Forty-nine years ago in the city of Miami I was born to flesh in this world.
The birth didn't happen until 11:41pm, so it is no mistake I was born as a difficult child.
Not much has changed, difficulty is in my character.  A hard case I reckon.

Today however, I am grateful to God for this life and for the first time, satisfied in living.
In my years growing up I sought approval from people, I guess I thought I'd be justified in that approval.
I believed that making wealth and attaining position in life was acceptable and worthy in the eyes of others.
The truth of seeking that life is nothing more than living a lie.

Men and women of wealth and power buy and sell servitude of others for the distribution of money
all based upon perceptions rather than truth.  For years I sought their truth and none of it made any sense.
It is true that over the years many of those I knew gleaned on me wisdom I retained.
I have been fortunate for others' kindness as they gave it. 
The kindness offered is a list I couldn't even think to make complete.
For those that believe that I have wronged them,
let them be satisfied in knowing the debt is being served out to strangers
they'll never know.  I guess it is a karma type of thing.

The devil has stole nothing from me, anything I have been blessed by I have freely volunteered in foolishness.
The truth of my not receiving greater blessings of prosperity rests solely on my stubbornness of being irresponsible.
Truth be told, God has done things for me I didn't deserve.  There would be no odds maker alive which wouldn't be confounded
in how my circumstances worked out.  There is only one explanation of why I remain alive and I am certain it is because God my Father
in heaven wills it as so.

It wasn't but three years ago that I began to know God through His begotten son Jesus.
I am so glad to have studied His word.  Simon Peter asked Christ, "How many times shall I forgive my brother Lord, seven times?"
Christ replied,"I say to you Peter forgive your brother seven times seven."
Praise the Grace of Jesus.  He knew how many times I needed forgiving.

I woke this morning as I do like any other day.  Made coffee, fed the dogs and let them out for morning business.
I turned on the TV and began watching my morning ministry shows after catching local news and weather. 
It dawned on me that it was my birthday.
Here in CT it is raining and looks to be staying rainy until Sunday, so today is meant for rest, rather than work I have.
The one ministry I watch without fail is Shepherd's Chapel with Pastors Arnold and Dennis Murray.
Today the program was dedicated to interviews of visitors to the church during Passover.
I thought to be disappointed, and wanted to turn off the program; the Holy Spirit wouldn't have it.
I watched folks giving their names and locations along with their testimonies.  The more I watched  these folks
the greater I felt privileged to have studied God's word Verse by verse and Chapter by Chapter as the pastors teach.
Thank God for their ministry!

The truth I struggled to find that this world sells by perception of materialism or power was never meant for me.
The truth that God wants for us makes all and complete sense.  It does even better...
It provides us a hunger to keep seeking the mysteries of God's creation in faith, hope and love.
That is something the world's truth could never provide me with because once I saw the truth of this world, I became bored.
In that boredom I sought more truth even through self destructive manners and actions.
Just like all things in my doing I exhausted those journeys up until it would have killed me had I persisted.

As impressed as I am with myself, I wish I could tell you just how much it is that Christ Jesus awes me.
My wife tells me that I am no one trick pony and in that we agree. 
She knows a great deal about men and their capabilities and abilities.
Her history is validated in our co authoring of Convoking Hell.

Numerology has always been a curiosity of mine.  I never knew why until I found the intrigue
of God's design in using numbers.  Once you find revelation in His design the numbering He has given is absolute and inarguable.
In the three years Christ acted in His earthly ministry, He changed the world.  In the three years I have studied God's word,
I am no longer who I was. 
Christ spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven and he told us that it was like a man who finds a treasure and reburies it,
then sells all he has to purchase the land he buried the treasure in.
This scenario is very similar to what I have gone through over the past four years.
My life has been what it has been in preparation for what is yet to come.

For many who knew me before and called me a prick, or a son of a bitch, even a bastard, they are all correct.
I am fine with this characterization.  Moses murdered a man and fought with the most powerful in his day.
Paul was expert in being wrong only to be turned into the greatest apostle of Christ's Grace and Mercy given to us by the work of the Cross.
In fact all through God's word, He has used hard cases to put forth His will.  I reckon that puts me in good company.

I reckon just as I knew I didn't want to be born forty-nine years ago, I have finally come to the spirit man in me as I came to the flesh
so many years ago.  I have no wants from this world as it is earth.  Men and their dreams and aspirations of carnal and flesh nature
interest me none.
In 2010 I wrote of realities nobody wanted to hear or read.  They are now here.
I began writing them in 2005 but only made them copyrighted five years later.
Just as what I am going to say now as I did then, many won't listen.
Those who will are blessed by it.
The times Jesus spoke to in coming are upon us.
I'd urge any reading this to get to know God and develop a relationship with Christ.
I am not speaking to becoming religious, make no mistake about that, many churches will be the masses of those deceived.

I enjoy a great sermon as any believer does.  The truth of the times isn't being preached enough.
You'll find Prosperity Preaching or promises of rapture coming in many venues.
I believe none of it.  Conditions will worsen,
times will be greatly difficult until Our Lord and Savior returns on clouds coming with great power.
Those of you that will embrace the lies to be told, I pray for you.

All things are possible with God, and at 11:41pm tonight I'll be exactly forty-nine.
Not even my mother thought such a thing to be possible, but there you have it.

Peace be on you,

MH Petry