Happy Friday Friends!
I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day and an awesome week coming to a close for you! This is such a special time of year; the kids are all starting back to school, new shoes, new clothes, backpacks that turn anyone younger than 8-years old into little human turtles that sometimes fall over if they stop to fast or bend over…just absolutely love it!
So I thought I was going to be writing about one thing this week and low and behold God had another plan. I went to church last Sunday and the Pastor preached a truly incredible sermon on service, on serving others…it spoke so powerfully to my spirit. I was certain that this is what I was going to right about this Friday. Talked to my family about serving others, looked for opportunities to serve others, my quotes/thoughts of the day early in the week on Twitter and Facebook were about service…yes, I was certain that I would write about serving others. Then, on either Tuesday or Wednesday night, my Precious Family and I were talking about this past year. So much has happened in this past year…there have been great leaps of faith, there has been heartache, there has been tears. In each and every situation God showed up… B-I-G T-I-M-E. I have thought so much about this past year, how God was always good, always faithful and how my family and I have learned and grown so much, so so much, during this time. It is this, the past year that I want to share with you on this beautifully blessed Friday morning…the lessons we have learned, our testimony of what God has done.
August 1, 2011 I resigned from a job without having a job. While I would never advise anyone do this God had made it perfectly clear to me that this was the right thing for me to do. You see, He had actually been talking to me for the better part of 8 months about the job I would eventually resign from…the only problem was, I wouldn’t listen. It is truly ironic; if you have ever spent any time talking to me directly you will undoubtedly hear me refer to listening to your heart because it is through our heart that God speaks to us. Well God was speaking however Kevin was listening. See, I was trying so hard to do the “right thing”, to “figure it out” I just couldn’t see how desiring to serve the Lord vocationally could possibly be the wrong thing even if He was telling me it was the wrong thing. Yeah, pretty dumb…absolutely no different than you going to interview for a job, the “boss” telling you this is not where you should be, you somehow getting offered the position and then taking it expecting everything to work out fine despite what your heart, your spirit was screaming to you. In reality, it worked out more than fine, it worked out great. God continued to love me, to speak to me and finally, when there was nowhere else to turn, I listened to Him and with clarity that was so sharp that it still moves my spirit thinking about it, I walked in complete faith knowing that what I was doing was now what God wanted. Lesson Learned: Do not violate your own Spirit. It truly doesn’t matter what anyone else says, thinks or does or for that matter, what you say, think, what your justifications are, etc. The only thing that truly matters is what God says, where He is leading you. And know this Friends, He loves you and me so much that He will continue to pursue us. Run if you wish however please know that your spirit will continue to cry out to you, God will pursue you fervently until finally He get’s your full attention. This is my testimony, this is Jonah’s testimony…it doesn’t have to be yours.
During the next 3 ½ months I went without a job was incredibly…peaceful. I knew that I was now walking totally, completely where God would have me walk and I knew at the other end, this storm would pass, that God would deliver my family and I, that He was in control, that everything was going to be o.k. I had no idea what the middle – the time between leaving the job and regaining employment – would be like, and to be sure Satan tried desperately to get my attention, to gain a foothold in my life, however as is always the case when God is the Source, the Strength, the Direction, Satan loses. You have heard of the “peace that goes beyond understanding?” Well Friends, I have experienced it! Not only did God give me a peace that goes beyond understanding (I am telling you, it is surreal! I should be freaking out, panicking and every time Satan attempted to tell me another lie – he is not called the Master Deceiver for nothing – there was this voice piercing my spirit saying “It is o.k., I am in control, just keep pursuing Me and trusting Me.), He blessed my life so richly during that time that it is truly humbling and honestly, overwhelming. During that time my Bride and I connected at a completely different level – a level that altered the course of our lives and the legacy of our children forever -, “What Will Your Influence Be…?” (blog, facebook, twitter, trademark, etc.) was created, I was able to attend every one of my sons football practices, I was able to take the kids to school and pick them up and He placed two incredible Godly men in my life who – unfortunately for them – are saddled with me for the rest of their lives. Here I am, I have a Beautiful Bride & three Tender Warriors who I have the honor & privilege of being responsible for, I have no job, the savings account is quickly dwindling and I have peace that goes beyond understanding and blessings flying at me right and left. Wow!!! Lesson Learned: Peace – I am talking about a total, complete peace – comes from the Lord and is attained in pursuing Him, allowing Him to be the Lord of your life. Through all the earthly pursuits, fixes, answers, etc. this peace cannot be found…it is truly a gift from Him.
At the last minute – pretty sure God wants to make sure we know who is responsible for our deliverance – God provided a job and, not only did he provide a job, He met every worry, concern, fear, etc. that my precious family had. Not one detail did He skip. Not one! Seriously?!?! It is amazing. Lesson Learned: God is faithful.
In May, life and death happened in a hurry. We had a “situation” – I can’t call it a storm, trial or tribulation as that incredible peace showed up again…praise God! – with our 16-year old son. Not only did God order and ordain every step, He had prepared our hearts for this time for months. As I looked back on the clear side of the storm I can see His hands leading and guiding me as early as January…incredible! This “situation” turned our hearts strongly towards one another as a family, enabled my son to take huge steps forward as a man and ultimately provided a better life, met so many needs of our entire family. God’s leading, guiding & protection – heart, mind, body & spirit – was all over everything. He had this all planned! It was up to us to pursue Him, to trust Him and to do everything properly & in order as He instructs. I am truly amazed at everything that happened, how it all came together, how blessed we truly are!
And as this “situation” was just working itself out my Dad died. Something that I don’t think I mentioned in my Happy Friday that I wrote about my Dad, he died on my incredible Little Tender Warriors 7th birthday. Now that was a day Friends. Can I please tell you that as I type this there is a smile on my face? No, I did not enjoy watching my Dad literally take his last breath…this is not what brings the smile. The clarity that God provided me as my wife and I rushed to the hospital on that Sunday night – that I am the man I am because my Dad was the man, husband & father he was…and I mean that with the deepest love, respect & gratitude -, the reconciliation that my Dad and I had over the last 10 years of his life, the time I had with my Step-Mom – to tell her how special she is, how beautiful God made her, how my sister and I are forever indebted to her for the total, selfless love she gave my Dad, to simply say thank you – and to finally see my Dad at total, complete peace…these are the things that bring a smile to my face. As I drove home that day I prayed that God would lead me, that He would lead my precious family and that this would be a special day for the Little Tender Warrior waiting for his Daddy to get home to celebrate his 7th birthday. You know what God did? As I pulled into the driveway there was a little camouflaged face boy, dreaming in his heart of becoming a great Navy Seal, bright blue eyes piercing my soul, wanting to hug his Dad. I truly have tears of joy in my eyes as I reflect on this special day! Some say that this could be bad, that my Dad died on my Tender Warriors 7th birthday, that we will always be filled with sorrow on my son’s birthday because it was the day my Dad died. No Friends, May 21st will forever be a great, great day…filled with great joy and celebration in my home. You see on May 21st I will forever thank and praise God for blessing my life so richly with my precious son and, for allowing me for the only time in the 44 years of my life, to see my Dad at complete peace. Lessons Learned: God always is in control. He is preparing our hearts; He is preparing the way…always. If we will only seek Him, trust Him, look to Him for knowledge, wisdom, strength & courage He will lead us.
So Friends that is a quick snapshot of the Haslam year. We are truly blessed beyond measure.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you or your precious families. I will always be willing to help you any way I can.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and cherish your precious families.
Kev
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