http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9fwqZtWdHs

THY WORD, AMY GRANT, LEADING ME THRU DARKNESS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST

DAILY THOUGHT

One morning I woke up and was addicted, ……yeah right. I had been sowing seeds of my personal destruction for many years. Drinking & driving or while driving, getting high at parties, trying to impress the ladies and out macho the guys. I laughed when people warned me. I didn’t want to understand. I was having too much fun, well except for the morning hangovers and prayer at the porcelain God. Migraines were a daily reality and eating max strength Excedrin til I was numb but still hurt. A drag on a cigarette would make me puke, but it was all good. The poison would never kill me or so I thought.

It seemed I drank more to keep a buzz and be happy. The hangovers lasted longer and I can’t remember any more fun. I was a sad, lonely young man. The nightmare from the war were still alive in my head. I worked harder and drank more. My life totally sucked. Although I had the American dream and a great loving family, my spirit man was dead inside. It was like my body got home but my soul was dead. My considering suicide may have failed and left me more messed up. It happens, ya know. I had the rifle and bullets and the booze. I didn’t really want to die, I just wanted the hurting to stop.

DEEPER MEDITATIONS OF THE SOUL

I cringe when I remember how weak I was that day. Since then I have come so far. Another veteran introduced me to the God of his understanding. He had been a speed freak until his God encounter. The day I invited Jesus into my life and heart, I connected with the God of Creation . I linked up my frail nature with limitless Divine Power. I have connected with the Divine Force for Good in the world. To quote a praise song “ All my sins are washed away, I’ve been redeemed.”

Step 3 Tells us to turn our life and will over to the God of my understanding. In other words, SURRENDER. Give it up. Throw your arms up, you can’t do this without God, neither can I. A self-centered drunk or junkie only gets sicker. The best we could do brought us to death’s doorstep, too many times.

So I will trust God like a child who places its tangled ball of yarn in the hands of a loving mother to unravel. We please God more by our unquestioning confidence than by imploring Him for help.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may put all my difficulties in God's hands and leave them there. I pray that I may fully trust God to take care of them.

REMINDER, APRIL 4TH IS EASTER SUNDAY. IF YOU ARE OBSERVING LENT OR A PERIOD OF INTENSIFYING YOUR SPIRITUALITY TO PREPARE YOURSELF, I WILL SEND YOU A FREE EASTER DEVOTIONAL

JUST SEND ME YOUR FULL NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS.

LUV & HUGZ

DEAR FAMILY, SATURDAY 12/06/09

DAILY THOUGHTS

PEOPLE WHO HAVE FALLEN AWAY FROM GOD'S GRACE ARE SOMETIMES SO ASHAMED, THEY DO NOT GO BACK TO THEIR FELLOWSHIPS. THEY STOP ATENDING 12 STEP MEETINGS AND CHURCH. THE OLD TAPES BEGIN TO PLAY AGAIN IN THEIR HEAD, TELLING THEM THAT THEY ARE NO GOOD. NO SENSE TRYING ANYMORE. IN SOME WAYS THEIR SELF ESTEEM IS EVEN WORSE THAN BEFORE. THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT A DOG RETURNING TO HIS VOMIT TO EAT. NOT A PRETTY PICTURE BUT MUCH LIKE A RELAPSE IN COMPARISON.

THEY KNOW IN THE BACK OF THEIR MINDS THAT GOD IS STILL WAITING TO RESTORE AND LOVE THEM ONCE AGAIN. TYPICALLY THE PERSON WHO HAS RELAPSED WILL MAKE A STRONGER COMMITTMENT WHEN RETURNING TO HIS OR HER FELLOWSHIPS. PERHAPS THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD JUST DABBLE A BIT AND GET AWAY WITH IT. DISEASE AND ADDICTION DO NOT WORK THIS WAY. 1 IS TOO MANY AND 1000 IS NEVER ENOUGH.THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A LITTLE CANCER. LEFT TO GROW, IT WILL TAKE YOUR LIFE, JUST LIKE YOUR ADDICTION.

AFTER A FEW MEETINGS, IT ALL BEGINS TO RETURN WITH SOME WORK. EVEN WHEN THE SPIRIT IS WILLING, THE FLESH IS VERY WEAK. THE OLD NATURE AND OLD MAN OR WOMAN TRIES TO ONCE AGAIN RESURRECT ITSELF. NAIL THAT COFFIN LID TIGHLY SO IT DOESN'T ESCAPE.

RARELY DOES ANYONE, TOTALLY ESCAPE TEMPTATION. THEY CAN SLAP THEMSELVES OUT OF IT AND GET BACK ON TRACK IF THAT IS WHAT THE HEART TRULY WANTS. KEEP UP YOUR DEFENSES WITH PRAYER, MEDITATION AND FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHERS IN RECOVERY. DO NOT LOOK FOR OR MAKE EXCUSES TO GIVE IN. NO ONE WANTS TO GO BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM. KEEP TURNING IT OVER TO GOD AND ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO STRENGTHEN YOU.

DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL FOR THE NEW YEAR ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE ASKING WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. WE SENT OUT OVER 60 CHRISTMAS CARDS AND DEVOTIONALS SO FAR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. JUST SEND YOUR FULL NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS.

BLESSINGS AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

PJ

ROMANS 10:9-10

DEAR GOD. I KNOW I AM A SINNER. I HAVE FAILED YOU AND MYSELF DAILY. I BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS YOUR SON AND HE DIED ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR MY FORGIVENESS.

JESUS, PLEASE COME INTO MY HEART AND HELP ME STAY CLEAN AND SOBER, TO BE A GOOD PERSON AND TO LIVE FOR YOU.

LUV & HUGS

PJ

DEAR FRIENDS  11/21/09

FOR THE 3RD YEAR IN A ROW, THE RED CROSS AND PITNEY & BOWES WILL BE SCREENING AND FORWARDING HOLIDAY MAIL FOR OUR GI'S.

HOME MADE CARDS AND SHORT LETTERS ARE ALWAYS A TREAT WHEN COMING FROM THE STATES.  I REMEMBER HOW I PRIZED MINE WHEN I WAS IN VIET NAM FOR CHRISTMAS.

Holiday Mail for Heroes

P.O. Box 5456

Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

CARDS MUST BE RECEIVED BY DECEMBER 7TH TO GET DELIVERED FOR CHRISTMAS.

I GUESS A LATE CARD WOULDN'T HURT EITHER.

GOD BLESS YE ALL

CHAPLAIN JOHN