In 2019, I was preparing to teach a Bible study on the Armor of God. A man who eventually became an elder in our church felt the need to pray over me. He would confirm things that only my wife and I knew about my consistent prayers with God for guidance.
In 2020, fresh into the pandemic my wife and I were faced with helping her two teenage nephews out but for months we were unsure due to the rumors of disturbing incidents. Having 3 kids of our own, I was hesitant to bring them into our home. One night we got the call that they needed help and instantly God gave us peace. We responded and found the rumors were mostly false. The kids were being abused, beaten, starved, etc. God really helped us in this season of stress. I can not tell you how rough it was that first year dealing with the trauma, PTSD, bipolar, anger, fear, and pandemic. We gained Guardianship later that year. God was there and helping in so many ways.
Halfway through 2020: The oldest teen had/has some u normal social skills and had/has a very difficult time getting along with his peers. An incident came up at church where two girls decided to gang up on him. One was the daughter of the youth leader and so the father created this narrative that ended up having no legitimate evidence. But due to church politics, we felt it best to leave our church home versus staying and walking on eggshells.
2021: Was a season of wandering. I'm not sure how long this lasted. Maybe a few months of feeling lost and disconnected. It was a season I felt hurt by the church and lost in guidance from the Lord. It was as if I was looking for my burning bush as an answer but God showed me I was already standing on Holy ground. The Spirit living within was closer than a brother. I was the one at a distance, not Him.
In this season, we tried two churches and I settled on one due to the fact I felt led to examine the gifts in relation to the Charismatic church versus my church home was a satellite church for the Methodist while still trying to look nondenominational.
1.5 years 2021 onto 2022: This 1.5 year was extremely difficult as well. The elder I mentioned earlier who I met with weekly had an affair. After months of his silence, his wife reached out to me. I heard her side and now it was time to hear his. He admitted to it and was in the stages of repentance. So we talked and eventually on the brink of divorce he through a dream heard God say throw up an olive branch save the marriage. So he did, and she did too. They are happy now.
In this same season, our good friends went through an unexpected divorce with 7 kids. We were there the whole way helping, counseling, and loving them. It was rough and the marriage ended. The divorce was rough. I lost a friend because the husband reverted into lying, sinning, and causing harm to the kids. As much counsel as I offered, He went in the opposite direction. It got really ugly.
This same season God would not leave me be about investigating the doctrines of this church. Much sleep was lost and much weeding through the deceptions. Long story short, God was teaching me by experience what I needed versus just having head knowledge.
November 2022: I decided I had heard enough and I had my family stop attending that church. A few weeks went by and my wife randomly bumped into our old pastor in town who had now retired. He confirmed much of the details about the church's politics that HR protected the youth leader and his hands were tied.
Now he invites us to this new church which I can say in February of 2023 was a God send. They are small but real. They are kind and loving. They are rough in worship and the sermons but it is authentic and true. They are small but God has prepared them to grow. I'm just excited to be part of the beginning. He has been preparing this church since 1963.
Within weeks God just opened doors to where now the pastor wants me to meet with elders to promote a local evangelist outreach team. He is giving me 5 minutes at the end of his sermon to introduce the idea and invite. On Wednesday he wants me to teach Bible study with the PowerPoint that I created.
Needless to say, so much before it was like cutting against the grain but here God is making it so easy to get involved.
I'm just trying to capture the moment, live in prayer, fasting, and just be excited to see where God is leading my family and this church.
God has a plan in His sovereign will and these last few years have been evidence of that.
Thank you Lord.
In 2020, fresh into the pandemic my wife and I were faced with helping her two teenage nephews out but for months we were unsure due to the rumors of disturbing incidents. Having 3 kids of our own, I was hesitant to bring them into our home. One night we got the call that they needed help and instantly God gave us peace. We responded and found the rumors were mostly false. The kids were being abused, beaten, starved, etc. God really helped us in this season of stress. I can not tell you how rough it was that first year dealing with the trauma, PTSD, bipolar, anger, fear, and pandemic. We gained Guardianship later that year. God was there and helping in so many ways.
Halfway through 2020: The oldest teen had/has some u normal social skills and had/has a very difficult time getting along with his peers. An incident came up at church where two girls decided to gang up on him. One was the daughter of the youth leader and so the father created this narrative that ended up having no legitimate evidence. But due to church politics, we felt it best to leave our church home versus staying and walking on eggshells.
2021: Was a season of wandering. I'm not sure how long this lasted. Maybe a few months of feeling lost and disconnected. It was a season I felt hurt by the church and lost in guidance from the Lord. It was as if I was looking for my burning bush as an answer but God showed me I was already standing on Holy ground. The Spirit living within was closer than a brother. I was the one at a distance, not Him.
In this season, we tried two churches and I settled on one due to the fact I felt led to examine the gifts in relation to the Charismatic church versus my church home was a satellite church for the Methodist while still trying to look nondenominational.
1.5 years 2021 onto 2022: This 1.5 year was extremely difficult as well. The elder I mentioned earlier who I met with weekly had an affair. After months of his silence, his wife reached out to me. I heard her side and now it was time to hear his. He admitted to it and was in the stages of repentance. So we talked and eventually on the brink of divorce he through a dream heard God say throw up an olive branch save the marriage. So he did, and she did too. They are happy now.
In this same season, our good friends went through an unexpected divorce with 7 kids. We were there the whole way helping, counseling, and loving them. It was rough and the marriage ended. The divorce was rough. I lost a friend because the husband reverted into lying, sinning, and causing harm to the kids. As much counsel as I offered, He went in the opposite direction. It got really ugly.
This same season God would not leave me be about investigating the doctrines of this church. Much sleep was lost and much weeding through the deceptions. Long story short, God was teaching me by experience what I needed versus just having head knowledge.
November 2022: I decided I had heard enough and I had my family stop attending that church. A few weeks went by and my wife randomly bumped into our old pastor in town who had now retired. He confirmed much of the details about the church's politics that HR protected the youth leader and his hands were tied.
Now he invites us to this new church which I can say in February of 2023 was a God send. They are small but real. They are kind and loving. They are rough in worship and the sermons but it is authentic and true. They are small but God has prepared them to grow. I'm just excited to be part of the beginning. He has been preparing this church since 1963.
Within weeks God just opened doors to where now the pastor wants me to meet with elders to promote a local evangelist outreach team. He is giving me 5 minutes at the end of his sermon to introduce the idea and invite. On Wednesday he wants me to teach Bible study with the PowerPoint that I created.
Needless to say, so much before it was like cutting against the grain but here God is making it so easy to get involved.
I'm just trying to capture the moment, live in prayer, fasting, and just be excited to see where God is leading my family and this church.
God has a plan in His sovereign will and these last few years have been evidence of that.
Thank you Lord.
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