From The Inside Out

We must first and foremost always love God and put him first in our lives.  In Genesis 2:18, God told Adam that He was going to bring a suitable helper for him which we know was eve.  There were times in my life, when I would wonder when God was going to bring the woman that He had for me into my life.  I would even sometimes wonder if I would even find her.  Not because of the person that I was on or type of person that I was on the inside,  but because of the way I looked on the outside.  Because for the most part people look at the outside appearance.  The Bible tells us that man looks at the outside appearance, but God looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7) I am not excluding myself from that category whatsoever we all do it, but do we say we like someone because of what they look like, before we truly get to know them?   There were times in my life, when I would wonder if a girl would truly get to know me and not just judge me because of what I looked like on the outside.  ( That truly wasn't just for the girls that was truly for anyone).  God is starting to break me of that and not allowing me to worry about what people think of me.  Whenever you look in the mirror, do not worry about what you look like on the outside, because sooner or later, we will get old, we will get winkles, we will start to fall apart.   Are any of us perfect by no means, but God wants to mold and shape us into his image.  I want to look at who God brings into my life from the inside out, and for who she has in her heart, and I want her to do the same in me.  For those of you that read this, I want you to do the same for those that you meet, however you meet them, and remember that those that don't look perfect on the outside may have Christ living inside of them.  When we put God first, and ask God to show us who it is that He has for us, thats the only thing that counts.

Ask, Seek, and Knock.

When I was in Bible College, one of the Professors that I had, would quote the verse in Matthew 7:7 which says 7 “​Ask, and ​​it will be given to you; ​2​ seek, and you will find; ​3​ knock, and it will be opened to you.   After he would finish that verse, he would say but we need to keep asking, keep seeking and keep knocking.  Why because not right away will God answer the questions or will we receive what we are asking from God.  A couple of weeks ago, God reminded me of that, especially in a ministry such as as an evangelist.  Their are times in our lives, whether it's a secular or ministry job, where the doors are going to be closed, dates and job opportunities are going to be filled up, and you will have to move on and look elsewhere.  When we are asking God for specific things in our lives, God may say yes, He will give it to us at that time, No not right now, or no you can't have it.  Or maybe at another time he hasn't made up his mind yet.  When we are desiring for the things of God, we need to keep asking, keep seeking, knocking on the heart of God, and in his timing, his plan, and his purpose it will be opened to you.  The rest of that passage goes like this,  8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  9 “Or what man is there among you ​who, when his son asks for a loaf, ​will give him a stone?  10 “Or ​​if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, ​​how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!.  I am grateful to have a heavenly father who will not give us anything that will hurt us.  

Storms of Life

Have you ever wondered why me, why have I had to go through all of these difficulties, situations, trials in my life.  I went to a school most of my life, where the students probably wondered that.  Their may have been times in their life when someone might have come up to them and said well God loves you.  He created you this way for a purpose.  Their response was probably why would your loving and caring God, create me this way if He truly loved me.  I also knew some that where angry and bitter, maybe not at God, but just because of what they where going through, and dealing with in their lives.  Did I get frustrated with some of the situations and difficulties that I had, and sometimes still have to go through yes I do, and I am a pastor.  But thankfully my parent's taught me and showed me in God's word that these things work together for Good.  These reasons may not always be able to be answered of why, but it says in Romans 8:28, And We Know That God Causes All Things To Work Together For The Good of Those Who Love Him, and Are called according to his Purpose.  For those of us that have that relationship with God, when He brings the trials to us in our lives.  Lets not try to figure out why but lets trust in him and know that when we put our trust in him he will bring us through the storm.  Just like when the disciples where on the boat, and the winds and the waves battered the boat.  The disciples cried out Jesus help, and what did he do he was sleeping, but he woke up and said peace be still and the wind and waves where calm.  For those that read this, and may wonder why me, I don't love God, but I am still going through all of these trials, but He loves you regardless of what you think about him.  He loves you so much that He sent his son to die on the cross for your sins.  He wants you to run to him, and ask him for Help, and know that He has a plan and a purpose for your life.  Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to Harm you to give you a hope and a future.  God Loves you and so do I.      

