Dear Friend, What a wonderful life I have experienced. Oh, I don't mean it's just been wonderful, but when I look back now at the experiences, both good and bad, and how they've brought me to the place I am today. Inside, I am better, more secure, independent of the world and dependent on God, and there is a constant peace.
I could be sad that I've experienced divorce, but it's awesome that I was blessed with the experience of having been close enough with someone to enjoy all the joy that comes with intimacy within marriage. And, to bring beautiful children into the world, to help them grow into maturity, with lives of their own now. What a blessing.
My Father was an alcoholic and a womanizer for many years and I hated him until I was 27. Today, we are closer than ever. It is sad to see the affect that alcohol and an ungodly lifestyle has had on his mind and body, but it is awesome to see enough of the father I so wanted, that is left of him for me to enjoy now.
My Mother suffered many years with Bi-Polar before even knowing what was happening to her. At times it caused much heartache and stress within the family. I could grieve over the loss of love and struggles that caused us, as children, growing up, but today, she has, not only had medical treatment for it, but is much better at dealing with it. And so now, we are able to spend quality time together.
As a runaway teen, I can remember selling blood to buy drugs, and stealing food and life was very rough for a number of years. I could be sad for such a troubled start at life, but today I am thankful for have gotten a G.E.D. and to have retired from the military.
Even though I did not know God in those days, He knew me. His love for me was constant, meticulous, and patient. In time, he would use my hard edge, strong will, and desire to be something someday, to bring me to know Himself.
My first Job in the Air Force was at Cape Canaveral, Fl., typing launch countdown sequences for Rockets. I was also an escort to DVs during the 1st 4 shuttle Launches. Then I went to the Pentagon for 4 1/2 years as the Secretary of The Air Forces' Supply man. I went from there to Hickam AFB Hi. and was NCOIC of Protocol.
I was in Protocol for nearly the rest of my career and met all kinds of people. Big Wigs... some nice, some not so nice. I retired with 23 years of service, with the 6yrs Army added. 3 MSMs, 3 AFCMs, 3 AFAMs, and 1 JCM. I have been to Alaska, Portugal, Germany, Hawaii, and 47 states... I've watched Ice Burgs dwarf cruise ships in the bay near Anchorage, Bears fish barehanded... hehe...
I watched 3 F16s come up to the back of a Kc10 and refuel over the Pacific as I laid in the tail window. I've climbed the highest mountain in HI and watched the sun go down in the ocean that night and come up out of it the next morning. Seen guards walk behind the Iron Curtain between Germany and Russia, The Aurora Borealis (northern lights) in Fairbanks Ak, Volcano Plumes on the big Island, Rockets and Shuttles take off.
I've seen underwater missiles take off from submarines and dove off 60 feet cliffs into the ocean, swam with every kind of fish there is, and skied on every form of water, but the greatest thing I've ever seen was watching my 3 children born. God has let me see many things in this world , including death, and He has brought me all the way back where I started, here in N.C. Through all of it I see His Love, Grace, even Mercy... And lots of patience and forgiveness. I am trying to share His-story with everyone now.
In our relationship together, He has cut away many things that kept us separated for so long, and He is still doing a work in me.
But the greatest thing He has done for me has been revealing to me His Love. I don't know why me, but I am so thankful, because it is the greatest thing I could ever have received. The more about Love I learn, the deeper into Love I am plunged. I can't keep it in. I can't shut up about it. It's power over those I share it with is visible, amazing, and life changing. Those that I don't think the love is working on right now, come back later and tell me how it begin to work and grow in them.
It is what has changed my view about all the pain I have endured in my life. Love has made me feel loved like never before, and love has allowed me to love like never before.
Walking in a Spirit of Love, is an amazing thing to watch. Most amazing to me is to see for myself, and to know in my mind that it is NOT me that is generating this amazing power.
Before, I always believed that I knew where I was going and very concerned about what would happen. Today, with Love, I do not know where I am going now and not concerned at all what will happen.
In trying to be loved I struggled with sin, but understanding love has made me to sin less and loved even more. Walking in Love changes the way we perceive the whole world.
I was listening to a sermon the other day that was using the Old Testament to threaten the listeners into repentance. Walking in love, I was able to travel backwards in the Spirit towards the time when Gods' prophet wrote those words.
On my way back towards that time in His-story, I passed by the Cross and I saw the threats of the Old Testament nailed there into the hands and feet of Love. I traveled a little further back in time to when He said, "Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets, but to complete and fulfill them".
Walking in a Spirit of Love allows you to understand that when God says something has been fulfilled, that IT IS FINISHED, "no refills", Amen?
I want everyone to know this love, and God is waiting to fill up every heart with Himself - LOVE so that you may Walk in a Spirit of Love. Keep Searching my friend.
I love you.
by: Preston Pittman
Keep Searching - Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV
Showing posts with label Testimonies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Testimonies. Show all posts
In God's Eye's
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see yourself through God's eyes or through the eyes of the world? Do you see only your imperfections and pain? When people laugh at you, do you allow their opinions to color your self worth? Have you become hard and bitter? If you feel beaten down by the world, remember...in God’s eyes, there is no judgment, there is only acceptance. In God’s eyes, there is no pain too hard to bear nor weakness that can't be overcome.
