My name is Jeremy, and I am one of the music coordinators here at Trinity. What a privilege it is to share a few words with you of how the Lord has impacted me throughout my life.
I have spent my entire life living in the wonderful city of Cedar Falls, IA. I graduated from Walnut Ridge High School and most recently graduated from UNI with a degree in Elementary Education. In my free time, I enjoy playing all sorts of sports, spending time with friends, and of course playing and experiencing music. On a Saturday you might find me cheering on my favorite team - to the dismay of some, the Iowa Hawkeyes. Another hobby of mine is making video biographies. If you would venture around the church during the week, you might find me in front the computer working on the PowerPoint slides or a promotional video of some sort.
The Lord has blessed me in so many ways, but the number one way is with a family that has loved Him. My parents always set an example of godly love and wisdom for both my sister and me and always encouraged us that no matter how difficult a situation, the Lord’s promises of his love and faithfulness could be our source of strength. When I was about six years old, I made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. I remember being in my room with my mom and realizing that I had a spirit that was selfish and sinful and that believing in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was the only way that I could be right with God.
From the age of six, that very child-like faith has been tried and tested over and over again. Fear has been a source of a series of issues that have affected my life. The fear of dying, fear of other people, fear of looking bad, fear of failing. Fear has paralyzed me to the degree that I wouldn’t take any action to solve a problem. My mind would get fixated on all the bad things that could happen, as opposed to what is real, and I would be overwhelmed to the point of altering decisions based on the fear of what might happen. This chronic problem was causing me to doubt God and say, “Lord, where are you in all of this?” I think the Spirit of the Lord was calling me to obey and completely surrender this area of my life. The Lord began revealing that I should be leaning on the truth of who God is. When I saw who God is, I was able to know my identity in Him. Once I reestablished my trust in the Lord to lead the steps that I take each day, it gave me peace.
Here are some of the promises that have encouraged me through the years:
HOPE – “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
TEMPTATION – “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. The Lord is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted He will provide you a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
I Corinthians 10:13
JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither things present or in the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38
I think the number one way my involvement at Trinity has helped me to grow spiritually is by seeing Christ working through the body of believers. When you feel as though you are able to connect and relate to a group of people within a church, it makes you feel at home. In every period of my life that I have been present at Trinity, there have been people I have interacted with that have made me feel like I am valued. I have grown because of people being willing to encourage one another and serve the Lord with their talents. Maybe it might come in the form of insight to a passage of scripture, or going out for lunch, or maybe it simply comes in the form of a handshake in the morning. All these things are things that the Lord has used at Trinity to encourage me. I have also grown in my faith because I have had opportunities to share my gifts and wisdom to help other individuals as well.
Jeremy’s
Story