Tag: Issues

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Letting Go

I was trying to find something to watch on TV one night and stumbled upon the show Hoarders.  Have you ever seen it?  I don’t know why I sat there & watched an hour detailing the condition and subsequent clean up of a house filled with trash.  But I couldn’t seem to turn the channel – something about it intrigued me.

As a part of the show, they brought in a psychiatrist to help the person hoarding understand her dysfunction.  Basically, after her husband passed, she just started to throw everything on the floor, so bad that she cannot see the floor in her house any longer.  It was a product of bringing the chaos she was feeling inside to the outside.  It somehow satisfied her.  This went on for 18 years.  It wasn’t until the city prepared to take the house away from her and condemn it did she allow someone to come in and help.

As I watched this story unfold, the Holy Spirit asked me – how many times have you hoarded things in your mind, heart, or emotions until you had to get rid of it?  How many times do you not want to deal with a bad situation so you stuff it down?  How many times have you compromised your health because you don’t want to properly clean up a mess in your mind, heart, or emotions?

We do not have to hoard in order to live an unhealthy life.  We just have to leave emotions, thoughts, problems sitting around long enough for them to start to stink, rot, and compromise our health.  The structure of our personhood – the being God has uniquely created – can be compromised and be set to be condemned; it isn’t then we start to clean ourselves up.

I had the privilege and honor to be a few people’s counselor a few years back.  As I head their stories, I saw how months, years, decades of repressed emotions from past problems have caused their lives to spin out of order.  Now, they come and sit on a couch to ask a perfect stranger for help. 

 There is absolutely no shame in doing this.  God created the act of counseling for a reason and He loves it when His children find healing.  If you find yourself in a place where you think you are spinning out of control, I encourage you to seek help.  But before you do that, before you reach out to your BFF, your mom, or the Internet, consider another solution.

Turn to God:

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

‭‭I Peter‬ ‭5:6-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Sometimes, we need to get on our knees, seek His face, and ask our precious loving Father to help us clean the mess we allowed to get overrun with hurt, bitterness, and frustration up.  Help us clean up the consequences of our avoidance.  Put us on a track to getting better.  Placing people in our lives who can help us get to where we need to be.  

If you find yourself in a situation like this, you are not alone.  I’ve been there, as well as many others.  There is a solution – it may get hard – but it will get better.  Trust that God has it all worked out as soon as you lay it in His hands.

Be blessed my friends!  Never, ever stop seeking.

   

  

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Peace

This world is full of chaos, problems, violence and hate.  It is on every corner, in every family, group of friends, and even in the church.  We are humans, therefore filled with sin.  That is a fact so naturally, peace is not a quality we are free to live in.

So, how in the world can we expect to live in peace?  How can we, in any way, be able to sleep at night after a young man, obviously disturbed, walks into a community college and kills people for being Christians?  It is not something we can do on our own, live with peace.  If we rely on our own ability, peace will never come.  

Peace comes from the Father, the one who created this world, who is all knowing, all powerful, all loving.    If we place our trust in knowing that He has it in control, He knows what is going on, and He cares for us – we can be free to live in peace.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”” John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Give up your worry, chaos, unforgiveness, pain, issues over to God and allow yourself to rest in His peace.

Live boldly, dear friends, and be blessed.

  

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Don’t Grow Weary

I used to have a desire to be seen in doing good.  I wanted a chance to “be something” and would not always treat people like I should.  I am not saying I was ruthless or even malicious.  I am saying I was prideful and impatient.  I wanted my reward now.  I was also insecure – I wanted to know I was needed by people.  Man, it was a stressful season for me…because I never got what I wanted.  I did good, but grew weary.

It wasn’t until a faithful mentor in my life explained to me that it doesn’t require me to overwork myself to get things done – in essence – I am not that great.  Ouch!  But oh so true!  I grew weary because my focus was not on what it should be.  I was doing good for the soul reason to further myself when I should be doing good because that is what I am supposed to be doing.

I should do everything unto God and not worry about who sees it…He sees it.  This revelation began to birth in me a peace that allowed me to love people like I never have because I no longer looked to them for my worth.  I looked to be a blessing to them.  I learned that, at the end of the day, God has my back and I don’t need to be noticed, seen, or praised by others.  Don’t get me wrong, those things are great, but they are not necessary to fulfil the calling on my life.

Being faithful unto God, leaning on Him, learning that it takes all of us to get the work done has been an epiphany that set me free.  I no longer allow myself to become weary because my source is Him.  Pride can suffocate you like nothing else.

