August 18, 2025 • 40 mins
There's a profound difference between being knocked down and being knocked out. In this deeply moving episode, Pastor Lee welcomes Daniel Raynor, whose life exemplifies the redemptive power of God's relentless love even in our darkest moments.
Daniel's story defies the typical assumptions about addiction. Raised in a loving Christian home with both parents present, he was an athlete who enjoyed a particularly close relationship with his father. Yet despite this seemingly ideal upbringing, methamphetamine found its way into his life during high school. His disarmingly honest admission—"I tried it, I liked it"—shatters the myth that addiction only befalls those from troubled backgrounds.
What follows is a raw journey through the valleys of grief and addiction. Daniel shares how he used drugs to numb himself while his father was dying, and how he lost his position in ministry, his marriage, and daily presence in his daughters' lives. The pain is palpable as he describes these losses, yet so is the undercurrent of hope that runs through his testimony.
The turning point arrives unexpectedly. While high on meth and listening to a Christian song, Daniel experiences the Holy Spirit in a way that outshines any drug-induced high. "It was the purest feeling I had ever felt," he explains, "and I was high on meth, so I knew the difference." This powerful encounter begins a non-linear journey toward recovery that eventually leads him back to serving in church.
Daniel's testimony resonates with the prophetic words from Joel 2:25 spoken over his life years ago: "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten." Now remarried and serving alongside his wife, they dream of creating "Restoration Ranch," where their shared passions for roping and barrel racing become vehicles for introducing others to Jesus.
Have you ever felt too far gone for redemption? Listen to this episode and remember that while you may have been down, with God, you're never out. Share this powerful testimony with someone who needs to hear that their story isn't over yet.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
What's going on?
Everybody, how are you doing?
This is Pastor Lee, pastor ofChrist Family Outreach Church,
located in Amelia, virginia, andhere at the table with me today
on this episode of BeyondSunday.
I've got Daniel Rayner.
Daniel, my brother in Christ,how are you today?
Man, I'm so thankful to beherener.
Daniel, my brother in Christ,how are you today?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Man.
I'm so thankful to be here,brother.
Thank you, brother.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Hey, I have been praying about this episode for a
long time.
I know we talked about it maybea month ago or so, give or take
a few weeks, but, man, I'mexcited to have you on this
episode.
So first, before we get going,I want to say thank you.
Thank you for being willing tocome in, to be honest, to share.
You know, there's a lot ofpeople that are going to hear
this episode and they're goingto be sharing it with people
(00:51):
that need to hear it.
Maybe there's some that justneed to hear it for
encouragement, but maybe there'ssome that they're where you
were at one time and they'regoing to be able to take this
testimony and say, hey, look,man, there's hope.
Testimony and say, hey, look,man, there's hope.
Right, if God saved this guy,god can save you.
So everybody that's listening,I encourage you listen to the
entirety of this episode, shareit with people that you know
(01:13):
that need to hear it, and it'sgoing to be a blessing for them.
The reason that I asked you tocome onto the podcast today was
because number one of yourtestimony and what I love about
it, is and we're going to getinto the details of your story
in just a moment.
But for those who do not knowyou personally, you were in
ministry.
Yes, right, and you end upfalling from ministry, but
before you fall, you're servingin a leadership role.
(01:35):
Amen you know, and this is thepiece that I love about it
because here's a brother who'sin the Lord, he's serving in
leadership, but you eventuallyfall to the temptation of using
drugs.
Yes, so you fall out of therole, from serving within the
church, but I love it becausethis is a true redemption story.
Yes, you know, this truly isabout redemption and how someone
(01:56):
could be at such a place ofserving and preaching the gospel
, sharing the truth with youngpeople, stepping in for the
pastor right and preaching, yes,and here you are now falling,
but yet you won't out.
No, and I love that.
And so that is what I believeGod's going to use on today's
(02:17):
episode to encourage people,because here's the good news you
may have been down, but youwon't out.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Amen, amen.
So you know you were down, butyou won't out.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Amen, amen.
So you know you were down butyou were not out.
So God has a plan for you.
The enemy had pushed you around, but the enemy did not win.
Praise God, that's right.
And now you've got this, as Imentioned a moment ago, this
redemption story.
So really, you're a comebackstory.
Yes, you know, you truly are acomeback story, and I believe
that there's people out therelistening today that need to
(02:43):
hear that, because maybe theythink they can't have a comeback
, maybe they think they've lostit all, it's too late for them,
but the truth is is that it'snever too late.
It's never too late, andthey've got to understand that
God's not finished with them yeteither.
So I want to open up with Psalm37, 24, because I just
mentioned that you may have beenpushed down, but you weren't
knocked out.
Psalm 37, 24 says this though hefall, he shall not be cast
(03:05):
headlong, for the Lord, godupholds his hand.
In other words, you may havefallen, but you were not knocked
out of the fight.
So if we could, daniel, beforewe go any deeper into your
testimony, share for someone outthere that's listening today
why they should not give up, nomatter how low they are right
now.
Why should that personstruggling with drugs,
struggling with a pornographyaddiction, maybe going through a
(03:28):
divorce?
Why should that person rightnow not give up on life?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Because God never gives up on us.
Amen, and that's the main deal.
Man, you can go as far as youwant, but he's still right there
waiting on you when you turnback around for him.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
All the time.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
It's so amazing, man, what kind of love is that.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
I don't even understand it, bro.
I know we can't reallyunderstand the heights nor
depths of it.
You know the heights nor depths.
But man, I'm going to tell youit sure is a blessing being in
the love of God.
Amen, amen, bro, as a child,let's get right into it.
As a child, you grew up in thechurch, yes, yes, and I'm just
going to kind of quickly setthis, this childhood up, because
one would think, like man, thisjust sounds like a perfect
story.
How could this guy, you know,fall to the depths that he's
(04:08):
fallen?
So, because I think sometimespeople see people with such
addiction and they think, well,he won't raise right.
You know what I mean.
Like, like that guy, that girl,they just weren't raised right,
or maybe they came from that,and the truth is not everybody
may have come from agenerational curse.
Sometimes people start theirown and if they're not careful,
they pass that down to theirchildren, right?
So let me just kind of set thisup your child growing up in the
(04:31):
church.
Your testimony says that youwere an athlete.
You're playing baseball.
You're playing basketball,you're playing football.
You've got both parents in yourlife right.
Your dad and you had a reallyextremely close relationship.
You said that he's taking youto rodeos, the whole roping
scene.
You guys are doing it, that'sright, and everything's great.
(04:52):
You guys are just buds andyou're loving each other.
And the point I'm trying tomake is this and I said this at
somebody at church todayaddiction and temptation does
not care who it goes after.
You agree with that?
Yes, the devil doesn't care howgood you had it, addiction
doesn't care how strong you maybe.
That's right.
(05:13):
So temptation and addictiondoes not care who it goes after.
I think sometimes as parents wecould say oh well, I don't have
to pray about that, or I don'thave to worry about that because
my kids would never right.
Maybe your kids wouldn't everwant to, but that don't mean the
enemy's not going to try toattack them too.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Would you agree with me there?
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
So we look at these situations and we think, well,
my kids would never.
No, no, no, you got tounderstand this.
Jesus tells us in the Word ofGod that there is an enemy,
satan, who is out there.
To granddads and grandmoms yeah, your kids or grandkids may
never have the desire to dothose things, but that don't
mean that the devil ain't comingwith it.
When you were a young child,you probably never had the
(05:51):
desire to go jump off the deepend either, but some things go
on in the course of your lifethat you end up falling and
we'll get there in a minute,around the end of your high
school career.
Right, you say in your testimonythat you end up trying some
meth.
Okay, and that sets you, daniel, that sets you on a path of
addiction, down this dangerousroad.
Yes, and it's going to hit youmultiple times, not just high
(06:18):
school, college, but even intoadulthood, right?
Yes, how subtle was that?
Let's talk about that for amoment, because I just mentioned
that parents and grandparentsmay say well, my kids would
never.
And I had said that thataddiction doesn't care who it
goes after.
How subtle was it.
Did someone offer it at a party?
Was it at a sporting event.
Share with the listeners howmeth was introduced into your
life, even though you grew up inthis great family.
(06:40):
How was it introduced into yourlife?
Speaker 2 (06:42):
From friends that I had.
You know during that time thatyou would call good friends,
right, you know that's the onesI wanted to hang out with and uh
, but when I tried it, I likedit.
Yeah, I liked the way it mademe feel, I liked you know the
effects of it.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
I loved it.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Yeah and um, so my mom is.
It's funny you said that whileago.
My mom even asked one timewhere did we go wrong?
I said you never did.
You know, like I said, I grewup in the church, you know, and
mom sung in the choir.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Yeah, come on.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
But I was like mom, you didn't go wrong, I tried it,
I liked it, and that's what theflesh does, you know.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
That's where you ended up.
Yeah, yeah, you, you, you.
You end up earning a partialcollege scholarship for for
roping at a college in Texas.
Yes, but that's a big dealright In a roping world.
Oh yeah, you know that's huge,you.
You come back at the end of oneof the semesters and your
testimony says this you comeback at the end of one of your
your semesters in college andyou start using more drugs.
(07:42):
What was it, brother, that madeyou feel like you needed to do
that?
You've got everything happening.
You're on this partialscholarship, you're down in
Texas, you start to use.
What is it that makes you goback?
