Rebranding & What's Coming

Hey, this is Tim Pratt Jr. I want to welcome you to the podcast Student of Life. I pray that you hear something that will add value, shape, develop, and cultivate your faith in order to be the person that God desires you to be, as well as the application to see it through. What's up everybody? So listen, this is not a new season, not a new episode, anything like that. This is just more so me giving you, uh, speaking from the heart basically on what's been going on, what's coming down the pipe, you know, why I made some tweaks and things like that. So I just want to talk to you, um, in this one. So it's just flowing, and like I said, you won't hear from me again, um, until season 3, you know, episode 1. So with that being said, let's just get into it. So when I first started this podcast thing, um, 2 seasons ago, I was branding under the thing that— the name This Thing That We Call Life. And so one of the major switches that I'm making today is switching it to Student of Life. I really can't give you any deep insight on why. It's just, it's been in my spirit for a long time, and I wanted to go ahead and do it since I'm about to turn up the intensity, the intensity of stepping out of just that, that reserved personality, you know, that I believe that God is calling me for greater. And in order to do that, I just want to have some things in line and just be obedient. So two of the things that I've really been working on lately is this, you know, like I say, telling the same content but just kind of rebranding under another name and telling it in a way that just helps you gain understanding. But knowing that only God can bring the revelation, because it's like my dad Pratt always says, that how can you have application without revelation? And you know, one of the things that I'm big on now is that As I move forward in the ministry aspect of things, you know, my dad, praise the Lord, my father-in-law, Dad Allen, uh, it's all about continuing legacy here on out and just really kind of submitting myself under their teaching because I know they're teaching sound doctrine. But the biggest thing is that they're not just teaching it, they're living it. And that's very important to me, um, because of just the things I've been through in my life, whether it be self-sabotaging things I just have to own, bad decisions, as well as things I couldn't control. So I get into a little bit of that, you know, telling it the way and just communicating it the way God has me. One of the other things I want to kind of get in season 3 where I feel like it's time for is to talk about a little bit of just the duality, man, and this, this, this, you know, coming into the oneness with the Lord and just kind of help to help shape your perspective on life to keep the right perspective when you're going through, you know, bad times as well as good times. But we often learn more and are more faithful to God when we, when we're going through struggles, if we just be honest. And, you know, one of the biggest ones lately, uh, man, it feels like it was last year, but it actually was the year before that, uh, in May 2018. You know, my youngest son, my bonus son, uh, would come to find out that he would be re-diagnosed with cancer again and, you know, take on St. Jude with this time, you know, having a bone marrow transplant. And the first time around, he was about 3 when he was diagnosed. And at the time, you know, that was my friend, his mom. And I could only imagine, you know, and just kind of relate to things that I've seen my mom go through since I've been born, you know, with Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis and stuff like that, to the point where it has been 2 or 3 times that I, I thought my mom wouldn't be here today. And so seeing a little baby, you know, go through that only at 3, man— I mean, not simply hearing about it, it was very challenging, but seeing him go through it, you know, when he would, you know, later become my, my bonus son. Um, my wife and I got married in the midst of that and because I wanted to make that commitment to her. And so just extracting from that, and as well as like, you know, my relationship with my oldest son Cameron, you know, uh, how it took a blow because I wasn't able to really navigate things the way I wish I could have as I go back, you know. But all in all, you know, I just I, I did what I could, and, you know, now we're rebuilding that. And so, you know, the fact that my youngest son, man, literally facing death, you know, and the risk, the odds were, you know, not as much as in his favor this time around and stuff. And so I don't want to tell the whole thing, but just kind of give you insight of things I want to dive into, but as well as the glory of God, you know, because although it was a lot of darkness at the end of the day, you know, no matter what the situation is, somehow, some way, God is going to be glorified and stuff. And so, um, you know, our boys now, man, they're, they're great. You know, it's still challenging— challenges of just being a parent in general. But in just getting into aspects of like, you know, blended family, I want to deal with the things that a lot of people aren't talking about, you know, as well as just like I say, sharing some of those things that my wife and I are growing through life, not just going through, but growing through life and searching for, like I say, the transferable truths in order to help us cultivate and navigate this thing, you know, in this journey. And so, uh, as we, you know, as I dive deeper, man, and just, you know, my father-in-law often says dedication and consecration. And so as I, you know, basically step into the man that God is calling me to be, but at the same time, you know, going at his pace because I don't want to make anything happen before his time. Uh, so I'm in a lot of aspects, man. It's a lot of things that I desire, a lot of things that I want, but at the same time, you know, I have to understand that God is developing me because although I'm aware, you know, that I have a calling on my life, you know, I want to make sure that my character, the integrity of, you know, just the integrity of a man, me, you know, matches that calling. Because I don't want to get out there and not be ready for all the other things that comes with it. And so it's just, you know, loving God first, and like I say, staying dedicated to him, you know, loving my wife and not just saying I, I love her, but showing that I am faithful to her in private. And in public, you know, being the father that you see on social media, but also make sure I'm that father behind the scenes, you know, the friend, the, the ministry person, just as you deserve my heart. And so no, like I say, you know, not perfect, but the goal is just striving to be more and more like Christ day by day. And just like I say, impact and touch