For those of you who know me, you're probably wondering why I haven't 'blogged' before! For the bit of time that is before me... perhaps I'll leave this first entry to simply this:
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Are your factual experiences, impeding you from the truth ?

... of your own choices?
'Truth' is... we all use our 'facts' to support the way we choose to:

Treat others
Think about our own choices.
Think about ourselves.
The way we self-medicate.

I've come to the conclusion that not all self-medication has to do with the obvious vices we see hurting people use to alleviate some pain or hurt. Sexual Abuse, alcohol abuse, substance abuse are too easily recognized, as self-medication.

Those vices are really simply fruit. The real hurt and pain is more connected to the 'root'.

What about when the self-medication looks more like:
Self-Deprecation?
Self-Adulation?
Self-Absorption? - this shows up in a life in so many hidden ways.
Passive Aggression?
not-so-passive, Aggression?
{fill in your 'personality' profile or type here}.

I'm convinced we do well to look inside our own selves, decide not to be a victim, and stop being driven to protect our want to self-medicate in times of hurt. No matter what ... our drivers are our task-masters.

Others may be, or are, affected by our choices, but not the same as WE are affected.
Others have to make their own decisions about being a victim or, compassionate dispensers of authentic grace, mercy, compassion, forgiveness and acceptance.
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A task-master drives one to make choices that are not always the most helpful to your BEING. The very word 'TASK' implies the thought of 'DO'. TASK=DO.

One way to stop being a victim is to authentically allow the ONE who accepted and became:
Guilt
Blame
Iniquity ( the root of all sin.... )
Hurt & Pain,
...to truly COMFORT and HEAL your pain, and all that drives you.

If you are driven by your own choices to be a victim, a victim to the 'DO'...then find the ONE who IS Truth to lift your burdens!

"My yoke is easy, my burden is light." - Jesus Christ

Scripture teaches... " In HIM we live and move and have our BEING..."
You and I are human BEINGS, not human DO-ers.

Make sure that your DOING is connected to authentic service. Make sure that your DOING motivated by grace, love, mercy and compassionate pity towards others. That used to be called, Christian Charity.

God 'took pity' on our condition, then became one with us, so we could become one .... WITH HIM. What GREAT Compassion!

"If I have not Charity { Love }, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." - I Cor. 13
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Daily I must remember to acknowledge HIM. The ONE who is: Truth.
"I AM the Way the TRUTH, and the Life... no one comes to the Father, but by [through] me." - Jesus

Daily I must accept HIS acceptance!

Accepting HIS acceptance... means no longer being DRIVEN to DO.
Accepting HIS acceptance is damaging to all self-medication!
His acceptance and forgiveness allows you not just access to the Father... but:

COMFORT from a Father who is PERFECT...
DIRECTION from a Father who sees the end from the beginning...
FREEDOM from a Father who IS Peace and Love and Understanding.
PROTECTION from a Father who can never let you down.
ENCOURAGEMENT from a Father who can speak into your Life the acceptance you so desparately seek.
AFFIRMATION from a Father who knows YOU... because He MADE you!

I know this because I know my need for comfort, direction, freedom, protection, encouragement and affirmation. Especially now for all that I am facing!

More considerations....
Does it make sense to judge/scrutinize your factual experiences by your own thought about those experiences? You and I are subjective... by nature.

Did you make you ?

"I KNOW the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans for good, to give YOU a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11

"From the womb I knit and knew you." - He says in the Psalms.
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It is unnerving to the soul - (our mind, will and emotions) that the Sovereign not only:

KNOWS YOU
ACCEPTS YOU
WANTS to FELLOWSHIP with you. (that is the Gospel, the Good News!)

... but TRULY HE, LOVES YOU... and is/has been pursuing you from the very first day man arrived on this planet!

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It's mostly unnerving because you JUDGE {read: condemn} you when HE DOESN'T.

You judge you because you have been conditioned to believe, that your factual experiences disallow your Fellowship with the Sovereign!

That kind of thinking comes from your enemy.

Your pain & hurt, whether self-inflicted (like mine seem to be all too often!), or by some heinous act against you by others, must not separate you from the only ONE who can;

AFFIRM YOU
ACCEPT YOU - despite the hurt & pain of your factual experiences!
FELLOWSHIP { SUP..} with YOU.

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Separation from Him is not even logical.

Because HIS actions and attitude towards you PROVE that HE is unfazed by the hurt and pain you experience.

HE BECAME GUILT and HURT so you don't have to be separated from HIM.

He is un-fazed, not because he is unconcerned or callous about the hurt and pain you are under, but because HE KNOWS the worst Hurt & Pain imaginable!

Not accepting HIS acceptance... is what DRIVES you and me to:

FEAR
the SPIRIT OF ABANDONMENT
a ROOT of BITTERNESS {which may be a 'tree' not just a root.}
Resentment {for some 'loss' that you perceive.}
accept OFFENSE.


If "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in WANT.", then what 'loss' do you really have or experience?
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Post what you think... then post what you KNOW in your KNOWER...

Perhaps in a future blog... we can discuss when PAIN and HURT from others, ... is appointed by the SOVEREIGN for your becoming more like Him.

Being disaffected so much by the happenstance of the World and those in it... that you are broken.... hearted for the RIGHT, the HONORABLE, for JUSTICE & TRUTH. { Jesus }

Just remember: Facts happen... TRUTH is a MAN. His Name is JESUS CHRIST !

" I am the way the TRUTH, and the life. " - Jesus
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I so appreciate your thoughts and prayers as I am facing, in SPADES, believing what I've just written in the day-to-day living of LIFE set before me.