A Joyful Mission

God’s Perfect Timing

Let’s face it, we don’t know a lot at all when it comes to God’s timing of things that happen in our lives. It’s only in looking back that we can connect the dots in order to see any pattern at all. The thing is, is that what we really need to know is that we don’t need to worry (yeah, that’s VERY hard to do, but we can try) about the timing of what God does in our lives. Why? Well, His timing is always perfect.

Our Father in Heaven always knows what’s going to happen so He goes ahead of us. He can and will set things in motion for the outcome that benefits us in the long-term. The thing is, is that we just need to wait on Him and trust in His grace that gives us what we need AND when we need it. Notice that I said, “what we need” not what we want or even thought that we wanted. When we put our trust in God, we can begin to anticipate what will occur simply because our God promises us that He will move us to a new place in our journey with Him.

Does that waiting and trusting come easy? No, of course not! We are human and prone to all of the human emotions that occur. We also have had experience with other humans who have disappointed us or never supported us or was jealous of us or even laughed and teased us. So, certain humans have let us down. We all need a core support system here on Earth. Just remember that our God will not let us down….most especially when He is moving something big in our lives. Then He not only is teaching us how to wait and trust and anticipate that gift that He will give us but He also helps us to learn some patience in doing so. It surely is and should be a humbling experience but it is completely designed to draw us closer to Him, to trust in Him and to know that our purpose is designed in the Father’s will for us. That is God’s perfect timing in our lives. (Related post: The Safest Place to Be)

What did I learn from this? I am constantly learning in my own journey. I think that is what we are supposed to do but too often we get bogged down with the baggage that we carry along with us in that journey. (Related post: The Baggage That We Carry). I am learning to let go of that baggage more and trust Him with all of that pain and suffering from my past. I am learning that while it was and has been difficult to go through, I am truly learning to put my trust in His providence and grace and love and support that He gives me right back when I do what God ask from me, that is listening and following and trusting Him through it all.

So what can you gain from this? Your journey is your journey. It’s not anyone else’s so their opinion doesn’t matter. Your journey is between you and our God who loves you very, very much. I get it… it will be difficult. I’m not going to lie to you about that. However, is it worth it? I can say “YES!!!”, unqualified. When you trust God in His perfect timing to help you through that journey, He will show you ALL that He is capable of. It doesn’t get much better than that, to my way of thinking!

The Safest Place to Be

I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs in my life up to this point, as I’m sure that anyone else who has been drawn to my blog most likely has been as well in your own life journey. In the midst of my own crazy journey, I have found that the safest place to be is in the middle of God’s will and not my own.

When we turn away from the worries of the world and away from our own will, we can begin to know and understand and acknowledge that God’s will is perfect. We are within His protection with His angels. He keeps us from thinking and feeling that we are alone in a world that can seem so scary most of the time. Can you just imagine how Daniel felt in the lion’s den? Or how David felt against Goliath? There is victory in praising God when it’s so easy to turn away or get discouraged when things aren’t going the way that we think that they should be or maybe aren’t moving as fast as we would like.

The safest place to be is in our worship with our Father, who knows us, sees us, understands us and welcomes us home. He leaves the ninety-nine sheep to rescue the one who was lost. The safest place to be is when we feel His love coming through and not the condemnation that we feel that we deserve because of the choices that we have made along the way. The safest place to be is when we let go of our own will and give it back to Him, so that He can get us going in the right direction which is always towards Him. The safest place to be is when we pray with longing in our heart for something that can soothe our wounded souls.

