Monday, November 23, 2009

YOU ARE NOT RETIRED, YOU ARE REFIRED UP.



When one decides to retire and take life easy, one does not expect to do any more task or jobs. You know, the easy life. The one thing you planned all your life so you didn't have any time sheets or cards to punch. No more bosses, no more deadlines, no more pressure and no more stress. Yep, that is going to be great or so I thought. I was fortunate to take an early retirement as I had planned for decades. Well I have to tell you for me, it did not happen or didn't work





As I was getting used to the "easy life", I always felt uneasy and wasted a lot of time doing nothing or had no real purpose for getting out of bed. I did take up managing a mobile home park part time a few years back to have a purpose but that wasn't it. Although I was a par time believer on again and off again and occasionally attended a church, I was not getting some strong messages or I wasn't listening to that still silent voice.





A little while later I was at a nature preserve doing photography work when all of a sudden I felt like I was struck by a lightning bolt out of the sky. It wasn't that stormy of a day but it sure felt like it. All of a sudden I vividly recalled certain passages from the scriptures , the feeling of elation and peace fell upon me. It was something I never experienced before. When I came to my senses, I was down on my knees and the Geese nearby looked at me dumb founded. I looked up at the sky and all that I could say was "My God what did you do? ". Then I began to hear the still silent voices that I ignored before through the years. No I wasn't struck by lightning but I think the Lord struck me up side my head with a base ball bat to get my attention.





It was then that I felt compelled to start daily prayers, reading the scriptures, devoured numerous books on theology and Christianity, and began to generate a better understanding of scriptures that I never had before. After nearly two years of study, the wife and I were ready to take the next step and joined a church in order to have fellowship and serve the Lord. I started up a blog site to reach out to others that may or may not have a home church in order to spread the "Good News" covering topics of the Scriptures, miracles, the Holy Spirit, and the Spiritual gifts. We joined several classes in learning about the church doctrine,did some volunteer work, and made new friends.





At a recent Encounter ( mini revival , my term), I was really feeling blessed by the Holy Spirit while singing the Revelation Song. I didn't realize I moved up to the front near the altar while singing and rejoicing in the Lord. All of a sudden with in the large group of people at the altar, the head of the Encounter gathering came over to me whom I had never officially met before and began praying and laying of hands on my shoulder. I was surprised but then realized where I was. A warm feeling came over me and I felt revitalized as she prayed and I broke down praising god and began praying feverishly. I don't really know what I said in my prayers but she turned to me and said "you are not retired, you are re fired up". All I said was "Yes I am. Thanks" ( I think) and then she was gone back into the crowd of others praying.

I had been pondering my retirement fearing I was too old at 65 now to become active in ministering or pursuing an evangelist vocation other that what I was doing on the Internet. Was she divinely sent to seek me out and pass on encouragement from the Lord that you are never too old to serve? Is this the message I was seeking from the Lord? Why did she say that to me? I never mentioned retirement to her or her associates.

Considering God works in strange ways, I can only feel that message was divine. Now I know. You too can experience the same divine guidance by only accepting Jesus as your saviour and confess your sins. God is a loving forgiving God that wants you to share His love for you. Just don't take decades to understand that like I did. I wasted so much of my life refusing to serve and believe. I was lucky. He got my attention before it was too late. I dedicated my life to serve him and He has been a beacon of light in a dark world leading and guiding me. Life in the flesh is too short to waste it and face eternal damnation. As you read the scriptures, God is always a loving God that wants you to be saved in His grace. Every day He calls out to you to become one of His children in faith. He is also patient and forgiving. He has many gifts to offer you through the Holy Spirit and to witness the miracles of His healing powers. He is always and will for eternity be your pillar of strength if only you believe and serve only Him.

Can you make that choice today? Can you get down on your knees and pray with your heart for salvation in Jesus name? Time is running short. I can assure you if and when you pray to the Lord for salvation, You will be lifted out of darkness and forgiven of your sins. You will walk in the light of the Lord forever by only believing in this life and you will never taste the death of the flesh as your spirit will be lifted up into heaven to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

It is your call.








23 comments:

eaglegirl said...

Wow ! I was wondering what was going on when I saw Karin Maney praying for you and your wife.
That Larry was a prophetic word of wisdom or knowledge that the Lord gave her especially for you. What a wonderful and encouraging word !
I pray that God would use your blog in an amazing way to send His message to others. His Word does not return void. I pray that people would turn to Christ through this blog. That it would go forth around the world to those in need.
Hold on Photgr, the ride had only just begun !!

photogr said...

Carol:

These Encounters are a lot like the old tent revivals I experienced as a curoius young lad with an impressionable mind. Oh how I yearned for those days again for so long.

The Encounter certainly brings back those feelings of long ago and it is a wonderfully joyous feeling to be close to the Lord again on a personal basis with out it being structured.

I an charged up, full of energy and ready for the ride.

Praise God.

eaglegirl said...

I am still all revved up in the Holy Spirit the next day.
A good old fashioned Holy Ghost revival in a chapel ! I think "Encounter" will be outgrowing the chapel before long. Wow, can you imagine what it would be like if the whole church sanctuary would be filled ? That would be raising the roof alright.

Tracy said...

Thanks for sharing this part of your story. It's so cool to see what God is doing in your life. Our God is so very good!

photogr said...

Carol:

I told you it was something inspiring. Now you know. All spontanious and all unscripted. The Holy Spirit was sure free to act as he pleased.

photogr said...

