From Nut Festivals to Wisdom Nuggets: A Spirited Journey of Faith at 54

From Nut Festivals to Wisdom Nuggets: A Spirited Journey of Faith at 54

Hello, cherished brothers and sisters in Christ! I hope this message catches you in a season where your cup isn't just full, but overflowing with blessings and laughter.
So, I'm here to share some nuggets of wisdom I've picked up on this wild ride with our Heavenly Father. It's been an adventure, sometimes feeling more like a roller coaster than a stroll in the park. Bear with me if I meander off-topic – you know, I sometimes get as distracted as a squirrel at a nut festival.
I've gotta tell you, I love our Adonai more than words can express. He's taught me heaps more in the last 17 months than the world did in my first 54 years – and that's saying something! He's filled my life with the most incredible folks. It's a bit overwhelming at times, but man, am I grateful.
Now, let me spin you a yarn. As of this writing, I'm a sprightly 54 years young. For the first 52 years, I was on a mission to ruffle God's feathers, trying my hardest to deny His existence and shut my ears to His wisdom. My toolkit? Immaturity, ignorance, selfishness, greed, and a good dose of pride. If there was a contest for being stubborn, I'd have won first prize.

But here's the kicker – as much as I'd love to pin my troubles on the guy with the horns and pitchfork (tempting, right?), we've all got this thing called FREEWILL. So, the blame game doesn't really fly.
I'm eternally grateful that Yahweh is the king of patience, grace, mercy, and love – stuff we don't deserve but crave more than the last slice of pizza. People say I'm a bright cookie, with an IQ that keeps trying to convince me I'm smarter than I feel. But here's the thing: I've always known I'm a bit of an oddball, and guess what? That's perfectly alright. God made me this unique, and I'm all about embracing it. Just gotta work on using this uniqueness the way God intended.
Let's talk about the struggles, gents. You know, the stuff Papaw wants us to learn. Now, you might disagree when I say we 'enjoy' these challenges. But think about it – if I complain about being overweight while munching on a bucket of fried chicken, do I really hate being overweight? My take? No way, José! I'm just enjoying the chicken too much to care.
I used to love playing the victim. It felt like a cozy blanket of sympathy. But let's face it, it's way easier to throw a pity party than to show the world the love Jesus showers on us every day. My need to always 'one-up' someone? Classic Alpha Male syndrome, or as I like to call it, 'Insecurity in Disguise.'
Right now, I'm plowing through this book, "Fathered by God." At first, I thought it was as dry as a bone in the desert. Why? Because the truth can be a tough pill to swallow. It's like, if I conquer my problems, what am I going to use for attention? We often look for shortcuts and easy outs, but friends, the truth is, there's no escaping the hard work.
I'm slowly learning it's better to take a year to sit back, zip it, and truly learn how to lead. Most guys I hang out with now are too kind to tell me to grow up. They know once I fully commit to Adonai, He'll take over the driver's seat.
So don't fear the necessary pain of growth. There's no shortcut around it. The sooner you face it, the sooner Papaw can work His magic in your life.

I love you all to bits. I pray this little chat blesses you as much as it did for me