Journals of the Heart

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As a result of the floods and high water, the spot where I liked to dive in was now filled with sand. I did not check the depth of the water, but assumed nothing had changed since my last trip there. What I did not know was that the water was no longer six feet deep in that spot—as I had remembered—but was now two feet deep.

This young preacher had heard how God would often send me out with a prophetic word for individuals and even sometimes to visit churches where I had never been before. The young man wanted to learn how to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit

Many of the things in our bucket list are actually within our reach, but for us to receive them would require more discipline on our part. We have also learned over the years that it was much easier to go with the flow of life rather than to challenge life.

When Jesus went to heaven we became His hands extended by doing all the things that He did while He was here on earth.

Jesus is Truth and Truth made a profound statement to the woman at the well when He said, “Believe Me, Woman.” This could have very well been a prophetic statement for the Church today.

As a young preacher, I had an experience that still remains fresh in my mind today. There was probably no one who tried harder to live a more disciplined life before the Lord than me. I was a part of a holiness denomination that had a long list of things you must avoid doing if you were going to be holy. I followed that list to the letter of the law as far as I knew. My desire was do everything in my power to fulfill Romans 12:1 where it says “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service

One day while standing in a bank line waiting to cash a check—I turned just in time to see this man turn and look at me from another line. After a short glance he turned the opposite direction—bowed his head and began to weep for me. God had showed him that I had a call on my life, but that I was lost.

As a young stray teenager running around the countryside in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s I had the privilege of living with many people who wanted to be mom and dad to me. This was one of those couples who loved me for what I was, and through the eyes of faith saw potential in my scattered life. Perhaps my life is made up of bits and pieces of all those fine people who were willing to be my parents for a season

There seems to be certain characteristics of a score keeper that are unique to them. For example, you never seem to win an argument with them…because they are usually more relentless than everyone else in the family. If a family decision needs to be made—their opinion is usually the one you go with. It is not worth all the “I told you so” comments for years to come.

One such experience took place one night when the Lord came into my room and took me to heaven. I could see my spirit leaving my body laying there on the bed. I continued to be lifted up until I saw the roof of our home and then the street and then the city and so on. All of this took place very quickly. I could not see the one who was lifting me up because he was always behind me.