14 Years!

One week until my "Blessings Celebrate Day!" 

Can't believe that this year marks 14 years since I injured my back. Each year on/near the anniversary of Oct 25th, I celebrate the blessings God has given me over the past year. And each year, I continue to be amazed at His generosity, HIs kindness, and His creativity in giving me blessings. 

This year, I'd like to know what, if anything, you've learned because of my journey of chronic pain. I know that I have learned so much. But I'd like to know if you too have learned anything as you've followed me, prayed for me, or have gotten to know me over the past 14 years. 

If you have learned anything as you've read my blog, or followed my journey, please comment. 

Thank you. Looking forward to hearing what my friends are learning because of my journey.

Friends

continued.... "deep sense of reverence for God" (Acts 9:31). 

"I am a companion of all those who fear, revere, and worship You, and of those who observe and give heed to Your precepts." Psalm 119:63 (AMP)

The people who are my companions, friends, say something about me. Biblically friends have a responsibility to each other.... "In the same way that iron sharpens iron, a person sharpens the character of his friend." Proverbs 27:17. 

I'm thankful for the friends God has put in my life. They have helped me grow in so many ways. Having friends who have a deep sense of reverence for God are vital to developing my own sense of reverence for God. 

Friends, companions. That word companion means "knit together". I'm not a knitter, but from what I understand if use different types of yarns in the same project, your finished project won't hold up to use and washing. For example, some yarns have "memory" and hold their shape better than others. And some shrink when washed. So if part of your project is made with yarn that shrinks and another part with yarn that holds it shape, your project will be ruined as the shapes and yarns change over time. 

This is true with friendships. Those close friends should be ones that encourage and help you in developing a closer relationship with God. 

If your friends are not living a godly life, then they will tend to give you wrong advice and discourage you from making godly choices. 

I don't think this means isolate ourselves from unbelievers, rather just make sure that your companions, those that you are closely knit together with, have a deep sense of reverence for God. 

Now.... what type of friend am I? I personally need to develop that deep sense of reverence for God so that I can be the friend God wants me to be.

Attitude and Outlook

Continued... "permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God" (Act 9:31). 

Psalm 118 describes the attitude and outlook of one who truly has a deep sense of reverence for God. 

"Let those now who reverently and worshipfully fear the Lord say that His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever." Ps 118:4

So often when we are in tough situations or bad things happen, we blame God. It's all His fault for allowing hurt and pain. However, if we have a true reverence for God, we know that God owes us nothing, and His plan is far greater than we'll ever know. 

Consider Job. He was an honest of upright man who worshiped God.. and God brought Job to the attention of Satan. Why? Because God knew that God is worthy of praise, honor, reverence based on WHO HE IS... not on what He does or allows. God is God and circumstances and situations do not change that fact. Job fully understood that... because Job had a deep sense of reverence for God. 

"You are my God, and I will confess, praise, and give thanks to You; You are my God, I will extol You. O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever." Ps 118:28, 29.

A deep sense of reverence for God will not only impact my actions, but my attitude and outlook.

Click this to read Psalm 118

List of Actions and Attitudes

As I continue my study on "permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31)", I read Psalm 112 this morning. As read it, I realized that Psalm 112 is a list of actions and attitudes that should be a result of fearing the Lord and delighting in His commandments.

Being permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God is not just fearing God or being in awe of Him. Rather a true deep sense of reverence for God will impact my actions and attitudes.

The doing, actions, don't come first. Rather developing a sense of reverence of God is first and foremost. Because of that reverence for God Almighty—I act. Being in the presence of God Almighty, learning who He is, and learning about Him...... that creates a reverence. And because I am learning who God is..... I act in accordance with that knowledge... or rather I should be acting in accordance with that knowledge.  

Being permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God will have an impact...... or it should have an impact in my life and then be evident to those around me.

Psalm 112 Amplified Bible (AMP)

1 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who fears (reveres and worships) the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments.2 His [spiritual] offspring shall be mighty upon earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed.3 Prosperity and welfare are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.4 Light arises in the darkness for the upright, gracious, compassionate, and just [who are in right standing with God].5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.6 He will not be moved forever; the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) shall be in everlasting remembrance.7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord.8 His heart is established and steady, he will not be afraid while he waits to see his desire established upon his adversaries.9 He has distributed freely [he has given to the poor and needy]; his righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) endures forever; his horn shall be exalted in honor.10 The wicked man will see it and be grieved and angered, he will gnash his teeth and disappear [in despair]; the desire of the wicked shall perish and come to nothing.Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

Vote for TJ Bell

I had the privilege to meet TJ Bell, NASCAR Camping World Truck Driver for the #50 MAKE Motorsport Team.

He does a lot on/off the track to support and honor our Heroes in Uniform (First Responders and Military). This year, TJ and the #50 Team are also supporting and honoring The Fallen Linemen Foundation. 

Take a moment and vote for TJ Bell for Most Popular Driver of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. You can vote one (1) time each day. 

Share this with your friends too! The more votes, the greater the possibility that TJ will win! 

Here's the link to vote: 

http://www.nascar.com/mostpopulardriver?wid=720947a0c042c4

TJ and me at Chicagoland Speedway 2012.