My Story-Part 5

You can’t make this stuff up.

Unemployed and 2 weeks away from not being able to pay rent.
Getting a shot in ministry by becoming an assistant.
Starting a community group that eventually became a ministry.
Meeting my wife.
Speaking to a church in the Dominican Republic.
Accepting a job as a middle school pastor.
Communicating weekly to students.
Preaching in Brazil.
Leading over 220 students at a 5 day camp.
Learning that you are going to be a daddy.
Accepting a job as a campus pastor.

And all of it happening in almost exactly 2 years. You can’t make this stuff up. I could have never scripted this. Yes, I am writing this post to share some news with you but before we get to that I want you to take a second and thank God for the story he is writing in your life. You may not be in the best circumstances or where you would like to be, but God is still writing. You make a horrible storyteller with your life, trust the one who created you with it. It’s not over yet.

Or you could be in a great place and overjoyed at what is going on, also remember that God is still writing. And it’s not to bring you more success, but to bring you closer to Him. All of those events I listed, some were good and some were tough, but they all brought me closer to Christ. It’s not over yet.

My story has once again taken a turn that I didn’t expect. On August 1st, I will begin the next chapter in my ministry as I become a campus pastor for Cross Point Community Church in Nashville. I will be leading the Downtown Campus that meets at Rocketown.  I am so excited to be returning to my home church and getting the opportunity to be a part of that team again. It is truly a dream job.

With any job change, you are leaving something behind and I was reminded last night and today what I am leaving behind here at LifePoint. The most amazing, beautiful, fun, Christ-like students I could have ever asked to lead. They taught me so much in the past year and they taught me even more on how to accept change.  I have been overwhelmed with well wishes and videos of how much they learned and loved our time together. I will never forget them and I am so excited for what’s next in their lives. I could have never dreamed how much they would mean to my wife and I.

And that sums up life right now for me. I could have never dreamed the events of the past 2 years or what’s going to happen in the next 2, but whatever does happen – God will get the glory. He deserves it no matter what circumstance you find yourself in.

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My Story-Part 4

“I am so scared God.”  That was my exact words to God in a recent prayer.

It’s funny how you can be in completely different situations, yet have the same conversation with God.  It’s a great reminder that we are never too far or too close to God to be humbled before Him.  About a year ago I was praying the exact same thing.

My recent prayer wasn’t because things in my life were bad, in fact they are really good.  I am engaged and I absolutely love going to work everyday and I’m leading an incredible group of about 130 people called Stretch.  My life is amazing.

My prayer came because the next season of my career was happening and I was about to embark on a completely new journey.  My life was too good to suddenly change.

But I decided a while back that what I wanted for me wasn’t going to cut it.  My life story only has one author on the cover and it’s not Wes Howard.

So I found myself in the middle of my room crying my eyes out once again and telling God that I was scared.  The next morning I went running to clear my head.  I wanted to spend some time talking with God to sort it all out and at about mile 4 I was gently reminded that it was OK to be scared.

As of today, (August 26th) I have accepted the position of Middle School pastor at LifePoint Church in Smyrna, TN.  I’m excited for this next step in my ministry.  I’m excited to be able to pour into these kids lives and teach them Biblical truths that have become evident in my life. I’m excited that the love of my life gets to stay in the church that changed her life. I’m pumped to get started.

But I am also sad.  Cross Point gave me a chance when no one else would.  Pete Wilson saw something in me and mentored me for a year.  I have never been around more genuine, passionate people who live out what they preach.  I learned so much by just watching the way they love their families, strangers and most importantly, God.  I am leaving a family.

You know what’s cool about kingdom of God though?  We are all family and there’s another family in Smyrna ready to welcome me in.

So that’s my big news.  New job, new church, getting married and buying a house all within 1 month of each other.  Throw one up for me!

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Red or blue pill?

