Submitted By:   Kerry Bailey
Just recently, quite unexpectedly, my Dad passed away. It wasn’t as if it was incomprehensible – he was 92 and on oxygen for COPD – but there had been no real urgent concern. It actually happened in a way he probably couldn’t have scripted it any better: he went out for lunch with friends, drove home, sat in his easy chair, and passed on. Very quietly and peacefully.

I love you! Miss you! Take care.

Day 21: Daniel Fast 2013

Beloved of God,
The word “revival” means “resuscitation and/or restoration back to life”. Over many centuries, the church has used this word to define the infilling and outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon a person which ignites or reinvigorates the LIFE of Christ’s within their spirit, soul, and body. When someone experiences personal revival, they have a present tense white-hot love for Jesus expressed in total obedience. They hate sin, repent quickly, enjoy happy holiness, live morally pure, cultivate a secret life in God, walk in the fear of the Lord, and are marked by intense love for God and others. Revival results in humble service and bold witness.
The essence of revival is to fully submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, who lives within your heart (spirit & soul). Revival involves being a.) baptized in the Holy Spirit, b.) filled with the Holy Spirit, c.) empowered by the Holy Spirit, d.) manifesting the fruit of the Spirit, e.) wisdom and revelation of the Spirit, f.) identity as sons by the Spirit, g.) leadership of the Holy Spirit. Everything we long to see happen on earth starts with personal revival. Lk. 3:16-; Acts 1-2; Gal. 5:22; Rom.8; Eph. 1:17-18; Eph. 4:30, 5:18  In his book entitled “Personal Revival: God’s Way of Setting Our Hearts On Fire”, Steve Hill writes: “Thinking that revival can only come in great earth-shaking outpourings of the Spirit, we have overlooked the fact that it is first and foremost a personal experience. When God revives His people, He has to start with someone because the Church only consists of individual believers. Where else can spiritual renewal take place but in the lives of individuals? The Church is not a building! There is no abstract “Church” which can be revived apart from the men and women who make up the Church. For us to have revival in our generation, we are going to have to do far more than merely think of it in general terms. Each of us must take personal responsibility to cry out for a fresh, radical encounter with the Living Christ. The refining fire of God must consume the impotency of our own lives before we can ever expect it to spread to an indifferent world. Are we willing to face the searching questions of Charles Finney, the great revivalist of the 19th century? “If God should ask you this moment, by an audible voice from heaven, ‘Do you want a revival?’ Would you dare to say, Yes? ‘Are you willing to make the sacrifices?’ Would you answer, Yes? ‘When shall it begin?’ Would you answer, Let it begin today—let it begin here—let it begin in my heart now? This is always a major key to spiritual breakthrough! We must never forget that “I” is always central to the word “revival.” When we understand this principle, we cannot help but be encouraged! Nothing can keep us from the revival we so desperately need if we want it badly enough. Each of us who desires God’s best will immediately become the focus of the personal care and attention of the Holy Spirit. Regardless of the spiritual environment that surrounds us, the Spirit of God will deal with our hearts as exclusively as if no others existed. Let each of us, therefore, determine afresh to hold nothing back from Christ, so we can become carriers of revival wherever we may be, allowing the Spirit of God to fan the flame worldwide!”
An individual needs great personal commitment in Christ to experience revival. However, one cannot achieve and sustain personal revival without intentional church community. Find other believers that are passionate about personal revival and the restoration of the church. Then, together, go after Jesus with all your hearts. Here are some suggestions:
“Formula” For Revival by A. W. Tozer

