4 Weeks In

So as most of you know, Ashley and I have begun our new journey at Grace Family Church in Tampa FL! It has been an incredible time of renewing, awaking, and much needed fresh fire for our souls! So I wanted to take a few moments today to reflect on our first sermon series, "The Earthshaking Life" and to write about how God has been showing Himself to us since our move to Florida, four weeks in.

4 weeks in...

...How awesome it is to have an amazing pastor and people who believe in you and want the best for you. Pastor Craig is not just a pastor HE is MY pastor. I love listening and learning from Craig. He is genuine and truly cares about his staff, his vision for the church and my family. It is an honor to serve under him along with all the other pastors at GFC. They all are truly making me a better pastor and a better man.

4 weeks in...

... We had over 50 students give their hearts and lives to Christ over the past 4 weeks and THAT my friends is the most awesome thing EVER! I love seeing lives be transformed! May my heart for seeing peoples lives being renewed ALWAYS be at the forefront of my ministry, ALWAYS! If the ministry I lead is a holy huddle and not a life saving crew then there is a problem! Our leaders and students know that our services are for the sick AND the healthy. They can bring people in their lives who are in need of the great physician and also know that they are going to get a check up each week as well!

4 weeks in...

... God places us exactly where we need to be. Everyday He continues to confirm in my heart a spirit of settling. Not the type of settling where you stop doing great things for God and settle to just be. But the type of settling He told Jeremiah when he said, "Build houses and live in them, plant gardens and eat their produce. Take a wife and have sons and daughters... seek the welfare of the city where I HAVE SENT YOU... pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare" (Jeremiah 29:4-7). Never before have I felt such a call to stay and settle. I walk out and feel God is saying, "this is a place I designed for you and Ashley, plant yourself here, I'm through moving you, seek the welfare of the students and high schools. With the people you come in contact, build relationships, teach them and lead them to me". I was talking to my Sis-in-law Rachel the other day, and I compared this feeling to the feeling I had when I met Ashley. I told her how after Ashley and I had been dating for about ten months, I realized that was the longest I had ever dated anyone and I wasn't tired of her! Basically, every girl I had dated before her, after 6 months or so, I got tired of, but God had placed this desire for me to pursue ASHLEY! EVEN WHEN IT GOT HARD!! This is the same feeling and desire I can tell God is placing in my heart for Tampa and GFC and I can't wait to see what He does with this!

4 weeks in...

... I could go on and on, but one OF THE BIGGEST BLESSINGS has been that Ashley LOVES our church! In fact last week after an amazing worship service that Pastor Allen and the worship team at GFC poured their hearts into, she said after the first service, "I think I'm just going to stay for the second service instead of going home so I can hear the worship again!" I LOVE THIS! It floored me! When your wife is excited about where God has you, then watch out, GREAT things will happen!

Four weeks in, God is doing some amazing things and we are so thankful and humbled to be apart of this amazing journey! Everyday I say, "Who am I" and everyday He say's, "You are my child"!

Thank you God for saving me and making me your child. I am truly blessed to be able to live this journey out with YOU!