Rescue

Redemption
–noun
1. an act of redeeming or the state of being redeemed.
2. deliverance; rescue.
3. Theology. deliverance from sin; salvation.
4. atonement for guilt.
5. repurchase, as of something sold.
6. paying off, as of a mortgage, bond, or note.
7. recovery by payment, as of something pledged.
8. conversion of paper money into specie.

I like number 7 - recovery of payment, as of something pledged. It never seizes to amaze me how God's love and mercy surpasses all understanding, enough to die a cruel death to save me.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:7

Now, we take up our time asking, Why God this and Why God that and what if I didn't have this struggle and what it my life was different. Or, we could understand that God's ways are not our ways and everyone has a struggle and everyone has a need for a savior.

I remember the night I wanted to end my pay through suicide. It wasn't that I really wanted to kill myself, not because I'm allergic to pain, but because I just wanted someone to hear me and tell me that it's ok, your not alone. WOW! The awesome power of stating to someone; you are not alone.

"Keep your lives from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Well, I obviously didn't kill myself - but anytime I get depressed and overwhelmed satan is right there ready said; "why don't you go ahead an kill yourself it's the only way out of your pathetic life."

Do not listen to that CRAP! God has a plan for you and me.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

HELLO! He has plans for you - satan, your a stupid liar!

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

God can redeem you! God can rescue you!

It Was Snowing

Every year at my birthday my father would begin the conversation with, "you know 25 years ago today it was snowing". It use to irritate me sometimes when he would say it every year. Well, now I find myself missing it, now that he is gone. He is not hear to say it this year - I miss that.

Isn't it funny how things get on our nerves until they are gone. Like how irritating habits of your spouse drives you crazy and when away you miss them. Or, like when your child takes a trip and you realize how much you miss them getting on your nerves. Or, like when you use to be so tight with the Lord and then one day you realize how much you miss Him getting on your nerves, expecting great things from you.

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" Matthew 19:14

As parents, what our children does not see in us they will miss when they are older, attempting to seek God's will. For if they do not see it in us, then we are not allowing them to come to Jesus. It's not what we do, it's what we are not doing - loving God with our lives.

My little girl is 11 years old today; and you know - it was snowing 11 years ago today.

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