WAIT

November 4, 2011June 15, 2013 | Jeanette

Someone told me you can’t
get ahead of God, but I tell you, I did once, and got myself into all kinds of
problems that could have been avoided.

Wait means to tarry; to
expect; to look patiently.

You see, I had an experience
with God like I never had before. It was
my first, I call, supernatural experience.

I was reading an article in
a magazine about street children in
Mexico who were being cared for and feed by a man whose heart went out to
them. The presence of God came upon me
and I began to weep uncontrollably. He spoke to me, “You will be involved with
children like this.”

I set out from that day to
make it happen. I knew nothing about
waiting on God, and following Him.

I was a school crossing
guard at that time.

One day my Lieutenant came
to me, and told me he had recommended me for a job in the police
department. I would be working with
juveniles. I thought, “This is it. I’ll
will be working with troubled children”.
I was so happy. I had
found my place in the kingdom, or so I thought.
The plan at the police department, was to put the first women on the
force. They could go straight to the
individual divisions, without going into the uniform patrol.

I went for the evaluations,
and passed them all. Then they set me up
for a physical, by the City Doctor.
Unexpectedly, he found a problem in my abdomen, and sent me to the City
surgeon. Upon his examination, he found
a large mass. I failed the medical
exam. I was heart broken. My dreams of helping troubled youth had
crashed to the ground.

I asked if the job would be
still open after I had my surgery, and was told it would. I couldn’t wait, I flew trough a quick
recovery, and went back to get my job.
When I got there, they told me the procedure had changed for women
officers, I would first have to go in uniform patrol, and then later I could
apply for the other position. I was
crushed. What was going on? Had I missed God?

Well, to make a long story
short, God would wake me up at night, and say, ”No.” I didn’t understand. Here I was so close to my vision, and it was
God who was saying no.

My husband didn’t understand
me at all, and I’m not sure I did. All I
wanted to do was to find my place in God’s
kingdom, and follow Him.

My husband was delighted I
was in the Civil Service but he didn’t too much want me to go into uniform
patrol. I would be in danger.

The morning I was to go for
my strength and agility test, I put out a fleece. “God if you don’t want me to take this job,
don’t let my car start.

You see we had a new car,
and it was not probable that it wouldn’t start.

I put in the key, and to my
surprise, it wouldn’t hit-a-lick. I
called my husband, and then called in and said, I you have a job in parking
control I will take it. They did and I
did. Still, every night, the Lord would
wake me and say, “No”. My husband didn’t
understand, but I quit the job after five months of torment to my mind.

Later we began to go on
missionary trips; and guess where we went first? To an orphanage in the Dominican Republic,
where street boys are housed and fed and taught the Word of God.

We are still going there and
are supporting them each month through the ministry. My daughter also spent three and one half
years there as a missionary.

Our ways are
not His (God’s) ways, and our thoughts are not His thoughts.

Look at Isaiah 30:21 —- And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This
is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to
the left.

And Proverbs 3:5,6 —- Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and
lean not to thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He
shall direct thy paths.

Where did I go wrong?

I got ahead of God. I tried
to make it happen.

Many women of God receive a
calling, and get so excited; they run with the calling before they get wisdom
from God in what direction He has planned for them.

James 1:5 —- If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to
all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

He wants us to seek Him
first, and then follow His leading.

Psalm 32:8 —- I will instruct thee and teach thee in the
way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

When a minister takes off quick without spending much time with the Lord alone, he can get off the track quick, and live out the mistakes he makes by trying to do it himself. Rest in the Lord, wait for Him to open those
doors, and then quietly go through them.

This is not always easy for
our generation that has fast food, quick service, and appliances that do
everything for us.

Don’t kick yourself if God
is pointing you out, just repent of trying to do it yourself, and fall in line
behind Him. He can take your mistakes
and turn them into good. It’s not as
though you were trying to do something
wrong from your heart. It’s just that
you didn’t wait on Him. You took the
lead.

