1. My relationship with God
I am so grateful for the honor I have of knowing God the Father…God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. I am grateful that His plan has never changed from Gen.1:28 to bless me, make me fruitful, empower me to multiply, anoint me to be generous, make me more than a conqueror and ultimately, rule and reign with Him for His kingdom come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
2. My relationship with Sheila
This week November 20, 2013 we celebrated 462 months together. I woke up this morning laying next to the greatest gift God has ever given me besides His Son Jesus. I am blessed beyond measure to have the “Precious One” for my lover, as the mother of my dear children and co-pastor with me of the most wonderful people in the world!
3. My relationship with my children
The love I have for Joshua, Keela and Whitney is indescribable and yet a picture of how much I know God loves me. I am often reminded when Joshua was “springing” from his mothers womb, what God spoke to me. As I was crying in that sacred moment, God spoke to me and said, “Do you see what you are feeling?” Out loud in the delivery room that day, I said, “Yes!” He said, “That is just how I fell about you!” The greatest honor on this side of eternity for me is not only to have my children all serving the Lord, but knowing that each of them has answered a call into ministry and they choose to work with me! I am grateful for heaven on earth!
4. My Mamaw
I would not be who I am today without the Godly influence of my grandmother. She is my hero! She not only prayed me back to life, but spoke life into me by being a “living epistle” for Jesus. She is the GREATEST person I have ever known. I honor her memory today and everyday.
5. My Parents
In a world where divorce is the norm, I appreciate my parents fighting the good fight, pushing through a separation and working their marriage out. I appreciate the fact that they raised me in church, exposed me to the Gospel and made kingdom a priority in our home. They gave me a foundation that I can never thank them enough for. They gave me a chance to not only give my life to Christ, but to follow God by answering His call on my life as a minister for Him. The greatest thing parents can do for their children is love each other and be faithful to the house of God. My parents did that and I am eternally grateful!
6. Godly alignments along the way
I could not mention just one person here, so I will mention a few. No one gets where they are by themselves and the following are the short list of people who have impacted my life through my being aligned with them in different seasons of my life, for divine reasons. Thomas Zimmerman the General Superintendent for the Assemblies of God for personally recruiting me to go to Evangel University and offering me a full ride scholarship for 4 years. Joe Bailey who gave me my first job in ministry and fired me the first time…it was a great lesson! John Jacobs the founder of the Power Team, who gave me my first international platform for ministry and a chance to lead my first team. Jim Hester, who invited me to be a Co-Pastor with him of Arlington Christian Center when I was 27 years old. I felt the weight of being a Senior Pastor early! Wellington Boone who was an Executive Board member of Promise Keepers who spoke prophetically over my life at a very significant time in my life and gave introduction to the next alignment that would thrust me into what I am doing today: Mike Hayes of Covenant Church! Mike shared his life, his platform, his pulpit and his greatness with me. When I felt it was time to start a church I submitted it to him on the timing of it and he blessed me out to do what God had put in my heart to do. Elevate Life Church exists today, because of the blessing of Mike Hayes. There are so many more who are in my Hall of Fame and will be on my Wall of Honor!
7. My bestest friend, Scott Unclebach
As a youth pastor in Sherman, Texas, my effectiveness was validated early by Scott choosing to follow me. Scott has always believed in me, honored me, love me even when my worst has been displayed, stood by me and helped me to both build buildings and Mighty Men for the Kingdom. Who knew what kind of friend and partner I would need to do what God has called me to do! God did and that’s why he gave me a Scott Unclebach early in life! We truly have a Jonathan/David covenant relationship.
8. My Mighty Men
One of my divine mandates is to raise up Mighty Men for God. More is caught than taught. I am honored to have a group of Mighty Men much like David’s who feel a calling to stand with me personally and professionally. These men have committed to putting God first with their time, talent and treasure and take this Warrior journey with me. We may have a chance to impact the world, not because of my teaching men, but because of these “living epistles” of the gospel that I strive to live and preach. I am grateful they believe in me and the life message God has put in my heart. They are examples of what we teach and who God has called us to be as Mighty Men of God! I am grateful beyond words for their belief and commitment, because as John Maxwell says, “He who thinks he is leading and no one is following, is on a long walk.”
9. The privilege of building God a house
I am thankful that I have the privilege of building God a great house in Frisco, Texas! This is one of life’s greatest honors for me as a leader for Jesus. I do not just want to build another church, but something that would speak of the magnificence of who Jesus is. Cathedral is taken from the word Cathedra which means the “elevated seat of Christ.” Our Cathedral is more than our building. In a relatively new city, we get to continually build God a house! I am in AWE daily that God has chosen to use me…and WE who have participated. Some have said these are the worst of times, economically, but I am grateful they are the BEST of times to build a house where Jesus is magnified, God is glorified and we are the beneficiaries of God’s way of Thinking…Being and Doing life!
10. Divine Favor
I am grateful for the Favor of God that is on my life! I am reminded everyday that Favor is a divine advantage for success. Everything I do is not about me, but about Him and yet He lets me enjoy it! I am thankful for the Favor that I do not deserve. One thing is for sure: God does not favor people, but He favors people who favor His principles. At the end of everyday, there is always one thing I know: I have FAVOR. Why? Because Proverbs 18:22 is true for me every day: “He that finds a good woman finds a good thing and obtains favor with the Lord.” Thank You God…Thank you Sheila…and an honorable mention to Sheila’s parents who brought her in the world…just for me!!!!
What is your top 10?
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