MY ADDICTION! - PLEASE PRAY WITH ME!

     For some time now, I have been trying to hide the fact that I am an addict.  My earliest recollection of when my habit started dates back to the 3rd grade, when my teacher introduced me to my unquenchable desire.  Ever since that time, I have lived with my addiction; 32 years of hiding and justifying my actions.  Today I profess to the world that I am addicted to "the library" and I am obsessed with reading books.

     Let me put it into perspective for you.  When other boys my age wanted to play ball or hang out with the guys, I wanted to read.  It became my escape and my way of exploring the world around me.  Back in the day, I would take my slender 6ft frame and crouch down in a small hallway in our home and read for hours under the light.  My mom, brother, and sisters would step over me on the way down the hall to points unknown to me.  I was oblivious to my surroundings. My lofty goal in elementary school was to read all of the books in our school library before I graduated the 5th grade.

     I can't tell you the exact number of books I've read, but I estimate it to be around 5,000 or so - give or take a hundred.  I can tell you that in all of my reading, I did not discover the greatest manuscript ever written until I was 21 years old.  It's title you ask?  The Bible of course!  I now realize that all those years I read, I was searching for answers to questions like, "Why am I here?," "What is my purpose in life?," or "What will I leave behind as a legacy when I die?"  Little did I know that the one book I avoided early on in life because of it's Old Testament beginning (SIDE NOTE:  I TRIED READING THE BIBLE LIKE ALL THE OTHER BOOKS - FROM START TO FINISH -- I GOT HUNG UP IN LEVITICUS!!) is the one book I cherish the most today.

     In Matthew 6:33 Jesus tells us to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all other things will be given to us as well."  I found all the answers I was seeking in the greatest book ever written.  I found out that God loved me so much!  I found out that I was a sinner and I needed to repent.  I found out that I needed to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.  I found out I needed to declare my dedication to my new life to the entire world with an outward baptism of water.  I found out that I have help in dealing with the cares of this world, through the Holy Spirit.

     My addiction led me to my Lord!!  I pray that whatever your dealing with, that you turn to Him in your hour of need.  He's waiting on you!

                                                   Live - Laugh - Love, it's good for ya!

                                                   Shedrick D. Jones
                                                   Maximum Impact Blogger

P.S.  I wrote this blog while sitting in the library!!  Check out the titles I picked up to read this week.  I may review a couple of them next week.  Free Books, Gotta Love 'Em!

• Church Growth and the Whole Gospel:  A Biblical Mandate - C Peter Wagner
• Can Somebody Shout Amen! - Patsy Sims
• When God Becomes A Drug - Father Leo Booth
• What Paul Meant - Garry Wills
• The Devil, A Biography - Peter Stanford
• Praise The Lord, and Pass The Contribution - Alan Bestic
• The Religion Business - Alfred Balk

Why Do I Have To Be The Strong One?

     Recently, I had the opportunity to share in a "lock-in" setting with a group of young men at my church, between the ages of 11-18.  For anyone unfamiliar with this type of event, it typically involves a night of recreational activities, food, and fellowship; culminating into group discussions and spiritual reflection.  We asked the young men on this night, to write on slips of paper, ideas for a panel discussion scheduled for later.  The instructions were, "They could ask questions concerning their faith in God in a specific area or the Christian faith in general."  One young man wrote, "Why Do I Have To Be The Strong One?"  The only catch for the exercise was they could not place their names on the paper, therefore, this question could have come from a 6th grader, just as well as, a 12th grader.  To my surprise, it got me to thinking............
    
     The thing I thought about most was that there was some young man amongst us who had already picked up the "baggage" or "burden" of believing that he had to to be the "strong one."  The one who everyone looked to for the answers.  Immediately I identified with this young man, simply because I was the older of two sons and fell victim to this line of thinking throughout most of my young adult life. That is, until I came across a scripture that changed my life in this area.

  "I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."   --- 2 Corinthians 12:10

     The facts are (1) Infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, and distresses are going to happen to all of us, (2) We are all going to face weaknesses during these times, and (3) We may even attempt to try to handle most of these situations on our own.  The Apostle Paul presents a different point of view in this instance that reflects on our attitude, rather than our actions during difficult times.  As a Christian, we should have an attitude that takes pleasure in the fact that God has allowed these calamities, especially if it's for the sake of the Gospel.  Our first response is not to react, but rather, reflect an attitude of delight.  WOW!  Here's the liberating factor in all of this, our "weakness" during these times gives God an opportunity to show His strength through us.  WOW!

   "Are you telling me, that I don't have to be the strong one all the time?"  Exactly!!!  It's okay to cry, to lament, to let it out, to let that person know that you don't have the answers.  Once you let go of your control over life's issues, God is right there for the believer to deliver His strength.  So who is really the stronger one; the one who tries to figure everything out and be there for everyone all the time or the person who recognizes their weaknesses, gives it all to God, and allow him work it out?     
                                                                               ---I'm Just Sayin.........

                                     "Knowing your limits, helps you to know your God!"
                                                                                     
                                                                         ---Shedrick D. Jones
                                                                                   Author of the
                                                                         "Maximum Impact" Blog