Because on the outside it lookslike you got it all together.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Yeah, it was, and I was dating this girl and I
didn't want to go back to schoolbecause I was missing her.
Yeah, so I stayed back in NorthCarolina and, um, stay with her
and just the crowd that I wasaround, Um and uh, not talking
junk about nobody or nothing,but these guys used to and it's
something we like to do, yeah,so that gets back to my whole
(08:20):
topic.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Your, your circle matters.
Yes, you agree with thatTremendously.
Yeah, and so what you're sayingis a circle you were hanging
out with.
Well, I guess you could alsosay like this right, you are who
you hang around, yes, for sure.
So I guess some parents couldsay my child would never.
And I guess maybe what theyneed to consider is your child
may never, but what are theirfriends doing?
Because, as their friends do,they may end up doing.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
It's so easy to fall in that and even especially even
if you've got somebody that youfeel close to that does it and
you enjoy it when you do do it.
Yeah, it's hard to stay awayfrom.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Yeah, it's hard to combat that once you know the
flesh likes it.
And this is what I'm doing, andreally it comes down to this
Rather than choose Christ, we'rechoosing flesh.
So let's fast forward.
Six or seven years.
You've got a daughter, yourfirst daughter is born, and
later in the year you getmarried yes, right.
And then, two years after youget married, in 2009, your dad
(09:17):
goes on to be with the Lord yes.
And in your testimony you saythat you can remember when your
dad's passing.
You can remember being in thehospital using drugs.
Yes, Talk about for a moment ifyou will talk about the pain,
because somewhere out therethere's a listener right now who
feels like the only thing theyhave to numb the pain is drugs,
(09:39):
but you're a firsthand witnessthat Jesus Christ is the only
one that can fix it.
So what's that like?
You're in the bathroom, you'reusing drugs, and why?
Why?
Speaker 2 (09:48):
I feel like that's a way I could cope.
I was using.
We're always trying to fillthat void when we don't have
Jesus and we using drugs, women,alcohol, whatever it may be
that you deal with you're tryingto fill a void that only Jesus
can fill.
That's right.
So that was a way I could kindof be numb to the situation.
(10:10):
It made me feel good.
So I kept using, especiallyduring a time like this and I
was losing my dad and it waspretty strong.
I remember my family had leftthe night that he passed away.
It was like one o'clock in themorning on Christmas day and he
finally took his last breath anduh, I remember sitting there,
being the only one with him, anduh, but yes, I was high.
(10:32):
And even the next morning whenI left, after he had passed, I
went home and I went to afriend's house and started using
again.
It's a way that I could keepmyself, I thought, feeling good
and not have to deal with it.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Yeah, you were staying numb, that's how you
were choosing to cope, right,that's how you were coping with
it all Months after your dadwent on to be with the Lord and
right prior to beginning therecording of this episode we
were talking about, you had aclose friend and he had a large
family I think you said fivechildren, yes, but he had a
(11:09):
garage outside with a set ofdrums in it.
Set a drum love to play, allright.
So set that up, because you endup.
You end up driving down theroad after leaving this guy's
garage one night, but but justset up the fact that what you
and your, you and your buddywere in the garage, what y'all
are doing, and even though whatyou're doing, he, he, still
believes.
So just kind of set that up tothe listeners.
Just share with them what youshared with me earlier oh, man
it it was.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Um, I would go over there to just we had a
relationship where we would gethigh together.
Um, yes, he was married, hadsome, had some children and
stuff.
And uh, we had a habit, we hadan addiction, and we'd stay out
there and we he'd play his drumsI might be doing whatever, um,
but we would use and we woulduse.
(11:42):
And uh, he asked me one nightor one day, whatever time it was
, and he said, man, um, do youknow where you're going If you,
when you die?
And I'm like man, I go tochurch.
I grew up in church he said, Iain't asked you that.
Do you know where you're goingto go when you leave this world?
And I'm like, you know, that'ssomething to think about.
Well, time goes on, or weeks goon, and we start talking about
(12:06):
the Lord, yeah, and, man, it'sso wild, it's so crazy, man, it
sounds crazy, but I would goover there and use.
But it would be to where wewould talk about Jesus and read
the word, yeah, listen to songs,more than we were getting high.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Ain't that how God God will end up turning it.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Yeah, it's amazing, he'll come down to the pits of
hell and bring you out of it.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
He'll just let it, bro.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Come on, man, if you'll just let him, he'll come
out, because that's where wewere at.
Yeah, you know we could havebeen doing anything, but we just
wanted to get high.
Yeah, but God come into thatand said, okay, you're gonna,
you're gonna find me here.
You know what's amazing.
You know that's so good, brohim eating.
You know, with the sinners, andyou know in the word of god,
(12:50):
you know it talks about, he hungout with the sinners and the
pharisees couldn't figure it out.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
I think that's why it's so important, brother
daniel, that as christians, wedon't judge anybody.
Yes, you know, because, man,look at this.
Here you guys are, you're usingdrug.
We are still using meth at thispoint, oh yes.
Here you guys are, you're usingdrugs.
Were y'all still using meth atthis point?
Oh yes.
So you guys are.
You're strung out on meth.
Right here You're in the garageusing drugs, yes, and yet here
this dude is behind the drums.
You're off to the side, yousaid, doing whatever, y'all are
(13:15):
both on drugs and he's asking aquestion about eternity.
Yes, you know, and I think thatas Christians, we've got to be
careful that we just don't seesomebody, you know, walking down
the sidewalk on drugs or downthe aisle at the grocery, the
grocery mall, you know whatever,at the grocery store, at the
shopping mall.
We don't look at them and say,oh man, look at him, get away,
get away, get away, kids, youknow, I mean they might be
having some real questions, justlike y'all did.
(13:37):
Some eternity, some eternalquestions about salvation.
And you're right, man Jesus,about salvation.
And you're right, man Jesus atewith the sinners, and it wasn't
to participate in the sin, itwas to offer them hope and love
and encouragement and redemptionand rescuing them from the sin
right.
And so, man, I think thatthat's so deep man.
So you know, here you guys are,you're on this map, and he
(13:59):
asked a question about eternallife.
So you're over there, y'all,start opening up the Word as you
just shared, you, you, you'reover there, y'all, y'all start
opening up the word as you justshared.
You know, share with thelisteners about that time.
You're driving, you're drivinghome and what went on from from
after leaving this guy's garage.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
So he would, he would make me a CD and, uh, he had
some good Christian songs on itand, like I said, man, I'm
getting more and more involvedin it.
But I felt like the devil wasstill playing with me because I
was still staying intoxicated,high on meth, but I was reading
the word yeah.
So some things would be alittle bit fuzzy to me, but you
know, it still was working.
(14:35):
God was still working, amen.
So I get the CD and the Crabfamily.
I remember that song.
He'll Make a Way, yes, he will.
And I left his house, headedback to my house because I was
married at the time, had a child, and was headed back down the
road and I remember putting thatCD in.
(14:55):
I remember playing that songand when it started playing, man
, I just felt like praying and Ijust started crying and I just
started praying.
I was like God, come my life.
You know, and I don't evenremember the words I said, but I
remember the Holy Spirit comingall over me, brother, and it
was the purest feeling I hadever felt, all over my body, and
I was high on meth, so I knewthe difference.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Yeah, come on, brother, you knew the difference
, I love that, oh, I knew thedifference.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
And, uh, man, I got home that night I went, you know
, whatever I did, whether Islept or not.
But that next morning I calledhim and you know I told him I
said, man, something happened.
I remember him saying you know,you got saved, brother.
And I was like, yeah, thatfeels pretty good, yeah.
So some time went by and Ifinally gave it up the meth use
(15:43):
and different things.
And then years led by and I gotinto the ministry and different
things, the youth.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Praise God.
Man, somewhere out there,someone's listening right now
and they're struggling with theaddiction and they're using it
to numb themselves.
They're using it, like you saidearlier, just being honest.
You enjoyed the high.
You know your flesh enjoyed it,but I love what you were just
talking about right there.
This was a high that you ain'tnever felt before.
It was a high of the HolySpirit coming upon you and it
(16:11):
outdid any drug that you've everexperienced before.
Yes, man, that's powerful.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Such a pure feeling, bro.
Such a pure feeling, just.
I guess you could say the holygoosebumps, or whatever at the
time.
Yeah, yeah, I guess you couldsay the Holy the, the Holy
goosebumps, or whatever at thetime you know, but man, it was
just, it was just the purestfeeling.
come all over me, brother, andit was.
It was just wonderful and uh,you know, and I and I did
struggle some after that.
Um, you know, we had anotherchild in 2012 and in 2013, I
(16:42):
lost my sister.
So I went from losing my dad in2009 to losing my sister in
2013.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
But so in 2013, when she passes your testimony, says
that you start battling withdepression.
Yes, how did you battledepression at the time of your
sister passing?
What was your go to right?
Speaker 2 (17:01):
there man I was.
I was serving the Lord then,but I was having panic attacks
and things and different thingswas going on during that time
and, uh, but he ended up withsome medical help as well, to
God, put me on a path to whereit kind of leveled me out and
everything was good, um, duringthat.
(17:23):
But and then right after that Iwas attending Bible studies and
different things.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
And, um, it's just.
It's just wonderful what someof the people I met during that
time, some brothers and sistersin Christ, because I had a
scripture that was prophesiedover my life.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Yeah, absolutely, we could get into that.
Actually, right now, becausetime moves on, you end up
teaching the youth at yourchurch, which is amazing, you
know what I mean.
