A Joyful Mission

Correcting Our Course

One of the definitions of the word course from www. merriam-webbster.com is “the act or action of moving in a path from point to point.” So let’s think about this, if I were flying to a specific destination from say New Orleans to New York, there would be a pretty specific path or course that the pilot would take. Right? He or she would have plotted this course through longitude and latitude. So, what if the pilot wasn’t able to plot his path or course well or there was something like a violent storm that threw the pilot off by just a little bit? We wouldn’t be where we had hoped to be, right?

More simply, we would have been thrown off our course. So, this understanding of our course is the very thing that we need to start taking back control of in our society. We need to start correcting our path. We have been thrown off of our path of being Godly people by those in our society who are not thinking about what is best for us. They have been talking to us as though we don’t know what is best for our own families and friends and neighbors. They look down on us as though we are lesser forms of life. Unfortunately, a lot of these same people are the ones that got themselves elected by telling us what they thought we wanted to hear, but not what they themselves actually valued. Fortunately, for us, we are beginning to see past the mask that they have in place and we are starting to realize that those very same people can be called out in a very public way and can also become unelected just as easily!

However, we have to go much further than that! Evil will never just bow down and admit defeat. In its most simplistic terms, let’s just think of evil for a minute as a bully. What makes the bully leave or keep it from having a victim? It leaves only when those around it stand up against it. We must continue to stand up and fight for what is right and have consistent consequences for those who do wrong. We must fight for the innocent and the weak. We must fight for the freedoms that too many of us have taken for granted. We must remember that our freedoms never come without sacrifice! We must not take them for granted ever again or next time, it might just be too late.

So, what did I learn from this? It’s never easy to recognize that we’ve been conned by those in power. They hide their true nature so well then they tell us that we are racist for pointing out what we see as the wrongs that they are committing. I refuse to be fooled by them. I refuse to sit by idly while they do their evil work. I also know that it will take all of us working together to change our course. This is not just a one-person job.

What can you gain from this? The mission or ministry of my blog is for each of us to find our joy. However, in finding our joy, we must confront what holds each of us back from getting there. Life will always be unexpected and will continue to try and throw us off of our course. Fortunately, we just have to recognize that we can make some corrections to get us back to where we need or want to be. Just remember that you are so much stronger than you ever believed that you could be and together we can get back on track!

A Light Shining in the Darkness

It’s been a tough few years now, harder for some more than others. The thing that we have to remember is that we cannot change what was or what has happened. It also doesn’t mean that we must continually walk around in a negative state. Our world has been through many difficult upheavals before. Learning to survive and staying positive is one of the keys to becoming a light that shines in order to help yourself and others to pull through.

So, how do we do that?

We embrace joy and light and positivity. We become new and renewed through the understanding that we can’t change what was and learn to accept what is happening. (Related post: My dad always said that “You can’t woulda, shoulda, coulda…..”). We become empowered by shedding negativity and stepping into the light. In other words, we become the light shining in the darkness or become the city on a hill.

Bad things will always happen in life but remember that, good things will happen as well. Do we only turn to God when we need Him? Shouldn’t we make an effort to praise and thank Him all the time, during the good times as well as the bad times? We need to try and praise Him even when we are going through our low times as well.

God is with us in the good times and bad. He never leaves us! Remember, that God doesn’t just love us when we are happy and everything is going well! He loves us when we are going through all the other emotions that there are in life. Our God knows what’s in our hearts and always wants us to prosper in this life. However, He also wants us to know that He is ready and willing to give us the courage and fortitude to continue moving forward when life gets tough. (Related post: Finding the Strength Within Our Struggles). It’s so comforting to know that God is always present.

So, what did I learn from this? God is my strength in the good times and the bad times. I have to remember that I can’t control what others do, but I can control how I react and even what I do about it. Also, I can choose to scatter joy, like seeds. (Related post: God Calls Us to Scatter Joy Like Seeds to Others). That is truly my happy place!

