. We played games, manicured all the ladies, the kids had a Wii bowling tournament with some of the older men...it was incredible. There was conversation and laughter...smiles every where. Transformation right before my eyes.

Thank you God for giving me the opportunity to wittness what you can do with a willing spirit. You don't have to be brave, you don't have to be smart or young or cool, you don't even have to know what you are doing...you just need to be willing.

Servolution 2008...unforgettable!

Every Day Divine Appointments

We don't always have our spiritual eyes open. We go through our daily routines and pass up hurting people all of the time. I have been challenged, lately, to try and live with my eyes wide open.

I went to visit my grandparents and Aunt Peggy a few weeks ago in Ruston, LA. While I was there my granddaddy blessed me with a tank of gas to help me get home. When we drove into the gas station I had a feeling someone was going to ask me for some money. I made a mental note of the money I had in my wallet and sure enough, I was approached by a woman when I got out of my car.

She was an older woman, she said her name was Betty. She asked for a few dollars to put gas in her car to get her to the doctors office. I can't know if her story was true. But I gave her $5 and she started to cry. She said she was very sick and asked if I would pray for her. I don't think she thought I would pray for her right there, but I didn't want to let this moment pass.

I asked her if i could pray with her and she agreed but said not to get too close cause she was really sick. I put my hand on her shoulder right there between the gas pumps and began to lift her up to the Father. I don't remember what I prayed, but as I ended the prayer she began to pray for me, my grandfather and my whole family. We were both crying when she finished. She looked me straight in the eye and said, "I'll never forget you."

She turned around and realized that she pulled her car in on the wrong side of the pump. She got back in her car and drove away with tears streaming down her face. I don't think I will ever forget Mrs. Betty either.

I don't know if she told the truth about the money, but I don't think it really mattered. What mattered is that God showed up between the gas pumps that day. He opened my eyes to that hurting woman and used me to help heal part of her heart. I don't know where she is or what she is doing now, but I do know that I am a different person after meeting her.

I am imperfect. I am flawed. I am apathetic at times, but for some reason God still wants to use me. I am honored and humbled all at the same time. Most of all I am challenged to live my life with my eyes opened...Looking for those hurt people. Listening to the Holy Spirit and sacrificing that selfish part of me that says "you don't have enough to give."

We have every day divine appointments. How many are we missing?

Surefooted

I have taken a new approach to my quiet times. Some how they had ended up being about me...go figure. You know, my encouragement, my calling, my life...me, myself and I. So I made the decision to go spend time with God to learn about Him. No ulterior motives. Not seeking blessings, encouragement, or confirmation. I just want to be in His presence and learn more about His character.

This is not as easy as it sounds. That very same morning I read this:

Habakkuk 3:17-18

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."

Whew...try not applying that one to yourself! I was like "Oh no...will there be famine in my life, will I be starved spiritually, will I, will I, will I." Then I remembered my decision...this time is not about me. So I asked God, "what does this tell me about you?"

Habakkuk was a prophet of God, that means he was God's voice to the people. So if anyone was close to God at that time it had to be Habakkuk. Even though this verse paints a pretty bleak picture of what Habakkuk is suffering, or willing to suffer, it also shows how dedicated he is to serving God. He says "I will rejoice in the Lord."

God tests those who are close to Him to make them stronger. And what I learned about God, that day, is that He expects us to weather the circumstances by rejoicing in Him.

The cool thing about God is that He will never let you walk away empty handed...He gave me a little nugget for myself...what ever is going on in my life, even if it means I have absolutely no security for my future, He expects me to rejoice in Him, to praise Him, and to continue to serve Him. The last verse, Habakkuk 3:19 says, "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to climb the heights."

So find your strength in God, friends. Rejoice in Him no matter what you see, or don't see, ahead and He will make you as surefooted as a deer!

For these kids everyday is a step of faith.
I think they understand Habakkuk very well,
and thanks to Children's Cup they are
learning to rejoice in the Lord!

Servolution is Back!!

