As we close out 2013, I look back.
All things point to this being my most difficult year ever. If I would have planned out this year, nothing that happened would have happened. Heck, I could have lost my life to a pulmonary embolism. But as I look back, it's hard for me to say this was in fact the most difficult year ever. Why? Because I had Jesus.
Let's look at the positive rather than the negative. I SURVIVED a major surgery. I SURVIVED a pulmonary embolism. I SURVIVED getting through it without the one I loved the most. In 2012, I was hospitalized for 8 weeks total. In 2013, I was hospitalized for 5 weeks total. That's an improvement, right? Right. And here I am the last day of the year about to close a huge chapter in my life and enter a new one. Every day I wake up with a song playing on repeat in my head. Todays was "This is the first day of the rest of your life... it's gonna be alright."
And alright it will be.
The past years I have looked ahead saying "This is going to be MY year." Or "This is going to be OUR year." This year I'm not saying it's mine or not mine. I'm not saying it's anything. All 2014 is is a new calendar... and none of the boxes on there are guaranteed. That's what this year showed me. We can fill up those boxes all we want, write something in them to plan months ahead... but plans change, people change and you just never know.
So I thank God for each box that is behind me and each new one He brings forth carrying me through. It's not the number of boxes/dates on a calendar we walk through, it's not even what is written in them... it's the substance within that you can't see. It's having Jesus in your heart knowing that no matter how many days you are given and what those days hold, you're going to be alright.
This isn't going to fit with all I'm writing here. It's going to sound out of place because it is. But it's something I wanted to share so I'm adding it in. At the end of 2012, a year ago, I thought about what my new year's resolution would be, just like everyone else. I decided to turn inward spiritually, instead of outward worldly in making that determination. My new year's resolution was to dedicate one day, each day, to someone I knew... and to pray for them that day, in addition to any other prayers. I am happy to say, today on December 31, 2013, is the first year I fully completed a new year's resolution. Even the days spent in the hospital, there wasn't one that past that I didn't dedicate and pray for someone I knew. And if you are reading this, most likely you had a day dedicated to you without even knowing it.
In addition, I started a prayer journal. When a specific situation arose, I wrote down the person's name and my prayer for them. I admit I was not as dedicated to this as to my daily dedications/prayer, but I tried to do it whenever I remembered. Looking back, I wrote about 60-70 specific prayers. About 40-50 of them have been answered. That is amazing! Absolutely amazing! It is beautiful to visually see prayers getting answered. And the 20 or so that were not answered, looking at them, most of them I requested something in a specific time frame on those. It reminds me, this is not my time, it is God's time. God will answer prayers in His way at His time. We must adjust, we must believe and we must hold on to the hope He gives us.
As we close out 2013, I look back. As we close out 2013, I look forward. And most importantly, as we close out 2013, I look up. And that is where I find peace. May that peace be carried with you also to bring closure on your past, life into your present, and faith about your future. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Bells from Heaven
First, I am so sorry I completely forgot to post here to let you all know what's going on. If you want to be clued in please read http://chronicallycheerful.blogspot.com/2013/12/what-stress-does.html Long story short, and even shorter than that post that briefly explains, I may not be blogging often or at all for a while as I'm dealing with something. I will try my best to get on here.
Next, wow, God is amazing. Truly amazing. I felt the urge to get on here and write about it. I know if you're reading this you may not know what is going on in my life right now and I can't post it here unfortunately. But just know this, I am going through an incredibly hard struggle that I've been placed within, on top of my health. But as long as I stay with God I am ok, I'll be ok. I truly believe that.
So just to show some "God- moments" as proof of Him working wonderfully in my life... I no longer think there are such things as coincidence. Lately, it's just been too much happening that just has to be worked out by the hands of God.
Briefly, today I was sitting here, thinking to myself, gosh I wish I knew someone going through a similar situation that I could talk to. I must have a friend who has a friend dealing with something like that that they can get me in touch with. And then a specific friend's name popped into my head without thinking about it. At that exact moment, that exact friend messaged me. What did she message me? She wanted to introduce me to someone and that someone to me because she felt God calling her to do so- because of the situations we are both in. Wow. Super duper spine filled chills all over with that one. It gets even more "coicidental" for lack of better word, but I'll leave it at that. Even if myself and this other person don't end up getting in touch for whatever reason, God is truly at work here.
