An Update.

Hey Everyone!

Its been forever I know. It seems I keep lying about updating more, so I'm not going to tell you I'm going to update more. But what I will tell you is: God is awesome! Though I don't understand the reason behind things most of the time, I still trust in him. It seems I'm just living life at the moment, which is better than the not living life alternative, but far from where I want to be. Which isn't always a bad thing either though. I have my own place now, and its nice, lonely alot of the time, but the Lord is with me. I still haven't got all the boxes unpacked, and at this rate I probably never will lol. Some good news is I may be getting a new job soon, which means more money, and even better more time to spend at church. Having the weekends off helps alot when you are trying to make conferences and fellowship meetings and extra services. Someone asked me tonight, what I felt my calling was in, and I couldn't tell them. I couldn't tell them if I was wanting to go to the mission field, to evangelise, or pastor. honestly I don't know where I want to go, or where I feel to go. I know I want to work for the Lord, I know I want to serve him to the best of my ability, but I don't know how. Its scary for me to not know what I'm suppose to be doing for sure. It seems everyone else has a good idea what they want to do, but I seem to have everything together on the front, so that doesn't tell you much I know. I keep telling myself that this is a good place to be, that if I don't know what I want, my wants can't interfere with what God wants me to do. If I seek him enough, He'll let me know. I have no doubts that I'm suppose to be under Bro Smith, He's an awesome pastor, I love him very much. I'm receiving training here and guidance that I can't get anywhere else and perhaps out of this will the ministry the Lord has giving me will blossom. Like I said I trust God, but I don't understand him. No one does I know. I should be on fire right now, I just got through preaching, and It went well. I said what I felt like I needed to say, I felt the annointing, but I'm still hurting. It seems that the Lord can encourage everyone else through me, but I have the hardest trouble leting him encourage me. I know its possible, David did it. I know it wasn't easy. Just something I've got to work on. I don't even know why I'm putting this on here, I started to put the sermon I preached tonight on here, and I probably still will, just not tonight. I'm not asking for sympathy, or even great verbal concern, I'm just asking for your prayers.

I love you all. God bless.

Jerald

The Elect...

Now as many of you that really know me, know I'm not into politics. I have my opinions, like everyone else, but I choose not to express them. I do not vote. You will never hear me complain about the government or really get into a political disscussion because I don't vote, I think its hypocritical to do so. With that being said, and understanding that this blog is not about politics, I want to focus my attention on the Lord Jesus.

The election has stired my mind up. I thought to myself what does election really mean? It means chosen or calling. I also know that the Bible says that God calls us his elect. Which means; chosen, chosen one, favorite. We are the Elect of God! Chosen to go out into the world and fight for the Kingdom! We are the ones that have been elected to go to Heaven. Not by popular vote, there is no electorial college in the Kingdom of God. Its not because we are strong, not because we are many, but we are the fewest. He chose us because He loves us, and made a promise that he must keep. (Deu 7:6-8)

In the election this year, the winner has not yet been decided, people will say this one is ahead, and while others say the other is ahead. But in the election that we have been called to, the winner has already been decided! Several canidates have famous people that back them through the primaries in order to get other people to vote for em. A good example is Chuck Norris, who backed Huckabee back in the primaries. Let me tell you this, the elect of God, Have his backing. And when God votes for you, you win! If God be for us, Who can be against us? What or Whom shall I fear with God holding me, Standing by me, fighting for me?

We do have battles to fight just like the canidates now have. They go to different states and try to win voters to their cause. We too, go through different states and have to win in them. Forget about Red states and Blue states, We go through Good states where the blessings of God is self evident and we go through states where we are like Job, saying I look to the right, and see the work of God, but I didn't find him, I look to the left and the same is true. We go through states of growth, states of plenty, states of hard times. We do have an enemy in everyone of those states, but again we don't have to be the most popular to win, we just have to endure. States are sometimes easy, sometimes hard, but we have to be content, and endure, no matter what state it is. (Phi 4:11).

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."
~1st Peter 2:9-10

So whether you vote or not, whether democrate or republican, I pray God blesses you. I know no matter who wins, The will of God will be done, the Elect will make it. Because for the elects sake he is going to shorten the days. So I have only one thing left to say: Come quickly Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22:20)

God Bless y'all! I love y'all!

~Jerald

Long Time No See...

Hey Everyone!

