Let go!

We have 7 dogs and a cat in our home. As such, sometimes we find ourselves battling fleas. This morning, one was on my shirt. Della was trying to catch it. I pulled back on the material (thinking to help her) and it wasn't long before she said, "Let go." I was confused. Let go of what? So, she said it again, "Let go." I finally realized that she had meant to let go of my shirt.

But, it dawned on me, How many times do we do God that way? 

He's trying to help us with a problem and he keeps saying, "let go." Yet, we keep holding on to it. 

It could be a sin. When he tells us to repent, he's essentially telling us to let go of the sin so that he can take it away and wash us in his blood. That way, we can be holy in his sight.

It may be a situation that we're trying to fix. God sees it. He knows how to fix it. He keeps telling us to "let go." Let go of our lost children. Let go of the job situation. Let go of our political anxieties. Whatever it is, when we hold onto it with our hands, we don't allow him to step in and take control. 

More often than not, the harder we try to fix it, the worse the issue becomes- and the more aggravated we become. Why is it so hard for us humans to trust God with our troubles? He tells us to "cast all (our) cares upon (him)." (1 Peter 5:7)

Sure, he could force us to let it go. But, God wants us to willingly release to him what we are holding in our hands into his all-powerful and all capable hands. That way, when he fixes it, we stand in awe of his amazing handiwork. But, when we stubbornly try and turn the problem this way and that way, he just sits back and watches us- waiting on us to come to the end of ourselves. 

When we finally reach the end of ourselves and realize that our efforts are truly doing nothing to fix anything, then we will finally give it to him. Much like a toddler who is trying to take something apart finally looks up at the parent and says, "help," we lift the problem to God. He smiles, takes it from us, and corrects the problem as only he can. 

What an awesome Father we have. He loves us and is ready, willing, and able to take care of whatever needs to be taken care of. 

So, whatever the problem in our lives: a sin, a sick loved one, a job, political worries, wedding plans, etc., we need to give it all over to him. God is well able to fix the problem. And he's ready to take it out of our hands and make something beautiful out of it. 

When we do, we'll be amazed at the end result for he truly does all things well.

Matthew 11:28

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 

Happy Father's Day

Luke6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

My earthly Dad, I'm proud to say, is Edwin B Winskie. Most folks call him Butch. At present, he is 76 years old. That's an amazing thing, considering that he raised me and my sister. We put him through quite a lot. 

And Dad had an abundance of mercy. The fact that I'm still alive and breathing after all I did as a child is a strong testimony to that fact. 

My Dad worked hard for his family. When I was a young boy, he worked 2 jobs to try and sustain us. Then, he was hired by Delta Airlines during the height of the airline boom. We had to move, but it was a blessing. Many of the boys I was hanging out with were already into smoking. Later, many of them would get into drugs. Moving was good for me because I had to change crowds.

I never drank or did drugs. And that's because of my Dad. 

You see, my Dad- back then- was an alcoholic. The first prayer I prayed after I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost was for God to free my Dad from Alcohol. 

I was in the Army at that time. I went to the Gulf war as a newborn baby in Christ. I was still praying for Dad's deliverance.  

Don't take me wrong. My Dad was not a drunk. He didn't stagger around the house. He didn't beat us. He didn't meander from deadbeat job to deadbeat job trying to hold things together while he drank himself into oblivion. 

My Dad was a functional alcoholic. He could drink enough vodka to floor your average person and just keep right on going. But, when he did without it- usually for his family to have what we needed- he'd go through DT's. He'd shake and sweat, etc. 

One day, Dad was slightly tipsy, when he burst into my room and grabbed me. He hugged me close and begged me to forgive him. Then he said, "Son, don't ever drink. It's the only thing that's ever beat me."

This had a huge effect on me.  My Dad is one of the strongest willed people I have ever known. He is mentally tough as nails. So, when he said Alcohol was the only thing to ever beat him, I knew I'd never touch the stuff. 

I'm not nearly as tough as Dad. I had friends in high school and college that drank and partied a bit. I never got into that crowd. Every time I was tempted, I remembered what my Dad had said and it gave me the strength to say, "NO!" 

Then I married and joined the Army. There was lots of partying going on there. But, not by me. I remembered what my Dad had said. I knew if he couldn't handle it, It would destroy me!

I broke down and cried when I got his letter in 1991, I believe. Dad had realized he had a drinking problem and Delta Airlines- to their credit- was paying for him to go through rehab to be free from that addiction that had tormented him for years. I fell to my knees and cried thank you to my heavenly Father, for freeing my earthly father from one of Satan's traps. 

So, Dad, I just want to say thank you for always providing for us. Thank you for doing the best you knew how to raise us. Thank you for not killing me. And thank you for teaching me the value of hard work and personal sacrifice in taking care of a family.  

And thanks to my heavenly Father for giving me the Dad that you did. You knew what you were doing. And thanks for becoming a son and paying the ultimate sacrifice to pay the price for my sins.  

So happy Father's day, Jesus. And happy Father's day, Edwin B. Winskie

I'll love you both for eternity!     (That's Dad on the left.)

Return to the Holy Ground!

Isaiah 53:6King James Version (KJV)

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Exodus 3:5King James Version (KJV)

5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Our country is at a crossroads. Politically, we seem to be divided 50-50 on almost every issue. The values that made this nation great are teetering on the brink. We have seen a slow decay of godly morals and values and a lifting up of the profane and ungodly.

In the 1960's we saw prayer removed from schools and the removing of the ten commandments. Worse, our children are being taught that they were not created special by a loving God. No, they are just a genetic mistake who can do as they will and create their own right and wrong. This led to the aborting of millions of unborn children. CHILDREN!!!!!!

Now, children are taught that they are not born male and female. Now, in spite of their genetics, they can choose what gender they wish to be. What madness! The courts are even forcing gay marriage down the countries throats! 

As Br Arnold once said, "Right is wrong, wrong is right. And whatever's gray, have a happy day." 

Why is our economy barely hanging on? Why is there rioting in the streets? Why is evil seemingly winning the day?

Proverbs 14:34King James Version (KJV)

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

We have left righteousness behind and are exalting sin. Only in a return to Jesus can we hope to stem the tide of evil overflowing our country. If ever we needed revival, it is today!  

Government cannot make policies to lift us out of our mess. Businesses cannot invent products that can cover over our sins. The military could defeat every nation on earth and still we would be a fallen nation. 

We need Jesus! We need Jesus! WE NEED JESUS! 

Let us remember from whence we have fallen and fall on our faces before God almighty! Let repentance and rededication be the heart cry of every red blooded human being! 

Let us come before him like Moses- removing anything in our lives that could hinder us from being right with God. 

Lord, please forgive our sins and help us to walk uprightly before you and stand against the tide of evil in our world. Let us return to prayer. Let us return to fasting. Let us return to lifting you up before an ungodly world and declare that Jesus is the only way! Help us Lord, before it is too late!