It Will Be Alright

Those four words are seldom heard and often needed.

It will be alright. 

 Most people want to give you their well meaning advice, or try to "fix it" for you, or worse....they just ignore your pain and dilemma and turn their head the other way.

Well, I wanted to tell you today that "it will be alright". You have been through hard times before and you made it through. You have learned that you are tougher than you thought. Having gone through those hard times, you also learned a thing or two. You know carry that "thing or two" into this new problem that has arisen in your life.

Troubles will ALWAYS come. Most of the time, we live our lives "drama free"...but don't fool yourselves, we will not be free from trials and tribulations until we have passed from this world into the next. Only then will we be truly free from it. Only then are we promised "no more pain and no more tears".

So for now, chin up. Don't give up. You are more resilient, more resourceful, and wiser than you think. You can do it.

It will be alright. 

If this helped you or blessed you in anyway, please pass it on. Thanks.

Living In A Blended Home ~ Step Parents and Stepchildren

So, you live in a house with your spouse and yours AND their kids. Overwhelming at times, hard at times, but there are also a lot of funny, wonderful moments as well.

During those hard times, there are typically a few things that start that "fire". I don't claim to have all of the answers, but I have been through this for over 11 years now. I will just tell you what came up in my house, and what worked the best.

We didn't have any help when we started a blended family, we had to learn by trial and error, but I am glad that I can pass our wisdom and experience on to you. There are a few rules though...Lets check those out first.

#1. All kids are different, so some of this will work in your house and some of it may not.

#2. Married couples have their own idea of  "how it will be in their house" and "in their marriage". That's cool, I understand....just take what will help, and throw the rest out. If I end up giving you one good idea that works, that's better than nothing, right?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. One of the number one hardest things is disciplining someone else's kid. It is hard for you, and it is hard for their natural parent.

Do NOT, and I repeat, do not argue about it in front of the kids. Never let them see you divided. If you are not married yet, best thing to do is discuss what you will do, and how you will handle i,t BEFORE marriage. If you are married, its OK. Just do it now.

Put up a list of family agreed upon rules. Paste it on the fridge. Then when someone breaks that rule, there is no bad guy or "heavy" coming down on them. They realize that they just simply broke the rule that's on the fridge and now they have to take whatever punishment you and your spouse (and we included our children in this decision as well) had decided upon ahead of time.

2. Another issue is birthdays. I know, how can a birthday be a problem? Well, if one spouse goes all out for birthdays, and one spouse thinks a cupcake and a card will suffice, your going to have issues. Which brings us back to a point I made in example number one. COMMUNICATE. Talk to your spouse in private and discuss these things. It will alleviate HUGE fights later.

3. The x-spouse. Oh, this is a big one my friends. Especially if the x-spouse seems to be satan's right hand man (or woman). Never talk bad about that other parent in front of the kids. It will only make the kids mad at you and think less of you. Thankfully, I knew not to do this one ahead of time, and I have not and will not ever talk bad about their other parent. Not a good idea. Even if they earned the "title" you might want to give them.

4. Eat together. At least twice a week. Use this time to ask them how they are doing. Hows school, how are their friends, etc. Let them know about your week too. Then if anyone in the family is going through a hard time, after dinner, stop and pray about that together as a family. Teamwork. Always remain a team. United.

5. Rebellious teen or child. They need A LOT of love. They are acting out because they are hurting and having trouble dealing with their parents divorce. In some situations, counseling is your best bet, even if they don't want to. If you can go through your church, I would suggest that first. Why? Well, mainly because you know they will have the same set of values that you do.

6. Do at least one family fun night, weekly if you can. Make it the same day at the same time so that no one ever forgets. Play a board game, go fishing, go for a hike or bike ride together. SOMETHING. Families that can have fun together have a much healthier relationship than those who are distant and shut off from each other. Technology can be a good thing, but not when it interferes with the relationship you have with each other.

7. Not last, because this is the most important. Keep God front and center at all times. NEVER leave Him out of your marriage, out of your house, or out of your life. He is the key to succeeding.

I hope this has helped you in some way and been a blessing to you. If it has, please pass it on to someone else.