Its been awhile.....again. Its funny how in life we get so busy with what we see as important in our life, we forget the little extras that dot this life and makes it more complete. But now is as good a time as any to give some updates in my life. First and foremost God is doing great things in me and through me. Allowing me to minister, not only behind the pulpit but also in the lives of others. I pray that I can submit myself more to him than ever before, I want to see some things change for the better and I know God will take us there. Second is I'm moving closer to church, and I'm getting my own place. Its pretty exciting and scary at the same time. Its like we wait all our lives to get to this place, you hear young children saying "When I grow up I want to be..." and here I am at that point. It actually makes me think about how we wait our whole lives to see Heaven. After much fasting, praying, studying, holding fast, through pain, through joy, through trials and tribulation we will finally be there. What will it be like? I'm excited about living for God all over again when I think about it. I mean, yeah, I'm getting my own place, but the Bible says that Jesus went to prepare a place for us, that where He is, there we may be also! Isn't that exciting? A mansion just for you, built to specs, no light bills to pay, for there will be an everlasting light, no water bill to pay because we drink of the living water of the River of Life. I long for that place where there is no more pain or tears. I want to be in that place where there is no more mystery. I won't ever have to ask the question "Why" again, because I will know. Its my hearts desire to see Him and hear Him say "Well Done". When I think of Heaven I'm encourage, that no matter what comes my way, Its worth going through to get there.

I love y'all. Pray for me if you need something extra to pray about. But if you can only find time for one thing to pray about, pray for Kayla's family and Jared, they are in much need of prayer.

Love y'all,

Jerald

Egads! Twice in one Week!

Yes I know you can hardly believe your eyes, and I know its too good to be true, but this is the second blog I've wrote this week! I just got back from Jackson, TN from our general conference which was totally awesome! The Spirit of the Lord was in the place in a big way. We heard some very anointed preaching, speaking directly to our hearts. We try to place words on things like this, and there is no way to describe it. Awesome isn't even the right word but its all I have at this moment. The only way I can tell you how it feels is to tell you to come and experience for yourself! I love the Lord with all my heart, even more now than I did yesterday. There is a ton going on in my life and some direction is forming. I heard a message yesterday that Brother Craig Marshall preached and it was fantastic! One of his points was that we need to have childlike faith, and childlike obedience to the Lord, however we need to be adults in the Spirit. 1st Corinthians 13 says that when He was a child, he spake as a child, he understood as a child, but when He became a man he put away childish things. Spiritually we need to do that, and naturally. I have prayed before for God to help me grow up in him, and help me to put away childish arguments and bigotry. He has helped me, but I don't need to stop praying that, because we all learn no matter how old we get. No matter how much we do for God we can always do more. No matter how mature in the spirit we are, there is always something we can work on. We are not perfect, yet we are to try to attain it as best we can. We are to be Holy for the Lord our God is Holy. Holiness is not the dress that we were. Standards and Holiness should never be the synonyms. But inward Holiness, will reflect on the outside. We should still try the spirit and see if it be of God. I thank the Lord for the fellowship and for all the wonderful messages that I heard. Thats all for now, Y'all have a blessed day. I love y'all! God Bless!

Jerald

A very much needed update.

Hello Friends,

I thought that I would get on here and update whats going on in my life, since people are demanding it. You know how it works, when demand goes up, supply follows. Perhaps someday, when the demand is high enough, I can charge money for you to see my updates lol. But until that time comes, Here ya go, courtesy of my free time.

First of all, I know this is a shocker, I'm not going back to college this semester. I did get into the nursing program, but I don't feel like its the will of God for me to go back to Conway, its something I've battled with all summer, but of course you didn't know that because I didn't update my blog at all like I said I would. I feel like i need this time in my life to build upon the ministry the Lord has given me. He's done so much for me and to me, and I feel like I haven't done near enough for him. So instead of going back to college, I'm going to spend my time in prayer coupled with fasting, and studing of the Word of God. I am really excited about what God is going to do in my life. The next big thing that happened in my life, is well, nothing. We are getting ready for this awesome revival coming in August, the 10th through the 17th I hope you will try to make it if you can. I've been working 40 hours a week at the same grociery store I've been working for the past 6 years. They've moved me to the deli, so its different than what i normally do. But other than that i'm the same guy I left you with. I still love God, I still hold on to his promises, and I'm still going to make it! I love you guys and I will try to update it in a couple of days or if i have alot more free time at this conference i'm at right now. God Bless y'all

Jerald

God Has his way in the the Storm

Hello Friends!

Man, I know I said I would get better at updating this blog, and I'm sorry that I fell through on that promise thus far, but I am going to get better, I don't have but one week left here at college and I foresee alot of nights up ahead where I won't have a whole lot to do. One thing that will help me, if you want to help me of course, is to see some comments on here. If nothing more than "Hey, I saw you wrote something, I didn't really read it, but I saw it" it would suffice I just want to know people have made it here.

