1 Savior For Me
God's Peace Be With You Always
My
name is Rich Garrison and I was raised in a Christian home and was always taught
to Love The Lord. I attended Wesley
Memorial Methodist Church in Bridgeton, New Jersey.
I grew up like any other kid always wanting to know, and experience, what
was on the other side of the teachings at home and in church. When I went off to
the military I also went to the other side.
I learned how to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and just plain run
wild. That may not sound so terrible to some, but when you are
young and out on your own in this world for the first time and you were used to
being taken care of by loving parents who raised you without these things in
your everyday life, you can become hooked and in trouble very fast.
I was so eager to have my new friends accept me and like me so I wanted to do everything I could to fit in. I needed and wanted to be somebody other than who I was. I had already become what my parents wanted me to be, in my younger years at home, but now was now and it was my chance to be somebody else; and I wanted to be anything and everything all at the same time just so I could be somebody else. As you can just imagine, I was very busy. There were parties to attend, girls to date more parties to attend and more girls to date. When I look back now I don’t know how I had any time for the military. I stumbled many times in my young life and sinned so terrible that I was ashamed many times to even call upon the Lord in prayer. But as good as God is, each time I would call to Him, He was there to bail me out. Much like the Israelites. Over and over God rescued them but they never learned and I seemed to be on the same path.
I
was too caught up in this world and all its pleasures and I failed to see what
was most important. I thought I was
in control of everything I accomplished in the military and I thought I could
control everything in my life. But
what I came to find out was, I was out of control!
But like the Israelites I came to God again in prayer and asked for
direction and yes He bailed me out.
I
like to think now as I look back on all the wildness in my life and how I would
continue to do the things that I knew were wrong, God was tugging at me even
then saying “This is not what I want for you.
This is not what you were raised in the church to become, and this is not
what it means to be a Christian”.
My
sinful ways nearly destroyed me like the Israelites sins destroyed them. But for some reason, and I am so glad that I was able to
catch a glimpse of that reason, I came back around to the teachings of that
Methodist Church in New Jersey and I am where I am today in my walk with the
Lord.
Many years have past and all I can say about the other side is that it is not what I am excited about today in my life. What I am excited about is my Lord and Savior and how He was there to pull me from the hell I was putting myself through and start me on a journey that is still continuing today. It has been a long journey. One that has been made easier by His Mercy and Grace.
I am married to a
wonderful woman, whom I’m sure the Lord sent to me so we could be blessed with
the family we have. You see God is
like that. He is a giving and loving God. We
are blessed with two beautiful children. The
Lord has charged us with raising these children and through His guidance, and
The Spiritual Support of our church, we have done all right.
I have always felt the Lord tugging at me, wanting me to journey even harder than I had been while walking with him through life. Yes, I have yelled, I have screamed, and I have questioned different happenings in my life. It wasn’t until recently that I realized just what Jesus has done for me, and the blessings He hath bestowed upon my family and me. His Grace and Mercy, my wife, my life, our children and a continuing desire to follow him are the blessings I am speaking about today.
Not long ago, I lost two main sources of income in my life and guess what, I had another blessing. Some would say, how could you make it without money? Becky and I looked at it this way: What was happening to us gave us a new understanding of the power of God’s Grace and Mercy. My wife did not give up on me because I wasn’t bringing in money, she lovingly let me know that she still had money coming in and we would be fine. Yes, I felt less a man, and felt like everything was falling apart.
But the Lord gave me the strength to carry on by assuring me He would never give me any more than I can handle in this life. You see, Jesus withstood so much in His walk during His lifetime here on earth, and His accomplishments have made me a rich man! These are not earthly riches I speak of, but heavenly riches. I am building my riches in Heaven, just as I hope you are, because nothing goes with us when we are called home to Glory. We will be stripped of the clothes we are wearing that day, stripped of our very bodies.
He has gone before us to build a new home. One that will be peaceful, one that will be meaningful, one that will be filled with love. There will be no more hate, no more crying, and no more sickness. The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again, the lame will leap, the dumb will speak praises to the Lamb. These are the miracles God is doing for me, the promises He has made to me, and to you my friends. All we have to do is follow him, be obedient, and trust in Him. Please don’t think that by following Jesus, you must live a life with no purpose, or be involved in activities that are no fun. That is not true. The Lord and Savior I serve is very much active and very full of fun and completely full of purpose. It’s Cool To Be A Christian! Christians are so full of vitality. I wish you could be at our church some Sunday morning. Our pastor almost has to blow a whistle to get us to set down. That’s because we are excited about what the Lord is doing in our lives, and in our church, and we feel a need to share it with others. That’s why it is cool to be a Christian. Christians share the Word of God with others.
Don’t ever be caught denying your Lord and Savior, lest He will deny knowing you to the Angels of God. You see, when I read the Bible I read about a Christ that was and still is very respectful of everyone He comes in contact with. This is what he wants us to do here on earth, be respectful of one another.
Yes, you will find people who will curse you because you speak of knowing God. And you will find people who will make fun of you because you say you are a Christian and the Lord has authority over everything you do. Amen? But do not falter my friends from what you believe. For one day, like a thief in the night, He is coming. We do not know the hour or the day. For if we knew we would be ready. That is why we must keep watch over our families and friends and all who will hear His Word. We must never stop telling of God’s Grace. We need to witness, and continue to tell of His Glory everyday. Witnessing about His Greatness. Teaching people to pray.
There is so much power in prayer. All that come together in prayer and praise His Holy Name are in His presence. When we pray we need to thank Him for the good He is doing in our lives and thank Him for the opportunities we have everyday to come closer to Him.
Please, never miss an opportunity to draw closer to the Lord. When we draw closer to Him, He draws closer to us. What a feeling! Knowing that Jesus is close to you. Knowing that in this chaotic world we live in there is a safe-haven that is open to all. A place we can come and bring all our burdens and pains, and leave them behind.
I am so thankful that I accepted God’s invitation to change my life when I did. I am so thankful I made the choice of a lifetime.
As I said, the journey has been long and it is still continuing today. I have made mistakes and have taken those mistakes to Jesus and laid them at his feet and asked for His forgiveness. I am still not perfect, however, through His continued guidance and knowing that His Grace is sufficient, I am a new man.
As I look back to my
younger years and all the time I spent on the other side, I am so glad that God
had a plan for my future, so glad that I had heard His tender voice at one time
in my life. Hear Him now my friends as He is tenderly calling you to come
home. Please don’t miss the
opportunity to make the choice of a lifetime.
Jesus Christ is that choice and He is patiently waiting.
Won’t you come? Please come! God
Bless You my friends.
The Christian Counter
