Greater Than: Get Out of the Boat

Listen to the challenge from scripture that student pastor, TJ Gilliam lays out for the students in a real and relevant way.

My Weekend Adventure

What a weekend! Through a great planning process of mine, I had one of my former students from Harrison, AR and my parents at my home from Thursday till Sunday (just kidding on the great planning...)b. On top of that, I made a LifeHouse video (a program at church) and finished message preparation for Sunday's service at TSC.

Well, Sunday morning, I woke up and it felt like death had come over me. I was sick. I felt like I was gonna throw up at any minute and I had a headache...then I realized something. I had butterflies in stomach. Not literal butterflies, but I was nervous. Below, I want to tell you what I learned from my experience of preaching at TSC for the first time.

I woke up and was at the church by 7:00 am to make sure I had my mind right and to make a final printout of the message. I started the "sick sweat" as soon as I printed it and I prayed, "Lord, take this feeling away." I told Reagan, "Dude, I think I am nervous." At 8:05, I went into the worship center to make sure that my PowerPoint was working properly and it was. That was a relief. Chip was in there, and said, "You ready, little one?". I said that I was...I sat down and started to listen to the choir rehearse.

As I sat there, I felt God say, "Look at the stage". I looked up and God said, "That stage is for me. TJ, It is not for you." You talk about being very humbled! I can only imagine the spiritual oppression that Pastor Tom feels each week. I sat there and said, "God, I can't do this. You want me to lead these leaders. I am nothing compared to them. I am so dirty and unholy." My mind was all messed up. I was hearing a voice on one side saying, "You can't do this" and God saying "TJ, I will do this. You are my messenger this morning. Stand bold, yet humble. Speak with passion, but not with arrogance. TJ, do you trust me?".

Right then, Pastor Duane saw me and came over and said, "Let me pray for you..."

WOW! God is so perfect in His timing of everything! I learned that no matter how small we feel, that we serve a big God and we are in Him. We must learn to live BIG for the KING!

I have heard many compliments about the message. I am grateful for those, but it is our King's stage and message, not mine. I struggle with compliments, yet my love language is words of affirmation. I love when someone gives me a compliment, but I struggle because I know that the compliment should go to the Lord and not me.

This weekend was an adventure from entertaining guests, making video's, and preaching in front of one of the largest groups I have ever spoken to. I am honored that God used and uses someone like me to bring Honor and Glory to himself.

Today, my mind is like, "Uh.......what?" I am pretty much a dysfunctional human at this moment. I believe God gave me just a glimpse of what my Pastor and Friend goes through every week. I will pray for him more than I ever have.

On top of all that, Trey is no longer a cat...but...my daughter is and Trey is now as he says, "An Alien Boy that Daddy's Son..." I absolutely love my kids!!

In closing, thank you, God, for letting me live my dream!! I have a beautiful wife and family. I cannot think of anything in the world I would rather do than serve here at TSC!! Thank you, God, for you perfect plan!!

Am I Something?

Last night was one of the most incredible nights of my life. I have the privilege of serving as the student pastor for Thompson Station Church. I often wonder why God has chosen me as a messenger. I am so unworthy and dirty, that I often, and I mean often, wonder why God would even consider me. Even this morning, I have battled impure thoughts and ideas. Yet, I walk into the office and look at the list of students that got baptized last night and are waiting to be baptized and just simply want to weep. God is so good to us. I look at the 14 students who are committed to the Lord their everything last night and it makes me realize that all the trivial things I worry about...money, fear, anxiety, who's saying what, and on and on...doesn't matter. Or God is so good to us that He brings glory to himself even through our faults...wow!

A few years ago, a very good friend of mine told me "If I consider myself something, then God is not my everything. If I consider myself nothing, then God is my everything." Oh God, please break me to where I can see you more and more every minute of the day. God, may my heart be where your Glory dwells!!

My hope through this new blog is that I can bring hope to those who are hurting and feel alone in life. My hope is that everyone that reads this will see that our King is beautiful and mighty. He can take everything in your mind and slow it down and can make your heart beat with peace.

Last night, 12 students organized our Wednesday Night Live services and they were incredible. We had students leading worship, students serving as message illustrations, a student painting, a student spilling his guts of his wandering away from God and back, students describing what being cove(RED) by the blood of Christ means and students praying and reading scripture. It was incredible.

It is humbling to serve alongside people for one cause. It humbling to think that God would choose any of us to serve for Him. HE DOES!! God can take you and make you into someone of Great Power, Great Authority, Great Compassion and the list could go on and on.

I love serving our King. I am beginning to actually believe the way I sign my email: Believe the Impossible. God, increase my faith!