No, Not One!
Chapter 1
Monday… Not Again!
If your life consists solely of one distraction after another, and you never truly finish anything… When it is all over, what legacy will you leave? Will anyone even notice that you are gone?
Did you pursue your dreams? Do you even recall what they were? Did your life have an impact?
Life is truly a series of ups and downs. One minute, the joy of the upcoming holidays filled the air. I remember listening to Christmas songs on the radio and singing along. The anticipation had been building for some time. I was totally ready for Thanksgiving, followed by the season to celebrate Christ’s birth, culminating in the chance for a Happy New Year. The fridge was stocked with food, I had finished all my errands, and the presents were already in the mail.
Then BOOM! What happened? I felt the car jolt to the right. I was hit. Sideswiped. All I could think was, “No, no, no, no, no, no, no! This is not happening.” I tried to close my eyes tightly to pray and will it all away. But I could not.
It was too late for that. I would have to face the consequences of this accident, regardless of whether it was my fault or whether it was planned for.
Another accident! I never saw it coming. Didn’t they know I had a week of peace and quiet planned? Isn’t that always how it happens, when life shows up to spoil your day? It occurs when you least expect it.
I was just two blocks from home. It was the Monday before Thanksgiving, November 25. It had been exactly two years since my last car accident. There had been three in total. This marked the third.
But why now? Hadn’t I already been through enough? The chaos was beginning to subside. I was getting healthy again. I was finally settling into my new home and my new life.
The transition was hard. There was so much to do. Where should I start? Who should I trust? I felt lost. Meeting Kathleen at the pool became my saving grace. She recognized my brokenness and showed compassion. That was all it took. Her kind words and heartfelt suggestions were desperately needed. She came from a different era, a time when things were ‘obvious.’
What a blessing she has been in my life! If there were an Angel Award, she would receive one. I don’t know if she’s done anything that this world could consider extraordinary, but that’s just the point. She simply shows up. It’s who she is. She willingly shares whatever information she has gained from her experiences. She conveys what worked and didn’t work for her. She dedicates her time and her testimony. A testimony is your story. Everyone has one.
Some testimonies are read like a biography, long and dry. Some stories are still a mystery. No one knows how the story will end until the last chapter. Some read like a comedy, but life is no joke. Laughter is healing. It is paired with the phrase ‘joy and laughter’. Humor is wonderful when we laugh with others, not at others. No one needs to see another thriller or horror movie. There is already enough pain and sorrow. No one is immune to it. Some testimonies are shorter than others. But if you are still breathing, then you still have time to change your ending.
Everyone reaches that point in their story: the cliffhanger. What happens next? Which way do we go? This is where choices take over.
My story seemed to resemble the theme behind the movie, Groundhog Day.' You should check out this trailer clip on YouTube. I’ve seen this movie many times before. This trailer really made me stop and think. I can’t explain it. Some things you have to see to grasp the full meaning, and even then, it impacts everyone a little differently. What I saw was the story of my life. I was looking past the humor at the pain.
HD|Feb 02, 2018|1865277 views|byRotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
Groundhog Day (1993) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers
Sometimes, words spoken in laughter disguise deep feelings of pain and despair. Have you given up the fight? Have you accepted your fate? Are you truly living life to the fullest? Life’s just one big party, with you as the guest of honor. Are you living like there’s no tomorrow? Do you feel as if you've been stabbed, shot, frozen, and electrocuted? Has that sensation left you feeling immortal? Or are you trapped in a cycle of reliving the same day repeatedly, unsure of what to change to make a real difference in your life?
Perfect. I mean, we are all born perfect in God’s eyes. It’s the world that changes us and our perception of what perfect truly means from our very first breath. Think of it this way: from birth, we take our first breath in and inhale… Yah; at the end of our life, we take our last breath out and exhale… Weh. All of life is meant to praise God. Whether you choose to accept it or not, God is in every breath we take... Yah-Weh!
The very breath we take is proof of God's blessings. Amen. We are meant to worship God in response to the gift of life that He gave us. Some say thank you, while others offer no thanks. He gives each of us the choice to make individually. Our response isn’t just verbal; it should also be reflected in the way we live our lives. It’s never too late to show gratitude by living your life with Him as your guide.
