--------------------------------------------------------------------- Main Web Site http://www.survivalprimer.com/ Survival Files http://www.survivalprimer.com/Index_Survival.htm Christian Files http://www.survivalprimer.com/index_spiritual.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________________ ____ A CALL IN THE NIGHT Testimony of Tuesday, August 26, 2003. Paul Phillips My Pastor called me twice today, on the cell phone God had be buy. The first time was at lunch, in the mall. Now, you can not get cell phone calls in the mall, at least normally. God told me to go to lunch at a particular hour, as we were sort of between things at work. They pay me through lunch, if I take twenty minutes or less, and I work construction. I eat quickly, when I can. We are re-doing a store at the mall. So I am standing at Orange Julius getting two hot-dogs when my pocket starts ringing. I was startled at that. My Pastor, Dwight, was having a problem with a particular computer program and called me to ask about it. We talked it through, and he found it. It made me feel good, to talk to Dwight, then and there, when I was tired and maybe a little down, having just put forth a lot of effort at work. It was even more enjoyable because there is no way he could have reached me unless he called right then, as I stood at Orange Julius near the windows at Hanes Mall, in Winston-Salem North Carolina. SHIFT TO AFTER WORK After work I was so tired I really just fell asleep. As I live alone, as it were, I did no awaken until something after 10 PM. I got up, and went into the bedroom, (I habitually sleep on the couch, - a story for another day, ) and Dwight calls me again. Almost apologetic for calling a working man so late, Dwight does not realize at first my situation and that God had him call me for ministry. I was sitting there wondering what my purpose was, and why I was there and what did God actually want me to do. It is, as well, a little "lonely" to work like that, come home alone, and wake up in the middle of the night with no one there. As Dwight and I talked the mere fact of talking, ( letting alone the ministry) was a blessing to me. Well, Dwight starts talking about a CD that the The LORD had me make. One of the songs from the CD was "My Father's Chair" , by David Meece. Dwight asks me what the words to the Song were. He had been listening to it, while working at home. He had the music on, and not even paying attention to the words, it had blessed him. Since I was already up, I came to the computer to find the words on the internet. As I write the above, and this, I really have no words.\ _________________________________________________________________________ _____ 1 It is as if God is saying to me that He knows my heart, and the cry of it. 2 He knows when I wake up alone, and maybe a little afraid. 3 He knows I did not have a great relationship with my biological father. 4 He has given me a spiritual father, here on earth, as my biological father is now dead. 5 He, himself, God, is my Heavenly Father, knowing my heart and my fear and my loneliness and joy and I can come to him whenever I will. 6 And, if I don't think to or come to Him or call on Him, I mean God, he will come to me and call on me. (It may be that I am afraid to Call on God, but He will still come to me.) 7 The LORD shows me that My image of God is a reflection of my earthly father, who was never really there for me when I needed him. 8 God is not like that. 9 And neither is my spiritual father, here on earth, my Pastor, Dwight Jester. ________________________________________________________________________ God has blessed me as much as he has you by bringing the song by David Meece to you, tonight. (It is three minutes to Midnight, my time.) May He bless you know, and come to you when you need Him, especially when you are alone and afraid. All God's Blessings on YOU. Paul ______________________________________________________________________________ My Father's Chair Sometimes at night I'd lie awake Longing inside for my father's embrace Sometimes at night I'd wander downstairs And pray he'd returned but no one was there Oh how I'd cry A child all alone Waiting for him to come home My father's chair sat in an empty room My father's chair covered in sheets of gloom My father's chair through all the years And all the tears I'd cried in vein No one was there In my father's chair Sometimes at night I sit all alone Drifting asleep in a chair of my own When sweet sleepy eyes peer down from the hall Frightened by dreams they cannot recall I hold them close calming their fears Praying they always will say My father's chair sits in a loving room My father's chair no matter what I do My father's chair through all the years And all the tears I need not fear Love is always there in my father's chair Sometimes at night I dream of a throne Of my loving God calling me home And as I appear He rises and smiles And reaches with love to welcome His child Never to cry, never to fear In His arms safe and secure My Father's chair sits in a holy room My Father's chair holds glory beyond the tomb My Father's chair my God is there And I am His eternal heir Someday I'll share my Father's chair Music by David Meece Words by David Meece and Dwight Liles From the album 'Once in a Lifetime'