Tag: NEXT

Articles, Jeanette Porter

TRUST

| Jeanette

THERE ARE THOSE WE TRUST, AND THERE ARE THOSE WE HAVE NO TRUST IN. MANY TIMES WE TRUST PEOPLE AND FIND OUT LATER THEY ARE NOT TRUST WORTHY. HOW CAN WE AS BELIEVERS KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?

MOST OF THE TIME IT’S THROUGH A PROCESS OF WAITING TO SEE IF THEY BETRAY OUR TRUST, OR HOLD TO THE TRUST WE PLACED IN THEM IN AN ADMIRABLE WAY.

TRUST IS FAITH IN ACTION. TRUST MEANS: TO PUT ONE’S CONFIDENCE IN.

IN THE WORD OF GOD, WE FIND INSTRUCTIONS IN WHAT NOT TO PUT OUR TRUST. I WILL LIST THEM: WEAPONS (PS. 44:6); WEALTH (PS.49:6,7); LEADERS (PS. 146:3); MAN (JER 17:5); WORKS (JER. 48:7); OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (EZEK. 33:13).

THIS SHOWS US WE CAN’T PUT OUR TRUST IN THINGS, PEOPLE, NOR OURSELVES. WELL, THAT COVERS ALMOST EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING BUT GOD, THAT IS. 

WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE, MUCH OF THE TIME, PUT THEIR TRUST IN THINGS, PEOPLE, AND THEMSELVES, BEFORE THEY PUT THEIR TRUST IN GOD?

BELOVED, THIS IS THE WAY OF THE WORLD. WEAPONS, WEALTH, LEADERS, MANKIND, OUR WORKS, AND EVEN OUR RIGHTEOUS- NESS CAN FAIL US AT ANY TIME.

THE WORLD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE GOD AS THEIR SOURCE OF TRUST, BUT WE AS CHRISTIANS TRUST GOD FOR EVERYTHING, EVERYDAY.

OUR TRUST IS TO BE PUT IN GOD’S NAME: PSALM 33:20-22 – OUR SOUL WAITETH FOR THE LORD: HE IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD.

     FOR OUR HEART SHALL REJOICE IN HIM, BECAUSE WE HAVE TRUSTED IN HIS HOLY NAME.

     LET THY MERCY, O LORD, BE UPON US, ACCORDING AS WE HOPE IN THEE.

OUR TRUST IS TO BE PUT IN GOD’S MERCY: PSALM 52:8 – BUT I AM LIKE A GREEN OLIVE TREE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD: I TRUST IN THE MERCY OF GOD FOR EVER AND EVER.

OUR TRUST IS TO BE PLACED IN GOD’S WORD: PSALM 119:41 – LET THEY MERCIES COME ALSO UNTO ME, O LORD, EVEN OUR SALVATION, ACCORDING TO THY WORD.

     SO SHALL I HAVE WHEREWITH TO ANSWER HIM THAT REPROACHETH ME: FOR I TRUST IN THY WORD.

WHEN GOD’S FAVOR IS MANIFESTED TO US, WE CAN SUFFICENTLY ANSWER OUR ENEMIES WITH THE WORD. WE TRUST IN GOD’S WORD: WE TRUST IN HIS PROMISES THAT ARE CONTAINED IN HIS WORD, FOR HIS SERVANTS.

MATTHEW 12:17-21 – THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ISAIAH THE PROPHET, SAYING,

     BEHOLD MY SERVANT, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN: MY BELOVED, IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL PLEASED:

     I WILL PUT MY TRUST UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL SHOW MY JUDGMENT OT THE GENTILES.

     HE SHALL NOT STRIVE NOR CRY; NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.

     A BRUISED REED SHALL HE NOT BREAK, AND SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUINCH, TILL HE SEND FORTH JUDGMENT INTO VICTORY.

     AND IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES TRUST.

THIS IS DESCRIBING WHAT JESUS DID FOR OUR SALVATION; AND WE CAN PUT OUR TRUST IN HIM AND WHAT HE DID FOR US. ALL OF US, GENTILES AND JEWS ALIKE, CAN PUT OUR TRUST IN HIM FOR ETERNAL LIFE.

