The Important Thing

Isn't it funny how we can make time for anything that we deem important, but that important thing we put it off and then we make excuses and feel guilty until we finally say "Ok,enough is enough" As a Christian the most "important thing" that we can do is spend "quality" time with the Father. Yes, I know everyone is busy with life as whole. We all have responsibilities like work, family, etc, etc, etc. But when it comes to things like, oh let's see......watching a favorite TV show or a made-for-TV movie or that sporting event that is supposed to be "the game of the year!", we'll make "time" for that.....

But when the God of all asks us to simply and wholeheartedly spend time with Him, so He can guide us and direct us in the things of life, we somehow have to "make time".....But when the storms of life come upon us and we begin to sway back and forth, we then somehow can't get enough of His word, His presence or anything else that we think is Him. And this is okay because all He wants us to do is come to Him no matter what the situation.

Learning to choose what is most important life takes much wisdom, which the Lord says that He will give us "liberally"if we just ask. I have learned so much in my 40 years on this earth and basically the wisdom that I've learned has come from what I have experienced in those years. From basic trial and much error. I've heard it once said that "experience is a great teacher" and with it comes much wisdom.

I've learned that in order for my marriage to work according to His design that I must treat my wife with respect and honor her. I must respect her opinion and be wise in how I talk to her. I've learned that in order for me to be the kind of father that is according to His design that I must learn to listen to them and also spend quality time with them.

Each of these things hold great importance and take much wisdom from on high. I'm not the best husband that I can be at all times, but if I take the time to get before the Lord and spend time in His word, by His grace I can be the husband that He wants me to be. I have much to learn about being a father of 3 great boys, but it will take much wisdom to learn that spending time with a 10, 4 and 2 year old will yield great results later on, even when I'm tired. Because His word says "to train up a child in the way that he should go, so that when they grow up they will not turn from it" (paraphrased)

Out of all of this......Putting God 1st......this is "The important thing"

Next: The Important Thing (Pt.2)

A Changed Heart

I remember the words of FDR "This is a day, that will live in infamy" Of course he was referring to that terrible day at Pearl Harbor, where most of our Navy fleet was destroyed by the Japanese. It was a day that the world, even today has never forgotten.

Well, I too know a day that will live forever in my heart, soul and mind. On July 26, 1996 I made a decision that affected my life FOREVER. As I think back to what led up to that decision, I can only wonder why I never made the decision sooner in my life. Only to realize that I wouldn't have been as serious as I am now about my faith. I used to be a angry, jealous and very lustful man. And even though I was married, I still somehow thought that I could have my cake and eat it too.

The Lord had a plan that was so precise and so cunning that only He could have orchestrated it. The Scriptures declare to us "Many are the plans of man's heart, but the Lord's purpose will prevail". There were many plans in my heart, but the Lord's purpose for them prevailed.

At the time of my conversion I was married for 3 years and my first son was only 18 months old and thankfully knew nothing of my personal issues, although I'm sure at that tender age, even he knew something aboutdaddy wasn't right. As I stated earlier I was an angry man, no regards to anything or anyone. I did whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, with whomever I wanted (period) (dot)

So we begin.....I had stayed all night (first time as a married man) and called my wife and told her that I was too drunk to come home. Of course, that was not fully the truth, yes I had been drinking. But not enough to stay out all night long. My wife had even tried to pursuade me not to go, but I told her that I was going anyway and that was it. My son was very ill with an upper respiratory infection and because she couldn't find her husband, a friend and my father-in-law had to take him to the emergency room and buy his medication.

So as not to drag this story out any longer than I have to. I came home from my night out to find my wife had been up all night with my ill son and was very, very angry with me, to say the least. When I reflect back, my son could have for all that I knew, died that night (he was that ill). As usual I came in and tried to lie my way through the situation but on this day, my wife was not going for my usual spiel. When I came downstairs, I found my clothes torn from my closet and my softball uniform, shoes cut in shreds. I was escorted out of the house by the police, but was allowed to return later in the day. So began my lies and conniving to try and squirm my way out of my "night" out, but the Lord had other plans.

This next part is where I know God was in control all the time and I didn't even see it (obviously). My wife and I had been going back and forth about my whereabouts and finally turned in for the night, when as we were laying there she says "Your lying", in which I replied, "What"?, she again said "your lying, where were you really?" I was truly in shock, it was as if "someone" was speaking to her, but of course only she could hear them. So basically I confessed to my wife of my true whereabouts. Over the next week, it only got worst because as any of you may know. If you tell one lie, you must then tell another and another and another until you forget what you said in the past two.

