MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! I pray that everyone everywhere has a safe and wonderful Christmas. May you get the things you most desire. Please remember the reason for this holiday season is not the getting but the giving. Just as God gave us His son Jesus. Yes, I am a Christian and I do believe and have accepted that Jesus died for my sins so that I would have everlasting life, all my sins washed away by asking Jesus into my heart and my life. Yes, I have made mistakes, a lot in my opinion. But God is a forgiving god and He loves me anyway. One other wish I have this Christmas season is that all God's children come together and do what I feel God wants us to do, LOVE THY NEIGHBOR....
Most of you know that I am a recovering addict. I suffer from the disease of addiction. Obsessive and compulsion behavior is part of what I suffer from. My disease didn't get a good hold on me until my mid to late 30's and thank God, by the time I was 44 or so, I realized that I could not go on the way I was living. I didn't want to. It was only by God's grace that I didn't die in active addiction. In rehab, I was introduced to a fellowship that could help me stay on the straight and narrow, so to speak.
There are some things that I learned about myself from my recovery process. First, and foremost, it is a process. It is something that takes time, but I can't do it by myself. I need help and the best help I can get is another person in recovery. Why, you may ask, because another person in recovery knows where I've been because they have been there too. They know where I'm coming from because they have had the same experiences. They can share with me how they got through a tough or bad time in their life and I don't have to go through it because they can help me get into the solution quicker and easier. Of course not every solution is quick and easy, some are very hard to get through even with help from others.
When I came home from rehab, I found a place that had a fellowship of people just like myself. And I still attend this fellowship on a regular basis to help me learn about myself. You see I didn't really know that I couldn't read well when I first started in the fellowship. Today, well let's just say that it is only by God's grace and mercy that I am able to write this blog. I have a high school diploma, no college what so ever. Now that is just my story not someone else. The fellowship has taught me so much. I had about a 6th grade reading level. For the longest time when I first entered into recovery and started my process, I had that burning question: Why did God spare me? Why didn't I die in active addiction? This blog, I have come to realize that doing this blog helping others is why I was blessed with God's grace and mercy. As I have always said, if just one person finds help within my post then I have done what I set out to do.
And why do I continue to be a part of that fellowship? Because of the 'diversity' that I have found there. What is diversity? According to Merrian-Webster dictionary defines it as 'the condition of having or being composed of different elements, variety, especially the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) as in a group or organization. So, this means, that I find people of all walks of life; age, gender, race and ethnicity, education, physical appearance, income, religion, jobs, experiences, physical ability and so on. With all the diversity that anyone can find in this fellowship is the reason I find help there. It doesn't matter who or what I am. I am accepted for me. It doesn't matter what I do, where I'm from, the color of my skin, my religion, and more.
My main point of this post is: I am very concerned about our country. There is so much hate and violence. And that really upsets me because I guess I just can't really understand how or when we got this way. Years ago and I me many many years ago our country was divided by many things. But I have seen the diversity of our country was being overcome. People treated each others with respect for no other reason than common courtesy. We worked hard for the things we had. We were proud of a job well done. We tried to help our neighbors if they needed it for no other reason than to be helpful. My heart breaks to see the things that are happening in our world today. It seems that people today want just to do what is best for 'SELF'...
People seem to think that they are 'owed' something for no other reason than that's what they think. Some feel that it's because of their age, gender, race and ethnicity, their education, physical appearance, physical ability, income, experiences, jobs, etc. Confused because I really thought that a lot of these diversities had been over come. Something has changed because some of the old ideas and ways of life are coming alive again. The hate between different races, ethnic backgrounds, income levels, different jobs, and so on.
All I can think about this Christmas season is that if someone doesn't know God, if they don't know His love, grace and mercy and what can happen with allowing Him into their lives? How sad are those that this applies to. And I am truly afraid that there are many, too many that have no idea what life CAN be like with God in your life. Now, no I don't go to church on a regular basis but I am still a Christian. I still fellowship with other Christians. I don't feel that I am less a Christian than someone that can be found in church every time the doors are open. I do what I can when I can and I give all the thanks and praise to God for I know He has me and I have Him.
My message today is: 1) Merry Christmas to all, 2) If you don't know God, I pray that you find some way to get to know God and the many things He can and does do in you life, 3) I pray that if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, that you will right now. This very moment while you are reading this. That you accept this 'GIFT' that God has for you, all you must do is ask God to come into your life. Accept this gift that God has for us all and walk with Him and see your life change.
Our world is changing and I really don't think it is for the better. I know that God has a plan and that plan is being worked out today, in His way and in His time. Please think about the things that you do and say. Would you want someone to say or do that to you? If not, then don't. If you want people to respect you then you must respect them. If you dish out crap to people all the time, they are going to dish it right back. We need to get back to our values and principals in life. 'DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU', the Golden Rule. This is how I live my life today.
We are not promised tomorrow and yesterday is done and gone. Live in today for that is all you have. As the old saying goes, 'don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today'. Wise words since tomorrow has never been promised to us. I really feel deep in my heart that we as a country and as a world can overcome the many diversities that we face every single day. But it will take work and willpower. The two things that I feel are necessary for this to happen. But if we stay on course, don't take a shortcut or dodge a situation just because you are uncomfortable especially if you have some type of experience with whatever the circumstances may be. Don't be so afraid to put yourself out there for someone else.
Folks our country, our world is falling a part and I know God is in control but if folks don't wake up and see what is going on around them then I will continue to pray for you as I do every night. It is a sad time our world is facing today.
