HOW?

If we were really honest when people ask, “How are you doing?” …well, some of us might go into a rant about what is really going on.  Who did us wrong. How the morning didn’t go so well.  What child made us want to ring their neck.  How those jeans didn’t fit just right.  The things we didn’t get.  The people who looked at us wrong.  …and the list goes on… and perhaps on.

How do you REALLY feel?  With a good amount of reflection, we could tell you exactly how we feel, but most times, it’s not how we feel, it’s how something else made us that way.  We blame others for our bad moods.  We point at circumstances and events in our lives that created in us some type of victim.  We want everything that is bad to be someone else’s fault.

But ohhhh, if it’s going good…it’s all about US, right?

But what if we take all of those things–good AND bad– and remind ourselves that it’s really, all good.  I know what you are thinking!  “I don’t have a mate, my parents died just when I needed them, my child is driving me to drink (literally) or I was just diagnosed with …”  How in the world can THOSE THINGS be good???

I totally admit, it is hard to look at our low low looooow valley circumstances and think they are good.  They aren’t.  They are sad, devastating, body aching times that feel like they are going to do us in.  They are going to break us.

We don’t have to claim the brokenness.  We don’t have to stay in our cracked state. Oh yes, these things change us.  Sometimes we change a lot.  Our personalities become different.  We don’t talk the same, don’t do things we used to do or even try to disappear.  It happens. I know.  I’ve seen it.  I’ve experienced it.  But we don’t have to stay like that.  We don’t have to create a different path for our future because we have had a horrible experience.  We CAN look at the good, bad and super ugly in a different way.  We can.  We have the ability.  God made us with a free-will, a choice, a daily question to answer.  How will you take today?  How will you survive this?  How will you look at what is in front of you and come out the other end?  HOW?

If you have read to this point, you want to know what I have to say about His answer.

This is the only way I have gotten through any trying time in my life successfully.  It is through the word of the Almighty God!  He is the answer.  He is my perspective.  He is my answer to “HOW?”!!!  The only answer I know to be right and true.  You can read those self-help books written by people who say apple cider vinegar and ginger root fixes all that ails you.  You can.  I’ve read a few.  But the only book that can truly help fix what ails you is THE BIBLE.  It’s written by God inspired and guided people who are bringing us HIS truth.

A lot of people have a lot of reasons why they don’t read it.  “It’s too long.  It has weird stories. It doesn’t tell me anything.  It just doesn’t help me.”  All of those excuses tell me that you are not in a place where you really want a fix.  You don’t want a different perspective.  You don’t want an answer to your, “How?” You don’t need it so bad that you will reach out to God and ask for His help, because you don’t believe He can do it.

I’m telling you right now in this blog that has gone a little longer than I thought it would…

He can!

He can help any situation, any circumstance….ANYTHING.

But you first must believe.  You have to step toward Him and not away.   You have to want it… so bad… you will do anything to grab on to it!  Read the Bible.  Pray for God to reveal what He has for you.  He wants to help you through whatever you are going through.  He wants to be there for the good, the bad, the really hideous!  He wants to answer your “HOW?”  He wants to help you see what He sees, because no matter what it is, if you love Him, if you trust Him… ALL THINGS work together for your good.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  -Romans 8:28

Wanna Brag a Little?

WANNA BRAG???

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say,

“If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

Our world is full to the brim with so many people who want to talk about themselves and point a light on what THEY are doing. You can see post after post where people are recording their good deeds.  I understand we do need to show or talk about GOOD stuff more often, because we are bombarded with the ugly, bad and worse when we watch world news.  But really, do we want to show others ourselves?  Do we want to shine a light on how awesome we are?  Do we want others to be able to brag on us?  I find that to be quite embarrassing when it happens.  Sure, I appreciate being appreciated, but I want people to know WHY I am able to do what I do.  It’s not because I’m continuously striving to impress others.  It’s not because I want people to look at me!  I’m not some “hero” or someone who wants to be put above others.  I’m just a person who wants to be used for good.  I want to shine a light on who should really get our attention.

I do not intend on bragging about myself.  Not ever.  I have talents and abilities only because God has gifted them to me.  He sends them through me so that I may bless others.  I thank Him so much for ALL!

So it’s not me.  It’s not the world around me.  It’s the one inside of me who is greater than anyone or anything in this world.

I WANNA BRAG A LITTLE… (or a lot).

When my light shines…

I want to show you WHO REALLY deserves all the credit: MY GOD! 

My God allows me to do what I do. I thank Him and give Him all the glory!!!

It’s Alright

I’ve actually blogged about this song before.  My plan is to sing this tomorrow for my church.  It’s one of those songs that reminds me to not freak out, stress or go crazy about any situation, because it really is going to be OK.  Thank You Jesus!

