What I’ve learned this year

At the beginning of the year, I resolved to let go of my tendency to take on life by myself and to become reliant on God, through Jesus Christ.  So this morning I thought I’d post on what has happened so far this year.

In 2011, God used events to show me that I really didn’t trust him.  And it was true.  As a result, I was consumed by anxiety. World events that I could see frightened me.  Part of the reason I worked so hard was fear of tomorrow.

So I “let go, and let God.”  I repented for my unbelief in not trusting the one who created me, had shown me such mercy, and showered me with blessings of a loving wife, son, and family.  My prayer life changed.  In addition to my morning prayers, I talked to Him all day long, thanking him, asking for help and guidance in nearly every task I undertook.  If I felt the old feelings of fear and doubt, I told Him.  My belief and trust grew.

I got a contract job in January with Nortel maintaining software.  A few hours a week. When I got my first paycheck (first one in a few months) I felt confliction about tithing.  So I told Him  I trust You with my life, so what is money?  I wrote out a check for 10%.  A few days later, I got a call from my Insurance man on a Friday evening.  They were going to cut my costs on home insurance and almost half on my car insurance.  He said, “I can tell you are looking for a catch, but there is none.”  There wasn’t a catch and I did save a chunk.  Coincidence?

In February, I got a new customer to develop a business website. At the end of March, my Nortel contract was supposed to end, but I got extended for 3 more months.  I continued to look for employment, and got some interviews, but no job.  I stayed buried in the Word.  I watched world events continue to spiral downward, but instead of the fear I used to feel, I felt expectation of how He would protect me from what I saw happening.  Any time I did feel anxiety, I told Him, and the stress would leave.

I helped do some work with a friend and got to meet George Herring.  In exchange for the work, he trained me.  I always thought my weakness was skinny arms and legs, but George made me learn about my core muscles.  My body and my will got stronger.  Ask me about Snow Bunnies sometime.

In April, I began to look for retail space to try to launch Tech Harbor/Loganville Linux.  It was going to be expensive, and most places wanted a 24 month contract.  It seemed so risky Suddenly, a place in Loganville opened up.  I met the owner, Butch, to look around.  Butch was a Christian and willingly testified about being covered by the blood.  “Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith, and trust that God will help you.”  I prayed on it for a few weeks. I signed a lease on May 1.

The next day, I got a call from a recruiter about a Drupal job and I was excited.  I interviewed on the phone, then on-site.  On Monday I will start a 5 month contract with Turner Broadcasting doing Drupal sites for NBA.com.  I have worked on Drupal since 2008, and had dreamed being a big-time Drupal developer.

So what I’ve learned is this: I don’t know what the future brings, but God does.  He can be trusted to do what He said he will do for those that trust in Him.

So today, I give him all the Praise and Glory to God, for the things he has done for me, to the Holy Spirit, who has comforted me these 142 days, and to Jesus who shed his life to save me.

Author: MichaelJ

I was born naked, and unable to care for myself. But I struggled, and people helped me along the way.

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