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Putting Him First
I feel privileged to begin this journey with you, for that’s what I feel this experience will become. Over the past couple of days, I’ve been struggling with what to write for this website. I knew I wanted to start this column, but didn’t know what exactly to focus on. I thought about looking at politics or current events, reflecting more on entertainment, music, or movies, doing a Bible study, or choosing a topic each week to focus on. As I started writing though, I just kept hitting a blank. So finally, I just stopped, put down the pen and the paper, and said, “Alright God, what do You want me to write about?” And then all of a sudden, there was a BOOMING BLAST from Heaven, the clouds parted, and God stepped out and in an audible voice gave me the answer. No, not really, but wouldn’t that have been nice. Somewhere, way in the back of all the clatter inside my head, I heard God whispering to me, “Just write, geno.” Three simple words. In essence He was saying, “I’ve already given you the ability to write, and you are doing this column for Me, so just write what’s in your heart.” So here the adventure begins.
For us to begin this “road trip” together, I need to take a little bit of time and give you some insight on my background and my testimony, that way we grow comfortable on the path ahead of us. I grew up in a Christian home, so all I’ve ever really known was the church life. I grew up a normal kid in a family of seven (3 younger brothers and a younger sister). I played sports, hung out with friends, loved music, worked when I was old enough to work, did all the things a so called “normal” kid growing up in a small town would do.
One thing that was different though, was that I always had God by my side. Looking back, I didn’t really have a close relationship, intimate and personal, until after I went off to college, but I always believed and trusted in God. He was always there, and still always is, even when I felt like I was so far away from Him.
I think the hardest times in my life had to be in my high school years. I lost my Grandma during that time. She passed away on May 11, 1994, and my world was turned upside down. She was my best friend and it took a lot out of me. The year after, I found out that I had scoliosis, which is curvature of the spine. I was told by some doctors that I would never live a normal life and that I would never play basketball again. That’s what got me. During my high school years, that was the one thing that I was known for. I was a basketball player. My junior year I had moved into the starting line-up towards the end of the season and things were looking up. Looking back, I realize that God was trying to get my attention so that I put my focus on Him instead of basketball, but as a kid, I just thought my life had been taken away from me. God is so merciful though. After seeing other doctors and getting second and third opinions, I was able to continue playing basketball, and it looked like I would be starting varsity my Senior year. But then my coach got fired and a new coach came in. My playing time dropped dramatically and I was even lucky to get into some games. I don’t like playing the race card, but three Hispanic players ended up quitting and 2 of them were starters because of the coach’s prejudice. I was hoping things would get better and decided to stick the season out, but by the end of my Senior year in high school, I was tired and fed up with my life.
I had never touched a drop of alcohol until my graduation night. I had always tried to be a good Christian, but sometimes peer pressure is hard to fight. That summer, I found myself in places I shouldn’t have been, and doing things that I knew I shouldn’t be doing. Let’s just say, I wasn’t a very good Christian.
I am grateful to God that my mom started going to a Bible Study during my Senior year. Our family had not had a church to call their own for 8-10 years. We had tried numerous churches, but none of them were what we needed. The God that was so real to me when I was younger seemed to be so far away from me at this time. A tall, white, skinny cowboy named Bob Doughtery had started a Bible Study in the basement of another church. My mom started going and then convinced me and my siblings to come with her. I came to find out that the Bible Study was started by another couple from Victory Outreach, Int’l Ministries, but they had moved to another city, so Pastor Bob took over. I remember going to church at the time and feeling so guilty of the life I was living during that summer after my Senior year.
As the summer closed to an end, I knew that I had to get my life right with God. I knew that He had called me and that He had chosen me, and that He was going to do great things through me. That’s one of the reasons I chose to go to a Christian College. I applied at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma and was accepted, so I headed off to college after that summer of 1996.
I can clearly remember that day when my parents left me in the parking lot at ORU. My mom said to me, “Hito, 18 years ago, on the day that you were born, I gave you to God as an offering, so that He may use you anyway He chooses. He gave you back to me for 18 years and now He’s asking for you back again.”
I graduated in four years with a degree in Journalism and I made a promise to God that every word I write, I would write to glorify Him. Over the last couple of years, it seems that I have gotten away from writing for Him, and it feels like He’s been tugging at me to start writing again. That is why I am grateful to have this opportunity to start writing again. God told me, “Just write, geno,” so that’s what I’m trying to do.
I pray that somehow these columns may uplift you or encourage you in some way. I just feel it in my heart to encourage you to keep running the race. Move forward with the gifts that God has placed in your heart. Even if you haven’t used that gift in a long time, God is calling you to once again pick up that “talent” and make good use of it. God bless, and Holla at ya boy!!!! (geno@puthimfirst.com)
Hitya up again next week,
geno duran
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