New Years Eve 2008

Wow, I cant even begin to tell you how excited I am about what God has done in my life in 2008 and I am even more excited to see what he will do in 2009!!! There is something about being in Colorado mountains that you really get to see how BIG our God is. I have had some of the best quiet times on my vacation here and what better place to ring in the new year. When I look back at 2008 there is only one word that goes to my mind, "Renewal." God did so many UNBELIEVABLE things in my life and my relationship with Him has grown sooooo much deeper. God has become so much bigger than I could have ever imagine. I just watched Dick Clark/Ryan Seacrest New Years Eve countdown and when "The Ball" dropped in New York for the first time in my life on New Years Eve, I turned off the T.V. and got on my face. I surrendered to The Lord and my prayer was "Lord 2009 is not mine its yours. My will has to die and You have to rise up and lead me."The 43rd chapter of Isaiah is talking about God's Mercy and I love verses 18-19:

18Forget the former things, do not dwell in the past. 19For see I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

I am excited to see what new things God has for me and I hope you are just as excited to see what he will do in your life. Happy New Years!!!!

Ski Trip Day #2

Wow, I had the best time skiing!!! I started off the 13 degree morning with a 1.5 mile run with Micheal Head and 1.5 mile run in the mountains is like 2.5 in Houston. I don't like running that much but it was really fun and had a great view. Then off to the slopes for some severer body damage!! I thought with all the training and working out I have been doing, I wouldn't be sore but I was completely wrong. After we got back I made pasta for dinner. I am exhausted and it's only 8:50pm in Colorado!!!

Ski Trip Day #1

This was my first time flying to Colorado and let me just say driving here is highly over rated. I got on the biggest plane I have ever been on and the flight was AMAZING. I think everyone on the flight was a VIP except for me because everyone was dressed up really really nice but oh well. We start skiing first thing tomorrow morning so stay tuned for video and pics!!! Here are some randoms from our arrival:

NBA Christmas Day

Every Christmas day I love watching the NBA games. This year the big game was a 2007 NBA Finals rematch and my beloved Lakers got the "W"

This clip of "Home Alone" reminds me that your relationship with God and others is the most important part of Christmas. Kevin helps his neighbor understand how important relationships are. In the movie, the older man has given up on some very important relationships in his family life and Kevin reminds him how important it is to forgive. In Mark 12:28-34 Jesus is telling one of the teachers of the law, that the most important commandment besides loving The Lord, is to loving your neighbor as yourself. Jesus agrees that your relationships are even more important than your burnt offering and sacrifices. This Christmas let the people you know how much you mean to them. verse 34 says:

When Jesus saw that the teacher has answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God"

Podcasting

I recently started podcasting so our students/leaders can download our bible study lesson to their IPod. The students are very excited about this but I have to be honest, I have never listened to a recording of my self speaking till recently and I thought to myself "Wow, I don't sound as good as I thought" haha!!! I have heard the best way to improve your speaking is to record it and you be your biggest critic. I remember Brian Mills (our student pastor) told me one time "If you think your a great speaker, and you don't think you need to improve, that's not a good place to be." I thought about that for a very long time and God really showed me that is very true. The moment when we start thinking "I'm the man" and "I don't need to improve" is the moment your ministry becomes about you and not The Lord. That's why I love John chapter 3, when John is telling his boys who are angry that Jesus is baptizing more people than he is and this is what he says to them "He must become greater and I must become less" You may not know this about me but I have stuttered all my life and right before I speak I always think about this verse and how much I need people to hear him speak instead of Shannon Self. Here is the link to our 5th/6th grade podcast called Next Level West

3rd Annual Varsity Basketball Team Reunion!!!

Every year since I coached Varsity Basketball at Faith West Academy, my team has met for dinner during the Christmas break. It's so cool to see and hear what God has been doing in the lives of these girls. We talked about old times on road trips and memories that are still very clear. I walked away last night and felt so blessed to still be close with all of them. here are some pics....

5th/6th grade Baptism

We baptized 14 students who recently committed their life to Christ. I can remember right before we started thinking, "How Great of a God we serve" and how this ministry is all about Him. After we baptized each student the crowd went nuts!!!! Its was like being at a sporting event and I was humbled that God allowed me to be apart of it....

Starbucks Gold Card

I just got my Starbucks Gold Card, I have been going there more than usual, so I figured I might as well get one!!!!!

Loren's First Sermon

Loren Hopf is our new 5th/6th grade girls associate and today was her first day teaching. I am a very big critic of everyone I hear speak, including myself. Loren did an AMAZING job and was very dynamic. She held the room in the palm of her hand and was very confident in what she said. She did a great job talking about Hanna and I am very proud to have her on my team. I can definitely see God's hand in her life, Great Job Loren!!!

