Wow, What A Year!!

Well, it's Christmas time again.  It is a very joyous occasion when we celebrate the birth of Christ.

This has been a year of personal reflection for me and I have found that my focus for too long was on materialism, getting ahead in life, going up the corporate ladder, achieving great things and reaching one milestone after another, and having the mistaken notion that I was invincible.

This year everything that I had worked so hard for and achieved came crashing down all around me.  What I thought was important suddenly changed.  Everything that I had worked so many years to achieve was gone in less than a year.  The greatest thing I lost was my health.  I am now in a position where I must re-evaluate my priorities.

Was climbing the corporate ladder that important?  Was trying to be everything to everybody worth it?  Was trying to live up to the monumental expectations forced upon me by myself and others even possible to achieve?  Was sacrificing my own self awareness for the sake of pleasing others really making a positive difference in people's lives?

Okay, so yes, by human standards I had achieved success but was it really??

What were the costs?

My costs were much greater than any gains.  I'm not just talking about finances.  I'm talking about life itself.  What did it cost my family all of those years I was gone on business trips and working 12+ hour days.  Sure, we had nice things, we had material blessings, we were beginning to build our retirement nest egg, everything seemed to be looking up for us, with no end in sight.  We were living very comfortably and were also giving to the church and other charities.  We gave to individuals in need and felt such a blessing to be able to do so.

So, why then would God allow all of this to come crashing down all around me?  My career was over, my health has deteriorated greatly and all of our assets are gone.

My focus was misplaced.  Instead of focusing on God and His greatness, I was focusing too much on what the world had to offer and based my success on human standards instead on God's standards.

Success is more than the accumulation of things, advancing up the corporate ladder, pleasing others, achieving wealth, etc...

Success is first and foremost found in Jesus Christ.  HE is the reason for living.  HE is to be our focal point in life.  HE is the one that has designed us and planned our days before we were even born.

This year, I have found that all I ever really needed was Christ.  My family is a gift from God that I cherish very much. I count myself very blessed indeed with a wonderful loving family.

So what if we had to sell all of our assets.  So what if we end up losing our house.  So what if we end up losing our car.  These are only things.  They are STUFF.  Stuff can be replaced.

What is REALLY important in life are the relationships we hold dear.  Our relationship to God.  Our relationship with our family.  Our relationship with our friends.  Our RELATIONSHIPS are the true assets in this life.

My relationship with God should be my prime focus.  If I focus on God, everything and everyone else will come together as it was designed to do according to God's will. 

Our lifetime here on Earth is only microscopic compared to all of eternity.  I made a huge mistake by misplacing my focus and desire on the things of this world.  Now I am paying that price dearly.

However, I also know that it's never too late to change.  I believe God loved me and my wife so much that he allowed all of this to happen to us so that we would be drawn closer to Him and realize that HE is the only one we should depend on.  Not ourselves or anyone else, but only HIM.  God is really all we need.

So, now what?  Like I said, it's never too late to change.  It is going to be a long road back to health for me.  I am going to have to learn to accept new limitations, I'm going to have to learn to compensate for what I have lost.  I'm going to have to learn to deal with my past, warts and all.  Even so, I know that in the end, it will be worth it all.  I like that old hymn that says:
 

"it will be worth it all, when we see Jesus, life's trials will seem so small, when we see Christ; One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrows will erase, so bravely run the race, 'til we see Christ."

How about you my friend?  Where is YOUR focus today?  During this Christmas season and the years ahead, why not realign your focus and set it on Christ.  Let HIM be your basis for success.  Allow Him to finish the work He has started within you.  Begin by reading His Word and praying to Him DAILY.  He will guide you all of the way if you follow Him.

"My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow, my Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow.  Strength for today, is mine all the way and all I need for tomorrow.  My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow." 

Merry Christmas everyone!  Christ is the greatest gift and is all that we will ever need.

The journey continues...

David's Prayer

Dear Readers,

As I was reading my Bible today, I came across Psalm 143, which is a prayer of David.  As I read it, it seemed so much like a prayer that I would pray and so I did and made it a personal prayer.  I wanted to share it with you.

Here are excerpts as recorded in Psalm 143: 1-12 (NIV):

"O Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy, in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.  Do not bring your servant into judgment for no one living is righteous before you.....

I remember the days of long ago, I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.  I spread out my hands to you, my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.  

Answer me quickly, O Lord, my spirit fails.  Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.  Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  

Show me the way I should go for to you I lift up my soul.  Rescue me..... for I hide myself in you.  

Teach me to do your will for you are my God, may your good spirit lead me on level ground.


For your names sake, O Lord, preserve my life in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble....."

Amen and Amen!!!

The Master Designer

Dear Readers,

The longer I live and experience the mountain tops and valleys of life, I become convinced that everything has a Divine purpose.  God after all is the "Master Designer". 

Having said that, the Lord is always working on our behalf even when we don't sense His presence or see changes taking place.

I am in the midst of the greatest struggle of my life with no end in sight.  My emotions have been all over the place this past week in particular but even before that.

I know in my heart that God loves me and only allows things to happen to me for His purpose.  What is that purpose, I ask?   I don't know.  I may never know. 

Sometimes I am tempted to think that maybe God is punishing me for some reason.  After all, God is a God of Love but He is also a God of Justice.

We are living in a day of grace which means that God loves us enough that he sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins and He conquered death 3 days later when He arose from the grave.  He now sits at the right hand of God intercessing for each of us in our behalf.

Does that mean that God does not punish His children or allow bad things to happen to us?  We live in a fallen world which means that SIN reigns for the present.  However, God is still in control and nothing happens to us without His knowledge or consent.

