He Is a God Who Heals

Matthew 7:7 - "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

II Corinthians 12:7-9 - So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a third was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

James 4:2 - You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Dear God, please heal me today from this month and a half long deep seated ear canal, ear drum, Eustachian tube infection and the cold I have managed to catch. I have a special event to attend Saturday evening and so not want to disappoint anyone by being under the weather. Also, God, if it is Your will, please bring Tom and I to reconciliation. You heal and mend all kinds of brokenness. And it is never too late for Your healing power. Thank You God for healing. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Keep Walking with God Along the Path He Has Chosen for You

Psalm 16:11 - You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

Psalm 37:23-24 - The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.

Dear God, my path is different from another person's path and still another person's path is different from my own path. While our paths may cross and even intermingle for a while, our paths will always be different. It frustrates me when people who don't know the oath I have been on to get to where I am try to force me onto a different path because when they hear I have autism, they somehow equate that to being less than or inferior to themselves. Or they somehow think that the path You have chosen for me is wrong because it doesn't fit their ideas about things. I am still so wounded by how that care team turned out with the two individuals in it basically destroying everything and worst of all, destroying my spirit. I am still wounded by Tom's end and him standing up for what he knew was right and against what he knew was wrong. I am still holding hope in You that You will eventually allow reconciliation between Tom and myself, but also know that even when You do, he and I will be so different by that point that things will have to be different. I mean it may be possible that he and I could refriend on Facebook, but will it be friends in real life again? Probably not really. I would rather spend my life with no real friends off Facebook whatsoever than to be hurt the way he hurt me again. But maybe that is the path I have been given, one destined to have friends and acquaintances but never to have any that are really close or personal. I mean real friends forgive and don't abandon their friends when in need. Real friends stick it out and love on their friends even when a conflict arises. Real friends stick up for what is right and stand up against what is wrong. My path is my path, and my path includes autism, immune deficiency, and whatever is going on in my gut. My path is not perfect, but my path is my path because You have chosen it for me. Anyone who tries to push me off my path is not worth my time or energy. Anyone who tries to come along side of me and offers me a supportive hand along the way is worth my time and energy and even my forgiveness. Tom is one of them. But maybe that will be a miracle if it happens this year. I love You God. And I hope I am doing my best to follow the path You have chosen for me. Help me to not stumble off it and to resist the slips and falls along the way. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Relax in His Peaceful Presence

John 15:13-15 - "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."

Revelation 17:14 - "They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he so Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful."

Dear God, forgive me when I am nervous or anxious during my time with You. Help me to relax more in Your presence. Real friendship. One that does not require anything but for me to be who I am. Supportive. Loving. Desiring the best for me. Loyal. True. I love that about You. You are a real friend. Teach me to be that kind of friend to someone in need of a good friend. A real friend will be able to say, "hey, we had a misunderstanding, but let's work through things and figure out what wrong and strive for it to not happen again." A real friend loves and forgives and doesn't abandon their friend in a time of need. A real friend never quits a friendship. Thank You for teaching me that. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Worship God in Spirit and Truth

Psalm 100:4 - Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

John 4:23-24 - "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

Dear God, I have many reasons to thank You even when I feel like I am at my worst physically or emotionally or mentally. I have You to thank for providing for my family so far and for making it possible for me to have access to the same affordable healthcare as provided through real insurance as my non-disabled peers. I have You to thank ultimately for the fact that a long time ago a group of people decided we needed a new country where we could live and worship how we please. I have You to thank for the fact we have a president who cares about everyone and not just the rich who pad lawmakers pockets. I have You to thank for wisdom to know who not to vote for when it comes to the real heart of the issues. I have You to thank for bringing people in my life who have a vested insurance in me as a person and are not fakers like it turned out Tom might have been. Though I still pray for reconciliation with him, I have to trust You to bring that about in Your time. He is not ready for a real and a genuine and a caring friend like me. Most people are not ready. I have to thank You that even though I am sick right now that I have found a doctor who actually listens and doesn't pin everything on one insignificant thing. Thank You for everything. And thank You for hearing my voice among the angels. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

God Has Loved You with an Everlasting Love

Isaiah 61:10 - I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 

Jeremiah 31:2-3 - This says the Lord: "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you." 

