FYI

My NEW blog address is
bj-sweetnothings.blogspot.com

and I have a link to where you can receive
SWEET NOTHINGS posts in your EMAIL ACCOUNT.

Please go to the NEW BLOG.
thanks, bj

Saturday, July 23, 2011

JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE...

So many wanting to know how I quit SMOKING 
so here it is.!
 I feel certain that most of you know the Bible story of the 
WALK TO EMMAUS.
 Two men are walking from Jerusalem to the nearby village of Emmaus.

 As they were walking, another person began to walk with them to Emmaus, about a seven mile journey. 
This person was Jesus but the two men were prevented from recognizing him.
We don’t know why they were prevented from recognizing Jesus.

Perhaps Jesus wanted to gain some inside information.
Perhaps Jesus wanted to see if these two followers would understand the events that had transpired over the last three days
 Would they believe what was told to them?
Would they believe that Jesus had been raised? 
Perhaps Jesus wanted to find out what his followers were saying about him. 
We don’t know the reason specifically because Luke does not tell us. 

We do know that it was the work of the Holy Spirit because Luke says that
their eyes were kept from recognizing him.”
They didn't realize they were having
A CLOSER WALK WITH HIM.

The Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual renewal program intended to strengthen the local church through the development of Christian disciples and leaders.
The program's approach seriously considers the model of Christ's servant hood and encourages Christ's disciples to act in ways appropriate to being "a servant of all."
The Walk to Emmaus experience begins with a 72-hour short course in Christianity, comprised of fifteen talks by lay and clergy on the themes of God's grace, disciplines of Christian discipleship, and what it means to be the church.

The course is wrapped in prayer and meditation, special times of worship and daily celebration of Holy Communion.

The "Emmaus community," made up of those who have attended an Emmaus weekend", support the 72-hour experience
with a prayer vigil, 
by preparing and serving meals,
and other acts of love and self-giving.

The Emmaus Walk typically begins Thursday evening and concludes Sunday evening.
Men and women attend separate weekends.
It was the single most memorable and learning and loving experience I have ever had or ever HOPE to have, in my entire long lifetime.
There are no words to describe my feelings and emotions during those 3 days..
and in the months that followed.
IN MY DESIRE  to concentrate wholly on my Lord and Savior, I prayed constantly for over a week before going on my walk, that HE take away my desire to smoke DURING THESE 3 DAYS...
so that HE would have my full attention.
I wanted nothing...NOTHING..to crowd into my mind during my THREE DAYS WITH HIM.
Smoking is such a strong addition..I had smoked since I was 18 years old. 
This was in the 50's and before I or anyone around me, knew the dangers of smoking. 
All I knew at that time was that it looked sooo cool..so SMART..so sexy. 

At first, the cigarettes didn't taste one bit good.
Made me sick at my stomach and dizzy.
BUT...all my friends did it..(heard that before?)
Then, before I had a clue...
I WAS ADDICTED.
and STAYED addicted for over 47 years...
ALMOST FIFTY YEARS, FOLKS...
THAT'S a lifetime.
Over the years, I tried several times to quit...
never REALLY wanting to give it up.
I KNEW what it was doing to me.
My children worried about it..
Mr. Sweet worried about it...he had quite smoking 25 years earlier.

So, I prayed for a solid week that I could just go those
THREE DAYS without a cigarette.

Not only did GOD take my desire away for the 3 glorious days of my 
WALK WITH JESUS CHRIST,
HE took it away to this very day.
OVER  9 YEARS...
and I have never looked back.
I didn't use GUM
HARD CANDY
NOTHING !
I can HONESTLY say that I have never, not one time, wanted another cigarette.
I never think of them...
I never want one when someone else is smoking around me...
in fact, I find myself praying for THEM to stop.
It is truly the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me...
and, believe me when I say,
I THANK HIM EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY.
HE answered the prayers of
my daughter
my son
my husband
several friends
AND MY OWN. 
I didn't escape without harm to my health.
I was very blessed not to have lung problems..
or heart problems due to the long addiction.
BUT...
I do have artery disease that I have to take meds for.
I MAY have had this health problem without smoking..
but I seriously doubt it.
Of course....
it is nothing new that 
GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS.
I have no idea why I was even ASTOUND that HE answered my prayer
to be UN-ADDICTED for those 3 days.

