I was the guy who visited the "place of work" and noticed the dogtags. It was amazing how the Lord worked that day. I had been witnessing to my friend, and felt some sort of barrier go up. I felt the spirit tell me to back off and show some mixed mercy (James1 :24 i think). We went into "the place of work," and I noticed the girl behind the counter wearing the dog-tags. I starting talking about "The Stand" and the incredible worship experience I had the previous monday. We then started talking about bands and music, and my friend got involved, too. Since the two of them were girls, they kind-of took off in the conversation, but where I felt an impass before, I magically watched it be lifted in their conversation. We left and went back to work, but their convesation was still in my friends heart, and it was melted a bit. I was able to continue my witness to her, and now I pray that a better seed was planted!
In addition, when Jason asked us to pray Monday night, I felt the Lord tell me to drop to my knees before Him. I did. I humbly went to Him and asked that He show the same power with Jason that He showed with Moses and the Burning Bush....that He'd be precise and super-evident with what He wanted Jason to deliver. I prayed, "Lord God, use your awesome power. The same power that You showed Paul when you blinded Him on the road to Damascus. Be that "plain as day!" Jason feels that You've spoken to him, and that has got to mean that somebody hear needs to hear Your message badly."
The Lord did show His power that night, and He was "plain as day" and evident...just as I prayed He would be. Hallaluja!! But, little did I know that the person who needed to hear Jason's message was me! The Lord just had me reading Ezekiel 37:1-14 last Tuesday. I was blind to what He wanted me to see then. He,on the other hand, was preparing my heart for last night! Let me explain, I was very lukewarm the last 2 years. The Lord still worked wonders in my life, but I wasn't very close to Him. Not as I needed to be. He never left my side, though. Just recently, He revealed that I lost a very high profile job because I placed it above Him. I lost the girlfriend I proposed marriage to because I placed her above Him! There's no sugar coating it: It was idolatry in a common day form, and because the Lord (in His wonderful state of grace) still had a plan (His will) for my life, He HAD TO discipline me (Deut. Chapter 8).
Praise God!! He loved me enough not to let me rot in my sin even though I had left Him and placed earthly things ahead of Him. I was the prodigal (sp--?) son at best, and now I've come home!!
What Jason's message further revealed to me was that God has been pacing me over the last 3 weeks. Yes, I knew that He had "disciplined"
me, but did not realize that I had dug my grave and that my bones were just part of a body with no real life. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life.." I did not have real life in my bones....until the Lord woke me up. Now, I am ready for Him to breathe life back into my soul...to make the fire burn so brightly in my heart and behind my eyes...to truly live my life giving all the glory to Him!
My goal is to live the words of the song by Avalon: "As long as I shall live I will testify to love...I'll be a witness in the silences when words are not enough....With every breath I take I will give thanks to God above....As long as I shall live I will testify to love..."
Please pray for my strength and continued boldness....
Sincerely,
Lance Cobb
Sports Anchor
Formerly of NBC 4 Beaumont
[This message has been edited by cobbycobb (edited 04-25-2000).]
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