The Holy Spirit is our Guide
—- John 16:13 —- Howbeit when He, the
Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not
speak of Himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall He speak: and He
will show you things to come.

The Holy Spirit can and does
come upon us and show us things in the future, but remember, it is the
future. If it were right now, He would
show us that too.

We just have to learn from
our mistakes and remember, His way is best for all concerned.

I Thessalonians 5:24 —- Faithful is He who calleth you, who also will do it.

When we abide in the vine we
can bear much fruit, but apart from Him we can do nothing. (John 15)

We learn we can do nothing
without Him, and we are nothing without Him. But Phillippians 4:13 reads
—- I can do all things through Christ
which strengthens me.

How does He strengthen
us? Through our time with Him, in our
Secret place. By going to Church,
fellowshipping with other Christians, and Christian books and Christian media.

When we spend time seeking
Him, we will find Him.

He hasn’t left us, we just
get too busy.

When a pastor or minister
has a moral failure, it can be traced back most of the time, to his or her lack
of personal time with the Lord.

I have seen this
happen.

Sometimes they get so
popular, they think they are above sinning.

Even if you don’t seem to
have time, woman of God, make time. He
is waiting to give you direction, to comfort you and give you that peace that
passes all understanding. Every voice
you hear is not God.

Every direction is not God.

He is only a prayer away, as
the old saying goes, and those who miss their time in prayer miss the strongholds
being pulled down around them, and their family, and ministry.

We have to grow-up in the
Lord and we can be victorious every time.

Our enemy will put obstacles
in our path, but through Christ, and when we abide or live in Him he makes us
wiser than our enemies.

Articles, Jeanette Porter

WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE

October 22, 2011June 16, 2013 | Jeanette

MAY GOD BLESS THIS MESSAGE AND YOU

MARK 1:10-13 – AND STRAIGHTWAY COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER, HE SAW THE HEAVEN’S OPENED, AND THE SPIRIT LIKE A DOVE DESCENDED UPON HIM: AND THERE CAME A VOICE FROM HEAVEN, SAYING,THOU ART MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. AND IMMEDIATELY THE SPIRIT DRIVETH HIM INTO THE WILDERNESS FORTY DAYS, TEMPTED OF SATAN; AND WAS WITH THE WILD BEASTS; AND THE ANGELS MINISTERED UNTO HIM.

OUR MESSAGE, TODAY, WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF VERSE 13: TEMPTED OF SATAN. JESUS WENT FORTH WITH DIVINE POWER, THE HOLY SPIRIT COMPELLED HIM, WITH GREAT ENERGY; SO THAT OF HIS OWN ACCORD HE WENT FORTH, ARMED WITH DIVINE POWER, IN THE DESERT. IT WAS A WRESTLING PLACE WITH SATAN.

THERE, CHRIST AND ANTICHRIST MET AND ENTERED INTO A CONFLICT ABOUT THE ISSUE ON WHICH OUR SALVATION DEPENDED.

I KNOW THROUGH EXPERIENCE, WHEN A CHRISTIAN IS JUST ON THE THRESHHOLD OF THEIR MINISTRY, THEY MEET SATAN, OR HIS DEMONS, HEAD-ON. THERE IS A TIME OF TESTING.

CHRIST, OUR EXAMPLE, SHOWS US HOW TO DEAL WITH SATAN’S ATTACKS, IN THIS SAME ACCOUNT, IN MATTHEW AND LUKE, WHERE HE USED THE SCRIPTURES AGAINST SATAN.

WE COULD LEARN MUCH FROM THIS STORY, AS TO BE PREPARED BEFORE THE ATTACKS COME. JESUS’ MINISTRY WAS ON THE EDGE OF BEGINNING IN FULL POWER, AND THEN THE ATTACKS CAME.