We all have that person in our lives that says that to you.  You may have more than one person that does it for ya.  My biggest OK man was my dad.  He was my cheerleader.  He was the one I went to with any question at all.  When he answered me, it made perfect sense.  He could always comfort me.  He was a voice of reason.  He would just say, “It’s going to be ok.” and I was *thumbs up*!

This song reminds me that I still have people like that in my life.  God has put people in my life to remind me that no matter what, it’s going to be ok.  I can call or text my people in times of craziness and they are ready to give me a word, shoot me the perfect emoji or most better yet, send me a Bible verse and pray for me.

I take comfort most of all in God’s word.  God truly tells us in the Bible that it is going to be OK.  It is going to be ALRIGHT.  We win.  We overcome!  He sent His son to overcome so we can too.

I can go through times of sorrow, times of confusion, times that I want to hurt someone because they are crazy, times that anger me or cause me to doubt myself, BUT with God and His gift of mercy and grace,

IT’S ALRIGHT!

 

Bulletin

Our bulletin from church today means a lot to me. Maybe I’ll talk about it later, but really, it can stand alone with no explanation. 

RADICAL?

Are you over the top about something?

Do you consider yourself obsessed with a habit or tradition?

Do you call yourself a radical at all?

A lot of us, in fact, MOST of us would never use the word radical when describing ourselves.  Radical is one of those words used for bad stuff.  Radical people are way over the top, beyond the point of turning back on some issue and/or what we believe to be just totally crazy.

Within the last month or so I had a friend of mine compare my religion with another religion and say something like this…a Radical Muslim is basically the same as a Radical Christian.  They believe intensely about their religion.

Hmmmm… I am scratching my head even now thinking about this.  Really?

I’m not going to expound on the Muslim side of this.  I am pretty sure we all know what a Radical Muslim is most about.  Even those (and especially those) of you who are reading this that are perhaps Muslim, know what a “Radical Muslim” stands for.

Go Google it if you aren’t completely sure.

A Radical Christian, on the other hand, is nothing like that of a Radical Muslim.  A Christian who is sold out, over the top, crazy about Jesus is Radical about one main thing.  This ONE main thing is LOVE.  A person who is truly a Radical Christian is all-in for Jesus’s message which is only of love.  Jesus came to wipe away our sins.  He came to save us–all of us!  He came for those needing Him which is everyone.  He came in love, to sacrifice His very life for others.

That is what we are all to emulate, match, copy, imitate…

THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST.  Did he only love His family and His friends?  Naw.  Did He only love the rich people and those in power.  Not at all!  He loved all… even those trying to find wrong in Him–He wanted them to repent.  He wants all to repent and be saved.  He’s RADICAL about it even!  How much more radical can you get by hanging on a cross and becoming a sacrifice for our sins?!?  Seriously?

I know being a “Radical Christian” is most all the time frowned upon by this society as a whole. Being a RADICAL anything is looked at as a negative.  I say, trying our hardest to be as Radical as a Christian we can be…ONLY MEANS to show as much love to all others as much as we possibly can–ALL the time, no matter what we are doing, or where we are.  Will we ever actually be able to call ourselves RADICAL CHRISTIANS?  (I sure wish I could wear that title all the time!)

I do know this for sure though…

A Radical Christian is absolutely nothing like a Radical Muslim.

Don’t believe me?  Research it.

Distant?

Just within the last few days,

I’ve read and heard so many different things about when people feel like God is “distant.”

Whaaaaaaaaaaat?

I don’t understand that.  You feel HE is distant?

Don’t you mean that YOU are being distant from Him?

How can you feel that He is distant?  HE hasn’t fulfilled the list you gave Him last night during bedtime prayers?  He hasn’t healed you or your family member yet?  He hasn’t kept up His side of the deal?  Seriously?

I admit, I’m in the middle of a waiting period right at this moment.  I am confident that this thing is going to happen, but I have no idea when.  I know that God is going to bless us through it.  I know it!  He is always working and moving and making things come together so we can look at it and go, “Wow, I never thought it could, would or even might come together like that, but WOW that is even better than I could have ever thought, imagined or dreamed!”   So, yep, I’m waiting and yep, I do get impatient.  Ohhhhhhhh do I get a little down about it at times, but do I ever feel like God is distant!?!  Absolutely not.

He tells me over and over and over in the scriptures that HE IS WITH ME.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.  Joshua 1:9 ESV 

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 ESV 

He tells me through prayer and the daily sustaining of all things needed He provides for me.  He tells me through the Holy Spirit that I am never ever alone.