Tracy:

Usually I am quite reserved and do not open up much. However, for some reason I am compelled to open up and give my testimony about my relationship with God. Perhaps it is a message that all can do if only they will believe and put their trust in His hands.

eaglegirl said...

I think I wrote on Facebook how God touched me at the Encounter evening.
At the end I wend up for prayer for healing of pain in my arm. One woman asked me to pray for your wife, so Barb and I did. Then Carman and I prayed to Barb.
Then I said I needed prayer for my arm. And you photgr and Barb and you lovely wife Carman prayed over me with the laying on of hands.
I had already noticed that I had no pain from lifting my arms to worship.I just love to worship the Lord whole heartedly.
Well, after wards that night I had absolutely no pain in my arm at all. And especially after using my right arm so much in worship.
The Lord truly brought some healing to my arm. It is not totally pain free, but much improved. Gosh, today I did a lot of cleaning for company coming to visit and I had little pain.
So photgr, the Lord used you and your wife and Carman to being healing to me. Isn't that great. I thank you all for praying for me.
I'm thinking about having a mini-encounter at my home with you and your wife and Barb and John
sometime .
Praise His holy name!

eaglegirl said...

Next time I should ask for prayer for that shoulder and upper back where the arm pain comes.
You have not because you ask not. i have asked the Lord, but need to ask others.
One of the benefits of being on the prayer team at church is getting prayer for yourself sometimes after wards. Sat. night when we were done i was blessed to have 4 prayer warrior women pray for me
I know i am going on and on here. It is just that prayer means so much to me. The Lord has given be a burden to pray for others and I love doimg it.

photogr said...

Carol:

It is so good to hear your arm and shoulder has improved. It doesn't hurt to have as much praying as needed to fully heal your pain. I prayed for your arm? No, it was the Lord working His powers on your arm, I was just standing there. Remember I am the one that is reluctant to exercise the gifts.

The mini Encounter sounds like a good idea. I am all for it to let the Holy Spirit have His way.

photogr said...

Carol:

Prayer is an all powerful means to receive the Lord's blessing and grace.It is good that you have so many to pray for you.

Being on a prayer team has to be something special and only ones gifted in that area such as you are can be a member and what an honor it must be.

Prayer has helped me to over come many stresses in my life and worry less.

Tsfanpc said...

photogr, many a time I have been in a valley and it seemed like the mountain top was along way off.

And the way was dark and it seemed as if I didn't know which way to go. But just when things seemed the darkest, the prayers would be answered and the weight was lifted off.

God always comes just in time. He doesn't always come in our time, but he always comes at the right time.

Keep the faith. And let the Lord bless you and lead you. You are doing a great work here.

photogr said...

Thanks Tsfan:

I certainly hope He will continue but it is up to me too. I have to do my part in serving Him.

eaglegirl said...

Just wanted to say that all believers can pray, it is not a 'gift'. Yes, there is a gift of faith, but one does not have to have the gift of faith to pray for others.
I can't say that I have the gift of faith, but I do have faith that the Lord will answer prayers.
Yes, the presence of the Holy Spirit for healing was there that night. And as Karen the prayer pastor said there was no special prayer team that night, we were all the 'prayer team'.
And yes, you were part of that prayer team. You were probably so touched by the Spirit that you do not remember that beside the two ladies who prayed for me you did also.
By the way, my arm has still been doing pretty well. Even though other things are bothering me physically I am grateful for the Lord touching my arm and using the prayers of the saints.
As the book of Hebrews says 'we can come boldly to the throne of grace',

Tracy said...

Photogr - 1st off, sorry for contacting you here but I didn't know another way. I was wondering if you'd be willing to be a guest blogger on my blog on 12/22. I can give you more info if you contact me-tracychiara@gmail.com

photogr said...

Carol; Nothing gets by you it seems.The important part is your arm is better. That is all that counts that the Holy spirit touched you and healed you.

As most Drs. say come back next month for another dose of therapy. So it goes with the Holy Spirit too.

photogr said...

Tracy:

I am honored at your request. I will write you.

I don't have a clue why you selected me of all people.

eaglegirl said...

I'll that as a compliment Photgr. It is true, not much gets by me. Ask my kids and husband !
I don't comment on everything though and try to have discretion.
I have the feeling there won't be an Encounter meeting this month because of the busyness of December.
I hope that is not the case.
Wouldn't you know that today I have had pain in my left arm and left side of my back, which is rare.
I did what I could in the natural and the supernatural by praying for healing. Paul prayed for me too.
And I told the devil off too.

photogr said...

Carol:

It would sadden me if the encounter was not as scheduled. It would lead me to believe the holiday shopping and festivities were more important than the Encounter with the Holy Spirit.

Well that figures on the pain. How is the right side? Like the Doc. says come back next time for more therapy. Thus there is the left side now to pray for relief

Anonymous said...

Mr. Larry, I'm glad you posted your photo. Thank you for writing this wonderful testimony! I am glad that I finally found a church where worship is enjoyable and not depressing! A lot of us have been deceived, but thank God for the Holy Spirit!

Beverly

photogr said...

Bev:

Now you know who I am. It took a long time to find what we were looking for in a church.

I am thankful you have found a home too that allows the Holly Sirit to freely function.
My regards to Tommy and hope he is doing well.

Anonymous said...

very useful post. I would love to follow you on twitter. By the way, did anyone learn that some chinese hacker had busted twitter yesterday again.

photogr said...

Anonymous:

Sorry But I will only be here for awhile. too much possibilities on Twitter and Facebook to get hacked. It has hapened to me once allready.

Thanks for dropping by.

photogr said...

Anonymous:

Thanks I think.