WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

I found this interesting and thought I would pass it along.

Who wrote the Bible?

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work NKJV

Now this statement in the Bible not only lets us know that we are suppose to use it to lead and guide us because it tells us it is good for teaching, and that is profitable for doctrine, but that it is inspired by God.

Romans 3:4
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:“ That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”

We know by looking at the books in the Bible who physically wrote these books, but do you we know who was the inspiration for them? We are all looking for something to fill an empty hole and if we look deep enough, trust in what we cannot see, and believe in what we read, we will be inspired to know that the word is truth. God knows your heart because he created you and he knew you before the world was formed.

Jeremiah 1:5
“ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

  Have you ever talked with someone and knew right from the start they were NOT telling you the truth?
I have. I then would listen to their story which raised questions so I would ask them these questions and the story I hear doesn't make a complete puzzle. In fact, it leaves me scratching my head.

However, when I started reading the word of God, the Bible, something inside changed. I believed what it said. I came up with questions, but I always found answers, in the Bible. It was truth.
Here is what I mean.
I read Philippians 4:19 "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Not too long afterwards, my car broke down. I didn't have the means to help myself, but God did. I had to go to this scripture and believe what it said. My car did get fixed. People came in my path that could help me. God supplied my needs with my car through those people.  I learned that His words are true. His word inspired me to trust in what I could not see, learn from the situation I was in and the words I read in the Bible to be truth. 

I heard from a reader that said sometimes I add too much scripture. I cannot apologize for this. I've had people lie to me, mistreat me, and hurt me so bad that left me feeling worthless and hopeless. I have made a decision to share the truth and if anyone doesn't want to read it, that is their choice.
I'm not here to brow beat you with the Word of God, I am just sharing my stories. I hope you enjoyed this one and I hope it helped you some how and in some way.

-Marjorie

It's okay

Isn’t easy to judge others? I think so. Isn’t it easier for us to accept others the way they are sometimes?

What about accepting ourselves? How about accepting our own differences?  I have this tendency to compare myself to others. I don’t do it on a regular basis, but I take notes and measure the differences. I use to feel threatened by others accomplishments, abilities, or even their attributes. I would match up my physical appearance with that of a woman in a poster. I didn’t pay any attention to the fact that the picture was probably air brushed and made the model to appear more perfect than she was.  

I had a mentor that told me this statement once and I have to go back to it periodically. “There will always be another girl or woman that is prettier, thinner, more educated, well at most everything, looks like she holds it together pretty well and better than you do. The truth is she doesn’t have it all together.”

I have to meditate over these words sometimes, even today. I have to realize that all of us have limitations, differences, and struggles. I must accept others as they appear or at least realize that their appearance might be a mask and they are wearing a sign that says “I need to feel important, or pretty, because inside I don’t feel that way.”

I had to accept my own differences. I had to make a list of things that made me up to be me.  The hardest act of confidence I had to grasp, was accepting myself. I am not thin, I don’t wear a lot of makeup anymore, I don’t wear acrylic nails, and I don’t dress like a magazine model.  The best part, the most exciting part, the joy that I receive from writing that list is “I AM OKAY.” I had a very difficult time with this act of change for over a year. I learned that my differences from others are alright because they make up who I am.

Oh, I did try to be someone else. I changed my hair style to look like a friend of mine. I changed my style of clothes I wore to match another friend’s fashion.  Yes, I studied another woman’s mannerisms and I tried to take those on as my own also.  My mentor came back to me and said something else profound that made my light bulb go off. “You can change your clothes, the way you talk and walk, but your heart is what matters the most and makes you unique.” Okay that made me fill up with tears of sadness and I began questioning “ what I was doing to myself?”

Have you heard another woman (I can’t speak for men; sorry) say “I’ve lost myself.”  I was on an adventure to find myself. You may have seen the movie “The Runaway Bride.” The bride was conforming herself to like and dislike what her boyfriends liked and disliked. There is a scene where she finds out what kind of eggs SHE likes, she began finding herself. I had to take time to find out my likes and dislikes. I took the time to find out what activities I enjoyed being a part of.  I had to find out what pleased ME and not others.

