Blessings in Struggles

Joe said..."How has love change your life?"

My name is Joe, a sales and marketing professional. My decision to start my own company came a few years ago, after I found it difficult to find work, after I was arrested and convicted for driving while intoxicated (drunk driving).

Immediately, after my arrest while sitting in the back of the police car waiting to be taken off to jail. I began to pray asking God to forgive me and provide me with some sort of understanding of the situation and why it was happening to me. It was then that I realized that God was answering a pray which I'd been praying for the past several years which was to stop drinking.

God answers our prayers, but just not always in the ways in which we'd like.

While still sitting in the back of the police that night I also realized God's grace is always at work even if we fail to realize it. What I mean by that is this. I don't know and I'm glad that I didn't have to find out for myself, but possibly moments, days, weeks or even years down the road, if I'd kept drinking there could have been other life changing situations which I may have been forced to deal with; Such as a possible auto accident which may have taken the life of myself and others, but as I mentioned, I'm sure glad I wasn't forced to find that out.

Nothing positive ever came from drinking alcohol, but what did come my arrest that night was the best decision I ever made which was to rededicate my love, my life, my ways, and my obedience back over to Jesus Christ. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

The last drink of liquor I took was the the night of my DWI arrest; Since that day I've been drinking living water which is found inside the Bible in God's word. "... With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." - Matthew 19:26

When I did a personal inventory analysis, I realized that one of the gifts that I have been blessed with the ability to encourage. It’s important that we share the gifts that God gives us with others. One way I’m able to accomplish this is by administering this site PowerUpLove.com and participating in a local jail outreach. Both of which have been a blessings to me personally. I can truly say, that before I rededicated my life, I hardly gave much thought, or action to ways in which I could apply myself to reaching up, reaching out, and reaching over to my fellow man. That is until I read these verses in my bible, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." - Matthew 25:31-46 No doubt about it sometimes can be hard to love all people, but Jesus is serious about us reaching out to those in need and having us love all of humanity. "...Love your neighbor as yourself..." - Mark 12:31

It's often hard to see the blessings while in the storm, but looking back I've been able to see His, “footprints in the sand”. Making me believe even more, that the Lord always provides us with ways to glorify Him. "because of your father's God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above..." - Genesis 49:25

While in a struggle at the age of 13 the holy spirit blessed me with these words "I love you more than you'll ever know". I didn't realize until much later in life while I was reading in my bible one day and found a scripture that read almost word to word the message that was placed upon my heart that faithful day at age 13. This has been my life verse even though I didn't realize it was actually scripture, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV) Whenever I've failed to include the Lord in my plans, or especially when I failed to obey the last part of this scripture, "seek me with all your heart" my life has always become harder to live.

My prayer for you is this; If you are struggling with an addiction or at times just overwhelmed by life in general; Seek the Lord through faith with ALL your heart, soul, mind, and strength; Believing in His son Jesus Christ and that He can help heal and rescue you from your addiction, or any struggle in which you may going through. "In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." - Ephesians 3:12

Power Up Love and may God bless...

Joe