Have you had enough yet? Good. Now that you are shattered, allow God to gently pick up each shard and remake you into the masterpiece He intended you to be. Only He knows what that could be. You won’t discover your full potential until it is realized. Only God knows the beginning from the end.
At the beginning of the clip, you meet a miserable individual who has given up. This defines a wasted life: a life devoid of hope. Then, he pauses and examines his reflection in the mirror. Recognizing that his responses to life’s challenges can influence the outcome, he begins his quest for love, peace, and joy.
Now, the grumpy old man jumps out of bed each morning, eager for what the day might bring, whether good or bad. He embraces each challenge the world presents to him.
God can only pick up the broken pieces after we recognize that a specific area of our lives needs repair. You become humbled when you accept and are willing to endure the consequences of your sins. This humility reveals your need to repent and ask God to pick up and restore that broken piece of your life.
Understand that any addiction you surrender to God can be lifted. This process may take time and may depend on how deeply entrenched you are. However, you won’t have to face it alone; God will be with you the entire time for support. No human can offer that.
The fact that He has allowed you to remove obstacles from your path in the past makes it possible for you to believe that He will continue to remove any other obstacle of sin from your life that you ask Him to in the future. You give it to God. Let Him do the heavy lifting of redeeming you. Only He can.
Please remember that sometimes, an excess of good days can lead us to stop depending on God to guide our steps. I recognize that this is merely a statement of pride that comes before a fall. That is when we may wake up one day and realize we have drifted off course. If you are living life with prolonged periods of good times and no challenges at all, perhaps you aren’t pushing yourself enough.
When you wake up in the morning, consider saying, ‘Here I Am Lord, What would you like me to do today?’ as a way to embrace the unknown. Discover the opportunities God has for you and observe where He guides your heart. Opportunities are everywhere—often in the littlest things.
Whether you win or lose, you have tried your best, and that leads to growth. You have learned something valuable. You might not grasp the full significance of an experience until years later, when it will fit together like a piece of a puzzle. Hindsight can indeed be bliss.
If others can change their lives, so can you. One step at a time. I believe that 99% of the battle is simply being committed daily to stop the madness. The next step after that isn’t the hardest; that lie comes from the devil himself. It is the easiest. The battle is within you. The day you say no more and commit your life to Christ is when you allow God to do His part and shut that door in your heart that needs to be closed. Doors that God shuts cannot be opened. You may not leave the same way you entered. Don’t worry; trust that God will provide a new way out.
The battle isn’t over; free will exists in the mind. It's your choice. This is where you must step up and do your part. Now, it’s your turn to close the door to your mind. Replace those negative, addictive thoughts with the healing power of scripture. Allow its strength and discernment to fill you. The Word is powerful.
This movie tells a story of ups and downs and what happens when you are stuck. Life presents us with challenges and triumphs. While we may be unable to change our current circumstances, that doesn’t mean we must remain there. Any growth is positive. Positive thoughts can replace negative ones. Pray and be specific about the changes you wish to see.
Finally, there is a reminder of why it is not wise to drive while angry and the potential consequences of allowing anyone other than Jesus to take the wheel. The clip concludes with them having a drink to world peace. I believe that if life gives you lemons, and God lets you make lemonade, that would be the fitting beverage for this occasion.
No, Not One!
Chapter 2
We All Have A Story...
My story included hopes and dreams and the search for love and acceptance. My last written chapter began on May 25, 2018. We were newlyweds, taking another chance on love. The moving truck had delivered the boxes to our new home less than two weeks earlier. The area was quiet and serene, just 10 miles from the house where I grew up. I had never lived more than twenty miles from my birthplace.
It was a beautiful old log cabin nestled in a quiet neighborhood. We were almost home after picking up flowers to plant in the yard. The sun shone brightly, making it a lovely day and the perfect start to Memorial Day weekend.
That car accident proved to be a defining moment in my life. It changed my life forever, initially for the worse, then for the better. The devil used that accident to label me as Permanently Disabled. Unaware of what happens when you accept such a label, I allowed that “title” to define me when I should have let my God define me. It turns out that what you allow to define you now becomes your identity later.
You believe that sin is merely temporary. You think you can indulge once and then stop whenever you choose. That is precisely what the devil wants you to believe. Satan aims to undermine your true identity in Christ through confusion. He wants you to open the door just a crack, perhaps take a quick peek or a brief whiff of the aroma. Then you can close it. No one will ever know.
