lv

The date was February 29th 2004, I was over at the garage where my shop is located. I rent a spot for my shop from my mother and stepfather and I also have some personal items stored there. I was over there looking through some personal items looking for something in particular, though to this day, I can’t remember what it was. Must not have been too important. Looking through a box I found a King James Bible given to me on September 27th 1967 by Southside Baptist Church. Every thing stopped as I picked up that Bible. Well I went home and started to read it but I was having a hard time with that old King’s English, still I kept reading. The Lord was starting to speak to me. One day at work, March 8th 2004 about 11:20am I heard this voice deep in my heart. “Lee, take a lunch break, what you are looking for is at Janaf Shopping Center, the Heaven and Earth Bookstore.” I was surprised and questioned the voice’s reality and the same voice said, “Just go do it”. OK, who am I to argue with such a commanding voice I thought. Well I went to the store as I was commanded and went right to a spot were there where two copies of the New Living Translation Bible, one white and one teal. I bought both (tell you why later). I went back to the office and opened the white Bible and sat there behind my computer all afternoon reading and went home and read all evening until about 11pm. Years ago I started reading the Bible from the beginning and I stopped at the book of Luke, so I started my reading at John. When I woke the next morning I read for a while and decided to leave the Bible home. I knew I would read it all day at work and I had much work to do. I went home that evening and read again until about 11pm. Same thing Wednesday except about 6pm, I stopped reading and asked the Lord to find me a church to go to. There came that voice deep in my heart again. It said, “Go get the yellow pages”, so I did, wasn’t gonna argue with that voice this time. It was the 2003 edition and I opened it right to the section on “Churches”. There on the right hand page, upper right hand corner was an ad for The Family Worship Center. I knew then that the Lord had heard me and had a church he wanted me to attend. I got up that next Sunday morning, March 14th and went to The Family Worship Center. As soon as I entered I felt true and genuine love by the people there. During the service I surely felt the presence of God and the Pastors message was as if God had the Pastor write it for me. Why should I feel guilty for my sins if God forgave me for them? All I had to do was accept Jesus Christ (again for me) into my life. You see a little over twenty-five years ago I had done just that and for close to five years I tried to live a life led by Jesus, just somewhere along the road I left Him. Well here He was again telling me I could come back and that He still loved me regardless of all the terrible sinful things I had done. All I had to do was turn my life back over to him, the sins would be forgiven and he would remake me. I left the church building and was about a quarter mile away when I said “Lord I have made a mess outta this life, trying to do it my way, Lord I give it to you, please forgive me and help me”. It was as if a weight had been lifted from my whole body, a peace, calm and comfort I had never felt before.
   Well I’ve been going to the Family Worship Center every since. I have missed only one Sunday service. I have been to most of the Tuesday evening prayer services and all of the Thursday evening Bible studies. I finished the New Testament in the NLT Bible I had bought on the Eighth of March. The Pastor uses the New Kings James version, so I bought one in addition to the NIV and the NASB. You see if I don’t get something in one translation I usually get it out of one of the other four. Pastor Ted Fortenberry is truly a man of God and he preaches the word of God from the Bible. I have learned so much from him and I love the man. We will be having an Evening service on July 9th and God willing I will be baptized that evening. That’s right I’ve never been baptized after all those previous years of “church going”. The love from all of my brothers and sisters and the FWC is real and genuine, no wonder God selected that church for me. For He has so richly blessed me.
   Oh, the other NLT Bible in teal? I gave that to my (was ex & now ex again) girlfriend, I heard Him tell me to buy it for her. I gave it to her about a week after I bought it and encouraged her to start reading it. We both have a “church” background and similar circumstances as far as our “church” past. The difference being her fundamental verses my conservative “church” background. I have also brought other Christian reading/study material. She has started to attend the FWC with me, as have her children. It appears the Lord is working a little slower with her than me but He is there for her. The rest is up to her.
   As for that one Sunday service I did miss. I took the girlfriend to the Dover NASCAR race that weekend. Neither of us had been to a live race before. We spent a few minutes in prayer before we left. We had a great time. Her favorite driver (Mark Martin) won and wow was she excited.
   What’s your relationship with God? For twenty-five years the only thing I did “good” was sin. Today is much different, sure I still make mistakes and life’s normal troubles are there. God makes all the difference. Ever seen the bumper sticker “no Jesus no peace, know Jesus know peace”? My experience tells me that to be true. Jesus Christ is there, all you have to do is ask Him into your heart and He will transform your life. Find a church or someone you know that is a Christian for guidance and start experiencing life for real!

