My Story and Your Story

Every one has a story.

Your life is your story.

We all have experienced disappointments and discouragements as well as encouraging times.

How we deal with our pain is extremely important. We can transform pain into paralysis or peace.

Do you turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones?

Emotional and physical pain indicate something is wrong. We need to nestle, not wrestle!

I had a complete breakdown about 23 years ago. I became like a vegetable. I couldn't really do anything. I felt like I was going to die for about a year.

That was the best thing that ever happened to me. My life came crashing down into a pile of rubble. Only our Creator could put me back together. He used my wife and my mentor as instruments in His hands. His healing love and power began restoring my life.

He made me a new person and now I have a story of hope and encouragement!

Will you let Him heal your disappointment and discouragement and make you a whole new person?

He loves you very deeply. He accepts you completely. He values you very highly.

Encouragement

I love to find the root meaning of words. Words are powerful. They have creative energy to empower people or destroy people. I am thinking of an old proverb right now. It says, "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit --you choose."

Think of the word encouragement. I think of instilling courage. Who doesn't need courage? You need it. I need it. We all need courage. We need courage to overcome the obstacles we face. Courage to be authentic and centered in a world that is spinning out of control.

The economy. Recession. The war. Health. Fear. Relationships. Expectations. All of these things can create discouragement when they don't work out the way we had hoped.

When I read or hear the news in our city I feel an increasing level of frustration, anger and fear. There are more assaults, robberies and desperate people committing acts of violence. Why?

I think that they need to be encouraged. They need to know that they are loved, accepted and valued. Where do we start? I am starting with me. You can start with you.

Then what? We all need to be reattached. Attachment disorders produce all kinds of bizarre behavior.

The first place to be attached is with our Creator. If we do not realize where we came from, how will we know where to go?

We may not know anything about Him. We may have bad feelings about Him. Feelings like aloof, harsh, mean, uncaring, absent. If we had absent, angry, distant or uncaring fathers, we can't help but have those feelings.

I want to introduce you to Abba. This aramaic word means precious father. He loves you. He accepts you. He values you. He desires to transform your hurt into healing, your pain into peace and your problems into possibilities. If you ask Him to reveal Himself to you, He will. Stay tuned to my next post and I will help you understand who He is and how He wants to relate to you.