My Experience With "Cereal People". You know...Fruits, Nuts, and Flakes

I think that Christians who come off as a "little strong" can sometimes be labeled as "fruits, nuts, and flakes"....(or as I lovingly call them "cereal people"). They have the right heart I think, but they are seriously misguided to some degree.

Why do I say that?

Well, I think that sometimes, as Christians...if you are not careful you can develop a sense of pride, or "I am somehow better than you" attitude. Sometimes it can be that you feel you are wiser, know more, or "have all the answers this or that person needs".  Whether you realize it or not, that is a form of pride.

Pride: a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance,merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.

No one likes to hear that. But sometimes we need to. Better to stay humble and right minded than haughty and high minded. Right?

In our attempt to "do good" and "help others", we inevitably make them roll their eyes and turn AWAY from God. We end up being "cereal" people, instead of someone that they want to be like.

In the Bible, Jesus was our example right? He didn't just tell the disciples one phrase or one word to "show them the way". He walked with them, talked with them, ate with them, and lived his day to day life SHOWING them.

We are supposed to be disciples of Christ and MAKING disciples of Christ not just by the words of our testimony...but by our life, our actions......Who we are in every day life.

People can smell a fake from a mile away.

Be true to them. Real. Let them see you for who you REALLY are. But by doing so, you will let them see how God honestly helped you through it and they will see your faith and perseverance. Only then will they possibly  believe that "this is for real".

This world is a generation of "show me", "prove it", and "I will believe it when I SEE it" type of crowd. So, lets SHOW them God is real by the way we live day to day. Instead of trying to "one line" them into eternal salvation and be an "instant fix" to their problems. Dont fool yourself, only God can be the "fix" they so desperately need. That takes time, trust, a relationship.

I'm not preaching at you by the way. I have been a spiritual fruit, nut and flake  myself in the past. In my excitement and zeal for God and for what He had so miraculously done in MY life, I tried to be peoples shining answer. It doesn't work that way people.

Example, patience, perseverance.

If You See This Today And You Read It, Then This Message Was Just For You

You ARE strong, no matter what the circumstances may look like around you. (Romans 8:37)

You DO have help and a mighty army behind you, even if it feels like you are all alone. (Psalm 91)

You ARE halfway there, don't quit now, your victory is right around the corner! (Galatians 6:9)

You are NOT lost. Quit telling yourself that. You are LED, you are given WISDOM, and you are EQUIPPED.  (1 Corinthians 1:9, Psalm 37: 23-24, James 1:5)

Best things is.....because of God.....you win. You will always win in the end. Our goal, our prize, our ultimate victory, is that we have eternal life in Heaven with God, Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit.

Even on your darkest day.....the light of the truth will shine all the more brighter. Keep your eyes on the truth.   The darkness is always a lie,  and the light ALWAYS wins.

You Are Someones "Example" and Someones "Hero" ~ Even If You Dont Know It

The definition of the word Example says it all.  One that serves as a pattern to be imitated or not to be imitated <a good example> <a bad example>.

Often times there are people in our lives that watch us and decide that we are "cool", "worthy of following", and they want to be "just like us". 

You can be the person at the counter at McDonalds and this same teenage kid comes in every day after school to get a burger and fries. He decides that you are who he wants to be like. After all, you do have the cool hair, the right watch, and killer shoes. You make him laugh with your antics of making fun of other customers, dropping someones food on the floor and putting it on the bun, and taking smoke breaks out back way too often. 

Whether you realized it or not, you just led that boy down the same path.

On the other hand, you can be the kid, or young adult at Walmart checking people out at the register. This Walmart is around the corner from the young mans house so he comes in all the time to check out the video games and buy some chips or gum. He just so happens to come to your check out line A LOT. After all, you have all of the cool hair and clothes remember?

He sees you being polite, even with the belligerent woman who is in front of him in line. You even put her groceries in her basket for her and tell her to have a wonderful day.....WITH A SMILE. He asks you why you didn't just tell her off. He is amazed at your answer. "We all have bad days at times. I don't know what this lady is going through in her life. Obviously its something terrible and she doesn't need me to add to her pain. Besides, its better to do whats right and then sleep good at night, don't you think?"

You never see this kid again, but he was so impressed with you and with your actions that he carries that with him the rest of his life and it is the one thing that gets him promoted throughout his career as an adult. 