Continued

   Well, today is October 21, 2004, my 46th birthday and things are a little different than they were 6-8 months ago. Oh I still have a close relationship with the Lord, much closer than ever as a matter of fact. I must be doing something right though, satan has put many stumbling blocks before me and in two instances I’ve stumbled terribly. (I never capitalize satans name, he doesn’t deserve that type of respect from me.) I realize when I stumble and immediately ask Gods forgiveness and it’s done. Hallelujah!
   My biggest stronghold is the disease of alcoholism; yep I’m an alcoholic. I tried for some time to “handle it on my own” and I can’t do it by myself. Only when the pain and hurt got so bad did I get on my knees and pleaded with God to heal me from this addiction. If I had known that it was that simple, I would have done it way back in March of this year. You see we have to let go and let God, completely. I’ve given it all over to Him completely with no reservations. I’m going to AA and they speak of a “higher power”. That’s for those who refuse to accept that God is real and that He is alive. Jesus Christ is my higher power, my only power. No way could I do this on my own. I’m actually happy that this disease almost destroyed me. Only when I realized that this disease was satans method of keeping me from turning all of me over to Gods will did I accept the Truth fully and completely. Today I don’t have to take a drink to relax and live. I’ve got God to live for. Praise God!
   I missed the baptism, had a small mix up that day, an oops kind of thing. It will happen soon I’m sure. The Lord will see to it in time.
   The ex-girlfriend? Well it appears that she doesn’t feel the need to have a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. I grieve for her and the decision she made not to draw closer to God. But as I said before that’s her decision. I pray that some day, some how, she will come to see the truth and realize the folly of her decision. I do know Jesus is there to welcome her back with unconditional love. He is there for anyone that is willing to try the Way, the Truth and the Life. Hey, He ain’t gonna make you stay if you wanna go out and do it on your own again.
   I’m not sure what God has in store for me, how I’ going to serve Him. I’m sure of one thing; it will be for His glory and my well being.
   There are many Christian friends I would like to thank for giving me some additional guidance, Darnell B. for feeding me The Word at a critical stage of my life; Pastor Ted F. for his firmness in teaching The Word; Dan & Tina S. for allowing me to express thoughts that I couldn’t express to any one else, Pastor Pete T. for the love and friendship over many years; Betsy C. counselor extraordinaire, Don M. and Bob R. my AA pals and Paula C., Dea B. and Cindy B. my co workers that have shown me loving kindness over the many years I have had the pleasure of knowing them. I thank God for such good people in my life.
   Stay tuned for an update, God has something big in store and I want to proclaim His glory as He does His will in my life. I just want to be another vessel to carry His message to all who will listen.
   All praise and glory to God through Christ Jesus our Savior!

Continued

   Today is the 30th of January 2005 and it’s time for an update. I do need to go back to the 1st of September 2004. That day I lost control of my senses so to speak. Something bad happened on that date and I do not want to go into the details, that’s between me, the people involved and God. It did bring me to the conclusion that I had not given myself completely over to God. The following day was spent in prayer and meditation. I made sure that day and firmly vowed to God that my life was one hundred percent His. No more will I try to “handle the small matters myself”. All of my matters belong to Him as I belong to Him.
   Recently my good friend, Darnell, has come up with a wonderful idea for evangelism. We will attempt to reach others who are suffering from alcohol and drug addictions (maybe some other areas as well). Using my testimony of how God has removed my compulsion for alcohol with his knowledge in The Word. With God’s will and help we can help others with their sickness and bring them to Christ Jesus. I asked The Holy Spirit why me, and the answer was, "I choose who I want to use -- case closed!"
I recently completed a home study course offered by a ministry college. The average time to complete this course is about six months. I threw myself into this study and completed it in fourteen weeks and scored a ninety-eight point eight grade point average. I was ordained as a pastor on the 5th of December 2004. Do I feel like a pastor? Not really, as I realize I need to be more knowledgeable in The Word and besides I didn’t ask to be ordained by this ministry college. I plan to spend the next few months studying the Bible, doing as many Bible studies as time will allow and studying under the pastor at the church I attend. I do feel that God will use me to help others with their addictions and that my work with Darnell is the beginning of this calling from God. I have been a help to some people in this area already.
   I am going to attempt, for the fifth time, to quit smoking. This time I believe I can succeed. First of all I have asked God to take the desire away and I have been taking Wellbutrin XL for the last two weeks. I have not tried quitting using this method before. The bottom line is that I realize my body is a temple and I want to please God and treat my body as a temple of His. God helping me to quit is another way of glorifying Him.
   I still have “things” going on in my life but I have handed it all over to God and in the name of Christ Jesus all will be taken care of. I still have a way to go in my walk with Him and I have asked that He keep leading me. God bless and thanks again to all of my friends, old and new. I’m sure another continuation is coming soon. Praise God, Whose grace is all sufficient, be glorified!