Little Impressions

The "little impression" came ever so gently, so gently that I hardly noticed it. I breathed a prayer, yet it came again, as if a feather drifting in the wind touched my thoughts. There was something about it that I couldn't ignore. I once again prayed. "Jesus, please keep your hand on Wendell as he walks outside today. Don't let him be hit by a car. I plead your blood over him in Jesus Name! Amen."

It was a little while later when my husband came back to the room. The first words out of his mouth were, "I've never come so close to being hit by a car like I was today. A policeman driving the car was coming right at me and when he was 4-6 feet from me, he jerked so he wouldn't hit me!" I breathed a prayer of thankfulness that my husband had not been hit, and that God had whispered into my spirit to pray for protection! There's power in prayer!

It amazes me how God works. I was just going about my morning when the "little impression" came. It came so softly that I could have brushed it aside and went about my day. I fully believe if prayer had not been made, if the blood of Jesus had not been applied, that Wendell would have been hit by a careless driver and badly injured, possibly killed. I'm so thankful God I listened to the "voice of God" that morning, and whispered a simple prayer.

"Oh how He loves you and me..."

He Preached With Passion

A message my dad preached when I was a teenager came to me this evening..."Seven Barriers to Hell" I do not remember all of the seven, although I'm sure I could come up with them, but I know one of the barriers was; the prayers of your mom and dad, or someone who loved you. He went on to preach..."To go to hell you will have to trample over the prayers of the ones who loved you more than life, and if you continue in your ungodliness, as you go over the precipice of hell you'll hear the voice of your mother (father) ringing in your ears...OH GOD PLEASE SAVE MY CHILD!" I cannot figure out how a person who knows truth can be so unfeeling after hearing their mom or dad crying out to God for their soul. Neither can I imagine a parent who knows truth continuing in their "happy-go-lucky-sinful way" when they know that their child's heart breaks in prayer. I thought about apologizing for such a serious, heavy post, however I feel like someone might be standing in the valley of decision. What will your answer be?

SURPRISE!

From the time I can remember my family has loved to "surprise" each other.  Many times through the years Daddy and Mother would show up "unannounced" and we would be SO SURPRISED to see them standing at our door.

Our little family was living in North Carolina where we had gone to start a church, and I was very homesick.  I really missed my parents, and missed seeing all of our family and friends in Texas.  Jonathan and Andrew were little guys, and I wanted them to be around their grandparents, but God had called us to start a church, so we went.  I cannot say it was the easiest thing we had ever done, but His will had led us there, and we would be okay.   One day I got a call from Daddy and while we were talking I asked him if they could come and see us.  He told me all the reasons why they could not come at that time.  When I hung up I was very sad and disappointed.  Fast forward...

About five days later we had gone to some friends house to eat dinner.  When we arrived they invited us into their family room to sit down and visit awhile before we ate.  I hadn't quite made it to the couch to sit down when a door opened and standing there was DADDY and MOTHER!  I was speechless, and looked at Wendell and the boys where they were sitting on the couch, and they were stunned!  No one moved except me!  I tried to talk and make some sense, then realized I was about to faint from the "surprise" that was standing in the doorway!  I do not remember if I hugged them before or after I sat down.  Our friends were thrilled that we were so surprised, and that they had been a part of keeping a secret.

Through the years I've thought about that awesome time in my life when something I wanted so badly happened so UNEXPECTEDLY!  After that experience, I really believe I know how the disciples felt when Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection.  :-) 

As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace be to you."  But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.  He said to them, "Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn't have flesh and bones, as you see that I have." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet...then He said to them, "This is what I told you, while I was still with you..." (Luke 24:36-49)

Jesus was God, manifested in the flesh, and since we are made in his image I like to imagine how excited Jesus was when he was about to enter the house where his friends were gathered.  (I know how I would be if I was getting ready to walk in on my friends.) They were not expecting him at all, and he was anxious to see their faces when he "appeared!"  A smile probably came across his face as he thought, "The shock is going to be priceless!  I can't wait to surprise them! I  wonder if they picked up anything in our conversation that would make them believe I would actually come see them again?" After he had been there a little while and everyone finally calmed down,  I can hear him say, with a twinkle in his eyes..."I told you so!"  :-)

Have you ever had Jesus tell you something?  Sure you have!  You may have been in prayer and deep in your spirit he spoke and let you know what he was about to do.  You might have been reading the Bible, and it seemed like a light came on in your mind and you saw something you had never seen before.  When that happened you knew without a doubt that God had spoken to you!  Maybe you got a phone call and the person calling said, "I was praying and God told me to call you.  I don't know what it's all about, but He wants you to know...."  At that moment, once again you know you heard from God!

Then, there are times it seems as if the windows of heaven are locked tight, and your prayers are not getting through to him.  We pray...no answer.  We fast...no answer.  We testify about what we're expecting...no answer.  We claim our promise...still there's no answer!  Yes, there are those times, and you wonder, "Where is God?  Why doesn't he answer?"

Friend...don't be downhearted!  Jesus could be standing on the other side of the door waiting for that perfect time when you are least expecting him.  Just as you step into the room where he's planned to meet you, he'll open the door, smile, and say..."SURPRISE!  Here's your ANSWERED PRAYER!"  After you realize what has actually taken place, and you're over the shock, you will see a big smile come across his face as you hear him say..."I told you I'd do it!"

"YET?"

We've come this far by faith...leaning on The Lord.
Trusting in His Holy Word; he's never failed me, yet.
Oh-h-h-h-h can't turn around; we've come this far by faith.

This is an old song and we've sung it for years.  It makes me want to keep traveling on! There are many things that would try to stop us and discourage us from our goal, but don't look back! Keep traveling!

I do have to smile when this song comes to mind, because every time I sing it, and other songs about The Lord never failing us..."YET"...I think of an evangelist that came to preach for us. One night he said, "I don't like songs that say, "He's never failed us, "YET" because Jesus will NEVER FAIL US! He had a great point! I NEVER have to worry about Him not coming through on His promises! He always has, and always will!

"Failure is NOT an option when it comes to Almighty God!" If someone were to ask Him if he ever failed to fulfill a promise, I believe He would look at them with a puzzled look and ask..."FAIL?"  Then, with a confidence that only God has, His next few words would echo into the hearts of men and women around the world... "I don't know HOW to fail!"  

I believe the same "puzzled look" comes across His face when satan goes to him and brings up someone's sin from the past. I can almost hear Him saying..."Ummm...SIN?  What sin?"  The most powerful truth lies in the fact that Jesus loved us so much that He died for our sins! Once we have our sins washed away, using His Name in baptism, He remembers our sin no more!

My conclusion is this...Jesus loved us enough to die for us, so why wouldn't He take care of us in our struggles, pain, heartache, and disappointments?  His promises are SURE!  His love is unending!  He LOVES taking care of US!  Knowing this, I can go to Him with full confidence, because He loves me and promised to NEVER fail me!

Another song comes to mind. As a child I remember hearing it. It was slow and only had a few words, but oh the impact it had when it was sung. After living my life, and going through situations where only God had the answer, I understand this song so much more. Let me "sing it" for you...

J-E-S-U-S...never...fails!
J-E-S-U-S...never...fails!
Heaven and earth may pass away......
But, J-E-S-U-S...never...fails!