Yes, I can.

I Samuel 30:6 - David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
One of the more difficult parts of counseling is overcoming the "I can't" syndrome. If a person thinks s/he can't, s/he won't even try and thus is defeated before s/he has begun. An effective way to overcome this is to have the counselee tell you about something s/he has overcome in the past. This can be done with an open ended question. Can you tell me about the last time you started a new job? How did you overcome the anxiety that time? How did the job turn out for you? If s/he starts thinking about it, s/he will convince him/herself that s/he can do this after all.

Church folks have a phrase for this as well. It is called a testimony. You know that time we used to give on Wednesday night for people to stand and say something for Jesus? Often these testimonies followed a pattern:

1. I had a problem.
2. I didn't know what to do.
3. I knew God had done it before.
4. I prayed and he did it again.

Did you notice the pattern? The person had to remind himself that he had come through a trial before and he would make it through again. Often the answer to the problem was simply getting rid of the "I can't attitude." There is something powerful about believing in oneself and one's own ability to get the job done.

We Christians have an even greater advantage. We are not just trusting in our own ability. We are trusting in an all powerful God who has an awesome track record. He has never lost a battle and never will. He is always in control and never lacks self confidence. Are you facing an obstacle today? Is there a difficult decision directly in your path? Are you uncertain of what to do? Don't despair. Just follow the above guideline with a few modifications.

1. I have a problem.
2. God knows what to do.
3. He has done it before.
4. He will will show me what to do (or not do) this time.
5. Therefore it is not a problem.

Above all, face the situation with an " God and I can" attitude. Remember, God is on your side. Together there is nothing you can't accomplish. Sometimes we wonder why God has not already worked out a certain situation for us. I believe it is often because he wants us to take the first step. Like a parent coaxing a child to try, God wants us to realize that we can. Sure, He is there to help us, but He can't help us if we won't try. "Believe in yourself" is not contrary to the word of God. "Believe in God and yourself" is an unstoppable combination.

Believe in yourself! God does and you should to.

I can,

Sullivan Jones




 

The Windshield Wiper

Job 23:10 - He knows the way that I take: when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

It was a pretty normal afternoon as my wife and I left her mother's house to head home. We had a two hour drive and were anxious to get home before dark. It takes less than ten minutes on a winding country road to get to the highway from my mother in law's home. After that it is four-lane highways most all the way home. When we left her house it was clear and the sun was shining but right as we pulled onto the highway it started to rain heavily. You know one of those downpours that don't last long but can flood the streets in a few minutes? I reached instinctively for the windshield wipers. When I turned them on the passenger's side wiper blade flew off and sailed away. It was raining hard so I told my wife I was going to stop at the truck stop that was just head. When we stopped at the truck stop we decided to go in and eat at the Subway inside and see if the rain would slack up. Sure enough, while we were eating the rain slowed to a drizzle. 

We got back on the highway within about thirty minutes and continued north about twenty minutes to Hattiesburg, MS. Just as we were approaching the exit to get onto the interstate we saw that there had been a bad accident. The wrecker was in the process of hauling the vehicle away. In that moment I knew without a doubt that if my wiper blade had not flown off of the car we would have been involved in that accident. We could possibly have been killed. I am sorry for whoever was involved but I knew then that God had his hand on us. As the Biblical writer Job said, "He does know the way that I take." There is no situation I can find myself in that God is not aware of. If I commit my life to him, he will direct me. When I am seeking to please him I can be assured that anything that comes my way is no accident. 

God decided to spared our lives that afternoon but that is not the most comforting thing to me. My comfort is in knowing that He is guiding me. Had it been my time, I would have gone to be with Jesus. When that day does come, I will be ready. Until then I will trust the Lord with all the twists and turns of my life knowing that He is in control. There is no better way to live! 

In His Service,

Spanish Pastor Jones 

Noah and the Ark - A New Perspective

This past week my wife and I participated in our first cruise. It was a Caribbean cruise originating in New Orleans and stopping at two places in Mexico. We were part of a ministry group consisting of 39 ministry couples. It was a wonderful experience. We enjoyed the calm beauty of the open ocean and  the fellowship with God's people. The laughter and practical jokes made memories that will last a lifetime. The Lord made this trip extra special for us by allowing another couple that we count as dear friends to be on the same ship, though it was unplanned. It was truly a wonderful week.


This week I am starting afresh in Genesis with my Bible reading. As I read about Noah this evening I realized that I can appreciate this story in a way I never really could before my first experience on the open sea. I grew up on the water. Being in a boat was a matter of course for me, but it was always in a river where land could be seen on either side. I had been out in the gulf for a day of fun on the barrier islands. Usually this ride was done by ferry. But the ride lasted an hour  at the most and I was on the island and then back on shore. This week was different. This week I experienced my first taste of being "at sea." Though I have watched the sun come up on the beach many times I had never before been surrounded by water for more than a couple of hours.


One thing that I noticed right off was the rocking of the ship. I was not prepared for this. I have never been one to be motion sick but that first day and night was rough. I was extremely disoriented. I had to take medicine to keep from being nauseated. I went to sleep while the boat was in the Mississippi river. I awoke when the waves of the gulf started and could sleep no more that night. By the time we docked in Cozumel on Wednesday I was beyond ready to get off of the ship and have some dry land under my feet. The return trip was much smoother and I was able to relax. Nevertheless, I was very glad to be in New Orleans by Saturday morning.


Reading about Noah this afternoon made me contemplate the differences between his trip in the Ark and my trip on a cruise ship. Allow me to share some of my thoughts with you.

• I was able to watch the beauty of the sea from a calm deck under sunny skies. Noah was closed into an Ark with constant rain for 40 days and nights.
• I was only at sea for a day and a night before setting foot on dry land again. Noah was in the Ark for 150 days.
• I had constant updates from the captain telling me where I was and when I would see land again. Noah's only understanding was that God would bring him through (though there couldn't be a better way to travel.)
• I had access to internet, television, and ship-to-shore telephone. Noah and his family were the only living beings on the planet.
• I enjoyed fine dining each evening with gracious servers attending to my every whim. Noah and his family were feeding the animals, keeping the ark clean, and attending to their own needs.

The lists of contrasts could go on and on. I will simply leave you with this thought. How challenging must it have been for Noah and his family to be all those days at sea, without compass or any idea where they were, and still trust God to bring them through. Yet God was faithful and He brought them safely through the flood and reestablished them in a brand new world. This is such a beautiful picture of God's grace. It is unfailing! Aren't you thankful!


Trusting Him Daily,


Sullivan Jones