Overwhelmed and Encouraged

Overwhelmed seems to be the theme of my stroke recovery!

I am overwhelmed by life, sounds, sights, touch, information, and lack of words to express myself. I am overwhelmed by the need for sleep. I am overwhelmed by the need to be quiet and disconnected from the busyness of life. I'm overwhelmed by all the things not getting done that I need to do.  So many things, so little time.

The reality of life and our brief time on this planet has been made so apparent to me. There are things that really matter and then there is everything else.

I am overwhelmed and deeply humbled by the prayers given on behalf of my family and myself! I am overwhelmed by the grace that has been shown to me during the last 6 months, I feel so unworthy. I am overwhelmed by the message of hope in the midst of suffering that I have been given. I am overwhelmed by the need to share, speak and let everyone know that life is here one minute and gone the next, don't miss it!  I am overwhelmed by the amazing people in my life that I have told "I love you" to and meant it! I'm overwhelmed by the fact that God loves us and sent His one and only Son to die and be raised from the dead on the 3rd day in order to defeat death so we can experience life abundantly with Him. This life isn't everything there is. There is so much more and we need to look at life from an eternal perspective, now that is overwhelming!

Encouraged

As overwhelmed as I am, I know that nothing is wasted with God and this time will be used for His glory in my life.  Be encouraged!  If you know Jesus, don't be afraid of suffering, your never alone.  If you don't know Jesus, I'd love to introduce you (see below) but it is likely that there is someone you know who is a follower of Christ who has already been praying for you and they would love to share what Jesus has done in their life with you. 

Ultimately, here is the good news and the most important decision you can make.  

The biggest thing to remember is that there is nothing you can do to earn God's gift of salvation.  It is a free gift given by God to all who ask.

You were created with value and worth! God loves you and created you to know Him personally. The Bible tells us: "You created every part of me and put me together in my mother's womb." (Psalm 139:13-14) God loves you. “For God loved the world so much that He gave His Only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) God's purpose for you. [Christ is speaking] "My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." (John 10:10) What keeps us from connecting with God and knowing Him? All people are sinful and separated from God so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love. People are sinful. "For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard." (Romans 3:23) We were created to have a personal relationship with God, but by our own choice and self-will we have gone our own independent way and that relationship has been broken.  This self-will, often seen as an attitude of active rebellion toward God or lack of interest in Him, is an evidence of what the Bible calls sin. People are separated. “But the trouble is that yours sins have cut you off from God." (Isaiah 59:2) "For the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23) God is holy and people are sinful.  A great gap separates the two.  People are continually trying to reach God through their own efforts such as a good life, philosophy or religion, but they always fail. What is the solution to our sin and separation from God?

Jesus Christ is God's only solution for our sin.  Through Him alone, we can know God personally and experience God's love. He died in our place. "But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:8) He rose from the dead. “Christ died for our sins ... He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day ... He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve apostles.  After that He was seen by more than five hundred ..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-6) He is the only way to God. “Jesus said to them, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6) God has bridged the gap that separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our play to pay the penalty for our sins. It is not enough just to know these facts about Jesus Christ... We must personally receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord then we can know God personally and experience His love. We must believe in and receive Christ. "To all who received Him, He gave the right to become children of God.  All they had to do was to trust [believer in] Him to save them." (John 1:12) We receive Christ by faith. “For it is by grace you have been saved.  through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God - not by works so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9) When we receive Christ we experience a new birth. (See John 3:1-8.) We receive Christ by personal invitation.[Christ is speaking] "Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him." (Revelation 3:20) Receiving Christ involves: -Recognizing our need for Christ. -Turning to Christ and away from self (repentance). -Trusting Christ to come into our lives, forgive our sins, and make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough.  Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith as a decision of our will. Don't depend on feelings Our feelings about God and what is true may change from time to time.  However, the promises of God's Word, the Bible- not our feelings- is the basis of our confidence.  The Christian lives by faith (trust) in God Himself and His Word (the Bible).

Connect with GOD

Here is how you can receive Christ. You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Prayer is just talking with God.  God knows your heard and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart.  Here is a suggested prayer. Lord Jesus, I need You.  Thank You for dying on the cross in my place for my sins.  I believe in You, and I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord.  Thank You for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life.  Take control of the throne of my life and make me the kind of person You want me to be. Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?  If it does, pray this prayer right now, and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.  Again, it's the attitude of the heart that matters not the specific words you use.  Talk to God, He will hear you. The next step is to tell someone! Get into contact with a local Pastor.  Get a Bible! Another resource is http://www.connectingwithgod.com/project/stay/index.htm And please let me know.... send me a message and I'll be praying for you too! I've taken the above message with edits (me) from the booklet called Connecting with God. http://www.connectingwithgod.com/project/get/promise.htm