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The Works of Joan Morrone
Joan Morrone
The Kingdom of God Part I
The Kingdom of God Part II
Your Old Men Shall Dream
One Is Not A Small Number
Praying Without Ceasing
Elishama, Eliada, & Eliphelet
What Color is God?
Breaking Down The Barriers Of Prejudice
A short biography of Joan Morrone:
My life began in a small town in Pennsylvania, 70 years ago. Strangely, but not really, it may be ending in the same town in a High Rise until I die unless God has other plans for me. Until I was 40, I was quite backward and hardly spoke to anyone. Now you can hardly get me to shut up. My favorite subject of course is what God has done for me in my miserable life. I only moved about 35 times never having a chance to settle anywhere. The many experiences do show up in the poetry I write. Looking back I see God had a definite purpose for all I have gone through. As one man put it: “Most people have a mountain to climb but you have a whole ridge of them.” I have come out of them unharmed. Looking back more carefully and I do see I had a great life but my bad attitude didn’t allow me to enjoy it. I’ve been given a second chance. Sharing the poetry God has allowed me to write, I pray it will help uplift you and realize life is too short to waste it with self pity or any other negative ideas. I also write sermonettes or other inspirational materials. If you would like to read any of these, I would be glad to send them to you.
I’ve been married three times but not with God’s O.K. Single life is much better for me. I was blessed with 6 children, 16 grands and 2 delightful little great grandsons. What more could I ask for? I am so thankful that God has taken all my pain away and given me a new heart. I want to do all I can for the Glory of our awesome God. Thank you for your attention and enjoy. God bless every one of you.
The Kingdom of God is Within You Part I
Hello, my friends and those who have just newly made the acquaintance of my best friend, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He will be all of that and more to all who want to enjoy the fullness of his gospel. Whether you have been walking a long time with the Lord or a short time, it doesn’t matter. A new Christian is on fire for the Lord and sometimes all of us need the fire stirred up. As a good friend who knows the Lord, has said and I am permitted to quote from him, “The Lord always knows exactly what is needed for each of us and if we just stop from time to time and enjoy, we will be jump started again.” We can drift back to our comfort zones and need our motors tuned up to run at its fullest capacity. It’s no fun when we intend to go for a pleasant afternoon drive and the car gets a rebellious streak and decides to stop every few miles. What enjoyment do we get from that? Our Christian walk can sometimes be like that. We get a stubborn streak and refuse to move until the Holy Spirit reminds us by a word or two we hear on the radio, a TV Preacher or even in ordinary conversation. He has his own way to get our attention. Each of us has to be treated differently. We are reminded that Jesus is the only one who can give us complete satisfaction“ and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” Psalm 18:24 We do not walk this path alone ever. When Jesus gave the Apostles their great commission to go teach all nations and to baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, he told them to teach them to observe whatever he commanded them: and wonders of wonders, he did not intend to let them do it alone or under their own power. “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Read Matthew 28:19-20---I always use the King James version) but you check it out and compare His promise is to us also. What we have learned, we are to teach others. Make sure it can be matched with what the Scriptures say. Jesus promises to always be with us. Isn’t that a wonderful thought? This is my introduction to the way I write and who I am and why I am qualified to let you see how God works in everyday lives. I intend to show you that the Bible is not just a bunch of “thees and thous” and so and so begot so and so and principles way above our heads. It is a breathing, living , everyday but Holy thing designed to bring us into a close loving intimate relationship with God and His Son Jesus. The Holy Spirit of God resides in us to show us the way.
When I begin what I think will be a simple message, it is never that. The Holy Spirit leads
me into deep water way over my head. When I begin to think I’m drowning, He teaches me to
swim and leads me gently back to shore. He lets me know what he wants said and points to the
right scriptures. I am always amazed at where he takes me. But he does not take my individual
style from me. I was once told I should use more sophisticated language etc. But the Holy Spirit
lets me use simple facts of life; sometimes with local color expressions and even humor. A
preacher told me I write where people live. And that’s what I want to do. I want you to enjoy
your walk with Jesus and I believe he enjoys a good laugh once in awhile and he enjoys our
company. (Don’t ignore him until you want a favor. That makes him sad.) Who wants to follow
someone with a long f ace all the time and that means you and I also. Does not Ecclesiastes say:
“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” And remember
“for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
I didn’t intend to write such a long intro but I couldn’t stop. The heart of the message is
the struggles I faced trying to find my way home from the wilderness which lasted almost 71
years. Now I know, as I look back to the crooked path I had followed, I know God had His hand
in my life. I’ve been there; done that so I believe I am qualified to teach others how to avoid the
traps I fell into. It is really my testimony of my search for TRUTH as God gives us, not the
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not the ideas of the world.
My search for truth was a long and tedious journey and lonely. I finally found what I was looking for, I was reprimanded for changing churches and beliefs so often. I was not content to stay where my soul was not being fed good spiritual food. I did not believe I should stay where my parents always went just at their say so. Though as a child I had no choice. Life is made up of choices whether good or bad. God wanted us to decide for ourselves whether we love Him or the world; Satan’s domain. Your choices determine the path you walk on, a grassy green soft peaceful way or a dark and gloomy; full of stones. I so often chose the bumpy way, which started as the easy way out. And paid and paid and paid for my choices. When we are born, our fresh new little minds are like blank pages of a book waiting to be written on. Our parents are the first to put their impressions upon it whether verbal or in attitudes. From there comes a long line of people, aunts and uncles, teachers, preachers, the church you may attend at an early age or lack of it; everyone you come in contact with. Whether the teaching is right or wrong, we are brainwashed into believing the first doctrines we are taught. They are mixed up with whatever else others fill our minds with. I am NOT judging anyone else by what my first impressions were. I am NOT judging any church or denomination. In among the bushel of good apples, you may find a handful or so of bad ones. God does not sanction any one denomination over another. He is gathering His people wherever they are. He will put them where he wants them for His purpose. Unity of Spirit is what He is looking for. I Corinthians 12:12-14 “For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, WHETHER WE BE JEWS OR GENTILES, whether we be bond or free: and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. Oh, how the devil loves it when churches bicker about who has the only right Church. There is only one Church and that is God’s Church. Where God’s truth stands alone. God Himself set down the rules but man has added a few of his own or subtracted some of God’s because they did not suit his style of living. That is the heart and soul of the New Age Movement. Only it is not new for it goes way back to the garden when Satan told Eve “You shall be as gods.” ( Genesis 3:5 ) They keep changing their name and language for their main purpose is to do Satan’s work, deceiving, to keep anyone from knowing God’s truth. Mark 13:22 says: “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect..” Matthew 24:24 adds “the VERY ELECT”.