THIS BEING THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL, THERE ARE MORE WONDERFUL BENEFITS TO TRUSTING CHRIST: BENEFITS OF JOY: PSALM  5;11 –    BUT LET ALL THOSE THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN THEE REJOICE: LET THEM EVER SHOUT FOR JOY, BECAUSE THOU DEFENDEST THEM: LET THEM ALSO THAT LOVE THY NAME BE JOYFUL IN THEE.

IT’S EASY TO HAVE JOY WHEN THINGS ARE GOING GREAT, BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE STILL PUTTING OUT TRUST IN GOD AND THINGS ARE NOT SO GREAT?

I EXPERIENCED THIS ONE DAY A WHILE BACK, AND THE DAY BEFORE THAT.

FIRST, MY MOTHER HAD CANCER IN HER ARM, AND IT WAS REMOVED. THANK GOD, THE DOCTOR THINKS HE GOT IT ALL. THIS WAS HARD FOR ME AND MY SIBLINGS BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR MOTHER AND HAD ALREADY SEEN OUR DADDY, WHO WE LOVED DEARLY, PASS WITH LUNG CANCER BECAUSE OF SMOKING.

I DROVE BACK HOME TO BE COMFORTED BY MY HUSBAND WHO WAS WAITING FOR ME: AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE TOLD ME, WAS OUR PET, ROSIE, WAS VERY SICK AND SHE WAS TO BE PUT TO SLEEP THE NEXT DAY. I WAS CRUSHED. THIS WAS JUST TOO MUCH.

I WAS STILL DEALING WITH MY TRUST IN GOD TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER, NOW THIS. ROSIE WAS OUR SPRINGER SPANIEL, WHO WAS QUITE A PERSONALITY, BUT VERY OLD AND WEAK. I LOVED HER SO MUCH.

I JUST HAD TO GET ALONE WITH GOD. I DIDN’T WANT MY HUSBAND TO DO THIS, BUT HIS MIND WAS MADE UP, AND IN THE END, I KNEW I HAD TO SURRENDER TO THIS. IT WASWHAT WAS BEST FOR ROSIE.

I CRIED AND CRIED, IT WAS SO HARD. I POURED OUT MY HEART TO THE LORD. HE BEGAN TO COMFORT ME WITH HIS WORD. THE SCRIPTURES BEGAN TO COME THROUGH MY TEARS. GOD INSTRUCTED ME WITH THAT STILL SMALL VOICE TO TURN TO PSALM 34 AND 44.  ALL OF IT MINISTERED TO ME, BUT ONE VERSE IN PSALM 34, VERSE 18, GAVE ME THE GREATEST COMFORT OF ALL – THE LORD IS NIGH UNTO THEM THAT ARE OF A BROKEN HEART; AND SAVETH SUCH AS BE OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT.

I WAS THINKING, WHAT IS CONTRITE? THE DEFINITION IN STRONG’S IS: CRUSHED, AND POWDER.

THIS BROUGHT ME BACK TO A SERMON, IN FACT IT WAS THE FIRST SERMON I HEARD TD JAKES PREACH. IT WAS CALLED “ASHES.” HE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE CAN COME TO THE PLACE THAT WE ARE SO CRUSHED THAT WE BECOME THE POWDER FROM THE FIRE, WE CALL ASHES.

AS WE SERVE THE LORD, AND CONTINUE TO TRUST HIM THROUGH THESE HARD PLACES. HE BEGINS TO ELEVATE OUR FAITH, BECAUSE WE KNOW, WITHOUT A DOUBT, WE WILL NEVER COME THROUGH THESE THINGS ALONE.

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE WHO DON’T KNOW THE LORD, GET THROUGH THESE HARD TO UNDERSTAND THINGS. A DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, OR A LOSE OF A CHILD. THEY CAN’T GET HELP THEY NEED FROM THE WORLD THAT BRINGS JOY.

WELL, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME: THE LORD RESTORED MY JOY AND GAVE ME PEACE AS I BEGAN TO WORSHIP HIM IN IT.

          * PART 2 COMING UP.

 

   

Share
Articles, Jeanette Porter

WORDS PART III

| Jeanette

EPHESIANS 4:13 – LET NO CORRUPT COMMUNICATION PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, BUT THAT WHICH IS GOOD TO THE USE OF EDIFYING (OR BUILDING UP), THAT IT MAY MINISTER GRACE TO THE HEARERS.

