I was born to a single mother in a less than ideal setting. When I was 2 1/2 years old, she moved with me to Cincinnati, Ohio. We began to attend church, she married an awesome man, and was (and is) dad. We were a typical family in a split level house. Dad provided for us, which included his 3 children, and we had a nice simple life. The older I grew, the more interested I became in the things of God. Lots of water under the bridge, but I moved to St. Louis for a job, and a beautiful girl! We were married, stayed very active in church, and had a baby! Right before our son was born, our church went through an explosion/implosion. It exploded in front of everyone and it imploded within. We lost our footing, especially me.

 

My job was providing a lot of success, and the temporal satisfaction that goes with it. It turned into a rough time, but God was faithful and kept dealing with us. We slowly began to turn our heart to seek His will. We prayed and acknowledged Him, but He wasn't our main purpose in life. We weren't bad people, but He wasn't our focus.

 

We ended up in Louisville, Kentucky where God really began to deal with our hearts. Another story for another day, but in July of 2007 God changed my life forever. From that day, some of the greatest challenges of my life were gone. It was an internal problem, not some external illness or condition. Since then I have sought how to serve Him to the best of my ability. What I'm learning on this journey is the best way to serve Him is to love Him.

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Fully. Wholly. Sacrificially. Completely. 

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Does that mean walk around with a long face and never laugh? Well, sad to say a form of that is what I used to think. Somber, stayed, still, constantly representing a righteous attitude in my expression and demeanor. Being very careful how I enjoyed anything of life that it not get "out of hand." Through this journey, God has been more than good to me. But since late 2022, God is becoming clearer and clearer in my view as being more concerned about me than I am about Him! It has blown my mind! As I've embraced this, I'm finding Him in more and more places! I feel deeply convicted there is something He has for me to do. That has never changed. But how I live my life on this earth has a very different view. Now I see God everywhere. Not in things as much as in people. It's not my job to determine who is serving God the right way! No more than it is my job to walk into a business and determine if the employees are working according the employee handbook or not. That's not my job! My job is to make sure I'm living according to what He has called me to do! And what He has called me to do, well that too is another story for another day. But I feel as convicted about it today as I ever have.

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But my growing conviction in another area is witnessing. Sharing the glorious gospel. It is what changed my life! It wasn't that I was special or good or righteous or virtuous. Not at all. It was His mercy! His goodness! His grace! His kindness! And the more I lean in to Him the more I realize He wants every single person ever born on this planet to feel that from and with Him! That is 100% Him, not me!

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So what am I to do? Exactly what His Son, Jesus Christ, said: 

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20 NASB

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Some people get caught up in this verse as a "godhead" verse. That has its place, but can I zero in on the great commission! GO! To "make disciples" means "tell them about Me so they fall in love with Me just like you have!"

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One of my most favorite quotes comes from the 17th century Scottish theologian Henry Scougal:

"Who shall prescribe a law to those that love? Love's a more powerul law which doth them move."

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Get it?