I find myself at the end of another year, 2008. This year was bitter sweet for me.
The bitter:
I found myself unemployed for many months, not having much hope in finding another good job. I couldn’t pass a drug test unless I cheated. I wore the label of convicted felon on my background, which makes it hard for me to find another job (especially during these difficult days in American history). The only hope I had in securing another job, as an Administrative Assistant, was to lie again on my application (which is what I got in trouble for 20 years ago – forgery). If I lied on my application, it was like rolling the dice – hoping the employer would only run a background test (State and locally), because if they ran a Federal background, the felony would surely appear, and I would surely not get the job.
I lost my mom to death here on Earth, and she was one of the FEW ‘true’ friends that I had.
I found myself over 17 years drug addicted, and the drug ‘marijuana’ wasn’t ‘working’ quite like it used to (because of the guilt and shame that came with it).
I found myself over 28 years of smoking (between cigarettes and weed), and could feel the effects on my body (especially my lungs). I didn’t have the hope of quitting, because I had tried so many times before.
I found myself at one of the lowest points in my life (the bottom) simply because I couldn’t provide for my kids, Lauren and Jack. Yes, I was thankful that their health was good, but as a father, it can bring one to the point of suicide, not being able to provide: food, heat, water, medicine...
The sweet:
I did manage to do a couple things right, and it changed my life forever!!!
I cried out to God for help, and turned my desperate life over to Him and Him alone.
I cried out to God thanking Him for what I already had.
I trusted God to keep the many promises He made to me in His Holy Word (The Bible).
I turned to the Bible for answers – and found them.
I tried simple things like: take time for God, yard work for neighbors (for free), pray, give 10% of hardly anything…
These little things weren’t little to God. He fulfilled His promises to me, and literally healed me overnight from addiction, lying, depression, anger, lost hope, lost joy, lost faith…
What God has done for me in the year of 2008, was set me Free, Free Indeed!!!
God did have one request for me. He asked me to share my testimony to anyone and everyone. I followed His lead, and He again blessed me time and time again!!! I couldn’t understand sending out painfully written emails, I couldn’t explain the website that shared with hundreds, my past storms, failures, weaknesses…because I was receiving (all over again) the persecution from others.
I didn’t stop listening to God, and He never let me down. He still hears my cries for help, and fulfills the desires of my heart, and I will forever be grateful to Him (God).
I know I have clogged up many email accounts, annoyed many neighbors with The Good News, pointed out our failures, made people at church mad…but I did these things with the best of intensions. But, what I quickly found out, that my best intensions aren’t good enough (without Jesus).
God has given me so much in 2008, but what I walk away with is this:
You know I could keep writing about many the good things of Jesus, but I want to get to the point of this inspiration…Jesus.
I have found that my writings ‘inspired by God’, even with the best of intensions, can be difficult to read.
I know there are too many out there still living with the same lost hope I had just last year. It comes across in my writings that I am bragging…yep – about Jesus.
My only hope and prayer was to reach you, and to let you know that God’s hope is possible for you to find and hold onto (for yourself).
In each of my writings, I seem to step on toes, because I place within these writings our short-comings, our failures, our sins. It was not my intention to point out other’s sins, and bring you less encouraged, my intentions (and God’s) were to bring you closer to JESUS!
Please read and memorize the following:
Despite our best intentions, our best desire to follow Jesus, our love and deep passion for the lost, homeless, family, friends…we will always fall short, and continue to fall short. This is why we need Jesus!!!
Folks, we NEED Jesus more than ever (especially in today’s dark days in history).
I want to bring you some encouragement – JESUS. In 2009, please take time with God (Jesus), and He will take time for you! Cry out to God, and He will set you Free, Free Indeed.
I found the following New Year’s Poem on the internet. There’s not many words, but Oh how it says so much. I know because – I am LIVING proof!!!
A New Year's Poem for Christians
Instead of making a New Year's resolution
Consider committing to a biblical solution
Your promises are easily broken
Empty words, though earnestly spoken
But God's Word transforms the soul
By His Holy Spirit making you whole
As you spend time alone with Him
He will change you from within
-- Mary Fairchild
God Bless!
In His Hands,
Love, Glen
Without God, we are only as ‘holy’ as our socks. Only God is HOLY, the sooner we realize we NEED God for our strength, happiness, hope…the sooner we will taste the sweet life that He promises and fulfills. I am LIVING proof!
Watching this next video may be difficult, but try living it.
Nothing compares to your love Lord Jesus!!!
Thank You Jesus, from the bottom of my heart, for your sacrifice - your 'true' love truly changed my life!
Isaiah 53:5 "But he (Jesus) was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."