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An Early Morning Encounter With a Loving God

My name is Helga van Niekerk. I live in Cape Town, South Africa and present the Rise and Shine show on 107.5 CCFm, a local community radio station. I love to make Friday's fun-filled. On Friday 30th September 2011, I woke early - around 3am and found myself worried and anxious and anything but ready for fun-filled, fabulous Friday. Finally, 3-45am arrived and it was time for me to get up. As I got dressed, I really felt I needed a touch from the Lord, especially as I had three hours in the studio ahead of me. I felt BLUGH; I felt inadequate, emotional, insecure, unloved, unable, ill-equipped, miserable, hormonal, unhappy, tearful AND IT WAS ^FUN-FILLED FRIDAY!!!^ What was I to do? How could I pull off three hours of fun-filled on air time? I had a time of prayer which calmed me down some.. Then I picked up my Bible. I felt the Lord saying 'Go to the Psalm of your age.^ At the end of September I was still 46, turning 47 in early November. I started turning to Psalm 47, when I felt a small still voice say 'no, Psalm 46'. I started reading the beautiful words of this wonderful psalm, but when I got to verse 5, that was when I really KNEW it was God who had spoken & He was with me. Psalm 46:5 says ^God is within her, she will not fall. God will help her at the break of day.^
There was not much more I could do except burst into tears and thank Him for His amazing grace and love!
Whatever you are facing, GOD IS ABLE. He can turn a BLUGH day into a BEAUTIFUL day. I can say with certainty that after I read that verse, the day absolutely changed. I went to fun-filled Friday with a spring in my step, a smile on my face and joy in my heart. Regardless of your circumstances, you can have peace and joy in your life.

Faith through life

So, sometimes I feel like a brick in the wall. It seems no one really cares at all about me. Family, friends....... anyone. I feel so alone...... It hurts. I get made fun of all the time at my school. And for what? A cheap laugh? With all this pressing me down, it can be hard to stay optimistic. I can't even think what I would do without god though. He's always there. I ask him for the strength, he gives me it. I ask for protection. He gives it. I ask for forgiveness for the sinful things I do. He gives me it. He's always there, and always caring.

Faith In a Break Up

About a month ago my boyfriend broke up with me. It was out of the blue when he did it. After school he came up to me and said ^I am breaking up with you.^ I was so stunned that i was so confused and I had no idea what was going on. He told me that I had changed and that I just wasn't the same anymore. After he broke up with me my world was crashing down, my grades were dropping and I was crying every night. The next day I talked to one of my best friends at school a she told me that my boyfriend had talked to her and another one of my best friends about me changing. Then one of my best friends told me that I need to get over him and that I didn't need him in my life. When she said that to me, I was so stunned, I had never heard my friend say that to me before. I went home crying because I thought I was not worth it for anyone to love. I thought since my friends couldn't love me and be there to support me then no could. I also thought since my ex-boyfriend couldn't love me for who I was then no one could. I knew that I was so lost in my life with god and I was so far off of my path that he had planned for me. So that night I prayed more than I ever had before. I prayed that my friends would realize how much they had hurt me and I also prayed that my ex would come and talk to me and stop ignoring me. I was so lost and I thought I was done for. Then about 3 weeks later when I thought all hope was gone for my life, my best friend came up to me after class and started crying and she said, ^ I am so sorry for the way I treated you. I told my mom how I treated you and she said I was actually bullying you instead of being there for you. I remember when I lost my first boyfriend and I realized how much pain I went through. I realized I have not been a good friend to you and I would like to turn that around and start caring for you more. I am very sorry and I love you very much^. After she said that to me I realized that god answered one of my prayers. Then on that same day, my ex came up to me and we started talking, not a whole lot but we just had a small talk. Then I realized god answered my another one of my prayers.

During this whole tragedy that I have been going through, I realized that god has been there by my side waiting for me to hand my problems over to him. I hope that if you, who is reading this, ever go through one of these tragedies with a guy or a girl, I pray that you will hand it over to god and let him take control of the situation. This has been a good time of my life, not because my boyfriend that I loved dearly broke up with me, but because this whole situation has taken me a bunch of steps closer to god. I hope this has been a story that has helped you.

Just needed Someone to Lean On

I've been having a very tough semester in school. While I am normally a very good student, this past semester I have been doing very poorly -- so much so that there is a good chance I will not be able to continue on the career path that I wanted. Regardless of how much I study this semester I keep doing poorly, and as someone who handles stress very poorly, I can honestly say that I've had multiple breakdowns and tried to get help.

Last week, I went home for the first time since I had left in September. While it was nice to see my family, I didn't do any work - which was terrible because I had to come back to three projects, 2 quizzes, and an exam -- followed quickly by final exams. The night before my exam, I thought all hope was lost. I was so stressed and confused and upset that I couldn't even focus enough to remember the smallest amount of material.

Now my prayer life has been somewhat lacking in these past few years since I started grad school, mainly because I'm so tired I just fall asleep at night. In any case, that night I prayed. I asked for forgiveness for losing my way. And while it wasn't like I automatically was able to read and understand everything, I felt calmer, like someone was comforting me. I needed support, and I felt like I was fortunate to receive it.

a true follower changes everything

I was laying down in my bed with a magazine last two weeks and it read a revival in brazil and other places. My heart turned down because I didnt want to see or even read about revivals I wanted to live a revival I wanted to experience a true revival myself. I kneld down and I told God^ Why is there no revivals here in my town or even in some places^. When i finished praying God gaved me a dream that I was walking through a deserted street but than a man in white appeared and said^Come follow me i will show you how my house my church now in days is.^ As we walked we came upon a house that was burned, dry, black, and it seemed as it was in ruin. I looked around inside as went in and i saw that walls were being eating by worms.Than the man in white said^ Tell my church to stop letting the devil steal, kill, and destroy tell them that my house needs to be pure and holy because im holy and my church my house need to be purified My church is dead tell them that the devil is conquering land because they cant follow me in my ways of cleaness and purity is what i want from them. Tell tham its time to conquere tell them is time to gain land.^ As he said this he took me outside and i saw green pature and a beautyful land. ^tell my church this is what they should be conquering.^ As i woked in the middle of the night i felt a sudden reaction to read the Bible and God spoke to me ^if my people humble themselfs and looks for me than I will forgive their sin and open the heavens and heal their land.^ when i finished reading the message i got to prayer and than went back to sleep. God gaved me a nother dream that someone called and invited me to their chuch which was in the corner of a street and another dream that i was talking in front of a nother congregation in the altar. That day like obout 10 or 11 a friend of mine calls and invites me to his church on sunday mornning and I agreed because God had told me through the dream to go and tell the dream that he gaved me. Sunday morning arrived and i prayed for the church to understand as I heard the honk outside I got up and went to a church that i didnt know. We arrived and seated myself down and saw some fimilar faces but the rest of the congregation i did not know. When the time came to give thanks to God I got grabbed the micro and started and force that only God gives came over and the words came out with power and anotting the dream was told and to make this short everyone in the congregation felt the power of God touching and it was so strong that the time flew 3 hours feeling the precenses of God. As the service ended my phone ringed and a txt massage read ^ son is time to go go too amarillo to church you want to stay or go.^ my replied was ^go^ and the same thing happen God spoked to his church and God had my back and he spoked to me to because I know that God has sometihng big for my city and amarillo and your city town your land will be healed to if you stop your evil way church! Many people go to church just to go that not how it is its time to have a true relationship with God. This story is not for everyone is just for the people of God because their God is powerful and mighty and thaty do have a relationship with God. God bless you churh of God and he going to do something extrodinary just wait and see.we dont need billy gram or even moses we need God in our city.

Faith in a Bar

I used to run a bar a few years ago. Six to be exact. But it wasn't what I'd call a normal bar. And it was situated in a growing city in China, where I have been living for these past ten years. I came here from Canada in 2001 for work, and have since married and had a child here. I say it wasn't a normal bar because we were the only foreign one in the city, we had no books, hardly kept tabs on what the customers ordered and generally just agreed on a customer's assessment of what they drank.

That all changed of course in time. But the biggest change happened when Jo came in. The woman that would become my wife. She began to run it like a real business. And I had more free time to spend in the office upstairs.

Many years ago, I wanted to be a minister. Even going so far as to attend Bible School, start a youth center (in Canada) and study, pray and read for hours a day. But through a major crisis, plummeted into years of sadness and wandering. I lost two small children and a wife through divorce. It happened quickly. She took the kids to another country, and to this day, almost twenty years later, I have still not seen them.

While the dream to be a minister up and died mostly, and I spent years wandering, broken and lonely, I ended up here, eventually opening a bar. I would read the bible online often in the bar's office, as it still gave me hope.

One day Jo came into my office while I was reading it. ^What do you really believe^? she asked me. It made me tremble a bit for some reason. But I told her. From beginning to end. And how while I was not a prime example of a Christian, Jesus never changes. And how he saves those who call on Him. To my surprise, she said she 'wanted that.^

So I nervously prayed with her, for Jesus to come and fill her. Suddenly, the room filled with a presence, and she began to shake and cry. ^What's that!^ she said. I said, 'well, that would be the Holy Spirit^.

The next day, we met downstairs. I gave her a hug. And clearly and distinctly, I heard, ^get Jo baptized^.

Baptized? Where am I going to get her baptized in China? We went to a church but they said they wouldn't do it. Too risky. Months passed. One day while walking through Beijing, I thought, 'I'll have to do it myself.^ Maybe in the river that runs down the mountain near our bar.

^Jo will get baptized in the Ocean.^ The words were clear and real in my mind. They came as an independent thought, apart from my own.

Upon returning on the Saturday to our city, Jo told me she would go for a walk on the beach, not far from where we lived. Away she went.

When she returned, she told me a story.

^I was walking on the beach and a little girl with golden hair came up to me and we started chatting. She said her dad was a foreigner. She was so sweet. Her dad came over and we chatted a bit and he gave me his business card. Here it is.^

I read it. ^Chris. Evangelistic Services.^ I called him up to introduce myself. He told me he had been working in Asia for several years as a missionary. I asked him about baptism and Jo's situation.

He answered. ^We are having baptisms in the Ocean this weekend. Join us.^ And we did. And she was baptized in the Ocean, exactly as I had heard it in Beijing.

That wasn't the first time that voice spoke. Twenty years ago, while sitting in a hospital with my first wife, waiting for our first child to be delivered, I heard a voice speak to me. It said. ^In your life, you will have two boys and a girl.^ That was it. As it turned out, the first baby was a girl. Two years later, my wife delivered a baby boy.

After bible school, she left with both. I was in Ontario at the time. We had been traveling, doing some evangelism. But she went home to her parents and wouldn't return.

In my despair, I saw myself hanging from a pipe in a little apartment I had rented for our home. My wife was gone. My kids. Why Lord? Now, suicide is an odd thing. A blanket enfolds you, like velvet, and it feels so peaceful. I felt that blanket cover me. But, thankfully, at the critical moment, that voice again. So clear.

^I will never leave you nor forsake you.^

The moment of suicide passed. I climbed into bed. Broken and devastated at the loss of a family.

I wandered for years. And often wondered on those words. ^in your life, you will have two boys and a girl.^ Did my wife and I destroy something? In my younger years, before coming to the Lord, did something happen that I didn't know about?

Did I hear wrong? I believed I didn't. But over the years, I slipped away. And was haunted sometimes by what could have been.After Jo was baptized, we married. She came to me one day and said, ^my belly is feeling sick.^

My first thought. ^Ah. There you are.^

And nine months later, a baby boy was born. The one I wondered about all those years. We invited the missionary in often, eventually praying with customers at the bar, hung a big red cross outside of it, and tried to have regular bible meetings. (I know. Strange thing to do in a bar)

But eventually we closed, and with the missionary, help set up the first ever, foreign evangelistic church in our city. That was five years ago. Today there are two in the city.

^Jo will get baptized in the ocean.^ And. ^In your life, you will have two boys and a girl.^

Have you received a promise? Count on it. It will come to pass. Even a flight to China couldn't stop that.

But I cry often. Even as I wrote this. You see, the last thing the Lord told me about my kids (the ones who are gone) is that ^it will be okay. both the past and the future.^ and opened up my understanding that the horrible pain of losing them and not seeing them for lo these two decades will be erased.

It will happen. God cannot lie. But I've learned that there can be a lot of pain between the promise and the birth.

Are you hurting? Are you waiting for it to happen like He said it would? It will come to pass. Try not to let the pain distract you from that.

Ps. 137 1-10

O Lord, you have searched me

and you know me.

2You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

4Before a word is on my tongue

you know it completely, O Lord.

5You hem me in—behind and before;

you have laid your hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

7Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

your God

I wasn't born in the US ,Mexico or even a in a big city but in a small,poor, and helpless place called El Salvador int a small city called santa Tecla. My life has been a target and difficulty since that day that I layed in bed sick and yust struggling to live with a sickness that ruled my body. My body was white and I could see my mother going up and down left and right knowing that her 9 year old son without a dad or hope was dying. My mom turned the radio on so that I could hear and all of a sudden a man said ^there's a kid that has pain in his stomach and the devil is trying to kill him plus he has a bladder effection and his wearing yellow shorts and a blue shirt^. My mom jumped out of her seat ranned to me and stared at mein suprise and sure enough it was me who God was speaking to through the radio. My mom quickly called the station and gaved me the phone. That day God healed me and I was saved but more that he even healed my heart and I remmeber clearly that God told me^Im your Dad your Doctor your God and i will lift you up with my hand^ and my heart was healed. When God touched me I fell crying. The next day I told God^ God I want to start a new revival a revolutinary in my school I want to know your power.^ I have heard many stories when I was a kid that God had shot lions mouth, opened the red sea, healed sick using the disciples why not me. I went to school the next day and as everyone played outside I felt God telling me ^its time for you to see my power.^ I sat down on a sandbox and a friend of mine came towards me and said ^Javier speak to me obout God.^ He sat down next to me and I opened my mouth and God gave me the words the power of God than was felt and all of a sudden all the students from two grade levels were around me some crying and others were being filled with the power of God even the teachers were listening to an orphane that God decided to lift him up with his power. The bell ring for lunch and we all grabbed hands and prayed toghether and headed to lunch. In the table in lunch time was packed with students around me telling me preach preach to us! and God again gave the words with power and fire that made many cry. I am a withness that God can lift someone with power and fire and lift them up from being low to bieng high in the sky with him. God has done more things and if you like to read more of what God has done please read my other experinces and the one yet to come in part 2 labeled The devil is below your feet now! topic is victory still working on it

Part 1

The Bully

I want to tell you a story. It is a true story about a dear friend of mine. I love my friend but at a young age, she started an unhealthy relationship with an abuser. This abuser was a bully and had no mercy; she would put her down at every turn. The bully would say, “You are stupid. You only have a seventh-grade education. You’re a loser and you will never lose weight. You have tried dieting so many times and have never been successful. You’re fine for two or three weeks, and then you run out of gas. What makes you think this time is different?”

She would make rude comments on the way my friend looked. She would say, “You have huge pores in your nose and a big stomach.” She would constantly tell her she was ugly every single time she caught sight of her. She would tell her she was repulsive. It was brutal and constant. Every time my friend had a success, the bully would knock her down. Every time my friend was in a social situation, the bully would point out her faults to everybody. She would tell the other people at the party that my friend was fat.

I think the bully in her own sick way was trying to protect my friend, because she would tell my friend, “They won’t accept you if you don’t show them you know you’re not as good as they are. If I build them up by putting you down they might like you.” Then when my friend and the bully were alone, she would berate her for all the stupid things she said at the party.

People who were close to my friend would try to tell her the bully was wrong, but my friend didn’t believe anything good about herself. She had listened to the bully too long. The bully drove her to the brink of suicide. She tried to kill herself three times, but thank God, she wasn’t successful.

Do you think my friend could ever be successful as long as she continued the relationship with the bully?

Why or why not?

No matter how much self-esteem you have, if you are constantly told you are bad, you start to believe it. What do you think happened to my friend in the end?

If you haven’t already guessed, I AM MY FRIEND and I WAS ALSO THE BULLY. The way I used to talk to myself was horrifying. You cannot succeed; let me say that again YOU ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT SUCCEED UNTIL YOU GET OUT OF THE HABIT OF VERBAL SELF ABUSE. You may as well quit now if you can’t make the commitment to break this habit. Would you talk to your child the way you talk to yourself? It’s time to stop this destructive habit. I can’t stress how important it is for you to end this! You will never succeed until you stop!

A Little Help From Above

A Little Help From Above

When my wife was about a year old her grandfather (Poppy) is what she called him. Poppy planted a Christmas tree for her. This tree grew to great heights over the years from 1963 until around 2008. Poppy had passed away sometime before that and my wifes grandmother had just passed around 2007. Well Poppy and (Nanny) grandmother was very close to us and Poppy would come down every year and spend the summer with Terri (my wife) and I. Poppy enjoyed this time with us and we loved this man more than the world. Poppy had always said that he would love to move down to Tennessee close to us but Nanny would never agree to that. When Poppy passed I had always felt that he was near and where he had spent so much time helping me to build our house and other things on the farm I had gotten use to asking for his help. Poppy loved to help out on any thing just to be with us. After he had passed, I was always talking to him letting him know how much I missed him and how I enjoyed him being here with us. Terri and I decided to build a large indoor riding arena and stables for her horses so she could give riding lessons indoor during real hot days or when it was cold or raining. This steel building was to be 100ft long and 82ft wide and I had never done anything like this before so I was going to need all the help I could get. The help never came and my wife and I were on our own. One day I was trying to put the siding up and the sheets of steel were 4ft wide and 12ft long and heavy gage. I was by my self and the wind was blowing a little and it was impossible for me to hold the sheet in place and use my screw gun at the same time. I tried and tried but I could'nt do it so I looked up and ask Poppy if he could help me. I picked up the large sheet once more and pressed it up against the building and the wind was still blowing and moving it around and that is when I asked Poppy to help me hold it. The sheet of steel when up against the building as if it were sucked in and stayed there with me using one hand holding it and screwing it to the steel beams with my other hand. I sat down for a few moments with tears in my eyes knowing that Poppy was with me. From then on every sheet of steel I put up, Poppy was there helping me. I found my self talking to him every day as we worked on this building for two and half years. After getting the stables/arena done I had visited the home where Poppy and Nanny had lived. The house was being sold and the Christmas tree that was planted for Terri when she was small was being cut down and I wanted to pick up a couple of short logs to make a bench for my wife. One 5ft log and some short pieces about 24inches long. This log and the short pieces were about 24 inches in diameter and very heavy. Me, my father in-law and a friend loaded them up in my truck and I drove them back to Tennessee. I took them to a saw mill just down the road from where my wife and I lived to have the log cut down the center to make a bench. Dennis, the owner of the saw mill said he would try and cut it for me. About a month later I called Dennis about the logs and he was telling me that he was sorry but the 5ft log was too short for his mill and could not cut it. I went over there and I cut a little off the 5ft log so it could be picked up by two men. I didn't have my truck and I told Dennis I would be back in a couple of weeks to pick it up. Two weeks had passed and it had been raining for quite some time and I needed to get them picked up and put in the dry. I went over to Dennis's house and told him I was there to pick the logs up and he was working on something and would not be able to help me at that time. I went on up to the mill where the logs were laying on the ground and decided to try and load them my self. I strained with every thing I had and was able to pick up the 3 smaller pieces and load them but the larger piece was way too heavy for one man to pick up. I pushed and pulled on it but that was about all I could do. I was standing next to the tail gate of my truck knowing I couldn't pick this log up and I didn't want to leave it. I looked up and told Poppy that I was sorry and I really wanted to keep this log but I couldn't load it by my self and could he help me. The log started rolling and stopped at my feet. I broke down in tears and couldn't hold back my feelings and what I was experiencing. My body was tingling all over and with the tears in my eyes I told Poppy to get a good hold and I bent over and took a good grip and started lifting it up. I could feel my back straining but I wasn't going to stop and I knew Poppy was lifting up the other end. I was able to pick it up and put it in my truck and I just sat on the tail gate and sobbed. With all the emotions of love and joy running through my body. I could feel his presence and his love running through me I just sat there telling him how much I Loved and missed him. Dennis showed up about 10 minutes later and said he was so sorry he wasn't up here sooner and asked who had helped me with the big log and I told him the story. Now I have told you. I still talk to Poppy and God about every day and have experienced so many things and more stories to tell just like this one. These experiences have changed my life and the way I look at things. I hope your life and experiences are as mine.

I know I am never alone and that I am always being watched over.

Just Believe: Johnny 8/7/2011 www.thefunnieststoriesfromjohnny.com

Me and Leukemia

Im fourteen now but when I was three my parents took me to the doctor for a bruise that wouldn't go away. They said i had a type of cancer called Leukemia and said i needed to go to St. Jude so they could run some more test to see how sever it was. This was on a Friday and when Sunday came around i got anointed and looked at my mom and dad and my pastor and said God told me everything would be okay. The closest appt. i could get was on Tuesday so when we went on Tuesday my pastor came and prayed with my family and me and they took me for test. Once the results came back they told my parents that they didnt know how but the cancer was gone and the doctor that i went to before was one of the best in Tennessee so if he said i had it i did but it wasent there anymore. I hope my story can help people because it helps me whenever i think of how bad life is sometimes it makes me think of just how lucky i am to still be alive and healthy today. -Anna(:

WHAT FAITH CAN DO

God is faithful to the end!

Champions

I had a problem with abstaining from immoral behaviors that are seen as OK in a secular society. I am a big mavs fan, and I asked God that if i fell towards that sin one time, the Mavs would get eliminated. I did not do the bad things since before the playoffs started and OMG, the Mavs won the championship i promised him i would write about this to show that when we abstain ourselves from falling into the same sin, we get so much out of it. Moreover, i wanted to make people see that God is always listening to us and he truly does know us by our hearts. Never give up, never loose faith that the impossible can be done. Might take time but trust me when u see your prayers answered is such a good feeling and so worth it.

Yet I Am Still Standing

Lord I want to thank you for all that you have done for me. There are so many things that you have done that I can’t begin to share them all. There have been times when I didn’t know what to do but learned to trust and depend on you. My faith in you has grown to a place where I’ve never known it to be. I now know that without you I am nothing and that everything that happens in my life you already know the outcome. So therefore why should I try to figure things out? It would do nothing but stress me out and cause me to worry. You said in your word seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto me. Why was it that I took so long to really understand your word and know that I must not only read it but also apply and believe it? When I began to do this, this is when things started to happen for me.