This is getting too long to read at one setting so I will continue with Part 2 in the next writing. It takes me about an hour for 1 page. Then my mind begins to get dull. It’s time to take a break. I hope will you study what I have written so far and be ready for the next. It will be about all the traps I fell into because I wasn’t grounded from the beginning. My life was like a tangled up maze or a picture puzzle. Alone each piece doesn’t make sense but when it is all finished it becomes God’s creation as he wants it. That means everybody. May you be surrounded by God’s love and to the point that you have an overflow you can send it out to others. Love is a circle.
Until next time may God bless you richly as you search for God’s truth.
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The Kingdom of God is Within You Part II
My journey begins. I am Not Judging any Church I have been in but only telling my experience with each
place I have attended. My experience in the Catholic Church colored much of what I began to believe, though
falsely. I have later gone to other Catholic churches and found a different atmosphere. GOD HAS SOME OF
HIS PEOPLE IN MANY PLACES even when some teachings are wrong. But God, in His time, will show
them His truth. Every church you can name began with the direct teaching of Jesus Christ but departed from it
by adding to it or taking away because it didn’t suit their style of living. Something else to think about: Rev 22:18-
to 19. Plagues added to you if you add to the prophecies of the BOOK. If you take away what is in the Book,
“God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life. Then Read Matthew 23:1-36. It is an
explosive tirade from Jesus. Nothing soft or coaxing about this message. His message was to the Scribes and
Pharisees considered top men of the law. He called them all kinds of nasty names; (sweet, loving kind Jesus
would do that?) hypocrites, blind guides, fools and blind, serpents, vipers No wonder they were angry
enough to kill him. Not only once but he kept repeating all his accusations. It wasn’t just in private but where
everyone could hear him. Where does that leave us? Many false teachings passed down from generation to
generation. Only the Bible in its pure form can show us the errors taught by false teachers. Priest, preachers,
rabbis, anyone teaching the wrong things will be condemned along with the souls that were lost because of
following them blindly and not questioning whether they were right or wrong. “Search the Scriptures; for in
them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 Don’t take anyone’s
word for Gospel truth. Don’t take my word for anything. I’m not but I could be feeding you a line. Search the
Scripures. That is what you believe. And I pray that what I say agrees with it. Oh, how Jesus wept over
Jerusalem. (Matthew 23:37-39) He weeps over all the nations and all the souls in them. This wasn’t a
Direction I had expected to go but it is what the Holy Spirit wanted said so I have to do it.
In the Catholic Church I was in, my experience was very unpleasant and I never felt I belonged. I got the
impression that God was NOT a loving God but a stern terrible being who sat up in the sky somewhere just
waiting to punish me severely for every little thing I did. I was “good” not because I wanted to be but because
I feared God’s ruthless punishment. What a terrible thing for a little child to carry. I grew up with a
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terrible guilt complex, taking the blame for everything that happened whether I was guilty or not. That was a burden I
could not handle. Who is responsible for creating that attitude in my young mind---the church, the priests or
nuns, my parents? BUT there comes a time when my innocence has to be done away with and I, alone, has to
come to terms with my own conscience and with God. I can no longer blame anyone else but myself, if I don’t
accept truth for what it truly is. Still “guilt” is a stronghold that clings for dear life if you are not aware it is
destroying yours. This is where the greatest treasure hunt begins. Jesus is the prize.
This is not my usual writing. It is my testimony on finding the loving, caring God I somehow had the
feeling did exist. But where? If I don’t have a real workable testimony, I have no business talking about the
things of God. I found He is real through hard knocks that I will never forget but only to the point to remind
myself where I came from and where I am now. God DOES work in our lives mightily. What I say may
shock some; with others it may be just what they need to hear.
After 30 years, I had the courage to leave the Catholic Church and “joined” a Lutheran Church. Not really
much different in beliefs and rituals. They taught some correct doctrines but I didn’t find God there.
Getting tired of Jehovah Witnesses knocking on our door, my husband invited them in for a Bible Study.
It “sounded” good at first. Remember this was from someone who wasn’t allowed to read the Bible. It can
not be interpreted by anyone but the priests, we were told. Why? We may find out some of the doctrines were
false. Certainly they had some truths but so did the Jehovah Witnesses---some taken away and some added.
What did I have to compare other beliefs to? I liked the way you could live the way you wanted to and when
you died that was it---no hell to torment you. Everyone I had talked to who had been in with them, did not have
the same story to tell. They change rules as it suits them. One day lately I was talking with one woman.
Surprisingly she was agreeing with mostly everything I was saying. She even offered that Christ had to be in you
and you didn’t need works to get you in the Kingdom! Is that group starting to believe too. Nothing is
impossible with God. I couldn’t go door so I wasn’t among the “chosen” few who would get to live in the
perfect world right here on earth. In theory I liked it . I didn’t care what happened to me after I died. My life
was worthless and of no use to anybody. I didn’t know Jesus so I couldn’t discern that he wasn’t important to
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them just a good teacher compared with Mohammand and others. My spirit said: “God isn’t here!
I wasn’t in the Christian Alliance long enough to form any opinions of what they were teaching.. My
life was going from bad to worse. The Baptist Church I tried next was divided and the preacher didn’t treat
his wife good. Had her crying all the time. I couldn’t see God there.
Mind boggling ideas were next. Maybe I could get it together trying to figure the universe and its
workings outin my limited little mind. Tried Rosicrucians, mind over matter, others with the same ideas. In the
first, I had to do an experience. Put two candles in front a mirror Turn all the light out and look deeply into
your own eyes and the describe what you see. Everything was dark except the “light” in your own eyes. I saw
the devil leering at me as if to say: “Ha Ha! I got you!” I was so scared. I ran and turned on every light on in
the house I may have called out to God but I’m not sure. I still didn’t learn. I tried hypnosis, and even
checked on reincarnation. No man could be perfect in one life. Maybe I was having such a hard time in this
life because I was rotten in my last one. Maybe I would reach my Karma (a perfect life, utopia at last.) In
reality that theory was like going around in circles and no way to get off; an endless merry-go-round. No
God there for a fact. Last I was ready to get into the new Age Movement; dealing with “space brothers”;
Claimed Jesus was one. Later I learned it was another Jesus they were talking about. Before I thought Jesus
was Jesus in no matter what form. Matthew 24:24 “For there shall arise false Christs...if it were possible, they
shall deceive the very elect.” They talked about “walk-ins not beauty shops but occult ideas and UFO’s.