What can you gain from this? I know how hard it is to be able to let go of all the worry and negativity that surrounds us, but you need to remember that you can’t control others! You can only control yourself. As difficult as it is, do your best to not take on the things of this world that are beyond your control. That’s God’s job and trust me when I say that God’s got this! (Related post: God’s Got This).

The True Impact of Our Words Versus Our Actions

It seems to me that today, in this time and space that we live in, more people are not connecting the impact that they have with how they use their words and the actions that they do. It also seems to me that some people aren’t understanding how they are being lied to by those in power when the actions that these same people do, don’t match up with what they are saying.

I’ll give you some examples, like, there are those who go to the Catholic church but don’t believe in the sanctity of a baby in the womb and try to say that it is just a bunch of cells like cancer. Another example, there are those who spread lies to the people of their country about why they are engaged in a war of a neighboring country but control what the people hear about so that they don’t know the complete truth. Also, there are those who continue to feed a false narrative on their news broadcast about others even when the truth is being revealed right before their eyes.

These are people that we need to tread very carefully around and not trust. Their words are harmful because they don’t hold truthful statements. However, these are the same people who want you to mindlessly follow them without holding them to account for what they say. These are also the very same people who have a “do as I say, not as I do” or “rules for thee, but not for me” attitude.

This is the impact of their words versus their actions. How can we follow or believe in someone who chooses not to see that impact? How can we trust people who also choose not to own up to their own lies or actions?

The thing is, we can’t.

This is a wake-up call to all of us. We must value the truth and hold those accountable who choose not to be honest about the things that they say. We must call them out for the hypocrites that they are choosing to be. Remember that it takes all of us standing up to hopefully get them to understand that people’s words and their actions must be the same. We will not be lied to anymore by those in power. (Related post: Will everyone with common sense, please stand up for the truth?!?)

So, what did I learn from this? I want others to see that my words and my actions show who I really am and who I am choosing to be. I know that I want to be able to go before God when my time is done and know that while I am always a sinner, I have tried my very best to be the best version of myself that I can be during my time on earth. I want Him to know that my words and my actions had a positive impact on others.

What can you gain from this? No one deserves to be treated like they don’t matter. All of us matter. We also need to know that we are valued and loved and respected and, if we aren’t, then we have the right to stand up and stand against those who are choosing not to see our value and our worth. So, make your voices be heard!

Having a Wholesome Heart

I was talking recently with a young man that is a participant in the center where I work. He is a beautiful young man with Asperger’s. Those who have Asperger’s don’t usually understand the nuances of when someone uses “catch” phrases to explain things. So, in this case, I was talking to him about another beautiful person that I speak with frequently named Ms. Eva. I was telling him that she was a very kind-hearted person.

Now, for those with Asperger’s, they think in very literal terms, as in this case, he was thinking of the heart that beats in your chest. So I explained to him that this phrase of being kind-hearted means that she is a person who is genuine and kind. She always has an encouraging word to say to others. In other words, she is the embodiment of what I would call a person who has a wholesome heart. She lives and breathes the gospel and she is certainly a testament to those who get to know her!

In doing what I do and getting to know the parents and caregivers of those with disabilities, has truly helped me to understand and believe in what it means to have a wholesome heart. Also, you don’t have to work only with those who have a disability, I think, more, that it is in how you treat others that you encounter all through your life’s journey.

Just think about the many, many people that you meet every day. It may just be that you share a kind gesture, give a simple compliment, or a smile that helps lighten their day, but it may give you dividends in return. Maybe you see a young mother shopping at the store while trying to soothe a fretful young child that you can help in some way. Maybe it’s in giving of a large tip for a struggling waiter or waitress that’s just trying to get through the day and get home. Maybe it’s just a kind comment about how an older lady looks while you are in church. There are so many more examples and ample opportunities available if we only look around ourselves to see.

My point about this is, try to find something that you can do that spreads some love, care, and concern to others. You might not even know that you made an impact, but that person knows it and that’s what counts in the end! (Related post: The Benefits of Kindness)

What did I learn from this? I’m better when I share that part of me that likes to help and give. It’s so hard, though, when there are those who abuse it or take advantage of it, but I have found that I am resilient because that is how I am made. I have also found that my mission is the gift of joy that God gave me so that I may pass it on to others. What a wonderful God is He!!

