Thank Linda for her brave testimony to the Power of God! Glory Be To God!!!! This is a powerful testimony!

This is the complete testimony of the state I was living in and how God changed me in one day. When you read it, you will know more about my mistakes that anyone does at this time. I owned my home drove a nice new car and was raising a son after a bad divorce to his abusive father several years earlier. Men had hurt me a lot in my life and I thought I was doing pretty good on my own. But I was making mistakes left and right and looking death in it’s face. Here is my story.

Ya know how I got the holy ghost? I didn’t know there was one! I never heard people talk about it. I never really could conceive that God was as real as a close friend. I never could see him outside the bible. It’s like OK there is a God, He wrote the word to help us and guide us to him and tell us how to live. One day when I die I will meet him if I am saved. Then I stressed about how to know if I am saved. For years I got saved again and again and even baptized a couple times in the baptist church. But I kept sinning and I knew I was messing up. Also, reading the bible was so hard. BORING! I had no idea the new testament first 4 books was the same story told by 4 authors.

I read them wanting to know God personally and better and I thought to myself how repetitive the bible was. When I would read in the old testament I would get bored and confused about how strict God is and the law. But I promised myself I would read at least one verse a day every day until I got to know God better. So for a year I read at least one and usually a bunch of verses or chapters a day and also went to different churches once a week on Sunday. I didn’t know people went 2 and 3 times a week.

Even though in that year I was trying to find God and I had “accepted Jesus into my heart”, I was messing my life up. I had been in bad relationships even fell for a married co-worker/friend who was separated, but played between us both. At least he is who told me I could have a personal relationship with Jesus in a way I never had. But after finally telling him to stop coming around and let me get on with my life, I joined a chat line where you can meet people on the phone.

I was even approached by a female co-worker who wanted to date me and just showed up at my home. Funny how the devil sends trouble your way just when he knows you are weak and tired of being hurt. I did go out with her because I had been so betrayed by lying men. I even gave her a bible and talked to her about getting saved not realizing what a mess my life was and how far from the truth I was.

So on this chat line I met JimJohn. For a date he came to my home and did work on my roof and I fixed him dinner. The next day I met Gary. Both were simple dates, but Gary pressed me to date him and no one else. I called JimJohn to say I chose to date Gary and would not have a second date with him. He called me back later that evening and was very upset and wanted a second chance.

He was pretty upset that I would make my decision so swiftly and not give him a chance to show me his home and take me out. He was so upset about it and I had a date planned with Gary the next day. I was living 45 min. away and since the other man I was meeting the next day in his area, I reluctantly agreed to go ahead that night (what was I thinking?) and drive to the town JimJohn lived in to give him one last minute chance to change my mind. Here it was 10 pm and I drove there to meet him at a truck stop so he could lead me to his home. I didn’t even think for a minute about my safety.

It was May 20, 1996 and there was some flooding on 136 as I drove there and I felt the presence of God was with me. It was weird how I knew it, but it seemed a flash of light caught my eye in a weird way a few times and it drew me to see where the road flooded out and kinda got me to pay attention well. So I get the the station and he was there standing by a pay phone. (must have thought I stood him up) I went and said hi and he embraced me and I felt that he was sweaty and nervous. When he grabbed my hand he squeezed too hard, but I followed him to his home which was a few miles away and down some country roads to a dead end road.

As I pulled up at his home at the end of the road, the wind was blowing the curtains through his front windows. How strange I thought because that meant there were no screens. A large dog met us and I became afraid then at the site of this backwoods home on a dead end road. It seemed he and I were alone in the world. If he meant to harm me no one would hear my screams.

He walked me into the home and my countenance fell even more. There were June bugs flying around in there because of the windows being open and all over the walls hung all these weird antique devices that were used such as vice grips, knives with handles made out of deer antlers or other bones, and tools that maybe were used to work leather and punch holes in things.

I immediately thought of torture devices of a sexual sadist. I felt such a heaviness. JimJohn sat me on the couch across from the door and he grabbed my hand and held it tight. It hurt. He wouldn’t let go and he appeared desperate. I had not seen this in him when he fixed my roof and had dinner I made. Why had I chose to come here? I had never been so careless before.

