God Is Good All the Time And All the Time God Is Good
Encourage One Another
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Testimony
glen moulton
Miracle
I have had many God-blessed miracles happen to me in my life. But there is one that stands out above the others. I remember it very clearly although it happened 50+ years ago.
During my first year of college at Lakeland, I made a host of new friends. Warren was one of them. We both worked after school and weekends at the Holiday Inn as busboys.
Warren drove a Honda 150 motorcycle (yes, 150 - the 160 came out a year or so later). Anyway, the fall weather became winter-like so Warren asked if he could borrow my car to go home for the weekend (we were both off work). So, I got his motorcycle, and he took my car.
My only other experience with motorcycles occurred during the Spring of my senior year at Effingham High School. My best friend, Richard, and I decided to skip school for no particular reason. Word spread and there were a number of absentees, almost like a local flu epidemic. The interesting part is that Dick (Richard) and I went to different high schools.
On the fateful day, we agreed to meet at Dick’s parents’ house at Lake Sara. A new friend from Dick’s high school rode his motorcycle to the event.
Although I didn’t know him, permission was granted for me to take it for a spin. Another new friend who I didn’t know hopped on the back of the under-sized bike. We took off as fast as possible and didn’t slow down. It was fun. We were the only traffic on this country blacktop.
On the return trip we were high speed and low-flying when to my surprise, my high school counselor was thoughtfully approaching in the other lane. We were in the middle of nowhere. So was he. I couldn’t believe it! My eyes were fixed on him such that I failed to make the curve, and we sped off the road and onto the soft shoulder. The shoulder gravel gave way, and I lost high speed control, and consequently we zoomed along in the ditch until I quickly slammed into a culvert. The bike flipped and my passenger flew over my head and onto a barbed wire fence as I face planted into the handlebars before the bike landed on me.
We both got up and walked away. Something of a miracle in itself. Plus, my counselor never said a word, even though he knew me and clearly saw me moments before I cleared out the ditch, dented the culvert, and caused a sag in the barbed wire fence.
Back to the Miracle.
Warren decided it was too cold to ride his motorcycle home, so he left in my car. That meant I got his bike for the weekend. Even though it was too cold for Warren and most reasonable humans, it was not too cold for me to go see my current girlfriend about 50 miles one-way away. I hopped onto the bike in the dark of night. Yes, it was too cold.
I was travelling at top speed, 56 mph, on the lonely highway when a fast car came up from behind and got close enough to smother my rear wheel.
Constant honking, blinding bright lights, with lots of yelling and laughing told me this was a party car. It appeared to be a carload of high school kids out for a drunken joy ride. This combination is aways a bad sign when you are on a motorcycle. One false move and you are under the wheels. Worse, I didn’t have enough horsepower to outrun the car.
They were also too close for a quick lane change. This ain’t funny when you are on a bike. After many horrific miles, I last-second turned right, braked, and fish-tail slid through the loose driveway gravel into the only lonely gas station for many, many miles. The chase car kept going into the cold darkness. When I sideways came to a halt, the only attendant looked at me with a statue stare of disbelief. To get even, I chased the kids for about 10 feet. Then I came to my senses. I didn’t need gas, so I drove away in the same direction as the party car.
Note: This happened at the approximate location of the Miracle.
The Miracle
Two days later a tranquil fall day softly morphed into a serene Sunday evening. With a retreating sun on my face, hair blowing in the wind and a smile on my lips, I was king of the road. Note: this was before safety helmets were required to keep you from breaking your head in an accident.
I was also returning to college and trying to get there before Warren returned with my car. So, I am travelling the usual 56 mph, my grip hard on the throttle with my teeth clenched to prevent flying field bugs from smashing into my mouth. I bent forward to block less wind and may have gained a 0.01 mph increase for my efforts.
I was thrilled to be fast burning the deserted highway. Suddenly something happened and the bike jerked, perhaps the chain broke. My inertia pushed me forward. I found myself over the handlebars up to my waist and slightly over the front wheel. The sudden shift in weight position caused the bike to swerve. I couldn’t correct it because I was too far over the handlebars. I couldn’t slow down because my weight was on my hands. I abruptly ran off the road and ran straight into a large tree at 56 mph.
I even remember seeing the details of the tree bark closing fast on my face as I smashed headfirst into the mature unmovable tree. I don’t know how much time passed or what events transpired. The next thing I remember, I was standing maybe 10 feet away from Warren’s totaled bike. I didn’t have a scratch on me, there was no blood, and I felt no pain. I walked over to the bike. Not much left of it.
The sun was setting. Another awe-inspiring red-orange sunset. But I was cold and all alone on a very deserted highway on a dark desolate Sunday evening when everyone else was comfy in their warm home enjoying Sunday dinner.
I stood by the highway for a LONG time as nothing passed by. I was hoping for any kind of help. I had to get myself and the remains of the bike back to college ASAP. As the sun closed the day, I still did not have a plan except to wait for unexpected help which may or may not be forthcoming.
About this time, I see the dim headlights of an old pick-up truck grumbling my way. I signaled for help. The driver didn’t have to slow down much to pull over. I didn’t know the name of the Samaritan, but I recognized her as a girl in one of my classes. Unbelievable.
She agreed to take me and the bike to where I was living. Also, unbelievable. I somehow singlehandedly got the bike into the back of her truck. I still don’t know how I managed that feat. Unloading was the same sensation.
She kept her word and delivered me and the crumpled bike to where I lived.
I looked for her, but I never saw that girl again.
There are many times in this true story when I should have been pronounced DOA. All of these Miracles happened after I was saved and baptized. Even so, I don’t remember calling on the Lord for help.
