Brethren,
I am the Worship Pastor of a Calvary Chapel in LA County. When I attended the 2006 Worship Life Conference I had a sense that God was going to minister to me but I did not know how and when.
You see, without giving every detail I’d like to share how God worked in my Family and I in the midst of a very difficult trial. Two years prior to the Conference. When my son had begun to attend Vanguard University Then one evening my wife and I were told by our son that he had remembered that he was molested by someone as a child. Brethren, this was the beginning of a countless number of situations and events with my son that we’re horrible. My wife and I were devastated. My son went from being a happy young Christian to a young man that was on a downward spiral. Depression, suicidal threats, irrational thinking, self destructive behavior. Needless to say my wife and I we’re suffering along with our son. There is no doubt that God showed Himself strong and was sustaining us through it all. Then in March 2006 my wife and I we’re at home doing some planning and the phone rang. I answered the call and a Police Officer said “ Sir, I wanted to inform you that I have your son in the back of my Patrol Car right now. He has been arrested on a first degree felony charge of Residential Burglery”. My wife knew by the look on my face that it was something terrible. I told my wife and she collapsed to the floor. I thought she was having a heart attack. My 17 year old daughter came to help my wife while I talked to the police officer. I never knew that my heart could ache in such a way.
After that day we started the process of getting a Lawyer “Christian”. My son was facing potentially seven years in prison. The lengthy court process began and felt like years. But in the midst of it all my Lord and Savoir had incredible compassion on my son. There is just too much miraculous events to write about. My son ended up with no jail time. Just community service, counseling, and restitution.
What does this have to do with the Conference you ask? Well, I became very hardened and bitter towards my son and my joy was robbed from me by the enemy. I have to admit I was a mess. I know that the enemy had been working overtime to cause my family to fall! But God had His perfect plan. I attended the worship conference and it was really good but I just was not feeling it. Then Brit Merrik was teaching and I was at the edge of my seat. He began to share about his little son whom he loved dearly would escape after his bath running through his house naked. But one night his son surprised him and jumped into his arms and wrapped his little arms and legs tightly around his waste and neck. He did not let go for a number of minutes. While Brit was telling this story I began to weep bitterly. I immediately had memories of my son and I experiencing the same kind of loving times. I felt the Love of God fill me at that moment and I went forward on my face to my God. I had realized that I had allowed the enemy to rob me of my Joy but God restored me that day at the Worship Conference. The theme for the Conference was “Saturated”. Well, God did just that with His perfect Love. Restoration, Restoration! For my son, wife, daughter and myself.
Today my son has come back to The Lord through many more Miraculous events. When we out for dinner last week my son told us he wants to attend Bible College.
I am absolutely blown away by my Lord! There is some scriptures that The Lord gave my wife many years ago before all this happened and has been fulfilled.
James 5:7-8 7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
God has restored what the enemy tried to destroy. Praise be to God!
Joel 2: 23 Be glad, O people of Zion,
rejoice in the LORD your God,
for he has given you
the autumn rains in righteousness.
He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.
24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm —
my great army that I sent among you.
26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
and you will praise the name of the LORD your God,
who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed.
27 Then you will know that I am in Israel,
that I am the LORD your God,
and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.
Thank God for the Saturated Worship Conference!