Putting God First
Travis Antonich
Good morning, and happy Sabbath children. It’s me, Travis, with Downey Seventh-day Adventist Church. Hope you’ve all been well, it’s been beautiful weather. We got the nice cool breeze in the evening. So I recommend open up your windows and enjoy that breeze. Breathe in that fresh air. It’s good stuff.
I got a story for you guys. And this story is about me. Yes, I got a little story about my life, I want to tell you. And before I get into my story about me, I want to ask you guys, do you know anyone in your life where it seems like they always get what they want. They maybe they went to the dream school, they always wanted to go to college or whatever school they’re at. That’s where they always want it to be. Maybe they get straight A’s and they always get A’s and perfect on the test. Maybe they’re at their dream job they always wanted to be at, you know, they graduated school, and now they’re working at someplace they’ve always wanted to work at. Well, if you don’t know anyone like that, as you get older, you will meet people like this. Or it seems like everything just goes their way. Well, I’ll be honest with you kids. That was not me to see I was not that guy where I got everything I always wanted. You see when I graduated high school and I applied to colleges, I did not get in to my number one choice. See, my parents were always telling me about this one school, this one school, I won’t say what it is. And I always thought I was gonna get in. And I didn’t get in. I ended up going to UC Santa Cruz. And when I graduated from UC Santa Cruz, I studied technology, so like computers and stuff.
And when I graduated college, all my friends were getting great jobs. They were making a lot of money. And me, I was struggling to get my first job. And I did not make much money. At my first job. I will be honest. But you know what happened to me at the end of my college years? I found Jesus. Yes. I found Jesus. In my last quarter. I was in college. The last couple months of my college career, I found Jesus. And that, to me was worth more than anything this world had to offer. And I believed in Jesus. And I got an I grew closer with Jesus. But I didn’t get the job I wanted. I still struggled for many years. See the first job I ever got. I worked there about a year I worked in Hollywood. But you know, I was driving to work. And I used to sit behind traffic bumper to bumper traffic. I just remember I would be so tired in my car. And I would pray to God to keep me awake. Because sometimes it would be hot, it would be summertime and I’d be out of work. You know, I get off of work and I’d have to drive over an hour to get home. I hated driving in traffic. But you know what? Even though it wasn’t the job I wanted. I believe the Lord knew that I didn’t like to drive in traffic. And so for the first time in my life, I found out I could take the train to work all the way in Hollywood. Well, after a year of that job, I got another job and it was a better job. Wasn’t the dream job I thought I was going to be in but I was getting I was moving up slowly. But all my friends they were still they all had the big jobs and you know they were working here and there. And that wasn’t me. But I was content with where I was. And I trusted in the Lord. And I think the Lord that I didn’t have to drive in traffic anymore, I got to take the train. So when I got my new job, my second job out of college, turns out, the train was only a block away, just like my first job. So my second job out of college, I was able to take the train. But I always, always trusted in the Lord. Because I knew God knew that maybe if I would have got that big job out of college, paid the big bucks. Maybe that could have taken me away from Jesus. You see, God desires and wants us to prosper. He wants to bless our lives. But things take time. And sometimes you have to follow God’s timing.
So I continued going to church continued helping the church, I grew up, I grew close to a lot of people in the church, I have many friends here now. Old young, all ages, even the children, you guys know me now. Right. And the Lord has given me so much just from following him. And the job I met today, this is my third job. Since I’ve graduated college is my favorite job I’ve ever had in my life. And the reason I’m at this job is because someone in the church helped me. They referred me to the company, and I got in. You see how faithful God is children. When you put God first. The Lord will bless you.
And I’m so glad things worked out the way they did in my life. It took years, the job I’m at today, it took almost four years, about three and a half, four years to be at this job about today. And I’ll be honest, children this job, even though it’s my favorite. It’s the most stressful job I’ve ever had. It’s difficult. It’s not easy. But the thing that keeps me together in those hard times, is because I hold on to Jesus. And Jesus has never let me down. Some days, I don’t know how I’m going to do it. But I know I serve a great God. And he is always faithful. So I want to read you guys a verse in the Bible here. This is psalms 37 verse three and four. It reads, trust in the Lord and do good. dwell in the land and feed on his faithfulness, the light yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. So I don’t know what you your your desires are children, whatever your goals and ambitions are. God knows. So keep Jesus close to you trust in God. And even if you see people getting everything they want, and maybe that’s not happening for you. trust that God has a plan for you. And you will be blessed.
Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, thank you for these wonderful children. Lord, these beautiful kids you’ve brought into this world. Lord, you know what their desires are and their goals. You know what makes them happy, Lord, and you know what you want in their life. Lord, I pray, Lord, you draw them close to you and you hold them in your hand. Keep them give them strength Lauren and keep them safe. Be with them in their families always Lord. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Happy Sabbath children. I’ll see you next time.