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Come Into The Deep End... with ImHisServant (3)

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Hisbygrace

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Hello everyone. I recieved this in an e-mail and knew it was something to be shared. God bless you all each and every day....
DAD'S STORY
On July 22nd I was in route to Washington, DC for a business trip. It was all so very ordinary, until we landed in Denver for a plane change.

As I collected my belongings from the overhead bin, an announcement was made for Mr. Lloyd Glenn to see the United Customer Service Representative immediately.

I thought nothing of it until I reached the door to leave the plane and I heard a gentleman asking every male if he were Mr. Glenn. At this point I knew something was wrong and my heart sunk.

When I got off the plane a solemn-faced young man came toward me and said; “Mr. Glenn, there is an emergency at your home. I don’t know what the emergency is, or who is involved, but I’ll take you to the phone so you can call the hospital.”

My heart was now pounding, but the will to be calm took over. Woodenly, I followed this stranger to the distant telephone where I called the number he gave me for the Mission Hospital. My call was put through to the trauma center where I learned that my three-year-old son had been trapped underneath the automatic garage door for several minutes, and that when my wife had found him he was dead.

CPR had been performed by a neighbor, who is a doctor, and the paramedics had continued the treatment as Brian was transported to the hospital....

By the time of my call, Brian was revived and they believed he would live, but they did not know how much damage had been done to his brain; nor to his heart. They explained that the door had completely closed on his little sternum right over his heart. He had been severely crushed. After speaking with the medical staff, my wife sounded worried but not hysterical, and I took comfort in her calmness.

The return flight seemed to last forever, but finally I arrived at the hospital six hours after the garage door had come down. When I walked into the intensive care unit, nothing could have prepared me to see my little son lying so still on a great big bed with tubes and monitors everywhere. He was on a respirator. I glanced at my wife who stood and tried to give me a reassuring smile. It all seemed like a terrible dream. I was filled-in with the details and given a guarded prognosis. Brian was going to live; and the preliminary tests indicated that his heart was OK…two miracles in and of themselves. Only time would tell if his brain received any damage.
Throughout the seemingly endless hours, my wife was calm. She felt that Brian would eventually be all right. I hung on to her words and faith like a lifeline. All that night and the next day Brian remained unconscious!

It seemed like forever since I had left for my business trip the day before. Finally at two o'clock that afternoon, our son regained consciousness and sat up uttering the most beautiful words I have ever heard spoken. He said, "Daddy hold me" and he reached for me with his little arms.

By the next day he was pronounced as having no neurological or physical deficits, and the story of his miraculous survival spread throughout the hospital. You can only imagine…that when we took Brian home, we felt a unique reverence for life and the love of our Heavenly Father that comes to those who have a brush with death so closely.

In the days that followed there was a special spirit about our home. Our two older children were much closer to their little brother. My wife and I were much closer to each other, and all of us were very close as a whole family. Life took on a less stressful pace. Perspective seemed to be more focused, and balance much easier to gain and maintain. We felt deeply blessed. Our gratitude was truly profound.

Almost a month later to the day of the accident, Brian awoke from his afternoon nap and said; "Sit down Mommy…I have something to tell you."

At this time in his life, Brian usually spoke in small phrases; so to say a large sentence surprised my wife. She sat down with him on his bed, and he began his sacred and remarkable story.

“Do you remember when I got stuck under the garage door? Well, it was so heavy and it hurt really bad. I called to you, but you couldn't hear me. I started to cry, but then it hurt too bad. And then the 'birdies' came.”

“The birdies?” my wife asked puzzled.

“Yes,” he replied. “The birdies made a whooshing sound and flew into the garage. They took care of me.”

“They did?”

“Yes,” he said. “One of the birdies came and got you. She came to tell you I got stuck under the door.” A sweet reverent feeling filled the room. The spirit was so strong and yet lighter than air. My wife realized that a three-year-old had no concept of death and spirits, so he was referring to the beings who came to him from beyond as “birdies” because they were up in the air like birds that fly. “What did the birdies look like?” she asked.

Brian answered, “They were so beautiful. They were dressed in white, all white. Some of them had green and white. But some of them had on just white.”

“Did they say anything?”

“Yes,” he answered. “They told me the baby would be all right.”

“The baby?” my wife asked confused.

Brian answered. “Yes, the baby, lying on the garage floor.” He went on, “you came out and opened the garage door and ran to the baby. You told the baby to stay and not leave.”




My wife nearly collapsed upon hearing this, for she had indeed gone and knelt beside Brian's body and seeing his crushed chest whispered, “Don't leave us Brian, please stay if you can.” As she listened to Brian telling her the words she had spoken, she realized that the spirit had left His body and was looking down from above on this little lifeless form.