1. Get thoroughly dissatisfied with yourself. Complacency is the deadly enemy of spiritual progress. The contented soul is a stagnant soul.
2. Set your face like a flint toward a sweeping transformation of your life.  Timid experiments are tagged for failure before they start. We must throw our whole soul into our desire for God.
3. Put yourself in the way of blessing. It’s a mistake to expect God’s help to come as a windfall apart from conditions known and met.  To desire revival, and at the same time to neglect prayer and devotion, is to wish one way and walk another.
4. Do a thorough job of repenting. Hasty repentance means a shallow spiritual experience. Let godly sorrow do her healing work. It is our wretched habit of toleration sin that keeps us in our half-dead condition.
5. Make restitution wherever possible. If you owe a debt pay it. If you have quarreled with anyone, go as far as you can to achieve reconciliation. As fully as possible, make the crooked straight.
6. Bring your life into accord with the Sermon on the Mount and other such New Testament Scriptures as are designed to instruct in the way of righteousness. An honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what’s wrong with him quickly.
7. Be serious minded. The people of the world used to go to the movies to escape serious thinking about God and religion. There must be a radical change in  your habits, or there will not be any permanent improvement in your interior life.
8. Deliberately narrow your interests. Too many projects use up time and energy without bringing us nearer to God.  The mansions of the heart will become larger when the doors are thrown open to Christ and closed against the world and sin.
9. Begin to witness. Find something to do for God, and your fellowman. Make yourself available. Do anything you are asked to do. Learn to obey.
10. Have faith in God. Begin to expect. Look up toward the throne. All heaven is on your side. God will not disappoint you.
11. These suggestions constitute a formula for personal revival. When personal revival is experienced, there is no knowing how far it may spread. The Church is in desperate need of a spiritual resurrection and it can only come through the revived individual.

How To Experience & Maintain Personal Revival by Bill Bright:

1. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any unconfessed sin in your life.
2. Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you. Make restitution where God leads.
3. Examine your motives in every word and deed. Ask the Lord to search and cleanse your heart daily.
4. Ask the Holy Spirit to guard your walk against complacency and mediocrity.
5. Praise and give thanks to God continually in all ways on all days, regardless of your circumstances.
6. Refuse to obey your carnal (worldy) nature (Galatians 5:16,17).
7. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Develop utter dependence on Him with total submission and humility.
8. Study the attributes of God.
9. Hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6).
10. Love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37).
11. Appropriate the continual fullness and control of the Holy Spirit by faith on the basis of God’s command (Ephesians 5:18) and promise (1 John 5:14,15).
12. Read, study, meditate on, and memorize God’s holy, inspired, inerrant Word daily (Colossians 3:16).
13. Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
14. Fast and pray one 24-hour period each week. Prayerfully consider becoming one of the two million Christians who will fast for forty days before the end of the year 2000.
15. Seek to share Christ daily as a way of life.
16. Determine to live a holy, godly life of obedience and faith.
17. Start or join a home or church Bible study group that emphasizes revival and a holy life.

Sent in by Dan J. Cheever
“He’s religious” One definition of religious is: “treated or regarded with a devotion and scrupulousness (conformity to high standards of ethics or excellence) appropriate to worship.” To some, saying those words about someone is meant to be complimentary. To others, it’s said to warn others to stay as far away from that person as possible. I do not wish to be known as someone who’s religious because too many horrific things have been done in the name of religion. Religion is a hindrance, a diversion, even a destructive fabrication of man. I believe the Bible speaks about this very thing. Consider Jesus’ words in:
Matthew 15:7-9 (NKJV)
Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: [8] ‘ These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. [9] And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” (Isaiah 29:13)
Mark 7:3-4 (NKJV)
For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. [4] When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.
Jesus was making a comparison – either we can choose to be religious and hold on to the commandments of men, the traditions of men and have our hearts be far from Him and worship Him in vain or we can choose to do as His disciples did (and expect religious people of our day to judge and make false accusations of us, which by the way, is what satan often does – that’s why satan is referred to in Scripture as the accuser of the brethren) and follow the leading of Jesus Christ through the indwelling of His Spirit within us (trusting God, believing that He is worthy of our faith), concerning ourselves with only His commandments and His will.
Galatians 3:10-11 (NKJV)
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” [11] But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”
Galatians 3:10-11 makes it clear that those who are under the law (trying to please God by legalism – excessive adherence to law or formula or being “religious”) are under the curse, not because the law is evil, but because men simply will not fulfill all the righteous demands of the law, and hence will be in violation of it! Paul’s point in the Galatians passage is that there simply is no way for man to keep the law in its entirety. Not only is this true of the Law of Moses, but any law that man might create – ironically, we don’t even live up to our own standards! So, this is  a very powerful point – legalism brings condemnation and a curse, while faith in the One who “justifies the ungodly” (notice it is the ungodly that are justified – not the self-righteous) brings righteousness! Christ is our Justifier because He fulfilled the Law.
Romans 8:8 (NKJV)
So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 (NKJV)
Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; [2] for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
1 Peter 4:14 (NKJV)
If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
And finally:
Romans 12:1-2 (AMP)
I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies presenting all your members and faculties as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world (this age), fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs, but be transformed (changed) by the entire renewal of your mind by its new ideals and its new attitude, so that you may prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect in His sight for you.
In Christ,
Dan J. Cheever