Man messed the world up; it was up to man to straighten it out. Mind over matter, positive thinking and
other methods . Man had the power in himself. BUT THAT IS NOT SO. Yes, we do have to think
positive but WE CAN NOT CHANGE ANYTHING BY OUR OWN THINKING! We can never
figure it out by ourselves. Our only power comes from God, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit directing our
lives and our thinking. We get the mind of Christ when we let him control. I Corinthians 2:15-16 “But he
that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord,
that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” We don’t know every thought but by constantly
reading the Word of God, we learn much of how God and Jesus think. Just enough to show us how we
should live. And that is to do the will of God. We can’t obey if we don’t know what God expects of us.
Our own trying to reason God out doesn’t work
.The Kingdom of God is Within us---Part 2
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God got tired of my being on this religious merry-go-round. He let me know in no uncertain terms I
had to make a definite stand for or against Him. No middle ground. I couldn’t look to God for help when I
got in trouble and still dabble in the spiritual world of the devil. God would let me alone to my own devices if
I didn’t quit playing this dangerous game. I wish I could say I never left the straight path but I can’t. I did
quit the occult route and would warn others to stay away from such practices. I still wrote sermons but didn’t
always live up to them. I went to Church but something was missing---I lost my first love. My long time guilt
complex kicked in. I couldn’t believe God could love me. I was bad and he was going to punish me. I
couldn’t believe he would forgive me. Most of all I kept beating myself over the head. I couldn’t forgive me
and I couldn’t even like me let alone love me. I went into a deep depressed mood for 5 years (after I retired
and had lots of time to listen to God while He dealt with me.) After that and a dream God gave me where He
promised to heal me completely, physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, my bad attitude and anything else
that need changed to make me His new creature. If you haven’t done it yet read “Your Old men Shall Dream
Dreams” I will have to write a follow up because it is a done deal and in a miraculous way. And almost a year
later---September 9, 2000to August ?, 2001. GOD CAN AND DOES CHANGE LIVES; no matter what
you have done or where you have been or how deep you have fallen into the dirty well. I am living proof.
I had heard so many doctrines and ideas even down to antichrist teachings. I studied with the Bai-Hai’s (a new
Messiah with a different name was born in Turkey. I was in the Mormons believing you still had a chance after
death to become a good Mormon (not a Christian). I won’t go into their unbelievable teachings but I did believe.
IF YOU DON’T MAKE IT HERE ON EARTH RIGHT NOW BEFORE YOU DIE, YOU DON’T
GET ANOTHER CHANCE.) Their lies came direct from Satan way back in the Garden of Eden when he
Told Eve: “You shall be as gods.” Genesis 3:5 The devil is still a snake charmer. Being one that crawls on its
Belly or walks on two legs spreading lies .I was exhausted as you probably are reading this. My mind was
saturated with all kinds of worthless and dangerous theories. I was at the end of my rope (where God wants
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Us to be) I cried: “God, I know you are there but where, so I can see you?. A still quiet thought crept into
my mind, heart and soul, saying: The Kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21 It is not a building.
You can be at the most spiritual meeting possible but if the Kingdom of God is not within you, no matter
where you go (in the will of God, not doing the devil’s work) God will be with you. You take the Kingdom
with you wherever you go so others searching for what the you have found can see it in you. When I first
got saved, I was working with a little Muslim lady. She asked me if I was in love. I said: “yes, with Jesus.”
I don’t know if she ever got saved but she did become my friend for a short while. She may remember
me way down the road. It is a spiritual kingdom. The Church, the building,whether fancy or plain is an
outward shell where people of a kind gather to worship God as a body of believers. They go for fellowship
to be with their own to teach, encourage and uplift while praising God. A stranger entering in will be uplifted,
also because of the special love they feel in this gathering. May lead them to want what you have. If the
building was destroyed we would still have the Church of the Kingdom of God. It cannever be destroyed.
I prayed to be led to the right Church. I was tired of going my own way. I was IN a Church of God but I
Am a member of THE Church of God, not a denomination. I learned what he wanted me to learn there. Now
I am at the Lighthouse where the gospel is taught fully. It is non-denominational. As an after thought, I know I
was sent there just to sit and learn. I am written in as a member of those who belong to God, not just on any list
made up by man. God alone determines who belong to Him. Man is not a fair judge. He often judges by
outward appearances. Some may look saintly on the outside but could be rotten on the inside. I am glad God
is judging me. I am also glad I don’t have to judge anyone else. Our own personal relationship with God and
being obedient to learn His will by THE WORD, is the only thing that makes life worth living. I tried it all and
nothing satisfied. Now I have peace and am exactly where God wants me. I pray you find this Kingdom of
God and have the same hope and peace. God bless you.
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Your Old Men Shall Dream
Morrone
Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Your old men shall dream dreams; your young men shall see visions.” Older women have dreams, too. I had a dream from GOD. A few days later He gave me a partial spiritual interpretation.
This was in September 2000. I thought it was a onetime thing but as time goes on, it becomes more real and the promises He gave me are still being fulfilled. I was almost too embarrassed to write this but I firmly believe this is what I am to do. Although it was very personal to me, someone else may need to hear it. Before I tell the dream, I will give you some of my background. When I was first saved and for some time after, I struggled with the idea of how important the blood of Jesus could be and how blood could make me “white as snow.”
