I was just listening to "Come and Listen" by David Crowder. And I started to think about how I started to come and listen this year. But before I talk about what got me to come and listen I'm going to give a little background.
Before I had my "wake up moment". I had claimed to be a christian which I did believe I was. But I had way to much doubt. And by that I mean that I didn't really believe in God, so in a way I guess you could say that I also feared the fact of his existence. Which actually goes hand in hand with a part of the song "come to the water's edge, all you who know and fear the Lord". Now the only conflict between me, at that point, and the song is I wasn't coming to the water's edge yet. And what I think that come to the water's edge means is come to God.
Around the age of 16 is were things really went south for me. At this point not only did I start driving and going and doing what I wanted. But I also got a job. How ever as soon got my job I got into an accident. With this accident I split my car in half. Luckely this is the only damage that came with it. That's right I walked away. At this point I can only explain it as an act of God. Now with this wreak things should have changed. But being the stubborn, clueless, careless, happy-go-luckey teenage boy that I was. I walked away only thinking "Gosh I hope my dad doesn't kill me".
At this job I started increasing my horrible habits of cussing, lying, and manipulating my car in ways that could be considered destructive (drifting). At this job I also started smoking. Out of everything this is definitely the most embarrassing choice I've made in my life. Around this time is also when lust set in.
After only 8 months at my job I had a miracle happen. I got in another wreak. Now you may be thinking you call making you car insurance go up a miracle. Well no, but I do praise God for using this as away to start cleaning up my life.
Now do know that I did continue to do these shameful act's after I recovered. But that would all change at the very start of summer. With the help of the Indiana South Youth Choir, and Camp Challenge. With these 2 jam packed weeks of God yelling in my face to Come and Listen I realized my calling to Youth Ministry. And also a calling to hold a Youth Revival with a certain miss Hannah Crow. The revival is called The Cleanse and you should definitely come (dates to come).
Now please know that I slipped up many a time in many different areas since the begging of the summer. But each time i got better, and each time it gets to become less often. And quoting the song again. "Praise our God for he is good" for that fact. And I just think that this is something we should all do as the year comes to an end. Think about what God has done for you this year. Or how he has gotten you to come to the water's edge. And if he hasn't then make it your resolution this year to try and find the water's edge. An awesome way to do that is to surround you self with people your age, who are going through what your going through, just with a different approach, that approach being with God. And a great place to find these people is at a church.
However, just any old church may not be the church for you. And I'll probably discuss that matter in a later post. But in the mean time I just encourage you to come to the water edge.
God Bless,
Tyler Sipes