I know what it is like to be laughed at. I have been sick all my life. One doctor actually said "when God put you together He didn't do a very good job." I wasn't physically, mentally, or psychologically good at sports, so I was always chosen last. I never understand the concept of taunting so I took all the remarks personally which made it even more difficult to relate. I was extremely thin 5' 6" and 98 lbs. Some how people seem to think it is not rude to make fun of you if you are thin. I didn't develop until I was 17 and in college. Horrifying when you are surrounded by voluminous friends.
I have severe digestive problems which makes me very smelly. My stomach is more like a colon. It is long with a pace maker at each end. So when I eat food it just shoots it into my colon without proper digest. Plus I have Celiac disease and lactose intolerance. All these make tremendous amounts of gas. Funny with friends who love you...not so funny when you are a kid and have no understanding of what is going on...or in church with people who are suppose to be "loving." I have had the most awful things said to me in church.
After my husband left me I was devastated. I was so sick I had blood just pouring out of me. I went to church anyway thinking the fellowship would do me good. A guy near me said " my God no wonder her husband left her." I just wanted to crawl in a hole and die. Interestingly my friend who was sitting right next to me never smelled a thing. Somehow people who love me say they never smell anything. Maybe I am just reacting more to the people who have hateful spirits. My Pastor at the time said this man's smelly spirit was much worse than my smelly body. Anyway, after so many similar experience, I don't attend church anymore. Thankfully, I have a church that has online services.
I know I am not alone. Very few people have escaped the ridicule of others. We all have to face our own imperfections. When you are overwhelmed by the person you see in the mirror, see yourself through God's eyes. In God's eyes we are all the same. God sees you. God cherishes you. God loves you. God sees our light when all we see is darkness. God sees all our potentials. God sees this person who falls, but gives us the power to get up again and again. God sees our pain, but gives us the power to become a person who gets hurt, but does not become hard or bitter; only softer, more loving, more forgiving, more resilient to change.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
Don't Laugh At Me by Mark Wills
I'm a little boy with glasses, the one they call a geek
a little girl who never smiles cuz I got braces on my teeth
and I know how it feels to cry myself to sleep
I'm that kid on every playground who is always chosen last
I’m the one who is slower than the others in my class
You don't have to be my friend but is it too much to ask
Don't laugh at me, don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
some day we'll all have perfect Wings
Don't laugh at me
I'm the beggar on the corner
You pass me on the street
I wouldn't be out here begging if I had enough to eat
and don't think I don't notice that our eyes never meet
I was born a little different
I do my dreaming from this chair
I pretend it doesn’t hurt me when people point and stare
There’s a simple way to show me just how much you care
Don't laugh at me, Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me
I'm Fat, I'm thin, I'm Short, I'm tall, I'm deaf, I'm blind
Hey aren't we all
Don't laugh at me, Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me
I know what it is like to be laughed at. I have been sick all my life. One doctor actually said "when God put you together He didn't do a very good job." I wasn't physically, mentally, or psychologically good at sports, so I was always chosen last. I never understand the concept of taunting so I took all the remarks personally which made it even more difficult to relate. I was extremely thin 5' 6" and 98 lbs. Some how people seem to think it is not rude to make fun of you if you are thin. I didn't develop until I was 17 and in college. Horrifying when you are surrounded by voluminous friends.
I have severe digestive problems which makes me very smelly. My stomach is more like a colon. It is long with a pace maker at each end. So when I eat food it just shoots it into my colon without proper digest. Plus I have Celiac disease and lactose intolerance. All these make tremendous amounts of gas. Funny with friends who love you...not so funny when you are a kid and have no understanding of what is going on...or in church with people who are suppose to be "loving." I have had the most awful things said to me in church.
After my husband left me I was devastated. I was so sick I had blood just pouring out of me. I went to church anyway thinking the fellowship would do me good. A guy near me said " my God no wonder her husband left her." I just wanted to crawl in a hole and die. Interestingly my friend who was sitting right next to me never smelled a thing. Somehow people who love me say they never smell anything. Maybe I am just reacting more to the people who have hateful spirits. My Pastor at the time said this man's smelly spirit was much worse than my smelly body. Anyway, after so many similar experience, I don't attend church anymore. Thankfully, I have a church that has online services.
