Never Too Late For Jesus

This is a blessed blog, one I first received from a dear friend on Facebook-just openly. I had to ask him to re-send it to me, as for I lose a lot of what I am searching for on FB these days!! He did so quick, so fast-so humbled. I am very gracious to be able to call Jim my friend, even though we haven't met in person yet, and have only known each other a few weeks on Facebook. But the cool part about the two of us is we are both very transparent. He also speaks with beautiful words Jesus has blessed Him with, words that make you feel like your surrounding is a beautiful beach day, or amazing waterfalls that runneth over .... His talk about Jesus is amazing. I was twenty-six and near death when I finally accepted Him. I thought I'd never run into anyone even a tad older. This man clung hard to Christ at 69-5 years ago, and hasn't let go!! He has only grown wiser thru his walk!! And very humble, kind, gentle, loving... and so on!! I always thought finding Jesus at a later age of 26 helped me grow quicker, and definitely not grow bored in His teaching, or teaching others in need to hear; not in comparison as it can become just like a job like feeling for those who grew up a particular faith-made to go to church, as opposed to a desire to go soak it up themselves. And it becomes very stale like for many who do as parents expect or demand as they become parents-but the relationship with Christ is yet to be established. That is where both Jim and I have a common. Finding Him on our terms opened our hearts big time. Jim, you have no time for regret on the time you were not seeking. He always has His perfect timing of us. And right NOW it is perfect for you to be on fire for Him, share His Word. You do it remarkably-the way people who know zero about it and have wonders yet fear-will cling to you! You are gentle! Yet truthful! Bless your Jesus-overfilling heart!

This is Jim Russels testimony....
How I found Jesus:  A request for a bio has been asked: Here is my story about How I found Jesus:


My youth until the age of 69 was without Christ, or so I thought. After having been awakened by Christ at 69, the eyes of Jesus allowed me to see many things previously hidden from me. The most important realization was that an angel had been with me throughout my entire life, without my knowing.
Consider this scripture:
 Hebrews 1:14 (NIV) Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
 This Word of God assures us that we do indeed have guardian angels, which I once thought was a 'fanciful tale.' At the time of my youth, I often thought I was "lucky," but as the years went on, misfortune after misfortune appeared and was brushed aside by "luck." I became suspicious, and then amazed. One after the other, I was rescued from relationships that would have put most on the street, homeless.

Finally, I joined the Freemasons, a fraternity that teaches morality and upstanding conduct, values taken from mainly the Bible. Their need beckoned to me, and I learned some teaching roles, memorized and then delivered at certain lodge proceedings. My contributions were well received, and over the years I learned more teachings, and eventually was elected Master of the Lodge in 1977. The teaching did me good, and making the mistakes that leaders made did me more good.
In a word, I was softened from the hardened-heart state, being prepared, unknown to me.

I moved to another state, and to another Masonic Lodge. This time, I resolved to take the lessons learned to heart, and again applied myself to learning Masonic morality, with a better heart. I was elected Chaplain, and received recognition for spiritual leadership of the lodge. The old heart was changing, I sensed, but did not know why I was unsettled.

Finally, my daughter suggested by mail that I come to Iowa and retire near her. I did, and there I joined a United Methodist Church. Interesting, I thought. A course offering eventually appeared, apparently on church basics, and I thought, "Why not?"

So I signed up for the course, and attended. That is the last week of existence for the old me. In a nutshell, as soon as I saw the other class members, I was stunned. Their faces shone with a radiance that captivated me. They spoke with a quiet sincerity and earnestness that held me so tightly that it hurt. In short, without understanding what they were talking about, this Jesus stuff, I was sold, and I wanted whatever it was that they had.

That night, I prayed, my heart full, to God above, hesitantly, and was answered in power and force such that it seemed winds were about to blow me away. I looked to see if the drapes were moving. No, they were still. A voice, not spoken, not in words, but felt, something primeval, ancient, and familiar.
 I skip here to later, the next morning, and awakened to a new day, literally, and began to see everything as if I had never opened my eyes until this morning...

The rest is my journey in Christ, which I now share with my friends, especially with those also in Christ. You are most welcome to join me.

Much Love in Christ Jesus, 

Jim Russell

Galatians 2:20 I myself no longer live, but Christ lives IN me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (NLT)

Faith is ALIVE!

Here is a story of courage-testimony-that was lived out this far-and is still being lived out as I type!! He has such a heart for all thru Christ! He sure has been talked to thru our Lord! And--as we all are, impatient at times-especially in the beginning of our walk with Him. We have more "why's" and "what's" --that in time turn into more patience and "I trust and love You-thru all of this-knowing YOU have plans!" And HE DOES! Thru every trial-UP and DOWN-desert or mountain-HE HAS AWESOME PLANS ALREADY LAID OUT! As we cling to Him! And Sergio may be far in distance from me-but close thru Christ! And thru his testimony you will see amazing points and others that are in need of prayer-but we know-GOD already has His hands on it all! As he clings tight to Him!!

I have always believed in God and still do. Although for most of my life I believed in "God" through another faith, that of Hinduism. I always tried to make a better connection to our Father but to no avail. My family was very strict about their Hindu faith. However as well meaning as it was I  did not feel happy.  

I was always fearful and felt constricted and in bondage. I felt overpowered by other members of my family. I wanted to stand up for myself, feel that I was a full person, but I could not. My family members filled me with fear about going out with other boys to a sports event or party. The fear they would put into me was that I would be kidnapped... or worse killed in a fight etc.

Whilst, a Hindu I attended a Sunday School class. I must have been around 10-12 yeasrs old. I was struck by the beauty  of the teaching of the ten commandments. It has stayed with me always. I went onto university, got married , had 3 children , then started to build this house.  

Everything went wrong. 

I kept seeking God and doing prayers to the Hindu gods, for things to come right. To no avail. I was getting into all sorts of bizarre problems. I continued to earnestly seek for God, for peace, for deliverance.  During this time my 4th daughter was born. Things went from bad to worse financially. I tried other faiths and visited their priests. One day I met one of these priests who had recently began turning to Christianity. In this priest's home I found a copy of a book "The Power of Posiitive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale. It was an eye-opener to me. I then turned to the bible and the words almost leaped of the pages to me. It was like coming out of a long-long dark hideous tunnel into an oasis of peace and light. I gave my heart of Jesus Christ then and there. My body shook uncontrollably as the Lord poured out wave upon wave of His Spirit upon me. I felt so peaceful. This was it what I had been searching for my whole life. A relationship with the living God. Since then the Lord has taken me through many trials and hardships. But I remain firmly anchored in Him. This is because I remember how He rescued me out of the pit of darkness and brought me into His glorious light.

God bless you!

Sergie Subramoney @eagle_high

Proverbs 16:17  The path of the upright leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.