My Best Friend Just Happens To Be God...

    When God found me, I was as rough as they come, bold and undetected, naive and ruthless under the same roof. Without notice, hands were laid on me, and new life was given, and a life of wonder has been ever since. I have found that through the little things, God can be visible, and I feel sorry for folk who harm me not knowing "Who" my "Best Friend" just happens to be.
     Where I lived it was nothing to to spit on the walls, especially when most of the walls were laid in mold already, and since a deep green slimy greeny from deep in the chest, that took too much energy to go outside to get rid off and folk complained about the flushing of the toilet to conserve water, I would spit it on the wall and in days it would blend in with the rest of the mold on the walls. Now ask yourself, how more naive and rough can a boy get. From an Uncle who was first class in the gay community, and put to shame laborers on a construction job, to a pissy drunk Uncle who would pee on my head while sleeping, thinking he was out side. Staying with women who made a living taking off their clothes, i would line up a few of my young friends to get their first viewing of the female anatomy, and with a few twisted moves to show I could.
     It was these and other dealings that caused the God of heaven to come down and see about me. My boldness was unstoppable, and with a naive flair to boot, only God knew were I was headed and it wasn't good. One day in a smokey room, somewhere between high and on my way, God decided to pay me a visit. "What are you going to do?"..."Are you going to smoke your life away?', from that clouded room boomed that question from an unseen Presence. "No Lord!", and since I saw no One, it had to be God, for the Devil would have handed me another joint, therefore it couldn't have been the devil. I quit smoking right there on the spot, and wondered with joy that God would even speak to me. Only a day later, the same voice told me not to go to town, and God I felt over stepped His bounds. Being naive, can pit you against God with you thinking it not only ok, but normal.  So I went town anyway, only to end up smoking PCP and end up in a world of woe. Friends lost their minds over the same smoke I had found, and had it not been for the providence of the same God I strong armed with defiance that day, the  question God had asked the day before would have been my reality. It was this mercy extended to me, that not only saved me from a demon possession, oh yes, for under the influence of PCP, demons had already witness my encounter with God, and because I had defied God, they came in to make a claim on me in real time. But because I knew enough from church to know when bet like creatures are coming in your mind to take over, calling on the name of Jesus seemed the thing to do. And when Jesus seemed the best thing, when those demons seemed repelled without a hitch, my naive chant of Jah Rastafari, brought them back with a vengeance. Turned out, those demons knew Jesus, but were inssulted with the name Jah Rastafari, and came back ten times stronger. I dont know about you, but naive or not, stupid I was not, so I cried out Jesus, Jesus, and Jesus until not only the demons took their leave, I took my leave of that situation. I kept calling Jesus until i was standing before my boss asking him did the world come to an end. My sweet Boss wanted to give me a bible study, but his simple no was enough.
     Going over that days events, and the day before, all I could do is humble myself before this God, and say I give. The question what are you going to do, to don't go town up until Jesus save me, was a bit much even for a naive young man. I gave my heart to Jesus, not really knowing much about Him, but if He had the power to hold off a demon attack and deliver me from a high I have never known, He can have what was left of my life. For right there in my job, I was convince that had Jesus not saved me that day, I too like others of my friends who up to this day, are kicking stones, would have been plum out of my mind. I told God thank You, and that I did not know Him, but wanted to get to know Him as my Friend and Guide.
     Somewhere around this time I was given a dream, where I was out fishing, and I was in the midst of three fishing bodies. We were there fishing in a boat, and although we caught no fish, I enjoyed myself. I could not make out their faces, and began to wonder Who They were, I woke up and knew I had had my first encounter with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. My naive-nest  gave me the impression everyone who comes to God gets a special invitation like this, so I did not think I was so special, until hungry one day. When I became a Seventh Day Adventist, my family was a little AME, Muslim, Catholic mix bunch, but the cook hated Seventh day Adventist, and told me if I became one, I was to bring my own food. I was a teenager at the time, and she told me in bold language, tell them SDA's to feed me. Well I felt no way, for I felt God speaks to me, how bad could it get. I had just re-entered in to high school, and was working around the school grounds to help pay for my school fees, when I began to feel week. I had not eaten for a few days and it did not dawn on me that was the reason. For in all the excitement of being with God in a new school and new people, I had lost sight of my own issues. It was a friend who notice I didn't eat lunch for the last two days from what he could gather, and it hit me he was right. What else hit me that day, was naive at it's best, I told God I was sorry for not coming to Him earlier about being hungry. I said to God, if you can talk to me in weed smoke, surely you can talk to brother Dug Tucker, and have him bring me some food. I know he loves you, and since he loves you and i didn't even know you that well and YOU talked to me, I know you can tap brother Dug on the shoulder and give him a message for me. Tell him to bring me some wheat wafers, fruit cocktail, by the way, my favorite, introduced to me by this same Brother Dug, who also was instrumental in getting me in the school I was in, so it was a win win and easy for God to do for me. I told God I didn't want to be too picky but whatever else he brought would be fine. I told God to tell brother Dug meet me in the storage room at 12 o'clock, A-men. Didn't know at the time i had to end all prayers in Jesus' name, I was a newbie. There I was 5 minutes before 12 o'clock in readiness for my lunch. I looked up to see the clock hit 12 and there was brother Dug coming around the corner with a brown paper bag going up stairs. I said out loud, "man I'm in here!!!...as if he cant follow God's instructions. Needless to say, brother Dug was no more good, here he was out of the kindness of his heart, bringing me a bag of goodies, and im taking the bag from him as if it was my prayer and God's answer, and he had nothing to do with it. When I tell you naive, trust me, you have no idea what nate jones is capable of. Brother Dug looked at me in total disbelief, I took the bag and gave thanks to God as brother Dug went away shaking his head wondering what in the world just happen.
     This prayer thing was off the chain and with it's power I was going home to tame my house full of godly thugs. Kneeling down beside my bed then quickly raising up again, for I was not quite threw with my list of demands on God. Formulating my desires in a pattern I could remember I then knelt back down beside my bed and told God what I wanted and expected on my bed in a box when I came home from school the next day and in hours i was off to sleep. The next day after school I made my way home, there was no need to rush, for I knew my box was home waiting for me on my bed, for God was good to nate jones. I came in the family homestead where my Grandmother was out in her garden, yup, she owned the whole house and the acres that stretched out this way and that and had the arrogance to prove it. But I had a little arrogance of my own, as I without so much as a good afternoon, for she was a godly thug, who didn't provide for me on account of my Seventh Day Adventist God, asked her, did my box come. My Grandmother took one look at me, and had the nerve to tell me no one was thinking about me. I said to myself, she is just jealous, and ran up to my room to get my box. When i looked on my bed and saw no box, my mouth dropped open and I said to God, "this is not like YOU". I'm sure the Angels had a laugh at my naive-nest, as I knelt back down beside my bed and gave God a piece of my mind. I told God I had asked for this and that and the other, as if He didn't hear me the first time. But in that moment, a strange feeling came over me I did not recognize then, but before long I was off to sleep again. Coming home the next day, there was Grandma in the fields of her garden, I was humbled from yesterday, and humbled enough to say good afternoon, she saluted me with her stern smile, and I then asked her if anyone came for me to which she said no. Dumb founded, I went to my room, and again no box. The face of brother Dug came to my mind, and naive left me, God don't answer prayers like this, what God did for me was too special to say the least. But wow...how cool was that, it must have been really special, so I knelt back down and said to God giggling, I get it, YOU did that as a special favor, and I'm not to expect it often. Hmmmmmmmmmm...I said to God, but its too late, I know YOU are able, but If YOU chose not to, I know you can, and that is OK with me. I thanked God and told Him i don't need another answer like that but whatever He was willing to do for me would be just fine with me. The next day coming home from school, there was grandmother doing what she did best, flowers or greens, i passed her by with a brief salutation, and was going to my room when she said under her breath as if hating to be wrong about folk thinking about me, I said out loud, "my Box!'( being naive has it's privileges, and God would not have faith disappointed, especially if you are a kid working it )...I ran up the steps and on my bed was a big box of food and stuff, and to think, it had every thing i had asked for and even a few things i forgot to ask for. I knelt down beside my bed and told God i understand, and from that time till now, God has been and still is, my true and "Best Friend"
     Friendship with God has it's privileges, and being His enemy it's dangers, but what most people do not know, to be the enemy of God's friends is as equal as being at aughts with God Himself. I will try my best to  give this story without irreverence to those it may or may not directly concern. I picked up a woman in my car, for I had a very nice ride, with velvet burgundy carpet to match the burgundy bottom to match the champagne body of the vehicle. The woman loved my music which was gospel, and I felt it odd, for she was dressed as one not incline to gospel flavored music.The woman told how she was getting married in three weeks, and before too long, I came to her stop about a few houses down from my own. I dropped her off, and came to rest at my own gates. Before long, this beauty was knocking on my door, and I let her in puzzled at her boldness. We chit chatted briefly and I excused myself to use the bathroom while she sat comfortable on my bed. Now before you get up in arms, the way my house was situated, the front porch to the door leading into the house was at the back, while the bigger glass sliding doors led in my bedroom yet gave good entrance to my guest. So there she sat in all her loveliness when i went to use the bathroom. When I came back, she was honeymoon glorified. Just as naked as the day she was born, only she had colors posted where she had none at first. And it was the color that threw me off, and had she had another color, I would have been in deep trouble. She asked me to make love to her, but I asked her about her soon to be husband, and she told me men have bachelor parties so what's the difference. It made sense to me, but I was not a bachelor partier, and the color of her regions looked spooky, so I told her No! She then told me she would rape me, to which I told her it would take more then her to pull it off. She left in disgust, while all I kept thinking, was where did she get that color from. After she had left, I then realize, that had she been sporting another color, I would have had relations that I had no business with. That night at prayer meeting, they asked if anyone had a testimony, and yup, I put up my hand and then stood up. I told them this story short of the colors etc etc. The Pastor came to me in privet, and wanted to know her name and particulars, to which I did not know and fund it aught but dismissed any evil idea. I had seen the Pastor visiting a sister from the church in my neighborhood, but again, no evil thought associated with it or him. That was until, a brother from the church accused me of being with his wife, the same one the Pastor was visiting, and then it became hard not to put two and two together, again I had no proof, all I could do is tell the brother it was not me. But I had already had a reputation of being a women' man and with women passing through my doors as regularly as they did, it would not be too far fetch to understand why this brother felt I had lifted his wife's skirt. The very reason I was not with a wife, was this Pastor advised my wife to become my ex, and so on and so forth. I saw this same Pastor walking with his motor bike along the road, and stopped and put his motor bike on  top of my throw rug, rather then see him struggle with the hike to his home. I cant say this way or the other, but I was sadden when I was told this Pastor was found dead in the church yard just out side the church in a kneeling position. It may be, his prayers were enough to make right what may or may not have been wrong.
     I sold a brother my home with the intentions of living in the house still, a move given me by a woman who was the master of good deals. She had sold me the house months before, and now she came to me to resell, I was not interested, but my pockets were bare and I needed money for Christmas. I had a 5 bedroom three bathroom home, paying $700 per month, with four students paying me $350 per month. after paying the mortgage I had extra money less my tithe and offerings...not much but we managed. I was told to sell the house for $5,000 and tell the person who buys it to let me stay in it for $350 per month. When she told me this, I looked at her as if she had lost her mind, for no one in their right mind would do that. But she was the master of deals, and with a smile on her face she told me that me and the family could live upstairs and that with the students living down stairs the new owner can put an additional room for two more students making it 6 students and myself paying $350 that would make $2450 per month. I hopped on that right away and within a day or two i had a buyer. The deal was made, and before long i had a wonderful Christmas with my family as we made arrangements for this new owner to take possession of the house. One of the reasons why I agree with Lady Q, was her and I became business partners and her plan was to see me own a 100 or more houses of my own, but she died suddenly and without warning.  My office was down stairs where this new owner was working, and he noticed the contract for my renting from him there, and took it, thinking if he could get me out of the house, he can have students up stairs too, thus making more money. Needless to say, he sent me a letter in the mail asking me to leave. My wife and I became upset to say the least. Needless to say he gave us two weeks to find another place, for he was the new owners, and as such had every right to do what he was doing. God stepped in on time, and gave me and my family a house across the way through a friend, and the house had the same floor plan has the one we were leaving so the students came across the street with us and in two hours it was almost like we never lived there. With the students gone, and no way to find more, the new owner had to find a single family to live in it, and because his mortgage was $700 plus, he had to rent at a loss. Then his new tenants would be late on their payments, he tried to kick them out and they would not go, nor did they pay him for staying. Finally he forced them out, and they burnt down the house, and because he had no fire insurance, he had to put it back on his own dime. I found out all this from the friend who was the next door neighbor who gave me excess to his other house across the way.
     I started a business, and needed $8,000 to get started, and had no money or credit to do so. So I found a man who I knew had money, and asked him to loan the money, he all but told me go and fly a kite. I showed him why I needed the money and he and his wife fell in love with my product. I told him I would give him the product if he only backed me the $8,000. The product was worth every bit $1,395  and I was selling them the cheapest in the World at the time. He backed me and I got the money and bought 34 machines. I sold 34 of those machines in one week and made $34,000 and released my friends money, gave him a brand new machine and called him to a meeting. I told him I wanted to make him my partner for one Whole year, and split my profits with him fifty fifty. For I felt that what he did for me, put me in a place to make more money then I could ever dream off. At the time, I was in charge of the whole Country of India, all the Caribbean islands and Bermuda. I had just set up camp in Bermuda, and in the first few months, made more money then any body expected including my partner. The Company sent down a scout to make sure things were running smoothly, and they were, at first. But the scout was a shady character and I just did not know how shady he really was. Turned out that my partner was skimming money off the top for himself which was of no real consequence to me, for when it was discovered, I told him to keep what he was able to steal, and reminded him that he stood to gain more if he would only have been fair. But the shady scout, told me not to let it go, but to take my partner to court. I thought it a bit much for what purpose would I have in humiliating this man beyond the lost he had sustained in our partnership dissolving much too early in the game. But little did I know that this shady scout had a plan all his own. No sooner did I put notice of court proceeding out on my partner, this scout called up the company and told them i had made over $350,000 in the first 3 months of business, and now I'm suing my partner over $15,000, and asked them was this the type of man they needed running the business. Now if I was the head of the Company with a black man over all of India, the Caribbean and Bermuda and news came across my desk like this i would have trembled too, so I don't fault them as such, but no inquiry was made and this is where my hurt was sustained.  They said No, and gave my business to him. I became penniless and outcast at the same time as in a moment. For years, that thing ate me up inside and I wondered to God without upsetting God with my grief, but it stayed in the back of my mind for years. I found myself in the Netherlands, seeking to make a living, and low and behold a spot was open for me to promote the same product that I had fell in love with many years before. I was asked about my dealings with the product and told of my loss, and waited for their laughter. For i know there are Millionaires made in all those regions where there was just me. But no one laughed, they told me the gentleman that stole my business, was shot, his wife was shot, his mother and father was also shot, and the son that shot the whole family then shot himself. I became speechless, and was again reminded, I may not see it, but vengeance is mine says the Lord, I well repay...nj