Our peace is not determined by our surroundings of things or people but by the presence of God within us and around us. That safest place to be is when we trust our God to guide us and it’s not us, instead, telling Him where we would like to go. When we live within the Father’s will and trust Him to get us where He knows that we should be, that is when we begin to find our peace because we know that that is the safest place that we could ever be. (Related post: The Perfection of God’s Love)

What did I learn from this? I know that one of the hardest things for me to deal with is letting go of whatever it is that is holding me down and giving it to God. I want to take charge!! What’s wrong with that? The problem that I’m discovering is that when I want to take charge, it has had a tendency to lead me further from the path that God has planned for me. I am learning that God is, and should be, my safety net at all times, not just sometimes. When I remember that then that allows Him to redirect me back to where He knows that is the best path for me. This growth thing is hard but I’m also thankful for that growth, as well, because I have come to recognize that it is certainly the safest place for me to be. (Related post: A Blessed Path)

So, what can you gain from that? I can’t tell you what to do with your own life. You have to make your own choices. What I can tell you is that when you do start to ask God to come into your heart, you then have that safe place to be with God right in the center of it. Then you will be overcome with such a feeling of peace, love and acceptance that this world can NEVER give you. That seems like a really good deal to me. What do you think?

The Hands, Feet and Voice of God

Doing God’s will on Earth helps us to be the hands, feet and voice of God. What’s really neat is that there will be a ripple effect that continues far past what we can see. Our purpose is not to judge anyone but to spread His Holy Word by doing His Work for ALL of His people. Some will go into ministry through their service to others. Some will preach His Good Word and give encouragement to a very broken world. Some will write, some will help build, some will teach, some will speak, some will create, some will sing, and some will…. do whatever it is that God tells them to do.

You see, we are ALL called to be His hands, feet and voice. It doesn’t need to be big and there is certainly nothing too small that He can’t use for His purpose. It’s the following, the listening and the doing of His will is where God will help us to reach others. When our actions are designated for His purpose that is where we can do the most good for His people. We all need to feel God’s love, unfortunately sometimes what we get instead is our version of His vengeance. We all need to feel God’s grace, yet sometimes what we get is our version of His condemnation. We all need to feel God’s mercy, but sometimes what we get instead is our version of His listings of how we fall short in this life.

Yes, there are things that God states in the Bible of actions that are an abomination to Him. It’s important for those things to be shared with others. However, how can we teach of God’s love and grace and mercy while making others feel as though they cannot ever escape their past? Is that what our God would do? One of the most beautiful, redeeming things about our God is that while He finds us where we are, He never leaves us there. When we show others the hands, feet and voice of God, we also need to show them the VERY SAME LOVE AND GRACE AND MERCY that He has shown us. We have ALL sinned and fallen short in this world. That hasn’t kept our God from loving and saving us from that sin. In fact, He loved us so much that He sent down His Son, Jesus, to take up our sin and offered Himself to suffer and die on the cross and rose again just so that we can be redeemed through His sacrifice! So, make sure that you are thinking about that as you go about doing your work for God. The same God who has forgiven us and washed us anew, has done and will do the very same thing for everyone else. Now they can go and be the hands and feet and voice of God. Isn’t that just an awesome thing to see?! It’s that super awesome ripple effect!! (Related post: In Service to Others)

What did I learn from this? I just love hearing the variety of ways that God chooses to use His people to spread His word. I also love to know that when God has chosen that person, they are being uplifted in a way that is beautiful and touching, so much so that it will bring tears to my eyes. His purpose for that person doesn’t need to be validated by the world. The only validation needed is the love of our God. Hallelujah and a huge AMEN!!!

So, what can you learn from this? When God calls you for something, you don’t need the permission of the world to do it. You do it because He has called you for a purpose. You may not think that what you are being called to do is a big thing, but it is if it helps even one person, then you can know that it is you fulfilling His work in the world. Pray and listen for His guidance as you go and be the hands and feet and voice of God. You never know the impact that you will have on someone else. It may have been the very thing that they prayed for.

The Baggage That We Carry

Photo by Jahra Tasfia Reza on Pexels.com

Baggage usually refers to what we would take when we go on a trip. However, it really hit home to me, recently, that our baggage can also be the things that happen in our life or even to us in this life. It’s those things which are heavy but we refuse to let them go. We carry them around everywhere that we go without really examining why we do so. We’ve gotten so used to carrying that weight that it becomes just another thing that we attach to our everyday lives. Yet, it still weighs us down and keeps us from opening ourselves up to our God. We refuse to let Him have it and yet we cannot stop carrying it with us.

