The Journey

"God is taking us all on a journey." 

This past Wednesday marks the one year point that started a new phase of my journey. It was a year ago that I was named the Senior Pastor of The Rock Church and World Outreach Center. It happened in an organizational meeting and no one was expecting it. That night I wrote the words above along with a lot of other thoughts. There was a myriad of emotions that came throughout the day. I remember the feeling like I wanted to cry but no tears would come. I was excited but apprehensive. I had thoughts of what I was supposed to do for the church, for myself and for the family. I felt confident that God would give me grace for the task but had the lingering question of whether He got the right guy for the job. 

This past year has proven that God is faithful and He is in control. He has lead the church from it's inception and continues to do so. Our journey is a result of His perfect plan. He has ordained every step we take and has placed us here for such a time as this. 

I never set out to be a pastor, let alone a Sr. Pastor, on my journey. I was just a teenager who fell in love with Jesus and started following His lead. If my plans had been followed I would have been a rock star and maybe later in life done some ministry in the church once my platform had been built to speak from. God had a much greater plan. He has lead me around the world and across the U.S. through mission. He lead me to the love of my life, Jessica. He lead us together to Bible College, young adults ministry, and made us the parents of three amazing children. 

More recently God lead me to the place of being the Executive Pastor of the Rock Church and I couldn't have been in a better place in my opinion. I loved the place of supporting the vision and mission of our church and carrying out the direction from Pastor Jim. I got to lead, to serve, to preach, to be amongst the people and make ministry happen. 

Today I see after this year that God had been leading me through all those experiences to got me to the place where I am today. It was no accident. 

Hopefully as you read this blog you aren't discouraged that God hasn't lead you to where I am at. That would be tragic! Why? because God has a plan for you individually. He is leading you on a journey of your own. If everyone had my story where would all the other stories be? How bland and boring! 

You were specifically designed by God with a purpose. With that purpose in mind God has lead you through every trial and triumph. All the growth you have experienced over the years has been to the end that God intends to use you for His glory. Sometimes the process is painful and grueling. Other times you don't even know God is at work. 

Be encouraged today that God is taking you on a journey. Fall in love with Jesus and follow His lead. As you do God will take you on adventures and take you places you never would have imagined. The story He wants to write about your life will be far greater than your best laid plans. 

Day 310 - Throwback Thursday

"When I got home the kids were watching the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was a throwback Thursday."

In recent years going back to decades past has become very popular. I have enjoyed some of the movies that have brought back comics, toys and cartoons I enjoyed as a kid. My children also love to find out what it was like when I was a kid and want to know if things were the same or different. My mom actually saved a lot of my toys and now my children play with old and new toys. It is like I get to live my childhood all over again through them. For that I am grateful. 

Recently through social media there has been a craze called throwback Thursday. Just search a hash tag with those words and you will find your friends and family and even celebrities who have posted fun pictures from years past. The clothes and hairstyles still amaze but not in the same way they did in the 80's and 90's. I know I have looked at pictures of myself and wondered what I was thinking. My wife often let's me know she would have passed me up at that age and in those clothes. Nevertheless I got the girl and that is all that matters. 

It is fun to remember the good times and even some of the bad ones if they aren't too painful. Have you ever went through something that at the time you thought was the worst and then as time passed you realized it was a growth time? Or even better that the situation you went through is actually funny? I can remember every time my children ruined a set of clothes at an amusement park when their diapers didn't do the job they should have. At the time I was wondering "Why me God?" but now I have a good laugh at myself and the situation. 

Time may not heal all wounds but it certainly does help. Distance from an event can give perspective and and in the time that personal growth takes place you can come back later with more wisdom and a stronger outlook. We see the road God has us on and realize that things may not have been so bad or if they were that we still made it by God's grace. 

In many ways this blog is a throwback to last year with a focus to the future. No matter the highs or the lows God is leading us and will take care of us. When we look back we see His handiwork and know it is going to be good in our future. 

Do you have a favorite throwback moment? Was it a good time or bad time and how do you view it now?

Day 196 - The Best View

"The view of the valley was better than the view of the crater."

Last year while on family vacation we hiked to a place called the Inyo craters. There are three in a row. The first one is large and has turquoise water in it from the volcanic activity there. The second crater is a little way up and has lots of trees in it and a little water. Not as good of a view as the first but you might as well see it because it is right next to the first one. 

I had never been to the third one and had seen pictures but it never looked like anything. I decided to go for it and hike to the third crater. My brother-in-law and my nephew went as well. In fact a lot of the family wanted to go but the trail whittled down and eventually the little kids couldn't go any further. We eventually were on our hands and knees scrambling up the side of the cinder cone. We made it to the top of the third crater. 

Inside the crater were some trees and bushes. Aside from a few squirrels playing there really wasn't much to see. Until we turned around. There was before us the whole valley. We could see the roads and resorts as well as meadows and trees for miles. It all headed towards the tall mountains in the distance. 

I have found that there were goals that I have achieved that were not what I had hoped or expected. Places I wanted to go to, conferences I wanted to attend, people I have wanted to meet didn't turn out to be what I expected. In the midst of my pondering what is wrong with the picture I turn and see a different view. 

One time I went across the nation for a conference where I thought we would learn about how to better minister to our youth at church and ended up hearing from God about transitions that were coming up in life. I was saying to God in my prayers, "Really God?! You had to bring me across the nation to talk to me about this?" The response was quick, "Yes, I finally have your full attention." 

Let's look past disappointments to a different view. It could be there is something beautiful we haven't seen yet. Look around, and don't forget to look up!

Have you had an experience like this? What was the lesson?