"THE DAY TIME STOOD STILL"

   This is a true story of an answered prayer from behind a rodeo bucking shoot. 

First let me start by stating that I was raised in Church. Mama made sure of that. When I hit my mid-teens, I had pretty much decided I didn't need to go to Church every week. It wasn't long before I just stopped going all together. I lived my life the way I wanted to. I was not a bad person in my mind, and I did what I thought was right in my own eyes.

Years later when I was in my twenties, I joined a rodeo circuit and was living the dream I had as a small child. Even though I had drifted far from Church and the Christian life, I always knelt behind the bucking shoots and prayed for God’s protection before I would ride. One day in 1985 I drew a bull named Moby Dick, and like every time before, I prayed behind the shoots. About halfway through that ride I felt myself lose control; I lost the grip I had on my rope. I was bucking off and leaning forward toward his head. His left horn was headed straight to my face. 

At that moment time stood still. It was as if everything was moving in slow motion except my mind. I was suspended halfway off his back with no control to even react to the blow from his horn I was about to receive to my face. 

Then I shifted my eyes from the bull’s horn to my open riding hand that should have been closed. Only the tips of three fingers were still under the rope that had me tied to his back. I felt the touch of an invisible hand slip underneath mine and squeeze. 

I watched as my hand closed tight around the rope, but I didn't do it. Then it felt as if a hand was on my left rump pushing me back up onto the center of the bull’s back. As soon as this happened, I heard the 8 second buzzer blowing, and time went back to normal. I yanked my hand loose from the rope and allowed his next buck to sling me off his back. As quick as I hit the ground, I jumped to my feet and ran toward the fence to climb out of the arena. 

I was in a daze because I knew what had just happened. God answered my prayer. He intervened, saving me from an injury, maybe even death. Not only did God answer my request for safety He also gave me favor. I took first place in the bull riding event that weekend. (The picture above was taken just as I hit the ground after that ride)

In 1993 I began to think maybe it’s time to visit Church again. After all it’s not a bad thing, and it’s something good people should do anyway. I will admit, there were things in my life, past and present, that I knew were wrong. Trust me, I tried to change many times but just couldn’t. After several weeks of going to Church every Sunday, listening to the preacher I began to realize that what I believed was wrong according to the Bible. It was clear to me now that no matter how good I thought I was, that was not going to get me to heaven when I die. 

One Sunday morning while sitting in a pew listing to the message, JESUS spoke to me. In my heart He said, “David I have had my hand of protection on you for many years now. Why do you keep turning Me away when I come to you? I love you. I died for your sins so you can be forgiven and saved. I want you to come to heaven with Me when you take your last breath. Rejecting Me seals your final destination of Hell.  Is that what you want? I’m knocking on your heart’s door right now, will you let me in? The choice is up to you.”

Time stood still for me again that day. I knew I had to make a choice that morning. I could keep fooling myself and continue to believe a lie, or I could surrender my life to the only one that could save me. For the first time ever, I realized I was a sinner headed for hell.

I said YES to Jesus that day and He come into my heart. God forgave my sins and saved me. And at that moment I was born again, and I knew that when I died, I would go to Heaven instead of Hell. My sins were forgiven!

My life still has its ups and downs. I still have bad days and good days. Life on this earth is still tough at times. But there is one thing I know; God is with me. He has given me a new life; I've been born again! Somehow, He’s changing me for the better, from the inside out day by day. I’m not perfect. I still make mistakes, but I no longer fear the thought of dying and going to Hell. God has adopted me as one of His children. I no longer belong to the devil. I’m saved and life is just better.

John 3:16 says; For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

My one question to you is this: When you take your last breath, where will your eternal destination be? If you have never allowed Jesus Christ to come into your heart and made Him Lord of your life, Satan is your master. You are lost and on your way to Hell. That’s the Bad news.

This is the Good News: God loves you! It’s not too late to change if you want to. How? Talk to God, admit that you’re a sinner knowing that the penalty for unforgiving sin is death and Hell. Ask God to forgive you of your sins. Believe that Jesus died on a cross to pay your sin debt. The Holy Spirit will come into your heart when you make Jesus "your Lord". You will never have to fear going to hell again. Now you're a Christian, congratulations! Tell someone about your decision to follow Christ and start going to a Bible teaching church faithfully to learn more about who God is and what His will is for your life.