I hope this “about me” entry allows you to get to know me better, find deeper meaning from my blogs, and recognize the hope and love that God has blessed upon me. The lighthearted stuff leads into my personal testimony.
HISTORY LESSON
ü Born Roswell, NM 1984
ü Grew up going to Grace Community Church, baptized at age 18, spectated from the sidelines until age 29- started to surrendering to God’s will…. He’s not very negotiable as it turns out. It also turns out that his plans work out so much better than any of mine ever have…..
LIKES:
ü Traveling, backpacks, picking up heavy things, tight lines, first tracks on corduroy, that 90% excited/ 10% terrified feeling(it works in reverse also), college football, finding an amazing song before anyone else, soulful lyrics, bro tanks, holding hands for the first time, bear hugs, singing in the shower, witty texting(please include emoticons), and BACON…. I think about Bacon a lot…. I’ll prolly miss it the most. Oh, and shoes…. nobody’s mentioned an extra shoe backpack on any of these Worldrace packing lists…. This could be a real problem.
DISLIKES:
ü Bad parking (not bad driving, just horrible parking- it seems so selfish), individual ketchup packets, the saying “have your cake and eat it too”- I mean who wants cake if you can’t eat it? Greek yogurt, conversations about politics, valentines’s day- I don’t boycott but I find it ever so unromantic to celebrate your love on the same day as everyone else. Not re-racking your weights (this falls into the horrible parking category… once again-so selfish) Oh, and side hugs… who doesn’t hate side hugs? And this probably goes without saying but “Fakon aka Fake Bacon”- WHO DID THAT?!?!
TOP 3 STRENGTHS:
1. Encouraging others
2. Heart-felt….. that really means emotional but “heart-felt” sounds way-better.
3. Spontaneous
TOP 3 WEAKNESSES:
1. PRIDE!
2. Anger
3. Lustful
Favorite Quote:
ü I’m not afraid of the devil. The devil can handle me – he’s got judo I never heard of. But he can’t handle the One to whom I’m joined; he can’t handle the One to whom I’m united; he can’t handle the One whose nature dwells in my nature……A.W. Tozer
Favorite Book:
ü “Wild at Heart”- John Eldredge http://books.google.com/books/about/Wild_at_Heart.html?id=0p_3DcMR5okC
Favorite Poem:
ü “Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past” C.T. Studd http://www.literarylane.com/2012/01/poem-of-week-only-one-life-by-ct-studd.html
Favorite Song:
ü “Shelter From the Storm” Bob Dylan http://vimeo.com/66527863
THE HOW’S AND WHY’S… a testimony brought to you by Paul Diffee
MY OLD RELTATIONSHIP WITH GOD
· Ever said “Ya, he’s my friend…. I mean I guess he’s more of an acquaintance than a friend, really”? That explains my life relationship with God until I surrendered to God’s will rather than living to fulfill my own selfish desires. I grew up in the Church and was baptized at age 18, but I only involved myself with the parts that didn’t cost me anything. Finally, at the age of 29, I feel like I’ve stepped off the sidelines and out of the shadows. But have you ever started working at something and once you maybe refine one or two skills, you realize oh man… this never ends and I have so much more to grow? That’s how I feel about my faith now, and not in a negative way. It’s a privilege to make my best effort to be more like the Apostle, Paul- a seeker and a finder.
· I always talked to God but those talks were on my behalf, not his. They went about like this, “okay God, if I can just get set financially, find a wife, start a family, and then I’ll be sure to start focusing on my relationship with you. So if you could please bless my life and help me get this done, I’ll be sure to thank you later and pay you back.” “Oh, and by the way I’m going to compromise my Christian beliefs in order to enjoy myself and get all this done at the same time.” but even at times of personal success or so called happy moments I was asking God, “When is this life going to be over already? I am ready to die and be done.” This is the part where people who’ve know me, say- “Paul? Really? No way, you seem like such a happy guy?” My testimony is not a unique one. A lot of us have a tendency to go out and seek independence, personal accomplishments, and social acceptance. While I was out trying to find my way, I ran farther and farther from the purpose God has for me.
THE GOOD NEWS NOW
· God Won! I’ve never felt so much peace and love as did after I finally started making decisions based on my purpose for God’s Kingdom rather than for my own benefit. Now I pray to God, “Please give more time to know you better, teach me to love others the way you love me, and give me words to tell others about your saving grace that makes me feel so special and loved! Your voice came to me like a whisper but now your scripture and wisdom roars inside me like a lion…. Please give the strength and courage to do your will.”
· There’s a gnawing or an ache, inside of me now, telling me that God has given me hidden abilities to use just for him…and blessings that are available if only I’d surrender more to his callings.
· Our Church is in a battle of spiritual warfare and I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to rise to the occasion. I’m traveling as a missionary to fulfill that role and join all you others who are fighting to fulfill your daily mission.
· And closest to my heart, I’m going on this mission to take my place as a man in God’s Kingdom.
We all stray from God, but he will never ever forsake us and never stop loving us.
Much Love & Peace.
Paul
Matthew 10:39- Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