Although I accepted by faith, I still wanted to know how and why. Then it came to me: I don’t have to know how and why because it just does. God says it and God doesn’t lie. Although I accepted Jesus’ offer to “come to me”, just lately, I realized he was looking for me!), the devil kept me under condemnation making me believe I wasn’t as good as anyone else. And was I really accepted as a child of God? Looking back, I know I belong to God’s family. I remember ALL the many miracles God performed for me and the changes I see in me, slowly but surely, in spite of my many back steps. I was always very much aware of God but in a fearful way. He was not a loving Father but a stern, unmovable tyrant just waiting for me to do something wrong so He could punish me. I was always threatened with: “God will punish you if you’re bad.” That was a knife hung over my head, waiting to plunge into me. I had trouble believing that God could really love me, a worthless being. This because I was told most of my life that I was, stupid, dumb and crazy and couldn’t do anything right. I believed those lies. Some of you may be able to relate to this. Words do hurt. This kind of belief is one stronghold deeply embedded in the inner being, along with other wrong ideas. You build up strongholds, one on top of another to give protection
from further hurts. Examine your attitudes, patterns of thinking, beliefs, ideas, desires, behaviors and habits. We can make ourselves believe they are normal and true. Where did they come from? The
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devil weaves all kinds of spider webs inside us to confuse and keep us from God who is the only One who can give us a good Holy life. Did you ever consider how strong a spider web is? It is amazing! He uses anything he can to keep us tangled up in these many webs of deceit (a
master of deceit)---people, books, T.V., the media, whatever he can find to take our eyes off Jesus. Even some of our “religious” beliefs
could be wrong. Christians are not immune to his lies. The devil is really after us. He knows he is already defeated but won’t give up until his time runs out. God alone will tell us what to discard and what to keep. He will untangle all the webs the devil has woven when we ar3 open to His Word. But we need the help of the Holy Spirit who will lead us into all truth. John 16:13 “Howbeit, when he, the spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come.” (He does give us an inkling of future events one way or another but without all the details. We could not handle it if we know what was coming.) And John 8:32 “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
With God a 1000 years is only as one day. I am 70 but in God’s eyes, I am just a baby. I have 930 days to go to be just one day old in God’s mathematics! We think we are so mature. No matter how old we get, we still cling to some of our petty childish ways. A large web half-way covered my window. I kept getting rid of it and it kept coming back. They are really fascinating when you look at them. So are Satan’s tricks when we are unaware of them. The spider and the devil never give up. Neither should we. We have the weapons to win the battle --- the BLOOD OF JESUS AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (THE WORD OF GOD) Jesus already won all battles; we just have to believe the WORD. It’s not our fight. The devil may knock us down in our weak moments but we don’t need to stay down. Just call upon the Lord and He will answer. (Psalm 86:7) Then you can sit back and watch God work!
Now for the dream. Saturday September 9, 2000, I dreamed I was
lying on an operating table.. I was wide awake and waiting for what ever was going to happen, relaxed and unafraid. I saw a large hand coming toward me with a knife in it. Still no fear, only an
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unexplainable deep peace. I was cut wide open from my neck down. The two sides were separated and laid flat against the table. Blood began to trickle out slowly at first; then spilled out more freely like a peaceful gurgling stream---over my body and out, completely covered. The hand then gently took a mesh bag out and hung it on a line. I could not see what was in the bag. That was the end of the dream. It was so real and in color, bright red living blood. What a strange drream! A few days later I got a partial spiritual interpretation. Although the body was mine, it represents all Christians. We are full of stronghold; some more, some less of which we may not be aware of but God knows them all. We CAN NOT get rid of these under our own power; try as we might. By giving Jesus full control of our life, all of our past sins and wrong ideas are covered by the blood and won’t harm us any more when we rest safely in the arms of Jesus. Read Matthew 11:28-30. But we have to be cut wide open to make us aware of what we were made of inwardly. Picture God holding His two-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Nothing is hidden from God; He knows ALL about us. We can’t hide anything from Him. God is opening up all who will let Him operate on the inward man to get rid of the ugly cancer---our secret sins and errors. He will also show us what we are doing right. It may surprise us. He knows whether our good deeds are done for His glory or to earn us “Brownie Points” to get us into Heaven for our own sake. We waste a lot of time when something, though basically good, is not in God’s will for us. God is not concerned with our outward show of “goodness” but examines our inward intentions. Read Psalm 51:6-13. Verses 6-7 “Behold you desire truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” Verse 10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit in me. Verses 12 & 13 “Restore unto me the joy of your Salvation; and uphold me with your free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners shall be converted
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unto you.” You can only teach to others about what you know yourself---what you have gone through. And have been cleansed of that fault. Is this why God lets us go our own way, knowing we will fall? But when he picks us up and cleanses us, He can use us.
The flowing red blood was the blood of Jesus washing out all the accumulated garbage in my inward man. I had a hard time believing God could forgive me for what I had done; especially for dabbling in the occult for a time. Just enough to give the devil his opening. I got into one thing after another but God would get me out. He knew I was searching for the Truth but didn’t know where to go. I was ready to get into the New Age Movement when God stepped in and let me know in no uncertain terms I had to decide if I was going to serve Him or Satan. I couldn’t have it both ways. God was tired of me sitting on the fence wanting the best of both worlds. THERE IS NO GOOD THING ON THE WRONG SIDE. I’ve told this before and I will keep telling it. Occult practices and devil worshipping is growing more and more; often disguised with a false robe of righteousness. It is rapidly creeping into churches once filled with the Word of God and lived by. Christians can be deceived just like Eve was. The devil can change himself into an angel of light”. II Corinthians 11:13-14 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
The pure blood was going into every part of my insides, washing out
All the impurities of sin and error. NOTHING was passed over. Being so peaceful lying on teh table, says I ws willing to let God do surgery on me. He let me see His big, stron, gentle and sure Hand. I trusted Him. I was thoroughly cleansed by the blood, an antibiotic to keep the infection from spreading. Now God could start creating in me the new creature I accepted with hope though I couldn’t see how it was possible. Romans 8:24 & 25 “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with PATIENCE wait for it.” We have to be changed into that new creature God has promised us. The old creature is corruptible and will not get us into Heaven. The bag on the line is all the new parts
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God is going to put in me after he takes out the old. It contains a new
heart, body, soul and spirit---the whole works. I didn’t see these with my physical eyes but I believe it with my heart. Our old body will still be here as long as we are on this earth. We have to have something visible to hold the new man together. II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all thing are become new.: Before a baby is born, it starts a tiny seed. It gradually has all its parts added for nine months until it is complete. New Christians are like that baby. In God’s timing, He is in no hurry to make everything new all at one. Being carnal, I don’t think we can handle it all at once. Like one getting a heart transplant; sometimes the body rejects it. It is something foreign. Not always deliberately but from old bad habits, we may try to reject what God has for us. It is foreign to our old man. It took us many years to build up our strongholds. God will take parts out of the bag as we are ready for them. He will not force them on us. I did ask for a new heart; I can see it happening gradually. I need this to keep the blood of Jesus flowing freely. He doesn’t give us what we don’t want or ask for. We have to DO something on our part to get them. Ephesians 4:17-32 tells us about a new way of thinking and living. It tells us to put off (Verse 22) the old man and put on (Verse 24) the new man. It is something we have to make up our minds to do. We may fail from time to time but the HOLY Spirit will help us.