We carry baggage like worry and anxiety and fear and pride and, ultimately, resentment. This really came to me from reading Luke 10:38-42 and listening to a reflection video about it, where the deacon was talking about Martha, who is busy with serving those who came with Jesus while her sister, Mary, is sitting and listening at Jesus’ feet. Martha is worried and anxious about getting all the serving ready and done to be handed out and yet, she lets her fear of failure and her pride stand in the way of immediately asking for help. Instead, her feelings turn to resentment that she is not getting the help that she needs so she complains about it to Jesus.

How many of us are so very much like Martha? The stories in the Bible teach us that time and place doesn’t change for any of us. Martha is just one of the many examples that we can pull from. Know that what baggage Martha carried then, we still carry today. We worry about what isn’t getting done, when we should be listening to our Lord. We feel anxious when things don’t turn out the way that we think they should, when we should be still and wait on our Lord to move on our behalf. We let fear take our joy and steal our ability to calm our anxious heart, when we should remember His beautiful and amazing Grace that He has for us. We let pride and perhaps resentment stand in our way of asking for help or prayer, when we should remember that our God is with us all of our days not just occasionally.

We have a choice in how our struggle ends. Do we continue to carry that baggage from place to place like a badge of honor? Or do we hand it over to our beautiful and loving Savior who wants to help us carry that load? Know this, the choice always remain yours. Also, consider this when you are making that choice, the rewrite of your story only begins when you choose listening over worry, when you choose mercy over resentment and His presence in your life over anxiety. It’s not an easy task at all, of course, since we have gotten so used to carrying that baggage, but I know that it will be so much easier in the long-run when we share the load with our Lord and Savior.

What did I learn from this? I had never realized before how much I was like Martha. I mean, I did but I didn’t really connect those dots until today. My goal in this life is to please God in every way possible. I think and know and feel and believe that I have done that for the most part, but I was still continuing to carry that baggage around that I have of my own insecurities and worry and fear and pride. I have heard that a lightened load makes it so much easier to carry and I haven’t done that completely or in total surrender to Him. So, my resolve, now, is to sit at the foot of Jesus and listen and learn and grow because I’m beginning to understand that my baggage is not mine alone to handle. For that, I am supremely grateful.

So, what can you gain from this? Is your baggage weighing you down? Do you struggle to let it go or even share the weight of it? Are you letting fear and anxiety and resentment and pride stand in your way of asking for help?

Know that you are never alone. All humans have this problem. We use social media to make us sound good but we all carry burdens that no one sees. We hide it behind masks or in the baggage that we carry along with us. The problem is, is that until you deal with that baggage, it will just continue to follow you. I pray that you begin to see that only Jesus can help you to release some of what you carry. When you choose to give it to Him, then everything gets so much better from there. I know because I’ve been doing the same thing, too. It’s hard to let go but when you let God have it, your baggage just gets a little bit easier to handle. (Related post: “Letting Go and Letting God”)

A United Call to Prayer

Yesterday, I felt broken and bone-tired. Yesterday, I felt stripped of hope and filled with discouragement. Yesterday, I didn’t see where God could be in the midst of my struggles…. the thing is, is that was yesterday. Yesterday, when I just wanted to break, instead, I chose to reach out and let others know that I needed prayer and that I was struggling. There are so many out there who don’t reach out and maybe don’t know how or even who to reach out to. Be that supportive hand that gives with love and care. I had only reached out to a small group but they did pray and understood and supported me where I was yesterday.

This is why today, I want anyone who sees this to know that I will pray for you as you pray for me. Today and every day, I want all of us to reach out to others and pray for them. We might not be holding hands but we can reach out digitally to each other. Today and every day, there needs to be a united call to prayer. We must pray for our world that we live in and that hatred and division has no place within. We must pray for each of our countries and the leaders that they will lead with love and concern for it’s citizens and not using fear to hold us down. We must pray that we can hold firm to our values and not compromise them with worldly standards but instead hold them toward Godly standards that seeks to help and never harm each other. We must pray for our friends and neighbors, those close-by and around the world. We must love them and support them and pray for them when they feel broken and bone-tired and stripped of hope and filled with discouragement because we’ve been there ourselves and understand that love and care can encourage each other to get through a rough time.