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 

Dear God, thank You for loving me with an everlasting love, an endless love, a love like no other, a love that only You are capable of having. How often do we hear a person say, "I love you," but then at the first of trouble, they turn and run? That's not love. Love withstands all things, all torubles, all hurts, all aches, all pains. Love is forever. Love is not a term to be used loosely nor a term to take lightly. Once you say you love someone, you should expect to remain in relations or friendships with them for the long haul. Love does not run away. Love stays and says I hear you, now how can I help you? People are fickle when it comes to the word love. People do not always understand it. You clearly defined love in an entire chapter of Your message. God, although I still pray that maybe You will bring about at least a resolution between myself and Tom, I now recognize that he may never have been all he claimed to be. And that hurts. But if I really evaluate him based on the different passages of Your word that I have read through these past 18 months consecutively, he may not truly even know You. I really don't know. You have taught me so much. You have taught me that being a Christian is not easy and that being a Christ-follower will get me scorned by many. Some of those who have scorned me claim to be Christian, but they really may not be after all. I mean, if I really examine it, a real Christian will support laws that help the least of these, whether it be access to healthcare, access to food, access to clothing, access to shelter. A true Christian would never deny anyone access to those things. Jesus ate with sinners. And while I believe that anything outside of Your plan for a man and a woman is a sin, I do not believe that we should shun those who live outside of Your plan. I believe that we need to make a concerted effort to demonstrate You to them. There was a couple spotlighted this past week that said if gay marriage became legal that they would get a divorce. How does that even make sense? They will actually defy YOUR plan for marriage just because they don't support the sin? How does that help anything? Short of abuse, abandonment, neglect, and adultery, there is simply no justification for divorce. I question whether that couple really even knows You. I question whether that couple really even loves each other. Because real love does not do that. I can see where at the bottom of all those acceptable reasons for divorce, there is a lack of love. A lack of the kind of love that You have shown us. If only more people could really fall into the kind of love You show us. Thank You, God, for Your love. I saw it in a huge way this past week as You allowed us to experience release in my family. Thank You for love that is true, real, kind, patient, and everlasting. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

God Wants to Be Central in Your Entire Being

II Thessalonians 3:16 - Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 

I John 4:18 - There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Dear God, I desire right here and right now to turn over all of my worries, which are perfectly reasonable worries, over to You so that I can experience Your peace and Your light in this troubled time. In doing so, I need to trust in Your sovereignty more now than ever. Be it with health situations, financial situations, or even the persistent desire to make peace with Tom which is a good desire as a believer, but will only happen when You feel it is time and that we are both ready, You are sovereign over all things and all circumstances. I would rather live in peace than live in worry and anxiety. Thank You for that exchange being possible. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

God Is with You

Matthew 1:23 - "Behild, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). 

Colossians 2:6-7 - Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so balk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Dear God, help me to always find You no matter what comes my way. Everything that happens is in Your plan and in Your time. Whether it be reconciliation with Tom, health situations, or even the beautiful rose after a long hard rainstorm. It is easy to believe that every good thing comes from You, but it is harder to believe that anything we perceive as negative also comes as a result of Your hand. It is about having fresh insight that You alone control all things, good and bad. Thank You for insight. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

The World Is Too Much with You

Psalm 34:19 - Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Isaiah 41:10 - ...fear not, for if am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Zephaniah 3:17 - The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save, he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Dear God, as long as You are with me, no matter what happens, I will not have to worry about what the day throws at me. You are with me and You deliver me and rejoice over me. You quiet me with Your love. You strengthen me to face the day You have prepared for me. I cannot wrap my human mind around it all. I will not even bother trying right now. God, may I please put in a renewed request for resolution with Tom, though? Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Don't Be So Hard on Yourself

