| I was preparing for our Praise Team practice tonight, | | | | some of us wavering in our faith or even walking |
| and was swept into the presence of God in total | | | | away from God. We have tried everything, everything |
| abandon. I was listening, playing, and singing this song | | | | except waiting on God. We can become so impatient |
| called The Stand from Hillsong, and I was | | | | with God's timing, and compromise our very souls |
| overwhelmed with God's Word, God's Love, God's | | | | because we think we figured it out. When I came |
| Providence, God's Holiness, need I go any further. I | | | | running back to God in 1999, I was not so arrogant to |
| was reminded of when I first heard the good news of | | | | think I had it figured out, I knew better. I was taught by |
| Jesus Christ and totally understood it. I was at | | | | my parents, Sunday School, youth pastor, evangelists, |
| Bayonne First Assembly of God, and I was in the | | | | and our senior pastor what it meant to walk with God, |
| basement of the 15th Street church in one of the small | | | | and so I had all the head knowledge... enough to stump |
| rooms with an accordion door. I was about 5 to 6 | | | | Christians who would try to get me to go to church |
| years old, and I was sitting in class, scared to death of | | | | while I was in the military. No, my blockade was I felt I |
| everyone. | | | | went too far... God could not forgive my worthless |
| My mom and dad just decided that it was time to go | | | | soul, who tasted the things of God, but like the Prodigal |
| to church and teach their kids about God. I am glad | | | | Son decided to go my way anyway. |
| Mom and Dad decided to walk with God that one day, | | | | I was still in the military and I started going to church |
| because I would have been so lost without the | | | | and helping the youth group with games and media |
| admonition and training of the Lord my parents gave | | | | stuff. I was signed up to go to this youth camp with |
| me. Back to the story... I was sitting somewhere on the | | | | the kids. What was I thinking! It was at that camp that I |
| left hand side towards the back and was nervous, and | | | | ran to the altar and committed myself to Christ, it was |
| the thought of this God was too much for my little | | | | so real, so authentic! I needed Jesus, I did not care |
| brain. Then came snack time, and if anyone knows | | | | what other people thought, or how it would effect |
| anything about me and food... well I never skip a meal | | | | relationships... I WAS SAVED! I broke off friendships |
| (except for fasting of course). They were handing out | | | | that took me down, I stopped drinking alcohol |
| juice and saltine crackers, and then they were about | | | | completely, I stopped cursing, and I stopped running! |
| to get to me, my stomach churning, I was going to | | | | So today I stand, not because I can, but I stand |
| actually eat in Sunday School. The helper stuck her | | | | because He died for me. I stand in awe of God! When |
| hand in the box and... crumbs, no crackers. Boy, the | | | | we take the time to talk out and remember all that |
| tears welled up, but I held it together and tried not to | | | | God has done in our lives and those around us, we |
| cry. | | | | can stand and see the God of this Universe is active in |
| I remember the feeling of being lonely, and sticking out | | | | our very history. What will your history book say? You |
| like a sore thumb, the curly haired dork with no | | | | see God wants all of us, and when we compromise |
| crackers! Then our teacher said we should pray for | | | | we rob ourselves of the grace available to us. God will |
| God to multiply the crackers just like in the story of the | | | | use people to minister to you, but He will often use you |
| fishes and loaves we just learned. Oh Boy! I clenched | | | | to make an impact on others. |
| my eyes shut so hard, and I agreed in prayer with the | | | | My youth pastor probably prayed for me and |
| teacher who seemed to pray for a very long time. | | | | wondered if I would ever turn to God, if he ever made |
| When our teacher told us to open our eyes, the most | | | | an impact on my life. I know as a youth pastor I have |
| glorious thing was in front of me... more crackers. I felt | | | | felt that way sometimes, and it seems you are just |
| like little David who took down the Giant! Of course as | | | | treading water. My youth pastor made an impact |
| an adult I realize that either someone ran to the corner | | | | greater than he knew then, and his wife who prayed |
| store or a closet somewhere since God would | | | | for crackers that morning helped propel a skinny, |
| probably not have bothered with brand new | | | | awkward, curly haired boy in to a life of faith that will |
| packaging. That day I believed! I believed God could do | | | | last for all eternity! |
| anything! | | | | God loves you so much, and His grace and mercy |
| Here many of us may stand today in the trials of life, | | | | extend beyond your sin! Repent, Believe and Stand! |