Turtles

    This past year has been crazy for me.  God has been doing crazy things in my heart.  He has been challenging me in crazy ways.  I am not always accepting of his challenges either.  He has placed people in my life that have been speaking truth into me.  He has been telling me to stop being stupid and just trust his plan.
   Part of being an Opher is being insecure and not confident in yourself.  I often doubt that the Lord would want me to be a vessel for him.  But this past year he has been really challenging me on that front.  He has given me an incredible vision and passion to live life with and love people with special needs.  He has given me much respncibility, responsibility that I did not really want at first.  He is telling me that if I trust in him, I can do anything, and that he is working in me and through me, to just allow him to do so.
   He has also attacked many of my insecurities and has shown me how stupid they are.  One of my biggest fears in life is being alone and not being liked or accepted by people.  This really shows in my desire to be in a relationship with a lady.  I have so many fears and insecurities in that area it is not even funny.  And after each rejection I receive God is there telling me to trust him and stop trying to replace him with love that cannot compare to his. 
   And finally he has been really challenging me to rethink what I want to do with my life.  To let him take over.  This past summer I volunteered at a Young Life camp and was shocked at the feedback I got from people.  The Lord was doing insane things in my heart and really showed me the person I could be if I truly lived with and for him.  Since June I have been really praying for a vision to my life.  I believe the Lord has placed full time ministry on my heart.  I do not know what that will look like but if the Lord is behind it then it will be very good.
   I guess through all the blabbering I have done, I am trying to impress upon my friends the importance of just trusting the Lord.  He wants to use us, he wants us to be extraordinary.  He will take care of me, through him I can be a man of Christ, with out him I will simply be a man of the world.  And that simply is not okay.  He will provide me the confidence and strength to help lead a ministry.  He will provide the answers I seek and the questions I have regarding full time ministry.  He will help me to be a loving husband and father, without him, I cannot be that.
    Friends, trust the Lord.  Be a branch connected to the vine.  John 15
Love,
Opher