It's good to be home

Way back when I began "Being God's," it was my release, my therapy, my way of indulging my attempts at writing. Then, after awhile, it just became a natural thing to do and was fun. A place where I could ramble on and on about my opinions and life. In the heyday of "Being God's," I had a lot of followers and made some good friends, some until this very day. 
  
  Then came Facebook, and I began to post more and more there with a wider and wider audience and the majority of folks enjoyed it. But, over the years, I neglected my first love...this blog. And. I missed it. However, my natural tendency to be transparent and tell what was going on in my life began to concern some people, they turned against me and, despite my apologies for any harm, I lost some friends. So, I made the decision to come home to here and distance myself from so much Facebook time.

  My name is Jimmy Cochran, a follower of Christ, I attend a Baptist church, but feel I am more nondenominational. I have dealt with anxiety and depression since I was diagnosed in my mid-20's and have had many really bad, but more good days. A year ago-ish, I was also diagnosed with PTSD due to verbal and emotional abuse that has been heaped on me by former bosses and some (aforementioned) friends. But, God has been faithful to lead me to the right doctors and therapists and the right medications to live happily again.

  As I write here, I reflect on so much of my personal past contained on these pages and also look forward to many days ahead to write about. For those of you who may be drifting here from my FB page, you'll see things here that are not there. 

  So, as I begin here again, I feel good to be back. To have a safer place to share what's going on in the life of a single guy trying his best to live for Christ. 

Be God's!
Jimmy

Day Eighteen of Lent

Day Eighteen of Lent

“I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalms 122:1)

  Tomorrow is Sunday. A Holy Day. A day of rest. A day to fellowship with God. And fellow believers. A day to separate from the world (as much as possible). This morning I joined millions of other believers around the world and went to church. And it was good.

  Many years ago, I read a book titled, “Mister God, this is Anna.” The main thing that I remember from this book is Anna’s take on the day of rest. Paraphrasing a bit, Anna made the point that “God didn’t rest on the seventh day. He’s God and doesn’t need to rest. By His calling it a day of rest, God created rest for us. We need to have that day away from the hectic life, to rest and visit God.” Isn’t that an interesting take on the seventh day? Still a day of creation for us…a day of rest?

  Yet, what do so many of us do, whether we are on church staff or not? We try to cram as much as possible into that one day, in the name of God’s work, that we wear ourselves out and come to almost dread Sundays because of the busyness. Been there, done that, burnt myself out from church. Many churches start at 8 a.m. or earlier with worship services, bible studies,  lunches, meetings, visitations, training classes, choirs, programs, programs, programs. And we wonder why people get burnt out and drop away after a season.

  In my own personal walk, I have had to make a conscious choice about what I will and will not be involved with. Even though, I enjoy church stuff and love to be involved, I’ve just learned that I can’t do it all…..as much as I wish I could. As a general rule these days, keep my afternoons and evenings free for family, friends, reading, basically quietness. Avoiding the office or other working. Even though I’m writing, it is in my home office, watching the birds in the woods out the windows and enjoying music. Resting. As the day was created to do.

  Let me encourage you to at least try and simplify your day of rest. Realize that you and your family might need to be hanging out together rather than running all over the county trying to do things that could really wait until the next week. Use Sunday as a day of rest, and, go back to the verse from earlier in this Lenten season, “Be still and know that I am God.”(Psalms 46:10).

Thanks be to God for his indescribable GIFT!

Okey doke. Back to the beginning......

Okay, friends. Here at "Being God's" is where it all began 11 1/2 years ago and where I've come back to. I'll be writing and posting here like I used to do and sharing "the gospel according to Jimmy." 

I am needing to continue in my walk to simplify and get back to whatever "my normal" is. After a year of walking through the hell of PTSD, depression and anxiety, I need to get back to the basics of Jimmy. And no one else....at least for this time. So, here I am. A child of God and loved by Him.

More of my story will unfold over coming weeks as time permits, but, rest assured that I am doing well (at least for the shape I am in...haha).

Be God's,
Jimmy