What was life like before you met Jesus?
Before I came to faith in Jesus, my life was about my job and providing for my family. I was letting a good thing become an ultimate thing, which could not bring me joy. I was self-centered in most of my relationships, especially with my family. I would take my work home and be focused on that. I went to bars and hung out with my friends. I was looking for satisfaction and joy in the pursuits and pleasures of this world, which usually involved alcohol. But I always coached my children in sports, and I was very actively involved in their activities: choir, theater, dance, and so forth. But when they reached adulthood, I was pretty much solo and did my own thing. It was very easy for me to make my life about me. I needed guidance and not vices.
How did you meet Jesus?
My youngest daughter, Abby, began attending youth group at Veritas. She inspired me to buy my first Bible and invited me to start attending Sunday morning worship gatherings with her. Attending church and hearing the weekly message gave me cause to dedicate myself to reading the Bible. I was not satisfied with just reading it, I studied it. I began highlighting passages and taking notes. I learned to interpret what the Bible was saying. I flagged each page and used arrow Post-it notes to break down specific scriptures for me to study and analyze. God revealed to me that by making my life so much about myself, I was letting life consume me as I overindulged in the world. My focus, which used to be primarily on my job, shifted so that I could become dedicated to focusing on my personal faith.
Romans 5:1-5 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Colossians 3:1-4 says, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
After being saved by Jesus, what is your life like now?
In 2020, I moved to Dodge City, KS, and once again, I became consumed by long work days. All my friends and family were back in Iowa, so every day it was just me, screw-drivers, beer, and alcohol putting a band-aid in my denial and loneliness. My true awakening was a day in October 2022 when my daughters Hannah and Abby took the time to drive 431 miles South and wake me up to my foolishness. They helped me see I could turn away from my destructive path. Hannah let her emotions flow, and with tears shared between us, I decided to improve my relationship with Jesus and my daughters. By the grace of God, I have been sober for nearly 14 months. My favorite verse is 2 Timothy 2:22, which says, “As I have freed myself from youthful passions and pursued righteousness., faith, love and peace.” To the glory of God, I dedicate myself to following Jesus and what he commands us in the Bible. I am now alive in Jesus.
“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” - Romans 6:11