"What do you want your life to count for?" This was the
question I was lead to in prayer six years ago. I had just
finished two years of collegiate ministry at Texas A&M and I
was praying through where the Lord was leading me. What
was the next step for me? My mind was focused on the
questions I thought were important like: where I would go,
where would I live, what would I be doing, would I know
anyone close by, what is my salary going to look like, will I be
able to afford a new car etc. etc. Then the Lord turned my
world upside down with this brief yet, pertinent question,
"What do you want your life to count for?" It's a simple
question really, or so I thought. I had never before stepped
back and tried to look at my life as a whole and thought, what
do I want the years I've been given to count for? As I prayed
that day my eyes were lifted up to a map of the world on my
office wall. As I stared at the map I was overwhelmed by the
realization that so much of the world lacks a clear, faithful
gospel witness. Where I was living at the time there was
nearly a church on every corner. I was in the heart of the
extremely conservative Bible Belt. There was never a lack of a
gospel witness in the community. Staring at the map and
meditating on the question the Lord posed to me, I discovered
my answer. I want my life to count for spreading a passion for
Jesus where the gospel is seldom heard and few believe. My
eyes were directed back to the map. Where would the Lord
send me? The Lord did not tarry in giving me an answer,
immediately my heart was burdened for the northwest where
only an estimated 4% claim to trust Jesus.
My life since then has been focused on preparing to serve
the people of the northwest. Along the way the Lord has
blessed me immensely with a beautiful wife who desires to
live for Christ and serve beside me. Nikki and I eagerly join
with you in pursuing Christ and together proclaiming the
wonderful grace we have received in Jesus. The Lord
continually renews our passion to be here through His
Scriptures. Most recently through Matthew 6:19-21 in which
Jesus says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and
steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break
in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will
be also."
One question from the Lord and my life was forever
changed. Your answer will not be the same as mine. God has a
genuinely unique purpose for each of you. Never-the-less, I
ask each of you, what do you want your life to count for?