Know that when we unite in prayer, then we are carrying our God with us. When we unite in prayer, we are being with Jesus on that cross because we each have our own cross that we bear. When we unite in prayer, we begin to lay all of our burdens at the foot of that cross so that we can lift up His banner that conquered death and which leads us toward eternal life in His Kingdom. When we unite in prayer, we begin to see what the devil is trying to do to separate us and is constantly trying to keep us from the love of God. When we unite in prayer, we begin to understand that on that rock is a unity that cannot be broken in spirit and in truth because we are given hope for a brand-new day. That is what it means to be united in prayer. We are stronger than all of the evil that surrounds us and we are even stronger when we are together than when we are apart.

What did I learn from this? I can’t walk this road alone. I need each of you to help me through. I need your prayers when I am feeling lost and alone. I, also, definitely know that I cannot live this life without God. I need Him like the oxygen that I need to breathe. He is the food to sustain my soul. He quenches my thirsty soul.

So, what can you gain from this? You may think that you are alone and that no one cares for you but that’s not true. We have a beautiful and loving God who sees you, He knows you and He desires a relationship with you. He will meet you where you are but He NEVER, EVER leaves you there. When you open yourself up to Him in prayer, know that you are joining a whole family that you never even knew that you had.

The Price That Jesus Paid

We’ve all read, seen, and/or heard depictions of Jesus’ death on the cross and the toll that was taken on His body in His suffering. It was brutal. However, so many of us probably never truly considered the emotional toll that His Spirit took, as well. (Related post: Would Any of Us Have Been Able to Carry the Cost of the Cross, Like Jesus Did?)

In Jesus’ journey to the cross, we must remember that it started so much earlier. It had been foretold hundreds to thousands of years before in the books of the Old Testament but even before that time, there were numerous incidents that was intended to be a prelude or foretelling of His suffering, death and resurrection. Do you ever wonder why God didn’t send Jesus as a full-grown man? I do. There is so much that we don’t know of the greatness and wonder of our God, so I am constantly wanting to know more. Yet, it is within our quest to want to know more that He is revealed.

In my own journey of carrying my cross for Him, I have come to see some things differently. I know that our God revealed that He wanted me to share not just about the physical toll on His body but also the spiritual toll that Jesus endured as well on His journey to the cross.

Jesus was a King who was born in a stable. He was raised among the common everyday folks of His time. He learned how to work hard and forage for food. He grew up poor and in an unprivileged life. He lived in a community that worked together for the good of each other. He made friends and had a family whom He looked out for and learned a trade. He worshipped and went to Hebrew school. In every way possible, He was just like one of us… common everyday folk. (Related post: Being a Faithful Steward of God)

The price that Jesus paid was when he began His ministry. You see, because He was seen as an ordinary, everyday person who struggled, there were those who couldn’t see Him as coming from God and being of God here on Earth. Long before the cross, Jesus suffered with grief from knowing that He would lose His community and His friends and from the loss of those in death whom He loved while He was within that journey. Long before the cross, Jesus suffered with betrayal from those who wanted Him to be more than what He appeared to be on the surface and wanted Him, instead, to come with an army to slay their enemies. He suffered from the betrayal of those who would deny Him, betray Him with a kiss or run and hide from Him in the midst of His physical sufferings. Long before the cross, Jesus knew that He would suffer from false accusations from His own people and from the religious leaders at that time.

You see, it wasn’t just that Jesus was flogged and scourged and mocked and spat on. It was also the very human feelings that Jesus experienced that occurred as well that our Jesus went through. If you ever want to know if Jesus can understand your own personal feelings or sufferings, just know that He can. He came down from Heaven and became human and was in this world not just to give us hope for a future to be with Him in Heaven but to set us free from everything in this world that likes to hold us down. In His suffering, Jesus showed us that we can survive and thrive despite it. That’s the price that Jesus paid and I certainly thank Him for that every day of my life. (Related post: Jehovah Rohi-Name of God)

What did I learn from this? It’s very humbling to know that our God loved us then and loves us now so much that He willingly did what He was called to do. In His suffering, He has freed me. In his sorrows and grief, He has shown me that He understands my own pain. In picking up my own cross, I know that I am never alone in this journey. I don’t always understand where God is leading me but I do know that He holds me in the palm of His hand and that is a price that cannot be calculated.

