My Adulthood

The day I foresaw, comes upon me While in my teens, I somehow knew I'd return to my home state. The time in which my brother & I arrived, was during a time of a winters blizzard. Having just got dropped off by a Greyhound Bus, we had no choice but go to the local police for help. Because none of our relatives lived in the very town. While we were carrying luggage, I was somehow reminded of, of the Cherokee Indians who were driven into such a bitter season, of historic times. Suddenly the Lord must of given my brother unusual strength to push on. Seeing me suffer, he was able, in compassion, to give up his hat & gloves to me as if he no longer needed them. Like a miracle, the police directed us to an over night shelter, through a Salvation Army place. The next morning, the Lord guided us to go to the very bank that had money, which I was entitled to, now that I was old enough. I had the bank give me half in check and the other half in cash. With that accomplished, we started to decide carefully together of what all we should do in proper sequence. First, we'd go get something to eat.

The Lord works in mysterious ways 2 Corinthians 1:4 Pass on kindness that has been shown unto you While at the local Diner place, my brother wastes no time, as he looks for a used car place in the phone book and inquires about a vehicle we can afford. Because the waitress had to go through the trouble of making change for us, I told my brother to give her the remaining change that was left over. What she did for us could of gotten her fired. Her effort reminded me of the verse: Mark 12:41 cast money, all that she had. Whether or not we were allowed to give tips, she deserved it. Which was quite a bit of a tip. I didn't realize that what I did then would somehow come back to me oneday. When met her, years later, we became instant friends. Eventually I learned that she kept the very change I gave her then; probaly like a good luck thing. I recall something of it being her first. When she offered to give it all back, I just couldn't. When I felt the Lord led me to do so.

The Act of a Good Samaritian After we purchased the almost new condition Fairlane Ford vehicle, my brother had to drive it for me, because I had no drivers license. We eventually stopped at one of those off the road Rest Areas to take a necessary break. While there, I couldn't help but notice a young blonde guy standing alone and looking down. It was if he didn't know what to do, with whatever he was facing. The Lord impressed upon me to give him at least $10.00. When my brother gave it to him for me, the stranger appeared to appreciate it. 1 Peter 4:8 Charity will cover a great number of sins I couldn't help but wonder, as we moved on, if we weren't being tested by an angel. Nevertheless, I also prayed for the guy, that he'd be alright. I didn't think that such would come back to me somehow. The time I over heard the guy telling someone about it, I was happily surprised, because I knew then, I did the right thing. Even though I wanted to remain anonymous, something he said about it caused me to reveal myself. I didn't want him to have no doubts or get the wrong idea. In offering to pay the money back, I let him know he owes me nothing. For what is done for the Lord, is given freely. Because the Lord moves you to do so. I never felt it's right to help others and expect something in return.

Quest For Perfection Romans 6:12 Say no to sin. I was a perfectionist, starting out. Every time I made a mistake or was aware of a sin in my life, I'd be as if repenting for a week over such. I knew the Scriptures, where Jesus said to try to be perfect, even though we're not. Perhaps sins being forgiven, covers that which we aren't able to correct. Sins which can be helped, should be dealt with. I found that the only way to do that is, first be aware of a particular sin in your life. Next, be ever mindful of it, so before it happens, just stop yourself. The Bible even shows us, that even without Satan around, humanity would still do things that would disappoint God. No one can please God, but the Bible says to obey Him. As time moved on, I stopped expecting too much out of myself. My perfectionist side started to mellow out a bit, by the time I reached 30 years of age. To er is human, to forgive is divine, is a wise saying most often overlooked.

Starting Out On My Own Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge When I was first on my own, it was abrupt. I didn't just set out on my own and be well prepared in advance. It came unexpectedly, through the intervention of a cousin, of which I'm forever grateful towards. The money I had previously saved in the bank, from a previous job, would be my door to freedom. The landlord raising the rent, every so often started to make living on my own suddenly a hassle. I believe what caused the rent increase was due to others skipping out on paying their rent dues, by fixing up the place with it. So, the landlord would try to regain such losses through rent increase on other tenants. Starting out as a young adult, I learned the hard way. There were also times I should of been more careful or cautious, as others can take badly advantage and sometimes turn it against you later on.

Making the most with less in the kitchen Now I could raid my own refrigerator whenever I felt like it; of course it didn't seem quite the same. When I started cooking for myself, the Hamburger Helper looked like confetti, instead of what I saw on the box cover. But like they say 'If you don't succeed at first, try and try again.' I eventually came up with my version of a Poor Man's Meal, which consisted of Minute Rice, 1 can of peas (drained), (2 cans) creme of mushroom soup and 1 can of tuna, combined. This made alot.

