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Crucial Encounter

Posts Tagged ‘God’


Posted on October 14, 2009 - by Andy McMahon

A Father’s Love

SANY0936.JPG4 weeks ago, I almost wrote a post about our Father’s love.  I was gonna write about how I know I could never wrap my head around His love, but how I thought I pretty much got the idea.

I’m not going to write that now.  When I saw Gemma for the first time… I can’t even describe the feeling.  Still, to this day, every time I look at Gemma, my eyes swell up, and I can’t believe how much I love that little girl.  It’s the most surreal feeling I’ve ever felt in my entire life!

Two days after Gemma was born, a doctor came in and asked us if they could give her a lumbar puncture to test for meningitis.  That hurt like I can’t even describe.  Parents out there, I am sure understand the feeling.  I got to thinking about it, and I realized…. God gave His only son for us.  Not to get a lumbar puncture, but to be beaten, spit on, stabbed, and then nailed to a cross!!!

I can honestly say, I don’t think I could do that.  Heck, I could hardly approve a lumbar puncture, which would make sure she was healthy!

I’m writing this to say… I was wrong.  I cannot, and will never be able to understand God’s love.  There was a minute where I thought I may be able to wrap my head around it.  I can’t.  What an amazing week!  What an amazing God!


Posted on July 23, 2009 - by Andy McMahon

“I’m an Athiest”

athiest.jpg

I read that.  I thought about it.  I twittered it.  It hit me hard.

Everyone is searching.  Everyone has a reason to pray. The world is hard for everyone.  It’s rough.  We have issues.  We ALL have issues.

What is so beautiful about this post is this guy (or girl) seems to get something from prayer.  They seem to realize that there is a calming factor from prayer.

that’s huge.  is that God? showing love to an athiest?  Yes. I think it is.  It’s great.  It goes to show, God is working.  On everyone.

That made my day,  thought it might make yours too.

Enjoy.


Posted on June 22, 2009 - by Andy McMahon

Lately

I haven’t written a lot lately.

I read Ragamuffin Gospel and it jacked me up.  God has entered my life full time, and it’s really jacking me up.

I am struggling through a lot of things, that I am trying really hard to deal with.  I’ve become my mother in a lot of ways, and it bothers me.

I try so hard to not let my anger show, or worse, say things I will regret, but I do.

I’m praying God will move me through these times.  I’m praying God will soften my heart, and help me be the man I want to be.

Thank you to who ever still stops by.  I will start writing again soon.  Once I work all this stuff out, there will be some real, authentic, and probably uncomfortable writing going on here.

Thanks for your prayers.


Posted on February 12, 2009 - by Andy McMahon

Oh My Goodness

Praise God today.

Do it how ever you know how,

but please,

sit down,

and take a second to praise God.

What an awesome God!  Right?


Posted on February 4, 2009 - by Andy McMahon

Economic Times

Money.jpgI keep hearing people say stuff about the economy, followed by something like, “God is too faithful.” or “God will see us through this.”  Which, don’t get me wrong, I fully believe.  Sometimes I wonder though, will he REALLY get us through this.

A lot of us, myself included, love to live for ourselves.  We love to have money to go see that movie, or buy some online service, or to pay for this or that.  I always wonder when I am missing out on something because of this economy, if God will really give that back to me or is God just getting me back down to where I need to be.  I’ll be honest, the economy sucks.  It really does.  But, I haven’t gone one day without food.  I do think twice before turning up the heat.  I do think twice before doing things I used to do.  I wonder if God has ever stopped being faithful.

I have a place to live.  I have a job.  I eat (within reason) when I want to eat.  I sleep in a climate controlled room in a bed, next to my wife.  Sometimes I have a hard time going to sleep because I have too many programs on my (free) TiVo.  I’m not bragging.  I understand that I am blessed.  But I wonder, in these hard times.. are we focusing on the right thing.  Saying, “God will be faithful” or “God will restore us.” Praying for an extra 10k a year, when maybe he’s trying to get us to realize something.

