Greetings to all!
My name is Shon and I will start off by saying I am happy to be here. Eager to meet new like minded friends, and to strengthen my bond with the Lord through service in his name.
I have a brief "About me" in my profile if you would like to take a look. Maybe I can touch a few points to explain a little more why I have not only been drawn in closer to God, but to be part of something bigger than myself for the greater good of all...in our Lords name.
I'd also like to take a m... moreGreetings to all!
My name is Shon and I will start off by saying I am happy to be here. Eager to meet new like minded friends, and to strengthen my bond with the Lord through service in his name.
I have a brief "About me" in my profile if you would like to take a look. Maybe I can touch a few points to explain a little more why I have not only been drawn in closer to God, but to be part of something bigger than myself for the greater good of all...in our Lords name.
I'd also like to take a moment to tell a little more about myself which may explain the way I am the way I am. In 2015 my colon perforated (burst open). I was unaware other than I knew I was in a little pain. Finally my wife made me go to the doctor who immediately sent me to the hospital. For some reason I can tolerate major organs bursting and poisoning the inside of my body but having a sinus cold almost cripples me. 🙄
I was sent to emergency surgery and woke up with a colostomy bag. Long story short I was scheduled to have that removed and my "plumbing" all hooked back up after 3 months. This happened but I didn't leave the hospital before it burst again. Now for 6 more months of "the bag." In this time I learned to live with it, I'm not sure I ever fully accepted it though. Fear of living with the bag drove me into depression. I was in a very bad place...
I won't go into that fully but I sat in my recliner several days with the "off switch" in my hand and ready to just be done. Then along comes the television. I don't watch much TV but I cut it on one day to try and take my mind off of things. First commercial was for the Wounded Warrior Project and I say individuals who were missing ALL of their limbs, permanently disfigured, just bad, bad stuff. But they were smiling, playing with the kids, talking with their wives, etc. I reminded myself that my poop bag wasn't anywhere near as bad as any of those people and that I needed to stop my pity party. Which I did.
BUT, my sadness turned to anger as I wondered why God allowed this to happen to me when there are so many people in the world who don't live right, do awful things to kids, Rob, steal, kill etc. Why me? Well, commercial #2 was something that caught my eye while changing channels and I came across a TV evangelist giving a message about Job. We should all know how Job was tested by God....and why. This changed my direction again as I realized God didn't blow my colon up twice.......God kept it from killing me. Ultimately there were 3 times during those months in which doctors said they are not sure how I didn't die.
I know why I didn't die. Because it wasn't my time. Like it wasn't David's time to kill Saul and take the throne even when he easily could have. There is a time and reason for everything and just because we may think things are bad and may not understand why it's happening, I assure you that it's all part of his plan and his plan is always the right plan.
I channeled this new direction in my life towards helping others who were going through the same thing I was. Many wanted to commit suicide. I understood that pain because I had been there. But I also understood why I did and why I was where I was then and talking to who I was talking to. Many men shared that I kept them alive just by talking with them, praying for them and telling them to have faith in God's work. Many people couldn't afford the supplies they needed so I took advantage of the low prices I could get everything for and stockpiled closets full and mailed stuff out to people weekly.
Anyway, from that point on my entire life has changed. Every moment is precious and you really understand that when you have been so close to death. The feeling of being here to help others and knowing this also greatly pleases the Lord is the best feeling ever.
Anyway, when things get tough keep the faith. Remember Job. Remember David. It can always be worse and God is sending you down the road he wants you to go down. Your reward will come by praying. believing in him and keeping faith. Everything happens for a reason. Have faith and follow the path God has laid before you. It's not your place to question it or understand it. Just follow it. He has already written the story of your life from beginning to end. Trust in his ending. I'm sure it's better than where your own version will take you.
Had David killed Saul he would have probably still taken the throne. But the rest of the story would have been much different and everything else the Lord had planned would have been altered and changed the course of humanity. Not understanding why, David simply just trusted the Lord. Years later he still took over the throne. And he was the greatest of all kings, ruling for many years and through his lineage eventually came Jesus. I think we all agree that part of the story ended up being pretty important. David's lineage has and will rule forever.
Go forth every day, for every day is a blessing, and live for the Lord. Pray daily for his instruction and guidance, he will lead you where you need to go. Trust in him, serve him and praise his name.
Glory be to God, and may his grace be upon you all.
- Shon Foreman, CAA
