Testimony of Love and Forgiveness, my own.

Ever wondered 'how did I get in this mess?", or maybe " why me?"?

   I know those sayings all too well. There was a point in my life where I felt it did not matter what I did, I was going to make someone mad. There were times in my life where I decided I was going to live for me and take care of number one. Times where I considered "morals" as just guidelines, good ideas. They could be stretched, re-arranged to fit what ever I wanted them to look like.

 I was living the life!!........but joy,happiness in this setting was for a moment only and fleeting.

  I came to know my Lord at a young age. I truly believe I understood what that meant at the time. I went to church every Sunday, memorized the scriptures and even taught a senior adult Bible class one Sunday when I was 16. I was on the right path, on fire for Jesus. Witnessing to fellow students.
  Then something happen. Sundays were hard to get up and get ready for, the message that was being taught became boring. Pretty soon I was that guy on the back row paying more attention to my girlfriend and ignoring the Word. Church became a place to meet girls and socialize. I really believed that I liked it better this way.
   The following years since then has seen me go through two divorces, drinking, and living life to the max for me. I thought that the more money I could bring into my account would make me happier. The more things I owned would surely make me more joyful. Wasn't working to well for me. Well maybe if I had the right car, the expensive watch and the big brick house I would be happy. I mean wouldn't anybody be happy with all of that??? The job, the car, the house and the prestige that comes with it all. I thought so.......then it all changed in the blink of an eye.

  In the blink of an eye we were both out of work. I was trying to work with her dad in his business. Her dad and I are very much alike..so we did not see things eye to eye on a few things......well most things. Ok almost all things we disagreed. We were struggling to make ends meet, our dogs (all three) had the mange. My wife and I fought constantly. I can still remember all the yelling. This went on for a year or better, we had only been married for 8 months when camelot came crashing down and the hurricanes and fires hit our marriage. This wasn't what I wanted. Third is suppose to be the charm...right?

A break in the storm.......

   My mother invited my wife to a "Beth Moore" concert/bible study a coupe hours away. My wife jumped at the chance to get away. While my wife was away that long weekend I had a chance to really reflect on what was important in my life and what I needed to change. When my loving wife returned from being gone for a few days, the first words were not "I love you" or "I miss you" that I was hoping to hear but instead........

 " I rededicated and gave my heart and my life to Jesus! Are you coming with me? "

  I didn't see that coming. I don't do well with threats or ultimatums and will usually get very defensive and aggressive when that happens. So many things went thru my mind.."what did my mom do to her?", "it's a trick women's question, be careful what you say". I open my mouth and said.......

....yes.

  It wasn't til a few years later that I learned from my lovely wife that she had intended to leave me that weekend, she was done with me, tired of all the problems, tired of the fights and tired of being broke. My moms invitation was just the break she needed before she made her break. On her way home from the Beth Moore study that weekend she had decided that only "one" answer would be acceptable when she asked "Are you coming with me?", a no, or well maybe, lets talk about it; would not have worked. She was prepared to leave me that very second if I had not open my mouth and let Jesus said "yes!" It wasn't me but it was Jesus coming to my rescue after so many years of denying him and ignoring him, he was there in my true hour of need!
  We were both on our knees praying and re-dedicating our lives to Christ.

  ......and they lived happily ever after. The End

 Well not quite. we have still had our moments of discussions and disagreements. She has forgiven me more times then she should have had to but we have both kept our eyes on Jesus. I can honestly say without a doubt that I am happier now then I ever have been. I am more in love with my wife today then ever before. Forgiven

  Maybe another time I will go into deeper details about my sordid past. What I really want you to see is.. it does not matter to Jesus what your past is, it doesn't matter what you have done. He loves you! You are forgiven! Brake the chains that are binding you. You are worthy! You are one of His!
 Too many times Christians fall short and feel that they blew it and there is no more redemption...WRONG! Step out of the dark, leave the chains that have kept you bound. Your sins are no different then mine or anyone else. Do you think Christ died on the cross for only a few sins?? or maybe He died for only a select few? NO. His blood covers all! Turn your eyes back to Him.

All There Is

      Have you ever come to a place in your life where it was so hard and you were so worn down and tired of everything being a struggle and a fight that you just sat down in the middle of the road and said to God “Is this it? Is this all You have for me?  Because if this is all there is, if this is Your best, I don’t want it.” 

      I have, I’ve been there more than once.  Did Jesus come, do all that He did to give us salvation so we could then be miserable, stressed out, weary and worn down?

      No.  The Lord began to teach me, and show me how to have now, no matter what is going on around me, His freedom, His healing, His peace, His joy, His strength and His power in my life.  Jesus came to not only fulfill the Old Covenant, but to bring the New Covenant, and my friend, there is way more to the New Covenant in Christ Jesus than salvation.

     Jesus does not intend for us to be saved and miserable, broken bound up and powerless.  Isaiah 9:2 speaks about those who walk in darkness, then in Isaiah 42:7 the wording shifts, the people have gone from walking in darkness to sitting in darkness.  To me walking shows some hope, when you are walking in darkness, the movement shows at least you are moving around, trying to find a way out, but when you give up hope and sit down, its almost like acceptance….  Both of these scriptures lead into speaking of Jesus, and what promises He brings, not only of salvation, but of light in the darkness, joy, increase, broken bonds, freedom.

     God promises to protect and support and heal, not just mental and emotional, but also physical.  Look at Jesus’ ministry, He set people totally free, no matter what their situation.  In fact, situations were on the bottom of His priority list, He loved people where they were.  Now I don’t think that means He does not care about our situations, what I think that means is we need to root our faith in HIM, not in our situations!   Do you know God’s promises?  Do you really believe God is who He says He is?  Or have you allowed the lies of the enemy to bind you up? 

      I believe that Jesus is tired of His people who know Him as Savior sitting in the dark in chains!  I heard a wonderful teacher and prophet say any area of your life that you do not have glistening hope, there is a lie.  My dear friend, ask the Holy Spirit to start not only showing you the lies you are believing about yourself and about the Lord, but also what His truths are!  Jesus said the Truth will set you free!  Come on that journey with me and learn to live in the joy and peace and strength and freedom we have already been given.  Jesus said it is finished. 

      Learn to be so rooted in Him, that circumstances don’t control you, you live above them in the promised land He has for you today….and all eternity.  Eternity started on the cross more than 2000 years ago. Life in the Light, walking in increasing freedom, joy, amazing peace and power, above what ever situations I find myself in, I’m experiencing God’s best! Are you?

The Kings Daughter

Time To Get Real

"Scratching people where they itch and addressing their "felt needs" is a stratagem of the poor steward of the oracles of God. This was the recipe for success for the false prophets of the Old Testament"

                             R.C. Sproul

Two men are seated in a plane. A stewardess gives the first man a parachute and instructs him to put it on as it will "improve his flight."

Not understanding how a parachute could possibly improve his flight, the first passenger is a little skeptical. Finally he decides to see if the claim is true. After strapping on the parachute, he notices its burdensome weight, and he has difficulty sitting upright. Consoling himself with the promise of a better flight, our first passenger decides to give it a little time.

Because he's the only one wearing a parachute, some of the other passengers begin smirking at him, which only adds to his humiliation. Unable to stand it any longer, our friend slumps in his seat, unstraps the parachute, and throws it to the floor. Disillusionment and bitterness fill his heart because, as far as he is concerned, he was told a lie.

Another stewardess gives the second man a parachute, but listen to her instructions. She tells him to put it on because at any moment all the passengers will be making an emergency exit out of the plane at 25,000 feet.

Our second passenger gratefully straps the parachute on. He doesn't notice its weight upon his shoulders or that he can't sit upright. His mind is consumed with the thought of what would happen to him if he jumped without it. When other passengers laugh at him, he thinks, "You won't be laughing when you're falling to the ground!"

          Ray Comfort

The first passenger is a lost soul coming to Jesus for salvation (parachute) to make his flight (life) easier. When trouble comes, a bumpy flight  and the straps weighs him down (ridiculed and laughed at), he pulls the chute off. He calls it a lie, it didn't do what they told me it would do. His heart becomes a little hardened to Jesus.

The second passenger puts on the parachute (salvation) and is told it is for an impending jump (death in life). Therefore to save him from dying (going to hell) he straps the parachute on (comes to Jesus his savior). He has the same turbulent flight (ridiculed and laughed at) as the first passenger but instead he ignores the bumps (nay sayers) and holds on tightly to his parachute (Jesus).

Which passenger stayed the course, stayed on the path and finished the race successfully? Obvious huh?

How do you want to present the gospel? We all should want to witness to others so they too will continue to witness to others. The bottom line... it all about a relationship with Jesus. My Jesus.