I mean this whole point righthere of what God is beginning to
do in your life at this point,and not only are you speaking to
the youth and leading the youth, you're filling in for the
(18:01):
pastor.
Sometimes you start to speak atthe cowboy church services with
roping and things like that andJoel 225 that you just
mentioned.
Joel 225 is prophesied overyour life and for the listeners
that don't know it, Joel 225 isthis I will restore you to the
(18:21):
years that the swarming locusthas eaten the hopper, the
destroyer and the cutter, mygreat army, which I sent among
you.
So share with the listenerswhat Joel 225, when it was
prophesied over you, what thatmeans for Daniel Rayner's life.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
You know, actually I think I'm just starting to get
to that part now.
It's amazing, because this wasback in 2000.
I'm going to say probably 13,14, somewhere in there, or maybe
even a little bit before that.
He'd done it then, but I stillfell away yeah it's, it's so,
(19:01):
man, the love of god is soamazing because I can sit right
here and just feel like how farwould I be if I hadn't turned
the back away from him evenafter the ministry yeah but he's
been there the whole time, theentire time, so he never left me
, that's right.
And if I could give anyencouragement to anybody out
(19:22):
there listening, you know, ifyou think you're too far from
God he's never left you.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
He's always in the room.
He's always there, yeah, nomatter how ugly the room is.
Yes, he's, he's.
He's there with you.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Yes, yes, yeah, so you, you, you can testify to
that, that you know God has beenwith you the entire time, the
entire time, even when I runaway from it, the scripture
prophesying over my life was wasmajor because, um, I know that
he's restored to years and he'sgoing to, and he's still doing
and he's still doing you.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
you end up being unfaithful in your marriage.
Yes, and in your words you saythis pleasing the flesh.
Galatians 5, 16, and 17 is apassage that I read in your
testimony.
I'm going to read that to thelisteners Galatians 5, 16
through 17.
If you got your Bibles you cango there.
Galatians 5, 16 and 17 saysthis.
(20:13):
But I say walk by the spirit.
Capital S the spirit of God.
But I say walk by the spiritand you will not gratify the
desires of the flesh.
But the desires of the fleshare against the spirit and the
desires of the spirit areagainst the flesh, for these are
opposed to each other to keepyou from doing the things you
(20:33):
want to do.
For these are opposed to eachother to keep you from doing the
things you want to do.
Because of how you were living,you obviously had to step away
from your leadership position atthis point within the church.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Yes, I felt kind of hypocritical.
Actually, you know, how can Isit there and tell these kids,
this youth here, things not todo?
That I was struggling with andI know we all struggle, don't
(21:02):
don't take me wrong on that orwhatever but yeah, you know, the
things that I were doing wastoo it was too much, you know,
and uh, I was rodeoing a lotthen at that time, so I was
traveling a lot, so I juststepped away.
I felt like that was going tobe the best thing to do.
Yeah, but uh, it just it kindof down spiraled after that
again as well.
Yeah, and uh, from women to.
You know, I was always chasinga high, always chasing a high
(21:24):
from either drugs, women, rodeoseven yeah, um, and at that
point and you're looking in allthe wrong areas yes, all the
wrong
Speaker 1 (21:33):
because, man, here's the crazy thing, I forgot my
first love.
Yeah, yeah, that's so rightI'll.
Because, man, here's the crazything, I forgot my first love.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's soright.
I'll get ready to say here'sthe thing you had already
experienced, the most purest,highest high that you could ever
experience, and that's when theHoly Spirit of God fell over
you.
You know, when you werelistening to the music and the
Crab Family song.
He Will Make A Way.
You know, you had alreadyexperienced it and and as
Christians we've always been,you know, we've been there,
(21:55):
whether we've understood it ornot, maybe we always haven't,
but I'm reminded of the children, israel.
You know God delivers them andthen they go right back to the
old ways of living.
And so many times we're like,how could they do that?
But we do that ourselves, don't?
Speaker 2 (22:08):
we Amen, you know.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
so yeah, you had experienced such a high?
How many Christians haveexperienced?
We're guilty, I'm guilty of it.
We experience that high andthen days later, weeks later,
sometimes minutes or hours later, we're pleasing our own
thoughts.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yes, Pleasing our own flesh again.
Yeah, yeah, and that's thething.
What I have to remember, andwhat all of us need to remember,
is we're either serving God orwe're not.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
There's no, in between it's either light or
dark.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Yeah, it's either light or dark.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
The Bible tells us that yes, yeah, so, and God, god
don't want us lukewarm.
No, choose ye today who you goserve.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Amen, brother Amen.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Yeah, you, you and your wife, y'all, um, y'all end
up separating.
Yes, y'all try to make it work.
Yes, back and forth in and outof trying to make it work, I
would imagine it's toxic attimes, yes, but ultimately it
ends up in divorce, yes, andduring that process, more women
(23:06):
enter the picture.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
You start using again .
Has meth always been the drugof choice?
Yes, okay, yes.
So here you're back on methagain, daniel.
To some out there, thisquestion may be a no-brainer,
especially people who strugglewith addiction, but I'm going to
ask it because not everybodyhas battled a drug addiction
before.
So I think it's important thatthey understand, especially if
(23:28):
they have a loved one or knowsomeone who is battling a drug
addiction.
Okay, why do you think you keptgoing back to the drugs,
knowing that they were no goodfor you, knowing what the end
game looked like, but why wouldyou keep going back?
Share with someone out therethat has a loved one or has
someone that they truly love andthey keep going back, but yet
(23:49):
they can't understand why thatperson keeps going back.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Brother, I think the biggest thing for me was I
didn't stay grounded, in truth,I didn't stay walking with the
one that already saved me fromall of that.
I just kind of turned away anddidn't even realize it.
Yeah, and the enemy is sostrong and the flesh is in the
world, you can't beat himwithout Jesus.
Yeah, you can't, that's right,and so I think the biggest thing
(24:16):
that I could tell somebody isstay grounded in the word.
Go to a church like CFO, situnder a pastor like yourself,
praise God that teaches the wordof God.
That really get around.
Brothers and sisters BrotherFrankie's been on here, you know
.
You know Brother Billy, brotherTrey, all of them have been an
(24:36):
inspiration to me, brother, justhaving Brother Martin that
we've seen, you know, andthere's so many that Brother Ed
and we'll get into so many names, man.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
Yeah, I told my wife the other day.
I said, you know, we are soblessed that God has sent and I
hope this is for every churchout there.
So I'm not just sitting here,you know, blowing our church up
just to say, hey, look at us, Ihope this is at every church out
there, but we are so blessedthat God has sent so many good
people and we're not perfectpeople, but, man, I mean truly
(25:08):
some people to this ministrythat love the Lord, that love
the Lord, that's right.
So that's what you're saying.
You know find a good Bibleteaching, bible preaching church
that honors and both fears theLord.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Yes, Because the thing about it was, man, I could
tell I enjoyed sin and thatsounds terrible, you know, when
you say it out like that, buteven the word says sin was fun
for a season or something tothat nature.
You know, and I could tell, youknow, I was like if I don't
stay grounded and stay with uh,people that make me accountable,
(25:45):
you know, um, then you're goingto fail.
Yeah, You're going to fail, andI feel like the relationship
with Jesus Christ is supposed to, is going to have to be your
most important relationship Ifyou want to succeed through the
addictions.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
We talked a little bit about your two daughters,
right?
Yes, share with that, becausenow you're all the way here in
Virginia, they're down South andNorth Carolina, and maybe
there's some people out thereright now they're they're
divorced from, from their, andmaybe there's some people out
there right now they're divorcedfrom their spouse and they're
no longer in the house where thechildren are.
So just talk about that,because I know there's hurt
(26:23):
there.
I know you have shared with meI mean just really, since I
first knew you how much you loveyour girls.
Yes, and anyone that knows youhears and gets to witness your
heart about those two girls.
Yes, and anyone that knows youhears and and and and gets to
witness your heart about thosetwo girls.
I've never met them, but I knowthat their daddy loves them.
Yes, you know so.
So just share what that's like.
(26:43):
God has you here right now, atthis season in your life.
He's, he's, he's using youright here, where you're at, but
part of your heart is down inNorth Carolina.
What's, what's that about?
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Man, I struggle today with it.
I mean it's an everyday.
Yeah, it hurts.
You go through a lot ofthoughts yeah, was I a bad dad,
you know?
Am I not there?
Did you do enough?
Yeah, Did I do enough, did I?
You know?
I don't get to see her get homefrom school, you know which?
(27:15):
My oldest daughter is 18 now,but my youngest is 13.
She just started, actuallyyesterday, uh, monday, she
started um eighth grade, so it'dbe her last year of middle
school, yeah, and before shegoes to high school and she
plays basketball and dance and Ido get to get down there and
see them and stuff.
But but, man, it is a strugglebeing away from them, because
(27:37):
you know, you think about Godblessed you with two and then,
from the choices that I made,that's, I kind of feel like
sometimes that's consequencesfor the choices I made, man,
that I have to live with beingaway from my daughters and, yes,
it hurts, but I am thankfulthat I still do have some
relationship with them.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
Absolutely.
That's the beauty, because I'veheard so many people talk about
how divorce is just ruined andwrecked.