people. And so that's the direction that I want to go as well as focusing on just serving to, uh, following— oh my God, look, I'm all over the place— following to lead and lead to serve. And that's the leadership and development thing that I also will be launching this spring. And just like I say, once again, digging in, studying, and, you know, working with small, medium, even large business if the Lord see fit, as well as like really focusing on the local churches. And the other part of that is stewardship, you know, kingdom stewardship, advancing the kingdom of God through stewardship. Because so many of us, like, we don't really know what stewardship is when we hear that word, but really we've— we're just called to manage God's resources, and that's how we do it, through kingdom stewardship. We can't build the kingdom, only Jesus can build it, only God can add to the church, but we can help advance it through our time, our resources, our relationships, and so on and so on. You know, and so money, you know, all that type of stuff, that stewardship, we're just managing God's resources, the creator of the universe. And so that's another thing, like I said, aspect, just bringing those two things together and really teaching it in a way that I won't really be saying a lot different, but praying that God can help me surgically communicate it in a way that it just sticks this time and it brings a lot of us together to basically, like I say, help advance the kingdom of God. Because there's so many souls out here, and you know, you have a lot of preachers, you have a lot of great teachers. You know, it's like, oh man, this person can preach, oh man, they can tear up the church, but the power isn't living it. And that's the biggest thing that I told God. I was like, man, if I'm not going to truly live this thing, do not keep— basically, like, it's almost like embedding this in my heart— if I'm not gonna live it, Lord, I don't want it. And so it's God's timing, you know. I'm going to his pace, the pace of grace. And I just feel like with my wife, you know, the things that she has coming down the pipe, you know, with her ministry, you know, from Beautifully Broken to doing ministry as her name, you know, and just walking into it and just the vision and how she wants to impact, you know, young women, uh, you know, and work with women in general, but that desire to really impact young women in the youth you know, my wife talked me into coaching, you know what I'm saying? So it's just like those things, you know, coaching our oldest son's team this year. And when I really think about it, think about— think back, I'm glad that she pushed us into doing it because it just taught us so much about our marriage, you know, teamwork, as well as how, you know, the time with our kids and investing. And then, like, you know, it was God, like, understanding that, wow, you know, yes, Cameron You know, although our youngest son went through a lot, but at the same time, it doesn't change the fact of kind of the neglect our oldest son felt. So it was just a balance. I'm— I appreciate, you know, God working through my wife in order for her to see that and how it's just slowly bringing things together. And so that's why I say, man, experience is not the best teacher of life. Evaluated experience is. You know, John C. Maxwell talks about this in his book, you know, The 15 Laws of Valuable Growth. We have to evaluate. And so, you know, man, so I just want to say, get into a lot of things, man, and just, just flow, you know, from just things that I'm seeking clarity on. And it's God giving me clarity on it, convey it in a way and reach the people that I'm called to reach. So I'm looking at my, my tablet— I mean, my tablet thing here with the time, and I've been talking for almost over 10 minutes now. I didn't know that I was going to get into that, but I just wanted to share the things that was on my heart. And like I say, you know, be looking for me soon because we're gonna really dig deep, man. And I'm just so excited, just so excited, man, and pumped up to really just walk into what God is calling me to be, you know, from the promotions that I've received at my job, you know, from not sharing this to boast, but just becoming a senior technical project manager, to managing the team and compliance and things like that, to stepping into that, that senior leadership role. But at the same time, you know, wanting to step more into the ministry and how God is just aligning the parallels for me to basically just grow in this area but transfer a lot of those things to this area. So I'm so excited, man. Like I said, I can keep going on and on. I'm gonna save the rest for season 3. Listen, we're going in, we're going there, you know. All I'm praying is God help me communicate it the way he desires me to communicate it, that he speaks through me and he flows, and that through the sound of my voice over these podcasts, these episodes, through this content, man, that you be blessed and that you just come into like that, wanting that oneness with him. Because the flesh will never come under subjection. The flesh will never want to. It will always be in opposition to God. But your spirit, man, if we can just communicate to that spirit, man, and you share this content— share this, I mean, share with friends and say, hey man, just really listen to, you know, this right here, man, because we're going there. Like, I'm not playing with it no more. Like, the anxiety, the fear that I get, I don't— it is like Hey, listen, I gotta do what God tell me to do because that's who I want to, um, make sure that I'm pleasing. Right there, that's it. I almost— but that's who I want to make sure I'm pleasing, man, and do the will of my Father. So that being said, man, get ready, listen to this, check it out, tune in, start subscribing now, share, share, share, man. I want to encourage you to share Videos are coming. My wife and I are going to collaborate. I'm going to get her on here. Listen, she's dope, bro. She's so talented. Like, she can sing, she can flow, she can pray. Like, she's beautiful, she can flow. She— like, she's dope. And I'm so excited, just excited that I'll be launching alongside with her. So get ready, we're going there. I appreciate you guys, man. I love you, and I will continue to pray that God helps shape and mold you into who he desires you to be, and that you have the courage to live that life out. God bless. Hey, so I want to thank you for taking the time to listen to this content today. If it has impacted you in any kind of way, I want to encourage you to share it on your social media feed with family and friends. And if you desire to connect with me on a more deeper level, go to www.timothyprattjr.org where you'll get more information on how to do that. With that being said, continue to have a blessed day, and Lord's will, I'll see you next time.