All Fired Up - Part 2

This is Part 2. To read from the beginning, click here.

         After finding out his girlfriend was pregnant, Jeff* moved back in with her. She acted normal when she wasn’t drinking, and things were good. He was working his dream job as a fight fighter, and she was looking forward to having a baby. 

         When she found out she was not able to nurse her baby girl, she started drinking again. She didn’t drink everyday. She was a binge drinker, and she drank as fast as she could, until she passed out. He tried talking with her to get her to stop. They argued often about it. He threatened to take the baby if she continued.  She never stopped. One day when she was passed out drunk, he packed his and the baby’s things and moved out.

         Anita’s mother called CYFD and told them he could not take the baby. John paid for a lawyer and took her to court. His lawyer said the state was usually biased against single Dad’s, especially with daughters. There was a huge hearing in the courthouse. Both of their families were there and told the judge Anita had a drinking problem. But Anita was manipulative, and since CYFD never saw her drinking, they released the baby to her.

         His lawyer told Jeff to stay away from Anita. But Jeff was worried sick something would happen to his baby girl. He had anxiety, depression and heart palpitations worrying about her. Daily he drove to the house to check on her. When he heard her crying and saw Anita passed out, he called the police. They came and would let Jeff take the baby home, but he had to bring her back in the morning. This happened so often the police told him to stop calling them, because they were not responsible for settling domestic disputes.

         When he worked 48 hours straight, he would worry even more about his daughter, because he could not go and check on her. Once while he was at work, the police called him. They said they had his daughter in the parking lot of a casino outside of town. The officers arrested Anita, who was passed out drunk with their baby in the back seat of the car. Initially, Anita told the officers there was no father involved. This made Jeff angry. How could she do that to him?

         While Anita was in jail, CYFD called him to find out where she was. He argued on the phone and they threatened to take his baby from him. When he got off the phone he called Anita’s father. He was a high ranking politician and whenever Anita got arrested, he called and was able to have her released. He did not want the news about his daughter getting out because it could damage his career. This time, Jeff called and threatened to go to the news if he didn’t help Jeff. The father agreed and called a manager at CYFD and told them his daughter was unfit to parent her child. They called Jeff back, apologized to him, and said they were closing the case in his favor and he would have primary custody of their daughter.

         After that, Anita was not allowed to be alone with her daughter. Jeff had full custody, but he still had so much anger and rage inside, he wanted to get revenge for the way Anita treated him and spoke about him to the authorities. She showed up at his house smelling of alcohol and he would get even more angry. He wanted to destroy her. He didn’t care if she died, yet he still loved her and cared about her. Jeff was mad at God for the situation he was in. He couldn’t sleep even with the baby in his house. He would drive to Anita’s house and rage and scare the people off who were partying at her house. He wanted to hurt them.

         Revenge consumed Jeff. He started plotting. He thought if he burned her house down, she wouldn’t have a place to party and maybe she would stop drinking. He rehearsed all the details in his head. One night he decided to go through with it. He called Anita to make sure she was not at home. He waited until dark and parked his car down the street so the neighbors wouldn’t see it. He snuck to her house and was going to break in through the back door. Being a fire fighter he knew how to make it look like an accident. He was going to leave a bottle of alcohol on the stove and then light it on fire.

         He was at the lowest point in his life. He didn’t know how it happened, but all of a sudden he heard someone say, "Stop! You need help!” 

(Click here to read what happened next.)

*Names changed.

 

Have you ever been consumed with anger to the point of wanting to take revenge?

How do you handle people who lie about you or treat you with contempt?

This is part of a series called 31 Days of Change. To read others in this series, click the links below. 

Click here to read about Our Adoption Adventure.  

Click here to read about Hearing God.

Day 1:   He Did What?!

Day 2:  Called Out in Class

Day 3:  Stuck in the Desert

Day 4:  Nicest Guy in Hell

Day 5:  Domino's Delivers More Than Pizza

Day 6:  Mommy, You Need God  - Part 1

Day 7:  Mommy, You Need God - Part 2

Day 8:  Meeting My Messiah

Day 9:   Depression to Joy

Day 10:  Seasons of Change

Day 11:  In the Enemy's Ring

Day 12:  Holding His Hand

Day 13:  Changed

Day 14:  12 Thoughts on Change

Day 15:  A Prodigal Daughter’s Journey

Day 16:  What if God Never Calls?