Please accept my apology for posting what some may say is a downer of a post, but I do hope and pray that most of you will understand where all this is coming from. Folks, I don't just haphazardly pick topics to write about. Most of the time something has happened in my life or someone else's life that sparks a fire and I feed that fire in order to try my very best to get into the solution and out of the problem as soon as possible.
Most of you know that I am a recovering addict. I suffer from the disease of addiction. Obsessive and compulsion behavior is part of what I suffer from. My disease didn't get a good hold on me until my mid to late 30's and thank God, by the time I was 44 or so, I realized that I could not go on the way I was living. I didn't want to. It was only by God's grace that I didn't die in active addiction. In rehab, I was introduced to a fellowship that could help me stay on the straight and narrow, so to speak.
There are some things that I learned about myself from my recovery process. First, and foremost, it is a process. It is something that takes time, but I can't do it by myself. I need help and the best help I can get is another person in recovery. Why, you may ask, because another person in recovery knows where I've been because they have been there too. They know where I'm coming from because they have had the same experiences. They can share with me how they got through a tough or bad time in their life and I don't have to go through it because they can help me get into the solution quicker and easier. Of course not every solution is quick and easy, some are very hard to get through even with help from others.
When I came home from rehab, I found a place that had a fellowship of people just like myself. And I still attend this fellowship on a regular basis to help me learn about myself. You see I didn't really know that I couldn't read well when I first started in the fellowship. Today, well let's just say that it is only by God's grace and mercy that I am able to write this blog. I have a high school diploma, no college what so ever. Now that is just my story not someone else. The fellowship has taught me so much. I had about a 6th grade reading level. For the longest time when I first entered into recovery and started my process, I had that burning question: Why did God spare me? Why didn't I die in active addiction? This blog, I have come to realize that doing this blog helping others is why I was blessed with God's grace and mercy. As I have always said, if just one person finds help within my post then I have done what I set out to do.
And why do I continue to be a part of that fellowship? Because of the 'diversity' that I have found there. What is diversity? According to Merrian-Webster dictionary defines it as 'the condition of having or being composed of different elements, variety, especially the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) as in a group or organization. So, this means, that I find people of all walks of life; age, gender, race and ethnicity, education, physical appearance, income, religion, jobs, experiences, physical ability and so on. With all the diversity that anyone can find in this fellowship is the reason I find help there. It doesn't matter who or what I am. I am accepted for me. It doesn't matter what I do, where I'm from, the color of my skin, my religion, and more.
My main point of this post is: I am very concerned about our country. There is so much hate and violence. And that really upsets me because I guess I just can't really understand how or when we got this way. Years ago and I me many many years ago our country was divided by many things. But I have seen the diversity of our country was being overcome. People treated each others with respect for no other reason than common courtesy. We worked hard for the things we had. We were proud of a job well done. We tried to help our neighbors if they needed it for no other reason than to be helpful. My heart breaks to see the things that are happening in our world today. It seems that people today want just to do what is best for 'SELF'...
People seem to think that they are 'owed' something for no other reason than that's what they think. Some feel that it's because of their age, gender, race and ethnicity, their education, physical appearance, physical ability, income, experiences, jobs, etc. Confused because I really thought that a lot of these diversities had been over come. Something has changed because some of the old ideas and ways of life are coming alive again. The hate between different races, ethnic backgrounds, income levels, different jobs, and so on.
All I can think about this Christmas season is that if someone doesn't know God, if they don't know His love, grace and mercy and what can happen with allowing Him into their lives? How sad are those that this applies to. And I am truly afraid that there are many, too many that have no idea what life CAN be like with God in your life. Now, no I don't go to church on a regular basis but I am still a Christian. I still fellowship with other Christians. I don't feel that I am less a Christian than someone that can be found in church every time the doors are open. I do what I can when I can and I give all the thanks and praise to God for I know He has me and I have Him.
My message today is: 1) Merry Christmas to all, 2) If you don't know God, I pray that you find some way to get to know God and the many things He can and does do in you life, 3) I pray that if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, that you will right now. This very moment while you are reading this. That you accept this 'GIFT' that God has for you, all you must do is ask God to come into your life. Accept this gift that God has for us all and walk with Him and see your life change.
Our world is changing and I really don't think it is for the better. I know that God has a plan and that plan is being worked out today, in His way and in His time. Please think about the things that you do and say. Would you want someone to say or do that to you? If not, then don't. If you want people to respect you then you must respect them. If you dish out crap to people all the time, they are going to dish it right back. We need to get back to our values and principals in life. 'DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU', the Golden Rule. This is how I live my life today.
We are not promised tomorrow and yesterday is done and gone. Live in today for that is all you have. As the old saying goes, 'don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today'. Wise words since tomorrow has never been promised to us. I really feel deep in my heart that we as a country and as a world can overcome the many diversities that we face every single day. But it will take work and willpower. The two things that I feel are necessary for this to happen. But if we stay on course, don't take a shortcut or dodge a situation just because you are uncomfortable especially if you have some type of experience with whatever the circumstances may be. Don't be so afraid to put yourself out there for someone else.
Folks our country, our world is falling a part and I know God is in control but if folks don't wake up and see what is going on around them then I will continue to pray for you as I do every night. It is a sad time our world is facing today.
Please accept my apology for posting what some may say is a downer of a post, but I do hope and pray that most of you will understand where all this is coming from. Folks, I don't just haphazardly pick topics to write about. Most of the time something has happened in my life or someone else's life that sparks a fire and I feed that fire in order to try my very best to get into the solution and out of the problem as soon as possible.
I love each and everyone of you and pray you have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!!! May God bless you and keep you and may you find that if you let Him in, your whole world can and will change....
