Friday, August 23, 2013

Paul Email -23August2013- (Identity)

How you doin? So I can finally say I'm a published writer. One of my emails (Tues. 8/6) was published in the Herald that came out on Weds. 8/21. I didn't title it, but that's ok. Stacey had to leave early for work today. Her last day is Tuesday 8/27. WOW! It's here. The Spirit's willing, but the flesh is weak. I feel all the peace imaginable Spiritually, but occasionally my human condition kicks in and nerves result. Rarely though. I had the privilege of visiting with an old friend yesterday who is experiencing God's love for the 1st time at age 48. He's a friend from my past. He's covered in tattoos, curses like a sailor, drinks like a fish, and he's never met a drug he didn't love. He was a good friend of mine, lol. Over a month ago he tried to commit suicide with booze. A few mornings after, I had called him out of the blue. We spoke for less then a minute, because he was working. 2 weeks later he sent me a text message saying, "thanks for calling me... God bless". I've never heard him say "God bless" before. So I called him. He said that something was going on and he's been going to church. Yesterday he said that when he was in church, "everyone was so nice to him. He was expecting to be shun and criticized for his appearance and life style. He said he felt loved. I kept asking him questions about that day in church and he finally said, "everyone was so happy there (hope) and I thought to myself 'maybe they are right'" (repentance). He hasn't been fully delivered YET. This story sounds very familiar to me. He said that it was a miracle that I called him, because he thought I hated him. I asked why he thought that and he said, "your life is so beautiful and mine's sh..". While talking to him the Holy Ghost was showing me you he is in Christ. I continued to tell him who he really is. I told him that the lies he's believed for his entire life are... lies. God is truth. Needless to say our visit was AWESOME!!!!!!! My friends name is Joe. Please be praying for him. I see my friend's struggle with his identity. He believes lies. God revealed enough of Himself to start Joe's process. COME ON!!!!!!! This story makes me think of Psalm 8.    
Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory    in the heavens.
Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?[c]
You have made them[d] a little lower than the angels[e]
    and crowned them[f] with glory and honor.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
    you put everything under their[g] feet:
all flocks and herds,
    and the animals of the wild,
the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea,
    all that swim the paths of the seas.
Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8)

  1. Psalm 8:4 Or what is a human being that you are mindful of him, / a son of man that you care for him?
  2. Psalm 8:5 Or him
  3. Psalm 8:5 Or than God
  4. Psalm 8:5 Or him
  5. Psalm 8:6 Or made him ruler . . . ; / . . . his
The footnotes wouldn't allow me to change the letters. These footnotes are c., d., e., f., and g. The important footnote is e. in the text, c. on the list.
Know who you are in Christ today.
PS If you see someone with me at church named Joe covered in tattoos... please don't mention this email. Just love on him.

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