So, what can you gain from this? Know that you are never alone. I know that it will feel like it sometimes but God walks with you and looks after you in your own journey. It doesn’t mean that you will never suffer loss or grief or pain. No, but realize instead that it is a part of your own cross that you carry on your road toward Him. It will feel heavy at times and too hard to carry but you are never alone. Jesus goes before you, stays beside you and helps you to carry it when it gets too hard. The price that you pay? It’s a lighter load.

The Inconvenient Truth

Truth is truth. It shouldn’t be perverted or changed or modified to fit a narrative that we would rather not hear or that others would rather us not hear. Hearing the truth may and certainly will be painful at times. Hearing the truth can also have a way of changing our lives because, by then, we will have begun to see what others were wanting to hide from us or keep hidden. It also has a way of helping us to learn true things about ourselves and/or the world that we don’t always want to deal with or even understand, but should.

The thing is, is that the more that people speak out about something, then the more that it is freeing us from the bondage that others have kept us in or even tried to keep us in. This is because the truth that they are keeping from all of us is inconvenient and doesn’t fit their narrative and is something that they certainly don’t want us to discover for ourselves. This is true in regards to the media (news, newspapers, blogs, podcasts, etc.), religions, governments, etc.

Let’s look at the media, for example. There are those in some news outlets and newspapers and blogs and podcasts where they will shade the truth. It’s inconvenient for them to admit that they are complicit in spreading disinformation about our border, our government leaders on both sides of the aisle, lab leaks, conspiracy theories, valuing life (both born and unborn as well as men and women in respect to who they are) and so many other examples that are just too numerous to list. Yet, they continually fail to see why they aren’t seen as trustworthy anymore. The inconvenient truth for them is that they would have to start being honest with themselves about their inabilities to be truthful before they begin to change their ways. (Related post: Speaking Truths)

Also, let’s take the religion of Islam, for example. Their religion states that Ishmael, the first-born son of Abraham, was the son that he was commanded to sacrifice and not Isaac the son that Abraham had with Sarah. If you read the Bible, then you know that this was not true and that Jesus is a direct descendant from Isaac through the line of David and therefore fulfills the biblical covenant and lineage through Isaac, instead of Ishmael. The inconvenient truth for those who hold him as a prophet and a patriarch is that while he was important, he wasn’t the one whom God called to become His children, that is, the Jewish and the Christian communities. The inconvenient truth for those in other religions (all, not just Islam) is that parts of the truth are being withheld because they don’t want you to know the full truth and that is, is that there is only one way to God and that is through your belief in and devotion to His Son, Jesus. Once you know that truth, you won’t need them anymore. How very inconvenient for them.

Another thing to look at is governments, for example. Governments are supposed to work for the people that they serve. However, too often, they chose to serve themselves and yet claim that they are working for the good of their people. There are some very wicked people serving in our Congress in the USA who are lining their own pockets. They have shown that they don’t care for the American people by how they vote and choose to focus on what they deem is important, instead. Some examples include letting illegal immigrants in a wide-open border without vetting them while telling us that the border is closed. Having and protecting sanctuary cities and states that choose to fraud the American people and “give” to others our money that does not belong to them. Not standing up for women and claiming that men can become women, too. Celebrating the killing of babies in the womb up to birth and calling it “healthcare”. The inconvenient truth for those who choose corruption over honesty and truth is that we do see you and you will be held accountable for what you did or are choosing to do.

When we live in this world and choose to be dishonest and avoid confronting and even calling out untruthful things, then we are not living in a world that our God intended. Our God values truth and honesty and caring and love. He does give us the strength to stand up and speak out when we see something that is wrong. It’s not hurtful to call these things out, at all. There are those who will call us names because they would rather live in that inconvenient truth than admit that they are actually living a lie. So, my question to you is this…. will you finally open your eyes and see the real truth or will you continue to live in the inconvenient truth? You cannot straddle the fence and try to have it both ways. It’s either one or the other. (Related post: What Type of Influencer Is Influencing You?)

What did I learn from this? I really, really dislike bullies. I really, really dislike those who keep others down because it makes them feel powerful. I also really, really dislike those who choose to be hurtful or bring harm to those who are innocent and cannot defend themselves. So, I will stand up continually to those who don’t have others best interest in mind. That will not make me popular, but I’m okay with that. I have one destination in mind and that’s to be with God at the end of my journey on Earth. I do HIS WILL, not mine so I will always choose truth over something that is inconvenient to others. (Related post: The Value of Truth)

So, what can you learn from this? You do yourself no favors by sitting on the sidelines. Pick a side. Choose your team and don’t be wishy-washy about it, either. Fully decide if you are for the truth or if you would prefer the inconvenient truth. However, also remember that whatever you choose, you must live with the consequences of those decisions if you decide not to face the real truth. Adversely, If you decide to stand on the side of truth then know that God will NEVER let you face any struggle on your own when you make the right choices. He’s got a WHOLE team of angels that He will send to come and defend you especially when He knows that you are speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves. (Related post: The True Cost of Courage)

The True Cost of Courage

We live in troubled times, for sure. The true cost of courage in this world that we live in today is knowing that you are being called to tell the truth to a world that often doesn’t want to hear it. We are battered because those who are rejecting that truth get up and walk away or protest for the wrong reasons or are protesting about the wrong narrative. They think that destroying property or shouting loudly or singing songs or fighting will get us to change our minds but it only cements our decision to turn away and to speak out.

Know that it takes true courage to stand up at a podium or in a meeting or in a jury box or on the web or face-to face or any other way that we are given to get out the word with honesty and challenge those who don’t want to accept that truth. True courage is shown by those that run toward danger while we run away. True courage is doing the right thing when others would rather we keep quiet. The true cost of that courage is that we are often ostracized or demeaned for what we are saying because it is not the “popular” thing to do. The “popular” thing to do is to shut our mouths and follow what others or the world tells us to do. (Related post: Actions Speak So Much Louder Than Words Ever Can)

That’s not my way. I believe in truth. I believe in honesty. I know that we can only grow and become better if we look and speak with honesty about the world that we are living in order to prepare others for what comes after this life on Earth. Do we need to do it in a hurtful manner? No. All we can do is share that truth. It’s not up to us to change another person. They have to be willing to look within and then change. We can only do our best to guide them there through our actions, our love and our prayers. I have lost friends along the way which can certainly be disheartening at times but I have faith in a really BIG God who knows that I am always seeking to do my very best and get other lost sheep back to Him.

We also do need to remember that the true cost of courage is following through with our promises. The very best example that we have to follow came to Earth as a baby. He lived among us, taught us, loved us, suffered and died for us in order to save us from our sin and then in three days, He rose from the grave for us. Jesus was not of this world but instead came to this world because He knew that without Him there would be no hope for us and our future within His Kingdom. That was and is the true cost of courage, that is to lay down your life for others. He did that.

What did I gain from this? I am stronger because our really big God gives me strength. I know that I am never walking alone. He walks right beside me and will carry me when I need Him to. I know that life will always have struggles but it’s our attitude about those struggles that helps us to get through. Every day that I get to wake up is another day that I can thank our God. His purpose for me isn’t done and that helps me to get through all of the rough patches that this life gives to us. (Related post: Traversing the Hills and Valleys of Life With Grace)

So, what can you gain from this? My hope and prayer for each of you is that you begin to understand my peace and search for your own. The true cost of courage is seeking God when the world is enticing you to turn away from Him or even tries to cut you down because you are choosing to go a different way. Be encouraged that you have a living and truly loving God who loves you very, very much. You aren’t to far broken for Him. Know that He will lead you to new heights with new dreams and a renewed purpose as a reward. Taking that first step of trust is also the true cost of having courage.

