God's Inspiration for Searching Hearts

By Tommy L. Romans

Do you have questions that need answers? Does life seem complex with no design or rhyme?
Have you ever thoughtmaybe, just maybe, theres a deeper meaning? You wonderis there really a purpose for me?
We live in a world that doesnt make sense, where people are seeking fulfillment for that special something that is the answer to their searching heart. Are you one of them? In this book, the author shows you Gods ways of dealing with manhow He reveals Himself to searching hearts. You will see Bible stories come to life and meet real people whose lives were forever changed when they met the awesome God of this universe. They were down to nothing and their lives were broken until an all-loving God showed up!
You will read stories and personal experiences proving that God can take nothing and make something. He can take nobodies and make them into somebodies. When circumstances are hard, it is then that He reveals Himself, turning our sorrows into joy and trials into triumph!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490870038

Tommy L. Romans

Author Tommy Romans is an ordained Minister and Sunday School teacher of 35 years. Born in 1954 and raised in a Christian home by Godly parents. Converted at the age of 20, delivered from the horrible addiction to drugs and alcohol. Author did not want to live until God came and wonderfully transformed his life. He has been given the unique ability to write Inspirational writings with messages from the Heart of God to the searching hearts of hurting humanity. Now resides at home in Huntington WV with his wonderful wife and companion Mary Angel of 35 Years.

Book preview

Chapter 1

A WOMAN’S GREAT DESIRE TO GET TO JESUS

In order to understand this story, first take your Bible and read about the Woman who was desperate to get to Jesus in Luke 7:36-50. In reading this story, can you identify with her? Can you see yourself? O such a desire to get to Jesus – you’ve got a need – it’s a great need – your life is a mess – no one seems to understand – nobody can help you – you’re troubled in heart, troubled in mind – you’re not happy – you’re empty inside – something is missing in your life – it seems that misery is your company and no one cares. Your very heart aches for companionship, for someone who really does care, who really understands you. You hurt inside, and O if that special someone would just take away the hurt and give you true peace! You’ve done a lot of things, been to a lot of places, people have come and gone in your life and still you are not satisfied. You view your life with regret, there just isn’t any fulfillment. You look back on the years and it seems there’s no purpose and no real meaning. Nothing good has been accomplished. You just don’t like how your life is turning out.

Maybe you have failed in life by taking the wrong road and the decisions you have made and the things you’ve done has brought bitterness and sorrow. And now you are hurting inside. Maybe you’ve been pushed aside and you feel rejected. It just seems you’re not wanted. But O if there was just someone that really understood and that really cared. O if there was just somebody that really loved me – to them I would forever be grateful for the rest of my life and I would pledge to them the love and commitment of my soul as long as I live. If this special person would enter my life and help me and give me happiness – I will serve them forever and never lose my gratitude.

This is the picture of this woman in Lukes Gospel. Can I ask you something? When everything else fails, who do you turn to? What is it that you are seeking? What do you need and really want? If you read Gods good book – The Bible, you will see that it was the troubled souls that came to Jesus – it was the desperate that made their way to Him – nothing could stop them. A desert wasn’t too hot or dry to cross. Some walked for miles, others crossed the sea to get to Him. They knew He had their answer - they knew He cared. Some were carried on cots and beds, crying - just get me to Jesus, I know He will love and help me. Great miles some of these souls traveled – weary and tired, still they pressed on. Why? Because they were desperate! They believed – If I can just get to Him, I’ll get what I need – He’ll save me and heal me. I’m hurting now – I’m lonely and troubled but if I can just touch this Divine Healer and Saviour of men’s souls, I know He will turn my life around. He will give me true happiness and satisfy my every need. Is anyone there that is reading this? Is this you? Do you know someone that fits this picture? Listen, this worlds rich, wealthy and famous don’t want Him. The healthy and strong don’t need Him. The lust filled, entertainment minded, pleasure filled people see no need for Jesus. But do you? Do you want Him?

