Tag: change

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Change must come

There are moments in life when you know we cannot go back to the way we were. We are in such a season right now. Y’all – America is hurting. Most notably, those Americans that are people of color are hurting.

I’m not a person of color. I may not 100% understand the pain folks are going through, but I can acknowledge that there is a huge group of people who are hurting. And that makes me hurt.

But what can I do? That’s what my prayer is right now. God, what can I do? How can I make a difference?

I’m still learning this. I’m still working through what I can do. But here are some things I have decided to do:

1. Acknowledge the pain – it’s there and it matters.

2. Stop listening to respond & start listening to understand.

3. Understand that people of color have had too many experiences where they have been told they are less than…and that needs to change.

4. Love people & give them grace. You don’t have to agree with everything they say to love them. Love can move mountains.

5. Pray. Pray that God moves the hearts of those who hate & change that hate into love. Pray that those who hurt are healed. Pray that we see unity.

6. Make a commitment to learn about the experience of someone who doesn’t look like you. Seeing the world through someone else’s eyes will help each of us grow.

7. Understand & acknowledge that we were (and are) one race. Yes, there are differences. Yes, we don’t look alike. But we are all made in the image of God. That makes each of us special & important.

I’m still learning y’all. But I’m committed to continue to learn. Because things have to change.

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”

1 Corinthians 12:14-26 ESV

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Hello Refresh

Rest…that has been something God has wanted me to pursue this year. That is one thing I have a hard time doing – not being in control & in the middle of everything. One thing that is not “natural” for me. I know some of you can relate.

Busyness is a common place for me. It is my comfort zone and it helps me define my worth. Yes, that is right…without something to do, I have a hard time seeing myself as important in this world. Without doing something – will people love me as I am? Will God accept me?

Am I good enough to just be me without offering anything to the world? Is it enough for me to not have 5 things happen all at the same time? If I’m not drowning in stuff to do, am I doing it right?

Oh, but when God says to do something, you should do it. I’ve learned this the hard way this year. God is a good Father and will step in if His children are stubborn. That stubborn child is me. Lord, help me.

God had to shift things up so that I would pay attention. Let me just tell you this – it is much easier if you just listen to God. Remember this next time you – yourself- want to be stubborn.

Don’t get me wrong, the fact that God stepped in is a place of celebration for me. This is because I know He cares and that I am His. Hebrews 12:6 says: ““For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”” It is a blessing to be disciplined because it means He calls us His.

One thing God has helped me understand in this season is that He is in control. That He can be trusted. One of the reasons I was so busy was because I wanted to be in the middle of everything because I couldn’t trust that I would be cared for. I know, silly to think about how God won’t take care of me when He is so good however, that trust is not too easy to walk out.

Faith is a strange thing. When you don’t trust God with everything, you cannot have faith in Him with your whole heart. This is a problem for someone who lives for God – because your life contradicts itself. That was me. I was not allowing God to move in me like He wanted to.

So – now, after God got me alone, I had two choices. I could learn to lean into Him or walk away from Him. I chose to lean in. I wish I could say that it was easy, but it wasn’t. I could never imagine myself walking away from God, but it was still so hard to lean in and trust.

Let me tell you this – as I lean in closer, the more and more I see that He knows best. That His healing is not here today and gone tomorrow – it lasts. That whatever I face, He wants to fight for me (Exodus 14:14). And He can be trusted with everything – whatever it may be!

So if what I just described is something you have faced lately…know this – you can lean in and you can trust God. He will not leave you or abandon you!! Reach out to God, repent for not trusting Him and start following His lead.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”

Psalms 91:1-4 NLT

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It’s time to move (on)

Have you ever done something stupid? Or hurt someone real bad? Or did something even worse…

We have all been there in some way. Each of us know what it’s like to feel guilt and shame. It’s part of this life. But this is also where we sometimes get caught up.

We even repent, ask God to forgive, make amends with others – and think we have fully moved on, but in the back of your mind, that thing is still there. It pops up in those late night thoughts and those lonely moments – making you feel hopeless.

Listen to me, friend, if it’s forgiven, move on. Stop beating yourself up. It’s time to forgive yourself and lay that guilt down.

If you haven’t repented or asked someone to forgive you, do it and don’t let it bother you any more. This life is far too fragile to allow yourself to be overridden with worry, regret, and shame.

Apologize to God and others (if needed) and keep going. Acknowledge that you cannot go back and change what happened in your past, but you can make sure it doesn’t happen in your future.

Remember that in Christ, you are a new creation. Tomorrow is a new day with new adventures. Hold your head up, shoulders back and show the Enemy he didn’t win!

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Prayer: Lord, you know that thing or things that hold me up & I cannot allow myself to forgive myself – help me let it go. If I have never asked you for repentance, please forgive me and help me do better in the future. Thank you for your Son Jesus and His sacrifice so I may ask for forgiveness and move on. You are so good! Amen.

