Tag: WORSHIPPING

Articles, Jeanette Porter

HOW TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD

| Jeanette

Most of us know we can’t hide from God, because He sees and knows all.

He continues to deal with those who run from Him, because it’s not His
will that any should perish.  He will continually, draw them to Himself, but we do
have a will of our own. He will draw us but His desire is, that we come to Him freely. This is why
He gave us a choice.

When we do come to Him, and receive Him as our personal Savior, He then, deals with
us: first, as babies, on milk; and then expects us to grow-up.

When we raise our children, we expect things out of them, but we do have to teach them.  If they don’t grow up properly, we begin to have trouble with them and they can cause us much heart ache.

Well, God has guidelines and rules, similar to the rules we enforce on our children.

We offer our children many advantages.  Most of the time they don’t see that until they grow-up.  This is the samewith God and His children.

Some of our advantages of being God’s children are:

1-
His giving of His only begotten Son’s life for our Eternal life

2-
A personal relationship with Him where we can communicate through prayer, and see our prayers answered

3-
The precious promises in His Word

4-
The way to live a victorious life here

5-
Healing and deliverance

6-
The fruit of the Spirit

7-
We can operate in His gifts

8-
Heaven, when we leave here

9-
We will rule and reign with Him in the future Millennial Reign of Christ

And much, much more.

But, we have a part to play in this, which is the difference in having the favor of God, that
we all want, or we could receive the judgment side of God which brings with it much trouble.

We are always telling our children, when we send them out to play, “Stay out of trouble.”  You got it! —– With God It’s the same. We know if we break the rules, we are in trouble.

Today we are going to learn:
How to stay out of trouble with God:

Many of us have tried to make a deal with God. We say “If You will do this, I will do that.”

This is not how God operates. We have His Word: if we will do this, He will do that.  We’re always trying to ‘get the cart before the horse’ (so to speak).

WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD BY BEING OBEDIENT: Our relationship with
God, and our anointing has much to do with our obedience to Him.

Acts 5:29,32
– Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said,  We ought to obey
God rather than men.

And we are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.

John 15:10 —- If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.

And

1 John 3:22 —- And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

Matthew 7:21 —- Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.

God Word is very clear about how to follow His will—we must trust and obey.

One of my most quoted Scriptures is found in 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.

We are instructed to trust and obey and leave the rest to Him.

He can cause circumstances around us to change.  All He wants usto do, after trusting and being obedient, is to do good when it is in our power to do so; but the most important of all requirements, is to spend
time with Him each day.

SEEKING THE LORD CAN KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD:

This is where we get direction, and are refreshed by His presence.

How can we know what He desires of us, unless we have a relationship with Him?

Seeking Him, by spending time with Him, and praising and worshipping Him, brings relationship.

It can keep us out of trouble, even though, most of our trouble, is brought-on by our decision
to ‘do it our way’.

Acts 17:27 — That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far away from every one of us.

2 Chronicles 15:2 — The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.

Lamentations 3:25 — The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.

And

Ezra 8:22 — The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all that forsake Him.

WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT THE FLESH:

Romans 8:12,13 —- Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Or we could say, we are not obligated to our carnal or old sinful nature, to do what it begs us to do.

Verse 13 — For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify
the deeds of the body (that is die to self), ye shall live.

Let’s explain it this way.  If you keep on following theold sinful nature, you are lost and you will perish, but
if through the power of the Holy Spirit you crush it and it’s evil deeds, you shall live.

You might say, ”This is hard to do”.  Well, — I can tell you, it can be done, with the help of Jesus Christ.  Ask the Lord to help you.

Look at Titus 2:11,12 —- For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD IF WE TAKE THE WALK OF LOVE:

1-

Brotherly love

2-
Loving God

Let’s start with brotherly love:

There are probably many words that are the opposite to the word love, but the most prominent is hate.

There are others that could describe the lack of brotherly love, like despise, judgmental, unforgiveness,
and the list goes on.  I ‘m sure you could think of others right-off, and you would be right, but this will do for
now.

1 John 2:10, describes those
who love their brother (talking about other believers), as abiding in the
light. — He that loveth his brother
abith in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling (or error) in him.

1 John 4: 7,8 —- Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love.

E M Bounds, on prayer, says,
“By prayer, the ability is secured to feel the law of love, to speak according to the law of love, and to do everything in harmony with the law of love.”

We need divine aid to act brotherly.

Jesus, our perfect example, was and is a devoted friend.  He gave His life willingly that we might live.  He
gave us Eternal life.

We need to judge our love walk.

JUDGING OURSELVES CAN KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD:

Corinthians 11:30,31,32 —- For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (or are dead).

For if we judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

But  when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be
condemned with the world.

To judge self, is when  the believer sees self as God sees him.  He will renounce or forsake self.
It is replacing the self life with the Christ life.

To judge self is to deny self.  This is more than self-denial.  Self-denial is denying one’s self of the gratification or enjoyment of the flesh.  If we practice self-denial only, it is treating the symptom and not the cause.
But when we judge self, we are attacking the cause.

*To judge self, is to lose the self-life and find the Christ-life:

Galatians 2:20 — I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

*To judge self, is to no longer be self-conscious, but to become Christ conscious:

Matthew 28:20 — Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:and, lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. Amen.

*To judge self, is to no longer be self controlled, but become Christ controlled:

Acts 9:6 — And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me do?
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told
thee what thou must do.

*To judge self, is to no longer practice self-esteem, but to esteem others better than self:

Philippians 2:3 — Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

*To judge self, is to become selfless or unselfish.

We are to search-out our lives, to see if there be any wicked way in us, and get rid of it, by askingGod to cleanse or take it out of us, so we can stay out of trouble with God and be a part of that Church without spot or wrinkle.

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Articles, Roy Porter

GOD’S MIGHTY STRENGTH

| Roy

PHILIPPIANS 4:13 – I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME.

PAUL WAS SAYING I CAN MAKE IT THROUGH EVERYTHING CONTENT. SATISFIED WITH MY PRESENT CONDITION, BECAUSE OF MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. HE CAN CARRY ME THROUGH ANY HARD PLACE AND ALSO HE CAN CAUSE ME TO ENJOY  ABUNDANCE, OR TO BE IN NEED.

PAUL WAS CONTENT IN CHRIST REGARDLESS OF HIS CONDITION. PAUL KNEW HE HAD THE ABILITY AND THE STRENGTH TO FACE ANYTHING AND DO ANYTHING THROUGH CHRIST.

THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN OUR LIVES GIVES US STRENGTH AND ABILITY FOR EVERY SITUTATION OF LIFE. THAT STRENGTH  AND ABILITY COMES FROM THE ANOINTING THAT ABIDES IN US THROUGH JESUS. WE CAN BE STRONG IN FAITH THAT COMES BY HIM.

THE GREEK WORD FOR STRENGHTENED IS USED IN OTHER SCRIPTURE. HE WORD STRONG; ALSO ENABLED, IS USED TO EXPLAIN THE WORKING OF GOD IN OUR LIFE.

THIS GREEK WORD FOR STRENGTH IS FOUND ONLY IN BIBLICIAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL GREEK, MEANING TO MAKE STRONG; VIGORUS; TO STRENGTHEN.

GOD IS EQUIPPING US WITH THE POWER NECESSARY FOR THE TASK SET BEFORE US.

WHATEVER THE PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WHATEVER ABILITY WE NEED IN EVERYDAY LIVE, IN CHRIST, WE ARE EQUIPPED WITH HIS POWER AND STRENGTH.

AS A CHRISTIAN, STRENGTH LIVES IN US, BUT OUR STRENGTH COMES FROM ABIDING IN HIM. RELATIONSHIP, FRESH EVERDAY, DEVELOPES PASSION FOR GOD. WE BECOME STRONG IN FAITH AND POWER.

THERE ARE MANY CHRISTIANS WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY WEAK. CHRIST ABIDES IN THEM, BUT THEY DON’T ABIDE IN HIM. THEY QUOTE THE SCRIPTURE BUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD IS NOT A PRIORITY WITH THEM.

TO ABIDE IN CHRIST IS TO LIVE IN AWARENESS OF HIS EVER ABIDING PRESENCE.

YOU MAY OR MAY NOT FEEL IT, BUT YOU WALK BY FAITH, PRAYING IN FAITH, STUDYING HIS WORD IN FAITH, WORSHIPPING IN FAITH.

IF YOU ARE FAILING IN THIS AREA, REPENT AND ASK THE LORD TO REFILL YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT AND DRAW YOU TO HIM. ADMIT YOUR WEAKNESS AND ASK HIM TO TOUCH YOUR WEAKNESS WITH HIS STRENGTH.

EPHESIANS 6:10 – FINALLY  MY BRETHREN BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.

HERE IS A COMMAND.  THE VERSES THAT FOLLOW ARE RECIPES FOR STRENGTH: PUT ON THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER AND THE FAITH OF GOD WILL CARRY YOU TO PURPOSE AND STOP THE ENEMY.

ABILITIES WILL COME AND DEVELOPE IN YOUR LIFE, GIFTS WILL SHOW UP THAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU HAD.

OUT OF WEAKNESS YOU WILL BE MADE STRONG.

HEBREWS 11:34 SAYS OUT OF WEAKNESS WAS MADE STRONG. 

OF COURSE THIS IS JUST PART OF THIS SCRIPTURE. GOD TOUCHES OUR WEAKNESS WITH HIS STRENGTH AND ENABLES US TO DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM, HE IS OUR STRENGTH, HE IS OUR ABILITIES, OUR FAITH COMES FROM HIM, HE GAVE US ALL A MEASURE OF FAITH. THAT FAITH CAN STAY SLEEPING INSIDE OF US ARE WE CAN STIRR IT UP AND IT WILL GROW. I CHOOSE TO USE MINE.

EVERYTHING GOD HAS PUT IN OUR HEART CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED, THROUGH GOD’S MIGHTY POWER IF WE WILL OBEY HIM AND BELIEVE HIM. AMEN,  IN JESUS’ NAME.   

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

I DESIRE INTIMATE TIME WITH YOU

| Jeanette

“I DESIRE INTIMATE TIME WITH YOU.”

THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SPOKE TO ME THIS MORNING WHILE WE SPENT TIME TOGETHER IN OUR SECRET PLACE.

I KNOW SOME OF YOU THINK GOD DOESN’T SPEAK; AND OTHERS OF YOU THINK GOD IS LOOKING DOWN ON US, WAITING FOR US TO STEP OUT OF LINE, SO HE CAN BRING HIS WRATH ON US. BUT THIS IS NOT THE GOD OF THE BIBLE, NOR THE GOD WHO SPENDS TIME WITH ME EVERY DAY.

HE LOVES ALL CREATION AND HE DOES, OF COURSE, JUDGE SIN.

FIRST, LET’S EXAMINE HIS CHARACTER: HE IS LIFE; HE IS OUR PEACE; HIS BANNER OVER US IS LOVE; HE IS EVERYTHING WE NEED IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION; HE IS THE DIRECT OPPOSITE OF THE ENEMY OF OUR SOULS, SATAN.

NOW, LET’S LOOK AT SATAN’S CHARACTER: HE IS SELFISH;HE BRINGS PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL DEATH; HE IS LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR.

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE SOMEONE ON WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO BASE YOUR CHARACTER?

I FORGOT TO SAY, HIS END IS DESTRUCTION. HE DOES DESTROY, BUT IN THE END, HE WILL BE DESTORYED; ALONG WITH ALL WHO SERVE HIM.

TO FOLLOW GOD, IS TO BE WHAT HE WANTS US TO BE: BY ACCEPTING JESUS AS OUR SAVIOR, AND MAKING HIM LORD OF OUR LIVES.

IF WE WANT TO KNOW WHO TO BE INTIMATE WITH, WE LOOK FOR JUST THE RIGHT PERSON: THE ONE WHO IS FOR US AND NOT AGAINST US. LET’S DEFINE THE WORD INTIMATE: IT IS CLOSE IN FRIENDSHIP; WELL ACQUAINTED; FAMILIAR; AND CONFIDENTIAL.

WHY SHOULD WE EVEN SPEND THE TIME OF DAY WITH SOMEONE WHO DESPISES US AND WANTS TO TAKE US TO HELL?  THINK ABOUT IT!

WE HAVE MANUALS TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH EVERY APPLIANCE OR GADGET WE BUY. THEY CALL IT INSTRUCTIONS. IT TELLS US WHAT THAT THING WILL DO, AND EVEN WHAT IT WON’T DO. HOW DO THEY KNOW? IT HAS BEEN TRIED AND TESTED.

WELL, WE HAVE A MANUAL, THE BEST SELLER OF ALL TIMES, YEAR AFTER YEAR, CALLED THE HOLY BIBLE. IF WE WANT TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT GOD, OR SATAN, WE CAN FIND IT IN THIS MANUAL.

