I have had an amazing 10 years. I can’t imagine another decade of my life being this jam-packed with goodness, but I have a feeling that this next one will be. Check out what went down in my life over the past 10 years:
- In September of 2001 I became a believer and follower of Jesus. That was pretty cool.
- In January of 2002 I started working at Cornerstone as an intern in the High School Ministry and a Children’s Ministry Coordinator. They might have been a bit hasty laying hands on me that soon, but God was good, I was passionate, and it all worked out nicely.
- Later that year I because the “Interim Junior High Director”. A few months later I was asked to be the permanent Director.
- Three years later I was leading the High School Ministry. What?!
- Got married in 2007! Our marriage started out rocky, but we’re kicking butt now.
- Three years later I was fired from that church where it all started. It was a bummer how it all went down, but again, God worked it all out.
- Moved to California for one year to be the High School Pastor at a great church, but one that wasn’t a good fit for us long term.
- Moved back to Arizona to work at the church I had wanted to work at for years. They hire me as the High School Pastor, and ask me to oversee the Student Ministries Department. I was fired from one church, then a year later promoted at another. Amazing.
- Now I’m in my dream job, with amazing staff, students, and volunteers, and I’m given the opportunity to speak in the main service almost once a month. What is going on?
- We adopted Griffin last November. He’s better than all of the bullet points I just listed.
The thing that gets me excited about this next decade is that I’ve seen a little bit of what God can do when someone surrenders their plans to Him. I don’t get nervous about the next decade, I get excited. I’m 32, I’ve got so much to learn, and I’m exactly where I want to be. I hope this next decade makes the last one look boring!
I hope you’re ask excited about these next 10 years as I am, regardless of your bullet points.
ryanguard.net 
Does it feel like it has happened that fast?
Sounds like you have done a lot in a decade. Pretty cool to see how it all came together.
No dude, it felt like 20 years. Seriously. That’s the part that trips me out- I condensed so much just to keep the post short.
Yeah I got to do a lot, but I honestly lean back and realize that God made all of it possible, to an undeserving punk! Grateful.
Ryan, we are excited with you. You are a uniquely gifted and blessed man. Its going to be fun watching how God uses you.