He said he was so disappointed I had not given him the chance and he liked me so much and wanted to spend his life with me. He thought I was so beautuful and he wanted me so bad. It was as if I was the only one for him, the dream come true that about slipped away. He then talked of how lonely he was and had no one, no friends, no close family, his dad just died and they had been so close, he just lost his job that day, and he was considering suicide. OMG! The desperation and sense of doom was building in the room.

The whole time I listened I knew I was in a dangerous situation and I could feel God with me. I started talking about God and asking if he had a bible. He said his sister had given him one, but he really never knew God or read it. He never let go of me the whole time I was there which was about 2 hours. I focused on how God loves him and will help him etc. Looking around, I saw his bedroom right off the living room.

You couldn’t walk in the door but had to crawl across an unmade dirty looking bed because the room was the size of a large closet or better yet the size of the bed. I wasn’t used to such a home. I had thought when I agreed to go there that since I had to meet Gary at 6:30 am, I might stay on the couch if I felt comfortable and if not I would just sleep in my car where I was going to meet him. I wasn’t staying there for sure! That is if I could get out of there alive! Yes it seemed that dire to me.

I could see in the kitchen those same “torture devices” mounted on the wall along with some animal heads and feet. I saw a vice grip mounted on a cabinet door over the sink. I asked where the bathroom was so I could get away from him and think. He directed meto the room behind the couch. I opened the door went in and closed it. I was in horror the moment I did. I saw an open doorway across from the toilet with a room with a DIRT FLOOR.

The kitchen was off it to the left and he could have walked in there and saw me. Why on earth is anyone living this way I wondered? What is going on here? Then I saw a cockroach in the tub. I cried, but kept myself together. I was afraid right then that I would be tortured and buried in the dirt floor. I was praying to God to save me and get me out of there alive. I was asking him what to say and what to do. I really believe that if God had not been with me, I would be dead and I worry to this day about that man.

I thought that the only way I could make it out of there alive was to make him think I liked him. I mean this man was sweating bad and squeezing my hand so hard and so desperately. I decided to try and let him know I was choosing him and not Gary and I was gonna ask him to take me to breakfast to get us out of there.

I came out of the bathroom and started in with my plan. He again grabbed me tight and sat right by me. He also hugged me. I talked more about Jesus and told him not to even think of suicide because he was such a great guy and I wanted a chance to date him. I told him I felt so lucky that I came to meet him and that I wasn’t going to go meet Gary now. I acted like I could see us in his home and that moving in together right away sounded great. And then I asked him to take me to breakfast to talk more about our future.

And I assured him I would come back with him and spend the day with him. He agreed and I was so thankful, but didn’t feel safe yet. I felt he may be onto me and may try and kill me right then. I even felt scared he may sick his dog on me if he sensed I was trying to run. There was definately a weird tension and questioning in his mind. We walked to the door and toward our vehicles and I said I would follow him.

He questioned me about it and I told him I wanted to get some more gas in my car. OMG he said OK and he led me out of that hell hole. I went to the truck stop where we met and I did eat with him because I felt safe enough then to tell him over the meal that I would not date him and that this was it for us. He was very upset, but in a public place could not do anything about it. I encouraged him to seek Jesus.

This testimony does not end there. I drove to where I was to meet Gary. He drove a tri-axle gravel truck. What a second date, but I had agreed to ride with him while he worked. (Good grief I know!) Without going into all the details of the rest of my day, I still knew God was with me. I could feel it. And something very odd happened.

There was a cassette tape on the dash board and while we were driving with the windows open, suddenly the tape inside it started floating in the air and came right between us at eye level as we sat in the seat. Wow we thought that was weird how the wind must have gotten the wheels to spin and loose the tape. I picked up a pencil and tried to wind it back up but couldn’t and just gave up on it and put it down.

At the end of the day several hours later I was so beat having no sleep the night before. I drove home in my 1996 Dodge Avenger with my windows down. As I drove on interstate 74 W, suddenly the tape from a cassette was again right beside my eyes. I was in shock! I turned to see and sure enough the tape was lying in my back seat and the wind had unraveled it’s tape. What? Twice in one day? OK God what is up?!

