Change of Blog

I am moving my blog from blogspot to a new address...blogspot no longer allows me to post pictures! My new address is www.jeffstockdale.com

Purity and Grace Weekend

Looking forward to “Purity and Grace” weekend coming up January 29-30. This is going to be a wonderful retreat weekend specifically designed for young ladies! Look for details that will be coming out soon! Make sure you mark your calendar now, and ask off work well in advance! I am praying that you make this weekend a priority!

What a great week!

What an incredible week...

I am always amazed at how God works. This past week has been very fruitful as I have met some pretty amazing people! God has placed in my path several people who are feeling God’s call into ministry! It has always blown away at how God sends young men with calls on their life to be a part of my ministry! God is so faithful! My prayer today is that I would be faithful in teaching these young men! I am also looking for places to use these guys so please pray with me as I look for opportunities for these guys to do ministry!

I am also excited with two very special young ladies (missionaries) that God has placed in my life! Last night a joint mission project with Westside Baptist Church in Jacksonville took place at the Cleveland Arms Apartments. This exposure for our College Students will help us as we plan for a mission project of this magnitude closer to Hibernia Baptist Church. College Students, I am asking that you set the pace and lead! We have great opportunities for ministry very near our church! be praying and thinking about how God can use you!

A more excellent way

“A more excellent way...”

I am more convinced than ever that we have been placed here to love. The world in which we live is a crazy place, senseless things take place that no explanation other than sin can describe. If there where ever a time in history that love needs to be in the forefront, it is now! Recently I have been doing some soul searching. I have thought about my life, and the people that I have ministered to over the years. I must admit, many times it was hard for me to totally understand the unique call God placed on my life! I also must admit to my self and those I serve that have struggled recently. I have found my self looking for direction...praying for clarity...trying to understand God’s complete will for my life. This struggle has taken a toll on me because my focus has always been my ministry. Because of the struggle, I feel that I have missed some God ordained opportunities. I have realized in many ways I have been going through the motions. In reading Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, God revealed to me a more excellent way. I think that it is so funny how we read passages of scripture for many years and miss the point. God is reminding me as I am writing, that His word is always right on time and that this nugget of inspiration for me is now! Every movement of God has to first begin with God, then it moves into the lives of those who love Him and who are sold out for what He has called them to do! I know now more than ever that God has placed me at this place and point in my life for a reason! I am here to love! He wants me to completely love those who he has called me to serve! This past week, as I resolved to Love the students and people of Hibernia Baptist Church, God began a new work in my life! One that I am eagerly looking forward to the outcome of! I cannot wait to see what God is going to do with the students of Steadfast and Kaleo! I am overwhelmed with the possibilities. In other areas of my life I cannot wait to see how God is going to work in the life of my youngest daughter. She is such a precious young lady and I believe that God is doing a great work in her life, I believe that He is preparing her for a journey that is going to totally rock this world! I am here to love! I realize more than ever that I don’t know as much as I thought I did, that I have to stay clean and close. In getting close, I know that I love the leadership team of both of ministries that God has called me to serve and this morning as I write in Porto Alegre Brazil...many miles away from where God has called me to serve Paul’s words are reverberating through my soul...”Love is patient” I am resolving to be patient with the people that God has called me to serve...”Love is kind” I am resolving to be kind to everyone that I come into contact with. It has taken so many years for me to overcome the need to be a manly man. Who am I?...I have thought much about this question in regards to being kind. I know who I am; I am Hadley, Avery, Ben and sweet baby James’s grand daddy. They look or will look at me the way I want the world to look at me. They look at me with love, knowing that I would do anything in the world for them! They look at me with complete trust, knowing that I would never allow anyone to harm them...they look at me with amazement, no matter what cheesy thing that I may show them. They look at me with eyes of complete love. I have truly learned how to love through the precious gift of my grand children. I want to take this love they have taught me and apply it to those God has called me to minister to. I am making this resolution to love...to protect, trust, hope...to persevere...knowing that Love will never fail. We were placed on this tiny planet in this vast universe to love! I love you...who ever you are...reading this blog. I love my wife, my family, my church and all of those who God chooses to put in my path! Love truly is...the most excellent way! <><