Run the Race

Growing up, I always wanted to try to do anything and everything, and my parent's allowed me try to figure out on my own, what I could and could not do.  With God's help and strength couldn't wasn't much.  I was part of the games for the Physically Challenged which was the equivalent to the regular olympics except they where geared to people with disabilities.  I enjoyed running the 100 and 200 meter dash, and doing the 50 meter freestyle swim.   The bible talks about running a race as well in Hebrews 12:1-3
 Hebrews 12:1-3 says 1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also ​​lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us ​run with ​c​endurance the race that is set before us,
 2 ​fixing our eyes on Jesus, the ​2​​a​author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him ​​endured the cross, ​c​despising the shame, and has ​d​sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
 3 For ​a​consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary ​​and lose heart. 

Their's a new saying that I like, that a friend of mine sent to me.  "The greatest achievements is to love God, love yourself, and love others"! "Its not how you start but how you finish"!
  It's the same thing with running the race that God has for us.  Some of us start the race out in the church, some of us start the race in the world, in drug and alcohol addictions, having sex before marriage, cheating in relationships.  Than we have someone that speaks to us about Christ, and we come to a knowing knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Once we have that relationship with Him, we can cross the finish line with our arms and hands raise and with a knowing knowledge of who he is, and He will say to us, well done good and faithful servant.  But God does not want us just to cross the finish line, He wants us each and every day to become more like Him, to shred off every sin which entangles us in our lives.  It does not matter how close of a relationship we have with Christ we still sin, their is no one that is/was perfect and without sin except for Christ.  Therefore no matter what we do, what sin we commit, or what mistakes, we make, we can still get up repent of our sins.  We can continue to run the race that God has for us.  For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son for whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have ever lasting life.  John 3:16  

Facing surgery

The last couple of years, I have had problems with my stomach, I have gerd, and barrets espohgaus and maybe something more but not sure the name of it.  I have thought about it, because it has come up in Conversation with the doctors about having a operation, not a big deal but with any surgery their could be complications.  But after 68 operations in my life, I have to ask myself, another one, God do I really have to have another one.  We sing the songs that claim that God is the God that healeth thee, and I believe that 100%, why because it says it in his Word, and we see and read the stories about it.  Matthew 8:5-13 NASB  5 And ​a​when ​1​Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him,
 6 and saying, “​​Lord, my ​​servant is ​lying ​a​paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.”
 7 Jesus ​*​said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
 8 But the centurion said, “​1​Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just ​say the word, and my ​​servant will be healed.
 9 “For I also am a man under ​​authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
 10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith ​with anyone in Israel.
 11 “I say to you that many ​a​will come from east and west, and ​recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;
 12 but ​a​the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into ​​the outer darkness; in that place ​​there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; ​​it shall be done for you ​as you have believed.” And the ​servant was healed that very ​moment.   

 

Matthew 15:21-28 (NASB) Healing Crowds
 29 ​Departing from there, Jesus went along by ​​the Sea of Galilee, and having gone up on the mountain, He was sitting there.
 30 And ​​large crowds came to Him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and ​​He healed them.
 31 So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled ​​restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they ​​glorified the God of Israel. 

 

We also know that their may be reasons why God doesn't heal us.  Do we have a lack of faith, is their sin in our lives that is preventing God from healing us, or does God just want us to go to the doctors.   I have had a conversation with a friend of mine, who was injured in Iraq, and he has neck and back problems, and we hace prayed together for healing before going into the doctors for the operation.  But God hasn't healed him yet, it doesn't mean that God won't heal him or you after the surgery, but sometimes their is a human fear in our lives that we don't want to face surgery.  For those of you, me included that may be having to face surgery, whether big or small, use it as a testimony, tell the doctor before you go in, that you are beliving that God will heal you quicker than the doctors report.  Show the doctors your faith by praying before the surgery, pray for the doctors, my Mom and I used to do that before my surgeries, and believe by faith that God will guide and direct the doctors hands.  Yes God can and still does heal, but God also created the ability of the doctors to do these surgeries, and thats why they are here.  Be thankful to God, that although He hasn't healed you yet before the surgery, you will have a quick and full recovery because God has given the doctors the ability to complete the surgery. 

Your Future Spouse.

