Ep 42 - Paul: Redeemed for a Reason (Part 2 of 2)

How do you rebuild after losing everything?

In Part Two of Paul Leslie’s journey, we explore the transformation that followed his breaking point. From seeking forgiveness from everyone he ever wronged to witnessing miracles at work, finding love again, and stepping boldly into ministry — Paul’s story is a testimony to what can happen when a person chooses full surrender.

What does freedom look like on the other side of obedience?

Join us as Paul shares the tools, divine moments, and unexpected blessings that rebuilt his life from the inside out.

⚠️ Content Advisory - This episode contains discussions of:

• Violence
• Abortion
• Trauma and mental health challenges
• Family conflict
• Suicide

🔗 Links & Resources

• Connect with Your Story Church: Paul@yourstorychurch.com
• Wild at Heart by John Eldredge

📢 Call to Action

✅ What part of Paul’s story stood out to you? Share your reflections with us at monomythdiaries.com.

✅ Follow & Subscribe so you never miss an episode of transformation.

✅ Learn more about Your Story Church 

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Transcript

Hi everyone and welcome to the Monomyth Diaries, the podcast where ordinary people get to share their hero's journey. I'm Mandy and I'm Rachel and we'll be your host. We'll discover powerful insights, critical moments of growth, and much more. Thanks for joining us. We all have a monomoth to share and someone out there needs to hear it. Welcome back to the Monomoth Diaries, a take what you like and leave the [music] rest podcast. This is a space where real people share inspiring stories of transformation. No advice, no experts, just [music] connection, growth, and hope. Today, we continue the incredible journey of our guest, Paul. He shared how a life marked by instability and emotional turmoil led to despair, a plan for destruction, and a heartbreaking separation. Today, we explore the path that brought him redemption, peace, forgiveness, and a life completely transformed. So, let's continue to walk alongside Paul as he [music] continues to share the next chapter of his monoth. Hey Paul, we are so glad to have you back with us again today. Thank you. Thank you. In the end of our last episode, we had just left off with you telling us about your big catalyst, your turning point, the experience at church that's going to propel you into transforming into being different. Let's pick up right there. Thank you so much for having me. As I left that church service and and and I knew something was different, I reconnected with the friends because they had no idea what was going on. Nobody knew. Her family didn't know. No one in my family knew. I think only her real close friend circle had an idea about what was going down. And all I can think of at this time is God, you've changed me. You've turned me into something. I can be the man she's been wanting probably, right? And I could be that guy. And and that's where my hope was. And and as as as I was going through this process, the man and woman that had come and shared that vision with me, you know, about the the demons, right? I caught him and I just broke down. I just poured my heart out and we're all crying together and and they're all praying for me and and they're just really speaking love and life into me. Honestly, it was them and my buddy Josh who I'll speak about here shortly. Those folks held me together through that time. And it was in that season that God had pointed them strictly to me as an assignment to build me up and lift me up and to get me on the right plan and purpose. And so I had the opportunity to just pray with them and we were talking every day, a couple times a day. There was a book called Wild at Heart. I think the writer's name is Eldridge, something Eldridge, but he wrote this book about Wild at Heart. And it was specifically for men who had went through all the things that I had done cuz you know men for whatever reason, we relate to the wilderness and we relate to the nature. So I read this book, I bet I read this book five times, at least five times, maybe more. And we were connecting and we were praying and we were in this place where I didn't have any money. So I'm like, "Okay, you know, what do I do?" cuz she done moved out. I got this big house. I'm like, I got to figure this out. How do I get out of here? And I was afraid to call this guy and be honest with him about what was going on. So, this guy I was telling you about, Mr. Jack, he was such an amazing man and honorable man of God. And ultimately, I I I called him. I told him, I said, "I don't know how I was like, I don't have the money to pay you." And I said, "I will get everything out of here. I'll get everything as quickly as I can. I don't know what to do. I'm trying to figure this out with me and my son." And mind you, at this time, I got two pit bulls. It was one of the first times where I really had to trust God. And it was one of those stretching things where he just really wanted me to trust him. And uh a friend that my ex-wife had tried to introduce me to before, he had given his life to Christ a couple years before. He was going through a divorce. His ex-wife wasn't believing. And we we just started connecting because he needed a job. So the company I was working for, I had a lot of autonomy to hire and and so I hired him. And so we connected and I started talking to him a lot from work. And again, all this had happened. These are things that God had set up because he knew what I was fixing to go through. He'd already ordained these things. These aren't things that I can come up with. I'm definitely not that smart or wise. But God is infinite in his wisdom. And it was God's love and wisdom for me that he was able to put these things in place for me. So I let him know what happened. I told him, "I need you to pray with me." So we was on the phone together praying. I was praying with the other couple uh from Lexington. They were my anchor. And uh crazy enough, Josh introduced me to this uh blindheaded woman that was on the on the staff there at Launch Houston, the church I'd walked into, right? And I started going there. Like I started going there every Saturday night. I couldn't get to church enough, [laughter] you know, after God, I was going to Saturday night. I was attending, look, I [laughter] was attending two services, right? And this was before her, right? This was before her. This is like Yeah. So I'm I'm in there. I'm