Day 17:  Never the Same

Day 18:  The C Word

Day 19:  Punk to Pastor

Day 20:  Lessons After Class

Day 21:  Is There Life After Prison?

Day 22:  I Can Handle it On My Own

Day 23:

Day 24:  All Fired Up

Day 25:  All Fired Up  - Part2

Day 26:  All Fired Up - Part 3

Day 27:  When the Father Ran

Day 28:  A Little Hope Goes a Long Way

Day 29:  Brian Singing "Worn"

Day 30:

Day 31:

 Blessings,

What if God Never Calls?

         Tom grew up in an religious Lutheran family, so religious they never missed a Sunday in church. If his family was out of town and not able to make it to their home church, his Mother would have them pull up in front of a Lutheran church where ever they were, and have one of the kids run into the church and pick up a church bulletin. She would then turn it into the church office when they returned home, allowing Tom and his sister to receive an 18-year perfect church attendance pin when they turned 18. After graduating from high school Tom wanted nothing to do with that hypocrisy.

         When he left home, Tom ran far away from church and toward everything the world had to offer. After he married and had children, a man he met led him to accept Christ as his savior.  He went to the man’s church and felt good about himself for a few months. After a while, he thought the church was too weird and he stopped going.

         Tom vacillated in and out of church for years. He landed in an inner city church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and there he learned what it was like to have a mentor pour into him. He re-accepted Christ and was baptized, for the third time. Even though he was involved in church, he was pompous and arrogant about his Christianity. He told everyone all he knew, but he wasn’t living the Christian life at all.

         His career flourished and he became CEO of a large fitness company. He and his best friend were in business together. It wasn’t enough for Tom to be successful at his career. He was recognized as an expert in his field and traveled around the world and spoke and lectured. Life was good.

         In 2012, his life began to unravel. He was separated from his wife and remembers feeling depressed and alone, when he heard God speak to him in his spirit, “I want more from you.” Tom thought, “Wow. God is going to bless me even more.”

         Six weeks later he was fired from his CEO job, and accused of embezzling by his best friend. The friend slandered him and falsely accused him, writing articles in fitness magazines, against him. Tom lost his job, his credibility, his clients,  and his income. The only job he could find was as a landscaper. He pushed a wheel barrow filled with mulch up hills all day long. He went from earning six figures to $11 an hour. It was a humbling experience and he turned to God as his only hope.

         God restored his marriage and he was offered a job as a fitness center manager in Albuquerque. He accepted the job and he and his wife moved. He knew as soon as they arrived, he needed to find a church and a group of Christian friends. He joined Sagebrush Community Church and found a caring small group, leaned in and took classes, and soon was asked to teach a class. He had to fly back and forth to Lancaster for the embezzlement hearings. He prayed God would rescue him and after several stress filled years, he was cleared of all charges.

         As God was clearing Tom’s finances, He was also purging him of his pride and self-sufficiency. Tom was grateful to God for all He had done in his life. A few years later Tom was given a promotion and offered a job as a regional manager. At the same time, his church saw his love and commitment to Christ, and offered him a job as a Campus Pastor. He had a decision to make. Should he take the promotion which would increase his salary or take the Pastor position which would cut his salary? He loved God and wanted to follow Him, but the increase in salary was very tempting. For years Tom pursued wealth, recognition and self. In discussing his options with his wife, she said the fitness company would never hire him back and would not call him again to work there even as a trainer. Tom said,

“What if God never calls me again?”

He knew he had to answer the call from God.

         Today Tom is a great fit as a Campus Pastor in a rural community. He loves horses, the outdoors and the people he serves. He says he still looks in the mirror everyday and asks God how He could use a guy like him. He is humbled and honored that God called him and is using him. God continues to bring people into Tom’s life who he can share the love of Christ with.

         Tom is a different man than he was years ago. The love of God, His forgiveness and grace changed him forever.

Pastor Tom

Have you ever missed it when God called you to do something? We have to make the choice everyday whether we will follow God or not. How do you determine what is God's call and what is your own preference?