With my story, it can be very emotional, when people hear it, so I try to throw in some stories or lines that are really funny.  One of those lines that I say is, "Their are times, when I see my friends getting married, having girlfriends or maybe just relationships, and than I look in the mirror, and wonder when is it going to be my turn.  But than I hear the stories, that the men tell me about having a girlfriend, or being married, and than I am like, okay maybe it’s better that I’m still single.  I am like any other guy, I want to find the right woman that God has for me, and I am believing by faith that He will bring her to me at the right time.  I get people to really laugh at that, and to sometimes even agree with me on that, whether it's for their life or mine.  I believe the bible to be truth, and I believe that in Genesis 2:18, when it says that "The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." (Genesis 2:18 NIV).  I am believing in faith that God will eventually bring me the woman of God that He has for me.  Like everyone else, I want to find the woman of God that He has for me, and their are times, when I am told that they just want to be friends.  Which is fine, but as in any situation can be difficult because you are wanting that deeper friendship.  Psalm 37:4 says Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.  We know that not all desiers of our heart is something that God wants us to have or to be able to do because God has a plan and a purpose for all of us.  I want to be able to seek him first, and to continue to put him first in my life, and than everything else will follow afterwards.  For those that might read this, and think that you are the only guy thats over 25 and still not married to not be concerned you are not alone.  I am 33 and still not married yet.  For the single people that read this, trust in God, and delight yourself in him, and in his timing, plan and way he will bring you your man/woman of God that He has for you, just as I am praying that He will bring one to me as well.  

With limitations, God can still use you.

Have you ever wondered, whether or not your limitations, will stop or limit you from what you want to do in your life.   Have you ever looked to do something but thought about it because you did not think that you would be able to accomplish it.  Maybe because of your fears, doubts, because someone may have told you that you wouldn't be able to do it.  Did you ever want to do something in the ministry, that you felt God calling you to do, but it was too big of a calling in your human mind, that you didn't think you would be able to do it, even with God calling you.  Their are times, we have all wondered about those things that we want to do in our lives, but we feel that we are not able to accomplish it.  But in Matthew 19:26, God says that with Him, all things are possible.  When God called the twelve men to be his disciples, he didn't call the scholars, or the teachers, of that time, he called the fishermen, he called the sinners.  Peter denied Jesus, Thomas doubted Jesus, But what about everyone that Jesus used, what where their limitations, but God stilled used them.
Here is an illustration called Who God Uses

The next time you feel like God can't use you, just remember...

Noah was a drunk

Abraham was too old

Isaac was a daydreamer

Jacob was a liar

Leah was ugly

Joseph was abused

Moses had a stuttering problem

Gideon was afraid

Samson had long hair and was a womanizer

Rahab was a prostitute

Jeremiah and Timothy were too young

David had an affair and was a murderer

Elijah was suicidal

Isaiah preached naked

Jonah ran from God

Naomi was a widow

Job went bankrupt

John the Baptist ate bugs

Peter denied Christ

The Disciples fell asleep while praying

Martha worried about everything

The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once

Zaccheus was too small

Paul was too religious

Timothy had an ulcer... AND

Lazarus was dead!

If God can use these men, with these limitations, what is it that God can do with you.  You can go back and read the blogs, and see what limitations it is that I have, and how God has used me, and continues to use me, but only because I have my faith in him, knowing that He has a plan and a purpose for my life.

Come As You Are

I saw this song from a new band that I found on itunes, the song is called Come as You are. It may not specifically say the word God or Jesus, but sometimes, we just need to listen to the song lyrics, and realize that no matter who we are we can come to God. No matter how bad we are, or how sinful we think we are in our lives, we can come to God, and ask him for the forgiveness in our lives that we need. God doesn't say go clean yourself up from the sins you have committed, and than come back to me when your perfect, he says Matthew 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called bMatthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He *said to him, “cFollow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.
10 Then it happened that as 1Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and 2sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples.
11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “aWhy is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?”
12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not athose who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.
13 “But go and learn 1awhat this means: ‘bI desire 2compassion, 3and not sacrifice,’ for cI did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
If Jesus did not want to be with the sinners, and thought that they needed to get cleaned up, before we came to Him than why have lunch with them? Be blessed, by the lyrics and by what I feel God wanted me to write to you, because I even as a Pastor, need to repent of my sins, every day of my life. Thank You Jesus for dying on the cross for my sins. John 3:16.



