Remember Your Loved Ones This Year as MENtal Health Awareness Month Rolls Around This Season.

I know. As a recovering addict, I want to thank you, Mark, with what you are doing with your ministry.

I don't drink anymore now thanks to the life saving instruction from the Bible and Yeshua HaMoshiach's the Jewish Jesus's life giving virtues of compassion, justice, mercy and kindness and His commandment to love the Lord your G-d with all your heart, soul and and mind and love your neighbor as yourself as the greatest commandments has changed me for the better.

As a fan of Johnny Cash I can relate to the music of one who loved in bondage. One who didn't have a father figure. One who was trapped in a rat maze and cage. Now to see a pastor who I knew that relates to the people on the inside looking out on a human level shows me the power of love and not the love of power. I was looking at the outside looking in and depending on others' opinions and didn't know who I was. I was looking for favor. Then I turned to people places and things. I was praying, yes, but I turned to the bottle for relief. That led me into stints into rehab. As a man who dresses in black myself, I can relate to anyone who has been locked up through a combination of faults and hard lessons learned. I can't touch or even look at a bottle without reminding myself how far I have come. I have come a long way. The value of treating your neighbor as yourself spoke to me today in your post, pastor. I was lost in the crowd. I was an alcoholic and now I now my rock and refuge is my King, Lord and Savior is Yeshua HaMoshiach that is the one that really pursues me and find me because, boy, was I ever lost. Now I am not an alcoholic.

Now I count my blessings. I am grateful for the very touching moment when Pastor Mark Clark went into a prison and talked to prisoners who were grandfathers, fathers, brothers, uncles, sons and friends. The inmates told the pastor, " You touched us" Mr. Clarke said to the the inmates. The pastor said, Yeshua is your father pursuing you. They said to Mark, you've been a light to us. Mark said "You've all been a light to me." The man in black up in heaven must be proud, brother.

I am grateful for this moment when a tear almost dropped from my eye and eyes got watery because the message spoke to me too. I might be trapped in my own skin, my own body and mortality. Yet I am free to do whatever I want. I can choose to worship what ever I put value in. I have freedom in Moshiach and it means a lot. I can read the word of G-d and it feels fulfilling to be in reverence awe, fear and love of G-d which is the beginning of knowledge, wisdom and understanding as my life goes on at the speed of Life.

It really puts things in perspective. I can remain stagnant or I can choose to grow and become better. I can never imagine going to the slammer or the ward because I am free to worship Goodness and Godliness. I have som uch to be thankful for. My family friends, this town, country, the people the faces, the places, beutiful scenery, serenity, tranquility, love of humanity. Love for King and Country, especially coming up to Rememberance day. May we never forget those who served and protected. Love in my heart I am grateful for. Yes, it is bittersweet. But it is these special, beautiful moments that make me reflect on how well I really have it that gets me really thinking what really matters. These last three years have been tough on many people, including me. I am grateful I have handled it quite well. But I give all credit and glory to G-d. My life. Why haven't you taken my life? I think I see why now. To see the beauty of the pain and the struggle. Life is a process. Sort of a refiner's fire. To take away the impurities. To make pure gold. Canadian Lion's Mane Gold.

Replacing a bad habit with a good one, many good ones. Soft music? Brisk walk in the neighborhood or cration nature. Believe when I say it works for me. Ragaining sanity. Priceless. Then some ideas. just a bonus.

One good one this year is a hot drink with a warm, feel-good fuzzy feel-good-book this cold season.

Perhaps the Good Book, the Bible, the Word of G-d. I recommend it because, not only does it set me on a good mind set, the life giving and life-breathing book has changed my life. I could only hope, wish and pray it would do the same for you.

Let's remember this holiday season that we may not have family members at all times with us so be considerate and compassionate to all human beings. Relationships are the important keys to life. Cherish one with your Creator, yourself and your neighbor. It will be very fulfilling because that is all we have. Love and shalom that surpasses all understanding between ourselves and all of humanity. Let us live.

Remember, folks to save one's hard-earned work, money, relationships, talents, gifts, abilities for the future. Life can be longsuffering and steadfast, with lots of bumps in the road. As I have hope for all of us, I must put my money where my mouth is with action and in my experience and I'm telling you that the road definitely can be rocky with lots of storms in between. Plant those foundations of roots of truth, speak life and make a way for generations to come. Then it can withstand any harsh, windy storm. Stay where one is and take that time to weather it out. Callous trunk and branches builds resilience for future seasons. It takes grinding and gritting teeth for the Pursuit Of Happyness. Then the road will become smoother, well-paved for the future foundations, a lot drier and sunnier. So remember to save all the good stuff for a rainy day because, coming from where the cold wind blows, when it rains, it pours.

They say when the storms over, it's a lot sunnier and it's a lot more like groundhog day, then the leaves, fruit and seeds are that much more sweet, bright and colorful.

Do the the right thing, my friends. I speak from my experience and it feels right. Learn from me and my heartache. Fellas put a ring on the girls' hand. She deserves it. It's a promise, commitment, and more, so a covenant.

I consecrate myself to my Lord and Savior of my life for my future wife and kids. Like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the worst part of the storm is over. And now we have the Everlasting Father guiding us under his Eagle's Wings.

Yeshua in Hebrew means G-d is salvation, the Prince of Peace. One love in the water of life, Moshiach.

Blessings, from your loyal Man in Black,

J. Dog