:)

Looking at personal change and how
God's Love supports our endeavours.

:)

Personal Change Diary paul nipperess 24072006

Change in the context of the Love of God:

Looking back, it has been in the times of deepest despair, when God’s
Grace has shone through, changing my circumstances and bringing me
closer to His Word, as well as restoring my own faith in Him.

For example in 1987, after returning to Singapore from working in
Libya jobs were scarce, as the financial markets collapsed around the
whole world.

With too much time on my hands it was too easy to slip into a very
decadent lifestyle of sex, booze and rock-n-roll.

Sharing an apartment with a Chinese Christian lady, simply worsened
the situation, making for some volatile, verbal exchanges.

Eventually, it seemed God punished me, with some kind of severe
bronchial infection to bring me down on my knees, begging for Him
to help me.

It was not the first time, that my downward spiral had led me back to
God, but it is probably the most memorable - stuck in a foreign country,
with few job prospects, a broken marriage and little motivation to do
anything constructive with my life.

After returning to God’s Love, Protection and Guidance, many things
fell into place and a recovery in industry, provided a more stable and
desirable atmosphere, where my motivation and work ethic increased,
along with a better lifestyle.

Today, my faith in God is very strong and though my career has changed,
my work is very enjoyable and personally rewarding.

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Changes in others, through God’s Grace:

On reflection, this week has given us an insight into how God’s Love
can benefit many relationships, especially in extreme circumstances.

Here’s a comparison of 3 mothers and their relationships, with their
heroin-addicted children:

Mother #1 ..... lost her first husband and was left to raise 3 kids, one
boy and two girls.

On the death of his father the lad “A”, fell into serious drug-abuse and
has been continually harassed by one of his sisters, as she considers him
a loser (and has repeatedly told him so) ..... thus his self-esteem suffered.

Fortunately A has been exposed to several Christian-based rehabilitation
programs over the past seven years or so ..... and as such, Mother #1 is
prepared to support her son’s future recovery, when he has committed
to his rehabilitation, by being drug-free for an extended period.

Without God’s Love shining through Mother #1, A would have to
establish a new foundation and framework for his future relationships.

With God’s Love and his Mother’s encouragement, A has already
started on furthering his education, by entering university in 2007.

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Mother #2 ..... a non-believer and estranged from her husband has had
the unenviable task of bringing up a son and 2 daughters, as well as a
grand-daughter, with little practical help from anyone.

Her eldest daughter “D” was brought up, with no expense spared on
her and as a result, if she does not get what she desires, then the
tantrums start, becoming more violent, until she achieves her goals.

Having physically and mentally suffered at the hands of her eldest
daughter, Mother #2 and the whole family, have divorced themselves
totally from D ..... until she is drug free for an extended period, there
can be NO family relationships for this girl.

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By God’s Love and Grace the girl D, went to a private Christian
school, but it was also there that she was introduced to heavy drugs.

Now that D has destroyed her own life and made the lives of her
family a misery, she has expressed her desire to return to God and
though it is only early days yet, D is expected to make good progress,
through BOTH her pastoral and secular counsellors.

A broad plan has already been outlined to assist in the full recovery
of D, who has enjoyed being a champion horsewoman, in the past.

Through God’s Love and Guidance, D will make it through this
perilous journey and be gradually reunited in her family relationships,
as she slowly progresses, in her rehabilitation.
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Mother #3 ..... previously a Buddhist, converted to Christianity after
a stirring of great emotions, as she listened to Christmas carols.

Her son became addicted to drugs, bring the usual results in his
family relationships ..... for example, Mother #3 evicted her son “D”,
after his stealing and lying became intolerable.

In contrast to Mother #2, D’s mother is prepared to support her
son in his recovery, in the longer-term, even to the point of
welcoming him back, to live in her house.

So in summary, we can see how a Christian ethic can make the
relationships of addicts, with their families a lot easier to renew,
as the patients overcome their addiction.

In “The Masterwheel ..... World Love Illustrated” by George A Lofton,
he reminds us of God’s Love and how it is spread around, by active
participation in doing good works for others, thereby sharing our
own good fortune. He says:

“In the bosom of Christ the Love of God became infinite compassion
and sympathy – the highest form of Love.; and when he became one of
us, he entered the sacrificial relationship of an eternal fraternity and
fellowship, tenderer and deeper than earth or heaven had ever known.

How perfectly was that love illustrated, during the earthly ministry of
Christ !~! He, who had fashioned the world, “went about” upon it,
“doing good.” To live in the Love of God, is to continue Christ’s work.