like, because at this point, God had really freed that objectivity thing from me. When I looked at women, I just looked at him as like it was my sister. And it's crazy. I mean, it's crazy how he removed that that veil and how that was taken away. And so, I'm sitting there and I'm I'm in this situation where I'm in these prayer groups with with all these people. And Josh had introduced me to the couple women in the the prayer group and then he started introduced me to this outreach ministry guy. Loren was the pastor of the outreach ministry. And then Megan and Amanda were in this prayer group. So, we're all together and we're praying and and we're going and we're doing different events together. We're going to different churches and and uh me and Josh are just really going and getting it. You know, we're going to everything that we could do and I'm in church every time that I can be. Y'all y'all are familiar with Thrive cuz Thrive has a huge part of Your Story Church, which is where Mandy and I uh is our home church now. And I'm going to like three or four nights a week, man. I'm I'm in a Bible study group. I'm even in a marriage. I'm in a marriage group because I'm thinking reconciliation still reparation, right? Like there's still opportunity to revive this. So, man, I'm just wide open. You're doing you're plugged in. I'm plugged in. And that was the difference. That was the difference. We're we're in this age now where everything's battery powered. I was the tool that ran awesome. Thought everything was great, but my battery was draining. And finally, when that battery went dead, I was worthless. I was useless. My battery had went dead. Right? So I I really felt like in that analogy, God was saying, "Hey, you got to plug in. You got to plug in." He's like, "You plug in. I'm going to continue to feed you. I'm going continue to put you where I've called you to be." So that's what he did. He plugged me in. And Mr. Jack, you know, I I put the screws to the guy, man. Like cuz I didn't have any money to pay him. So he took like two months where he didn't get any of the money, you know. Unfortunately, he got stuck. I didn't have it. So, it's crazy. This part of my testimony is my boss that I was working with, he was a believer and he was really, really supportive and he knew what I was going through and he knew I was broken. He knew I was really trying to to get things together and really walk out the life God called me to be. And, and I'm in this place like I knew how to get money, but the way I used to get money is not the way I could get money. I mean, I I've always figured out how to get money. Like I I will tell you, man, like one thing one thing I can say is hustling. I might have grown grown up eating the same stuff over and over again or not knowing when the next meal was coming, but I'll tell you what, once I was able to figure it out, I I was always going to have what I needed. You know what I mean? Never never once I would say God always made sure I had what I needed. Now, I may have gotten on my own will and in my own my own means, but I always figured that out. And that was like that street smart side of me, right? that I always had that common sense, street smart. So, as I'm sticking it to this guy, my my current boss sees what I'm going through and he and I crying together, man. Like, I mean, we're praying together and you know, he's just an amazing man and I attribute so much of my success in that transition to him as well. And I I said, "Look, man, I got to sell all these guns, man." Now, mind you, the guns is what the enemy meant to use for evil. So, God was fixing to give me one of my first lessons and how he was going to take what the enemy meant for evil and he was going to turn it for his good. This guy looked at me and he put his arm around me and he said, "You know what? I'm gonna buy all them guns from you." This amazing lady, she was in real estate and they had I'd met her online cuz I'm like out here trying to find a place to go cuz I'm I know my days were numbered. And she reached out and she said, "Look, I'll help you find something." So, I met with her down in Fisher and she showed me a house, brand new house. No one had ever lived in this house. I'm like, "I don't know. I can afford to live here. Like, these are brand new." So, she showed me a brand new house that her brother-in-law owned. Then she shows me a brand new house that her and her husband owned. And then we come into into Richmond because that's where I was working. And we come into Richmond and she shows me a house there. The old me would have been like, "That's the house." Cuz it was above my means. It was really nice in a amazing subdivision and it was a lesson God was teaching me there. She said, "So which home really sticks out to you?" And I said, "You know, I really we" and we were at that last house, which is the house that someone else owned. She said, "I don't know that they'll take dogs." She said, "I know the other two will let you have dogs." And I said, "Okay, I want this house." And it was the house that she owned. I had no idea. She said, "Just so happened my husband and I owned that house." And I said, "Well, praise God." Yeah. [laughter] Because at this time, I've got that joy. I know she's seen that on me because I I didn't have all the craziness anymore. And I feel like that was one of those defining moments where God was like, "I'm going [music] to re restore, redeem, and give you back everything in abundance from what the [music] enemy had tried to take from you." And whatever the enemy took from you, don't fret. Maybe the [music] enemy took that from you. Not only will God replace that, but he's going to replace it with something better. He's going to replace it with something better. It was in that situation now I see. I didn't know it then, right? But now I see that it was a divine appointment with her and I. So, transitioning back to the conversation at work with my boss at this point, I know I needed $5,200. He didn't know how much money I needed. And we're both crying and I'm like, cuz I like I don't know what I'm going to do, man. You know, I'm stuck. I'm really just trusting God. And he said, "Well, you know what? I just got this huge signing bonus. I haven't paid ties on that money. I want you to know that God has wanted me to give you $5,500." Oh, wow. Wow. Man, I'm telling you, I just come unglued as a kid. I remember this as a kid, an old Pentecostal preacher saying, "Garbage in, garbage