      This is going to be a great year for GMM (God’s Mighty Men) – The GMM Team is excited about the new format that will be presented at this year’s Men’s Conference being held at the Civic Center.  But GMM is not a Men’s Conference – it is God’s Mighty Men – You Guys.  So what does that look like for 2013?????    It will be different for everyone you – but here are some of my insights. 

1. 1.   Our Theme of Activate your Faith will become real for all of us…  This is a year of uncertainty for all – I see us being extremely active in the Great Commission: 

Matthew 28:16-20  ¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 How that looks for each of you will be different – but the most important thing is that they see Jesus in all that you do. 

1. 2.  Grace and Forgiveness:   This will be a must for all – but will be extremely hard to do.   Please read this blog: https://godsmightymen.com/2012/09/20/forgiveness-grace-what-would-jesus-do   
2. 3.  Reckless: the words of Jeremy Camp are right on in his song RECKLESS…  and it finished with this quote:  “I won’t waste any more time – My life’s Yours it is not mine – Use me Lord no matter what’s at stake”       read the rest of the lyrics at:
   http://www.klove.com/music/artists/jeremy-camp/songs/reckless-lyrics.aspx
3. 4.  Barbarians for Christ:    I had put into place a theme of “Going forward like a Crash of Rhinos” which I really enjoyed from the Barbarian Way.  Another Blog to read and enjoy.  https://godsmightymen.com/2012/08/06/we-must-be-like-tigers-and-rhinos/
4. 5.  Love:  This will be required in allot of different areas of your life and will be one of your biggest challenges.   But as Christ stated – it is the Biggest Commandment of all.

**Our biggest growth area this year will be our Relationship with Jesus Christ…   As he molds us this year to be like him – it will hurt – but you will never turn back to the old you.
These are just a few items to ponder on – but it is a year of great challenges and Gods Mighty Men will be victorious.
Bobby G   
Comments can be sent to bobbyg@godsmightymen.com  
 

That is a great question:  Does God have a Sense of Humor??? (You get to answer this one:)   I believe that we should have happiness in our lives and that we really need to laugh out loud at times.  What would life be like if no one laughed or smiled?????
Sometimes we believe that we have to be serious at all times and be extremely mature in all that we do….   What do you think????   I personally believe that we need to enjoy life and that means having a great sense of Humor that is a great gift from God.
I was visiting and praying with one of my mightiest friends this Morning (Mike P) and one of the things we discussed is:   We must surround ourselves with Positive People – this is a must and it is extremely contagious.  When you are constantly around negative people – that will pull you down and you will become like them.  There will be no happiness or laughs – you will be focused on what is wrong in the world.   So find those people who Laugh and have a gift of Humor – better yet you be the one with a gift of Humor and Mighty Laughs…  **But remember you will need to the one who is Contagious to those who need to be uplifted out of a Negative life style.
Just a quick note on what brought me around to this topic…  one my other mighty friends (Jim S) forwarded me this message below on “God has such a Sense of Humor.. “  Please read and enjoy.  It made me laugh at just the right time….
Bobby G
GOD HAS SUCH A SENSE OF HUMOR
A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her small daughter was very sick with a fever.
She left work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication.
She got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys in the car.
She didn’t know what to do.
She called home and told the baby sitter what had happened.
The baby sitter told her that the fever was getting worse. She said: “You might
find a coat hanger and use that to open the door.”
The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been
left on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time had locked
their keys in their car.
She looked at the hanger and said: “I don’t know how to use this.”
She bowed her head and asked God to send her HELP.
Within five minutes a beat up old motorcycle pulled up.
A bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head.
The woman thought: “This is what you sent to help me?”
However, she was desperate.
The man got off of his cycle and asked if he could help.
She said: “Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication
and I’ve locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you
use this hanger to unlock my car?”
He said: “Sure.” He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute the car was opened.
She hugged the man and through her tears she said: “Thank You SO Much! You are a very nice man.”
The man replied: “Lady, I am NOT a nice man. I just got out of PRISON
yesterday, I was in prison for car theft.”
The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried
out loud: “Oh, thank you God! You even sent me a Professional!!”
Is GOD good or what!!??  
I believe that she was a great gift to the man who just got out of prison also…  (My last thought – Bobby G)
Comments can be sent to bobbyg@godsmightymen.com