I had another friend say or ask me these words, “No one can expect more out of you when you give them your BEST. What more can you give them? Did you give them your best today? After all today is all you have.”

I had to learn and accept that my differences from others are okay and that is what makes up my unique heart.

Oh I still compare myself with others, but I am more pleased with myself than I was years ago. I love myself as I am and I accept myself as I am. I am a failure some days, a survivor most days, and I love myself all the time. Okay maybe that last one is too much. I don’t even like myself some days, but I am alright with that. I have this saying “I am better today than I was yesterday and I will be better tomorrow than I am today.” I say this to myself to give myself permission to live in today. I always wanted to run to tomorrow. I didn’t have time for today.  My plans were wrapped in what I was doing tomorrow and the next day, and the next, and the day afterwards. I had to learn one day at a time. It may sound redundant or even lame to you, but I had to learn how to enjoy one day at a time, a 24 hour period.

I had to slow down and realize that one failure doesn’t make me a total mistake. I made a list of “Marjorie’s blessings.” This list first consisted of BIG things like my home and car. Then the next day it got smaller, thank you for my pillow, the blanket and sheets that cover me, the ceiling that is about to fall apart but covering me from the rain outside. I then began to look at myself, my skills, and my attributes.  Everybody has something that they don’t like, no matter how well put together they are.

If you are comparing yourself to others and finding yourself asking “what is wrong with me?” There isn’t anything wrong with you. You are a unique person with a unique heart. It is time to become an explorer and find out what makes you who you are. What do you like? What do you dislike? What makes you who you are? What do you believe in? If you don’t stand for something you WILL fall for anything.

Be all you can be, know that being different is okay, count your blessings and know you are only measured by what YOU choose to measure yourself against.

Be an explorer and enjoy finding out what the world holds for you, “You are the pearl and the world is your oyster,” a quote from another very good friend of mine.

So imagine, being lifted up, dusted off and being pat on your butt and sent on your way to explore the world and all it holds for you.

Jesus loves you and I do too, Marjorie

Be encouraged listen to 91.3 Hope FM live online at http://www.whif.org/

Moving from One Box to Another

You know when you take a survey and the section that says “check which age group applies to you.” Yay, that one. There seems to always be a time in my life that I move from one box to the next and it is uncomfortable or emotional. This year it is a little bit of both; uncomfortable and emotional.

I am almost embarrassed to say this, but I am coming out of the box. The box that says you must face it, you are getting older, you are changing, and it is time to face the facts. Well, I've noticed a few “facts” that I do not like. The most interesting part for me, is that I think the change has been happening for a few months, but I have not paid attention to the symptoms.

Oh, you may not know what I am talking about, “menopause.” Yuck, but okay, I admit it. Yes, I am getting older and my body is warning me or screaming at me is more like it (tears running down my face).

I have a select of friends that I have recently shared my experiences with and they giggle and say “it's alright you're just going through the change.” I began to wonder, “what is this change they are talking about?” So I started looking up the term “menopause” online and began reading some of the medical write ups on this, disease, Well  it is discomforting but I can't call it a “disease.” It isn't called that in the dictionary, but I sure would call it a “dis-ease.”

The next step was to find out what are the symptoms. That was fun ~ NOT!

I got a list of possibilities and most of them were answered with “yes, yep, uh huh, and oh no.” Then the big symptom came....weight gain, I yelled within myself “NOOO!” I've been trying to eat right, exercise right, and do all that I could to have weight management. 

Then I read a few more like “mood swings,” I said to myself matter of factly “well I'm not going to get that one.” What do you know, in a split moment I was crying and then happy again (shew).

Can't I just yell “Calgon, take me away!” and it be over? My friends, the ones I am moving over to their box said “no honey, just roll with it.” Just roll with it? I feel like I am on a roller coaster ride and it's not enjoyable.

I must say this for all it is worth. I am a single woman with grown children. I feel as though I have spared a spouse or significant other and my children from the agony of dealing with me and my “symptoms.” Funny isn't it, when we, women, go through puberty we want our mother's close and when we get older and go through the “change” we want someone to hold us one minute and the next minute we want them to go away. How fickle is that at our age? I can only laugh.