Point is, we need to always know and be aware that SOMEONE is watching us. Doesn't matter if you are a Doctor, Teacher, Burger Flipper, or Custodian.....you are someones hero...someones example. Someones mom or dad. 

Your life does matter. Your actions do matter. Be someone worth following! Be someones Hero. 

Does God Love Me and Can I Ever Be Separated From His Love?

I used to ask that question a lot. To the "open air" mostly. You know...when your driving down the road by yourself and no one is around.

One day while reading I ran across Romans Chapter 8 in the Bible. (It has always been my favorite chapter in the Bible since that day)

Romans 8:35-39

 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[a]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So you see. Nothing can separate you from Gods love. He loves you right now, just the way you are. Exactly WHERE you are. He is there for you. Always.

The "Irritating Person" You Call Your Spouse

Lets face it. Marriage is a lot of work.

I know, I know....we all have visions (especially us girls) of roses, romance, and happily ever afters. Then we get hit with disagreements, our spouses little idiosyncrasies, and a full dose of reality staring us right in the face. 

On the flip side of that......there is a reason you married that person. What was it? Some days you just have to keep reminding yourself of those reasons. Besides, marriage takes TWO and I am sure that we annoy our spouse on occasion as well. 

We cannot CHANGE the person we are with. That is out of our control. What we can change is ourselves. What we CAN control is our reactions to things when they happen. 

If your marriage is a "bed of roses" and you have never had trials come up, or you have never wished your spouse was on another planet at times....I would have to say that you have either been married less than a year, or you are full of cow manure up to your ears. 

For the rest of us that live in the real world.....read on.

Step one....write down what you love about that person. Compliment them on something every day. At least one thing. No false flattery....something genuine.

Step two....If you like romance and they don't....YOU make a candle lit dinner and invite them to it. Maybe they just never had an example of romance and they are oblivious to what it looks like or what it is. 

Step three....communicate. Over the years I have LOVED to ask Golden Anniversary couples (50 years of marriage) what their secret is. I always hear the same thing. 

Never give up on the other person and never go to bed angry. 

Remember it is a commitment....not a trial period. A life long agreement, not a temporary pass. 

Now, I know better than most that abuse is a totally different story. I'm talking to those of you...(and me now thankfully) who are married to a good, non abusive people. 

Hang in there, make God the center of your marriage, and I will get to ask YOU on your Golden Anniversary how you did it! 

Island Of Isolation ~ The Hurt And The Forgotten

So your life has become one big disappointment. This world has dealt you so many bad hands that you are discouraged, frustrated, generally unhappy and just fine with living your life alone.... Or are you?

You have pushed all around you away because if they are "pushed away", they cant be close enough to hurt you. You have been hurt far too much and too deep to risk feeling that emotion again. Because if you do...you fear it may be the time that pushes you over the edge into oblivion.

I have been there and I know that you have GOT TO LET IT GO. You are not living if you are living alone. Yes, you MAY avert being hurt, but honestly its not likely. You will just be alone, sour, depressed, and hating your life.

And its selfish.

Yes, selfish. You are unique. You have a certain set of talents and gifts that no one else had. God created you as one of a kind. There is literally no one else on earth like you. You are the answer to someones prayers. If you isolate yourself, you are preventing that from being able to happen. Someone out there NEEDS you.

Isolation is not what God intended for your life. You may think its easier. But its not. I've been there remember? I know.

Life has hurt in it. There was never any promises that it wouldn't. In fact, we were told by God that we WOULD  have hurts in this life. (John 1:33) We were also promised that in Heaven, we would  never  hurt again. Never cry again, never be cold or hungry again. Our reward is in Heaven. (Revelation 21:3-7)

That doesn't mean we cannot have joy and peace here though. We just have to learn to give our troubles, our hurts, our fears and disappointments to God. (Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7) He has a way of turning our mishaps into miracles. Our trials into triumphs. Its amazing.

Don't be a puppet for the devil any longer. Open the shades, turn on the lights, get out and walk around in the day. Make yourself accessible to those around you. If you get hurt, get up, dust off and go at it again. Refuse to give up or be shaken. God will help you. He will never leave you, never forsake you, and never give you up. He will be your ever present help in time of need if you let Him.