I have been listening to this Sermon Series call “Wise Up” from Skip Heitzig on the book of proverbs.   The last DVD I listened to was talking about where to get Counsel and who should give Counsel (it covered it well).      We can pay to get wise Counsel from professionals – but the best Counsel comes from a one on one talk with a great friend.   The sermon states that we need to seek out a person that we can visit with and the next best thing is a small group.
As Guys this can be a really big Challenge and does not come natural but is a must to help us go forward the way God would direct us.   I am a Promise Keeper at heart and when they first started the PK Conferences – I was sold out on what their objective is.   I believe that we need a band of brothers that we can study with and hold each other accountable.
So what is a 2am guy????  Every guy should have one of these…..   The 2am guy is someone you can call up at 2am and he will be there.  I have several of these guys and I have tapped in to them at 2am – 8am – 6pm to pray or have a coke with.   Just a quick warning – when you call them at 2am it may take a couple of tries to wake them up.  I had one of those 2am moments and instead of calling one of the guys – I sent a text message to a few of them.  To my amazement several of them called and we prayed together.   I have also gotten the call at 2am and did not get to the phone in time – but called right back – we met for a cup of coffee at 2am.
So to close – if you do not have a 2am guy – then you must connect with a Men’s Group at your local church and start getting connected…   or better yet start a Men’s Group.   If you are unsure on how to get one started – send me an email bobbyg@godsmightymen.com   and we can connect – I can give you some of my pointers or direct you to some great groups that are already meeting in town and you can observe what they do.
Bobby G

Submitted by:  Dan Cheever:
Does God care about football games (or any sport for that matter)? I believe the answer is an emphatic yes but let me qualify that. I believe God cares about everything that has to do with His creation. So, the answer is that God cares about sports but most likely Not in the way we do. If the physical is a shadow of the spiritual (and I believe that it is), then the process of athletic competitions could be likened to the process of God’s eternal purpose. In sports, teams (or individuals) compete to win. Much happens prior to the competition – practice, scouting, planning, exercise, research, proper fueling (eating nutritionally), etc. Generally speaking, the team or individual most prepared wins. The problem I see with Christianity today is that many brothers and sisters in Christ believe that because we’ve already won (Christ dying on the cross for our sins), the competition is over and no more preparation is necessary. If that’s true, then why bother? Oh yea, to win others to Christ and to help the poor, and to house the homeless, and, etc. Sharing the Gospel and alleviating suffering is, I believe, very near to the heart of God. That said, I still feel the need to ask, “Is that all there is to this life?” Have you ever considered the question, “Why am I here?” Or “Why was I created?” Drawing on the above logic, the answer might be, so Christ could die in order that I might be saved, and so I could help the poor, homeless, widows, orphans, lost, etc.
Consider Colossians 1:16 (NKJV) “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”
If we are as this verse says, created “for Him,” then to what end?
And: Ephesians 3:8-12 (NKJV) “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, [9] and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; [10] to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, [11] according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, [12] in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.”
What is this eternal purpose spoken of in this verse? I believe God created mankind for the purpose of showing love to His Son. That love will ultimately manifest itself in four very important forms. First, the form of a Body of Christ made up of each member of the Body (all brothers and sisters in Christ with Christ as the head); secondly, in the form of a House made from living stones with Christ as the Chief Cornerstone, thirdly, in the form of a Family of God made up of each son and daughter in Christ; and finally in the form of a Bride for His Son made up of each member of the ekklesia with Christ as the Bridegroom. If you’re not careful here, you may miss the emphasis. The emphasis is not on mankind and what God has and can do for us. The emphasis, the sole purpose, is for God the Father to express love to His Son, even Jesus Christ. And we get the privilege of being a part of that! That, my friends is The higher calling. That is why we run the race! That is what we are to be preparing for! How do we do that? That’s another subject for another blog.

Submitted by: Tom Carpenter.
 