Humans may not know, but you can be sure that God sees everything, and so does the devil. Life is a constant battle of tug of war when you sit on the fence. You think that if you are on the fence, you can hang out with the devil and ‘have fun’ until the end and then call out to God, and you will be saved.
This is a lie. It’s either sin or it isn't. The devil is deceitful. You had better check that property line. It is impossible to hold hands with both God and the devil. You can’t be loyal to both at the same time. Don’t wait until the end to discover that the devil owns the fence.
In the NKJV, 1 Peter 5:5-11 is a section of the Bible that needs to be memorized by all. It is the key that sets you free.“Submit to God, Resist the Devil: Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Wreaking havoc is the devil’s sole reason for existence. His singular goal is to destroy human beings. We were created by the hand of God Himself, the result of God’s love, grace, and mercy. The enemy was jealous… once more!
My two previous auto accidents, both of which involved being hit from behind while I was a passenger, had already caused me immense heartache and pain. First, I had my neck fusion, followed by COVID, then my lower back fusion, and the desperate need for a 1,200-mile move south to find warmer weather.
The more I was being drawn to the Lord, the more the attacks would come. One after the other. Those strange circumstances became so familiar to me that I began to recognize them for what they really were: spiritual warfare. It happened so often that I began to expect the unexpected.
The devil had studied me for years. He understood my strengths and weaknesses better than I did. He became so skilled at deception and distraction in my life that I was ineffective in everything I attempted. He slowed me down, diverted me with shiny objects, and even halted me in my tracks with tragedy more times than I could count.
Now, he was picking off my fruits of the Spirit one by one just to see me squirm. He always enjoys that! Another panic attack strikes. Anxiety and depression were my pungent aromas to him. The devil relishes the rancid smell of fear!
In the NKJV, Galatians 5:13-26 says, “Life by the Spirit: You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
That’s the problem with the devil: he knows when you draw closer to God. He hates the sweet aroma of sacrifice to the Lord. It drives him crazy! He can’t kill you. Oh, he’d like to, but your days are still numbered by God.
The devil (and his army of satanic fallen angels) can and will go after you like he did Job. As if destroying all of Job’s material possessions wasn’t enough, he killed all ten of his children. Job was tried and tested through the fire, again and again and again. But Job remained steadfast in his faith. He knew God had a plan that was greater than he was. His story remains an inspiration for us all. God would reward him abundantly.
Make no mistake: the devil is not a cute cartoon character with a pitchfork, horns, and a long, pointy tail. The devil is a formidable opponent who will do everything possible to trick and deceive you. He is a master of manipulation.
He will bait you with compromising sin- deliciously seductive sin. There are so many to choose from; pick your poison. He will confuse you to the point where he can control you without you even knowing it. Open that door even a crack, and he will come in and convince you of the most unspeakable things.
Although he could possess you and push you to take your own life or harm others, he would much prefer to torment you mentally over time, encouraging you to inflict the same pain on others. Misery loves company, and the devil will have plenty of souls.
He wants you to believe that you’re still in control. Sinful pleasure comes with a price, and he wants you to think you can afford it until the final bill arrives.
This is the worst part. Sin is the tool he uses to make us willingly surrender our lives to him. He employs guilt, fear, and embarrassment to control us, invoking just the right memory at just the right moment to keep you exactly where he wants you. This prevents you from turning to God and keeps you submissive to the devil. It’s debilitating.
That is why you need Jesus, the light of the world. You need to repent, which means consciously striving every day not to repeat those actions.
When you are a believer, His light shines within you, and there is no reason to let darkness overtake you. Jesus is the only one who can condemn you, and His sole desire is not to condemn you but to offer you a better way of life.
In the NKJV, James 8:10-12 says, “When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’ Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’”
It isn’t necessary. You have a choice. You have the power to rebuke the devil, and he must flee. This must be done with the authority of faith in Jesus Christ. This is when ‘Believing in God’ isn’t enough. This is when you need to ‘Believe God.’ Sometimes, it’s easier to believe that God will work a miracle in someone else's life rather than your own. This is simply not true. God’s Will encompasses grace and mercy for everyone.
In the NKJV, James 4:7 says, “Humility Cures Worldliness. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