Remember we already have the makings of a new man placed in our bodies but as long as we are in this corrupt old body, God has to continually deal with us. No one has arrived yet. The blood has already done its work. We have some say as to what we allow God to do in us. We can accept or reject but lose a lot in the rejection. What hasn’t been changed will be when Jesus returns. Of course most of us know I Corinthians 15:51-53 about being changed in a twinkling of an eye. God knows we can not become perfect in a life time. Hebrews 12:1b says “...Looking unto Jesus the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our faith.” We do what we can; God does the rest. Are you ready to let God operate on you? I am.
God Bless you.
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One Is Not A Small Number
You have one dress; you have one child; you have one car; you have one piece of pie. That is not very much---not enough. Some have a cupboard full of clothes. Some have many children. Some have 3 or 4 cars. Some eat a whole pie. Is that enough? No! others have even more. A department store puts out scads of clothing. An orphanage or school or college has 1000’s or more young people in them. A car factory or garage has more cars than you could ever make use of. A bakery sales “oodles” of pies. So how much is enough? ONE! Not one as we see one but ONE as God sees it. Ephesians 4:3-6 “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is ONE body, and ONE Spirit, even as you are called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
Amazing! Let’s keep it simple. Life has become so complicated and we have done it to ourselves. Adam and Eve were ONE with God. Eve was deceived by the serpent and little old Adam followed along. He was supposed to be the leader but it was easier NOT to argue with Eve so she got the upper hand. Isn’t it like that today?. Some men would rather face a battle than to face the tirade of an argumentive woman. “It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, then with a brawling woman in a wide house.” Proverbs 21:9 Man often gives up his leadership just for the sake of a little peace. Women have pushed their way in until man has lost his dignity and the office of head of the household God destined him to be. Women’s Lib! What a joke. Women have always been free. Proverbs 31:10-31 gives the qualities of a good woman. Listing them, she is a virtuous woman (10); she does all her own work and is proud of it.(13-15) She doesn’t hire someone to do her work so she can gallivant around to useless pursuits that can get her in trouble. She is a business woman. (16) She is strong but mannish? She is proud of what she sells even though she has to get up early and works late into the night. (18-19)
“A woman’s work is never done.” She does not neglect the needy. Helping others is just another part of her day.
(20) She is a dressmaker (21-22, 24) Read the rest of it. A good woman knows her place and is proud of it. A worldly woman has knocked the man down and trampled on him. It is time the Christian man claims his rightful place as leader but not to the point of being a cruel tyrant, a male chauvinist. He should play his role with love.
Oops! How did I get on that subject? The Holy Spirit led me into it. Back to Adam He gave no thought at all to God. Never chnages. The devil won that round but not for long. He told them they would be as gods and they believed him. They wanted to believe. They did not want any restrictions. The new age Movement is not new. It is as old as time. Isn’t that their idea now? “Do your own thing.” Instead of listening to God, they tried to “split the atom”. God has every tiny bit of information necessary for a good and peaceful life. And a close relationship with Him, tied up in ONE little bundle. God Himself would slowly unravel it as it was needed. Everyone and everything would be in correct order. The earth and sky was first placed where God wanted them to be. Man, given a free will didn’t like the arrangement of things. He wanted to do his own thing in his own way. Do you think the New Age gave you freedom. They want you to go by their rules, which can be anything and changed at their will. to suit their whims not God’s. The devil is still sneaky and deceitful. The whole theme is that MAN DOES NOT NEED GOD; HE IS A GOD. This is the main part of the Mormon doctrine. If you are a faithful and obedient Mormon and are married to a wife who is the same, you will be the god of your own world. In the world, each man tries to be god in his limited little space. There are a lot of “control freaks” who expects everyone to bow down to their demands. An atom has so many individual parts. So is the world today. There is no ONEness with God except in the true Christianity section of the world. With all the enticements offered today, even Christians can be pulled into this whirlwind of frivolous activities. Where is the ONEness when denominations fight with each other to prove they are the only one “IN” with God? Our duty as a Christians is to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit, to restore it to its proper place. God could easily pull it all together by Himself if He wanted to. But as His children with a fee will, He wants us all to have a part in His plans. Ephesians 4:1 “I, therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called.” Vocation means to perform a certain function,
especially a religious one. When all do his part, we will become ONE again as God planned it to be. God does not want us to be lazy and enjoy our position as a child of the King without having concern for each other and for the lost. God uses our arms, our legs, and our mouths to do His work. It is Jesus who enables us Phillippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” But it is our choice whether we do it of not. We are not irreplaceable; God will give the job to someone else. His work will get done. But someone else will receive the blessing God wanted to give you. You are the loser. We can not accomplish anything alone. That is why we MUST have unity and work together as ONE and not pull apart as we often do. There is often discord because someone is jealous of the position another has and they wanted it.
Why do we need unity? Nothing will succeed without everyone involved pulling together. Each doing what has to be done for the good of all. To win a war, you need unity. If each soldier didn’t obey his commander, the whole company could be wiped out and the war would be lost. A business succeeds only if the employees pull together and go by the boss’s plans. If your job isn’t done right, everyone loses. As a result, the business may go down under and you lose your livelihood. Running a home needs unity. A house (not a home) where the husband and wife go in different directions and don’t really care what the other wants, will eventually fall apart. There is a deep need to agree on how to spend their combined money (if the wife also works), raise their children or even how to spend their leisure time plus other important issues, the marriage will fail. Matthew 12:25 “Every house divided against itself shall not stand.” Most of all we need unity in the Church, ; between the Church and God. The Church will go on in spite of us. It is God’s Church (not the building) and He does want us to have a part in working to become ONE with Him.
