Time With God – Part 2

Part 2 – The Conclusion

I remember after my spinal surgery back in 2009-2010, my doctor came into my hospital room and had informed me and my family, that I nearly died during my surgery. I wasn’t coming out of my anesthesia and the surgeons were about to give up on reviving me. To know that there was a possibility that I would not be here today, walking, talking, doing the things I love to do, is still frightening to this day. That for a moment I actually died on that operation bed. Thank God, that I am still here, and by God’s Mercy, I am alive, and can share with you, all that He has blessed me with. Brothers and Sisters, this is God’s amazing Grace; this is the God who loves us.

When I left the hospital, I had 6 months of what appeared to be a very long recovery. I was going through therapy and seeing my chiropractor 3-5 times a week and wearing a neck brace. I could barely eat, talk, or even walk. What was supposed to be, a simple spinal surgery almost ended me emotionally and physically.

As I began to heal and recover from the surgery, the first thing I wanted to do was to take my wife and our boys to the beach, to our towns local Lake. Sounds like a strange place to go, but there was a reason. To see the ocean, the waves, breathing in the ocean waters, hearing the waves crashing near the shore, seeing the boats sailing nearby and feeling the sand between my toes. Watching my boys running in the sand and picking up seashells, hearing them laugh, and the feeling of the sun beaming down on my skin.

While standing in the sand holding my wife, I could not help but start to cry. With her in my arms, I cried out and thanked my Almighty Father for giving me another chance at life. The chance to continue in this life and to be able to see, hear, and feel everything and everyone around me. A second chance, another chance to fix my wrongs. A second wind of life; to make right my wrong choices and correct my past mistakes. The gift to truly treasure and appreciate all that I have taken for granted in my life. The opportunity to see what God has given me every single day, that I have either overlooked or had taken for granted. A contingency to no longer put myself first and to think that I am above all, but to Worship and Recognize He who is.

It’s moments like these that we take for granted. It’s moments like this when the first thing that we should think of is giving Glory and Praise to God Almighty, to spend Time With God. Not when you are lying in a hospital bed, or when a surgeon tells you that He almost gave up on bringing you back.

Romans 12:2 — New International Version
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

A blind man sees more beauty in the world, in his life than us who can see.
A deaf man can converse with God and hear his voice; yet we can’t say 6 simple words to God.

The little things that we take for granted!

Now, I can rejoice, that even though I was born with a birth defect and only have one functioning ear, that I can still hear. That I can go to a church sermon on Sunday and hear The Word of God shared by a Pastor, and can listen to worship music all day long; at church, in my car or at home. The greatest gift that I will never take for granted ever again, is that I can hear my wife tell me she Loves me, and that I can hear the laughter of our 2 boys.

Psalm 69:30 — New International Version
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

Let us rewind back to the whole coffee thing from earlier for a second. I am thankful that I can hear if the coffee machine is brewing, and that I can smell fresh brewing coffee.

God does not ask us for anything but for us to Love Him, to trust in His Son as our Savior and Lord. God also wants all of us (His Children) to be like His Son Jesus Christ, to image Him in everything that we do. I believe it’s a small and simple ask, considering all that He continues to do and give us.

In our hearts and in our lives, we need to learn to spend some time, to take a moment and talk with God. To thank He who gives; for all that He asks in return is for us, to be good, to live a good life, and to trust in Him. And no, this is not written in the Bible, but I believe it’s common sense.
We can show so much gratitude and appreciation by just saying, “Thank you, God, thank you for everything, for every day and every second of our Lives that you are with us.”
Quiet time is such a small thing, yet to Our Lord it means everything.

Give Glory and Honor, give Praise and Worship for what God has given you. His gifts, the blessings are there with you every single day. All the greatness that you have, all the good that has happened, God has allowed it. He knew about it, and has given it to us.
God has given you permission to do the things you have done and are doing, whatever they were or are. He told you he wants you to do them. He has allowed them to happen. God already knew about it, and He knew what the outcome was going to be or will be. He gives us the will to do it, but remember, He will also see us through them, if we trust Him.

We have so much to be thankful for. Just the fact that we are still alive is enough to give Glory and Praise to God. No matter how bad you may think your life is, no matter how much you may hate your life right now; God knows your heart, and he has allowed you to make your decisions. But He is also going to see you through them; he is just waiting on you to say, “I surrender!”
Are you ready? Are you ready to stop living life your way and live your life the way God has planned it, as He intended it?
I was not ready but am so thankful that I did. For no longer am I living my life my way; instead, I now live my life putting God my Father first.

