A Cry for Bondage...

As I read Numbers 11 this morning, I couldn't help but to think of this subject
matter. 

In this passage of text, the Israelites were complaining to Moses about what
they had to eat.  God had delivered them from bondage and provided manna from
heaven, but that wasn't satisfying enough to them.  No - they craved the foods
they ate while they were held captive in Egypt.  Hence I say, A Cry for Bondage.  

God brings us out and delivers us, but He doesn't always do it according to
"our" standards and before long we find ourselves complaining and comparing the
now to the then.  As a result of their complaining and comparing, God said okay
- I will satisfy your cravings.  And He did just that. 

When he provided them with meat, the flesh that they whined for, they began to
gorge themselves on it.  They overindulged disgustingly.   While they were yet
in the act, God's anger grew exceedingly and He struck them with a plague. 

Our craving may not be for foods, but it may be a past relationship, friendship, job or some materialistic possession.  Be careful what you ask for, complain about and compare to - you may get exactly what you "think" you want!!! 

It's a new season and a new year - go into it with an open mind and willing spirit and allow God to do something fresh and new in your life.

Philippians 3:13...Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

Proverbs 3:5-6... Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Self Actualization

During a conversation with a friend the other day, the term self actualization came to mind, when I attempted to describe what I thought I had personally accomplished in 2012.  What I was referring to was how I felt that my perceptions with regards to myself in relation to others had matured.  How I had learned to be intentionally cognizant of my interactions with others.  To understand why I responded or reacted to certain situations the way that I did.  How I tried to remain conscientious of the words that I spoke, in making sure that I was again intentional with their uses.

If you've ever read anything about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, you may have heard this term before.  In an article by Kendra Cherry, she summed up some of the characteristics of Self Actualized people that I'd like to share with you.
(http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/hierarchyneeds_2.htm)

• Acceptance and Realism: Self-actualized people have realistic perceptions of themselves, others and the world around them.
• Problem-centering: Self-actualized individuals are concerned with solving problems outside of themselves, including helping others and finding solutions to problems in the external world.
• Spontaneity: Self-actualized people are spontaneous in their internal thoughts and outward behavior. While they can conform to rules and social expectations, they also tend to be open and unconventional.
• Autonomy and Solitude: Another characteristic of self-actualized people is the need for independence and privacy. While they enjoy the company of others, these individuals need time to focus on developing their own individual potential.
• Continued Freshness of Appreciation: Self-actualized people tend to view the world with a continual sense of appreciation, wonder and awe. Even simple experiences continue to be a source of inspiration and pleasure.

Learn yourself; understand yourself; realize your full potential because in doing so you'll be better able to help someone else reach their potential in life. 

Focus Shift...

Happy New Year to All!

As we all sit down to write out our goals and pursuits for the new year, I'd like to suggest an initiative for you to place near the top of your list.  That initiative is shifting your focus from being all about you and making a concerted effort to help someone else.  I don't mean taking someone on as a project, but genuinely taking an interest in the affairs of another and being that encouragement, that voice of reason, that shoulder to lean on or that listening ear when they need someone the most. 

Take some time to help someone else reach a goal in their life.

I was listening to an interview with Rick Warren the other night and he was saying how he and his wife tithe 90% and live off of 10%.  He said they would challenge themselves each year to tithe more.  I was like - WOW!  Please note that not all tithing has to be about money.  It can be your time - your talents.  So give more this year, but not just to yourself.

“I don't want to live in the kind of world where we don't look out for each other. Not just the people that are close to us, but anybody who needs a helping hand. I can't change the way anybody else thinks, or what they choose to do, but I can do my bit.” - Charles de Lint

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”- John Bunyan

Luke 6:38 (NIV) - Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

If you take some time to help another, you'll have less time to worry, cry and complain about the shortcomings that may be present in your own life. 

2 Corinthians 9:7...Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
 

Iron Sharpens Iron...

As we approach the transition into a new year, many of us have already begun to reflect back on 2012 to do an inspection of what went well and what didn't; what goals did we achieve and which ones we didn't; what people are still in our lives and which aren't.  So friendship is where I've decided to share my thoughts today.

