We’re moving.  “But I thought you had moved already?” you might ask.  We have.  And we’ve put a lot of sweat and effort into this new house.  The thing no one ever really thinks about, is you have to move out of your old place.  You have to clean it up.  So, with that said, we’re still ‘moving’.

I’ve been so excited to get into this house.  Maybe too excited.  I have not, until today, taken a second to look backwards.  That little one bedroom, one bath apartment was our 1st home.  That is where we went on our wedding night, it’s where we’ve sat together, countless nights (Ok. they’re not countless, they’re very countable actually) watching T.V. or just talking to each other.  Heck, not to be too graphic, but that’s where we made a baby…  That’s where I got to know my wife. That’s where we found out she was pregnant together… That’s where we freaked out together… That’s where we dreamed together.

Today, I returned to the apartment to do some finishing touches, including painting over somethings Andrea had painted on the wall.  As I took that paint brush and ran it over the painting it hit me.

Everything hit me.  All at once.  Not just moving, but everything.  10 months ago, we started an adventure together.  Life.  Where we would go, we had no clue. (We even spoke of up and moving to Oregon at one point)  We moved into a one bedroom apartment that allotted us NO personal space.  We learned about each other.  We argued with each other(and when we argued, we had to work it out.. I couldn’t go anywhere and hide.)  We prayed with each other.  We grew to love each other more.  She became a wife, and I became a husband.  We created a life together, and we created a life together.  (I wrote that twice on purpose…. )

Now, She’s going to be a mom and I’m going to be a dad.  We’re going to be parents together.  She probably has a better connection with the reality of it.  The truth is.  I didn’t fully and probably… still don’t.    But it’s all starting to sink in.  In 6 weeks and 6 days, we will start another part of life together.  With someone else.  Someone who poops and cries a lot.  And the weird thing… I’m excited.

Why am I excited?  Well, because we’re gonna have a beautiful child.

Also though, because, we’re gonna be together.

Just a friendly reminder.  Hakuna Matata in real life.  (it means no worries)  Remember that today.

Times are tight.  It’s no secret for anyone.  Money is harder to come by, and when you come by it, you have to work twice as hard to get it.  Everyone knows that nowadays.

When I was in my early 20′s. (Words I never thought I’d say) I was a bar manager.  What that meant was I got paid 800 dollars base every week.  I also got to take 4 bar shifts of my choice. What that means is I was making an additional 500-800 dollars depending on the week.   Do the math.  It was a good amount of money.  I’m not saying I was rich, but what I am saying is I had money.  Now, what I was spending that money on is something different.  I was spending that money to fill a void.  I spent it to feel accepted.  I spent it (at least 100 dollars a day) to get high/drunk.

Now.  I work as an IT professional.  I’m not going to say my salary, because I’ll probably get laughed off of the interwebs, and we don’t want that.  I have money, but it’s tight.  But what else I have is incomparable. I have a wife who loves me, a strong support from friends and a little baby girl on the way.  I have a found love from Jesus Christ, who died for everything I did when I was at the bar.  And last but not least, I have peace.  Peace.

So, as I sit here convicted, constantly stressing about my bank account and how much money goes into it versus how much comes out, I am reminded by my Savior and Lover of my soul, I am rich in so many other things that money doesn’t really matter.

AND: If I sit around all day long and obsess over money, and argue about money, and cry about money, and pray about money, and think about money, and think of ways to get money and, did I say cry about money?  I might just miss a second to tell my wife I love her, to imagine what my daughter is gonna look like in 15 years, what I’m gonna tell her the first time a boy breaks up with her, what I’m gonna tell that boy the first time she introduces me to him, what an amazing love I’ve found in Jesus, to pray for friends safety (and/or recovery) to pray for my wife’s healthy pregnancy and to just give God all the praise and glory I can.

Amen.

So, to keep you in the loop, I record a podcast with some buddies of mine.  We talk about all sorts of junk, and have a really good time doing so.  We have some awesome news for our upcoming podcast we record this Wednesday:  Check it out.  This is what Brad had to write about it:

This Wednesday, August 12th we have the opportunity to interview Mike Dawson.  Now for most of you, that might not be a household name.  I understand that, but in the coming months, after you hear the story that Mike’s going to tell, all that will change.  Mike is one of the writers responsible for the new riveting film, “The Enemy God”.  The film is a wonderful depiction of a TRUE STORY about redemption and how Christ is constantly intervening and saving the Yanomamo people!  Believe me when I tell you that some of the things Mike is going to talk about is going to ABSOLUTELY BLOW YOUR MIND!!

I had a chance to go to a screening of the film on Friday and it just blew me away!  Even the intro that Mike gave the film blew me away!

For more information, you can go to the film’s website here, or you can contact CaffeinatedFaith.com for more info.  The podcast should be available August 14th so be ready!

One month.  It has been one month since I have quit drinking energy drinks.  Let me tell you something, it is not easy.  The hardest time is the morning, obviously.  But also, when we go out to play trivia or something.  

My escape from not drinking a beer at a bar has always been redbull. (more expensive I might add)  Now, I don’t have that shield.  I have a sprite.  Not as awesome.  

It’s helped me remember to pray.  Sound silly?  Well, it’s not to me.  It reminds me, every morning, yes, every morning, to die to myself.  It’s a great reminder.  I can’t imagine how these kids must feel.  Hungry, tired, weak, all because we can’t cough up 1 dollar a week, or a day, or a month, to help them out. 

Lord, please help me remember there are people out there hurting.  Your people.  Help me not loose compassion.  Help me remember that there are things I don’t need, no matter how much my brain might try to convince me.  God.  Help me live like you!

-Amen!