MY HUSBAND HAS STATED, REFERRING TO THIS, WHEN HE FELL IN LOVE WITH ME, HE WANTED TO KNOW ALL ABOUT ME. IF THERE HAD BEEN A BOOK WRITTEN ABOUT ME, HE WOULD HAVE READ IT TO SEE WHAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY.

I TELL YOU, WE CAN PLEASE GOD, BUT SATAN IS NEVER SATISFIED. HIS ONLY PLEASURE IS TO HAVE OUR SOUL AND DAMN IT TO HELL.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE MAKE CHOICES: SOME TURN OUT GOOD, AND SOME BAD; BUT I TELL YOU, THIS CHOICE TO SERVE GOD BRINGS EVERLASTING LIFE AND PEACE WITH IT. NOTHING ELSE WE CHOOSE WILL EVER STAND THAT TEST.

IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOOD AND TRUE, SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES. THEY BRING EVERLASTING LIFE.

EVERY OTHER gOD, LITTLE “g”, THAT MAN HAS SOUGHT OUT TO BE INTIMATE WITH, HAS BROUGHT DEATH OR BONDAGE. WHY SHOULD ANYONE AS INTELLIGENT AS WE THINK WE ARE, WANT TO SERVE AND ENTITY LIKE THAT?

TELL ME, HOW COULD WHOLE NATIONS WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN TO A gOD WHO REQUIRES THEIR DEATH, FOR FALSE BENEFITS, AND TEACHES THEM TO TAKE LIVES? HOW COULD THEY?

WHEN WE FOLLOW JESUS, WE ARE FOLLOWING HIM TO WIN THE LOST FOR CHRIST. AND HE BRINGS US INTO HIS PRESENCE.

THE ANOINTING OR PRESENCE WE FEEL WHEN WE WORSHIP GOD, JEHOVAH, IS PLEASURABLE. WE GIVE OUR LIVES TO HIM, AND I KNOW SOME HAVE DIED FOR HIM BY BEING MARTYRED, BUT NO ONE HAS EVER COMMITTED MURDER FOR HIM, KILLED UNBORN BABIES FOR HIM, NOR COMMITTED SUICIDE FOR HIM.

WHY DO  YOUM SUPPOSE THE MUSLIM god TELLS HIS FOLLOWERS NOT TO BE PROMISCUOUS, AND THEN TELLS THEM THEY CAN BE, IF THEY KILL AND COMMIT SUICIDE IN THE PROCESS? STOP AND THINK! IT IS IN THE KORAN, WHICH WE COULD SAY, IS THEIR MANUAL.

THERE ARE PRECIOUS SOULS IN THE BALANCE, AND WE SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHO WE SERVE AND COMMUNE WITH. EVERYBODY AFFECTS SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE.

MY HEAVENLY FATHER WANTS COMMUNION WITH HIS CHILDREN, AND ALL OF US HAVE A PLACE WITHIN OUR BEING, THAT WANTS TO WORSHIP SOMEONE OR SOMETHING.

THE MESSAGE I DESIRE TO GET ACROSS TO YOU, IS: WORSHIP THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD!

HE DESIRES TIME WITH YOU, BUT TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM, YOU HAVE TO KNOW HIM PERSONALLY.

MY FRIEND, ALL OTHER gods BELONG TO SATAN AND HIS KINGDOM. HE HAS JUST THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU, TO DECEIVE YOU INTO WORSHIPPING THAT FALSE god; BUT IN REALITY YOU ARE WORSHIPPING SATAN, AND HE LOVES IT.

GOD THE FATHER IS THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD; GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY GHOST: THREE IN ONE.

I HAVE READ THE REAL MANUAL, THE HOLY BIBLE, WRITTEN UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; AND I HAVE BEEN IN HIS PRESENCE, AND HAS SEEN HIS SUPERNATURAL OPERATION IN MY LIFE. HE HAS CHANGED ME, AND IS CONTINUALLY LOVINGLY CHANGING ME.

WHY DO I SERVE HIM? BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED ME, AND REACHED DOWN FOR ME. HE DREW ME TO HIMSELF. I ACCEPTED HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, AS MY SAVIOR AND HE CHANGED THIS GIRL INTO A WOMAN OF GOD WHO LOVES AND TRIES TO REACH ALL THE PEOPLE SHE CAN TO BRING THEM TO THE TRUTH.

