It is interesting to see how our season in life is changing as the season of warm weather slowly ushers in the crisp refreshing aspect of fall. I mean really- it is crazy to think that I have been in Charleston (honestly not my first preference…sorry) for 4 years! I now see that beautiful season coming to an end, but in a very loving way. Our prayer over the past year was for the Lord to guide is in the direction He wants us to go with the next season in mind, and He has in only ways that He can! So gracious and so loving- this adventure is slowly beginning!
For my Awaken family- I love you all so much and the Lord was so gracious in letting me part of what is taking place there! I was wondering how my last Sunday was going to go as far as emotionally and it was incredible- did the Lord WRECK me? YEP! Was it in a loving and gracious way? SURE WAS! I wouldn’t have it any other way! I remember my best friend and worship pastor Andrew Kerr telling me a few weeks prior when we were discussing what my last Sunday would be like he specifically said “When you look out and see all that God has done and the people He has brought to Awaken it will be overwhelming” and he was so right! As I was playing drums and just thanking God for EVERYTHING, I looked up and remembered seeing 10 people who were Awaken church 3 years ago and looking out from the stage yesterday at what it has become was FLOORING. The Lords provision is so good! That lead to seeing person after person who have had a huge impact on me and Faiths lives and the uncontrollable rush of emotion was so good. Hearing from many how the Lord used me and Faith in their lives and the letters we have received has been so encouraging- and all of those scenarios I want to be quick to give the glory back to God because if He would have not moved in my life and changed my heart to pursue Him I would not be motivated to love as He first loved us! Praise God!
Me and Faith packed our 2 bedroom townhome up yesterday (FAITHS BIRTHDAY!!!) with the help of wonderful, incredible, loving, friend who is the little sister I have always wanted…Miss Michaela Pratt! (shout out) Her and many others helped so much- I want to name them all but I am seriously afraid I would leave someone out and feel awful 🙂 BUT YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND TRUST ME WE KNOW IN OUR HEART! THANK YOU X1000000000! Yall I want to take some time and brag on my wife for a second and I promise this wont even scratch the surface….To say Faith is a blessing is an understatement- a true gift from God! She played a huge role in packing and cleaning as well as just being an INCREDIBLE TROOPER having to move from some of her closest friends on her BIRTHDAY! Yall show some love cause I pray that she knows how much she means to me and this is just one example…
AND WERE BACK- We arrived to Greenville just in time for a family get together for her birthday and then headed to a surprise gathering at yogurt mountain with friends we left 4 years ago- it was great!
I will close up in saying we are heading to training camp for 10 days tomorrow in Gainesville, GA. I am not positive on what to expect but we are fully relying on God! He is so good and is with us through it all! I selfishly have said in my head I made through “hell week” at the Citadel as well as the 12 week Police Academy so I am hoping my stress management skills will prevail. As well as the ability to function on little sleep- its all MENTAL TOUGHNESS and ALOT of prayers to Jesus 🙂
I will do this as much as I can in throwing some sort of challenge yalls way and this one is simply to try and grasp the idea of getting out of your comfort zone (we all have them) and to realize how much GROWTH is guaranteed to come from CHANGE and transition. I was talking to a friend of mine last night about what me and Faith have been practicing in our lives recently and it might sound harsh (and trust me I am as optimistic as they come) but its important to truly focus on what we are “promised” in this life- we aren’t promised this lavish life or this house, or family, or job- but looking at scripture we see that for those who follow Jesus we are promised that people will hate us, and we will face trials, BUT TO TAKE HEART BECAUSE JESUS HAS OVERCOME IT ALL!
I truly hope this reaches you all and you all are well!
Austin Fowler
