Tag: joy

Articles, Jeanette Porter

HOW CAN WE WALK IN CHRIST’S ANOINTING?

| Jeanette

TO WALK IN CHRIST’S ANOINTING:

          WE SHOULD HAVE NO UNCONFESSED SIN.

          WE SHOULD SPEND TIME IN HIS PRESENCE, SEEKING GOD (PSALM 63).

          WE HAVE TO CRUCIFY SELF.

          WE HAVE TO BELIEVE HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS.

          WE HAVE TO COMMUNE (TO COMMUNICATE, FELLOWSHIP) WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT (II CORINTHIANS 13:14).

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A REAL PERSON, THE THIRD PERSON OF THE GOD-HEAD.

HE IS OUR GUIDE, COMFORTER, AND TEACHER. HE ANOINTS, SPEAKS, RENEWS, REGENERATES (BEING BORN AGAIN), INDWELLS, EMPOWERS, SANCTIFIES (SETS US APART), GIVES JOY, GIVES DISCERNMENT (I CORINTHIANS 10-16), BARES FRUIT THROUGH US, GIVES SPIRITUAL GIFTS, AND REVEALS THINGS OF GOD.

TO COMMUNE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT: WE MUST RECOGNIZE HIM AS A REAL PERSON: THAT HE IS PRESENT; WE MUST INVITE HIM INTO OUR DAY.

WE CAN SAY, “COME HOLY SPIRIT.” 

          “HOLY SPIRIT, COME AND TAKE FREE REIGN IN MY LIFE AND MINISTRY TODAY.”

          “COME AND WALK WITH ME.”

          “HELP ME RECEIVE WHAT THE FATHER HAS FOR ME.”

          “HELP ME HEAR WHAT THE FATHER IS SAYING.”

YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THE VOICE OF GOD IS ABSENT WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT SURROUNDING YOU.

HE COMES AND HELPS YOU RECEIVE THROUGH JESUS WHAT YOU HAVE ASKED OF THE FATHER.

HE DESIRES FELLOWSHIP WITH YOU.

HE IS SEEKING A MOMENT BY MOMENT RELATIONSHIP WITH US.

WE CAN’T FORGET HE IS HERE WITH US, IN US.

AS YOU RECEIVE THE SPIRIT’S PRESENCE, ISAIAH 10:27, READS THIS WAY …AND THE YOKE SHALL BE DESTROYED BECAUSE OF THE ANOINTING.

AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD WILL COME UPON THEE, AND THOU SHALT PROPHESY WITH THEM, AND SHALT BE TURNED INTO ANOTHER MAN (I SAMUEL 10:6).

WHEN THE ANOINTING COMES UPON US WE ALSO WILL BE CHANGED.

HE CHANGES OUR CHARACTER AND MENTALITY.

WE WILL: HAVE BOLDNESS, WALK IN LOVE, RECEIVE DELIVERANCES, HAVE PEACE,FLOW IN THE SPIRIT, HAVE FREEDOM TO PRAISE GOD, RECEIVE HEALING, RECEIVE JOY, AND OPERATE IN SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL ENTER OUR LIFE NATURALLY; INTIMACY WITH THE FATHER WILL COME, AND MUCH, MUCH, MORE.

WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A REALITY IN YOUR LIFE, HE PROVIDES AN AVENUE THROUGH WHICH THE ANOINTING, THE POWER, CAN FLOW.  

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

THE SECRET PLACE

| Jeanette

PSALM 91:1-4 – HE THAT DWELLETH IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL ABIDE UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY.

I WILL SAY OF THE LORD, HE IS MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS: MY GOD; IN HIM WILL I TRUST.

SURELY HE SHALL DELIVER THEE FROM THE SNARE OF THE FOWLER, AND FROM THE NOISOME PESTILENCE.

HE SHALL COVER THEE WITH HIS FEATHERS, AND UNDER HIS WINGS THOU SHALT TRUST: HIS TRUTH SHALL BE THY SHIELD AND BUCKLER.