Our singles pastor, Chad Herold , invited me to speak to the college students last night. It was really fun to have a different audience for a change. I really had a great time talking to some of the students afterwards about what God has been doing in their lives.

Snowing in Katy Texas

I walked outside 45 mins ago and it was snowing, so I decided to do what everyone should do when it snows in Katy Texas, go to Starbucks!!!!!!

This past Sunday I had the AMAZING opportunity to speak in our Jhigh ministry. Michael Head ,who is the 7th/8th grade pastor and I were talking about what God has been doing in both of our lives and how our students need to see the real side of us. The most memorable thing that happened this past Sunday was I got to see students that I had in my ministry still coming to bible study on Sunday morning. That is a testament to what God is doing in their lives and how great of a pastor my friend Michael Head is. Thanks Mike!!!

The most embarassing moment EVER!!!!

I hired a personal trainer 2 days a week and it has been going really well. My goal weight is 190 lbs, so to reach my goal I am going to have to really push myself. We have been doing circuit training to keep my heart rate up for an hour and at the last station, I had to sprint on a inclined tread mill for 2 mins. I told the trainer, "2 mins is a joke, I can do that in my sleep" So I start sprinting as hard as I can, I reach 1 min and its hard but I'm doing it, and at 1:20 I think to myself "ummm something is not right" next thing I know I am throwing up EVERYWHERE!!! I was trying to make it to the trash can but it didnt happen. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at me like I was a freak and then the worst part about it was, those same people came up to me and were asking if I was ok...oh well haha!!!

Parable of the Rich Young Man

I was reading Mark 10:17-31 this morning and God really spoke to me through this passage. Most of my life I have chased worldly success and tried to be a good person. I always wanted to be powerful and important, and when I saw the above picture on google it really hit home because that's who I wanted to be. I wanted to be flying out on a private jet to some important meeting with my expensive phone and wearing my tailor made clothes. I used to think if I could have all of those things, I would be "The Man". I have been in full time ministry for 6 years now and God has recently shown me in the last couple of months that life is not all about what you are or what you have, its about who you know. I used to think to myself " wow, I am a pastor at the 2nd largest church in America, I have a steady paycheck, nice car, great friends and I am a christian" looking back, I was like the rich young man but I was dying inside because there was something else missing so I held on to what I had and those became my God. Mark 10:21-22 says, Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack" he said. "go and sell everything you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in Heaven, then come follow me" At this point the mans face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth. The rich young man couldn't let go of his money because he LOVED it very much. Just like I couldn't give him things in my life. It is really hard to give things you love to The lord when he asks, but if we are faithful and love him, he will honor your decision. When I finally surrendered and gave him everything, not just material things but my deep hurts, fears, and insecurities God started showing me things I would have never seen on my own. Abraham in Genesis 22 had to give up his son and he did without hesitation and God honored him. Then in Isaiah 41:8 God called Abraham "His friend" If you think about it, friendships are one of the most cherished things we have, but some of your closest friends are people who you had to walk with durning dark times and that is what The Lord wants us to do with him. When God looks at me I want him to say "That's my friend Shannon" Question: Is God your friend or is he just your savior?

Special Baptism on Wed

A 5Th grader named Kilee really wanted to get baptized on her mom's birthday which was yesterday and she was so excited when I told her we could do it. Usually at a baptism there are huge crowds watching and cheering but this girl didn't want anyone there except her mom. I thought it would be really strange not having many people there but it was one of the most memorable Baptisms I have ever done. Here are some pics:

Tithing

Honestly this issue has been a real struggle with me. It is so funny how the tithe is the only issue God says in Malachi 3: "Test Me"

Malachi 3:10-11 says, Bring the whole tithe into the store house, that there may be food in my house. "Test Me in this" and see if I will not throw open the flood gates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it.

Quick story of encouragement for all of you who struggle with this: This is the first time in my life where I have consistently been tithing. I committed to God that I was going to be consistent with my tithing no matter what. I am going on a ski trip with friends and we leave December 29. I looked at my account Sunday and I was thinking to myself "Shannon, if you don't tithe this month, you will not have to worry about saving for the ski trip" and then the Lord said to me what he has been saying to me for the last month and half, "Trust Me" !!! So I write my check and put it in our offering box (Sloooooooowly..haha) This is how Great our God is: So 2 days later I get a call from Faith West Academy, where I coached volleyball a couple months ago and they told me that I had a check in my box still. I went to pick it up and the amount was exactly double what my tithe check was!!!! God wants to bless us but we have to learn to "Trust Him" with the things we care about most. I got the above image from Jared

Ministry Highlight Video

This video was made 2 months ago and shown in all of our worship services...