Let me begin by saying how blessed we are. Julie and I cannot express or convey just how good that God has been to us lately. From the everyday things to the extraordinary events surrounding us, let me say that the Lord has answered our prayers and has drawn closer to us than ever before. One of the biggest areas He has been faithful to us is in our child. Tucker is such a wonderful kid, and we have been given the incredible opportunity to be his parents, and feel blessed to be given the responsibility to instruct and teach him in the ways of Him. Having a first child is such and incredible, humbling, but scary experience. No, we have not been perfect, but every time we needed help, guidance, or anything else in dealing with this huge responsibility, God has shown us, through His Word, through wisdom of others, and through help and guidance of family and friends, that He is sufficient, and He will provide for us everything we need. Every time I see that huge smile, hear his contagious laugh, or see him learning, growing, and experiencing new things, the Lord is revealing Himself, and teaching Julie and I lessons that show His sovereignty and His character. Its amazing how such simple things from a 2 year old can reveal truths so rich in hope and faithfulness. Tucker has been such a blessing, and I continually pray for his continued health, growth, and that the Spirit starts working in His heart for the acceptance of the seed of the Gospel.
God has been faithful to us in several other areas as well. I first have to say that the way He has provided for us financially has been nothing short of amazing. From the blessing of steady income, and careers that have supported our short and long term goals, we are learning not to take anything for granted. He has been faithful in that through 6 years of marriage, two states, several moves, and on and on, God has always proved Himself reliable and a rock in whom we can go to to provide for us. Whether it be from steady paychecks, to unwarranted and unpredictable checks provided to us at just the right time, He has proven faithful, and Has shown us that you cannot out give, out bless, or out provide Him. Glory to Him! Now saying this, I admit that all the times we have not remained faithful to the will and direction of Him financially. What I will say is that at the end of the day, when I thought there was no way out, when all options had been exhausted, and I wasn't sure how everything would turn out, He came through. Funny looking back, but most of the time NOT AT ALL how I thought it would happen, but nonetheless, He proved faithful. He has shown us recently some areas where we have not been honoring Him as we should, and thought it has not always been easy or convenient, and I still don't know how everything will pan out, even at this very moment, wow has the hope of Christ been the most amazing thing. I will say this, to preach a quick sermon: give it all to Him. Not just what is overwhelming you. The things you are falling back on as a safety net and comfort are those things that You are replacing Him with. This has been very near to my heart today. God wants it all, not just part. You cannot live out the gospel and be on the verge of collapse financially. You cannot be living by the Spirit and be addicted to things that oppose His heart. I wept at the thought of Revelation 3:16 and the thought of appearing before my Savior, who had given up His majesty and splendor to redeem me, and being considered lukewarm before Him. I could not continue to appear confident and worthy of leadership in one area of my life, while being unfaithful and not what the Lord has called me to be in another. I had to be all in. And as I said earlier, He is still purifying me, as I am by no means perfect and complete. But He has been faithful through the process, being my strength when I was being tested, my hope when there looked like there wasn't any, and my sufficiency, when I felt inadequate in my calling as His child, as a husband, and as a father myself. I wish I could go into details on just how He has, and continues to provide this, and maybe when God has brought us through on the other side of this journey, He will allow me specify all of the details, blessings, and trials He used to get me and my family where He wanted us to be.
Another way He has provided faithful to me is a little more personal. And that has been in the incredible soul mate that He has provided me in Julie. What an incredible woman of God, a supportive wife, and a loving mother she is. Thinking back on our journey together, it's funny to realize just how big a development your relationship has been. How you thought you knew everything about a person when you marry them. What has been so great is to go through those tough times together, those times where it seems they are all you have, (and sometimes not), and to see the strengthening and bonding that happens as a result. I know, comparatively speaking, that we are still fairly young in our marriage, and although we have a lifetime ahead of us, God willing, the support she gives me as a husband has been the rock I have needed to get through sometimes. The love she has demonstrated in the creation, development and nurturing of Tucker, as well as baby #2 on the way, has reflected and shown me the love I needed to experience when I needed it. The sacrifices she has made as an individual to better the life of our family as a whole speaks volumes about the heart that she has for her God and family. Just tonight, her selfless attitude spoke to me in a way that conveyed the peace and comfort of Christ into the deepest part of my soul. She is truly my soul mate, and cannot fathom going on this journey without her by my side...
I just wanted to put into words tonight just how faithful my God has been. Through the good times, the bad times, the times I have not deserved to experience, and the ones that I have brought on myself, He has never failed me...never. He still is refining me, and is refining you. He loves us, and wants the best for us. We just have to give Him our all...
-Trey