This now brings us to the story in the Bible about a very troubled lonely woman that needed peace in her soul. She had some obstacles to overcome to get to Jesus. She had to cross a social barrier of what others thought about her and she had to press her way through a religious barrier of being looked down upon by Church leaders that considered her unworthy and not good enough for Gods mercy.

THE FIRST STEP IN GETTING HELP

AND DELIVERANCE

The very first thing you must know is that God loves you and He really cares about you! You must believe that Jesus can help you and that He wants to help you! It was impossible to live in that time – in those towns and vicinities that Jesus visited without hearing about Him. Could it have went like this – Hey woman, have you heard the news? Have you heard about that man called Jesus? They say He is coming here to your town. He’s on His way. People are being healed and delivered everywhere He goes. We don’t know who this woman is in this story. Luke does not mention her name. Some believe it was Mary Magdalene out of whom Jesus cast seven devils. But she is a sinner, a bad one that everyone knew. Many believe she was a harlot. Hey woman, in the town He just left, they say He healed the blind who had never seen. He healed the lame and crippled and they walked. Hey sinner woman, they brought to Him the sick and diseased and He cured them. Haven’t you heard – He healed the demoniacs and insane? He gave them back their right mind, and now they have peace. Gone is the oppression and thoughts of hopelessness. Hey woman, Jesus healed their troubled minds and transformed their whole life. He touches everybody that comes to Him – you ought to see these people now – they’re happy and filled with joy. Even the horribly diseased lepers that were filthy outcasts cried out to Him and you ought to see them now – they’re clean, they’re clean and full of joy! Listen, to you who are reading this story, this is the very first step – you must know who this Jesus is and what He can do. What He’s done for others – He will do for you! Just come to Him and ask Him. O what a wonderful Saviour, Redeemer and friend!

THE SECOND STEP TO GETTING HELP

AND DELIVERANCE

The second step to getting victory, help and deliverance is – YOU MUST WANT HELP!! You must see your need. You must see the real condition your mind, body and soul is in. Sometimes, the reason the body is in a mess and the mind a wreck is because of the spiritual condition of the soul. You don’t have God! You don’t have peace because you don’t have Jesus in your heart. You must see your lost condition. You must get tired of the way you are living – get tired of your sins and the sorrows they bring. You must say to yourself – I’m tired of living in misery and spending my life in vain. My life is a wreck and it’s getting worse. I can’t stand to go on like this any longer. I need a change. If I don’t get help, it’s only going to get worse. I can’t stand myself. I have no peace in my heart. There are many people around us that are in this shape – are you one of them? There is help! Do you want it? There is someone who Cares and Loves you!

THE THIRD AND FINAL STEP IN GETTING

VICTORY AND HAPPINESS

IN YOUR LIFE

The next step you must take to get help and find joy in living – you must want it more than anything else in your life. How desperate are you? Your desperation will truly show itself in your effort to come to Jesus! Can’t you see Him dear soul? His arms are outstretched to you and He’s waiting for you to come. He loves you. He’s telling you right now to only believe and come. If you really want help and deliverance, you won’t let anything stand in your way to get to Him. This woman in the Bible that Luke tells about, was probably shunned even by other sinners, a poor outcast. This fits the picture of the druggies, dope addicts and alcoholics of our day whose lives are a mess and a wreck. Sin has taken its toll. Thousands, even millions are bound in sins prison, held in chains of misery. They see no hope out of their troubles and heartaches. They live in a dungeon of despair – O but thank God there is Hope! There is Help! There is freedom! Jesus is your answer. Do you want Him? Do you want to be free?

A WOMANS DESPERATE EFFORT

The woman here in this story was rejected and despised by the religious crowd. She wasn’t fit to come around them and be in their company. No one wanted her. But she is needing help so bad that she is willing to cross every social and religious barrier to get to the Saviour. She walks up the steps and enters the door of a Pharisees house – a door she had never passed through before. (Remember, Pharisees were super self righteous, more holier than thou, considering themselves better and holier than everyone else). Did you know you’ve got to get past what others think to get to Jesus? It doesn’t matter what others think. Your need is so great that it drives out the fear. Listen, people let others stand in their way of getting help. This sinner woman that entered Simon the Pharisees house knew in her heart that Jesus would receive her and not turn her away. She had enough confidence that if she could just get to Him, God would love and forgive her. She would not let a Pharisee stand in her way from getting the Saviours touch. Can I ask you – what are you willing to do to get to Jesus? Can I tell you that you do not have to shrink aside and hide in a corner. You don’t have to escape scornful eyes of people like a beaten animal. God loves you! On this glorious day, human opinion left her because of her overwhelming desire for help.

