It’s been a while since my last blog. Wish I could say I was too busy doing the Lord’s work and building relationships, but that’d be a lie. For the past year or so, I have been in rebellion with the Lord. I’ve been forsaking my closest friends, and trying to lead my life my own way, the infantile way. I let my bitterness towards the Lord drive my emotions and my decisions, and I have to say that it didn’t get me anywhere.
Anyways, I wanted to apologize to all my dudes who I lived with, Kyle, Tom, Paul, Viking, Scott, and Adam. I apologize for shutting you guys out of my life, for not loving you guys, for not trying to build you guys up with encouragement, and for not being vulnerable and open with you guys. I want to thank you guys so much for showing me love and having the willingness to kick me out of the ministry house when I wouldn’t respond to reason, wasn’t willing to serve, and didn’t want anything to do with others. These past few months living at my parents’ house have been rough, but I realize the Lord was trying to show me that I really needed him leading my life and that without serving others, there was no way I could learn to mature in my relationships. You guys stuck in there with me, encouraging me to come to house meetings, letting me know how much you cared about me, and how important of a role I play in your lives, and I am very grateful for that. Thanks to your guys loving response to my rebellion, the Lord has shown me how unwise and how unable I am to lead a victorious life without him. On a more positive note, the Lord has been showing me how fulfilling and joyful it is to serve others. He’s been showing me how much you guys truly care for me and how blessed I am to have you guys in my life. I can depend on you guys. I can share my burdens with you guys, and I know you guys are more than willing to help me out in any time of need. You guys bring great joy to my life.
I also want to thank my ol’ friend, Keith. Even when I am deeply inbedded in my flesh, you just sift through the bullshit and reveal to me the truth. I’m sorry for taking our relationship for granted this past year and not communicating or opening up with you. You stuck in there with me and were still able to mess with my infantile ways. I am so grateful for the Lord putting you in my life and in our Body of Christ. The Lord has used you to define a life of victorious outlaw love, and He has used you to give us the vision the Lord wanted us to have. My life and the life of countless others have been changed by your love for the Lord and love you’ve shown in your relationships in this Body of Christ. You have been such a blessing.
Well, anyways I’m really excited to see what the Lord has in store for our ministry and to move in with Mike, Justin, and Zak this summer! I’m also psyched to be helping out the old folks at Gardens of Western Reserve, and to be serving them. Does this blog count for the blogosphere contest?
Awesome Jeff. Don’t even know what to say. I’ve always known you were standing on the edge of greatness and could one day decide to dive in. You ready to rage against machines? Kick ass for the KOG? I can hardly wait to see how much fun we’ll all have together, our rag-tag band of little champions, outlaws, and rabble-rousers.
Thanks Joel, I appreciate the words of encouragement, and I am so pumped to rage against these machines! It’s really exciting to see how the Lord has just been blessing us left and right with victory in IP. It’s cool to see people getting saved, and others taking steps to love one another and build each other up.
Ya dude this is really cool, way to be open to the world about your struggles. It takes a real man to be able to post something like this, it seems the Lord is giving you many sweet opportunities hopefully these turn into victories.
BTW its going to be really awesome living with you again broski. Finally the three musketeers are back again, and this time we have ZAK!
Jeff, it is astonishing to see you changing and writing this blog. It’s sweet how the Lord has revealed to you what is important in life. Just know God will always have your back, no matter; if you reject him or draw near to him, God will be there and he wants a relationship with you, as well as, the Body of Christ. That is awesome that you realized that without God in your life, you are without a purpose and have no true meaning. Having Christ as your center in life is ideal and definitely amazing. It is sweet that you want to reestablish your relationship with the Lord and work on your relationships with the everyone. I am looking forward to see you grow into a mature spiritual man.