What can you gain from this? When we struggle in a world that doesn’t look very redeeming, then that is when we need to pull together all of our inner strength and say, “I will choose to have a wholesome heart today.” And when you wake up tomorrow and the next day and the day after that until your time on earth is done, repeat that phrase over and over again, like a mantra. If you believe it then you will live it. When you live it then you become it. Then you, too, will have a wholesome heart.

Standing in the Way of Evil

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What happens to those who do evil when others stand up? Does it slink back down and try to hide? The short answer? Yes. Those who do evil things cannot stand for it to see the light of day. Those who do evil hate when their evil is exposed. They will, instead, try to justify their actions or even blame others for the acts that they have done.

Remember, these are not people with a conscience. One of the unfortunate things is that we can’t guilt them into remembering that they are hurting others. Their sole purpose is power. Once this is known and acknowledged then it can be pushed back on.

How? How do we push back against those who mean to cause us harm? How do we fight against those who want us to just give our will to them?

We stand up and stand firm on our principles. We fight back. We show the world the light that we want others to see. Remember that we are called to be a light in the darkness, a city on a hill. However, to do that we must also, according to Ephesians 6: 11-12, “Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.” In verse 16, it goes on to say, “In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one.”

In other words, we have to become God’s army. We can’t just pray evil away. In addition, we must also stand up to evil. We must stand and push back against what they want. We must hold them accountable. Also, remember that they certainly don’t have our best interest in mind. How do you fight a bully? You stand and fight. Evil can’t stand it when others show strength. Or as in the movie Air Force One, the character, President James Marshall, played by Harrison Ford said, “Ha Ha! The good guys are here!” So, let’s go win this war!

So, what did I learn from this? In order to conquer evil, I must be willing to stand up and stand firm on my beliefs. I must continually remember that God’s strength is my strength. He never asks more of me than I can give even when it may seem that way. I have to realize that He is the reason that I am where I am and that He has called me for this purpose.

What can you gain from this? Remember that the devil is sly and he hates it when others are empowered. When you stand up to the devil then your light will shine and you will be so much stronger than you ever thought that you could ever be. It also means standing firm when you want to go hide. It means that God sees all of who you are and needs all of who you can be to fight in order to help win this war.

Called to Serve

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Each of us has been blessed with our own unique talent or even, multiple talents. The thing about talents is that yours will be different from mine and mine will be different from yours. Growing up, I would compare myself to the things that other people could do well and I could only do mediocrely. I felt inferior at that time because I was comparing myself to someone else. Luckily, that is not something that God does. I feel that what God really does is that He wants for us to serve where and when and how we are the most comfortable. It’s our talent that He gives us that He wants us to then share with the world.

In serving others, we need to remember that not everyone will appreciate or be receptive to what we do. However, we should not let that stop us from serving others in whatever capacity that works.

I was reminded of this when I remembered how Jesus commissioned His disciples to go and minister to the people. In Matthew, chapter 10, Jesus told them of the trials and tribulations that would come during their time of ministry. I did come back to verse 14, in which He stated that “Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words- go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.”

What Jesus is telling us is that we can’t force others to understand or believe the way that we do, but we still need to try to reach others. We can’t save others from themselves if they are choosing to do the wrong things. Jesus is also telling us in that chapter and, in particular, that verse, that at least we tried to reach them and that makes all the difference in the world. We didn’t walk away until we realized that there would be no change within their own hearts. The only thing that we can do after, is to pray for them and hope that they recognize their sins before it’s too late. (Related post: The time for reckoning is now).

So, what did I learn from this? Even when people are aggravating and acting foolish and I want to just throw up my hands and say, “Forget it!!”, Jesus isn’t letting me do that. He wants me to help Him and the Father, to spread His love and joy throughout the world. It always humbles me to know that He trusts me to help Him in the ministry. (Related post: God Calls Us to Scatter Joy Like Seeds to Others).

