r e s t o r a t i o n

(n.) the act of restoring; renewal, revival, or reestablishment.

Mmmm.... this is what life has for me right now. And I couldn't be happier.
The struggle with bitterness and anger... is GONE. Maybe not forever. But for right now. And for right now, that is okay with me. I can't rationally expect a life of peace, but I can rest in a season of peace. Don't disturb it.

My friendships have been restored. All of them. ALL of them.
I wish I could explain to you how crazy that is. I never thought I would get to that place. And yet, here I am.

I have news. It's exciting....
I have been asked to study and serve for two years. The two years will end in my ordination as a pastor. A formal recognition of God's call on my life by the living church. It's going to be the hardest two years of my life thus far. But it is going to be the most rewarding.

I just celebrated my 21st birthday. "Celebrated" probably isn't the right terminology. That takes people's thoughts to a different place than where I was on my day. I went on a retreat over my birthday weekend. At midnight, I was crying before the Lord, holding a leader that has placed herself under my guidance. I glanced at my watch, saw midnight, and she looked up and wished me a happy birthday. This is the same way that I brought in the New Year this year. Perhaps my life is going to be bigger than the usual "celebrations". God is trying to show me something in these moments. My birthday led me to some self examination. Examination of my life. And where I am. I was thinking on this, and my Pastor came in and we began to talk. I told him that I was not where I thought I would be on my 21st birthday. He, of course, asked me where I thought I would be. And my answer.... "a regular kid... going to college and that's about it". His reply: "Well, you started hanging around the wrong pastor."
Joey has pushed not only me, but all of us, beyond mediocrity. Sometimes it is a hard thought because it has radically changed my life. But most of the time, it is a blessing I feel that most people are missing. And you don't know what you're missing.

"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer" (2 Timothy 2:3-4).

That verse, a couple weeks ago, changed my life. And I probably can't explain to you how. But I relieved myself of civilian affairs. And THAT has led to peace.


=)