new blog

Learn about what I am learning over here - for my latest blog - go to

www.andrewtucker.blogspot.com

I am discontinuing this blog. I will keep it up , but I am returning to my original blog. I will try and put weekly devotions and thoughts on there.

Thank you so much for listening to my stories and thoughts. Also I thank you for praying for me from time to time!

I love you,

Andrew Michael Tucker

5 out of 6

Wow, so a month from today I will be back in America. Crazy to think about! its hard to imagine actually! I can't believe it has been 5 months already! it seems just like yesterday that I got here. I was such a young child then, but now I am a grown man. haha ok, so maybe not, but I have learned a lot since being here. I have gone through a lot of scriptures here (sadly, I am a month behind on journals - so tomorrow sounds like a good day to write them all haha.) Anyway I am hoping you guys are having a great summer! I am. I am hanging out with friends, playing halo, working out, doing video projects, and so much more. For those of you who don't know, my partner Tommie is gone. He had visa trouble and was moved to another city in another place. So I am all alone in the big city and have a 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom apartment to myself. Kinda gets lonely and quite at times, but I have been playing a lot of guitar lately.

So those of you who actually read this, I want to thank you. I appreciate your following of my blog. I don't know who all reads it, so if you are reading this, then I love you very much. You are a faithful friend ha.

I do have 1 request from you guys. Please pray for me. I have 2 huge decisions coming up within the next month. they kinda depend on each other as well so, if one falls through, the other will actually be possible. As in, if oporrtunity #1 opens a door way to something, then opportunity #2 will be closed. I REALLY NEED PRAYER ON THIS ONE. IT IS A BIG DECISION! I need you to be praying for me and I know you don't know what to pray for, but I will just say I have 2 decisions to make soon, and I have been praying about them a lot lately.

pray for me,

love you

Andrew

I dont wanna work, I just wanna bang on these drums all day...

So, this week I have been learning a lot in the scripture. Last night I just stopped doing whatever I was doing because I felt that God was clearly speaking to me by saying, "I want a relationship with you, not a time slot." Wow that hit hard. It was a good hit too. When I woke up this morning, I felt like I had a real relationship with Him again. So awesome! Thank you Father for filling me.

Well This week I saw Star Trek ( Awesome ) and I just got back from the movie Blood ( haha ). I also just came back from a Deb Fung Concert. She is an Australian born Chinese female christian artist. She is pretty good. I enjoyed her lyrics.

I am learning a lot like I said. Humility is key. I am a Nobody, and I like it that way! So good to know that I am not in charge.

Life here is pretty good. Though at times I feel like I have nothing to show for this trip, I am realizing that life is not a checklist of things I have to do to please God. Life is so much more. Its a relationship. Sometimes I fail and don't obey, but thankfully there is grace. Does that mean I can go do whatever I want and get away with it; no. However, I am finding that Father has changed me so much through this trip! I have learned a lot about who I am, and a lot about who He is.

Also - Kudos to Paige for graduating! I am so proud of you and I knew you could do it!

Love you guys,

Andrew

Im just a donkey

Haha - so you may be wondering what I meant by the title of this blog. Well I have been learning a lot about humility this past week. I have a small story that has been stuck in my head this week and I want to share it with you.

Once upon a time, there was a young donkey. He was just minding his own business in his field when suddenly he was taken away. After a few hours, he was returned. He ran to his mother and started explaining everything that happened. "They took me far away and started walking me down the street. You wont believe what happened! People started yelling at me. They began to cheer and clap when I passed by them! People surrounded me and were waving palm branches at me. Men even laid down their coats on the street so that I wouldn't have to walk in the dirt. Mother! They were shouting Hosanna in the highest to me! Your son is finally famous!"

The mother donkey smirked and shook her head, she looked up at her son and said, "Son, I am sorry to tell you that those people weren't cheering for you. They weren't crying Hosanna in the highest for you. It was for the one you carried. The one you were carrying was the one who was being praised."