I wanna come closer, but I'd feel so out of place
You're so beautiful, but I'm still ashamed
That after all I've done, I've fallen from grace
Are these hands I raise only raised in vain?
Then I hear your whisper say:

Chorus:
You can come as you are
You can never fall too far
You can run to my arms
And I will heal your broken heart
Come as you are

I wanna hold on to every single word you say
It's so wonderful to think that you would want me
But deep inside of me, I know that I'm unworthy
If all I know is this, how can I see what you see?
I hear your whisper say:

Chorus:
You can come as you are
You can never fall too far
You can run to my arms
And I will heal your broken heart
Come As you are

Come to me and I will love you
More than you have ever known before
Come to me and I will take you
Places you have never been before
I love you more

You can come as you are
You can never fall too far

Chorus:
You can come as you are
You can never fall too far
You can run to my arms
And I will heal your broken heart

Chorus:
You can come as you are
You can never fall too far
You can run to my arms
And I will heal your broken heart
Come as you are
Come as you are

Was in PA this past weekend, and had two great and awesome services, God really moved in both services, and I was excited and pumped to see what happened in both.  God moved in the youth service as well, and got to pray for a couple of the teens, and God also used me to bless them as well.  Here is a little blog about what the youth pastor Al Di Salvatore said.  www.aldisalvatore.blogspot.com  Don't give up on what you guys are facing God allows everything to happen for a reason and a purpose. 

You Matter to God

You Matter To God.

    Perhaps, you don’t know then maybe you do, about stiltsville the village,
(so strange but so true).  Where people like we, some tiny, some tall, with jobs and kids and clocks on the wall keep an eye on the time .  For each evening at six, they meet in the square for the purpose of sticks, tall stilts upon which Stiltsvillians can struct and be lifted above those down in the rut:  The less and the least the tribe of too smalls, the not calls and the have-nots who want to be tall but can’t because in the giving of sticks, their name was not called.  They didn’t get picked. Yet they still come when villagers gather; they press to the front to see if they matter to the clique of the cool, the court of high clout, that decides who is special and declares with a shout, Your classy your pretty, your clever or funny, And bequeath a prize not of medals or money not a freshly baked pie or a house someone built, but the oddest of gifs a gift of some stilts Moving up is their mission, going higher their aim, Elevate your position, is the name of their game, The higher-ups of stiltsville (you know if you’ve been there) make the biggest to-do of the sweetness of thin air.  They relish the chance on their high apparatus no struct on their stilts, the ultimate stats.  For isn’t life best when viewed from the top? Unless you stumble and suddenly are not so sure of your footing You tilt and then sway Look out bel-o-o-o-w and fall straightaway.  Into the too smalls, hoi polloi of the earth.  You land on your pride- Oh boy how it hurts, When the chic Police, in the jilt of all the jilts, don’t offer to help but instead take your stilts,.  Who made you king?  You start to complain but then notice the hour and forget your refrain.  It’s almost six No time for chatter It’s back to the crowd to see if you matter.    

           
            Their are times, in our lives when we look around and wonder do I matter.
We have dreams and visions of what we want to do in our lives, but we question and doubt will we be able to do it.
We may have people tell us that we won’t succed, we won’t make it in this life, we are useless, worthless, that were nothing.
I may not have been told that exactly in my life, but I’ve had people stare and point at me, call me monster, freak, and even today I have times that I feel people staring and looking at me.
To give you an example of one point, I was working at target, in October of ’08 during Halloween, and one of the Managers came up to me, and said we don’t wear masks.
He may have been kidding or joking around, but when I took my break and he came back and said it again, I didn’t take it as a joke.  Their are times in my life, when I would wonder what does God have for me, how is God going to use me.  Do you wonder the same thing?  Do you wonder if you are going to be able to be used by God?  Are you wondering if your past sins, will hinder how God will love you or how God will take care of you?  Well those answers can be found in his word.  It doesn't matter what sins, we have committed, God loves us enough that He will forgive us.  He loved us enough that he sent his only son to die on the cross for our sins.  John 3:16.  If God was concerned about our past sins, He wouldn't have used his disciples, Matthew was a tax collector, Peter denied Jesus three times, Thomas doubted that Jesus rose again on the Third day.  But regardless of what these guys did, God still continued to use them.  Saul who was a murderer, and wanted to Kill the Jews, was converted, became Paul, and became one of the greatest men of the Bible.  As it says in Jeremiah 29:11 God has a plan and a purpose for our lives.  God loves us, and wants to use you for his honor and glory, because you matter to him.