What Type of Influencer Is Influencing You?

There are so many things that bombard us on social media nowadays. There are people who post just for fun (crafts, creative and/or funny sayings, etc.). There are those who post for professional reasons (about their business, etc.). There are those who post for political reasons on both sides of any debate that is happening now. There are those who post about religious sayings and verses and there are those who post about hateful things that talk bad about other people and who or what they stand for. You can say that it sure does run the gamut on what we see on social media.

The questions that I have are this…. which influencer are you looking at? Also, what type of influencer is influencing you? Do you lean towards the fun and uplifting influencers or do you lean towards the side that is more condemning and engages in hurtful rhetoric influencers?

It’s important to acknowledge where you stand on what influences you in today’s climate. If your first comment is to say something like, “Oh, I am so sorry for ………” then I would say that you are on the side of trying to lift up someone and race, creed or religion doesn’t play into it at all. However, if your first comment tends to be something like, “They deserved what they got!” or “He/She is/was such a hateful person! I can’t wait until something happens to them!”, then I will definitely say that you are on the condemning and hurtful rhetoric side.

You may notice that one side is more uplifting than the other. One side of influencing is about caring what happens to each other and shows concern for how that person may be feeling. It doesn’t mean that you agree with them completely, instead it may mean that they need some encouraging words. The other side is much darker and cares only for itself and rejoices when bad things happen to others. This is the side that needs lots and lots of prayers because of what they are allowing to influence where their thoughts go.

Where you stand on either side says more about who you are in your heart. If you feel compassion and love for others then your heart is leading you in a good direction. Those of us who lean into this direction tend to be VERY selective of who we allow to influence us. We tend to be more mindful of what others are feeling and will try to steer others away from the path that they seem to be headed. Although, that’s certainly not easy at all.

On the flip-side, if there is a tendency to rejoice when something bad happens to others, especially with those that you don’t agree with, then you are allowing dark forces to direct your path. Hate has no place in this world but unfortunately it is there and as believers of God we are called to attempt to correct those who do let it influence them. Again, that is not easy at all, either.

These are the questions and thoughts that I want you to consider when you are determining if you are following a positive or negative influencer:

How does that person make you feel as you are listening to them? Do they make you feel happy and reflective or do they make you feel angry and unsettled? The answers that you come up with are important. If the answer is that they make you happy and reflective, then I would say that you are on a path that is leading you toward caring for others, especially those that are different than you. You don’t have to agree with them on everything but you can at least care for their overall well-being. On the other hand, if you are feeling angry and unsettled, then I would say that you are on a path that is darker. In this path, you may react without considering the potential consequences of whom you may hurt, including yourself. Remember that you have the power to decide who you listen to and who you allow to influence your decisions. Think carefully about those choices.
Make a list of both pros and cons of those feelings that you are having. Having a list of pros and cons and can help you to consider the choices that you are making. It is very important to think carefully and to be as objective as possible. Try to take into account your own personal feelings and why you may be leaning more in one direction than another. Ask yourself some of the following questions: a) What is motivating me to follow this person?; b) Is that influencer leaving me with conflicting emotions that cause me to have a lot of anger after listening to them or is that influencer making me think about things in a more positive manner, instead?; c) What can I do differently that is better for my own mental health and happiness? Making a list of the pros and cons and looking at it objectively can help you to see things in a different way that perhaps you didn’t see before. This is an opportunity for positive growth for you.
Be willing to step away from listening to that influencer for seven to fourteen days. Consider the following questions as you do so: a) Is my mood/attitude better at work and with my family and friends?; b) Do I feel willing to listen and engage with others in a positive manner?; c) Do I have more patience to dealing with problems that come up at home, at work, with my spouse/partner, with my children and family members and friends?; d) Am I taking the time to really listen to others and not take it personally, instead? All of these questions can help you to better determine your own state of mind. The answers that you come up with can also go a long way by helping you decide who you want to surround yourself with in the long run.