out." So you take that crap in, you're going to put that stuff back out. So the crap that you take in through your your eye gates, your ear gates is going to come out that mouth. It's going to go through and process through your heart. And the Bible says out of the abundance of your heart, the mouth speaks. So as you're processing that crap into your head and your mind, your mind, will, and emotions encompasses your soul. And now you're allowing that stuff into your your soul and your heart. And now you start exuding that crap out. I felt in that time that God was saying, "You know what? No more TV, no more secular music. Stick to the lifegiving stuff, the stuff that's going to breathe life into you, that's going to lift you up and and encourage you." So, I went the straight YouTube sermons, listened to audio books of anything that you could think of. I was a sponge, man. I'm absorbing. The Bible says once it's written on your heart, the word of God, you'll never forget it. You'll never forget it. So, all the scripture, all the things that I heard as a kid, it's just all coming back in abundance and an overflow, right? So, I I get this money and and I go and rent this brand new house, move the dogs in, move my son in. Now, I got good stuff going in and good stuff going out when I'm having conversations with people, when I'm seeing people, when I'm hearing people, and I'm able to decipher the trash and the and and filter it. So, God's just starting to download in me, and he's starting to speak to me. And uh at this point, Josh moved in. He started staying with me. We made a a room about this size, and we turned it into our prayer room. And I had the prayer wall up and the Lord had just when he put scripture on my heart, I dropped it up there on a stick note. When he put someone on my heart to pray for, I stuck it up there. And in the center of this thing is my marriage, Josh's marriage, and then our children because both of us were still in this deep hope of of reconciliation and reparation in the marriages. So, we're just, man, we're just going all in and really really building that relationship that I never had before. So, the prayer group that we we connected with, we're really getting together now. We're really starting to pray. It was a 21-day fast. It was a launch Houston and Union Houston had come together and said, "We're going to hold this 21-day fast." So, I was like, "You know what? I'm going to get in and we're going to do this 21-day fast." Me and Josh was all in. The funny thing is, I never fasted from anything. You know, a fast for me was not looking at porn for more than four or five hours. So, I'm I'm jumping off this cliff of fasting, right? And again, I really think it was more of God detoxing and just purifying my heart, purifying my mind, purifying all those things that had been impure for so long. So, we get into this 21-day fast. So, we end up in Dallas at Chuck Pierce's church, and they all of a sudden start talking about the 10 days of all. In the Jewish culture, the 10 days of all is the 10 days of repentance, seeking forgiveness and and repentance for everything that you had done in the year. And uh this is all new. It was all new territory for me, man. Like I'm just constantly ju just whatever felt I felt like the Holy Spirit was leading me to, I was just doing it. And I was in prayer and it was in that prayer cuz I'm in the prayer room four or five times a day at this point. And and during this 10 days of all, one of the crazy things that he told me to do, well, he gave me multiple, but one of them was everybody that I had wronged, reach out and make [music] it right and and just seek forgiveness because at the end of the day, forgiveness is to free [music] me. forgiveness is so the enemy no longer has that stronghold and that binding [music] tie on me. So he set me he he [clears throat] he's allowed me to be free. But again, repentance has to be shown before the reconciliation and reparation. Forgiveness is something God does. God will give that to us. So um one of the other people that God had really put on my heart that I wronged was Mr. Jack. And God wanted me to write the wrong. You know, now we're a few months back. I'd got a promotion and and the promotion was significant. It was like $30 $40,000. I got a bonus. They gave me a crazy bonus. And then I just got my annual bonus. So, three three months ago, I didn't know how I was going to rub two pennies together and make two cents. Now, I'm sitting on money. You know, he said he'll press it down, shake it together, and give it back to you in abundance. He did that, but I knew this time it was God's money and I was going to do what God wanted me to do with it. So, one of the things was to make it right with Mr. Jack. So, all the cost that it would calculate for me and my son, I gave that all back to him and some. And I let him know in in a text message, I said, "I want you to know that God has transformed my life. He has set me free. He has moved in my life in a way that I would never have thought. And I want you to know that I'm really sorry for what we did to you. And I want you to know that I want to make this right with you." And I'm telling you, we're friends today. It's just crazy, man, how God works all this stuff out. Now, I got to make it right with my ex-wife, and I got to make it right with all these women, and even some of the guys that I had really, really hurt because I was so violent. So, I'm reaching out to these people, man, and I'm telling them, I'm like, "Hey, man. I just want you to know Jesus [music] has transformed my life. The old me is gone. And and I'm a new creation in him. And and I want you to know that he's put it on my heart to [music] tell you that I love you and that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the things that I did to you. I'm sorry that I got you involved in things that you didn't know about because I was selfish and prideful and I was only about self-seeking, you know, my own will and my own desires. But I want you to know that I'm sorry. And and I never got any negative feedback from anybody. The ones that did respond back, some didn't say anything. And I'm not going to lie to y'all, man. When when I was praying and and and I would see these messages come back and it wrecked me. And you know, at this time, the Lord had put on my heart to write this letter to my ex-wife. I don't even know how many pages it was, but it was a small novel. I'm sure I poured my heart and soul