What is Love?

1 Corinthians 13:1-7 says

1 If I speak with the ​a​tongues of men and of ​​angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a ​clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of ​a​prophecy, and know all ​​mysteries and all ​​knowledge; and if I have ​​all faith, so as to ​remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 And if I ​​give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I ​surrender my body ​​to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love ​is patient, love is kind and ​​is not jealous; love does not brag and is not ​arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it ​does not seek its own, is not provoked, ​does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 ​does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but ​b​rejoices with the truth;
7 ​bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Verse 12 Continues But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the ​greatest of these is ​​love.

Their are times, when I look in the mirror, and wonder where is my cinderella, when is she going to come into my life, will I ever find her? TV shows, and movies, represent love by having men and woman be attracted to each other by what they see on the outside, not by what is on the inside. But because of what we see on TV, and in the movies, we sometimes wonder are we attractive enough to find that Mr, or Mrs Right. We may have a significant other, and for most of us, we look at the outside appearance, but if that man or woman does not show us love, what good are they. Some of us today, may not feel loved by others, maybe because of our past experiences, or because of our past hurts. We have valentines day coming up, we may wonder how do we celebrate a day of love when we don’t have someone to love or someone that loves us. We may not have that significant person to celebrate Valentines day with, I know I don’t. But we do with God, because no matter what anyone has ever done for us, Jesus Christ came to this earth to die on the cross for our sins. He showed us the greatest example of love more than anyone has ever done, because of his love for us, we can now spend eternity with him. John 3:16 tells us that God loved us enough that He sent his only son for whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have ever lasting life.

No one is useless to God No one.

Their are times in our lives, when some if not most of us, may wonder what can God do with me? How can God use me? We may look in the mirror, and wonder are we too old, to be used by God. Moses probably wondered the same thing, God called Moses through a burning bush to lead the Children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. By the way Moses was called when he was 80, and didn't finish his task until he was 120, and died. Or do we look in the mirror, and wonder are we useless to be used by God because we are to young. Did Mary, wonder about that, she probably did because didn't she question the angel, when He came, and told mary that she was going to be bearing a son. Who in turn would come to be the savior of ALL Mankind. What about those who have some type of disability, regardless of whether it's something that God wants us to do, or what we want to do it on our own, We question it. We have the desire to do something in our lives, but yet we wonder, can we do it, do we have the knowledge, strength, determination to do it. Than we have those on the sidelines, telling us you won't make it, your nothing, your worthless, your hopeless. We may have those on the sidelines, but what about those who we are closer to, who are actually supporting us, who are actually telling us you can do it. You just have put your faith in God, and allow him to give you the strength, determination, and hope that you need, and not rely on our own abilities. Some of those on the sidelines, may be your family, who may not encourage you or ask you how it's going. But regardless of what others say listen to your heart, and listen to what God is telling you to do.
Ephesians 3 20 says 20 ​Now to Him who is ​b​able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, ​​according to the power that works within us. John 15:5, also says with out God we can do nothing. Without his strength, without his love, and power in our lives, we are incapable, or doing what it is that He has for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Prosper you and not to Harm you to give you a hope and a future.
Regardless of what you are feeling or what you are thinking about when it comes to your future, you are not useless, and you are especially not useless to God, because He has a plan and purpose for your life.