Yes, that opportunity to haverelationship with their
daughters or their sons, theirchildren, so the fact that your
girls still love dad and stillwant dad to come down and visit
(28:17):
is really a beautiful thing andit really is, at this point in
life, a gift that you can showup and be present and be part of
their lives.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Yes, even though you're no longer living in the
house that's right, and likesaturday, I went down and hung
out with my youngest daughter,so it was great and I love
seeing them all the time.
But the way things happened,you know it is a struggle to to.
You know it does hurt.
It is it hurts becauseeverybody wants to be with their
children, you know especially,and then when that's took away,
(28:46):
you know you're really.
But that's where I reallyreally try to lean in and say
God, you got this.
You know what you're doing, Idon't, and that's why Proverbs 3
, 5, and 6 is so big to me.
Man, you know, trust in theLord with all your heart and
lean not on your ownunderstanding.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall
direct your path.
So I've got to trust in him andnot lean on my own heart.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
We're at the place in your testimony where you go on
to meet this woman named Adrian,yes, who is going to eventually
become your wife.
Yes, right.
And and you say in yourtestimony that she wouldn't date
you for several months becauseshe knew your reputation.
Amen, bro, that's right.
Well, I'd say that's a goodwoman.
Yeah, that's a good woman.
(29:32):
So there was some.
There was some off and onmoments in the relationship.
Once you guys finally gettogether, she gives you a chance
Right?
You share in the testimony.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Even if she didn't want to, she did there you go,
there you go Well sometimes.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
You know, what I've experienced in life is, brother,
is that when people knowthey've got a calling on their
life to be with this person orto do this thing you know in
ministry or whatever and they'verun from it, it can be
miserable watching people fightsomething that they're called to
do or someone that they'recalled to be with.
You know what I mean.
They're resisting it and it'sjust this inward wrestle.
(30:06):
You know what I mean, like thisinward battle of resistance.
You know what I mean.
But so you guys are together,y'all are dating, you know, and
on and off, right, on and off.
But once and I love this you sayin your testimony that once you
put Jesus first, everythingstarted beginning to click the
right way and the way.
(30:26):
I would kind of say it.
When I've read your testimony acouple of times already, this
is kind of the thing thatclicked in my head when I was
reading it.
You made Jesus Christ apriority in your life and you
made sure that if Jesus Christis going to be a priority in
your life, then that means he'sgoing to be a priority in your
relationship with Adrian.
Yes, so what's that look like?
(30:47):
Tell the listeners how, onceyou put Jesus first, things
started clicking.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
Well, the first.
I mean we broke up severaltimes during our relationship
when I moved up to Virginia and,um, each time we would split up
I'd be like man, I got to getAdrian back.
I got to get her back, whateverthe case may be, I could only
think about her.
But that last time we split upyou know I'm sure I had a little
(31:15):
bit of that to start with, butI finally, god had finally
pulled me back again.
He finally got me again.
You know what I'm saying Likeokay, lord, I'm yours.
And when I finally startedsearching him, seeking him,
because he says you know, if youseek me with your whole heart,
you'll find me.
You know, amen.
And so I started seeking him,searching him.
(31:39):
Brother Donnie Lawson and BertLawson you know I was staying
with them working for their sonand different things.
They introduced me to themissionaries down in Texas.
I got to go to be with CFO onthe mission trip and things in
Mexico.
Man, it was just such ablessing.
But when I got down there Ifinally started realizing my
(32:01):
identity in Christ.
Amen, amen.
You know, I'd got to the pointwhere I'd forgot all that.
I'd forgot what God had alreadydone for me for so long.
It's amazing how the enemy surewon't remind you of what God's
done for you and the flesh wouldjust keep you away from it.
Yeah, but I finally got to apoint.
I was like, okay, I'm a childof God, I'm not a drug addict,
(32:23):
I'm not a team roper, I'm not awomanizer, I'm not this.
I'm not that.
I'm a child of God, man, I'mredeemed, I'm saved by the most
high Amen, brother, we're goingto live together for eternity,
amen.
So when I got to that point, Isaid okay.
And you know what's crazy man,the this.
I'm 42 years old and, uh, thefirst time ever, this new year's
(32:48):
, okay, january, the first, thatnew year's Eve night, you know,
usually I'd be at a party.
Usually, you know, you'rebringing in the New Year, or
whatever.
I spent that night fasting Comeon, man, and praying.
Man, come on and reading theWord bro Right by myself.
And I was like, god, I'm goingto do that this year.
Yeah, and man, some time wentby and when I finally grabbed a
(33:13):
hold of Jesus, like I wassupposed to, he brought her back
, come on.
So it's so good.
It's so amazing how he works.
You know, you could pray aboutit every day.
Well, god, what do you wantfrom me?
What have I got to do, whatever?
But until you just surrenderand you say, okay, Lord, she's
(33:34):
yours, you do whatever you haveto do with her, you know, but I
found myself praying for a lot,praying for his son, which is my
stepson, you know, and it'sjust, it's amazing what God will
do when you finally surrenderto him.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
Yeah, because as you put him first, now you see,
adrian putting him first, yes,and now you can be the servant
of the Lord, god most high, andyou can now be the husband that
he's called you to be thespiritual leader that I'm
supposed to be.
And you can only be thathusband and that leader because
(34:13):
you're a first servant of GodAlmighty.
Yes, and that's the beauty init.
It's like God is saying, hey,come get close to me so I can
train you to be who you need tobe for her.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
For your stepson and for the church that you call
family.
Yes, that you call home.
That's right, you know.
So.
Here's the redemption story.
Yet again, another chaptercalled redemption in your book,
here called Life right.
Yes, you're now forgiven.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Thank you, Lord.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
Healed, cleansed set free from addiction.
Yes, thank you, lord, healed,cleansed, set free from
addiction.
Yes Amen, hallelujah, praiseGod.
You're back in church all thetime, regular, all the time, bro
.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
I love to see your face.
I was going to say, bro, I loveto see you, man.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
You come in and get this big hug and I know it's
real.
Yes, I know it's genuine.
It's not something that's justquick in passing.
I know it's because we loveeach other in Christ and we're
brothers and we're there foreach other.
Amen.
The past couple of weeks I meanyou talk about another
redemptive chapter in thisredemption story the past couple
of weeks you even opened theservice up on Sunday mornings in
(35:15):
prayer.
Such a blessing bro, it's ablessing to have you do it, and
let me just ask you this Werethere times in your life?
Did you ever think that you'dbe serving in ministry again, at
any level?
Speaker 2 (35:29):
No, no, um, especially up the last several
years, divorce, then runningwild again, you know whatever.
And uh, no, I really hadn'teven.
That's what's so wild man Like.
No, I really hadn't even.
That's what's so wild man Like.
As we talked about earlier,you're either serving God or
you're serving self or servingyou know, your light or darkness
(35:51):
.
And you can be in darkness andnot even realize it.
Yeah, because maybe you've beenin the light before.
Yeah, or maybe you've not quitegot to the light yet, but you
think, I'm all right.
I'm all right, I'm all right.
Just go to Jesus, make himfirst.
You know, matthew 6, 33 saysseek he first and his
(36:12):
righteousness, seek the kingdomand his righteousness, and I'll
supply all your needs.
And when you finally do that,you'll have a relationship that
can keep you away from thethings that I kept running to.
And it's so major man.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
The beauty of it.
When I, when I think about,like, what God has brought you
through and where you're at nowand now you're in church praying
, opening up a service I think Ithink about Paul, used to be
known as Saul, and here he is,out there trying to murder
(36:51):
Christians and overseeing thedeath of Christians, and he's
got permission to go lock upChristians.
But yet God transforms the man,and this man that was
headhunting the church literallyheadhunting the church.
I mean he wants them dead orlocked up in prison now wrote
(37:14):
most of the books in the NewTestament of the Bible.
You know what I mean.
So he goes from trying tocripple the church to trying to
strengthen the church.
So I just want to encourage thelisteners out there.
If you're that person or if youknow someone that you feel you
(37:34):
or they are unusable because oftheir past or their present,
which you're going through rightnow, I want to tell you that
your life is not over.
What you're going through rightnow.
I want to tell you that yourlife is not over.
Your opportunity to serve JesusChrist as King of kings and
Lord of lords, your Savior, isnot over.
There's always hope.
Yes, you can be part of aredemptive story.
(37:54):
You can be part of thatredemption story to where, yes,
even you too can serve in thehouse of God again.
Yes, you know, and I think it'sgreat man, you mentioned that in
your testimony.
You said that God restoring theyears from Joel to 25, that
prophecy over your life is evenhappening right now.
(38:16):
You've already said that evenhere on this episode.
You believe that this is therestoration part of that
prophecy over your life.
Yes, and in your testimony youeven mentioned that your wife
had mentioned to you and talksabout wanting to run a ranch.
Yes, and she wants to call thisranch Restoration Ranch.
(38:37):
Right, and I think that'sbeautiful man.
So, restoration Ranch.
Let's talk about that visionfor a moment.
Restoration Ranch is a ranchwhere people can come together
and there's a purpose to bringother people to Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior, to worship God,to barrel, race, to rope.
(38:58):
What's that vision all about?
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Man, it would be great to have them come in.
See, I've give clinics inroping before, like give lessons
and stuff, and she does lessonsin barrel racing as well and if
we could have them come in toget lessons and they think
they're getting something thatthey and they are, they're
getting lessons to do somethingthey really enjoy doing.
But if we can give them jesus,that's what it's all about.
(39:21):
That's what it's all about yeah, yeah, if we can give them
Jesus, that's what it's allabout.
