Experiencing God

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:15-23)

Looking back on the day when I accepted Christ, it has been a tremendous joy as much as it has been difficult. Being part of Christ's blessings and sufferings, I've gone through the thin and thick of life and I know that there will be many more blessings and sufferings as I remain in Christ. This does not divert me away from my Savior at all of course, it only draws me closer. I only hope I can say this for the remaining years I have on this earth. I pray and ask that He continues to give me the faith to do so. I can't really explain how amazing the Lord has been with me during these last 8 years, but only to say that these 8 years are far better than the first 20 years. From battling with Leukemia (cancer) for 5 years, the divorce of my parents, my unforgiving heart towards my father, the many years I've wasted looking for love in humanity (especially in the last six dating relationships I've been involved in with different young women), being in financial debt which caused my inevitable dismissal from college for 5 years, to being diagnosed with Hepatitis C (two years ago) one can say that God could not have been in the picture.

However, consider the present situation: Leukemia is gone but God has placed me in the same hospital I was treated for and working as a Patient Escort, transporting patients from point A to point B while given the opportunity to bridge the gap with them as I share my testimony and the powerful message of the Gospel, the forgiven heart towards my father and a renewed relationship with him, the precious gift of marriage given to me by God with my wife Allison, one semester away to graduating from college and receiving my Bachelor's Degree, and my unmovable belief that God will use my current situation to be that much more glorified, hence the preaching of the Gospel reaching to those who share a similar situation, whether themselves, a family member, or someone they know, that living this life without being forgiven of their sins is a life lost and wasted, than a life signed by the blood of Christ, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and delivered to God sin free and heaven bound far exceeds the previous. My desire is none other is to preach the gospel of Christ, to anyone and anybody who desires to hear. Even if they don't want to hear it, I will still preach it to them.

With that being said, again, I cannot explain how awesome it has been living with Christ these last 8 years. The last 12 verses of John 14:23 brings me to tears because it clearly states that if I love Christ, I will obey His teachings and the Father will love me, and He and the Father will come and make their home with me. That, my friend, my brother, my sister, is an amazing statement. Think about it: the God of this universe, the One who created the heavens and the earth, land, sea, moon, stars, and sun states that He will make His home with you. That, my friend, does not compare to any storm, trial, tribulation or difficult circumstance that comes our way. You can rest on the fact that if we love God by obeying His word, He will be with us, and no storm, trial, tribulation, and difficult circumstance can change our eternal destination.

Hosanna by Paul Baloche

Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You, we turn to You
Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You, we long for You
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away, washed away

Hosanna, hosanna
You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus

Hear the sound of hearts returning to You, we turn to You
In Your Kingdom broken lives are made new, You make us new
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away, washed away

Hosanna, hosanna
You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus