Foundations

According to scripture there are only two foundations of life; love or lust. In dealing with others, most actions we take have one of these motivations as its source. We are either doing something for someone out of love or lust. Love focuses on what is best for the other person, regardless of its cost to us. While lust only focuses on what we want from them, regardless of cost to them.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) We have the greatest example of love ever given to humanity.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

He did not consider what it would cost Him to bring us salvation. He only considered the end result; the possibility of having a relationship with me.

We humans are very simple. We continue to be fooled by the same things for thousands of years.

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. (1 John 2:16-17 emphasis added)

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6 emphasis added)

From the beginning we have been deceived according to our own lusts and desires. "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust." (James 1:14) When we are more concerned about what we want rather than God’s will for us, we fall into sin.

The Journey Begins ....

In February of 1992, I surrendered to God's call on my life for ministry. Over the next several years, He opened up Scripture to me through my own personal Bible study, church teaching, and people around me.

Through the long and winding road of life, I found myself in May of 2008 in desperate straits. After struggling the previous couple of years with my wife's health, my mother's health, and financial issues, it all came to a conclusion in the last week of May of 2008. My wife decided we needed to spend "time apart," my mother died, and as I was already in the process of moving, was forced to move in with my father. I have never felt so alone, abandoned, and abused in my life.

I was in the shower (naked before God as one friend said) and reflecting on the time in my life just after I accepted my call to ministry. God slapped me upside the head and asked me, "Why do you think I did that??" In other words He isn't done with me yet. He pressed upon me to pursue Christian Education and a particular place of study. My honest reaction was "You gotta be kidding me!!! The shape my life is in and all that has gone on and you show this to me NOW!!!???!!?? What the...." I spoke to several friends, pastors and my own pastor. My objection was just that, my situation. I received some encouragement to pursue it and let God work so I applied to Gardner Webb University.

As many of you know, I went on a spiritual retreat last year and God fundamentally changed me. I had been living in fear for so long of serving God with my whole heart, of being who He has made me, of standing out (like I could avoid it??). He also showed that I was more focused on my situation than I was on Him and His calling in my life. That my own preconceived notions were standing in the way of serving Him. I immediately let those go. Now, I am free for the first time in my life to be who He wants me to be. I am free to serve Him without fear.

Also while I was at the retreat, several men came to me and said that I should go into ministry or asked me when I was going to surrender to God's call. Apparently God's call is very evident upon me. One said that it just poured out of me. To me, it was a sign of God's continuing pursuit of me.

It had been several weeks since I had applied to Gardner Webb and had received no word. When I came home from this retreat, I sat down at my pc on Monday morning for my morning devotion. A notice popped up, as soon as I sat down, that I had received an email from Gardner Webb University. I immediately opened it and it was an email stating they wanted more info to start my college experience there.

I am now in a church that has embraced me. I have people encouraging me each and every time I see them to serve God and people that want to give me opportunities to put my gifts and talents to work. People who encourage me that I still have more talents and gifts yet to give and discover. People who see in me abilities that I do not yet see and will not let me sell myself short. The kind of people I have needed in my life for a long time. All of this would not have happened if my wife and I were still together.

In speaking with a "new found friend" about this yesterday, I had an epiphany of sorts. I used to feel sorry for myself because this happened. Now I praise God. I realized that had this not happened to me, I would not be where I am now. My life is still in tatters emotionally (to a degree) and financially, but spiritually I am closer to Jesus Christ than I have ever been in my life. God showed me that what I saw as a curse, He is using for a blessing. That I may serve Him openly with a whole heart, full of His Spirit, Word, and (hopefully) Power. I used to cry over this event in my life, now I smile and praise God.

God bless all who read this that they may be encouraged and hopeful that God is not done with them yet. Amen.