June 10, 1984
June 10, 1984, is the day that changed my life!
I was 21 years old, and I just got sober six months earlier. I was told the reason, I had no success in recovery for the past several years is the fact I was an atheist, and I refused even to consider that He even existed. I also was told that I needed to find God and that He was my only hope. So out of desperation and fear of dying from my addictions. I began to seek God. So for six months, I was praying and asking: “Do you exist?” Then on June 10, my sister and I had a horrible argument. I was staying with her at her apartment, and she threw me out. The rest of the day, I tried to find a place to stay with no avail. It got late, and I returned to my old corner where I use to party and sell drugs with my friends. It was just up the street from one of my favorite drinking bars. At 1:00 am, as I sat on the corner, being homeless again. I battled the demons of my addiction. They tempted me to go to the bar and pick up a lady, and I would have a place to stay. I was battling, but I was losing. My addiction was still active even though I had not used in six months. Then in complete exhaustion and frustration, I called out to the Lord;
“If you are there, for once in my life, stop the invisibility and save me!”
Then! There He was! Jesus was right in front of me. Just like in Act 9, Paul was blinded by a light. This experience from the Apostle Pauls account is the closest I can describe it. Instead of blinding light, He was pure joy, and it surrounds me. Like Paul once stated: I was not sure if I was in the body or out of the body. It was just pure joy!
Psalms 16:11: You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
I have enjoyed this relationship for 35 years. Jesus was there in Guatemala when the drug cartel came to kill my family and me several years ago. I watch the Lord to protect us. I could sense and feel His tangible presence that night, and I could hear Him talk so clearly as the drug cartel surrounded our compound. As I prayed in tongues, as He directed, the cartel left in a confused state and I have never seen them again.
I also spent the last 35 years enjoying this relationship. I have many other stories to tell of how I interacted with the Lord. These were just a few I have had. Most of all, I never had to retake another drink or drug.
I want to encourage you, stop believing in Jesus and get to know Him as Paul states in Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.
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For the next several days, I am going to put out updates of my plans to leave for Guatemala. I am leaving on Sunday the 23 of June. I will be posting more this week.