ALL OF US NEED TO BE BUILT-UP OR EDIFIED. OUR FAMILY MEMBERS NEED TO HEAR WORDS COMING FROM OUR MOUTH’S THAT ARE BLESSINGS AND NOT CURSES.

TIMOTHY IS PAUL’S SON IN THE SPIRIT. LISTEN HOW HE BUILDS TIMOTHY UP.

II TIMOTHY 1:13 – HOLD FAST THE FORM OF SOUND WORDS, WHICH THOU HAST HEARD OF ME, IN FAITH AND LOVE, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS.

TO TIMOTHY, MY DEAR BELOVED SON: GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE, FROM GOD THE FATHER AND CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.

FAITH, BEING THE POSITIVE, OR BLESSINGS; AND FEAR BEING THE NEGATIVE, OR CURSES: LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING VERSES:

II TIMOTHY 1:3-5 – I THANK GOD, WHOM I SERVE FROM MY FOREFATHERS WITH A PURE CONSCIENCE, THAT WITHOUT CEASING I HAVE REMEMBRANCE OF THEE IN MY PRAYERS NIGHT AND DAY;

GREATLY DESIRING TO SEE THEE, BEING MINDFUL OF THY TEARS, THAT I MAY BE FILLED WITH JOY:

WHEN I CALL TO REMEMBRANCE THE UNFEIGNED LOVE THAT IS IN THEE, WHICH DWELT FIRST IN THY GRANDMOTHER LOIS, AND THY MOTHER EUNICE; AND I AM PERSUADED THAT IN THEE ALSO.

TIMOTHY HAD A GRANDMOTHER AND A MOTHER, WHO LOVED HIM, AND INFLUENCED HIS LIFE.

THAT PERSON THAT IS PRAYING FOR YOU AND INFLUENCING YOUR LIFE, TO SERVE GOD, AND HIS PURPOSE FOR YOUR FUTURE.

MAYBE THEY ARE PRAYING, “DON’T GIVE-UP ON HER, LORD: MAKE HER SWEET, JUST LIKE JESUS.”

SOME OF YOU ARE REALLY HURTING BECAUSE OF THE THINGS SPOKEN OVER YOU IN YOUR PAST, AND EVEN NOW, YOU STILL HEAR THOSE WORDS, FOLLOWING YOU, AND SCREAMING OUT AT YOU.

THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO DO, IS GIVE IT ALL TO GOD; AND THE NEXT STEP IS TO FORGIVE THAT ONE WHO HAS HURT YOU WITH THEIR WORDS OR IN ANY WAY.

THIS MAY SEEM STRANGE TO YOU, BUT TO BE FREE, THIS HAS TO TAKE PLACE.

YOU MAY EVEN NEED TO FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR THOSE CURSES YOU HAVE SPOKEN OVER YOURSELF OTHERS.

MAYBE, YOU MAY NEED TO ASK THEM TO FORGIVE YOU, AND THAT FROM NOW ON, YOUR WORDS TO THEM ARE LIFE, AND BLESSINGS.

DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE…     PROVERBS 18:21

Share
Articles, Jeanette Porter

SWEET SLEEP

| Jeanette

SLEEP IS IMPORTANT TO OUR DAILY HEALTH.

OUR BODIES CAN GO  JUST SO MANY HOURS WITHOUT IT, THEN MAJOR PARTS OF OUR BODIES BEGIN TO BE FATIGUED  AND OR EMOTIONS BECOME ALL OUT OF SORTS; WE CAN’T THINK CLEARLY, AND OTHERS AROUND US ARE AFFECTED.

IT WAS EASIER FOR US TO GET A GOOD NIGHT’S REST WHEN OUR EMPLOYMENT WAS FARMING AND PHYSICAL LABOR; BUT NOW, WE ARE BOMBARDED WITH MUCH MENTAL STRESS: ON THE JOB AND AT HOME. WE HAVE MACHINERY AND ALL KINDS OF APPLIANCES NOW, THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE OUR WORK EASIER BUT WE JUST SEEM TO “ADD-IT-ON” INSTEAD OF REST WHILE WE CAN.

