The Time is Near

This has been powerful day. I have felt the presence of the creator flowing through my body. I feel a sense of urgency for those of us without a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We are talking about eternity here people. Eternity with God or without God, you pick. I choose eternity with Jesus. Hell is an actual place. Prophecies are being fulfilled and I guess Christianity is not on the best new spiritual trip, but it’s our eternal destination at stake. Need Blessings? Work? Healing? Prayer? God’s supernatural help? Is there something missing in your life? Need someone to connect with? Doesn’t life feel out of balance?

You know that God wants a relationship with you. He wants to lead your life. A foundation that is built on a rock will never sway. Forgive me for getting my preach on, but I think the gospel of Jesus Christ needs further attention. Have you ever said “Yes” to Jesus? Do you really know the blessings that come along with Jesus? 

What is my Goal? Why am I saying all this? I am receiving countless blessings since turning my life to Jesus and I want to share the source of these blessings with you. Jesus spared my life when I drove my truck over a 200 foot cliff when the enemy convinced me to take my own life. 

Since the accident, I have gone on various adventures trying to build a life for myself.  Active in adventure sports prior to the accident, I didn’t want a wheelchair get in the way. Skiing, surfing, whitewater rafting and kayaking were all possible through the help and design of Jesus.

I read in Genesis today where God gave the responsibility of caring of the earth to Adam. He was given divine responsibility at the moment of creation but I think people misunderstand the word dominion as a supreme rule.  I think it as divine stewardship. So if you thrash the earth and it stops producing healthy air, water, fire and earth. What will you say to God once you’re in front of him? How did you take care of the earth, air, fire, water? A lot of things seem to keep converging. War, protests, earthquakes, tsunamis and other telltale signs. Seem to be warning us that the time is at hand for Jesus to return.  So be ready.

There is a first time for everything.

Today I am reflecting on my recent adventure to Snow Summit with my nephew, Riley, and my niece, Erica. It was told to my wife that Erica, confronted my sister in-law, Andréa, that she was a bad mommy for not teaching her how to snowboard. Andrea looked to Rosanna and I for help. We helped her by being there for these precious kids. It was very rewarding to know that these kids have opened a door to more fun for the rest of their lives. Riley and Ericka were first brought to a safe encouraging space strictly used for teaching the basic snowboarding skills. Once that was complete it was evident they were confident with these new skills and were off to a good start. Riley and Erica the stepped out into basic Snow Summit runs, accompanied by an instructor. The kids had the time of their lives. They immediately convinced Aunt Rosanna to go with them some more once the instructor left. It reminded me of the moment when I adaptive skied for the first time. All the feelings like I could do anything were resounded when I saw the look on my nephew’s face. Not only was it a first time for them, it was a first time for all of us moms, aunts and uncles. They will always say "Remember that time when..."

I am so touched by these amazing children and feel so honored to be apart of their journey here on planet earth. If i can impact these children with something positive in their lives and say I am so very proud of each of them.

Preconceived Ideas

I wanted to start this blog off on a positive note when it comes to the term disability or wheelchair-bound. For those of you who know my story, I hope that I have been helpful at smashing the mold when it comes to these two terms (Disabled or Wheelchair-bound).

Before my accident, I thought ending up in a wheelchair was a curse from hell. I imagined the state as of complete confinement. Having Multiple Sclerosis (MS), I was bombarded with thoughts of being in a wheelchair which would slowly take my life.

Friends, work and play gone forever. Then 08/02/2005 came and changed my life forever. First and foremost, I gave my life to Jesus Christ and due to a combination of side affects from medications being used to treat MS; I drove my truck off of a 200 foot cliff shattering my L1 vertebrae and fracturing my T-12 and L2. It was God’s grace that spared my life.

I found myself at Northridge Hospital having spinal surgery and discovering a spinal cord injury (SCI) support group that meets each Thursday. There I was surrounded by people with similar injuries. Most notably, Anthony, who works full time in the medical goods company. He has this great, positive attitude and embodies a quote you will find on his business card “Never Say Never”. Anthony holds down full-time work, drives his vehicle with adaptive hand-controls and he and his wife adopted his son, Noah.

He took all of my ideas about disabilities and turned them upside down. But it doesn’t stop there. As I write this with one hand, my friend Janette, a quadriplegic, just graduated from CSUN. She typed out each of her papers with a pencil wedged between her fingers. So I have her as an inspiration to thank God each time I’m faced to write an E-mail or write a blog post. She has acquired work as a community reintegration trainer and is involved with an organization called WYNGS (When You Need Group Support). Devoted to helpingnewly injured adapt to their new living environment. I have countless stories I could tell you about. 

The point of this post is to transform your ideas about “Disability” and what can’t and can be done when you find yourself in a wheelchair. I found my place as an adventurer; Snow skiing, surfing, whitewater rafting, kayaking and surf kayaking. I thought my days were over as I became disabled. But I learned that
with God anything is possible.

Valuable, useful, fulfilled

I always felt lost just wandering through life, sometimes stepping on toes. I was always looking and not finding. I grew up in a broken home and didn’t feel valuable, useful or fulfilled. I suffered with my depression since I was 5 years old after my father left us and he put me in charge. 

 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  Psalm 139:14

Knowing that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and God does not make mistakes gives me hope.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

 I like that he knew us in the womb and has incredible plans for our lives.