This is Day 16 in the 31 Days of Change series. Click the links below to read the other days. If you would like to read previous year's series, click here to read about Our Adoption Adventure.  Click here to read about Hearing God. If you would like to read other blogs and different topics you can go to Write31days.com.

Day 1:   He Did What?!

 Day 2:  Called Out in Class

Day 3:  Stuck in the Desert

Day 4:  Nicest Guy in Hell

Day 5:  Domino's Delivers More Than Pizza

Day 6:  Mommy, You Need God  - Part 1

Day 7:  Mommy, You Need God - Part 2

Day 8:  Meeting My Messiah

Day 9:   Depression to Joy

Day 10:  Seasons of Change

Day 11:  In the Enemy's Ring

Day 12:  Holding His Hand

Day 13:  Changed

Day 14:  12 Thoughts on Change

Day 15:  A Prodigal Daughter’s Journey

Day 16:  What if God Never Calls?

Day 17:  Never the Same

Day 18:  The C Word

Day 19:  Punk to Pastor

Day 20:  Lessons After Class

Day 21:

Day 22:

Day 23:

Day 24:

Day 25:

Day 26:

Day 27:

Day 27:

Day 28:

Day 29:

Day 30:

Day 31:

He Did What?!

     I love a great story. I think I started writing so I could share great stories with others. I love the amazing stories of regular people in the Bible doing extraordinary things for God. If the book of Acts didn’t end, but continued to be written today, there would be an abundance of stories, because God continues to Change people’s lives.   

     God is still in the business of rescuing people, saving them, and filling people with his Holy Spirit . . .  and an encounter with God changes people.

     The stories where God showed up in someone’s life and did something miraculous, brought them out of their bad circumstances, repaired their relationship, healed them, provided for them when there was nothing, forgave them, and gave them peace, purpose and love are the most exciting. Hearing the person tell how God changed their life is inspiring. In the last seven years, since becoming a Pastor’s wife, I have had a front row seat watching God change people’s lives.

 

     For this 31-day series, I am sharing some of those stories. Many of them would make great movies. So, grab some popcorn or a drink, and get ready to read some life changing stories. I pray you are inspired and your faith in God is awakened as you read.

     One last thing, -- every year my husband asks me why this month long writing challenge isn’t in February, when there are only 28 days, instead of 31. Because every year around October 25 I panic and don’t know if I will have enough stories to continue all the way to day 31! If you or someone you know has had their life changed after an encounter with God, and you would like to share it, as an encouragement for others, I would love to include it in this series. You can email me at robyncarrillo10@gmail.com.

     Tomorrow, our Senior Pastor, Todd, gave me permission to tell his story. He certainly was Changed for the better. (No, I didn’t intend for that to be a “Wicked” reference! LOL!)  

To read all the 31 Days of Change stories, click here to access the whole list.

Are You Chicken?

When I was four years old we lived on the island of Guam and one day someone gave our family six baby chicks. They were so cute! They were fluffy and soft and constantly in motion in their new home on our screened in back porch. I am not sure what happened to our precious pets, but after the words ‘loud’ and ‘messy’ were heard a number of times, the chicks disappeared. 

         Recently, it seems more and more people are raising chickens in their backyard. Costco even sells a kit to build your urban chicken coop. When my friend bought one and put it together for her two baby chicks, I seriously thought about buying and raising chickens too. My schedule and the amount of coyotes that live and roam in our neighborhood deterred me.

         When my friend’s chickens grew to a certain size, she took them to the vet to have their wings clipped. The vet told her she only needed to clip one wing because if the chicken’s wings were unbalanced they would never be able to fly. It didn’t matter what size their wings grew to, as long as one wing was longer than the other the chickens could not fly and would stay safely in her backyard.

         Kay Arthur, in her book, Lord, Teach Me to Pray, says prayer and God’s Word are like two wings of a bird: Both are needed if the bird is going to fly.

         I don’t know about you, but in certain seasons of my life one of my wings is usually longer than the other. Sometimes my prayer wing is longer when I have many things to talk to God about, and I pour out my long list of requests to Him. But without my other wing, reading God’s Word, I don’t hear from Him. I don’t know His thoughts or plans for me unless I am reading His Word daily.

         How about you? Are you a chicken with one of your wings longer than the other, keeping you from flying in your Christian walk? Or are you like an eagle with both prayer and the Word of God propelling you higher in your journey?

