Can You See Him

After today's talk about seeing God at work in our life I wanted to recall His work in my life. (warning this is really long)

• Born in to the home of parents who had a Christian background but were living far from God.
• Lived with alcohol abuse as a big part of my family life through my formative years.
• I struggled through school and was extremely introverted. "Most likely to fail at most everything."
• Started playing hockey at age 9 and found some confidence that I didn't have before.
• Alcohol was no longer a part of my family and healing began to take place in many areas of my life and family.
• My family started to engage with Church. Can't say I liked getting dressed up and going to a strange church but God began to work.
• My hockey dream came to and end. Not the next NHL superstar. Canadian boys all dream they can make it big.
• My family became very engaged in the Church. (parents engage your family every week with the church it's the best gift you can give your kids - it's better than sports, education, hobbies, socializing, family events.)
• Came to faith in Christ.
• Began to see my life from God's perspective.
• Witnessed God's work in my parents life and others.
• Worked in my dad's business from age 13. Learned a lot to say the least.
• Came to faith in Christ. Never the same again. Greatest gift from God
• Good friends in my life helped keep me on a good path.
• Met my wife when I was 18. Knew she was the one. Second best gift God gave me. 
• Graduated from high school and managed my dad's business. Way over my head, but learned a lot.
• Looked for something more in my Christian faith. Not finding it.
• Married my sweet heart.
• Family business sold and we moved to Florida to follow my dream.
• Owned my own business.
• Got engaged in a good church. Served  lots...grew in my faith.
• Loved living in Florida. Made incredible life long friends.
• Began to be uneasy with my business career. Went in different directions but found no peace.
• Both children born while in Florida. Changed my life in so many ways. The joys and challenges of parenting have shaped me.
• Loved serving in the church.
• By age 27 owned two cars, part of several business and owned my own home.
• Experienced a clear call of God to move back to Canada. Crazy stuff. "Who better to tell Canadians about Jesus than a Canadian." That very clear calling was about 13 years ago. Side note - Baptized 6 people today (Canadians LOL) and have seen around 30 people accept Christ just in the last two years. 
• Even though I had that clear calling I still wrestled for over a year with my calling back to Canada.
• Sold everything and moved back to Canada. All I knew was that God wanted me to serve in the church I grew up in as a teen.
• Over the next few months I ended up as a staff member of the church -- way over my head. Had a great pastor who mentored me and invested in me.
• Spent 7 years at Garden City Church. Incredible years. Felt a calling to a church like Church at the Falls.
• Moved on to a church in California. Thought it would be long term. Lasted for 3 months. God used it. When I left and moved back to St. Catharines I knew I would plant a church. Tough days ahead to say the least.
• I was hired after a couple months by Harbour Fellowship Church. Incredible experience. God used this to prepare me for Church at the Falls in more ways than I could ever say.
• Felt a strong calling to plant a church in Niagara Falls. One slight problem, no one was on board with me. Faced a lot of opposition from well meaning people. This experience taught me to stand on my own and do what God called me to do. Would have never made it to today without learning that.
• Ran my own carpet cleaning business while waiting for God to open doors to start this new church. Doubted God's call, ran from God and told God there where others more able to do this. Maybe I had heard wrong. It's amazing how we fail to see God at work in our lives.
• Lost a lot of money on the carpet cleaning equipment when the doors opened to start the church. Had a guy sell the equipment for me and he really ripped me off. That was one of the many sacrifices we made to move into church planting. So worth it though. 
• God brought a team of amazing people around me to plant this church. He provided big time.
• We started with 15 people (we have over 100 two years later that connect with CATF)
• 6 months into the church plant and just heading into our first September (a time for church growth) I ended up in the hospital for 4 weeks. Pain, disillusionment and lots of questions. It was through this time I readjusted my view of the church, it was God's church and I gave it all back to him. He worked through this time and took care of everything (I shouldn't be surprised). 
• CATF is two years old now. Amazing! Lots more adventure ahead.                

I could go on, but I will stop and say this. I can see God's work in my life in so many ways over the years and all I've done is highlight some events. When I look back, it's not fate I see, not my good choices, not my talent, not anything like that. It was God at work and He is still working. Can you see Him? I can and I needed to share my story so that I could see Him more clearly and hopefully it will help you see Him at work. How about you? Do you see Him in your life?