I can't believe it has already been a year since that last Servolution. I can remember posting on the incredible feeling of knowing 500+ people from my church were out serving people all over the city of Baton Rouge!

Check out the recap video and the video trailer for this year's event HERE.

I am even more excited about Servolution this year becasue I believe we are going to have an even BIGGER impact on our city for God. Come be a part of the action, you can sign up to serve it up HERE. See you there!

God Does the Making

I think I finally understand what has been going on in my head and my heart lately. Somehow I slipped into thinking that I can do things on my own, without God's help.

Now wait...let me explain...

God has created us with unique gifts. Some of us are great musicians, some are great leaders, administrators, organizers, writers, graphic designers, communictors...the list goes on forever. Since we are made in the image of God it is easy for the Devil to make us think that we are equal with God.

Hold on...I know what you are thinking...It's not that we think we are God, it's that we think we are capable of goodness on our own. It is easy for us to claim God's glory as our own. When others compliment our work and speak highly of us to others, if we aren't careful we begin to think we did all that good stuff.

Romans 3:23 says that we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Every one of us, no matter how talented we are, no matter how beautiful, and no matter how wealthy we all fall short. That means we can't do anything alone that even has a hint of goodness in it...let alone greatness.

So my problem...some where deep in my heart I began to take God's glory for myself. I didn't realize I was even doing it...until I was humbled. God brought me back down to size. He let me see how "capable" I was. I got overwhelmed. I fell apart.

The great thing about God is that He is there to pick up all of the pieces. He knows we are going to mess up. He knows we will fall short, that is the whole reason for Jesus. Once my stubborn mind opened up to Him, He was able to show me where I got off course. It wasn't until I hit the ground that I realized I was falling.

Lord help me stay humble before you! The things He has planned for me are WAY bigger than I am. I will need Him every step of the way.

Taking My Own Advice

Sometimes you just have to spend a little time reflecting. You have to take a few minutes to sort out the truth. You have to remember where you have been and where you are going. This has been one of those times for me.

I forgot something. I forgot who I was in Christ. It doesn't take long for the Enemy to move in when you open the door for him. I even asked him to bring his friends...doubt, self pity, unworthiness...you know the type. Before I knew it I felt like Jonah, at the bottom of the ocean, when he said,

"The waters closed in around me, and seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I sank down to the very roots of the mountians. I was locked out of life and imprisioned in the land of the dead." Jonah 2:5-6

Have you ever felt like there was no way out of a situation? It could be finances, a bad relationship, a wrong decision, a lie or something that started off small and innocent and then when it grew up you recognized how big and bad it really was. Jonah mad a bad decision. He was disobedient to God. He ran from the call on his life and endangered the people around him.

I want you to know that God is bigger than any bad decision. If I have learned anything from Jonah it is that God has enough grace to help you, the people around you and the city you left behind. He has helped me climb out of the pit of dispaire. Jonah said it best, "But you, O Lord my God, have snatched me from the yawning jaws of death!"

I don't know what is going on in your life. I don't know if you are running, if you are sinking or if you are at the bottom of the ocean, but God knows exactly where you are and He wants to meet you there. When Jonah was in the belly of the fish, in the pit of dispair, uncertian of his future, he prayed... "When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple." Even if you have turned your back on God you are not beyond His saving grace.

I wrote this post to tell you that sometimes we have to take our own advice. Sometimes we have to remember where we were when we found God. We have to let Him walk us through those hard times and remind us that He was there then and He is here now.

I had to reread some of my old posts today. I needed to remember that I said I wasn't going to worry. I had to remember that I am not forgotten. I had to remember to be thankful. I had to remember that I am the clay, not the potter. Sometimes I am forgetful and I have to resurrender my thoughts to God. I had let all of those things creep in and cloud my vision.

I felt like chaff in the wind. I felt like Jonah at the bottom of the ocean. But you know what? God had mercy on Jonah. He saved him. He picked him up from the bottom of the ocean and used him to change the face of eternity for a whole city of people. I have to think...what could He do with me? What could He do with you?