Everything that the enemy tried to put in my way, I Trusted God to deliver me from it and to lead me through. Faith is a powerful word. Faith is the beginning of things. If I have little faith or none at all, I have now handicapped God. Putting a limitation on my faith is the same as putting a limitation on God. He can’t move on my behalf if I don’t believe that he can. Without Faith it is impossible to please God. Is it not my duty as a Christian to please my Father, God? Is it not true that I was created to Worship Him? Is it not true that God loved me so much that He gave His only Son to die for my sins? Is it not true that I am a true heir of Christ Jesus and my Father is rich? Is it not true that God has given me the power to overcome? Is it not true that whatsoever I bind on earth will be bound in heaven? Is it not true that I have authority over the enemy? Is it not true that God has already put inside of me everything that I need to be successful in life? Yes, it is true. Then why do I or we not believe. It’s because of our mindset. This is where a mindset change has to come into play. Romans 12:2 MSG reads: Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Wow, that says a lot. When your mind changes, things begin to change. Now I’ve stepped into the realm of Faith that begins to operate for me in every aspect of my life. Now Faith!!!!!! Not I think faith, but NOW faith.

I will wait on the Lord and He will come through. Sometimes waiting is the hardest thing for us as believers to do. You have to develop patience if you want your faith to work for you. Romans 12:12 AMP reads: Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.

Who’s’ report do You believe? I believe the report of the Lord. There is nothing impossible for him to do. I believe that He will take any situation that I am going through and turn it around for my benefit. I feel that I’ve reached a major turning point in my life. I feel the spirit of God in me more than ever before. It is almost like because of what has happened to me it quickened something in my spirit. I am anxious. The Holy Spirit in me has been awakened. My Faith level has reached an unknown and unexplored realm that few have the opportunity to experience. It is a great feeling when you know that you are on the right track and what you hear is directly from the Lord.

Everything that the Spirit of the Lord had told me is being confirmed. I COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN IGO THROUGH. THE TEARS I SHED ARE NOT TEARS OF SORROW BUT TEARS OF JOY. THIS MEANS THAT SOMETHING IS ON THE OTHER SIDE!!!!!! I say Hallelujah!!!!!!! God is still God and I Praise Him even the more. The baby in my belly has begun to leap. Labor pains are being felt. I am beginning to have contractions to birth the baby that has been placed inside of me. This is the point in my life that the enemy has been trying to keep me from. The joke is on him because little did he know that the harder that he pushed the more I trusted God. There is no turning back. I have reached a place in faith where I can’t turn back. I now know who I am. I now know what God have given me the power to do. I now know the power of my tongue. I now know that I can speak things into existence. Therefore I choose to speak goodness over my life.

I DECREE AND DECLARE THAT MY DAYS OF LACK ARE NO MORE. I DECREE AND DECLARE THAT THE LEVEL OF FAITH THAT HAS BEEN BIRTHED INSIDE OF ME SHALL WORK FOR ME FULLY IN EVERY AREA OF MY PERSONAL LIFE BUT THERE SHALL BE SUCH AN OVERFLOW THAT IT WILL CORPORATELY BE ABLE TO MOVE FOR OTHERS ON THEIR BEHALF. My life and my story will be a true example of what it means to have faith for this is my purpose. This is my testimony and it is still in the process of completion. But I know that when it is all over it will help many that are going through the same thing. Because of my FAITH God brought me through. I LEARNED HOW TO STAND!!

At one point in my life I was doing pretty well. I had 3 cars, owned my own home, 2 vacation homes, 2 great paying jobs myself, kids were well taken care of, my daughter was on a full ride scholarship away at college, things seemed to be going pretty well. Then things started to take a turn. My daughter informed me that she was pregnant and she was going to lose her scholarship. To make things worse, she was in an abusive relationship. I had to sit by and witness my child get beaten repeatedly with not much that I could do. She had to make up her own mind that she had enough. I did what I knew to do and that was pray. My father’s health all of a sudden began to decline. If that wasn’t bad enough I lost both my jobs, 1 vacation home, 1 car, bills began to pile up and I eventually had to file bankruptcy. Never would I’ve thought that I would be in this place. Trying to hold on I thought that if I could just keep my car and home I would be okay. Although things were not going well I made sure that I didn’t let it affect me going to church and worshipping God. I was worshipping God not for what he had done but just because He was God.

One Sunday evening after praising God there was a knock on my door. When I opened the door it was the repo company to take my car away. No, this was not happening. I was so hurt. The enemy said what are going to do now? Now your car is gone. I cried but I didn’t let it detour me. I kept praising and worshipping God. I walked to church not letting it stop me and not really letting anyone know what I was going through. There was only one person who knew some of my situation. I kept on praising God. It rained, I walked. Sometimes I would be very tired after standing and singing in 3 services but I walked. I knew that God would take care of me. He had to move on my behalf. I just needed to wait. This was when I learned patience. It was 1 day before the finance company was going to auction my car off. The spirit of the Lord told me to go to the mail box. When I opened the mail it was a letter from the bankruptcy court demanding that the car company return my car to me at NO EXPENSE TO ME. Not only did they have to return my car but $3,000 was taken off the loan, all past due was forgiven, my interest rate was dropped 10%, 6 months was taken off the life of the loan and it was serviced when I picked it up. Hallelujah!!! Then my daughter informed me that she was no longer in her abusive relationship. He finally got caught and the courts were prosecuting him and I didn’t have to. Then I received a call for a job that I didn’t apply or interview for. God brought the job to me. It was in a field that I had NO EXPERIENCE IN. It had to be God. I know the God I serve.

Things seemed like they were starting to look up. But it wasn’t over. I got a letter from my mortgage company that my home was in default status and pre-foreclosure proceedings had begun. Here I was again dealing with a possible loss of my home of 14 years. I did what I knew to do. I kept praising God without fainting. My father’s health continued to decline. He required around the clock care. This was hard to see because my father was always a very independent and strong man. Then I got a call from my mother stating that my father’s health insurance was not going to pay for his care any longer and he would have to be discharged. For the 2 time in my entire life I heard my mother cry. The only other time I heard her cry was when my newborn daughter died. Yes, I’ve dealt with that as well, but the peace of God brought me through. Hearing my mother cry was a hurt that was hard for me to handle. If the hurt of our loved ones is hard for us as human beings to deal with what do you think God’s feels when He sees us go through hurt and pain? I just began to cry and fall on my knees. Lord I need you. I don’t know what to do.

During times like these you must know that your relationship with God is genuine. This why Jesus Christ died and rose again, He left us a comforter known as the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit within me began to lead and instruct me on what to do. I was told to go to my computer and I was lead to a website that handled long term nursing care for people involved in the very situation that my parents were going through. I called and spoke to them and was immediately helped. Little did I know that I would have to go to their office which was located in southern California. At this time I had no means to get there. But God provided. My family was blessed with a week vacation at a diamond resort that was located near their office. This was at little cost to us. God is good. Through the Grace of God I was able to get my father approved for long term medi-cal which was known to be impossible for someone in his condition. Not only that the Lord made a way for him to be able to stay in the hospital until everything was approved. I had put everything in the hands of the Lord and He worked it out. Through this situation I didn’t stop pressing, praying and praising.

Then the enemy spoke to me and said I still have your home. I didn’t care or worry about it. God had been so good to me that my faith had entered a new realm. I continued to trust God. I prayed and asked God what would HE have me to do. Should I fight to hold on to my home or should I let it go. He said, Trust Me. So this is what I did. By this time I’ve learned that if you listen to what God has for you to do, you won’t go wrong. I said I won’t move until you say move. The Holy Spirit began to speak to me and tell me that God had something else for me. That’s when I began to let go. I informed my family that it was time for us to move on. They asked, “Where are we going?” I said, “I don’t know all I know is that I need to start packing.” I went and found moving boxes and began to pack my house. My husband looked at me like I was crazy. He kept asking me, “where are we going?” “Our credit is messed up, we just filed bankruptcy and this house is all we have.” I said, “No it is not, I have Jesus and he said get ready to move.” I began to look on the internet for homes. I didn’t know which way He was leading me if it was for home ownership or for rental. I was just packing. I knew that I didn’t want to move far from where I was currently located. I looked and looked and nothing seemed to be available in our price range. I just kept trusting and packing. All the while I kept praising and not letting it affect my lifestyle of worship. Nobody knew what I was going through. I remained faithful. Then one evening after praise and worship rehearsal I was looking for a home again on the internet. The computer suddenly froze. I had to power the computer down and restart it. When I got back on the internet and typed in my usual search a new website came up. It showed me homes in my area that I had not seen before. One home stood out. I wrote down the address and I and my kids drove by to see it. The first thing I noticed was that it was in the neighborhood I always wanted to live in. The home was beautiful at least what I could see at night. My youngest son said, “Well mom, you said that we were moving to a bigger and better house with 2 stories I think this is it.” “I’ll take it.” My oldest son said, “This is really nice but I need to know where will I be able to play my basketball?” “It’s on a hill.” I told him we’ll figure that out. Then we went home. After we returned home I got ready for bed and prayed and asked the Lord If that house was for me to make it an easy transition and to confirm His word. Let me know that it is you because I don’t want to move outside of your will. Then I went to sleep.

At 6am the next morning my eyes opened. The Lord woke me up. I said okay Lord what do you have to tell me. He said go and look at the address and tell me what you see. I got up and pulled up the listing again. I had not really noticed the address before but this time it stuck out like a sore thumb. The address was 19 ZION Ave. WOW!!!! 19 deals with the perfection of divine order that is in relation to judgment. Zion was the name that God gave His people. Then I realized that the home sat on the side of the mountain looking over the land. God’s spiritual Kingdom Psalms 125: 1-2NIV reads:

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.

WOW!!!! Okay Lord I hear you. The house had been on the market for 3 weeks. I said if this is for me it will still be available. I decided to call and leave a message for the realtor because it was 6 in the am. So I called the number. I real person answered. I was shocked. I apologized for calling so early. I told him I was just going to just leave a message. He was very understanding. I asked if the house was still available and he said, “Yes, would you like to see it today at 1pm?” Excited I said yes!!! After I got off the phone I realized that my husband was at work and I didn’t know what time he was going to get home. I called him and asked what time did he expect to get home, he told me 1pm. Wow look at God. I was so excited. I got in my car and went to look at the home in the daylight before meeting with the realtor. When I pulled up I began to laugh. There was an in ground basketball court in the backyard. I guess that answered my oldest son’s question. The home was perfect.

It was time to meet with the realtor. We all got in the car and drove over. My family could not believe what they were seeing. I could because I know the God I serve and trust. When we arrived the door was open and the realtor was inside. We walked up to the door and said hello. The realtor met us at the door. I was in shock. The realtor was the same person that was just introduced to me the day before at my job. You know that job I didn’t apply for or interview for. Yeah, that one. I said, “I know you.” He said, “I know you too. How are you Karen?” How funny was this? He showed us the home and asked if we liked it. I told him yes but I have to be honest we are moving from our home and we have just been discharged from bankruptcy. He said, “Don’t worry about that, I just want to know if you want it.” Yes of course. To make a long story short, we were approved for the house within 1 week. The home I was trying to hold on to was a 1 level 3 bedrooms and 2 baths 1,400sq ft. The home God had for me was tri-level 4 bedroom 3 bath with an office, formal living room, formal dining room, family room, 2300sq ft. and sitting on ¼ acre land for less than what I was paying for on the other home. I know what my God can do. My faith didn’t stop there. I had to believe God for the finances to move.

I continued in faith and kept packing. I didn’t have the money for my deposit, 1 month’s rent or moving expenses but I knew that God would come through. I know that the God I serve is not an incomplete God. He does not operate in confusion and incompleteness. Just because of the fact that He already started it means that it is already done. I kept packing. I signed the rental agreement and kept packing. I found and purchased things I needed for my new home because the Lord told me not to bring old and battered things into my new blessing. He would supply me with what I needed if I trusted Him. So I did. I just kept packing. The Lord began to bless me with furniture and things for my home for ridiculous prices. For example how do you get a beautiful executive desk for your new in home office (which God told you that you needed) for $25.00. Only by the grace of God.

Well things were moving right along. It was almost time to move into our new home. I had three days before I was to move. I scheduled things to be turned on at the new house and things to be turned off at the old home but I still didn’t have the money to move or the deposit. My husband looked at me in disbelief. I told him I was trusting God. I didn’t know how He was going to do it, but I knew that He would. It may not come when we expect it to but God’s timing is perfect. I told him I was going to lie down because I was tired and I’d to go to church that night. So I went to lie down. Before I did so, I said, “God it is in your hands and I will trust you.” Not 2 minutes later my husband came in the bedroom and told me that he was picking up $4000 the next day for us to move. An individual had just blessed us with the money as a gift not a loan. God moved on our behalf. Wow, my faith is rising!!! We moved into our new blessing without a glitch. God is so good. I give Him all the Glory. I’ll keep praising and worshipping Him.

Finally, for a moment in my life it seemed things were pretty calm. Then I got word that my father’s health was failing. I watched Him go through pain and suffering not being able to do anything. I had to be strong. I just kept worshipping for this had become my lifestyle. This was my release. We were down to 2 cars and 1 of them was having problems. My car was the only car really running. Because of this my husband took my car to go to work. Then I received a call that my father had passed away. I was alone, no way to get there, no one to talk to. I just wrapped myself in my heavenly Father’s arms. Lord I need You. I need your peace. I need your comfort. In an instant he was there. After my husband came home I went to see about my mother. She is a strong woman of God and her faith and trust in God is just as strong as mine. We stood in agreement that we would get through this with God’s peace. How many know that this made the enemy mad? After driving to Oakland to help out, my brakes went out on my car without warning. I was able to get is safely to my mother’s home. I rebuked the enemy and said I will not be defeated. Now both of our cars were down. I couldn’t drive my car anywhere. I went ahead with my mother in her car and took care of arrangements for my father. I told my brother what had happened on the way over. By the end of the day my brakes were fixed and my car was waiting for me in the driveway. Not only that the next day my husband’s car was fixed as well. All this was done at NO EXTRA expense to me. God Blessed us all through this situation and His PEACE was with us. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!!!! My faith and trust in Him will never falter.

I continued to worship and praise God. Not for what He had done but just for who He is. My worship and praise had entered another dimension. I had truly developed a lifestyle of worship. Every day was dedicated to honor Him. Not looking at the things that are around me but looking unto Him asking what I can do to honor you today. Things were not always great. I had some hard days. But I kept trusting Him. There were times that I had to trust in Him for my needs. The sickness and death of my father caused me to not work for 1 month. I had just moved and couldn’t get behind. Lord I trust you. My kids were growing so fast they were outgrowing all their clothes. Lord I trust you. My hours at my job had been cut down and it was only part time to begin with. Lord I trust you!!! I kept pressing, praying and praising. There was no turning back.

We had put our home on the market and had offers on top of offers. It was up to the mortgage company to accept the offers. They sat on the offers, played games, made us jump through all kinds of hoops. All of the offers were at market value although we were trying to do a short sale. I thought that everything would be okay. Then I found out this week that the mortgage company foreclosed on my home of 14 years without any recourse. How many know that this is the time that the enemy chooses to jump in and place the spirit of doubt, depression and anger on many? I chose to opt out!!! I count it ALL JOY!!! I began to praise God. I began to shout. My praise and worship moved to another level in Him. I did just the opposite of what the enemy wanted me to do. Do you know that your praise in the time of test and trials confuses the enemy? Do you know that your praise is your weapon? Do you know that God is still God despite of all you’re going through? Do you know that He is a Faithful God? I do. This is why I choose to PRESS, PRAY, PRAISE AND SHOUT NOW!!! This testimony is to be continued. But I know that at the end, I will be victorious!!!. I WILL BE AND DO WHAT HE HAS CALLED ME TO DO. I TRUST HIM!!!!

Why do I write when I don’t even consider myself a writer? Why do I share my personal life with others when I am usually a very private person? I do it because God told me to. I need to share my revelation of faith with others because of my experiences, test and trials. Through this I will be able to show people how to STAND.

What is faith? We all know the scripture Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. What are you hoping for? What are you looking for? Is it aligned with the word of God? Is it aligned with the will of God for your life? Do you say what you believe? Do you believe what you say? If the answer to these questions is yes then your faith will work for you. What are doing to act in faith? Are acting as if it is so? Or are you acting like you don’t know? You have to learn not to look at your circumstance but to look unto God. Learn not to look with your physical eyes but with your spiritual eyes. What does your heart say? Proverbs 3: 1-6 NIV reads:

My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
   bind them around your neck,
   write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
   in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight

With a pure heart and unwavering faith you are unstoppable. The enemy knows this. Why do you think he injects fear and doubt into your life? If he can distract you with the circumstances in life and get your mind off of what you were created to do which is worship God then he has you. Don’t’ give place to the enemy. Stand strong, don’t waver. Don’t turn back. Keep the faith in God to know that all is well. God gave this to me and it sits on my desk at home for me to see and read every day. It states:

I DECREE AND I DECLARE THAT GOD CAN AND IS ABLE TO DO ALL THAT I CAN ASK OR THINK. I MUST SPEAK IN FAITH ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD AND BELIEVE THAT HE WILL. LITTLE FAITH, LITTLE POWER, MUCH FAITH, MUCH POWER. I DECLARE THAT PROSPERITY IS THE REWARD OF THE RIGHTEOUS. EVERYTHING THAT I PUT MY HANDS TO WILL PROSPER AND NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME SHALL PROSPER. I AM DECLARED THE RIGHTEOUS OF GOD AND I SHALL NOT LACK.

To confirm his word he gave me Psalms 112NIV

Praise the LORD.

Blessed are those who fear the LORD,
who find great delight in his commands.

Their children will be mighty in the land;
   the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
   and their righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
   for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
   who conduct their affairs with justice.

Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
   they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
   their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
   in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
   their righteousness endures forever;
   their horn will be lifted high in honor.

The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Rest in God’s word regarding faith read Hebrews the 11 chapter.

Believe that it is so. You Can Stand.

God Bless You.

Gods Faith in Me

It never seems to fail when all you have left is God. Everytime I seem like I'm loosing my faith ; all I need is just a few words from a friend or for me to get into the bible. He is God All MIghty and he will always be with you no matter what. I know I was put here on earth for a purpose, but somtimes I get to the point where I think I was just an accident. Then I think about it more and more HE would not want me to feel this way, because he put me on this earth for a reason. He has somthing very special in my life he is wanting to do I can feel it, I may not know what it is yet but he will let me know when he knows that I am ready for it. I'vc been through so much for the past 5 years, and I am surprised with myself that I have made it this far especailly for what I have been through. I know that God will always be with me no matter What And I am Thankful for that.

I pray for everyone that your dreams may come true, I pray for your lifes be as happy as mine is going to be when I get better. A-MEN

I died and rose

This happened to me

A long story short.
I have never (up until now) had a relationship with my father. He was an alcoholic. I've wanted to die since I was a little boy. I'm 36 now. I cried myself to sleep as a child.
I have anger issues though I never hurt anyone, but I would imagine killing people who I didn't like.
I was a walking time bomb and suicidal thoughts entered my mind often.
10 years ago my sister prayed I would find God.
During this period I cursed God, called Him names I even spat on the floor. All I wanted was happiness, yet I had none.*remember this
A few months ago I got unfairly dismissed but while I was working there I got some cd's and a bible from one of the other employees. I told my father I could'nt pay rent because of this and he said ^I don't care it's not my problem.^
I decided that this was the end. I hated everything, I was unhappy, lonely, single and nothing brought happiness.
I prayed a few times but that's all. As the days rolled on I started to think of what method of suicide would suite me best. A guillotine, a knife to the chest, drowning, starving, slitting my wrists, a bullet in the head, car fumes, throwing myself off a bridge. Well I think every possible way to die I googled.
One evening I dropped to my knees, burst into tears and I prayed for forgiveness,for happiness,for strength,for joy, for God's grace and for Christ to come into my heart, into my life into my very existence. Boy did I cry.
I let it all out.
I stood up and decided to live, to battle it out and to try my best. I had little money which was running out, no food. I ate rice every third day or so. None of my family knew this.
I watched the cd's (all of them) and went to church on my own.
During service I gave my last 50 bucks. I gave it from my heart and didn't expect it back. I just somehow knew God would help me.
After service I got in my car and BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM.
God started His work.
My father calls, and in a soft never heard before tone he said ^Douglas I want to say I'm sorry for what I said.^
I also apologized for not been successful and not been a wonderful son ( another huge story but it's in the past) I asked my father to be a dad I never had, a dad I could say hello to every now and then. That I could pick up the phone and we could chat without it ending in an argument.
My father accepted. We continued, he said he would pay my debts, rent is free and that he would phone me every morning. I bit my tongue to hold my tears but that ladies and gentlemen just never happened. Those tears rolled down like a slot machine winner's coins. I lost 4 liters of water I'm sure.
Now I get home - this is one hour later. A friend put an add for some equipment I needed to sell for money- nothing for months.
My phone rings, A chap said to me I got 1k and I need your mixer.
My 50 bucks just earned me 1K !!!! Thank you GOD. I now can buy food and fuel.
2hrs later, I'm 1k richer, rent free, have a forgiving DAD who also asked for my forgiveness and I'm feeling it people. I'm happy for the first time in ages and ages. More tears. Of joy of coarse.
Next day, dad calls. ^Morning Doug, how you...^ etc etc. conversation ends, no screaming, no swearing, no anger. WOW.
Phone rings again, I must go quote for an alarm system. ( I was self employed for 6 years doing security)
I give the quote, its accepted. 8k 3 days later. GOD I LOVE YOU.
now all my problems are sinking, and I'm not doing much about them, I'm doing a little but not much. These problems are vanishing one by one. Looks like my sisters prayer has been answered too, 10 years later, was God's chosen time, when I called Him into my house and life. He stood outside for 10 years people waiting for me to invite Him in and then changed my life in 4 days or so. 4 days. Can you believe it. I'm crying right now to tell you the truth, my keyboard is blurry with all the tears.
If my family didn't keep their faith and prayers ( so important) I would be dead. Fact. Why didn't I kill myself? I just couldn't do it.
Now I'm helping my family with marital problems, stress away, LOL how bizarre. A gift from God? perhaps. I feel good, I'm happy. I pray about everything, every problem and I pray for others and every day just gets better and better. I volunteer for the church. All my loneliness is gone, I pray every time I'm sad. I'm eating, putting on weight, looking colourful (we spell like this in South Africa) and healthy.

