It's been a long 5 years. Five years ago much of what I valued was ripped away from me savagely. People I thought I could trust and had long experiences with made decisions that left deep wounds; for myself and for my family. God was gracious. When everything inside me screamed to quit, He said no. He fought both for me and with me. Where the Bible says, "I will never leave you or forsake you" became something especially real to me. It continues to be real these past few months.
In May I received word that my heart disease had improved and my heart function had doubled. This was not supposed to happen. It had been 23% for 5 years, but all the sudden, tests came back at 46%. I was convinced of a screw up. I was dead wrong (no pun intended). God has restored what Satan tried to steal. I can say "It is well with my soul."
In June I had the opportunity to go home again. God opened the door for me to speak at a camp near my previous church. As part of the week, I drove to the facility and sat outside of it and prayed. Though some of the deepest pain in my life came though what that building represented to me, I prayed it's blessing, it's future prosperity, and I released it to God. That day I buried the skeletons. I can say, "It is well with my soul."
In July I had the opportunity to see many of my former colleagues and friends at General Conference. Some of these had been the same ones who has presided over the experience I had in my exodus from my former church. It was a mixed response. Some greeted me with the utmost sincerity while others were quick to pass me by. In the end, I concluded that it didn't matter. You see promotion and demotion come from God. I was 'benched' not by men, but by God. He had a plan for my sorrow. His plan has changed my errors. This conclusion allows me to look at the situation; and forgive men and women and release it to God. I can say, "It is well with my soul."
I close this blog with this: I further know how easy it is to slip into the patterns I left at the cross; to pull the burning sacrifice from the altar because I do not like the smell or I do not want the smell to be known by you. None of this should matter. Where God leads He provides. All that I need to be successful in Him comes from Him; nothing from me but my obedience.
Pray that I may not slip back into patterns broken.
In May I received word that my heart disease had improved and my heart function had doubled. This was not supposed to happen. It had been 23% for 5 years, but all the sudden, tests came back at 46%. I was convinced of a screw up. I was dead wrong (no pun intended). God has restored what Satan tried to steal. I can say "It is well with my soul."
In June I had the opportunity to go home again. God opened the door for me to speak at a camp near my previous church. As part of the week, I drove to the facility and sat outside of it and prayed. Though some of the deepest pain in my life came though what that building represented to me, I prayed it's blessing, it's future prosperity, and I released it to God. That day I buried the skeletons. I can say, "It is well with my soul."
In July I had the opportunity to see many of my former colleagues and friends at General Conference. Some of these had been the same ones who has presided over the experience I had in my exodus from my former church. It was a mixed response. Some greeted me with the utmost sincerity while others were quick to pass me by. In the end, I concluded that it didn't matter. You see promotion and demotion come from God. I was 'benched' not by men, but by God. He had a plan for my sorrow. His plan has changed my errors. This conclusion allows me to look at the situation; and forgive men and women and release it to God. I can say, "It is well with my soul."
I close this blog with this: I further know how easy it is to slip into the patterns I left at the cross; to pull the burning sacrifice from the altar because I do not like the smell or I do not want the smell to be known by you. None of this should matter. Where God leads He provides. All that I need to be successful in Him comes from Him; nothing from me but my obedience.
Pray that I may not slip back into patterns broken.
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