Just for the record it never happened before or since even with one tape for me, let alone two separate tapes in two vehicles on the same day. Right?! I grabbed the tape and threw it in my purse and thanked God for saving me from the awful night and being with me. I knew this was God’s way of saying he was with me.

I got home threw the purse on the chair and was ready to go to bed but the phone rang. It was JimJohn he was crying, yelling, threatening to come there upset, devastated. I told him forget about me we were nothing alike. I told him I would never date anyone like him and was not interested and never wanted him to call again. He had left me several messages too and continued calling. I was so scared he would show up. What had I gotten into.

I called Keith the married man who had lied to me to date me and told him what was happening and how scared I was. Keith agreed to stop by and check on me on his way to work the graveyard shift. He came and comforted me, and offered to even call in if I wanted him to stay. I made it clear there was no way we would ever date again and said I was ok…

I just needed him as a friend but was adamant to break away from him as I felt he was staying around me to keep me from meeting anyone. He left after I said I was OK and I went to bed. Though Keith had betrayed me and his wife, I knew he cared about us both. He also was the one who told me I could have a relationship with Jesus whereby Jesus would be closer and more personal with me that a brother. I had been wanting that so bad once I heard that.

I awoke at 5:30 am May 21, 1996 so scared because I had had a bad dream. I had had a few end time type dreams that I felt God was trying to show me something. I called Keith at work crying and said I had this horrible dream and I was scared. He agreed to come by after he got off at 7 am. I hung up and went to the living room to sit on my couch and write out my dream. I had gotten in that habit recently. As I wrote the dream God began interpreting it to me as well. He used words that I wrote that I had never used before like “imp” “he knew not God” “the evil one” “sect”. After he told me the meaning of the dream I found myself on my knees with my arms raised praising him. I had never ever done that kind of thing as a Baptist. God was directing me bodily

God began telling me His son Jesus died on a cross to pay the price for my sins (I already knew this and had invited him in my heart) he told me I had done my will long enough and it was time I did his. Those were his exact words on the subject. I hadn’t thought I was doing such a bad job yet look where I almost ended up that weekend. God told me he had been with me this weekend and kept me safe and used me.

Then, God gave me a day vision. He allowed me to see myself on my knees with my arms raised praising him only I wasn’t myself exactly. I was covered in a red loose long garment like a sheet almost. I thought it looked like Casper the ghost only red not white. It covered me wholly except I saw eye holes and a mouth hole, but knew I was neither female or male in this image. He explained to me that this was Jesus protective blood covering me that he had told me about in my dream. My protection from the enemy.

I want to add that it’s not just one drop of blood when you are saved. You are covered in Jesus blood like a red garment, only God sees us (He told me this too) as white as snow because he looks at us through this blood and doesn’t see our sin when we repent and are saved.

Then, the most amazing thing happened to me. Suddenly a wind came from above me and entered me from above and whirled down through me and into my into my gut. I felt it’s power and felt it filling and washing through me. I was overwhelmed. I was overjoyed. I felt such a presence of God’s love. I continued praising him speaking so fast I could barely make sense of anything I said.

Likely this was tongues, but I didn’t know about tongues or being baptized in His spirit so I didn’t know what to call it. I certainly was changed and still feeling the spirit all over me even for 3 days after. But that day when Keith came, I was still talking really fast and excitedly. He said “Linda? What’s going on?” I said to him “That was the old Linda this is the new”. I had a rebirth experience for sure and I knew I was a new creature in Him. Later that day I went to the tape I had thrown in the chair and wound it up.

I played it right where it was crinkled from being unwound. It was a tape I had made and on one side right there was the song Stairway to Heaven. On the other side right there was a song by Michael W. Smith or Ray Boltz (I gotta look at it again) about the Blood of Jesus. God also led me to go to church that next Wed and testify. I had never been on a Wed. and didn’t know what kind of service it was.

It turned out that they really weren’t testifying but God was so strong on me that I cried some though it and at the end, I stood to ask if I could say what happened. I basically just said that I had an experience with God and knew that I was saved now and a new creature in Christ. They were all happy for me, but I didn’t feel the burden of telling leave me so I waited around and followed the Pastor to his office to be more specific about getting a dream, interpretation, feeling God, hearing God and knowimg He changed me.

