"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!!!!"

TRUST IS FOUNDATIONAL

Dear Readers,

Last week I was at first shocked, angry and then hurt as I moved through the normal emotions that are associated with a person whose TRUST has been violated. You see, my trust was violated by a person I had considered a "real" friend. I had confided in this person with some personal issues that should have been and had been assured me would remain confidential. I found out "through the grapevine" that this person had shared some of the confidential information with others which put me in a very precarious position.

TRUST is foundational in any relationship whether it be a friendship or marriage. After much thought and prayer I have decided to forgive this person and remain friends, however, I will NOT trust this person with any more sensitive or personal information.

Trust is EARNED not given. I thought this person had earned my trust, but I was mistaken. Does this mean that I should never trust anyone anymore? Absolutely not! I still have one person in particular, besides my wife, with whom I can still share personal information. I'm sure there are others with whom I could share but the trust factor has not been established yet, but as they EARN my trust, I will not be afraid to share with them also.

One of my life verses has been and continues to be Proverbs 3: 5 and 6 which states in the King James Version :

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not unto thine own understanding but in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy paths."

One thing we can be certain of is that we are all human beings and we will fail. There will be times when we will fail others and others will fail us. That is where the spirit of forgiveness comes in. The Lord's prayers states in two different versions:

"...forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors..." (or) "...forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us..."

You see, GOD will never fail us nor forsake us. We can TRUST him with every aspect of our lives. I find comfort in the truth knowing that when others may fail us and violate our trust..... we can be assured that God will never do such a thing. Yes, we need to learn to always trust the Lord with all our heart and lean not unto our own understanding... this is FOUNDATIONAL in our personal relationship with Christ. After all, if we cannot trust God, then WHO can we trust?

In whom are you putting YOUR trust????

The Value of True Friendship

Dear Reader,

I've been doing much pondering over the past few weeks since my last blog. I continue to suffer from chronic health issues which I won't go into here. Many questions linger regarding the "whys and wherefores" concerning so many issues surrounding my illness including the acceptance of new physical limitations being forced upon me.

I was talking with a very dear friend of mine the other day. We have been mutually very supportive of each other over the past several years. One thing about this friend is that she is a "straight shooter" and tells it like it is. I don't always like to hear what is being said and yet deep down in my heart, I know that her intuition and objective perspective regarding the issue being discussed is usually correct.

We had one of those discussions the other day and I must say that I have been reflecting upon our conversation. One of the issues that we discussed was that of giving into a "victim's mentality". I had never viewed myself as giving into that emotion however, as I have been reflecting upon the thoughts shared by my friend, I realize that I WAS entertaining a victim's mentality regarding my illness and difficult situation that I find myself in.

Since our conversation, I have become more aware of this tendency in my life and am searching God's Word for answers. Life is not always fair and problems, sickness, sorrows, disappointments, changes, etc... all occur sometimes in an instant and leave us feeling totally out of control.

After talking with my friend, I realized that part of the problem was that it was I who was attempting to be in control instead of allowing GOD to control my life and situation. When suddenly faced with a situation in which I had NO control is when I began to entertain the "victim mentality"... feeling sorry for myself and constantly focusing upon the things I could no longer do instead of focusing on the things that I still CAN do as well as those things God desires to do in my behalf if I let Him.

I thank God for a friend who is willing to be a "straight shooter". It is always easier to say what a person WANTS to hear instead of what they NEED to hear. My friend cares enough to share with me what I NEED to hear even though it may be difficult at the time.

How about you?? Do you have a friend who cares enough to tell you the TRUTH?? If so, are you willing to listen and accept the truth even though it may not be pleasant to hear or do you get defensive?? What kind of friend are YOU??? Are there people in your life that need a TRUE friend??? If so, are YOU willing to be that true friend and stand in the gap??

Our society today is in short supply of "TRUE FRIENDS". It is not easy to be one and certainly not easy to find one. If you have a true friend, count yourself very blessed and strive to be a true friend in return.

On the other hand, if you find yourself coming up short of true and lasting friends, first I would suggest that you examine what type of friend YOU are because I firmly believe that to have friends one needs to BE a friend. So it is with TRUE friendships, if we expect and desire a true friendship, we need to exhibit that trait in our own lives as well.

Of course, Christ is our greatest friend and he will never fail us nor forsake us, but God knows the importance of having human friendships as well.

Let's not forsake the importance of developing true and caring friendships. It is well worth the effort and creates an environment where we can help one another through this journey called LIFE.

WHEN FAITH IS TESTED

Well another week has gone by and I still am in the dark concerning my immediate and long term future. My life changed two years ago as I've stated already in prior blogs. I am experiencing the greatest challenge of my life which is affecting me physically, emotionally and spiritually.

I have no idea what my future holds. There are some days when I am more optomistic than other days, but I know that whatever I am going through right now is part of God's divine plan for my life. Sometimes, God just doesn't make any sense and when that happens, FAITH has to take over.

I must say that since my mini stroke on August 13th and subsequent medical leave for the past 6 months, (not physically able to hold down a job due to extreme fatigue), God has stood in the gap and in miraculous ways provided for us financially and in other ways. It is nothing short of an ongoing miracle. One day, when I look back over these past few years and reflect upon God's involvement in our lives and situation, I will need to write down an accurate account of God's provision which has quadrupled my faith. My hope is that all who will read that account will be blessed and that their faith would be strengthened to know that God cares and is still very involved in the lives of those who are Christ followers and put their faith and trust in God.

My life verse has a much greater meaning for me these days than ever before. That verse is Proverbs 3: 5,6 which states:

(KJV) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thine own understanding, but in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy paths.." .

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but this I DO know, that my God is faithful and will perform His will in my life whatever that may be. In the meantime, I'm learning to REST in Him even when He doesn't make any sense.

