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Changed and Lost?

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Posted by: christoombs

Jerry and those of you who remember me,

I have recently lost a friend who was very dear to my heart suddenly without warning. I have not preached in two years. I have not sat in a church more than 3 times in the last 2 years. I still love the Lord and want to serve, but I am not sure where to go or how to start. I am not sure why I am writing this prayer or statement or whatever you call it, but I just feel like someone out there has something specific for me to hear that would help a great deal. Jerry, I still move in and out of the annointing, even though I know that I have not been living a Christ like life. Why is that? I still have moments that I burst into speaking in tongues and praying for no reason at all except to pray. I still fell the Spirit all around me at times, but I just don't know what to do. Well I simply would like for those of you who know me to pray for me in what ever manner the Lord leads you. Thanks.
I work as a correctional officer and am forced to deal with death destruction and the most vile of things on a daily basis. I love my work and love the people I work with. Not sure why I threw this part in here but maybe you all know why. Thanks again.

Changed and Lost,
Chris Toombs


Posted by: robertcyders

First of all may God bless you Chris. I remember you on the boards. You have encouraged others in the past. You have lost someone dear to you. The thief steals, kills, and destoys. The devil wants you to blame God. The enemy of your soul want to take you out of an effective and fruitful walk in Christ. You just need some encouragement yourself now. There is a flame inside of you that just needs the Spirit of God to blow on. You feel discouraged & without strength. I remember the troubles of king David. He lost his closest friend Johnathan due to his father Saul's wreckless persuit to murder David. The two had to separate though not by death at the beginning.

Samuel 18

1 Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul
took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father's house anymore. 3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.

2 Samuel 1:17 Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, 18and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher:
19"The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!

David and Johnathan were knit together, that is a close personal friend.


David another time was facing a loss of all including his life at the hands of his army, they were ready to stone him.

1 Samuel 30
1 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked
Ziklag and burned it with fire, 2and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried
them away and went their way. 3So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their
daughters had been taken captive. 4Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to
weep. 5And David's two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. 6Now David was
greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But
David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

David many times asked his own soul why he was discouraged and without strength. What did David do?
He by faith trusted in and in the midst of insurmountable circumstances praised the Lord. When he brought that sacrifice of praise by an act of his will in an act of faith God then strenghtened his heart. God inhabits our praise.

Psalm 42:5
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.

Psalm 42:11
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.


Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 43:5 (Amplified Bible)

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him,
for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my [sad] countenance, and my God.


Psalm 54:6
I will freely sacrifice to You;
I will praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good.

Jeremiah 33:10-11
10"Thus says the LORD: "Again there shall be heard in this place--of which you say, "It is desolate, without man and without beast"--in the cities of
Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, 11the voice of joy and the voice of
gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say:
"Praise the LORD of hosts,
For the LORD is good,
For His mercy endures forever"--
and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,' says the LORD.


Hebrews 13:15
15Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.


Ephesians 6
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and having shod your feet with the
preparation of the gospel of peace; 16above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18praying always with all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--

All of this armor above we must choose to put on and wear daily. By an act of our will we can choose to praise the Lord even when we are discouraged. You mentioned praying "I still have moments that I burst into speaking in tongues and praying for no reason at all except to pray" Your reborn spirit within you wants to come alive again. Pray in toungues, praise the Lord out loud, read the word out loud. Faith comes by hearing. Get some audio tapes of praise and worship music. Some good teaching tapes. Restart your thinking. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Chris, you have been adopted into the family of God, it is time to come home to the ones who love you. Your Father in heaven never left, he is awaiting your return...God loves you more than you will ever know this side of eternity

Jude 20But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for
the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment
defiled by the flesh.
24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.


1 John 3

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us,
because it did not know Him. 2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is
revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.


All scriptures New King James Version
unless noted.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Father in Jesus name I ask that you would place people in Chris's path that know You. That they would strenghten, encourage, and comfort him in his walk with You. Remind Chris of your love for him. Display that love to him in such a way that he knows it was from you. May Chris in turn comfort others in the way he has been comforted. In Jesus name, Amen...