RAISED

SUNDAY-FIRST DAY OF THE NEW YEAR,, JANUARY 1ST, 2012,,, HAPPY NEW YEAR!


YOU RAISED ME RIGHT ON THIS EARTH , THEN,, HE RAISED ME FROM THE DEPTHS OF HELL!

HELLO MOM, AND DAD,, HOW'S THINGS IN HEAVEN? i KNOW YOU ARE DOING GREAT... NOT HAVING TO PLANT AND PICK THAT OLE COTTON.. PILED IT ON THE PORCH , JUST TRYING TO GET A BALE....TO HELP MAKE THAT
$45 HOUSE PAYMENT,, THE PLANTING A GARDEN, A MILE SQUARE ,JUST TO CULTIVATE AND PICK, PREPARE BY CANNING,,,JUST TO FEED THOSE FIVE HUNGRY KIDS,, THAT COULD EAT A BUSHEL BASKET,, EVERY DAY...AND COOKING IT MOM ON A WOOD STOVE, OLDER BOYS CUT THE WOOD,, TO COOK AND WARM US,,AND DAD, Y OU TAUGHT US ALL THE LESSONS OF WORK,, WITH PRIDE.. AND THEN WORRYING IF THOSE OLE JUNKIE CARS , THAT WE THOUGHT WERE CADILLACS,, WOULD RUN, MUCH LESS TAKE US TO TOWN, OR TO GEORGIA TO VISIT GRANDMA,,FROM THAT LITTLE OLE FARM..AND BACK... WORRIED IF WE HAD PANTS, SHOES, & SISTER HAD A DRESS,, BEFITTING HER GREAT BEAUTY... YES, YOU STRUGGLED,, WE ALL HAD LOVE, AND THAT WAS TO BE A PRESENT WE ALL NEVER LET GO OF....WE KEEP THIS IN OUR HEARTS,, AND THEN SHARED IT WITH OTHERS ...I WISH I HAD DONE MORE TO HELP YOU , THAN TO PUT GRAY HAIR ON YOUR HEAD, AND MAKE YOUR NERVES SEVERED,, FROM MY DOINGS.. YES, I COULD HAVE DONE BETTER, FOR YOU DID FOR ME, & FOR ALL THE FAMILY.. FOR YOU NEVER SENT US TO CHURCH,, YOU TOOK US.. WE LISTENED, WE ABSORBED,, WE DIDN'T KNOW WE DID,,, YOU AND DAD DID NOT KNOW FOR SURE THAT IT WAS SINKING IN.. BUT AS WE GREW,, SO DID GOD WITHIN US ALL.. AND I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF,, I WAS LATE IN LIFE BLOOMING FROM SINFUL WAYS, THAN BLOOMING TO A FLOWER SOMEONE MIGHT WANT TO PICK, BUT FINALLY SOMEONE DID.. AND I RETURNED TO THE LIVING... FOR THAT SOMEONE HAD BEEN RAISED AS ME,, AND TOOK THE LIGHT AND LET IT SHINE ALL ABOUT ME, UNTIL I COULD SEE,, JUST AS

BOTH OF YOU ,, AND HE , JESUS RAISED US UP,, AND NOW,,, WE CAN SEE IT ALL..

(wish I had bought you that new car Pop.. for you sure did think those old clunkers were Cadillacs)

LORD, THANK YOU FOR MY PARENTS. MY PREACHERS. MY BROTHERS AND SISTER, MY WIFE, MY CHILDREN, THOSE THEY CHOSE ,, AND ALL MY GOOD FRIENDS , FOR I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT ALL.. ESPECIALLY YOU MY GOD.. AMEN

John HIcks
Born of the best stock, raised by the same, and yes, had Jesus all the time,, even when I thought I would never see daylight again.. nor even see this life, that I have been given as a gift... and that stock is still going,, in my kids, my grandchildren,,, and all of it happened just as planned with our God..and with His love,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Have a Happy New Year, and may God bless you,,, as He has me!