When expressing my concerns for situations i find myself in and general frustration a very dear friend told me he was going to send me something that helped him develop a more Christ like focus.
I expected a book in the mail that explained 21 steps that we can take to a better future. I expected 40 memory verses that you must know chapter and verse in order to have a better work environment. I expected a long document that i’d tried to wrap my head around to formulate a better living place for me in this big strange world. I thought for sure it was going to require me developing some new formula, plan, structure i had never heard.
THIS IS WHAT HE SENT ME:
And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation—some fact of my life —unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God’s world by mistake. Until I could accept my problems, I could not stay sane; unless I accept life completely on life’s terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes.
Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” He forgot to mention that I was the chief critic. I was always able to see the flaw in every person, every situation. And I was always glad to point it out, because I knew you wanted perfection, just as I did. Acceptance has taught me that there is a bit of good in the worst of us and a bit of bad in the best of us; that we are all children of God and we each have a right to be here. When I complain about me or about you, I am complaining about God’s handiwork. I am saying that I know better than God.
from Alcoholics Anonymous pg. 417.
That was all i needed to hear. The Holy Spirit began to work in my mind, renew my thought process and with God’s help the little things that i’ve sweat over before will no longer cause me to run into the same walls of frustration, fear and confussion i’ve run into in the past.
God reminds me,
Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.
Romans 14:1 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.14.1.NLT
Pressing On,
Tom “Beetle” Bailey
Note- back when I wrote this I worked at The Salvation Army of Saint Augustine, Florida
That was also my church. Visit their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/The-Salvation-Army-of-Saint-Augustine-204243596357064/timeline/
And if you’re ever in beautiful Saint Augustine, Florida visit
at 1425 Old Dixie Highway Saint Augustine, FL 32084
904-824-6956
While WE were yet still sinners Christ died for us, talk about acceptance!
read on…Verse 10 starts with
10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers………..
(ADDRESSED TO: sisters, mothers, brothers, family, those who believe in CHRIST and are part of this family of God), finish this verse James 3:10
this should not be.

If this post was helpful to you please check out any of these other post that are related to this same subject:
You made me do it?
Where Did The Fog Come From?” Suicide
Kicking Against The Pricks
“HOW TO STOP KICKING AGAINST THE PRICKS”
LET GO ! ! ! !
Rethink – Rejoice
Jackass Speaking
Ordinary People
Anxious much?
HELP!!! (for when you feel alone and you’re like, “Can i get some help over here?!”)
Keep Running (The Marathon)
No man is an Island
Sermon Jam (need assurance that Jesus Accepts?)
Straight Talk (who is really driving?)
Do They Know Their Lights Aren’t On?
Following Our Mission Statement
Accepting ALL
Above the confusing MAZE
Eyes on Jesus not ANYONE else
Messiah’s Misfits
Who’s Side are you on? Who’s Side is God on?
Bride of Frankenstein or Bride of Christ
Come Apart Before You Fall Apart
Appearance
Above All Else
Am i a REJECT?!
Trying To Do The Job Alone
1 Stone, 1 Throw, 1 Dead Giant (VICTORY!)
Taking My Foot Off The Gas
tombeetlebailey 
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Thank you!Tom I can relate to AA, I spent a couple years in that program. I still recommend it to people struggling cause frankly I don’t think I could of stopped solely Via the church (building). I was just thinking about this the other day about complaining about ourselves or others. I was in outreach with a couple and I would get upset with myself and beat myself up, verbally. My friend would say “don’t talk about my friend like that.” Another one is God don’t make junk, and He’s not just talking about us, He’s taking about us all. Tom I just posted something on Facebook, I would appreciate any input on it that you have, I respect your opinion. It’s on Philippians 4:13, thanks.
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Wow, i approved this, so i know iread it but my short term memory loss (caused by the accident and just plain ol’ old age, caused me to forget i read it.
Not sure why i didn’t reply earlier but probably cause i could sit at the desk no longer.
I praise God for you, you are a miracle Karen, don’t tell yourself or let anyone else tell you anything less.
Do you have a blog too?
Did you see me after the accident (when we use to work together and i came back in to kinda say goodbye to who ever i could?
good memories and now even better ones.
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going to FB now. Will leave not there. If you have a blog, let me know, if you start one let me know.
Can’t you picture me in 2 weeks after back surgery looking for good stuff to read that will help me heal?
If you haven’t don so, pray about it, grow some ballistic courage and just do it. It won’t hurt.
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Hear this before very much agree..
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Until HIS love breaks through weeds are going to be weeds, goats are going to be goats, bad fish are going to be bad fish.
Only each person can let God’s love break through. Remember what it was like for you before HIS love broke through to you. Love others though their time of darkness, confusion & bitterness as He loved you through yours.
Get serious and follow HIM regardless of what others are or are not doing. YOU focus on HIM and let HIM focus on YOU:
It is all in HIS hands let HIM hold you and let HIM touch them by loving them through it all.
HE knows what HE is doing, we don’t know all He has planned all we know is WE need to be like HIM and let Him love others through us as HE loved US.
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True Acceptance:
SERMON JAM – TRUE ACCEPTANCE SEEN
to see full post of this, not just video. If you see true acceptance lived out it makes it much easier to live it out yourself.
Look at what Jesus did. Do what Jesus did (D.W.J.D. rather than just W.W.J.D. -asking what would Jesus do) and if you can see clearly what Jesus did THEN you also can ask His Spirit into your life and He can show others through you what He did, what He does and what he can do.
Accepting a Barabbas could make all the difference in your faith as well as in the faith of others.
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Saw this too, I thought it was a clever way to get the word out.
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The song, “ALL THE LOSER WIN” by D&K band:
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Reblogged this on tombeetlebailey and commented:
A Friend was one of the BEST modes of transportation used by God to reach out and help me. Friends don’t always do that. Look how Job’s Friends helped him, hurt him i should say…
Accepting that I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God’s world by mistake. ( a.a. big book pg.417) is so valuable to me right now.
No matter how much i pray in my heart or with my lips with tears coming down my face in sincerity,
“Lord grant me the serenity….”
i’m not going to get it UNTIL i do my part. The serenity from God comes when i bend my will to accept HIS will…that is when the supernatural things happen.
Think about it, i am asking God to grant me serenity to accept things i can not change. He is changing my heart because an all mighty powerful God allows us to have free will. He wants a “relationship” with us not a forced religious minion that just blindly follows a list of commands but allows Him to come into our heart, take over.
THEN we constantly, daily, moment by moment make a conscience effort to keep on asking Him and letting Him be our master. Renew our nature. That is what that whole born again thing is all about.
i know it is freaky to think about being possessed and perhaps we can identify with demon possession better than The Holy Spirit possessing someone but maybe only because we just haven’t see it or recognized HIM (Christ living in someone’s life)
or
we’ve seen Him in someone’s life, pretty sure we saw Him and His characteristics and then that same person fell out of love with Him and kicked Him out of their life by allowing sin, distractions, religion, other people and other things to take HIS place.
THIS post i just had to re-blog because it is a great mode of transportation and helps the baby Christian grow up and the mature christian (Christ-like person) continue to grow.
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