I SPEAK BLESSINGS OVER YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS: SPIRITUAL, PHYSICAL, AND FINANCIAL BLESSINGS.

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Articles, Roy Porter

MOUNTAIN PRAYING

| Roy

MARK 6:46     AND WHEN HE HAD SENT THEM AWAY, HE DEPARTED INTO A MOUNTAIN TO PRAY.

AFTER TIMES OF GREAT MINISTRY, JESUS WOULD SEND THE PEOPLE AWAY AND SPEND TIME WITH THE FATHER IN PRAYER AND FELLOWSHIP.

THIS IS NECESSARY FOR ANY CHRISTIAN.

JESUS DID WHAT HE SAW HIS FATHER DO, HE WAS ABOUT HIS FATHERS BUSINESS.

JESUS LOVED THOSE PRIVATE TIMES WITH HIS FATHER.

SOLITUDE, SEEKING THE FACE OF THE FATHER, WORSHIPPING HIM.

THIS IS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR EVERY CHRISTAIN. WE MUST PULL OURSELVES AWAY FROM MINISTRY, WORK, BUSINESS, PLEASURE AND EVEN FAMILY, TO HAVE QUITENESS WITH THE LORD.

WE MUST SETTLE OUR MINDS DOWN AND LET GOD REGAIN OUR THOUGHTS.

THE BURDENS AND CARES OF THIS LIFE CAN ME REMOVED IN HIS PRESENCE.

OUR WEAKNESS IS TOUCHED BY HIS STRENGTH.

HIS PRESENCE RENEWS OUR PASSION FOR HIM. WE CANNOT HELP OTHERS WITHOUT HIS ANOINTING. WE CANNOT HAVE HIS ANIONTING WITHOUT SPENDING TIME WITH HIM IN PRIVATE.

WE CAN TEACH WHAT WE KNOW, BUT WE CAN ONLY IMPART WHAT WE POSSESS.

WE CAN’T GIVE WHAT WE DON’T HAVE, AND WE CAN ONLY GET FROM HIM, WHAT PEOPLE NEED.

A WELL IS PERSONAL, BUT A RIVER BLESSES MASSES.

A RIVER FLOWS FROM SOLITUDE IN HIS PRESENCE.

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Articles, Other Writers

FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART II

| Roy

IN CONTINUING, “FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART I”, I FIND MYSELF STILL IN A PRISON, BUT THIS IS A STATE INSTITUTION CALLED PERRY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, INSTEAD OF FEDERAL.

A GOOD FRIEND, WHO WAS ONCE AN “ACQUAINTANCE IN CRIME”, ZEB OSBORNE, WAS ON THE YARD AS A PRISON MINISTER, AND WE STARTED TALKING OLD TIMES AND OUR PAST.

I NOTICED SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT HIM. HE NEVER MENTIONED HE HAD GOTTEN SAVED, OR THAT I WAS ON MY WAY TO HELL. 

I THOUGHT HE HAD A POSITION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, SO I ASKED HIM TO HELP ME GET TRANSFERRD TO A BETTER INSTITUTION. HE DID, AND I WAS TRANSFERRED TO DUTCHMAN, AND THEN TO GOODMAN WHICH WAS AND IS A MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTION.

I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT THE TIME, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS DRAWING ME INTO THE CHURCH SERVICES PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEERS. ON MARCH THE 12TH, 1986, LIBERTY MINISTRIES CAME TO STEVENSON INSTITUTION FOR A CHURCH SERVICE THAT NIGHT.

I RODE IN THE PRISON TO STEVENSON CHURCH SERVICE MANY TIMES. WHEN THE ALTER CALL WAS MADE, I WOULD WANT TO GO DOWN TO THE ALTER, BUT MY HANDS WOULDN’T LET ME TURN LOOSE OF THE PEW IN FRONT OF ME. BUT THIS NIGHT, I LET GO, AND GAVE MY HEART TO JESUS.

WHEN I DID, THERE WAS DEFFINATELY A CHANGE IN MY LIFE. THE LORD PUT A HUNGER FOR HIS WORD IN MY HEART. WHEN I RETURNED BACK TO GOODMAN, AFTER THE SERVICE, I TOOK A PAPERBACK BOOK AND STUCK IT IN THE BLINDS TO CAUSE AN OPENING IN THE WINDOW FOR THE STREET LIGHT TO SHINE THROUGH. THIS WAS SO I COULD READ MY BIBLE. I READ MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE,  JOHN AND A PORTION OF ACTS.

