I had an old blog that I began on February 24, 2014. Just one day after the answer of is there a God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit was poured into my soul and heart and spirit with Love, forgiveness and discernment. I will never be the same. Thank God for that. I am just grateful today. My life story: Born into a strict Jehovah Witness family, left when I could, then did what I wanted, went down the spiral, questioned my life, stuck in sin and deep sorrow. Thats where He found me. I Love Jesus, His Church and am I Lover of life and all things God's will. Religion once enslaved me. Jesus Christ saved me in a dramatic way, established me with grace and love; He confirmed often and undeniably which builds faith immovable. I'm just a normal guy with a worldly rotten past who Jesus absolutely, in one day, changed forever. I am writing again after a spirit driven sabbatical. Life is good. God is great. Amen to that.
Things have changed in me since then. Things I do not really talk about. I have witnessed conformity within myself that I am certain, is not of my own doing. I struggle with things that I do not want to do still. But I assure you this; with prayer and faith and always getting up and never staying stuck and pleading Lord take this yoke from me...He listens. He conforms. His spirit is far more powerful than my flesh. I will share some things that I have not done on my own. I cannot ever say I changed for God through Christ on my own accord. He has had to play an integral role in helping me because I am a hard headed man. Well, I sure used to be. The pride that lead me down the path of finding out things the hard and painful way are the very things that lead me to believe in my Lord and Savior.
Television viewing is down probably 90%. What I see with my eyes has become very very important. Porn, violence, any sexual rhetoric or pro-sin agenda based shows...folks that almost all television for me. Even the NFL was discarded this year. Why? I tell you this in truth; it is spirit driven. I love football. But I love truth and words of life and His direction even more. It is a 24/7 365 battle for your mind. I believe TV is #1 in guiding the air of this world into the heart of man. It is filth for the most part, and meant to ensnare the heart to callous ourselves with sin and acceptance. Not all TV, but most. There are times our TV is not on for days at a time. I believe there is a reason for that.
I don't drink anymore. I am not against it. If my brother showed up and brought me a cold Fat Tire, I would partake and speak of my Lord and be thankful. But I wouldnt have two or three. That just me now. I tell you, there was a time I made peace with being blackout drunk. I bet my family would not even believe that I have had just a few beers the entire year of 2015. I loved beer and good bourbon and still sometimes cannot even believe I am not a drinker anymore. I prayed hard for this chain to be freed from my sinning self. It was such a deterrence to His purpose for me. Away it went. Just like that. I kid you not. God is good.
How I see people and view others has changed so drastically. It is the mitigating factor that has lead to ministry. I pray daily many times sometimes for God to send me to the dark places, to find a place to be a light that is Christ Jesus through me. Be careful what you pray for my friends. For this has been the biggest change within me. Ministry. I pray to be lead and trust me He does that for my joy and His glory. It is my favorite thing, to be used like a vessel when I used to be a lump of clay. His hands have guided me to people and strangers and neighbors and people from my past and has transformed how I see them and their lives as well. Lost sheep. Possible children of God. Every encounter now, is an opportunity to speak life and share truth with anyone anywhere. The harvest is great right now. The Holy Spirit is eager to empower living waters to those drinking the Kool-Aid of this world. His love transforms others through words and deeds. The testimony of Jesus Christ in our life and others when shared with people who know you...the soil that is ready to be seeded; these sheep are all around us, and it is my purpose in my life to be Christ Jesus to those who are in darkness. His power and Spirit are well able to grow what is planted. I have seen it with my own eyes and it is an undeniable and powerful motivator for building the kind of faith in God through Christ Jesus that is solid. Immovable. Real.
When people hear Jesus, they think religion. When I hear Jesus, I think my friend. My helper. The one that delivered me from myself and has helped me in holiness and truth and humility and love. His wisdom has superseded all that I thought I knew, and has shown me all of the Love that I never felt inside a church. It is personal, individual, and I can recognize my brothers and sisters in Christ by His spirit. It sounds crazy but my world is filling up with people who have an individual relationship and dialogue and purpose in Christ Jesus, and they are my church. My new family so to speak. We are given eternal eyes, and see what not is just before us, but what lies ahead and without fear we walk toward the day, when we fools are shown to be the wise of the world. His love humbles me and changes who I am because of who He is, was and will be. That is just the simple truth of what it means to be in Christ. It is to know, He is within you.