If this helped you or if you know of someone that this might be a blessing to, please pass it on. Thanks.

To Go To Church, Or Not.....That Is The Question.

Over the years I have heard so many stories about people who have been hurt, burned, and disappointed by those in the church they go to. Sometimes by fellow church members, sometimes by the leaders or Pastors themselves.

Since those are the very people they look up to, and try to follow after, I think this hurts all the worse and creates a deeper wound in some. Sometimes, the hurt is so bad that the person never steps foot into a church again.

Being in some faucet of the ministry off and on for the past 8 years, I have seen a lot. I have been the recipient of a lot myself. I have been there. I do understand. I have been hurt in the same way.

I have also had a look at the ministry side as well. The "behind the scenes". I have discovered this.......

There is fault on both sides to one degree or another.

First of all, we have to realize that church is made up of imperfect people. Some may seem perfect, but trust me, they are not. They all have hang ups, character flaws, and they sin too. The Bible says that if any man says there is no sin in his life, he is a liar and there is no truth in him. (1 John 1:8)

Second of all, we need to choose not to be offended. When hurtful things come our way we have a decision to make. We can either let it defeat us, or make us better and wiser. Look at it this way, when we are hurt we know first hand what it feels like, and personally know the pain it causes. Therefore, we do not want to do that to anyone else. Also, if someone has a similar experience, we are better equipped to help them.

Jesus gets it you know. He understands the trials we go through and has great compassion for us. Hebrews 4:15 NLT This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

Now there are, unfortunately, some churches that exist for the wrong reasons, but they are few and far between.  Its like this, if a white man murders his wife, we dont say all white men are wife murderers. That would be unrealistic and unfair. So if one church is bad or badly run, that doesn't mean all churches are bad and badly run. Pray for the one that is amiss, and then find a good one to go to.

Thirdly, we need to learn to COMMUNICATE with each other. If we have suffered an offense, 9 times out of 10 it is a misconception and a misunderstanding. If we go to that person we suffered the offense from and talk to them about it......usually you will discover they didnt even realize they had hurt you and they are infact very sorry they did. 

The devil LOVES it when we keep things hidden deep inside and leave them in the dark to fester. The truth is in the light, in the open. So communicate, you will be glad you did. 

One last thing....A brick wall in strong. Each brick is just as important as the other brick in forming the wall, right? They have to stick together in order for the wall to function properly. Even though one brick is part of the wall and closely surrounded by four other bricks, he is not close to the other 400 bricks. He can see them, love them, even help them from where he is, but he remains closest to the four around him. And thats OK.

We need to love each other and have compassion for each other, but that doesn't mean we need to hang out everyday together for cook outs. We are all different and some personalities clash. You can love someone and be willing to help them and support them without being their every waking hour companion. 

To sum it up, if you have been hurt by a church, church leaders, or fellow church members....give it another try. Chin up, the right church IS out there. Made especially for you. Ask God and He will help you find it. When you do, be FAITHFUL. Where you are planted, you will flourish. 

I hope this has helped you. If you are at this place and you want to share, send me an email. creativelyenclined@gmail.com 

If you know of someone that this might help, please share it with them. 
 

Your Fortune Told

You will be accepted by at least one person today, just the way you are.

You will be loved by at least one person today. For your good side, and for your not so good side.


You will be sung over today.

You will be led into correct paths and brought out of troubles.

You will be held, helped, comforted, and strengthened.

You will be more than a conqueror.

You win.

Ephesians 1:11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

1 John 3:1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!..................

Zephaniah 3:17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” 

Romans 8:31-39 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

~ A Matter Of Cause and Reaction ~

The plate flew across the room and smashed into a million pieces against the blue wall in the kitchen as she listened to the usual array of excuses he liked to pour out. Four in the morning, FOUR. He wasn't where he said he would be when she called, and it definitely was past 12 o'clock, the time he said he would be home.

The babies temperature was soaring up to 104 and with only one car.........well, you get the picture.

Unfortunately, the professional plate breaker was me about  20 years ago. In those days, no close object was safe from being possibly obliterated against the nearest wall.