Have you seen the news lately? Local, Regional, National or International?
Does it seem like things are in a turmoil? It sure does to me.
We are told in the bible from Jesus himself and the apostles that despite having faith in God, we will still experience strive and temptation that could cause us to waiver in our faith. But at the same time, we are to focus and count it all joy and know everything works toward God’s divine will.
That said, a few news items really stick out. The disappearance of regular church goers and/or people that identify with any one certain faith. Instead, there is often the generic, “I believe in God and am a spiritual person,” holding fast to the ambiguity of not committing to any one church, pastor, body or belief. Then there’s the church jumpers that not only go from church to church but also from faith to faith, again, making sure to not adhere to any certain doctrine lest they feel trapped. Lastly, of course, is those that want to appear as above all other humans when they either say, “I think ALL of the world’s religious have merit,” or “How could I believe in a God that would allow such suffering to go on?” so don’t believe at all.
Next item, the on-going attack, literally, on Christianity. You’ve certainly heard the stories of groups trying to marginalize or out-and-out shut down any recognition of God despite our great nation’s founding on Judeo-Christian ethics. I am not sure of the current score, but in faith I know who is going to win this one. It’s just the trials we will have to endure until that victory that should keep us on our knees.
Lastly, the insidious encroachment of the progressive movement. If anyone voices opposition to gay marriage, living together outside of marriage, abortion, drug legalization, expansion of porn availability as they minimize the family unit and particularly minimizing MEN, then that opposition is cast as against civil rights, as far out radicals who only hate and so need to be silenced and ignored.
Look no further than how men are portrayed in the media. They are often shown as inept, out-of-touch cartoons instead of the spiritual leader of their homes.
So, here we are. Now you can just take the rest of this as me preaching to myself if you want. Because I, for one, really need it!!!
What I need to do is turn-off the T.V., the computer and limit the amount of news I absorb. I am the gate keeper of my eyes and ears. I can control what goes into my mind. I have been very down on the world here of late and a lot of it is because of the news. Next, get into my bible and get down on my knees in prayer. And these prayers need to be positive, uplifting prayers for all the leaders of the world, both just and unjust, as well as all the people of the world, even those that would do everything in their power to silence me and take God out of every facet of my life.
Lastly, I must go touch some people. I will be the first to admit I am a bit judgmental. There are certain attitudes and appearances people display that make me instantly cringe and want to avoid. This is WRONG! Through prayer I can (by HIS power with the guidance of the Holy Spirit) overcome this. At the same time though, realize that God has given me certain abilities with certain groups of people, i.e.
my circle of influence which often starts on the inside of my front door at home.
I don’t know if we are all in the last daze (sic) or not. But why take the chance? Why not man-up, pray-up, WORSHIP and PRAISE up and know if in fact we are at the end of days, that we are ready?
Also, we need to support each other, deeply! Course joking, trying to be of-the-world and  kingdom minded at the same time doesn’t work, and meaningless banter just reduces my effectiveness and wastes time. Again, preaching to myself. For I, T-Carp (Tom Carpenter), of myself do not possess enough righteousness to polish any of you gentlemen’s shoes, much less give advice. BUT, the one that is in me, the one true God, through his Son, Jesus Christ together with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, makes me worthy. Brotherly love to all!
 
 

In my travels lately I get to enjoy some really great worship times and recently a song from MercyMe has really been doing some talking.  Please read these Lyrics below – they are Awesome….

MercyMe

I’ve been the one to shake with fear – And wonder if You’re even here – I’ve been the one to doubt Your love – I’ve told myself You’re not enough -I’ve been the one to try and say -I’ll overcome by my own strength – I’ve been the one to fall apart -And to start to question who You are.  I’ve been the one held down in chains – Beneath the weight of all my shame – I’ve been the one to believe – That where I am “You cannot reach”. 
The veil is torn -And now I live with the Spirit inside -The same one, the very same one – who brought the Son back to life – Hallelujah, He lives in me…
***You’re the one who conquers giants -You’re the one who calls out kings – You shut the mouths of lions – You tell the dead to breathe – You’re the one who walks through fire – You take the orphan’s hand – You are the one Messiah – You are I am -You are I am.
 