This preacher at Calvery Babtist told me the devil gives us dreams and God doesn’t do that today. (!) He warned me that I needed to stick to the bible and what it says in there. (by the way the bible supports my experiences all of them) I left there feeling so let down. I started to question what God had done. God was so good though that he even caused me to watch the local religious channel out of South Bend IN. channel 40 and back to back two preachers came on talking about dreams and visions and telling me not to let the devil steal what God has given me. Kenneth Hagin was one and I bought the book “I Believe in Visions” that he taught out of.

Then the Lord directed me supernaturally to the next church which was non-denominational. I called before my first visit there to testify and find out if they would reject me. Instead of rejecting me they taught me what happened and when I came, they gave me the book “The Blood and the Glory” by Billy Brim to explain the power in the blood of Jesus.

So many more exciting things have happened in my walk and I truly believe that though I had asked Jesus in my heart many times before, that this day was the day of my salvation. And I believe with all my heart that those who earnestly seek this kind of relationship with God will find favor with him and will find it.

I believe you must find it to truly be saved. Not everyone will have the same dreams, visions or feel the same wind or have the same experience, but I believe you will know that you have been adopted and accepted by God when this does happen. I believe you will speak in tongues even if a moment and you will know the holy ghost has come to live inside you.

My dream that God interpreted was a description of the dire state of my life and the war that the enemy was fighting for my soul. I’ve added it for you below. I have had many dreams, words, and miracles from God and I am no one special as you can see by how I was living my life. But now I am changed. Thank you Jesus.
You may share this if you like if you will please credit me and my profile link. http://www.myspace.com/evez27

Linda

The Saving Blood of Jesus Dream

During a period of reading the bible for a year trying to get closer to God, a friend told me I could have a relationship with Jesus. He said it would be like talking to a friend as we were.
I was trying to get close to God, but my life was full of sin even though I accepted Christ. One weekend, I had been all the wrong places but felt God with me. He gave me signs that He was there. Then I woke at 5:30 am on May 21, 1996. Another end time dream. I was so scared and knew I had to write it down to understand it. I began writing and as I did, God began interpreting the dream. He showed me I was in my parent’s home and there was this girl at my feet. She was turning gray and dying. I was trying to get her to come with me to ‘our people’ the good sect. She was too afraid to leave there. She was afraid of him.

Then a voice came from the other room. Very scary voice that said “where do you think you are going? You are mine!” God interpreted that was the evil one. I told this girl we had to go! I had to pull her and drag her and on our way out I knew we needed to grab some clothes as we were only in shorts and halter tops. I grabbed some sweats and God interpreted this was our protective clothing. God told me to notice I only grabbed one outfit. He said the girl was me! He then said the protective clothing was the BLOOD of Jesus.

Then I fell to my knees and raised my arms to praise Him. I had never done that before. God spoke to me that I had done my will long enough and it was time to do his. I was His and His son died for my sins to give me this protective blood that saves me and protects me from the evil one. He told me I am a new creature in Christ. He then gave me a day vision of the blood of Jesus covering me.

Exodus 12:13 and the blood shall be for you to a token upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Be Blessed!

Technorati Tags: deliver, God, Grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, love, testimony

I was emailing a friend this morning when I got these words from the Lord. I wanted to share with all of you that spending time with the Lord is just what He wants! It brings Him great joy! I hope this blesses you as much as it did me.

“I DID NOT PULL YOU OUT OF THE FIRE SO YOUR TESTIMONY COULD BE HIDDEN” “I PULLED YOU OUT OF THE FIRE SO THAT OTHERS COULD SEE MY GLORY!” “DO NOT TAKE YOUR EYES OFF ME.” “SATAN WILL TRY TO HINDER YOU DO NOT BE DECEIVED” “WHEN MY HAND MOVES KNOW ONE WILL BE ABLE TO STOP IT BUT THEY WILL TRY TO HINDER IT.” “YET THEIR BEST EFFORTS WILL FAIL AGAINST ME.” “WHEN YOU HEAR MY VOICE, LISTEN TO ME, DO NOT RELY ON YOUR FEELINGS OR YOU WILL FALL PREY TO THE EVIL ONE.”