*All I wanted was happiness, yet I had none* that's because I never had Christ as number one in my life, duh. How could I be so stupid, so blind. I have suffered for 36 years when it needed only to be 20. But better now than never.
The very day I go to church, BANG my whole life is resolved.
Im getting baptized, reborn, renewed and I'm doing it, I'm living it, I'm feeling it and it's all for our GOD, our heavenly Father who saved a wretch like me.
Amen YEEEEHAAAAAA
D.J. Muller

A sons death A friends slavation

Hi all

I heard this story from my brother, it's a real TEAR JERKER.
.
A minister said to the church: ^Today I would like to welcome an old friend of mine, John* who is going to share his story with us.
*I can't remember his real name.
John stood up and began his story.
One day a father, his son and his son's friend went out on a boat trip. Unfortunately the weather changed really quick and the waves almost over turned the small boat. It got so bad both boys were thrown over board. The father suddenly realizing that the current was too strong to save both boys would only have time to save one. He had to act fast so he saved his son's friend and let his only son die.
Years later the friend asked the father why he saved him and not his own son. The father answered ^My son already knows God and has faith as I. But you did not know Christ so I saved you because that's what Jesus does. He saves.^
Then John said: ^I am that father in the story I just told you and my son's friend that I rescued that day is you minister here before you.^
Apparently the crowd went mad, stood up and cheered.

God Talks

Have you ever had a sign from God? Or him speaking to you? I have. i have grown up in a christian home all my life. i accepted him into my life at a young age, but i still had my doubts and worries. my biggest worry was that God was going to leave me, that he finally realized that i wasnt good enough and i wasnt worth the time. in middle school i went to conference with my church called believe. they talked about how God was never going to leave that he would always be there. i told my friend my worry crying. and she told at me and said when i wanted to kill myself when i was younger i thought God had left me i felt alone, but he didnt in my darkest and weakest moment, the moment when i messed he revealed himself to me. and he never left me. he will never leave you.

i knew that God would never leave me, but from then on i started to believe it. in my darkest time when i felt like he had left i knew he was there which made me cry out even more begging for forgiveness.

after that i had been having lots of friend issues and i felt really alone. on night i had had a really bad day, i was praying to God talking to him about it, but i felt empty. i didnt feel his presence there. i hadnt for a while. i felt like he was ignoring me. i knew he was there. i cried out. God please i know you are there but please show me or give me a clue that you are here and you are listening, because i feel alone and i feel like you arent listening. i closed my eyes and everything went dead silent for a few seconds and in those seconds i heard a whisper. a whisper i cant explain but i knew it was God. he said I AM HERE! i started crying. from tht day on and now i still feel his presence with me when i pray.

i thank God and his amazing things he has and still is doing in my life. i am blessed to have him in life and to be surrounded with such goood friends and family who help me through and hard times. i love them and most important i love God!

Angels Fought Over Me

November 2, 2007, Scottsdale, AZ~I was rushed to the ER with a very high temp and constant vomiting, the pain in my back was enoromous and I knew that it was my lung...a few days prior I had been held captive after being beaten by a boyfriend...He had beaten me severely while he was high on drugs. I had met him while attending a charity event for the Phoenix Suns. I had been in the celebrity circle, living that life...I had several friends who were professional athletes, actors, musicians...anyway that is a whole different story in itself...this person had claimed to be in the music business...long story short he was caught up in the mob and a convicted felon...I was afraid for my life after he had beaten me...I knew if I didn't get away he would eventually kill me because I knew some things now about him/his life/his friends. He told me that if I attempted to leave that there were people watching the house and would kill me. He said that he would kill my daughter & family...He left one night to attend a friends wake. I scrammbled for ideas to get out. I happen to turn around and saw the laptop sitting by the sofa. I had a myspace account at the time so I logged on thru the neighbors wi-fi connection and onto myspace. The very first email in my inbox was from a friend who happened to be a Phoenix police officer...and he was online at the time! I emailed and told him what had happened and was happening now, that I needed to get out. He asked if I could look around for a phone, any cell phone...I found one in the kitchen drawer. He told me that even if it didn't have service, I could still call 911. I called. Less than a week later, I was in the ER. The internal injuries had caused me to develop a life-threatening pneumonia. I was alone in Arizona, my family was in Ohio. A friend rushed me to the hospital. When I arrived in the ER I made it to the tri-age area and went into a seizure. My blood gases were at dangerous levels. I could barely breathe. I can't even begin to tell you how frightened I was. Because of the my condition and the circumstances of how it happened, as well as the person who did it being dangerous, I was put under careful security, and treated as if I was non-existent to anyone inquiring. I kept thinking of my family, my children. There was a point where I was on the phone with my mother and I couldn't speak...the doctor took the phone and ask me if he could speak with her...I said yes. He told her that if she wanted to see me, she had better get there quick. I don't remember too much after that...They came as fast as they could. I came in and out of consciensousness a few times and knew they were there. One day I opened my eyes after having what seemed like a dream...in my dream, my brother who had passed in 1986 was standing beside my bed with a smile...when I looked up over me, above my bed, there were several balls (some odd shape..) of bright lights, and several balls of dark shadows that seemed to be fighting amongst each other...the next thing that happened was I opened my eyes, the nurse came in, removed me from life-support...I was so scared, afraid that I couldn't breathe on my own, or that my heart would stop...Doctors told me that I had been at deaths door three different times within those few weeks...It was now Nov. 20th, just two days before Thanksgiving. I was taken to a private, well-secured room. I was terrified, I kept myself awake because I was afraid that if I slept, I might never wake up. Doctors checked on me frequently. I was so anxious to just go home to Ohio. I begged them to let me go...but they were being very cautious...I didn't realize completely at the time just how bad I had been...Usually, in my condition, most wouldn't live. My mom proceeded to tell me how many churches and people all over the country had been praying for me. Hospital staff had come in to pray over me...

I came to understand...those lights/shadows were angels...they were fighting for me...God won...He has a purpose for me...I live my life completely for Him now...I work in Research at a Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH. The hospital where my brother died...He died of complications from the severe pneumonia...

One of the doctors here asked me once, ^Why do you have a smile every single time I see you?^ I replied ^Life experiences.^

Many blessings to those who read my story.

Angela J. Lyons

Columbus, Ohio

Gods people

No story- just GOD BLESS YOU JOHN!!!!!!

ONE MAN VOLLEYBALL TEAM

SEE VIDEO AT www.meetbob.info

INTRODUCTION FOR ONE MAN VOLLEYBALL TEAM

BOB IS AN EVANGELIST WHO PUTS PREACHING AND THE WINNING OF THE LOST ABOVE HIS GAME, HE USES THE ONE MAN VOLLEYBALL TEAM AS A WAY TO GET A HUGE CROWD IN A GYM FOR THE RALLY AND SINGLE-HANDEDLY TAKES ON TEAMS

RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT JUST FINISHED A SECOND STORY ON BOB BECAUSE OF HAVING PLAYED MORE GAMES THAN ANY ATHLETE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN ANY SPORT
16,400 WINS     365 LOSSES

THE MOTIVE FOR PLAYING ALL THESE GAMES IS TO BRING THE GOSPEL TO MILLIONS

HE HAS BEATEN THE:

      >MINNESOTA VIKINGS

      >THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS

      >THE MIAMI DOLPHINS

      >WASHINGTON REDSKINS

      >TORONTO BLUE JAYS

      >BALTIMORE ORIOLES WITH CAL RIPKEN

      >A FIRST PLACE BEACH TEAM

      >THE BUFFALO BILLS THREE TIMES

THESE PROFESSIONAL TEAMS HELP DRAW OUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY FOR THE CLOSING OUTREACH TO YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY     37,000 PEOPLE SAVED SINCE THE 9/11 TRAGEDY

HE HAS APPEARED IN OVER 5,500 GYMNASIUMS IN FRONT OF OVER 3 AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE

BOB HAS BEEN FEATURED ON:

A TOP STORY ON CNN NEWS IN 07,
CBS THIS MORNING SHOW,
AND IN THE USA TODAY NEWSPAPER.

EMAILS THAT HAVE COME IN

I wanted to let you know that your message changed my life. You shared the story of a girl who had survived through that terrible auto accident and lived to forgive the man, and are now trying to get him out of jail. The fact that she could forgive him, shocked me, and really made me start thinking. So now I tell you my story.
Three years ago, come August, I was the victim of a rape. A fourteen year old boy, whom I had met through a summer class, took advantage of me in my own home and scarred me for life I realized that I can forgive because of what Christ did on the cross

Hey! I go to Northwest High School. And I just wanted to Thank you for coming to my school today.
I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate what you do and why. So many teens die every year from committing suicide. And it kills me to even begin to think about why anyone would want to do that.
You are an inspiration, you are a hero, and you're a mind changer. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. It really hurt me inside to see what had happened to the girl who got hit by the drunk driver. And it really, really brought tears to my eyes, when I looked across that gym and saw all my other class mates with tears in their eyes, and to know that we could all relate.
One thing's for sure... I won't be picking up another alcoholic drink
Thanks Again. You will forever be in my heart, soul and mind. Please don't ever stop what you do, Because believe it or not...You are helping us, and we are finally, for once, listening.
I don't even know how much I can thank you. , I thank you. With every Breath I take I thank you, and with every muscle in my body I thank you!!!!!!
Thanks again!
We really do love your message that changes lives
Stay in contact ,
A Northwest Student.

hey bob =]

    suicide. something you talked about and something i have contemplated before. I'm really nothing special. I haven't been recognized for anything worth while. School, home, its all the same for me. People there hate me and could honestly care less. most of my time at home is either spent crying or yelling. At school, I'm not like most kids. I don't have friends there.

We have a lot of speakers coming in and telling us, Don't do drugs, Don't drink, Don't give into peer pressure. It's the same thing over, and over again. but your message will DEFINITELY stand out to me, not only now, but I guarantee for the rest of my life.

You have made such an impact on me, I cant describe it. I also can't thank you enough for all that you gave me today. You didn't just stand up there and gave a speech to me, you gave me my life. Every time I think that my life is just totally useless, I'll think about this day and your message and will NEVER TAKE MY LIFE.
I am so grateful for all you gave me today.
                                    Your new FRIEND
                                  Morgan

DEAR BOB,
I AM SO THANKFULt that you were not ashamed to life up Christ in our school and the fact that you have been going all over the world doing this, moved and encouraged me beyond words. After hearing your message, it just totally made my day. It let me see that other people are really living by what they say they believe and going out and making a difference. Once again, I cannot express way I've felt ever since you spoke. I swear that the Lord's presence was in that gym today. Thank you thank you thank you thank you for getting up, going out, making a difference, and setting an example for all of us to follow in our lives. And by the way, I was chosen as class speaker for our 8th Grade Promotion last year and I gave to glory to God for everything that he's helped our class through in my speech in that same gym. I'm not saying this to brag about my accomplishments because I know our good works are like filthy rags in God's sight, but I am saying this to give glory and honor to Christ alone and to encourage you as you continue to shine your light in this world. Thank you so much once again and God bless you brother.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Sincerely,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Nathan

SEE VIDEO AT www.meetbob.info

SEE VIDEO LINK AT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVaeLB7E5Qo

CONTACT BOB AT 910-988-0865

God loves tough guys

These days I find myself crying more often than I am comfortable with. But if there is one thing that opens me up like a sprinkler system on a Kalahari farm, it is when somebody commits their life to Christ. This is the most amazing miracle anyone can ever experience and if you are close to me when this happens, make sure you have a raincoat.
The tough guy I am talking about is not me, I would have said “seriously tough” if I was talking about myself. No the tough guy I am talking about is a youngster, seventeen years old. He is a young leader I have met during one of the greatest experiences of my life – The “Kalahari Vasbyt”.
Every year at the end of December till early January Themba Tours organises a tour for young leaders, Grade 10-12. This is for tough guys, leaders and athletes. They would face the toughest and almost certainly greatest 18 days of their life. They would tour through Botswana to Zimbabwe where they would be river rafting on grade 5 rapids the biggest in the world(It is here where they learn to pray for small things – like air).
They would bungee at Victoria falls and experienced the might of God in nature. Then they would tour to Namibia where they would stay at Popa falls, from where they would tour back to Botswana to the famous Kalahari pans. Here they would sleep under the stars while the great Kalahari lions would roam freely around them. This is not a place for men, this is a place for tough guys.
While experiencing all of the above, they would undergo a vigorous physical program. Not like the army, this is meant to build up, not break down. Al the while they would learn about Nature, themselves and leadership. We have a very strong focus on God and this is truly a life changing experience. Thy may go as boys but they come back as men! Christ-like leaders for the future.
This is where I met this tough guy. Usually I click very easily with tough guys and we had a wonderful experience as a group but this one guy was just unreachable to me. Tonight , he phoned me after eight months. After we had spoken, I asked him if he would be willing to share his story. He agreed and emailed me his story. I have tried my best to translate it as close as possible to his own words.

I went because it was the right thing to do. I always did the right thing, it was expected of me. I didn’t really look forward to the Vasbyt, but it would be a chance to get away from home.

I knew a lot of the guys who went on the tour and was comfortable in the group. I liked the leaders, the tour leader is one of the most interesting and weird guys I have ever met. (Andries Erwee). Then there was Tertius, he is extremely funny except when it comes to physical training. Lastly there where Oom(Uncle) Paul he was the one responsible for Bible study and birds. I liked him in the beginning and everyone enjoyed the Bible studies he and Tertius did. A lot of the guys made commitments towards God as well as I. But something was missing for me.

During the Vasbyt Oom Paul’s three sons started to work on my nerves, he was always busy with them and they did everything with us. They really started to irritate me and I could nor really lay my finger on the reason why.

The Vasbyt was a wonderful experience and would stay with me for the rest of life. I have learned a lot about myself on the tour. I got back and went on with my life. Sometimes when there had been difficult things I had to do, I thought back to all the things I conquered during the tour and would step up and face what I needed to face.

8 Months later one night I went to see WP play rugby at Newlands. On the field stood Oom Paul taking photo’s. I went to greed him and we had a nice conversation. As I sat down I saw his kids playing behind him and I saw him talking and joking with them. I immediately felt anger towards them. This was strange and over the next three weeks the feeling kept coming back to me.

Then one night after a conversation with my Father who I truly love, I realised what was going on. Although I believe that my father loves me, I have never experienced that I am good enough. I have been living a life where I am always trying to live up to my father's expectations and reputation. I have never had the idea that I am good enough and that he just loves me for who I am. That he would just spend some time with me and have fun with me. When I think of Oom Paul there is two things I am sure, he loves God and he really loves his kids and both are visible to everyone. I long for my father to love me the same way Oom Paul loves his kids. I realised that it wasn't them who had irritated me; what had irritated me, was that I wanted what they had.

I also realised that this is true of my relationship with God. His my Father and I gave my heart to the Lord at a few occasions, but like with my father I never felt good enough. Tonight I realised God wanted to be a loving father who is not interested in my accomplishments, but the father who just wanted to love me. I phoned Oom Paul and told him what happened. He prayed with me and tonight I am starting a new life with a God that wants to love me for who I am.

God even love’s tough guys. We all yearn for the love of God, you don’t have to earn it, you just have to enjoy it.

http://paul-barnard.blogspot.com/2010/09/god-loves-tough-guys.html

My Prison Miracle

While I was still studying theology I worked at the Prison Service in Pretoria during the nights to pay for my studies. I had the wonderful opportunity to work permanent nightshift from 1992-1994. The nightshift started at 22:00 and ended at 06:00 which meant that we had very little contact with the inmates. One of my friends and I decided that we wanted to share the gospel with those around us. The problem was that the inmates were not interested in talking to the guards and especially not about religion. Then one night we realised that if we were busy talking to each another in hushed voices while standing in the hallways outside the cells, the inmates would press up against the bars to try and listen in on our conversations. We then came up with the idea to move from the one cell to the next standing outside and sharing Romans 5 with each other. We would make turns to tell the other in a hushed excited voice: “I have read the most amazing piece of scripture” Then we would take out a Bible and read Romans 5 in a hushed voice. We could see how inmates where pressing against the bars straining to hear. After we had finished, we would move to the next cell and started again.

Sunday the 1st of August 2010 I had the privilege to preach the Meditation Service at our church. The text was Romans 5. Romans 5 is such a powerfull scripture and if you have the opportunity to read a peace of scripture to someone in need of redemption, then this is it. In the beginning of the sermon I told this story to accentuate this fact. At the end of the sermon as I was handing out the Communion I realised that the man taking the bread from me was standing there with tears streaming from his eyes. He went back to his seat and when the service had ended, he left before I could speak to him. That evening before I had to preach at the evening service I received a phone call from Henri, the man from the communion. He told me about a miracle.
Today I had the privilege to spend time with Henri and we talked through 4 cups of Coffee. This is the story as he related it to me:

I grew up in a house where my Dad was absent. He was always busy with a scheme to make money, and to make money fast. He was in and out of the jail up to a point where my mother could not go on anymore. They got divorced when I was twenty five. Our whole family backed my mom, no we encouraged her, we were all fed up with my dad. In 1990 he was sentenced to ten years in Pretoria Central. We did not go to visit even though we were close enough because we came to the point where we could not trust him anymore and did not believe he was capable of love or change. In 1996 he was released for being a model inmate. We could not believe it! He came to us and immediately we realised something had changed. We did not trust him but there was definitely something different. He told us that while he was in his cell one night in May 1992, two wardens were standing outside his window and as he scuffled closer to hear what they were saying, one of them started reading Romans 5. He listened and while he had been listening, he experienced an intense need for this grace, this loving God. For the next few days he read Romans 5 over and over again until he came to a point where he asked a Christian inmate to help him give his live to Jesus. Then the miracle had happened, he made peace with God, with himself and then he started to focus on the needs of those around him. He always said “I was set free by being jailed”
It took a while for us to really accept that he had changed, but with time came the reassurance that this was real. Slowly but surely he won us over one by one. He became a beacon of faith and hope for our family. He lived the rest of his life focusing on those around him, serving Christ. Henri said that he gave his life to Christ because of his dad. Early this year his dad died of cancer. At his funeral Romans 5 was read and Christ was glorified.

By now I was sitting in the Coffee shop with people staring at me in horror. A big ugly man like me crying of joy. I am sure some thought I had lost my mind, but I was past the point of caring what others were thinking. What a miracle! The Word of God changing lives, and than I recalled Hebrews 4

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

What an amazing miracle that Henri ended up in my service 18 years later when I had been telling the half of the story I know. I truly believe that this miracle was for me. God does not need me to come up with wonderful sermons, He wants me to share His Word, He will do the rest. I also realised that it is my task to proclaim the gospel any way I can. It is in our nature to always look at the outcomes of our results. In moments like these I realise it is not about my results, but about God’s results. He wants me to live Christ, proclaim Christ and to realise that Christ is doing the rest. He is the God of miracles. When Henri left he took my hand in both of his and said with tears in his eyes: “Dankie, my pa het gelewe, hy moes gevang word sodat God hom kon vrymaak. Dankie.” (Thank you, my Father lived, he had been set free by being jailed, thank you)
Tonight I thank you Lord for this miracle and that You have blessed me with the other side of the story.

http://paul-barnard.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-prison-miracle.html

Blotted tears and Grace

In 2001 I met Jenna (not her real name) at the hospital. Her mother called me: Jenna nearly died as she had been using heroin for over a year. Her mother was tired and worried. Jenna was a beautiful young girl, 22 years old and studying at University. During her third year, she had been experimenting with Heroin and became hooked.
She had already been to rehab , but it had only taken two weeks before she started using again. Jenna was tired of this lifestyle and this last experience really scared her. She cried and told me that she knew that she needed Christ in her life. We prayed together and she accepted Christ into her heart. This was not a decision she took lightly, she started reading her Bible, attending church and altering her lifestyle.

The problem with a drug like Heroin is that only a very small percentage of users ever kick the habit. Jenna would arrive at my office eyes all puffy because she had been crying all night. She was so ashamed, the previous night one of her old dealers came by and left her a gift. She could not help herself. She would cry out asking me how was it still possible for God to love her. I would read her the scriptures about grace and she wrote them down. At one stage she asked me for a printout of all the verses on grace.
Over the next nine months Jenna really struggled. She went to different programs, different doctors, but nothing helped. She kept on praying, kept on coming to church kept on crying about her inability to walk away from the habit.
Then one night about 11 o’clock her flat mate called me. Jenna was not responding, she was not breathing. I immediately phoned the ambulance services and raced over to her flat. The paramedics and I arrived simultaneously at the scene. It was too late. She had died of an overdose, the needle marks between her toes.
Her parents asked me to conduct the funeral which I did, I talked about the grace of God. But it felt so empty. At the grave we prayed together and her mother came forward and placed Jenna’s Bible on her coffin. We sang Amazing Grace, the wind blew softly, the pages of her bible where fluttering in the wind. When the song had finished, I looked down. The Bible was open at one of the verses about grace. You could see the spine of the Bible was used to open here. Romans 8

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns?Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,?? neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This scripture was underlined in blue pen. But what stroke me, was the way the tears that had fallen from her eyes blotted the page. As she had sat over her Bible crying before God, her tears and the ink of the pen made the most wonderful patterns.
What stood out was “Who is he that condemns?” and “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Have you ever sought Christ with tears blotting the bible and have you ever found grace, the type of grace that is enough even when you are not strong enough. Christ is waiting . He will never turn you away.

http://paul-barnard.blogspot.com/2010/09/blotted-tears-and-grace.html

The morning I met Jesus at the Petrol station

Today I was supposed to go to a seminar in Belville. On my way there I realised that my motorbike needed gas urgently. It was on reserve and can only go 20km on the 1litre reserve gas. I took the off ramp to Kuilsrivier hoping to find a Petrol station. I was relieved as I pulled into the station and in a bit of a hurry, not wanting to be late for the seminar. The attendant helping me was a man with the name “Happy”. Trying to make small talk I commented on his name, saying,^ Happy are you happy?^ He looked straight into my eyes and I was shocked as I saw the sorrow staring back at me. He softly said “Nee meneer”( No sir) I could not help but to ask what was wrong. Tears started whelming up in his eyes and he said even more softly “hulle het my kind doodgemaak laas maand”(they killed my son last month).
We were staring at each another and as the tears rolled down his face I could feel my own tears starting to roll down my cheeks. At that moment I was so aware of God’s love for this guy that I got off my motorcycle and gave him a real bear hug. The sobs seemed to force themselves out of his body as he was trying to hold back. I took him by the arm and we walked to the station office. We found the owner and as I started to explain what had just happened and the fact that I am a Pastor, he interrupted with relief telling me that he was a Christian and how worried he was about Happy. He asked me to talk to Happy and said we could use his office.
Thus we ended up in the office, Happy and I, with the owner serving us coffee and biscuits. Happy told me about the pain of his loss. How his whole life was brought to a sudden stop. He also told me about his mother and her devotion to God. How she always prayed for him and his brothers. He was the only one who had never given his heart to the Lord, his older brother who died in Taxi crash knew the Lord. His brother just younger than himself died at the age of 24 in hospital of an illness, also knew the Lord. Their youngest brother who died at the age of 12 of an illness, knew the Lord. His only living brother, two years elder than him, knew Christ. He told me that his son did not know Christ and then he started to sob uncontrollably. I was dumbstrucked by his story, a story of pain and suffering which is not unlike the story of many Africans. We sat there for an hour and a half as he spoke. My amazement was growing as I realised that he was building up his story to a point where he wanted to give his heart to the Lord. I said nothing,(and this is very difficult for a pastor) he just kept on talking and talking. It was as if the pain was draining through his mouth and the best I could do was to keep my mouth shut.
Then suddenly he said “Pastoor ek moet regmaak met God”(Pastor I must sort out my life with God.) At that moment the Owner of the station stuck his head around the door to ask if we needed anything. I said yes he must join us for a moment. I told him that Happy wanted to give his heart to the Lord. Johan the owner was very excited until I told him that he must help Happy to give his heart to the Lord. Johan said he didn’t know how. I told him and Happy to kneel with me and then told him to lead Happy in the sinners prayer. I explained to them the sinners prayer and then Johan prayed the sinners prayer with Happy. All three of us were overwhelmed ending up embracing each other. I also explained to Johan that he needed to take Happy under his wing and start a process of discipleship with him.
I now have an appointment with Johan and Happy once a month for an hour and a half to help them on the way ahead in their ministry at the Petrol Station. Johan insisted that I do not pay for my tank of petrol and said that each month when I visit I must make sure the tank is empty. If I help fill their tanks he would fill my bike’s tank.
As I drove off I realised that I met Jesus at the Petrol station He was waiting for me, Happy and Johan. How many times had I missed Him before because I was in just to great a hurry to to talk to people around me.

http://paul-barnard.blogspot.com/2010/08/morning-i-met-jesus-at-petrol-station.html

TAKING CONTROL

Approximately 10 years ago, on a freezing July night, the cold, hard, truth hit me like a freight train.

NO ONE WAS COMING TO MY RESCUE.

On our bedroom floor, my wife was giving birth to our son, he’d come so quickly that we had just called the hospital to tell them we were on our way. But we never made it out of the house.

The complication was he was breech, and when he had come out to his shoulders, the contractions stopped and he stopped coming. My wife and I stayed calm, but for all my trying I just could not get his head out.

While this was happening my sister had called an ambulance, but we were stuck in this position for about 15 minutes before they arrived and were able to fully deliver him.

What I didn’t realise was that the umbilical cord was obstructed and our baby was suffering asphyxiation. When he was finally born our boy was blue, and his heart rate was 40 beats per minute when it should have been 140 beats per minute.

As the paramedics worked on our son, pumping oxygen into his lungs, with a hand pump, I went outside to talk to God.

I'd been studying faith at a local church for a while, and had achieved some small successes. One of the scriptures that has always impressed on me the most was Mark 11:24 “Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be though removed and be though cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass. He shall have whatsoever he says.”

This scripture told me I had to take responsibility in the situation, and not wait for something to happen, but make something happen.

I felt strength flow through me as I reminded God what this scripture said. I told God that I was not going to ask for anything but that I was going to take control of the situation.

I had a strong belief that parents are supposed to protect their children, not just naturally but spiritually as well.

I also could not accept the idea that a child would be born just to die ten minutes later.

After my conversation with God I felt fearless and determined. When I went back into the house the main paramedic pulled me aside and asked me if he could have a word with me. With a grim look on his face and a professional tone in his voice he told me, “I don’t think the little blokes gonna make it.”

This was a defining moment, I refused to become afraid and accept his opinion!

Looking directly into his eyes I replied “No he is going to be fine.” I know I must have had a look that said I meant business, because the paramedic backed off immediately with a quick reply “Yer Okay”.

It’s amazing how quickly people will change their mind and come into agreement with you when you are clear and absolute about something.

Upon entering the hospital I repeated with conviction “No he’s going to make it, He’s gonna be just fine,” to any one that spoke to me.

As I stood back and watched Doctors and Nurses buzzing around my son in a hive of activity, things became surreal.

A smiling woman in a white coat approached, “You know when they called in, I thought they’d be bringing in a dead baby, but it’s a miracle, they’ve done a great job, he’s looking good.”

Of course our baby did survive.

But the next day he was placed in intensive care. At a meeting with the head of intensive care, the Doctor explained to us that our baby was “fitting” and this was most likely because he would have suffered brain damage and organ damage due to the lack of oxygen he received during birth. At this point, once again I reassured the Doctor, “No, don’t worry, he’s going to be just fine.” Because of what we had just been through, I thought there’s no way I’m going to start backing off now.

About this time we were interviewed by the hospital psychologist, to see how we were handling the fact our baby would be severely handicapped. After the meeting my wife sneaked a peek at the psychologist’s clipboard and notes. Amoung other things, my wife noticed the statement “This couple is not prepared for failure.” It was not written as a positive statement, but I found it incredibly empowering.

The ward is divided into ten sections. Section one for the sickest babies and our son was in this section. Some babies are in section one for months and some never get well. However, within two days our son was in section three and in three days he was in section nine. Within another three days we were taking him home in absolutely perfect condition.

Since that time I have pushed myself to learn as much as possible about this incredible power that saved my son’s life.

What I have learnt I have applied to many different areas of my life, I have used this power to transform my near bankrupt, failing business into a thriving prosperous company that has allowed me an income that has totally changed my lifestyle.

I have seen this power make cancer and arthritis completely disappear from people’s bodies.

I have seen it transform children with learning difficulties and sleeping problems into peaceful intelligent, happy kids.

I have seen it do many incredible, wonderful things in relationships, and every area of life. I believe this power controls the world, and I believe it exists for the benefit of mankind.

I truly believe it’s the answer to every obstacle we face.

“And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32

To find out more about Shayne Hammond please visit www.shaynehammond.com

Get Excited! It's Time to Overcome

Hope

Twenty years ago, I was married to a lady from England. In fact, in retrospect, I think I was not supposed to be because when I told the Lord I asked her to marry me, He said...^I hate divorce..^....I didn't ask if I could marry her. I just said ^I've asked her to marry me...^ We were both Christians and I was in love.
Three months later, she was pregnant. She wanted a boy. I asked for a blonde haired blue-eyed girl. My wife changed her prayer from a boy to a girl also. Nine months later, in the hospital, while awaiting delivery, the Lord spoke to me and said...^In your life, you will have two boys and a girl...^ The first child was a girl. The second, one and a half years later was a boy. My wife left shortly after that. We were divorced shortly after that even though I disagreed with her decision. She took the two children and moved back to England with them. I have not seen them in eighteen years. I ended up moving to China about 8 years after my divorce, where I met a lady and subsequently married. She too became pregnant and delivered a healthy baby boy, the one I had wondered about for so many years. He is now three years old as of this writing in Nov. 2009. My other two children have been in touch by email over the past year. The girl, by the way, has blonde hair and blue eyes. With my Chinese wife I have discussed this story. While I was in the hospital in Canada awaiting delivery of my first child, my Chinese wife-to-be sat on a hillside in the rural area of her home, asking herself what her future held. 10 thousand miles away was her future husband. The Lord hates divorce, but I believe gave me a promise that day to sustain in the days ahead and to let me know he sees the end from the beginning. You see, I really should have asked first.

GOD IS BACK IN MY LIFE

The Righteous Judge

The story was about a very wealthy but miserly man. He had everything he could ask for except the one thing he wanted, happiness. Most people hated him because he was so involved money and the pursuit of material things and he didn’t care who he hurt to get them. In fact there was one thing the Old rich man seemed to love almost as much as his money, and that was his beautiful stained glass window. It was his prized possession and rightly so, it was very old, and worth a few million dollars.

The wealthy man hated most people but most of all he hated the man and his son that lived in the house behind his property. The man was a Judge, and was known for his righteous decision in court cases. The Judge and his son had a wonderful relationship, they were buddies and loved being in each others company. They were happiest being with each other, and that’s why the rich man hated them so much, they had the one thing he couldn’t buy and that was love.

One summer day while the judge was at work, his son decide to play a game of baseball with his friends out in his back yard. He knew he wasn’t supposed to play there because the rich mans beloved window looked down on to the back yard, but there was no way any of them could hit the ball that far, so he thought his dad was being overcautious.

It was his turn to bat and the pitcher threw a perfect pitch, the judges son felt a thrill when he heard the ball hit the bat. He had er hit a ball so perfectly, but his excitement turned to horror when he realized his perfect hit was sailing straight for the Old man’s window. Everything seemed to go in slow motion at that point.

His friends running away, the ball smashing the beautiful window. The judges son could see straight into the hallway of the rich man’s mansion. Where the widow had been the vocal point of the massive stairway.

Suddenly the Old man was there, framed by the whole that used to be his beautiful window, looking at the destruction of his prized possession, at first he looked incredulous, then he spied the judges son holding the baseball bat, and his look of confusion turned to one of incredible anger, he was furious. The boy knew he was in bigger trouble than he had ever been in his life, but he also had the peace of knowing that even thou he had done something his father told him not to do, his dad would be there to help him out of any situation.

As expected the Old man pressed charges, and the case was up before the judge. The old man was secretly gleeful to have the judge in the quandary of having to judge his own sons case. The old man could have gone to another city to have the case tried, but he wanted the judge in this predicament, he thought, He will either have to judge his son righteously and send him to juvenile hall for a long time. Or he will let him go free, and spoil his reputation for being a good judge. The Old man’s ight was even more compounded by the fact that it seemed the whole town was there in the court room.

As the case was read it was clear the Judge’s son was guilty. He had been told by his father not to play baseball in the back yard and he knew it was wrong. The boy was a little scared, he knew what the consequences were for such a crime, but he also knew his dad would fix it somehow, so he was shocked and horrified when his father started to read the sentence.

The Judge had tears in his eyes when he said “Son, you will pay the price of two million dollars for the window, or you will go to juvenile detention until your eightieth birthday, when you will be released to the Rich Old mans custody to work for him for the rest of your life. There was a gasp in the court room as he slammed the gavel on his desk.

Dad nooo, the son wailed. The Old man cackled, their was a loud murmur from the towns people. Then the Judge did something strange. He took off his robe and folded it neatly on his chair he came down from the stand and put his arm around his sobbing son. He said when I was the Judge I had to judge righteously, now I am your father and I have sold everything I own to buy your freedom.

That’s what God did for us. He gave His all to buy our freedom from sin and addiction. Because he is a righteous Judge, He has to judge sin, but because He loves us he pays the price only He can afford to pay. Just as the judges son could never afford two million dollars, we could never pay the price for our sin, but Jesus paid the price and freely gives it to us. All we need to do is ask and accept.

My Pecan Pie A la Mode god

An idol is defined as: a false god on object of passionate devotion. How many times have you hidden food or waited until you were alone to eat and then been angry when you were interrupted. God showed me how greedy and passionately devoted I was to my one day in a somewhat humorous but sobering way, but before I tell you this story I need to preface it with a confession of a couple of my many weaknesses.

I have a little aversion to germs in food and a terrible phobia of mice. I go into hysterics and panic when I see one.

Now on with my story; My favorite thing to eat in the whole world is warm pecan pie ala mode and I couldn’t wait until the kids went outside to play because I had made a pecan pie, and there were only three pieces left and five people in my family!

By the time my girls finally went outside, I was lusting for my treat. There I was all alone with my love. And even though I wasn’t the slightest bit hungry I thought I better steal the chance while I had it.

I lovingly cut a large piece of the delicious treat, put it on a small decorative desert plate and placed it in the microwave and set the time so it would be the perfect temperature, I got the vanilla ice cream out of the freezer. I was thinking about how wonderful the warm pie taste with the cold ice cream. Right on time the microwave beeped signaling my pie was the ideal temperature. I adoringly pulled my sweet prize out and put the frozen ice cream on the pie.

Just then, the front door slamming interrupted the moment I was having with my lover. I immediately got angry with the person who would break up my stolen moment. I decided they were out to get me and came in at this moment just to bug me.

My darling but willful five year old, Tayler, came in and climbed up on the stool in front of me saying “I want a piece.”

Although this made me angry, I held my temper in check as I was still sane enough to appreciate I was being unreasonable.

I passed her my piece of pie and began to cut another from the pie in the refrigerator.

She decided the perfect piece of pie I had given her was not good enough and started poking it with her tiny finger saying look its too hot to eat mama you made it too hot.

My temper was mounting, and my sanity level was plummeting, looking at her petulant face and watching her little finger poking holes all over the thing of my affection. Gritting my teeth I said fine; and slid the cold piece of pie her direction knowing full well this would not satisfy her.

Soon, we were nose to nose mouths wide open each throwing a doozey of a tantrum, trying to out shout each other, she howling and crying and me yelling.

Finally I sent her to her room, because I’m the biggest. I sat down determined to eat my pie still fuming.

Looking at what had once been my masterpiece and now was a protuberant lump full of holes, cold pie swimming in warm separated white watery ^goo^ that used to be ice-cream, but I was still determined to eat it, muttering at how she had spoiled everything because now I couldn’t even enjoy my pie (because of my guilt).

I cut a piece with my fork, raised it to my mouth... When my nine year old; who had walked in just before the tantrum episode, and was a witness to the whole unholy melee said calmly,

“Mama did you know Tayler was playing with the neighbors mouse and didn’t even wash her hands?”

That was it! I totally lost control, I was about to do something Tayler would have been punished for. I raised my fork behind my ear and was getting ready to fling it, when God chose that moment to sweetly speak to my raging heart, in a still, small, un-condemning, voice.

“ You love this pie more than you love anything.”

I was so convicted, as I sat there I realized, I had been worshiping, adoring and loving that mess more than my children, and most of all my Lord. I had completely lavished all my love and affection on this god. It was my golden calf and I was worshiping at its feet.

If you give your affection and love to the one who truly deserves it, He will fill your life with joy. Anything you give up He will replace with something better.

Read: Psalm 107:9

Gods True Miracle

GOD’S TRUE MIRACLE

All my life, I have heard the name of God in all walks of life, sometimes in praise but many times in curses and disbelief… oh, I’m sorry… my name is Allan, a filipino. I’m just a normal, outspoken kid whose life has been twisted by the wrong belief that you create your own destiny and there is nobody to blame but yourself. Let me tell you a story. A long time ago, when I was a kid, I remember my lolo and lola putting me to sleep in one of those wooden kuna’s. I had trouble sleeping then… then my lola would tap my legs until I would. The instance I wake up my lola would put a bottle of milk to my mouth to suck. That was a long time ago… they said that I was a good kid… and I was for a short time.

It started when I was I think at 5 yrs old or 6 when I was playing with my baby sister. My baby sister started crying and I didn’t do a thing. Then she started pointing at my direction seemingly telling me I was at fault. My lolo started whipping me with his sinturon and I was helpless until my yaya advised my lolo it wasn’t me. At that time I didn’t know how to get angry…. I was confused at the situation then. How I wish that was true today.

When I was 11 or 12, when I went home I overheard most of the people shouting at my lola because of a confusion of some sorts (until now I don’t know the cause). It was the first time I saw that it was taking a hard toll on my lola. I then immediately went up to my lola and told the other persons in the house to stop and Mama’s hurt (I call my lola Mama) with what they’ve said. It was the first time I noticed everybody listened. It wasn’t that I don’t know what I’ve said… it was just an honest thing.

At 15 yrs old… I was idolizing juvenile delinquents who were at my point of view then was cool… I thought doing bad things was pretty cool and I lost my sense of direction on how to view life. I tried everything to the point that I became a liar, a thief and I made my evil alter-ego become myself. I was consumed by sin itself… and constructed my own version of how to live my life…. I didn’t know that this event would shape my whole life up… which was evidently shown because during my college days… I struggles with myself and did not finish my studies because of confusion… until it was too late.

At 24, I’ve noticed that my Lolo, who was our bread winner, then fell ill. Then I’ve noticed that our family was already struggling financially and I was in the middle of it. So I’ve prayed to God and contemplated on what to do. Then I’ve decided to find some work by hook or by crook. I’d be interviewed then and there… to the point I got accepted to be part of training. But due to my inexperience I didn’t get my job. But in one brief flash, the other company in which I applied to took notice of my resume and hired me. It was a miracle in itself… but I really didn’t know back then. It was the start of me growing up. I’ve learned that there are sacrifices that I need to do but I was very selfish… I didn’t share my blessings at that time… I’d use people to get what I’ve wanted and the liar inside me controlled me again. It was a pain.

When I was 26, I fell in love with this girl who was my office mate… problem was I didn’t become honest enough and eventually she broke my heart and fell in love with another man… the pain was so deep… it worsened into a depression I’ve never before experienced. I became an alcoholic after that, which led to me resigning from my job. It was a disaster. After a month of treating my depression, I’d landed another job. This time I made a vow that it won’t happen again… but it did. I wouldn’t go into details any more… but it led me to resign again and transfer to another company. It became a cycle. I was confused and I became more of an atheist every passing day. Then it happened. My girlfriend got pregnant. All the confusion, basically all that I know halted to a stop. I basically didn’t know what to do. But everything I believed was it was all me. I tried to handle it by becoming more of a man… but it stressed me out… then my baby was born. We gave the name Kyle to the baby boy… who I really loved and cared for… but at a price. My girlfriend was mad at me because of the sacrifice I did for work… and I became a financial burden for them. A few months later my health degraded. I had to be absent because I don’t want to stress myself and get much sicker… and at the same time my son got sick and my lola got sick. Bow, in the face of adversity… I turned and noticed one church. They had this video on the internet about a sermon on how God was testing us constantly… and it hit me. It wasn’t bad luck or kharma that was giving me problems. It was sin. And God was constantly testing me in every way. God wants me to trust him and let him do his work for me… I alone accepted… now I trust him more… but he still testing me. I wish to those who read this please pray for me and my family, so we in God’s will go through and pass God’s test. Thank you.

-ALLAN

Flowers Over the Wall

Isaiah 49:23b (NIV)

It had been a rough week for me. It was somewhere around 1992, I hadn’t been saved long and I hated myself. I thought the reason I hated myself was because I was fat. All my self worth was in my looks.

I still had an old friends words ringing in my head. He had introduced me to a buddy of his, and his comment to his friend was “She used to be real good-looking until she had a kid and packed on forty pounds. Apparently he didn’t think that should hurt a fat girl.

My husband and I met when we both worked in a disco, and in that environment, around closing time the compliments come in fast and furious. The only positive reinforcement I got was from guys about my looks, and when they faded, as they always do, I was completely worthless in my own eyes. The sexual abuse I had endured as a child only reinforced this idea.

My highest level of education was seventh grade, so I knew I didn’t have a leg to stand on there. I had a relationship with the bully I talk about in the fist week of the studies, and she was constantly pointing out what she thought were my many faults. I was absolutely desperate to be thin again.

I had decided I was going to pray and have faith God would do a miracle and make me skinny –down to a certain weight in exactly one month . I was used to getting on the scale every day, sometimes three or four times in a day, but I decided for that month I would stay off them. I had a hard time waiting, so by the time the day came I was excited, I just knew God would do a miracle. I stepped up on the scale and… it hadn’t moved one millimeter. I was bitterly disappointed and furious with God. I was crying and praying, I opened the Bible and read,
Isaiah 49:23b (NIV)

I remember being enraged. I basically called God a liar. I was so mad.
I disappointed, I felt He had let me down. I remember saying to Him, I did hope in you, This is your Word, you promise we won’t be disappointed, You let me down!

I was still mad at God when I went to church that Sunday, I couldn’t even get into the worship: usually the part I love the most. The Pastor started reading the text for the sermon that day, I was surprised because it was the same text I had been reading when I got so mad at God,
Isaiah 49:23b (NIV)

I was shocked when, in that church with over five-hundred people listening, the pastor said something along the lines of “somebody sitting here today, read that scripture this last week and was mad at God. It is not acceptable to talk to God like that, you need to respect Him, but, still, He wants you to know, He will answer your prayer and you will not be disappointed, but, He will fulfill the promise in His time. Then he went on with his sermon, It was about trials and the blessings that come out of the trials.

The pastor related a incident in his life. He said he used to love to look at the fields out his back window, He loved to sit at his kitchen table and watch the wind make the stalks sway. So he was particularly disappointed when a contractor started building a subdivision right behind his house, where lovely swaying grass once grew, was now being torn up, the ground full of pockmarks where foundations for new houses were being dug. He tried to give it to God, but the more he thought about it the angrier he became.

He knew it was silly to be so upset about an earthly thing, but he just couldn’t help it. He had enjoyed his view so much. He finally started becoming used to the idea, when his new neighbor moved in, he thought maybe they could become friends.

Imagine his disappointment when the neighbor started building an ugly, Grey, ten foot, cinder-block wall. He built his wall so tall, my pastor could barley see the roof of this neighbors house. The pastor was ashamed to admit it, but he felt bitter against his neighbor every time he looked at the wall.

But something started to happen over time, little flowers started peeking up over the wall, and then more flowers of different types and colors started to spill over. Slowly but surely the ugly wall became a mass of beautiful flowers. He said the effect was breathtaking and priceless. It was the focal point of his whole yard, and was so much better then the wheat grass he had been so enamored with. He felt grateful to his neighbor for this wonderful gift.

He said sometimes God works like that, He may not take the problems away immediately, but Like flowers over an ugly wall our problems can bloom and grow and fill us with joy. At that time even though I knew God was talking to me, that sermon didn’t hit home. I thought Okay now I will be healed of my eating addiction because God spoke directly to me… but no I was still as addicted as ever.

Many years later when God did heal me, I recalled the sermon and gratitude overwhelmed me for the trial of being overweight. The flowers I had enjoyed thorough the years of searching for an answer to my problem have filled my life with beauty, I am so grateful that God gave me the gift of being overweight. My weight problem brought me unimaginable joy, it brought me to my knees, It made me seek God, It made me see the beauty is my soul, the eternal part of me. That is why outer beauty is so important to the world because Satan makes the least of us the most important part.

My Dream

Once in a while I have frightening dreams, I call them my devil dreams. One in particular was even more scary than usual because all the other times I would say or think the name Jesus, and I would wake up instantly.

But this time it was different. In my dream I was standing in my kitchen and Satan was sitting in a chair. He started to get up, coming towards me. I rebuked him in Jesus name. He flew back onto the chair and looked as if he had been beaten . He was shaken and weak and I could tell he was hurt, but it scared me because I didn’t wake up as I usually do.

He looked at me slyly and started to get up and come towards me again, I said “I rebuke you Satan in Jesus name” this time I said it a little louder, he fell back but not as hard and he got up faster.

He came towards me again, and I yelled “I rebuke you Satan in Jesus name!” He fell back to the chair but got right back up. This time I screamed the rebuke as loud as I could, and he just stepped back.

I was so scared because I knew I couldn’t scream any louder, I could see him crouching and could sense he was about to fly at me when I heard a still small voice in my heart, “if you have faith you can whisper.” I remember looking Satan right in the eye as I spoke softly, whispering, “I rebuke you Satan in Jesus name” and I instantly woke up.

I believe God works through dreams because there are instances in the Bible I can refer to, and this one had a profound affect on me.

I reflect on it often I think that’s why I remember it so vividly.

Loan Modification

The service then works with the bank to draw up the specifics of the new loan conditions and put them into practice. This resolution is preferable to the bank because the bank stands to lose a lot less if the owner is able to hold onto the home and continue making payments. They will also typically prepare a hardship letter which will explain why the loan modification is needed and how it will help their client avoid a foreclosure.

This will allow the service to take the right steps when approaching the lender. Their first stepis to understand the terms and conditions which the lender has on implementing modifications of loans. They will usually follow a few steps to ensure the best possible chances of obtaining a modification. A loan modification companies or, in some cases, an individual who specializes in working with lenders to modify existing loans. For anyone in this type of situation, a loan modification service is a viable option.

Some find the entire process to be confusing, while others feel they don't have the time to take the necessary steps to receive such a modification. Unfortunately, many people find themselves unsure of how to go about getting a modification from their lender. This is an agreement made between the lender and the person who received the loan which modifies the original conditions of the loan to reduce monthly payments. An effective solution for people in these circumstances is a loan modification.

The good news is that there are options available which can help someone avoid foreclosure. The unfortunate truth is that there are many people who are facing imminent foreclosure.

Borrowers may find themselves scratching their heads and wondering where to start, no wonder, with so many new announcements from lenders and the Feds about various government sponsored and independent loan modification programs. Distressed homeowners seeking assistance with a mortgage debt conversion program may not understand the different programs they might be able to get.

Using a mortgage loan modification does not guarantee that the loan modification will be accepted by the bank, but it is likely to improve the odds. These services have made it their job to understand how to setup the loan modification requests to suit both the bank and the individual facing foreclosure. Beyond increasing the odds of success, these services also reduce the work load for the individual - allowing them to continue with their normal life.

Praying for Hitler

Bethel near Bielefeld in Germany is a small town, consisting almost exclusively of hospitals. It was founded by Pastor Friedrich von Bodelschwingh. For more than one hundred years, destitute and sick people have found an ever open door, and a warm welcome in this oasis. The von Bodelschwingh family is still the guardian of this large institution. Towards the end of the war Hitler gave orders to confiscate Bethel and turn it over to the military, which needed more beds for the war casualties. The sick and helpless people, mostly epileptics and mentally ill, were to be sent to “camps” for treatment, meaning gas chambers. When von Bodelschwingh received the order, he informed his dedicated staff. Countless prayers, desperate pleas for help, were spoken on bent knees. There was no answer. The officials began to make the necessary preparations for an “orderly” transfer. Pastor von Bodelschwingh was well known throughout Germany and in Berlin. He went from one government official to another, begging for the lives of his “children”. He found some sympathetic ears, but nobody was willing to risk his life, by going to Hitler and pleading on his behalf. Pastor von Bodelschwingh returned to Bethel, and the preparations for the transfer continued. The end was near. Two Gestapo Generals arrived, demanding the keys. Von Bodelschwingh suggested that they tour the hospitals, because they had come to facilitate the evacuation. They agreed to accompany him. When they entered the children’s hospital, frightened eyes were focused on the two well fed men in their black uniforms. For a moment, there was absolute silence. Now the children looked at their Pastor, they called him “Onkel Fritz”. “Children”, he said “this is Uncle General, he has been sent to us by Uncle Hitler to take care of us. We must pray to Jesus and ask him to BLESS Uncle General and Uncle Hitler. THE CHILDREN TALKED TO THEIR JESUS. The Nazis left and never returned. Today, Bethel is home to fourteen-thousand patients.

Giving Thanks

Years ago when I was a young Christian, I heard the song “Give Thanks” by Don Moen. It was a simple message about being thankful with a grateful heart for all that the Lord has done for us. At the time, it had a profound effect on me and really resonated with my heart.

My entire childhood and early adult life had been blessed with great parents and being able to do just about anything I wanted. I can’t ever remember being in need of anything. I had great friends, a supportive family, and a life that would be envied by many. Looking back, I realize how blessed I was. God was working in my life even though I didn’t realize it at the time. He’s still blessing me today and yet I sometimes take it for granted, as I’m sure some of you do.

As the year winds down, I’d like to challenge you to take a few minutes and write down what you are thankful for. If the list is less than ten things, keep thinking. Even you have had a difficult year; there are always things to be thankful for.

Like any parent, I know I like to hear how much my children appreciate me. I believe that God is no different in that respect. So give God thanks often as we prepare to celebrate our Saviors birth in the next few weeks. Walk in Love.

God, thank you for all that You have done for me this past year. You have blessed me beyond all that I could ask or think. I’m grateful for my wife, my children, my parents, my friends, my job and all the other things You have freely given me. Help me to recognize when I begin to take things for granted and bring my heart back to You. In Jesus name.

Rev 7:12 ^Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!^

For what I have received may the Lord make me truly thankful. And more truly for what I have not received. Storm Jameson

Lost Searching

Are you lost? Searching?… I was, but maybe my experience can help you make sense of your own situation.

About me

I’m not someone who is easily convinced about anything and am of the philosophy if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. So first, let me give you a little information about myself.

I am in my forties, married with one child. I am employed as a Fire-Captain/Paramedic in a suburb of . I have been on the job for about 26 years. I tell you this because I think I am a pretty average normal guy and have at least been around the block once or twice – I hope! Eight years ago, if I would have heard someone say they were “saved” I would have thought they were some kind of religious freak. So, bear with me! If you have found this article, I now truly believe there is a greater reason you are reading it.

Who did I write this article for? Well . . .

First, if you are a bible scholar, then I am sure you will soon be painfully aware that you are not reading an article that measures up to your caliber. I am writing this for people who, maybe like I did, feel lost or feel as though something is missing in their lives. Also possibly, for the new believer who’s life has been affected or changed in such a way that they feel “compelled” to investigate this new conviction and need some direction.

This article isn’t for . . .

As I stated earlier, it is neither for the bible scholar nor for the debater or “my faith is better than your faith” person. I am an “average Joe” and offer this only for those people who find themselves in a situation similar to mine - 8 years ago. I am only equipped to defend my own position and beliefs. This is my personal story plus some helpful (I hope) advice – So now is the time to turn back if you think reading this will be too painful!

My Story

One morning, about 8 years ago, while I was driving to work, I was going through my usual routine of trying either to find a good morning talk radio show or music station with a song I wanted to hear. I came to a busy intersection and had to make a left turn into traffic to proceed on my route. Just before I made the turn, I pressed the scan button on my radio and it landed on a religious station. I remember thinking “Oh Brother”, and that “as soon as I make this turn I’m going to turn this nonsense off!” But, ‘something’ the guy who was talking said, caught my attention and I felt compelled to leave it on. The person who was speaking was Pastor Greg Laurie. I remember thinking this guy is pretty funny and also thinking most of what he was saying really seemed to make sense.

Let me back up a little at this point…

My wife and I had recently experienced tragedies that had either personally touched our lives or touched the lives of our close relatives and we had begun to question subjects like our life purpose, beliefs, and faith - or should I say lack there of it. Each day, listening to this guy (Pastor Greg) really hit home and I found myself really looking forward to hearing his show. On his broadcasts, he would share personal stories about his life and I learned that, compared to where he was now in his life, he had come from a very different path. He was very funny and presented his sermons on the level with no sugar coating. I was able to relate to a lot of what he said. Most of the guys I work with or my friends are straight talkers – no bull. And as I listened to this guy, I could tell he was giving it to me straight. Many times when I listened, I felt as though he was speaking directly to me. There would be sermons he presented discussing subjects or questions that were almost identical to the subjects and questions my wife and I had been discussing recently and often in just the previous night’s conversation. Many times, I would call my wife and tell her to turn his broadcast on and listen. I would say something like, “you’re not going to believe what Pastor Greg is talking about right now!” I also began to feel like I was starting to get some direction in my own life. There was a point at the end of each show where Pastor Greg would ask if the listeners wanted to say a “prayer” regarding a request. Well I always felt compelled from day one to do it, but I initially didn’t, mainly because of my previous faith background. Well one day at the end of one of his shows, I said the prayer and made the request that Pastor Greg stated. I repeated the prayer and it changed my life. Now there weren’t fireworks or lightening bolts, but a peace came over me, like a weight lifted off my shoulders and I knew in my heart that I had made the right decision. I also felt a wave of emotion that sort of took me by surprise.

I’m not Mr. Emotional mostly because of my upbringing. My dad – don’t get me wrong –is a good guy; he was a sergeant in the army and then in construction, but I don’t think he ever lost that sergeant thing! He always kind of ran our household like a mini boot camp and sayings like “I’ll give you something to cry about!” taught my brother and I early in life to “suck it up” and move on. But when I said the prayer and the first time I shared my story with a pastor at my church, it really got to me. I didn’t really understand it then, but I do now! As you grow in your faith, you too will increasingly understand the stakes involved and the cost of the gift offered to you.

Saved?….

For the new Christian, you have heard and should understand this term, but for the person who is searching, you may not understand this term or many of the other terms you will begin to hear. But hang in there, it will shortly become very apparent how many of these terms will apply to your new Christian life. That day, I repeated the prayer Pastor Laurie stated and I was saved. Now if you’re new or searching, don’t get nervous . . . just hang in there and keep reading, it will soon make more sense. There was no mystery and the prayer was all I needed to meet the requirements of being “Saved”. OK! Here was the context of what I said; I repeated: “Lord Jesus I know I’m a sinner, but I believe you died on the cross for me. I turn now from my sin and receive you as my Savior and my Lord and I choose to follow you from this day forward. Thank you for calling me and accepting me. In Jesus’ name I pray.” It was and IS that simple. I meant it from my heart! Meaning…everything in me told me it was right. I said it, meant it, and I felt relieved. As I stated, there weren’t fireworks or lightning bolts, but I felt a peace in my life, a relief. It changed my life.

It changed my life . . . . .

When I say it changed my life, I don’t mean it was immediate and I surely do not mean I picked up a sign, grew a beard and started yelling at people through a megaphone. But I do have to say that if today, I saw someone doing what I describe in that scenario, the bearded guy and megaphone, I wouldn’t think less of that person. Although it might not be the method I would use to get the message out, it might be the method someone else feels convicted to use and I wouldn’t think he or she were strange. Well, maybe she - with the beard thing – just kidding! In general, here’s how it did change my life. Instead of living a selfish life, pursuing my own desires, I started to try and live my life for others. Instead of trying to fill that gap in my life with financial pursuits, parties and the next “good time”, I started to look at what was really important in life.

As for God, I always believed in God, but I thought of Him as very distant from me. I thought of Him more like a Judge with a good and bad list. Each of our names headed a list and there were check marks in the bad and good columns of each person’s list. I always hoped that if my time came, that I would have enough checks in the good column and be able to “get in”. I felt that God was “up there” somewhere watching me and if I screwed up, he would shake his head and place a mark in the bad column of my list. If I did pray, it was half hearted or more along the lines of “if you can do this for me, I will never do that” or “remember when I did that ‘good deed’, now I need something.” It was often a bargain session, rather than true prayer. There was always a gap and I felt like I could never measure up, but I now know God has filled that gap. God made the ultimate sacrifice and provided the answer to that problem in His Son. I also learned that, to my surprise, God isn’t looking for the perfect person and he most often uses the “second string”, the common and many times broken man to accomplish his greatest work.

Many other things changed and continue to change in my life. Don’t get me wrong though. Does this mean that everything started to go great in my life and I became a “choir boy”? NO! I did get on solid ground and had a more clear direction. I made peace with God, but in some ways, my life got complicated. Overall my life has become more fulfilling and peaceful. I try, with God’s help, everyday to live for Him and others. Try is the key word here; if anyone tells you they are the poster child for the perfect Christian- you probably want to steer clear of them. I’ve heard it said and I subscribe to it – “put your faith in God, not men”. Look to God for your Christian life example and you will continue on the right path. I have learned that serving God by serving others is how you begin to live a Godly life. Also, that moderation in some things and elimination of others is how you stay on the right path. If you have trouble with moderation in any given area of your life, you need to eliminate that problem. Now, I could give you specific examples or opinions of things you should avoid, but I would risk being a hypocrite. For me, I can give you an example I have expressed to some friends and guys I work with. “I don’t think God, my creator, is happy when I drink, get drunk, and act foolish.” As I said, this is an example of mine. I unquestionably am the last one to pick up stones and start launching them. I will say however, I now do believe that if you have a buddy (brother) who has difficulty with moderation in this or any other area, you should help him by not causing him to stumble because of your actions. Also, let’s face it. If you are reading this article, you’re no dummy. I mean, you apparently have the basic skills down. Therefore, I believe you are also smart enough to know that moderation is moderation. In view of that you know, some things in life do not fall into the category of any “-RATION”. For me, now I have an understandable “life guide” to go to for advice on most anything this life has to throw at you. You should try it! Previously, when I would hear people say that the bible was an old book and out of touch with today’s life style, I would have somewhat bought into that philosophy! That was until I actually read it and then realized the old adage, “history tends to repeats itself”, is as true today as in biblical times. Many of the problems and issues we face today were also present in biblical times.

OK, here are some things that helped me as a new believer…

Read your bible! When I became a Christian I began reading the bible. In addition to reading the bible, I also tried to find a bible study, but I was very apprehensive because I knew my knowledge of the bible was almost non-existent. I was “fortunate” to know a guy at work who I considered religious. I thought of him in this way because I formerly believed that anyone who would even utter the name Jesus Christ in public must be “very religious”. Well, this friend from work introduced me to a man named Hank from his church and the three of us had an informal bible study for about a year. The study, along with guidance I received from Hank, really helped me in my faith walk and helped me find a church. Regarding the bible, I would suggest that you get a copy of the NIV Study Bible or a Life Application Study Bible. At times in my life, before I became a Christian, I would feel lost and think maybe there is something in the bible that can help. I would then pick up a copy of the King James Version bible that we had collecting dust on our book shelve, and try to make some sense of it. Well for me, the language they used made an already unfamiliar book, even harder to understand. Needless to say, my reading session would be very short and unproductive. Now, I read either the NIV Study Bible or the Life Application Study Bible. If you are searching, I suggest you get one of these versions and start in the book of John. (Gospel of John)

You will find as you read the bible, on the surface that in many chapters, this book wasn’t necessarily written as a “feel good” book and many times leaves you with more questions than answers. Also, it often appears we/people (I’m included in that we) have the “what’s in it for me” mentality. Well again, on the surface this isn’t a great advertisement for that – which in my opinion makes my faith in this book even stronger. Because the bible is a no frills, no sugar coating, in your face kind of book, people do not want to accept it. Most of us want to believe we are in control of our own destiny. Well, the gift God offers us is free – all we have to do is accept it! It’s that simple, but He is not going to make you accept it. It’s a choice that we are going to have to make and in a world where absolutes seem grayer and grayer everyday, I think many people think it can’t be that black and white or simple. There are only two answers to the offer extended, yes or no, but it’s your choice.

You may think why doesn’t God just give us a taste of the “good life”? I believe if God had given us a crystal clear window into what our afterlife would be like, it would be too easy and our choice would be skewed. We wouldn’t be making a decision based on faith or belief; we would be making it on the “OH! I see what’s in it for me attitude!” I believe that He has given us a view and if we are really seeking HIM, He will reveal it. He states it best in his own words: Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in, and eat with him, and he with me.” OR John 3: 16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Attending a Christian Church

First of all, it is going to be different! What I mean is, if you have never attended a Christian (Protestant) Faith based church it will seem strange. The language you will hear might and/or will seem overboard, weird, cultish. I have a hard time explaining exactly how I initially perceived the first Christian Protestant faith church I attended, but here are some examples of things I would see or hear that made me uncomfortable because at the time, I really didn’t understand my faith. First, I would see people raising their hands and swaying back and forth when they sang praise songs and I would hear them sometimes shout out various phrases during a sermon, like “Praise Jesus” or “Amen”. Initially, I would think “man, that’s kind of weird!” “Am I in the right place?” Are these people just trying to put on some kind of act?” Then there was the “weird” way they talked the terms or phrases they used either while singing or in conversation. Things like “we are all washed in His blood”. “Nothing but the blood of Jesus can save us”. “Can you feel His Spirit?” “We are all crucified in Christ”. “His Spirit is moving in you right now!”

I really can’t remember everything, but those were the highlights. Now if you were raised as a Christian, things like this are familiar and normal to you, but for me, this just added to my confusion over my new found faith. Since I have grown in my own faith, I now understand these actions and this “lingo”. Before, I would have thought this stuff bordered on over the top freak cult behavior. I’m now ashamed to say it, but I would have categorized people like this as “Jesus freaks” and I would have steered clear of these people. I now can tell you that although I may not act or speak entirely as many of my Christian brothers and sisters do (see I just did it!) I totally understand the actions and each day understand more of the “lingo”. I now know why people are raising their hands and what it means to have His Spirit move you. I was formerly of a different faith, and mostly only a Christmas and Easter attendee. You may have heard the term or joke people would use when asked what faith they were and they would say they were “Chreasters”. That was how I would describe my faith to people and again I am ashamed to say that I actually thought that it was funny to use that line. After I was saved, I did attend my former church, but for ME I believed I needed to find another church. When I listened to the message I found it vague and had a hard time applying it to my life. In my own experience, I can tell you that if I sang a song at my former church, I would kind of just mouth the words with a lot of the other attendees. Now as I stated earlier, I understand how people can be moved to really show their feelings for God during worship. Today when I worship at Sunday Services, while singing praise songs, sometimes I get choked up because the words point to how much I have been freely given and I have to stop singing because I really am being moved by His Spirit. There are times now where I have either said or done things that I never would have in my “former life”; for instance, sharing my faith with a friend who is experiencing a low point in their lives. I now ask for guidance and, if I can get out of the way long enough and allow God to work through me, He will provide that guidance, not only in my request, but also in all areas of my life.

There is no perfect church

It’s been said there is no perfect church and if there was, you or I wouldn’t be members there, if you get my drift! But, you will find, like anything in life, there are going to be things you like and dislike. Unfortunately, if you answered that persistent knocking at the door later in your life, as opposed to being born into it, there are going to be people who think of you as a “Johnny come lately”. You may find it’s initially hard to relate to the “Christian Scene” and therefore feel like you don’t fit in. You have to remember this is a “two way street”. You may also find tight knit groups that may not allow you into the inner circle. That being said, you have to remember why you are there. It’s not for any other reason but to serve God. So get involved, volunteer, serve, just give freely of yourself just as He gave freely of himself. Pray to God to bring people into your life that will help you in your new found faith and He will! Get into a bible study. When we searched for a church, we used Pastor Greg’s number one rule of advice. Find a bible- based Church that teaches from the bible and adheres to biblical principles. We looked for a church following this principle and one that would help our child grow in faith. Ask the experts, go online, do a little research. We attended several churches until we finally chose a church. I would suggest you do the same.

In conclusion

As I stated, I wrote this for the person who is searching or who has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior but is thinking now what? I have only scratched the surface, but I felt “moved” to do this! In the fire service, we use the acronym KISS which stands for “keep it simple stupid”. So that’s what I have tried to do. I could hit you with a lot of catch phrases and terminology that would probably just cause confusion or add to your frustration. So I have kind of given you a blue-collar view. If you are trying to sort this all out, first pray about it! Really, if you are truly seeking and praying about it, you will be amazed at how God answers your prayers!

Second, listen to Christian radio and find a good pastor on the radio. As I said, I really love Pastor Greg Laurie. You can cut and paste this link into your browser to go to his website www.harvest.org. I feel God really uses him to reach people. His shows are powerful and additionally you can listen to him either on his website or download his pod cast. He never talks down to you and his messages are a benefit to all believers, regardless of your stage as a believer.

Third, get into a good church. A church that teaches from the bible and adheres to its principles.

Lastly, read your bible. Some people say it’s an old book with old ideas and problems. Well, read it and you be the judge. It seems to me we are still repeating the same mistakes of ancient times. It also seems apparent to me that if we would just follow the advice given in this book, we might find that life is a great deal easier, but again, you be the judge. I suggest you start in the book of John. (Gospel of John)

Recognizing A Sign From God

Have you ever just wanted confirmation of something that would cause there to be no doubt left in your mind? Perhaps a sign that is so unmistakable that there would be no question, you would know the answer as clearly as if it were tattooed on your forehead.

Let me back up for a moment and fill you in. I have been a believer all my life. I have never doubted God's existence, his love, or his plan for my salvation. I accepted Christ at a young age and even though I strayed for a little while I came back to him, recommitted my life, was baptized and strive daily to live a life in accordance with his will. Now that you are caught up with me, allow me to explain my dilemma and God's amazing answer to my prayer.

When I was very young my mother took me to see a film about the Rapture. It scared me to death! I was convinced that I would wake up and find my family gone and be all alone. This terror stayed with me well into my teenage years. After that I didn't really like to speak of the Rapture or the end of our days. I knew I was saved but there was always this fear that if I had missed something I would be left behind.

Recently my husband became very interested in the book of Revelations and in Bible Prophesy. He really peaked my curiosity so I began to read the ^Left Behind^ series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. This stirred up all the old feelings of doubt that I had carried through much of my life. I began to pray for God to open my eyes if I had missed something or to show me how to have faith that I was truly saved and not let the devil put doubts in my mind that my salvation was not real. That maybe I was doing something that would cause me to miss the big party in the sky.

One morning I awakened before I really needed to (and I try to sleep as long as my children will let me) and began to pray. Once again I asked God to help me see clearly and shared my fear with him. When I finished praying I opened the Bible and it opened to Isaiah 56. As I read the passages I began to truly feel like God had given me an immediate answer to my prayers. To summarize, it basically said if you have bound yourself to the Lord and hold fast to him he will give you an everlasting name that will not be cut off. It goes on to say that those who serve him, worship him and love his name will be given joy in his house of prayer. Wow, I was amazed! I thanked God for his answer to my prayer and marveled at his majesty all day. Then the doubt crept back in. What if I had misunderstood, what if I was interpreting his message wrong?

