Becoming Who You Were Created To Be - Introduction
Welcome to “Thoughtful Moments with Pastor Tim” a place where Pastor Tim takes a moment to share his thoughts in an attempt to give you something to think about. And now, here is your host, Pastor Tim (raucous applause).
Thank you. Thank you. I really appreciate this opportunity to share some of the things God is teaching me about how we can live the lives He created us to live. I have learned that this is something we all long for, but rarely find because we don’t know where to start. We search and we strive, we make lists and try to keep checking them off. We try to go to the right church and seminars and have the right experiences. We try to read the right books and do the right things. We make it so difficult and confusing that, instead of finding the freedom Jesus proclaims (John 8:31-36), we find ourselves more discouraged, more frustrated, more anxious, which leads to our failing again, and again, and again, and again (I think you get the point), and again.
If any of this rings true to you, I have good news. You are not alone. There are many others struggling with the same issues. Oh, we put on a good face and act like we have it all figured out, but inside we are constantly struggling with questions like, “Will I ever be able to live the life I was created for? Will I ever get to experience the fullness of God? Can I ever really have victory in my life? How can I truly experience peace? Can I really know that I am saved? Is this really all there is? (insert your question here)” and so many more.
I have struggled with these questions for most of my life. You would think that I would have had it figured out a lot quicker. After all, I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian family that not only went to church, but actively served in the church. Through those years I had the privilege of learning from some phenomenal pastors, preachers, and teachers as I attended church, summer camps, revival services, and numerous concerts, youth events, and conventions. I was able to attend a Christian College, where I studied to become a pastor. I learned all of the latest ways and strategies to study and preach the Bible and how to build a grow a successful church.
While at college I met the woman of my dreams (even though it took me a while to convince her to let me hang out with her let alone get her to marry me). However, I eventually wore her down, and we were married August 17, 1991. She is truly God’s gift to me as she has constantly sought to help me be my best and has been my best friend as well as my wife.
After two more years of college, we graduated, and moved to our first pastorate in Dorris, CA, where the first of our six children was born and where God began to show how He could work through us, if we would just stay faithful. Two years later, I was ordained as an Elder in the Church of the Nazarene, and God continued to work in and through me in various roles as he led us to different roles of ministry including lead pastor, youth pastor, associate pastor, full-time evangelist, and Christian school teacher. Through this time, God continued to bring the best and brightest of Christian teachers, preachers, theologians and speakers into my life. And, though I really wanted to get it right, I never could seem to quite grasp hold of what it took to fully live the life I was created for.
In fact, it wasn’t until about 3 years ago, when God introduced me to the book “Forgotten God” by Francis Chan, and brought a man named Roger Thompson into my life that I began to learn what it truly meant to walk in the relationship He desired with and for me. As I grew in that relationship, God began to show me how complicated and frustrating I had made things as I focused on doing the things He wanted me to. Instead, He showed me that His desire for me was that I become who He created me to be so that living as He created me to live would become a natural outflow of my becoming.
It has been an interesting journey for the past three years, and I definitely am still in the process of becoming. However, I have learned a lot and now God has commanded me to share what He has taught (and continues to teach) me. So I invite you to join me as we continue seeking to become who God created us to be in order to live as He created us to live. Buckle up, it’s going to be an exciting ride.
Alive in Christ,
Pastor Tim