I look forward to what lies ahead for me, but not with great expectations. Funny, I now feel like an alien, an outcast, a leper and yet, I have a box that I am crossing over to with others who understand and have experienced what I am experiencing now. 

For what it is worth ladies, no matter what you do you can't stop God from changing you from the inside out.

Going to enjoy life in a whole new way,

Marjorie

sOmETiMeS

SOMETIMES, WHAT GOD HAS FOR US IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER,

BUT WE STOP WALKING TOWARDS IT OR WE TURN AND WALK ANOTHER WAY.

WHEN WE DO,  WE'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT HE HAD FOR US BECAUSE WE GIVE UP

BEFORE TURNING THAT CORNER.

WHAT ARE YOU WALKING TOWARDS?

Values and Belief

Isn't it interesting? We are taught to be takers instead of givers. I mean, why would we want to do something nice for someone else anyways. What is in it for me? Isn't it all about "me" anyways?
I don't think I should have to be patient to get what I want. I should steal for what I want, kill someone for what I want, and destroy others that get in my way. This is the American way today and if I go against it, I am in the wrong.
Let's face it, the fast track is the way to go.  We have drive through windows for fast food and life should be that way too.  Aren't we taught that you are not to interrupt my comfort zone?  So why would you want me to do something nice to help others? Why would I want to do something nice for my neighbor?

Truly, I have feelings of sadness for the one person that feels this way. God sent his son Jesus Christ as a living sacrifice, a sinless and blameless man, and a selfless man. As a Christian, we remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ this coming weekend. It is a time for us to reflect and recognize that our selfishness and sinful nature caused a man to die on a cross so that we  might have life and have it more abundantly. Most importantly, he loved us enough that he chose to do die for us, you and me.

When a person accepts the fact that Jesus Christ died for his sin, his life changes. He's dying to himself in order to find himself, a new creature or being if  you will.

Satan is the father of lies. He is the one that makes us to believe that we should be more about ourselves than others. He would like for you to puff yourself up and believe you can do anything on your own. He wants you to believe the lie that you are worthless, hopeless, and abandoned; you don't need anyone. After all, you've been doing things alone for so long it's natural for you to make your own choices. I am willing to bet you have some twisted values if you believe that and live that way.

Personally, I would rather know my God and consider how mighty he must be. He spoke and the very breath he breathed made the stars and moon, sea of water and dry land. He is so powerful that the waters at the beach will only come so far and then tread back to sea and on a time schedule at that.
People who know God will be strong, courageous, and able to carry out  unimaginable tasks.
Those that want wisdom, can ask God for wisdom and he will give it to them. I would rather be wise in His ways than a fool in my own ways.

So, if you think your life is going great and you are in control, I ask you to think about your values and what you believe in. Who is it that you follow?

I will tell you, that in my journey, that I have walked a dark and hard road. Now my load is a little lighter. My life is better than it was and it will definitely be better when it is over. I may grow weak and weary, but I will not faint. My help comes from the Lord when I ask him for it, he doesn't leave me alone at all and he loves me even when I have done the worst thing I thought I could do.

I pray that this Resurrection Sunday you will attend a church to find out more about this man named Jesus.  He is a friend that is always there and loves you no matter what you have done.

God Bless You

Tired of running yet?

1 Peter 2:24 (The Message)

 ^21-25This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.
   He never did one thing wrong,
   Not once said anything amiss.
They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.

Have you ever been accused of something you did not do? Has someone called you by a name you did not deserve to be called?
Jesus knows your feelings of accusation and torment from those situations, he went through the same things. You may say "no one understands what I am going through." I am here to share with you that there is a man who died on  a cross for you and DOES understand every pain inside your heart and in your body, mind, and soul. 
You may be reading this and thinking "no one cares." There is a great God who knows the number of hairs on your head.  I don't know about you, but my own mother doesn't know that number nor do I and it's my hair. “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin^[]? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. ³⁰ And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:28-31
You may call me a liar and say "you don't know that." I am here to share with you that God cannot lie and it is written. This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began. Titus 1:2
You may believe the lie of the world and agree with all the negative talk around you,  but I want you to know that no matter how much  you fight against Jesus calling your name and try to run as he chases after you, you can't out run or out smart God.
By His stripes you are healed! All you have to do is stop running and accept him and his love, help, and adoration for you.
God, the Father of Truth, loves you so much he sent his only Son to die on a cross just for YOU. He wants to take away your sins. This act of love didn't come with any glitz and glamour, but pure love, pure and honest LOVE.  Won't you stop in your tracts today and allow the love of God wash over you and lay down your heavy heart for him to carry?
Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up.  James 4:10