BELOVED, DO YOU FEEL ALONE TODAY? LONGING FOR A TOUCH OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE? TODAY IS THAT DAY FOR YOU. GOD MADE THIS DAY, AND HE WILLS THAT YOU REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.

NO. YOU CAN’T CHANGE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND YOU, BUT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER CAN, AND WILL. HE WILL GIVE YOU GRACE AND JOY YOU NEED FOR THE DAY.

BELOVED, BEGIN YOUR DAY IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE ALMIGHTY, AND I CAN PROMISE YOU WILL DEFINATELY ABIDE UNDER HIS SHADOW.

YOU WILL NEVER BE ALONE AGAIN.

YOU WILL NEVER FEEL FORSAKEN AGAIN.

TELL HIM HOW YOU FEEL.

TURN YOUR DAY OVER TO HIM.

DON’T WASTE YOUR DAY WITH DOUBTS AND FEARS.

WHEN WE ABIDE UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SAY, “HE IS MY REFUGE AND FORTRESS.”

NOTHING WILL EVER COME YOUR WAY THAT GOD CAN’T TAKE CARE OF. HE NOT ONLY WANTS YOU TO GIVE YOUR TROUBLES OVER TO HIM; HE ALSO WANTS YOU TO LEAVE THEM WITH HIM, AND NOT TAKE THEM BACK AGAIN.

GOD’S PRESENCE IS THE ONLY REFUGE FROM TROUBLE.

HE ALONE HAS YOUR ANSWER.

…IN HIM WILL I TRUST OR CONFIDE… TELL HIM YOUR SITUATION. IT’S GOOD AT TIMES TO CONFIDE IN PEOPLE; BUT SOMETIMES THEY WILL BETRAY YOUR CONFIDENCE, BUT YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL NEVER BETRAY YOU.

YOU CAN TRUST HIM TO SILENTLY BEGIN TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLRMS, AND GIVE YOU JOY ALL ALONG THE WAY THROUGH THEM: THE JOY IN KNOWING HE HAS IT ALL UNDER CONTROL.

…SURELY HE SHALL DELIVER THEE FROM THE SNARE OF THE FOWLER… DO YOU KNOW THAT THE ENMY OF OUR SOUL, SATAN, HAS A SNARE OR TRAP FOR ALL OF US?

AS WE ABIDE UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY, HE WILL MAKE US AWARE OF (REVEAL TO US) THE TRAPS AND SNARES SATAN HAS PLANNED FOR US, PERSONALLY, SO WE CAN AVOID THEM.

SOME OF MY AUDIENCE ,POSSIBLY, IS INCARCERATED. YOUR BODY MAY BE LOCKED-UP, BUT YOUR SPIRIT CAN BE FREE, AND STAY FREE!

…HE SHALL DELIVER THEE FROM THE NOISOME PESTILANCE(RAGING EPIDEMIC)…

SARS IS THE MOST FEARED EPIDEMIC IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY, AND WE KNOW TERRORISM IS A GREAT POSSIBILITY.

WE NEED NOT FEAR. WE NEED ONLY TO ASK GOD FOR PROTECTION.

THE PROPHETS FORTOLD THE EPIDEMICS WOULD COME, AND WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS ARE ALL INEVITABLE.

I FEEL JESUS’ COMING IS SO SOON WE CAN ALMOST FEEL HIS BREATH SURROUND US.

…HE SHALL COVER YOU WITH HIS FEATHERS…

HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED A MOTHER HEN COVER HER CHICKS WITH HER FEATHERS?  IT IS A PRECIOUS SIGHT TO BEHOLD TO SEE HER LITTLE ONE’S RUN FAST TO GET UNDERNEATH HER FEATHERS. SHE DOES THIS WHEN DANGER IS NEAR.

WHEN YOU SEE TROUBLE COMING, DON’T RUN FROM GOD, BUT RUN TO GOD. GET SNUGGLED-IN UNDER HIS FEATHERS.

…AND UNDER HIS WINGS THOU SHALT TRUST…THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN A PROTECTING, SAVING LOVE.

GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAT THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS (JOHN 15:13).

WE NOT ONLY HAVE PROTECTION FROM ENEMIES, BUT SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

PICTURE TO YOURSELF WHATWHAT THE SHELTER OF THE WING OF THE MOTHER HEN IS TO HER YOUNG, AND IT WILL TELL YOU WHAT THE PRECIOUS PROMISE OF OUR TEXT MEANS TO THE BELIEVER.

IT MEANS HAPPINESS, CONTENTMENT, AND COMFORT.

THEE SOUL IS HAPPY IN GOD.

OUR LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH GOD.

SEE HOW THE YOUNG BROOD ARE ARE HIDDEN UNDER THEIR MOTHER’S WINGS?  THE YOUNG BIRDS CAN FEEL THE BEAT OF THEIR MOTHER’S HEART.

THERE IS A NEARNESS TO THE HEART OF GOD.

SO THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE SHELTERED ONE, BEHOLDS AND FEELS THE HEART AND LOVE OF GOD.

THIS IS NOT PROMISED TO EVERYONE, BUT ONLY BELIEVERS WHO DWELL IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH.

YOU WHO ARE NOT A BELIEVER, AND YOU DESPERATELY WANT TO KNOW THIS KIND OF LOVE AND PROTECTION, PRAY THIS PRAYER WITH ME:   “JESUS, COME INTO MY HEART, AND SAVE MY SOUL. FORGIVE ME OF ALL MY SINS. I DESIRE TO SERVE YOU. I TURN MY LIFE OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME, AND I ASK YOU TO DELIVER ME FROM ALL UNFORGIVENESS OF OTHERS, AND FROM EVERY STRONGHOLD IN MY LIFE. I WILL NEVER BE ALONE AGAIN. THANK YOU, LORD, FOR SAVING AND DELIVERING ME. I AM SAVED!!! IN JESUS’ NAME.”

IF YOU PRAYED THIS PRAYER WITH ME, I NOW ASK YOU TO TAKE ANOTHER STEP, AND MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS WEBSITE. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE YOUR NAME OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD. YOU TOO ARE NOW GOD’S OWN. GOD BLESS YOU.

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

THE BRUISED REED

| Jeanette

SOMETIME BACK, THIS PHRASE, BRUISED REED, CAME INTO MY SPIRIT AND KEPT COMING OFF AND ON UNTIL I SEEMED TO FORGET IT.

BUT SHORTLY AFTER, MY LORD SPOKE TO ME IN MY TIME WITH HIM, TO MEDITATE ON THIS AND KEEP THINKING ABOUT IT UNTIL HE OPENED IT UP TO ME.

I AM SURE MANY SERMONS HAVE BEEN PREACHED ABOUT THE WORD “REED” CONCERNING THE CRUCIFIXION OF OUR LORD, BUT I SENSED HE WANTED TO SHOW ME MORE CONCERNING HURTING PEOPLE, WHETHER SAVED OR UNSAVED.

SO, THIS IS THE MESSAGE. I WILL SHARE IT WITH YOU AS HE OPENED IT UP TO ME.

REED IS MENTIONED IN THE SCRIPTURES MORE THAN BRUISED, BUT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING SAID, WE WILL LOOK AT BOTH MEANINGS AND HOW THEY ARE USED.

BRUISED MEANS, CRACK IN PEICES; CRUSH; DICOURAGE; OPPRESS; STRUGGLE TOGETHER.

REED MEANS (BY RESEMBLANCE), A ROD FOR MEASURING; SHAFT; TUBE; STEM; CANE; REED;CALAMUS (A SLENDER, CLIMBING PALM PRODUCING  CANES); A STALK.

ISAIAH 42:3 – A BRUISED REED SHALL HE NOT BREAK, AND THE SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUENCH: HE SHALL BRING FORTH JUDGMENT INTO TRUTH.

I GET FROM THIS SCRIPTURE, THAT THE BRUISED AND BROKEN; THE CRUSHED, DISCOURAGED, AND OPPRESSED STRUGGLING SOUL IS NOT WORTHLESS TO THE LORD.

