| Today everyone is looking for self-help books. These | | | | Everything I tried just backfired on me. I finally |
| books generate millions of dollars of income for those | | | | realized that I was just living one big lie. |
| that write them. And in some cases leave the ones | | | | Anyway, all that was going on led me back to church. |
| that read them more confused than ever. | | | | This time I started getting involved. Started reading |
| Society is looking for answers to various life | | | | the bible, and studying the word. Even though things |
| questions. Looking for answers for things such as | | | | still weren't changing at a rate I would like I have |
| relationships. (Something I found I wasn't very good | | | | seen, I stayed with it. Two years after going back I |
| at.) Other topics such, as finances, addictions, child | | | | was baptized in the Holy Spirit. Step three complete. |
| raring, business advice, and happiness. And whatever | | | | With the revealing of step three you have probably |
| else seems to be troubling them at the moment. | | | | figured out that the loving church we found was |
| When we are experiencing difficulties in our life we | | | | Pentecostal. But, any church that teaches the word |
| turn to the book of the month looking for the | | | | of God as written, and teaches Jesus will is just as |
| answer to our problem. We read and apply the | | | | good. |
| principles to our daily life. I think in the beginning it | | | | You are probably thinking how in the world did we |
| seems to help, we think wow! This is really working | | | | get from self-help books to baptism in the Holy Spirit. |
| for me. Then usually we run into a bump in the road | | | | Well because I finally have begun to understand that |
| that wasn't covered in the book. Then we either go | | | | man, does not have the answers. I want to share |
| by another book to try find a new answer. Or, we | | | | that with everyone I can. So writing this is a way to |
| just give up. Figuring this is the way it has to be. | | | | do that. |
| I can only relate to this in my brief experience at | | | | Through Bible studies, reading the word, and praying |
| wanting to be a horse trainer. I wanted to be a colt | | | | over it. I am beginning to see that the answer to all |
| starter/western horse trainer. So, I started reading | | | | of our questions, and problems are in the word of |
| everything I could get my hands on about training | | | | God. I haven't found all the answers yet. But I have |
| horses. Soon I was attempting in real life. Applying all | | | | found that the ones I have found have worked in |
| these newly read about methods on real horses. For | | | | my life, and continue to work without fail. |
| the most part I was successful with the starting of | | | | I am a slow study. So I am still learning. Something |
| the colts. I was able to get them to accept the | | | | that someone in a bible study class just the other |
| saddle, and then the rider with not too much trouble. | | | | day said really clicked the light bulb on for me. When |
| Only the occasional problem, and usually I would find | | | | God starts working with us, and we start accepting |
| a way to work through it. | | | | his working with us. It is like peeling a onion. We first |
| But then as I tried to expand these young horses | | | | peel the skin off to get to the good part to eat. |
| minds, I found it to become much more difficult to | | | | Then we put it away a while. And when we come |
| follow the books as written. It seemed that know | | | | back to it we have to peel another layer off to get |
| matter how good a horseman the person that wrote | | | | to good eatable part again. |
| the book was there was always something missing. | | | | This is the same process God uses with us. He first |
| Some step that was left out, or this horses particular | | | | peels off a layer that gets us to surrender to him. |
| personality didn't blend with this training method. So | | | | Then as we can handle it he comes back and peels |
| eventually I just decided I started way to late in life | | | | another layer off to get to the good parts. Each time |
| to learn everything that a successful trainer needs to | | | | he see's we are getting it, he comes back and peels |
| know. | | | | another layer of our undesirable self off, and teaches |
| But the point of this is, even the best author may | | | | us a new way to make our selves better. |
| not experience everything needed to accomplish the | | | | This process works for everything in our lives. I told |
| task in some cases. I think that applies to self-help as | | | | you I was selfish, and unable to love anyone other |
| well. A person goes along fine until they find that one | | | | than myself. I thought I new how to love someone, |
| situation that wasn't covered. Leaving them dangling. | | | | but I never really learned. God is teaching me a layer |
| Not knowing which way to turn. | | | | at time that to truly love someone as he loves me, |
| I guess I have screwed up most everything in my | | | | and as my wife loves me, I have to put myself |