That's what it's all about,yeah, yeah, if we can.
You know, I'll be glad to teachanybody, to put on clinics, to
put on rope in schools, to helppeople learn to rope.
But I first want to tell themabout Jesus.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
That's what it's all about, brother.
And that's how God takessomething and makes it
successful.
Yes, when we point to JesusChrist first, that's right, amen
.
Well, guys, I'm going to tellyou Daniel Rayner is a real
person.
This testimony that you'veheard today is a real live
testimony and God's stillworking it out.
Amen, brother, amen.
And if you would like to meethim I hope it's okay for me to
(39:57):
say this, but if you would liketo meet him, you are more than
welcome to attend one of ourchurch services on Sunday
mornings at CFO.
Doors open at 930 and we beginservice at 10 o'clock.
God bless you all.
Until next time, on the nextepisode of Beyond Sunday.
What's going on?
Everybody, how are you doing?
This is Pastor Lee, pastor ofChrist Family Outreach Church,
located in Amelia, virginia, andhere at the table with me today
on this episode of BeyondSunday.
I've got Daniel Rayner.
Daniel, my brother in Christ,how are you today?
Man, I'm so thankful to beherener.
Daniel, my brother in Christ,how are you today?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Man.
I'm so thankful to be here,brother.
Thank you, brother.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Hey, I have been praying about this episode for a
long time.
I know we talked about it maybea month ago or so, give or take
a few weeks, but, man, I'mexcited to have you on this
episode.
So first, before we get going,I want to say thank you.
Thank you for being willing tocome in, to be honest, to share.
You know, there's a lot ofpeople that are going to hear
this episode and they're goingto be sharing it with people
(00:51):
that need to hear it.
Maybe there's some that justneed to hear it for
encouragement, but maybe there'ssome that they're where you
were at one time and they'regoing to be able to take this
testimony and say, hey, look,man, there's hope.
Testimony and say, hey, look,man, there's hope.
Right, if God saved this guy,god can save you.
So everybody that's listening,I encourage you listen to the
entirety of this episode, shareit with people that you know
(01:13):
that need to hear it, and it'sgoing to be a blessing for them.
The reason that I asked you tocome onto the podcast today was
because number one of yourtestimony and what I love about
it, is and we're going to getinto the details of your story
in just a moment.
But for those who do not knowyou personally, you were in
ministry.
Yes, right, and you end upfalling from ministry, but
before you fall, you're servingin a leadership role.
(01:35):
Amen you know, and this is thepiece that I love about it
because here's a brother who'sin the Lord, he's serving in
leadership, but you eventuallyfall to the temptation of using
drugs.
Yes, so you fall out of therole, from serving within the
church, but I love it becausethis is a true redemption story.
Yes, you know, this truly isabout redemption and how someone
(01:56):
could be at such a place ofserving and preaching the gospel
, sharing the truth with youngpeople, stepping in for the
pastor right and preaching, yes,and here you are now falling,
but yet you won't out.
No, and I love that.
And so that is what I believeGod's going to use on today's
(02:17):
episode to encourage people,because here's the good news you
may have been down, but youwon't out.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Amen, amen.
So you know you were down, butyou won't out.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Amen, amen.
So you know you were down butyou were not out.
So God has a plan for you.
The enemy had pushed you around, but the enemy did not win.
Praise God, that's right.
And now you've got this, as Imentioned a moment ago, this
redemption story.
So really, you're a comebackstory.
Yes, you know, you truly are acomeback story, and I believe
that there's people out therelistening today that need to
(02:43):
hear that, because maybe theythink they can't have a comeback
, maybe they think they've lostit all, it's too late for them,
but the truth is is that it'snever too late.
It's never too late, andthey've got to understand that
God's not finished with them yeteither.
So I want to open up with Psalm37, 24, because I just
mentioned that you may have beenpushed down, but you weren't
knocked out.
Psalm 37, 24 says this though hefall, he shall not be cast
(03:05):
headlong, for the Lord, godupholds his hand.
In other words, you may havefallen, but you were not knocked
out of the fight.
So if we could, daniel, beforewe go any deeper into your
testimony, share for someone outthere that's listening today
why they should not give up, nomatter how low they are right
now.
Why should that personstruggling with drugs,
struggling with a pornographyaddiction, maybe going through a
(03:28):
divorce?
Why should that person rightnow not give up on life?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Because God never gives up on us.
Amen, and that's the main deal.
Man, you can go as far as youwant, but he's still right there
waiting on you when you turnback around for him.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
All the time.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
It's so amazing, man, what kind of love is that.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
I don't even understand it, bro.
I know we can't reallyunderstand the heights nor
depths of it.
You know the heights nor depths.
But man, I'm going to tell youit sure is a blessing being in
the love of God.
Amen, amen, bro, as a child,let's get right into it.
As a child, you grew up in thechurch, yes, yes, and I'm just
going to kind of quickly setthis, this childhood up, because
one would think, like man, thisjust sounds like a perfect
story.
How could this guy, you know,fall to the depths that he's
(04:08):
fallen?
So, because I think sometimespeople see people with such
addiction and they think, well,he won't raise right.
You know what I mean.
Like, like that guy, that girl,they just weren't raised right,
or maybe they came from that,and the truth is not everybody
may have come from agenerational curse.
Sometimes people start theirown and if they're not careful,
they pass that down to theirchildren, right?
So let me just kind of set thisup your child growing up in the
(04:31):
church.
Your testimony says that youwere an athlete.
You're playing baseball.
You're playing basketball,you're playing football.
You've got both parents in yourlife right.
Your dad and you had a reallyextremely close relationship.
You said that he's taking youto rodeos, the whole roping
scene.
You guys are doing it, that'sright, and everything's great.
(04:52):
You guys are just buds andyou're loving each other.
And the point I'm trying tomake is this and I said this at
somebody at church todayaddiction and temptation does
not care who it goes after.
You agree with that?
Yes, the devil doesn't care howgood you had it, addiction
doesn't care how strong you maybe.
That's right.
(05:13):
So temptation and addictiondoes not care who it goes after.
I think sometimes as parents wecould say oh well, I don't have
to pray about that, or I don'thave to worry about that because
my kids would never right.
Maybe your kids wouldn't everwant to, but that don't mean the
enemy's not going to try toattack them too.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Would you agree with me there?
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
So we look at these situations and we think, well,
my kids would never.
No, no, no, you got tounderstand this.
Jesus tells us in the Word ofGod that there is an enemy,
satan, who is out there.
To granddads and grandmoms yeah, your kids or grandkids may
never have the desire to dothose things, but that don't
mean that the devil ain't comingwith it.
When you were a young child,you probably never had the
(05:51):
desire to go jump off the deepend either, but some things go
on in the course of your lifethat you end up falling and
we'll get there in a minute,around the end of your high
school career.
Right, you say in your testimonythat you end up trying some
meth.
Okay, and that sets you, daniel, that sets you on a path of
addiction, down this dangerousroad.
Yes, and it's going to hit youmultiple times, not just high
(06:18):
school, college, but even intoadulthood, right?
Yes, how subtle was that?
Let's talk about that for amoment, because I just mentioned
that parents and grandparentsmay say well, my kids would
never.
And I had said that thataddiction doesn't care who it
goes after.
How subtle was it.
Did someone offer it at a party?
Was it at a sporting event.
Share with the listeners howmeth was introduced into your
life, even though you grew up inthis great family.
(06:40):
How was it introduced into yourlife?
Speaker 2 (06:42):
From friends that I had.
You know during that time thatyou would call good friends,
right, you know that's the onesI wanted to hang out with and uh
, but when I tried it, I likedit.
Yeah, I liked the way it mademe feel, I liked you know the
effects of it.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
I loved it.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Yeah and um, so my mom is.
It's funny you said that whileago.
My mom even asked one timewhere did we go wrong?
I said you never did.
You know, like I said, I grewup in the church, you know, and
mom sung in the choir.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Yeah, come on.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
But I was like mom, you didn't go wrong, I tried it,
I liked it, and that's what theflesh does, you know.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
That's where you ended up.
Yeah, yeah, you, you, you.
You end up earning a partialcollege scholarship for for
roping at a college in Texas.
Yes, but that's a big dealright In a roping world.
Oh yeah, you know that's huge,you.
You come back at the end of oneof the semesters and your
testimony says this you comeback at the end of one of your
your semesters in college andyou start using more drugs.
(07:42):
What was it, brother, that madeyou feel like you needed to do
that?
You've got everything happening.
You're on this partialscholarship, you're down in
Texas, you start to use.
What is it that makes you goback?
Because on the outside it lookslike you got it all together.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Yeah, it was, and I was dating this girl and I
didn't want to go back to schoolbecause I was missing her.
Yeah, so I stayed back in NorthCarolina and, um, stay with her
and just the crowd that I wasaround, Um and uh, not talking
junk about nobody or nothing,but these guys used to and it's
something we like to do, yeah,so that gets back to my whole
(08:20):
topic.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Your, your circle matters.
Yes, you agree with thatTremendously.
Yeah, and so what you're sayingis a circle you were hanging
out with.
Well, I guess you could alsosay like this right, you are who
you hang around, yes, for sure.
So I guess some parents couldsay my child would never.
And I guess maybe what theyneed to consider is your child
may never, but what are theirfriends doing?
Because, as their friends do,they may end up doing.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
It's so easy to fall in that and even especially even
if you've got somebody that youfeel close to that does it and
you enjoy it when you do do it.
