Hey there,
I just wanted to say I love chapter 6 of your Father and Son book. It makes so much sense to me and it opened my eyes to a lot. I really meant what I said in the text – without having experiences from God, you are no better than the devil, because he was “by the book” and missed the point, which is the love and mercy of God, which you can only understand and receive through experiences from God. So with that being said, I want to tell you about some experiences I have had this past week.
It started with a conversation I had with Jason, just talking about different things and towards the end of the conversation, I feel like God spoke through me and told me and Jason what we need to be. The three things he spoke through me and said was to be honest, upfront, and to keep a good attitude. It felt wonderful when those things came out of my mouth. The spirit fell, and I knew at that point those things were from God. Little did I know God wasn’t done with me!!!
That was Friday or Saturday when that happened, and on Monday something else happened. My dog Bennie (I have two dogs) somehow got out of my backyard and ran away. My other dog Jacie came back but Bennie was still missing. When Brittany got home we went looking some more for him, and she found him on the side of the road dead. He had been hit by a car. Britt came back to the house and told me, and my heart was crushed. I cried deep, and I had not cried like that for a while. It hurt so bad. I was responsible for the dogs that day, and one got out and got killed. Anyway, I ended up going over dad’s that night to help him with a grill, and you know dad he made me feel better about the situation, but I was still hurting.
The next morning on the way to work, I was talking to God about it and said, “God, why did you take my favorite dog from me?” and before I could even finish, the spirit spoke back and said, “to teach you humility.” God’s response blew me away. I didn’t even really know what it meant until I looked it up. Humility means the quality or condition of being humble, lack of false pride etc. All I could think of is, “Man………….God is real, and more real than I ever knew. He really wants to fix us. He cares about me enough to show me something to fix and to work on. It’s amazing!” and it still is, typing it out now.
I want to know more about God and have more of a relationship with him than just what I read or hear about or hear other people talk about. I feel like my experiences with God is what is going to take me all the way home. It is just wonderful. I have been putting these things into practice and can see the difference. Staying honest with m self. Being upfront with those around me, my wife and everyone, and keeping a good attitude. That’s how to obtain humility or to stay humble. It is really great what the Lord is showing me. Ohhhh, and I can’t wait to get another piece of the Father and Son book it is really doing something for me.
Jeremy
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Hey John,
Jeremy’s email about his experience with his two dogs reminded me of the time when Goldie our golden retriever got hit by a car or truck one morning as we were getting ready for work, and how God used that to teach me about Him.
That morning we heard Goldie yelping and we just knew she had been hit by a car. We figured she was chancing after a squirrel or one of our cats crossing the road. As we ran to the front door to see if we could help her, she came crouching real low having a hard time breathing and with blood dripping from her mouth.
I immediately picked her up and carried her to Bess’ van to take her to the Veterinarian. I could tell she was hurting badly and needed help. I had an appointment scheduled in town that morning so Bess said she would take Goldie to the Vet. As Bess pulled away from the driveway, I began to question myself about letting Goldie out that morning because she was still a puppy. Usually I would go outside with her and she would stay close by. But this morning it just didn’t work out that way.
When Bess arrived at the Veterinarian’s office the staff workers noticed Goldie was going into shock. They started an IV immediately and told Bess the Veterinarian was about 35 minutes from the office. When he did arrive and examined Goldie, he said not to expect her to live through this because, he thought she would be broken up inside and bleeding internally. And usually when he sees a dog in shock like Goldie, they do not make it. He told Bess to just go home and he would do an x-ray to see what kind of damage was done and then let us know.
Bess called me right before my appointment to let me know what the Veterinarian told her about Goldie. She sounded very sad over the phone, and said not to expect her to live. Dr. Allen did not give her much hope.
After my appointment, I begin to drive and think about what Bess had told me. Then I pulled my truck over to the side of the road. I just sat there quietly and began to cry and pray. I said Lord, “I know Goldie is just a dog, I know that. But she is our dog.” Then I started praying in tongues. After a while things got real quiet inside and out. As I started to drive away I heard a voice on the inside make this statement to me. “If I can fix Goldie, I can fix anything!” Wow, did I just hear what I thought I heard? I was not expecting that. So, the rest of the day I was thinking about what I had heard in my spirit.
Later on that afternoon I got a call from Bess. She said, “You will not guess what I’m about to tell you. “She then told me that the Vet called and said Goldie didn’t have any broken bones, but they had to draw a lot of air from her chest cavity which was an indication that she had taken a very hard blow to her side. They also put about 8 staples to close a split to the front of her mouth. We could come pick her up that afternoon. God was making a statement to me. I CAN FIX ANYTHING! TRUST ME! I DIED FOR YOU SO YOU CAN LIVE!
This last Wednesday night I was reminded again through you of what the Spirit is saying: Some of you have things you can not fix. They are too big for you, but Jesus is saying to you if you are born again, He is 100% for you. Just lay your burdens down and let Him fix you.
A burden I have carried around all year is that my work has slowed down from where it was two years ago. But I know that God’s economy is not of this world, and I know if I keep a good attitude and work with all my heart and trust Him, that all things are possible to him that believes. He will provide for our family. After Wednesday night hearing all that was said through you, Jesus has lightened my load. Thank you Jesus! John, thank you for speaking what Jesus tells you. That is our comfort and our hope.
God can use anything to teach us how great He is. I thank Him for every time He has spoken to me and used others to say what I needed to hear. And yes, even using Goldie.
Tim