The Power of 13

The Power of 13

This is a retrospective of my life from the time I was 13 leading up until now. Showing what God has done and what he has yet to do…

1) 1999
a. Moved to Florida
b. Settled into an official “youth group” setting
c. Back in Public School (was home-schooled for 7th grade)
d. Got used to a brand new life
e. Had trouble with people at school, was getting made fun of a lot.
f. Big into Pokémon cards

2) 2000
a. Transition into High School
b. Struggling to make the most of who I was
c. Started thinking about where I was going to college
d. Met Christian friends
e. Became an uncle

3) 2001
a. Hated my life
b. Wanted to commit suicide
c. Made fun of the most during this time
d. 9/11

4) 2002
a. Came close to being the target of an anti-Semitic hate crime
b. Really dug into the music realm
i. Creed
ii. Weezer
iii. Linkin Park
c. Got the biggest into video games
i. Got a Nintendo Game Cube
d. Got a new youth pastor
e. Big into Smallville

5) 2003
a. Went on a trip to Japan
i. Got my calling into the ministry
b. Felt like I was being pushed to the side in my church
i. Felt like the new youth pastor played favorites and I knew I wasn’t one of them
c. Got to the hardest point (academically) in High School
d. Went on my first passion conference
i. Became an uncle again

6) 2004
a. Got my first real job (Chick-Fil-A)
b. Transition into college
c. Started serving as a youth group leader in Middle School
d. Got the start of my independence
i. Driving a 2003 Ford Taurus SES
ii. Music was the deepest thing for me
1. Discovered “Running Just to Catch Myself” by Mark Schultz, and it has become my absolute favorite song of all time.

7) 2005
a. First instance of being an adult
i. Tax Return
b. First real date I have ever been on (Amber Wilson)
c. Got my first iPod
i. Showed what hard work can do if you put your mind to it.
d. Went on tour of Boyce College
e. Became a mission trip leader
i. Went to New York City on the other side of the youth fence as a LEADER
f. Went to a youth ministry conference in Nashville
g. Went to Israel

8) 2006
a. Went away to College
i. Discovered how capable I really am
ii. Made great friends
iii. Got a whole new perspective on my life
b. Had the hard lessons to learn
i. People started showing me tough love in an attempt to show me that I needed to grow.

9) 2007
a. First realized how I need to not be selfish
i. Gave so much of myself in order for people to get by
b. Realized a calling that God has given me was laying hidden in my mind, so I changed the path I was taking.

10) 2008
a. Got a glimpse into my future, and watched 2 different friends get married, thinking that it would never be me.
b. Got the deepest into video games
i. Worked a summer and bought a Wii
c. Got serious with my ministry, and started planning for the biggest things of all

11) 2009
a. Spent a summer in Japan as a missionary
b. Went to Southwestern Seminary and got a glimpse of what life would be like

12) 2010
a. My health took a turn for the worse
i. Hospitalized for a Heart Attack
b. Graduated from College
i. Showed the world that I was capable of being so much more than what I already was
c. Transitioned to Southwestern Seminary
i. Made close friends
1. Found out who the true friends were
d. Met the person I was meant to marry

13) 2011
a. Preached my first revival
b. Had a girlfriend
i. Asked her to marry me
c. Licensed for the Ministry
i. Taught 2 sermons on 2 different Sundays in the church
d. Realized that my selfishness was running my life and I had to do something to stop it.
i. Had so much happen to me at once, God was breaking down walls and showing me that I really did have to change and make things happen in my life.
Today makes 2 months until my wedding day, and in the month of November, I say the things that make me thankful for each day.

November 7th, Thank You Lord for allowing me to get this far in being engaged, and for all you are going to do in the 2 months until my wedding day. You are the master of my destiny O God, and I cannot live my life or take a single breath without you!