Micah 7:7 - But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Dear God, everything that happened between Tom and me was over mistakes. Although we cannot undo the mistakes that occurred, I can trust You to bring things together for good. In other words, reconciliation and restoration is still something that can happen when he is ready. It is not a lost cause and it is not a lost hope. Matter of fact, right now, I put the past into Your hands. I will not look back. I will ahead at what You will do to bring about the good. No one can undo the past no matter how hard they try. Thank You for loving me enough to work things together for good. Thank You for hearing me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Accept the Limitations of One Day at a Time

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 - For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 

John 16:33 - "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Dear God, for everything there is a season and a time for everything under heaven. As I reflect on these beautiful words which I believe a 70s song delved into, I see so many things. You see, God, I know some people are quick to judge women who get abortions, but the thing that troubles me the most about those people who do that is that they claim to be Christians and pro-life. However, here is the truth: THOSE people are not pro-life because they oppose everyone being able to have access to healthcare when they are sick or access to food when they are poor for whatever the reason, and it is not laziness that causes poverty, but they don't seem to understand that no matter how many times they are proven wrong. According to this passage, there is a time to be born, and a time to die. While most of us might prefer that one's cycle of life be from the point of conception to the point of natural death, the truth is that some women have high risk pregnancies that end up either killing the baby or her. And the other truth is that YOU have a master plan and a purpose for everything that happens. YOUR providential plan may have been for that woman to get an abortion because YOUR providential plan might not have been for that baby to be born. Yes, You created that baby, or began creating that baby, but for whatever the reason, You allowed that woman to choose abortion. Today, I ask forgiveness for all the women who have ever before chosen to have an abortion or might ever choose to have an abortion. I ask forgiveness for those who condemn them for their decisions. Because according to this passage, YOU are the master mind and You decided the time for everything. The other thing in that passage that speaks to me right now is the time to love and the time to hate. God, I apply that to Tom and myself. Right now, we are going through the time to hate. But in due time, we shall hopefully be restored to the time to love as friends. I am still growing. He is still growing. When we can both move to the same point, then we might have a reconciliation. But in Your time. Not mine. Not his. Yours. In the world, there will be trouble. But You have overcome that trouble. As You know God, America is in trouble. The primary reason for that trouble is the GOP hatred and racism that is very much alive and well. And no, there is no logic beyond what it is: racism. I am now regretting the day I ever voted for the republicans because that shift has been beyond what I am able to handle. I had never known that party to be so hateful until Mr. Obama got elected the first time. After his election, I saw something that I didn't like and I had to separate myself from it. Things in my own life took a turn as well, so I definitely had to pull away from that party. I cannot tolerate the hate they evidence. Hate for the president which is against Your word. Hate for the poor, also against Your word. Hate for the disabled, also against Your word. Hate for anyone that is not rich or white, which is also against Your word. The more I study Your word, the more I see that my decision to defect from the republicans is the best one I could ever have made second only to choosing to following You and third only to accepting my autism as part of who I am and fourth only to deciding to love and defend people no matter the personal cost. Will I lose friends over it? Yes! And that is their loss and only shows me their true values. You will know them by their fruit. Well, I can tell You now that there are no Christians in the GOP. Their fruit has been against the people, especially the least of these. There can be NO REAL Christians in the GOP as long as any of them thinks that it is okay to cut off the resources for the least of these. Even theology, at its core, is about helping the least of these and that being one of the three functions of government. Oh, God, I long for peace. You have overcome this world. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

God Loves You for Who You Are

John 10:4 - "When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice." 

Ephesians 4:1-6 - I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call–one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 

