Perspective

Today I had three separate opportunities to talk about perspective in different situations. Okay God, I get it, you’re showing me something here! So this is me, digesting what He’s been pouring in to me today.

In the past few months we have been bombarded with some pretty major obstacles in our lives. One of these opportunities to talk about perspective today, was someone saying “Man, you guys have been hit so hard recently. I’m so sorry!” She wasn’t wrong. In June we faced a major battle with my health. On Saturday we were on site during the El Paso Wal-Mart shooting, with a massacre happening just one parking lot away. These are just two huge parts everyone around us have been fairly privy to, but I could go on so easily with a number of other battles thrown in our faces that we chose to keep more private. There have been seemingly endless opportunities in front of me to vent, be dramatic, have self-pity or so many other useless options. Sometimes I just brush off comments like that, but today this one stuck out to me, and I knew I needed to address it. I don't know if it was the pity in her voice or the look of confusion on her face, but God had a truth to share with her today. I stopped what I was working on and turned around to face her, because I knew I needed to be intentional with my words and body language, to ensure she could understand my heart. I certainly didn't want it to sound confrontational or like I was throwing her words back in her face. So, I looked her in the eye and told her, I understand why you would say that, and I appreciate the concern behind those words, but I have a totally different perspective. I just can't help but be grateful. I can't help but see a list of victories and proof, over and over again, of the goodness of God! Sure, we've faced a lot, and at times we've been rocked to the core, but every single time, He's shown his faithfulness again, and I am in awe.

It’s amazing how people can watch the same event, from different angles, and come out with completely different stories. Totally different perspectives. To the outsider, I can see where people, especially those that just don’t know any different yet, can expect a “Why me?” response in times like these. Their perspective isn’t the same as mine. They haven't walked through these battles with us. They're focusing on the attacks, where we have chosen to live in the victory.

You see, from where I sit, I see a year of testimony! A year of growth like I’ve never experienced! I see a time where I’ve learned to “let go & let God”, and not just as some catchy saying on the wall, but to truly live it out, even - or dare I say ESPECIALLY - when my LIFE was on the line. We said this summer, that when we got to the other side of that battle, we were going to make the devil sorry he ever messed with this family! That we were going to say YES to any and every opportunity to share the story of His love and redemption. I knew God was going to use this testimony to touch lives, but I had no idea of the depth of change it would spark inside of me. I didn't have a clue, when it was all I could do to completely surrounded myself with worship, messages, podcasts, and anything else I could find to smother out the voice of fear, that He was instilling so much more inside of me. He was awakening something within me. He was strengthening a foundation that was setting the stage for renewed purpose and a total transformation. It's more than a testimony, it's a new launching point and I'm ecstatic to see what he does with it!

From my perspective...well...I'm just sitting in awe my Jesus! How could I possibly focus on the darkness of the enemy's attempts, when the light of my Father's love is so

all-consuming!