Right Now!

[george53]

I do think I should give praise to HIM for this. I've never really told my story to other than my most personal friends, So maybe He has put this site for me to share. Many MANY years ago I was caught in a blizzard on I-94 on my way to Chicago. It was about 3 in the morning, and my car died. I wasn't too worried about it, as I felt I had been in worse situations. After tryin ta get Ol Blue started., I began to look for an exit to be able to find a gas station or something so I could call my big brudder.
As I was walking along in about 3 feet of snow, I kept tellin myself it wasn't nuthin but snow, and I was a hardened combat Marine, so NUTHIN was gonna stop me. I remember saying that I was trained by the BEST an I din't need NOBODY to help me, my M.C.training would get me thru. I did eventually find a station an called my brother, but not after I told GOD HIMSELF that I didn't need HIM! I was kinda drunk at the time, but the snow an cold sobered me up right quick. Years later in a ReHab Facility, known as Columbiere, I did an exercise where I went to my "SAFE SPOT"
(A place where I could go to feel safe from the world) and was told to ask the first person I saw ANY question,and it would be answered. Soooo, I saw this gentleman on the beach, dressed like a hooded monk. I thought, "well this is the first guy I see" so I asked him. "What did I do, that was SOOOO bad, that I needed to come here?!? He told me, " Once,George, you told me you didn't need me, so I let you live your life as you pleased, but, thru all that, I NEVER took my hand from you, Now you see what you've done with my gift?" RIGHT THEN AND THERE I KNEW WHO I was talking to. NO ONE EVER knew of my conversation with HIM that night,not even Theresa. So after that revelation, I KNEW I couldn't stay on the path I was on. Something was different, and I realized I FINALLY KNEW THE TRUTH! HE IS REAL, HE DOES LOVE US,and if we BELIEVE, WITHOUT ABSOLUTE VISUAL CONFERMATION(What I call faith) He WILL provide for us! He has for me at least, an I feel that you guys will understand where I'm comin from, after all ,we ARE brothers in CHRIST. Thanks for inviting me, and for letting me tell you of MY life changeing expierience. Praise God!,Thank you Jesus, Thank You Holy Spirit.

[demonhunterfan]

Always very cool when God speaks to us, eh George? 'Specially in 'those' times. I remember after an affair I was having with my biking buddy's li'l sister ended I was trying to reason with God that she & I 'loved' each other and we should still be able to have sex like we had had fer 6 weeks. Really strange at the time-- I was at work, hiding behind a rack where we stored the big rolls fer rolling out the steel coils-- and I'm trying to talk God into getting me & her back into bed.......BUT just like you done said about HIM never leaving HIS Hand off'n you, HE, ::)somehows, got me to actually say to HIM--and myself-- "NO! no sex without committment!" and as clear as day I heard HIM say "I AM PROUD OF YOU, MY SON". Totally awesome, and I don't think-- I know I'll never forget that, specially when I'm reminded like you just done did. T'anks bro.

Later and God bless

[Fletch]

George, there are very few of us these days who has not at some time or another said to God, "I can do this on my own!" And He allows us to do exactly that. The cool thing is that He is always right there holding us close waiting for the moment we finally realize we can't do it ourselves. When we come to that realization he welcomes us back with open arms and the angels rejoice at our return to the Father.

We all have our Salvation experience, some more grandiose then others. The Men's group at a church we use to attend, held a Men's Breakfast every month. As the Men's Ministry Leader I would line up a guest speaker for the event. Most of the time it was men from the church. They could talk about anything that the Holy Spirit laid upon their heart. More often then not it was about their Salvation experience. Many had overcome some form of addiction, but there were those who were raised in the church. You could tell that they felt somewhat slighted by their "Lack" of a great Salvation story. One was so bold as to tell the group that he felt that by sharing the Salvation experience that it cheapened it.

I ask him to be our speaker a couple of months later. He accepted, and guess what he spoke on, you guessed it, his own Salvation experience. Which was quite a shock to his father as he thought his son's Salvation had happened in Sunday School at an early age. When the truth came out it wasn't until he almost killed himself with heroin that he accepted God's gift of Eternal Life.

The Gift of Eternal Life is always available until we take that final breath. I think St Francis of Assisi had it right, "Go forth and preach the Gospel, and if necessary use words!" Simple translation, If you're going to talk the talk, you'd better be able to walk the walk.

Time for Dave to step down from the pulpit and get back top work.

[george53]

Thanks guys, I don't ever tell my story, but it's true, and I learned from it. Not the same person anymore, STILL as goofy, just different. The Truth sets sooo many things, problems,questions, missunderstandings free. I just don't let the small things bother me as much. Tryin to be right with the Father is enough of a task for me! ;D