To say it has been a crazy year would be an understatement. This past year I was laid off from work, unemployed for 6 months, had a heart attack, got a new job, and entered heart rehab. Even through all this I still feel blessed. At every step of this journey, God was there for me and family. He provided money to pay for bills. He provided the right people in my life to get me through the heart attack. He made sure that all things worked in perfect timing. One example was that I received the call for my new job 15 minutes after I was taken from ICU to a regular hospital room. I had asked if I could sit in the chair instead of laying on the bed and the nurse said sure. I laid my cell phone on the bed beside the chair. It rang and I paused and thought about not answering it, yet I did and it was the recruiter. She asked if I could come to New Orleans the next couple of days for the interview. I told her I was busy and could we schedule for the end of next week and she said that would be fine. Here is one small example of how God takes care of those who pray and try to live a righteous life. I'm not saying I'm righteous, but I do try and with God's help, I become closer everyday.
Most people would wonder how I could feel blessed after what has happened to me the past twelve months, but that is the only thing I feel. There are times when I start to get down and let bad thoughts creep into my mind, but I try to immediately pray to Jesus to remove them from me. He always comes to my help and gives me peace when I pray and ask for it.
I'm a lot closer to peace than I have ever been in my life. I still have a long way to go, but with God's help I will have peace in this life and after. What I mean by peace is that in my whole life, I have always felt that I'm missing something and have always been anxious. Never really been relaxed, never living in the moment. I've have become more relaxed and at ease. I have a long way to go before I would say that I'm a ease, but I do feel at ease more and have more patience. Compared to most I would say I'm not doing very good, but compared to where I was in my life compared to now, I have made great progress. Also, I have done nothing by myself, every good thing comes from Jesus who saved me.
I read the book "Heaven is for real" written by Todd Burpo last night. It is about a 4 year old boy who gets to go to heaven and retells the events to his family. This is a great read and I would suggest it to everyone.
This is just one of a million things that God has put in my path and I'm appreciative for it. I found this book in the library yesterday, I was looking for another book. It helped to reinforce my faith and hope for what I have not seen, but I know is real.
A Christian, Father, Husband, Son, and Friend. This is my blog about living a full life, having fulfillment, surviving in the United States, and navigating the daily battlefield. To do this I'm in combat training and God is my drill sargeant. Let's go on this journey through life together.
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IF
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
Rudyard Kipling
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
Rudyard Kipling
Search The Bible for your Answers!
The Armor of God - Ephesians 6:10-18
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
What a crazay ride!
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