I pondered this post for a few days. Thinking exactly where I would focus as we draw closer to Thanksgiving. When I look over my life and all that is around me, it fills me with a thankful heart. I have been blessed with such a beautiful wife that is such a beautiful soul. A true Proverbs 31 woman in my life. We’ve been blessed with 3 beautiful kids. They are our pride and joy. My boys are the apple of my eye and my daughter is my delight. Proud of all 3 of them. We’ve gone through a lot together as a family and we’ve made it through storms together. I’m very thankful to the Lord for having each of them in my life.
There are so many other things I can call out to be thankful for. The biggest thing above all things, however has to be full and complete transformation. I can stand here today and say that 2015 has been a year of complete transformation, not just for me, but for my family. Jesus took a hold of my life this year like I had never imagined possible and boy oh boy, this is just the beginning of what I can tell already will be an exciting life of following Him and leading the lost to Him.
Through all of this transformation, through all of this change, there are so many things, just in this short period of time that I can point to and that am very thankful for. I am thankful for my church family at The Cross Loganville. My pastor, Tim Cash, and the rest of the team, our men’s ministry, the awesome small group Amber and I joined, and all the connections and friendships we have made so far. Truly blessed to be walking with such an awesome body of believers. They’ve welcomed us in and have been very instrumental to our lives.
I’m thankful for Ransomed Heart Ministries, led by John Eldredge, and the opportunity to attend the Wild At Heart Boot Camp in Colorado. This was the pivotal life changing moment for me. One that God was prepping me for through many encounters right up to the day I left and I knew He was really leading me to, because of the spiritual warfare I dealt with before I left. When I made it there, however, I was able to let go. My life completely surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ as I stood in those mountains and I knew I would never be the same.
I’m thankful for the change of my heart to know I needed to follow Jesus into the unknown. To live the unscripted life and follow Him to wherever He is leading. I’ve always lived a life with a plan about where I was headed. I can no longer do that and since then, there is so much freedom in knowing God is now leading the way, not me. I go myself out of the way and stopped trying to control things that were not in my control and let Him take control.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to attend Liberty University to pursue a Masters in Counseling. Something I never thought I would do, but somehow, I feel as if God has been leading me here for many years through the many encounters I’ve had and the moments of counsel that I have given to others. I never recognized it until this year, but once did, He put me on the fast track. I’ve been blessed with great teaching, great fellowship when getting to go on campus, and great Christ centered learning and development. Truly excited to see what the Lord is going to do with my life through all of this.
I could honestly go on and on and on here. All of this points to what the Lord has done in my life since I surrendered completely to Him. He’s been leading me back to Him for the last few years and this was the year He decided it was time to unleash. The transformation for my life has transformed my home. Seeing my kids light up, but most of all seeing my bride light up. Now watching her day after day getting into the Word on her own and journaling. Seeing her build up the courage to break out of her shyness to fellowship and know others in our church family and building the courage to share what is a very powerful story. She just glows in it as I see her eagerness to grow and know God. Of that I am also very thankful.
2015 has been the Lords year for me and family. He’s taken the reigns and is leading us into the unknown. It’s no longer about living the good, comfortable, content, and ‘successful’ life. It’s about living the unscripted life that follows where we are led. My heart is very thankful for this transformation and where He takes us from here.
I want to wish every one of you a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving from my family to yours.
4 Stream Living 