My Life,

It wasn't like this Thirty Three years ago, I don't remember because I wasn't even a day old, 33 years ago. But from what my parent's told me, they had told me that it was a very cold, and snowy day in NYC. My dad had gone to drive the church van, my Mom decided to stay home, because I believe she was having labor pains at the moment. By the time, my dad got back from driving the church van, he had to take my Mom to the hospital. Several hours later the doctors had to rush me off to examine me, not knowing exactly what was wrong but knowing that something was. Doctors, came back, and tried the best they could to explain to my parent's what exactly was wrong with me. The doctors said because I had no soft spot, that I would eventually become, brain dead, and that the best option for my parent's would be to put me into a institution, and to let me be. Thankfully with my parent's faith and trust in God, they believed, maybe not necessarily knew what that plan or purpose was but they decided to take me home anyway. Not knowing what was going to happen, my parent's left from that hospital, and decided to take me home, and see what doctors at Columbia Presbyterian, where to say. The doctors their said that as long as I had the operation to open skull and allow my brain to grow and function, although, I would have to undergo alot of operations and difficulties in my life, that I would survive. Long story short, 68 operations, 9 years of College, doctors telling my parent's I wouldn't make it, people telling me I wouldn't make it in College, people telling me I wouldn't make it in the ministry. I am now an Ordained minister with the Assemblies of God, traveling around giving a message that with God all things are possible. My favorite life verse is Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to Prosper you and not to Harm you to give you a hope and a future.

What it means to Be loved by Mark Schultz with a little rearranging by Dorsey Ross

January 16th 1977, on a Cold Sunday Morning, my wife and I had waited
Gettin' ready for our baby Boy,
My wife, decided that she would have the labor pains, while I was driving the van,.
The doctors delivered the baby, but unlike, the other delivers they have done, and we have seen, they rushed the baby out of the room,
Not knowing what exactly what was going to happen, the doctors came back in, and said that your little boy, may not live, whata want to do,
Turning to each other we said we want to,

I wanna give him the world
I wanna hold his hand
I wanna be his mom for as long as I can
and I wanna live every moment until that day comes
I wanna show him what it means to be loved

so we spent each day, watchin' every minute
and prayin' for our baby boy
and I will not forget the way I felt that moment
when he came into this world
but they took him, from the room just as soon as he was born
and watchin' through a window I could see him holdin' on
when a voice inside me said...

I wanna give him the world
I wanna be his dad
I wanna hold him close for as long as I can
and I wanna live every moment until that day comes
I wanna show him what it means to be loved

I said everyday
he's been out to prove the doctors wrong
oh and you should see him now
he's as handsome as his dad, (probably when he was younger ;) )
He now has the wedding band, and now
theres a woman at the front door waiting just to walk down the church aisle,

and he wants to give her the world
wants to hold her hand

My parent's have shown me what it means to be loved

Trust In God.

Matthew 6:25-34, and Luke 12-22-34, both talk about not worrying about your life, what we will eat, or what we will drink, wear, and not worry about tomorrow because tomorrow has enough worries of its own. Philippians 4:6-7 says do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition present your requests to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Provers 3:5-6 says trust in the Lord, and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Their are more that tell us, to trust in God, not to worry, not to be anxious but do we not worry, do we not be anxious, do we trust God? Not always, we have the school bills, that we just finished up from school, and we wonder and worry about how we are to pay back those bills. We faith health issues, and people tell us oh that isn't good to have, and we read things on the internet, that till us things about it. Instead of giving it to God, and trusting in him, that He will helps us through the trials and difficulties that we face. We lose our job, and we send out resumes. We pray and we ask God to help us try to find that job, but we don't because the unemployment rate is at 10%. So we start to panic, instead of trusting in God and not worrying. So whatever you are dealing with today, do not be anxious, do not worry, do not fear, but Trust in God, pray and ask God to take care of the situations that you are dealing with in your life, and know that God will lead you through it. Because He has the plans and purposes for your life. Jeremiah 29:11

Jesus is Born

A Virgin Conceives

Luke 2:26-38

26–28 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean

village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name

was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:

Good morning!

You’re beautiful with God’s beauty,

Beautiful inside and out!

God be with you.

29–33 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the

angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become

pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.

He will be great,

be called ‘Son of the Highest.’

The Lord God will give him

the throne of his father David;

He will rule Jacob’s house forever—

no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

34 Mary said to the angel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”

35 The angel answered,

The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

the power of the Highest hover over you;

Therefore, the child you bring to birth

will be called Holy, Son of God.

36–38 “And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone

called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with

God.”

Luke 2:1-20

The Birth of Jesus

1–5 2 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire.

This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his

own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of

Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he

had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.

6–7 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her

firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in

the hostel.

An Event for Everyone

8–12 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over

their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They

were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event

that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior

who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and

lying in a manger.”

13–14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,

Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

15–18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to

Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left,

running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing.

They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the

sheepherders were impressed.

19–20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The

sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard

and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!