How about you? Are you going through a difficult time in your live today? Are you wondering where God is in the midst of your struggles? God is ever present during the good times and not so good times. Remember, when God doesn't make any sense and all seems hopeless, that is where FAITH comes in. TRUST him with all your heart. God is faithful and will not let you down. He will provide for you in His own way and in His own time.

One of my favorite songs is titled Through It All and part of the lyrics reads:

"I thank God for the mountains, and I thank Him for the valleys, I thank Him for the storms He's brought me through; for if I never had a problem, I wouldn't know that He could solve them, I wouldn't know what faith in God could do".

Amen and Amen!!!!!

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)

God Will Make A Way

As I was checking my email today a good friend of mine said and I quote:

"I DON'T KNOW WHY AND I WILL NOT QUESTION! I WAS THINKING OF YOU ..... AND THIS WAS WAITING ON ME. LIKE I SAID, HE WORKS IN MISTERIOUS WAYS!"

Now, I hadn't talked with this individual for quite some time and we talked for the first time the other day for a short while and today I get this link in my email from this person to open up and listen to. It was EXACTLY what I needed at the moment. I truly believe this was a message sent by God to me through my friend. I suggest you click on this link and listen for yourself..... make sure you have your volume turned up, you won't want to miss out on this very important truth!! God is awesome!!

A Fresh Perspective On Life

The following story was emailed to me and I thought it was such a good illustration about life and all of it's uncertainties, I thought I would include it in this blog. I trust it will help you gain a different perspective as it did me.

Blessings,

John


"Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."

"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers. "Yuck" says her daughter.
"How about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Mom!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Mom, those are all yucky!"

To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!

God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance."

CABIN ON THE LAKE

Dear Readers,

I am a pilgrim who's on a journey through this life with God leading the way. My life suffered a drastic change about 2 1/2 years ago. Since then there have been many twists and turns. The following true account I am using as my first post because it was at that moment that my perspective on life and indeed my life itself changed forever!! Here is that account:

CABIN ON THE LAKE

AN ACTUAL VISION:

MY PERSONAL ACCOUNT
John C. Edwards 1-27-07

I was in a cabin on a large lake. The cabin was one of those that had a row of windows on one side facing the lake. All of the windows were open with screens exposed.

A gentle breeze was flowing through the open windows, very comfortable and serene. My family and close friends were with me as we were enjoying one another’s company.

We were all gathered together in the family room overlooking the lake when the breeze became noticeably stronger. Then suddenly the sirens began to sound so we turned on the TV to find that a storm warning had indeed been issued and that everyone should seek cover immediately.

The reporter said there was a disturbance traveling directly toward us across the lake. It was producing straight line winds of 70-80 MPH. The announcement said “Seek Safety Immediately”.

The breeze became a wind growing in intensity with every passing moment. We had no basement. I became concerned for the safety of those around me and proceeded to help them find safety so they could withstand the approaching wind. All the while, the wind continued to grow in intensity. My sole concern was for their safety. Once safely secured, each of them implored me to seek shelter and secure myself before it became too late.

However, I was convinced that I’d be ok and that I was strong enough to withstand the storm. I continued being more concerned for their safety. The wind continued to grow in strength and it was becoming more difficult to buck the wind.

I stood fast and began to face the wind head on, being only able to move inches at a time. With my head bowed, I stubbornly tried to advance against the wind.

By this time everyone was screaming “John, you can’t stand up against this storm, please find cover!” Suddenly, the wind lifted me off the ground and transported me into the adjoining room – slamming me against the wall. With my back firmly against the wall, I feared that the wall would give way and I would enter the point of no return.

Therefore, I had no choice but to seek cover. Looking across the room, I noticed I was in the kitchen and saw a work table next to the stove. I slowly and with every ounce of strength made my way across the room to the table, crawled underneath firmly secured under the table with my back against the stove.
Not long after I found shelter, the storm passed, the wind died down and became a gentle breeze once again. I then left my place of safety to find that everyone I was so concerned for were indeed safe and sound.

I then woke up and began reflecting upon this dream. I looked at the clock and saw it was 2:10 am. Shortly thereafter, the interpretation came to me.


INTERPRETATION:

The cabin represents my personal environment

(Home, Family, Friends, etc..).

The windstorm represents the pressures of life and the excessive amounts of stress related to work conditions.

The table and stove represent a place of safety (in this case, the Hospital).

Before being admitted to the hospital, I was facing an equivalent to a 70-80 MPH straight line wind. People warned me of endangering my health and personal well being if I continued to face the storm head on (my workload was too much for one person to handle). They urged me to find shelter (change of pace – even a different line of work if necessary), but I failed to heed their advice. I stubbornly continued to face the storm head on. As a result, I indeed found myself with my back slammed against the wall.

With my back against the wall, I finally realized that I need to accept my limitations and that I cannot fix everyone’s problem. Nor could I continue to work as though I was some super human invincible. So, I agreed to seek shelter and help (Hospital). I realized that if I continued to face the stresses of work and pressures of life without help, I could very well end up physically and psychologically at a point of no return.

Therefore, on January 24th, 2007 I reluctantly agreed to enter the hospital for necessary medical attention and counsel so that one day soon, I would be able to leave this place of safety and venture out once again to lead a productive and a more balanced life.

By that time, the windstorm will have passed and I could once again enjoy the gentle breeze with my family and friends.

I was released from the hospital on January 31st, 2007.

With God’s help, I am beginning to write a new chapter in my life while seeking a proper balance between my Mind, Body and Spirit.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

"O God, you are our refuge......when we are exhausted by life's efforts; when we are bewildered by life's problems; when we are wounded by life's sorrows.....we come for refuge to you. Amen." — William Barclay---