-Overworked Angels!-

Every year of my life growing up was marked by at least one major catastrophe. All I can say is, “Poor Mom!” Honestly, I can’t remember the ‘normal’ childhood maladies & sickness for the doctor, hospital, and/or ER visits. It’s not many kids that are on a first named basis with ER Doc’s.

I just gotta think that, while God had plans for my life, the Devil had plans against my life! I mean, for the love of Mike (whoever Mike is), I can remember a certain year by something bizarre that happened to me. ‘Oh yeah, that was the year I got my skull cracked.” Or, “No, that was the year I got impaled on that wire.” (Yeah, you read right.)

I’m sure most parents aren’t thrilled when school is called off because, unless they work at school, they have to make arrangements for their rugrats. Well, I’m sure my parents were particularly horrified. I can just hear my Dad, “Lord, Norma he’ll kill himself for sure. You better send him with me.” Dad worked on a construction site, but powered tools were safer than the thought of my being left alone for any stretch of time!

So, back to the ‘impaled by wire’ story; when I was 11 we had an ice storm & school was called off for several days as we had several inches of ice on everything. As always, I went with my Dad. I was sliding down ice covered scaffold boards on the end of the house Dad was building. He saw me fly by the window & went to put an end to the fun. He said, “Boy, you’re gonna stick a splinter up you clean to your shoulder blades!” I grudgingly stopped the fun.

As he went back inside I had an epiphany. I really didn’t know what that was, or how to use it, but I had one anyway. I saw the ice covered hill stretched below me & thought, “I’ll ski off that hill just like the Olympics!” I grabbed two sticks for poles, and while I had no skis, thought that was a minor inconvenience.

As I shoved off, both feet flew in the air & my derrière landed hard. I felt a sharp pain in my nether regions & realized that I was not, in fact, moving down the hill as gravity would otherwise dictate. It was then I realized the sharp pain came from the 6” wire that was firmly implanted in my…shall we say, ‘left side.” After clawing my way up the ice hill & off the wire (rusty by the way), I went to my Dad. I got a 20 minute “I told you so” lecture about disobedience, sliding down scaffolds & splinters & ‘serves you right’ & such. I didn’t have the nerve to tell him the real insanity that had ensued… Not until a couple of weeks later, right before I had to have surgery for the infection!

All of that to say this: I KNOW God had plans for my life, just as He has for yours! I shutter to think what life would have been without His protection. Lord, even with it there’s been enough doctor bills to buy a small island in the Bahamas! His angels were, and ARE protecting me each day. If I have just one ‘guardian angel’ I’m sure he’s overworked & put in for retirement by now! While you may not have taxed the angels, life without the Lord is dangerous with no future. Make Him your shelter & refuge.

“If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go.They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.” Psalm 91:9-12 NLT


www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport.
Dave Jackson on facebook
ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org
Cell: 870-217-9376
Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org

-"Remember when…?"-

Scientists have discovered a new spray that, when taken before sleep, can help boost memory. There is actually more to the story but I can’t remember… (Kidding!) This would be a great deal for students who crammed for tests & then slept on the info. I think I could use a shot of the stuff myself.

Honestly, I’ve had a great life & some great memories. Ministry & family trips have taken me all across this country & into a couple of others. I have so many laugh-out-loud stories that happened in a crusade, camp, revival, retreat, mission trip, church service, or just in the course of life.

More than just the events & crazy happenings, God has placed some amazing people in my life. Every so often someone posts, or ‘tags’, me in a photo, sends it or places it on facebook or the web. Some I’m not too sure I really like being plastered up there! All in fun though.

When I recall events, places, or people I often say a quick prayer for the churches or folks involved. I many not know where they are or what they’re doing, but God knows. He knows our deepest needs. The Apostle Paul had that thought in mind as he mulled over the folks at Philippi. He had great memories & was thankful for the life journey with them. He prayed every time he thought of them.

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:3-6 NLT


What about you? Do you have any great memories of people God blessed you with in life? What is your earliest memory of church? What godly person has God placed in your life that you are thankful for? What is the funniest, craziest story that makes you laugh just thinking about it?

Share it with me. If you don’t mind, I’ll just ‘tag’ YOU & your story & let others in on the story or joke. More than anything, do you have a memory of when you first came to know Jesus as more than a name? If you don’t have a memory of a time when Jesus became real, I’d love to introduce you to my Friend.


Sign up now for “Life Groups” to study & encourage one anotherWe’ll study the book ‘Chazone’, a Hebrew word for your ‘Vision or life call.’ Sign up on campus or drop me a note/message.

www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport.
Dave Jackson on facebook
ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org
Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org
Cell: 870-217-9376
Dave’s Desk - http://bcmasunewport.blogspot.com