into this thing. So, I sent this message and I said I sent her a message and I said, "Hey, I really have a letter that I really feel like God has just poured on my heart to to share with you. You don't have to say anything to me. Like, all I need you to do is sit down and listen and hear hear my heart." So, ultimately, I said, "Look, let me just share what I feel like the Lord put on my heart to share with you." So, I go through it before I even get started, man. Just [clears throat] balling. And you know, in fairness, she was crying and and you know, she she stung it, hung in strong, and she was really devout to the fact that what she feels like God told her was what she was going to do. And I was the same way, like I'm what God told me I'm going to do. But it's okay because it was in that point that God had given me a word that sometimes it's time to cut the loose ends. Mhm. And I was like, "Wow." So now within 48 hours, I'm hearing cut the loose ends. Josh and him were and Amanda and all these they're like look man don't be overzealous like make sure you hear the Lord on this cuz there's no turning back. So Josh and I goes to this church and Amanda and Megan and them come and this guy's man he's a fireball prophetic preacher and and Josh told me he said look man first time I went over there and he started praying for me I went out in the spirit man he said it was on like spirit of God fell and it was on. So like I'm not sure what to expect. I just know like they've seen God move in mighty way in there. So we get in there and uh all of a sudden the end of the the service he locked eyes on me and I sat at the front and I sat at the front now you know when I'm not serving I've done that ever since I rededicated my life back to Christ because before I used to sat in the back and I used to scout type thing I'm just being real right cuz let's be authentic here someone out there that's listens to the podcast going to going to hear it or see it at some point is going to be like you know what that's me right now I'm that guy you know or I'm that calling. I'm telling you, when God broke that crap off of me, my place was no longer in the back. He called me to the front. He called me to be in the front. So, it's me and him, and I'm picking up what he's putting down. And all that stuff back here, it doesn't matter. Because before all that stuff mattered, you know, all the perception, how you looked at me. I mean, if you think my beard with a little bit of color in it is too dark, okay, I'm cool with that. At least it ain't gray, right? You know, I mean, I say, at least it ain't gray, you know? [laughter] So, it's about perspective. God had shifted my perspective at this point. And so I'm sitting in the very front row and this this guy comes over and all a sudden he locked eyes on me and he begins to give a word on my life over where God seen me and [snorts] how God was seen that Nehemiah anointing on my life and and to break down those walls of Jericho and that God broke down those things but done it in remember Nehemiah done it in an exponentially fast pace. It wasn't like, "Oh, this dude been out there 40 years beating the wall down." No, this happened fast. And that was one of the things that I caught out of the message, right? Like it was going to be quick. God was going to do something, you know, fast, but I had to be ready and I had to be receiving and be willing to receive everything that was coming. I had to be willing to stretch myself. And again, I'm still green, man. Like I'm I'm still learning this stuff, right? Anyway, at the end of this word he's given me and he said, "God has told you to cut the loose ends." And he said, "Let him go." Wow. Oh, man. I [laughter] I went into crying. I'm just I'm already crying, but I'm just like, you know, I come out, man. I You know, it was it was bad, you know. I had the whole church looking at me at this point, you know, cuz he's on it, man. Like, he's giving the he's he's delivering the word of the Lord. And it was dead on. Now, the whole thing's come to pass. And so that was the day that I said, "Okay, because cuz you know, remind you, I'm still was dealing with some of the hurt and pain. I'm 5 years in and some of that still hurts." Now, God is still working on the healing and God is still working on different parts of me because God's always working on us. That refining gold. It don't happen to be that piece on your neck until it's bent in, the draws beat off of it, back in, molded, polished. You know, it's like a rock when it's crushed, it's becomes a [music] diamond, you know. Right. Right. It's that refining. It's that refining process, right? It's the pressure from the anvil, the pressure from the the rock being crushed. It's that crushing and that refining process that we go through, right? That God has to say, "Man, you're where I need you to be. You're on the right path." So, I'm going through this process of that pain and that hurt. But it was in that moment that God really released me. And it was time like, you know what, Paul? It's time to just accept what it is and know that whatever the next season is, God showed you the last four or [music] five months how great it is when you walk in him. When you are standing there in your ziglag moment, the ruins [music] and the devastation and the ashes of everything that the Amalachites had burnt down [music] and taken. They took all their family. They took all their their prized possessions and their material things. [music] And even though it's all, you know, just burnt to a crisp and an ash, David, even though his men was ready to kill him, they wanted to stone him to death. David set aside some time and he got before the Lord and he encouraged himself in [music] the Lord. He didn't say, "I quit. I give up. I'm not doing it." He encouraged himself in [music] the Lord. And it was in that moment, God was saying, "I need you to encourage yourself in the things that I've shown you that I'm going to do [music] and the things that I've done and the things that I continue to tell you I'm going to do through my prophets and through the word." I mean, the Bible is 8,500 promises of what he said he's going to do in our lives. It's all historical stories about things that that we can relate to. So, I'm sitting here and I'm like, "Okay, I hear you, Lord." And and it was in that moment where God told David, he said, "Surely I want you to go to pursue them because surely you will recover it all." And just like David, in that