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

How Loud Does God Have to Be?

The Bible says God speaks to us in a “still small voice.” But, sometimes it seems He goes to extreme measures to cause us to hear Him, especially when we are disobeying what He already told us to do or stop doing.

A friend shared this story with me:

"I had a nagging issue that haunted my life for years… alcohol.  I was not an alcoholic, but I was married to one.  As a bible believing Jesus follower, I abstained from alcohol for 8 years hoping it would help my husband to quit drinking. However, he never quit and it infuriated him that I did not drink. I know the Bible does not state that alcohol use is a sin, but only drunkenness. Ephesians 5:18 says. “Do not get drunk on wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  But for me and my situation, I knew God wanted me to avoid all alcohol.

Most of my Christian friends drink alcohol on occasions and do not get drunk. My husband begged me to be more relaxed and drink again. I considered how others drink and they still love Jesus. Finally, I caved as I reasoned that Jesus drank wine too, right?  I determined that I would only have limited alcohol on special occasions… just a glass of wine- like Jesus.  Special occasions became more frequent.  One glass became two.

One night I went with my girlfriend to a “special occasion” make -up party.  It had been a rough week so I jumped at the opportunity for some fun. 

My friend drove me home from the party and I realized I was supposed to go pick up my daughter from church. Usually her dad picked her up, but he was gone, so I zipped out to get her.  While I was driving her and her friend home, I started to switch lanes but then realized there was a car next to me.   And, I may have heard a faint noise -possibly the sound of my car tapping an object.  Both of our vehicles pulled over to assess any damage- no dents, just a dab of my car’s paint rubbed on his mirror.  

Rather than take responsibility for the minimal damage, I told him I could not be sure who was at fault, (my insurance agent taught me this clever trick).  The other driver called the police.  The cop came to my window and asked if I had been drinking alcohol.  I nervously answered “yes, a glass, well, actually two half glasses of wine.”  My mind was reeling. “Why in the world did I drink alcohol and then drive?” Actually, “Why in the world did I even drink alcohol?”  

The DUI officer gave me a breathalyzer test and arrested me.  When he handcuffed me and shoved me into his vehicle, I immediately heard the powerful voice of GOD!  It was not an audible voice but it was clearly recognizable and decisive.  God told me that He would not be mocked, that He had warned me prior to quit alcohol but that I had not listened.   He conveyed that I was to immediately quit drinking alcohol and to thank the DUI officer.  I praised God for the lesson and then I thanked the officer, explaining to him what God told me about quitting all alcohol.  (I wish I could say that the officer trusted that I learned a valuable lesson and released me!)  No, I was shaken to the absolute core for 21 hours until my release from jail.  I considered all the “what if’s” and am eternally grateful that no one was hurt!  I was deeply repentant, bearing huge regret over my dreadful choices.  It would have been much easier if I had listened to the Lord’s sweet, quiet voice earlier… then He wouldn’t have had to yell!  And yet, in my jail cell the Lord spoke love and forgiveness over me.  

In James 1:2, Paul writes, “Consider it all joy when you endure trials.”   If we listen to HIS voice in trials, then the eyes of our hearts are enlightened to consider it pure joy.  With divine purpose, our glorious God made beauty from ashes.  I am delighted to live 100% alcohol free and my children are better off because of it.   Now I try more diligently to listen and obey HIS sweet, quiet voice before it gets loud."

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Have you had a time when God went to extremes to get you to listen to Him? Have you found it is easier to listen and obey the first time you hear Him?

In the month of October I wrote a series called 31 Days of Hearing God. If you missed it, you can click on the links below.

Day 1: Take Off Your Sandals

Day 2:  God in the Grocery Store

Day 3:  God in the Grocery Store - Part2

Day 4:  Peeking During Prayer

Day 5:  How Do We Know God's Voice?

Day 6:  A Young Mom, Toddler Toys and Hearing God

Day 7:  Hearing God When Making Decisions

Day 8:  Lining Up Those Ducks

Day 9:   Hearing God for Our Kids

Day 10: God or Genie in a Bottle?