Let the Lord's stripes heal you today. He wants a personal relationship with you. This is not about religion, it's about a relationship.

Conformed or Unconformed

Have you drove slowly pass an accident to get the picture of what the back up was all about?
Have you ever walked slow down an isle to find out what an upset customer was complaining to the associate or manager about? You were eager to find out what was happening, maybe even wanted to give your opinion or maybe you DID give your opinion. You may have been wanting to fit into a group, so you conformed to their way of talking, dressing, and joined in with their activities; maybe in school or work you've done this.

In Jesus' time, they had these kind of people. It is mentioned in Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

When Jesus was being mocked by the crowd, there were drifters and strangers from other cities among this crowd. They may have been more concerned about fitting in and not standing out. The strangers may have been in the cities for a while and heard of the miracles and wonders of Jesus Christ. They may have believed in him, but because the majority of the crowd mocked Jesus, they thought it was better to join in with the chanting "crucify him!"  After all, no one wants to stand out and stand up for Jesus when he was being crucified. Peter was his best friend, ready to stand in his place of death until the time approached and he denied Jesus, not just once but three times as predicted.

I am not asking if you are drifter or follower, but are you asking God who you are?
 Is social status more important to you and fitting in with your crowd more important?
When it comes to your last day and you stand before God and he ask you "why should I let you into heaven?" What will be your answer? 
"What did the crowd say?"   "Whatever they said, I agree."
The crowd isn't going to be there with you. You have to answer the question alone. Noone can make you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior. No one can make you do anything unless you lay down and let them walk all over you; like a floor mat.  

I hope one day, today, you will say "Lord, I need you in my life. I need to believe in you, please help my unbelief."

Marjorie 

Too Righteous?

The chief priests and levites embraced the commandments and upheld the law of them. These scholars knew what the prophets had told about the Messiah and wrote about the coming Messiah. They should have been the ones that were reverencing Jesus, but they didn't. Instead of edifying Jesus Christ and acknowledging him as the Son of Gan, they encouraged and inspired the crowd to have Jesus crucified. They were among the  people telling Jesus to save himself and prove he was the Son of God.
 This is shared in Matthew 27:41-43
The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus.  “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him!  He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

This group was too self righteous, too holy, too educated, and proper to agree with the Word of God.

What about you? are you too educated or holy to follow Jesus Christ? Are you too self righteous that only what you believe matters? The living Word tells us that there will be a day we are separated from the Lord. It tells us this in 2 Thessalonians 1: 7-10
And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, ⁸ in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. ¹⁰ When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.

It is your choice, but I want you in heaven with me and with others you know who believe in Jesus Christ. I pray you will let the wall down and accept the Good News.
He came down from heaven, first as a baby born of a virgin, grew to be a man telling the world of God's plan for his death on the cross for your sins, he rose again on the third day and descended into heaven. No one can come to the Father accept through the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Call on His name today, won't you.  Tell him you're sorry for your wrong choices and ask him to come into your life and reign forever more.  Let the healing begin here and now.
You don't have to carry your burdens anymore. Nothing you have done, he doesn't already know about.
He loves you inspite of yourself.

So do I.

Are you like the soldiers that mock Jesus?

 Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece.  It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him.  A sign was fastened to the cross, announcing the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.”
Mark 15: 24-27
You just read how the soldiers treated Jesus with mockery and detest. The soldiers were known to strip the prisoners of  their clothes, gamble to see which soldier would get the prisoner's garments. Next, the soldiers would drink unto drunkenness.
The soldiers were not concerned over the fact that this man was innocent of the charges brought before him. They didn't care for His messages of eternal life that they heard throughout His visits and they certaintly didn't care what was going to in the next few hours either. They were more concerned over what they wanted in that moment. They wanted to feel big, important, bullies, and to feel good in the present. The soldiers let the government officials decide what to do with this man name Jesus.
They were oblivious to Christ. 
Are you oblivious to Christ?
Are you willing to stand up and do the right thing, or are you more concerned about what is in it for you?

So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:39

One soldier, after all was said and accomplished, became a believer of Christ. It's never too late to believe in that which you know to be true.

What is your attitude towards Christ? Mockery or Repentant and Accepting?

Where are today doesn't  matter as much as it does when you die.
Seek life afterlasting with Jesus Christ. He is the one who gives and takes away. You cannot come to the Father accept through the son. He died on a cross for your sins, rose on the third day and sits at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. He wants you to live with him in paradise and not without him in hell.

References:
NKJ and NLT Bible
Pastor Kirby from First Baptist Church Palatka

Incredible & Faithful Love

Why is it that when things don't go our way and we're in despair, we assume God isn't close by?
Why do we think he is not around when we are in difficult times and only hangs with us during good times?
He does tell us he never leaves us and tells us that "God is true and every man a liar."
Do you have an undependable acquaintance in your life? This is the person that talks big but regularly let us down.
Maybe they want to make a committment to you and can't, or they say they will be there for you in hard times, but don't show up when you need them most.
Your acquaintance shows they are not trustworthy, talking with them aggrevates you.
God however makes a commitment and honors it makes a commitment and holds fast to it, and is trustworthy.
Most of  our agony is caused by our own sinful choices. We can look at our behavior and compare it to scriptures in the Bible to find out what problems we create and which ones come because we live in a broken world.  David's life is an example to follow from this.
I don't know about you, but for me I want give "faithful love." I see God as a giver of "faithful love," the author of love.
Can you think of ways in your life that God shows incredicble love?
I've seen God's incredible love through my friends and loved ones.
My heart is heavy right now.
 I want to be able to give away incredible and faithful love to others and be able to accept incredible and faithful love.
I can accept Jesus' love for me , but people, I don't know? I always think there is a hidden meaning when someone wants to do something nice for me "just because."
In the back of my mind I'm thinking "what do you want in return?"
So I will continue on this journey of learning more about myself and move on, rely on God, and let him empower me.
I can't do it anymore. I'm depleted and besides Jesus tells us, "apart from Him, we can do nothing."
Marjorie 
References:
Life Values Writing Team

Exercise

For the past three months or more I have been working out at the local Curves gym. In the past week I have been working out with the girls through Zumba. Now this is a high energy, fast paced aerobic exercising. When I leave the gym, I feel energized, sweaty, and ready for more. Now my body says otherwise. My muscles and joints are yelling at me to "stop and slow down, you're not as young as you use to be!" I think this is a good thing. I burn calories, I eat right (or at least try to), and I'm feeling better than ever. Yes, I am sore, but I know it's good for me to be this active.  I can honestly say I am working out my physical man pretty hard.
As my muscles and joints tell me how they hurt and are ready to fall apart, I started thinking about my spiritual workout.  As I thought about my routine, I recognized my attitude was changing from being happy to being grumpy, from being prayed up to being pulled down. One to three days can make all the difference in Marjorie's world. Three days I didn't spend 15 minutes with the Lord before walking out the door. It was in the third day, that I finally had to say "stop and exercise your spirit too."
The fourth day, I was up and reading Psalms, Galatians, and Ephesians out of the Bible. It shouldn't amaze me but it did, how the Lord's word can be uplifting. The Lord's word can be such a stimulating exercise when I apply scripture to my life.
Now I ask you, how is your spiritual life? Is it energized and are you ready for more or is it pulling you down to a self pity hole?
Need a self check examination? What is your attitude like at least two minutes to two hours after you wake up? If you are grumpy, your spirit man may need a little time with Jesus.
Need a little love? Try reading the book of 1 John in the New Testament.
You will feel so much better for exercising your physical and spiritual home.
If you don't know about this man name Jesus. I encourage you to find a bible or a friend and ask about Jesus. He loves you just as you are and wants to give you an abundant life of good stuff.
Let me know if I can help, Marjorie

Remember When?

