“This [day in which God has saved me] is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it., (AMP)”
As we continue work on our new piece of land, so many thoughts come to mind as I look back over the past 41 years. I love psalms 41 which says,
“Blessed is the one who considers the [a]helpless;
- The Lord will save him on a day of [b]trouble
- 2 The Lord will protect him
- and keep him alive
- And he will be called [c]blessed upon the earth
- And do not turn him over to the desire of his enemies
- 3 The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed
- In his illness, You [d]restore him to health (NASB)”
Those are 7 wonderful, amazing things the Lord will do for us as we help others. 41 years ago, I too walked away from drugs and life as an addict and surrendered my heart to Jesus forever, bless His Holy Name. Jesus, the Lamb, oh how I love Him.
Delivery from Addiction
After walking away from drugs in 1981, the Lord gave me a heart for addicts, alcoholics, and eventually, the homeless. God reminded me He has a sense of humor by sending me back to design machines to make or process drugs. I even had the opportunity to design security systems despite the fact I had not been trustworthy early in life either.
He also showed me that He knew exactly what He was doing by sending me a wife who had two parents that were prescription drug addicts. She loved her parents but learned the downfalls of addiction by watching them go from valley to valley. Elaine and I have seen addiction from different perspectives, as she has never used any kind of drug. But we walk in agreement that Jesus is the answer for every problem including, and especially, addiction.
This was Elaine’s dad’s favorite verse after he got clean and delivered from drugs:
Psalms 91
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” 3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. 5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; 6 Of the pestilence that [a]stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. 7 A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you. 8 You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked. 9 [b]For you have made the Lord, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place. 10 No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your [c]tent. 11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. 12 They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the [d]serpent you will trample down. 14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. 15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in [e]trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 “With [f]a long life I will satisfy him And [g]let him see My salvation.” (NASB)
We can thank Him for delivering us from the deadly pestilence in verse 3. Wow! 41 years ago I began life as a design engineer and have worked for the best companies in America. Caterpillar, Pfizer, Pinkerton, Andrew Corporation, and American Tower Corporation. The Lord used each experience to teach me something about this journey today. I’ve always, as a believer, lived in the corporate world according to Proverbs 3:5-6, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (NASB)”
After 41 years of the Lord guiding me each and every day, I can say, just as Joshua 23:14, “Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God has promised concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed. (NASB)”
The Free Gift of Salvation
The Lord has been faithful to me even when I was not faithful to Him. But it is by faith that I live, not by works. We freely receive His gift of salvation. In fact, we can’t be good enough. It’s about believing and accepting what Jesus did, and the life you live will be in Him. 2 Corinthians 6:2 reads, “…for He says, “At a favorable time I listened to you, And on a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “a favorable time,” behold, now is “a day of salvation”—”
Today, we are praying for you! We are praying that as you read these blog pages you may decide to give Him your all today, just like He did for you 2000 years ago on a cruel cross and is doing right now as He sits by the Father praying for you…
“…whereas Christ, having offered the one sacrifice [the all-sufficient sacrifice of Himself] for sins for all time, sat down [signifying the completion of atonement for sin] at the right hand of God [the position of honor], 13 waiting from that time onward until his enemies are made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by the one offering He has perfected forever and completely cleansed those who are being sanctified [bringing each believer to spiritual completion and maturity]. Hebrews 10:12-14 (AMP)”
“34 Who is the one who condemns us? Christ Jesus is the One who died [to pay our penalty], and more than that, who was raised [from the dead], and who is at the right hand of God interceding [with the Father] for us. Romans 8:34 (AMP)”
How awesome is that, to know that Jesus is praying for you and me right now!? You are going to be blessed today in Jesus’ name!
-Dan