I HAVE PLANS FOR YOU. BUT YOU MUST OBEY ME. I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU, OR FORSAKE YOU. YOU ARE MY BELOVED. MY DAUGHTER. SO MANY OF MY CHILDREN ARE IN TORMENT, THIS SHOULD NOT BE SO. FOR THEY HAVE TAKEN THEIR EYES OFF ME AND ALLOW THE ENEMY TO BURDEN THEIR SOULS. I AM GRIEVED DEEPLY. I AM FAITHFUL TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS. MY WORD WILL NOT RETURN TO ME VOID. WHEN I SEND IT OUT I SEND IT FOR PURPOSE NOT FOR SHOW.

DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO I AM? DO YOU NOT SEE THE MIRACLES I HAVE DONE? I WILL PROTECT MY PEOPLE. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR EYES FIXED ON ME. ON WHO I AM! I LOVE YOU WITH A PERFECT LOVE. OH HOW I LONG FOR MY CHILDREN TO REACH FOR MY HEART FOR IF THEY ONLY KNEW MY LOVE FOR THEM THEY WOULD RUN TO ME INSTEAD OF AWAY FROM ME. I AM SADDENED FOR THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE EVEN MY OWN PEOPLE HAVE OF ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO SEARCH FOR ME WITH THEIR WHOLE HEART.

IT BRINGS ME GREAT JOY TO SEE JUST ONE PERSON GIVE THEIR HEART TO ME. HEAVEN REJOICES WITH SINGING. BELLS RINGING. SAINTS DANCING. DO YOU SEE NOW MY GREAT LOVE? PLEASE COME VISIT ME…..SPEND TIME WITH ME…..IT BRINGS ME GREAT JOY!

This prophecy was given to Tina Bradley

Be Blessed!

Technorati Tags: God, Grace, Heaven, Holy Spirit, Jesus, love, Miracles, prophecy

SO I thought I would change things up a bit today and share with you some of what my husband and family think of me! I do have a silly side to me..and can be a real goof sometimes…

So here is what my family calls “Tina’isms” These are the things that I do that they really get a laugh at…well I have to admit I laugh at myself too…

Where’s my phone? And shes talking on it!!!

Tina, you had a phone call when you were in the shower,

Tina says: “Wheres my phone?” Chris says: I dunno.. Tina says: “Oh it’s in my hand!”

Chris says to Tina after seeing the shower what appears to be clogged up…Hey baby, I guess the shower is needs fixing too, seems to be clogged?

Yeah honey, it wouldn’t drain…Oh Ok….

Chris goes into the shower to see what might be stuck in the drain and lo and behold, there was something, the plug!!!

Where my glasses? Where’s my glasses?? – Oh they on my head!!

Chris, I can’t get the hat rack to screw into the wall???

Baby, let me see it, Oh, you had it in reverse!!

So my husband wrote down all the things he loved about me and the above is just a little sample of all my silliness! Here is the list he wrote down…It brings a joy to my heart to hear my husband says those things…I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband and one who loves Jesus with all his heart!

Here is the list of traits he wrote down that he loved about me…..

love,
devotion,
kindness,
support,
encouragement,
beauty,
gentleness,
fun loving spirit,
words,
forgiveness
wholesomeness
cuteness
way you talk
being a great mama
you accept me for who i am
honesty
love of God
beautiful body
big beautiful brown eyes
way you love me
way you love Aiyana
putting God 1
running to God for all things
being obedient to God
listing to God
truly after Gods own heart
the care and love you have for others
the way you desire me
the way you are crazy about me
sense of humor
silliness

It is so wonderful to have a man who truly loves me for who I am. I can say that it is truly different to have God in the center of our lives. We have our struggles like every couple but we always work through them. And there is no better way to have it then to have God in the center! He is truly our rock!

This is dedicated to my wonderful wacky husband!

Be Blessed!

Technorati Tags: family, God, love, marriage, relationships

1 A psalm of praise of David. I will praise you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.

2 I will bless you every day, and I will praise you forever.

3 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! His greatness is beyond discovery!

