I was once again electrocuted – have to wonder if I am getting addicted to the shock.

It has been determined that medications do not correct my A-fib.  I have some I am taking that help keep my Blood Pressure where it should be as well as my heart rate in an acceptable range, but when my heart decides to speed up from a normal mid-50’s to 180 beats a minute and all things in between, shocking is the only thing that brings it back in rhythm.

I was talking to the ER doctor and told him that I had plenty of volunteers to shock me – three electricians and a Police Officer with a Taser – but he felt they may not have the right equipment to medically do the job......  He came back a few minutes later, after talking to the cardiologist, and said, everyone wants to shock you!

They hit me with the highest rating “300 jewels” right off the bat, my history shows that lower rates do not work.  I am back in normal rhythm, now.

I have an appointment with a specialist in a couple weeks to go over and then schedule an oblation – they burn off the nerve that is causing the problem.  IF it works, and I have talked to people who say it works on them, then I should be able to get off those meds and live a A-fib free life – should.

Carla says my demeanor and color is much better after this last episode.  For the past few weeks, after the prior one, I just couldn’t seem to get my bearings.

While I am still a bit foggy from the procedure, I am feeling much better now and hope to continue to improve – that is Carla’s hope also, poor gal.  

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

This is an incredibly important verse for Christians.

Satan attacks us in all manners of ways.  Sights, sounds, smells, locations, people and many other things can trigger bad memories for us.  And satan knows it.  He uses those memories to make us condemn ourselves.

We suddenly come upon one of those triggers and the memories flood of how we may have acted, or prior sins.  It could be where we were attacked in words or deeds by someone else, and if it is a loved one, it can be even more devastating.

It could be when we tried to witness to someone and failed; when we failed a friend who needed us.  Satan is clever, he uses our memories to intimidate us.

We wished we hadn’t done something; or had done something.  We are weak and cannot be depended upon.  We are worthless and cannot properly serve God.  God will never bless our life, we might as well give up – satan knows all and he remembers and loves to help us remember how unworthy of our salvation we are.

But God:

Psalm 103:11-12 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

¹² As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

It is true, we are not worthy.  But when we accepted Christ God cast aside all our sins.  They were covered by the blood of His Son.  Subsequent sins, when confessed, are also covered by the blood of His Son. 

He does not see through the cloak of salvation.  Once forgiven God doesn’t look at those transgressions; we have a clean slate with Him.

We are unworthy, we cannot earn our way into His Grace, but once we have received it – once we turn over our life to Him, then He can use us.  The sins of our past enables us to minister to those in similar circumstances. 

What we have to do is recognize that HE has forgiven us and then forgive ourselves.

So many people feel they can never be ‘good enough’ to be a Christian.  They believe their sins are so bad that God will forever reject them.  We know that is not true – we have been in the same sinful state they have been in and He has forgiven us.

YOU haven’t?  You have never committed the sins and criminal behavior some of these people have?  You might still be able to reach them, but if not, your testimony may help break the ground.  For every single sin, no matter how minor or serious, there is a Christian who once was in slaved by that sin.

God will send someone to them; we can pray and ask Him to guide the person’s life. 

Who best to talk to a soldier than another soldier who has similar experiences; doctors to doctors; alcoholics to alcoholics?  Shared experiences allows us to bond with one another and their acceptance of our witnessing is easier for them.

So many organizations say it is up to the Minister, Preacher, Priest and Teacher to proclaim the Gospel of Christ.  But while these people do have that responsibility they will reach very few sinners. 

Say we have a congregation of 100 people.  There is a minister and probably his/her spouse.  There are a few who are Sunday School Teachers, a few who work with youth or children – their job, for the most part, is ministering to those that attend the church, not to those out in highways and byways.

That doesn’t mean to say they don’t have a ministry outside the church, but if, as Christians, we are dependent on them only in spreading the gospel it will be a small spreading.  If only ten of those people have that responsibility how many can they possible contact?  It isn’t ‘just’ their responsibility, it is every Christian’s.  If the 90 sit on their hands, the church cannot grow – and since it has indeed grown through the centuries we know that many are not sitting on their hands, but proclaiming their faith.

We make contact every day with people that would never set a foot into a church, or talk to a preacher.  To them, WE are the embodiment of the Church.  In many ways our imperfect life, though we strive for perfection, can be a draw to those that we have contact with; they can tell the Holy Spirit is working within us – they may not know what to call it, they just know we are different.

When we dwell on our past sins and failures and tell ourselves because of those sins and failures we cannot serve God, we are blunting one of His tools.  We become a non-entity to Him and that is not what He wants; it is what satan wants, but not God. 

God wants to use US, with all our past, with all our scars, with all our intelligence, experience and potential to tell others about Him.

He doesn’t condemn us; He has forgiven us.  Through us His Holy Spirit can use us to reach others for Him.  No, we are not perfect, but we are saved and there are those in the world that only WE can present His Gospel to, because we have the same experiences they have had.

We have been there; we can show that they too can be forgiven by God.  God has designed the perfect servant in us, we but have to forgive ourselves and open our hearts to Him.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again