Friday, December 9, 2011

It's funny what you realize when you look back...

I'm sure glad that God is in control & that he has a plan for me. To take that further, I'm glad he is directing my steps even when I have no idea where I'm going.

I've known Jesus as my personal Savior since I was a little boy. I vaguely remember when I was 14 committing to do God's will with my life, and that was a true commitment, but I had my own ideas of what that would probably mean. I went to New Tribes Bible Institute after I graduated from high school. I figured I had to go to some sort of college, because that's what you do after high school, and you can't go wrong learning the Bible. That much was true--the Bible education I got at NTBI was a great foundation. When I graduated I still didn't know what I was supposed to do, though, & I still hadn't found a wife, so I transferred to Appalachian Bible College to finish my Bachelor's degree. I wanted to be a missionary, because even though I understood that not all Christians are called to be missionaries, I thought the really good ones were. I wouldn't have said anything like that then, but I'm pretty sure that's what I thought--I wanted to be one of the elite. I think my goal in going to ABC really was to find a wife more than anything else, though. (I was growing as a Christian & not quite as shallow as that sounds, but life looks more black & white when you think about it in the past tense.)

By God's grace I did meet my wife, Angelina, at ABC. She could see who I was a lot better than I could, and she knew a lot more about real life than I did, too. In 2005 & 2006 I was able to take a better look at who I was (that's another story), and I realized that I need to use the personality and gifts that God has given me in a task I'm suited for, not the one I think all the "best Christians" do. I am not really a self-starter, & not very good at meeting people, & those qualities are important in the kind of work I thought I was supposed to do. As a Christian I need to share the Gospel, and I need to make an effort to meet people even if it doesn't come naturally. However, it was important for me to find a vocation I was suited for. I care about truth, and helping people learn it.

Now I am the Librarian at Appalachian Bible College, & I can't think of a better place for me to use what God has given me. The best advice I can give to you is trust God & see what happens! As long as you are living in obedience to God's word by the power of the Holy Spirit, wherever you are, that's God's plan for you right now!