Was To Is, Because Of His

Sunday’s Monday

This has been a week I will not soon forget! I dressed up as a scare crow to deliver Meals on Wheels along with treat bags I had prepared on Monday and the senior citizens loved it. The outfit brought smiles and, in some cases, caused outright laughter as they made fun of me. Then Brother Night North was a huge success in every way. Nothing like gathering a bunch of men in one accord, worshiping and praising God. I love it! Check out the website brothernight.org. Pat and I enjoyed a wonderful lunch with my youngest son Charlie, his wife Kim and his daughter Emily Loftin today. I love my family time!!

Even though Christians should be thankful to God every day. We all claim the month of November as the month for openly giving thanks. Ergo each week of this month I will delve into my personal thanksgiving to Jesus. As a child I was thankful for earthly things but never really understood thanksgiving. I had a good childhood, being the first born and a mama’s boy, I was spoiled and enjoyed every minute of it. I am not sure how much if any that contributed to my ability for getting into trouble. But I had a real knack for it. By my mid-teens I turned into a habitual drinker and by the time I was 20 I was an alcoholic? I can continue page after page of how bad things got, but time and space will not allow it. Proverbs describes my situation better than I can put into words; Proverbs 23:29-35 (NLT), 29 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. 31 Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down. 32 For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper. 33 You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things. 34 You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. 35 And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?” I was a victim of my own mind in that, when I was sober all I wanted, was to be drunk and yet when I was drunk all I wanted was to be sober. The struggles of reality were too much and yet the torment of shame was horrible, I was living the never-ending cycle of hell! But one Friday morning in June of 1992 God started drawing me to Him and gave me hope of escape. 2 Timothy 1:9 (NLT), For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. In October of 1997 He got me, I’d searched, prayed and studied for 5 years and He answered. I have avoided using scriptures on salvation for one reason, my feelings at that time was seeking immediate relief from my hell and not so much the hereafter. I was drunk and desperately wanted to be sober, so I cried out, and God instantly started showing me answers. I later read, Romans 10:13 (NLT), For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This is the beginning of my continued walk with God and I am thankful every morning for the grace and mercy God has showered on me. I actually love myself as well as my life today, I have learned to depend on God for my joy and peace. I have since discovered gifts and talents from God to be use for His service. I now have a good day, everyday with Jesus! With each passing day God shows me something to reinforce 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT), This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! God has carried me to positions beyond my wildest dreams, people way beyond my reach, and relationship only He could arrange. I have to pinch myself from time to time to assure myself, that God took me from an old drunk to a holy saint. God gave me a foundation from which to learn to serve, to love and to be that which others need. Thank you, Lord God, almighty!! For I was, I believe, the greatest miracle Jesus ever performed, is that of a changed life and thank you Jesus, I’m it! Come back next week to continue my story of “Was To Is, Because Of His!” Be thankful!!!

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!

COMMENTS WELCOME…pal249@hotmail.com…11/04/2018