Yeah, it's hard to stay awayfrom.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Yeah, it's hard to combat that once you know the
flesh likes it.
And this is what I'm doing, andreally it comes down to this
Rather than choose Christ, we'rechoosing flesh.
So let's fast forward.
Six or seven years.
You've got a daughter, yourfirst daughter is born, and
later in the year you getmarried yes, right.
And then, two years after youget married, in 2009, your dad
(09:17):
goes on to be with the Lord yes.
And in your testimony you saythat you can remember when your
dad's passing.
You can remember being in thehospital using drugs.
Yes, Talk about for a moment ifyou will talk about the pain,
because somewhere out therethere's a listener right now who
feels like the only thing theyhave to numb the pain is drugs,
(09:39):
but you're a firsthand witnessthat Jesus Christ is the only
one that can fix it.
So what's that like?
You're in the bathroom, you'reusing drugs, and why?
Why?
Speaker 2 (09:48):
I feel like that's a way I could cope.
I was using.
We're always trying to fillthat void when we don't have
Jesus and we using drugs, women,alcohol, whatever it may be
that you deal with you're tryingto fill a void that only Jesus
can fill.
That's right.
So that was a way I could kindof be numb to the situation.
(10:10):
It made me feel good.
So I kept using, especiallyduring a time like this and I
was losing my dad and it waspretty strong.
I remember my family had leftthe night that he passed away.
It was like one o'clock in themorning on Christmas day and he
finally took his last breath anduh, I remember sitting there,
being the only one with him, anduh, but yes, I was high.
(10:32):
And even the next morning whenI left, after he had passed, I
went home and I went to afriend's house and started using
again.
It's a way that I could keepmyself, I thought, feeling good
and not have to deal with it.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Yeah, you were staying numb, that's how you
were choosing to cope, right,that's how you were coping with
it all Months after your dadwent on to be with the Lord and
right prior to beginning therecording of this episode we
were talking about, you had aclose friend and he had a large
family I think you said fivechildren, yes, but he had a
(11:09):
garage outside with a set ofdrums in it.
Set a drum love to play, allright.
So set that up, because you endup.
You end up driving down theroad after leaving this guy's
garage one night, but but justset up the fact that what you
and your, you and your buddywere in the garage, what y'all
are doing, and even though whatyou're doing, he, he, still
believes.
So just kind of set that up tothe listeners.
Just share with them what youshared with me earlier oh, man
it it was.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Um, I would go over there to just we had a
relationship where we would gethigh together.
Um, yes, he was married, hadsome, had some children and
stuff.
And uh, we had a habit, we hadan addiction, and we'd stay out
there and we he'd play his drumsI might be doing whatever, um,
but we would use and we woulduse.
(11:42):
And uh, he asked me one nightor one day, whatever time it was
, and he said, man, um, do youknow where you're going If you,
when you die?
And I'm like man, I go tochurch.
I grew up in church he said, Iain't asked you that.
Do you know where you're goingto go when you leave this world?
And I'm like, you know, that'ssomething to think about.
Well, time goes on, or weeks goon, and we start talking about
(12:06):
the Lord, yeah, and, man, it'sso wild, it's so crazy, man, it
sounds crazy, but I would goover there and use.
But it would be to where wewould talk about Jesus and read
the word, yeah, listen to songs,more than we were getting high.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Ain't that how God God will end up turning it.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Yeah, it's amazing, he'll come down to the pits of
hell and bring you out of it.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
He'll just let it, bro.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Come on, man, if you'll just let him, he'll come
out, because that's where wewere at.
Yeah, you know we could havebeen doing anything, but we just
wanted to get high.
Yeah, but God come into thatand said, okay, you're gonna,
you're gonna find me here.
You know what's amazing.
You know that's so good, brohim eating.
You know, with the sinners, andyou know in the word of god,
(12:50):
you know it talks about, he hungout with the sinners and the
pharisees couldn't figure it out.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
I think that's why it's so important, brother
daniel, that as christians, wedon't judge anybody.
Yes, you know, because, man,look at this.
Here you guys are, you're usingdrug.
We are still using meth at thispoint, oh yes.
Here you guys are, you're usingdrugs.
Were y'all still using meth atthis point?
Oh yes.
So you guys are.
You're strung out on meth.
Right here You're in the garageusing drugs, yes, and yet here
this dude is behind the drums.
You're off to the side, yousaid, doing whatever, y'all are
(13:15):
both on drugs and he's asking aquestion about eternity.
Yes, you know, and I think thatas Christians, we've got to be
careful that we just don't seesomebody, you know, walking down
the sidewalk on drugs or downthe aisle at the grocery, the
grocery mall, you know whatever,at the grocery store, at the
shopping mall.
We don't look at them and say,oh man, look at him, get away,
get away, get away, kids, youknow, I mean they might be
having some real questions, justlike y'all did.
(13:37):
Some eternity, some eternalquestions about salvation.
And you're right, man Jesus,about salvation.
And you're right, man Jesus atewith the sinners, and it wasn't
to participate in the sin, itwas to offer them hope and love
and encouragement and redemptionand rescuing them from the sin
right.
And so, man, I think thatthat's so deep man.
So you know, here you guys are,you're on this map, and he
(13:59):
asked a question about eternallife.
So you're over there, y'all,start opening up the Word as you
just shared, you, you, you'reover there, y'all, y'all start
opening up the word as you justshared.
You know, share with thelisteners about that time.
You're driving, you're drivinghome and what went on from from
after leaving this guy's garage.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
So he would, he would make me a CD and, uh, he had
some good Christian songs on itand, like I said, man, I'm
getting more and more involvedin it.
But I felt like the devil wasstill playing with me because I
was still staying intoxicated,high on meth, but I was reading
the word yeah.
So some things would be alittle bit fuzzy to me, but you
know, it still was working.
(14:35):
God was still working, amen.
So I get the CD and the Crabfamily.
I remember that song.
He'll Make a Way, yes, he will.
And I left his house, headedback to my house because I was
married at the time, had a child, and was headed back down the
road and I remember putting thatCD in.
(14:55):
I remember playing that songand when it started playing, man
, I just felt like praying and Ijust started crying and I just
started praying.
I was like God, come my life.
You know, and I don't evenremember the words I said, but I
remember the Holy Spirit comingall over me, brother, and it
was the purest feeling I hadever felt, all over my body, and
I was high on meth, so I knewthe difference.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Yeah, come on, brother, you knew the difference
, I love that, oh, I knew thedifference.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
And, uh, man, I got home that night I went, you know
, whatever I did, whether Islept or not.
But that next morning I calledhim and you know I told him I
said, man, something happened.
I remember him saying you know,you got saved, brother.
And I was like, yeah, thatfeels pretty good, yeah.
So some time went by and Ifinally gave it up the meth use
(15:43):
and different things.
And then years led by and I gotinto the ministry and different
things, the youth.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Praise God.
Man, somewhere out there,someone's listening right now
and they're struggling with theaddiction and they're using it
to numb themselves.
They're using it, like you saidearlier, just being honest.
You enjoyed the high.
You know your flesh enjoyed it,but I love what you were just
talking about right there.
This was a high that you ain'tnever felt before.
It was a high of the HolySpirit coming upon you and it
(16:11):
outdid any drug that you've everexperienced before.
Yes, man, that's powerful.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Such a pure feeling, bro.
Such a pure feeling, just.
I guess you could say the holygoosebumps, or whatever at the
time.
Yeah, yeah, I guess you couldsay the Holy the, the Holy
goosebumps, or whatever at thetime you know, but man, it was
just, it was just the purestfeeling.
come all over me, brother, andit was.
It was just wonderful and uh,you know, and I and I did
struggle some after that.
Um, you know, we had anotherchild in 2012 and in 2013, I
(16:42):
lost my sister.
So I went from losing my dad in2009 to losing my sister in
2013.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
But so in 2013, when she passes your testimony, says
that you start battling withdepression.
Yes, how did you battledepression at the time of your
sister passing?
What was your go to right?
Speaker 2 (17:01):
there man I was.
I was serving the Lord then,but I was having panic attacks
and things and different thingswas going on during that time
and, uh, but he ended up withsome medical help as well, to
God, put me on a path to whereit kind of leveled me out and
everything was good, um, duringthat.
(17:23):
But and then right after that Iwas attending Bible studies and
different things.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
And, um, it's just.
It's just wonderful what someof the people I met during that
time, some brothers and sistersin Christ, because I had a
scripture that was prophesiedover my life.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Yeah, absolutely, we could get into that.
Actually, right now, becausetime moves on, you end up
teaching the youth at yourchurch, which is amazing, you
know what I mean.
I mean this whole point righthere of what God is beginning to
do in your life at this point,and not only are you speaking to
the youth and leading the youth, you're filling in for the
(18:01):
pastor.
Sometimes you start to speak atthe cowboy church services with
roping and things like that andJoel 225 that you just
mentioned.
Joel 225 is prophesied overyour life and for the listeners
that don't know it, Joel 225 isthis I will restore you to the
(18:21):
years that the swarming locusthas eaten the hopper, the
destroyer and the cutter, mygreat army, which I sent among
you.
So share with the listenerswhat Joel 225, when it was
prophesied over you, what thatmeans for Daniel Rayner's life.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
You know, actually I think I'm just starting to get
to that part now.
It's amazing, because this wasback in 2000.
I'm going to say probably 13,14, somewhere in there, or maybe
even a little bit before that.