Fast-forward 3 days. Our church was hosting a wonderful evening of worship & praise on Sunday night. Our family attended and I was blessed beyond measure. During the time we were given an opportunity for silent prayer. I went to my knees and asked God yet again to either open my eyes to any areas I have been blind in or to somehow assure me of my place in his kingdom. I begged for the faith I needed! At the close of prayer I rose to sing another song of praise. To my jubilation, God did it again! We began to sing ^Till I See You^ by Hillsong United. Check out the words of this beautiful song below and you will understand why I stood weeping at the amazing love that my Master poured out upon me. I believe he gave me my answer, healed my doubt and caught every tear!

Till I See You

The greatest love that anyone could ever know
That overcame the cross and grave to find my soul
And till I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in You

With all I am I'll live to see Your kingdom come
And in my heart I pray You'd let Your will be done
And till I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in You

I will live to love You
I will live to bring You praise
I will live a child in awe of You

You are a voice that called the universe to be
You are the whisper in my heart that speaks to me
And till I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in you

You alone are God of all
You alone are worthy Lord
And with all I am my soul will bless Your name

Finding Our Direction

When our oldest daughter first got her drivers license, she immediately wanted to go shopping with her sister at Castleton Mall. Although her mom and I were nervous about them driving into that congested area, we decided to let them try it. After about 15 minutes, the telephone rang and we both rushed to the phone fearing they were in an accident. It wasn’t an accident, but they were calling to inform us that they couldn’t figure out how to get to Castleton.

I’ll never forget my reaction after finding out they were OK. I said “you have been to Castleton at least 100 times and you don’t know how to get there?” They both told me that since they weren’t driving before, they never really paid attention. Through the years, those phone calls have been repeated often and that’s one of the reasons why my daughter received a GPS system for Christmas.

Like most people, my daughters don’t like to stop and ask directions. Mapquest has been a big help, but for some reason, both my daughters have issues with directions. They will call and wonder where they are and then get upset when I can’t explain it clearly enough for them. It makes for a very frustrating experience for all of us.

I have found life has a way of working the same way. I want to ask God what direction I should take with my family, my job, my personal life, or my spiritual life; yet oftentimes I can’t figure out what He is trying to say to me. I’d rather God worked like that GPS system where he tells me exactly which way to turn. However, that obviously requires better listening skills than I possess.

As you do your daily travels this week, try shutting off your radio, CD player and GPS system and listen to that still, small voice of God. There are a lot of roads that will get you to your final destination, but it is important that you go there with God. So stay on the right path, listen to His voice and He will give you the deepest desires of your heart. Until next week … Walk in Love.

God thank you for loving me and my family enough that You will show us the right way to go in all we do. Your direction for my life is perfect; if I will only take the time to listen to You. Help me to hear Your voice and seek Your guidance, especially in the life of my child / children. (He, she) is being pulled in so many directions and I want to encourage (him, her) to follow You. Give me the words to say and to provide a loving environment where (he, she) can thrive. In Jesus name.

The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly] Prov. 1:5

The voice of God is a friendly voice. No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it. A. W. Tozer

Lessons From An Old Friend

This past week when I was in Angola for business I decided to visit on old friend. Dave and I grew up together on weekends during the summer when my family would go to our lake cottage on Crooked Lake. Dave lived there year round and although the miles separated us during the winter months, when Memorial Day came around, it was like we were never apart.

Dave was a terrific friend and an amazing artist. You knew that when college was over, the sky was the limit for him. He was also one of those people who never rested and lived life to the fullest. Growing up we played baseball and would swim all day long if our parents let us. As we got older, we’d water ski all day and then Dave would say, “I’ll go home and change and pick you up in 30 minutes.” He was an unbelievable friend, and until this week, I hadn’t fully realized how much I have missed having him around.

You see, Dave passed away when he was 24 and I was living in Fort Wayne after finishing college. I’ll never forget how the cancer tried to take the life out of him, but he just wouldn’t have it. He’d come visit me after his chemo treatments and say, “I can’t wait until these things are over so I can get back to partying again”. He had a strong belief that the cancer was only a temporary setback.

As I stood at his grave, I was surprised to find myself a little emotional, because it has been over 25 years since his death. But I was thinking about all his talents and what he would be doing with them today. What influence would he be having in his world? Then, I started thinking what positive impact am I having in my world today?

This week, think about what affect you are having on the people around you; and especially your family. I realized more than ever that it is only through the grace of God that I have gotten to live a longer life than my friend Dave. I want to make sure I live it to its’ fullest like Dave did and to remember to have an eternal perspective in all I do. Until next week … Walk in Love.

Lord, thank you for the time You have given me on this earth and all the things I have been privileged to enjoy. I’m especially grateful for my family and the relationships I have developed through the years. You have blessed me beyond my wildest dreams and I want to continue to grow in those areas. Help me to be supportive, caring and loving in all my relationships and to emulate You in all I do. In Jesus name.

Love is this divine ingredient. It alone describes what can be our perfect relationship to our Heavenly Father and our family and neighbors, and the means by which we accomplish His work. David B. Haight

II Cor. 3:5 It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God.

Overcoming Disappointment

After watching the Colts disappointing loss a few weeks ago, it reminded me of a similar experience I had playing basketball in the 8th grade. My older brother was the star of the high school team and this was the night I finally got my chance to shine. The coach had chosen me as captain of our team for the night and I was going to get to start against the big city team from Fort Wayne.

This was my big opportunity and I was really excited; that is until they made the first basket and began pressing all over the floor. Since I was playing guard, it was my responsibility to bring the ball up-court. I’d never seen anybody that fast or tall or with as long of arms in all my life. After throwing the ball away twice, then getting a jump ball against me, the coach finally called time out and mercifully put me on the bench for the rest of the night.

If you haven’t faced something similar to this in your child’s life, then they probably aren’t old enough yet. Disappointments are going to come at some point in their life and I believe it is your job as a parent to be there for them when it does. Although I’m no expert, here are a few things I’ve learned over the years:

1. Be a good listener – there were no words that could console me after that game, but I did want somebody with a compassionate heart to listen to me.

2. Have empathy –No matter how old your children are, disappointments are never easy to take. Try to put yourself in their shoes and react accordingly.

3. Encourage them – remind them that disappointments are a part of life, but trying their best is the most important thing.

4. Love them – usually a good hug and telling them you love them can make all the difference.

No matter how disappointed your child may be, it is important to remind them that God loves them and so do you. It is that love and encouragement they will remember and will hopefully pass down to their own children someday. Until next week … Walk in Love.

Lord, I know there are always going to be disappointments in my life and in the life of my child / children. Help me to be a good listener for him / her and encourage him / her with whatever life has thrown their way. Give me your heart and let me share positive words with him / her so that he /she can grow from this experience. Most of all, help me to love him / her the way You do. In Jesus name.

Isa. 48:10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

The greatness comes not when things go always good for you. But the greatness comes when you're really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes. Because only if you've been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain Richard Nixon

Not My Job

Through the years my wife and I have attempted to assign tasks to be done around the house so everyone was doing an equal part. Sometimes we were successful, but other times we heard the phrase, “that’s not my job; you told her to do that”. It was always amazing to me how something as simple as emptying the dishwasher could turn into an argument or a time to make excuses.

Recently I was reading Revelations and in chapter 4 I found something I have read numerous times, but it never registered this way before. It says; “And the four living creatures … day and night did not cease to say, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and is to come.” Those 18 simple words were repeated day and night by the angels. After a few weeks, I’m sure in our own human minds we would say, “Can we have a different job or can we change the words a little, I’m getting tired of this job.”

All of us, including our children, sometimes feel that certain tasks are not our job. We try to make excuses, but they really don’t make sense. The same is true when it comes to praising God. No matter how busy we are, praising God for who He is and for all He has done for us is not an option. There is no excuse that sounds remotely logical where we can say, that’s not my job now.

This week make every effort to connect with God and praise Him for who He is. He is our provider, our counselor, our healer, our rock of salvation, the bread of life, the everlasting Father and the One who loves us unconditionally, to name just a few. We have no excuse not to praise Him. So this week, make it your job to praise Him and to thank Him for all that He has done. Until next week … Walk in Love.

God, there are so many days that I don’t take time to praise You for who You are in my life. My family owes You our lives; yet I can find so many excuses why I don’t praise you daily. Help me to praise You every day this week for all the blessings You have given me. For my spouse, my child / children, my health, and all the other things You so willingly provide. You are an awesome God and worthy of all my praise. Help me to remember that every day this week. In Jesus name.

I Thes. 5:16- 18 Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Praise God even when you don't understand what He is doing. -- Henry Jacobsen

Prop Us Up

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always prayed, Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.

After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.
He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this...I got an old barn out back.
It's been there a long time, it's withstood a lot of weather, it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years.

It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit.
So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.

Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time.
I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times,
and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the
Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning, at times.

Sometime we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning
toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't. So we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on
our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.

If you stare at this barn for a second you will see who will help us stand straight and tall again.

The Paths We Choose

There were two girls in Atlanta who formed a strong friendship that lasted through junior high and high school. They took classes together, participated in many of the same activities, socialized together, and even attended church together after they both made a commitment to Christ as ninth graders.

When they graduated from high school, they joined some other friends on a graduation trip to Daytona Beach, Fla. The hotels were full of kids just like them—free from high school, free from responsibility, and free from parental restraint. Naturally, it quickly turned into a giant party scene.

One of the two friends, intent on celebrating and letting loose, plunged happily into the revelry. The other young woman, however, held back. She was uncomfortable with what she saw—the alcohol, the drugs, the promiscuity. God had been working in her life the last few months, and her commitment to Him was growing stronger. Somehow she knew this was an important choice for her. So she avoided the party scene as much as she could.

A few days after returning home she left on another trip—to a giant student conference in Dallas, Tex., sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ. It was a life-changing experience—a time when she caught a glimpse of how God was working around the world to draw people to Himself … and a time when she recognized how He wanted to use her in that movement. She remembered what she had seen at Daytona Beach, and didn’t want to follow that path. She knew that she was choosing a different world, a different direction for her life.

To say she was “involved” with Campus Crusade through her college years would be an understatement. She jokes today that she majored in Campus Crusade and minored in elementary education. After she graduated she joined the organization as a full-time staff member, and today remains as committed as she was during that week in Dallas years ago.

As you may have guessed by now, she also became my wife.

For a number of years, Merry wondered what happened to her childhood friend, whom I will call Karen. After that week at Daytona Beach, Merry and Karen saw each other a few times and then drifted apart.

Then, about 15 years after they graduated from high school, Merry received a surprise phone call from Karen. As they caught up with what had happened over the years, Karen told a sad story of failed relationships, alcoholism, and drug abuse. She clearly was not happy with the direction her life had taken.

Merry remarked that she was a bit surprised, because during high school Karen did not appear to be on that path. “What happened?” she asked.

Karen replied, “Remember that week in Daytona Beach?” She didn’t realize this at the time—she just thought she was having fun—but the choices she made that week started her on a dangerous path. One choice led to another, and then to another, and the longer she stayed on that path, the harder it was to step off it.

In many ways, life is a series of choices. Some of these choices announce themselves with the blare of a marching band, like they did that week at Daytona for Merry and Karen. Others appear as a faint whisper in your ear. Yet at some point it seems that each choice comes down to a simple question: Are you going to follow the path of wisdom or the path of foolishness?

Sometimes we don’t fully realize the implications of our choices—how they will affect our future, and how they affect our relationships. Let’s say that I return home from work, and Merry is in the kitchen working on dinner. I sense that she wants to talk about something, but I’m tired and want to relax on the sofa and read for awhile. In my heart, I may know that I need to set aside my own desires and focus on her. Then I reason that sometimes a man just needs to kick back after a tough day at the office, and it won’t hurt her if we wait to talk. So I disappear downstairs … and a few hours later I realize that I never did get around to focusing on Merry.

A choice like that now and then may not hurt a marriage. But if I make that same decision the next night, and the next night, then I’m moving further down the path of foolishness.

In recent months Merry and I have heard the stories of two couples who appear to be on the brink of divorce. In some ways, both stories are similar: They’ve been growing apart for years, they’ve been living largely separate lives, and they don’t know how to put their relationship back together. We wonder what choices they’ve made over the years that, in retrospect, put them on this path. Did they start focusing on their own interests at the expense of their relationship? Did they let other concerns become more important than their commitment to Christ and to one another?

I am reminded of the first chapter of Proverbs, which calls us to “know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity” (1:2). Proverbs makes it clear that when we base our choices upon the “fear of the Lord”—a holy, reverential sense of humility and commitment to God—our choices will put us on the path of wisdom: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction … My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent … do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path. … But he who listens to me shall live securely and be at ease from the dread of evil” (Proverbs 1:7, 10, 15, 33).

So it really comes down to who you listen to when making choices. Are you listening to God, and seeking His wisdom? Or are you listening to your own desires, or to people who wish to lure you away from the path of wisdom?

Each day I am grateful for the fact that Merry listened to God when making those choices as a young woman. As a result, God is using her, and He is blessing our marriage. Her life is a reminder to me that I need to walk with her on that same path.

The Purpose of Life

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said: People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.

I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.

God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.

The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.

God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.

We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife getting cancer.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore.

Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.

And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.

If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, ^which is my problem, my issues, my pain.^

But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal my wife or make it easy for her.

It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life. Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.

It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.

Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better ...

God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD

Easing the Pain

This past week I had the unfortunate need to visit an endodontist for a root canal. I’m no stranger to the dentist chair and I’m sure my mouth has brought a smile to every dentist I’ve ever visited. If fillings were still made out of that silver stuff, I’d probably set off the metal detectors at the airport.

From prior experience, I knew there would be some lingering pain and after a couple of days, I’d be fine. Boy was I wrong. Through no fault of the dentist, I apparently had some infection that caused me excruciating pain. It was amazing how one little tooth could affect my whole mouth and body.

Life can sometimes be very similar to that tooth. Most of the time you take things for granted and then one day, you get hit with a sharp pain. In life, it may be that you were downsized in your job, or a family member passed away, or you find something out about your child that breaks your heart.

Whatever the pain may be, we thankfully have a “great physician” that can help diagnose and heal every heartache. Unbelievably there is no charge for His advice, He will listen to you day and night, and He will never make judgments about you. So the next time that pain strikes, reach out to the One who can help take your pain away and let Him speak to your deepest heartaches. Until next week …Walk in Love.

Lord, I want to thank you for each time that You have stepped into the life of my family and healed our pains. There has been discouragement and setbacks along life’s journey, but You have always been there to pick us when we were down. I pray that You would continue be with us in every decision we make. Especially help my child / children to trust in You and to know that You are the only real answer to life’s problems. In Jesus name.

Isa 40:28 Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, ^God has lost track of me. He doesn't care what happens to me^? Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening? God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired and gives fresh strength to dropouts. (The Message)

Pain is pain, but if you can seek Him in the darkness of your midnight, your pain can become the wind beneath your wings that lifts you into His presence! -- Tommy Tenney

This Is My Motivation

By Kevin Schott, KIDS Inc volunteer/board member

In 1998 my good friend Jerry Barnaby invited me to come to KIDS Inc for a Tuesday Boys Night just to see what it was all about. God had other ideas.....I was hooked! I started out playing basketball with some of the guys week after week, then something happened that I never expected. Some of the guys actually started talking to me about their problems and situations at home. This opened up an awesome opportunity to present Biblical principals and why Jesus came to this earth.

In today’s business world you account for every dollar spent and try to do everything that you can to squeeze every penny out of that dollar. This is obviously done to maximize the profit margin and if done right can contribute to a successful “business plan.” As a member of the board of directors at KIDS Inc, we have a different business plan. Are we continuing to lead kids to Christ? Is Jesus being lifted up in every program that we have throughout the week? Are we being good stewards of every penny that comes into God’s ministry? He has entrusted us with His children. He has a plan for His children. We must continue to teach, preach, guide, pray with, and listen to his children. This is God’s “business plan” for KIDS Inc!

The following is a copy of a letter from a young man named Nick that I received from the staff of KIDS Inc a few years ago.

“Before God came into my life this is what it was like: My parents got divorced when I was nine and I didn’t have a father figure in the house so I didn’t respect authority. My mom got a boyfriend that was a main thing that messed me up. He yelled at my mom and he came home drunk. That made me not have respect for women because I thought that was what being a man was about. My friends- they were Goth and didn’t believe in God. I tried to be cool and not believe in God. This lead to me quitting school because I didn’t see the point in going. When I skipped school, we would run around and vandalize stuff and do drugs. I ended up in juvenile for a month and on house arrest. I was diagnosed with depression and felt that I had no reason to live. My lowest and scariest point was when I thought I was going to fail my drug screen and get sent to Boy’s School for 6 months. Nothing made me feel valuable then, but I tried to make myself feel valuable by getting girls. I now feel ashamed for how I was using them to make myself feel better.
After I got off house arrest, I started going to KIDS Inc. every chance I had and I don’t know why. I just felt the need to be there. Even though I had gone to KIDS Inc. before and gotten kicked out, when I went back this time I kept thinking about God and how He had to be real. I knew if I didn’t change my life, I would be like my dad and be lazy and smoke pot all day and have no reason for life except getting high and getting money to get high. I had to change if I wanted to get closer to God... so I changed. But I still knew I wasn’t exactly where I needed to be.
Then one day, Shalin, my friend that works at KIDS Inc., called and told me that In Pursuit had an opening in an Alpha trip. I was reluctant to go because I didn’t want to leave my mom alone dealing with my troubled brother. Everybody at KIDS Inc. kept bugging me about going because it was an amazing opportunity. I finally gave in and said yes. I am glad I went on the Alpha trip because everybody was kind to me and I felt free to be a Christian. My counselor, Chad, was cool and I looked up to him. The day that we were leaving In Pursuit, I asked Shalin if there was any way I could come back. She begged Rich to let me come back and he found a scholarship to put me in a 3 week TST. I love TST! Being in TST meant I had responsibility which made me feel relieved to be doing something important. Working didn’t just have to be for money, it could be for God. TST helped me to respect other peoples’ feelings and helped my relationship with God. My relationship with Jesus started during TST. I felt loved by Jesus and by the people around me. I finally felt valuable and loved, and felt like I had a reason for living. My favorite part was learning more about Christ and making Christian friends. I could share a lot of my feelings with my new friends because they believed in God. My counselor, Bill, was great because he understood me. At the end of 3 weeks, I didn’t want to leave.
Now I am in a better understanding of God and Jesus. I pray for my family, my friends, and for my relationship with God. I seek Him by reading the Bible daily and praying. In the future, I want to work at In Pursuit so I can help people to see that God is real by showing them the same Christ-like love that I received. I feel that God also wants me to work for Him in my neighborhood by showing them that I was the same way and that if Jesus can save me, He can save them too.”

I could’ve written an entire article on how God has blessed my life since He brought me to KIDS Inc ten years ago, but nothing says it better that this testimony. If you would like to volunteer or support KIDS Inc in any way please call or email Paul Velazquez at (317) 917-0451. This is what it’s all about. THIS IS MY MOTIVATION!

Because I Belong to God

For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me,” says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:15

A lot of people will wake up this Tuesday morning filled with the resolution that in 2008, they will be different. They will think differently, they will do different things, and subsequently, life will be better. At least that’s what they hope.

But within a few days or weeks, most if not all, will lapse back into old behaviors, old attitudes, old patterns. That goes for Christians, too.

No matter how passionately you feel about pleasing God right now, living a holy life in 2008 will depend on a few key decisions.

Decision #1: Will I live my life in the power of God’s Spirit and not in my own strength or willpower?

Decision #2: Will my personal life be determined by God’s Word and its wise application? Between me and God—I will live according to what He has said is right.

The Bible describes this as holiness—being “set apart; separate.” The word actually means “to mark off a boundary.” Read 2 Corinthians 6:15-19 at the top of the page for specifics.

Separation is holiness in action. It’s drawing a line in the sand and saying, “I don’t go there; I don’t look at that; I won’t tolerate that in my life. I belong to God. I’ve made a choice and by God’s grace I’m not going back.”

Living a holy life begins with building convictions and living within those boundaries. The best time to make that lifestyle decision is today—before you’re in the heat of the moment, apart from the pressure of the choice.

Have you drawn protective, preventative lines around your life? If you haven’t established your own convictions based on God’s Word, you’re going to fail. You might do O.K. for a season, but if you don’t heed God’s call to come out and be separate, you’ll waffle right back into that old pattern of defeat.

If you’re ready to break the cycle, start here. Say, “I resolve once and for all that with the Spirit’s help and power, I’m doing it God’s way. I belong to Him.”

Maybe you’ve been struggling in a particular area of sin and you wonder if you’ll ever get victory. Hear the tender call of your loving Father, be done with that. Those things don’t fit in your life.

Maybe you’ve tolerated your rationalized behavior a long time and the Spirit of God wants your attention about the compromises you’ve been excusing. Before you make a choice you can’t reverse and reap a whirlwind of consequences, heed the piercing word of His Spirit saying, “Come out from that and be separate.”

I don’t know how the command could be any clearer, loved ones. God’s Word says to separate from the world’s lifestyle. Don’t touch what is unclean; don’t sit on the fence, don’t straddle the line, don’t be double minded. God’s says: “Be holy as I am holy.”

There’s joy and blessing waiting for you in 2008 when you live in the protective boundaries of God’s holy call on your life.

Amnesia

I went to sleep praying and woke up with a head ache. I must have prayed toooo hard.

You see, I have a lot on my mind at this point of my life. We’ve just entered the year 2008 and life is going in a different direction than I had imagined.

All of that brought me back to the lifelong question, “Who am I”? Which reminds me of several movies I have seen which depict people who have suffered accident or loss, or injury or disease and have lost their identity. They can’t remember who they are, amnesia they call it.

Many methods are used to help them try to regain their true identity. Some are seeing old friends, hearing favorite songs, eating favorite foods, visiting familiar places, going back to childhood surroundings and the worst, shock therapy.

What will it take for me to regain my true identity? Would I even know if I found it? How will I begin the journey? Do I even want to find out?

I started out life at an early age and close to my mother. Life began in a small mid-west town and at a time when the streets were still dirt roads. When you got off the highway which ran through the town, you were on a dirt or gravel road. Things like this are part of who I am, good, bad or indifferent. The two room school house that housed six grades, three in one room and three in the other. One teacher for each room. Many moves from our small town to the capital city and back again and as a child, never knowing why. This is a part of who I am. Amnesia would have been preferred to some of the memories, but … it’s part of who I am.