moment, that was the moment where I felt like, you know what, God, I'm riding with you. I'm rocking with you. We doing this thing together. Let's go. Let's go. He's going to show you what he could do for you so that when you did get to that point of this is done, you're going to feel like you're going to be okay. He's shown you all these things. Yeah. He's done showed me his mercy. He's done showed me his grace. He's done showowned me his love. He's done showowned me his redemption. He's done showowned me his deliverance and sanctification. He's showed me what freedom looks like. Yeah. This was the Nehemiah process. This all happened within 5 6 months. Me and Josh every night we got into the New Testament and we began to read the New Testament. And then when I'm with Amanda, Megan, and we're reading the word. We're going through Bible studies and we're praying. I'm I've got people, seasoned people around me that's speaking life and love into me, that's uplifting me, that's encouraging me to continue to go pursue the Amalachites because once you get there, there's going to be another fight. But this time, you're going to be the victor because the Lord God is with you. And when the Lord God is with you, he can take a small shepherd boy with one rock and a sling and he can take out a giant, right? And when that giant falls, the giant of addiction, the giant of depression, the giant of adultery, the giant of divorce, whatever that giant is, when it falls and it hits the ground, that reverberation, man, it it comes right here. Let me tell you what, [laughter] and and it's in that situation, man, when you just feel that God can do it and God and with God, all things are possible. So, I knew that I was going to face another battle, right? I knew I was going to face another battle. So, I decided to reach back out and say, "Hey, look, let's do this divorce thing." And we got it done. And it was in that process of the divorce stuff going through where I'm with these people praying all the time. And again, I had zero. I'm telling y'all, God be my judge. I had no desire to be with any women. I really thought it was going to be me and Jesus till I die. You know, we gonna ride this thing out till I die. I wrote every other kind of thing for for why can't I ride the only thing the one the one thing that God gave us that we should ride to the end? So I was like I'm riding it to the end, man. Like that's it [clears throat] because I know how I feel today, how I am today is so much better than how I've ever been. And so um I'm sitting here listening to this YouTube video and it was CC Winins and a lady by the name of Hosanna Wong who's a lead singer. uh she's a a worship leader and travels around. She's from California. So, she goes and travels around to different churches and stuff. So, it was in this this moment that I'm hearing this that all of a sudden I hear what the next prophetic word that I would would get in my life that I had no idea about. Uh but she was going on and telling her story, her testimony, and about how she had been out ministering and and singing and she's at this church and she's the guest at the church. Well, the lead singer at the church, she had seen him before. They'd been out, you know, at different different events and stuff together cuz he was really talented at what he did as well. And so, she said that at the end of all of it, they got to have some conversation. You know, they didn't really know each other, but they knew of each other that they began to have a little bit of conversation and they exchanged numbers. And she said it was just a couple weeks later, he gives her a call and he called her and he said, "Hey, would you be willing to come and would you let me fly out and meet you for dinner?" And she said, "Absolutely. you know, come on out and we'll we'll meet and we'll reconnect. So, he flies out to California and they meet. They go to dinner and he says, "Listen," he said, "I know this is going to sound completely crazy, but I've been praying and there was something that just started resonating in my spirit when I saw you at our church the last time. I really have heard the Lord speak and the Lord said that you're going to be my kingdom spouse." Now, mind you, she's like, "Bro, [laughter] like I mean, yeah, you can imagine what she's thinking, right?" She's like, "Yeah." [laughter] Yeah. Yeah. He's like, "Man, you you you you don't uh you go straight to the to the you go straight for defenses, man. You don't you don't you don't cut no corners, man." So, uh anyway, so he uh he told her, "Yeah, you're going to be my kingdom spouse." He said, "No, I know that's a lot to absorb." He's like, "I'm asking you to take this back in prayer and pray over it and whatever the Lord tells you, just let me know. I respect your time and I know you need some time to to absorb this and and pray over it." He said, "But in all fairness, please respect my time as well." And there was something about him saying that to her that she just was like, "This is a powerful man." Like, "This man knows what he wants." Like, you know, genuine. Yeah. Yeah. So, make a long story short, the result of the testimony was she felt she heard the Lord say the same thing in prayer and there was confirmation. They began to reconnect and they begin to date and ultimately they're married. And I was like, I don't want no woman. I don't need no woman. I That's a good story. You know what I mean? I really like that. I mean, you know, that was a good story. I really I really like [laughter] that. And uh I went on about my about my day. But I'm telling you, when the when the Lord speaks and when the word of the Lord hits your spirit, it's written on your heart. Just like the word of I mean, it's it's the word of God. It's written on your heart. And when it's written on your heart, it doesn't go away. You may not feel it or see it or think about it, but there's a time when God brings it back. And so I'm out with these guys and we're doing all this ministry stuff together. and and Amanda and I were at these prayer thing together and the Lord kept telling me, remember the Hosanna Wong testimony? And I'm like, no man, because I'll be honest, y'all, and Amanda knows this, so I'm not like saying, I wasn't physically attracted. I wasn't emotionally attracted. I wasn't attracted. And I wasn't attracted to any woman like that. It wasn't just her, but it was any woman. Like, I didn't see women like that. I seen them. I loved them as my sisters in