Day 11: The Perfect Day to Hear God

Day 12: Hearing God in a Crisis

Day 13:  7 Ways to Test an Impression

Day 14:  Remote Assignment

Day 15:  God's Silence

Day 16:  Hearing God While Dating

Day 17:  Hearing God Bible Verses

Day 18:  What Others Say About Hearing God

Day 19:  Hearing God Through Distractions

Day 20:  Hearing God as a Child

Day 21:  Hearing God in Confusion

Day 22:  Hearing God's Encouraging Voice

Day 23:  Hearing God on a Tractor

Day 24:  An Email Confirmation

Day 25:  Do You Really Want to Hear From God?

Day 26:  Why Hear God?

Day 27:  Are You Texting God?

Day 28:  Hearing God in Our Depression

Day 29:  To Hear God We Must Know God

Day 30:  Desperate to Hear God

Day 31:  Desperate to Hear God (Part 2)

 

Desperate to Hear God (Part 2)

. . . Click here to read Part 1.

          I felt a calm come over me. Nothing about my situation changed, but somehow I knew everything was going to be okay.

          The next day at work, I took a phone book and walked to a back office to use the phone. (This was a few years before Google and cell phones.) The only person I could think of to call, and ask, “um, how do I get back to God?” was the Senior Pastor at the large church I attended a few years before. I didn’t know him personally, nor did he know me, so I certainly don’t hold it against him, but I burst into tears when his secretary told me he could not talk to me. She offered to put me through to the College Pastor. Knowing what I know now, I should have spoken to the College Pastor. I’m sure he knew exactly how I could find my way back to God. At the time, though, I was embarrassed and didn’t think anyone else ever had this problem, so I didn’t want to talk to just anybody.

Still desperate and sad, I prayed again,

“God I don’t know anybody who can help me. Please send someone who can help me get out of this pit and back to You.”

I needed to get myself together, so I got in my car and left for my lunch break. On the way, I drove past my old high school and stopped at a red light. A group of high school students crossed in front of me on their way to the pizza place across from the school. There, in the middle of the group, I saw the leader of the Young Life group I went to when I was in high school. He walked in front of my car and I knew instantly God brought him there at the exact time I stopped at the light. It was as if God was parading him in front of me, with a neon sign over his head saying “Call him.”

Smiling, I knew God answered my prayer. “Yes Lord! That’s a great idea, I will call him!”

           
          I didn’t know him and his wife well, and I doubted they would remember me. But I knew I had to call them, because they would know how to help me get back to God. That was what Young Life was about, telling high school students how to have a relationship with God. Surely, I wasn’t the only one who fell away from God and didn’t know how to get back. I couldn’t wait to talk to them.

        
           I will never forget what they told me the night I met with them. After I explained my dilemma, he said, “I know what your problem is. You are trying to be a Lone Ranger Christian. You need to be with other believers. God didn’t make us to walk the Christian life by ourselves.”

          They invited me to a college women’s Bible study. We met weekly and studied about spiritual gifts.Through the weeks of reading God’s Word, studying, praying and meeting with others who wanted to grow closer to God, an amazing thing happened.

I found my way back to Him.

"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. ‘I will be found by you,' declares the LORD."    Jeremiah 29:12-14

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I hope you enjoyed this series on Hearing God. This was part of the month long writing challenge at write31days.com. To read the rest of the series, click the links below. If you would like to read future posts, please sign up in the upper right hand corner to receive them by email.

Day 1: Take Off Your Sandals
Day 2:  God in the Grocery Store
Day 3:  God in the Grocery Store - Part2
Day 4:  Peeking During Prayer
Day 5:  How Do We Know God's Voice?
Day 6:  A Young Mom, Toddler Toys and Hearing God
Day 7:  Hearing God When Making Decisions
Day 8:  Lining Up Those Ducks
Day 9:   Hearing God for Our Kids
Day 10: God or Genie in a Bottle?
Day 11: The Perfect Day to Hear God
Day 12: Hearing God in a Crisis
Day 13:  7 Ways to Test an Impression
Day 14:  Remote Assignment
Day 15:  God's Silence
Day 16:  Hearing God While Dating
Day 17:  Hearing God Bible Verses
Day 18:  What Others Say About Hearing God
Day 19:  Hearing God Through Distractions
Day 20:  Hearing God as a Child
Day 21:  Hearing God in Confusion
Day 22:  Hearing God's Encouraging Voice
Day 23:  Hearing God on a Tractor
Day 24:  An Email Confirmation
Day 25:  Do You Really Want to Hear From God?
Day 26:  Why Hear God?
Day 27:  Are You Texting God?
Day 28:  Hearing God in Our Depression
Day 29:  To Hear God We Must Know God
Day 30:  Desperate to Hear God (Part 1)
Day 31:  Desperate to Hear God (Part 2)

Desperate to Hear God

(If you enjoyed this series on Hearing God, please consider signing up on the top right side to receive inspiring posts through email.) 