“Then what happened?” she asked.

“We went on a trip,” he said, “far, far away.” He grew agitated trying to say the things he didn't seem to have the words for. My wife tried to calm and comfort him, and let him know it would be okay. He struggled with wanting to tell something that obviously was very important to him, but finding the words was difficult.

“We flew so fast up in the air. They're so pretty Mommy,” he added. “And there are lots and lots of birdies.” My wife was stunned.

Into her mind the sweet comforting spirit enveloped her more soundly, but with an urgency that she had never before known. Brian went on to tell her that the “birdies” had told him that he had to come back and tell everyone about the “birdies.” He said they brought him back to the house and that a big fire truck; and a big ambulance were there. A man was bringing the baby out on a white bed and he tried to tell the man that the baby would be okay. The story went on for an hour.

He taught us that “birdies” were always with us, but we don't see them because we look with our eyes and we don't hear them because we listen with our ears. But they are always there, you can only see them in here (he put his hand over his heart). They whisper things to help us to do what is right because they love us so much. Brian continued, stating; “I have a plan, Mommy. You have a plan…Daddy has a plan. Everyone has a plan. We must all live our plan and keep our promises. The birdies help us to do that because they love us so much.”

In the weeks that followed, he often came to us and told all, or part of it, again and again. Always the story remained the same. The details were never changed or out of order. A few times he added further bits of information and clarified the message he had already delivered. It never ceased to amaze us how he could tell such detail and speak beyond his ability when he talked about his birdies.

Everywhere he went, he told strangers about the “birdies.” Surprisingly, no one ever looked at him strangely when he did this. Rather, they always got a softened look on their face and smiled. Needless to say, we have not been the same since that day, and I pray we never will be.

Yesterday is history; Tomorrow a mystery; Today
is a gift; That’s why it’s called the present! Live and savor every
moment...this is not a dress rehearsal!

~~Unknown Author~~
 
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bornagain91

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GIVE THANKS TO GOD


When times are lean with nought to share
When love is hard to find
Where cold nights reign with cupboards bare
Then God; is on the mind


But who gives praise when life is grand
When God has seen us through
Who’ve learned in truth to understand
That God remembers too


How oft we fail to thank the Lord
For all His kindness done
Through love He’ll turn His vengeful sword
In Christ His faithful Son


Give thanks to God for large and small
Give thanks for life on earth
From deep within, or not at all
Give praise for all you’re worth


Worthy is God of all our praise
For all His wondrous deeds
Who serve The Truth in all their ways
May find they have no needs


Yet still the nations live in stress
Where harvest brings defeat
They need to turn so God can bless
With food for all to eat


Yet those who have! Can ill afford
With belly’s full to sit
We need to pray through Christ our Lord
We need to do our bit


For things can change as times before
When God held back the rain
For who can tell if sin once more
Won’t change our; times again
 
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bornagain91

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LIFE’S HURDLES
“I’m running for my life my friend
The Lord is my escape
He said He’ll help until the end
Until I’ve passed the tape

Through Jesus Christ true strength is found
When in His name I pray
All life’s hurdles and thorny ground
Just seem to melt away

Hurdles of sin that bring disease
Hurdles of doubt so high
We overcome when on our knees
When to the flesh we die

For man to jump both high and wide
We need to train each day
We need God’s Holy Breath inside
To rise the righteous way

Though old and grey I’m jumping still
In Christ I’m running on
I’ll swim the river, climb the hill
Until life’s race is won

I’m pressing on towards the goal
With Christ before my eyes
I’m running friend to save my soul
And life’s eternal prize

Devil nor man will keep me down
In Christ I’ll run the race
Until I wear the victor’s crown
And see my Saviour’s face

I’m going on until I’m there
In Christ I’m sure to win
Come join me friend, receive your share
Lay down your life of sin”


Michael P. Johnson
 
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bornagain91

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“ARISE”


How can The Father’s will be done
How can we live a lie
How can we say we know God’s Son
Yet watch His children die –Hos.4:6


We comfort self with daily prayer –Lk.18:11
In closets snug and still
We know The Truth, but fail to share
Believing others will –Gal.6:2


Too oft we say we’re safe at last
There’s nothing left to do –Am.6:1
Wiped clean is all my evil past
In Christ I’m born anew


For if God’s Kingdom’s truly come –Mt.12:28
If Christ is yours and mine –2Co.4:6
How can our tongue be still and dumb? –1Co.9:16
When God commands us shine –Mt.5:16+Isa,60:1


However weak, however slight –Ex.3:11
How small we think to be –Nu.13:33+Jdg.6:8
We all in Christ with Heaven's Light –Ro.12:6
Should help this world to see –Lk.8:16