Did I have reason to be upset? Sure. But that didn't warrant throwing baby bottles at the wall after getting out of bed for the 20th time in the night, or breaking our wedding picture out of spite after he had come home late AGAIN, or backing out of the driveway in a fit of anger and slamming into the car behind me that I didn't see.....

I used to react without thinking. My temper would flare so bad you would think that I was born a redhead. 

I'm a brunette by the way.

That, thankfully, is not even close to who I am today. What changed? Well, it was largely due to these three things that I read.

#1. James 1:19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

#2. Proverbs 29:22 An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.

#3. 1 Corinthians 13: 1-7 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Basically, I made a choice. I did NOT want to be the angry, "react without thinking", bumbling idiot any longer. I wanted to be more like the definition of love. 

It didn't happen overnight. I assure you, a few more plates got broken before it was all said and done. The end result however is nothing short of miraculous. 

So what will you choose to be today. The definition of love, or a bumbling idiot?

Good choice!

Sweet Surrender ~ Letting Go

So its happened. You're right in the middle of a crisis. Sleepless nights, constant worry, the million and one trips to the kitchen to open every cabinet and door.... only to grumble and go back to pacing the floor.

You are struggling. Trying to figure out what to do next.

Should you call a friend for advice and see what they think? Maybe scour the web for others opinions on how they did it? You have prayed, you have cried, you have gotten so mad that you couldn't even see straight anymore.

Sound like you?

I don't know how  many countless times in my life I have been where you are today. Thankfully I have learned a valuable lesson and each time the effects I listed above are less and less, and fewer and further between.

How?

Its like this: you are holding a broken radio. You have come to the repair shop to give it to the man who can fix it for you. After all, you have tried EVERYTHING yourself, and nothing has worked. You just simply dont have the tools to fix it. So you have brought it to the one who does, and the one who can.

 You hold out your broken radio to give it to him. He reaches for it, yet he cant take it because you are firmly holding on to the other end. You keep telling him "Thanks for fixing this for me. I really need your help. I have tried, but nothing is working. I trust you and I know that you can fix it for me"

Yet, he cant do anything with it because you wont LET GO. For some reason, deep down, you are thinking he needs your help. So, you had better hold on to a piece of it.

Problem is...until you learn to REALLY trust him by letting go of the radio, he cant take it to fix it. He doesnt need your help. He can do it. This is what he does.

As the radio leaves the room with him, just know that even though you cant see it anymore, its still being fixed. Relax.

I believe that its like that with God too. You have to give it to Him and LET GO FULLY.

Trust Him.

If you start to worry about it again, stop and thank Him for taking care of it. Find scriptures on Gods promises on the subject, then read them over and over again. Put those promises on a little index card and keep one in your car, on your bathroom mirror, and on your fridge.

Each time you pass it, read it.

Soon, you will see that your stress is leaving you. Things are turning around, and your life is beggining to get SO MUCH BETTER.

In our hands, its a mess. In Gods hands, it always a miracle. Just let go and let God.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”

Yesterday is history,
                              tomorrow is a mystery,
                                                               today is a gift of God,
                                                                                               which is why we call it the "present".

Stress.....it seems to effect us all. We don't start our day out with the intent to focus on the wrong things. Yet, we seem to fall into that trap over and over.

Often times, its daily. Especially for women. 

What happens? We wake up weightless. Carefree and full of positive outlooks. Ready to take on the day! Then, WHAM - O.

One thing after another seems to pile up. An unexpected bill in the mail, an irritating encounter with a coworker, a project that went south, and you still haven't been able to even touch your "to-do" list for the day.

The overwhelming, weighted down feeling, and worry and anxiety start to creep in. Those thoughts of "what if", "it might be", and other worthless ideas creep in. Yes, worthless. If we dont know the outcome, we shouldnt waste time guessing about "how it MIGHT turn out". Right?

God has given us some GREAT advice.

Matthew 6:27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?"

Mathew 6:34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."

Psalm 55:22 "Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall."

Father,

I choose to not worry about the things today may hold. I choose instead to give them to you. Please guide my steps today, go before me and make any crooked places smooth, and work all things together for my good. I trust you.

Thank you ahead of time.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

Who Wants A $20.00 Dollar Bill??

