Even though I grew up in a Christian home, I did not want to follow Christ. I wanted what all the other kids had, which I did not discover until later was nothing. Some of them had all the things that money could buy etc. But what are those things in light of eternity? So I followed the empty ways of the world, which lead to alcoholism, smoking addiction, a life of lust, sleeping with many women, drug use. I was on a merry go round that was slowing destroying me. I was servant of the devil, I was in bondage to sin. Not only was I destroying my own life but I was taking people down with me. I became hopeless to my parents. I was completely and totally lost without hope. I remember thinking that if I made it past the age of 30 it would have to be miracle. I was miserable, empty and in bondage, I was depressed. I remember having thoughts of suicide, or running away.
I met Mary my wife at a party, we started dating then she became pregnant. We both decided to do the right thing by getting married. We had no intention of staying married because of my addictive lifestyle.
The following year December of 1979, I was drunk and rolled a company car. The State Patrol arrested me, and because I was very uncooperative, the State Patrol was going to have me convicted to the full extent. And because the car I was driving was a company car, my employer was going to fire me. And my wife was ready to end the marriage and take my oldest son who was almost one.
I had no where else to go.. The first step I took was go to my dad and ask him if he could pray with me. That December of 1979 Jesus Christ set me free from alcohol. I was literally free. Mary my wife decided to give us another chance. Even though I had to pay for the damages to the car, I did not loose my job. I got on an deferred program, where all charges against me would be dropped if I followed a two year program. Which of course I did. But during that period was when I encountered Jesus Christ, it was one evening at home alone, after reading a book about the end times that I encountered Christ, when I could feel His tangible present. It was then He asked me; “Who are you going to follow Gideon?” I knew there and then I had to make an eternal decision. I replied you Lord. And it was that night I could feel His love fill my heart. I never used to cry, but that night I could not stop crying. As His amazing love filled me, He washed me and made me new. Forever I was changed. I was literally born again. It was not long after I could feel His presence come into my life.
After several years of struggling with cigarette addiction the Lord Jesus set me free from cigarette smoking, supernaturally by the way. Plus all the other issues I had, and He is still working on me. What a wonderful and loving God we have. That He delivers those that least deserve it. What an amazing grace, what a profound mercy. What an inexplicable love. Oh Lord God how can we ever thank you.
Mary and I have been married now for 32 years, even our marriage is a miracle of God. We have four grown children of which 2 are married. we have 5 grand children. our children are miracles as well. All four attend Church.
God is amazing I can never thank Him enough.
So this blog is about the Christian life, and I find that whenever we turn to God He never fails us. The problem is, sometimes we forget to call on God. So as we go through this journey I pray is that this will be an encouragement, a exhortation, a discipline where is needed, and a direction, to help you keep going.
The last and hardest battle that we will face is staying faithful to God. Not to quit or give up, no matter what you are going through, what you have done, the right or wrong decisions made. God is and will be always faithful. But He does look to see who hearts are truly set on Him. This is not about being right wrong, but about a living active relationship with Him. When faced with choices or difficult decisions will you choose Him, trust Him and do it His way? Or will take matters in your own hands or get council from the ungodly? These are the struggles we face sometimes on a daily basis.
If you have something that will encourage and build up please leave a comment or better; a testimony of what God has done. All emails, info will stay confidential. All comments will be checked before publishing, so spammers, or if you have something that is not etiquette with this blog and Christian life style, it will be purged.
