
We just returned on Saturday from a week with Angie's family at Nag's Head on the Outer Banks. This was a much needed break for both of us. We are so thankful to Angie's parents for doing this every year! What a blessing it is! It was also a huge learning experience for me. The lesson was to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit with guarding against the attacks of the enemy. For me, much of the attack that comes my way deals with my physical health. I know that Satan can not stand me or this ministry.
Last Wednesday I had a situation that could have well left me paralyzed if I had not listened to that still small voice that came to me. We rented a pontoon boat with Pastor Lance & Leigh Prathaftakis for a half day. We set out on what was a beautiful day and we decided to stop and drop the anchor just to hang out and swim. I was the first one to start toward getting into the water. My first thought was to do a cannon ball to get the others wet. Pastor Lance had said we were in five feet of water according to the depth finder on the boat. I joked with Leigh then was hesitant on getting in. I bypassed the thought to do the cannon ball but did not bypass the thought coming to me that was not to jump at all. I jumped bending my knees and turning my feet to the sides so that I could break the fall and land the best I could in the "5 foot of water". What happened was I slammed to my knees in "2 foot of water". I was in immediate excruciating pain! I grabbed the side of the boat to keep my head out of the water. Because we clown so much I do not think that anyone was taking me serious at first. "My buddy" even took the time to inquire from me as to how the water temperature was??? That jump affected the rest of a great vacation we were having but we continued to have fun.
According to what I would find out from my chiropractor later was that I had jammed my lower back, my hips and my neck. I felt like I had been run over by a truck! I felt so strong in my spirit the need to take care of my body because the enemy would do anything to try to take me out. Immediately after I had jumped Pastor Lance had seen the depth waver between one and took feet. I felt so strong that if I would have done the cannon ball that I would not be walking today. I remember looking at my feet the next morning before getting out of bed and I was so thankful that I could move them.
I praise the Lord for a spirit filled chiropractor (Dr. Craig French). He met me at the office on Sunday to start working on me to get me back into the game! What a blessing he is! He has me feeling so much better already along with those that knew of this happening that went into immediate prayer. I will be much more aware now of the things that I need to do to guard my physical health. NEVER again will I jump off a boat or anything else into the water.
I even stayed away from headquarters until today so that my body could have some extra time to rest. I walked into a hot headquarters today and thought that something must have tripped the circuit breaker. All the power was off to the whole building! I opened the refrigerators to find everything warm! Everything except for the drinks had to be thrown away including the hotdogs and sausage for tomorrow's National Night Out event. I had huge pork roasts for pulled pork we were going to do for another event. We lost around $200 and several hours cleaning up the mess! Duke Energy told Angie that there had not been any power at our address for over a year. Much confusion! Now they are saying that the power will be turned on sometime between 8a and 9p tomorrow??? Now we have to go shopping tonight to replace the items for tomorrow. Please pray that they get the power back on soon! We will get everything straightened out with Duke Energy later. This is wacky but we are warned a number of times in the Word that "in this life we will have trials and tribulation".
I remember the day when something like this would have had my all bent out of shape. Thank you Lord! Please also pray that my body will hold up and that we will be able to get everything together for tomorrow night. Pray for helpers to come out tomorrow also.
James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Last Wednesday I had a situation that could have well left me paralyzed if I had not listened to that still small voice that came to me. We rented a pontoon boat with Pastor Lance & Leigh Prathaftakis for a half day. We set out on what was a beautiful day and we decided to stop and drop the anchor just to hang out and swim. I was the first one to start toward getting into the water. My first thought was to do a cannon ball to get the others wet. Pastor Lance had said we were in five feet of water according to the depth finder on the boat. I joked with Leigh then was hesitant on getting in. I bypassed the thought to do the cannon ball but did not bypass the thought coming to me that was not to jump at all. I jumped bending my knees and turning my feet to the sides so that I could break the fall and land the best I could in the "5 foot of water". What happened was I slammed to my knees in "2 foot of water". I was in immediate excruciating pain! I grabbed the side of the boat to keep my head out of the water. Because we clown so much I do not think that anyone was taking me serious at first. "My buddy" even took the time to inquire from me as to how the water temperature was??? That jump affected the rest of a great vacation we were having but we continued to have fun.
According to what I would find out from my chiropractor later was that I had jammed my lower back, my hips and my neck. I felt like I had been run over by a truck! I felt so strong in my spirit the need to take care of my body because the enemy would do anything to try to take me out. Immediately after I had jumped Pastor Lance had seen the depth waver between one and took feet. I felt so strong that if I would have done the cannon ball that I would not be walking today. I remember looking at my feet the next morning before getting out of bed and I was so thankful that I could move them.
I praise the Lord for a spirit filled chiropractor (Dr. Craig French). He met me at the office on Sunday to start working on me to get me back into the game! What a blessing he is! He has me feeling so much better already along with those that knew of this happening that went into immediate prayer. I will be much more aware now of the things that I need to do to guard my physical health. NEVER again will I jump off a boat or anything else into the water.
I even stayed away from headquarters until today so that my body could have some extra time to rest. I walked into a hot headquarters today and thought that something must have tripped the circuit breaker. All the power was off to the whole building! I opened the refrigerators to find everything warm! Everything except for the drinks had to be thrown away including the hotdogs and sausage for tomorrow's National Night Out event. I had huge pork roasts for pulled pork we were going to do for another event. We lost around $200 and several hours cleaning up the mess! Duke Energy told Angie that there had not been any power at our address for over a year. Much confusion! Now they are saying that the power will be turned on sometime between 8a and 9p tomorrow??? Now we have to go shopping tonight to replace the items for tomorrow. Please pray that they get the power back on soon! We will get everything straightened out with Duke Energy later. This is wacky but we are warned a number of times in the Word that "in this life we will have trials and tribulation".
I remember the day when something like this would have had my all bent out of shape. Thank you Lord! Please also pray that my body will hold up and that we will be able to get everything together for tomorrow night. Pray for helpers to come out tomorrow also.
James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.