MANY TIMES WE MARK PEOPLE OFF AS NO-GOOD; BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT RELATIVE YOU LOVE DEARLY WHO IS AWAY FROM THE LORD? OR WHO IS GOING THROUGH THE MOST HORRIBLE TIME IN THEIR LIFE? DO YOU MARK THEM OFF? NO! YOU TRY TO HELP THEM. YOU PRAY FOR THEM, AND HOPE THEY WILL GET HELP OR CHANGE.

WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THEM TO CHANGE. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WORTHLESS SOUL WE THINK IS USELESS TO THE LORD, OR EVEN ONE WHO HAS HURT YOUR FAMILY TO THE PLACE THAT YOU WISH THEY WERE DEAD? WHAT ABOUT THEM?

JUST AS GOD FORGIVES US, WE HAVE TO FORGIVE THEM BEFORE BITTERNESS SETS IN AND MANY ARE DEFILED (HEBREWS 2:15).

HOW WE ACT AFFECTS THOSE WATCHING OUR LIVES.

AS WE APPROACH THE CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD, WE NEED TO BE MUCH IN PRAYER CONCERNING THAT PERSON IN OUR FAMILY WHO CAUSES THE MOST TROUBLE, AS OUR FAMILIES COME TOGETHER.

MANY TIMES THEY ARE FEARING THEMSELVES, HOPING THEY DON’T SAY THE WRONG THING, AND WISHING THEY WERE DEAD, SO THEY WON’T EVEN BE IN THE PLACE TO CAUSE TROUBLE.

THEY SOMETIMES ARE DEALING WITH THEIR OWN SECRET PAIN AND WE JUST SEE THEM AS A BIG PROBLEM WE WISH WOULD JUST RESIGN FROM THE FAMILY OR GO AWAY.

FAMILY GATHERINGS SHOULD BE A TIMES OF PEACE AND JOY. SO WHAT DOES A PERSON DO WHO DREADS FACING THAT PERSON WE DISLIKE SO MUCH? WE ARE ALL AFFECTED!

SEARCH YOUR HEART. MAYBE YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CAUSES THE PROBLEM BY YOUR UNBELIEF, YOUR LACK OF TRUST THAT GOD CAN HANDLE ALL OF THIS, AND YOU BEGIN SPREADING YOUR CONCERNS THROUGH-OUT THE FAMILY.

EVENTUALLY, A FIRE IS STARTED, AND ALL ARE CONCERNED, AND EVEN DREAD THE GATHERING. THIS SHOULD BE A TIME OF LOVE AND HEALING.

BEGIN NOW. PRAY FOR THAT PERSON YOU DISLIKE.

THEY COULD BE THAT SMOKING FLAX JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT HERE, …AND THE SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUENCH…

IF JUDGMENT COMES UPON A PERSON, GOD IS THE ONE WHO WILL DO IT. NO MATTER WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO YOU OR YOUR FAMILY, THEY STILL HAVE SOMETHING IN THEM THAT GOD LOVES. THERE MAY NOT BE A FIRE THERE, BUT THERE IS STILL SMOKE THAT REPRESENTS THERE COULD BE A FIRE IF YOU PRAY FOR THEM; AND GOD, IN TURN, KINDLES THAT FIRE, AND MAKES THEM INTO WHAT HE WANTS THEM TO BE.

JAMES 3:8,9a,10,19,25 –

      …AND IF YE FULFILL THE ROYAL LAW ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURE, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF, YE DO WELL:

     BUT IF YOU HAVE RESPECT OF PERSONS, YE COMMIT SIN…

      FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL KEEP THE WHOLE LAW, AND YET OFFEND IN ONE POINT, HE IS GUILTY OF ALL.

      WHEREFORE, MY BELOVED, LET EVERY MAN BE SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, SLOW TO WRATH:

      FOR THE WRATH OF MAN WORKETH NOT (DOES NOT PRODUCE) THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.

