Sunday, October 19, 2008

Huggin Jesus

Let me start by saying I've never done this before, blogging that is. I don't really know what I'm doing or how this is going to go but I'm giving it a shot. On Wednesday of this week it was put on my heart to write down some of my thoughts and experiences. Then on Thursday I found an outlet to do so, facebook & blogger.com. And finally I was given an experience worth writing about on Friday. All within about a 72 hour period, so here goes.

The past couple weeks I've found myself praying each morning that in the day ahead I would experience God in new and exciting ways. That I would see Jesus around me and recognize Him at work. It's been a pretty cool couple weeks but something happened Friday that was truly extraordinary for me.

It's been funny how I've seen God over the past couple weeks. It usually happens least like I expect so imagine my surprise (and lack of it, all at the same time) when I found Jesus in the embrace of a 6'2", 350+ pound African-American man. I'm not going into how I wound up on a stage in front of about 250 other guys, hugging this dude. I'll just say God just puts me in the craziest spot. A lot.

I can imagine how it must have looked though. If you're reading this and don't know me or if you haven't seen me since high-school, let me just say that I hit 5'6" as a freshman about 24 years ago and never grew another inch. Ok, maybe a half inch. Oh, and about 70 pounds - all muscle of course! Anyway, this hug probably lasted 30 seconds, maybe a minute and certainly no longer than two. But honestly, it felt like two hours. And in those two hours it was as if I was hugging Jesus Himself. I can't describe the peace and the power I felt. The Love, man the love was indescribable. When my eyes were closed I could only see and feel and imagine and know that this was the embrace of God. When I woke up in the middle of that night and when I look back now, I can only see the face of Jeses.

3 or 4 years ago I wouldn't have believed a story like this. I would have been skeptical at best. But it's true. And I write it now to encourage you to seek God. To ask not only "What would Jesus do?" but also ask "What is Jesus doing?" We're promised that if we seek Him wholeheartedly we find. It's a promise that's never failed me.

And I encourage you to seek, not because if you don't you're going to hell. Luckily, especially for me, we're saved by the grace of God and the blood of Jesus. Seek because what you'll find is better than anything you can imagine. When Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and The LIFE", He wasn't kidding. He is the life. Not too long ago my idea of a crazy Friday night wasn't hanging out with a bunch of Christian men. But in all my wildest, "most fun" nights, it never came close to the feeling of being hugged by God Himself.

Thanks for reading. Please remember, God loves you. Regardless of what you're feeling or which people have disappointed you or what you've been told. God LOVES you.

Peace & Blessings,

Neal

5 comments:

Pamela Bunn Kruger said...

That's pretty cool bro...i'll be looking for more stories of your experiences

Unknown said...

One of the Gentlemen there, Brian, said to me that the one thing he dreamed was that man of all types, race, status and education wouldn't be so afraid of what they have in common...and in that be together...that is Christ. He is in all things, for all things and through all things. We can be excited about all we have in common.

Very well written by the way. Good Stuff and God Bless.

larry2471 said...

I like what your doing and I like reading about what you have experienced. The energy you have to work for God is great and it inspires me to want more and more so keep it up! When you describe your experiences it's like I'm there and can see what your feeling. Neal God is working so strong within you and it's great to see you realize that and embrace it the way you are! I would love to join you sometime for revivals or other things your involved in so drop me an email!

Dawn Guyer said...

Banana Peel. Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging. I Love what you wrote as it reminded me of a similar experience I had a little over a year ago. Isn't it amazing how, when after a lifetime of longing, yearning and seeking, to have an experience where He says, "You are ENOUGH for Me." I will definitely be following your blog, Neal. Who would've thought so many moons ago that you would become such an eloquent writer??

Forever In Him.

Velvet Hayes said...

Amazing, amazing experience. I smiled the whole time I was reading it and marveled at how ridiculously spontaneous Jesus is! You are a very eloquent writer, Neal...I agree! Great self-descrption!

Thanks for the reminder that although we are but physical beings in a spiritual world. Would that we let the LORD open the eyes of our hearts to receive all He has for us...

Grace and Peace,
Velvet