You have ONE body; I have ONE body; the Church has ONE body. Is it only the Church I am attending or the place you go to? I would like to stress this point: IT IS NOT THE BUILDING OR DENOMINATION. It is the BODY of BELIEVERS wherever they are. As I see it, my church is teaching the Doctrine of Jesus Christ---the way it is presented in God’s Holy Word, the Bible. Yours may be preaching something that is outside God’s Word. Be warned, there are many that distort the Word of God to their own liking.
Yet , you as an individual, faithfully read your Bible, live by the principles laid out in it. What do you do? You stay for awhile out of fear until it gets unbearable. You start looking for a church that stays close to the word. (Man is
not perfect; he can unknowingly slip up somewhere but if he is open to the Spirit, he will be shown his error.) God will lead you to the right place in His own way and Time. He knows what you need and when. He won’t fail you.
We are creatures of habit. We may balk for awhile but if we are sincere about doing God’s will, we will move when He tells us to do so.
In your church, you may be an arm, lifted in praise. Jesus is always teh head, teh leader. If you are a hand, you can play an organ or other musical instrument; whatever gift God gave you. With that same hand you can carry a glass of water to the preacher like one young lady does. She has two parts; she is also a pair of legs to the needed task. Feet may look ugly but they can walk to homes or hospitals to visit the sick or to go to the prisons to visit the inmates. A mouth can encourage and tell the hurting about the love of Jesus and how he can release you of your heavy burdens. Matthew 11:30 “For my yoke is easy, my burden is light.” The preacher is a mouth giving voice to the WORD of God. Arms can give hugs to someone who needs a gentle touch. We do need each other though Jesus is the one we rely on when others fail us and we feel all alone. Although Jesus is the Head, he lets us yours ours to learn wisdom. He doesn’t really want weak “Yes men” and women. We try to take care of our own body . So each individual part must work together to take care of the ONE body which is the Church; Jesus teh head. ONE IS NOT A SMALL NUMBER!. God bless you as you learn His pure truth.
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Pray Without Ceasing
CEASING
MANY A HEART, SO LONELY, HAS GONE ASTRAY.
THEY’VE BEEN TOO PROUD TO KNEEL DOWN AND PRAY.
YOU’RE NOT THE ONLY ONE TO FEEL THIS WAY;
JESUS WAS LONELY BUT HE KNELT DOWN TO PRAY.
PRAY WHEN THE SUNSHINES; PRAY WHEN IT RAINS.
PRAY WHEN YOU’RE HEALTHY AND PRAY WHEN IN PAIN.
PRAY WHEN YOU’RE WORKING; PRAY WHEN YOU PLAY.
DON’T LET THE DEVIL LEAD YOU ASTRAY.
PRAY IN THE EVENING; PRAY IN THE MORN.
PRAY EVERY MOMENT; YOU’LL NOT BE FORLORN.
PRAY WHEN YOU’RE HAPPY; PRAY WHEN YOU’RE SAD.
PRAY UNTIL JESUS MAKES YOUR HEART GLAD.
SO PRAY WITHOUT CEASING; GOD IS YOUR FRIEND.
HE WILL BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU IF YOU PRAY TO THE END.
PRAYER IS NOTHING BUT A CONSTANT AWARENESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE IN YOU LIFE. HE WALKS AND TALKS WITH YOU AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR DAILY AFFAIRS. SO PRAYER WITHOUT CEASING.
GOD MADE THE MAN
GOD MADE THE MAN WHO MADE THE BUSY HIGHWAYS.
GOD MADE HIS HANDS TO PRAISE ALL HIS CREATION.
GOD MADE HIS EARS TO LEARN ABOUT HIS WAYS.
GOD MADE HIS LIPS TO SING HIS PRAISE.
THEN GOD MADE YOU AND ME.
GOD MADE THE MAN TO PLANT AND GROW A TREE.
GOD MADE OUR EYES THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE
THE WORK HE’S DONE IN ALL THE NATIONS.
THE WONDERS OF CREATION.
THEN GOD MADE YOU AND ME.
GOD MADE THE MAN WHO’S PRECIOUS NAME IS JESUS.
GOD MADE THE MAN WHO DIES SO HE COULD SAVE US.
GOD MADE THE MAN WHO SHED HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD.
AND GAVE HIS LIFE TO SET MEN FREE.
HE LOVES BOTH YOU AND ME.
GOD IS LOVE; GOD IS GOOD. GOD IS JUST; GOD IS TRUTH.
GOD IS PERFECT; GOD IS ROYAL
SO PRAISE HIM WHILE YOU CAN.
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Elishama, Eliada, & Eliphelet
Before I get into Ephesians 4. I would like to tell you about a camp meeting I went to. A sermon I heard there gave me a new perspective on some things that have been happening in my life that aggravated me beyond control. I got angry with myself for letting it happen. I will give you the preacher’s sermon in my own words and then tell you how it helped me. This with the hope that it will also help you with situations and people who irritate you endlessly. The evangelist said he wanted to leave a message that would stick with us when we went home.
This one did. I don’t often use another man’s message but this one I have to.
Are the three names in the Bible familiar to you? You will find them in I Chronicles 3:8 and also in II Samuel 5:16. These were three of the many children of David. Names with “El” in them have some meaning about God. The meanings I will give later. The preacher said every single word in the Bible is for a purpose. God does not waste words. What purpose can the “begats” be? This is why we must study the Bible continuously. There are so many gems hidden in it. Even the parts that bore us have a meaning.
Now according to this preacher (check it out before you accept his word or mine), David was the least of Jesse’s sons. He was not particularly liked by his father and his brothers. I Samuel 16:1-13.tells us how he was chosen to be king. Jesse brought out all his sons but David. He didn’t even mention he had another son. Samuel knew and demanded to have him brought out. “There remains yet the youngest, and behold he keeps the sheep.” In Egypt it was an abomination to be a shepherd. (Genesis 46:34) This just came to me years later since I wrote this originally. Egypt represents the wilderness before we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Since Jesus is also our Shepherd and keeper of his flock (the church), it would only follow that “Egypt”, those in the world, would hate shepherds and sheep (God’s people). According to the speaker (I have no way of knowing this for a fact without research) tending sheep was never assigned to a member of a family but to a servant. Yet David was sent far out in the fields to do this hated chore. He was left alone with no one to talk with but God ( a good place to be! We need this more often) He was a lonely child. His brothers were angry with him when he took food to the camp for them. Although hungry, they probably were ashamed to let anyone know he was their brother. Another point made “and now he was ruddy and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look at.” I use a concordance with Greek and Hebrew dictionaries. It makes it so much easier to understand some of the terms used in the Scriptures. Words have different meanings than what modern man knows. “Ruddy” means reddish. (of the hair or face?) So David maybe did have red hair and a reddish complexion---maybe even had freckles. The Hebrews were dark skinned with dark hair. Jesse had more than one wife but what nationalities were they? Was his family7 ashamed of him because he was different? Whether true or not, David was lonely. The words to remember here are “God hears”.
