Look What The Lord Has Done!
The Testimoney of Brother Chuck - 82 Years Young
I am so blessed to be able to share with you today the working of the Lord Jesus Christ in my life. Throughout my entire life, He has pursued me and not given up on me and I praise His name.
When I was 4, my mother abandoned all 10 of her children and left us with our father. I was the ninth child. I remember this as being a terrible time in my life. Rejection and abandonment leave a deep pain in the heart. My father did remarry, but with that came the difficulties of living with a harsh stepmother. Looking back now, I can see that the Lord has been my help from that time until now.
Even during this time, my father faithfully took us to church, and at the age of eight, I gave my heart to the Lord. I remember writing in my little Bible the date that I received Jesus Christ as my own personal Lord and Savior. I had faith as a child. Unfortunately, I did not continue living for and growing in Christ. In my teen years I walked away from Him choosing to go my own way, rejecting what I knew was right. In fact, at 18 I found myself sitting in a Texas jail having been arrested for “vagrancy and investigation”. I had run from the difficulties in my family life, searching for something that would bring meaning. You know, God is faithful, and He continued to pursue me even there. His hand of protection was on me for He is my Father Who is in Heaven and He cares for each of His children.
Yet, I still did not return to Him. In my 20’s I was married with children and spent 10.5 years in the military. During this time, I continued to walk farther and farther away from the Lord. I started smoking and drinking and soon I found that I no longer had control of the drink, but that it had control of me. Softly and tenderly Jesus continued to call me. He called deep within me, I heard His voice and am so thankful for His forgiving power. I surrendered my life back to Him.
While in the hospital recovering from a near fatal accident, the Lord Jesus came down into my room and in a miraculous way just took the desire for alcohol away from me – it was completely gone. I had friends say that if they would give me a drink, I would down it, but I respond with a Bible verse that says, “…Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” By the power of God, it has been 50 years and I have not had one smoke nor drink. The Lord is faithful to save!
Friend, I do not know your situation. Perhaps you have been abandoned by father and mother, or spouse. Maybe you feel forsaken and alone. You are NOT alone. You have a Father God in heaven that loves you and is not too big to fit into your heart. All you need to do is ask Him and He will enter in, change your life and you will never be the same again. We are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God, but He is so faithful that if we confess our sins Jesus will forgive us and cleanse us from those sins. Lay out yourself before the Holy God. He knows where you are and what you are going through. Surrender to Him and He will bring a peace that passes all understanding into your life. He will change you from the inside out! Amen.
Psalm 27:9-14 9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. 11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
When I was 4, my mother abandoned all 10 of her children and left us with our father. I was the ninth child. I remember this as being a terrible time in my life. Rejection and abandonment leave a deep pain in the heart. My father did remarry, but with that came the difficulties of living with a harsh stepmother. Looking back now, I can see that the Lord has been my help from that time until now.
Even during this time, my father faithfully took us to church, and at the age of eight, I gave my heart to the Lord. I remember writing in my little Bible the date that I received Jesus Christ as my own personal Lord and Savior. I had faith as a child. Unfortunately, I did not continue living for and growing in Christ. In my teen years I walked away from Him choosing to go my own way, rejecting what I knew was right. In fact, at 18 I found myself sitting in a Texas jail having been arrested for “vagrancy and investigation”. I had run from the difficulties in my family life, searching for something that would bring meaning. You know, God is faithful, and He continued to pursue me even there. His hand of protection was on me for He is my Father Who is in Heaven and He cares for each of His children.
Yet, I still did not return to Him. In my 20’s I was married with children and spent 10.5 years in the military. During this time, I continued to walk farther and farther away from the Lord. I started smoking and drinking and soon I found that I no longer had control of the drink, but that it had control of me. Softly and tenderly Jesus continued to call me. He called deep within me, I heard His voice and am so thankful for His forgiving power. I surrendered my life back to Him.
While in the hospital recovering from a near fatal accident, the Lord Jesus came down into my room and in a miraculous way just took the desire for alcohol away from me – it was completely gone. I had friends say that if they would give me a drink, I would down it, but I respond with a Bible verse that says, “…Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” By the power of God, it has been 50 years and I have not had one smoke nor drink. The Lord is faithful to save!
Friend, I do not know your situation. Perhaps you have been abandoned by father and mother, or spouse. Maybe you feel forsaken and alone. You are NOT alone. You have a Father God in heaven that loves you and is not too big to fit into your heart. All you need to do is ask Him and He will enter in, change your life and you will never be the same again. We are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God, but He is so faithful that if we confess our sins Jesus will forgive us and cleanse us from those sins. Lay out yourself before the Holy God. He knows where you are and what you are going through. Surrender to Him and He will bring a peace that passes all understanding into your life. He will change you from the inside out! Amen.
Psalm 27:9-14 9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. 11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.