I want to start this (about me) blog out by first saying, just straight up, “God is FAITHFUL!”. I would also say that 4 years ago I probably wouldn’t say this with such confidence and boldness. In fact, at some points in my life I have seriously questioned Gods faithfulness and love towards me. I would sit back and wonder if every prayer I would pray was just repeatedly hitting the ceiling or if I was outside, hitting the stratosphere and bouncing back! Needless to say, through trials and victories, through sorrow and joy, I can confidently say, he has NEVER stopped pursuing me. I have come to accept Gods love, and faithfulness to me as absolute truth and not something I have reason to doubt. He sees me, he knows me, and he loves me…
Now, onto what this blog is supposed to be about :). I was born in Arlington, TX at Memorial Hospital on July 19th, 1988. I think birthdays are pretty important in and of themselves but something wonderful happened on mine that would define much of the person I am today. My grandfather(who you will probably hear about again in future posts) was there that day, dedicated, and prayed over me with my mother and father. He spoke some unique words over me that day that he would later carve and engrave on the headboard of my first bed.. “Born to Win”, is what he declared over my life. In grade school, middle, and high school I would look back on what he said and I just kind of thought it was, how do you say… “cheesy”. It’s so funny how maturity and growth can give you a completely different attitude and perspective on things. In these younger years of my life I didn’t put a lot of weight into it. After all, ones parents and grandparents are supposed to say nice encouraging things like this right?? Well, into my college years, my mid, and now late 20’s I have realized… through his beliefs, ministry, and writings… He meant it. He didn’t just say things to say them. He said them with purpose. I look back on this day and realize he was prophesying over me that I was, and would ultimately be an overcomer. That anything the world threw at me, any trial, or test that I would ultimately be victorious in Christ.
About 2 years after I was born we moved to Louisville, Ky where we lived for about 8 years. Both of my parents were heavily involved in ministry(specifically my mother) growing up so I was infused with Church culture from a very early age. I grew up as a “pastors kid” or pk! My mother was a music minister and my father was involved in Christian television and radio. Our second move was where I consider to be my hometown, Jacksonville, FL. My mother took a position at what would be my home church called, “Evangel Temple, Assemblies of God” as the minister of music. My father worked at a local christian television station. This is where I developed many of my lifelong friendships and learned a lot more about my faith and the church. It was also a time of great immaturity, where I made a lot of silly mistakes and had to learn the hard way about some things. When I was a sophomore in high school my parents got divorced. I was in the middle of my first year starting on my high school football team so at the time I had a lot of things distracting me from the reality of it. Looking back, I think it effected me more than it seemed too. Looking back, I realize that time of my life was full of so many great and some not so great memories. Even though there were struggles during adolescents, I cherish the good times and now see what God was doing more clearly. Transitioning out of high school into College we moved again, only this time it was just me, my mother and my brother. We moved back to Louisville, Ky when my mother returned to work at the same church we were at when we lived there before. When we got there I went on my first international missions trip where me and the rest of our team went to serve in Ecuador. It was the first time my heart was exposed to needs of the rest of our world.
Shortly after, I attended a local community college before going to attend University in Springfield, MO. I stayed there for a year where I played football and took a full time course load. I felt after the year I was there that it was time to return home and attend the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky. I attended school there for several years where I pursued a degree in nursing. During this time I struggled very much with contentment and feeling like my life wasn’t going anywhere. Even though I was applying myself, I felt that I was gradually losing touch with who I was. I was losing touch with the core of who I was in pursuit of accomplishments and success. Much of me was just trying to prove to myself and others that I was “smart enough” and “good enough”. My desire to work in health care continued as a CNA at a local Hospital. I know that even in this season of life that God was using me to love on people and help people through serving them on the most basic levels. It was about a year after that at age 25, where I was sitting in between jobs in my favorite coffee shop in Jacksonville that the Lord so clearly revealed to me my calling. I was sitting there and I heard the Lord speak for the first time in a long time. He said “my child, I want you to give it all to me and surrender yourself to serve the needs of the world.” Mind you, international missions wasn’t something that I strongly considered in my life until this point. At the time, I had a desire to work in local church ministry as a Worship Leader. Finding myself where I am now in walking with him, I realize that it was God and not to question it. I realized there wasn’t a lot to discuss or think about, but that it was simply time to respond. I was an awakening of something that had been birthed deep inside me. Jesus was calling let go of the things I could not control and to lose myself in him. To get lost in the things that he loves. As an overflow of my love for him he was asking me to respond without question to his call on my life.
I sit here now at 28 years old as a blank piece of paper, ready to “GO”! Ready to respond, ready to act on the seed that has been planted in me. For the last 8 months I have been sewing seed and discipling children at a non-profit boys home in Summerville, SC where we take care of abandoned, neglected, and abused boys. I starting working here part time and at the 6 month mark the Lord opened the door for me to come on here as a full time staff member. The growth I have had here has been exponential. God is using me mightily for his kingdom, and has been using this time to prepare me for the next step, “The World Race”!
I am discovering that the end of myself is the beginning of God. I am discovering that total surrender to truly respond and follow Jesus is accompanied by a peace that passes all understanding. I am discovering that giving all of myself is the essence of what this journey of pursuing Christ is all about. This crazy, often misunderstood, and wild journey of pursuing him is incredible, and contagious…. It is what it means to be alive…
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
May God lead and guide you always,
CJ