Of course everyone seems to know about David’s sin with Bathsheba. Remember the words “God knows”. You have heard the story of David, slaying a bear and a lion.” Read I Samuel 17:32-37 David was fearless but only because he had complete faith in God. The words here are :God delivers.” These three names were, Elishma, Eliada & Eliphelet, were given to three of Davids sons. Did he just pick them by accident? When I picked names for my children, I looked their meanings up but not in the Bible. I wasn’t a Christian yet. All through the Bible we see where a certain name was given because it meant something special; not just a person but also places. In Genesis 32:28, after Jacob wrestled with an angel of God. The angel said: “Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince you have power with God and with men, and has prevailed.” The Hebrew meaning for Israel is “he will rule with God”. “Jacob” means “heel-catcher or supplanter. He did both to his brother Esau.) Read Genesis 25:19-34, an interesting story. There are many instances of name changes or calling a thing something special. Think of the name “Bethel”. Read Genesis 28 about Jacob’s dream of a ladder reaching to heaven. The place was first called “Luz” but he changed it to Bethel. He realized this place was truly the “house of God” and that is the meaning of “Bethel”. Study this as you read.
To bring it back to us as erring human individuals, I will tell you about my trying situation. It involves a young man I worked with. Ever since I began working this particular restaurant, he made it a point to make my life miserable there. It is really ridiculous for I am twice his age and should have enough sense not to let it someone “still wet” behind the ears to upset me. Yet some people seem to have a way to get to you no matter what you do. Do you know anyone like that in your life? He always put me on the defensive. He let me know in no uncertain terms that he is of a higher class than I am so he thinks. But I know a real gentleman and of a so called high breed never makes another feel belittled. I’d tell myself he has problems so tries to build himself up by putting others down. When I least expect it, he would make a sneak attack and I was up in arms again. So what do as a Christian do? Do I ignore him---let it go in one ear and out the other---walk away, letting him know he is not getting to me---or do I stand there, get angry and try to defend myself? At Calvary, when Jesus was accuse, he did not walk away; he did not get angry nor did he try to defend himself. He did not do anything! If we are to be like Jesus, this is the stand we must take. Do nothing. That is the hardest thing in the world. God will take care of the situation. And eventually He did. This young man has become a good friend. He read the sermons and has accepted Jesus. He even passes copies out on his own. Although now retired, I still send him sermons and call him once in awhile. God not only takes care of a situation, He makes it even better. I have learned the nastier a person (especially customers) is to me the more I go out of my way to be nice to them. Took awhile to break some of them down, but they ended up being friends. God’s kind of love never fails. Jesus died but rose from the dead. He had a great victory over death and sin. We can have this same victory over anyone or anything that comes against us. God will fight our battles and deliver me from such people if I submit my problems to him and don’t try to solve problems my own way. Doesn’t work.
Now Elishama means “God hears” Eliada---“God knows”; and Eliphelet means “God delivers”. As David may have been reminded of the tree big incidents in his life , let us always remember these three words every time something happens to us. God does “hear” what others say to us. He does not let it go in one ear and out the other. God knows exactly what is going on in our lives and He is right there with us, though we may not think so. At just the right time, He turns the tide and delivers us from the problem. Yea! for our side. We have the victory! But don’t get too big headed. Remember where you once were. Matthew 5:44 says: “But I say unto you, LOVE your enemies, BLESS them that curse you, DO GOOD to them that hate you, and PRAY for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” I learned the hard way what that meant. Now may be the time to tell it. It may help someone else. Next writing, God willing. It was an awesome thing God has done. Now hear this listen good. You have been put upon. You feel resentful. You are upset about it. Why should it happen to you? It happened.; you cannot change the fact. But what can you or should you do about it? Are you going to act like a Christian and turn the other cheek so God, in His time, can turn it around or react just as the world does? WE ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF CHRIST. Would he be proud of us or ashamed? Do we snap back and try to get even or just do nothing? WWJD?
Remember, God not only hears what others say to us but also what we answer back. He knows what others do to us as well as how WE handle the situation. He delivers us from our enemies BUT those they need us to pray for them so they, too, can be saved and become a beloved child of God, too. We can not be selfish. Deliverance can be a two-way street---for the justified, sanctified saints of God. We, in turn can be used by God as the means for the children of the world to be delivered from the chains of bondage the devil has put on them .Being delivered , they become children of God, to be used the way we were used to bring about their salvation. It goes on and on like that. We are never blessed more than when we pull a soul out of the pits of hell and see his salvation. James 5:20 “let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” Praying for that soul is the best way to bring it about. Then let him see by our actions or lack of reaction that we are different from the world. He will wonder why we did not fight back.
After hearing the sermon about David’s three sons, the young man again tried to irritate me. I felt myself stiffen up ready to defend myself as I usually did and getting nowhere. I gave him a big smile, patted him on the cheek and walked away. So what happened? Now he is going out of his way to be helpful and nice to me. Little things, to be sure, but they show a change in the young man. Before when I went to get mustard or mayo for a sandwich, he would push me aside and grab his first and give me a big smart-aleck grin. After that, when he knew what I wanted, he handed it to me before he got his. He complemented me on how nice I looked when I was leaving the store. Before, he made fun of the way I was dressed or how my hair was fixed. God took care of HIS attitude as well as mine! God changes all kinds of people.
Remember Elishma, Eliada & Eliphelet. REMEMBER God HEARS, God KNOWS and God DELIVERS---your enemy as well as you. God is in charge of any situation if you let Him be. LET GO & LET GOD! God bless you.
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What Color Is God?
WHAT COLOR IS GOD?
IS HE WHITE? IS HE BLACK?
IS HE YELLOW--------- OR RED?
DID HE SAY ONE WAS BETTER?
DID HE WRITE YOU A LETTER?