What can you gain from this? If you are new in your faith, I understand the uncertainty that you are facing. It can seem a bit daunting the prospect of sharing your faith. However, when you asked God to save you then He knew that you would be faced with many obstacles. Sometimes, the biggest obstacle is ourselves. So, my suggestion, trust that God knows you and knows exactly what you are capable of. (Related post: God’s Got This). Also, remember that it is in serving others that we are also serving God.

God’s Got This

You know when you work with a group of people, there is supposed to be a level of trust within the group. There’s also a trust game that you can play as a group where 1 person turns their back, closes their eyes, and falls back, trusting that the people behind them will catch that person when they fall. That’s the same concept of trust that I think about, that God wants for us to have towards Him in our lifetime. Sometimes, we just have to close our eyes and trust that God will catch us when we fall.

The reason why I bring this up is that this is the same sort of thing that I’m going through right now in my life. I had recently gone to the doctor and mercifully she discovered that I had pre-cancerous cells in my uterus. I say mercifully because, after further explorations, it was determined that what was in my body is the stage right before it could become full-on cancer. Due to my wonderful doctor and pathologist, we were able to catch it before it became something more and will be taking that part out very soon.

Could there be more in my body? I don’t know. Although, I will tell you that I’m not worried about it at this point. Whatever happens and however it happens, I’ve gotten a miracle and I can truly say that God’s got this. He holds me in His hands and covers me with His love and care. It’s part of that trust exercise where I can close my eyes and know that He’s always there to catch me. Am I scared? Amazingly, no. It’s just life and life is for the living and in whatever way that you choose to celebrate it. However, my suggestion….give a little bit of that love to the Man upstairs. I think that He would appreciate it!

So, what did I learn from this? We will always go through things that are hard or difficult in this lifetime. We will also always go through things that are wonderful, miraculous, and beautiful as well. I know where God is in each of those times in my life. I may not always understand it but I have certainly come to appreciate it!

What can you gain from this? Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship that we have. When we trust that our God is there to catch us when we need Him the most, then we can rest assured that we are in the best possible care. So, my hope is that you can find that same level of trust that I’ve come to appreciate and look for.

Finding the Strength Within Our Struggles

I know that it seems like I’m always an upbeat sort of person probably based on the posts that I write, however, that is not always the case. There are many things that can bring me down. Things that I have found that I can’t control. So how can I, or any of us, get to the point where we can find the strength to deal with any of the many different struggles that we can go through?

The following bible verse is a wonderful statement that helps me to put in perspective what I most need to hear when I need to hear it. Philippians 4:13 states that “I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.”. You see, it’s not my strength that keeps me going, it’s Christ’s strength. When I think about something that is troubling me or bringing me down, I remember that Christ came to this earth and showed us what strength really is through His sacrifice on the cross. (Related post: In confronting the darkness, we can begin to see the light…)

God came down in human form as His Son, Jesus. He walked among us, talked with us, taught each of us that He loves us, and gives us the tools that we need to grow and prosper even when we seem to be standing still. He has a plan for each one of us. We only have to turn our eyes to Heaven in order to give Him the glory and the praise that He deserves. We also need to trust Him in the path that He knows that we need to take in order to find that strength and persevere. (Related post: Just going with the flow….).

So, what did I learn from this? Just because I am mostly an upbeat person, it doesn’t mean that I won’t have days or periods that I feel down. I accept that because I am human. However, I do know that I can turn my eyes to Jesus, anytime and He will hear me and give me His comfort. The funniest thing is, is that I tend to get positive messages that I needed to hear from YouTube and Pinterest! I guess that He uses whatever methods that work, in order to reach out to His people. It always seems to cover what I am feeling at that time. And it also lets me know that God knows everything about me and He loves me very much. He also knows that I am so much stronger than I ever believed.