A well-known speaker started off his seminar holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it...?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We may feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE.

You are special-Don't EVER forget it."

Justified?

There is a point to this story. Take the time. Its worth it.

Have you ever wondered how a large elephant will just stay tied to a stake with only a little rope on his leg? If he tried, he could easily get away with one small, effortless tug right?

From infancy he has been tied to a pole with a large chain that he couldn't get away from. No matter how hard he pulled, he couldn't break the chain.

As an adult, he doesn't even try anymore. Failure after failure has conditioned him to "believe" that he is still unable to break away. So he remains captive. Not by fact, but by what he perceives to be the truth.

One of the pivotal moments in my life was when I realized that I have been made justified, freed, and redeemed.

Before I was saved, I was a slave to sin. It controlled me, defined me, it ran my life. I was bound to it.

Then one day someone defined "redeemed" to me. What it meant. Jesus said that He has made me justified. An easy way to remember that is that He paid for my sin.....so now it is "just as if I'd" never sinned. Or in other words "justified", "freed", "forgiven". 

When you are saved, the old you is forgotten. The "new you" is created. You are no longer defined or controlled by your past mistakes. You are forgiven, set free, and you have God almighty on your side. God said that when you ask for forgiveness of your sins, that He doesn't remember them anymore. That they are as far as the east is from the west to Him.

2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Psalm 103:12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

You may remember them, but dont let it condemn you. There is no condemnation for those in Christ. Just learn from it, ask forgiveness for it, then move on. Simple as that. God loves you, He will always love you.

Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Hebrew 8:12 "And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins."

If you know of anyone who might benefit from this, please pass it on.

What To Do With "Obstacles" In Life

My little sister just so happens to be full of wisdom. Even though I am 6 years her senior, I still call her for advice.

There is a certain person in my life who is a constant thorn in my side. It is a person who is connected by "family", and will continue to be in my life in one shape, form, or fashion for another 14 years. Yes, 14. Geez that's a long time.

So, I told her my story and she patiently listened, then gave me this advice.

"You cannot change that person, you cannot control what they do or don't do. Why? Because every one of us has "freedom of choice". What you can control and what you can change is you. "

I had to ponder that for a second. She was right.

So, I did, I changed me. I adjusted a few things in my "thinking", a few things in my choices, and gave the rest to God. He is the only one who has the ability to help the person that is causing so much trouble in my life.

Another thing I realized is that person can only get under my skin if I let them. Its my choice. I need to ignore their behavior and focus on mind instead. God will work out the rest.

I hope that helped someone today. I know that lesson helped me. Be blessed, and as always, if you know of someone who might benefit from this blog, please pass it on.

Your friend,
Renee

I was just thinking about you..............

I am thinking that you are awesome.

That you are going to be a blessing to someone today.

That you are going to figure out that thing that has been plaguing you lately.

That you will choose the right path.

That you will be the source of someone elses encouragement and strength today.

That you will overcome that obstacle and succeed.

And that you will go to bed tonight satisfied with your efforts and accomplishments.

I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Psalm 32: 8

And the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not. Isaiah 58: 11

That Person In The Mirror That You Dont Like

 

 Have you ever said these things about yourself? When did this begin, and how did it get this bad? Does it really matter that you think these things? 

YES

A person with low self esteem will usually be quiet, withdrawn, have slumped posture, and be a loner. They will find that they say "Im sorry" 500 times a day.  (I should know, that used to describe me)

Or on the other extreme, it could also be someone who is a bully, loud -mouthed, and mean. 

Both descriptions depict someone who thinks very little of themselves. 

If either of those describes you....you might want to keep reading. 

Choose to leave those lies behind and find out the truth about yourself. 

If you don't, then giving into your past hurts just will deprive others of all of the gifts and treasures that you hold within yourself.

Would you ever call God a liar? Because He does not see you that way or think that way about you. He thinks you are unique, carefully created as His masterpiece, and wanted, accepted, and loved BY HIM.

Its best not to argue with the Man Upstairs.... 8-) So lets see what He says, then lets just agree with Him.

You are a child of God.

But to all who have received him--those who believe in his name--he has given the right to become God's children … (John 1:12).

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in you.

