You can never go "home" again

Jehovah Jireh, MY Provider

In 1987, my first wife lost her job because the company shut down their operations and moved them to Orlando Fla. She tried to get one of the positions there, but too many with too much seniority was fighting for too few spots, so she lost out to someone else.

Frustrated, I continued at my job while she sought job after job. Nothing. Finally a 6 month temp job, which ended. In the meantime, we lost our new mobile home, our new convertible, and had to move to “The Projects.”

Drugs, gang activity and who knows what else surrounded us everywhere. But it was all we could afford.

One year later, she was able to get on with a new company, in another new town, so we all had to pack up and move. I was able to transfer inside of the company, so things did work out.

BUT as FRUSTRATING as it all was, God never let us go hungry, thirsty, or needy for anything.

The day we moved to the “projects”, I was on a run to Atlanta and when I came back in the building to turn in my paperwork, the dispatcher said, “Don’t go home, you can’t go home.”

‘Aw chit’ was my first reaction. I’m headed back out. I’m tired, just pulled a 12 hour run (no DOT around is there? LoL) and I certainly did not want to go back out.

I told him so, and he said that was fine, but that I couldn’t go home. Now, the mobile home finance company had already said we would be evicted the next day. I just wanted to go home and sleep one more day in my bed before I wound up on the streets. Man, I was getting ticked.

Then he told me. “Housing” had called, and we had the apartment. While I was on the run, my wife had gathered up everything with some help of friends, and moved me that day. I now lived in the new apartment.

How is that for timing?

Jireh means Provider. He certainly provided what we needed, when we needed. Not exactly in my time, but it’s never about me. It’s all about Him. The older I get, the more I am learning it.

So many churches fret today about things that God has already started taking care of before they knew it was a problem. CHRISTIANS WAKE UP!!!

The same God that provided for me numerous times, is the same God that will provide for you. Just start believing him. Quit worshipping church, and start worshipping God. Make Him your center of focus, and He will show you the way.

He’s doing that right now. I’m know I’m headed back into the ministry very soon. I don’t know how. But I know. And I’ll keep the blog updated as time progresses.

Until then, Jehovah-Nissi will keep me in His arms. More about this side of God in the next blog.

The One You're Most Likely Not to Meet In Most Churches

People can be cruel, weird, supportive and just down right strange. I’ve had people call me or stop me before I left church and tell me that they really got something from my message, and how appreciative they were that I had given them something that they could apply in their daily lives.

I’ve had people call me to the side and bless me out. “How dare you talk about me like that? I didn’t think my wife would go through with her threat to tell you what I did!” (I’m scratching my head trying to figure out what they are talking about. Evidently, they were caught with their hand in the cookie jar.) I just preached what I felt was laid on my heart, and I said what needed to be said. Truth was, most of the women told me nothing, and supplied me with lot’s of treats and goodies to eat when I came to visit.

Have you ever noticed that people come to church to socialize? I’ve had people tell me that I needed to bust up someones “clic”, while theirs was truthfully causing more harm than the aforementioned one. But since it was their clic, that was okay. Everyone wants to meet all of the other “important” people who attend, desperately hoping to gain their favor and “get ahead” in life. Somehow no one ever shows up, expecting to meet the one person who matters the most! ME! No…. just kidding….

Do you know who I’m talking about? Who do you go to church to meet? The lawyer who you heard is hiring, and your son is about to graduate and hopefully pass the bar? The contractor who has broad shoulders, tanned lines, and a chest you could sink your face into? The girl from the grocery store. You know, the one who always wears low cut tops, and when she bends over to bag your groceries, her “ample wares” are displayed for your viewing pleasure?

WRONG ANSWER!

GOD…. 3 Letters… Count them G  O  D. He is always there, waiting on us to come and worship Him. Not just sing “I Love You Lord” in a praise song and go back home and exclaim GD the first five minutes that we’re in the house.

Worship God, the one who can deliver you from the load that has you tilted at a 45 degree angle. Jehovah Rophe, your healer. Jehovah Jireh, your provider (since the cupboards are getting kinda bare and the unemployment checks have quit coming.) Did you know that there are many distinct names of God. There are 12 that define the very essence of who He can be to us, if only we will let him.

(next segment … Mommy, will you kiss my boo-boo and make it well)