Posts tagged: movement
Here is an excerpt, from a letter, I wrote, four years ago, to the most amazing couple I have ever met. They willingly, joyfully, painfully, sat with me through this struggle and trial. They loved me and encouraged me as the only church I had ever known, attacked me and ran me out of my home.
“Doug and Shelley I really do love you two. I know that without God using you two in my life I would not be where I am today. I know God used you mightily in my life and my spiritual journey and for that I am eternally grateful and thankful. But it is funny how much the feeling that I am an adult is sinking in right now. As I leave where I grew up spiritually, I know I am an adult. I know God will continue to grow me and use me because of the foundation I have in Him. I thank you for that…
I know this is tough on you, as it is tough on me. Leaving people I love so much – especially the way it ended. But I know that God always opens a new door. I know that God has other things in store for my life right now…”
God opened a new door indeed.
For a long, long while, I wanted to do life, community and following Jesus as just “me and Jesus” and leave the church behind. No one could blame me after what happened - but it just didn’t feel right.
God moved.
He did open doors.
I walked through.
I landed at RockHarbor Church.
I got led to RockHarbor Fullerton.
RockHarbor Fullerton is my home.
So, maybe it is true that one cannot go home again - but, that’s usually because you find a place that captivates your heart in ways your “home” could never even dream of…
Thank you RockHarbor Fullerton.
I was going to write this for a brother and leave it for him only - instead I decided to open it up, not use names and make it broader…
Life will get better.
Seasons change.
God moves in unique ways all the time. We just don’t always see it. Things are constantly in flux. At times, God is trying to get you to a place you’ve never been before. I know this isn’t always an easy thing.
I know you know this.
I know you’ve seen my life. My life is a testimony to this. I hope you are able to look into my life even more in the next season. I long to be able to walk with you as God continues to do stir the great things in you that I and other great men see.
Yes, at times, life is not what we expect. From experience though, this is where God does his best work. I don’t like quoting myself, but “God makes beautiful works of art out of scarred up, wasted ashes.” My friend, my brother, this is all so true. I am praying, for God to make Himself evident in your life and begin to reveal to you more and more of His grand plan for your life. I can’t wait to see how God is going to use this season in your life to make you into the man He is calling you to be.
A man I highly respect and I long one day to meet and pick his brain about Jesus, life and ministry, Darrin Patrick, says: “God has to do some great things in you before He will do something great through you.” My brother from another mother, this stage is where God has you. I beg you to not shortchange it. I ask you to wrestle with it. I implore you to embrace it.
I speak not as a man who has fully left this season, but who is about to. I speak as a man who is barely ahead of you. I speak and pray as a man who can look back at every season God has sent me on and know fully how much God has used it to make me more like Him. I still don’t know fully what this past season was about, but I know, as distance comes, God will have used it to shape me in profound ways.
My friend, my brother, our God is so much bigger then temporary dissatisfaction. In life, I can only guarantee you two things, God is moving and God is here.
Rest in this.
Amen.
