I met Jesus Christ when I was four to five years of age, in a medium sized, 200-400 people, Missionary Baptist Church that was located in East St. Louis, Illinois — Mt. Pieron (later named Mt. Paran). It was three miles east of St. Louis, Missouri across the Mississippi River.

My mother was faithful! She, personally, took me and my baby brother to the church each Sunday for Sunday School and worship, and I honor her for that. She gave me my first Holy Bible and a second or third, too, in my lifetime as well as to my baby brother. I will ever love her for those things and the wholesome family life she labored to give us.

I fell in love with Jesus before kindergarten and I know others who have! As I heard the preaching of His love for people and his heart-grabbing words about a new world of love, power, eternal youth, no sickness or disease, and no wants IF you confess and repent of sin … I wanted JESUS!

The preaching of Jesus’ words about salvation and pardon for sins, and heaven, Hell and eternal life warmed my heart and entered in. The Baptist pastor gave an altar call “every” Sunday sermon. It was backed up with what was taught in Sunday School.

One Sunday, the Pastor made the call — “Is there anyone who wants to give your life to Jesus Christ in the pardon of your sins?” I waddled down the aisle up to the pulpit. He looked out at the audience and said, “Is this child’s parents here … because I don’t think you know what you’re doing! I’m not going to baptize you until I talk with your parents”.

He talked with my father who wasn’t saved, but he had been. He had come to Jesus as a boy around 12-16, but later he left the Lord and he was keenly aware.  People IN THE CHURCHES don’t fear God like that anymore. We, as pastors, tend to want to rush people into a prayer just to get them in the door as members of “our” church, warm bodies, but not “fully” converted hearts — Mark 4:1-32.

For decades the words of Jesus sown in him (and maybe you) as a child were growing. One day JESUS harvested him and set him as a light of holiness in the community of East St. Louis, Illinois.

Daddy got born again around one of my birthdays — it was glorious! When my father went home to the Lord (decades later), it was like the entire city turned out for a mayor or other dignitary. It may be that way for you when you leave — all the lives you have warned to obey Jesus will see your life and respect and grieve you being gone for your firmness and gentle loving compassions.

Back to the day the pastor said he would not baptize a four or five year old …

My father had a long and dangerously serious talk with me. He said, “Now … you won’t be able to be like other children if you do this. You won’t have many friends. Other kids will want to dance and go to parties and lots of things that you won’t be able to do (because you belong to the Lord).”

I replied, “I know daddy. I love Jesus.”

He “drilled” me a bunch of other questions and answers which I don’t remember … but I have never forgotten the last one. Daddy said,

 

 

“DON’T  PLAY WITH GOD!”

 

 

One day, in my adult life, I asked him — “Daddy, why don’t you come to come to Jesus?” He replied, “Baby, I know I’m not living right. But when I come, I’m coming all the way with the Lord.”

He did that.

Like many of you who aren’t in church, daddy was not in church BECAUSE he feared God. People don’t seem to talk like that anymore. However, the BIBLE says that the other people in town were so afraid of God on those Christians that they would not “hang” with them — BUT THEY RESPECTED THEM.

Now, people sin right in front of us … because they KNOW we will accept it. We don’t even demand respect for God in our own homes because we are trying so hard to make people feel “not judged” and “loved” — where loved has been perverted into ‘accepted for what evil you are saying, doing, wearing, and influencing upon others’. Meanwhile, we are hurting God … but who cares?

This is never in Truth Seekers of Jesus Christ and Truth Seekers Church because I don’t care about church growth. I only care about YOUR growth in our New Testament Lord Jesus Christ. I choose two or a few serious about holiness than a million sinners called Christians.

God is turning everything back to His way for Himself whether we choose to fit into His reality or not. (Keyword search this website for “Absolute Truth”)

I replied, “I know daddy. I’m not playing. I love Jesus.” He said, “Alright, then I will let the preacher baptize you.”

Elementary School and Jesus Christ

Kindergarten came after that. I prayed “Lord, I want to know you like Moses or I don’t believe you and I’m going to tell everybody you’re not real.”

I believe, today, that 5 year old child’s prayer started this life-long journey I have enjoyed …. and often suffered for Jesus.

Immediately came kindergarten in the next few months. I prayed “Lord, I want to know you like Moses or I don’t believe you and I’m going to tell everybody you’re not real.”

