God is Faithful to Provide - AFW

Introduce Self

Sermon Title: God is Faithful to Provide

All cards on the table. I’m fearful of making this about me.

God’s provision is a deeply personal topic for us.

First generation American. Parents came to the states in 1979. Have an ethic of hard work.

Worked my way through college. Met my wife at CFNI.

Married for 10 years we have always both worked.

We own a studio salon. Lauren is a mom and a business owner.

It was easy to rely on our giftings.

Early 2017, began to sense a shift. The Lord was dealing with me. I was physically present as a husband and father but was emotionally and spiritually absent.

Through counseling… the Lord began to deal with issues in my life that I was unwilling to touch—fatherhood issues.

December 2017: Decided to take a step of faith out of obedience to the Lord’s leading and leave a job I loved (place of affirmation). One income. What I thought was going to be 4 months turned to 12 months.

January: Major shifts in the salon—our only source of income. We knew the Lord was in the midst of it but we were uncertain/fearful if we were going to be able to make it.

February-May: We walked through an education assessment season with Cru and a salon remodel—spent money we were not expecting to spend. There were many nights I would be up in the middle of the night asking/pleading with God to increase my son’s capacity to learn to speak.

May: House broken in to and had quite a bit taken from us. We were in despair.

June: The Lord was gracious to provide somewhat of a reprieve through the World Cup and God provided through friends an ability for us to go to Sea World for Cru’s birthday and Vail, CO on a family vacation. Joy abounded as I delighted in my boys!

I registered to Lyft. Yet, didn’t feel at peace about switching my status to ON.

August-October: Difficult season of interviews that resulted in no job/income, calling was being tested, giftings were being tested. Our community rallied around us as frustration and thoughts of feeling misunderstood abounded.

Alright Lord you gotta do something!