I was recently forced to make a decision.  A very important one.  One that will change my life.  While I am not ready just yet to discuss what that decision was, I definitely learned something through the process.

I hear a lot of people talking about “God’s will.”  It’s a church buzzword that sold millions of books.  It’s also a terrifying thought to Christians for them to not be inside God’s will.  I remember pleading with God to reveal his will to me last year.  It was a scary thing and that’s when it becomes a problem.

“Show me your will for my life! Please. I’m ready. Show me.”

That’s not a bad prayer, but what happens after you say amen?  Is there action?  Or are you paralyzed with fear to make a decisions because of not knowing 100% if it’s God’s will?

The decision I was faced with was scary.  It could have become terrifying, but guess what?  I knew that the choices were both God’s will.  There wasn’t a wrong choice for me to make.  I just needed to make one.

The reason?  I gave up authorship of my life a while back.  God’s will for my life is to enter into a relationship with him through his Son’s sacrifice and then spend my life connecting to God through the passions that were placed in me by loving others. (DISCLAIMER – For the theologically advanced – I am not saying this is the only thing needed in spiritual maturity.)

  • Have a passion for food?  Savor every bite with the company of friends or even strangers.  Allow that passion to convey love to others.
  • Passionate about tech support?  Well then you are a nerd, but offer that support in a way that leaves people as excited about life as you are about a new pocket protector.

Once this happens, then the decision making isn’t paralyzing because you already know God’s will for your life.  You can ask yourself which choice lines up better with your talents, passions and abilities?

Decisions aren’t always easy, but they always require action.  Being paralyzed with fear leads to non-action.  Having confidence in and living out God’s will for my life has set me free of the fear of a decision “not being in God’s will.”  It has lead to a more joyful life for myself and those around me.

One last little disclaimer – This does not mean that every decision leads to success, more money and fame.  This just means that I can face each situation knowing that the outcome will never result in God loving me any less.  (Which will never happen, but you would be surprised at what fear can do to a person.)

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A letter to myself

I was going through some files on my computer and I stumbled upon one called, “Journal.”  I thought it was strange since I don’t keep a formal journal, so I clicked on it.  It was a letter that I wrote to myself almost a year ago when I was going through a rough time. I barely remember writing it, but reading it broke me.  What an amazing reminder of what can happen when you are committed to letting God write your story.

Dear Wes,

I wanted to write you this letter to remind you of some things.  I don’t know where you are in life or what challenges and surprises have come your way, but I do know how you got there.  Continue reading

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Memorable Memories

An empty room.  That’s all that is left in the place that I called home for the past 2 1/2 years.  Yeah, I know that’s not an extremely long time, but it is long enough to be sentimental!

For example, that’s the house my “marked change” happened.  It’s also the place where I first told my fiance that I loved her and if you want to be sick even more, our first kiss.  So I have a right to look at the empty rooms of that house and want to hold on to it a little longer. Continue reading

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Worth the wait?

So, I’m getting married.  Yep.  October 16th, 2010.  Finally.

I’m learning all sorts of new things.  For example, I don’t get to pick out what my tux looks like!  (Shocking, I know.) I have to coordinate what I wear with the “colors” of our wedding.  What the heck!?  I thought I was being a good fiance by not wanting to be heavily involved with things and the next I know I am being told that I have to wear a brown tux.  That’s not exactly how I imagined I would look on my wedding day. Continue reading

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Plan B

This month marks the 1 year anniversary of my personal “Plan B.” I won’t bore you with the details as I have already done that. (If you want to read it- it’s here Part 3)If you haven’t guessed the reference yet (and let’s be honest, 85% of you are here because of a @pwilson retweet that happened at some point) this post is my review of the book “Plan B” by Pete Wilson. Continue reading

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What it took…

It took 28 years, 3 months.

It took failed relationship after failed relationship.

It took learning one of the hardest lessons I have ever learned and am continuing to learn: Patience. Continue reading

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