In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded by others who want to influence how we think. We have to protect ourselves and be on guard constantly from those who seek to sway us through lies and manipulation. Be watchful and wary of what some may say… it just might not be the truth, but only shades of the truth with the hope that you don’t catch on.

What did I learn from this? I am a Christian, so I am constantly praying for God to help me to see things that others try to hide by asking for and using His wisdom and discernment. Perhaps that’s why some don’t like me. I see through the lies to the truth that’s underneath and hidden. I’m okay with that. I’ve got exactly who I need on my side, God and ALL of His Angels looking out for me.

So, what can you gain from this? I think that there is something freeing within when you don’t let the world dictate how you think. I also know that you will be a much happier person in the long run when you take back your control. I think that is a win-win, don’t you? You should try it. I don’t think that you will be disappointed at all with the outcome.

Being a Faithful Steward of God

Do you know that there are over 2,000 plus times that the principles of stewardship is talked about in the Bible? Do you know what it means to be a faithful steward of God? According to AI Overview, the answer to that is as follows: “A steward of God is a person entrusted by God to manage, protect and care for His creation, resources, and gifts.”.

Wow! When our God calls us to share His creation, resources and gifts with others, He’s not asking us to choose only those people that we like or only those things that we care about. No. He’s telling us to take care of everything that belongs to Him! You see, our God owns everything that we see in this world and we are called to take care of it to the best of our abilities. In doing that we honor our God. Being a faithful steward of God means that we are and will be held accountable for what we do while we have this time on Earth.

So, how do we take care of everything in honor to God? We do that through taking the time to talk, pray and worship God on a daily basis. We need to rest and listen to what He tells us to do. We must be open to seeing and knowing and doing what God tells us. In other words, while our God gives us free will our greatest act of stewardship is giving our own will back to God and then asking Him to guide us even when we can’t see where we He is leading us to. (Related post: “Letting Go and Letting God”)

Also, we are being faithful and good stewards when we use the gifts that He has given us. Those gifts are our unique group of skills and achievements that we can turn around and use to help others. Perhaps you have the gift of building things or creating things or planting things or ….. We give to share with others so that they can see the hand of God in this world. (Related post: The Gifts We Bring)

In addition, we are being faithful and good stewards when we share food and possessions and time and money with others without asking for anything in return. The greatest gift is given freely without the thought of what we can get out of it in return. (Related post: In Service To Others)

Lastly, we are being faithful and good stewards when we take care of our Earth through helping find creative ways to share our resources with other countries in order to protect the land and the animals that we are entrusted with.

The meaning of stewardship can also be found in words like: benevolence, donation, generosity, giving, offering, commitment, philanthropy, tithe and welfare. Our God has given us a spirit of love and giving. I think that it’s time that we show that same spirit to others, especially when it’s hard to do so.

What did I learn from this? I see things that are happening in this world and what certain people are doing and how they are acting. I cringe because I know in my heart and soul that they are not showing God’s spirit of love and giving. I also have to stop and examine my own spirit because it is very difficult to show a loving level of stewardship when I am not really feeling loving and forgiving toward them because of what they are saying and doing. So, guess what I do? I do a WHOLE lot of prayer and reading of scripture and giving over to God what is out of my control. I know that I can’t control what others do or don’t do. However, I can control myself because I know that God will help me to see what I need to see and hear what I need to hear and know what I need to know. I trust Him to know my heart and to know that my intentions are rooted in His will, not mine. (Related post: In The Potter’s Hands)

So, what can you gain from this? I know that it’s hard to let go of our own pain and even want to serve others. However, I also know that healing only comes when you serve Him by serving others. My suggestion? Use your pain to help others. You can understand and show empathy because you’ve been there. God sees you. He knows you and He especially knows when you are willing to try to be that good and faithful steward. Also, do your best to not compare yourself to someone else. You are uniquely designed by God, so is your unique journey, as well. So, don’t turn away because you are afraid but do turn toward our God who will help you to get to where He knows that you want to be. (Related post: When God Promises… He Delivers)

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