Happy Independence Day To You, Salvation Day To Me!!

Greetings from the Sunshine State of Florida and Happy Independence Day! I know this day is usually filled with celebrating with fireworks and family gatherings in remembrance of our country gaining its Independence. However, Today, July 4th of 2021 makes six years since I've come into the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesu! I've never blogged about the beautiful encounter that I had with The Holy Spirit that day or the days previously leading up to it. So as I lay out by the beach on a much-needed vacation, here it goes.

It was a little after midnight, June 25th, 2015, I was laying in bed next to my then-boyfriend, now-husband Kris, restless. We had just spent the previous evening bar-hopping and here I was tossing and turning, trying to get settled. I was tempted to wake Kris to talk but I didn't, instead, I grabbed my phone and began to scroll the internet. A review for a book entitled, "23 Minutes In Hell" by Bill Wiese came across my scroll way."What an interesting book title," I thought to myself. I purchased the book in the Book App and from the very first page, it began to witness to me. I finished the book in an hour. Sitting my phone down on the nightstand beside me, I was overwhelmed with so many questions and emotions. God sent the spirit of this man, Bill Wiese, to hell for twenty-three minutes and he encountered everything from demons, pits filled with fire, the torturing of thousands and thousands of damned souls - separated from The Father for eternity, and so much more. He even encountered the unimaginable, unfathomable heat that's in Hell. After hours of going back and forth about what I had just read, that I knew was true, because my Spirit man was wrecked - convicted and bore witness to it, I began to research this man's ministry online. His book had sold over one million copies and along with his wife, he travels near and abroad preaching the gospel of repentance and salvation to the lost.

Salvation Day ...

Driving home from work on the 4th of July, all I could think about was what I had come into the knowledge of after finishing that book. Hell was real. It was a real place, with lost souls that never accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, with devils that torture them endlessly. Convicted to my core, I pulled into the garage of my home and sat there, heavily chested. It was then, in the stillness of my car, I broke and began to cry out to Jesus for help. And boy did I cry out. "If you're the One that everybody promises by then help me!! I hate my life! I hate the filth of a life that I've entangled myself in. I no longer want to go through life aimlessly, without direction, without guidance. I don't want to limp through life any longer heartbroken. All of my life I've been rejected and abused. My mother rejected me at birth, I've never known, never met my biological father and I feel like such a failure. I'm making circles in college, I work a dead-end job, I'm currently living with a man that I'm not sure will marry me. Nothing satisfies me. I'm miserable on the inside. I portray to be this beautiful, perfect, innocent young woman, but truly I'm a mess. I'm insecure, I battle anxiety, I speak word curses over the lives of people. I indulge in substances to ease the hurt that I'm experiencing on the inside and it's a temporary relief. I just don't want this life anymore. Please help me! If you're the God that helps, then help me!!" I cried out loud between tears. "I don't want this life any longer, TAKE IT AWAY," I screamed into the atmosphere of my car.

Suddenly, the most gentle, subtle breeze flowed into my car where I was sitting. I remember looking at the hairs on my arm as they stood up and swayed back and forth as if they were stalks of grass in a field being brushed by the wind. This gentle wind, which I later found out was The Spirit of The Lord, began to caress my neck and flow through my thick mane on my head and surround me as if it was hugging me. But then ... then, it pierced my heart and I was suddenly overtaken by the most powerful feeling of love I had ever encountered in my life. I was no doubt experiencing the overwhelming love of The Father. His love was so deep, so rich, and so pure that my lips and body began to tremble uncontrollably. My body couldn't withhold all of His love. The whole experience lasted for about five minutes. Afterward, I ran into my house and turned on some praise music, and began to jump around and dance! I felt so joyful, peaceful, and free. I couldn't stop laughing and singing. And that very same presence that greeted me in my car was accompanying me as I gave God a glorious praise. "Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed." (John 8:36)

That was only the beginning. As the Spirit-led and began to work in my life, I began to turn away from sin such as fornication and became celibate until I married seven months later. I began to read the Bible, attend church regularly, and grow in my faith. Fast forward to today, I am walking out my purpose in Jesus!! I have one of the sweetest announcements coming on my next blog post that you don't want to miss. Within the upcoming weeks, my website will be undergoing some much-needed maintenance as I revamp. I am in awe at what God is doing in my life and I CAN NOT wait to share it with you guys. Enjoy your Holiday, Be safe!

Jesus Is Just That Good,

Pamelia Walker