He'd done it then, but I stillfell away yeah it's, it's so,
(19:01):
man, the love of god is soamazing because I can sit right
here and just feel like how farwould I be if I hadn't turned
the back away from him evenafter the ministry yeah but he's
been there the whole time, theentire time, so he never left me
, that's right.
And if I could give anyencouragement to anybody out
(19:22):
there listening, you know, ifyou think you're too far from
God he's never left you.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
He's always in the room.
He's always there, yeah, nomatter how ugly the room is.
Yes, he's, he's.
He's there with you.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Yes, yes, yeah, so you, you, you can testify to
that, that you know God has beenwith you the entire time, the
entire time, even when I runaway from it, the scripture
prophesying over my life was wasmajor because, um, I know that
he's restored to years and he'sgoing to, and he's still doing
and he's still doing you.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
you end up being unfaithful in your marriage.
Yes, and in your words you saythis pleasing the flesh.
Galatians 5, 16, and 17 is apassage that I read in your
testimony.
I'm going to read that to thelisteners Galatians 5, 16
through 17.
If you got your Bibles you cango there.
Galatians 5, 16 and 17 saysthis.
(20:13):
But I say walk by the spirit.
Capital S the spirit of God.
But I say walk by the spiritand you will not gratify the
desires of the flesh.
But the desires of the fleshare against the spirit and the
desires of the spirit areagainst the flesh, for these are
opposed to each other to keepyou from doing the things you
(20:33):
want to do.
For these are opposed to eachother to keep you from doing the
things you want to do.
Because of how you were living,you obviously had to step away
from your leadership position atthis point within the church.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Yes, I felt kind of hypocritical.
Actually, you know, how can Isit there and tell these kids,
this youth here, things not todo?
That I was struggling with andI know we all struggle, don't
(21:02):
don't take me wrong on that orwhatever but yeah, you know, the
things that I were doing wastoo it was too much, you know,
and uh, I was rodeoing a lotthen at that time, so I was
traveling a lot, so I juststepped away.
I felt like that was going tobe the best thing to do.
Yeah, but uh, it just it kindof down spiraled after that
again as well.
Yeah, and uh, from women to.
You know, I was always chasinga high, always chasing a high
(21:24):
from either drugs, women, rodeoseven yeah, um, and at that
point and you're looking in allthe wrong areas yes, all the
wrong
Speaker 1 (21:33):
because, man, here's the crazy thing, I forgot my
first love.
Yeah, yeah, that's so rightI'll.
Because, man, here's the crazything, I forgot my first love.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's soright.
I'll get ready to say here'sthe thing you had already
experienced, the most purest,highest high that you could ever
experience, and that's when theHoly Spirit of God fell over
you.
You know, when you werelistening to the music and the
Crab Family song.
He Will Make A Way.
You know, you had alreadyexperienced it and and as
Christians we've always been,you know, we've been there,
(21:55):
whether we've understood it ornot, maybe we always haven't,
but I'm reminded of the children, israel.
You know God delivers them andthen they go right back to the
old ways of living.
And so many times we're like,how could they do that?
But we do that ourselves, don't?
Speaker 2 (22:08):
we Amen, you know.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
so yeah, you had experienced such a high?
How many Christians haveexperienced?
We're guilty, I'm guilty of it.
We experience that high andthen days later, weeks later,
sometimes minutes or hours later, we're pleasing our own
thoughts.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yes, Pleasing our own flesh again.
Yeah, yeah, and that's thething.
What I have to remember, andwhat all of us need to remember,
is we're either serving God orwe're not.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
There's no, in between it's either light or
dark.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Yeah, it's either light or dark.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
The Bible tells us that yes, yeah, so, and God, god
don't want us lukewarm.
No, choose ye today who you goserve.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Amen, brother Amen.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Yeah, you, you and your wife, y'all, um, y'all end
up separating.
Yes, y'all try to make it work.
Yes, back and forth in and outof trying to make it work, I
would imagine it's toxic attimes, yes, but ultimately it
ends up in divorce, yes, andduring that process, more women
(23:06):
enter the picture.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
You start using again .
Has meth always been the drugof choice?
Yes, okay, yes.
So here you're back on methagain, daniel.
To some out there, thisquestion may be a no-brainer,
especially people who strugglewith addiction, but I'm going to
ask it because not everybodyhas battled a drug addiction
before.
So I think it's important thatthey understand, especially if
(23:28):
they have a loved one or knowsomeone who is battling a drug
addiction.
Okay, why do you think you keptgoing back to the drugs,
knowing that they were no goodfor you, knowing what the end
game looked like, but why wouldyou keep going back?
Share with someone out therethat has a loved one or has
someone that they truly love andthey keep going back, but yet
(23:49):
they can't understand why thatperson keeps going back.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Brother, I think the biggest thing for me was I
didn't stay grounded, in truth,I didn't stay walking with the
one that already saved me fromall of that.
I just kind of turned away anddidn't even realize it.
Yeah, and the enemy is sostrong and the flesh is in the
world, you can't beat himwithout Jesus.
Yeah, you can't, that's right,and so I think the biggest thing
(24:16):
that I could tell somebody isstay grounded in the word.
Go to a church like CFO, situnder a pastor like yourself,
praise God that teaches the wordof God.
That really get around.
Brothers and sisters BrotherFrankie's been on here, you know
.
You know Brother Billy, brotherTrey, all of them have been an
(24:36):
inspiration to me, brother, justhaving Brother Martin that
we've seen, you know, andthere's so many that Brother Ed
and we'll get into so many names, man.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
Yeah, I told my wife the other day.
I said, you know, we are soblessed that God has sent and I
hope this is for every churchout there.
So I'm not just sitting here,you know, blowing our church up
just to say, hey, look at us, Ihope this is at every church out
there, but we are so blessedthat God has sent so many good
people and we're not perfectpeople, but, man, I mean truly
(25:08):
some people to this ministrythat love the Lord, that love
the Lord, that's right.
So that's what you're saying.
You know find a good Bibleteaching, bible preaching church
that honors and both fears theLord.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Yes, Because the thing about it was, man, I could
tell I enjoyed sin and thatsounds terrible, you know, when
you say it out like that, buteven the word says sin was fun
for a season or something tothat nature.
You know, and I could tell, youknow, I was like if I don't
stay grounded and stay with uh,people that make me accountable,
(25:45):
you know, um, then you're goingto fail.
Yeah, You're going to fail, andI feel like the relationship
with Jesus Christ is supposed to, is going to have to be your
most important relationship Ifyou want to succeed through the
addictions.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
We talked a little bit about your two daughters,
right?
Yes, share with that, becausenow you're all the way here in
Virginia, they're down South andNorth Carolina, and maybe
there's some people out thereright now they're they're
divorced from, from their, andmaybe there's some people out
there right now they're divorcedfrom their spouse and they're
no longer in the house where thechildren are.
So just talk about that,because I know there's hurt
(26:23):
there.
I know you have shared with meI mean just really, since I
first knew you how much you loveyour girls.
Yes, and anyone that knows youhears and gets to witness your
heart about those two girls.
Yes, and anyone that knows youhears and and and and gets to
witness your heart about thosetwo girls.
I've never met them, but I knowthat their daddy loves them.
Yes, you know so.
So just share what that's like.
(26:43):
God has you here right now, atthis season in your life.
He's, he's, he's using youright here, where you're at, but
part of your heart is down inNorth Carolina.
What's, what's that about?
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Man, I struggle today with it.
I mean it's an everyday.
Yeah, it hurts.
You go through a lot ofthoughts yeah, was I a bad dad,
you know?
Am I not there?
Did you do enough?
Yeah, Did I do enough, did I?
You know?
I don't get to see her get homefrom school, you know which?
(27:15):
My oldest daughter is 18 now,but my youngest is 13.
She just started, actuallyyesterday, uh, monday, she
started um eighth grade, so it'dbe her last year of middle
school, yeah, and before shegoes to high school and she
plays basketball and dance and Ido get to get down there and
see them and stuff.
But but, man, it is a strugglebeing away from them, because
(27:37):
you know, you think about Godblessed you with two and then,
from the choices that I made,that's, I kind of feel like
sometimes that's consequencesfor the choices I made, man,
that I have to live with beingaway from my daughters and, yes,
it hurts, but I am thankfulthat I still do have some
relationship with them.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
Absolutely.
That's the beauty, because I'veheard so many people talk about
how divorce is just ruined andwrecked.
Yes, that opportunity to haverelationship with their
daughters or their sons, theirchildren, so the fact that your
girls still love dad and stillwant dad to come down and visit
(28:17):
is really a beautiful thing andit really is, at this point in
life, a gift that you can showup and be present and be part of
their lives.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Yes, even though you're no longer living in the
house that's right, and likesaturday, I went down and hung
out with my youngest daughter,so it was great and I love
seeing them all the time.
But the way things happened,you know it is a struggle to to.
You know it does hurt.
It is it hurts becauseeverybody wants to be with their
children, you know especially,and then when that's took away,
(28:46):
you know you're really.
But that's where I reallyreally try to lean in and say
God, you got this.
You know what you're doing, Idon't, and that's why Proverbs 3
, 5, and 6 is so big to me.
Man, you know, trust in theLord with all your heart and
lean not on your ownunderstanding.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall
direct your path.
So I've got to trust in him andnot lean on my own heart.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
We're at the place in your testimony where you go on
to meet this woman named Adrian,yes, who is going to eventually
become your wife.
Yes, right.
And and you say in yourtestimony that she wouldn't date
you for several months becauseshe knew your reputation.
Amen, bro, that's right.
Well, I'd say that's a goodwoman.
Yeah, that's a good woman.
(29:32):
So there was some.
There was some off and onmoments in the relationship.
Once you guys finally gettogether, she gives you a chance
Right?
You share in the testimony.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Even if she didn't want to, she did there you go,
there you go Well sometimes.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
You know, what I've experienced in life is, brother,
is that when people knowthey've got a calling on their
life to be with this person orto do this thing you know in
ministry or whatever and they'verun from it, it can be
miserable watching people fightsomething that they're called to
do or someone that they'recalled to be with.
You know what I mean.
They're resisting it and it'sjust this inward wrestle.
(30:06):
You know what I mean, like thisinward battle of resistance.
You know what I mean.
But so you guys are together,y'all are dating, you know, and
on and off, right, on and off.
But once and I love this you sayin your testimony that once you
put Jesus first, everythingstarted beginning to click the
right way and the way.
(30:26):
I would kind of say it.
When I've read your testimony acouple of times already, this
is kind of the thing thatclicked in my head when I was
reading it.
You made Jesus Christ apriority in your life and you
made sure that if Jesus Christis going to be a priority in
your life, then that means he'sgoing to be a priority in your
relationship with Adrian.
Yes, so what's that look like?
(30:47):
Tell the listeners how, onceyou put Jesus first, things
started clicking.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
Well, the first.
I mean we broke up severaltimes during our relationship
when I moved up to Virginia and,um, each time we would split up
I'd be like man, I got to getAdrian back.
I got to get her back, whateverthe case may be, I could only
think about her.
But that last time we split upyou know I'm sure I had a little
(31:15):
bit of that to start with, butI finally, god had finally
pulled me back again.
He finally got me again.
You know what I'm saying Likeokay, lord, I'm yours.
And when I finally startedsearching him, seeking him,
because he says you know, if youseek me with your whole heart,
you'll find me.
You know, amen.
And so I started seeking him,searching him.
(31:39):
Brother Donnie Lawson and BertLawson you know I was staying
with them working for their sonand different things.
They introduced me to themissionaries down in Texas.
I got to go to be with CFO onthe mission trip and things in
Mexico.
Man, it was just such ablessing.
But when I got down there Ifinally started realizing my
(32:01):
identity in Christ.
Amen, amen.
You know, I'd got to the pointwhere I'd forgot all that.
I'd forgot what God had alreadydone for me for so long.
It's amazing how the enemy surewon't remind you of what God's
done for you and the flesh wouldjust keep you away from it.
Yeah, but I finally got to apoint.
I was like, okay, I'm a childof God, I'm not a drug addict,
(32:23):
I'm not a team roper, I'm not awomanizer, I'm not this.
I'm not that.
I'm a child of God, man, I'mredeemed, I'm saved by the most
high Amen, brother, we're goingto live together for eternity,
amen.
So when I got to that point, Isaid okay.
And you know what's crazy man,the this.
I'm 42 years old and, uh, thefirst time ever, this new year's
(32:48):
, okay, january, the first, thatnew year's Eve night, you know,
usually I'd be at a party.
Usually, you know, you'rebringing in the New Year, or
whatever.
I spent that night fasting Comeon, man, and praying.
Man, come on and reading theWord bro Right by myself.
And I was like, god, I'm goingto do that this year.
Yeah, and man, some time wentby and when I finally grabbed a
(33:13):
hold of Jesus, like I wassupposed to, he brought her back
, come on.
So it's so good.
It's so amazing how he works.
You know, you could pray aboutit every day.
Well, god, what do you wantfrom me?
What have I got to do, whatever?
But until you just surrenderand you say, okay, Lord, she's
(33:34):
yours, you do whatever you haveto do with her, you know, but I
found myself praying for a lot,praying for his son, which is my
stepson, you know, and it'sjust, it's amazing what God will
do when you finally surrenderto him.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
Yeah, because as you put him first, now you see,
adrian putting him first, yes,and now you can be the servant
of the Lord, god most high, andyou can now be the husband that
he's called you to be thespiritual leader that I'm
supposed to be.
And you can only be thathusband and that leader because
(34:13):
you're a first servant of GodAlmighty.
Yes, and that's the beauty init.
It's like God is saying, hey,come get close to me so I can
train you to be who you need tobe for her.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
For your stepson and for the church that you call
family.
Yes, that you call home.
That's right, you know.
So.
Here's the redemption story.
Yet again, another chaptercalled redemption in your book,
here called Life right.
Yes, you're now forgiven.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Thank you, Lord.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
Healed, cleansed set free from addiction.
Yes, thank you, lord, healed,cleansed, set free from
addiction.
Yes Amen, hallelujah, praiseGod.
You're back in church all thetime, regular, all the time, bro
.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
I love to see your face.
I was going to say, bro, I loveto see you, man.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
You come in and get this big hug and I know it's
real.
Yes, I know it's genuine.
It's not something that's justquick in passing.
I know it's because we loveeach other in Christ and we're
brothers and we're there foreach other.
Amen.
The past couple of weeks I meanyou talk about another
redemptive chapter in thisredemption story the past couple
of weeks you even opened theservice up on Sunday mornings in
(35:15):
prayer.
Such a blessing bro, it's ablessing to have you do it, and
let me just ask you this Werethere times in your life?
Did you ever think that you'dbe serving in ministry again, at
any level?
Speaker 2 (35:29):
No, no, um, especially up the last several
years, divorce, then runningwild again, you know whatever.
And uh, no, I really hadn'teven.
That's what's so wild man Like.
No, I really hadn't even.
That's what's so wild man Like.
As we talked about earlier,you're either serving God or
you're serving self or servingyou know, your light or darkness
(35:51):
.
And you can be in darkness andnot even realize it.
Yeah, because maybe you've beenin the light before.
Yeah, or maybe you've not quitegot to the light yet, but you
think, I'm all right.
I'm all right, I'm all right.
Just go to Jesus, make himfirst.
You know, matthew 6, 33 saysseek he first and his
(36:12):
righteousness, seek the kingdomand his righteousness, and I'll
supply all your needs.
And when you finally do that,you'll have a relationship that
can keep you away from thethings that I kept running to.
And it's so major man.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
The beauty of it.
When I, when I think about,like, what God has brought you
through and where you're at nowand now you're in church praying
, opening up a service I think Ithink about Paul, used to be
known as Saul, and here he is,out there trying to murder
(36:51):
Christians and overseeing thedeath of Christians, and he's
got permission to go lock upChristians.
But yet God transforms the man,and this man that was
headhunting the church literallyheadhunting the church.
I mean he wants them dead orlocked up in prison now wrote
(37:14):
most of the books in the NewTestament of the Bible.
You know what I mean.
So he goes from trying tocripple the church to trying to
strengthen the church.
So I just want to encourage thelisteners out there.
If you're that person or if youknow someone that you feel you
(37:34):
or they are unusable because oftheir past or their present,
which you're going through rightnow, I want to tell you that
your life is not over.
What you're going through rightnow.
I want to tell you that yourlife is not over.
Your opportunity to serve JesusChrist as King of kings and
Lord of lords, your Savior, isnot over.
There's always hope.
Yes, you can be part of aredemptive story.
(37:54):
You can be part of thatredemption story to where, yes,
even you too can serve in thehouse of God again.
Yes, you know, and I think it'sgreat man, you mentioned that in
your testimony.
You said that God restoring theyears from Joel to 25, that
prophecy over your life is evenhappening right now.
(38:16):
You've already said that evenhere on this episode.
You believe that this is therestoration part of that
prophecy over your life.
Yes, and in your testimony youeven mentioned that your wife
had mentioned to you and talksabout wanting to run a ranch.
Yes, and she wants to call thisranch Restoration Ranch.
(38:37):
Right, and I think that'sbeautiful man.
So, restoration Ranch.
Let's talk about that visionfor a moment.
Restoration Ranch is a ranchwhere people can come together
and there's a purpose to bringother people to Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior, to worship God,to barrel, race, to rope.
(38:58):
What's that vision all about?
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Man, it would be great to have them come in.
See, I've give clinics inroping before, like give lessons
and stuff, and she does lessonsin barrel racing as well and if
we could have them come in toget lessons and they think
they're getting something thatthey and they are, they're
getting lessons to do somethingthey really enjoy doing.
But if we can give them jesus,that's what it's all about.
(39:21):
That's what it's all about yeah, yeah, if we can give them
Jesus, that's what it's allabout.
That's what it's all about,yeah, yeah, if we can.
You know, I'll be glad to teachanybody, to put on clinics, to
put on rope in schools, to helppeople learn to rope.
But I first want to tell themabout Jesus.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
That's what it's all about, brother.
And that's how God takessomething and makes it
successful.
Yes, when we point to JesusChrist first, that's right, amen
.
Well, guys, I'm going to tellyou Daniel Rayner is a real
person.
This testimony that you'veheard today is a real live
testimony and God's stillworking it out.
Amen, brother, amen.
And if you would like to meethim I hope it's okay for me to
(39:57):
say this, but if you would liketo meet him, you are more than
welcome to attend one of ourchurch services on Sunday
mornings at CFO.
Doors open at 930 and we beginservice at 10 o'clock.
God bless you all.
Until next time, on the nextepisode of Beyond Sunday.
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