I believe, with all my heart, that MY testimony here
PROVES
that HE knows what is best for us...
that HE took my addiction TOTALLY away without me even asking
because 
HE  CARES !
LOVE, bj 

Because I want my friends to read this,
I join
SEASONAL SUNDAY 
BLUE MONDAY
AMAZE ME MONDAY
MASTERPIECE MONDAY
RUBY TUESDAY 
REDNESDAY WED.
GOOD LIFE WED.
WOW ME WED.
OPEN HOUSE THURSDAY
TIME TRAVEL THURSDAY
TICKLED PINK FRIDAY
FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY
HOME SWEET HOME FIRDAY
INSPIRATION FRIDAY 

30 comments:

On Crooked Creek said...

BJ,
AMAZING! The power of our faith put into action! May God use your voice to help others who are faced with similar addictions!!You have, once again, blessed my life with your gift of sharing yours!
Fondly,
Pat

Korrie@RedHenHome said...

With God, all things are possible! Thanks for sharing your beautiful story!

Linda said...

A wonderful testimony! The awesome power of prayer is astounding!
God does give us 'the desires of our heart.'

Pondside said...

What a wonderful testament to the power of prayer and God's grace. I'm so happy that you are free of the addiction to tobacco and are able to pray for others to experience the same grace.

Carol said...

Wonderful testimony, BJ! As our friend said when he stopped smoking, "It was a God thing!"

Smiles,
Carol

Barbara F. said...

BJ, I loved this post, starting with the first photo til the very end. I would love to do a walk and prayer like this. I am glad your prayer was answered. xo,

NanaDiana said...

What a wonderful testimony. I am so glad that God lifted this addiction from you. What a blessing~ xo Diana

Alice said...

Jean, that's a great testimony. I also quit smoking thru prayer and the Lord's help. I threw away my last one 25 years ago. God is so awesome!

Julie Harward said...

Thank you for sharing this very special time in your life. I know that God and Jesus loves us more than we will ever know, and I know they are there to give us strength and help us in our great need. I love this story of when Jesus appeared and walked with them, we were talking about it just last Sunday in church. Lately the words to this song keep running through my head...And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own...and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other, shall ever, know. Love that, I know they are with us always and in our greatest need, they will lift the burdens from our back until we can hardly feel them! :D

Rettabug said...

Wow! What a powerful testamony, BJ! I've got goosebumps from reading your story. I've always been soooo grateful that I never started smoking (at first, I typed "smocking" LOL I've got sewing on the brain) because I've seen how difficult it is to stop & I KNOW I would have been addicted.

Thanks for sharing your experience.
Hugs,
Rett

Amelia said...

I must admit I had medical help to stop the habit...the meds were to be taken for 6 weeks and oft times people would have to take them for another 6 weeks...I took them for two weeks...but my constant prayer was Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through the Lord who strengthen me". Praise the Lord for His goodness and answered prayers.!

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

What a wonderful testimony, BJ! This was most certainly 'a God thing!' Thank you for sharing this with us in blogland and God bless you!

Hugs,
Sandi

Unknown said...

BJ...thank you for sharing your TESTimony!! What a gracious God we serve :)

Blessings!
Gail

Aunt Amelia said...

'BJ' you asked questions in my blog comments, and I reply here.

Why doesn't your Thumnail/Icon show up in your WP comments, on my WP blog?

My WP thumnail/Icon doesn't show up in my comments, here on your Blogger blog comments either. ????? Different blogging *homes* don't play-well-together, maybe?

