I have learned to tithe. I could fill a book with the miracles God has done through tithing in my life. I had a job cleaning carpets for 2 and 1/2 years. During that time I had opportunities to witness to almost everyone I cleaned carpets for. My boss called me in one day and told me that he didn't want to hear about me telling anyone about Jesus unless I was the best cleaner he had. I guess he thought I was wasting time. The next day, and I mean the next day, his phone started ringing off the hook with people calling to tell him that I was the best cleaner he had. He gave me permission to witness to anyone I wanted to.
Hard Lessons
God taught me some hard lessons too. I remember one day talking with my wife (then fiance) about my collection of Louis L'Amour books. I had just bought the final copy and now had every book he ever wrote. I remember her saying something about the books and I told her I was not going to give them up. That night we went to Denver to hear Steve Hill (from the Brownsville revival). The title of his sermon was, "This Far and No Farther," about having things in our life that we won't surrender to God. He looked right at me and said, "If there is anything in your life that you have said, 'I will never give this up,' it is an idol and it will separate you from God." The books went to the used bookstore the next day.
Shortly thereafter God began to deal with me about my guns and my paranoia. One night on a date with my wife, there was no way she could have known I was "carrying." She looked right at me and said, "God wants you to leave your insecurities at home." That is when God started to deal with me about getting rid of the guns. What it came down to was this: if I'm packing, I trust myself for my security, not God.
God called me to learn American Sign Language so I could witness to the deaf. When I balked, He took the majority of my hearing and left me no choice. Once I became fluent in sign language, he healed my ears.
Courage for a New War
So here I am 10 years down the road. I'm married (if you don't believe in miracles, this is a certified one). I do not own a single firearm, and I have been completely drug and alcohol free for almost 24 years.
I wish I could say I'm living happily ever after, but the truth is, if you decide to serve God, He calls you to a fight. Every day I am presented with temptations and every day is an all out war between God's will and my flesh.
If I could sum up everything I've learned in 10 years perhaps it would be best said with this quote from John Wayne: "Courage is being sacred to death - and saddling up anyway."