All this led to me eventually moving out of the house and into my mom's. I was there for about 4 days. I came over on Friday the 26th to give my wife some money for bills and see my son. We of course began to argue and I basically was ready to throw up my hands and leave, but "something" wouldn't let me.

As I was about to walk out the door, I made a detour to the bathroom. I got in front of the mirror and for the first time in my life I gave myself a "real" good look and I couldn't stand what I saw. I realized that I was about to lose everything that ever really mattered up to that point. So I stepped back from the sink and closed my eyes. Then I raised my hands and said "Lord, come into my heart" as I said that I noticed (with my eyes closed) to the left of my vision, a light that seemed to be pulsating. I quickly opened my eyes, not frightened but curious. I again closed my eyes and with hands raised saw this light begin to not only pulsate,but get closer and close to me. Finally, it literally hit me like a bolt of lightning and went through my body. I then cried out and my wife ran into the bathroom and asked me "what's wrong, what happened?"

I told her that "I asked the Lord to come into my heart and He came", that's all that I could muster at that point. And then the most peaceful feeling came over me and my mind was so clear, clearer than it had ever been. I couldn't believe it. It was like the Lord was right there surrounding me with His sweet peace. First I called my friend and told him what happened because him and his wife had been praying for my salvation. Then I called my mom and told her and also talked to my grandmother. I was completely different and completely in awe of what God had done in such a short period time.

My life was never the same. I began to cut everything, everyone out of my life. I had a collection of rap music that I was sooo proud of, but I sold it all and eventually replaced it all with Christian music. Jesus, made a mark on my life that still 9 years later cannot and will not be erased.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 declares: "A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them."

The Lord truly turned my heart of stone into a heart that is turned towards His will and His ways. I have not arrived and definetely not perfect by any means, but by His grace and mercy I will continue to strive to be what he has called me to be. A man with a changed heart.

Next: A Changed Heart (Pt.2)

Finding True Peace

The scriptures tell us that He will give us peace, but NOT as the world does. The kind of peace that God gives is the peace that "surpasses" all understanding. In other words it makes no sense to us how His peace can be so pure and makes us totally forget about whatever it is that is bothering us. The secular world tells us that if we want true peace we can find it in buying a new car, but what if we can't afford a new car? Then how about you go to a bar and throw a few down and drink your sorrows away only to get to drunk and have the same problems when you wake up the next day or finally how about you tell your troubles to someone and find yourself in a precarious position and end up with a marriage that ends up in divorce. We need to stop looking for peace in all the WRONG places. There is only one person that I know that can give me the kind of peace that I'd been searching for for 31 years of my life.....His name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth

These scenarios may seem a bit harsh, but all too true. We love to find peace in all the wrong things when all we simply have to do is seek Him, the one true peace giver like no other. His name is Jesus and he is called the Prince of Peace, Comforter......Our God is called Jehovah-Shalom, which means the God of peace. He's a river that never, never runs dry. Never recedes like a river or pond might. It's constantly overflowing for you and for me.

I attend a Men's Fellowship about every two weeks and the one thing that comes to mind that the minister talked about was "finding true peace" and one of the things he said was that he literally pulls down God's peace from on high. He literally used a "pulling" motion top down from head to toe. Supernaturally, pulling down God's peace. He recently lost one one of his daughters in a car accident, yet he came to the fellowship within the same week with a faith and a peace that only God Himself could have given him. Its ours and no one or thing should be able to take it away. The enemy didn't give it you, therefore he cannot take it away!

Yes, you are going to have troubles in your life, who doesn't? But God already promised that he has "overcome this world" He died so that we might be overcomers in this life, not overtakers. We are "more than conquerors through Christ Jesus our Lord" I've been through stuff and continue to go through stuff, but God is still on the throne and as long as He is, I will be alright because all I have to do is call his name and he will fill me to overflowing with true peace.

He is Leading You

I just wanted to share an experience that had a few weeks ago while shopping at of all places WalMart. I decided that morning to leave a little early because we needed some toothpaste in the house.

So I get to WalMart and I get to the aisle and began the search. I was looking for a particular brand that my wife had picked up a few weeks earlier. At first I didn't see it, so I picked up a little more expensive brand and was ready to walk down the aisle, when I said "I really wanted this brand",and as soon as I said that my eyes "supernaturally" went right to that brand. So I picked up the boxes, turned around to walk back down the aisle and I sensed the Lord saying "If I can lead you in a simple thing as buying toothpaste, can I not lead you in all things"

Well, let me tell you I was blown away and in tears at the same time. You see I had been crying out to God for so long for "direction" that He decided to use a simple thing like buying toothpaste to remind me that He loves me and cares about the "little" things of life.....even what you brush your teeth with.

I know that my steps are ordered of the Lord.....He is re-directing my steps!