Well, Jesus knows a child’s heart. I really did want to know the real God who did signs and wonders and miracles! Thank you Jesus, through being Baptized in the Holy Ghost with the initial miracle evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Ghost selects  — I do know Him, today, like Moses. He “talks” with me weekly and daily through the Holy Spirit. He has given me a faith in Him that even other persons cannot ignore or deny, and  I have experienced powerful miracles — some of them told in the Christian Power section of this survival website! Above all, I have fellowship with Him … he shares his heart with me and I want EVERY person to have the blessings He wants for them.

However, to truly know Him like Moses, you MUST sacrifice and suffer to get to know his heart. That’s what Moses wanted — to know HIM — not His miracles.

There is no way out of this suffering for Jesus, but the POWER of Jesus will come on you and bring you valiantly in charge of it as one of His “overcomers”.

Like Joseph’s brethren, or Cain with his brother Abel, or Miriam envying Moses, every Christian does not want to pay the prices necessary for a close walk with the Lord and they will hate you for it. You mean ‘your own Christian brethren? EXACTLY!

Intimacy with the real  Jesus Christ can get you that close to God, but it only comes though “obedience” to His Gospel New Testament precisely the way He delivered it — no sugarcoating, no shortcuts, no Jesus understands I’m only human. Obedience by grace is the faith that is lacking in modern time and that’s why devotion and miracles that Jesus wants to do are sparse. There are no short cuts avoiding or exemptions from honest sanctification.

In elementary school, I witnessed Jesus to students and teachers, telling them their need to repent of their sins and obey Jesus for going to Heaven because He put his love in my heart for them! It was (and is) never to point a finger of judging and looking down.  I really, truly want them to have victory over their enemy tormenting them with sins (Satan).

You will have enemies and persecution (bullies, jealous persons, even teachers who hate that you’re “a good kid”) when you choose to follow the original Jesus Christ with obedience — that is, the Holy Bible Jesus Christ. Yes, some of you have, and are, experiencing those things right now because you obey Jesus, because you love Jesus.Cling to these little Christian boys and girls, Hold them up. Fight for them if it comes to that. Don’t “let” people hurt a child who believes on obedience to the Holy Bible Jesus Christ — because there are spiritual mill stones ready for those who hurt them.

Jesus doesn’t acknowledge any other love but OBEDIENCE and some “Christians” even hate to hear that word — revealing where their heart really is. Is it abiding aka dwelling in Jesus or merely loyal to their church attendance and church growth. You cannot stand to hear that we must “obey” the Lord? You are a Christian and you have a problem with the emphasis on OBEDIENCE to the Lord Jesus Christ!???? Hmmm —  Wheat or Tare?

Satan is not picky. ANYONE who obeys Jesus will suffer and will be overwhelmingly blessed by God for it! I did not understand at that age the “blessed by God part”. It was lonely, no “faithful” Christians at home nor at school during that time. My mother was very religious about going to church, reading the Bible, and staying away from certain sins She llater re-dedicated her life to Jesus after a separation time in 2010. and I lived to hear about it! Thank you Jesus! My father wasn’t serving God at all. My brother wasn’t serving God at all. At the time, my older sisters were not serving Jesus AT ALL.

So, I left the Lord twice between elementary and college and I told God why — “I’m sorry, I cannot  suffer for you anymore, Lord.” Also, I said ,”But PLEASE don’t let me go to Hell. If it gets close, You come get me!”

Mobs, Gangs, Bullies, and Jesus – Junior High (Middle School)

Junior High School is the pivot point in any child’s life. Eleven or twelve years old and up is when Satan pours it on thick — all the temptations. You must remember what your sufferings are … “TEMPTATIONS”.

Teachers hating you, the kids hating you, the bullies, gangs pressuring you, the physical harrassment, even sexual encounters or attacks, neighbor kids and parents hating you, an “army” of 40 kids set in array against you. Yes, I suffered all these things before graduating from middle school for refusing to sin against Jesus with the other kids.

SUCH THINGS, and MORE, ARE ONLY “TEMPTATION” TO GET YOU TO WEAKEN, FEAR, and “CHOOSE” TO SIN AGAINST YOUR BELOVED LORD JESUS CHRIST or leave Him completely.

Some of you have suffered these things and you weren’t even in Jesus Christ. Usually, it’s because Satan can see Jesus has some special love or purpose for you in the future and Satan works viciously to prevent your will to fulfill it.

The best way, really the only way, to salvage a life so supernaturally damaged by the Evil one (Satan) is to give your life completely over to obeying Jesus.

That will give you revenge against Satan and all his devils who have been assigned to destroy your life. Also, it will give you God’s esteem (glory) upon your life, both with God and with people! Don’t you love revenge against Satan?