SOME YEARS BACK, I HAD AN ILLNESS, THAT REQUIRED MUCH REST AND SLEEP.  I QUICKLY NOTICED HOW THE NAPS I WAS TAKING WERE HEALING. IWAS WEARING OUT MY BODY AND WAS ALL STRESSED-OUT.

SLEEP IS DEFINED AS A STATE OF COMPLETE OR PARTIAL UNCONSCIOUSNESS.

IN THE SCRIPTURES, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 21 REFERENCES, AND MAYBE MORE, REFERRING TO SLEEP OR THE LACK OF IT.

SLEEP IS DESCRIBED AS SLUMBER IN PROVERBS 6:4,10.          PROVERBS 3:24, IT IS DESCRIBED AS SWEET – WHEN THOU LIEST DOWN, THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID: YEA, THOU SHALT LIE DOWN, AND THY SLEEP SHALL BE SWEET. HERE, IT SAYS…THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID…

SO WE MUST ASSUME, FEAR KEEPS SOME FROM HAVING SWEET SLEEP.

VERSE 25 – BE NOT AFFRAID OF SUDDEN FEAR , NEITHER OF THE DESOLATION OF THE WICKED, WHEN IT COMETH; AND VERSE 26 READS –  FOR THE LORD SHALL BE THY CONFIDENCE, AND SHALL KEEP THY FOOT FROM BEING TAKEN.

MANY PEOPLE ARE PARALIZED WITH FEAR, AND FEAR BRINGS WITH IT TORMENT. WE ARE TOLD IN THE BIBLE, THAT FEAR IS A SPIRIT; IT IS A HARASSING DEMON THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM BEING AT PEACE SO THEY CAN’T ENJOY A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP.

SOMETIMES GOD USES THE LACK OF SLEEP FOR HIS PURPOSE:               IN DANIEL 8:18, DANIEL WAS GIVEN A PROPHETIC VISION IN HIS SLEEP: – NOW AS HE WAS SPEAKING WITH ME, I WAS IN A DEEP SLEEP ON MY FACE TOWARD THE GROUND: BUT HE TOUCHED ME ND SET ME UPRIGHT  ( OR MADE ME STAND UP).

IN DANIEL 2:1, WE SEE WHERE THE INABILITY TO SLEEP IS CAUSED BY WORRY – NEBUCHADNEZZAR DREAMED DREAMS…WHEREIN HIS SPIRIT WAS TROUBLED, AND SLEEP BROKE FROM HIM (HE COULD NOT SLEEP). WORRY CAN CAUSE ANY OF US TO HAVE INSOMNIA. IN ESTHER 6:1, THE KING COULD NOT SLEEP BECAUSE GOD WANTED HIM TO READ THE BOOK OF CHRONICLES.

INTERCESSORS AND MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, CAN’T SLEEP BECAUSE GOD HAS A PURPOSE IN MIND: MOSTLY, SO THEY CAN PRAY AND INTERCEDE ABOUT SOMETHING OR FOR SOMEONE.

PETER WAS FAST ASLEEP IN A PRISON (DUNGEON). JAMES HAD ALREADY BEEN BEHEADED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE GOSPEL, AND PETER WAS NEXT IN LINE: ACTS 12:1-11 – NOW ABOUT THAT TIME HEROD THE KING, STRETCHED FORTH HIS HANDS TO  VEX CERTAIN OF THE CHURCH. AND HE KILLED JAMES THE BROTHER OF JOHN WITH THE SWORD. AND BECAUSE HE SAW IT PLEASED THE JEWS, HE PROCEEDED FURTHER TO TAKE PETER ALSO. (THEN WERE THE DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD).  AND WHEN HE HAD APPREHENDED HIM , HE PUT HIM IN PRISON, AND DELIVERED HIM TO FOUR QUATERNIONS OF SOLDIERS TO KEEP HIM; INTENDING  AFTER EASTER (PASSOVER) TO BRING HIM FORTH TO THE PEOPLE. PETER THEREFORE WAS KEPT IN PRISON; BUT PRAYER WAS MADE WITHOUT CEASING OF THE CHURCH UNTO GOD FOR HIM. AND WHEN HEROD WOULD HAVE BROUGHT HIM FORTH, THE SAME NIGHT PETER WAS SLEEPING BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS BOUND WITH TWO CHAINS: AND THE KEEPERS BEFORE THE DOOR KEPT THE PRISON.