So why did she enter Simons house to come to Jesus? If you read this story very close, it is believed that she heard Jesus preach somewhere that day or the day before but there was a crowd of people all around Him. She was probably standing on the outskirts listening and watching from a distance. No doubt, as she stood at the edge of the crowd and heard His gracious words of Love and God’s forgiveness for sinners who repented, it touched her heart. (You mean God cares about me? He really loves me?) As she stood in the crowd and heard Him explain the plan of Salvation, how to come to God and be saved and made clean and ready for Heaven, it got hold of her heart. She wanted it. Maybe within her heart she thought – How would I know I’ve been forgiven? How would I know He’s accepted me? I believe the message He preached. It’s touched my heart and I long for God’s love and forgiveness, but it’s not enough to be in the crowd – I want to know Him personally! No doubt as she stood in that crowd, conviction gripped her. She saw herself as vile and sinful. Her sinful life made her ashamed. She was empty. She saw herself undone and lost without God and something must be done. As she stood among the others, seeing and hearing Jesus at a distance, she probably prayed within herself – O God, please forgive me! Lord, I’m sorry for living my life the way I’m living it. I want a change. I want to be saved and have peace in my heart. I want to know I’m ready for Heaven!

NOTHING IS GOING TO STOP ME!

It wasn’t enough to be in the crowd. She had to touch Him personally. She had to know for herself and not another. She had to hear Him personally speak to her. She had to know firsthand that Jesus loved her and had forgiven her. This woman is now on her way to a miracle of love and grace. She is going to show the Lord that she means to go all the way, whatever it takes to obtain salvation and the peace she longs for, whatever the cost. She makes up her mind – I must show Jesus that I’m turning my life completely over to Him. I’m giving Him my whole life, all of me, all my heart and soul, mind and body. I’ve got to bow before Him and surrender all.

THE ALABASTER BOX AND THE

FRAGRANCE OF LOVES

DEVOTION

So she goes home, goes in the room where she has an alabaster box of very costly perfumed ointment. There it is sitting in a special place in her home. It’s a beautiful box – an onyx marble with beautiful shades of color with a translucent white. The contents of perfume was sealed within. To get the attractive expensive perfume out, the box had to be broken! These boxes were only broken on a very special occasion and the sacred contents poured upon a person of great honor who was adored and loved.

So here she goes to Simons house carrying her precious cargo, her gift of adoration and love all sealed up. It’s not the religious Pharisee she wants to see, for he cannot help her. It’s Jesus! Jesus is the one she seeks. He’s sitting in a reclined position at Simons table with his feet behind Him, for Simon had invited Jesus to come and eat with him. Jesus knowing all things, senses someone entering the front door. It’s this poor sin scarred woman. Her burden is heavy. She’s carried the load of guilt and sin long enough. She’s went as far as she can go. It must be removed and taken away. She stands behind Him weeping for she feels unworthy to go around and look Jesus in the face. The tears are now coursing down her face, her heart fully broken. Unable to utter a word, she groans from the load she is carrying, snuffing as she weeps. She falls on her knees at Jesus’ feet. Her tears flow and drip down on His precious feet, enough so that she is able to wash His feet with her tears of sorrow. But O those wonderful tears turn to repentance, and how they did flow! Her hair is long enough that she uses it as a towel to dry them. Humility? O yes! A seeking heart of submission? Yes! She has a longing heart for pardon and forgiveness. Jesus, I heard you the other day preaching about your Father and how He loved us, and I wanted it. The way you described it – He really loves someone like me. I was in that crowd, but that wasn’t enough. I had to come personally. Jesus, until you speak to me personally, my soul will find no rest. I’ll never be happy until you tell me I’m forgiven. I must feel it. I must know it! Before I can take my place among the redeemed, my heart must be assured – I’ve got to know that I am accepted. She kisses His feet and takes the alabaster box and breaks it. I don’t know what she used to break it with, but she had to hit it hard enough to break the marble. The box was broken and when it was, there flowed out a most precious fragrant perfume that filled the whole room. This humble act only typified her heart being broken and her love being poured out to her Saviour. Lord, I am showing you I’m sincere, I’m sorry, please forgive me. I want you more than anything in my life. I want to be your child forever. I’ll serve you the rest of my life!

Jesus now turns and looks at Simon and says – Simon, I have forgiven her a great debt, and I say unto thee – her sins which are many are forgiven, for she loved much. Jesus now turns and lovingly looks the woman in the eyes, her face still wet with tears and says – THY SINS ARE FORGIVEN. Thy faith hath saved thee; GO IN PEACE. The most beautiful words that could ever be spoken. She felt the heavy load that weighed her down lift. O the peace that flooded her soul! Gone now was her sorrow, gone was her weary days and lonely nights. She now had a purpose to live – no more sins, Jesus forgave them and took them all away. Now she is happy, and so can you be dear reader. You might be a sinner, a backslider, you might be addicted to drugs or alcohol, maybe you have failed in some area in your life and now you are hurting. Words can’t describe how you feel inside maybe from broken dreams or bad relationships. O if you had peace and the heavy burden you carry be lifted and taken away! My dear friend, it can be – right where you are – right now!

Do you want Jesus to say these words to you – you are forgiven, go in peace? Just come to Him now – come as you are. Bow at His dear feet and cry to Him. What Jesus did for her He will do for you!

Psalms 95:6 - O come, let us worship and bow down: Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Vs. 7 - For He is our God.

In closing, I would like to say to my readers – There may be some out there who are hurting and suffering. Just like the woman in the Bible with the issue of blood, she was slowly dying. She suffered and spent all she had on physicians and was no better but grew worse. When she heard of Jesus, she pressed her way through the crowd. She was able to get close enough to fall down and touch his garment and was made whole. Weak? O yes! But she was desperate for a healing touch. She wanted to live. It didn’t matter who was around her, for she said – if I may touch but His clothes, I shall be made whole. Her determination and faith saved her that day. She felt in her body she was healed. Remember Jesus’ precious words to her – Daughter, go in peace and be whole of thy plague. Whatever your need is, remember – God cares! He specializes in touching those who bow at His feet! May God Bless all my readers!

Chapter 2

BROKENNESS

BROKEN THINGS

I would like to deal with BROKENESS and broken things. Before God can make anything out of a person and use them for His Glory, they must be Broken. Before a thing can be useful something must be broken. As in the natural so in the Spiritual. Before a house can be built, the mighty tree that stood so big and strong must be cut down and brought to the ground.

Before the ripe grain can cover the fields, the soil must be completely broken down. The sharp point of the plow must turn over the hardened rough sod and the sharp blades of the disc must pulverize the soil to prepare it for the seed. Before there can be life, there must be death. Weeping and Brokeness always precedes real joy! For how could you know the fullness of joy unless you had tasted the bitter dregs of sorrow? Just think of a dear Mother, the joy that floods her heart at the sound of the first cry of her newborn baby – it only came through the travail and tears of childbirth. The greatest blessings to mankind have come through pain.

My dear reader, we will never do anything great for God, never be able to please Him and bring Him Glory, nor can we successfully work for Him and do His will until we are BROKEN. The greatest thing standing in Gods way is our pride and self-will. O to be broken and willing!

BROKEN - TO BE SAVED

Brokeness brings Salvation and the New Birth. Ps. 34:18- The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a Broken Heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Aren’t you glad that the Spirit of God and His convicting power has a way of breaking your stubborn self-will and getting you to see your need for Him? I never really knew I needed Jesus until my world came crashing in. I thank God that He allowed me to come to the end of myself. He let my earthly dreams of making it big in life vanish from view. My worldly ambitions and hopes were dashed in pieces. That’s when I met Jesus!

