Wednesday, May 29, 2013

True Soldiers in Gods Army.....My first blog post...an intro to my story!

 Hello world! My smart, beautiful, creative, and loving sister Missy Ashton has created this blog for me and encouraged me to start blogging, so here goes. ...
I am a  recovering alcoholic and drug addict that has a burning desire to help others overcome addiction. I also desire to share the hope and happiness that I have found in my life by turning to the Lord. I desire to be a light in this world filled with so much darkness and bring encouragement into the lives of others in whatever way I can. So I figure this blog is a perfect way to reach people all over the globe! Well if I just reach out to one person and help that person change for the better in some small way well then I have been successful!
I have been working on a book now for sometime. This book is called "True Soldiers in God's Army" (Twelve Steps to Understanding Lifes Spiritual Battle & Overcoming Addiction). I have written the entire book, but at this point I am still in the process of finding a publisher or raising the money to edit and publish the book myself . I will not stop untill this book is materialized and in the hands of addicts and prisoners all over the world!!! I know the book is inspired by God and He is guiding me through this process so I am very confident. My faith in God is real and active!
In this book I tell my own personal story in hopes that others will be able to relate with me and find the courage to change. I figure I will begin this blog by just being real and sharing my own story a little at a time. I will also post scriptures and words of encouragement throughout the week to hopefully brighten your day and help you along the road of life. Please share with me your questions, thoughts, and feelings about whatever is on your mind. Im here to be a friend to all...  The scripture for today is: John 3:16....For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." How does it make you feel to know that our Father in Heaven Loves us that much? It brings joy to my soul to think that the creator of the universe loves ME!!!


Words of encouragement:  
                         
I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah” ~ David, King of Israel & Judah
“It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: ‘And this, too, shall pass away’.’’ ~ Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States of America 
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty” ~ Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of England during WWII 
"... tie a knot and hang on"
“When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. “ ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States of America 

Here is the beginning of my story.....

                                                           
      I hope that by sharing my personal story that you will relate with me as just a real person that has been through a lot of the same things that you have. It is by sharing our stories that we ignite hope in one another. It is by sharing our personal stories that we encourage others to believe in themselves, and to have the courage to change. I am just a real person with real problems and if I can change, well then so can you! Here is my story…
 I have been running from the cops since the day I was born! I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true. We were literally in a high speed chase on the day I was born! On November 27th 1976 my dad was speeding to the hospital while my mom was in full blown labor with me. My mom was about to give birth to me right there in the passenger seat. My dad was speeding along trying to get us to the hospital when he saw the police lights in his rearview mirror. We were being pulled over for speeding, so my dad pulled over and tried to explain to the officer that his wife was in labor and that he needed to hurry to the hospital. Well, I guess the officer was taking a little too long, because my dad hit the gas pedal and left that cop standing right there on the side of the road! It was a high speed chase all the way to Herman hospital there in Houston, Texas! The officer had to be persuaded not to ticket my father once we arrived at the hospital.  So, it really is true, I have been running from the law since the day I was born!!!
I come from a long line of Texans. I am a 7th generation Texan. One of my great Grandfathers’s actually purchased a piece of land from the republic of Texas, when we were our own country! Texans are very proud to be from Texas incase you didn’t know. I always say, “You can take me out of Texas, but you can’t take the Texas out of me”. I love to travel, but Texas will always be home to me.
I am the middle child of five children. There were four boys and one girl. My sister “Missy” is the oldest. Then there was “B.J”. Then me “Daniel”, then “Davis”, and the youngest is “Ben”.  We are all only two to three years apart, so we have all always been close friends. We spent our elementary school days in NW Houston, Texas.  My father “Bob” always made pretty good money, so we never had to go without the things we needed to live comfortably. My father has always been a man of God. When I say, “Man of God” I mean he was in church every Sunday, and he didn’t just talk the talk, he actually walked the walk.  I mean he was a man of his word and he was honest, and hard working. He made sure that come Sunday morning, we were in church. My father loved the game of golf with a passion and he played golf until the day that he died. He actually passed away while he was playing golf! He was on the 7th hole when he had heart failure at the age of 60. I love that man, and miss him very much.  It is my father that taught me by example how to stand strong and brave as a true soldier in God’s army. My father was a righteous God fearing man and he left a legacy behind that makes me want to be a better person every day. I love you Dad!
My mom, “Paula” was what you would call a “stay-at-home” mom; she has played a large role in my recovery by just always being there for me and loving me no matter what.  I have said more than once that, “it was the love that she had for me when I didn’t even love myself that has had more of an impact on me than anything else.” I have always been very close to my Mom. I guess you could call me a “momma’s boy”. My mom is loved by everyone. She has a special gift to love everyone unconditionally. Maybe it was the fact that her father was so abusive to her that she is so loving and forgiving to everyone, I’m not for sure, but I am for sure that I am very thankful to have a mom that taught me that love is one of the most powerful forces in this world. My parents tried to have us in church every Sunday. They taught us about God and His eternal plan. They taught us how to pray and to recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost. In fact soon after I was baptized at the age of eight I had a spiritual experience that I will share with you now. One summer day I was walking down a creek side all alone. I was just walking along throwing rocks into the creek enjoying the Texas summer sunshine, when all of the sudden I was compelled by some strange force to turn and run as fast as I could. When I say I was compelled, I mean some powerful force outside of my self literally caused me to turn and run! When I looked back at where I had been walking, I saw a giant six foot snake lying right in my path! At that very moment I knew I had been protected by a higher power. I knew that God was aware of me, and that the Holy Ghost has the power to warn us of danger. It was a big snake and it would have bitten me! I would have walked right onto that snake if it wasn’t for the influence of the Holy Ghost. I have known since that day that God is real and that the Holy Ghost has the power to warn and protect us. I know it’s true!
I fell in love with the game of golf around the age of eight. My dad was a member of a private C.C. that I would play at every chance I got. During the summer, my Dad would drop me off before daylight on his way to work, and I would play golf all day long, and I loved every minute of it. He would pick me up on his way home from work. I was in jr.high school when my Dad leased a popular driving range in N.W. Houston, TX. I practically lived on that driving range. I loved the driving range. If I was not at school, I was at the golf course, or on the driving range. I begin to make pretty good money for a fifteen year old. I would go up and down the tee box and clean golf clubs for five bucks a set. My Dad also paid me to pick up, and clean golf balls. He taught me everything I needed to know to operate the driving range. A lot of my time at the driving range was spent practicing golf.  I would hit a thousand balls a day sometimes! I was in love with golf. I was playing in the H.G.A.( Houston Golf Association), as well as the A.J.G.A. (American Junior Golf Association). Let’s just say that golf was pretty much my life.

Ok....there is the beginning of my story....I will continue my story as people begin to read it. Thanks and have a blessed day!


4 comments:

  1. This is awesome what your doing brother. I will read every blog you put up. I struggle all the time with my addiction so I could use the advice and spiritual words. I love you brother keep it up.

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    1. Thanks for reading Rocky...Ill always love u like a brother!!!

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  2. Looking forward to the next section!

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  3. Beautiful writing & I look forward to the next blog. We actually grew up a block from each other but I was a little older. Keep up the inspiring words.

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