From the ashes. . .

You may often see Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it.

Some of you, if there are any of you, know I am going through some growing pains in my life. There are many factors to why I am going through these growing pains, but none of them is important, it is more important what I take away from this experience.

In some ways, I have to thank the influences, which have brought me to this place, it's possible, if I was not for them, I would still be living in a state of hell. So, am I saying life is better than before, economically, no, family no, but spiritually yes! Do I want to stay where I am at, NO, do I want to improve and resume my full responsibilities, YES and ASAP; but I will be doing so responsibly to myself, God and most importantly to my family.

How can I say this, my family will be better off, because as I improve, the relationships and the things I draw to me will improve. Thus, before I was living a life of wants, and presenting a false sense of who I was. Today, through my faith and Love in Jesus Christ, I am stronger, and have the character to live an honest life, one that I can look back on and not evaluate on what achievements I made of which others can evaluate, but on my relationships with my family, and myself, Jesus Christ.

My value of who I am is no longer dependant on what others think, view, project; it is based on my relationships with Jesus Christ. It is my belief, my life has had a significant amount of challenges, maybe not as many as others, but surely more challenging that I ever imagined, regardless, I have been struggling between my 'out-self' and my 'inner-self', and after a significant amount of time and struggle, I have found myself and with courage and faith, follow this self. In addition, I thank those intentionally or not, who have placed those barriers in my way to help me be a better me, which makes me a better father, son, brother, husband… I found this statement below by accident thumbing through his book at Barnes and Noble, I felt then how appreciative I was of all of those in my life to help me get here.

PS – thank you to the person or persons that signed me up for Living Christian Bible Study program for my PC, it had the book I reference below as a part of the program, coincidence? In addition, the program is outstanding in bible study, so thank you.

March 24th

Decreasing into his purpose
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30.

If you become a necessity to a soul, you are out of God's order. As a worker, your great responsibility is to be a friend of the Bridegroom. When once you see a soul in sight of the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been in the right direction, and instead of putting out a hand to prevent the throes, pray that they grow ten times stronger until there is no power on earth or in hell that can hold that soul away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we become amateur providences; we come in and prevent God, and say—'This and that must not be.' Instead of proving friends of the Bridegroom, we put our sympathy in the way, and the soul will one day say—'That one was a thief, he stole my affections from Jesus, and I lost my vision of Him.'

Beware of rejoicing with a soul in the wrong thing, but see that you do rejoice in the right thing. "The friend of the Bridegroom . . . rejoiceth greatly because of the Bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." This is spoken with joy and not with sadness—at last they are to see the Bridegroom! And John says this is his joy. It is the absolute effacement of the worker, he is never thought of again.

Watch for all you are worth until you hear the Bridegroom's voice in the life of another. Never mind what havoc it brings, what upsets, what crumblings of health, rejoice with divine hilarity when once His voice is heard. You may often see Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it. (Cf. Matt. 10:34.)Chambers, O. (1993, c1935). My utmost for his highest : Selections for the year (March 24). Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers.

The Holy Bible, New International Version International Bible Society Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

Mt 10:34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

" 'a man against his father,

a daughter against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—

Mt 10:36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'

Mt 10:37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Mt 10:40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."