What started the "Start of Something New)

Since I came back home from college I have felt my relationship with God dwindling. Not that I wasn't praying, reading my Bible, going to church, and that stuff. But my heart wasn't IN it, I wasn't putting the effort, time, energy, anything, into pursuing a deeper relationship with God. I knew it was happening for some time now but I didn't do anything about it. Finally tonight, June 15, 2010 I decided to go into my backyard at 11pm to read and pray. I ended up realizing that writing down these thoughts, opinions, and happenings would be a great way to share with people what is going on in my life. Someone once told me that who you are in private is who you are in public. So I am making this a way that I will be public about my private relationship with Christ.

Like I said earlier there were hints that God was placing in my life that I was lacking in my pursuit of an intimate relationship with Him but the one that stands out was the most recent. A man by the name of Brad said something to me that I will never forget. Brad's son plays baseball with my youngest brother and we have known their family for years. He is the most outright, outspoken, Christian man I have ever met. He wears Christian T-Shirts every time I have ever seen him; at the little league, out to eat, today when I saw him at my workplace. But beyond that, he is often seen pulling a gigantic wood cross on public streets in what is similar to a heavy duty Red Ryder Wagons. About a week ago he approached me at a little league game, this wasn't out of the ordinary, we usually have great conversation and I love getting the opportunity to talk to him because he is so filled with joy that you can't help but want to talk to him. He sat down on the bleachers and asked me what I was majoring, when I finished telling him he told me that whatever I end up majoring in, that if I ever want to do ministry that he wants me to work along side him at his church. I was blown away, I was honored, I was flattered, but most of all I was humbled. It was at that moment that I knew that he sees something in me that I am not fully living out. A couple days later I was passing him at yet another little league game and he asked me how I was doing and I gave the most generic answer "good and you?" what he responded with is what I will NEVER forget, "BETTER THAN I DESERVE" Think about that for a minute, I have been for the past couple days, I'm a sinner, who deserves death! Yet God saved me from that punishment and gave me the chance to live with him for all eternity. When I showed up for work today Brad was there, he had no idea I worked there, and we had a great conversation. I know God put Brad in that store today to finally, fully, open my eyes to what He is telling me. I love God with all my heart and I have no question about where I put my faith and I think that if you ask almost anyone they will tell you the same thing. Yet that means nothing, it means nothing if I am not pursuing more, every single day, in every aspect of my life. My faith means nothing if I am not so filled with Christ that I am overflowing to a point that others around me know that something is different about my life, that I have something special, because that is what a relationship with Christ is, special, personal, meaningful, foundational, and everlasting. I pray that from now on, I live a life that would be so pleasing to God that He would use me in ways that I never thought possible. Much Love

Austin