“Thank God for the Blessed Jackass!”

Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He will use any means to get our attention, so that we can walk in godly matter. He will use the people around us, the circumstances we are in and even strangers to reach us to let us know how much He loves us and cares for us. One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is Balaam and the donkey.

The story is found in Numbers 22. The Israelites were sojourn in the land Median east of the Jordan River. They just defeated the Amorites and took possession of the land. King Balak, the king of the Moabites was afraid for his people, so he hired Balaam the prophet to curse the Israelites. God commanded Balaam in a dream not to go see King Balak messenger, but King Balak wouldn’t take no for answer, so he continue to send messengers and entice Balaam with promises of great riches. So Balaam again prayed to see if God would change His mind. God’s anger was against him and he told Balaam not to go to Balak’s messenger. God sent an angel as an adversary against Balaam. God’s anger was kindle against the prophet for his disobedience and was planning on killing the prophet.

Balaam mounted his donkey and was heading towards King Balak’s messengers, when the donkey saw the angel with the sword in his hand. The donkey stopped three times due to angel’s interference, and each time Balaam hit the donkey for not moving forward. The donkey finally sat down and refused to go further. Balaam struck the donkey and God open the donkey’s mouth and he spoke.

"What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!" So the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?" And he said, "No." Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. And the Angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live." And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, "I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back." Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. (Numbers 22:28-35) so Balaam ends up blessing the Israelites instead of cursing them.

Over the years Our Heavenly Father has brought people into my life to speak life into me. He has used situations to get a hold of my attention, especially when I have wondered off the road. Several years’ back the Lord taught me a lesson of love and about judging people. This happens to be one of the best lessons that He has taught me over the years.

I love it when God puts certain people in our daily paths. Several years ago, the
Lord put a person heavily in heart and I didn't care for this individual or his family. He and his wife were a couple drunks and I personally didn't care for drunks because my grandfathers were one. Over the years I witness how it destroyed their lives and rest of the families’ too. So put it mildly I look down my nose on this couple, because I saw what it was doing their two children.

So when the Lord placed them in my life, He placed them in my heart. He gave me a love for them and from day on I saw them through Our Heavenly Father’s eye. Over the following years my wife and I saw the hand of God move on this couple’s behalf and same time witness the pitfalls. I would love to say that couple became sober over years, but sadly no.

I now know that Our Heavenly Father brought them into my life to heal me of my past wounds. Also He caused my heart to change, so I wouldn’t sit in judgment anymore, but see to see the person through God’s eye. I am eternally grateful for this lesson, because now I know when God places someone in my path; it is opportunity for me to grow in my spiritual walk.

I appreciate the love Our Heavenly Father has for us. He loves us so much that He sent His only begotten son to save us and draw us to our final goal, which is to live with Him in Heaven. . I am personally grateful for my loving wife and children, who over the years help me to become man that our heavenly Father, have called me to be. My wife Deanna has been one of my richest blessings in my life. I am thankful that several years ago, He placed in my path a dear sister in the Lord, who became my prayer partner, Carol Goodrich. I am grateful for a dear brother in the Lord, Bishop Rick Kay, who spoke life into me and planted seeds in my heart that night at my mother’s wake. I am thankful and grateful for the beacons he has placed in my life that brought the restored message to my home. Thank God for men like Elder Henrickson, Elder Miller, Elder Southam, Elder Campbell, Elder Pettersson, Elder Priesendorf, and Elder Lachaga who have ministered to me over this past year. I am especially grateful for Elder Ingram  and Elder Anderson  that taught me the gospel and minister life to me this past year. I will be eternally grateful for them. I am grateful for two other friends of mine, Barbara Meyer Williamson and Elder Andrew Barnum, who were the first that brought the gospel into my life. I am eternally grateful for them too.

I have been blessed beyond words and my cup runnth over. I know without shadow doubt that my Heavenly Father loves me enough because I am his child. I am also eternally grateful that Lord has brought Dave, my personal jackass, into my life so I could grow in love and in the gospel.

Please click on the following web link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xz3YvkaA5Q&feature=related