guest blogging | He says, She says

May 7 2012

Have you had your spanking from God yet? by Guest Blogger Walt Moore

Well, God has ways of making me listen to Him! With a rough first 20 years of life, going through 2 attempted suicides in my life, many drunk nights, and hanging with people that had no care other than if I was buying more booze or not. I finally realized I wanted something different in my life. It was then that I sought help through a friend of the family.

I settled into a good job, working at a parts store where I met many people. But it was my Dad, who I worked with, that introduced me to a female that worked on cars. I thought I was in heaven, a female that worked on cars, blonde and blue eyed. Oh yeah!! Found out she was a Christian and went to bible studies. So I asked if I could join her in a meeting, of course it was not to learn anymore about God it was to learn more about her. Little did I know that the one that really took my eye was a young lady that came in late. Well after the meeting I knew nothing was between the first girl and I so I went to a restaurant where the group was meeting to watch a hockey game. Again no intention of watching the game; my mind was on something else. I found out they were going to a baseball game the next weekend, so I changed my plans and made sure I went. It was there that I talked to this second girl; yeah we did the whole flirting thing. We starting dating and then about 3 months later we decided on engagement but promised we would wait a year to marry. Which we did– on July 22, 2000 we married. We now have 4 kids: Kole is 9 in April, Jackson is 8 in July, Hannah is 6 in July and Josie is 4 in November. Oh by the way, she doesn’t work on cars, but she loves NASCAR and other sports, blonde and blue eyed. Oh yeah, God knew what I wanted!

So we have been pretty busy, meanwhile I have been letting my health go sour. I was diagnosed with diabetes right after we got married. Because of not taking precautions of what I eat and no diet I now have serious complications, such as my feet are bad and sugars run really high, so I have to watch them constantly throughout the day. I have had many surgeries on the feet and still need more. Then in August of 2011 I went to the ER due to shortness of breath and chest pains. After many tests, they said I was going through Congestive Heart Failure. It was due to my Diabetes, Sleep apnea, Thyroid problems, and High Blood Pressure. The doctors said no more work for me. That was sad news because at the time I was partners with a friend in 3 different businesses, and the doctors said no more. So I had to turn over everything to my partner and walk away. That’s when I guess the turning point in my health, physical life and more importantly my spiritual life was taking a major u-turn.

On December 5, 2011 I was sitting at home by myself, not able to work anymore…doctor’s orders! Having a pity party with all my friends, (me myself and I), thinking what is it that I can do to better my life for my family, myself and better my spiritual walk. It was then that God reminded me of the Pastor School my Dad and I went to when I was in High School. At that meeting is where I stood up and made a promise in front of God, my Dad, and the men that were there that whatever God wants me to do I was willing to do.

Well I diffidently didn’t listen to his calling, I ran, just like Jonah did. Although it wasn’t like a real big fish it was however my health that swallowed my life and now it was as if it threw me up onto my knees in my living room and I started praying about what it was that He wanted me to do.

Well, as I said before, on December 5, 2011 it was when God said enough is enough and whipped my behind. As I tell my kids, “So yes kids, parents get spankings too.” I sat there on the couch praying that God would somehow show me what He wanted me to do.

I opened the Bible to Colossians 1 and started reading. It wasn’t until I got to the first part of verse 9 when it hit me like a ton of bricks: “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you…” that’s it, God wants me to pray for others, and not to just pray but to pray continuously.

So I did! I prayed for my family and friends. Again and Again. Until I didn’t know what to pray for anymore for them. Then I felt that God said, “No, silly, not just them but others too.” Oh…(silence)…(idea) that’s right, I got a prayer list from Church last Sunday, I’ll pray for them…got all done and just felt that it wasn’t enough.

So I started studying about how to pray, what to pray for, and how to be a prayer warrior for God. I looked over this passage of scripture, Colossians 1:9-14, over and over and over again. I realized through reading that Paul never had met the Colossians but yet he prayed for them faithfully. WOW what an example for me to go by. Alright, how do you pray for someone you have never met before, I mean other than a general prayer for blessings on them what do I pray for?

As I mentioned before I was co-owner with a couple of businesses, and some happened to be on the internet. So I knew a little bit about how to get around on there. And I just so happened to log on and check out my ole Facebook account, when right there in front of me were two requests from people I knew about praying for something. So I did, but when I was done something was urging me to look some more.

All of a sudden it dawned on my little mind why God wanted me to log on to my Facebook account. He wanted me to start asking people if there was anything I could pray for them about. Ummmmm……well that started it, all of a sudden I was bombarded with messages and emails about prayer requests. Then it occurred to me what if people could post them unto a page and not just myself but others could pray for them also, spoken and unspoken. Well that started the Prayer Warriors Facebook Group Page. Now I see how to pray for people you don’t know just like Paul did for the Colossians. We are almost over the 1900 member mark, and many of the members are people I have no clue who they are. But I do know their prayer requests and pray for them every day.

That’s just one area that God has been leading me, little did I know that He had more planned. Since Prayer Warriors started I have had a passion for the homeless and low income families here and in the surrounding areas. So with God’s help there will be soon a time where we can minister to them through the Bible and a little breakfast on Thursday’s.

So I was praying one day, God it sure is good to be doing your will. But I feel that I need to do it full time. I’m concerned with the financial side of it and my family. What should I do? So as always I started reading the Bible again, I mean, it is God talking to us. I started in Luke 6 this time reading and praying as I went that the Holy Spirit would show me what it is that I should apply to my life or what God has planned for me next. Then there it was in verse 36, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” That’s it, My Father has been so merciful to me that it is time that I start being merciful to others so that they to can see Jesus through me.

That’s when I decided it was time to make this into a ministry: Merciful Father Ministries! Now I could tell you everything that we do here at Merciful Father Ministries but that’s no fun, instead here is the website for you to check it out: http://www.MFMinistries.com. That is pretty much what God has done in my life so far, at least since I got my spanking. LOL

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Walt Moore resides in Gaylord, MI. with his wife, Cammy and 4 kids. Walt is the Operator of Merciful Father Ministries. You can email Walt at MFM@disciples.com for more information about the Ministry. He enjoys time in fellowship with other believers and especially with his newly adoptive Mentor. Walt and family are currently active at Gaylord Evangelical Free Church in Gaylord, MI.