There is no panic that goes through a person's heart, like the panic that a preacher feels 4 hours before a service and they still don't know what they are going to say. This is the worst feeling as far as preaching goes I have felt to date. This past Wed. I had to preach and although I've had plenty of good thoughts before Wed. all of them fell through. Nothing seemed to fit what the Lord had in mind. For some reason I just couldn't get it together, though I prayed, and though I fasted. I ended up trying to rush God, and of course, God is going to do what he wants when he wants it. So about 3 I decided that I needed to take a shower because I hadn't taken one yet because I was focusing so hard on trying to get a message. We all say to trust in God, he will deliver you in his time, but its funny how something so easy to say is so hard to do. So when I got in the shower, I started to cry because of my frustration and told God that I can't do this, He was going to have to do this because I literally can't. Its always a problem when we try to do things ourselves and not let God show us the way that we need to go. It wasn't long after He put a thought in my heart, something that I had not thought of, nor have heard before. From the book of Nahum 1:3.

"The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet."

God has his way in the storm; He has power in the storm. He can do what he wants. When you have your way, its done according to your will. I remember the storms in my life, and how I wonder sometimes if I will make it through. We all say I can do all things through Christ, but we seldom act on it, we seldom let it not bother us. Sometimes those storms in our lives are from God to cause us to grow or to help us get on the right path, because we don't have our way in the storm, God does. A good example of this is Jonah, we have all heard this story from the time we were old enough to hear Sunday school stories. But the reason Jonah was in a storm is because he was running from the will of God. So God had to put Jonah in a situation where he had no control, nor could run away anymore. Jonah had to submit himself to God, but not only him, but the people on the ship with him also. They had to submit to throwing Jonah into the sea, which they weren't going to do at first. But when everyone submitted to God, and they threw Jonah into the sea, God calm the storm. Storms don't always mean that you are disobedient, sometimes the storm comes because you are obedient. It rains on the just and the unjust alike. Think of the disciples, there are two stories in the Gospels that talk of them on a stormy sea being in the will of God. But God has his way in the storm. Remember, in one story they were going across the sea with Jesus in the boat but he was asleep. A storm arose, and the boat started to fill with water, When the disciples saw this they woke Jesus up, and as we all know, He calmed the storm. He rebuked them later because of their faith, or the lack of it. It was not that they woke Jesus to calm the storm, it was the way they asked him. They asked Jesus if he cared that they perished, instead of coming to him and telling him "Lord, I know that you can take care of this and I trust that you will." Jesus cares more for us than we can ever know in this carnal flesh. Remember while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. I don't know about you but I wasn't a nice sinner, I was atheist remember. He died for me, when I didn't believe in him, He called me, when I denied him in ignorance. If we trust in him, and ask him, He will calm the storm. Again, another place in the scripture, Paul was on his way to Rome remember? Acts chapter 27 and 28 are good places to read for this. The storm came up, so strong it has a name.
(Euroclydon, Acts 27:14) This time, the ship He sailed on was destroyed, but does that mean he was out of the Will of God? Of course not, remember Paul was called to go to Rome, but there were some Barbaric peoples that needed to hear of God. There are many things that could be said here, like how we need to stay in the ship when we are in the storm, though it may be destroyed on the rocks, God still saved them. He has his way in the storm. I'm just going to talk about one more place in the scripture.

Psalms 107:23-31

"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"

This is one of my new favorite verses. It explains so much of how I feel in the storms of my life, in the trials. I feel like that, I feel like I don't know which way is which, I'm just staggering around hoping I don't fall out of where I'm suppose to be. Notice that God brought about this storm. Remember the trying of our faith worketh patience. Lots of the time, I feel like I'm at my wits' end, I just can't take it anymore, my ship is filling up, I need you Jesus! But He rises up, He calms the storm in my life, He has his way in the storm, He has control! He will bring us to the place that we need to go, For Jonah he brought him to Nineveh , for the disciples across the sea, for Paul to Rome, and He will leads us to heaven for you and me. I trust him even in the storm, Even though, I'm afraid and don't' know what to do next. But I will always remember, that my God, the one that died for me, the one that set me free, is in control of the storm.

Sorry for being so long, and for leaving out alot of details, I noticed it was getting long so I left some stuff out, But I hope I gave you enough to get the point.

I love y'all, God Bless

Jerald

Hello Again!

Hey I'm getting better about this blogging stuff. Perhaps one day my life will be interesting enough to have something to say everyday, and I'll have the time to say it. I pray everyone's Easter was awesome! Easter is such a special time, its not about the bunny, Its about the ressurection, the defeat of death. I enjoyed celebrating it very much, Here at Conway the children's church put on a drama that was awesome, We had someone get the Holy Ghost, which is totally awesome! I went home to Smackover Sunday afternoon and fellowshiped with everyone with my home church. Dad volenteered me to help him and pastor move a metal building, and Pastor volenteered me to preach last night, so in essence the last two days have been really busy. But they were great, Monday was alot of work, but it was fun, and of course, I'm always happy to used by the Lord. But anyways, thats all I really have to say now, I have to be getting ready to go to church again. I drove over 2 hours and work over 4 hours today, so I'm a little tired, but not too bad. Any way I will try to post something more interesting later. I love y'all. God Bless!

Jerald