Originally Posted: When Life Gives You Lemons

***When I came back to Chicago nearly 3 years ago for my surgery, I started a blog as one place all family and friends could go to read updates on my health. I then realized it was also a way of promoting awareness. Shortly after that, I started a second blog, for the purpose of sharing my faith. As time went on, I became convicted about something.

It was wrong of me to separate the two, as my faith, Jesus, is the absolute reason for my strength in getting through this. I could not exclude Him from my health blog even if others suggested to do so. Thus, I started talking more about my faith on my main blog. Now, many times, it's more about Him than me, which is where I came up with the current title 'About Me, Not About Me'. This story may be about me, but really it's not about me, it's about Him. That old blog still sits out there no longer being used. So I decided over time I will begin to move those posts from there to here to have everything in one place.

In just beginning to read some of my first posts, I've realized the amount of work God has truly done in me. A lot of times we hate the journey and want to get to our next destination, but it is in that very journey that God molds you into who He created you to be. Enjoy each mile of your own journey and know that God is working through you if you let Him.***

Originally Posted: October 4, 2013
When Life Gives You Lemons...

Life with Christ.

They say when life gives you with lemons, make lemonade. This is what I've discovered...

I'm going through the roughest period in my life. I have been for 15 months now... or 3.5 years... pretty much both. 14-15 months ago I found Jesus... or I should say, He found me and I accepted. Since then I continue to grow and move closer to Him. There are moments or days, however, that I struggle. I don't struggle because of the circumstances. I struggle because I get off track from my path with Christ. I struggle because I try to go at it my way instead of His way. I struggle because I start moving backwards onto worldly things rather than life with Christ. Don't get me wrong, every day is a struggle with what I'm going through. But, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 I live by that verse now.

When I am with Christ and have my mind set on Him, I don't want to say it's easy, but it's doable. I have an inner peace, contentment, spiritual joy. I know He is with me and that is the greatest feeling. Imagine when you are all hyped up happy about something and multiply it by a million. That is the feeling of Jesus in your heart. No matter what I go through, what difficulty I face, if I'm with Him, He says 'I got this' and I can be assured that He does. I'll be ok.

I must add this doesn't mean I can or you can do whatever you please and say "hey Jesus, get this for me." The point is to live righteously, not wrongly, live as the Bible instructs no matter what your circumstances. Other things and people who are not of Christ or have strayed or going through a rough patch will always get in your way. They will try to bring you down. The devil will try to intervene. Don't let them. Stay your path. Live your life of Christ. Even if they do take you off the path that Christ intended for you, He will get you back on it. It may take some detours, but stay on that road with Him. Love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

However, when I start drifting off on a tangent of "why me" and "now what" and worrying about the future when I don't even know what the future holds, that's when I get into trouble. What am I doing right there? I am without words saying 'I can do this without You Jesus.' and I very quickly need to correct myself on that. I cannot do it without Him. I don't want to do it without Him. I don't even mean to indicate that I can do it without Him. But when I try to take control of a situation out of my control, that is exactly what I'm saying to Him and to the world. And when that happens that's when I start getting depressed, when I get angry, when I get bitter towards life and towards others. I have to remind myself the devil is happy about this, Jesus is not, remember who you are living for.

Let's put this into real world perspective. My situation is what it is. That part doesn't change (or at least hasn't yet). When my mind and heart are focused on Christ Jesus, I feel that inner peace. As I struggle today to talk or smile because MG has my face today, I stay with Jesus and think what does he want me to do today? My arms are working. I can write. I can write for Him. I won't focus on the inability to talk much, smile much or difficulty in chewing and swallowing. It's there, it reminds me, but I don't have to be controlled by it or try to control it.

Another example in the opposite direction. The other day after having a couple pretty good, stronger days, I received some not so great news. I let that news get to me. I know I shouldn't have but I did. I strayed from Christ at that moment. That night I got angry. I shook my head like I'm mad at God. It's not God's fault. God is on my side. I woke up the next morning and started to drown in my misery, continuing to lay in bed and think about what 'could' be instead of what is. Where did that get me? No where. I snapped out of it like I always do and I'm back on the path with Christ. Devil be gone!

The devil is always pulling at us to come his way. He can trick us, he can fool us, he can use our friends and relatives and "things" to do all of the above. We mustn't give in. We must follow Jesus Christ always and forever. Again, if your time comes and you have been led too far away from Christ in the other direction, where will you go? If you are following the devil whether or not you feel you are, where will you go? The path to Heaven is through Jesus, and Jesus alone. It is a very narrow path to follow but the ultimate reward is greater than any other.

We all have a choice. We have a choice in everything we do. We have more choices than we can count day to day to day. Most of them fade by us without even realizing we made them. The goal is to remain in His presence so that your will parallels that of God's will. We should remain in constant prayer and fellowship with Christ thanking him always. There shouldn't be such a thing as "prayer life" but instead prayer should be life. Stay connected to our Father above. He will guide you righteously and lovingly.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." John 15: 5-7