4 Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts.

5 I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles.

6 Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness.

7 Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy of your righteousness.

8 The LORD is kind and merciful, slow to get angry, full of unfailing love.

9 The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.

10 All of your works will thank you, LORD, and your faithful followers will bless you.

11 They will talk together about the glory of your kingdom; they will celebrate examples of your power.

12 They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign.

13 For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule generation after generation. The LORD is faithful in all he says; he is gracious in all he does.

14 The LORD helps the fallen and lifts up those bent beneath their loads.

15 All eyes look to you for help; you give them their food as they need it.

16 When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness.

18 The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him sincerely.

19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.

20 The LORD protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.

21 I will praise the LORD, and everyone on earth will bless his holy name forever and forever.

Be Blessed!

Technorati Tags: david, God, love

I got saved in June of 1999. I was into partying and going to clubs. Even after I got saved for a while I still went until for some reason it wasn’t fun anymore. I was going through sanctification process and God was changing my thought process and that is what the Christian walk is all about.

Christ living in and through you! Nothing can match the Power of God NOTHING!

I smoke for several years 12 or more years. Then about almost two years into being saved I was going to this church in KY. They were a non-denominational church and they always stood up before church in the front and gathered around in a circle to pray openly meaning verbally. So to me I was really having a hard time focusing during prayer because I was not use to that and when you are hearing about 40 people praying it almost reminded me of that movie Bruce Almighty where he could start to hear people praying.

I remember I just spoke out and really to this day I am not for sure why I did? But I said “I want to quit smoking!” Then at that moment EVERYONE came around me. They put their hands on me and prayed. Some were speaking in tongues and I had no clue what they were saying. I even started making fun of them in my mind well because I was just saved in 1999 and I was just a baby in Christ. I had no idea about much of anything other that I knew I was a sinner…..

After they prayed I left the church and like always lit a cigg on the way home…God NEVER convicted me of it NOT ONE TIME! I went home that night and didn’t think much more of it……

The next morning I woke up and started my day and it was like any ordinary day…I went to work, ran some errands, ate lunch, clean the house…you know normal stuff.

Then about 3 pm it was as if I had been blind-folded! I was standing inside my living room and all the sudden I freaked out! I thought “Oh my gosh!” “I have not smoked today!” ‘Huh?” I was stunned!

I sat there in shock! It was like cigarettes were never invented! I would always smoke outside never inside so it was the normal thing for me to have a cup of coffee and smoke first thing in the morning and after I eat.

But nothing not one time and then I knew I was delivered! The desire, the want, the crave, everything GONE!

Then I was like “God please forgive me for making fun of you…I …..I was at a loss for words. But you see God KNEW what I was thinking and He KNEW that would get my attention! And it DID!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK HE IS SOME IMAGINARY FIGURE OUT THERE WHO IS SO FAR AWAY AND OUT OF REACH YOUR WRONG! WHAT HE HAS DONE IN MY LIFE HE WILL DO IN YOURS!

QUESTION IS DO YOU BELIEVE??

Be blessed!

Technorati Tags: addiction, Bible, deliverence, God, Grace, healing, Jesus, love, smoking

The ultimate goal of the Gospel is a loving, meaningful relationship with God. Until people understand that, they will run from the process. We fail to realize what God desires and we spend to much of our time pursuing a entirely different goal than what God would desire.

Jesus didn’t come to just build an army, he is but most of all he came to recover a family. It’s through his work we are adopted, Adoption means that we are accepted into a family.

God wants us as His sons and daughters. He wants us to be a part of His family. God wants our involvement and He wants a relationship with us. He initiated the plan that could bring all of this about. He dealt with the one thing that stood between us and Him and that is SIN.

Sin had separated man from God. Sin had created a bridge that we could not cross. Sin introduced the one thing that would keep us from loving,trusting, or being involved with God. It began to reign with Adam, and it has continued until today.

Genesis gives us a closer look into the way sin affected man’s relationship with God. Genesis 3:8 is one of the saddest most profound verses in the bible. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presense of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

God had initiated this whole plan of man, just as He initiatd every aspect of Creation. God had initiated a relationship with man from the start. But for the first time, Adam did not respond! He hid from God and from that day until the present man has continued to run from the invitation of God. Man has refused to draw near and experience God.