But who’s to see when nothing said? –Mt.28:16-20
If we, the bride don’t tell –Ac.1:8
Who’s to raise the walking dead? –Ac.20:9-12
And save the lost from hell? –Jude 23


Did Christ not say, the works we’ll do
Within The Father’s will –Php.2:13
Accomplished by the faithul few
Will yet be greater still –Jn.14:12


So rise and shine in Jesus’ name –Isa.60:1
Confront the common foe –1Sa.17:45
Obey and see God’s mighty Flame –Jos.1:7
Reveal The Way to go –Ex.13:21…


Michael P. Johnson
 
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bornagain91

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WHEN JESUS’ CHURCH

The devil comes to cheat and kill
To rob whom God would call
Deceiving them on Zion hill
In hope to make them fall

The Lord reveals to flesh and bone
His secrets old and new
But truth is not the bride’s alone
The world must hear it too Mt.28:19

We bow our heads in deep despair
We’ve heard Salvation’s call
While life eternal few yet share
Like flies still children fall

We wander still like docile sheep
Play church and act the fool
The Father’s grace we fail to keep
While breaking every rule

We say we’re saved, we’re Heaven bound
We’re clean, through Christ set free
Yet in God’s light we sit around
Although the world can’t see

We know The Truth of Calvary’s cross
Why Jesus came to die
Yet through His blood, though free of dross
We live the devil’s lie

Life’s Seed should not be sown in vain
We need to stand and fight
We too must plant, that Christ can reign
When man’s received his sight

When all the earth, can see The Vine
When cynics have believed
And when as one, God’s churches shine
This goal will be achieved.


Michael P. Johnson
 
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bornagain91

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GOD’S HIDDEN JEWEL

Each day in school we’d stand and pray
The psalms we’d learn to sing
Most teachers then would often say
God’s Son is Lord and King


No matter where my days were spent
What work I had to do
If there I stayed or there I went
Jesus would turn up too


In married life I wasn’t spared
My running was in vain
The child of God who’s life I’ve shared
Brought Jesus once again


How strange the Seed of life is spread
How man receives the rain
When Christ becomes our daily bread
When free from tie and chain


For on the day my child was born
A miracle of life
My heart beheld Salvation’s dawn
Right there beside my wife


God’s holy ways are strange in deed
My child unlocked the door
Now forth had come God’s planted Seed
Sown many years before


I bless the days I spent in school
The times I thought to hide
For then God’s Seed His Living Jewel
Was planted deep inside


Salvation through my Saviour’s love
Revealed the Father’s plan
Revival through The Holy Ghost
God’s greatest gift to man.


Michael P. Johnson
 
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cristianna

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Her Secret
By Amy Carroll​
"Be joyful always; pray continually..." I Thessalonians5:16-17 (NIV)
Devotion:
There's a woman who works at my local grocery store that just makes my day. She is ALWAYS positive and cheerful. I'm sure it isn't easy working with the public and spending long hours on her feet, so today I asked her for her secret. "My secret for bagging?" she asked in surprise.

"No," I explained. "I want to know your secret for staying so positive." She just gave a big smile and explained that God is her secret. She followed by telling me that she had to be at work at 6:00 am today, so she'd gotten up at 3:30 am to spend time with Him.

Tears filled my eyes as I thought of this precious sister in the Lord rising in the dark to spend time with the Lord so that she could minister to all the people that will pass her at the cash register today. She shares her enthusiasm, energy and smile equally with each customer. She is a beautiful woman, but she doesn't have the advantage of youth that many of her co-workers have. This woman had gotten up in the middle of the night, spent time with Jesus, and worked an 8 hour shift. She said that it isn't always easy. "By the 40th hour of my work-week, I'm very tired," she said. "But He is my secret."

R.A. Torrey once said:
"The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came...Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory."

Lucia, the checker at the grocery store, is living proof of this quote. She prepares herself with prayer for the battle of each day. She's an ordinary woman just like me, but she has taken the ordinary and made it beautiful beyond measure.

I'm a "doer", and prayer does not come easily for me. I want to start attacking my checklist about the time I open my eyes in the morning. Lucia reminds me, though, of this truth. Prayer isn't preparation for the work. It IS the work. One tool that has helped me tremendously is a prayer journal. Writing out my prayers helps me to focus and not get distracted so easily. It is also a wonderful record when I want to look back and remind myself of what the Lord has done and how He has answered prayer.


Like you, I've got several battles that I'm facing. I needed Lucia to remind me today that time with God is invaluable.

Dear Lord, I want to be ready for the challenges of each day. Help me to remember that nothing prepares me like time spent with You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Reflections:
How am I different on the days that I pray?

How does God use prayer to prepare me for the battle?

