So...since the last time I was on here we've had over 2 feet of snow, only had one issue with my truck during that time in the casualty of one of my tires being claimed by the cold weather, and now the O button on my keyboard has fallen off...so needless to say, I'm about to start typing without O's and just let you all fill in the blanks. I also thought it may be fun to throw in some random "letter of the day" instead but realized with certain word/letter combos that that could become either very interesting or very offensive although probably more on the funny side.
To be very blunt and honest, this has been one of the most interesting/difficult times of Sara and I's lives in general! Our schedules are not ideal, we've had some moving of finances and losses of jobs, with Sara being pregnant with our first...EMERY LUKE...emotions have been EVERYWHERE, and just general calling in life has been difficult to say the least but for most you'd think we've got it made.
I've realized in the last week or so that my attitude straight up SUCKS some times and my wife gets to hear the most of it, so publicly, I'm sorry about that Sara! I was reading Philippians today during lunch and when I got to ch 2 I think God hit me with about the biggest dose of reality he possibly could. It talks about how your attitude should be that of Christ and then I blindly slammed into the wall in verse 14-16
14) In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, 15) so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them. 16) Hold tightly to the word of life, so that when Christ returns, I will be proud that I did not lose the race and that my work was not useless.
I've been complaining about life, work, people, you name it...not because life sucks that bad, but because I've had a bit of pride festering in my heart because I think...God, after all that we've been through, why aren't you making this easier on us, why aren't you opening new doors, why am I not in full time ministry, what's the next step? And this is where my pride has taken hold and I just this week realized that the little hold that Satan had in my heart was going to make things a whole HECK of a lot worse if I didn't get things right. This is how our situation truly stands, I've got an amazing wife that is about to have my first little boy in whom I WILL NOT disappoint as a father and husband, I've got a job that is giving me the opportunity to move up and quickly might I add, I've got an amazing church that has come around us to support us and also given me an opportunity there to lead the people in our campus to a place of worship during our services that sets the tone in their hearts to receive the message that our Lead Pastor Shannon O'dell has FROM GOD(and I believe that with all my heart). We are moving up to Siloam Springs, but we are committed to the people of BNC (Brand New Church) at the NWA campus and I encourage you to come check it out and get plugged in if you are not already a part of a local body of God's church somewhere. I've decided that no matter where I'm at, God has me there for a reason, not because he's not being fair, but because he is using that to either teach me something or use me to reach others and I need to pursue my circumstances with the Passion and Attitude of that of Christ.
Now what does this look like? NO CLUE honestly, but hopefully if you follow me around from here on, you'll be able to see and I'll right a book on it later! But in all honesty, my attitude has been horrible recently and my prayer is that of Philippians 1:20
For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die.
And so I hope that I haven't drawn or pushed anyone away from the call and love of Christ. Me leading worship has brought me to a new place in my spiritual life, and if you need me to pray for you in any way please let me know...I'm taking it personal to pray for everyone that comes to mind!
