From Was, To Is, Because of His, finale

Sunday’s Monday

Thanksgiving turned out to be more than I ever expected! God was truly gracious this year in bringing family together. I am thankful, very thankful for what God’s doing in me!

This is the 4th and last installment on my topic “From Was, To Is, Because of His” for this Thanksgiving month. For most the title may not make a lot of sense, while others are in touch (with Jesus) will get it at first glance. As I have stated in earlier writings, I was a full blown, homeless (no place to call mine), jobless (more times than not), proud alcoholic. This explains where I “WAS”, when God and I connected. Sin had consumed a large portion of my life and I had become living proof of the truth found in, 1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV, the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. That was me in a nut shell! I couldn’t see what was right for being blinded by what was wrong! That is until everything got so wrong that I couldn’t find any relief. I was mind blind! But thank God there was an “IS” in His plan for me. He did exactly what is proclaimed in 1 Corinthians 6:10-11 (ESV), 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the, kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. I finally cried out in earnest, from the depts of my heart, a truly honest cry for God to save me, “AND HE DID!” I tried my best to walk His walk, but I would stumble and fall, so I prayed louder and studied harder, only to have it happen again, soon I found myself confused, tired and angry. But God knew my dilemma and had left instruction for me thousands of years ago in 1 John 4:18 ESV There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. It took me a long time to understand what God was telling me. There is no fear in love, it’s not my love that removes fear, it’s my understanding and believing in the power of His love. Once I received this revelation, my life started to change without a lot of concern for my future and no concern of my past. One of the first things He taught me is found in, 1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals. He started leading me to the people that could water and cultivate the seed that had been sown and He continues to do that today. God made me a new creation, just as it is told in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV), Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. The one thing that truly captivated my attention and it took my pastor to point it out. No one around really changed, it was all me! As I allowed God to change my attitude, heart and life, everything around me changed for the better. I fell in love with myself, I see the world in a different light, I am an active part of my family, whom I lost but through the goodness of God, they gave me mercy and forgiveness. Today I have friends that lift me up, encourage me and are truly concerned for my spiritual and physical wellbeing. Halleluiah! I am not what I used to be! 1 Corinthians 15:10 (ESV), But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. God has given me countless joy filled opportunities to volunteer in serving others, as well He has given me a new courage in doing so. I hope you can see the futility in my listing what I am thankful to God for, He has supplied all my needs. However, it’s where He leads me that stands out because it makes me stronger in Him. Remember; Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV), 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. I pray this stirs your heart, to do good! This is all “because of His”; John 3:16 (ESV), “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!

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