There are people in this world who don’t see the kind of money I see in a month.  There are people in this world who would laugh in my face when I say things like, “I just couldn’t sleep last night, it was TOO HOT.”  (In the middle of January)  There are people on this Earth who sing every day that God is faithful because they got a cup of water and some bread.  How selfish can we be to say, “this will all be over soon.” pretty much saying, “God will get us back to our selfish ways soon.”

Maybe he won’t.  Maybe tomorrow I’ll wake up without a job.  Maybe in a month I won’t have a place to live.  Maybe the one thing I have to eat that day will be enough to say Holy Holy Holy is my God.  Instead of saying, “God will give us back what is ours.” I don’t believe it is ours, and I don’t believe that God has it in His mind that all of His followers are going to have Hi-Def televisions and surround sound.

I feel like as humans we have a bigger calling.  I feel like in times like this, our focus should be on other people, and helping.  I feel like our struggles should make us stronger to reach out.  I feel like times like these should be wake up calls from God.  Time to exit our comfort zone and re evaluate the way we live our lives.  I struggle with it.  I try my best, but when money is tight I feel like life might end.  It’s a sad day to realize that your livelihood is more centered around money than Jesus.  It’s a sad day that our outreach turns in to hands out.  It’s a sad day when we are waiting for God to ‘really pull us through this one’.

Sometimes I wonder if God didn’t just pull us through the toughest of times we refuse to acknowledge…. Our own selfishness.


Posted on December 11, 2008 - by Andy McMahon

It’s official

For the past two years I have been the A/V guy for Bearean Christian Church’s Gwinnett campus.  It’s been a great time, and the extra money has helped me through what would have been a few tough times otherwise. This church is not my ‘main church’, but it was somewhere I managed to learn a good bit about the word. (Even if I had to weed out stuff I don’t agree with.)

Last night it became official.  Pastor Kevin Lee called me to confirm what i had been fearing/hoping (does that make sense?)  For a few months now.  January 1st, they will be using their own sound guy and will no longer need my assistance.  While, I am kind of scared of that, for financial reasons, I am 100% certain that God will provide.  I am grateful that this has happened as well.  See.  The three days a week I worked were Mondays at 6:30pm, Thursdays at 6:30pm and Saturdays at 4:30pm.  So, while I was with work, it was just right in the middle of convenience.  Especially on Saturdays.  It didn’t feel like we could have a chill morning, then go for breakfast, and maybe catch a matinee show without feel rushed.  Come 2009 that won’t be the case.

Come 2009, I can pursue some things Andrea and I have been talking about.  Come 2009 I can focus on my wife, my personal career, and of course God.  In 2009 I will be a 1 (almost) job man.  So, while this may be crushing financially, it will be anything but in most other aspects of my life.

God is good.


Posted on November 24, 2008 - by Andy McMahon

Life Lessons

Thursday, before Andrea went to the hospital, something extremely strange happened.

We were laying in bed, about to go to sleep, our lights were turned off, and I was just about to slip away to dreamland, when I heard leaves crumpling outside of our window.  I opened my eyes, certain it was a cat or something, when I saw the silhouette of a person. 

Immediately, I sat up at an angle to cover Andrea’s body. (More on that in a minute) I whispered, “Don’t say a word.”  When the shadow person moved away from the window, I got up to go get dressed.  I was going to go out and talk to whomever it was.  (I still have some street in me.)  Andrea convinced me that was probably a bad idea, so I went to check out the front door, and other windows, to make sure there wasn’t more than one person.  When I came back to the bedroom, Andrea told me the person had been back to the window. DOH!  We called the police.

They didn’t find anyone, (Of course) and we decided we should leave for the night, and if anyone wanted to rob us that was fine, but we didn’t want to die. That’s when Andrea’s pain got severe and she had to go to the ER.

I learned some things from that night though.  Without even thinking about it, I threw my body up to cover Andrea’s.  That surprised me.  Not  because I wouldn’t do anything to protect her, but because I was super surprised that it was instinct.  No decision making at all.  I was very proud of myself.