Dear God, I want to thank You for when Ginny had me read You Are Special by Max Lucado. Although at the time I did not see it, this event ties into the message presented in today's devotional passage. You love me for who I am, not for what I do. In the silences, many voices try to fight to control my mind. I am to fight to discern Your voice from that of others. When Mikki and Mark kept trying to force me to change into something I am not, it really hurt and made me question who I am. Am I supposed to change because someone else demands it in order to fit their idea of perfect or am I to change because You want it and have brought me into the change? In today's passage You said we are to be humble and gentle and patient and bear with one another in love. Did Tom do that? No. When the moment required it, he failed to do that. I am saddened by what he did. I am still hopeful that You will allow restoration or reconciliation. And I am trusting that You will when the time is right. Why? Because Tom, like Ginny, did see the real me. And like Ginny, he did accept it. He just gave in to negative peer pressure. But I also know now that Ginny was right. She was tired of fighting the others to get them to see where they were hurting me more than helping me. And I was tired of her having to fight that fight for me. She has her own daughter she will have to fight for because of their own journey with special needs. I pray Ginny and I will be able to reunite sometime because if we ever do, I will have to say a huge thank you to her for teaching me that You really do love me for me just the way I am. Thank You God for perfect love! In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Stop the Judging

Proverbs 3:11-12 - My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his re proof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Isaiah 61:10 - I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Luke 6:37-38 - "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

Dear God, sinner saved by grace. That is all I need to see myself as. A sinner saved by grace. Sure, I have autism and sure, I get frustrated when I do not live up to others' unrealistic expectations of me, but I am a sinner saved by grace and only need to be concerned with what You think of me. Mikki and Mark tried to change me to what and who they thought I should be. Tom tried to force change when the one who really needed to change was him. He was less forceful though. Ginny was the only person other than my mom that accepted me for me. But even they are not as important as You. Your opinion of me is that I am Your child, and that Your Son paid my ransom so I can be free to be me, who. You created me to be. Anyone who sees me differently needs to look at their own reflection. Stop judging myself. That is a little harder, but so true. Do I look like someone else? Do I act or talk like them? No? Does it matter? Not really. You did not create us all to be exactly alike. The spectrum of Your creation is as beautiful and mysterious as the spectrum of autism. Thank You for the beauty of differences. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Trust and Thankfulness Keep You Safe

Psalm 141:8 - But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! 

Colossians 2:6-7 - Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

I Peter 5:6-7 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 

Dear God, trust, the protection against worrying and obsessing. Thankfulness, the protection against criticizing and complaining. Sister sins waiting to entangle me. Keeping my eyes on You means I am trusting You. I choose to trust You. Right now. Right here. On this very day. In this very hour. I choose to trust You every day. For the rest of my life. Trust is hard. It is not easy. Especially after having it shattered by the ones who were supposed to be the most trustworthy. Abusive parent. Misleading pastor. But, God, as hard as it may be, I am trusting You. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Sufficient Grace and Always Present

Deuteronomy 31:6 - "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."

II Corinthians 4:6-7 - For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

II Corinthians 12:9 - But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

I Peter 3:3-4 : Do not let your adorning be external–the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing–but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

Dear God, thank You that Your power is made perfect in my autism, my immune deficiency, my sensory issues, my ADHD, my GI issues, my weaknesses in general. Thank You for never leaving me or forsaking me. I am only human. I make mistakes. It is what I do through those mistakes that determines who I am and how You are working in and through my life. Forgiving Tom or offering him forgiveness if he also will forgive me took a lot of You working in and through me to do. It was not just me, but Your power through my weakness. Trusting You is the harder part though. Thank You for all You do. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Trust God

Psalm 52:8 - But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 

Dear God, I sometimes falter in my trust. People who I thought were trustworthy often end up proving that they are not. Tom is just one of many examples. The fact that a person cannot be trusted make sit more difficult for me to understand how You can be trusted. But I am trying. Help me to lean more on my trust in You each day, in all circumstances. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Let Go and Know God

Psalm 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Colossians 4:2 - Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

II Peter 1:3-4 - His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become par takers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Dear God, thank You for the work You are doing on the path toward what will hopefully be reconciliation with Tom. Thank You for constant protection and provision even if my family doesn't know how it will happen or when it will happen. Thank You for love, steadfast and eternal and unconditional. Thank You for life. Thank You for doctors who invest in my care. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

With You and For You

Psalm 46:1-3 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

Luke 1:37 - "For nothing will be impossible with God."

