HOPE

Hope is a word I take for granted.

–noun
1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best:

–verb
6. to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.
7. to believe, desire, or trust:

Taking for granted that I will never have to use Hope. Hope is what I would like to see happen. I believe, so it will happen. I trust, in hope that I will never be hurt. I desire and choose my own destiny. I tend to make choices I can control. Then I will not have to rely on hope.

Every addict must make a choice. You choose to let your addiction overcome you; or you overcome your addiction. It's more in my own control if I STATE I will overcome my addition; but in reality I am still choosing to maintain some type of control over my own addition. When in actuality, as a human this is impossible.

So if it is impossible, why bother?

"With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark 10: 27

2006 was the worse year of my life. My addiction to sin led to my fall from grace, I almost lost my family and then my father died. I lost everything the Lord had placed in me from the beginning to do with my life - and then I lost the only man of God in my life that still loved me no matter what; Good Grief!

"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man..." 1 Corinthians 10:12-13a

17 years of service in the church on the front lines - GONE!

Well, I wasn't sure if I would ever be restored - still am not sure.

What I do know is that when I left God; He never left me. When I stopped believing; He never stop believing in me. When I thought it is over; He brought me new life. When I said "What the hell!"; He said, not today son.

I have tried to leave the church. I have tried to completely turn my back on God. I have attempted to reject hope - but when I do, He is always sending somebody to restore hope in my life.

Why is hope so important?

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." Proverbs 13:12

I long to serve as I once did. I long to love as once did. I long to seek the lost as I once did. I long to live as I once did. I long to sing as I once did.

An Addict without hope is sick.

To all my fellow addicts, struggling to understand if there is any reason to keep on. There is always HOPE.

A favorite song of mine of the 80's was sung by the group TRUTH, entitled "There Is A Hope". I was not able to download a video but you can listen to the song from the link listed on the side bar. If you take the time - I believe you will be blessed.

Stress

It is not the norm for me to express emotion through the daily goings on of my life. However since it has been over a month, I thought I should do something that would help me at least do a little of what I enjoy, which is write.

Stress is a word we use normally when we are expressing an emotion of heaviness about a place we may be in our life at the present moment. It could be related to job, family, Christmas, a anniversary of someones death, CHURCH, you get the picture.

I thought it interesting to share some actual meanings of the word stress.

noun

1.	importance or significance attached to a thing; emphasis: to lay stress upon good manners.

4. emphasis in melody, rhythm, etc.; beat.
6. Mechanics.

a.	the action on a body of any system of balanced forces whereby strain or deformation results.

7. Physiology. a specific response by the body to a stimulus, as fear or pain, that disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism.
–verb (used with object)

11.	to lay stress on; emphasize.

And my personal favorite:

1. A mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression.

There is also the ways in which we deal with stress or stressors. Eating, Drinking alcohol for the numbness affect, Eating, Using Chemicals for the numbness affect, Eating, Smoking, Prescription meds, Eating, Spending Money, Eating,

I have found myself more stressed this year due to Christmas, Family, MY JOB,

I am blessed to have such a great job where I can help people, be a part of their family and really feel good about myself.

For example being told that the home placement you requested for the 15 year old foster child is not yet approved and it is now the week of Christmas and we do not no where he will live as of yet: Stress

And I got a call from a client this week just to inform me that he and his girlfriend has chosen to procreate and the baby is due in August: Stress

And what about the state representative calling and stating that the way one of my client's have been funded for housing is being cut and I need to apply for another way to fund where he lives: Stress

Yes, and what about the reality of never feeling that you will ever be able to do the one thing you have loved all your life since birth again; Stress

Yes, stress is a lovely part of life. However I do remember earlier years when I dealt with it better than I do now. Could it be age, circumstances, past failures?

I have to say that I miss my father. After my fall from grace, my dad was the only one that loved me regardless - then God took him from me. I have to say I think I'm bitter.

I do recognize the fact that the lack of spiritual re-newness is of the most detriment.

I do not really stress over what is going on in our Country - it is what happens when we turn from God. It would be very judgmental of me to state that if you are experiencing stress than you are lacking in the word - I can only say that of myself.

I guess worry is another word we can use for stress. The Word says worry doesn't add any length to our life, so what's the point? And yet it is so easy for us to do.

Just thoughts and anxiety I am having in this time in my life. I appreciate the opportunity to just share. I will be doing it more often. Thanks!

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him form them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken". Psalms 34:17-20