01
Jun '19
Compared to Others
01
Jun '19
I have a bad habit of comparing myself to others. I know that this behavior isn’t healthy. I know that I am God’s child. I know that I am created in His image. Why do I compare myself to others? I don’t know. My self- esteem has always been a little on the low side, but I feel like I’ve grown a lot over the years. I know that He surrounds me on all sides every day. Satan roams around constantly looking for an opportunity to slither in and drag us down. God gives me grace and direction each morning I wake up. He’s got my day planned and He knows exactly what’s in front of me. There’s no need for me to worry and Read more…
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25
May '19
(Un) Forgiveness
25
May '19
I think we all struggle with this topic at times. Unforgiveness is a nasty thing. It eats you from the inside. I’ve seen it happen in my own life with someone who was absolutely unwilling to forgive someone who they felt had wronged them. I learned in a book by Andy Stanley called “Enemies of the Heart” that people with unforgiveness in their hearts build walls, they react defensively and they have shrapnel spewing from their heart through their own words and actions. Hurt people hurt people. They are angry. I learned in this book that a heart filled with anger is looking for the rights to be wronged and to be fairly paid back. In most cases, that can never happen, and people Read more…
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25
May '19
Reflections
25
May '19
When I look back on my life I can see all the highs and lows. I can see all the bad decisions and mistakes I made. Looking back, as teenagers and twenty somethings, you would think that’s when most people make the majority of their mistakes and have to learn some hard lessons. Not me, although I did make a few, it wasn’t until later in life that I made my life-altering mistakes. Getting older doesn’t mean we quit making mistakes, but we are supposed to learn from them and move forward. When I look at every bad choice I made, I can also take each one of them and see where God’s hand was in them. He lets us make those choices, but He knows how much we can handle. I discovered a long time ago that God is in control, Read more…
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18
May '19
Representation over Idolization
18
May '19
So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 10:14-16
I wear a charm of a gold cross around my neck. It is a symbol not to tell others that I am Christian. It is a reminder to me of my commitment to Christ. I have worn it now for nearly fifteen years, which is when I first was born again. Every so often, I will look in the mirror and stare at it. The design of it is simply beautiful, but it is Read more…
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18
May '19
Knock if Off (The “Eye Surgery Saga”)
18
May '19
Well, I continue to blog over and over about trusting God. God has gotten me through so many hard times, and has pulled me out of some mirky waters over the years. So, now I come upon another struggle. Eye surgery. My eyesight is pretty important to me; I would guess any seeing person would agree and say the same. So, when I found out I had to have surgery on my eye to replace my natural-born lens, it was a bit concerning. After all, this is MY eye we’re talking about, not someone else’s. Eeek. I did some research, talked to friends, and everyone assured me that this is something that is simple and routine and just another day on the job for the doctor, and yes, that seemed (and still seems) to be the case.
I went into the surgical center 2 days ago to have eye surgery, everyone was great, the surgery was done, I could see AMAZING out of the eye that I’ve been having problems with the last 2 years. I was EXCITED to say the least! Then after I got home, put the Read more…
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18
May '19
Inspired
18
May '19
Writing, journaling, blogging, it all helps me to stay focused on God. It helps me to remember things that are important to me. For me, writing helps me to stay connected with my thoughts. Maybe like a lot of you (or it could just be me), I don’t have a great memory. Writing nourishes my relationship with God. It teaches me to remember, to research, to think, to study, and to learn. I’ve often wondered where I fit into God’s plan. I’ve often felt lost and out of place. Surrounding myself with people that love God has helped me to find purpose. They’ve Read more…
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11
May '19
Is the “Bad Stuff” Actually the “Good Stuff”
11
May '19
Did some “bad stuff” happen in your life? Were you rejected by someone close to you? A friend? A family member? Did you engage in a lifestyle that wasn’t healthy? Were you hurt by someone you thought would never hurt you? Do you look back and realize that those you thought had your back, didn’t? Yeah, I think it’s happened to all of us. Although not easy, why shouldn’t we be glad (even thankful) for what happened? I think God removes people and Read more…
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11
May '19
Application over Education
11
May '19
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. James 1:22-25
I love reading the word. I love how it takes me places mentally I wouldn’t have gone before, and when it challenges a thought I had, it makes me shift my momentum. I love it when I must rewrite a devotion because when I actually read God’s word, I come up with a different Read more…
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11
May '19
On My Own
11
May '19
Many times we think we have all the answers. We don’t need someone else’s input because we think we know better. Often times mistakes happen when we shut others out and we don’t seek the advice we need. Going through life is tough enough without isolating from everyone. We all need people to lean on, especially in times of crisis. We need others to help cheer us up when we’re down. When times are rough, we need people to lift us up, to give us support, to say they love us. I think I can safely say that a lot of us have bad days. We may be whiny Read more…
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04
May '19
Sidetracked
04
May '19
When we stop and think about it, there are so many distractions in life that sidetrack us from spending time with God. We have news and entertainment right at our fingertips. We become obsessed with our favorite television shows to the point of them invading our minds throughout the day. We stay up late and then drag ourselves into work because we can’t miss the latest episodes. There’s all kinds of activities we get caught up in. We can start out with good intentions trying to stay focused on God, but then life’s distractions take over. We start finding that we have little or no time to spend just being alone with our Savior. So many Read more…
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