I know you are asking yourself why I decided to share this with you…here is why – because the way our society is set up, we can get lost in the desire of others’ approval and it become our downfall.  We see it in celebrities all the time.  The church and those of faith cannot follow that pattern.  We must remain humble and under the hand of God.  That way, we do not seek something from a fellow person that they cannot give.  

I know there are going to be days that I will fail at this and fall back to my old ways, but know that I need to find my way back.  Will you join me on this journey?

Live your life free of expecting things from others.  God will ensure that you are taken care of.  He will make sure you get what you need.  Just keep doing good.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:9-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

  

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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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Prayer – it’s a world changer

I am tired.  Tired of:

  • People dying because they are of a certain race
  • People dying because they are in law enforcement
  • People dying because someone hates them
  • Babies dying because they are unwanted
  • People dying because of their religion
  • People hating one another
  • People not caring about their own children
  • People not knowing Jesus
  • People hating one another
  • Slavery still existing in the form of human trafficking
  • Homelessness still existing
  • People just simply not caring

I am ready for: the Love of God to overwhelm this world and eradicate all hate, anger, rage, and frustration.

We need to pray – prayer can change the world.  Will you join me?

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

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The molding of us

We all go through things – big and small.  Even the small things seem to get under our skin.  It’s life.  For instance, right now, I am still training for a job I have had for 3 months now. It is starting to get exhausting and become really old.  But I also know that it is making me better – a better employee and a more well-rounded person.  When I understand the end result, the journey isn’t so hard.

But then, I’ve had times when there wasn’t such small things and life got almost unbearable.  Those times when so felt like giving up, not caring about life anymore. But, in reality, it was in those times I learned my strength. 

I am sure that I am going to have more unbearable moments in my lifetime.  Each time, I hope and pray that I handle it better than the last.  

You must understand that all trails do not come from the evil of this world.  Some trials we face are things that God allows in our path to remove a certain thing from us.  We may have an attitude, a problem with anger, avoidance, bitterness, or unforgiveness.  God will, essentially, make us walk around the wilderness one more time until we finally get it (see Numbers 14).  

Take this word from James to heart and hold onto these words the next time you walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”‭‭James‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Live fearlessly and be blessed!!!

  

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The cure for inadequacy

I hate being wrong.  Not saying that I am never wrong…I am wrong all the time.  I hate feeling like I am not enough. We are human and once sin entered our world, there was an inevitablness to our being wrong…a lot.  I hate it, our sinful nature.  I so desperately want to do right and still, I continue to do wrong.  Thus, I feel so inadequate and unworthy.

Paul wrote almost half the New Testament.  He was one of the greatest evangelists and prophets in the Bible.  Yet, he wrote this scripture:

“So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.” (‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭14-17‬ NLT)

He struggled with the same internal turmoil I do.  Paul also was a man God respected and used in mighty ways.  Acts 19 describes how God gave Paul so much power that an apron or handkerchief that had brushed Paul’s skin were used to then bring to the sick & they were healed.  God gave Paul a great anointing and great authority. And yet he penned the scripture above.

I have to ask myself…am I inadequate and unworthy if Paul struggled with the same things I did?  The answer is a definitive yes.  On my own, trying to make it by my self, I will fail every time.  That is why I (as did Paul) need God.  I need His grace and mercy.  I need Him to live in my heart and to fill me up with Him daily.  I need to (1) pray daily, (2) read my Bible daily, (3) attend a weekly worship service at a local church and (4) try to live righteously the best I can.  In doing these things, through my communion with God, I will make it.

I encourage you, if you at all identified with my feelings expressed above, please spend time with God.  Acknowledge that He is the only way and the only truth.  Pray to Him that He reveal those dark recesses of your heart that hold you back.  Learn the Bible and let it feed your soul.  Join a local church where you can connect with people who struggle with the same things you do.  This will put you on the right track.

Prayer: King Jesus, without you, I am inadequate.  I need you to come inside of me and clean the deep-rooted things that fill my heart.  Help me stay on the road to righteousness.  I understand that it will be a daily struggle, but I am willing to make that effort.  Thank you for loving me.  I love you deeply.  In your name, amen.

Be blessed everyone!

  

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Shift, shift

Have you ever felt like things just keep going wrong? No matter what you do, you just can’t get it right.  So many believe that this is an attack – and it very well may be – but I also believe that God will do this in our lives when He is ready for something else to come in.  He must make room.  As a new year approaches, I believe that He is getting a lot of His people ready for new things.  If you are going through a situation like this – I encourage you to take some time and seek God;s face.  Let Him show you what your current season means.  I truly believe that we are going to start seeing a great shift in Christ’s people.

The following scripture was above the main stairwell at my University.  It always remained above our heads, covering us.  Let it cover you today.

For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Be Blessed

Shift