     AND BEHOLD, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CAME UPON HIM, AND A LIGHT SHINED IN THE PRISON: AND HE SMOTE PETER ON THE SIDE, AND RAISED HIM UP, SAYING, ARISE UP QUICKLY. AND HIS CHAINS FELL OFF FROM HIS HANDS. AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO HIM, GIRD THYSELF, AND BIND ON THY SANDELS. AND SO HE DID. AND HE SAITH UNTO HIM, CAST THY GARMENT ABOUT THEE, AND FOLLOW ME. AND HE WENT OUT, AND FOLLOWED HIM; AND WIST NOT THAT IT WAS TRUE WHICH WAS DONE BY THE ANGEL; BUT THOUGHT HE SAW A VISION. WHEN THEY WERE PAST THE FIRST AND SECOND WARD THEY CAME UNTO THE IRON GATE THAT LEADETH INTO THE CITY; WHICH OPENED TO THEM OF HIS OWN ACCORD. AND THEY WENT OUT, AND PASSED ON THROUGH THE STREET; AND FORTHWITH THE ANGEL DEPARTED FROM HIM. AND WHEN PETER WAS COME TO HIMSELF, HE SAID, NOW I KNOW OF A SURETY, THAT THE LORD SENT HIS ANGEL, AND HATH DELIVERED ME OUT OF THE HAND OF HEROD, AND FROM ALL THE EXPECTATION OF THE JEWS.

THIS WAS A TRYING TIME IN OUR HISTORY WHERE THE CHURCH WAS GOING THROUGH HARASSMENT AND PERSECUTION. WE FIND PETER FAST ASLEEP IN A PRISON.

BECAUSE HEROD, THE KING, SAW HOW IT PLEASED THE JEWS TO WATCH JAMES BE KILLED BY THE SWORD, THAT HE DECIDED PETER WOULD BE NEXT: AFTER THE PASSOVER.

SOMETIMES WE FIND IT HARD TO SLEEP AFTER WE HAVE PASSED THROUGH A TRIAL DURING THE DAY OR WE ATE PIZZA LATE IN THE EVENING.

THIS STORY OF PETER AMAZES ME BECAUSE PETER KNEW WHAT WAS TO TAKE PLACE THE NEXT MORNING, YET WE FIND HIM THE NIGHT BEFORE WHE WAS TO BE EXECUTED, AN A DEEP SLEEP, CHAINED BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS, AND GUARDED WELL.

HEROD’S GREAT DESIRE TO PLEASE THE PEOPLE BY GIFTS AND SHOWS OF BLOOD TO WIN THEIR FAVER, HAD BEEN FOILED. HE WAS PLANNING TO BRING PETER UP ONTO A STAGE OR SOME HIGH GROUND WHERE ALL THE PEOPLE COULD SEE HIM CONDEMNED WHICH WOULD BE AS GOOD THEM AS A GLADIATORIAL SLAUGHTER TO A ROMAN AUDIENCE.

THIS IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION WAS JUST THE RIGHT TIMING FOR A MIRACULOUS EVEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. WHEN THE BATTLE SEEMS THE HOTTEST, THE VICTORY IS USUALLY THE SWEETEST.

SUDDENLY, THE LIGHT SHOWN IN THE PRISON! THE ANGEL HAD TO AWAKE PETER OUT OF A VERY DEEP SLEEP AND RESCUE HIM AS THE SOLDIERS SLEPT ON DUTY. THIS, BY THE WAY, IS AN UNFORGIVABLE ACTION OF A SOLDIER. THIS WAS HIS DEATH WARRENT.

WHY DID PETER HAVE SUCH A CALM DEEP SLEEP ON THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS INTENDED DEATH? BECAUSE HE KNEW HE WAS IN THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD, AND KNEW IT EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A BATTLE GOING ON FOR HIS LIFE. PETER LIVED WHAT HE TAUGHT THE CHURCH.