So many times we forget that rather than us deserving the glory, its the one we carry with us. Only Christ is worthy of the glory, and so many times I have stolen it away for myself. This idea of humility is something that is eye opening! I cant seem to wrap my mind around it! Its beautiful. I am seeing how we are all called to be humble and to lift high the name of Jesus while becoming less important ourselves.

John 3:30 - He must become Greater; I must become Less.

Philippians 2:5-8-

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!


With Love,

Andrew

It's Summer!

Wow - so It is already June 1st! I honestly can't believe that. That means I have been here for over 130 days. WOW! It has flown by so fast, and after looking back, (even though I have gone through some dark times) I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Over the last month or so, I have been eating a little bit healthier and I have been exercising randomly. All this has been in an effort to become healthy and to lose some weight. Woohoo! I have lost over 20 pounds as of yesterday and I have a lot more to go. I talked to one of my friends who is a student and we are going to start going regularly every other day to work out. This is great! I am asking that you encourage me in this endeavor, because I have tried this before; and it failed miserably when laziness kicked back in.

Anyway I am doing well this week. I cooked Mexican food last night for some student friends and had a blast playing Rummy and hanging out. Man I miss Mexican food lol.

Well Hope this Blog finds you guys doing well!

I love you,

Andrew

Who am I ?

I am not worthy to even mention the name of Christ. Why He chooses to love me and use me is still a mystery to me. I know a few things about this life; I will fail on my own, and HE is always faithful. WHen I try and add these things up logically - it does not make sense. Thankfully We have a great equation on our side!

My sin + disobedience + lack of passion ..... should equal = Wrath, death, and no hope

however

there is an AMAZING extra to that equation

My sin + disobedience + lack of compassion + Jesus sacrifice = Love, forgiveness, redemption, and mercy

Awesome - THERE IS MORE TO READ AFTER THE PICTURE....

Anyway This weekend with Tim Hughes was amazing! I loved hearing him sing and getting involved in worship! Good stuff! Things here are up and down, as most of life is. I never can seem to get "it" right. Thankfully there is forgiveness. Today I was told to move all of my stuff out of my "office" because it was needed for something else. HA - for those of you who dont know - I moved a computer into a small CLOSET sized room in the office so that I could have a place to study the word, work on stuff, and email. I was told today that it was going to be used again now that I am in there... lol - gotta love it when you pray in the morning that God would keep you humble.... lol now I am moved into my supervisors office - He is on vacation - can't wait to see his face when he returns to see me at his desk hahaha. Anyway I LONG for your prayers and I want to hear from you ! I want to know that this blog is being viewed. haha so feedback would be great!

much love

andrew

Life in the fast lane

So those of you who haven't heard, I recently went to Beijing. This means I left Hong Kong and took a 25 hour train ride up to the north. The distance between Hong Kong and Beijing is approximately 2,300 kilometers ( 1,409 miles. ) Anyways, to put that into your mind, imagine driving from Orlando Florida all the way to Montreal Canada. Yeah that's about how long the trip was. But I must say it was all worth it! Beijing is amazing! I mostly enjoyed hanging out with other Americans and getting to hear their stories and enjoy our time together. There was never a dull moment. From the Great wall, to the forbidden palace, all the way to the Beijing "African" safari, I had so much fun! (Ps. the safari was awesome - we sat in a caged vehicle and they threw live chickens outside the van and the lions attacked them.) My time there was amazing and I honestly hope to return soon.

Life back in the city has been more than interesting. I recently obtained my own office (converted closet) and am now sitting in my own office at my own computer semi-working / semi-fooling around. I am currently taking over 500 cassette tapes, recording them onto a computer, and then editing them and turning them into mp3's so people can put them on an Ipod. cool idea - boring work. I also went to campus today and met with two friends. I need you to pray that I hear clearly what Father wants me to do this summer here.

To end things, Tonight was amazing. Our worship leader (Tim Hughes - THAT'S RIGHT) was awesome! we are attending the Worship Central conference and it has been amazing! Father is really moving in the hearts of people through music, worship, scripture, and love. I can't wait to hang out with our friend Tim Hughes more and enjoy learning from the Word. (Ps. Tim Hughes = Here I am to Worship / Happy Day / Beautiful One and so many more)

With Love

Andrew