I wanted to make it big in basketball and sports while in High School. It was my heart’s desire. I was the fastest runner in all High School. But something happened. I knocked my knee out of joint, severely injuring the ligaments while in a game and had to have surgery. It was so bad afterwards that I never recovered. I lost one inch of muscle around my knee. I tried so hard to rebuild the muscle and my strength back in that leg. I had to wear a knee brace while on the ball court.

I remember so well coming back home from playing the games, from running so hard on the ball court, that my knee would swell and hurt with much pain. One particular time I remember making it to the front step of the porch at home and sat down in pain and removed the leg brace. I wouldn’t go in the house, I didn’t want Mom seeing me. I sat down on the step and cried….. Why can’t I be like others? Why can’t I play? Just look at me. Here I set with a bum knee. I’m no good. I’m a failure. The others are having a good time, they’re going to greater things and I’m left out. I had to turn in my uniform and tell the coach I couldn’t play anymore. It totally broke my heart. O dear friend – I didn’t know it then, but looking back, God had something far better for me….. Bless His Holy Name! He didn’t want my name in the worlds lights. He didn’t want me to make a career in sports and forget Him, but to preach and teach His Word and sing His praises. He was getting ready to call me into His Ministry and service.

Remember, the path to God is the path of Brokeness and tears, let downs and shattered dreams. Sometimes the Lord allows us to be put flat on our back so we’ll look up. It’s God’s Grace reaching for the Heart and soul. For most people, the only way they will turn to Him is when everything else fails and they reach that empty place. You must be empty of all selfish ambitions and worldly interests before God can fill you and really use you.

It was along about this time that I turned to drugs. I couldn’t play ball so I joined the wrong crowd and began running with them. I wanted to be a part of the in-crowd, the music, the parties and the highs to have a good time. But this too proved so vain and unfulfilled. The party life could never fill the void. It turned to misery and great bondage. My soul was so empty that words can’t explain. Jesus in His great mercy let me come to the end of myself, the end of the rope. I hit a dead end in my life. I couldn’t go any farther. My whole life was a broken mess. This is where I had to get before I surrendered all to the Lord. Everything I tried FAILED. My dear friend, when the call of God is upon your life, you will never succeed at anything or ever be happy until you fully give in to God. He will surely get your attention.

My life lay in a pile of ashes. When I hit bottom is when I finally looked up to the One Who Loved Me. I knew then I could not make it without God. I called upon the Lord to save me. I am so glad today that I can say that Godly sorrow worketh repentance to Salvation. God’s Love and conviction got a hold of my heart. I was then willing to serve Him. I gave Him all the pieces of my life that sin had broken and thank God He made something good out of it! BROKENESS IS THE ONLY ROUTE TO OUR WONDERFUL FATHER ABOVE!

Broken things describes our journey from the time we were born till we go to the grave. All along life’s path we will find broken things that we once thought were our hopes and dreams. But the dreams of earthly happiness we sought to build without God came to nothing. Oh that precious souls would look to the Lord for the eternal Joy that only He can give. Only Jesus can save. Only He can truly satisfy. If you are experiencing a breaking right now, it’s because He sees you worthy to make something good and useful out of you. The sacrifices that God accepts are always broken sacrifices - a contrite willing Heart that will say, Lord, I am nothing, but here I am – please mold me, make me and use me all for your Glory!

A BROKEN WORLD

If you have noticed and seen the headlines of the News, you see our world is being Broken. We are living in a broken world today as never before. I see the breaking of our society, its ideals and programs, our governments and it’s leaders. The American dream that people use to work so hard for and look forward to is being taken away. I see all around me broken homes, broken hearts, broken vows, broken lives, broken health and wealth. Don’t you think it’s time for the hearts of men to repent and turn to Jesus the heart mender?

Sometimes God allows disappointments, calamities, accidents and failure all because He loves us. He is trying to get peoples’ attention to call