WE LEARN SWEET SLEEP AND REST FROM THESE GREAT SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS; BUT THERE IS ONE MORE WAY WE LEARN: AND THAT IS THROUGH EXPERIENCING GOD’S PROMISES THROUGH OUR BEING TESTED.

LAST NIGHT I WAS STUNG IN THREE PLACES ON MY BODY BY A SCORPION IN BED DURING MY SLEEP. THE LAST TWO STINGS CAUSED ME TO JUMP OUT OF BED AND TURN ON THE LIGHT. THERE HE WAS, A BROWN SCORPION, READY TO STING AGAIN. MY HUSBAND SOON CAPTURED MY LITTLE ENEMY, AND I WENT BACK TO BED, AFTER CHECKING FOR MORE OF HIS LITTLE SCORPION FRIENDS. —-DID THIS KEEP ME AWAKE? NO! —-I WENT BACK TO SLEEP, LEAVING MYSELF IN THE HANDS OF THE ONE WHO IS FAITHFUL: MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. 

Share
Articles, Other Writers

FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART I

| Roy

THIS IS AN UNUSUAL TITLE FOR A TESTIMONY, BUT I’VE LIVED AN UNUSUAL LIFE.

MY NAME IS CHARLES SELLERS, FORMALLY KNOWN AS C.A. SELLERS.

BEING A SHARECROPPER’S SON, AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT A SHARECROPER IS, IT IS TAKING CARE OF ANOTHER PERSON’S LAND. YOU CAN LIVE THERE AND PLANT FOOD ON THAT PROPERTY.

IN OTHER WORDS, MY FAMILY WAS POVERTY STRICKEN.

MY DAD LEFT MY MOM WITH 6 CHILDREN, WHEN I WAS 4 YEARS OLD. SO ME AND MY SIBLINGS HAD NOTHING. WE HAD NO CHRISTMAS PRESENTS, NO BIRTHDAY PARTIES; NOTHING NORMAL CHILDREN ENJOYED. EVEN OUR CLOTHES WERE HAND-ME-DOWNS.

IT WASN’T MY MOM’S FAULT, IT WASN’T MY FAULT; IT’S JUST THE WAY IT WAS.

PROBABLY, IF THERE WAS ANYONE TO BLAME, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY DAD.

BUT THAT IS A DIFFERENT STORY WITHIN ITSELF.

MY DAD DIED WHEN I WAS 9 YEARS OLD. MY MOM HAD HIS BODY BROUGHT HOME. WHILE HE LAID IN HIS COFFIN IN OUR LIVING ROOM, I WAS AT MY FRIEND’S HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET, AND STOLE SOME MONEY THAT WAS LAYING ON HIS AUNT’S DRESSER.

AT THAT MOMENT, I STARTED A LIFE OF STEALING.

OVER THE YEARS, I’VE STOLEN EVERYTHING FROM BICYCLES TO ROBBING BANKS. I SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE LOCKED UP.

I’VE DONE TIME IN 8 FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS. SOME, LIKE TERR HUNTA, ATLANTA FEDERAL PENN., LEWISBURG FEDERAL PENN., ASHLAND KENTUCKY CORRECTIONAL INST., PETERSBURG VIRGINIA FEDERAL FORMITORY, TALAHASSIE (FLORIDA) CORRECTIONAL INST., LOUIVILLE KENTUCKY CORRECTIONAL INST.

ALSO, I’VE DONE TIME IN 7 STATE INSTITUTIONS, STARTING AT HOMESVIEW TO PERRY CORRECTIONAL INST., AND SEVERAL MORE.

I REMEMBER AND INCIDENT WHEN I BROKE IN A SCHOOL AND THE POLICE SHOWED UP. I CLIMBED OUT A WINDOW, AND WAS RUNNING ACROSS THE ROOF. THE ROOF RAN OUT AND I DROPPED DOWN 2 STORIES TO THE GROUND, ROLLED, AND KEPT ON RUNNING. FOR THIS ONE, I NEVER GOT CAUGHT.

BY LOOKING OVER THIS EVENT AND MANY MORE IN MY LIFE, I NOW REALIZE, GOD HAD HIS HAND ON ME.