Christ. They were my battle buddies. we were going to war together for the kingdom and and that's how I saw him and and that's how it was for me and I just kept hearing the Lord tell me and I'm like I rebuke you man I'm not telling I'm not I'm not saying that like [laughter] I'm rebuking that man like I am not saying that to her what you're talking about yeah [laughter] like I I'm like I'm not saying that to her way they are the cutest couple [laughter] and and I'm like man I'm not saying that to her I am not saying that to her [laughter] so so Man, listen. I I just felt it. I just felt it. Like it was weighing heavy on me. Like the the the Lord was just really the Holy Spirit was like, "Man, you need to you need to like I want you to say I want you to talk to her about this." [clears throat] Because like I said, I was ride or die with Jesus to the end. Like it was just me and him. And I knew she felt the same way. It was ride or die with Jesus to the end for her. Megan was the same way. Kuren's the same way cuz all of them single at this point. All of us are single. And so we're at this prayer event at Launch Houston on a like a Wednesday or Thursday night and we always went out to get something to eat afterward. And mind you, there never been any type of of affection or anything like that. And so it was one of those things where she and I were left at the end of this thing and we're just really praying for me to get my my prayer language cuz I was really asking the Lord for my prayer language, you know, cuz I'm the only one in the group that didn't have it. Although I had it, I just didn't know I had it. I just had to believe that that's what it was. And as I believed it, it was really just a few days later that it [laughter] rolling. But [clears throat] nonetheless, that was one of the breakthroughs that happened that night, right? But the the other one was we were at the church. We had just finished up praying and we were sitting on this couch and I'm I'm sitting here and the Holy Spirit's just like telling me I need to ask. So I man, I was I was like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Like I was nervous. Like I was nervous, man. And I said, "Has the Lord been saying anything to you?" And [laughter] uh that's funny. And and and she she looked at me, she's like, "What?" I said, "Has the Lord been speaking to you about me at all?" You can see this right now. [laughter] That's so funny. And she's like curious. She's she's looking and she's like, "Um I said, "Has the Lord been speaking to you about us?" And she said, "Um, well," and she just like was was uncertain what answer I was looking for. And I said, "Listen, I know this is going to sound crazy, but the Lord said told me that you were going to be my kingdom spouse." And I don't know if it's now or soon or later or what. I don't want to freak you out. You know what I mean? Uh, I want us to still be able to be friends and, [laughter] you know, do this because we've been we've been knocking down, you know, we've been knocking down giants together. And I said, I really think that. And I said, and I just need you to pray about it and and let me know. She said, I don't need to pray about it. Oh, wow. She said, I don't need to pray about it. She said, the Lord's been speaking the same thing to me. And uh, so it was crazy. It ended up evolving to the point where like God told me to be very respectful, super respectful. Long story short, we ended up getting engaged and uh we went up to Kurville uh Texas and they've got a cross display up there. That cross is 77 ft 7 in and we are underneath the cross and we're just, you know, and man, I wrote this thing from my heart and I thought saying what I said on that couch that night at church was tough. this is really tough, you know. So, I'm just smiling at her and I'm looking at her dead in the eye and all a sudden I went down on Wendy. I pull up my phone and I'm, you know, shaking and I got this, you know, this reverb in my voice cuz I'm I'm nervous. And I read the thing and uh she said yes. And so we ended up getting married and uh on May 27th of 2022 and we've been married ever since. And we've walked through some stuff together, man. [clears throat] We would think, "Oh, it's going to be rainbows and unicorns cuz we we should know." But, you know, when a kingdom couple come together and have the calling on their lives like she and I does, God wants to use us in a way together as one with him. You know, the way that he wants to use us, you're going to face adversity. You're going to face the enemy's going to come. He going to come, man. The hate and and that brother started coming. But he had armed us and he had prepared us. Everything that we've been through has continued to just refine us and crush us and make us into the couple that we are today. Which leads us into where we ended up at YSC on the leadership team there. And it's been pretty awesome. In 2024 when uh your story church was doing their launch and vision, the two of us, we started attending that. And then in January, we were all in serving with the team to launch the church and we jumped in uh head first and we've been going all in the whole way. Donell and V have been amazing leaders and stewards of our anointings and our callings. They see what God is doing in our lives and wants to do through our lives. And uh you know, God has just really opened up the door for Amanda and I to to lead the prayer ministry, to lead the usher ministry, to lead the freedom ministry. We got to lead a freedom group last summer with our great friends Joe Lewis and and Jessica. crazy uh how God has just really laid out that roadmap for what I believe is ultimately going to be next steps for she and I. You know, I know this [music] is the season that he's got us in to build us up and to to have us around strong leadership and walk into [music] that season. I know understand now how much a leader is required [music] to steward. I also understand that the church isn't always your ministry that God drops his light [music] into the darkness all over this world. It could be work. It could be a fishing trip. It could be wherever. Coaching. Yeah. Grocery store. Coaching a baseball team or whatever. Your workout group. Your workout group. Exactly. When I when when I speak of ministry, I mean I mean ministry. I'm talking about that Matthew 28:19 [music] where he says, "Go out into all the nations, make disciples, and baptize them in the name of the Father, [music] Son, and