My Guardian Angel Reveals Himself I was probaly about in my mid 20's and still living in the first efficiency apartment that I relocated to, when first being out of my own. I was in a deep sleep. Around 3 AM, I kind of opened my eyes and right at my wooden front door, I saw what I believe was my Guardian Angel. No sooner that I saw him, he disappeared. It was like looking at some glowing white figure that radianted. Everything about him was white. He was about 6 or 7 feet tall. Wearing a long white robe and his hair was also white, which looked like Porter Wagner's (famous country singer) hairstyle. At the time, I didn't know why I was allowed to see him. The Bibles says that in the End Times, that our Guardian Angels will make themselve known to us.

Good things come to those who wait I wasn't able to afford to purchase a TV, when the income I made gave me a choice between buying food or a pair of pants. I didn't think to go to Garage Sales or the Goodwill. Or try to do a Layaway plan. Eventually I was given a good used bw TV set through a relative. I managed to even traded with one of my neighbors to get a VHS player. How is anyone to suddenly have good credit? You'd think that having good credit in getting a car, computer and house is made for retirees, than for anyone starting out, who really needs a chance to make it in the world. I think good credit comes through having a big bank account or having a job in which a person can afford to splurge on a credit card. So many rich kids don't have to worry, when they have Mom & Dad to shell out for them. But being tied to the apron strings does have its eventual drawbacks. For depending on others to always come through, can suddenly be cut short. Some persons can't succeed in life, without a mate.

Angelic Intervention One of the things that can easily go wrong, in being a young adult, is running out of food and finding yourself suddenly starving. What can cause this is the raising of rent and not knowing how to budget your finances (money management); basically, stretching your money in a way to make the most. Losing income can also be a sudden pitfall for this kind of despair. I ended up praying over my situation, asking specifically that the Lord would send an Angel dressed in white and someone whom I'd be comfortable with, to bring me some food. Being dressed in white would be a sign to me that it was an Angel and not something else; that why I asked particularly in a way that I can recognize. It seemed like minutes later, I got an unexpected knock at the door and when I answered it, it appeared to be my uncle dressed in a white suit; my prayer did asked for someone I'd be comfortable with; an angel taking on the appearance of my uncle would surely fill that request. Of course, not always does the Lord use Angels, but sometimes people. He handed me some food, saying something about thought I'd need it and left as fast as he came. What didn't seem like my uncle, but more like an Angel was because it wasn't like my uncle to suddenly leave quickly, without reference to other things. Expecting things in return is not the job of an Angel. Right then I was being supported only according to my needs. Even as we Christians give tithes to the church, it doesn't just stop there. We are also suppose to give to the poor & needy. The Bible says that we are our brothers keeper. We're not suppose to wait upon the Lord to ask us to do anything. As the Bible mentions about Angels, appearing to be like strangers, visiting us at our own homes, no one considers Angels appearing as one of the poor & needy, to also test us.

Christ View Visitation From Ceiling Being a young adult, at the time, I had come across some interesting stories of Christ appearing to others. I didn't think I'd ever have one to tell. What I saw of Jesus was nothing spectacular, when compared to others. It occurred right in the afternoon, during the warm summer time. A female who I knew for quite sometime, seem to be going to my favorite Church, that I started to attend. When I began to have a sincere love interest in her, she was careless in shattering everything. As she found some filmsy excuse to reject me. When I got home, I was really down in the dumps. Once I got through the front door, of my apartment home, I decided to walk upon the carpeted stairway, to my bedroom and on my knees; I mentioned something about if it could get the Lord's attention, because I surely needed it right then. As I ended up laying on my left side, in the bed, with tears of hurt streaming down my face, I felt for some reason unknown to me, to look up. As I turned and looked up toward the ceiling, I saw a pair of eyes looking down on me. I didn't think to ask it 'who sent you?' , which is what a Christian is suppose to do in Trying The Spirits; something learned from a Scripture in the Bible. Others probaly would of questioned, 'Is it you Lord?'. Remaining quiet, all I could do is observe and wonder. As I kept looking, that it seemed like when someone is looking through a password opening, at some door. The Lord probaly appeared to me in a such a way because He knew that I knew about no one who looks upon the face of the Lord can do so and live. Or- simply that I'd be obediently afraid. The skin had this metallic glow about it; no wonder Christ was described as having a bronze like skin. His eyes never blinked or moved an inch; even though they were dark as the eyebrows, I realized why his eyes were described in the Bible as if they were fiery, because they had an ember appearance to them. The whole thing seem to be as if looking at someone on a black & white TV screen. Being astonished at what was before me, I couldn't help but be speechless. I didn't have to say a word, as what I got in return was a feeling that went through my entire being, letting me know that He loved me & cared. Expecting something much more, I finally turned away and swept my hand across, as if to indicate that He didn't care. Just hoping He'd reach out and touch me. When nothing happened, I looked back up and He was gone. I began to wonder too late of why I didn't think to ask Him important questions, that I needed to know.