Power Verses:
I Peter 3:12, "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (NIV)

Luke 18:1, "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." (NIV)
 
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bornagain91

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BEWARE OF WOLVES


Beware of those who wear disguise
The mask of pure deceit
The devil seeks to spread his lies
Amongst the Lord’s elite


No child of God can act the fool
Treat church as though a game
No priest receives the highest stool
To play with Jesus’ name


Some try God’s holy priest to feign
They’ve learned salvation’s law
But only preach for worldly gain
A job; and nothing more


Of God from books they’ve sought to learn
World knowledge they’ll consume
With this! In vain they seek to turn
Man’s desert into bloom


They say they’ve come to spread the light
To dig and plough the soil
Up high they’ll stand in robes of white
Without a drop of oil


Although they’ve failed the Master’s call
They’ll think that all is well
But deeper still from grace they’ll fall
Before the gates of hell


They’ll preach God’s word the crowd to please
In hope their house to fill
But only priests who bend their knees
May find the Father’s will


Anointed has a priest to be
With oil from Jesus’ hand
For only then God’s sheep will see
And come to understand.


Michael P. Johnson
 
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cristianna

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Pretty, Pretty Princess
By Micca Campbell
"Your beauty should not come for outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful." 1 Peter 3:3-4
Devotion:
The other day I came across a photo of my daughter's first school dance. She looked like a Princess. Part of her fun that evening was getting dressed up for the event. Like most girls, Peyton has loved playing dress-up since she was a little girl. I have many pictures of her dressed up like a bride, a princess, or a ballerina. Peyton loved playing dress-up so much that one year on her birthday I bought her a board game called "Pretty, Pretty Princess."

Quickly, it became her favorite game. With each turn, the player had the opportunity to put on an earring, a necklace, or a bracelet according to which card was drawn. You won the game if you drew the Princess crown! I can still recall how cute it was watching her play with her daddy, and how fun it was to see him wearing the plastic jewelry. One time, he actually answered the front door wearing his Pretty, Pretty Princess jewels.

Looking back over the years, I've come to realize that Peyton is not alone. No matter how old we get as women, we still long to be as beautiful as a princess. That desire is a God-given desire. However, since we live in a fallen world, we often try to fill our God-given desires in unhealthy ways.

For example, the world tells us in order to be beautiful we must be a perfect size, have no defects, and a cover-girl face. Anybody measure up? I know I don't. Most of us probably don't but secretly we wish we did. How do I know? Just look at the millions of dollars spent every year on cosmetics, lotions, surgeries, and beauty aids. I can't say that I wouldn't like a lift and a tuck myself!

Turning on the TV or looking at what women are wearing today will give us evidence that we've allowed the world to shape our views on beauty. The world encourages us to seek a beauty that only lasts for a brief amount of time. God encourages us to cultivate a beauty that will never fade but only grow more beautiful with time. God's Word always has a way of bringing me back to truth. It removes the pressures of what the world says, and allows me to be nothing more than who God created me to be...beautiful in His sight.


Besides, if you're a child of the King, then you're already a princess. "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9). You and I were not only called out of our sin into the saving light of Christ, but we were made daughters of the King. As royal princesses, who cares what the world says? God's princesses come in all shapes and sizes-and He loves them all!


Dear Lord, Help me not to focus on my outward appearance more than I should. Instead, give me a greater desire to cultivate my inner beauty that grows more attractive with time, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Reflections:
How much time do you give to your outward appearance as opposed to your inner beauty?

How can you change the view that beauty is only skin deep?

In what ways can cultivating inner beauty be seen on the outside of you?

Power Verses:
Proverbs 31:30, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised" (NIV)

Exodus 34:29, "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord" (NIV).

2 Corinthians 3:18, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (NIV).
 
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bornagain91

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LORD OF THE AIR

How oft we choose to do some good
Use words so sweet and kind
Yet somehow get misunderstood
As though we’ve guile in mind


Hell’s demons are at work once more
The truth they turn to lies Gen.3:4
They’ve opened anger’s evil door
Allowing hate to rise


Satan’s power is in the air Eph.2:2
Through which his lovers sin
Spreading his lies the world to share
Upon man’s verbal wing


Don’t leave with hatred in your heart
Don’t leave a scene in strife
Make sure you’re friends before you part
If value’s on your life


Spirits can twist our every word
God’s children to deceive
That even lies though quite absurd
The world may still believe


But through The Lamb we’ve been forewarned
God’s sheep are firmly sealed
The Father’s light has truly dawned
His mighty arm revealed


Between the mouth and someone’s ear
The devil can abide
Thus Jesus’ warning’s loud and clear
The road to hell is wide Mt.7:13


We must beware of what we say
Of each unworthy sound
For Satan’s out to lead astray
And air is all around.


Michael P. Johnson
 
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