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you (1 Corinthians 6:19)?

You are chosen, holy, and blameless before God.

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love (Ephesians 1:4).

And here is a VERY important one too.....

You are God’s workmanship created to produce good works.

For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them (Ephesians 2:10).

You see, God doesn't create JUNK. You are not JUNK. You are a treasure.

So, what do you do now? Create a NEW MESSAGE to yourself daily. THINK of yourself different daily. Here are some ideas and suggestions.

 

Create POSITIVE sticky notes. Put it on your closet door, your fridge, and your bathroom mirror. Actually read it out loud to yourself every time you see it. The more you hear it, the more you will believe it. (and its true anyway)

 

Work on seeing yourself as God sees you. You can ALWAYS trust His opinion. He wont lie to you.

If you know someone who this might bless today, please pass it on. Thanks. 

Something that eats you from the inside out.

Hate. This is a horrible thing. Many of us have gotten so mad at an individual or "thing" in our lives that we have actually felt that emotion.

Why is it horrible? Well, because it eats its "host" from the inside out. Its like a virus or the plaque. It starts out barely noticeable at first, but then it festers, takes over, until finally it actually begins to consume the person.

Here is the real kicker........the person that they hate....probably doesn't even care that they hate them. It doesn't effect them not one little bit. More than likely, they will think it is funny. So who is it really hurting? You. Is it worth it? No.

How do you get rid of hate? That part is easier than you think. You have to learn to let it go. Like water off a ducks back. Let it slide off of you before it even gets to the point where it starts to be your ever waking thought.

Good advice.

Have you been trying to change, but find yourself asking : "I cant see a change......Im supposed to be different."

You've planted the seed of what you want to be. In this case, a mighty Oak. But, all you see is ruff dirt, little rocks and uneven ground, and some mud from the water you sprinkled over it. It definitely doesn't look like the awesome, massive, oak tree that it will be someday.

None the less.....it is growing whether we SEE it or not.

Pretty soon, it peeks out and you can see a little green. Not much, just a little.

But as the Sun shines down daily on it to provide what it needs, and the Water flows over it to cleanse away debris and cause it to grow stronger every day...it becomes more and more like that oak tree that you planted.

You can actually start to SEE it.

God is changing you JUST LIKE THAT. Give it time. Don't despise small beginnings. You are like the Bur Oak Tree that takes the length of a human lifetime to reach maturity.

All of us are like the Bur Oak Tree. All of us will need a lifetime of help from God.

Happy growing!

Your Are A Cross Stitch Work In Progress ~ Not A Failure

What people usually see is the "current place" we might be in. Our lives may look a little like this picture to them.

But what God sees is the finished work on the other side. 

Be patient. Give yourself a break. Trust God.

You are a masterpiece in the making.............

Feel Like You Have Been Dealt "A Bad Hand" In Life?

I was born a fighter. Not in the violent sense, but in the resilient, tough, "refuse to quit" sense. You see, we all have obstacles that present themselves in our lives. What matters is what we choose to do with them.

We have two choices. One, we can either label ourselves as a victim and lay down and roll over....(ultimately dying on the inside).

OR two, we can choose to get up, dust off, and use those trials to our advantage.

Like you, I had access to drugs and alcohol. I could have drowned my pain in that. We all could. Problem is, when you come off that "high", the issues will still be there. So, that doesn't solve anything. In fact, it usually just causes more problems in the end.

I am sure that you have even had days like I did, where you didn't want to get up and go on. Waking up..... and even taken in a breathe seemed to be painful.

Point is.... we all are faced with difficulties in this life. Some may be more than others, some may be worse than others, but it is always hard no matter the trial.

You now have a unique perspective because you have "been there". You understand what others couldn't possibly understand. Now you have the ability to help others out of their situations, and show them that they can do it too.

If this sounds like you today, I encourage you.......don't quit. Don't bury your head in the sand. You are going to make it through this. You are going to be alright.

You are worth something. You are important to someone. There is someone out there suffering like you, who will need you one day. You very well might be their last hope.

So you see. Don't give up. Hang in there. Fight. Choose to be an over comer so that you can help others overcome. Make your life count.

If you want...share this. Where most fall into traps...is that they think they are alone. Let them know they are not alone and that they CAN OVERCOME TOO. 

