"Married To The Promise." (Excerpt 1)

Prologue

“Oh taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”
Psalm 34:8

Everyone can recall that defining moment when God showed up and did a completely new thing in their lives. You know, that miraculous thing that totally blows your mind. As a former drug abuser and alcoholic I have so many moments where when I think on God's grace and mercy bestowed upon me and all I can do is say "Thank you Jesus.” My drug addiction began at the age of four when I was having psychotic episodes living with my foster parents Pablo and Lucy. To help me get to sleep, I was given doses of Nyquil and Robitussin. What was supposed to help lull me to sleep only enticed an appetite for a stronger consumption of illicit drugs.

Before I was chosen, I lived a life filled with fear and secret demonic visions. I was a child lost in a world only I knew. Fear was welcomed and LOVE wasn’t invited into the circumstances. I would spend years high off crack and alcohol binges, never knowing how or when it was going to end. Yet there was always a force stronger than me that kept me alive.

I consider my first miracle moment when I got saved in 1995 in Puerto Rico. I was twenty five then, and I had already been a victim of the foster system, mentally ill parents, and a bona fide drug addict. I learned to survive on the streets of Hoboken and Trenton New Jersey. When I was hustling on the streets, I adopted the Darwinian theory of “Survival of the Fittest.” I was always a ready, willing and able participant to make money. With the hands of a skilled laborer like my father, and the street tutelage from my older brother Rick, I played the hustle game to perfection—I was in it to win. Yet the battles and demonic voices in my mind continued to threaten my existence. Darkness became the only light I knew. But God!

God’s Love showed up in the nick of time. He was love and His words were love. My relationship with God took me on a journey to meet Alex- the person God intended me to be. Finally, I was not afraid to live or love. I was on fire for the Lord and had so much to be thankful for and then He showed up again! Love came in the form of a jewel. Her name was Carolyn Jenkins. She became my wife, my life. She was so much more than I could ever pray for, yet we both struggled with insecurities. She had Aids and I suffered with the other big “A”, Addiction. What came out of this Love Affair? Complete Ministry! We obeyed God’s Word and demonstrated His awesomeness to the world. Our love lifted us to a place where only God resides. Now other couples have been blessed by our lives. Families have been healed. He was magnified! For God so Loved the world that He gave His Love!

Now life was full of His promise until my Love, my sweetheart, Carolyn went home to be with God. Missing a vital part of me has been hard to bear, yet Love still showed its face. God assured me of His promise and allowed me to witness His miraculous healing power over my life and that of Carolyn. Carolyn’s homegoing was a breath-taking, spirit-filled celebration. Friends and loved ones came from all over the nation to offer support and share testimonies of how they witnessed God moving in our lives.

Even now another miracle is taking place. The Pineda family is talking for the first time about our past, and Jesus’ power is the topic of conversation. A divine healing is taking place, and life is worth the living. Sit back and relax as we sail along the Hudson River making stops in New York and New Jersey. It’s too late to turn back now. And by the way, welcome to my Love!