Two down...three to go

Hello!

I'm not sure when I will update my blog again so let's just throw out both a Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to everyone :).

Last time I blogged I informed you all that I had received two speaking gigs. The first one was for a college campus ministry called Prepare (http://www.prepareministries.com). This event went very well! I had the opportunity to meet and encourage many of my peers. I spoke on the importance of Christian community and how the apostle Paul emphasized this heavily in many of his epistles. Specifically I pulled most of my content from the book of Philippians. The biggest takeaway of the evening was the idea that no matter where we are at in our faith we can be a part of a community that helps us grow. This thought was based of the following verses:

Philippians 1:3-6

"I thank my God every time I remember you, in all my prayers for you I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel, from the first day until now. Being confident of this that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Remember, we all have a role to play in spreading the gospel. We all partner in some way and that makes us a community. A community of believers who may not be perfect, however, we are being carried to completion each day as we serve the King.

My second speaking event was for a Pioneer Prayer Partner night. This event was for boys (K-6). The boys were being paired up with men from their church to start a prayer relationship for one another. I was blessed to be able to speak to both the boys and men about the importance of, "having one another's back". I was able to use some old football stories to coincide with their football theme. The talk hinged on Hebrews 10:23-25, which encourages us to spur one another on toward love and good deeds and to encourage one another as we await Christ's return. This event also went well!

Thank you so much for your prayers and continued support! More exciting things are to come in the coming months. I have booked three more events. Please be praying for these events:

1. December 8th - Momentum's School Showdown

2. December 29th - The Twelve Hour Blitz

3. January 26th - Lakeview Christian Academy Chapel

It's always good to hear from you all! Hit me up on facebook sometime! Let me know how things are on your end!

In His Grip,

Levi Bordes

Progress...

Hello to all my friends! If you're reading this, please know how much I appreciate your support and encouragement as I continue on this new adventure.

It's been a few weeks since my last post and I wanted to update you all on some new developments (I do this so you can know what's up and be praying about it).

I have been working on finding a job to meet my needs while at the same time trying to book speaking gigs. I have a few leads on jobs this week including an interview to work at Kohls...yep, pretty much my lifelong dream right there. I joke about the Kohl's job, but in all reality I am thankful that God provides for me and I will be willing to do what I must to follow His calling.

I am very excited to announce that I have two speaking engagements for the month of October! On October 19, I will be speaking at a campus ministry called Prepare. They meet at the University of Minnesota Duluth. I am very excited to have this opportunity to speak! It is especially exciting to be able to communicate the truths of God's Word to my peers! I would appreciate your prayers as this will be more of a teaching environment. For whatever reason, I tend to get more nervous for those. However, I know God will bring His "A" game...because let's be real...that's the only game He's got! Then on October 27, Duluth Gospel Tabernacle is having their Pioneer Prayer Partner Night (this is the boys ministry K-6). I have been asked to speak that evening and am super stoked about that! It will be fun to speak to the boys and share with them what God lays on my heart!

In addition to these gigs, I have been working hard on developing my mission and vision for the speaking ministry. At this time, I wish to not share all the details. Please pray that God would continue to open up doors as I attempt to get this ministry off the ground.

In summary please be praying for the following things:
1. God's guidance for a name and vision
2. Prepare Ministries Speaking Engagement (October 19)
3. DGT Pray Partners Speaking Engagement (October 27)
4. That I would receive more speaking opportunities
5. Please pray what Paul writes in Ephesians 6:19-20 for me

Lastly, I offer you the take away...this is the new part of my blog where I give you a random devotional thought.

I thank God for the doors He has shut, the doors that He is opening, and the doors that He will open in the future. Sometimes we get upset when things don't work out or don't go our way. We feel that God isn't being fair. We feel that our most carefully laid plans are falling apart. Yet, most often when I look back on the events of the past I realize that certain things fell apart for a reason. Certain doors were left closed, so that others could be opened and other doors are shut because it's not His timing. Upon observing God's faithfulness played out time and time again, I find it best to stop prying at the doors that I want to see opened and just trust God with my future. His word says that He works out all things together for the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose. I highlighted the word love because it's crucial! If I truly love Christ, this means that I will TRUST Him to be who He says He is. This means that if His Word says that He is working things out for my good, I SHOULD BELIEVE THAT!! So the next time you find yourself frustrated with life and you feel your best laid plans have failed you, instead of getting upset or down, TRUST in the promises of His Word and know that He has your best interests in mind. I trust this week you will see that the doors He has shut in your life have been shut for your benefit and the ones He is opening are part of His good, pleasing, and perfect will! And that my friends is your take away for the day!

In His Grip,

Levi Bordes

So it begins...

I absolutely love the Lord of the Rings movies! If you are a nerd like me you are going to appreciate this analogy! In the second film entitled, "The Two Towers" the King of Rohan has evacuated his people to Helms Deep, a fortress carved into a mountainside. As night falls they await the attack of their adversaries. Heavily outnumbered and short on quality soldiers, tensions are high. As the battles is about to ensue, the King utters these words, not knowing fully what to expect, "So it begins..."

Nerdy analogy? Perhaps. Yet aside from your personal views of Lord of the Rings try and track with me. This is how I feel. So many unknowns ahead as I start out on this path to which God directs my steps. I feel unprepared, not knowing what to expect, lacking quality references and credentials and yet, I must be obedient to what I feel God calling me to do. I can identify with the King in that moment...I'm not facing any real armies, yet I'm facing a GIANT today. The giant I face is fear. Do I have the courage to overcome my fear or failure and step out in faith to pursue the dream that God has given me? I pray that I do. I pray that as this new journey to pursue speaking as a vocation and to proclaim the Word of the Lord to all who hear it commences, that instead of waiving the white flag I would have the courage to let God direct my steps as He says, "So it begins..."

Your prayers are appreciated!