IT SEEMS TO ME, JESUS COULD HAVE SKIPPED THIS PROCESS, BUT I BELIEVE HE DID THIS FOR YOU AND ME. HE COULD HAVE SPOKEN TO SATAN, BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS, AND SATAN WOULD HAVE HAD TO TURN-TAIL-AND-RUN. THIS MAY SEEM STRANGE TO YOU, BUT LOOK WHAT HE DID ON THE CROSS FOR US: HE WENT WILLINGLY, OF HIS OWN ACCORD. HE DID THIS FOR YOU AND ME. HE MET SATAN HEAD-ON. HE KNEW HE HAD THE ADVANTAGE, BUT SATAN’S DEFEAT WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. THREE YEARS, OR SO, LATER, SATAN’S WORK AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD WAS DEFEATED ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY; AND JESUS’ RESURRECTION.

WE NEED TO REMEMBER JESUS: AS THE WORD, WAS THERE IN HEAVEN WHEN SATAN AND A THIRD OF THE ANGELS WERE CAST OUT OF HEAVEN.

WHY HE THINKS HE CAN STILL WIN, I DON’T KNOW.

SATAN WAS NO MATCH FOR JESUS, THERE IN THE WILDERNESS. WE KNOW, IN HUMAN FLESH, HE SUFFERED AS MAN; BUT HIS MIND DID NOT HAVE TO BE RENEWED TO THE WORD OF GOD, LIKE DOES OURS, BECAUSE HE WAS AND IS THE WORD. HE DID STUDY THE SCRIPTURES FROMT THE TIME HE WAS A CHILD, BUT HE KNEW HIS DESTINY. AND HE KNEW HE HAD THE SPIRIT WITHOUT MEASURE. IT MAY BE HARD FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT HE WAS GOD IN HUMAN FLESH.

WHEN WE ARE SERVING GOD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS; AND THE ATTACKS COME AGAINST US,WE GO TO THE WORD OF GOD FOR HELP. WE MIGHT READ JAMES 1:2-4 – MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS: KNOWING THIS, THAT THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH PATIENCE. BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK, THAT YE MIGHT BE PERFECT AND ENTIRE, AND WANTING NOTHING.

IF WE DON’T GO THROUGH THESE ATTACKS, KNOWING, THROUGH CHRIST, WE WILL WIN, WE WILL NOT HAVE LEARNED ANYTHING; AND THE NEXT ATTACK WILL DESTROY WHAT CHRIST IS TRYING TO TEACH US.

WE CAN ONLY COMBAT THIS TYPE OF ATTACK, WITH OUR KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF THE SCRIPTURES. IT’S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO KNOW WHAT THE WORD SAYS, WE HAVE TO PRACTICE USING IT. SATAN WILL THEN KNOW WHERE WE STAND, AND FLEE. ALTHOUGH, HE DOES COME BACK AFTER A WHILE, AND TRY IN ANOTHER AREA.

WE THEN, STAND STRONG, AND THIS NEW ATTACK WILL NOT TROUBLE US, AS MUCH AS THE LAST ONE; BECAUSE EACH TIME, WE GET STRONGER, MORE MATURE IN THE LORD, AND WILL COME TO THE PLACE THAT WE LACK NOTHING. PRAISE GOD!

MOST OF OUR BATTLES ARE IN THE MIND, SO WE HAVE TO REMEMBER: THE BATTLE IS THE LORDS.

IN THE WILDERNESS, JESUS ALSO ENCOUNTERED WILD BEASTS (MARK 1:13). THIS SHOWS THE EXTREME SOLITUDE OF THE PLACE. IT SHOWS ALSO THE INNOCENCE OF OUR LORD, THAT THERE IN THAT WILD DESOLATE DISTRICT, AMONGST LIONS, AND WOLVES, AND LEOPARDS, AND SERPENTS, HE NEITHER FEARED THEM NOR WAS HE INJURED BY THEM. HE DWELT AMONGST THEM AS ADAM LIVED WITH THEM IN HIS STATE OF INNOCENCE IN PARADISE. THESE WILD BEASTS RECOGNIZED AND REVERED HIM AS THEIR CREATOR, AND THEIR LORD (PULPIT COMMENTARY).