SOMEHOW, I KNEW GOD HAD MORE FOR ME.

WHEN I WENT BACK TO CHURCH, MARCH THE 21ST, LIBERTY MINISTRIES WAS THERE AGAIN. PASTOR ROY PORTER JUST HAPPENED TO BE PREACHING ON THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST, AND I RECEIVED THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST THAT NIGHT. AND I TELL YOU, LIFE DON’T GET ANY BETTER THAN BEING SAVED AND FILLED WITH THE HOLY GJOST.

THINGS REALLY STARTED CHANGING IN MY LIFE. I WAS GOING UP FOR PAROLE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, SO I PRAYED ABOUT IT. MY FRIEND ZEB OSBORNE, SPOKE ON MY BEHALF AT THE PAROLE HEARING. THEY TOLD HIM HE WOULD NOT BE MAKING PAROLE. SO HE CAME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT NEWS, AND I TOLD HIM, “I DON’T ACCEPT THAT.” THEN IT WAS MY TURN TO GOD BEFORE THE PAROLE BOARD. I ANSWERED THEIR QUESTIONS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY GAVE ME MY PAROLE!!!

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS WAS NOT MY FIRST TIME TO ASK THE LORD IN MY HEART: I WAS WAITING A NEW TRIAL FOR BANK ROBBERY, WHILE I WAS IN JAIL. I WAS READING THE BIBLE, OCCASIONALLY. THERE WERE NO PREACHERS COMING IN, SO I MOSTLY JUST READ. I THOUGHT I HAD GIVEN MY LIFE TO THE LORD, BUT IT WAS LIKE ALL THE TIMES I ASKED THE LORD TO HELP ME, AND I’D NEVER DO IT AGAIN, BUT I DID DO IT AGAIN.

I WAS JUST WANTING HIM TO HELP ME OUT OF A SITUATION.

IT’S WHAT YOU HEAR ABOUT A LOT, “JAILHOUSE SALVATION.” IT DOESN’T STICK. YOU ARE STILL ON YOUR WAY TO HELL, I’M SORRY TO SAY.

BUT IT HAS TO BE THE REAL DEAL.

WHEN I GOT OUT OF PRISON, GOD REALLY STARTED MOVING I MY LIFE. SOMEONE WAS PAYING FOR MY COLLEGE TUITION AT ERSKINE THEOLOGICAL SIMINARY. I WENT ONE SEMESTER AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD EXPELLED ANOTHER STUDENT WHO WAS WORKING ON HIS MINISTRY LISCENSE FOR PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST, AND I KNEW IT WASN’T THE PLACE FOR ME TO BE, SO I LEFT.

I WAS AT HOME ON MY KNEES PRAYING AND WORSHIPPING AND ASKING GOD TO SEND A COMPANION IN MY LIFE. I HAD NOR MORE THAT GOT THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH, THAN I HEARD A KNOCK AT THE FRONT DOOR. IT WAS MY EXWIFE. WE HAD BEEN DIVORCED 14 YEARS. SHE WAS SAVED, AND LIVING FOR THE LORD. WE SHORTLY REMARRIED. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I WAS PRAYING AND ASKED THE LORD FOR A SON: THREE WEEKS LATER I FOUND OUT SHE WAS PREGNANT. IN ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS, I FOUND OUT IT WAS A BOY. GOD IS GOOD.

GOD PLACED ME IN A MINISTRY OF GOING BACK INTO THE PRISONS TO MINISTER TO THE INMATES OF ALL AGES.

GOD HAS TAKEN ME TO PLACES I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD GO. I HAVE MINISTED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 10 TIMES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. WHAT A JOY IT HAS BEEN TO SEE PEOPLE GET SAVED AND HEALED.

I HAVE A TRIP COMING UP JANUARY 2011 TO GO BACK TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. I NEED YOUR PRAYERS. 

I AM OPEN TO GO INTO PRISONS, CHURCHES, AND OTHER COUNTRIES AS THE LORD LEADS AND PROVIDES.

O HOW WONDERFUL IT IS FOR YOU IF JESUS IS IN YOUR HEART!! AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW JESUS, YOU CAN ASK HIM TO COME INTO YOUR HEART AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE. REALLY MEAN IT AND HE WILL COME IN. IT WOULD BE THE GREATEST THING YOU COULD EVER DO.

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