Apples n' something.....

A hurting heart is never welcomed into our lives anymore than a nasty rat is welcomed into our homes. It is not something we go looking for, but it is something we try hard to get out. Ignoring it, and hoping it goes away is definitely not the answer. People hurt us, and at times it is very hard to forget even after we think we have forgiven. We also hurt others, whether we realize it or not, we do, sometimes not intentionally but all the same we are not perfect, so like it or lump it, we have all wronged another at one time or another. Taking stock of our own lives and owning wrongs that yourself unintentionally or intentionally may have partaken in against another is a huge part of healing. It is very good therapy also to list as many positive characteristics as you can think of about the person or persons that may have caused the hurt in you. This may take some time since you are at the same time still dealing with the negative of a situation that has caused you so much discomfort and pain. Another very effective source of therapy, is to talk about it. Talk to someone who is not going to add to an already negative situation, but to someone who can be very neutral and only will give advice to help you grow. Those people can be very few and far between so be choosy in whom you indulge all your personal thoughts and desires to. There is just one very special person that you can tell it all to, and it will never ever be repeated, twisted or misconstrued!! He is what some call “ a friend that stickath closer than a brother”. Some call Him “The lily of their valley”, Others say He is “ their Prince of Peace “, but I myself like to use His real name, not that the other titles are not fitting for Him , they are , they sure are. He surely is my truest Friend I have ever had and ever will have , oh my, He definitely is the very “LILY of my valley“, and He will always be my “Prince of Peace“, cause that is what He is all about!!! Did I mention He is also “My Bright and Morning Star“??!! Yep He is all that and more,…. He is “The Great I Am”,…. “The One Who Was and Is To Come”….He has more titles than anyone I have ever known, I have also heard Him called “Master”, “Creator” and oh yes, lets not forget “Miracle Worker”!!!! But I, I call Him JESUS, because when I speak His name, demons tremble, minds are set free, bodies are healed, and every hurt I have ever had has to Leave and in its place is Peace , Peace wonderful Peace that comes down from our Father above!!! it’s a little like calling the exterminator to get the nasty rats out of your house that are trying to take up permanent dwelling there. When the exterminator comes in he asks you to leave for awhile until he is done what he has to do to kill the varmints that are trying to destroy your home. God does the same thing, He says in Romans 12: 19- 21.…Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine , I will repay says the Lord” if the enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him drink, for by doing so, you will heap burning coals as of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. It seems crazy to the normal mind, but the answer is just to do good and love….. I thought it was cute, when a lady at my daughter in laws restaurant wanted to give my daughter a gift. So she handmade her this lovely quilted bag. It was very pretty and it had a basket overflowing with apples on the front of the bag! The lady began to explain, how she thought the basket of apples was so fitting for Larissa, she continued with “ I knew your religion was Apples of something “ ! Of course we smiled at that, realizing she had heard it mentioned that Larissa was Apostolic Pentecostal !!! The innocence of such a kind heart, left a lasting Impression, it reminds me of the scripture Proverbs 25:11... A word fitly spoken, is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. One of my mothers favourite scriptures. Like the lady said after all we are Apples & something a.k.a Apostolic!!

a.k.a. crazy preacher

August 2, 2010 I took a stroll down memory lane along with a few of my siblings. Together we visited the resting place of my mom and dad, in the little village of Black’s Harbour, across from the little church that we had attended. A wonderful time was had by all, as we began to recall many beautiful memories about the conversion of our parents and older siblings. Arden led us to the spot where my mom and dad and eldest 2 brothers Vern and Willie were baptized in the Name Of Jesus!! While standing at the edge of the water, Arden conveyed to us a lovely story of how our dad was so fiercely against this so called Pentecostal experience. How he gave Rev. McElroy a very unwelcoming hard time every time he would call on our home. Mother was interested in learning more as was Willie, but daddy was not! Pastor McElroy was a persistent man and I am so glad he was. He never gave up on trying to win this family to God. Willie and mother had wanted to get baptized together , but daddy forbade mom from getting baptized by that crazy preacher, as he called him. The crazy preacher very wisely advised mother to go along with daddy’s wishes, but he informed her, ( I believe, through the gift of knowledge, given to him by God), with these words of Faith and encouragement, “I will be baptizing you and Ray together in these waters, very soon “! Wow, thank you God for men that are in tune with You and are not afraid to push a little harder to see souls born into the kingdom and lives truly transformed by Your Devine Power!!! Ok, forgive me I just had to take a little break for a glory spell there, as our sweet Bro. Ring would say!!
Now on with the story that Arden had told us. As Rev. McElroy a.k.a ( the crazy preacher) gathered the saints together at the water where we were standing that day, to baptize my eldest brother Rev. William Bustard. Arden told us to look over through the trees by the hill. As he pointed out the spot, he thought maybe was where my dad had hidden in the woods that day, to watch his boy go down in that beautiful name of Jesus! My dads life was touched in a great way from that moment on and he wasn't even aware that God had already slipped in and was drawing him by His Spirit. Arden said daddy’s words were…… “ there has to be something to this, cause Willie ain’t no fool!!!! “Ha ha …. No truer words were ever spoken. Needless to say, it wasn't long after, that the crazy pastor became my dad’s best friend and respected leader, as he took both mother and dad on a cold Wintery day and broke away the ice in the Bay Of Fundy and laid there sins to rest in the Sea of God’s forgetfulness never to be remembered again, as they were buried with Him in baptism, nevermore to be the same. What a beautiful story that was for me, and to be standing almost reliving, and envisioning the whole picture!
I think we need a few more crazy preachers today!!! And also more young men like my brother Willie, that realized he needed something more in his life than a life of alcohol and rough living. If he had not of stepped forward, and obeyed the drawing of God’s Spirit, then just maybe my dad never would have seen the light! Willie became a strong man in Faith, always looking and desiring greater things from God, I guess you could say that he too along with 4 more of my wonderful brothers all took on the title “crazy preacher” !!! I kind of like the sound of that!!! Thank you Bro. McElroy for setting such a great trend!