Whatever reason you celebrate Christmas, whatever your intentions for getting the Presents, whatever you believe or don't believe about religion. We must remember that Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago, and to remember Him today, and to Thank God for giving us his son, and allowing his son to come to earth, and be born. Thank you God, thank you Jesus.

With God's strength you can do Anything.

Growing up as someone with a disability, we are sometimes limited in what we can do, and in our abilities. Though growing up we are told that no matter what we put our minds to, we can do whatever it is that we want. That is sometimes difficult, because when we are looking for what we want to do, with that desire and job. Or that plan or purpose for our lives, we are turned down because people who don't have disabilities are limited to what they see, and what they think we can do. We are sometimes told that we are not smart enough, we can't do this or that because of our limitations, so how are we supposed to do what we want to do when being told by others that we can't. Some of you that read this may not believe in God, may not believe in him because of what you have gone through, and because of what you have had to deal with in your life. Regardless of believing in God, or not, we will always have limitations, and we will always have difficulties that we will face. In Philippians 4:13 Paul writes I can do all things through Him who ​​strengthens me. Another words regardless of the limitations that we have, the difficulties that we face in this life, when we have that faith in God, He will give us the strength to do what it is that we want to do, and that He has for us. Because God has a plan and a purpose for us, and He loves us. Life in general is not always easy, that's why we must keep our focus on God, and not take it off of what it is that He has for us. If we do we will get distracted, we will get those people that till us we are useless and worthless, and will not fulfill the plans that we have set up for our own lives. We will take our eyes off of what it is that God has for us. Know this that whatever you feel or believe or don't believe about God, He loves you, and He has made you however you are for a plan and a purpose in your life, and with mustard seed faith, when you believe in Him, He will show you what He has for you in your life, as He has in mine.

God's plan for you.

Their are times in our lives, when we are born differently or born with a birth defect, that we ask why. Why would we be born with a birth defect. We don't always know or understand why we are born with a birth defect. Though God says that the thing being molded will not say to the molder, who is God why did you make me like this. Romans 9:20 20 On the contrary, who are you, ​a​O man, who ​b​answers back to God? ​​The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? Psalms 139:13-17 says 13 For You ​a​formed my ​1​inward parts; You ​​wove me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for ​I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.15 My ​​frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the ​depths of the earth; 16 Your ​a​eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in ​​Your book were all written The ​days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. We as people with disabilities, may not be able to fully understand or comprehend how a loving and caring God, who loves us would create us the way that He did. Because of the disability, we may not even believe that their is a God, or maybe we do but we are so angry with him, because of what we have gone through, that we can't fully understand who God is. Here is an illustration that talks about some great men and women that have had to deal with disability, but still where able to do great things in their life. Overcoming and Achieving

Some of the world’s greatest men and women have been saddled with disabilities and adversities but have managed to overcome them. Cripple him, and you have a Sir Walter Scott. Lock him in a prison cell, and you have a John Bunyan. Bury him in the snows of Valley Forge, and you have a George Washington. Raise him in abject poverty, and you have an Abraham Lincoln. Subject him to bitter religious prejudice, and you have a Benjamin Disraeli. Strike him down with infantile paralysis, and he becomes a Franklin D. Roosevelt. Burn him So severely in a schoolhouse fire that the doctors say he will never walk again, and you have a Glenn Cunningham, who set a world’s record in 1934 for running a mile in 4 minutes, 6.7 seconds. Deafen a genius composer, and you have a Ludwig van Beethoven. Have him or her born black in a society filled with racial discrimination, and you have a Booker T. Washington, a Harriet Tubman, a Marian Anderson, or a George Washington Carver. Make him the first child to survive in a poor Italian family of eighteen children, and you have an Enrico Caruso. Have him born of parents who survived a Nazi concentration camp, paralyze him from the waist down when he is four, and you have an incomparable concert violinist, Itzhak Perlman. Call him a slow learner, “retarded,” and write him off as ineducable, and you have an Albert Einstein.

In Jeremiah 29:11 it says for I know the Plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to Harm you to give you a hope and a future. No matter what your thoughts, feelings, or beliefs about God, He loves you, He died on the cross for your sins, and regardless of the disability, He has a plan and a purpose for your life.