2012 was a difficult year for many people!  If not a difficult year just personally, it was a difficult year for our nation and I'm sure there are many more difficult days ahead.  This is why your "close" associations are so imperative going forward.  You can think you are the strongest person in the world, but someone is going to impact you; someone is going to make you feel a certain way; someone is going to influence you; someone is going to motivate you...

• Proverbs 27:17... Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9... Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
• Luke 6:39...And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?

It's time for you to take a stand and make decisions for your own betterment.  You know who is good for you and who is not.  If you don't, you need to pray and ask God to show you.  With all that we have to face ahead, we need people around us who not only believe in prayer, but who pray fervantly.  We need people around us who are not just hearers of the word, but are doers of the word.  It's not enough anymore to just say you believe in God; it's time for your life, your fruits and your actions to show it.  Reflect back on my post titled, "Friends with Benefits," posted on August 12, 2012.  These are the people you want in your corner.  You want someone who will challenge you to fast and pray; who will challenge you to be positive rather than negative; who will challenge you to seek God rather than complain; who will love you past your pain.

Iron Sharpens Iron...

Anointed Passion...

We've all been passionate about something at one time or another in our lives, but have you ever asked God to anoint your passion?

Passion is a very strong feeling or a powerful/intense emotion.  Strong
convictions.

I've been passionate about my career and my education, but if I don't ask God to
anoint them, I won't be able to see the full manifestation of His glory through
my abilities.  I believe that God makes us passionate people because whatever
the passion is, that's the area where we can make the most influence.  I also
believe that some passions can jade our perception and cause us to veer away
from the right path.  Many passionate people may have started out with focus,
but lost their sense of direction along the way when that passion became
untamed.  Just look at the many singers that started out in the church choir,
but are now not good representatives of righteousness. 

Whatever you're passionate about, ask God to anoint that passion.  If it's His
desire and will for your life - He will make a way for you to flourish in it so
that He might receive all glory.  Because after all, it is our desire to be used
by and for God.

Simple Obedience…

Yesterday morning I woke up at 2 a.m. and I was mad.  I wanted to go back to sleep, but I couldn’t; I was wide awake.  As I prepared for bed last night I knew for sure that I’d sleep all the way through until my alarm clock went off, but nope!  2:57 a.m., my eyes popped open.  Wide awake again.  I tried to reason with God as to why I needed more sleep, seeing as how I didn’t get much the night before.  LOL – it didn’t work!  I should have learned my lesson from the last time this happened to me that God wanted to talk.  The last time this happened I woke up every day for a week the same time every morning before I finally decided to be obedient.  He doesn’t always pick times that are convenient for us when He wants to have a chat.  So out of bed I rolled and onto my knees, stopping to turn on some music to help my mind get right.

I began to just worship God.  Knowing there was a reason for Him waking me up this early two days in a row, I simply began to ask Him to show me what He wanted me to see.  “Make it plain to me God; tell me what I need to know.  Give me direction.  What message are you trying to get across to me?”  You know what?  He gave me exactly what I asked for.  So, as I got up off my knees and opened my Bible, I began to read and it was like a light bulb went off in my head.  My only response was, “Lord I’ll obey.”  1 Samuel 15:22…”To obey is better than sacrifice.”

What message is God trying to get across to you today?  What signs might you be ignoring?  Is there something that keeps coming up, like me being awaken in the wee hours of the morning consistently?  Simple obedience...

1 Samuel 15:22…”To obey is better than sacrifice.”

A Fresh Start...

Lamentations 3:21-23..."This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

Because of this very scripture, I think it's an insult to God when we fail to acknowledge the abundance of grace that He shows to each of us, everyday.  I know that hurtful things have happened to us all, but to dwell there in that moment, is where we go wrong. 

"Don't rehearse the pains of your past so much so until you ignore the bountiful blessings right before you!"

Memories we will always have, but what we can't allow is for them to control where we are right now.  I watch this show called Hoarders and it's about people who literally live in filth and most often than not, they've experienced a painful event in their life and they got stuck.  The fear crippled them; it took over their lives.  Did you know that you can be a hoarder too?  You might not have an over abundance of items, cluttering up your home, but you might be hoarding feelings regret, unforgiveness, hate, pain and/or confusion, which in turn have you stuck and unable to move forward.

God's word reminds us that His mercies and compassion are new every morning, so guess what?!?!? - You now have a Fresh Start.  Be blessed today and remember, "Great is the Lord's faithfulness."