Here's another one. Some of my friends and some family members have been a HUGE encouragement and of support to me going through this. I am so absolutely blessed to have them in my life and thankful for their time and kind words and gestures. So thankful. There is one woman in particular who I felt a connection with before even talking to. I felt I needed to contact her for some reason without knowing the reason. This was a little while back. After hearing back from her the very first time, I knew it was again God at work. She is meant to be in my life right now. She has been SUCH an amazing blessing to me. Well today I typed something and moments later she told me she had just written out almost that exact thing in a letter to mail to me. God is trying to deliver a message and I believe it has been received, or is in the process of being received. She and all my other friends and family who have shown support have been the reason for this.
Lastly, I'm sitting here and yet another friend messages me... about angels... and this comes after another just recently told me that I am surrounded by angels of hope, of protection, of good health and of God's love. And again, at that moment, what do I hear? Bells ringing and immediately the thought of those bells coming from angels and from Heaven came to me. It most likely was the tv in the basement, but you know what? Maybe it wasn't. It was pretty loud to have been the tv in the basement when I'm on the 2nd floor upstairs. It's God. He's telling me "Don't worry child, I got this." Thank you, God! Thank you, Jesus!
Thank you to all who listen to the voice of God and deliver His message. After all, isn't that what it's all about? We as Christians must keep one another encouraged and close to Christ Jesus. Don't ever let one another give up, stay down or stray away. Always be of positive light, encouragement, hope and love.
Life is SO much better when you have God and Jesus on your side. For if God is for us who could be against us?
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
Next, wow, God is amazing. Truly amazing. I felt the urge to get on here and write about it. I know if you're reading this you may not know what is going on in my life right now and I can't post it here unfortunately. But just know this, I am going through an incredibly hard struggle that I've been placed within, on top of my health. But as long as I stay with God I am ok, I'll be ok. I truly believe that.
So just to show some "God- moments" as proof of Him working wonderfully in my life... I no longer think there are such things as coincidence. Lately, it's just been too much happening that just has to be worked out by the hands of God.
Briefly, today I was sitting here, thinking to myself, gosh I wish I knew someone going through a similar situation that I could talk to. I must have a friend who has a friend dealing with something like that that they can get me in touch with. And then a specific friend's name popped into my head without thinking about it. At that exact moment, that exact friend messaged me. What did she message me? She wanted to introduce me to someone and that someone to me because she felt God calling her to do so- because of the situations we are both in. Wow. Super duper spine filled chills all over with that one. It gets even more "coicidental" for lack of better word, but I'll leave it at that. Even if myself and this other person don't end up getting in touch for whatever reason, God is truly at work here.
Here's another one. Some of my friends and some family members have been a HUGE encouragement and of support to me going through this. I am so absolutely blessed to have them in my life and thankful for their time and kind words and gestures. So thankful. There is one woman in particular who I felt a connection with before even talking to. I felt I needed to contact her for some reason without knowing the reason. This was a little while back. After hearing back from her the very first time, I knew it was again God at work. She is meant to be in my life right now. She has been SUCH an amazing blessing to me. Well today I typed something and moments later she told me she had just written out almost that exact thing in a letter to mail to me. God is trying to deliver a message and I believe it has been received, or is in the process of being received. She and all my other friends and family who have shown support have been the reason for this.
Lastly, I'm sitting here and yet another friend messages me... about angels... and this comes after another just recently told me that I am surrounded by angels of hope, of protection, of good health and of God's love. And again, at that moment, what do I hear? Bells ringing and immediately the thought of those bells coming from angels and from Heaven came to me. It most likely was the tv in the basement, but you know what? Maybe it wasn't. It was pretty loud to have been the tv in the basement when I'm on the 2nd floor upstairs. It's God. He's telling me "Don't worry child, I got this." Thank you, God! Thank you, Jesus!
Thank you to all who listen to the voice of God and deliver His message. After all, isn't that what it's all about? We as Christians must keep one another encouraged and close to Christ Jesus. Don't ever let one another give up, stay down or stray away. Always be of positive light, encouragement, hope and love.
Life is SO much better when you have God and Jesus on your side. For if God is for us who could be against us?
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Grace
"They don't deserve anything!"
"They deserve to go to hell!"
"They are the scum of all scum!"
"They are horrible people!"
"They have some serious problems and need help!"
What do you think of those statements? They are quite harsh aren't they? I think so. And yet I can bet the majority of people have said one of these or something along these lines many times in life. Why?
Maybe they don't deserve anything.
Maybe they do deserve to go to hell.
Maybe they are scum in your eyes.
Maybe they are horrible people.
Maybe they do have serious problems and do need help.
You know what, though? Maybe you are/you do too. And that's not to be mean. We have such a subjective view, hypocritical, unfair and biased. We often think so highly of ourselves and our inner circle, but harshly of those with opposing views whether it be political, religious, personal, etc. when most of the time we don't truly know those people. We place judgement where judgement shouldn't be.