I do LOVE revenge against Satan … and I get it! Hallelujah! Amen!

Do NOT call evil, mean, hurtful, or cruel situations and events by any other name but “temptation” or trial, otherwise you will reason with yourself. Reasoning will cause you to think that you are “expected” to respond as any other normal person (usually sinners) would respond or that you need therapy and counseling instead of strengthening your heart and mind to simply OBEY YOUR LORD in His wisdom and power. Obey 1 Corinthians 10:13.

1 Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

King James Version

We STAND by Faith in God’s Word that cannot lie and, please, whatever you do — “offer” thanks and praise to Him anyway, anywhere, and somehow! Think of something to thank Him for.Make up something out of an evil that has hurt you. Praise is what runs Satan away and delivers the blow to His principalities and powers (devils, evil spirits). 

JESUS OWN WORDS and through his apostles’ eyewitness writings throughout the New Testament are your first and full defense against invisible evil spirit powers whispering thoughts into your head. Jesus’ words and his prayers (intercessions) for you that uphold his words are your VICTORY!  Prayer Meetings, alone, or with other loyal Christians are your next irreplaceable help to get the Holy Ghost (the Power of God) on the situations attacking you.

I did all of that a few years. I was strong and made a powerful impact for Christ in my school, but did not really know it.  Satan loves to make you “see” things which tell you that your life and works are in vain — all for nothing — or that you have no purpose for even being alive!

In 2010, I visited Illinois and ran into a classmate from Junior High school. That was over 40 years ago!

He said (Stewart),  “You were my angel. You tried to tell us about Jesus but we wouldn’t listen. All these years, I said to myself if she can stand I can, too. Because of you, today I’m saved and living for the Lord. Sometimes, I mess up. But I just keep going.”

Did that make me feel good? Yes! I really needed it that day because a family member was trying to tell me “Nobody in this family believes you are a preacher.

“(Wow), that wasn’t true. It hurt. Later the Lord commanded me to have no contact with that person and their influenced family members who spent their interactions with me trying to either 1)convince me that I was just an ordinary person and not at all God’s preacher or 2) disrespect and despise the office of preacher that I hold. That “no contact” command from Jesus for me was in 2010. I became an orphan for Jesus … so to speak … an orphan preacher from 2010.

Today, the church has allowed the world around us to gain an attitude where no one wants to feel that you have any authority toward them from God — which always turns into “I did nothing wrong.”

UNLESS they love Jesus and want His authorities surrounding and protecting them, persons will have the attitude America is a free country, you don’t tell me what to do. Well what does being born or living in America have to do with your freedom to do “evil”?! Don’t be deceived. Hell is filled with Americans bragging about their freedom.

Maybe you or your son or daughter is facing manifold temptations. God has appointed it for Jesus’ sake! However, it is NOT forever. God plans to and will deliver you out of them all in His chosen moment, year, or season through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ and through His Name.

PSALM 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Our loving and loyal Father-God and the Son, Jesus Christ, and the precious Holy Spirit work together as One God in allowing the enemy (Satan) to try our obedience to Jesus. It makes every Christian strong in standing against the tactics of Satan and it exercises your spiritual muscles in holiness, faith, miracles, and compassion. Refresh yourself by these truths and rest by reading 1 Peter Chapter One. Then, ground your heart to this decision “by God’s power I am willing to suffer IF THE WILL OF GOD BE SO.”

We can’t get out of this God-appointed suffering for the One who volunteered to suffer for us — so, wherever He has chosen to plant you, let even our children be a good soldier for their Savior!

The next year of Junior High School, I left the Lord. However, when hanging around one of my sinner companions one day at school, I noticed how much I had changed from the Christian I had once been. I told my sinner friend, “I don’t like myself. I don’t like who I have become. I can’t be your friend anymore. I’m going back to Jesus.”

Today, as a mature woman, I realize it was the Lord piercing through the invisible darkness of Satan that had consumed my “fleshly mind”. He was piercing through, shining His light on my conscience (my spirit), so I could see the night and day change from who I once was to what a sinner I had become.

Thanks to Jesus, He took me back “immediately when I confessed the evil ways I had taken up and my heart forsook them”. In that moment, I turned from that evil life (as I told that friend) and asked Jesus to please be my Lord — meaning I (OBEY) give you rule over me! I was just 12 to 13 years old when these events happened. It’s called being “born again”.

High School – Hallelujah!