      BUT WHOSO LOOKETH INTO THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY, AND CONTINUETH (OR LIVES)  THEREIN, HE BEING NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER, BUT A DOER OF THE WORK, THIS MAN SHALL BE BLESSED IN HIS DEED.

JESUS DIED FOR THAT PERSON YOU DISLIKE SO MUCH.

NO MATTER HOW WORTHLESS OR USELESS IN THE WORLD’S SIGHT, EVERY PERSON IS IMPORTANT AND WORTHWHILE TO GOD.

ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU THE ROOT OF THEIR PROBLEM. TRY TO UNDERSTAND THEM, EVEN IF THEY ARE DEAD WRONG ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL. DON’T BE INTIMIDATED BY FAMILY MEMBERS WHO DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING, BUT PRAY THEY WILL SEE THEM THROUGH GOD’S EYES LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO DO.

MATTHEW 12:9-20 – AND WHEN HE WAS DEPARTED THENCE, HE WENT INTO THEIR SYNAGOGUE:

      AND, BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN WHICH HAD HIS HAND WITHERED. AND THEY ASKED HIM, SAYING, IS IT LAWFUL TO HEAL ON THE SABBATH DAYS? THAT THEY MIGHT ACCUSE HIM.

      AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, WHAT MAN SHALL THERE BE AMONG YOU, THAT SHALL HAVE ONE SHEEP, AND IF IT FALL INTO A PIT ON THE SABBATH DAY, WILL HE NOT LAY HOLD ON HIM, AND LIFT HIM OUT?

      HOW MUCH THEN IS A MAN BETTER THAN A SHEEP? WHEREFORE IT IS LAWFUL TO DO GOOD ON THE SABBATH DAYS.

      THEN SAYETH HE TO THE MAN, STRETCH FORTH THINE HAND. AND HE STRETCHED IT FORTH AND IT WAS WHOLE, LIKE THE OTHER.

      THEN THEN PHARISEES WENT OUT AND HELD COUNCIL AGAINST HIM, HOW THEY MIGHT DESTROY HIM.

      BUT WHEN HE KNEW IT, HE WITHDREW HIMSELF FROM THENCE: AND GREAT MULTITUDES FOLLOWED HIM, AND HE HEALED THEM ALL;

      AND CHARGED THEM THAT THEY SHOULD NOT MAKE HIM KNOWN:

      THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ISAIAH THE PROPHET, SAYING,

      BEHOLD MY SERVANT, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BLOVED, IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL PLEASED: I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL SHOW JUDGMENT TO THE GENTILES.

      HE SHALL NOT STRIVE NOR CRY; NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.

      A BRUISED REED SHALL HE NOT BREAK, AND A SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUEINCH, TILL HE SEND FORTH JUDGMENT INTO VICTORY.

HERE WE SEE BRUISED REED MENTIONED AGAIN WHERE JESUS QUOTES FROM ISAIAH 42:3.

JESUS IS SO GENTLE THAT HE WILL NOT BREAK A BRUISED REED, NOR QUENCH SMOKING FLAX. WHAT OTHERS WOULD TREAD UPON OR CAST INTO THE FIRE, HE WILL STOOP AND PICK UP AND SAVE; WHAT OTHERS WILL CRUSH AND QUENCH IT’S DYING SMOKE, AS THE REMNANT OF A TAPER, HE WILL NOT QUENCH; BUT WHERE THERE IS LIFE, HE WILL GIVE LIGHT, AND WHILE THERE IS LIGHT HE WILL SUSTAIN IT. HIS TREATMENT OF THE BELIEVER WHO IS THE WEAKEST, AND, SO TO SPEAK, LEAST ALIVE, IS MARKED BY LONGSUFFERING AND GENTLENESS.

WHEN THE MAN CAME INTO THE TEMPLE WITH THE WITHERED HAND, JESUS KNEW IF HE HEALED HIM ON THE SABBATH DAY, HE WOULD BE CRITICISED BY THOSE, HIS ENEMIES, WHO WERE JUST WAITING TO TRAP HIM.

