“Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” – Julia Child
This post is kind of a continuation or more in-depth look into my last one called I will (not) show you my faith by my works…. and below is an excerpt from a sermon I listened to yesterday morning by Paul Washer. 🙂
To make a long story short my passion is Jesus. In Him I find purpose and in Him only do I find my worth. The world will tear you to shreds if you try to find it anywhere it in. In Him is a best friend, wise leader, counselor, peace. As Acts 17:28 says, “in Him we live and move and have our being”.
This year will be 6 years that I ‘died’ and became alive in Christ. Six years ago I was baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost. Six years ago my life was changed forever. I exchanged dirty rags for clean white linen. I was washed in the blood of Jesus. Six years doesn’t sound like a long time but it simultaneously feels like 3 seconds and a lifetime. It has been the most incredible years of my life although it has also been the hardest.
“NONE EYE PITIED THEE, TO DO ANY OF THESE UNTO THEE, TO HAVE COMPASSION UPON THEE; BUT THOU WAST CAST OUT IN THE OPEN FIELD, TO THE LOTHING OF THY PERSON, IN THE DAY THAT THOU WAST BORN…NOW WHEN I PASSED BY THEE, AND LOOKED UPON THEE, BEHOLD, THY TIME WAS THE TIME OF LOVE; AND I SPREAD MY SKIRT OVER THEE, AND COVERED THY NAKEDNESS: YEA, I SWARE UNTO THEE, AND ENTERED INTO A COVENANT WITH THEE, SAITH THE LORD GOD, AND THOU BECAMEST MINE. THEN WASHED I THEE WITH WATER; YEA, I THROUGHLY WASHED AWAY THY BLOOD FROM THEE, AND I ANOINTED THEE WITH OIL.” – EZEKIEL 16:5;8-9
Society puts you on a hamster wheel with predestined choices. You graduate high school to go to college to get a degree to get a “well paying” job in order to become successful and live the American dream. But in the middle you must feel pressured to find the one you will spend the rest of your life with, get a dog, buy a house with a white picket fence and go on vacations and continue this journey of always “gaining” and never being satisfied.
I don’t know about you, but my life went nothing like it was “supposed to go” and in fact did the complete opposite. I sit and type this at 31.5 years old thinking how ridiculous it is to tell 17-18 year olds they need to pick a choice for the remainder of their life. When I was 17 years old I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and was taking care of a sick mom. At 31.5 years old I am (STILL) single… and thankfully (finally) content to be. (I learned to be content. More on that everywhere else in this blog 🙂 )
I dropped out of college my first semester.
My mom died when I was 19.5.
I didn’t go back to school.
My life is nothing like I envisioned, but so much better than I can imagine. When I say better than I can imagine it’s because I am so thankful God didn’t give me what I wanted most. I had to lay my life down. I have never cried more in my life than the last 6 years. It’s losing your life to find it and in Him there is no other life.
I have a low paying customer service job that God has used to refine me. He’s brought all kinds of people to cross my path and opened my eyes to all sorts of things and all I have done is clock in every morning. He can do anything at any time no matter where you are even if you feel “stuck” because sometimes you are not stuck but have planted.
My second job is everything I never knew I needed that is better described in this post “Jesus gave me a Brent”. I get to work with one of our volunteers at work who has Down’s Syndrome and is one of the best human beings on the planet. If you want to learn about life spend time with the elderly and special needs people. They’ll teach you all you need to know. The best part is I didn’t go stressing after these jobs. One of my friends worked here previously and asked me (repeatedly) and then Brent’s mom asked a few months ago.
I only expected to be at my job a few months and move forward, but God had other plans and six years later have learned more in this “tiny” job than I could’ve learned anywhere else combined going to school and having a career. I learned the things that mean the most. I learned how to deal with life because I learned to trust the One who will take care of me and provide for me. I do not make a lot of money, but I have learned in what ever state I am in to be content and that is more precious than any wage.
Tomorrow is never promised and we are not to worry about it (Matthew 6). Some people who are living the American Dream are miserable realizing money can’t buy them happiness. Some people are in loveless marriages, but stuck out of convenience and can’t afford to live on their own. Some college graduates with degrees are getting fired or having trouble finding a job in their field. There are others who never went to school are owners of their own companies. People who have low wage jobs are “making it” and happy in a small apartment filled with love.
Everyone has a different story and is in a different place.
Experience really is the best teacher and through the lows and wondering about where my life is headed learned to trust God and know His plan for my life is better than mine.
I’ll never advance here but I have learned to and formed relationships with our customers. I could go on and on about the things I’ve gotten to see and experiences I’ve had but this blog would be a series. 😃
The following is a transcript of a sermon/podcast I listened to yesterday morning by Paul Washer on Sermon Radio called, “What it Means to Be Meek”:
“A very wealthy man came to me one time and he was talking about how the Lord had really worked in his life and was going to do some serious adjustments. And, I praise God for that, he really did.
And he said, “You know, Brother Paul, I look at you and I just feel… it doesn’t seem right… it just doesn’t seem fair.”
He’s going on and on about how he has so much and I have so little. And that’s just not the case, now, at all. God has taken well care of me. This was a long time ago and he said, ‘You know I just feel so bad. It’s just not fair.”
And I looked at him and I said, “Yeah, it’s just not fair.” He kind of looked at me. He didn’t expect me to agree with him. “It’s just not fair, brother. I really feel sorry for you. I almost feel like I need to apologize, but I can’t fight against the Sovereignty of God. It’s what He did.
He goes, “What are you talking about?”
I said, “Brother, I’m sorry that your lot in life has turned out this way.
He said, “No! I mean the reverse!”
I said, “No, you got it backwards. I said all you have is money.” I said, “Every time I bow my knee I sense the presence of God. Every time I open this Book He teaches me something. I’ve seen him save people. I’ve seen him heal people. I’ve seen him do miracles that cannot be explained. I’m so sorry that your lot in life has just fallen to money.”
You see?
He gives us the desire of our heart.
Don’t look over what He’s done.
Do you realize, at least me, look at me. I have a wife and I have thee children. The house is solid. If it wasn’t for Christ I’d probably be an alcoholic or dead. Probably married 3 times. Children that hated their dad because he was a self centered jerk. You can’t out bless God. You have no idea what you would be if it wasn’t for Him. He gives us the desires of our heart. And see the meek man knows that.” – Paul Washer
Thank you for reading and I hope you have a blessed day.
Sometimes, God lets you see the life you almost had…
A strong root is formed in darkness…
What if being single wasn’t a disease?
Missing Bible Text: I’ve found the one “I’m looking to settle down” with.
If you got what you prayed for…
How will you find them? What if they’re looking for you?
I have (almost) found the One my soul loves…
Beloved Oath of God 