Connections which change your life

Have you ever had a connection with someone that really changed your life? I am talking about the kind of true spiritual relationship between another person who is a kindred spirit, a deeper level than normal, a long lost friend who completes who you are on a highly spiritually level?  When those kinds of relationships happen, you need to savor every moment and they come in different shapes, forms and more. Here are some of mine. 

Teachers along my educational journey were the first line of people who changed my life. I can't even talk about teachers without bringing up Peggy Leyerle from 5th grade at Western Oaks, Barbara Berard from 7th and 8th grade, followed by my 9th grade speech teacher Kerry Robertson and then 10th grade with Charlotte Moore. Speech and drama teachers who to this very day, inspire every film we make at Veritas. You all made me better and I am humbled to say thank you and it's not enough. 

Then there are the friendships from high school, college, fraternity life and in the local church whose impact goes without saying. Its absolutely huge how my friends helped me see God in a way I had not before.  Think about the classmates you have shared life with and call them, tell them you appreciate what they have done in your life. I have been meeting with a group of guys I grew up with and what a blessing it has been in recent days. 

Godly friendships can make all the difference in the world.  They encourage and inspire you to be a better person, to seek truth for a lifestyle and to be a person of integrity.  Mentors come into play and people who have an inner witness of the spirit who connect with you at the highest level.

Sometimes these precious friendships are counselors, doctors, advisors, accountants, pastors and people who are genuinely concerned about your overall well being.  They often speak truth in to your life, sometimes when you don't even want to hear the truth. I am constantly amazed at how thankful I am today for these kinds of souls who have gently invaded my territory with a loving sense of purpose.  I could not be who I am without them.

When you work with veteran filmmakers it's amazing how they bring balance to a world so often filled with chaos and more. I am thankful for my V team of professionals who have surrounded our family with gentleness, hope and love. They make each one of us stronger and even better.   Without these colleagues, I would not be able to go to war on the field of production battles.

And at the end of each day, are those who are speaking into your life with spiritual truth in the body of Christ who you know are "called".  Stephanie Musser is teaching about the Holy Spirit in our small group and wow, what a difference she is beginning to make.  Israel Hanna and Elizabeth Hanna are sharing words of hope and truth and changing our paradigms about prophecy, what the meaning of our "name" really is all about and scripturally basing their actions on God's word.  Christi Craddock continues to change our lives with the books from HIS TRUTH TRANSFORMS.  I can't even thank enough my Rabbi.  Rabbi Curt Landry blows me away with his weekly Friday night, Shabbat Services and each week challenges us to be more like Him every single day. 

Craig Groeschel is preaching to us weekly at Lifechurch and making such a huge difference around the world. Then you have the apostle Clint Thomas from Slow Burn who is encouraging us with amazing words of hope near our home in Tennessee. John Dickey in Stillwater continues to make spiritual impact on his community. Jimmy Kinnard amazes me at his integrity with Village in Oklahoma City and the list of pastors goes on and on. These spiritual connections shape our lives in so many ways. What pastor are you being fed by and why?

Allow me to encourage you to find SPIRITUAL CONNECTIVITY through a great church, through a life group, through individual mentorships, through training and just see how different your life can be.  The people who will change your life are not afraid to tell you the truth. They are not afraid to hold you in prayer when you need it the most and they are bold in their spiritual journey of purity. 

Today, I am surrounded by a multitude of amazing people who are in my faith based community.  The Veritas 300 prayer warrior team is growing and they are praying. We are seeing so many people in the hospital getting better, improving, being healed and beyond. This is not an accident! I believe so much in prayer and thank the Lord for the connections we have IN PRAYER each and every week.  

We were never intended to live alone. God himself is three in one, a community who encourages us to have koinonia and connect with one another. If you don't have people who are close to you, who love God and want to see you win in life, then do something about it.  Yes, it can get messy when you see people who are hurting, having challenges and more.  Get your hands dirty helping others. Reach out to that neighbor or friend and take time to listen to their needs.

Jesus traveled with a community and those men...changed the world. Those men, were able to literally tear apart a Roman empire with the truth.  Men who were not heavily financed, who had afflictions and who were under attack at every turn, but they did not waiver in their mission and their journey.  

Don't travel alone. Find those who will love you for WHO you are and give your life to Christ each and every day as you learn to deny yourself and follow Him.  When others fall, still love them and stay by their side, don't abandon them and lose the connection because of a failure.  Instead, let it make each of you stronger and you will see how God will be there for you, through it all.

Thank you friends, family members and neighbors for being the spiritual connection I need to help me grow stronger in the Lord.  Thank you for loving me past every mistake and not abandoning the post of "friendship".  God sees you and know who you are!  You are a blessing to me.  I love you

Kevin