I went to a holiness church during High School. It was Faith Tabernacle Church of God In Christ in Brooklyn, Illinois. Life was good because I was learning AND LIVING holiness, which has the benefit of favor with God that nobody else has in any churches, any denomination, and anywhere!  Holiness is the only guaranteed favor with God that Jesus established — Proverbs 22:1-2.

It did not have to be The Church of God In Christ. Any real holiness teaching pastor will bring the spirit of holiness from oneself upon those who obey her or him. That’s the goal! Jesus was declared to be the son of GOD by the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead — amazing — that same power is what I want for you!

Then, something happened at church that caused me to “choose” to leave and Satan had laid a well-engineered trap.

Satan’s Trap: “Offended”

• Get hurt or offended about something at church, leave, and backslide before you know it.

How far back to Satan’s kingdom and the power he once had over you can you go???

You would be surprised … and ashamed.

As a pastor, my greatest war against Satan with Boiseans and the Treasure Valley is how he works very well to lure or keep some Christians living for him while they think they are living for Jesus through the lenient error-teachings of some local and Youtube pastors.

If I see a Christian sinning right in front of my face and Jesus moves me to reach out to them saying,  “Brother (or Sister) Jesus loves us. We can’t do that or we bring Satan’s power on our lives” –IMMEDIATELY — they are ‘offended’ (Mark 4) and what Jesus said about them comes to pass.

 
 
  
College Years
The Miracle How I Met Jesus Christ

In freshman year at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Illinois, the Dean of the Communications College was my advisor. He spent EVERY lecture period ridiculing the Christians in the class and “teaching” us the historical documents that prove Jesus Christ was just a man (pray for Richard Stoppe — maybe he got saved by now). He stated “you cannot be an intelligent person at college level and believing in a myth called Jesus.” I didn’t know it, but I was barely hanging on, still dealing with my hurt/offense in church.

Over an entire semester or two hearing this authority person teaching us (I was still just a kid, having graduated high school early) his documented proof against Jesus … I am ashamed, now, to look back and say that my faith in Jesus was not as real or strong as “I” thought it was. I stopped believing in Jesus altogether and chewed people out for trying to talk to me about salvation through Him. I turned my back on God as a young adult and joined the devil’s kingdom. Satan controlled me and I became an outlet for his ways in the earth. He wants me back even now. He wants you, too!

One day, after taking severance pay from my job at Capital Credit Corporation in St. Louis, Missouri, I decided that I wanted to be a Certified Financial Planner. It occurred to me that God knows everything … I did believe in God, just not in Jesus Christ. So, I knelt down on my knees in my apartment and, sincerely, said, “Hey God! How do I connect with you? You know everything. You could tell me when the stock market is going to rise or fall and I could rack up! I could get rich and my clients could get rich, and I wouldn’t have to go to prison for insider trading because YOU told me”.

Shock of shocks, God answered me. In about a week or so, I heard a still, small, “voice” that said only one thing:

“I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life.”

–Jesus Christ to Minister, 1980

That voice spoke from time to time over about four weeks. Finally, I thought “What is that! What are those words! I’ve heard those words before. They sound like something out of a Bible somewhere!

I couldn’t tell anyone that I was hearing a voice. You know how people think who are OF this world. For the record, I don’t hear voices! Never have! Only this voice! And I know Him, now!

When I went and found a Bible, somehow, I arrived at John 14:6 …

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

I fell to my knees crying out “Oh God! Please forgive me for not believing in your Son. I didn’t know.” It was the first time I had ever heard God speak.

“Jesus please forgive me for not believing in you! But, NOW, I KNOW YOU ARE THE TRUTH. And, I will never leave you again because of things I see happening in your churches. If I see something going on in one of your churches that I don’t understand, I will simply come to you and say …  ‘Lord, I don’t understand’ — but I will NEVER LEAVE YOU.”

I never have left believing and obeying Jesus with holy fear and trembling since that day. Yes, I have sinned sometimes since that day, BUT BELIEVING IS OBEYING WITH REPENTANCE … if you happen to sin, you will obey the Lord to fix it immediately, not wallow in it for days, weeks, and years. A person who wallows in their sin instead of instant repentance is “back on Satan’s kingdom turf where he plans to deceive you and delude you into thinking you are still a Christian (1 John 3:9).

Have I ever sinned since that day? Yes, but Jesus moves godly sorrow into your heart and you confess what you did and stop! As Jesus promised, God is righteous and faithful to you, to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness in that moment — then AND ONLY THEN — you are back in full fellowship with Him.

2 Corinthians 7:10, 2 Timothy 2:23-26,   1 John Chapter One