I’m going to take a large leap to another dimension, that of a spiritual nature. I must never forget or have selective amnesia about who I am spiritually. The price was too great and the suffering too intense for me to forget. The Crux of the matter, is the crux of the matter. The Cross, an instrument of death. We wear it around our necks with the glimmer of high polished gold or sterling silver on a chain to match. As one of our Pastors said last week, “Would you wear an “electric chair” around your neck, or a “hangman’s noose”, or a “guillotine”? Where do I find my true identity? How do I find my true identity? Who am I? Who’s am I?

God gave us an incredible gift, that of free will, an ability to choose. If you have ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior, you still have choices. The choices are, to obey or to disobey. You can never say, “Oh, I forgot”, or “I didn’t know” or have “selective amnesia”. You are accountable from day one of your spiritual journey about the choices you make. You can’t blame it on your parents, or your teachers, or your boss, or your spouse. When you become a Christian, the Holy Spirit comes to live within you and He will lead you into all righteousness. No Excuses. Now the choice is yours. Shock therapy or obedience?

This Thing Called Christmas

As I awake from sleep at 4:37 AM, my mind wanders to this thing we experience between Thanksgiving Day and New Years Day called Christmas. Sometimes I will hear “Christmas Carols” on the radio and think about the lyrics and whether they are telling an accurate story of what this season is all about.

The ones that talk about St. Nicholas or Santa Claus are an aspect of this season. But, why then don’t we call it St. Nicholas Day? How did the term St. Nicholas come to be and how did the term Christmas come to be? Which came first (the chicken or the egg?)?
Could you have a St. Nicholas Day without first having a Christ-mass day (it‘s not that I don‘t know how to spell, I‘m trying to get you to think “outside the box”)?

St Nicholas… if you type St. Nicholas into your web browser and click “go”, it will take you to all kinds of information on St. Nicholas. He was a real man who lived in the his adult years in A.D. 300’s and is reported to have died in A.D. 343. This should be your first clue as to “Who” came first. A.D. simply means, Anno Domini, in the year of our Lord. So… you have to have a Lord first. St. Nicholas lived in the area of Turkey on the south-west tip in an area called Myra. His life was dedicated to helping the poor, from the commandment that Jesus himself gave, “sell what you have and give to the poor”. Again, “Who” came first? The St. Nicholas celebration was held on December 6, to honor the death of St. Nicholas and help preserve the day of Christmas to focus on the Christ Child. St Nicholas’ life became legend and his mission became that of many, many people throughout the world. That is why St. Nicholas or Santa Claus is celebrated throughout the world. Much more can be said of St. Nicholas, but if you need that information, search it out for yourself.

Jesus Christ…again, if you type the name Jesus Christ into your web browser and click “go”, you will have a lot of information. He was a man who lived at a certain time in history. That time is what we now understand as the separation of B.C. and A.D., the actual date is uncertain, but his life is not. Jesus had many, many wonderful teachings such as, sell what you have and give it to the poor, turn the other cheek, honor your father and mother, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.

But… it was more than His life and teachings that make Him different from any other man. It was His death and resurrection that set Him apart from any other man or religious leader in all of history. To have death and resurrection, you must have a birth. Many, many religions follow the essence of Christianity without taking the person of Christianity.

The real teaching of Christmas is that Jesus was God who was born of a virgin, a miracle. That’s what we celebrate on December, 25th.

Super Lungs

It was one of those days you dream about if you live in Arkansas. Our summers are so hot and muggy that, when the weather finally changes, a fall day feels like heaven. On this particular Saturday, the morning was crisp and cool, and by the time I reached the football stadium the temperature was moving into the low 60s.

As I settled into my end zone seat to watch the Arkansas Razorbacks play Mississippi State, I thought there was no place I’d rather be that day.

And then, five minutes before the game began, everything changed.

I discovered that I was sitting directly in front of Super Lungs.

I’ll give the guy a little credit: He didn’t curse, did not appear to be intoxicated, and seemed like a nice guy. But his idea of having fun at a football game consisted of standing and yelling—non-stop, as loud as he could.

He yelled at the coaches. He yelled at the players. He yelled at the officials. He yelled at the Mississippi State fans in the next section. Always at the top of his lungs.

I don’t know whether all those people on the field heard him, but I sure did. My ears were two feet from his mouth.

It was an astonishing performance. Super Lungs kept it up for the entire game and never showed any sign of fatigue. His voice never grew hoarse. I got the feeling that years of training had given him superhuman powers. I’ve attended athletic events most of my life and I’ve seen a lot of loud and insufferable fans, but this guy made them all look like amateurs.

While my ear drums throbbed, I discovered that I had gained the power of reading minds. People all around me were turning to look at Super Lungs, and I could hear their thoughts: “Is he for real?” … “Is he never going to stop?” … “At least I’m not that poor soul sitting right in front of him.”

A few sympathetic souls caught my eye, and I could hear them thinking, “We feel for you, buddy!”

At halftime I escaped by walking for a few minutes outside the stadium. I could hear birds chirping in the trees and was thankful that my ears did not seem too damaged. I was thinking seriously of claiming one of the empty seats in the student section across the stadium when the thought occurred to me: I could write a Marriage Memo about this!

Words of wisdom from Proverbs came to mind. I thought of verses like Proverbs 12:18: “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Or Proverbs 10:19: “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

The thing that struck me about Super Lungs was that he seemed clueless about the way his behavior was affecting those who were seated near him. Did he observe the looks of weariness and dismay, the whispered conversations? Was he so caught up in his world that he failed to notice he was ruining the experience for hundreds of others?

And yet wasn’t his behavior just an extreme example of what we all do on a daily basis—fail to consider how our behavior is affecting those around us? How often do I say things without thinking of how my words wound my wife or my children? How often am I so caught up in my little world that I fail to notice those around me?

I thought of Matthew 22:36-40, where Jesus was asked “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied:

^'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.^

The more I think about these two commandments—to love God with all your heart, and to love your neighbor as yourself—the more I realize that they provide a powerful summary of what much of the Bible is about. This is what God is calling us to do, and of course our inability to do it is why He sent Jesus Christ to live among us and to pay the penalty for our sin.

I suppose there is nothing more difficult than to pull out of my little world and to think of my wife, Merry, before myself—to consider her needs as more important than my own (Philippians 2:1-4). Super Lungs was a good reminder to me of the battle I face every day.

And so I returned to my seat, and endured another 90 minutes of non-stop shouting. Somehow it seemed easier to bear, knowing that I could write about it.

I guess you can learn from anything.

A Box of Chocolates

Thirty days ago our missions team were in flight from Accra, Ghana to Amsterdam, in route to Detroit and then home again in the Indianapolis area; with an aggressive case of reverse culture shock. After being in the Accra area for ten days and actually into “the bush” for two days we saw the simplicity and sometimes poverty in which other people live.

Today, December 4th, I went into a church building to do some business. As I was leaving I saw a box of chocolates sitting on the counter of the reception area, assuming it was there for visitors or those passing by to help themselves. So I looked carefully to find just the right chocolate to satisfy my taste buds. Upon closer inspection I noticed that several had been squeezed or broken into and then left in the box. The Receptionist said, “We have a lot of picky eaters around here”.

The Lord spoke into my heart at that exact moment. Someone had given these chocolates as a gift for several people to enjoy. Seemingly, several people didn’t like the gift and returned it to the box and selected another piece or maybe had to repeat the testing process several times to “get what they wanted”. My heart was broken. We here in America have more of the worlds resources than anywhere in the world, and yet we pick and choose and are many times not grateful for the simple gift that has been given. The people in Ghana would have gratefully and graciously been so thankful just to have a box of chocolates, not caring what the filling was, just to have the sweet savor of something in their mouths.

Then the Lord spoke again, “Christians are the same way, they pick and choose their way through My Bible and take the things they like and are pleasing to their taste, but leave the “bitter” things, even though they are as true as the sweet. Christians live life in their own way and on their own terms, not considering My ways and My terms”.

Forest Gump once said, ”Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get”. My friends, please, please, please be thankful for all you have. In this season that we celebrate our Lord’s birth, remember, For God so loved the world, that He gave… don’t reject the Gift!. When this season is over, don’t put Jesus back in the “box” and put Him back on the shelf for another year.

I did not ask to be born in America, but I’m thankful I was. I did not ask to be born Caucasian, but I am. I did not ask for God to reveal Himself to me, but He did. Grace and Peace to you all.

The Resume of Jesus Christ

The Resume of Jesus Christ

Address: Ephesians 1:20
Phone: Romans 10:13
Website: The Bible. Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus
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Objective
My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.
____________________________________________________________
Qualifications
· I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)
· I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)
· I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)
· I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)
· The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14)

Occupational Background
· I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49)
· I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.
· My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15 -17)

Skills Work Experiences
· Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18)
· I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33)
· Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)

Educational Background
· I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6)
· In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3)
· My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105)
· I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21)

Major Accomplishments
· I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26 )
· I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15)
· I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15)
· I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!
· There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.

References
Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healing, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance

In Summation
Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47 ). When can I start? Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15 ).

This is an awesome witnessing tool. Send this resume to everyone you know, you never know who may have an opening!

Have you sent this resume to anyone? What was the outcome? How did your friend respond? Please post your comments below for others to read.

Coming Up Out of the Valley

Last week I wrote about how thankful we should be in spite of life’s troubles, and while I thoroughly believe that, we need to realize the enemy of our soul puts us to the test regularly. Not more than 24 hours after writing my e-mail, my youngest daughter starting complaining about her chest and back hurting after she had returned home from college. Since she is slightly lactose intolerant, I thought the milkshake she had had might be the cause. But the next day she was in terrible pain and couldn’t sleep or get comfortable. So we scheduled a doctor’s appointment and after some testing we found out that she had gall stones and would have to have her gall bladder removed.

Life can be a roller coaster ride of mountain top experiences and valley experiences. For me, I tend to compartmentalize my valley experiences something like this:

Big Valleys – a wayward child, finding out you have serious illness, losing your job, or the death of friend

Medium Valleys – your car breakdowns, hassles with the insurance company, or having a major report due to upper management on 24 hours notice

Small Valleys – stubbing your toe, forgetting to pay a bill and getting a finance charge, having a customer cancel after driving 2 hours to see them

But as they say before a football game, “the game is won in the trenches”. We need to do the basics of blocking and tackling in our personal life. Things like praying, reading the Bible, fellowshipping with others believers, being honest and trustworthy, working hard, having a thankful heart and having integrity. When you put these things into practice in the game of life, even the big valleys seem a little smaller.

This Thanksgiving, take some time to focus on the basics. Be thankful for all that you have and take some time to bless at least one member of your family. Whether it is a child, a spouse, a parent, or a sibling; find a way to encourage them. Then when the enemy comes to kill (your joy), steal (your witness) or destroy (your life), remember the One who will stick with you through all those valley experiences. Only He can give you a life that is more abundant than you can imagine. Until next week … Walk in Love.

God, I know there are times in my life and the life of my family that circumstances seem to be turning against us. I realize these are not from You, but from the one who wants to destroy us and who wants us to give up on our life with You. Help me to keep a positive attitude during these battles knowing that You are in control and You won’t allow these situations to overwhelm us. Be my strength and protector as I look to You for all my needs in life’s journey. In Jesus name.

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

God will not spare a man trouble. But He will help a man be a man in the midst of it. When a man yields to God in difficulty, he turns weakness into strength. Richard Halverson

The Lesson of the Cucumber Tulip

I want to share a story with you that I heard this past Sunday. Actually, it was the ‘rest of the story’ that was shared after the service by our guest speaker, Bud. During the sermon, he told how he and his wife had stopped at a house while on a walk to check out a somewhat rare Cucumber Tulip tree. The owner of the tree eagerly talked about it and about his life, but it wasn’t until after church that I learned the lesson of the Cucumber Tulip.

Around the lunch table, Bud shared how the guy they had been talking to suddenly burst into tears and told them that he should be dead right now.

Bud went on to tell the old man’s story of how one day as a child he neglected to do one of his chores and how furious his dad was with him. As a punishment, he was not allowed to go with his father and five brothers to town for a soda later that day and watched as they drove down the road without him.

Minutes later, while still in sight, there was a terrible accident. The old man, who was then a small boy, ran to the gory scene of the accident to find that all five of his brothers had been killed and that his father who had a broken neck died when they attempted to move him.

I’ll never forget Bud’s observation, “That man carried the guilt and grief for fifty years because his dad left mad and hadn’t restored his relationship with his son.”

I’ve thought about that since then and wondered how often I get mad, hurt feelings, and then leave without restoring the relationship. I guess I sometimes assume that I’ll be able to ‘make up’ later.

After hearing Bud’s story, I know that isn’t always the case.

So, Dad, learn the lessons of the Cucumber Tulip, the little boy who would become an old man, and the power of an unmended relationship. Let me encourage you, if you have some unfinished business with a child or your wife---to make it right, TODAY! You don’t know what might happen just down the road. You need to keep relationships right because no amount of time can heal a broken father/child relationship.

Hopelessly Romantic

Saturday, September 22nd was a rough day for us. Jill and I went to a marriage conference at a local church to hear Gary Thomas speak. Gary is an author and frequent guest on FamilyLife Today. He’s written many books geared toward moving us closer to Christ. Sacred Marriage was the topic of this seminar. Gary challenged us to consider this question: “What if God designed marriage to make us holymore than to make us happy?”

It was a difficult day because I got offended at something Jill said to me and allowed pride to fill my heart. Instead of communicating with her, I withdrew. We sat next to each other, but we were miles apart. The wall between us thick, cold and high. I’m sure we were a sight to see for those around us.

You see, I’m a hopeless romantic. I read books on marriage and listen to programs on marriage all the time. I have a picture in my mind of what my marriage should look like. The problem with this is that this image is not reality. It’s what I call a phantom. And when I begin to compare reality to this phantom, the phantom wins every time.

Gary Thomas referred to this in his seminar. He talks about how we want the perfect marriage with all the romance and excitement of Hollywood. That’s just not how marriage is designed to function. God has designed marriage in sucha way that all of our faults and flaws are revealed most every day so that we’ll see where we need to change to become more like Christ. My life was more simple when I was single because I normally got what I wanted. Marriage doesn’t accommodate to my wishes so easily. In fact, being married challenges me to “die to self” multiple times every day. Saturday was no exception…I simply made the wrong choice and chose to live to please my flesh. I was wrong!

Too many couples get married having wrong expectations. Romance is a wonderful thing and should be a part of every marriage. But to have this as the goal of marriage is not good. We need to enter marriage with the idea of serving our spouse. We need to build a life-long “conversation” with our mate and allowthe trials of life to drive us closer to each other as we grow our committed love. We need to see our mate as our friend, not our enemy.

Satan is crafty and deceptive. He’ll make you think your mate is out to get you and is saying things just to be mean. THAT is rarely the case. Your spouse loves you and wants the best for you. You and I need to stop believing the lies of our real Enemy and start believing the Truth about our mate.

God finally broke through my pride, though it was after the seminar. Jill and I had a great talk and began working through the issue of that morning. As hard as it was, Saturday may have been a turning point in our marriage. I learned that romance is an important ingredient in a healthy marriage, but it shouldn’t be the focus or barometer. I was reminded that Jill is NOT my enemy and that I need to hear what she is saying, process it through the correct “filter” and then respond in a Christ-like way. Jill is a gift to me from God. I want to love, honor and cherish her as we build our marriage on the hope found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Anything less will simply leave me… hopelessly romantic.

Check out the book:

Never Too Late for God

No matter what has happened in your past or what pain you have endured, the Lord has been and will always be with you. Look at Joseph´s life. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph, second in command in Egypt, tells his brothers, ^You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.^ His brothers plotted to kill him, then decided to sell him into slavery. Later in Egypt, he was falsely accused of assault and spent two years in jail.

Because he successfully interpreted pharaoh´s dream about seven years of plentiful harvest followed by seven years of famine, Joseph was elevated to Egypt´s prime minister. He helped Egypt and the region survive a devastating famine.

Remember, someone else´s action against you is not the bottom line. God can still redirect your life to reflect His glory. His hope will sustain you as you move forward in life. It´s never too late for God!

SCRIPTURE READINGS

2 Thessalonians 1:3-12
2 Timothy 3:10-17; 2 Timothy 3:10-17
Genesis 50:15-21; Genesis 39: 20-23; 42; 42:5-7

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Slow Down and Listen

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
—Jeremiah 33:3

Life moves at high speed, and we spend our minutes, hours, days, weeks and years trying to keep up with its ferocity. Over the course of our lives, we accomplish a consequential amount, but the unanswered questions of our heart and soul are often left unexplored. We fall short for two reasons.

First, we are faced with issues so great and so numerous that our energy flows in only one direction. Our time and attention are activity-driven, rather than interior-driven, and we find it increasingly difficult to re-direct our energy to what is inward, unspoken, undefined. Secondly, the very prospect of entering the unseen spaces within us, where life's questions lurk, can feel so daunting that we hesitate to dip our toes into water so black.

The path away from the whirl of activity and into the interior world of ^great and hidden things^ is by way of prayer. When first we decide to follow this path, we feel fidgety and unfocused. Being still seems as foreign to us as it would to a busy squirrel searching feverishly for nuts scattered on earth's dark soil. We may need to drink stillness in small doses, until it feels more natural, more delectable.

But once we stop our exuberant and endless activity and quietly begin to call out to the Holy One, we will find ourselves discovering diamonds that before had been hidden from sight. Even the smallest moment of stillness, the smallest cry to God, begins the unveiling of what makes us truly human, truly holy.

Even that small moment in God's presence can be one of whispered awe.

O God, let me stop my frenetic scratching and scurrying so that the mysteries of life can be revealed to my hungry, silent soul.

The Signposts for September are written by Renée Miller, author of Daily Vitamins for the Soul, which can be purchased at lulu.com. These Signposts were originally published on explorefaith in 2004.

What Guides Your Life

Oh, how I love your law! I think about it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, foot your commands are my constant guide. Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your decrees. I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. I have refused to walk on any path of evil, that I may remain obedient to your word. I haven't turned away from your laws, for you have taught me well. How sweet are your words to my taste; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:97-105 NLT

No Other Book

I have guided my life by the Bible for more than sixty years, and I tell you there is no book like it. It is a miracle of literature, a perennial spring of wisdom, a wonder of surprises, a revelation if mystery, an infallible guide of conduct, and an unspeakable source of comfort.

Pay no attention to people who discredit it, for I tell you that they speak without knowledge. It is the Word of God itself.

Study it according to its own direction. Live by its principles. Believe its message. Follow its precepts.

No man is uneducated who knows the Bible, and none is wise who is ignorant of its teachings.
SAMUEL CHADWICK

Quoted by R. Kent Hughes in 1001 Great Stories and Quotes , Tyndale House Publishers (1998) pp 29-30

A Bible which is falling apart usually belongs to someone who is not.
CHARLES H. SPURGEON

God did not give us the Scriptures to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives.
D. L. MOODY

God is Faithful

The book of Habakkuk is a four-chapter conversation between God and the prophet. Habakkuk had lots of questions for God. First, he couldn´t understand why God would use an evil empire to punish His people. Can you identify with Habakkuk? You may also struggle with God´s timing or ask what on earth He is doing. Yet Habakkuk provides a powerful lesson about God´s faithfulness and faith in our Creator.

The secular world view offers several options to cope with trouble: first, resign yourself to your fate with no hope for change; second, distract yourself with alcohol and drug abuse, promiscuity or an unhealthy quest for wealth; third, put on a false bravado, holding your chin up while you´re really falling apart internally.

Habakkuk chose to trust in the reliability of God. God calls us to act in faith and remember His character, believe His Word and trust the testimony of believers, including yourself. Just as you trusted God yesterday, you can trust Him today.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Psalm 119:1-16
Psalm 119:49-64; Psalm 4
Habakkuk 3; Habakkuk 1

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Volunteer For GreatFaithStories.com

We’re on a mission from God! OK, that sounds a little nutty, but it is true. Have you ever felt a calling so strong in your life that you just had to act on it?

Our calling is a web site called Great Faith Stories (www.GreatFaithStories.com). About a year ago we felt a strong urging to create a blogging based web site that allows people to share how God is working in their lives. Sort of like a YouTube for stories.

We wondered: What is the value of one story that has the power to change a person’s life? Can a story give inspiration, hope or encouragement that speaks into another person’s life? Such a story can cause a stirring and a desire in people to better themselves and others around them. We believe that is a story worth telling.

So…Given the daily pressures of life and a year later after the initial idea, the site is launching!

This is where you come in. If you have a passion for the Lord and a desire to spread inspiration, hope, and encouragement then we need you. We’re looking for anyone that believes in this idea that can spare any time to just search the web and look for great “God Stories”. Your job would be to find out if we can post the story on our site and then use our web site to post the story. Good story sources would be authors of blogs you’re already reading, pastors, friends, etc.

Our goal is to get a good base of stories loaded into the site so that as we begin to publicize the site, there will be relevant content to read. Once we start getting traffic to the site, the stories will start to get added from the site visitors.

We need your help. Please pray about this volunteer opportunity. We believe God is going to use this vehicle to touch many lives. If you are interested, please email us to find out how to get started.

Thanks and God Bless.

Winning Too Much

I recently read an article by Marshall Goldsmith entitled, “When Winning Isn’t Worth It” written primarily for business people. But as I read the article, I realized how much it applied to parenting. Take this test for yourself and see how you do.

You want to go to dinner at restaurant X. Your spouse and your friends want to go to restaurant Y. After some discussion, you end up going to restaurant Y where the service turns out to be lousy and the food even worse. Do you choose option A: Critique the service and point out how wrong everyone else was or B: Shut up and have a nice evening with friends. Everyone knows the answer is B, but many of us who love to win just can’t help ourselves

I thought how appropriate this is in parenting when we know we are right, and the child probably knows we are right, but we just can’t help ourselves. We have something to prove and we need to point this out to everyone who will listen. As a parent, have you ever had the need to prove to your child (especially teens) that they were wrong on a minor or trivial point? Was it worth it to win the battle? In almost all cases the answer is NO.

I remember taking a Sunday School class years ago aimed at parenting and the theme that was discussed almost every week was two things: 1. pick your battles and 2. what is more important, winning the battle or the relationship? In most cases the point doesn’t matter that much and the relationship means everything.

I know that I’m as guilty as the rest of you of this subject and probably worse than most. So as a reminder to all of us as the summer months wear on, pick your battles. Are the holey jeans, excessive make-up, or droopy pants worth damaging the relationship you have with your son or daughter? Try to focus on the major issues in their life and learn to let go of everything else. After all, isn’t that what Christ does with us every day? Until next week … Walk in Love.