TO TELL YOU TO FIGHT WITH ONE WHO IS WHITE
OR ONE WHO IS BLACK AND HE MUSTN’T FIGHT BACK?
DID HE SAY TO IGNORE THE ONE WHO IS YELLOW
OR DO CHASE OFF THAT RES, INDIAN FELLOW?
WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN AS YOU THINK YOU WILL
THOUGH YOU DIDN’T LOVE YOUR BROTHER
YOU BLACK SAINTS GO TO THE REAR.
WHITE FOLKS, STAY UP FRONT.
RED MAN, I HAVE A RESERVATION FOR YOU.
YELLOW MAN, I’M NOT SURE I PREPARED A PLACE FOR YOU.
GOD IS A SPIRIT.
WHERE DOES COLOR COME IN?
BREAK DOWN THE BARRIER.
TO HATE IS A SERIOUS SIN.
WE ARE CLAY IN THE POTTER’S HAND.
HE CHOSE TO MAKE US DIFFERENT.
HE PUT US ALL ON DIFFERENT LANDS
THEN TO ALL, HIS SON HE SENT.
What color is your god?
What color is your god?
What color is your god?
WHAT COLOR IS GOD?
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Breaking Down The Barriers Of Prejudice
Morrone
Break down the barriers of prejudice is the message God is giving me. It’s a tough one but I must obey. At the time I originally wrote this around 1987 or shortly after, I didn’t how this would be accomplished so it could be worldwide. I had a computer but was not on the internet. Now I know cyberspace is the way to go. I had many kinks that God had to straighten out in my personality like attitude adjustments, from negative to positive, things that hold you back from being able to use fully what God has given you to do. After God cleans you up, puts on you new clothes, then He sets you on the path he wants you to go, then and only then can he really use you in His full power. Getting published on the internet is really humbling me and that is where God wants us to be. TO GIVE GOD THE GLORY!
Years ago, not even claiming to be a Christian (I had back slid and thought I lost it but I never quite gave up hope. I still believed God was real and in control) , but searching diligently for a return to God, if I wasn’t too far gone, He showed me a shadow of what was to come for me. Now, years later, I can see the clear picture and why the time of silence. I JUST WASN”T READY YET! On my way from work, I heard beautiful music and singing coming from a church near my home. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Fearfully I walked in. To my amazement I was surrounded by all black people. I was overwhelmed. I almost felt threatened. I never considered myself prejudiced but this was ridiculous.
The preacher recognized my appearance there. Why wouldn’t he? My whiteness stuck out like a sore thumb. I was different. He asked if I had a testimony. I did but I wasn’t going to give it. The Holy Spirit nudged me---“You better do it.” He told me. And I did but it wasn’t easy. I stood up as bold as could be. I would never have had the nerve on my own. I slowly looked around. I said: “You know, this is the first time I’ve ever been around all blacks. Now I know how you must feel when you are around all whites. God has shown me that perfect love is when you can cross the color barrier and love in spite of the differences.”
I quickly sat down. Inwardly, I groaned: “Now they are going to kill me.” To my utter amazement, everyone started hugging me and shaking my hand. The message got through. It was great. After that we had a wonderful God filled service. The presence of God was definitely there.
` Since then through a series of changes; some good, some bad, I ended up in a black church. I was the only white person there except for a little white girl. From the first, they made me feel at home and I received much love from them. I was going for Bible studies. Later I went full time to teach Sunday School to 9, 10, and 11 year olds; some street kids with no discipline. It was a rough 4 years. I tried to quit but God just wouldn’t let me. I got to the end of my rope and then God released me. I learned you don’t quit something just because it was hard but only when God says to leave it. He did all the arranging. I learned a lesson of endurance under persecution.
I stayed in the Church though. For one week God laid on my heart a message he wanted me to give to the congregation. I wasn’t a licensed preacher but God doesn’t hear that. I timidly told the preacher’s son what I just told you about the message. He told his Dad and I got the O.K. Behind the pulpit, I was shaking in my boots if I had boots on. I had to have all kinds of notes and had to practically read from them. I don’t even remember the message. It wasn’t given too smoothly but the points got across. God let me use some humor in it. When they laughed I knew they understood what I meant. About 20 times (Don’t try to keep score, tho.) God gave me more. I gave them but I never became one who could spout them off without notes or naturally.
Now before that, I was like a little mouse in a corner waiting in fear for the big ole cat to pounce on me and devour. At one of the Bible studies, I was asked to lead the services. Who, me; afraid of my own shadow. “Come on, we’ll help you.” They said. I did it and led many services after that. With hind sight, I see now God was changing me from a mouse to a roaring lion, yet to happen!
You have to understand that the preacher in that Church was 90 years old. Most of his congregation left because he rambled so about days long past. Only about 8 of his faithful family stayed. He was such a sweet-spirited , humble praying man. He did a lot of fasting and when he prayed you knew he really touched God.
He loved me like a Father and always called me “Jonah”. I guess he thought that was really my name. His grand daughter and I both taught Sunday School and had a Youth Program for them just a little later. Instead of taking me home for such a short time, her dad and grandfather and she would take me out for dinner and go to the Dad’s house until time to go back to Church. I got a taste of a true Christian family. No one could have treated me any better. I got to know and understand black people better in a personal way. We developed a tight comradeship between us. We became one in the Spirit. We felt free to laugh at each others differences;
especially one man. He wanted to know when I was going to learn to speak good English. I laughed at their local color but in a friendly way. We were never offended. They knew that I was real and I knew that they loved me. I was asked by my white friends why I didn’t find a white church to go to. Even Christians asked me that, which showed they had prejudice in them. They looked at me like I was an alien when I said I go where God puts me and that satisfies me. After about 5 years God led me to a white Church and I am still there.
What God has in store for me is not clearly known but I am getting a good inkling of how it will go. If I knew too much, I might not want to do it. God is giving me hard topics to cover. Somebody has to address these issues. Here am I, Lord, send me.
I’ll close for now. Please think about what I said and pray about it. Look into your own heart and see if there are any traces of prejudice. It’s not just a black and white issue but goes to other nationalities besides your own--- Jews, Cubans, Oriental countries---the whole world God has created and placed man where he wanted him to be. Let us learn to love these differences and put away our prejudices.
Following this testimony there will be a series of different aspects of this serious problem every week.
I love you and want you to learn to love others, especially those who are different. God bless you for working to bring unity into God’s Kingdom.
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