April 30, 2010 - Don Howard

April 30, 2010
June 24th, 1972 at a “Lay Witness Mission” held at the small Methodist Church our family had attended since the 1920’s, I invited Christ to be my Lord and Savior. As in every story, there has to be a beginning and this was mine…the major crossroad in my life… Over the next 60 days my life began to change…just in the nick of time, as I left home to travel 200 miles due south to LSU to begin my college “education.”

Fast-forward 38 years…present day 2010. Lessons learned from coming to other crossroads in my journey, which I equate to my standing at the Cross in my life.
Forgiveness is the key to relationship…with Christ…with others…ourselves. (Rom. 5:1, Eph. 1:7, Col 1:14). The devil does not want me or you to walk in forgiveness of sins. He loves to play on our thoughts of weakness and guilt, telling us we must pay for our sins. Jesus has paid for all of our sin debt!
Provision is also available at the Cross. (Rom. 8:32, 2 Cor. 8:9). Christ is our provision…if we look to Him, He will release that provision. Having farmed for 30 years, I witnessed the truth in His provision. Also, seeing His provision in retiring several hundred thousand dollars in medical bills over a 20-year period further substantiated His claim. In the past 7 years, the testimony of His faithfulness continues to be revealed in my remarriage, new business and new relationships. He IS the Way…The Trtuh…The Life. (The devil does not mind us believing in God as long as He is a God who does nothing.)
Victory can be found at the Cross (Rom. 5:12, 15, 17… 1 Peter 2:24, Isa. 53:5, Ps. 103:3). Jesus triumphed over both, sin and death. We do not have to be a slave to it. On His back, the Son of God purchased our healing… by His stripes we are healed. I have seen, and even experienced, victory over sin, illness and death. But, I have seen/experienced defeat as well. In contemplating what leads me toward victory or defeat, it appears to have a large part to what I am connected to. Either the Word and its teachings or the world and its enticements. Being connected to one will make the other very weak…my choice…my free will.

Life could be as easy as 1-2-3 Trouble is, I just “gets in the way!”
Prayer: Lord, help me to get ME out of the way so I can experience the forgiveness you offer…the provision you have ready and…the victorious life you want me to walk in.

Don Howard