Nothing But The Blood…

Well, as we all know, if you are a Christian these days, you are under attack from Satan.  He knows how to push the correct buttons to discourage you, and to get you so depressed, that your spiritual life and prayer life suffer.  I know this first hand.  Since becoming a Christian, I have committed treasion against Satan.  Before I was saved, I lived in his world, and I was not a threat to him.  Now that I have been Saved by the Grace of God, I am a threat to Satan.  I love God, and I stand firm with my faith as a Christian, and I will not return to the life of sin.  I have had a bad few weeks, but I was not alone.  God was with me through it all.  He is my Salvation, and he is my strength, when I am weak.  I recently have had some problems with the people that live next to me, and it has been trying for me and my family.  I was at wits end already with my car blowing up, and my wife starting a new job, and everything was getting heavy.  I asked the Lord for help, and he sent me some help.  Everyone in my church helped with my finances, and the Associate Pastor gave me the keys to his mustang, and said use this until you can get your car fixed.  I was beside myself.  Also the head Deacon David, and his cousin came to my house on evening and stayed real late to help me take the head off of my car, so it could be fixed.  They are even doing the repair and getting the parts for me.  I have never knew friendship like this, other that Brother Tony Thompson.  I must say, that I love God and the people in my church that He has put in my life.  Chris, David, you are both a blessing to me and my family, and I cannot express in words what that meant to me and Sarah.  You are truly men of God, and I love you brothers.  Whoever reads this, please consider giving your life to Christ.  He has blessed me in so many ways.  The blessing are not what I have imagined when I was saved, but I know that they are what God want’s to bless me with, and they are all correct and on time.  I know the world is full of evil, and I am not really scared, but I am aware of the evil presence in the world today.  But I have a shield in my corner, and his name is JESUS CHRIST.  I am here today, for a reason, and I know He has a purpose for me.  No matter how bad it gets, I know that Jesus is my Savior, Friend, Father, Mentor.  He can be yours too.  I asked my preacher one time while playing golf, when does SATAN leave you alone.  He answered honestly……When you die.  He is right, but I have someone that has defeated Satan once already in my corner, and my Lord will never forsake me.   He is my shelter, and my comforter, and he protects me from Satan.  I hope all who reads this, really examines their relationship with God, and make it right.  Come to Christ, or rededicate your life to him.  I promise, you will not regret giving your heart and soul to the Lord.  Even though I have went through what I have, I still would not change the fact that I was saved by Jesus Christ, and I will never regret coming to the Lord.  He is my best friend, and I know I am not worthy of His blessings, or his mercy, but he gives it in great abundance.  I am his number one fan.  He is my life.   Your Brother in Christ,

                                         Gary J.

i am sorry for the delay, had alot happen.   The answer to the riddle is…. I am a Christian.

“I am a visitor, I am wierd, I am an outsider.”

What am I ?

Hello Everyone,

I have to tell you about an encounter I had the other day at the gas station.  For those of you that do not know, I was a correctional officer at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, from 2000 to 2004.  I met alot of interesting people.  One person that I went to high school with, was Mitch.  He was in a bad situation with drugs, and he was in jail for a little bit of everything.  I have not seen him since school, so when he came in, it was a shock.  He was jacked up on crack, or meth, and he wanted to fight when brought in.  He did fight with us, and he was not the same guy I knew in school.  Anyway, I seen him yesterday, after a few years, and he had been to prison for his crimes.  He walked up to me and said my name.  I knew him immediately.  He said he got his life straight, and that it took the death of his girlfriend, who was also on drugs real bad to get to him.  Since her death, he told me he stopped doing drugs, got a job, and has been going to church  in my area.  Even though we did not talk for long, he did not know I have been saved, but I feel he felt that I was different, than before.  He was happy with his life now, and he seemed sincere, so if God can save a young man that was deep into drugs, and just wicked at heart, he can change you too.  I am glad that the Lord is working in this young man’s life, and even though Mitch, and myself did not see eye to eye when we last seen each other, He was a different person yesterday.  He kept saying that he straightened up and is in Church.(Thank You Lord)  I know he has a way to go, so keep him in your prayers, and pray that God uses this young man’s life experiences to help others come to Christ.  It is terrible about his loss, but I think God used that storm to get through to Mitch, to make him change his lifestyle.  I did not know this young woman, so I cannot say if she was saved, or what happened in her last moments, but I pray she gave her life to Christ before she passed.  Thank you God for opening Mitch’s eyes to see you, and caring for a man that I seen first hand, going down the road to hell.  I hope and pray Mitch stands strong in his faith, and relies on God and continue on the path to righteousness.   God is so awesome.  Trust in God,  HE IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL.

                              Your Brother in Christ,

                                              Gary J.

