In this season of my life… I was far away from the God I walked with as a boy and teenager… but He wasn’t far from me… He was still right where I had left Him…
I was asleep one night… I had a dream… in the middle of addiction… in the middle of my sin… this was it…
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I found myself on a path… alone…
I looked around… in awe… the road was marble… gold… silver… lined with precious jewels… vibrant… alive with color…
I thought… where am I where is everyone
All at once… I felt breath upon my neck…
slowly… I turned around… before me… was the most brilliant… awesome… magnificent thing… I have ever laid eyes on…
It was a Lion…
close as could be…
I was face to face with Him…
His eyes were so green… so piercing… He saw right through me…
Suddenly… I became afraid… what was He about to do what was about to happen
Beneath the fear… reverence…
I knew… He was King of all…
Then… He began to move…
He lowered His head… nudged me… to start walking…
As I moved along the path… He followed behind me…
Up ahead…
a small white horse…
The Lion went out… met the horse… devoured it… swallowed it whole…
Then He returned behind me once again… pushing me… down the path…
At the end… a wide marble staircase…
He came around from behind me… moved up the stairs… sat on the throne…
At His side… two other Lions…
I fell on my face…
I worshipped Him…
I knew…
He was God…
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I immediately woke up…
I jumped out of bed… started writing down the dream… because I didn’t want to forget it…
But it didn’t matter…
I never have forgotten…
It is as clear to me today… as when it first happened…
I’m able still… to close my eyes… relive it… just as vivid… anytime I want…
For years… I felt the dream was God telling me… that He was with me… calling me… to straighten up… follow Him…
Then… June of 2o08…
After the second attempt on my life… God rescued me… miraculously… just in time… brought me safely out of it… to Florida… to a men’s discipleship and drug rehab ministry…
I had been there for several months… it was now fall…
One afternoon… outside… raking leaves… singing… praising… alone…
Suddenly… I was reminded of my dream…
I looked out across the property…
In the front of the building… a small pond… and in the center… a fountain… of a Lion…
Then I noticed something else…
The driveway… L shaped… like the path in my dream…
At the end of the driveway… where the throne would be… two Lion statues… one on each side…
I was blown away…
Everything made sense now…
I was without words…
And I still am today… when I think about it all…
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I later became the resident director of that ministry… spent four years there…
I watched God work strong and mighty… in the lives of hundreds of broken men… that came through our doors… transforming them… they were never the same…
And in my life… there is absolutely… no doubt… what has happened… taken place…
who is responsible… who gets the credit… the glory… the honor… the praise… 🙌
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and…`.°~ ¡-~-¡`° the small white horse… my enemies… my past…
Deliver me… O LORD… from mine enemies… I flee unto thee for refuge… to hide me… Teach me to do thy will… for thou art my God… thy spirit is good… lead me into the land of uprightness… onto level ground… because of mine enemies… Quicken me… O LORD… for Jesus Christ name’s sake… for thy righteousness’ sake… bring my soul out of trouble… And of thy loving kindness… and mercy… cut off mine enemies… and destroy all them that afflict my soul.. for I am thy servant… thy friend… thy child…
“Take Me In” — released in 2004 on the album Sea of Faces and “It’s Like Me” — released in 2006 on the album Strong Tower
“It’s Like Me” is special to me… it’s become one of my favorites… the more I hear it… the more it sits with me… and it’s become like a theme song for me… because… “it’s so like me… to never see…”
I hope you guys enjoy them… and have a blessed day…
..¹4³..🎶…”it’s so like me”→.to..→”never see”→..🎶.→”when it came”→.🎶..→”when it went”→🎶…→”now it’s gone away”…🎶’
🎶”Take the coal… touch my lips… here I am…”
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)🌿🕊✝️ > “For to us a child is born… to us a son is given… and the government will be on His shoulders… And He will be called… Wonderful Counselor… Mighty God… Everlasting Father… Prince of Peace…”
Got some Christian Rap tonight… check out my YouTube channel… and If you like… subscribe.. I pray for my all my subscribers and viewers nightly.. for a little while.. before I go to bed.. cuz you my family 😁😎💯🫂
“FOLLOW ME…” 💥 Matthew 4:19
Click on thumbnail👇inside short for full song… `.•-
Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?
Yes and yes…
I’m a musician I play guitar and piano I sing
I’ve played parties I’ve performed in bars and nightclubs and concerts and music festivals I’ve been in bands — both secular and Christian
I was also part of a worldwide group of musicians called The Pond We played music festivals and online concerts together.. which were broadcast across the globe…
Later on.. I became a worship leader in ministry and church I also spent many Sundays playing music for residents in nursing homes and mental health hospitals
I’ve lived a pretty crazy life And.. for four years.. I traveled all across the state of Florida as a guest speaker — speaking in churches and at different events — telling my life story… `.°-
Stages and lights and microphones and crowds.. Rooms full of people.. Rooms with only a few..
Today though… the stage is just a memory.. just words…
So over the years.. I’m often inspired in the shower.. as I relinquish my daily filth to the basin of dissolve.. aka down the drain.. something frequently speaks to me.. and by something.. I mean the ultimate something.. it has gotten to the point that I prepare for it.. and expect to receive.. each time I shed my garments and stand neath the cleansing flood.. I could tell you stories for days about my sacred shower time.. today… I felt these words in my spirit
winded is the sail… `.°~
I’m not sure what to make of it yet.. it could be a poem.. a title for one of my real life stories.. a song.. a direction.. or something much more.. but I will be listening further.. and as the days unfold.. I know it shall reveal itself…
Hey yall… Happy Sunday.. These next guys are one of my all-time favorites.. So many great songs.. So much depth.. They can rock hard or be gentle on the ears—and they do both beautifully…
They’re from Portland.. Oregon.. formed in 1999.. and started as a campus worship band..
They’re known as Kutless… and yeah—they’re bad#ss for Jesus 😎😁
I’ve got two songs for you today.. “All The Words” and “Shut Me Out..”
I didn’t even realize this until now.. but both of these songs pretty much describe my blog.. Even my tagline comes straight from the lyrics of “All The Words…” And fun fact—that song was featured on an episode of Scrubs back in the day…
Alright… I’m done talking now 😄 Just listen and enjoy… And I truly appreciate yall so much.. tyty… 😎`.°- thinking of yall today…
Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?
I have many favorite places throughout my travels and missionary work in the Philippines.. Singapore.. Argentina.. I also drove 18-wheelers all across the USA, off and on for 17 years.. I’ve been to all states.. numerous times.. with the exception of Alaska.. Hawaii.. Vermont.. also got to explore some.. and I’ve lived in different states.. but with this prompt.. I’m reminded of the Hard Rock Cafe in Buenos Aires.. Argentina.. neon glowing through a foreign night.. music bleeding into the airport.. like a familiar language in a strange land.. I remember sitting there with the weight of miles in my bones and gratitude in my chest.. realizing that somehow.. in a city thousands of miles from home.. God had stitched another memory into my soul.. Another reminder that the world is wide.. but His presence is wider still…
Heart of Loia `'.,°~ 