What can you gain from this? Believe it or not, when you turn your life over to God and accept that He sent His Son, Jesus to earth so that we could be saved after He died on the cross, then you have become stronger! Just like that! It’s not that you will not ever go through sorrow or suffering in this life, but He has a purpose for YOU. Your sorrow and suffering have a purpose as well. Remember, that He came and died for YOU. He doesn’t hold it over our heads what we’ve done in the past but He wants us to learn and grow from our past mistakes so that we are becoming the people that He knows that we can become. We have been made anew in Him. We have been washed clean of our sin by His blood and sacrifice. That’s pretty powerful stuff!

A Rainbow’s Promise

I love seeing a rainbow in the sky. It’s something that I look forward to possibly seeing when there is just the right amount of sun and cloud mix to possibly produce one. I also know that science can explain the cause of rainbows, but I believe that God is the greatest scientist of all time. I also know that He hasn’t been given enough credit for His creation.

So, what is the promise of a rainbow?

In Genesis 9:13, God told Noah that “I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” In this verse, God is saying that He will have a reminder to Himself as well as to His people that He will never destroy the earth or all the living things on the earth with a flood. How does He do this? He gives us a rainbow.

Every time that I have seen a rainbow, I’ve gotten chills because I am feeling God’s presence. I am in awe and humbled by the thought that He loves us so much, that He would send us this reminder. We need to go back and remember the wonder of this creation. We don’t need to be bogged down so much by the science of how it came to be, but, instead, see the rainbow as a sign of hope and love from our God.

So, what did I learn from this? Our God has been more than patient with me. Even with each of my missteps, He has shown me time and time again that He values me and wants me to be a voice for Him. That humbles me. I also know that I’m not afraid to die because I know that my path leads to being with Him for all time.

What can you gain from this? The next time that you see a rainbow, remember God’s promise. Remember that God loves you and sees your value in what you can do and become in your lifetime. He knows that path that you could take, so will you trust Him enough to guide you?

Knowing and Believing

Which statement is more truthful than the other one?

Is it: (1) in knowing that there is a God, first that I am then believing about Him? Or is it: (2) in believing that there is a God, first, then knowing more about Him and His purpose for us?

There is a reason why I ask these questions, but I will get into that soon the answer that I believe is the most truthful.

First, let me say that I know that each one of us has stories to tell about how we have gotten to this point in our lives. I’m very sure that some of those stories are very sad and hard to hear, much less have to tell others. I’m also positive that some of those stories are full of light and hope and are a study in perseverance.

In that vein, I look back at my life, so far, and I see so many times when my path was redirected. It is only in looking back and seeing where I’ve been and what I’ve done, that I’ve noticed the pattern or could we say, the purpose, behind it at the time. (Related post: The Seasons of Change). At the time, I just thought that it was a “me” thing that caused me to be unable to stick to one career path for a long time. However, what I have come to realize, now, is that God needed me to go down all those paths, so that I could end up here at this point in time. Is He done with me yet? No, I think that He is just beginning. So, that leads us to the answer to our question. While I do believe that each is truthful, I think that the more truthful statement is the second one. When we believe that there is a God in Heaven who loves us and chooses us as His vessels, then we can come to more fully know Him and what He wants from us.

When I began this blog, I knew that it was God who wanted me to do it but I had looked at it more as a hobby. It was my sister who pointed out that it’s actually a ministry. She’s absolutely correct. I just hadn’t seen it that way at that time. I realize now that God had chosen me as a vessel to carry His word to others in a very updated fashion. He can and will do that with all of us, we just have to believe in Him so that we can then know what He wants us to do with it.

So, what did I learn from this? God uses us to help each other and He uses each of us according to the talents and skills that we have. When I said “Yes!” to God, I was also saying “Yes!” to the purpose that He has for me. I’ve learned a lot over the years and I’m still learning. I’m also learning that God’s not done with me yet! (Related post: What is our purpose in life?).

What can you gain from this? As I’ve asked in previous blog posts, what do you want to gain? If your purpose is to grow in your faith, then you just need to open yourself up to Him. He’ll guide you where He wants you to go according to what you do best. I know, I know! It is very hard to take that leap of faith and trust Him to take the reins, but trust me when I tell you that, “He’s got this!”

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