Holy Spirit." Right? That's what I'm what I mean by ministry. There's different giftings. God gives us all different giftings. So, not everybody's called to preach. Not everybody's called to be a pastor. Not everybody's called to be evangelist, a [music] prophet, right, or a teacher. Um, but it's crazy, right, how God allows that [music] process to come to fruition to where the things that you [music] go through, he allows you to use that for other people to heal. So, that's the season that's the season that we're in where we're on the prayer ministry and we're able to to pray for others. And man, it's so amazing to hear the same stories of the things that I've went through from people I don't know from Adam. And [music] God allows me to speak love and life and take ownership and command over [music] those things that the enemy is trying to set in as unbelief and lies into their life and stand with them. So, it's been a blessing. Do you know who Ed Mlet is? He's an author and a podcaster. He spoke at a Christian workshop that my husband and I went to recently and he said this quote that meant so much to me. You're most qualified to help the person you used to be. Man. Amen. And I was like [laughter] Yeah. Like who like you were saying you now see these people you used to be that you now can give that back to. Yeah. Like who better to to feel comforted by than somebody that's actually been through it that can tell you, "Hey, you can get through this. I I I've been there. I've done that. You know, we talk about never saying, "I wish I didn't have to go through that." Yeah. But you know what? I can sit back today and say, "I'm thankful." I just got the chills. Yes. I'm thankful. Amen. I'm thankful for the tragedy. I'm thankful for the trauma. I'm thankful for for the things that I had to go through because if I wouldn't have circled the mountain and wandered in Egypt for 42 years, then at 47, I wouldn't be here today talking about how I've walked into the promised land. And now I'm doing kingdom stuff for God through those things that he brought me through. And this is a perfect example of how we do it, right? How we do it. We get to sit down and we get to share that. It's crazy because Darnell is very spontaneous. Yeah. So I can imagine that's a very nice word to describe. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He's very spontaneous. So for people who are listening to this, go back listen to Donell's episodes cuz we keep talking about him. He was in the first season. Donell man was his name. and he's the founder of Your Story Church, which is how Paul and I know each other. He actually had three episodes because he talked for so long I had to break it into three. [laughter] I think I might have to do that with yours. I'm going to do with mine, too. Sorry. [laughter] No, I think you did the same thing with mine. It's such an incredible story. I just Yeah. Yeah. So, anyway, I just wanted to throw that out. D's a common denominator here right now between all three of us. Crazy. Listen, Donnell's a common denominator in Houston among a lot of He really is. He really is. with his spontaneity. He just walked up to me two or three weeks before Father's Day. He said, "Hey, I want you to put a a message together and I want you to give a sermon about your testimony, but I need you to compare it to like a Bible story." And he said, "Oh, by the way, you get 7 to 10 minutes." And I said, "Okay." So, a lot of the people that know some of my story, they don't know what they'll learn today in uh in the book of Revelations is said by the blood of the lamb and the power of our testimony. It's it's that that overcomes the sin. [music] And God can take that love and he can transform the sin in other people's lives because they see how God did that and removed that sin from your life and transformed you so you could be who he called you to be. I think that's [music] extremely powerful, right? Because we go to your story church. So how much more of a declaration over someone's life is, oh, I go to your story church and here's my testimony. Let me show you what God can do for you. Yeah. It's changed my life. Your story church has changed my life. Absolutely. Absolutely. because I know there are people there that were broken, too. And I never I never knew that. I went to church so many times throughout my life, but I didn't understand that until I found what he's doing. The church is a hospital. The hospital has two types of people. They have the really sick and the recovery. And I know that there's people [music] in the church that we have the impact and we have the ability to touch them with our testimony. Yeah. And I want to go to a church full of imperfect people. That's a thing. It's whether or not you could admit it. That's right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That ownership pieces and accountability piece is real real difficult. Yeah, that's the piece I want to be around because I want I want that. I want to be able to do that. All right. Well, normally we ask you questions along the way, but we haven't had to do that. [laughter] Yeah. About your boons and, you know, your tools and your strategies. Haven't had to do that. But I'm going to ask you, do you have any other blessings that you want to to talk about today? Just the fact that I get to walk into what God's called me to do, that's a major blessing. But there's no greater blessing than the redemption and the grace that that Jesus gave me. Outside of that, I will tell you my wife Amanda. I I mean, she's been an absolute blessing to me. I I may not be the best communicator, but there's one thing that's emphatically undeniable, and it's how much I love and appreciate her. I wouldn't be where I am today without her because I will tell you, no one has encouraged me and supported me as much as she does. and she sees the call that God's got on my life to do the work for his kingdom. And and she sees that and she sees that it's it's got to be us together to do it. That it's not designed for me to do it alone because a house divided surely would not stand. We got to be united. We got to be one together. And she's probably the one blessing that I'm just extremely grateful for. A good one. Absolutely. And I love you, babe. Thank Thank you for loving me. [laughter] All right, we have two more questions for you that we always ask all of our guests. How do you hope your mono myth will inspire our listeners? That's a great question. And one thing