I don’t know if I’m doing this right, but I would like to share my experience over the last month or so.
I’ll try to keep it short. But it will still be kind of lengthy. Sorry if it bores anyone. But here I go...
Ive been in the oilfield for the past 13 years. It is really all I’ve known. And I was pretty good at my job. But things had changed with my home life. I was/am fighting for more time with my son. I went from 10-15 days a month with him, to 4, once he started school. I’m back to 10, but work was making me have to choose him or money.
My wife graduated nursing school and accepted a new job. Her Sundays were free now. So we started going to Victory every other Sunday when I was home, just last month. Victory changed my dad. He never wanted to go to church when I was a kid. I used to beg for it. He became a member, and then even worked for victory. So I was familiar with Jon and Wade. I felt drawn to get my family to Victory.
So we started going last month. Two things kept resonating in my head. It consumed my mind almost always when I wasn’t conversing with someone.
Faith
Foundation.
It helped reaffirm my faith the last few weeks. The story about Shittim, and watching for the signs. And then foundation. I feel like a good foundation begins with god. Last week, after a lot of talks with my wife and god, I accepted a new job. I walked away from an income that the pay cut was the amount that most people dream of obtaining in life. But I had faith. I can now attend church every Sunday with my family. That will give our family a stronger foundation. The foundation to grow to something successful.
And yesterday’s cold service was discussing the recipes being given to us to cook up something good. I feel the words Faith and Foundation were in my family’s recipe. As I watched several people walk to the stage to be prayed for, I was overcome with emotion. It was 9am, freezing cold, and a smaller audience. But more people stepped forward than I had seen the weeks before. I saw a lone man walk up. As he was being prayed for, he got emotional. I teared up myself. I began to pray that he, as well as the others, find that faith that I feel has delivered a stronger foundation for my family. And start to building something great. I’m looking forward to the book being delivered Wednesday.
THAT IS INCREDIBLE!!! Wow! Thanks for sharing that. God is up to something big in you my friend! I am praying for you as you take LEAPS of faith to build strong foundations for your family. You are choosing GREAT over good. Come introduce yourself to me one weekend. I'd love to meet you! And thanks for joining the ReLeader community.
Yes...while something may seem unlikely or improbable for my flesh, because of past insecurities, it holds genuine truth or significance on a deeper, internal level. Thank you so much for bringing today this wonderful reminder!
I love your words “This notion of sojourning in a place that is destined to be transformed echoes the patience and resilience required of leaders who work with what is currently at hand, knowing it is not the end state.” Reminds me of something I wrote in my notes (where it came from I have no idea) :
Us looking at circumstances = circumstances
Us looking at circumstances + God Grace = circumstances
Us looking at God only and not our circumstances = Grace from circumstances, God Grace!!
Faith and foundation is pivital. As Pastor said yesterday, "without faith it is impossible to please God!!" And.... "the righteous shall live by faith!"
I read the chronological Bible readings every year, we just finished about Abraham, I LOVE that section, it is such a faith-booster!
Another great faith booster is a book by Jim Cymbala, "Fresh Faith" which is one of my favorite books of all time!!!
I don’t know if I’m doing this right, but I would like to share my experience over the last month or so.
I’ll try to keep it short. But it will still be kind of lengthy. Sorry if it bores anyone. But here I go...
Ive been in the oilfield for the past 13 years. It is really all I’ve known. And I was pretty good at my job. But things had changed with my home life. I was/am fighting for more time with my son. I went from 10-15 days a month with him, to 4, once he started school. I’m back to 10, but work was making me have to choose him or money.
My wife graduated nursing school and accepted a new job. Her Sundays were free now. So we started going to Victory every other Sunday when I was home, just last month. Victory changed my dad. He never wanted to go to church when I was a kid. I used to beg for it. He became a member, and then even worked for victory. So I was familiar with Jon and Wade. I felt drawn to get my family to Victory.
So we started going last month. Two things kept resonating in my head. It consumed my mind almost always when I wasn’t conversing with someone.
Faith
Foundation.
It helped reaffirm my faith the last few weeks. The story about Shittim, and watching for the signs. And then foundation. I feel like a good foundation begins with god. Last week, after a lot of talks with my wife and god, I accepted a new job. I walked away from an income that the pay cut was the amount that most people dream of obtaining in life. But I had faith. I can now attend church every Sunday with my family. That will give our family a stronger foundation. The foundation to grow to something successful.
And yesterday’s cold service was discussing the recipes being given to us to cook up something good. I feel the words Faith and Foundation were in my family’s recipe. As I watched several people walk to the stage to be prayed for, I was overcome with emotion. It was 9am, freezing cold, and a smaller audience. But more people stepped forward than I had seen the weeks before. I saw a lone man walk up. As he was being prayed for, he got emotional. I teared up myself. I began to pray that he, as well as the others, find that faith that I feel has delivered a stronger foundation for my family. And start to building something great. I’m looking forward to the book being delivered Wednesday.
THAT IS INCREDIBLE!!! Wow! Thanks for sharing that. God is up to something big in you my friend! I am praying for you as you take LEAPS of faith to build strong foundations for your family. You are choosing GREAT over good. Come introduce yourself to me one weekend. I'd love to meet you! And thanks for joining the ReLeader community.
I can do that. We will be there again Sunday for the early service. And congrats on the big release. Our copy is being delivered today.
👌🏼
Yes!! Vision is a generational issue. It’s like a relay race… one race, numerous runners!
Yes!!
Yes...while something may seem unlikely or improbable for my flesh, because of past insecurities, it holds genuine truth or significance on a deeper, internal level. Thank you so much for bringing today this wonderful reminder!
Thanks for reading my friend. I appreciate you
I love your words “This notion of sojourning in a place that is destined to be transformed echoes the patience and resilience required of leaders who work with what is currently at hand, knowing it is not the end state.” Reminds me of something I wrote in my notes (where it came from I have no idea) :
Us looking at circumstances = circumstances
Us looking at circumstances + God Grace = circumstances
Us looking at God only and not our circumstances = Grace from circumstances, God Grace!!
Great thoughts Anthony. I like that alot!
Faith and foundation is pivital. As Pastor said yesterday, "without faith it is impossible to please God!!" And.... "the righteous shall live by faith!"
I read the chronological Bible readings every year, we just finished about Abraham, I LOVE that section, it is such a faith-booster!
Another great faith booster is a book by Jim Cymbala, "Fresh Faith" which is one of my favorite books of all time!!!
Yes, it was an excellent sermon yesterday!