If you are human, you are a sinner. If you are human, you are not perfect. Without Jesus, we all deserve nothing, even worse, we deserve eternity in hell for all of our sins. We absolutely do not deserve Jesus to have nails pounded into him, suffering and dying on the cross for us.
That's where grace and mercy come in. We have a merciful God who blesses us tremendously with saving grace. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— Ephesians 2:8
Next time you start complaining about other people, calling someone a name, putting them down, stop. Just stop. Take a moment. Turn inward to yourself. Maybe you don't show the negative qualities they do, but you do have negative qualities even if they are different. Maybe you didn't commit the sin or crime they did, but you have sinned and done wrong. Maybe you are at a high place in your life, but at one point in the past or in the future you have and/or will be at a low point like maybe they are now.
What would happen if we all stopped pointing the finger? What would happen if we all strive to live as Jesus did and acted kindly no. matter. what. Not responding to what happens in a positive or negative way, but living in such a way to show kindness, love and compassion to all in every and any situation. Allowing our hearts to be transformed by the Holy Spirit.
Without Jesus, we are doomed. We will be cast away to hell for all eternity. We deserve nothing! And absolutely nothing we do can get us a place in Heaven because we could NEVER be good enough. But accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is the only way into Heaven. Accept Him, pick up your cross, and carry it.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32
"They deserve to go to hell!"
"They are the scum of all scum!"
"They are horrible people!"
"They have some serious problems and need help!"
What do you think of those statements? They are quite harsh aren't they? I think so. And yet I can bet the majority of people have said one of these or something along these lines many times in life. Why?
Maybe they don't deserve anything.
Maybe they do deserve to go to hell.
Maybe they are scum in your eyes.
Maybe they are horrible people.
Maybe they do have serious problems and do need help.
You know what, though? Maybe you are/you do too. And that's not to be mean. We have such a subjective view, hypocritical, unfair and biased. We often think so highly of ourselves and our inner circle, but harshly of those with opposing views whether it be political, religious, personal, etc. when most of the time we don't truly know those people. We place judgement where judgement shouldn't be.
If you are human, you are a sinner. If you are human, you are not perfect. Without Jesus, we all deserve nothing, even worse, we deserve eternity in hell for all of our sins. We absolutely do not deserve Jesus to have nails pounded into him, suffering and dying on the cross for us.
That's where grace and mercy come in. We have a merciful God who blesses us tremendously with saving grace. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— Ephesians 2:8
Next time you start complaining about other people, calling someone a name, putting them down, stop. Just stop. Take a moment. Turn inward to yourself. Maybe you don't show the negative qualities they do, but you do have negative qualities even if they are different. Maybe you didn't commit the sin or crime they did, but you have sinned and done wrong. Maybe you are at a high place in your life, but at one point in the past or in the future you have and/or will be at a low point like maybe they are now.
What would happen if we all stopped pointing the finger? What would happen if we all strive to live as Jesus did and acted kindly no. matter. what. Not responding to what happens in a positive or negative way, but living in such a way to show kindness, love and compassion to all in every and any situation. Allowing our hearts to be transformed by the Holy Spirit.
Without Jesus, we are doomed. We will be cast away to hell for all eternity. We deserve nothing! And absolutely nothing we do can get us a place in Heaven because we could NEVER be good enough. But accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is the only way into Heaven. Accept Him, pick up your cross, and carry it.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
What if you knew you were going to Hell?
It's been on my mind for a while now. Who am I writing this blog to? Who am I writing it for? Is it being delivered how God wants it to? I feel my thoughts get scattered and go off on tangents in different directions. I feel some of the message I write is for Christians, believers to stay on path with Christ. I feel much else of the message is for non-believers, those who don't have Christ. I pray that the message I write is inspired by God and that it touches the right person in the right way at the right time.
What is my purpose? Honestly, all I want is to fulfill both of those purposes mentioned above right there. I want to keep Christians, believers, on the path of Christ, as satan may often get in the way with temptation all around us. I want also to bring others to know Jesus, to lead them on the path of accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior. Within that right there, I feel it is so very important, yet unknown to many unbelievers, that they are in fact unbelievers. I know because I was there. Saying you are a Christian doesn't make you a Christian. Jesus makes you a Christian. You can't have Christianity without Christ; the name itself begins with Christ.
