Am I A Minister?

Yesterday I was asked a question that I wasn't quite sure how to answer. As you may know I post daily on facebook and many people have commented on my posts. Yesterday I was asked if I was a minister. My first reaction ofcourse is to say no. I mean I go to work everyday at the dealership and I earn my paycheck for being a sales manager. I have never been to any kind of formal bible school or seminary. But even with that being said, I kind of feel like we should all be ministers. My love for Jesus is absolutely a consuming love. He is truly the lord of my life and in many ways I feel like I am a minister for Him! The word tells us that we should live our life in a way that we may be mistaken for Jesus. If we do this, shouldn't we all be ministers? I am not writing this to say that anyone else should change what they do or that we should all become pastors or preachers, I am just thinking that we should all be mistaken for them! I often think about a question that my Father-in-law asked me one time. He said,"If Pastor Tim was riding with you everyday in the car and sitting next to you all day, would you still do the same things or would you change your behavior?" Ofcourse I answered with "Yes I would change my behavior!". The he said something that I didn't quite grasp until the last year, he said "Well Jesus is there all the time, and I am pretty sure He is more important that Pastor Tim!". At the time I sort of blew the statement off and thought that he was just being a little dramatic. But in the last year more than ever, I have realized that Jesus really is here all the time with me. I am not saying that I live my life perfectly, but I definitely think about what He might say when He sees my actions. So in closing I guess I am saying that I kind of think if someone asks me if I am a minister in the future, I will answer with something like, "Not as a paying job, but I am a representative of Christ!"
God Bless!

The first of many!

Today I have started this page to share some of my thoughts with others in the hopes that through sharing I can serve others and allow the love that fills me for my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ! I am not a minister, pastor, or evangelist; I am a simple man who works hard to be a good husband and father to my family and to share the gift of grace offered to all through Christ. I hope that anyone who reads my story will see that anyone can rise above the bad choices that they may have made and allow God to fill the holes with His love. Many people don't know the whole truth about my life, I have kept somethings private. In my blogs I will share some things that many may have never known and I pray that they will keep an open mind. I am not the same person I was just a short time ago because that person died and I was reborn! Here is little about my background. I grew up in a very normal home as far as I knew and I never wanted for much. I grew up in Forest Park Georgia. My mother worked as a factory worker and my Dad drove a truck for a living. We were an average middle class family. I was taught to do the "right things" and I mostly did. As I grew older I found myself questioning many things that I had been told not to do and before long I was deep into a world of lies, drugs, and stealing. It started as fun and soon grew to anything but fun. I spent close to ten years in the grips of addiction and lies. Somehow in the midst of my foolishness God found a way to bring me into a family that worked to bring me out of that life. My wife loved me through many nights of wondering if I were alive or dead. When I think back to those days I still feel overwhelming sorrow for all I put her through. I am a walking testimony as to the power of Jesus Christ! He worked through many people to lead me to a path that He wanted. I fought it the whole time and at times I was sure I would never be in His will. Then one day I found myself at the lowest of lows. I was alone without the people that meant the most to me and I had to sit there and I felt I was lost forever. It was there that Jesus picked me up and opened my eyes to the grace so many had told me about. He led me to a counselor that could share His word with me and truly help me to deal with the demons in my life. Slowly but surely God put one person after another in my life to show me that He is in control. From the love of my in-laws, the patience of my job, and the introduction of a manager to my life who daily shared his recovery with me from a similar past to mine; I was changed! Now I walk daily with a love like I had never known and I overflow with passion for Him! So join me as I share stories about the miracles He still performs everyday in my life! God Bless!