We have all seen the logo and symbols of WWJD, (What Would Jesus Do).
There is a chance that I may lose some contacts, some friends. People may talk about me and laugh at me because I am a Christian. Criticize me because I may post religious stuff on social media, but guess what? I do not care anymore. Let them judge, let them mimic me; let them say what they want. WWJD? I will continue to love them regardless, I will pray for them if they ask, but I am no longer here to please the world and live for the world. I am here to be obedient to my God and spend Time with Him, and let Him know, that I love Him. God is changing me, and God will change them the same.

I had a former co-worker who follows me on Facebook come visit my job a few days ago. He often comes to visit the old gang and hang out. He came up to me one day and asked me if I was going to become a Pastor. I guess because of all my social media posts he either was wondering if that was my intention, my plan, or he simply was trying to be rude and criticize me in hopes of getting a laughter from the guys in the shop.
My respond was that I am not trying to be a Pastor or portrait one, I just share on social media what God puts in my Heart. If I read something that either touches me or believe that it may reach someone, and touch them, well, then, I am sharing it and hope that it brings them closer to God.

2 Timothy 2:15 — Holman Christian Standard Bible
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

I do not know what God’s plan is for me, right now. I am just a servant. I am but a sinner who wants to have a relationship with The Lord. That I can admit with true belief, that I was created for a purpose, and that was to glorify God, have a relationship with Him, and to enjoy His presence forever. I just want to admit that I cannot live my life on my own.

What I know is that Jesus is the One and Only Way to the Father, and the only name given to us by which anyone who chooses, can also be saved.

John 6:44 — New Century Version
The Father is the One who sent me. No one can come to me unless the Father draws him to me, and I will raise that person up on the last day.

I do not just post nonstop religious things on social media like some people say or think. I still post music, jokes and my vacation trips, tours and, “What I’m eating today” pictures. But what does it matter and why should it matter what I post? Do not let people who judge and criticize you for your Christian life and your Godly ways stop you from doing what makes you Happy. Don’t allow people who point fingers to discourage you from having a relationship with The Lord. Remember, God is your friend forever and ever, and will always be there for you. These so-called “Friends” will come and go, they will not be with you till eternity. Trust me on that.

You have so much to show the world and God has plans for you. Open the door, he is knocking; let Him in.

John 10:9 —  21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Let God show you everything that He has done, and let Him tell you about the magnificent things that He has planned for you, (and yes, He has a plan for every single one of us).

Proverbs 16:9 — Revised Standard Version (RSV)
A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

Believe me, If God changed me, if God continues to change me and work in my life; a sinner, a non-believer, a non-follower, a doubter, the list goes on and on. If he changed me and my heart, I could just imagine what He is going to do for each and every single one of you, for all of us.

Are you not the least bit curious and anxious? Are you not tired of trying it your way?
Your way did not and has not worked. You may think it does, and I am not saying you are not a success or succeeding. But God promises us so much more, can you just imagine what He can do if you surrender yourself to Him right now?

Time With God, is simple. Just make it a priority to Pray every day. Set it up where you will pray a quick prayer in the mornings and then a quick prayer at night before you go to bed. Just a simple, “Thank You, God For This Day.” You could start it and end it the same way. In the morning and at night, you can pray the same simple 6-word prayer. Once you are comfortable with that, expand it to thank Him not only for this day but for something that happened on that day. Then start talking to Him. Make God your friend, your Brother, your Father, your diary, your Siri, your purpose, your priority.

Once you build a relationship with God, go to Him for everything. I promise you that your life will be so much better. You will have a glow in you knowing that you are now walking with God. It’s not about being a Christian; it’s about being the Son of God, about spending Time With Him.

Remember, God does not need your prayer; He wants it. God wants a relationship with us. God wants us to talk to Him. He listens when we pray. He listens when we cry, and He listens when we laugh. Our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to want Him, need Him, and desire Him. It is not hard to do.
Do it, spend that Time With God. Let Him in, and let Him be your Father. He is waiting to hear from you.

What could be better than knowing that The Creator of Heaven and Earth, wants to have a relationship with You? God of All, wants to hear about your day. The Lord of Lords Loves you and wants you to Love Him. The King of Kings wants to be your Best Friend.

Let’s Pray.
Thank You, God, thank you for this time to get into your word. Thank you for using me to write your words down so that I can share them with your children, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ. 

My God, I thank you, that although I am a sinner, though, I fear and feel insecure like Moses did when he pleaded to you….

Exodus 4:10 — Berean Study Bible
“Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”

Lord, you continue to use me, that even though I still fear what people might say and think of me, and still afraid that I am not good enough to be your servant, you continue to use me, teach me, mold me, love me, and guide me, each and every single day.

Lord, I cannot and will not stop praying and thanking you for everything. God you are Love, You are Mercy, You are Grace. You, Lord are my redeemer, and You are Worthy of all my Time With You.

Philippians 3:13-14 — New International Version
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”