Pray

I can’t even begin to describe how God has been working in my life lately. I have many stories that date back to the end of November when He started nudging me to the point now that he is, with great purpose, putting me in situations in which it is obvious that I am to take action. As I have been working to accept His will( and it has been a struggle) I practice listening as he is making it simpler and more peaceful to take the action(s) that He wants me to take. I’ve hesitated about publicly announcing these things through the blog because we should not be boastful of our visions and interactions with God. Then I was reminded that I’m not boasting…I am witness to His works and have been instructed to share them with you. I have not been making claims and witnessing for my own benefit. Nor do I write now for my own benefit. It is on my heart to witness to you as you read this. I know that God loves us all for we all are His children. God is not anxiety, fear, anger, addiction, resentment, lust, or envy. God is not of worldly things. God is love, inner peace through a relationship with him, joy, enthusiasm, content, thankfulness and the positive energy that whisps through our existence. So why is the post titled “Pray”?

Because this is my prayer to share with you: “God, as your humble and obedient servant I accept that I ultimately have no control over my life and that Your blessings will rain upon me as I seek to walk in the light of Your existence and accept the fate you have for me. Lord, I pray that You will reach out and touch those people want and need Your love and help and their lives. I have complete faith in your work Lord and surrender my worldly ways to you. I know I will try to take them back and I will sin but I know you are a loving and forgiving God and You will never abandon me nor will you forsake me for love is infinite and is always here for me to receive. In Jesus’ Holy name I pray that you answer my prayer. Amen”

Can we talk?

Seems like it’s been a while since I had a full post. I guess things are really quite simple this time of year. If your not counting your blessings you might as well be counting the seconds until you die. Seems harsh but its becoming abundantly clear to me that if I’m not celebrating every day I’m alive then I might as well be dead. Seriously, when you think about it, it makes sense. We weren’t put here on this Earth just to be biological creatures roaming around grazing on the land and reproducing. I think that we were put here by God for specific reasons. He has a plan for each of us. Some people call it fate, some people don’t accept that God exists, I dunno, things don’t just happen. The universe has a design to it. So the question I’m pondering is this: “If the universe has a design to it aren’t you even a little bit curious how we fit into it?”  I feel confident that at the very least we are meant to help each other. If we didn’t we wouldn’t have made it this far as biological creatures. I think I kinda got off track. I believe that God loves me. I’ve had intimate conversations with Him and Jesus and I know that theres is a plan for me on this earth. I talked to a friend just this evening that said God put him on a path three years ago and he listened. Now he is about to serve God and the citizens of Kanawha County and he had no idea three years ago that he was going to be where he is now. Had absolutely no idea. The part about his story I love the most is that God has blessed him with his dream job. His dream job! Which is serving others as God as his guide. I think that’s what it’s supposed be like. Trust God, wait for the path to open, listen and watch for His direction and surrender your will to him. At that point I think life begins.  When Mom and I were driving back from Pennsylvania on Saturday she held my hand and prayed to God that I surrender my earthly burdens to him and be patient for His will in my life to be brought forth. I’ve been very very peaceful since. Several times I’ve tried to take the burdens back but I recognize it and surrender to Him yet again. Thank you Mom….God hears our prayers and answers them.

Love

Chip

Christmas!

So busy updating on Facebook yesterday I didn’t even come close to wishing everyone Merry Christmas via the blog. I’m in York, Pa visiting with my family here. It’s been a fantastic couple of days and having a wonderful time. Hope you had a very Merry Christmas and continue to be blessed! Please don’t forget to pray for those who aren’t nearly as blessed as we are.

Chip

10

It would be great if every day was a 10 but let’s face it. It’s not possible. I was recently told that if you can average a 5-6 throughout your lifetime then that’s really good. Seems low to me but I guess my happiness has been a 5-6. I am working for a higher number and will get there. Think about what that requires for a second.
I attended the BE Taylor Christmas show a few days ago. Yes, the same BE Taylor that had the song Vitamin L. Don’t remember it? Google it. It really felt God’s presence in the room. I felt the abundance of love that he has for us and how he is constantly blessing us through the work of others. I’m working to be a better blessing in his name. It starts on the inside, it starts with understanding that my effort in life is to serve at his will. I was starting that direction until my own will took over again just recently. Through some intense headaches and pain I came to realize that I was fighting God’s will so hard that it was making me physically and mentally sick. I’ve had enough of that! So, my wish for you is that you see where you are to be a blessing to others and to be thankful when you receive blessings. The pic is of my new friend BE Taylor. He is a blessing to many people….especially this time of year.
God Bless you,
Chip

PS- Dr. Frame requested I do a CBC check up before Christmas. All is within normal levels including the neutrophyls. That’s great news! Complete Metabolic Profile due back in a week and DNA tests in two weeks.

taking it in

I can’t believe Christmas is right around the corner again. I don’t have any profound introspective thinking to offer right now. Only this: I hope that everyone is taking in how blessed we all are and giving thanks for all those blessings and passing those blessings on to others. What a glorious life it is.

awareness

It’s interesting to watch humans as bilogical creatures. The winter solstice always brings about a state of dormancy in nature. Biological adaption is very evident around us. We see the leaves fall off trees, we notice that the humming birds don’t visit the feeders anymore and the vibrance of nature is subdued. This obviously happens in humans as well. I see it in people’s faces. The big difference with us is that we have the cognitive ability to change how we interpret this situation. I don’t seem to notice or really feel  the bilogical effects of the winter and nature subdued until the crux of spring is upon us. That anticipation of seeing grass shoots, hearing bird songs that haven’t been heard in many months and the blooms of spring struggling to overcome their slumber produces such enthusiasm to run, to leap and to proclaim that we are in a time of rebirth, Spring. Truth is that we as humans can experience rebirth almost at will. But it takes will and faith to do it.  My point is this…we notice the world around us. We sometimes notice how things and situations affect us. So we proclaim that we are aware. But being aware in itself is only partial to experience. Taking action upon our awareness to produce a new or different cognitive perspective can change our mood, our disposition or our interpretation of the situation. Ask yourself ….What is the reason I feel the way I do? How do I want to feel? Close your eyes, breath slowly in counting to 10 and then breath out slowly counting to 10 until you feel a sensation of peace and calm. Then ask yourself those questions again. Why do I feel the way I do? Is is how I want to feel? Now feel how you want to feel. Feel a rejuvenation, feel Spring, feel happiness, feel laughter, feel the warmth and love of your family, friend, spouse or loved one.

simply simple

Life’s peaks and valleys exist for all of us. No one has the ability to evade them though sometimes we try to ignore them, unsuccessfully. The reality of our world is this: Events + Response = Outcomes

Events- what events occur and what is your perception of them?

Response- how do you respond to the events?

Outcomes- When events occur and you have your response(s) what outcome can you expect?

We have no control over the events in our lives but we do have control of our responses. I’m seeking different outcomes in my life so I’m focusing on my responses. Responses that date back to 1972-74.

So as I look for what’s truly simple I’m reminded of this:   relax, trust God and be patient or wait. I will wait patiently for his will to be done…not my own will. I will look to be quiet and listen for his direction. I will be calm and know that my life has a purpose and meaning. I will wait patiently for the events and respond appropriately to God’s will. 

Peace be with you….

Chip