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Unity

Unity – the state of not being multiple. That is what Christ wants for His church. If you consider yourself a Christ-follower, He is speaking about you & I. It is no secret that, in America, unity is not where we are in our country. So many of us are waiting for our government to unify us, make this country better. But we can’t depend on them to do that. It must start in the church…with us!
So many things could divide us if we let differences matter. I am very blessed to attend a church that is multiracial, multigenerational, and multi-socioeconomic. We aren’t a perfect church because that doesn’t exist. But the fact that we have many differences and yet we are one family says so much. It shows me that unity within the body of Christ is possible.

We are going to be different. We are going to have Democrats & Republicans, different races, some people wealthy and others that aren’t – and still work for the same goal. The Church should be where unity starts.  

Let’s show love to others regardless of how different someone is to us. Speak truth, yes. Preach the word, yes. Live righteously, yes. But love people like God loves. Seek justice for those who deserve it. Treat all people like they have value…because they do. Everyone is made in God’s image.  

Let’s start being the change we wish to see in the world & living boldly. Who is joining me?

““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

‭‭John‬ ‭13:34-35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:1-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:26-29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Greatest of these….

Bold love changes the world.  Love those who can’t love you back, give grace to those who don’t deserve it, and forgive those who won’t change.  

“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.””

‭‭I Peter‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

  

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Playa Sucia, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

I had the privilege in 2012 to visit the beautiful island of Puerto Rico with my friend Michelle. It was an eye opening trip – life was so different there and I loved experiencing something new.

One thing about the island I loved was how beautiful the countryside is. I had the ability to see most of it because we flew into San Juan and had to drive over a lot of the island to make it to where we were going – Cabo Rojo. The tropical foliage, hills, and ocean view were all breathtaking – even from the backseat of a car.

One day, as we explored the island with Michelle’s family, we set out to see a beach named Playa Sucia. The exact translation is Dirty Beach, but there is nothing dirty about it. (See pictures below)

In order to get there, we had to drive off the beaten path…way off. There was a small road that later turned into a dirt road and, after a mile or so, I began to think we were lost. Finally, we arrived to our destination.

There was the white sand beach and the clear blue waters. It was so beautiful…life changing beautiful! As I stood there, the wind whipping around me. The smell of the sea and the sound of the waves. For a moment, it was just me and God’s creation. Nothing else existed in this world.

How many times does God take us through such a long journey down unknown, unkept roads that we wonder if, somewhere on the journey, we got lost. We start to doubt and wonder, but if we only keep going forward, the beauty that lies in store for us. So much beauty that it is life changing.

When we start heading down that path, remember Moses in the wilderness, Abraham and his many descendants, and David, the shepherd boy king. They all had points in their journey that led them down crazy paths that ultimately led to their destiny.

Never stop going forward.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ NLT)

Be blessed, everyone!!

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#Change

There is a common constant on all our lives – change. One thing we all can agree on is: Change. Is. Hard. We want to be comfortable…in a place where we can predict what is going to happen next. In a perfect world, there would be nothing wrong with this because there would be no need for change. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world – a world that desperately needs change.

God loves change – transformation. He loves to take people who are living in bondage & free them, thus bringing them in a state of transformation. Look at Paul, born Saul who was transformed one day as he traveled. (Acts 9:1-18) This man killed Jesus’ followers & then God decided to transform him into the first Evangelist – traveling the known world preaching about Christ.

The Bible is filled with stories like this. It is evident that God uses change for His glory. As a follower of Christ, I will bet that you have either endured change, are going through change right now, or about to endure it. You understand that it is hard. I can also bet that at some point in your life, you have fought change.

Change is needed in this world in so many areas. We have become complacent where we are until we are pushed beyond our limits. Chaos, then, ensues. This is not a good system to live by.

What if we decided today that we are going to become comfortable with change? What if we decide that we will make the change in our lives before we expect anyone else to make the change? What if we realize that change starts with us?

I encourage you to seek the face of God today – let Him show you the things in your life that need to be changed. As you take that Cross and bear it, the catalyst of your change will start changing those around you. Remember, you must be the change you wish to see in the world.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ NLT)

Be blessed.

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Doors…

Doors close – that is half of their purpose.  In life, metaphorically, doors close all the time.  Sometimes we are grateful that a door closes, at others it crashes our world.

I recently went through a season that many doors closed.  To be absolutely frank, it was shocking.  It took a lot of soul searching to get back to where my feet were back on the ground.  Was it necessarily a bad thing, though?  There are still times that I don’t always feel like things are going to work our perfectly, but I have perfect peace.

To give those hope that are in a season of doors closing, I wanted to share something with you.  Every time I got in a funk, felt like things were falling apart, or just felt like my life will never be back where I wanted it to be, the Holy Spirit would whisper – “I’ve got something better for you. Just hold on, be patient.”

Check out Jeremiah 29:11 – “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

No matter where you are right now, remember that God has a plan for you.  If you have breath in your lungs – God has not given up on you!  Keep your head up, let God continue to do His work, and brace yourself for a blessing.  Pray to God to give you His perfect peace.  He is the only one that can make it all work.

Keep in mind – the other half of the door’s purpose is to open!

Be blessed.

Door