Encouragement

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January 2, 1970 was the night that changed my life. Sitting in my Mother's kitchen and listening to a tape of Elvis singing "How great thou art," I humbled myself and asked Jesus to come into my heart.
In the twinkling of an eye, there flooded over me a Holy covering of God and I was surely born again. No earthly words can describe that moment, it was sacred and holy. I knew that I knew that Jesus Christ was Lord of Lord's and I shall never forget or deny that moment.

Since that time there has remained a inner stregth that keeps me through all my trials, a special joy if you will. It is the Holy Spirit reminding me that I am His and He is mine. That's paradise folks, right here on earth. Oh I know there shall come a time when I will lay this body down and leave for my heavenly home, but till then there is a great peace, joy and inner strength that overwhelms me till that day.

My youngest son once paid me the ultimate compliment when he said to me, "Dad, I can't wait for you to die!" He knew my heart's desire to be with my Lord in Heaven and meant it as an honor. Tears filled my eyes and I said, "thank you son, that's the greatest thing anyone has ever said to me."

You see folks, it's just like Paul said, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. It was his desire also to go on and be in Heaven but he had a mission to complete. Paul writes, "I am betwixt and between. I would rahter be with the Lord in His kingdom but it is neccessary to be here with you." He finally got his wish when he wrote, "the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the fight, I have kept the faith, and hence forth there is laid up for me a crown of glory which the Lord himself shall give me at His appearing.

We too shall receive that same crown if we fullfill our destiny here on earth and keep the faith. That knowledge alone keeps us through all things and places an inner stregth that can not be moved.....God bless

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