I wasn't born in 1966, but I was close 1967. Now my friend, brother in Christ and co-worker Craig was born in 1966. Craig left me this book
"1966 Remember When... A Nostalgic Look Back in Time"

                       1966 Cost of Living

Living:

Movie Ticket ................................1.25 each
Gasoline..................................$0.32 per gallon
First-Class Postage Stamp...........$.05 each
New Car....................................$2,653.00
Average Rent....................$120.00 Per Month

Food:
Granulated Sugar .......................$0.55 for 5 pounds
Vitamin D Milk...........................$1.11 per gallon
Ground Coffee............................$0.90 per pound
Eggs............................................$0.36 per dozen

1966 Music & Movie Favorites (I can remember these...now)
I'm a Believer by The Monkees
Cherish by The Association
Good Lovin' by the Young Rascals
Hanky Panky by Tommy James & The Shondells
Last Train to Clarksville by The Monkees
Monday, Monday by The Mamas & The Papas

Movies:
A Man for All Season
Who's Afriad of Virginia Wolf?
Manos: The Hands of Fate
Blowup
Fahrenheit 451
Batman
                       Now were you transported with me? I really didn't go far since my only memories are from the late 70's. Now I am sure if you are a brother or sister of mine, you should remember and maybe even share a comment about a memory you have of that era.

I will enjoy waiting for you to respond with your memories.
Marjorie

Powerless or Powerful?

This past week I had an "ah huh" moment. I realized I have control over very few things. Think about it for a moment. The only thing you have control over is your reaction to someone else's action. We are powerless and if we are powerless than who has the power?
God's word says in Ephesians 6:2 NKJ
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
The Message says it this way in Ephesians 6:12
This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Pride keeps us from letting go of our power and giving it to Christ. Pride keeps us living with sin in our lives. We think we are better than others, we are not part of the problem they are, and we don't need to be fixed he/she does.
The word tells us to "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." James 4:10 NIV
This is a promise, but an action must be performed.  What is it?
Worry is a sin that keeps us from giving power over to the Lord. What are you worried over? Are you concerned where you are going to live? Worried about what is going to happen to someone else? Do you wonder what will happen to you or who you will become if you let of worry and give it the Lord?
Escape is another way we keep from giving the power away and  being free from the bondage of the world. What do you use to escape? Do you use drugs of some kind? Watch television? Play games? Read a fantasy book?

There have been times in my life that I have felt so lonely and empty. I've been so empty that there is a hole inside of me. Has this happen to you? It's so cold there the empty wind blows through you and you want it filled so much that you fill it with anything you can find. Do you fill it with cigarettes, drinks, sex, pills, or anything that fills you up only to leave you empty again?
There is only ONE thing that promises to never leave you feeling empty again.
So now fill in the blank: 'God's purpose is to give (your name) ___________ a life in all its fullness."  Say this to yourself over and over and see if that empty place begins to change.

Let's stop denying there is pain inside and let's start admitting we hurt and are powerless to control others and we can control the choices we make. 
Fear stops you from moving forward, from taking a step in a new direction, and it's fear that is False Evidence Appearing Real.
Let's stop playing God. Would you die on a cross to save yourself? God sent his son Jesus Christ to do that for YOU. You can't serve two masters. What is your compulsive behavior? What is your addiction? 
We are quick to answer the call of our addiction and slow to answer when Jesus calls.

You have a choice starting now, this moment, to stop denying that you are powerless to control your compulsive behavior and apart from God you can't do anything. If you need someone to talk to, email me. If you need someone to help you while you are online then chat with some at www.needhim.org.

It's never too late to call up and there isn't anything you have done that He doesn't know about. Jesus said "Come." He didn't say get cleaned up and come, nor did he say, change your clothes first and then come. NO HE SAID "COME." "COME AS YOU ARE."

YOU ARE LOVED MY FRIEND, I LOVE YOU.