I often find myself imagining what is going to happen as life continues to challenge me.  This exercise results in making me apprehensive and angry.  It is the trouble that never comes that causes loss of sleep. 

I found this quote about an anxious mind as I was reading the works of Seneca.  He hit the nail on the head.  When we try to predict the future, we end up distorting the picture and causing unnecessary anxiety.

He asks this question, “Is the universe a hostile place where someone or something is out to hurt you?” or “Is the universe a loving place where everything works to your benefit?”

Depending on how you respond will determine where you land. 

WOW!

That question is a game changer!  Even with having ALS I choose to see the world I live in as loving.  No more fits of anger.  No more anxiety.  A simple realization that the one who walks beside me is all powerful and loves me unconditionally.

I have a feeling that you need to hear this.  If you have lost a job or a loved one or are in the middle of a storm – STOP -  Feel the power of a loving God trying to get your attention.

Let Him walk along side you and KNOW that His plans are always better than yours.

Easy to say, hard to live, but it is the only way to live happily.

Peace.

Akhil

 
As some of you know, I occasionally get messages from God.  I have preached after such revelations and last night was another connection!  To be specific 3:55am I was awakened, urged to pray and while being quiet, I got a message from the spirit.

Couldn’t sleep until I shared it with you because someone reading this is in need of this message…

(Please comment if this word speaks to you!)
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Trusting God

How did Abraham, your first father in the faith, look at things? 

Abraham, by what he did for God, got God’s approval, he could certainly have taken credit for it; but, this not Abraham’s story, it is God’s story.

What we read is, “Abraham entered into what God was doing for Him, and THAT was the turning point. He TRUSTED God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own.”

If you work hard and do a good job, you deserve your reward; you don’t call it a gift.  

On the other hand, if you see a job that is too big for you, that it’s something only GOD can do, i.e., You could never do it for yourself no matter how hard you worked.  Then you know this is a gift from Him.

He said to me, “Akhil, trust Me to do it!  Get out of the way.”

Trusting Him IS what gets me right with God!

My work = trusting Him.     BTW:  This trusting and getting out of the way is hard work for me!

Don’t you see?  It was by embracing what God did that Abraham was declared fit before God!

The same way, as I struggle each day with ALS, IF I want to be right in God’s eyes, I have to trust Him.  He knows what I need.  I have prayed for it.  He does things for my good.  If I believe this (that He works for my good) I should trust Him.

Same for you!  If you are facing a BIG challenge, you have to turn it over to God and trust Him to make it happen without your intervention.

What does that look like?

Mark 11:24 shows us how to turn it over to God and have faith: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Bottom line:  Trust Him to do what is good for us by building faith. 
Faith and only faith moves God into action.  Nothing else makes God move.  Tears don't, pleading doesn't.  Nothing moves God except faith!

Want something big?  Let Him do it, have faith, thank Him for it and enjoy watching God show up and show off!

Akhil

 

When I was a young dad, I focused on firsts.  I wanted to see my daughter’s first steps, first tooth, her first dance, etc.

 

Now as an older dad, my focus has changed, especially as a dad with ALS.  No longer concerned with firsts, I wonder the events that I enjoy are lasts? 

 

Was the book I read with my 12 year old the last time we read together?  That photo was Christmas 2011, was it my last one?  How about Thanksgiving (yesterday), was it the last with my family?  


I am not getting morbid, simply changing focus from, “This is JUST another gathering with the family,” to “This is a precious gift to be able to see everyone as this may not happen again!”

By paying attention to the preciousness of the things we cherish, we forget about the trivial.  We wake up and truly enjoy every moment!  It becomes easy to overlook things that would bother me and soak in the joy that was all around me.  I know for me, I have never enjoyed Thanksgiving this much! 

What you focus on is our choice.  All I can say is choose wisely.  It will change the road you take, and that does matter!

“Don't let your fear stop you.  Fear is not there to scare you.  It is there to point out what matters.”
– Joyce Bell

        Think about that quote for a moment.  Even if you don’t have anything significant challenging you as I do, this quote simply says, “If you’re afraid of losing something.  Maybe you are afraid because you realized what is important!”

        I recently had a moment of panic when my legs wouldn’t move and fear filled my mind.  With stretching and lots of fluids, my legs started to move.  I had a choice:  Fear the future OR embrace the present.  I chose the latter with a greater appreciation of my legs.

        Worrying about losing mobility or anything is a waste of time.  Worry robs you of the present and damages your future.

        I was reminded again of the words of a great teacher:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34

    I was really struggling to get out of bed.  My legs wouldn't move.  Try as hard as I could, they wouldn't budge.  I told them, "We have to go to the bathroom, why don't you MOVE?"  They stared back at me saying, "We are legs, we don't talk!"

    After the struggle ended (Laura helped me!) I was checking my email when I got a timely video from my daughter Ashley.  She covered a song  with her friend Luke.  As I listened to the words, they made me think of something ... SAD and GOOD!

    The song: Pocket Full of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield

The words that caught my attention:

            Take me away, a secret place 
            A sweet escape, take me away 
            Take me away to better days 
            Take me away, a hiding place 

            There's a place that I go that nobody knows 
            Where the rivers flow and I call it home 
            And there's no more lies in the darkness; there's light 
            And nobody cries, there's only butterflies 

Sometimes, actually all the time, I wish I could go to a "secret place" and enjoy better days.
A place where nobody cries, there's only butterflies.

Then the tears came.  Reality hit.  My body is withering away.  There are no butterflies.
I saw my youngest, Jordan.  I wondered if I would be able to celebrate her 13th birthday with her?
Who will take care of her?
Why is this happenning?
Why?

The good:  The lines that pulled me out of my spiral
            The sun is on my side 
            And takes me for a ride 
            I smile up to the sky, 
            I know I'll be alright

The son, Jesus, He is on my side and He takes me for a ride.  I am on the ride of a lifetime.
I smile, look up and KNOW I will be alright because only good things wait for me.

I Know. 

Why do I know?

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

Enjoy her singing and be uplifted by the closing verse.

Akhil