Divine Sign of Approval Not wanting to make anymore mistakes and in knowing the Lord knows what's best for me, I decided to go in prayer and ask Him that if He approves of me and a particular female, I had in mind to be together, to flash a light right before my eyes, so I'll know for sure. No sooner that I got to bed and started to really drift off to sleep, a bright white light, flashed right in front of my face. I instantly jumped up to see if any vehicles were around that could of done such, but none was in sight. When I thought about it more, I realized that no light could of been that bright. And where my only bedroom window was located, it would be impossible for anything from outside to have caused that. Particularly since I was upstairs and living out in the country. My prayer was indeed answered, right then. Of course there was one drawback. The female, I had in mind, also had to be in agreement; wanting me, as I wanted her. The Lord let me know He couldn't make anyone love me, against their will. Get the best and forget the rest. This saying refers to when finding a mate, of the opposite sex. Too often, one makes the mistake of settling into a marriage, which not only ends up becoming unsatisfactory but finds one in a miserable state of existence. All because they gave up in seeking to find what is best for them. Settling for less, forfeits happiness. It's much like the saying in Flashdance movie, "When you give up on your dreams... you're dead."

Satan Tries To Thwart I was somewhere in my 30's when something unexpected happened to me. It was during the day, that I was sitting in my dining room with my brother and friend. We were in the midst of a conversation, when I began to see a dark veil come down. The next thing I knew, I was in darkness and unable to anything. It was like when a robot is turned off and immobile. All the while, I had no idea in the briefness of such of what was going on around me, as I knew I must of looked like a lifeless doll just staring. When I came to, I saw my brother and friend concerned of what might be happening to me right then. As I told them what I experienced, I was so bothered by it that what came to mind was, not taking things for granted and the Bible's verse that mentions of how everyones days in life are numbered. It didn't seem like the dark region of death I experienced as a child, but worse. What happened right then I didn't understand why or what was behind it. When I told my wife recently about it, she said it was Satan that did that to me.

When Moved By The Lord While being single in my early adult life, I experienced moments of which nothing seem to be going on. Some would call it being bored. One of these times, during a winter blizzard, I felt moved to help a young female, who was trying to push someone in a 4 x 4 truck, out of being stuck in the parking lot. I realized her effort alone wasn't enough and no one else would be caught out in this bitter cold. So, without her knowing it I decided to help push. The tan truck finally drove away, leaving myself and the strange female there. When she finally noticed she wasn't alone and was happy about it, she thanked me, as I walked away quietly. I felt good inside for allowing the Lord to work through me, like that. I happen to be walking around and minding my own business, when I first came upon such. The Lord will move you, through your thoughts, to do or say something to others, all of which at the time you may think you're nuts. But after you do so, only then you'll know it's importance. This is the Lord working through you, to reach out to others. Whatever it is, it's only between Him and them, is why you aren't given the details and such. Also, you might do nothing, if you knew why the Lord called you to do something in the first place. After you do such, expect nothing in return and thank the Lord and the Father, for allowing you to be a part in whatever it was that He had you do.

Angels Support Us In The Truth The least one would expect it and angel can be right there. That's what happen to me, in the afternoon, when I just emerged from a big shopping place. An unknown female stranger came toward me, out of the blue, the crowd and seem to instantly start talking to me and recognized the silver bat I was wearing on my black jacket at the time. It was like this person had always known me, as if they were a part of the family. As we walked toward our vehicle, I noticed she was tall and slender, with blondish hair. Dressed in a plain way as not to attract attention. This stranger seem to support something I believed in, at the time. Nothing she said seem to refer to herself or the worldly. Finally, she disappeared into the crowd, as quickly as she came. I recalled the note that mysteriously was found laying on the dash board of our vehicle, prior to this. It had the very words from the Scriptures that I believed in. There was no way anyone could of gotten into our vehicle because we always lock our doors.