                                        **************************

          I sat alone in my dorm room crying. How had I fallen this far away from God? I was miserable, lonely, and empty. I sobbed at my desk, makeup running down my face, big blubbering sobs. I hated my life and everything I was doing and had no hope for my future or plan to get out of my situation. I was failing college, but more importantly I missed my relationship with God. 

Thinking back, I remembered as a young girl, I could not wait to get baptized. When my Dad prayed with me and I asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life and committed to follow Him, I meant every word and my life changed. I loved reading the Bible, loved going to church, loved learning about God and His Son. I grew up in a military family, so we moved every two years. Every place we moved, we found a church and started attending. I was the most enthusiastic about going to church, and when my family didn’t go, God always provided a friend or another family who took me to church. I couldn’t get enough. I loved singing praise songs to Him. I loved memorizing Bible verses. As I grew older, I went to church camps and attended and led Bible studies during high school.

Somewhere along the line I walked away from God. It makes me sad to admit it now, even many years later. But, I turned my back and walked away from the God who loved me so dearly and had been with me everywhere I went. Foolishly, I decided to see what life was like doing the things college life had to offer.

So, there I was that dark night all alone. I felt like I was in a dark pit and had no idea how to get out. Through my tears I cried up at my ceiling,

“Help me God! I don’t know how to get back to You. What do I do?”

 I poured out my heart to Him and told Him how sorry I was for the stupid things I had been doing. I wanted to be done with that life, but I didn’t know how to take the first step. I had not gone to church in a couple of years and did not know any Christians who I could ask for help.

After several hours of crying and begging God to show me how to get back to Him, I collapsed in a heap. I knew God spoke to people in the Bible, and I wanted so much to hear His voice, for Him to tell me what to do and show me the way out of the pit I was in. I didn’t hear His voice that night, but I knew He heard mine. I knew He loved me and He would show me how to find Him again.   

(Part 2 tomorrow)

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Have you ever been desperate to hear God? Did you know then that He loved you and heard your prayer, even if you didn't hear Him? Please share in the comments below.

If you would like to read some great stories of people who have heard God speak to them, click on one of the links below. This is Day 29 in a series about Hearing God. It is part of a writing challenge at www.write31days.com. When you finish reading here, please hop over to that site for many great topics and blogs.

Day 1: Take Off Your Sandals
Day 2:  God in the Grocery Store
Day 3:  God in the Grocery Store - Part2
Day 4:  Peeking During Prayer
Day 5:  How Do We Know God's Voice?
Day 6:  A Young Mom, Toddler Toys and Hearing God
Day 7:  Hearing God When Making Decisions
Day 8:  Lining Up Those Ducks
Day 9:   Hearing God for Our Kids
Day 10: God or Genie in a Bottle?
Day 11: The Perfect Day to Hear God
Day 12: Hearing God in a Crisis
Day 13:  7 Ways to Test an Impression
Day 14:  Remote Assignment
Day 15:  God's Silence
Day 16:  Hearing God While Dating
Day 17:  Hearing God Bible Verses
Day 18:  What Others Say About Hearing God
Day 19:  Hearing God Through Distractions
Day 20:  Hearing God as a Child
Day 21:  Hearing God in Confusion
Day 22:  Hearing God's Encouraging Voice
Day 23:  Hearing God on a Tractor
Day 24:  An Email Confirmation
Day 25:  Do You Really Want to Hear From God?
Day 26:  Why Hear God?
Day 27:  Are You Texting God?
Day 28:  Hearing God in Our Depression
Day 29:  To Hear God We Must Know God
Day 30:
Day 31: Desperate to Hear God (Part 2)