I know I am not alone. Very few people have escaped the ridicule of others. We all have to face our own imperfections. When you are overwhelmed by the person you see in the mirror, see yourself through God's eyes. In God's eyes we are all the same. God sees you. God cherishes you. God loves you. God sees our light when all we see is darkness. God sees all our potentials. God sees this person who falls, but gives us the power to get up again and again. God sees our pain, but gives us the power to become a person who gets hurt, but does not become hard or bitter; only softer, more loving, more forgiving, more resilient to change.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
Don't Laugh At Me by Mark Wills
I'm a little boy with glasses, the one they call a geek
a little girl who never smiles cuz I got braces on my teeth
and I know how it feels to cry myself to sleep
I'm that kid on every playground who is always chosen last
I’m the one who is slower than the others in my class
You don't have to be my friend but is it too much to ask
Don't laugh at me, don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
some day we'll all have perfect Wings
Don't laugh at me
I'm the beggar on the corner
You pass me on the street
I wouldn't be out here begging if I had enough to eat
and don't think I don't notice that our eyes never meet
I was born a little different
I do my dreaming from this chair
I pretend it doesn’t hurt me when people point and stare
There’s a simple way to show me just how much you care
Don't laugh at me, Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me
I'm Fat, I'm thin, I'm Short, I'm tall, I'm deaf, I'm blind
Hey aren't we all
Don't laugh at me, Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me
The Irony In Evil
As I was reading over the account of Jesus' crucifixion, it occurred to me as I saw the word "priests"... a great irony I'd never considered before.
"Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the [open] court of the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, And consulted together in order to arrest Jesus by stratagem secretly and put Him to death." Matthew 26:3-4
It was the responsibility of these "men of God", to take the offerings of man, inspect them as worthy, and then render them before God as a sacrifice. Isn't it ironic that God would use these despicable men to actually insure His Own sacrifice, Jesus... for, even themselves, if possible.
I thought of the irony I have seen in my own life... A time, once when I lost my home I'd bought for my children and I after a terrible divorce, because two separate agencies were taking child support from my hard earned wages at the same time. Even though the children were living with me, the court ruling had not been changed, so I had to pay the double payments while losing the home. Before I could prove their error, my son went to live with his mother. I had to help my daughter get on welfare and into an apartment here, while I moved into a trailer on my bosses property.
But God had already set a great plan into motion. One that was greater than I could see... one which would reveal the irony in evil... one that would use the evils in this world to bring glory, honor, and majesty to Himself.
When I finally got the child support agency to see their error, they could not take the money back for me. Their stand was that they would provide a lawyer with evidence that it was wrong and I could get it back through the courts. I could not afford to drive back to Oklahoma and hire a lawyer, and so I forgave what had been done and I trusted God with all that had happened.
Months went by and my son turned 18. His mother went back to the agency to get his child support extended. Because of the overpayment she had received, she was denied the extension and she sent my son back to me. He lives here today near his sister and I. Both of my children are married now and have children themselves, and I see them every day and am still a great influence in their lives. God is never idol while evil is at work, dear friends. He is busy in the lives of His children!
A greater irony is hidden in the crucifixion of Christ Jesus as well. While these men thought they had killed this, "king of the Jews"... listen to what Jesus says...
"For even the Son of Man came not to have service rendered to Him, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for (instead of) many." Mark 10:45
Do you see the irony... While they thought they were taking the life of Jesus... He was giving it away! As a Ransom for many!
Friends... What will evil take from you today? Our pride... we crush our pride daily, in Christ. Will it take our freedom... we are already slaves, to Christ. Will it take even, our life... or have we already given our lives away, in Christ. Oh, the irony in evil. Amen?
I love you.
Preston
"Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the [open] court of the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, And consulted together in order to arrest Jesus by stratagem secretly and put Him to death." Matthew 26:3-4
It was the responsibility of these "men of God", to take the offerings of man, inspect them as worthy, and then render them before God as a sacrifice. Isn't it ironic that God would use these despicable men to actually insure His Own sacrifice, Jesus... for, even themselves, if possible.
I thought of the irony I have seen in my own life... A time, once when I lost my home I'd bought for my children and I after a terrible divorce, because two separate agencies were taking child support from my hard earned wages at the same time. Even though the children were living with me, the court ruling had not been changed, so I had to pay the double payments while losing the home. Before I could prove their error, my son went to live with his mother. I had to help my daughter get on welfare and into an apartment here, while I moved into a trailer on my bosses property.
But God had already set a great plan into motion. One that was greater than I could see... one which would reveal the irony in evil... one that would use the evils in this world to bring glory, honor, and majesty to Himself.
When I finally got the child support agency to see their error, they could not take the money back for me. Their stand was that they would provide a lawyer with evidence that it was wrong and I could get it back through the courts. I could not afford to drive back to Oklahoma and hire a lawyer, and so I forgave what had been done and I trusted God with all that had happened.
Months went by and my son turned 18. His mother went back to the agency to get his child support extended. Because of the overpayment she had received, she was denied the extension and she sent my son back to me. He lives here today near his sister and I. Both of my children are married now and have children themselves, and I see them every day and am still a great influence in their lives. God is never idol while evil is at work, dear friends. He is busy in the lives of His children!
A greater irony is hidden in the crucifixion of Christ Jesus as well. While these men thought they had killed this, "king of the Jews"... listen to what Jesus says...
"For even the Son of Man came not to have service rendered to Him, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for (instead of) many." Mark 10:45
Do you see the irony... While they thought they were taking the life of Jesus... He was giving it away! As a Ransom for many!
Friends... What will evil take from you today? Our pride... we crush our pride daily, in Christ. Will it take our freedom... we are already slaves, to Christ. Will it take even, our life... or have we already given our lives away, in Christ. Oh, the irony in evil. Amen?
I love you.
Preston
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