Emotionally healthy Christian seeks the same :-)

Emotionally Healthy Christian Seeks the Same by Rick Warren “The righteous choose their friends carefully.” (Proverbs 12:26a NIV) If you wait for the perfect wife or the perfect husband, it isn’t going to just happen. Let me tell you why: We’re all broken. That’s OK, because God still loves you. But you need to understand that anybody you marry will be broken. Everybody’s broken, but some people are a lot more broken than others. And you need to avoid them no matter how good-looking, rich, or nice they are. You have to figure out the emotional health of your potential partner before you enter into a long-term relationship. Why am I saying this? Study after study has shown that 80 percent of all separations and divorce happen because one or both of the partners are emotionally unhealthy. I’m going to give you a partial checklist of emotional health factors. These aren’t my opinion; this is what God says you need to avoid. Whoever you marry must not be nursing any uncontrolled anger. Proverbs 22:24 says, “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person; do not associate with one easily angered” (NIV). Do you know why? Because uncontrolled anger reveals deep insecurity and low self-worth. Whoever you marry must not be stuck in an addiction. Proverbs 23:20 says, “Don’t associate with people who drink too much wine or stuff themselves with food” (TEV). Only two things are mentioned here, food and alcohol, but there are a thousand ways to get addicted. Whoever you marry must not be harboring bitterness. Bitterness is like a poison — it eats you alive. Whatever you resent, you begin to resemble. To stop resenting; you’ve got to release it. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:15 “Guard against turning back from the grace of God. Let no one become like a bitter plant that grows up and causes many troubles with its poison” (GNT). Whoever you marry must not be selfish. Why? Proverbs 28:25 says, “Selfishness only causes trouble.” When it comes down to it, the number one cause of conflict in marriage is simple: selfishness. Whoever you marry must not be greedy. Proverbs 15:27 says, “Greed brings grief to the whole family” (NLT). If you marry a greedy spouse, you will be in debt your entire life. Whoever you marry must be generous and kind. The Bible says, “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25 NIV). And, “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves” (Proverbs 11:17). Whoever you marry must tell the truth. Proverbs 20:7 says this: “A righteous person lives on the basis of his integrity. Blessed are his children after he is gone” (GWT). Love is based on trust, and trust is based on truth. If you don’t tell me the truth, I can’t trust you. And if I can’t trust you, how can I love you? You might be thinking, “This sure is a long list, Rick. I’m not sure if I’ll ever find anybody who fits this.” Oh, really? I did. And you can, too. When Kay and I got married, Leonard Ravenhill, who was a great preacher of the previous generation, sent us a wedding card. I’ve never forgotten what it said: “God always gives his best to those who leave the choice to him.” I wanted God’s best in my life, and I got it. Talk It Over What are some other emotional health factors that you think God wants you to consider in a potential partner? How does selfishness cause conflict in a relationship?

Grace....undeserved...

Grace

Hi Folks!

I am reading this amazing book called ...."Living so that"

Although I have heard about grace, read about grace, I sing about grace, and know about grace. Reading this part of my book and high lighting it...underlining and re-reading it. I felt like a light bulb went off in my head.

I did NOTHING to deserve this grace and no matter what I have done wrong...I can still receive this GRACE!

So I'm picturing Jesus hanging on the cross..talking to the thief next to Him. Both are suffering and dying and Jesus says "Hey...don't worry about it. You'll be in paradise.. No you don't deserve it but I'm hanging here for you, dying for you, hurting for you....so that you may go to Paradise" The thief....probably talking to himself.."hmmmm what is He talking about?" I don't deserve Paradise! "Ummmm hey Jesus...excuse me...but did you hear me??? I'm a thief!"...(Jesus). "Yep, I heard you..your grace is not because of anything that you've done but what I'm doing right here, right now!".. (Thief) Uh, OK, thank you....I don't feel like I deserve anything good at this point, I'm ashamed of myself...not sure why you are dying for a sinner like me."

I could go on and on with the scenerio but as I'm writing and saying the thief's part....I could add myself in there..."Ummmm Jesus! Hey, do you remember that I'm a sinner? I've done some pretty bad things in my life. I've been so shamed by much of my past! Did you remember that? This grace stuff probably shouldn't pertain to me. I mean I had a child before marriage, I've lied, I've had some pretty rough years living for myself, I've failed in relationships, I was humiliated through sexual abuse, I'm broken, I'm scarred, and I've been rejected, I mean really???? you just WANT to extend grace to ME? How can I ever deserve this grace? What would I have to do to deserve it? I can't be perfect, it's impossible!"