Why is this important? This is the most important thing in all of life, being a Christian. It is the most important thing because without Christ you will not, I repeat, you will not get to Heaven. I am saying this not from my own mouth but reiterating what is in the Bible. The ONLY, only way to Heaven is through Jesus. I encourage you if you haven't already, start reading the Bible. Don't be intimidated by its size or that you don't understand the words. I would encourage you to start in the New Testament, and also would encourage you to look up different translations of the Bible. I personally could not understand the King James Version. However, I find the New International Version and New Living Translation much easier to understand and both are often use within Christian churches. Also, I find God's Word and the Good News translations easy to understand. It is important that we find a version that we can understand, because we must understand the Word in order to be able to live it. Different versions do not mean different messages. The Bible is the Bible, period. However, just like we as humans talk differently, use different words, different languages, etc.. the Bible is in different translations so to give us a translation we can understand and relate to.
Being a Christian isn't a name tag, it's a life style, the only life style if you want to get to Heaven. Back up your declaration of being a Christian with actions. Profess with your mouth and believe with your heart that Jesus is Lord and you will be saved. It's not just believing in Jesus, it's trusting Him as your Lord and Savior, as your only pathway to Heaven... the way, the truth, the life.
I invite you to watch this video right here. It is under 15 minutes long and could be the most important 15 minutes of your life. Have you read the book "Heaven Is For Real"? It is about a young boy who during surgery went to Heaven and back. What an amazing testimony at such a young age. His father asked God, how could You do this to me? When we are in the moment of a trial, it is hard to see anything else besides the hardship we are dealing with. When we step outside, or when that trial has ended, we can see more clearly. God can see even clearer than that. He can perfectly see all things at all times, yes even what you try to hide from others. Perhaps his son's surgery and near death was not to harm them but to help them. They now have this powerful message to deliver to others, and I know in my heart it has helped others take that step needed to live a Christ filled life. And ultimately, that's what it's all about. Salvation of souls because this current life is just a short moment we're passing through compared to all eternity. Where do you want to spend your eternity? Please watch this video and let it help you decide. It's important you watch til the end.
God bless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdUGoFTfP7w
What is my purpose? Honestly, all I want is to fulfill both of those purposes mentioned above right there. I want to keep Christians, believers, on the path of Christ, as satan may often get in the way with temptation all around us. I want also to bring others to know Jesus, to lead them on the path of accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior. Within that right there, I feel it is so very important, yet unknown to many unbelievers, that they are in fact unbelievers. I know because I was there. Saying you are a Christian doesn't make you a Christian. Jesus makes you a Christian. You can't have Christianity without Christ; the name itself begins with Christ.
Why is this important? This is the most important thing in all of life, being a Christian. It is the most important thing because without Christ you will not, I repeat, you will not get to Heaven. I am saying this not from my own mouth but reiterating what is in the Bible. The ONLY, only way to Heaven is through Jesus. I encourage you if you haven't already, start reading the Bible. Don't be intimidated by its size or that you don't understand the words. I would encourage you to start in the New Testament, and also would encourage you to look up different translations of the Bible. I personally could not understand the King James Version. However, I find the New International Version and New Living Translation much easier to understand and both are often use within Christian churches. Also, I find God's Word and the Good News translations easy to understand. It is important that we find a version that we can understand, because we must understand the Word in order to be able to live it. Different versions do not mean different messages. The Bible is the Bible, period. However, just like we as humans talk differently, use different words, different languages, etc.. the Bible is in different translations so to give us a translation we can understand and relate to.
Being a Christian isn't a name tag, it's a life style, the only life style if you want to get to Heaven. Back up your declaration of being a Christian with actions. Profess with your mouth and believe with your heart that Jesus is Lord and you will be saved. It's not just believing in Jesus, it's trusting Him as your Lord and Savior, as your only pathway to Heaven... the way, the truth, the life.
I invite you to watch this video right here. It is under 15 minutes long and could be the most important 15 minutes of your life. Have you read the book "Heaven Is For Real"? It is about a young boy who during surgery went to Heaven and back. What an amazing testimony at such a young age. His father asked God, how could You do this to me? When we are in the moment of a trial, it is hard to see anything else besides the hardship we are dealing with. When we step outside, or when that trial has ended, we can see more clearly. God can see even clearer than that. He can perfectly see all things at all times, yes even what you try to hide from others. Perhaps his son's surgery and near death was not to harm them but to help them. They now have this powerful message to deliver to others, and I know in my heart it has helped others take that step needed to live a Christ filled life. And ultimately, that's what it's all about. Salvation of souls because this current life is just a short moment we're passing through compared to all eternity. Where do you want to spend your eternity? Please watch this video and let it help you decide. It's important you watch til the end.
God bless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdUGoFTfP7w
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