What Have You Learned?

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2016!!!

The past three New Year's blogs have been challenges for us to be better individuals, by making intentional efforts to change our behaviors:

2015...No Excuses, Just Results - Refuse Negativity!

.....I've learned that when you make up your mind to do something good, you tend to meet unprovoked resistance from external forces.   But you have to be persistent and press forward.   In the meantime, go on living...

2014...Pursuit of Excellence! Try & Try Again!

.....Not all change is bad and not everyone will agree with your decisions.  I've lost good friends, changed churches, gotten married and changed positions at work, to name a few.  Some of these changes have been uncomfortable, but there has been remarkable growth as a result.  

"Change is inevitable; Growth is optional..."

- John C. Maxwell

2013...Focus Shift - It's Not All About You!

....I learned that when you make another person or people your focus, you get stretched.   God has to pull you outside of your comfort zone in order to accomplish His will.  But the gain completely outweighs the pain.  

What have you learned over the past few years?  Hopefully you can take the lessons learned and grow from them, so that you don't have to repeat the cycle.  Let 2016 be a year for continued progress and not do-overs.  

May you be God centered this year, forward thinking and forward moving....

In the Meantime, Go on Living…

Have you ever wanted something so bad that it constantly dominated your thoughts and almost stopped you in your tracks? Like it just put your life on hold and you refused to move on until you got it because if you move from this place, you might miss it when it comes?  I know I have and this morning as those thoughts plagued my mind, another thought super ceded and said, “in the meantime, go on living.”  I have my thoughts of how the course of my life should flow from jobs to promotions to friendships, but then the job changes and the friendship grows cold.  Hhmmmm – that wasn’t exactly how I planned it all out.  Then I was reminded that I’ve never really been in control and His word spoke to me:

Jeremiah 29:11-14(MSG)

This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree.

Matthew 6:30-33(MSG)

“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think He’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do His best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

When you and I recall to mind that our primary objective is to serve God; to seek first His kingdom and to spread His gospel, then the others will fall in line.  I don’t have to put life on hold while I wait for that “thing” to come.  In the meantime, go on living.  Go on living in the things of God.  Stop fretting over what was, what is or what is to come.  Enjoy the days that the good Lord has allowed us all to witness.  

In the meantime, go on living…

The Art of Gratefulness...

I believe that when the same topic of conversation surfaces more than once on the same day that I need to stop and pay strict attention.  As I drove to and from work today, I was engaged in conversations that made me feel the need to repent for being ungrateful.  It would seem that the more we have, the more ungrateful we are.  

A close friend traveled to a place where there lived some very impoverished people and it made me reflect on how much stuff we collect: bigger houses, more expensive cars, good jobs and surrounded by people who love us, but yet we still are not happy!  To top things off, I had a conversation with a co-worker who was in tears because she was allowing stress and unhappiness to cause physical illnesses to manifest in her body.  Instead of being grateful for the life that she has now been afforded, she continues to reflect and dwell on the the prior sad situations of her life.  I told her that someone else was depending on her to get over those situations, so that she could help them get through and to be grateful for where she is now.   The situation was bad, but it didn't take her out and that's enough to thank God for.  

I had to just stop and proclaim to myself how good God truly is.  Based on how I grew up, I never would have imagined that I would have accomplished what I have today nor have the luxury to live as I do.  Yet, God is good and I can stand as a testimony of God's grace.  Today I choose gratefulness!  There is something every single day to be grateful for - if you so choose!

My friends, let us not become distracted by what is going on around us and drawn into the nonsense of this life. Let us remain focused on what is truly important and love the lives we've been afforded to live.  

"Do everything without complaining..."(‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ NLT)

"You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred." 

(‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭1-2‬ NLT)

REMEMBER - Someone else is happy with far less than what you have.

- Unknown

Talk about your blessings more than you talk about your problems.

Is It Me?

"Everywhere I go, there I am..."
- Unknown

I heard this saying once from a co-worker and within the past few weeks, it has been ringing in my ears.   I am pretty sure that I have written on this before, but feel the need to circle back.  I've encountered many people on my life's journey due to the professional position that I hold and I've made many observations.  One of which is that people do exactly what they want to do.  It is as simple as that.  We all have the right to make choices in life and one of those choices is our demeanor; our attitude; our behavior. And in having an intimate relationship with Christ, we as believers are held to a higher standard when it comes to the choices we make.  

As a result of this intimate relationship with Christ, I have an advantage over many others who have no hope.  For I know that I have a Savior who can and will deliver me from anything negative that I might encounter, but it is my choice to accept that deliverance and go happily on my way.  Or I can choose to remain in a state of discontentment as if I have no hope.  

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again— my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the LORD pours His unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing His songs, praying to God who gives me life.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42:5-8‬ ‭NLT

“I think myself happy....”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭26:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered...”

‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:32 ‭KJV‬‬

As indicated in the scriptures, I have a choice in my demeanor; I have to take action and that action is to call upon the name of the Lord, to meditate on His word and His goodness and He will avail Himself to me.  As a result, I do not have to stay the same.  

Everywhere I go, there I am... Change starts with you!  It starts with you wanting to be different, to think differently, to act differently.  You have all the help you need and that help is in Christ Jesus.  So stop dwelling on the past misfortunes of life and willingly receive God's deliverance for your life, because you just might be the only thing holding you hostage.  Therefore, since we know that people do what they want to do - change will come when you change.    

Modern Day Idolatry

Writing about this topic has been on my mind for a few weeks now and I thought it important enough to share.  When we think of the word idolatry, oftentimes our minds go back to the Bible days when the people built altars and made images of precious metals to worship in lieu of God.  

Idolatry - extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone; worship of idols

Exodus 20:3 - Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.

However, idolatry is anything that we place before God in worship or extreme reverence.  Therefore, take a moment and think about your own life and what you are making more valuable than God.  Is it work, is it making money, is it material things or a relationship?  There should be nothing that means more to you than a life devoted to worshipping the Lord our Savior.  I’ve had to take inventory of my own life to ensure that I reprioritize things.  Yes, I need a job so that I can make money to support my family, but the time I devote to working or pursuing my own interests should not consume so much of my time that I’m too tired to give to God first.

Exodus 34:14 - For thou shalt worship no other god; for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

If we put things in life in the proper perspective, we can have what we desire, because God will give it to us.  Society does not dictate what a priority in our lives is, so we need to go back to what truly matters and that’s seeking the Lord and allowing Him to direct our paths so that we don’t become attached to the things of this world.

Luke 12:31 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Thought For The Day,,,

"I do not have to accept everything that comes my way.  I have the right to refuse your foolishness!"

-SoSerene

Know Who You Are...

"Don't let someone determine your value and worth, when they didn't create you!"

- SoSerene

Psalms 139:14...

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

Jeremiah 1:5...

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.  Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

To my sisters struggling with their esteem and self worth - you were not a mistake and your life matters! God has a specific purpose for your life.  Know who you are and who made you! Don't allow the opinions of others about you, ring louder in your ears than the truth of the God who created you.