This man's story had my heart tonight.

Amado is 33 years old and has been in the United States since the age of 13.  This man is amazing.  He always has a smile on his face.  He loves the United States.  He loves his family!  He loves his job and he loves teaching Spanish.  I had the privilege to hear a little bit of his story tonight.  It's a story that touched my heart.  So, I thought I'd share it with you.

Amado was born in Honduras.  He has 15 siblings in all.  10 of those are from Honduras and 5 are from the United States.  You see, Amado was adopted at the age of 13 by a family from Alabama.  A team went to Honduras on a mission trip one year and met Amado and his family.  Upon meeting him I'm sure their hearts hurt for them.  When Amado was 3 months old he contracted the Polio virus.  When they met him at the age of 13, he couldn't walk.  The virus attacked the muscles in his legs.  Amado could crawl and he had a wheelchair.  He had no use of his legs at all.  He said his knees were "locked".  So, this family decided they wanted to bring Amado to the United States if his family approved.  They would adopt him and take care of him.  His family agreed and Amado's life has been forever changed.  He had 3 surgeries on his knees and a year of very intense therapy.  He now walks with the assistance of forearm crutches.  We asked him if he could remember the day he took his first steps.  With a smile on his face he said, "July 20, 1990."  At this point I was really trying to hold back tears.  This man and his story had my heart tonight.  To know that his family gave up so much so that their son could have a better life blows my mind.  It had to be one of the most difficult things they've ever done.  It was a completely selfless act.  Some people might say they are crazy.  I say they had their son's best interests at heart.  Just think.  If they hadn't been willing to give Amado up...he probably wouldn't be walking today.  He'd still be wheelchair bound.  He'd still be in Honduras.  This man is very thankful for what he has.  He has two sets of parents and 2 sets of siblings and loves them very much.  He now has 5 of his siblings from Honduras living here in Alabama!!  His biological parents have been to visit but they don't want to live here permanently.  Their home is in Honduras.  That's where they want to be.  Amado's says this is his home now.  He goes to visit Honduras...but this is where he longs to be.  This is his home.  I'll close with Amado's last statement which just about sent me over the edge with emotion.  He said, "I'm thankful that I had polio.  If I hadn't had polio then I wouldn't be where I am today.  I wouldn't be in the United States."  I wish you could meet this man.  You'd find him to be just as amazing as I do.  I count myself blessed to know him...and to know just a tiny part of his amazing story.  :o)

Until next time...

James

The Ragamuffin Gospel

I bought this book a while back and I'm just now picking it up.  I shouldn't be reading it just yet because there are 2 others that I need to finish...but I felt it calling my name tonight.  So, I gave in and picked it up.  It's not very often that I allow myself "me time".  Tonight seemed to be the perfect night for it.  So...here I am.  I think this book is going to be pretty amazing.  I've read the foreword, testimony. and a word from the author so far and I'm already tearing up and have chills.  I just wanted to share what Brennan Manning had to say before I get started reading.

"The Ragamuffin Gospel was written for the bedraggled, beat-up, and burnt-out.  It is for the sorely burdened who are still shifting the heavy suitcase from one hand to the other.  It is for the wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don't have it all together and are too proud to accept the handout of grace.  It is for the inconsistent, unsteady disciples whose cheese is falling off their cracker.  It is for poor, weak, sinful men and women with hereditary faults and limited talents.  It is for earthen vessels who shuffle along on feet of clay.  It is for the bent and bruised who feel that their lives are a grave disappointment to God.  It is for smart people who know they are stupid and honest disciples who admit they are scalawags.  The Ragamuffin Gospel is a book I wrote for myself and anyone who has grown weary and discouraged along the Way."

He was basically saying, "Jamie, this book is for you.  Read it.  Soak it in.  Let it allow God to work and move in your life.  Allow Him to change you and make you more like Him."

I'm gonna read some more now.  I'll keep you updated on what I think.  :o)

Until next time...

James

Looking for answers in all the wrong places.

I find myself surrounded by people that are looking for answers to their problems in all the wrong places.  I am included in this group from time to time.  We look to alcohol to cover up our sadness, only to wake up the next day just as sad as we were the night before.  And - now we feel a little sick.  We are looking for love like crazy and want it no matter what the cost.  This might mean an affair or just being with completely the wrong person because they're available at the moment.  We turn to food because all of our life it's been a constant.  Food has never let us down.  It's always good and always available thanks to the many fast food places around these days.  We turn to people to make us happy.  We think their affirmation will satisfy whatever void we are trying to fill.  We crave attention and acceptance.    We're not satisfied with what we have or have been given.  We want more.  We never have enough.  We are always searching.  Always.


I say "we" because all of us have been there at one time or another.  The sad thing is I already have what I need.  I already have what I was searching for.  I just choose to ignore Him a lot of the time.  I don't listen to that still small voice living inside of me.  I still turn to food to satisfy me.  And - let me tell you that satisfaction is fleeting.  It's not permanent.  Jesus Christ is the only One that can completely satisfy us.  He's the only One that can fill that void we are trying to fill.  In Him is our satisfaction.  In Him we will find everything we need.  We will find every answer we've been searching for.  He is what we're longing for...even if we don't realize it.


He is our rest.  "Come to Me, all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28  


He is our peace.  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7


He is our comfort.  "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.  Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Romans 15:4-6  "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."  2 Corinthians 1:3-4


He is our salvation.  "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."  John 3:17  "Jesus answered and said to her, 'Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.'"  John 4:13-14    "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come unto judgement, but has passed from death into life."  John 5:24


He is more than enough.  I want to LIVE this out in my life.  I want to be totally and completely satisfied with Christ.  He is all I need.  I want that to be evident in the life that I lead.  I'm not searching anymore.  I've found what I'm looking for and He's amazing.  He's everything I've ever dreamed of.  He loves me just the way I am.  He thinks I'm beautiful.  He wants me.  I can contact Him 20 million times a day and He won't care.  He always answers when I call.  He loves it when I laugh and He doesn't freak out when I cry.  He holds me as long as I need Him to.  He wants me....all of me.  He doesn't mind the baggage.  He's not afraid of my emotions.  He knows everything about me and He still chooses to love me.  He chose me.  Sometimes it's hard to believe that He could love me that much.  He died for me.  He died for me.  Jesus Christ died for me.  Can you believe that He chose to die for me?!  And - now He lives!  He's alive.  He's alive!  MY JESUS IS ALIVE!  Didn't I tell you He was amazing?!  I truly do serve a MIGHTY GOD.


I'm a lucky woman.  Blessed.  Saved.  Happy.  JOYOUS!


Until next time...
James