Hello everybody. Thank you for the warm welcome. Have been crazy busy the last few days, butcha know, The Lord has been so awesome to me. I'll share my praise report, but would really like to hear yours as well--pwease (no that's not a typ-o); lol.
To start, let me say that this what I am about to shre with you is so exciting for me, because I was a prodigal preacher for several years; up 'til about a year ago when I started to realize that not only did I need God in my life again, but I [wanted] Him more than ever. And I set my heart to seeking His heart once again. The only problem was that I wasn't wholly convinced that He'd have me back. I mean, He's already forgiven me once and I turned around and totally dis'd Him...[bad]!
So the journey of healing has gone...tons of tears...and then even more when those dried up. Well, here recently He has allowed me to 'operate' in the grace He had given me, and it has been so wonderful. I truly love to do what He lays on my heart...even though it is hard at times; especially when you want the people that you're ministering to to 'receive' and they don't. That has always been haard on my heart and I hope that it always will.
But the last few days He has blessed me in some truly wonderful ways on a personal level. For one, He has allowed me to find favor in the eyes of a few local neighborhood kids and we just kick it for a bit. I know that right now He wants me to immerse them in prayer to receive His love, but it is so hard to contain the joy of anticipation for leading children to Him.... There is nothing better in this world as far as I'm concerned. Absolutely NOTHING!!!
)
Well I guess I must be doing right, 'cause their Mother came over last night to see what her youngest was up to (we were watching hilarious YouTube scenes of American Bulldogs (you may know them as 'Pits', but you'd be wrong in calling them that 'cause that's not what they are). ANyway, we started talking about my dogs' rather small Kennel and she [gave] me 3 panels from one that they had no use for. That seriously blessed my heart, 'cause I have two dogs in one Kennel that's barely big enough for 1. Fortunately one is a pup. But still....
Well today was a major mile marker for me.... One that is just too awesome to pass up on sharing. If you noticed the "Tags" on here, you will see that one of them is:"Convict". The reson it's there is because I was raised by the state since I was 8, and if there are any convicts in here, I want to meet/fellowship with them. It's really hard in society if you have been locked up most of your life, and it's hard for others to relate to our plight. So...
Anyhoo, as a result of where I was raised and how I was raised..to think with your fists and act with what ever was close to hand type mentality; I have been having major issues with my temper since I strayed from God. And it has been one of my biggest concerns. Well today seemed like it was going to be a pretty good day. Nice weather for yard work...once I repaired my lawnmower that went down a few days after I fixed my weed eater. So I was pretty stoked. I get the yard mowed. Fired uo the weed eater and finished the front portion of the house I rent, when the string went out. No big deal. I can fix that in a snap. As soon I fired it up from re-stringing it, the head snapped off and went rolling away in the yard....
I couldn't believe it. I just got this stuff fixed and it goes down again? You gotta be kidding me, right? Well, I took one look at that head, another at the weed eater, and started laughing so hard I nearly had tears in my eyes. I mean, what else is a guy to do when all he really wants to do is throw the machine over the moon and go sit down and put his head in his hands in surrender? I couldn't cry; the gals across the street woulda laughed me outta town! And I don't drink, so I had to do [something]; and I have wasted far too many years being consumed by anger. So I lauhed. And I laughed long, hard, and loud! For just a second mind you--remember, there were ladies across the street. Didn't want them to think I was a wack-job, right? (smile)
Well, this time last year I would have smashed that thing up in a gaggillion pcs and then melted it for scrap, right? Not today! Praise The Lord! Today I was given grace to laugh. And I count that such a tremendous blessing! Peace and joy is the fruit of The Spirit, and I bore some sweet juicy fruit today. And how how it tasted sooo good compared to the bitterness of rage and anger I've been so accustomed to experiencing for far too long....
I know this is 'windy', but I just had to tell you every thing so you would be right there with me in experiencing it...with understanding as t why it meant so much to me.
Thank you for taking the time to read it all.I
really appreciate it!