JESUS KNEW WHAT HIS ENEMIES WOULD DO, BUT HE HEALED THE WITHERED HAND ANYWAY. 

IF ONE PERSON ACTS LIKE JESUS AT YOUR FAMILY GATHERING THIS YEAR, IT WILL INFLUENCE OTHERS  TO DO THE SAME, BUT IF THAT REBELLIOUS PERSON WHO CAN’T FORGIVE, STARTS SOMETHING, DO LIKE JESUS DID, DON’T EVEN TRY TO DEFEND YOURSELF. LET THEM SAY WHAT THEY WILL, AND GET BUSY IN ANOTHER ROOM. SOMETIMES SILENCE BRINGS CONVICTION. NO ONE CAN HAVE A HOT ARGUMENT WITH THEMSELVES ALONE.THEY WILL LOOK FOOLISH!!!

IF ANYONE KEEPS LOOKING STEADILY INTO GOD’S LAW FOR FREE MEN, HE WILL NOT ONLY REMEMBER IT BUT WILL DO WHAT IT SAYS, AND GOD WILL GREATLY BLESS HIM IN EVERYTHING HE DOES. (JAMES 1:25 LB).

MERRY CHRISTMAS!I HOPE THIS WILL BE YOUR BEST EVER. MAY THE SAVIOR LEAD YOU AND ME THROUGHOUT THE THE HOLIDAYS AND ALL OF LIFE.     

       

  

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FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART II

| Roy

IN CONTINUING, “FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART I”, I FIND MYSELF STILL IN A PRISON, BUT THIS IS A STATE INSTITUTION CALLED PERRY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, INSTEAD OF FEDERAL.

A GOOD FRIEND, WHO WAS ONCE AN “ACQUAINTANCE IN CRIME”, ZEB OSBORNE, WAS ON THE YARD AS A PRISON MINISTER, AND WE STARTED TALKING OLD TIMES AND OUR PAST.

I NOTICED SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT HIM. HE NEVER MENTIONED HE HAD GOTTEN SAVED, OR THAT I WAS ON MY WAY TO HELL. 

I THOUGHT HE HAD A POSITION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, SO I ASKED HIM TO HELP ME GET TRANSFERRD TO A BETTER INSTITUTION. HE DID, AND I WAS TRANSFERRED TO DUTCHMAN, AND THEN TO GOODMAN WHICH WAS AND IS A MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTION.

I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT THE TIME, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS DRAWING ME INTO THE CHURCH SERVICES PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEERS. ON MARCH THE 12TH, 1986, LIBERTY MINISTRIES CAME TO STEVENSON INSTITUTION FOR A CHURCH SERVICE THAT NIGHT.

I RODE IN THE PRISON TO STEVENSON CHURCH SERVICE MANY TIMES. WHEN THE ALTER CALL WAS MADE, I WOULD WANT TO GO DOWN TO THE ALTER, BUT MY HANDS WOULDN’T LET ME TURN LOOSE OF THE PEW IN FRONT OF ME. BUT THIS NIGHT, I LET GO, AND GAVE MY HEART TO JESUS.

WHEN I DID, THERE WAS DEFFINATELY A CHANGE IN MY LIFE. THE LORD PUT A HUNGER FOR HIS WORD IN MY HEART. WHEN I RETURNED BACK TO GOODMAN, AFTER THE SERVICE, I TOOK A PAPERBACK BOOK AND STUCK IT IN THE BLINDS TO CAUSE AN OPENING IN THE WINDOW FOR THE STREET LIGHT TO SHINE THROUGH. THIS WAS SO I COULD READ MY BIBLE. I READ MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE,  JOHN AND A PORTION OF ACTS.

SOMEHOW, I KNEW GOD HAD MORE FOR ME.

WHEN I WENT BACK TO CHURCH, MARCH THE 21ST, LIBERTY MINISTRIES WAS THERE AGAIN. PASTOR ROY PORTER JUST HAPPENED TO BE PREACHING ON THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST, AND I RECEIVED THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST THAT NIGHT. AND I TELL YOU, LIFE DON’T GET ANY BETTER THAN BEING SAVED AND FILLED WITH THE HOLY GJOST.