            You know that we as guys seem to think we can do it on our own and end up getting so far into trouble that we cannot see anyway of coming out of the hole that we have dug.   We always forget to call on the one that can help…   I believe that we need to find what I call “Wilderness Time”.  Christ would go out into the wilderness and spend time with his Father in deep prayer and we need to do the same.        
            I get allot of Wilderness Time during my drives around Wyoming for work –  but when I get to a point as the song above states – that is when I run to the Mountains.   I will take the dog and we will go up to Pole Mountain and just take a long hike and talk with Jesus (even talk out loud at times).    The times when I am having some serious Issues with someone or something – I will build an Alter for this in a remote area.   This is a reminder for me as to where I have left the problem – at the feet of Jesus and it is no longer mine.  A Friend of mine (Jay) asked me one time – Does this Really work?   The answer is Yes…
      Your Wilderness Time may look allot different then mine – *A Motorcycle Ride – Running – A long Drive – A closet……..  But you need to see where it is that you can go and pray fervently.    When you start doing this – you will feel the Spirit that lives in you and you will start tapping into its strength allot sooner.
  Bobby G
           
 

To start, I have to go back to 2011. I was blessed with the chance to go back to school for a semester before being blessed with a full time job with the Wyoming Air National Guard. I was pursuing a music degree, which I still plan on pursuing in the near future. God brought the opportunity to apply for this position, and for a while I wrestled with whether I was supposed to stay in school or work and go back later. I finally came to a place of peace knowing that whichever I was supposed to do, God would give me a clear sign. Well, I was blessed with the full time job. I knew it was good for me because it was a way to provide for my wife and, then, first daughter, Hana. I started the job and things were awesome for quite a while. Then a little bit down the line, somewhere around the beginning of 2012, I started noticing some differences.
I started having issues at work that were, to say the least, making me look pretty bad. It seemed like I was not doing as well as I started out to when I first got the job. My relationships with some of the people I worked with started going sour because of my performance, and my leadership wasn’t the greatest either. I clashed really badly with one guy who was pretty hard on me in the first place. Higher ranker and seemingly arrogant with his promotion, I had a really hard time being at work with him or anyone else. It got to the point where I just dreaded going to work. Part of it was because I thought I was being treated unfairly, which in some aspects I was. Military life is much different that civilian life. But my attitude wasn’t the greatest either. I just wanted to be done. But I had nowhere else to go!! What was I going to do?
Then God spoke up! And it was, at what seemed to be, the most inopportune time. It was like He was late because I was already at my lowest of lows with work and I wanted to give up; even though I prayed for strength. Turns out that was the best time for Him to show up! Then He gave me a word. A word that would give me what I needed to endure and overcome the rest of the time I was to be there. He said I was going to finish well. I thought, how cute! That isn’t happening now!!! But knowing that God sees the big picture, I went with it. He told me that I needed to pray and seek Him daily on finishing well, and when anything tried getting in the way I was to pray against it in the name of Jesus. I can honestly say I sought Him every day I went to work. Not to toot my own horn, but to show my obedience to His word on my life. It was not easy though. Some days I still hated going to work, but I still prayed faithfully. And since then, I have seen the changes and the promises He made come to life. I had to be reminded though that I would finish well in His eyes, not those that I worked with. It was God’s opinion that mattered the most in how well I finished, not others. So I had to pray and ask God what that looked like. And to protect me from myself. He showed me, and now I feel that His promise has given me the confidence I need to finish well. Not perfect, but well, in His eyes.
I am nearing the end of my full time here, switching to a reserve status so I can go back to school and pursue my music degree in order to be a worship pastor. And now that I’m here, I can see that God’s word for this journey, along with His strength to get through it, was one of the things that has matured me in my faith, in my attitude, and in my dependence on Him. Though my relationships with people I work with are much better than they were, though I am capable of doing my job a lot better, and though my attitude has been more joyful, God is due the praise and glory. He got me through it. And I know that this is just one of many journeys that I will endure. But I trust in God and what His word says in James 1:2-4. (Give it a read) And I hope this encourages those of you that choose to read it. You too will finish well, wherever in life God has you. Seek Him daily and know that when we are at our lowest, He is good and showing us how great He really is. Continue to worship Him even when things get tough. And consider it joy when you endure those trials. They are there for a reason. They are opportunities to trust in God and draw blood upon the enemy. One day you will be complete and mature, lacking nothing!!