Another Angel Appears One thing about Angels is how they find a way to allow you to know it's them. They can easily blend in any where and nobody would know the difference. Once I entered a big Grocery Store, my attention is suddenly drawn to a short dark haired girl, whose presence was unlike those around her. It's not like when you're attracted to someone. It's like the image of the angel just radianted. That I could kind of see invisible streaks flying out, all around her. It reminded me of how halos are depicted in illustrations and of microwave power. When finally checking out, the Angel joined in help bag our groceries. My mad expression had no effect on the Angel smiling right at me. Like the Angel before, she wore plain clothes. She never said a word to me. From such, I learned that you can't see behind an Angel's smile. Whatever it was that caused me to be really unhappy or bothered, Angels remind us to be cheerful through it all.

Satan Turns People Off From Knowing The Truth Usually when going to the Post Office to retrieve mail, most of the newspapers are practically gone. All except for one time in particular. It was close to when the sun starts going down in the day. Upon arriving at the Post Office, it appeared unusally vacant, which was odd. On top of it, alot of newspapers weren't sold there. As my wife and I purchased one, my wife found the reason why The newspapers were hardly touched. Some topic somewhere in the paper, revealed about Satan's evil in the world. I believe what type of people that Satan can have that much power over other than just Sinners and the Wicked, are- the false Christians, hypocrites and backsliders.

For My Late Grandma My Grandma once told me that while she was in the hospital, she began to open her eyes and saw the room as if it had white clouds all around and at the foot of her bed, a sign was posted; it had written on it Good for heaven. In that briefness she went back out again and when she came to, all that she saw before was gone. Like everything was back to normal. Haven't seen my Grandma (Mother's mom) since I was an older teen, when she finally came to visit, she was unlike herself. It was like she lit up in a way that I had never seen in anyone before. She wanted to be very much a part of everyone. I had this feeling that when she finally left, we'd never see her again. When grandma got home, it was like she suddenly had no cares in the world. The last I ever heard was that when she died in bed, in the hospital. After rolling over on her side, a ghost like mist was seen going up from her. To top it off, the small house that Grandma once lived in, by the railroad tracks was gone. Replace by a grass lawn, as if it never existed. My fondest memories of her were there. The next house, her and grandfather lived at was much bigger. Even that house was tore down and placed with a parking lot. Such vacancy makes one wonder if they ever really existed and if you woke up out of some fairytale. The absence of a loved one is much like those houses that persons are use to going to and suddenly are no longer there, to be found. Jesus disciples no doubt was faced with the same emptiness, that bothered them so, after the crucifixion. That they even wondered if He was the Son of God. When Christ appeared before them, He assured us that there is a life after death. Since then, I had wondered why persons who are missing parents and grandparents don't somehow adopt other senior citizens into their life, who have no family members. It is written somewhere in the Word (I'll put the exact Scripture in when I find it) that whoever is missing in a persons life, the Lord will fill it.

For My Late Dad My Dad was an unbeliever starting out. Near the end of his life he suddenly changed, when the Lord gave him a second chance, through an accident on the job. Which could of claimed his very life then. After that my Dad could easily relate to the accident I had as a child. How much the Lord impacted on his life, was that Dad stopped smoking cigarettes and started going to church. His favorite Scripture from the Bible was about the Mustard Seed. What is lost to me is the things he did for the Lord, in relation to others. None of us know the day or hour, that the Angel of Death will arrive. It's so easy to take for granted the presence of others, until they are no longer around. Then, we see too late of how much they really meant to us. The knowledge, in all that they learned and much about their lifes experiences are suddenly wiped out. Those that remember the dead, when they were alive, also end up eventually gone, and with them- the memories of such person.

In Retrospect As I look back now, on my life, I see the foolish, embarrassing, wasted time and most regretable things I did, as a teen and young adult. I didn't think I had all the time in the world; I just
simply didn't know that things would go by alot quicker than I
thought it would. I learned that Time waits for no one. Charles Dickens was right when he wrote that life is like a vapor, once in life and suddenly you're gone. Even the the person who knew that time waits for no one, certainly knew what they were talking about. It seems like, to me, the older a person gets, the faster their days seem to fly. There was so much I wanted to accomplish in life, that I know now that, that won't be possible. Not enough continuation in a single life time to do alot. We are finally faced with our choices to become narrow. The unexpected of what means the most to us rules over everything else. We should embrace each day as if it were our last. Make the most of it and not take things carelessly for granted. In thee end, we know that everything we have in our possession is borrowed from God and we can't take any of it with us when we go. Everything that is left behind, becomes scattered into the four winds. Or- left to the vultures to devour. As a child, I learned that the dreaded death, didn't come upon those who were careless or unfortunate of having a fatal cold, poisoned and or got into an accident. When Dad told me, that everyone has to go someday, it was like a nightmare.