I really love about that question is the fact that we are all broken and imperfect. And the great thing about the redemption story that God's done in my life and the things that I've seen him do, I can now see him do it for other people through my story. And the one thing that I hope is that God can take my story and that it goes out among the nations and it transforms the hearts and minds of people across this world and that people that are broken and addicted and just think that they're at the bottom of life and that there's no way they're going to get out of it. I want them to know there's a way and he is the way. He is the truth. He is the life and his name is Jesus Christ. And I'm just so glad that that story can go out and God can take a man like I used to be and turn me turn my story into something so much greater than I could ever think, ask or imagine. And I'm so grateful for that. And I'm so grateful for this opportunity to be able to do that. And I'm so grateful. Gosh, I remember that that Father's Day that web and I sat there and we do sit in the back of church. Yeah. [laughter] Not enough by the way for everybody. No judging. And I that was not what I was implying. So [laughter] like in the front forever. Yeah. That those seven minutes changed us and I knew it. I just knew. I mean I knew I was in the right place, but I'm like that's why I'm here. That seven minutes of testimony. Like my husband too was just like we Yeah. We We need to know that man. Yeah. [laughter] Thank you, Lord. Everything you've been through. Y'all had I've cried more today. Yeah. Lord have mercy. All right. Our last question for you as we end every single mono myth with an attitude of gratitude and it's your opportunity to shout out to anybody who's been a hero and mentor. Anybody that's been important to you. Well, I know I'm going to cry on this one. I'm going to be completely open and honest and transparent here. My grandma Lesie, man, that woman was a saint. and to see how she loved her children and she loved Jesus and the stuff that she went through in her life and she was still able to just absolutely be a fireball for Jesus and I can just tell you when she died and Jesus welcomed her. [laughter] Oh man, that was a day of rejoicing in heaven. I just know when she met my dad and she seen my sister I just know I just know that he he [laughter] said, "Well done, my good and faithful servant because she was just that she was just that person." She was just that person. I owe I owe a lot to her because we did live with him a lot growing up. So, I owe a lot to her. And uh the same thing for my uncle Dave Lesley. I I would have never joined the army probably had he not inspired me and and showed me his war trinkets and and stuff and and really encouraged me. And then uh I'm just grateful for my church community without Josh, Amanda, Megan, Loren, and Megan and Loren got married also. Uh so that was extremely powerful. So the fact that they they got married was just awesome. And Josh is remarried now. The fact that God took something that the enemy thought he was going to just have a good time about and God turned it for his good. And not only that, but all of us are out there doing the work of God and being his hands and feet, you know. Oh, and then Donell. I'm very grateful for Donell for believing in me and I'd be remissed if I wouldn't uh say my wife again because she is uh she's definitely allowed me to be the man God's called me to be. So, I'm very thankful for her and I love her so much and I just appreciate uh all those people in my life. I appreciate that they build me up. You know, we have a tribe and it's important that who you surround yourself with and this is the message that the Lord really wanted to share. You know, who you surround yourself matters. Look in Mark 2 where you had the the four men carried their paralyzed friend up to the the house where Jesus was preaching in Capernaum and they got onto the roof of the house because there was standing room only and they were blown outside the house and there was no way to get into Jesus but they knew that if Jesus just touched him or was just in the presence of Jesus he could be healed. So they get this guy on the roof. They cut a hole in the roof and they lowered him right down in front of Jesus. And he looked at the paralyzed guy and he said, "I'm not healing you because of what you did. I'm healing you because of what they did. It was their faith. That's the tribe I want. That's my circle. That's who I'm surrounded myself with. Now, I surround myself with people that's going to be the iron sharpens iron type people for me. And so, I'm really thankful for for all those people that I shouted out because they they mean a lot to me. Well, Paul, I want to say thank you again [music] for taking the time to do this and to share your redemption story. And if anybody wants to reach out to you, is that something they can do? Yeah, absolutely. Okay. We will make sure that we drop that information in the show notes for people who are interested in hearing more from Paul. Thank you'all so much. God bless you, Paul. We appreciate you being here today and we know our listeners appreciate you being here today as well. Your bravery, vulnerability, and willingness to share such a sacred chapter of your monoth is a reminder that redemption is real and transformation is possible. Your testimony will continue to plant seeds of hope, freedom, and healing. Thank you so much for taking the time and we look forward to seeing how your journey continues to unfold. When we share our testimony, we not only heal ourselves but create space for others to heal, too. If listening to Paul's story stirred something in you, we invite you to take a moment and reflect and [music] reach out. And remember, your story matters. Your journey has purpose and together we can inspire transformation. Thanks for joining us on the Monometh Diaries. If this episode resonates with you or someone you know, we'd love for you to share it and spread the inspiration. Don't forget to follow us wherever you get your podcast or on YouTube [music] to stay connected. We'd appreciate if you could take a moment and rate and review the podcast. It helps us [music] reach more people with stories of transformation and growth. You can visit us at monommydiaries.com or text us directly from the show notes to [music] reach out and keep the conversations going. Until next time, heroes, let's journey together through our monomyths.