I have no Sidebar????

I could have Sidebars on WP. I don't want Sidebars. I don't read them, on other blogs. They just get filled up with *stuff,* and they make a blog load slower.

I know, this blog load thing, is not, not, not important to many bloggers. But it is to me.

And I just don't like Sidebars. :-)
On my blog, right under my Header pic, is a black line, where I can put "pages." Readers click on a "page," and are taken to Info About Me. And to other things, I WANT to show readers. These can change easily.

I can have more or less of them, listed. And they do not, not, not add to my blog loading time. Like "stuff" up and down a Sidebar does.

:-)

Just me... Just saying... Just replying to your inquiries. :-)

Vee said...

He honored the desire of your heart because it was toward Him. This testimony blesses me so much. I never was a smoker, but I know something about addiction...chocolate. Thank you for telling us your story. I know that it's going to help someone. Blessings to you today and every day...

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady.
Thanks so much for your story of you quit Smoking just Amazing... This would be a good day for me to stop !!!! I hope my God can help me also BJ...

Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful Story sweet lady..
God Bless You....
XXOO Diane

Debby said...

God is good. So glad that this happened for you and that you can tell your story. You were blessed and we are for having you here.

Theresa said...

Praise God for answered prayers! I smoked many years ago! When I married my Husband 25 years ago... he didn't like the smoking thang! I quit and have never smoked again!

Have a blessed day dear BJ, HUGS!

Anonymous said...

You are right, that is a neat and wonderful testimony. Woo-hoo and amen! Amazing, you "never looked back". When God takes care of things, He sure does! And, it anchors me more and more to Him with each thing I understand and know He's doing. Thank you for telling us about it. Love, Jenn

La said...

Congratulations BJ. I have seen the struggle giving up smoking can be.

dana said...

What a great testimony, BJ. What a blessing to have the Lord help you with stopping smoking. I know how hard it is as I quit (nearly 30 years ago). It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but I am so happy that I did.

Hope you had a great weekend....I almost didn't recognize the new look of your blog!! :)

L, Dana

Visits With Mary said...

WONDERFUL..Only through Him did I also manage to quit..very similar to your experience...

Vicki V @ blestnest.blogspot.com said...

This is awesome, BJ! I am particularly intrigued by the symbolism of 3 days. Transformation occurred for Jesus Himself in three days,too, didn't it?!--from death to life, BJ, just like you.

jessica said...

Wow. I didn't know this about you, Memaw. That's a powerful testimony.
Awesome! So proud of you.

Kathleen Grace said...

Praise God! He delivers us from so much, this is truly a miracle BJ. Earl's favorite Uncle is heavily involved in Emmaus and loves it. I have heard nothing but good things about it.

Mary said...

Praise the Lord! I will be featuring this on my top ten this week for sure! The lord helped me quit the same habit 19 years ago. God bless you, Mary :O)

Mama said...

The Walk to Emmaus is near and dear to my heart as well. I highly recommend it to my friends to go expecting nothing, but waiting for God's leading. What a blessing He gave you, that He took away your addiction and saved you from the agony of doing it yourself. I know how hard it is to quit, as I also smoked for years. It was the hardest thing I ever did, quitting smoking. That is, up until now. Come on over and read at the blog, as I'm sharing new information today. Love you, Jean!

The Tablescaper said...

Such an amazing post. So wonderful to hear of your amazing journey. Thank you so much for sharing it with Seasonal Sundays.

- The Tablescaper

The French Hutch said...

bj, this is an amazing story. Its so powerful, and this is a wonderful testimony. Thank you for sharing it.

~Emily
The French Hutch

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

I love hearing testimony of the great things our LORD does! He is so faithful and so ready to help us with our every need. Praise God that you've never looked back. I'm sure that this has been a wonderful witness to many, BJ.

Thanks for linking it to the party!

Hugs,
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/