HE IS NOT DISTANT.  He is always there.  Why do you feel He is distant? Why?  Ask yourself truthfully and seriously.  Has he really wondered from you?  Has He truly distanced Himself from you.

That would be a, “Nope, no, never, not gonna, naw!”

Distant?

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

 

 

 

YOU HAVE NO IDEA!

You seriously have NO CLUE about the potential one person has.  You don’t know.  YOU HAVE NO IDEA!

You may have a theory or a thought.  You might think you understand what the person is capable of…  You know there are those around you that you may think of as lazy or incapable.  But really…YOU HAVE NO IDEA!

EVERYONE brings something.  EVERYONE has a talent…a strength.  EVERYONE has an ability that they do much better than the people around them.  God put them there for that.

It’s just like Esther.  She was created for a purpose bigger than she could ever imagine.  In the verses below, it says, “for such a time as this,” which always reminds me that TODAY COULD BE THE DAY that God really needs me to stand somewhere, do something or share a word or two to further HIS kingdom.

“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

-Ester 4:14

We have no idea how God is using other people.  Most of the time, we have no idea how He is using us–how could we even begin to know about someone else.  WE HAVE NO IDEA!

Don’t discount others.  Don’t think people as worthless even though their actions may make our opinions point directly to that.  Let’s remember that God put us here with specific talents, abilities and strengths. (for a time such as this)  We need to be mindful of those.  We need to ask God directly what they are occasionally.  Be in tune more with what YOU have to offer and don’t concern yourself with what others SHOULD be doing.  Pray for them.  They may need prayers to help them find their calling.  God will take care of the rest, because remember:

YOU HAVE NO IDEA!

AWESOME, not perfect

I was born to be AWESOME! (not perfect)

‪#‎thankfulEVERYday‬ for JESUS!

Perfection is our worse enemy.  I’ve heard this, but never really thought about it in depth.  I mean, I agreed with the statement, but never stopped to think about it means–exactly.

I know comparison can get ugly if we are trying to compare ourselves to others.  You will never be something you aren’t.  Your physical self is created by God.  If you are obsessing about how it may not be “perfect,” you are messing with HIS creation.  He made you!  You want to argue with HIM?  I know we do a lot of times, but ALWAYS remember, WE WILL NEVER WIN.

We can strive to be a better person and even have role models to look to, but if you so want to be that person that it gets in the way with what GOD has for you, that is some dangerous stuff!

I know God made me to be Awesome.  He tells me in the Bible stuff like this:

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

EPHESIANS 2:8-10 NLT

HE had great stuff already planned for me to do!  That blows my mind.

I’m so glad I chose and continue each day to choose JESUS.

I know He was perfect and I will try my best to be more and more like HIM…

But as I said up there:

I was born to be AWESOME! (not perfect)

‪#‎thankfulEVERYday‬ for JESUS!

Does it always have to be about being Christian?

A while back, a friend of mine had someone ask her if EVERYTHING to her had to be about being a Christian?

This keeps coming into my head.  I keep answering the question up in there too.  YES.  It really does need to be all about FOLLOWING JESUS.  That is what Christian means, right?  If I call myself a Christian, I’m a follower of Christ.  Therefore, YES, EVERYTHING falls under that.

Being a Christian to me is like nothing else I am.  It’s as constant as the fact that I’m a woman, but still not the same.  It’s more than that.  Being a Christian involves much more than just gender or culture or the color of my skin.  It is what holds everything I am together.  How did I do it before I was born again??? –is the question I ask myself over and over.

I pray that everyday I become more and more like Christ.  That is what Christians are supposed to strive for, right?  We are supposed to live CHRIST-LIKE.  We are supposed to press on toward the reward that is awaiting us BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST, emphasizing CHRIST (since I’m talking about CHRISTian here) gave His life so we could have it.

DOES THIS MEAN that I can’t be friends with non-Christians?  NO.  Does this mean I’m “holier than thou?”  HAHAHA…no! Does this mean I can only love those who love Jesus?  NO!  I’m to love my neighbor and that is EVERYONE. (Mark 12:31) There are no stipulations in the Bible that say I’m to only love people just like me.  I’m supposed to love ALL Y’ALL!   I do believe that is what I will try my hardest to do.

Soooooooooooo…

DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ABOUT BEING CHRISTIAN?

TO ME…

Yes.  I have chosen to be a Christian.

I HAVE DECIDED.

Reminds me of a song.  (Like most things do!)

Check these guys out—

(The Trumpet Will Sound)

THIS IS A GREAT “END TIMES” BLOG.  I had to share it!

 

“As much as I love this life, I can’t wait for the day when You call me home.”

 

1 Corinthians 15:12 (The Trumpet Will Sound).