I’VE BEEN SHOT; I WOKE-UP OUT OF A THREE DAY COMA BY FOOD POISONING, AND FOUND MY LIVE-IN GIRL FRIEND WAS DEAD. THE DOCTORS SAID IT WAS NATURAL CAUSES, BUT I BELIEVE SHE ALSO HAD FOOD POISONING.

AS MY LIFE PROGRESSED, I FOUND MYSELF DOING THINGS I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER DO: LIKE SHOOTING DRUGS IN MY VEINS, UNTIL I DESTROYED EVERY VISIBLE VEIN IN MY BODY; AND TAKING UP A GUN AND ROBBING BANKS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. THIS WAS A LONG WAY FROM STEALING BICYCLES AS A CHILD.

I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I WAS NOW IN THE BIG TIME: SELLING DRUGS, ROBBING BANKS, BUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS LIFE STYLE TOOK ME FURTHER THAN I WANTED OR PLANNED TO GO, AND COST ME MORE THAT I WANTED TO PAY. YOU SEE, THE COST WAS MY FREEDOM, THE SUFFERING OF MY FAMILY, AND ALWAYS LOOSING EVERYTHING AGAIN AND AGAIN, AS I WOULD REPEATEDLY GET ARRESTED AND CONVICTED, AND SENT BACK TO PRISON.

A LIFE IN PRISON WASN’T EASY. WHEN I STARTED OUT IN REFORM SCHOOL, I HAD TO DIG 10 FOOT DITCHES, 18 INCHES WIDE, WITH A 10 FOOT SHOVEL. I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HAVE NEVER SEEN A 10 FOOT SHOVEL, BUT BELIEVE ME THEY HAD THEM.

I WAS 12 YEARS OLD AT THIS TIME.

WHEN I TURNED 15, I WAS SENT TO THE NATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON DC. BELIEVE ME, THIS PLACE WAS “HELL”. I WAS IN A FIGHT ALMOST EVERY DAY. WHEN THEY WOULD PUT ME IN LOCK-UP, THEY WOULD STRIP ME OF ALL MY CLOTHES, AND PUT ME IN  A SMALL TILED ROOM. THE TEMPERATURE IN THE ROOM WAS THE SAME AS IT WAS OUTSIDE. SO CAN YOU IMAGINE DECEMBER AND JANUARY? HOW COLD IT GETS IN DC? 

I COULDN’T TAKE MUCH MORE OF THIS PLACE, SO I PLANNED MY ESCAPE AND CARRIED THROUGH WITH IT. AS I CLIMBED THE FENCE SURROUNDING THE INSTITUTION, THEN BARBED WIRE BROKE AT THE TOP OF THE FENCE, AND I FEEL 10 FEET, AND JUST KNEW I WAS GOING TO GET CAUGHT, BUT NO ONE SAW ME BREAK OUT OF LINE GOING BACK TO THE DORM FROM THE GYM.

WE WERE SURROUNDED BY GUARDS. IT WAS AT NIGHT, BUT NOBODY SAW ME.

I MADE MY WAY TO A RAILROAD TRACK, AND THERE WAS A SLOW MOVING TRAIN. I JUST KNEW IT WOULD TAKE ME A LONG WAY FROM WHERE I WAS AT. I DIDN’T CARE WHERE IT WAS GOING AS LONG AS IT WOULD TAKE ME AWAY FROM THERE. WELL I JUMPED IN THE OPEN DOOR OF THE BOXCAR, AND THE TRAIN KEPT ROLLING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES; IT STOPPED, AND HERE CAME A TOW MOTOR IN THE BOXCAR I WAS IN, TAKING OUT PALLETS OF FREIGHT. I GOT OUT OF YTHE BOXCAR AND FOUND MYSELF IN DOWN TOWN DC.

TO SHORTEN THIS, I MADE IT BACK TO SOUTH CAROLINA, WENT TO CALIFORNIA, CAME BACK TO SC AND GOT CAUGHT. I WAS OUT FOR 2 MONTHS, AND THEY PUT ME BACK IN THE STRIPP-CELL AGAIN, NAKED. THEY THEN TRANSFERRED ME TO ASHLAND KENTUCKY.

THIS IS NOT THE END OF MY STORY: BUT HOW I CAME TO THE LORD, AND WHERE I AM NOW WILL BE IN “FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART II”, COMING UP NEXT.

    

Share