THINGS REALLY STARTED CHANGING IN MY LIFE. I WAS GOING UP FOR PAROLE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, SO I PRAYED ABOUT IT. MY FRIEND ZEB OSBORNE, SPOKE ON MY BEHALF AT THE PAROLE HEARING. THEY TOLD HIM HE WOULD NOT BE MAKING PAROLE. SO HE CAME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT NEWS, AND I TOLD HIM, “I DON’T ACCEPT THAT.” THEN IT WAS MY TURN TO GOD BEFORE THE PAROLE BOARD. I ANSWERED THEIR QUESTIONS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY GAVE ME MY PAROLE!!!

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS WAS NOT MY FIRST TIME TO ASK THE LORD IN MY HEART: I WAS WAITING A NEW TRIAL FOR BANK ROBBERY, WHILE I WAS IN JAIL. I WAS READING THE BIBLE, OCCASIONALLY. THERE WERE NO PREACHERS COMING IN, SO I MOSTLY JUST READ. I THOUGHT I HAD GIVEN MY LIFE TO THE LORD, BUT IT WAS LIKE ALL THE TIMES I ASKED THE LORD TO HELP ME, AND I’D NEVER DO IT AGAIN, BUT I DID DO IT AGAIN.

I WAS JUST WANTING HIM TO HELP ME OUT OF A SITUATION.

IT’S WHAT YOU HEAR ABOUT A LOT, “JAILHOUSE SALVATION.” IT DOESN’T STICK. YOU ARE STILL ON YOUR WAY TO HELL, I’M SORRY TO SAY.

BUT IT HAS TO BE THE REAL DEAL.

WHEN I GOT OUT OF PRISON, GOD REALLY STARTED MOVING I MY LIFE. SOMEONE WAS PAYING FOR MY COLLEGE TUITION AT ERSKINE THEOLOGICAL SIMINARY. I WENT ONE SEMESTER AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD EXPELLED ANOTHER STUDENT WHO WAS WORKING ON HIS MINISTRY LISCENSE FOR PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST, AND I KNEW IT WASN’T THE PLACE FOR ME TO BE, SO I LEFT.

I WAS AT HOME ON MY KNEES PRAYING AND WORSHIPPING AND ASKING GOD TO SEND A COMPANION IN MY LIFE. I HAD NOR MORE THAT GOT THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH, THAN I HEARD A KNOCK AT THE FRONT DOOR. IT WAS MY EXWIFE. WE HAD BEEN DIVORCED 14 YEARS. SHE WAS SAVED, AND LIVING FOR THE LORD. WE SHORTLY REMARRIED. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I WAS PRAYING AND ASKED THE LORD FOR A SON: THREE WEEKS LATER I FOUND OUT SHE WAS PREGNANT. IN ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS, I FOUND OUT IT WAS A BOY. GOD IS GOOD.

GOD PLACED ME IN A MINISTRY OF GOING BACK INTO THE PRISONS TO MINISTER TO THE INMATES OF ALL AGES.

GOD HAS TAKEN ME TO PLACES I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD GO. I HAVE MINISTED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 10 TIMES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. WHAT A JOY IT HAS BEEN TO SEE PEOPLE GET SAVED AND HEALED.

I HAVE A TRIP COMING UP JANUARY 2011 TO GO BACK TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. I NEED YOUR PRAYERS. 

I AM OPEN TO GO INTO PRISONS, CHURCHES, AND OTHER COUNTRIES AS THE LORD LEADS AND PROVIDES.

O HOW WONDERFUL IT IS FOR YOU IF JESUS IS IN YOUR HEART!! AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW JESUS, YOU CAN ASK HIM TO COME INTO YOUR HEART AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE. REALLY MEAN IT AND HE WILL COME IN. IT WOULD BE THE GREATEST THING YOU COULD EVER DO.

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