That night was the first time it had ever crossed my mind that I don’t have a gun.  I don’t believe I need a gun.  I’ve always been able to talk myself out of most situations.  I have to admit I would have felt safer with a gun.  But, that still goes against my core belief of raising a family.  My point was proven even more that night.  I always said, “IF (and that’s a big if) I have a gun, I’ll keep it locked away so my children (Or angry wife) couldn’t get to it.”  Thursday night it hit me.  Had something happened where I needed to grab my gun, I would not have been able to get to it if it were locked up.  It would have had to been on my nightstand, or somewhere equally easy for a kid, (or my angry wife) to get it.

Point and case.

Anyone who knows me will tell you I am not afraid to defend myself, and I typically walk away when I do.   I’m not afraid to defend my wife, and I am not afraid to defend my home.  I do not need a gun.  If someone else shows up with a gun, I guess it’s in God’s hands.  And I’ll be honest, I’d rather it be in His hands then mine.


Posted on November 20, 2008 - by Andy McMahon

Tell me one time

Ok guys.  Normally I don’t get many comments, but I thought this would be fun.

Tell me one time you felt an amazing interjection by God.  One time you just couldn’t help but get a little emotional because you knew He was there.   Go.


Posted on November 1, 2008 - by Andy McMahon

I’m Married!!!!

That’s right.  I’m married.  Needless to say.. this next week.  Come read all my old junk.  Wish me a congratulations.. More importantly.  Go wish this beautiful woman a congrats.

Thank you all for your support through this craziness.  Thanks for your prayers, thanks for your kindness.  Keep em coming. Please.  From what I understand… it’s not ALL Peaches from here…. hmm.

Anyway… yeah.  Thanks. I don’t have pictures because this is a scheduled post. C’mon.  Did you REALLY think I was blogging that I was married on my wedding night?  PPSSHH!  I’m busy! a prayer.

God.  Bless this marriage.  Please.  Bless me with wisdom, strength, integrity and “yes dear”(s).  God, bless Andrea with patience.  I’m a little wild sometimes. And God… Most importantly.. Bless us with Love.  Your love.  No matter what happens, remind us to stay close to you, lean on you, RELY on you.  Help me learn how to act, (re)act, and (inter)act, as a husband, Christ-follower, and Man.  God. You rock my socks.  I love you.  I love you. I LOVE YOU!  Thank you for the most beautiful woman in the world.  You are insanely awesome and Good.  I praise You Lord.


Posted on October 28, 2008 - by Andy McMahon

Compassion Tuesday

It’s Tuesday again.  Which is exciting to me.  If this is your first time here, let me give you the rundown.  On each day of the week Monday – Friday, me, and a group of bloggers take a day to feature a child who has been waiting six months or longer for sponsorship.  These are the bloggers:

If you’re curious or have any more questions head over to the compassion part on my blog, and see what this blog has done.

Today, I chose Trisia. Her full name is Trisia Pretty Dameria Boru Purba.  That’s a sassy name.  Try to say it out loud.  Now you know why I chose her.  Her picture is filled with just as much sas, and it is cute. Let’s get down to it.

I won’t go into the whole “guilt” thing.  But I will say.  Pray about it.  Has God been calling you for some time now?  Do you feel like something needs to be done, or like you need to do something?  Maybe this is it.  Say a prayer, and let God guide you. To sponsor Trisia, click here, or on the image at any time.

Name:       Trisia Pretty Dameria Boru Purba (IO5680050)
Birthday:    April 28, 2003    Age: 5
Gender:     Female
Region:     Asia
Country:    Indonesia
Program:    Bethsaida Student Center

Personal and Family Information:
In her home, Trisia helps by running errands. She lives with her father and her mother. Her father is employed and her mother is employed. There are 4 children in the family.

Playing with dolls is Trisia’s favorite activity. In primary school her performance is average and she also regularly attends church activities.

Please remember Trisia in your prayers. Your love and support