They were God-blessed Miracles. I know you better now.
Exodus 7:17… By this you will know that I am Lord…
Thanks God. Glen
The actual location is on north highway 45 leaving Neoga heading for Mattoon. Past the overhead interstate and only lonely gas station on the left. On the right there is a very long row of identical Poplar or Cottonwood trees that parallel the highway. Very scenic and unusual. One of them may still have a scar at motorcycle height.
Testimony
vickie aubel
BUNKER BUSTER!
“May day! May day! This ship is going down!”
As the captain of my own ship, I navigated through some very turbulent waters on my own heading and in my own disastrous way. I bashed against the rocks and hit the reefs stumbling and reeling like a drunken sailor, because I was.
For years I drank myself into oblivion practically every weekend. There are so many days of my life I can’t remember because my brain was so pickled. And then guilt and shame would hit and I’d swear to God I would quit and make promises that I couldn’t keep.
I went to AA and learned that I wasn’t alone. I learned terms like; one day at a time, there is a committee in your head and hit bottom. I thought I had hit bottom on several occasions only to find out that I had a bunker under the bottom that I would retreat into and stay there until I deemed it safe to start all over again. The many voices of the committee said you don’t need to quit; you’re not an alcoholic! You can handle it! And on and on it would go!
Finally, God dropped a bunker busting bomb that shook me to my core! By the grace of God, I didn’t do permanent damage. It’s a miracle that my liver survived! But it worked, God had my attention. I was finally sick and tired of being sick and tired and knew I had to change.
I repented.
God took away my desire to get drunk! It was the only tool I had in my toolbox that worked at helping me escape when life got ugly. God replaced my entire toolbox and gave me Jesus. I was done trying to get sober on my own. I completely surrendered.
That was May 1, 2009. I’ve been clean and sober for 17 years! Praise the Lord!
“God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.” Andrew Murray
2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
I was ready to be wholly loyal and completely committed to Him. I was saved in April of 1976 but I had never fully given my heart to the Lord and He was patiently waiting. When I finally surrendered He was there to give me the strength I needed to overcome my addiction.
Psalm 31:23-24 23 “Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful and fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD.”
My pride had kept me from complete surrender for too many years and I had proven I couldn’t get clean on my own as much as I tried and tried and tried… as they say, How’s that workin’ for ya?!?!
But God, He couldn’t leave me that way. I turned toward Him, drew near Him and He strengthened my heart! His love captivated my soul and He set me free from the grip of the devil’s destruction! He rescued me!
I know God said this to Paul but, He said it to me too- 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Addiction is a powerful infirmity and enemy of the saints who want to yield to God’s control. By the power of the blood of the Lamb, every time the enemy would cast a temptation my way God provided a way of escape and helped me overcome! God is my strong tower and redeemer! All the years the locusts had devoured were restored to me in a powerful way.
Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him (the accuser of the brethren) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
Every setback was a set up for triumph in my life! And now I’ve been given a powerful testimony of the life changing, heart rearranging power of Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!
Heavenly Father, words fall short of the gratitude I feel so deeply in my heart and soul. Thankfully I will have all eternity to say thank You for rescuing me from the dominion of darkness and transferring me into the Kingdom of Your marvelous light! You are truly an awesome God! In Jesus name, amen.
Vickie Aubel
To heavy to bear
A Glass of Water
During one lecture, a professor suddenly picked up a glass of water and held it up. He stood there quietly, just holding it, as the students began to glance at each other, waiting for an explanation. Ten minutes passed, and he still didn’t lower his arm.
Finally, he asked: “Tell me, how much do you think this glass weighs?”
The students started guessing: “Maybe a couple of ounces!”
“Four ounces!”
“Five!”
The professor smiled. “Honestly, I don’t know either. To find out, we’d have to weigh it. But that’s not the real question. What happens if I hold this glass for a few minutes?”
“Nothing,” the students replied.
“Right. Now, what if I hold it for an hour?”
“Your arm will start to hurt,” one answered.
“Correct. And what if I try to hold it all day?”
“Your arm would go numb, you’d be in serious pain, maybe even need medical help,” another said as the class laughed.
The professor nodded calmly. “Exactly. But tell me—did the weight of the glass ever change?”
“No,” came the reply.
“So why the pain in the arm? Why the tension in the muscles?”
The room fell silent.
Then he asked: “What should I do to get rid of the pain?”
“Put the glass down,” someone said.
“Exactly!” the professor exclaimed. “Life’s problems work the same way. If you carry them in your head for a few minutes, it’s no big deal. Think about them for too long, and they start to hurt. Dwell on them all day, and they paralyze you—you won’t be able to do anything else.”
He paused, then finished with this: “That’s why it’s so important to put your problems down at the end of each day. Don’t go to bed carrying the weight of them. Rest, recharge, and you’ll wake up ready to face tomorrow with strength and clarity.”
Precious truth
jeremiah 1:5
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
pain
jesus knows your hurt - Song by Dallas Holm
The pain some people bear
No one would believe
The hurt that's sometimes there
Makes it hard to see
That in the darkest hour
There is still a way
Listen to these simple words I say
Jesus knows your hurt
Jesus feels your pain
Jesus knows just how you feel
’Cause He's felt just the same
Jesus knows your need
Better than you do
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you
Sometimes you feel alone
Does He really care?
Has He left you on your own?
And does He hear your prayer?
Well, He has never left you
Or forsaken you one day
Listen to these simple words I say
Jesus knows your hurt
Jesus feels your pain
Jesus knows just how you feel
’Cause He's felt just the same
Jesus knows your need
Better than you do
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you