Things That Change Your Life...

Original Post:  April 2007


Well, today i'm sitting in my office with all kinds of thoughts floating through my head and heart.  I was jst thinking about the fact that I'm not the same person I was 1 year ago...2 years ago...5 years ago...and certainly not the same as I was 10 years ago.


I want to tell you something you already know...Life changes us.  More importantly...God uses life to change us and to bring us closer to Him.


Things that have changed me:
When I was 12 years old...I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.  That means I knew that I needed Him to be my rescuer and save my life from myself.  I wasn't sure about what all the difference it would make in my life...but it did.  From that point on it was like there was this light going on and off that signaled right and wrong...guidance and conviction.  Jesus was now in dwelling in spirit in my heart.  He was now closer that I had known someone could be.  He has to be close allowed to dwell in your life to save you from yourself.


When I was 19 years old.  That is 7 years later, something new happened.  My world was shaken up by turmoil in my family and by the breakdown of health with my grandmother.  I had lost sense of the person I was and God was working on bringing that view closer.  I was in college and dating.  With those two I was making huge mistakes because I wanted to take in everthing that i thought would make me happy.  As the world fell around me, I found myself broken under that heap of pain.  It was only because Christ, had brought new friends in my life that I would be encouraged not to give up.  It brought me to a place that I had never known.  I learned the joy of being a God follower...not just a God believer.  This is where true Christianity is more than something you claim...but something you live.  I'm not talking about perfection because even after this I have made some very big mistakes along with the small ones.  But it is when you know you need to make Jesus the Lord He is over your life.  When you live like He is your King.  The next thing I knew, two years later I was being called to follow into full Christian service.  This doesn't make me any better than anyone else or holier than anyone else...it's just where i desire to serve career wise.


The 3rd huge change came when I met and married my lovely bride.  This has been a fantastic journey.  I just wish that I could have shown her everyday that I love her...because there have been days in that first year of marriage...that I didn't show it with my full heart.  I'm sorry, I took you for granted then, but those days are behind and I have devoted the past 2 years to trying my best to show that i love her with everything inside of me.  Our 3 year anniversary is coming up.  I hope it is just a small mile marker on a long road together.  Melinda makes me want to be a better man...a man for God.


The 4th huge change of course is my little girl.  Whether i like it or not...she is not the baby she once was.  She is growing up on me fast.  I know that she is only a year old, but she makes me want to be a better leader.  She inspires me to have joy and laughter and at the same time to walk a line of inspiration or her.  I pray that I never fail even though i know I may falter...I will still cling strong to what I can be for her.


Think about the changes in your life.  Sure, all the wrinkles are not ironed out yet.  But press on knowing that one day, God will reveal His ultimate gift to those who love and live for Him.