Nashville, TN., Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012, 4:27 p.m, C.S.T.~
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Pastor Bruce Bilkey reporting. Hope this finds you all full of blessing; if there are any among you who are going through trials, know this: God loves you and so do I! Know that I am lifting each and every one of you in my prayers! I care about you!
I am doing very well. Things couldn't be better. Church is doing a booming business: growing new members every month; our church now has a congregation of over 2,200 people. I haven't met some of the newer families/visitors yet, but I am sure I will before too long. I am just glad they chose Christ Community Assembly of God as their home church becasue it ensures me that I can keep my job! Nothing makes me happier than serving my Lord and Saviour and reaching out into the community!
On the home front, my family is growing as well. My wife, Toni, is with child, even after having three of our own and adopting five others, so our family will soon have two parents and nine children! She is expecting a little boy; he is due in August, and we are trying to decide between Ebediah Gabriel or Gabriel Hezekiah. We couldn't be more excited! One more brand new soul for the Kingdom ... and our growing family!
I have fully recovered from the attack on my person last July. I have forgiven the three young men who were responsible; they have since come clean and have come to my office to ask for forgiveness. Of course, I accepted; I then prayed for the three young men, and they, in kind, asked the Lord into their hearts. It was an amazing act of God; nobody else could have orchestrted this outcome BUT Him!
The three teenagers are now regularly attending services with their own families and I am sure that before long, several of the family members will ask for the Lord to save them. I have complete confidence that they will.
As it is so often said, in the Book of Matthew: "With God, ALL things are possible!" (and they ARE!)
While I still have periodic nightmares, I know it is the workings fo the enemy to try to shake my faith, but Satan doesn't know me very well. I'm a pastor. I preach the Word. I lay my burdens/trust at the Cross. And I am a formidable prayer warrior and do NOT take no (or Satan's lies) for an answer! Satan has also tried to attack my home, my church and congregation, and my family on more than one occasion, but I am continuing to fight, with both guns blazing and a Bible in my hand, Jesus in my heart, and God and His army right behind me!
I already know the outcome: Pastor Bruce Bilkey: 1. Satan: 0. Actually, that should be JESUS: 1. Satan: 0. Not on yer life, Satan; I REBUKE you with the Blood of Christ; I command you to leave me and my family, church and congregation, finances, and home alone in the powerful name of Jesus! Now GO, Satan! You are under my feet and you are NOT welcome here!
The weather is pretty cloudy and miserable, but in my home, the sun (Son) rules. Thre's always joy, hope, love, and forgiveness rampant, and I aim to take the fruits of the Spirit and my hope in Christ wherever I go. My Bible goes with me too: as they say in that ad for MasterCard: "I never leave home without it (my Bible)"! :)
Well, Tzipporah (the youngest child) and Tirpe' (Child #2) are both clamoring for Daddy's attention, so I will go for now. I pray and hope that God touches your life in a mighty, tangible way, and I pray that You come to know His grace, His mercy, His power, His blessing, His sovereignty! You CAN'T go wrong with God/Jesus Christ! May God bless you above and beyond all expectation!
~In His Service,
~Bruce Bilkey, Senior Pastor, Christ Community Assembly of God Church, Nashville, Tennessee. :)
