First Love

By Kelvin Woodard

In this book you will discover revelation about bible verses that you may have only taken a cursory look at or thought you understood. If you grew up in church you've heard many quotes of the bible. Some quotes were accurate, while others weren't and a great deal of them were quoted out of context. In this book light be shed and revelation revealed. It is my hope that you will find the revelation not just interesting but a true picture of the call upon my life to bring clarity to the word, the time spent in study and in dialogue with the Holy Spirit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512795493

Kelvin Woodard

To God be the glory for the things he has done in the life of our eldest son, Kelvin Woodard. As a child, Kelvin was raised up in church, and his dream job was to become a fireman. However, as the years passed on, he took a strong interest in the military and music, particularly the saxophone. He started playing the saxophone around the age of fifteen and hasn’t put it down since. After graduating from Virginia State University as a music major and a commissioned officer through ROTC, he began his career in the United States Army. As time went on Kelvin became slack in his attendance of church. While stationed in Ft. Riley Kansas, I came up for a visit. Upon my arrival, he invited me to church, and I said to myself, “Kelvin going to church.” It was from then that we saw something special about him that God was dealing with him. He was later called into the ministry and what a blessing he has been to us all. Through all the tests and trials, his faith in God has remained strong and unwavering. We’re inspired and encouraged through his teaching, preaching and music ministry. God has truly placed a special anointing on his life and gift in the music ministry. Kelvin, we love you, your wife, Vikki, and two daughters, Amanda and Tiffany. May God forever be a blessing in your life that you will continue to be a blessing in the lives of those you meet. Love, Mom and Dad

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Copyright © 2017 Kelvin Woodard.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-9550-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-9549-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017910980

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/05/2017

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To my grandfather, affectionately known as Deac, officially, Deacon Forest Johnson. Job 1:1 says, And that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. This scripture is the only thing and the only example I’ve ever known of my grandfather. Some have called this a poem, but these are the words given to me by the Holy Spirit, recited and read at his funeral, entitled Shoes. With permission, I placed a pair of his shoes on the podium and began to read the following:

Shoes

Forest Johnson, my grandfather, he wore a size-eleven shoe. I wore a size twelve, yet his shoes were too big for my feet. At the end of his journey here on earth, he was bound by a wheelchair, yet he stood taller than any man I know.

I can’t tell you of all the places these shoes traveled, I can’t tell you how rough the road, how tedious the journey or how long the path, but I do know that their steps were ordered by the Lord. These shoes walked some lonely roads, stood in some lonely places, not because there were no people around, but because they were shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

These shoes did not have secret rendezvous with strange women, they couldn’t be found in a club or a bar, nor would they be seen in the halls of deceit. These shoes came home at night.

They were found at work early in the morning, many times before the break of day. They were not slothful; they didn’t make excuses and stayed true to their word.

I had to come to the understanding that the size of a man was not measured in feet and inches but in the character in which he lived. My admiration for him was not for the things he had but for the word he lived. These shoes climbed the rough side of the mountain so that I wouldn’t have to. They took a journey on a road less traveled so that my journey could be easier. These shoes didn’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor did they stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful.

These shoes were patient and kind; they were not easily provoked, were not puffed up, but delighted in the ways of the Lord. Whenever there was a church service, these shoes would be found ten to twenty minutes early. They didn’t believe in being late, didn’t care to be seen, just wanted to be at their appointed place.

And on that faithful Saturday evening, he heard the voice of the Lord call his name, saying, Son it’s time to come home. It’s time for you to rest. Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord. You’ve fought a good fight. You’ve finished the course. You’ve kept the faith.

And as he stretched forth his hand to take that step from mortal to immortality, I can hear the Lord saying, "You can’t