"NOTHING LEFT BUT GOD"

This has been a time of personal reflection for me these past several months. During this time, I have been moving through an enormous process of adjustments since my damaging TIA in August, 2008. While in this process, I have been gradually drawing closer to God. A few nights ago, I opened up a devotional called "Daily Bread" at random and came across the devotional dated for April 6, 2009. If you happen to have this devotional, you may want to read it in its entirety. What I want to do in this post is share the part that really made me think and helped me gain perspective on my present situation. It goes as follows written by Joanie Yoder, Daily Bread April-June Issue, 2009, dated April 6th:

"A wise Bible teacher once said, 'sooner or later God will bring self-sufficient people to the place where they have no resource but Him--no strength, no answers, nothing but Him. Without God's help, they're sunk'.

.....In today's Bible reading (2 Chronicles 20: 3-17), the people of Judah were also in trouble. They admitted their lack of power and wisdom to conquer their foes. All they had left was God!.... the people saw this as reason for hope, not despair. 'Our eyes are upon you' they declared to God (2 Chron 20:12). And their hope was not disappointed as he fulfilled His promise: 'The battle is not yours, but God's' (verse 15).

Are you in a position where all self-sufficiency is gone? As you turn your eyes on the Lord and put your hope in Him, you have God's reassuring promise that you need nothing more. - Joanie Yoder-

After reading this devotional, I realized it was describing MY experience since August and gradually all of those things in which I had mistakenly placed my security including "self-sufficiency" are being eliminated and now I find that I have nothing left but God to depend on.

Having said that, I thank the Lord He has blessed me with my loyal family and a few loyal friends. It is during trying times like these when a person finds out who his/her loyal friends are. Although some have deserted me in my time of need, I am reminded that all I need is God. I thank God for my wife, family and friends and His continued presence in my life.

I ask you the same question as the author,

"Are you in a position where all self-sufficiency is gone?"

Whatever you are battling today, remember that according to the Scriptures, "...the battle is not yours, but God's". (v.15)

Although I continue to struggle with developing coping skills to help me gain acceptance of my new limitations imposed on me due to my illness, I am now constantly reminding myself of this main truth that the battle is not mine, but God's.

There in lies my hope.

WHAT'S IN A SMILE???

Have you ever noticed how that in today's fast paced world, people are less likely to take time to pause long enough to exchange pleasantries, let alone really get to know one another as friends. I have found that to be so. Now-a-days, when you pass a stranger on the street or at the market and simply smile at them, they look at you strange like "what do you want with me?" or "why are you smiling at me?".

What ever happened to common courtesy and sharing a smile or nod of the head without thinking there is an ill motive behind it??

We live in a very different world today. It is very impersonal and individualistic. There are hurting people all around us and we rarely notice because we too are all caught up in our busy lifestyles and fail to pause long enough to show concern.

When was the last time you paused long enough to pick up the phone and call a friend or relative just to let them know you were thinking of them and to have a friendly chat?

When was the last time you took out a pen and paper and wrote a friendly personal note and mailed it to someone you care about?

When was the last time you invited someone over to your house for dinner or just to have some time of fellowship together?

When was the last time you told your friends or family that you loved them?

You know, one day, it will be too late and we don't know when that day will come for any of us. I have people in my life that I love and care about and I want to make a special effort to make sure they know..... life is too short to take our friends or family for granted.

How about you? Are there people in your life that are hurting and lonely? Why not slow down and pause long enough from your busy schedules, take the time and let them know how much they mean to you before it is too late. None of us have a guarantee of a tomorrow. Life is precious and so are relationships. Let's not take those relationships for granted.

It is written in the Scriptures that the greatest command is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself.

I for one do not want to neglect my friends or family even in the slightest way. I challenge you as well as myself to make it a point to slow down long enough to show love and concern toward our friends and family. In order to have friends you need to BE a friend.... therefore it's a "win-win" situation.

Just some food for thought as we live in a chaotic and fast paced world. May you enjoy each and every one of your relationships and PLEASE guard against taking any of them for granted but do everything you can to preserve them.

"People who need people are the luckiest people in the world!!!!"