In 3 days we travel....

Everyday people have a purpose.

Show me your purpose, Lord, and help me to live it.

A simple prayer that I try to say everyday.

Having come to the church later in life I ask myself, and God, what my purpose is. I ask that a LOT.

Somehow I feel that this mission trip is closely tied to that. I'm not sure if it's the trip itself that is my purpose, or if the mission is supposed to lead me to that purpose somehow, but I have had that feeling since the first day I heard about the mission. It stayed in my head almost constantly until I made the committment to serve.

In his heart a man plans his course,
but the Lord determines his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

Please continue to pray for the team. From Paul's letter to the people at Colosse...

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
(Collosians 1:9-12)

In 4 days we travel....

The spiritual preparation for today is about humility. To open ourselves to the Lord as his humble servant.

I like to think that humble, here, means "not proud or arrogant, modest" as opposed to "insignificant."

The scripture in our journal today says, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1Peter 5:6-7)

In preparing myself I thought this was appropriate:

My heart is not proud, O Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with it's mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
(Psalm 131:1-2)

To experience the prayers of the the congregation this past Sunday for our mission team during the service was a humbling experience for me. To know that so many people care so deeply was amazing. I feel truly blessed.

Continue to pray for us this week. Pray that we can all "let go of our own agendas and live the Lord's agenda." Pray for us to be humble enough to be more available to Him.

In 5 days we travel...

In 5 days the mission team from Western Hills United Methodist Church will be leaving for Matagalpa, Nicaragua. We are actually three teams, medical, dental and construction. Together we will help spread the word of God and show others that we care.

Yesterday we were given our mission journals. The journals are supposed to help us prepare spiritually for our trip. I have decided to share some of that preparation here and then when I return I will post to this blog about the mission.

Yesterday this passage stood out to me...Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back -- given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting is the way. Generosity begets generosity. (Luke 6:8)

And today - Jesus said....You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: love each other. (John 15: 16-17)

So, if you are so inclined, pray for us. Pray that we will be a blessing to others, that we will touch lives and make a difference. Pray that we remain safe in our travels. Pray that God will open our hearts and fill them with the Holy Spirit that we may spread His word.

And for you today...Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Not as Isolated as I Thought

I am traveling today to Lubbock, and I was thinking about how far we are from other cities.

Then I read one of the "Tales From the Morgue" from the El Paso Times archives. The story was from back in 1916. It seems that an automobile service was started between El Paso and Roswell, NM. making it possible to travel to or from Roswell in only 12 hours.

Lubbock doesn't seem quite as far now.

West El Paso Living

West El Paso Living Shopping at the Outlet Shoppes from Rick Snow on Vimeo.

Giving Back to El Paso

I have started a new program for 2009, designed to give back to the people of El Paso. I call it "Move With A Purpose." I believe very strongly in giving back to the community. There are many ways to do it, donations, volunteer your time, etc... Anything you can do to make a difference.

In 2009 I am going to donate 20% of every real estate commission earned to a local charity. In order to participate and help make a difference just go to my website http://www.ricksnowsellselpasohomes.com/ and click on Move With A Purpose. If you are buying or selling a home, register here and help make a difference in El Paso.

I am looking for additional charities to add to my partner list, so if you know of a good cause let me know and we'll get it added to the list. My goal is to give away as much money as I can in 2009. Help me out.

It's Good to be the Chief

Congratulations to Greg Allen on his appointment as the Chief of the El Paso Police department. Chief Allen has been running the department since Dec 2007 while the appointment process was under way. An El Paso native, Chief Allen has been with the EPPD since 1978.