Oh wait......I just read about it in this book....It is a FREE gift! Grace does not depend on what we have done..Phew! Good thing for me and most likely every one of us! It's because of what God has done for us.

(Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but know I'm found, Was blind, but now I see)

Thank you Jesus!

My new glasses......

A few days after my last blog....I found out that I needed surgery. I needed not just any surgery but breast surgery. Gasp! For years, most of my 40 something years...(keeping it real ;-)) felt that my appearance made me who I was. If people thought I looked good, then I must be a  good person, worthy of love. If someone insulted my looks then I must be ugly and unlovable. Pretty sad, right?

I really spent years trying to make myself acceptable to others only to find myself exhausted...worn out and disappointed. This lead me to make a "change". I thought that if I didn't have small breasts then maybe I'd be beautiful. Get the attention that would lead me to believe that I was beautiful. After nursing my 2nd baby...let's just say what little I had was gone! 

Fast forward 18 years---I had lumps found and made a decision to remove the implants while they cut out a lot of my tissue. Phew.  Ok, it was nothing nice! ;-). I am a few months post op and although I have my moments. I'm good! I look better than before surgery and trust me I'm not tooting my horn. I still struggle with my appearance but not like before. I want to be seen for my walk with The Lord not my breasts. I am wonderfully created (and so are you!). I need to throw away the lenses that I was looking through because they no longer work. I want to see through God's lenses....wow! If we could all see what he sees! Love who you are. Small breasts, big nose, skinny legs, scars all over your body, cellulite.  Ok so I just described myself. Lol. You can make your own lists and when you feel down. Put on new glasses!!

 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord ’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:19-23 NIV)

Quotes...oh how I love you!

MITO WEEK 2013!!!

Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week!

As most of you know...Mito Disease has affected my family in such a terrible way.
My son Devin was diagnosed several years ago with this terrible disease. He missed most of 6th, 7th, and 9th grade...all of 8th grade and now most of this 10th grade year. It is terrible. He is pretty much homebound this year too. Mito truly depletes your body of ALL the energy. What most people find as easy tasks are completely unbearable for Mito patients.

Devin wakes up every morning trying to live a normal life, eat breakfast, take a shower, go to school, hang out like most (almost) 16 year olds do. Not for my son, mornings are unpredictable. Showers are sometimes the hardest task, and by the time we leave for school...his energy is gone. Which means back to bed.

His friends are able to play sports which he was forced to quit. They are able to hang out at the mall, movies, parks, or at each others homes, but not for Devin. Thankfully he has the BEST big brother ever! He works 65 hours a week but spends every second he can at home and making Devin feel "normal".

I can't explain how necessary a cure is! I was also diagnosed a year after Devin with this same disease. Although I can do things that he can't, Mito affects everyone differently. It's still very hard to run an entire household on my own and some days feel too tired or sick to handle it.

Mito is linked to Autism, Cardiac disease, Liver disease, Diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, so on and so on. This is not a disease that should be overlooked.

We NEED A CURE! I have boxes around our local area. The picture is of one of them that are helping raise awareness and raise money towards a cure. Although it will not be likely that you will see one of these boxes. It's only for Mito week! You can always go to UMDF.org and donate to the cause and most importantly PLEASE raise awareness! Help families like ours!
Every 30 minutes a child is born that will develop Mito. More children die from this disease than all childhood disease combined!

Help us CURE MITO!

Commitment

Very few relationships succeed by accident.

 

 

8 year hurricane Katrina anniversary.....

8 years ago today..Katrina devastated New Orleans and the surrounding areas. Lives were lost, homes were lost, our daily life as we knew it was lost, but for me and my kids...hope was found, my faith was tested and strengthened, and I am so thankful for that. Just 4 months later, I was baptized and within a year all of my children accepted the Lord as their Savior and were all baptized as well! The thoughts of what we all endured during Katrina will forever be in my mind but the holes it left in my heart have been filled by the love, mercy and grace of Jesus!