CHRIST HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY TO USE HIS NAME, SO WE NOW HAVE MORE AUTHORITY THAN WE HAVE EVER TAPPED INTO,

MISSIONARIES HAVE TOLD STORIES ABOUT THEIR ENCOUNTERS WITH WILD BEASTS. I REMEMBER ONE, WHERE, IN INDIA, THERE WAS A MAN WHO GOT SAVED, AND TRAVELED INTO THE VILLAGES OF THE JUNGLES TO SHARE THE GOSPEL. ONE DAY HE WENT INTO A VILLAGE WHERE HE SHARED THE LORD, AND AS HE WAS BEGINNING TO LEAVE THE AREA, HE REALIZED HE WAS LOST. HE ASKED DIRECTIONS, AND TWO MEN SPOKE-UP AND INTENTIONALLY, GAVE HIM INCORRECT DIRECTIONS. THEY WERE HEATHEN, AND DIDN’T LIKE HIM SHARING THE GOSPEL IN THEIR VILLAGE, AND SEEING THEIR PEOPLE COME TO JESUS. THE MINISTER, ALONE, AND UNKNOWINGLY, WENT THE WAY THEY SAID AND GOT LOST. HE WANDERED AROUND AND AROUND UNTIL IT GOT DARK. WHEN IT GOT DARK, IT WAS COLD. HE WAS SO TIRED, HE SAID, “LORD, I CAN’T GO ANY FURTHER. MAKE ME WARM.” HE LAY DOWN AND WENT TO SLEEP. HE THOUGHT HE WOULD GO TO SLEEP AND FREEZE TO DEATH. THE NEXT MORNING, HE AWOKE WITH WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A WARM BLANKET OVER AGAINST HIM, BUT WHEN HE OPENED HIS EYES, IT WAS A BENGAL TIGER. AT FIRST HE WAS FRIGHTENED, BUT HE REALIZED, GOD HAD SENT THIS TIGER TO KEEP HIM WARM AND ALIVE. HE REMAINED STILL AND WAITED. THE TIGER GOT UP AND WALKED AWAY; BUT AS IT WAS LEAVING, IT STOPPED, AND TURNED AROUND; LOOKED AT THE MISSIONARY, AS TO SAY, “YOU’LL BE ALRIGHT NOW”, AND THEN DISAPPEARED OUT OF SIGHT. THE MISSIONARY SAID, GOD SENT HIM A STRIPED BLANKET TO KEEP HIM ALIVE.

WE DON’T KNOW ALL THAT HAPPENED TO OUR LORD JESUS IN THAT WILDERNESS, CHILD OF GOD, BUT OUR GOD CAN AND WILL DO ANYTHING!!

WE DON’T THINK THE ANGELS HELPED JESUS THROUGHOUT THE TEMPTATION. ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, IT WAS AFTER THE TEMPTATION AND THE WILD BEASTS. IT WAS THEN THE ANGELS APPEARED TO HIM. HE HAD SAID HE COULD HAVE CALLED DOWN TWELVE LEGIONS OF ANGELS AND STOPPED THE CRUCIFIXION, BUT HE DIDN’T (MATTHEW 26:53).

HE DID ALL THIS FOR US, TO SAVE US AND TAKE US TO A HIGHER UNDERSTANDING OF HIMSELF AND TO A HIGHER LEVEL OR PLACE WITH HIM.

GOD COULD HAVE DONE IT ANOTHER WAY, BUT HE CHOSE TO DO IT THIS WAY. FOR US. PRAISE GOD!

Articles, Jeanette Porter

SWEET SLEEP

October 21, 2011June 16, 2013 | 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.

Articles, Other Writers

FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART I

January 30, 2011June 15, 2013 | 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.

Liberty Ministries Church Intl

Tag: STORY

WAIT

WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE

SWEET SLEEP

FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART I