I am always thinking. Not smart or anything like that, I just think. How can I help someone or a process? Yes, I have a TBI, but I’m not stupid or useless. No.
How do I know that? Well, think about this: I should be dead or at best a vegetable. No surgeries or correction by the medical or therapeutic fields, but I am competent to live on my own so I have no Conservator or Board & Care, no I live in an apartment! I pay my own bills & make my own food. I maintain several things and even clean things up if need be.
But why?
Because Jesus created my brain stem in the first place and when it was broken, He healed it and I live because of Him and exclusively for Him.
Is everything just fine? No, it’s not. But I live in this World and things just happen simply because people make choices. Good choices that help others or bad choices that hurt others, but they make them over and over and over. Isn’t anyone watching? Yes! God is.
So He knows? Yes! So I don’t have to watch? No! Am I responsible for choices that others make? No! The one who makes the choices is responsible. So it’s not up to me? No!
Wow! So why am I here? I seem to have nothing to do…
Ok, because of God life does go on and on, but there are those who need Jesus love and because He lives in you, you can teach and love others. That’s your job and that’s why you’re here. That’s why we’re here!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
God is in control
It doesn’t matter what happens to you or what people choose to do or how you are affected, God is in control.
For the longest time, I could not understand why the Old Testament was there but now I think that I do. It is truly an excellent set of examples of God’s incredible love.
No matter what people chose to do, God was always in control. He knew what people were doing, good or bad, but He always let them choose to do it. Always.
Now there were sometimes when He took action like the Israelites crossing the sea and Babylonian captivity (just to name a few), and He still could today. In fact He did, He sent Jesus to us and for us.
But now Jesus is in charge
and we have been given Grace and forgiveness and Salvation and a future and this World that we live in.
But the fact that He is still in control has not changed. No, He could still choose to do anything. That may seem obvious to you, but please read on.
In my everyday life I am always confronted with situations that are not pleasant or actions that are not positive. So I always have a decision to make. I can get angry or frustrated and I could choose to do something and sometimes I do. But regardless of anything, I have got to remember that regardless of the situation with which I am faced or the possible results, God is in control.
It sounds easy and simple, but it’s not! You have to give up complete control of your life and what happens or whatever people situations may arise over to Him. Because you may think that you have some control over certain things, but you don’t.
You are not the judge now and you won’t be in the future. You can’t see everything, but God can. So leave it all, and I mean all, up to the one in charge and in control.
You are a human like me and this is not in any way easy to do, but you will be free from things that you were not in control of anyway.
It doesn’t matter what happens to you or what people choose to do or how you are affected, God is in control.
For the longest time, I could not understand why the Old Testament was there but now I think that I do. It is truly an excellent set of examples of God’s incredible love.
No matter what people chose to do, God was always in control. He knew what people were doing, good or bad, but He always let them choose to do it. Always.
Now there were sometimes when He took action like the Israelites crossing the sea and Babylonian captivity (just to name a few), and He still could today. In fact He did, He sent Jesus to us and for us.
But now Jesus is in charge
and we have been given Grace and forgiveness and Salvation and a future and this World that we live in.
But the fact that He is still in control has not changed. No, He could still choose to do anything. That may seem obvious to you, but please read on.
In my everyday life I am always confronted with situations that are not pleasant or actions that are not positive. So I always have a decision to make. I can get angry or frustrated and I could choose to do something and sometimes I do. But regardless of anything, I have got to remember that regardless of the situation with which I am faced or the possible results, God is in control.
It sounds easy and simple, but it’s not! You have to give up complete control of your life and what happens or whatever people situations may arise over to Him. Because you may think that you have some control over certain things, but you don’t.
You are not the judge now and you won’t be in the future. You can’t see everything, but God can. So leave it all, and I mean all, up to the one in charge and in control.
You are a human like me and this is not in any way easy to do, but you will be free from things that you were not in control of anyway.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
I was just looking at my poster of Rembrandt’s The Prodigal Son Returns and I realized what that story and the poster are saying!
For a long time I saw it all as a situation where the son realized after a huge situation presented itself (reality finally came into focus for him) that his choices had been improper.
So, appropriately he sought his father’s forgiveness. Now, remember what his father did when he originally asked for his inheritance—he gave it to him. So was it ok for him to ask for his inheritance? No, but His father I’m sure knew that it could have bad results for his son, but he gave it to him. He seemed to feel that it was his gift to give as he pleased.
Now, what about his brother not accepting him at all? Situation after situation came up but he still would not accept him, and that hurt his brother a lot.
So what does that all mean? Well, at one time I believed that it meant that through the proper sequential actions on my part that the father would forgive me, but now I see it differently and this view agrees with the scriptures.
God, our Father, is extremely patient. Extremely. Plus He knows everything about us. Who we have been, who we are and who we will become and He still gave us grace. Forgiveness was His and His alone. So no matter what He knew, He still sent us Jesus:
Rom 5:8
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
NIV
And no matter what we have done, no matter what, He still loves us:
Eph 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
NIV
So what if our brother doesn’t accept us? There certainly is no example in the Bible that that won’t hurt us, but the bottom line for the prodigal son was that the father accepted him, and our Father does to!
So, now that I have a different understanding, what does that parable mean to me? Well to me it means that we could go from where we are to worse and fail (again) but we’ll always be failures because we are human. So the only hope we have is in our Father, not what others think but what He thinks.
For a long time I saw it all as a situation where the son realized after a huge situation presented itself (reality finally came into focus for him) that his choices had been improper.
So, appropriately he sought his father’s forgiveness. Now, remember what his father did when he originally asked for his inheritance—he gave it to him. So was it ok for him to ask for his inheritance? No, but His father I’m sure knew that it could have bad results for his son, but he gave it to him. He seemed to feel that it was his gift to give as he pleased.
Now, what about his brother not accepting him at all? Situation after situation came up but he still would not accept him, and that hurt his brother a lot.
So what does that all mean? Well, at one time I believed that it meant that through the proper sequential actions on my part that the father would forgive me, but now I see it differently and this view agrees with the scriptures.
God, our Father, is extremely patient. Extremely. Plus He knows everything about us. Who we have been, who we are and who we will become and He still gave us grace. Forgiveness was His and His alone. So no matter what He knew, He still sent us Jesus:
Rom 5:8
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
NIV
And no matter what we have done, no matter what, He still loves us:
Eph 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
NIV
So what if our brother doesn’t accept us? There certainly is no example in the Bible that that won’t hurt us, but the bottom line for the prodigal son was that the father accepted him, and our Father does to!
So, now that I have a different understanding, what does that parable mean to me? Well to me it means that we could go from where we are to worse and fail (again) but we’ll always be failures because we are human. So the only hope we have is in our Father, not what others think but what He thinks.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
I have run into the fact that many people who say and think that they are Christians do not understand or believe the following:
John 16:33-17:1
33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble . But take heart! I have overcome the world."
NIV
Rom 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NIV
People are so caught up in whether or not Jesus really has control over this World that they ultimately believe that how they actually behave or their actions as a whole will determine where they will spend eternity, and this next verse takes care of that thought:
Eph 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
NIV
Not by works, so that no man can boast. What that means is that there is nothing that you can do to earn it or lose it cuz it is a gift from God.
So actions have absolutely nothing to with it, it is a gift from God.
John 16:33-17:1
33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble . But take heart! I have overcome the world."
NIV
Rom 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NIV
People are so caught up in whether or not Jesus really has control over this World that they ultimately believe that how they actually behave or their actions as a whole will determine where they will spend eternity, and this next verse takes care of that thought:
Eph 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
NIV
Not by works, so that no man can boast. What that means is that there is nothing that you can do to earn it or lose it cuz it is a gift from God.
So actions have absolutely nothing to with it, it is a gift from God.
Friday, February 20, 2009
You know what? There’s so much that I do recognize and am thankful for but there is so much more that I think that I don’t realize and don’t understand and I’m ok with that because if I ever do, it will be given to me. And if not, that’ll be ok.
I’m actually beginning to see Jesus work in other people! Unfortunately not in just everyone, but that’s ok.
I’m just feeling extremely thankful for who I am and where I am. Thankful for God.
Yes, before I was helping people with the things of this world, but that prepared me very well for where I am now. Perfect preparation.
Now I am very aware of the Godhead. They are there, we just have to see them & know them. I do truly see them but I think that it’s not the time for me to say that I know them completely, they always amaze me, maybe in Heaven I’ll know and understand them.
For now, it is my responsibility to help others to see them and know that they are there. But regardless of whether others see them or not, they're there.
I’m actually beginning to see Jesus work in other people! Unfortunately not in just everyone, but that’s ok.
I’m just feeling extremely thankful for who I am and where I am. Thankful for God.
Yes, before I was helping people with the things of this world, but that prepared me very well for where I am now. Perfect preparation.
Now I am very aware of the Godhead. They are there, we just have to see them & know them. I do truly see them but I think that it’s not the time for me to say that I know them completely, they always amaze me, maybe in Heaven I’ll know and understand them.
For now, it is my responsibility to help others to see them and know that they are there. But regardless of whether others see them or not, they're there.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Certainly this is my perspective, but created by God at one time I had so much genius knowledge in this life that I was highly successful. Now remembering who created me, when I didn’t react properly to what I had been given, God chose to take me from a place to where I was The Most Of These to a place where I am The Least Of These where I can still work for Him. That is a huge blessing.