Therefore, when difficulties come our way, God is fully aware of our needs and is working "behind the scenes" for our own good.  This is where FAITH comes in.  When all else makes no sense and yes, even when God doesn't make sense, we need to rely on our FAITH to pull us through.  Trusting our "unknown future to our known God".

I write this after receiving a MAJOR disappointment in my life just today.  It leaves me with many more questions than answers.  All I have to rely on now is my FAITH or TRUST in God.  How strong is my faith?  How much do I trust God?  I wish I could say it's never been stronger, but I'd be lying if I said that.  However, I DO have faith and I DO trust God.  The Bible says that if we have the "faith of a mustard seed" we can move mountains.

Well, I have a major mountain to cross right now, I'm tired and weary.  I believe what the Bible says and based on that truth, my faith should be enough to carry me through and help me cross the mountain one way or another.  I'm tempted to give up at times, and yet my faith will not allow me to give up.

How about you?  Can you relate to my story?  How strong is YOUR faith?  How much do YOU trust God?   What is YOUR mountain that you are facing?  Do you have the "faith of a mustard seed"?

Think about it.

Time of Reflection

Dear Readers,

Today, I've been doing some personal reflecting upon my relationship with family, friends and God. I am very blessed to have a close knit family who love one another despite their differences. We don't always agree, but that is okay, we agree to disagree and yet our love for one another remains constant.

This past year has been a time of mixed emotions ranging from euphoria to depression and everywhere in between. As I look back on my past year's experience, I realize that my focus was misplaced. In recent years, I was blessed with a nice income and material blessings. I was privileged to help others financially as the needs arose as well as giving to charities.

After suffering ill health for the past two years and especially a TIA (mini-stroke) which I suffered in August of 2008, my life changed dramatically. Thus, there have been many struggles as I have learned to cope with these changes and limitations. I was resistant and becoming rebellious against God blaming Him for my misfortune (which I'm ashamed to admit). In anger and disbelief, I prayed to God "... if you truly love me and care about me, I need tangible proof, show me that you love me... " . Over these past several months, God has done just that. Even though I have been unemployed since August 2008, God has provided for us in every way as He continues to display "tangible proof" of such love and caring.

Last Thursday (6/11), we sold our F-150 Pickup which represents the final major asset we've had to sell. It will be enough to get us through the month of June. Since August, we have been taking it one day at a time and doing everything we know to do and leaving the rest to God. Through the generosity of others and the selling of our assets, we've been provided for each and every month.

July 7th, Nita, I and a friend of ours will be going to Mayo's Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for a diagnosis and treatment of my chronic health conditions. What will happen? Only God knows. I have learned however, to be at peace. What was important to me (material things, career, climbing the corporate ladder, etc... ) no longer have a priority in my life. The first and foremost priority I have in my life now is to be obedient to God. Nurturing my relationships with my family, friends and God are of prime importance.

The things of this world come and go. As the Bible says, ... The Lord gives and Lord takes away, bless-ed be the name of the Lord." So be it.

I wrote a while back about my struggle with learning to cope. I have found that the first step is to surrender my situation and all that relates to it to God. Second, I need to accept my situation for what it is knowing that I will probably never be able to return to the life I once knew. Therefore, I will achieve new goals and fulfill a new purpose in my life as the Lord leads me.

I had to come to a point of accepting the "death" of my old life and embrace my new life for whatever it may include. My good friend who responded to one of my latest posts did much to steer me in the right direction by recommending a book regarding a brain surgeon who suffered a major stroke and made a miraculous recovery. The book is her own account of how she struggled with many of the struggles I am going through today, but only not quite as traumatic. Her story is an inspiration and I thank my good friend for taking the time to respond to my request for suggestions on learning to cope. God uses different people in our lives to help us along our journey and in this particular case, He used my friend.

Are there areas in your life you are struggling with? Do YOU need to take time to reflect? How long has it been since you've had a good talk with God? If you feel distant from God like I did, it's not because He moved, it's because you or I move away from Him. Reach out to Him and He will reach out to you.

Priorities are what we make them. Our future is directly affected by those choices. It's NEVER too late to change course. I KNOW because I did and I'm GLAD I did. If you need to make changes in your life's direction and rearrange your priorities, PLEASE, don't wait too long. None of us are guaranteed a tomorrow.

No matter what perplexities you struggle with today, nothing is impossible with God. He DOES love you and care about you... He is waiting for you to surrender your struggle to Him just like he was doing with me. I encourage you to think on what I have shared and take that step of trust and faith... let God take control.

I regret not having done so sooner. I hope you will decide to give God control of your life and situation sooner rather than later. Life is too short to wait.

Becoming members of the WhiteRose Fellowship

Nita and I have been attending the WhiteRose Fellowship Church since April of 2008 and will be joining as full members tomorrow morning.

It is a wonderful church, non-denominational with a structure and environment patterned after the early church in the New Testament. It is very unlike any "institutional church" and certainly doesn't subscribe to what many would call "organized religion". It is only a little over 2 yrs old and has an Sunday morning attendance of between 90 - 115.

More about the church can be discovered at our website which is updated on a regular basis. Our call is to Love God, Love Others and Make Disciples. Check out our website and then come and pay us a visit sometime. We'd love to see ya. The website is simply: www.whiterosefellowship.org .

A PRAYER OF PRAISE AND SUPPLICATION

Dear Lord,


I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.


Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.


Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You. Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.



I know that when I can't pray, you listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak... Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.


I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those that don't believe. But I thank you that I believe. I believe that God changes people and God changes things.


I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.


I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.


I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it.


I pray this in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,


AMEN.

(Author Unknown)