Reaching A Point Of Peace ~

We all strive for peace. In one form or another, we all desire the serenity of being enveloped in complete and utter peace.

You know that place......where all fears disappear, all your troubles seem to melt away, and life holds joy again. Haven't gotten there yet? Well, I know how to get there. Do you want to know how?

There is only one possible way to feel that peace. There is only one possible way to obtain it as well.

You have to know the One who gives that sort of peace.

John 14:27 "I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid."

Jesus said that. Only He can do that. Its easy to know Him.

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

He is and will be your refuge, strength, comforter, defender, and EVER present help whenever you need.

He is the one friend who will never leave you, never forsake you, and never give you up.

What do you have to do?

Know that He is the Son of God. Know that He came to earth to live as a man, to show the world Gods love, and ultimately to suffer and pay the price for our sins. Your sins.  

If you were the only one here....He would still have done that for you.

Know that after He died and was dead for three days, God rose Him from the dead. He conquered sin and death and He is alive and will be alive forevermore. Always seated at the right hand of God as your intercessor and friend.

Talk to Him. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to be your Lord. Thats it. That is ALL He asks of you in order for you to be saved, forgiven, and adopted as a child of God.

John 3:16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."

John 6:40 "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day."

If you have any questions, or just want to share....Im always available. 

Worrying About Tomorrow

I learned a long time ago that "today" holds enough trouble. There is no need to worry about tomorrow.

When we worry about things that haven't even happened yet, it is a waste of time and energy, and often times will end up pulling us down and making us upset and depressed.

If you feel yourself starting to feel down, or overwhelmed ...there are a few simple things that you can do that will make a WORLD of difference.

1. Turn on the lights. Literally. Darkness breeds depression.

2. Turn on some uplifting and upbeat music. Before long you will find your mood has begun to get better.

3. Find some funny stuff to laugh at. Laughter is a drug you know.

4. Pray and turn all of your worries over to God. Let Him deal with it. He will always do a better job of fixing it anyway. In His hands its an easy fix, in our hands it a disaster just waiting to happen. So, give it to Him..its the wise thing to do.

You are worth infinitly more...............

This world holds treasures of silver and precious stones and gold

  Beautiful places and incredible creatures from the sky to the ocean floor

   From majestic mountain tops to the greenest valleys below...but
   

    You are worth infinitely more.

I have seen castles so tall that you cannot see the highest point

  Oceans so vast and incredible that you cannot see the other shore

   Paintings so wonderful that they take your very breath away...but

You are worth infinitely more. 

Someone may say that you mean the world to them

  That they would give up all they had, their very life and more

   But there is only one who has said and completed that very thing

Because He Believed That You Were Worth Infinitely More.    

written by: renee pearce 2013

   

   

Never Compare Yourselves To Others. It is Unwise.

Over the years I have learned a lesson in life............its that the key to failure is trying to please everybody.

You will never succeed, you will be major frustrated, and you will have, undoubtedly, compromised who you truly are just to win their approval. In the end.....its always best just to be yourself. If someone doesnt like YOU for who you are...then its their loss. Move on.

"People Pleasers" usually have trouble in relationships as well. Why is that? I believe it is because they do not have the self esteem they need to stand up for what they believe in. Therefore, they become "doormats" in someone elses life.

Describing you here? No worries....that used to be me too. There is hope.

First, you have to learn to love YOU. No that is not conceited or self centered. If you cant love yourself...you cannot love anyone else. So you have to do your friends and family a favor...learn to love yourself.

How do you do that? Find out the truth about who you are. This might help. I know it helped me. (and it still does)

Psalm 139:13-16 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

So, lets sum that up.......
You are a child of God
You are known intimately by God
You are fearfully and wonderfully made
You are Gods temple
You are a dwelling place for Gods Spirit
You are Holy
You are chosen
You are Royalty
You are loved and wanted by God

------------------------------------------------------
 You are AWESOME, AMAZING, INCREDIBLE, SMART, FUNNY, INTERESTING, LOVED, CHERISHED, WANTED, and above all....God thought you were great enough to adopt and call you His. So that, in itself, is major cool and good enough reason to love yourself.