Everything that was at my disposal now is not, but God’s still in control. And my faith is actually stronger than it has ever been!
Everything that was at my disposal now is not, but God’s still in control. And my faith is actually stronger than it has ever been!
Monday, February 9, 2009
His Strength Is Perfect
The chorus to one of my very favorite songs is:
His strength is perfect
When our strength is gone
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect
The reason that is one of my very favorite songs is because that is very clearly the only reason that I am alive.
I was being sinful, but I had met the Lord before that and the Lord had said I’ll never leave you and clearly He didn’t, even though I was being sinful. But do you know what? We are all human so we’ll always be sinful! No change in behavior was going to do that. That’s what the law was for and it failed!
Now that brings the power of His sacrifice into a whole different place! Yes, he bore our sins on the cross, but we had not yet been born and yes He knew the future then, but He also knew that we were human thus we were sinful and Him going to the crucified was the ONLY WAY THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BE IN HEAVEN!
And so He did it and as the Bible says He did it once for all. And that was more than good enough. With my sinful condition I prove that.
So what’s my point? Go ahead and sin? No! My point is just to better clarify what He did for us so that we can appreciate Him all the more.
The chorus to one of my very favorite songs is:
His strength is perfect
When our strength is gone
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect
The reason that is one of my very favorite songs is because that is very clearly the only reason that I am alive.
I was being sinful, but I had met the Lord before that and the Lord had said I’ll never leave you and clearly He didn’t, even though I was being sinful. But do you know what? We are all human so we’ll always be sinful! No change in behavior was going to do that. That’s what the law was for and it failed!
Now that brings the power of His sacrifice into a whole different place! Yes, he bore our sins on the cross, but we had not yet been born and yes He knew the future then, but He also knew that we were human thus we were sinful and Him going to the crucified was the ONLY WAY THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BE IN HEAVEN!
And so He did it and as the Bible says He did it once for all. And that was more than good enough. With my sinful condition I prove that.
So what’s my point? Go ahead and sin? No! My point is just to better clarify what He did for us so that we can appreciate Him all the more.
Friday, February 6, 2009
What I Am Here For
I think that I know and can tell everyone my purpose in life. I am here to be Jesus to people. Now, how will I do that? Great question! First I must focus on Who created everything? God. So who is really in control of what goes on here on Earth? God. And it is possible to get more familiar with God because God is Jesus! And, He actually lived here on this Earth. Just like you do.
And, He experienced everything that you do as you do, too and He dealt with things well. Why? Most likely He knew where He came from and He knew that He was going to go back there, too. Well, that’s nice, but how does it helo me or others?
Good question again! You and I are going to either going to spend eternity with Him in Heaven or without Him in Hell. Each person has their own choice here on this Earth. And our job is to love all of God’s creations and help them to understand the two choices and hopefully they will choose the right one!
That’s what Jesus was here for! And of course we are called to do the same. In one parable Jesus actually said Do Likewise, so that’s what I’m doing, and I know that’s what I’m here for.
I think that I know and can tell everyone my purpose in life. I am here to be Jesus to people. Now, how will I do that? Great question! First I must focus on Who created everything? God. So who is really in control of what goes on here on Earth? God. And it is possible to get more familiar with God because God is Jesus! And, He actually lived here on this Earth. Just like you do.
And, He experienced everything that you do as you do, too and He dealt with things well. Why? Most likely He knew where He came from and He knew that He was going to go back there, too. Well, that’s nice, but how does it helo me or others?
Good question again! You and I are going to either going to spend eternity with Him in Heaven or without Him in Hell. Each person has their own choice here on this Earth. And our job is to love all of God’s creations and help them to understand the two choices and hopefully they will choose the right one!
That’s what Jesus was here for! And of course we are called to do the same. In one parable Jesus actually said Do Likewise, so that’s what I’m doing, and I know that’s what I’m here for.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
I feel so weird today. Really weird. I am coming back and it seems like it’s happening so quickly too!
I can think & understand things and I realize each time that it happens that it is something that I didn’t used to understand and I understand it now!
WOW! This is a very different place for me to be in my recovery. I’m sure that some other people have experienced this too! I would have liked to have been prepared for this.
Man, I want to take on some responsibility at a job, so I would like to do some volunteering! If you have any ideas, send them to me. I have imagined (more than once) that I must have really loved my old job.
I can think & understand things and I realize each time that it happens that it is something that I didn’t used to understand and I understand it now!
WOW! This is a very different place for me to be in my recovery. I’m sure that some other people have experienced this too! I would have liked to have been prepared for this.
Man, I want to take on some responsibility at a job, so I would like to do some volunteering! If you have any ideas, send them to me. I have imagined (more than once) that I must have really loved my old job.
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