Lord, I thank you for my child / children. There are times when (he, she) is difficult to understand and can make life so frustrating. Help me during those times to remain calm and patient, just like you do with me. Help me recognize the true source of the disagreement and make the appropriate comments to diffuse the situation. Give me Your heart so that I can become the loving parent You desire me to be and give me peace for all of life’s difficult circumstances. In Jesus name.

Romans 14:1 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. (The Message)

The peace of God is an eternal calm like the cushion of the sea. It lies so deeply within the human heart that no external difficulty or disturbance can reach it. Anyone who enters the presence of God becomes a partaker of that undisturbed and undisputable calm. Arthur Pierson

When The Shaking Comes

I know this is going to age me, but do any of you remember the little jingle that went by the name of the “hokey-pokey”? We use to go to the roller skating rink and that was one of the traditional songs they played every time. It was the most popular song of the entire evening; even more popular than the couples skate. Everyone would gather in the middle of the floor in a big circle and the song would begin. “You put your right arm in, you take your right arm out, you put your right arm in and you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around, that’s what it’s all about”.

For some reason that song came to mind the other day and then, like any number of those crazy songs, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. God does work in mysterious ways because I began thinking how our children’s lives are like that crazy song. They can be in flow with Christ during their lifetime, they can be out of the flow, and they can be in flow, but be shaken by all the challenges that life brings.

Unless you are one of the few parents that have the privilege of living with a perfect angel, you will know what I mean when it comes to the shaking process. There are stages where self centeredness, lying, drinking, sex, and disregard for authority can raise its ugly head in any family. Yet there are times when prayer, helping others in need and loving the unlovable manifests itself in our child’s life. But oftentimes, there is that fine line between being in or out in your walk with Christ where the real shaking comes in. We all desire to be totally in tune with Christ, but reality suggests we are not. We are not perfect and neither are our children.

So what do we do? We pray like our children’s lives depend on it and we love them unconditionally while trying our best to point them in the right direction. Then when the shaking from this world comes about, we will be able to hang on for dear life knowing that God will help us in our time of need. Until next week … Walk in Love.

Lord, I see all of the challenges and difficulties my child / children has on a daily basis. The enemy of this world would have (him, her) think that the pleasures of sin are greater than anything You can offer. But there is no greater pleasure than feeling Your presence in our lives. Help (him, her) to understand this and help me to guide (him, her) in that direction. So when the storms of life gather at (his, her) doorstep, You can come in and calm the waters. In Jesus name.

Eph 6:11-13 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Difficulties are God's errands; and when we are sent upon them we should esteem it a proof of God's confidence- as a compliment from God. Henry Ward Beecher

Developing Thick Skin

Most experts agree that as we age, our skin has a tendency to get thinner. The elasticity begins to wear out and the aging process depletes other important nutrients from our bodies to make this happen. However, before the skin ever gets thin, it must go through a rigorous process which we all must develop in parenting teens. As our children reach their teen years (and maybe even a few years beyond), we start developing a “thicker” skin to survive. It happens just as certainly as the thinner skin does when we become elderly.

Without that thicker skin we’d be unable to survive those years when are children go from cute elementary school kids to some pretty obnoxious teens. For many parents, they can’t believe it is happening as the first layers of new, thicker skin begin to form. Next, we find out our child doesn’t want to be seen with their parents and instead would rather hang out with their friends. Add another layer of skin. During the next phase, the skin really starts grow. Driving leads to high insurance premiums, cars that are breaking down, and worrying when they come home late. Then it is dating and all of the concerns that go with that. Next it is grades, college, and paying for college that really adds to the thickness of your skin and it seems like it will never end.

In reality, developing thick skin is just part of being a parent. It is listening, praying and being there for your child, even when they aren’t so lovable. By doing so, you have played a major part in helping them realize an independence and confidence in themselves that will last a lifetime.

So if that skin feels a little thick, stretched and tired now, just remember that some day in the not too distant future it will return to normal. You will be so happy to see it and will fully understand that you have just completed a huge part in the parenting process. You will have survived the teen years and can hopefully say that you wouldn’t have traded those experiences for anything in the world. So try to enjoy that thick skin while it lasts. Until next week … Walk in Love.

Lord, there are so many times during the teen years that I’m not sure that all of us will make it through alive. My child / children can one day be so kind, compassionate and loving, and the next day be just the opposite. Help me to understand that it is just part of the maturing process and love (him, her) no matter what may happen. Give me the strength and wisdom to be a Godly parent so that I can help (him, her) grow into the person You created (him, her) to be. In Jesus name.

I Cor. 3:14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things. Beecher, Henry Ward

The Ultimate Gift

Over the summer, our family read the book, “The Ultimate Gift” by Jim Stovall. The book reading is one of those traditions that we started two years ago and everyone seems to enjoy it, providing we find the right book. I try to choose books that are interesting and have some real life issues that it requires some thinking. We all share the reading, but since I’ve already read the book and know how it will end, I get an opportunity to watch how it impacts everyone else as the story unfolds.

In “The Ultimate Gift”, there are 12 life gifts that a young man has to grasp before he can receive his inheritance from his grandfather. Some of these include the gift of family, the gift of dreams, and the gift of laughter. Each gift plays out in various acts until finally; the grandson receives the ultimate gift.

Although I enjoyed relating to every gift in my own life, I think the one that had the most impact on me was the gift of gratitude. The author states that if we dwell on what we already have, we will realize that our lives are already filled to overflowing.

If it has been awhile since you have done this, try thinking of 10 things that you are thankful for this week and stick them on your refrigerator. Too many times we wallow around in self-pity, when in reality we have much to be thankful for. As Christians, we should all have salvation at the top of our list. For without God’s grace, we’d never experience the ultimate gift of salvation in our lives. Until next week … Walk in Love.

Lord, I want to thank You for all the wonderful gifts that You have given me. Personally You have blessed me with my salvation, a wonderful wife, two terrific children, parents who have loved me unconditionally, a great family of sisters, brothers and in-laws, and more friends than I deserve. (Fill in your own list). There have been challenges and obstacles in my life, but knowing I have You beside me has made all the difference in the world. So today, I want to thank you for all that You have done for me and continue to do in my life. In Jesus name.

However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dry Bones Dancing

Today, many of God´s people feel stranded in a desert of hopelessness and emptiness. In Ezekiel´s day, the children of Israel were in tragic desperation, but God planned a spiritual miracle to demonstrate His power over any circumstance. Ezekiel watched God supernaturally restore a valley of dry bones into an army of living human beings . . . just as He promised.

In their day of despair, God focused their spiritual eyes on a brighter tomorrow when their relationship with Him would be better than ever. The God who made dry bones live again is all-sufficient for our every need.

When our disobedience distances us from God, our spiritual lives become like dry bones. Yet these bones can thrive again. These bones can dance! God promises a miracle of spiritual renewal in a place of hopelessness. God´s Word, living and working in you, restores life.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Isaiah 49:5-13
Philippians 3:12-21; Psalm 23
2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Psalm 6; Ezekiel 37:3-6

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9-11 Trucker

Have you heard about the trucker who has painted his cab and trailer with the names of all those who lost their lives in 9/11?

The trucker's name is John Holmgren from Shafer, Minn. He has been 'pulled over' numerous times just so the troopers can get their picture taken with the truck.

As you look at these pictures and remember 9/11, remember what Jesus did for you as well.

The Fellowship of the Red Bandanna

As stories began to emerge from the survivors of the South Tower of the World Trade Center, several mentioned a mysterious young man who stepped out of the smoke and horror to lead them to safety. They did not know who this man was who saved their lives, but this they did remember: Wrapped around his mouth and nose was a red bandanna.

For 76 minutes, the man in the red bandanna barked orders, and led people to safety down stairwells. He said, “I found the stairs, follow me.” He carried one woman down fifteen flights of stairs—on his back, while leading others to safety, urged them to keep going down, then headed back up.

Upstairs, a badly injured woman was sitting on a radiator when the man with the red bandanna over his face came running across the room and said, “Follow me. I know the way out. I will lead you to safety.” Then he led several survivors to a stairwell that took them to safety. He was never seen alive again.

Six months later, on March 19, 2002, the body of the man with the red bandanna was found intact alongside firefighters in a makeshift command center in the South Tower lobby buried under 110 stories of rubble.

Slowly the story began to come out. Welles Crowther graduated from Boston College where he played Lacrosse, always carrying his trademark red bandanna. In high school Welles was the kid who would feed the puck to the hockey team’s lowest-scoring player, hoping to give his teammate his first goal. At 16 he became a junior volunteer firefighter, following in his dad’s footsteps. After college he joined Sandler O’Neil and Partners and worked on the 104th floor of the South Tower. He always carried change to give to street people. His dream was to become a firefighter or public servant. On Sept. 11, at the age of 24, Welles Crowther became both, and also a hero -- the ^man in the red bandanna.^

(Compiled from news reports and used with permission by Alison Crowther).

We’re looking for people willing to go up while everyone else is coming down—to rescue men and lead them to the safety of the cross of Christ. The Fellowship of the Red Bandanna is offered to men and women who are willing to train, serve, and make a sacrifice to engage every man in America with a credible offer of Christ and the resources to grow.

“Follow me. I know the way out. I will lead you to safety.”

Welles was willing: willing to serve and to make a sacrifice for the good of others.
He was also prepared: he trained so when the time came he was ready. 25% of Secret Service duty is training— their credo: “repetitive training to overcome the negatives of self-sacrifice.
Welles did not miss his moment. He went up while everyone else was coming down.

You are someone who has been recognized as willing to go up while others are coming down. It is my privilege and honor to invite you to be part of The Fellowship of the Red Bandanna. Do you accept? I hereby initiate you into The Fellowship of the Red Bandanna by the grace of God and for the glory of Jesus Christ.

Superficiality is the curse of our age. . . . The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.
-- Richard Foster

I tell you that this sweet and loving gaze of God insensibly kindles a divine fire in the soul which is set ablaze so ardently with the love of God that one is obliged to perform exterior acts to moderate it.
--Brother Lawrence

A Horn Honking Dad

Whew! I’m bushed. After searching and praying for a larger Familyman Mobile (FM3), we finally purchased one off Ebay, and I had to make a quick down trip down to Florida to pick it up and drive it home.

I’m not complaining, because it was a great feeling sitting behind the wheel of our big rig. This new RV (14 years old) is a diesel pusher, 8 feet longer, runs great, and looks great thanks to a new paint job. But the coolest thing is the air-horn.

FM2 had a dinky little horn, but FM3 has a big, honkin’ air horn. I’m talking a train/tanker ship kind of horn. It’s awesome! When I was driving down the highway all by myself, I just let her wail!!! Man, this is going to be a great RV.

When I got home, however, my wife almost burst into tears. See didn’t appreciate all the bells and whistles…or the horn. All she could see was the crummy, rough, old, and worn interior. She’s such a---woman.

But now, two days later, she’s caught the RV makeover vision, and we’ve torn up the inside and are on our way to creating our home on wheels.

But I’m really writing to remind you again about the influence you have in your children’s lives, and I’m not talking about all the stuff you try to influence them in. It’s not the sit down kind of lessons they’ll learn. It’s the very fabric of who you are that is the real influence.

I was reminded of that myself as I came tooling up I-75 just north of Orlando. It was about 7 o’clock at night when my phone rang. It was my son Ben (14).

“Hey Dad,” he began without any other greeting, “what time is it?”

After a slight hesitation, we both blurted out, “My FAVORITE time to drive.”

He knows me. He knows that’s what I always say when I’m behind the wheel of our RV as the sun hangs low in the sky and the air is cooler. A thousand miles separated us, but he knew that’s what I was feeling right then.

In thirty years, when he’s a dad and I’m old, he’ll be driving down the road as the sun sinks and think, “This is Dad’s favorite time to drive.” He’ll think about me, our RVing days, and our life on the road.

You know that thought may not seem like much, but it’s huge. Our influence is huge. Your influence is huge. Just be there, Dad. Don’t worry about whether you’re doing enough teaching or training---just be there, modeling what you want them to live.

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God is Up to Something Great

Because of His grace, God takes our mistakes and turns them into miracles. Let´s be clear on this point: God does not endorse intentional sin. He´s not saying, ^Make all the mistakes you can, so I can use you even more!^
God can take sins that we have truly repented of and use them to make us better people. He uses our failures for His glory. Peter promised to stand by Jesus . . . no matter what. Yet Peter denied Him. Jesus´ act of forgiveness paved the way for Peter to do great things for the Lord.

Fast forward to the 20th Century where a high-ranking bureaucrat was imprisoned for his part in Watergate. Chuck Colson, burdened for other prisoners . . . men and women he never would have encountered except for his own failure . . . founded the ministry, Prison Fellowship. Yes, God uses bad for good and He´s up to something great in your life as well.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Acts 2:29-41
Philippians 1:12-26; Exodus 14:19-31
Exodus 14:1-18; Exodus 2:11-15; 3:1-14

Visit The Urban Alternative at www.tonyevans.org

Enter The Twilight Zone

Hey Dad,
The story I’m about to share with you is weird---I mean Twilight Zone kind of weird. In fact, it might be better if you picture me wearing a black suit and tie as I describe it in a Rod Serling voice. So join me as we enter---the Twilight Zone. Na na na na---na na na na!!!

It was a night, like any other night. I was sleeping peacefully when something woke me---maybe it was a child’s cry, a dog’s bark, or maybe God just wanted to show me something important.

Rolling out of bed, I went to the dresser where I keep my glasses and felt around for the familiar frames. Finding them, I put them on, only to discover that I had placed my wife’s glasses on by mistake.

Everything was blurry at first, but as things came into focus, I became acutely aware that I was seeing life through my wife’s eyes, and it was freaky.

Drawn by some will other than my own, I began to walk around the house. I stepped into our garage that we are working on, and instead of seeing a simple project, I saw a huge, hideous beast that needs conquering.

“Is that how she sees it?” I wondered. But I already knew in my heart that it was.

I looked around the house and saw heaps of endless refuse.

I peered into the pantry and discovered a gaping cavern that can not be filled.

I ran upstairs and looked into each child’s room and saw sleeping monkeys capable of mischief and perpetual messes, who are constantly hungry.

Then a scary thought hit me---“How does she see me?”

With fear and trepidation (whatever that means), I crept towards a mirror and glanced in. I was aghast. Instead of my usual stud-like image, I saw a six-armed groping “thing” that is only kind when it “wants something.”

That’s all I could take so I quickly returned her glasses to the dresser and slipped back into bed.

Since then, I’ve thought a lot about that night with the glasses and realized (maybe for the first time) that my wife sees things very differently than I do. Things that seem like no big deal to me are overwhelming to her. It used to bother me that she makes such a big deal about them---but that was before I visited the Zone.

The bottom line is---your wife sees very differently than you do. That’s why she cries, gets frustrated, or overwhelmed when you wouldn’t.

So, Dad, learn from my story, or God just might take you to---The Twilight Zone.

PS – Check out this singing dad on utube. Several readers sent it to me. Turn up the volume, and go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAiiU2nwyDI

With God, Nothing is Wasted

God is not going to waste anything He can use! Before he was Paul, Saul had tremendous credentials, which he used against the church. Once Paul was committed to Christ, God was able to use Paul´s gifts to advance His kingdom. When God needed a strong leader in the early church, when God needed a man to write down the theology for His church, when God needed a man to stand up to Caesar yet talk straight to ordinary, hurting people . . . He used Paul.

How can God use your life? Even before you were saved, God already knew all your traits. God wants to sanctify the things that are already part of you so He can use them to advance His Kingdom.

Are you in a situation right now wondering how to turn it around for good? God is preparing you, positioning you and enabling you to do what He knows you can do most effectively.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Psalm 51:1-13
2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Ephesians 4:1-16
John 15:9-17; Psalm 138; Psalm 139:13-18

Visit The Urban Alternative at www.tonyevans.org

Lasting Impact from Keynote Outreaches

One of the real privileges we have in Keynote is to join hands with military chaplains around the and sometimes overseas. Often we find receptive hearts in these men and women who may some day face death as they defend our country as well as other nations around the world!

However, our bands rarely have the opportunity to ^stick around^ when we work with military installations. At basic training locations, the recruits themselves aren't even around very long after the concert. So we continue to plant seeds, talk with people and let the concert hosts and military chaplains provide the follow-up.

About five years ago, one of Keynote's Summer Project bands visited Edwards Air Force Base in to perform an evangelistic concert. The comment cards indicated several decisions for Christ, but the band was on a tight schedule and had to leave shortly after the concert. Fortunately, we had a base chaplain excited to follow-up with the airmen.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when Chasing Elvis (one of Keynote's current bands) played at Bolling Air Force Base near Washington, D.C. and worked with, you guessed it, the same base chaplain that had been at Edwards Air Force Base! He told us of a young airman who accepted Christ at that concert five years ago. Chaplain McIntosh continued to disciple the airman and eventually baptized him, kept track of him in his new marriage, and recently performed the baby dedication for their new daughter. These two men continue to connect and the airmen is still walking with God and leading his family to walk closely with God as well.

^Life-Change^... another soul transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of His beloved Son!

Keynote artists hit the road this week for a busy season of outreach concerts and a number of those concerts will take place on military installations. We also have international outreaches starting again in September - stay tuned for more information in our next update.

Thanks again for your interest in Keynote's ministry - We're grateful for your partnership!

PS. To contribute to Keynote's ministry and help even more individuals hear the gospel click this link: https://give.ccci.org/give/2278105

Why GreatFaithStories.com

Why build GreatFaithStories.com? Why not? That's the question we would ask. We believe that God is working in so many people’s lives and that needs to be celebrated. We need a place to post and read about the Glory of God and how He is working in this world today.

GreatFaithStories.com was built for one reason: To provide a place where people can share how God is working in their lives.

We want your stories. How is God working in your life?

Add your story right now.

Putting My Daughter to Bed Two Hours After the Bridge Collapsed

At about 6 PM tonight the bridge of Interstate 35W over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed. I am writing this about three hours after the bridge fell. The bridge is located within sight of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Most of us who minister at the church cross this bridge several times a week. At this point I don’t know if any staff was on the bridge. Desiring God offices are about a mile from the bridge.

There are no firm facts at this point about the total number of injuries and fatalities. When we crossed the bridge Tuesday on our way out of town, there was extensive repair work happening on the surface of the bridge with single lane traffic. One speculates about the unusual stresses on the bridge with jackhammers and other surface replacement equipment. This was the fortieth anniversary of the bridge.

Tonight for our family devotions our appointed reading was Luke 13:1-9. It was not my choice. This is surely no coincidence. O that all of the Twin Cities, in shock at this major calamity, would hear what Jesus has to say about it from Luke 13:1-5. People came to Jesus with heart-wrenching news about the slaughter of worshipers by Pilate. Here is what he said.

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, ^Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.^

Jesus implies that those who brought him this news thought he would say that those who died, deserved to die, and that those who didn’t die did not deserve to die. That is not what he said. He said, everyone deserves to die. And if you and I don’t repent, we too will perish. This is a stunning response. It only makes sense from a view of reality that is radically oriented on God.

All of us have sinned against God, not just against man. This is an outrage ten thousand times worse than the collapse of the 35W bridge. That any human is breathing at this minute on this planet is sheer mercy from God. God makes the sun rise and the rain fall on those who do not treasure him above all else. He causes the heart to beat and the lungs to work for millions of people who deserve his wrath. This is a view of reality that desperately needs to be taught in our churches, so that we are prepared for the calamities of the world.

The meaning of the collapse of this bridge is that John Piper is a sinner and should repent or forfeit his life forever. That means I should turn from the silly preoccupations of my life and focus my mind’s attention and my heart’s affection on God and embrace Jesus Christ as my only hope for the forgiveness of my sins and for the hope of eternal life. That is God’s message in the collapse of this bridge. That is his most merciful message: there is still time to turn from sin and unbelief and destruction for those of us who live. If we could see the eternal calamity from which he is offering escape we would hear this as the most precious message in the world.

We prayed during our family devotions. Talitha (11 years old) and Noel and I prayed earnestly for the families affected by the calamity and for the others in our city. Talitha prayed “Please don’t let anyone blame God for this but give thanks that they were saved.” When I sat on her bed and tucked her in and blessed her and sang over her a few minutes ago, I said, “You know, Talitha, that was a good prayer, because when people ‘blame’ God for something, they are angry with him, and they are saying that he has done something wrong. That’s what “blame” means: accuse somebody of wrongdoing. But you and I know that God did not do anything wrong. God always does what is wise. And you and I know that God could have held up that bridge with one hand.” Talitha said, “With his pinky.” “Yes,” I said, “with his pinky. Which means that God had a purpose for not holding up that bridge, knowing all that would happen, and he is infinitely wise in all that he wills.”

Talitha said, “Maybe he let it fall because he wanted all the people of Minneapolis to fear him.” “Yes, Talitha,” I said, “I am sure that is one of the reasons God let the bridge fall.”

I sang to her the song I always sing,

Come rest your head and nestle gently
And do not fear the dark of night.
Almighty God keeps watch intently,
And guards your life with all his might.
Doubt not his love, nor power to keep,
He never fails, nor does he sleep.

I said, “You know, Talitha, that is true whether you die in a bridge collapse, or in a car accident, or from cancer, or terrorism, or old age. God always keeps you, even when you die. So you don’t need to be afraid, do you.” “No,” she shook her head. I leaned down and kissed her. “Good night. I love you.”

Tonight across the Twin Cities families are wondering if they will ever kiss a loved one good night again. Some will not. I am praying that they will find Jesus Christ to be their Rock and Refuge in these agonizing hours of uncertainty and even loss.

The word “bridge” does not occur in the Bible. There may be two reasons. One is that God doesn’t build bridges, he divides seas. The other is that usually his people must pass through the deadly currents of suffering and death, not simply ride over them. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you” (Isaiah 43:2). They may drown you. But I will be with you in life and death.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ^For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.^ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-38)

Killed all day long. But not separated from Christ. We go through the river. Not over it. He went before us, crucified. He came out on the other side. He knows the way through. With him we will make it. That is the message we have for the precious sinners in the Twin Cities. He died for your sins. He rose again. He saves all who trust him. We die, but because of him, we do not die.

Jesus said, ^I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25)

Talitha is sleeping now. But one day she will die. I teach her this. I will not always be there to bless her. But Jesus is alive and is the same yesterday today and forever. He will be with her because she trusts him. And she will make it through the river.

Weeping with those who weep, and those who should,

Pastor John

Psalm 71:20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again.

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