| life, at least once, if not multiple times. I have failed in | | | | aside. I have to learn to put others needs above my |
| marriage, raring kids, business, many things, and of | | | | own. This is a slow process. It is a process of reading |
| course training horses. I too, have searched and | | | | the word, listening to others with more experience, |
| searched for the answers. | | | | and allowing the Holy Spirit to do the teaching. That |
| One day I woke up, with the help from this little | | | | can be hard for someone who has lived as I have. |
| voice inside. Turns out that little voice was the Holy | | | | Manipulating my way through life. But the answers |
| Spirit. I was really down on my situation, and myself. | | | | are right there in Gods word, the Bible. |
| Next thing you know I was off searching again. But | | | | I have not learned it all, and will never. But, what I |
| this time I was searching for a church. I new | | | | have learned so far really works. God will |
| everything else I tried didn't work. Maybe it was time | | | | communicate with us through his Holy Spirit and |
| to give God a try. | | | | teach us whatever we seek. We just have to learn |
| So with the help of my wife, who had wanted to do | | | | to put ourselves aside to hear him. And then carry |
| this previously I might add. We began looking for a | | | | out what he instructs. It is just like reading those |
| church. Now I had been raised in a church, but I have | | | | self-help books with one great big difference. When |
| to admit I didn't pay much attention. Thank the Lord, | | | | we turn to the Bible, we not only get the words to |
| my wife had. With her experience she taught me | | | | read, but we also get the author with us all the time |
| what to look for, a good bible teaching church that | | | | to ask as many questions of as we want. |
| emphasized Jesus. | | | | Matthew 7, verses 7 &8 promises us this: 7"Ask |
| I was still skeptical that this would be of any help. | | | | and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; |
| Finally we found a church that met the criteria, and | | | | knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For |
| the people seemed very caring. We decided to stay. | | | | everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; |
| One Sunday I attended alone, and something came | | | | and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. |
| over me when the Pastor made the altar call. I began | | | | The greatest knowledge in the universe is open to |
| to weep uncontrollably, and like a piece of steel | | | | us through this promise of God our father. When we |
| drawn to a powerful magnet I found myself heading | | | | pray over our troubles, and situations. Seeking his |
| for the altar. I accepted Jesus into my heart to be | | | | answer, asking his advice, he truly will open the doors |
| my savior. This was the first step. Then a few | | | | we knock on. When he opens the door at the sound |
| weeks later I was baptized in water. Step two | | | | of the knock there will be an answer. An answer |
| complete. | | | | that can deliver us, restore us, and heal us from |
| Now I wish I could tell you that everything changed | | | | whatever situation we find our selves in. |
| from that point on. I think in my weak mind I | | | | I could go on and on about this. I get very excited |
| thought it would. I thought Life would automatically | | | | when it comes to God, and how he teaches us. But |
| get better. No assembly required kind of thing. After | | | | time right now won't allow it. Maybe he will inspire me |
| all he is the creator of the all things. Well how wrong | | | | to keep writing on this subject, and even do a book |
| was I. After a few months, and still experiencing bad | | | | on it. But for right now I just want you to know |
| things that lead me to this in the first place. I just | | | | whatever you are up against. I repeat whatever! The |
| quit again. | | | | Bible is the only self-help book you need. You |
| I stopped going to church, but I still seemed to long | | | | probably don't even have to go out and buy it, you |
| for God. I did continue to discuss it, and to read the | | | | probably have one right there at home. But if you do |
| word. I still believed that God could change things. I | | | | it will be the best money you ever spent to fix your |
| just don't know why I quit. I just did. | | | | problems. Unlike the other books that leave you |
| Finally about two years later I realized that I had | | | | hanging at times. This one comes with 24/7 support |
| wasted nearly 30 years of my life. My marriage to a | | | | that will never leave you. All you have to do is seek, |
| wonderful woman was struggling still. Because, I didn't | | | | ask, and knock. The truth will be revealed, and |
| really know how to love anyone other than myself. | | | | another layer can be peeled away making you the |
| My finances were a wreck. I was a guy that let | | | | kind of person God intended you to be. Righteous, |
| everyone think I had it together. Reality is I don't | | | | and prosperous. |
| know squat, about anything. I tried this, and that. | | | | |