Why? Why did Adam run and hide from God when he came to fellowship with Adam? He never had a problem before right? God would come and visit with him and fellowship with him but then all the sudden Adam hid from God.

Genesis 3:9 says: And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? There is every indication from the original language that when God called, it meant He called to make peace, God wanted peace. Adam assumed God was mad at him and was calling him to judgment. That fear has been in man from that day forward.

God already knew what had happened in the garden that day. He knew what they did and yet he still came looking for Adam? What could this mean?

After Adam had sinned God still came to him but Adam was so fearful he ran and hid away from God. He thought that he messed up so bad that he did not believe he was acceptable to God anymore.

Adam was always naked before God and he did not think anything of it, to Adam being naked was normal. But then as soon as they ate from the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil then all the sudden they knew they were naked!

Now Adam had these new abilities he did not have before! Thinking that God should not see Adam naked he covered himself. Bottom line Adam covered himself because he didn’t think he could stand before God. and he did what he thought would make him acceptable.

Adam missed the point and so have we all. If God did not want to fellowship with Adam he would have never went looking for Adam in the garden after they did what they did.

Our fears affect our behavior so dramatically that we cannot have meaningful involvememt with God! We do not accept the reality that God still pursued us in Jesus and throught Jesus he made us acceptable. God wanted a relationship with us so bad that he done eveything he could to make it possible, even sacrificing his own son Jesus for our sins so that when we come and ask Jesus into our hearts and we confess our sins he washes away our sins and when he see us he sees his son Jesus.

A meaningful relationship is the product of love, trust, and personal involvement. Relationships grow to the extent that each of these factors are present.

When there is no love, trust, or personal involvement, it is not a relationship! It could be considered an arrangement or “working relationship” but it’s not a personal family relationship.

We need to spend time with God in order to develop and experience this. When you spend time with someone who is kind to you then you start to grow in your trust for that person right?

If the relationship is positive then you become drawn to it. It is like food for the soul. It is good tasting and you want to eat it again. Soon it becomes your favorite thing to eat!

But look at the other side of this, if you spend time with someone who is not good to you then soon or later you will distance yourself from that person becasue they do not accept you right?

Fear breeds all sorts of negative emotions and actions. It is the root of all deceit! You can never really be honest with someone when you fear what he will do to you or how he will respond to you.

Bottom line is you can never be real! You become busy trying to cover up the real you and how you think in order to develop a relationship.

Same goes for our relationship with God. Adam starting running from God and so have we because we are afraid of God!

We don’t really believe how God feels about us. Fear and unbelief go hand and hand. And because we are afraid of God we do not trust him! And because we do not trust him we do not come to him.

Fear of God will prevent us from coming to Him and most of all it will destroy the possibillity of knowing God.

What’s worse is the religious leaders of Jesus day had completely misrepresented God. They had portrayed God as hard and judgmental. They had perverted the meaning and purpose of the law. They had put God completely out of reach of the people.

Jesus came and properly represented God to the world. Jesus was the exact representation of God! Jesus was and is very approachable! He is merciful,he was and is still open to us, and he was then and still is to this very day relationship oriented!

Even today some of the churches distort the true meaningful relationship God the Father really desires from us, just like the Jewish leaders did back in the day… and that has caused people to run from the only one who truly loves them. Jesus showed us God so that we could have the boldness to enter into a meaningful relationship with Him.

God desires us! Just the way we are….It is the power of the Holy Spirit living in and through us to bring us into a close fellowship with God! Apart from me you can do nothing! Jesus made this statement so that we could understand that it was not us it was him workng it out in and through us! He just wants our hearts!

He wants us to be real with him and with eachother! Be transparent so that others can see Christ in and through us. It is God who persued us and is still persuing us to this very day!

Some material was from the book entitled “The Gospel of Peace” By:Dr. James B Richards. A very profound thought provoking powerful book I very much recommend! It will inspire you to press into God and seek a real meaningful relationship with him. Be Blessed!

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