In the first 65 days of 2010, more has happened to me than I was ever expecting when the clock struck midnight and 2009 ended. I’ve seen a dead body torn into pieces. I’ve traveled outside of the country. I’ve lost focus. I’ve experienced unconditional love. I’ve experienced an earthquake. I’ve enrolled in EMT & Firefighter school. I’ve broken the heart of an amazing woman. And I’ve broken down to the point where I’m forced to look up.

My entire life I have been taught to prioritize. Year after year I have always been under the impression that it’s Jesus. Family. Church. Work. My plans for 2010 were no different. It really doesn’t seem like that bad of a list. But I’ve come to learn that it’s flawed. Anytime that we make a list, we leave room for compromise. God’s used the things that have taken place so far this year to show me that.

In life we will sometimes choose work over the church. We may choose obligations at work over the person that loves us unconditionally. We may even choose church over that person that loves us! Nothing mentioned is acceptable, but it does happen. Bringing forth a very big realization in putting Jesus Christ on a list… We may not mean too and even though it’s not right, we end up placing things on our list, on hold, and I’m guilty of putting God on hold. That’s been my biggest mistake and I was wrong!

JESUS CHRIST IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE PLACED ON A LIST!

We have to make the decision that Jesus is LIFE. That whether it be Family, Church, Work or anything else, Jesus Christ is all we do. Jesus is the REASON for all that we do! He isn’t a priority we place on a list. He is the list. He’s involved in every aspect of our life. I have been studying God’s word a lot lately and this hit me harder, I think, than anything ever has:

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. ³For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.⁴When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”Colossians 3:1-4

Wow!! As Christians, claiming to have new life with Christ, we are called to die to ourselves. Our “list.” We are called to focus on nothing less than things above. No exception, nothing here on earth. Meaning that God is going to use us for HIS WILL and we will be seen only for doing things that bring Him Glory. At times this may mean that we have very little of what we want, but as long as we are in the will of God it doesn’t matter. It’s a choice we have to make.

In the passage from Colossians, Paul tells us to “Set your mind on things above…” The greek verb for set emphasizes an ongoing decision. We must continually discipline ourselves to focus on eternal realities, instead of the temporal realities of this earth. So much easier said than done.

Example: There are nights that I fall asleep remembering what I saw in Haiti and it makes me cry. There are decisions I’ve made that hurt others. I feel some moments from this year I could live “in” forever and be happy. There are things that I wish I could do more of and wish I could change… but ultimately those are things that I want.

I’m being disciplined right now to focus on what God desires of me each day, to bring Him Glory. I know that it will be humbling, may hurt at times, and not always what I want. But as Im on my knees, broken and looking towards Jesus Christ, that is what he’s telling me to do! Start over and make him the priority. I’m choosing to continue pursuing His will for my life and I’m throwing my list out the window. The end.

IT’S OUR STORY.  AND WE THANK GOD FOR WHAT HE’S DONE.

this isn’t the romantic version. if you want that. ask for it. ok. good.

A lot of people are showing sudden curiosity that Katie and I are in a relationship. Some are saying that it was secretive.  Some are saying it came out of no where… actuality, we’ve been talking for months and things have been growing.  Most of the people that are in our lives have known this was coming and it’s not a surprise.  But for those of you who haven’t heard, don’t know and may be curious… here is the quick synopsis.

October 17.2009

Perry Noble decided to send 112 volunteers from South Carolina and their church, NewSpring, to help with the disaster relief efforts taking place at the time.  I had seen and met just over 2300 people within the last month while leading volunteer teams day after day.  The 112 people were great, but I didn’t even notice Katie and she almost didn’t even come.

-Katie was one of the many people that added me as a friend on our twitter and our facebook.

-We began talking here and there. Harmeless and no intentions of dating.

-Learning more and more about each other, we began talking more and more.

November 29.2009

I was in Nashville at the time spending the rest of my Thanksgiving weekend with the amazing Wells family.  During that time, and just everything going on that week… for some reason I had continued to think about Katie.  Feeling almost retarded… I sent a message explaining my recent thoughts and just constant thinking about her. She responded saying she had been thinking of me more than she thought she should be as well.  We agreed to start praying why we were having the constant thoughts and during this time we continued to talk.

-First it was all via our facebook and twitter.

-Then we began talking on the phone. Texting and hours at night.

-We began to really care for each other and it was noticeable.

November 30.2009

Both Katie and myself are in a group on Monday nights with the most incredible people.  For her, it’s women of God that she grows with and for me, it’s the most amazing men I’ve ever met.  Both groups provide a place of support, prayer, honesty… sometimes Brutal!  But on this night we both told our group about the pryer days messages and feelings and everyone began praying. Which for me was awesome, because it was men that I know pray when they say they will and they all go to Celebration Church with me.

December 30.2009

After talking everyday for weeks, Katie arrived in Jacksonville to spend five days.  I can’t really explain how natural things were.  I don’t know what words will really describe what happened… but the past week looked similiar to this:

-Wednesday

She arrived in the afternoon. Immediately we planned on having dinner with 10+ friends in Orange Park, including my best friend Bryan Cameron.   It was a good evening of laughing and her fitting right in.

-Thursday

The day started with breakfast at the most amazing place… Cracker Barrel. We spent the day walking down town and me showing her random places and things that are a huge part of my life.  We met friends in Green Cove Springs for dinner and planned on traveling to St. Augustine to watch fireworks and ring in the New Year.  We both ended up agreeing we were tired and ended up home, watching fireworks and the ball drop on TV.

-Friday

We spent the day with my grandmother, as many of you know her, “Buddy.” Black Eye Peas as we always do, followed by the mall, Katie and Buddy book shopping together and getting flowers for my grandpa’s grave, and then coffee.  A quick stop by the grave, and then taking Buddy home.  A few change of plans, and ending up taking Buddy to dinner with us too.  Finishing the night with Bryan and a few other friends, we watched the Gators play their final game.

-Saturday

We relaxed.  We took pictures.  We had serious conversations and agreed we were going to fight to make this work.  Conversations ranging from birth control, credit scores, finances, church, her moving to Jacksonville, family, weddings, etc.  Some may think we are crazy, but we put EVERYTHING on the table. That evening we went to church together, she met the many people that matter in my life and afterwards we went to dinner with many of the men in my Monday night group.  It was an incredible day… which ended with what the world considers making things official… updating our facebook statuses!!

-Sunday

Oatmeal for breakfast, some cuddling, a lot of laughing and her packing her stuff to go home.  It was a short morning that lead to a scavenger hunt and a hidden card… but it was a great way to end things!

TODAY.RIGHT NOW

Katie and I are happy. We know we have to fight for things to work. We know that it’ll be hard at times and not everything will be easy, but we’ve made the decision to continue moving forward.  Many of you still won’t hear about every detail.  If I propose to her and you see on facebook “engaged”… it will probably be a surprise and you may think it came out of no where, but honestly, we don’t talk to everyone, everyday and we can’t.  We both have chosen not to include every little detail of what we do, on facebook.  Instead we share it with our friends who we know are going to pray and support us in the decision’s we make.  We have accountability.  We have guidance. And we thank all of your for your interest, curiosity, etc. But please don’t be shocked or think it was secretive… simply ask if you want to know something and we’ll tell you!

HAPPY NEW YEAR. AND WE ARE PRAYING YOU HAVE AN AMAZING 2010.