But I trust in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand:
Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Psalms 31:14-15
Welcome. I had not updated many of my sites, articles and blogs in a long time and recently I figure it is time to do so. It's interesting to write even while I rebuild my life, because I often get to go back and read stuff I wrote and things God spoke to me in a trial, a storm, a situation that at the time might have seemed like a desperate hope, but looking back I can see that it came to pass and God was faithful to his promise, his word, his prophecies over my life.
To my special friend who no doubt could be reading this soon, I am praying for you, and will continue to do so. Only God knows if you are unreachable. I trust the word given me, yet I hold onto faith that the God who called me, protected me and restored me can also do the same for you. He is the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for Him?
Let God pull you from your failures and turn you back to the true and living God, who will abundantly pardon and forgive your sins if you will but call on him. I know you left God and stated that your "journey has begun," but the road you are on only leads to destruction. Turn to God and choose life.
For those who are just getting acquainted with me or who followed the link to this page from my profile, yes, God has brought me through a storm. I can only pray that something in what I say here on this site will somehow uplife you, encourage you and start you on a road to restoration. No matter whether you've been through a devastating divorce, spiritual abuse, a financial emergency, a medical disaster or some other traumatic storm in your life, God will bring you through.
Recently, my pastor asked me where I wanted to start out in the ministry now that things have started calming down in my life in January 2008. I told him jail/prison ministry is as good a place as any to start over again. I had not preached for 12 years until God brought me back out of the rushes and a desert place and restored my walk and my calling. I am in the process of writing a book about my time out of church as a backslider and God's restoration of my life and ministry even while going through a divorce that devastated me emotionally. Out Of The Rushes should be published in the coming year.
I want to thank all my friends from "the Zone," ASN, and EA, those who I grew up with, and those who have been so kind and helpful, especially those of you who have been through things similar to what I have been through. Your kindness in lending an ear during the time of my deepest pain encouraged me to keep going on when everything and everyone I loved was destroyed. Those of you who are struggling to restore and rebuild damaged areas of your own lives, hearts and ministries, I pray you will find comfort in the things I post here.
Kristy, Joe, Mindy and Rhonda...your friendship means A LOT to me, the long hours you have spent with me on the phone, yacking my ear off, pestering me, praying for me, reading my articles, critiquing the fire out of me and encouraging me have definitely left their marks on my life and ministry. (I'll start therapy because of your friendship next week....just kidding.) I pray that God uses you as never before in the restoration of ministry and those wounded ones who the world and even Pentecost have cast aside as outcasts. If God calls a minister, he will establish them!
To the new converts God has blessed me to reach, I pray you find encouragement in my words here and that your homes, families and walks are uplifted and strengthened and built up in what I say here. If I can make it through what God brought me through, you too can go through anything. The focus is not on you or me, but the God who sees all and who is our shield, buckler and strength. No matter what some say, YOU CAN LIVE FOR GOD NO MATTER WHAT! Don't listen to anyone that says they can't or that someone else made them backslide. That's a lie from hell. I had someone I love tell me that recently. Send it back to where it came from in Jesus name! May God bless and keep you.
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wonderously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. Joel 2:25-26
When God decides to restore you and your ministry, he isn't going to ask anyone's permission...not from you and not from hell. He won't even ask the church or your pastor. He will draw you with cords of love and mercy. Know this, that hell knows exactly what you have been anointed with. The enemy will flaunt it in your face as he did with me. he will tell you what he is going to do with you, but take confidence in this truth. If he's telling you he's going to do it he is lying. If he already had the permission to destroy you he'd have already done so.... When the devil tells you you are going to fail, or you're going to die, or you are going to fall, stand on this prophesy, "What he said he will do will never happen!" The devil always overplays his hand and gives away the secret of what he is incapable of doing.
Take comfort in the fact that if God called you, he will make a way for you. He will open the doors that you need to walk through. Never doubt that and let your faith grow as God walks with you through the fires of trial and testing.
I learned through it all that no matter what the devil or any man may say about you, God is going to bring you to a desired end. It is possible to keep on loving when even those you love the most attack you, try to destroy you, or turn their back on you. We know that all things work together for the good of them that are the called according to His purpose. Our job is to seek his face, find out what his purpose for our life is and start walking. Give God the glory in your firey trials.
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. Luke 6:22-23
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