Romans 8:31 - What the shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 

Dear God, sometimes it can be so hard to wait on Your timing. Like with the forgiveness to and from Tom. But I had to do some personal growing so that I could make that gesture without feeling that I absolutely had to do it. And although I cannot forgive his church overall, particularly those who were the actual abusers, I can forgive him and I can wait on him to forgive me. Because he is still important enough as a person to me for me to do that. And when he does forgive me, it will be all the more beautiful because it will be in Your time, not mine, which means it will not be forced. I was not forced to write that note to offer forgiveness. I did not feel forced nor did I feel pressured. So it felt more natural. And I am trying to learn to rest in your timing. It can seem slow sometimes, but it is important. Thank You for growing me in this area. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Peace in the Midst of Trouble

Psalm 31:19-20 - Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.

John 16:33 - "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Dear God, today I really need Your comfort more than Your peace. Today we battle flu in the house. And it is painful. There is a chance I already have it since mom has been tested positive. I am miserable with high fever and hyperactivity, bone pain, coughing from the chest, and post nasal drip. Mom feels far worse than me. Her doctor said it was good I had my vaccine because I have a 50/50 chance of having a less severe case if I get the type mom has. We are going to the clinic this morning though to see if my course of treatment needs to stay as is or change up and try to get some sleep through night cough medicine. I am handing You, again, the thing with Tom. I feel peace about having taken the first step that could lead to restoration and reconciliation. I trust You to bring it about. Thank You just for being. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Do Not Conform to the World

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) - "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."

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

Romans 12:2 (NIV) - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

Dear God, I want to have an ever increasing attentiveness to Your presence. I need my mind recharged and refreshed and renewed each and every night and day. While the world may want to make me exactly like everyone else, You did not create me to be exactly like everyone else. You created me to be my own person in You and to follow my own path after You. You created me, autism and all, with a purpose, and no one can change that no matter how hard they might want to try. It will take me a long time to recover from the abuses I went through at Oak Mountain, but I trusted You and took a first step and offered Tom forgiveness and trust You that You will work in his heart to bring about restoration and reconciliation. In today's America, we have a group of people calling themselves Christians but trashing on the president, trashing on the poor, and trashing on anyone who is not white, is not perfect, is differently abled. It is disgusting that they dare do these things while claiming to be Christians. Your words are very clear with respect to the president, the poor, and the differently abled. Your word is very clear with respect to how we are to treat fellow human beings. To do anything else is not Your will. Thank You for renewing my mind everyday and creating me in such a way that being different is actually cool! In Jesus' Name, Amen!

One of a Kind

John 15:4 - "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." 

II Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

I John 4:7-8 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 

I John 4:7 (ICB) - Dear friends, we should love each other, because love comes from God. The person who loves has become God's child and knows God.

Dear God, help me to always stay on my path so I can become the person You created me to be, and help me to never let anyone try to change my path and deter me from being who You created me to be! Not everyone is supposed to be on the same path or the same journey, though their paths may indeed cross. If everyone was supposed to be the same, the world would be so dull and boring. It's like with the film, The Giver, where they stripped away color and emotion because they had decided that humans basically abused them and should all be the same. Yes, humans do abuse color and emotion, but to make everyone and everything the same? That film was good at teaching the importance of differences. And on that note, God, I want to ask that if You do not mind, I would love very much if Tom would forgive me knowing now that I am ready to forgive him when he is ready. And on another note, please, God, open the hearts of the people who keep protesting about black lives. Please open their hearts and their minds. They are being the racists of today and they are a mean bunch of hypocritical people at that. They read racism into everything if it doesn't agree with their mindset, and they are hurting their cause. Please, God, also protect the police officers. One of my former friends was a police officer and if not for him, who knows what would have happened after my car accident. He was off duty that night, but he still came to help me. Also, God, protect the innocent. We have lost special needs individuals at the hands of untrained police officers, unarmed, innocent of any crime. Police need to go back to what it was before-shoot to disarm, but don't shoot to kill. But considering how things are now, is it really smart to let a bunch of untrained citizens have guns as well? God, thank You for Your love and for adopting me. Keep us all safe. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!