Well, this week has been interesting.  I have been feeling a little down and unworthy of myself this week.  The sermon on Sunday was the greatest.  It was not a preaching service, but it was a praising service.  I really needed that for my faith.  Preacher Vic called for anyone at the end of service, that was not saved, or for the Christian that needed to speak to God and lay down some burdens.  I was assisting in working the sound board, and before I knew it, I was down at the alter weeping, and praying before the Father.  I put down my burdens and praised The Father’s Name.  Some of my brothers came down to pray with me, and I could feel the Love, and the Lord’s presence during alter call.  I was honestly blessed during service, and I know some of you who read this are going through struggles, and maybe even you are under conviction to be saved.  I promise you, that you cannot go wrong with asking Jesus into your life.  I may not have alot of money, and live paycheck to paycheck, not drive the nicest car, but me and my family are truly blessed.  My two daughters and my son…… Now that is God’s love, and he believed in me and my wife, when we did not believe in ourselves.  He entrusted me with three little lives to take care of and teach, and I am so glad to do it in the presence of the Lord.  He can make the wrong things right, and he can turn your whole life around.  God did that for me, and I just cannot explain the feeling inside of me.  I love you all, and I hope that you are blesed by the grace of God.  John 3:16-For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.   That is one of my favorite scriptures.  Until next time,

                             Your Brother in Christ,

                                     Gary Johnson

My road to being saved by the grace of God was just what I needed.  I worked with a guy that was turning out to be one of my best friends.  Brither Tony asked me on several occasions to come check this church out.  After about the 20th time, I decided to go with him, so i could say that I went.  When I walked into this little country themed church, I felt as if, I belonged in this building.  Everyone was so nice, and I could feel the presence of the Lord.  I returned the next few weeks, and on October 30, 2005 I was saved by the Hand of the Father.  My life has never been the same.  I walked out of service that day, and everything looked so new and fresh.  I felt full of the Holy Spirit, and went home to tell my wife that God had changed me, and I was a new husband, father, friend and partner.  A few weeks after me, my wife Sarah was saved, and that felt, just as good as when I was saved.  I have never felt a love like this before in my life.  I had some problems with my beliefs when my mom passed in January 2004.  I was actually mad at God for taking my Mother from me.  But after being saved, my eyes were opened to the realization, of my moms passing.  Her job was done here on earth, and she went home to be with my oldest sister ”angel” who died at birth.  I now have closure, and the reason my mom went when she did.  My mom did a good job raising me and my sister, and her job was well done.  I just really wish, that she could of been at the church in human form, when I accepted Christ in my life.  My testimony is one thing that no one can tkae from me.  I was a pretty good kid, but I had my flaws.  I tried weed, and drinking, and partying, but I was never really in trouble with the law.  I met my wife in 1995 and I was full of sin.  God put this woman in my life to helpme, even though I was not saved.  I was hanging out with a guy who sold drugs, and I was trying to be cool, and help him so I could say, that I hang out with this guy, or that guy.  After Sarah let me know how it was, her or them, I picked her.   I found out a few years later, that my friend was put in prison for drug charges and armed robbery.  The lord spared me from that lifestyle, by putting Sarah in my life.  I am so thankful that God loved me that much, when I was sinning, to protect me from that world.  My Father was not always there, and I depended on my mom, Donna, for alot of my needs and going to my ball games, clothes and quality time.  My life was ok, but not the ok that God wanted it to be.  I was demeaning to women, cussed alot, I mean ALOT.  I knew of God, but i did not know God.  The word is true,and the Devil is real.  After a few months of being saved, Satan threw something in my path.  I developed an enlarged prostate at the age of 26.  It was a shock to me.  I had a bad time with this.  I did not understand what was going on.  I asked God for help, and an answer.  God always answers your prayers.  I fought with this for about 7 months.  I know in my heart that God was with me the whole time.  It was a stepping stone, and a test of my faith to the Lord.  This was my first real “storm” if you will.  It was a rough one.  But as always the Lord walked with me the whole way.  My wife and I, have had some rough times as well, and I believe Whole heartedly, that God has mended our relationship, and I love her more today than I ever have.  She is the one God has made for me, and He made a great choice.  The Lord has made me open my eyes to things that did not matter to me, when I was sinning.  God has really changed me, even though I am not perfect, God loves me, and I know that anything is possible with God in my life.  God has blessed me with three beautiful kids, and they really made me grow up. I was 21 when we had the twin girls.  I was scared to death.  But in God’s eyes, it was time for me to grow up and mature as a husband and father.  I still need more patience, but I know God will assist me in that.  I really do not know where i would be, if God had not interviened in my sinning life, but I am sure, it would not be in a free state.  I could have easily ended up in prison for something stupid.  I hope this touches someone, and encourages you not to give up, and always remember, that God loves you, and anything is possible with Jesus in your life.  I also owe my Pastor, David, Carolyn, and several others in this church for being there for me when I was at my lowest point fighting with the Devil.  I love them dearly.  Brother Tony was burdened for me, and he did not stop(believe me) inviting me to church until I went.  I love you man, thanks for loving me and caring for me as Jesus did for you.  I am endebted to you Tony. Just wanted you to know that.   One Love. Jesus is the way.

Your brother in Christ           

This is my introduction to allow you all to come into my life and trials, and for you to get to know the old me, and the new me.  I am a 27 year old new Christian.  I was saved on October 30, 2005.  Since that day, my life has never been the same.  I was one who believed that if you are a good person, you would go to heaven…Boy was I wrong.  I was a good person, but I did not know my living Savior.  I was heavy into Gangsta Rap, and I had the foulest mouth you probably ever heard.  The moment I was saved, I was cleansed, and my tongue was made new.  I do not know how I walked through life without Jesus Christ.  He has blessed my family and I, more than you could imagine.  I hope that my testimony(coming soon) can make a difference in your life, and allow you to know your living Savior, who is also mine, and By far my best friend.  Until next time,  

Your brother in Christ,

Gary J.

Gary hasn’t begun to post yet, but just wait till he gets started….whew!!