BroPauL

John 3:16

For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him, should not parish, but have everlasting life.

God went to great extremes to open the eyes of the lost, I was 1 of them that He went that extra mile or two with. As a child I was raised in church, that is, I was taken to church but I had other things on my mind. I decided to do my own thing after I turned 18, "BIG MISTAKE" I got out of school in '77. In 78 I went to work building trailers. There were some guys at work into drugs, I had already used alcohol with friends. At lunch 1 day, I was given the opportunity to get high also. Satan don' t tell you about the trouble it will cause later. I started smoking dope then. It went from smoking lunch to staying out late because I was too high to get home. I learned something I had 1 big problem, I did not have any money by pay day, I got paid every week. I started to sell things to help. I had, my car I wanted to build to race and the extra parts. That money lasted about 2-3 weeks. I was needing more money, massive amounts of money. I could think of very few ways to get the amount of money

Number 3 sounded best to me. I was too scared to rob, if I could have bought the equipment to do printing, I would have no need to print money. By this time I had changed jobs, I was working with a friend as a mechanic, the job did not pay a lot., but it helped a little. I met another guy, he was a supplier, I bought 1.5 lbs of hash oil. I was now ready to sell and have the money rolling in. I thought. This lasted about 2 weeks at the most. I went to the Hallett Motor Speedway for a race on Sunday (07-29-79). On the way home I was followed by a state officer. I was scared this time. He stopped me and after a long talk, with a lot of questions, to which I was replying "yes sir, no sir". He took me to the city motel.(jail) I knew this meant trouble. We went to court, the D.A. asked for a trial with me being placed in the state prison for a term of 15 years. I got out the next day on bond, (07-30-79). We got home. That day a couple from our church came to see us, I was not to interested in seeing anyone, but I know that they were sent by God. I was still thinking about PAUL, in the flesh, My main concern was how many others from the church knew about this ordeal. I did get saved that night the 30th. We went to court later, I learned that the case was dropped, I know that God changed their minds, they can say what they want. As I said, I got saved, but I failed to get deliverance from the addiction of drugs, but I did stay clean for about 3-4 months. At this time I failed, I turned back to drugs. Satan's chains of addiction had a bigger hold on me than I could deal with by myself. This time my drug problem was bigger than ever. I went to school in OKC for 9 months, nothing good happened there, it was 9 months of being stoned. The only good thing was that God protected me from satan's death grip while I was there. A car fell while on a jack, Thank God nobody was under it. I finally moved back to Tulsa, Ok. with no less of a drug problem, I got a job at a golf course, mowing, it was easy hiding my drug use, it seemed no one cared. The golf balls caused me to leave that job. One missed my head about 6 inches, I decided I was ready to find another job, I did. I went to work for a oil equipment producing company. About 3 months after I got that job, God started to deal with me in a big way. I knew that God wanted me to turn to him, God did have to get my attention and this is how he did it.

God showed me what it will be like to not be ready for the rapture. Many nights I would wake up praying for GOD to forgive me for my sins. I would never stay with it though, I wanted the peace of Christianity but continue doing what I wanted to do. One night I was asleep, GOD woke me up from a sound sleep, He said "YOU MUST BE SAVED!" Down deep inside I knew it was true, but I wanted to hold on to the pleasures of this life. About 2-3 weeks later I came home from work. I was thinking about the things of this world, what I had done that day, what I was going to do tomorrow, etc. While getting ready for bed I heard a sound, it sounded like a trumpet blast, 3 of them. I don't know if that is what the sound will be like, but it was what we were taught it will be like. I thought the rapture had come and I had missed it, I listened very closely, I could not hear sounds of people sleeping in the next room. I went to bed, for some reason I had forgotten all about what I was planning on doing. I knew *IF* the rapture had come there was no forgiveness from that point on, but I laid in the bed. Then I decided that I would pray, after all if it had not come, GOD would hear my prayers. As I prayed I told GOD I knew if the rapture had come my prayers would not be heard or answered, then I prayed the sinners prayer. After about 5 - 10 min., I felt like a ton of weight had been lifted off of me, I felt very light, I knew the rapture had not come, I had been given another chance.

Still I had the addiction problem, for about 4-5 long years I tried to kick it, it took a very long time, some times I would feel like pulling my hair out, but I was able with GOD's help to kick the problem. I can say I know what somebody goes through when they go cold turkey to quit any thing. I now know how to pray for someone going through this. At the same time I was going through this, I was sent home from work due to MS. I knew very little about MS, I mean I really was ignorant as to what MS is. The Dr. told me that I had MS, it really didn't sink in as to what he was saying. I didn't really care what he called it, I just wanted him to FIX IT. That's when he looked at me and told me that there was no cure for MS. I was discouraged when I went into his office in my wheel chair, but I had no idea how discouraged I would become. It's true I thought of ending my life. As we were leaving his office I had my hand on the door handle of the car, I was wanting to open the door and fall out, I figured it would be consider an accident by man. But it was not something I could do myself, I knew how God would judge it. Then I decided I would just have to accept, (for now) what had happen. I always knew that God could and would take care of me, but at the time I was not too sure I had the faith to get through my situation. I still prayed for God to heal me.

Around '86 GOD's presents became more powerful in my life. Some of you may remember the day. I remember it was a Sunday morning. Let me back up about 1 week, I was very sick, I mean I was so sick I had stopped praying to be healed, I was praying that God would take me home, (Heaven) I was ready. That next Sunday was the day that Sis. Pat gave the prophecy, that God had heard my prayers, and that he would heal me. No one (human) knew what my prayer was at that time. I knew that the massage was from God. The Lord has touch me many times since then.

Two (2) weeks ago (07-16-95) you may remember this, I went out under the power, while a song was being sung, (I WAS DOWN AT THE ALTER, WHEN THE GLORY OF MY FATHER CAME DOWN) I think was the name of the song. After the tape had been rewound it was requested if you need any thing from God come and ask. I did, I had planned on getting anointed with oil, because I had felt that I had a calling to preach, but I wanted to know if this was from God or me. But when I got there, there were too many in front of me, so I just prayed and told God, "I needed to know if he was calling me into the ministry." I had no sooner prayed than the glory of God came upon me a second time that night. After church I told the pastor (Bro. Oliver) what had happen, and the glory of God came down on me a 3rd time that night. I am sure of my calling, I will appreciate your prayers, as I go about doing God's will.

Please fell free to print this out and give to the lost. Just *DO NOT* change any thing.

Matthew 13:47 "Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.

GOD heals, forgives, and restores!