Larry LaDell Robertson - Five Smooth Stones: What I Know About God, for Sure

Five
Smooth Stones

WHAT I KNOW ABOUT
GOD, FOR SURE

Larry LaDell Robertson

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2019 Larry LaDell Robertson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 10/29/2019

ISBN: 978-1-7283-3303-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-3301-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-3302-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019916921

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NLT

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Website

TLB

Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

KJV

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Public Domain

NIV

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

NKJV

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by HYPERLINK http://www.thomasnelson.com/ Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ESV

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ERV

The Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) is an English translation of the Bible by the World Bible Translation Center (WBTC), a subsidiary of Bible League International. It was originally published as the English Version for the Deaf (EVD) by BakerBooks.

NABRE

The New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) is an English-language Catholic Bible translation, the first major update in 20 years to the New American Bible (NAB), originally published in 1970 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.

CONTENTS

This book is dedicated to my help-meet, cheerleader, soulmate, and best friend, my lovely and supportive wife, Ramona. Its through my relationship with you that I know how it truly feels to be loved, supported and encouraged. I hope Ive made you proud. And to my daughters, Jesseca and Jazzmin, thank you for your undeniable encouragement and inspiration.

I also dedicate this work to some remarkable spiritual leaders, teachers, and advisors (past and present) who have influenced my journey to greater awareness and illumination. Audience with you helped me realize and recognize the Fathers teachings and plans for me. Reaching me was a part of your Divine assignment.

I thank God for you all.

INTRODUCTION

A Relationship with God

This past January, I celebrated 54 years of life. I was pleasantly surprised but proud when I realized that each one of those years was spent as a member of a church. Be it large, mid-sized or small, traditional, progressive, or esoteric, I made good on my promise to myself to always be connected and affiliated with a body of like believers, working out our soul salvation, together. As such, Ive listened to priests, prophets, and preachers impart their interpretation of scripture and what thus saith the Lord. Some made me laugh, some made me cry. Some yelled and screamed while other were more academic, articulate and soft-spoken. Others made me think in new ways while some were downright insulting and made me angry. I dont remember them all but the ones I do remember were meant for me to hear.

One of the best sermons Ive heard was delivered by my childhood and very first pastor, the late Reverend Doctor John L. Conner. It was entitled a relationship with God. If I close my eyes and still myself, I can see this tall, caramel-hued man with a commanding presence and a booming voice, pointing to members of the congregation as if he was speaking to them individually, posing what I now consider an important and life-changing question: do you have a relationship with God? I was a junior in high school, so I wasnt surprised when my answer to the question was no, I did not have a relationship with God. I knew of God. I believed in God. Rev. Conner even baptized me in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit: all that God Is. And I was sure to be offended and even turned-up my nose to people who were silly enough not believe in God. But no, I didnt and really didnt understand what it meant. I believe this is when my true soul journey began.

According to Dr. Conner, when you have a relationship with God you:

1. Depend on Him for guidance and protection (rather than man) and so theres nothing to fear;
2. Know that He hears you when you speak, and you hear Him when He speaks; and
3. Are confident that He goes before you and makes a way, sometimes when there seems to be no way.

In essence, to have a relationship with God means that you know without trepidation, hesitation, or (as the old Christians say) beyond a shadow of doubt that God wants you to live a life without worry, without sickness, and without lack. You solemnly believe that Gods will for you is complete and sustained favor and success.

So now, decades after that message, I can say yes, I have a unique and authentic relationship with God. And through this relationship, Ive been able to experience life in an entirely different and a more fulfilling way than before. Im not afraid of situations and people anymore. I dont worry about conditions or circumstances anymore. I dont expect or accept lack and limitation on any level; not anymore. Through my relationship with God, Ive learned that His will for me is absolute good and I renounce, reject, and cancel all thoughts, opinions, and teachings to the contrary. Suffering, sickness, and lack are not good things, so I deem it ridiculous to think that these things are Gods will for me.

I received the assignment to write this book from God with the purpose of compelling believers and non-believers to develop a relationship with God. Ive been so enlightened and blessed through this journey that I cant imagine how my life would look right now absent my relationship with God. I said to God, Father, I cant do this. What will people say? Im not an ordained minister, prophet, or seer. I dont have a degree in theology and not a big fan of my way or the highway books. You know those books that make you out to be intellectually challenged if you disagreed with what it posits. Besides a few friends and my family, whos going to buy and read it? Im just a regular hard-working guy with a passion for writing and a dream of being an author, willing to share what I know about God for sure. Thats when He said, tell them about me, and only what you know for sure. Your goal isnt to sell books. Its to challenge mindsets and impart what youve come to know as the truth. Get the message out and Ill do the rest. So, in these 51,000 plus words, I present my truth, whats working, and what Ive come to know about God and myself, for sure.