God Of The Second Chance

Romans 3:23 says All Have Sinned And Fallen Short of The Glory of God. Even though Romans 3:23, says ALL SIN AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. And we know from the Bible, that all we have to do is to call on the Name of the Lord, ask for forgiveness of our sins, and we will be saved. But because of our human selves and the condemnation we put on our selves we do not think that God will forgive us. But what about people in the bible, people like David, who although was a man after God's own heart, had sex with Bathsheba, and had her husband killed. Though God still anointed him King. What about Jonah who was called by God, to go and minister, at Nineveh. Though instead of going to Nineveh he decided to get up and flee and go to Tarshish. Eventhough Jonah disobeyed God, and God could have said okay you will get your way I will use someone else. God decided to send a giant Fish, and have the fish take him to Nineveh. What about Paul, who was previously named Saul, and was a murderer, and wanted to kill all of those who believed in Jesus. While, Saul was walking down the road to Damascus, Jesus comes ot him in a light, and asks Saul why are you persecuting me. Long story short, Saul becomes Paul, one of the greatest Evangelists of all time, and wrote most of the new Testament. What about Peter who after denying Jesus 3 times after the crucifixion, but after rising from the dead, Jesus doesn't forget about Peter. When Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Jaes, and Salome, the angel in the tomb says do not be afraid But go, tell His disciples and Peter, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you. Mark 16:1-7 Because of what we have done, in our past, and even what we have done, while we have had a relationship with Christ, though Jesus still forgives when we ask him. Jesus isn't a God, of one strike, and your out. The Bible says He will forgive us 70x7. Jesus will give us a second, third, and a fourth chance, and more if we need it, and because we are human we will need it. Lets remember those that have gone ahead of us, and remember those guys, and what they have done, and remind ourselves, that God uses anyone that allows him to.

Do not let anyone look down on you.

The Denver Broncos, head coach, Josh McDaniels is a first year head coach. Coming from the New England Patriots as the Offensive teams coordinator. At the time, he became the Broncos head coach he was the youngest head coach in any of the four major North American professional sports and the fifth-youngest NFL head coach ever, although less than a week later the Tampa Bay Buccaneer's named the even-younger Raheem Moorisas their head coach. As with any new and young guy as the head coach, the critics, where saying they are going to do no good, they are not going to do well. So much for the critics, since the Broncos are now 5-0. I am not saying they will win the Superbowl, and I will not say they will go undefeated. My point comes from 1 Timothy 4:12 12 ​a​Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. In our Christian walk, we must grow in these area's of our lives, and become more like Christ each day. And when we feel God calling us to do something, not allow those that say we are too young or not ready to do that to put us down. Because look at what happened to Mary and Joseph who where both Teenagers, and yet Mary gives birth to Christ. God chose Mary because He saw those values in her and her maturity level. Now I do not know if Josh is a Christian or not, but whenever we do things in our lives, we should not allow others to look down on us because we are young or because we do not have the experience to do what it is that we are going to do. But do it to the best of our ability, whether it be in the physical or spiritual world.

Fulfilling Our Dreams.

To all my friends, that have one type of disability, or another. Do not let anyone stop you from pursuing or fulfilling the dreams, that you have in your heart. You and I may have different beliefs and different views of God. Some of you may be angry at Him, some of you may not think He exists, some of you may wonder why such a loving and caring God would make me with this horrific disability. Thats ok, because I wondered and asked the same questions somewhere along the line. We may have limitations and we may not be able to do everything that everyone else can, though that doesn't mean we still can't shoot for the stars. I believe that God created each of us differently for a reason and a purpose. It says in Psalms 139:13-17

13 For You ​a​formed my ​1​inward parts;

You ​b​wove me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will give thanks to You, for ​1​I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

​a​Wonderful are Your works,

And my soul knows it very well.

15 My ​1​​a​frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the ​b​depths of the earth;

16 Your ​a​eyes have seen my unformed substance;

And in ​b​Your book were all written

The ​c​days that were ordained for me,

When as yet there was not one of them.


Jeremiah 29:11 says in the Message version of this verse I know what I am doing, I have it all planned out plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. God loves you guys, even though life sucks sometimes, and living with a disability isn't easy. Take away this one thing do not let anyone, around you to stop you from doing what it is on your heart to do or to dream. God Bless,