I
am a fourty something, happily married, 3 kids, 2 dogs, 1 mortgage,
and I find myself having a spiritual mid-life crisis. Now If explaining to others that God is impressing on me to move from my current computer career path, and towards let’s say.. teaching, or.. wood working then my friends could relate to this dream. But when I say I want to be a cartoonist.. I receive understandably puzzled concerned looks. If there was a collective thought balloon over their heads it may say.. “hmmm, couldn’t you just put your cartoons on your mommies refrigerator, and get a mainstream job”? * LOL * So here is my explanation of why I believe God would have me be a cartoonist. (1) This is how God uniquely wired me. I love the process, the one liners, the toon with a smirk, and to capture God’s truths or his love through humor and/or cartoons. God is not a humorless deity, and he did not create us to be humorless either. (2) I have a daily
email group with around 5000 members with who I share Clean Humor and
God’s Truths as are impressed upon me.
What a waste of an opportunity if I am not faithful to share
with others the life lessons learned by your average Joe..
or in this case (3) My website traffic has grown from a good day having 50 visitors to where I expect at least 3500 visitors, and at least 8000 pages viewed each day. I also receive between 50-70 ‘new’ requests to use my cartoons each month. These numbers continue to grow. The Back Pew has become a resource for pastors, and a wide range of ministries that cross denominational boundaries. Both in print and on the web. So I am prayerfully pursuing this avenue of my life as a service to God. My mom can still put my cartoons on her refrigerator, but if God wants to bless in ways bigger than that. Well, who am I to say no to God. This ministry will only become what God blesses it to be. AND… I will be content with that. I want to be known as being faithful in the moment, and allowing God to bless opportunities BEYOND MY DREAMS, AND FOR HIS GLORY. May God bless you too. May he bless you in the unique ways he has wired each of you.. in the special gifts he has empowered you with, and remember this formula that I paraphrase from the devotional book. The Prayer of Jabez. My weakness + my willingness + God
= UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES! Blessings!! |