All is Well

Even for optimists, there comes a time when it is difficult to stay positive in the middle of a difficult situation.  Those times when you feel like life is beating you up. You haven’t quite recovered from one issue when another rises.  You have 1 day of joy and 10 days of crying.  Can anyone relate?

 

There was this woman that had never bore any children.  She was told by the prophet Elisha that she would have a son, and she did! However, years after, the child became ill and complained of a severe headache to the point where he collapsed on his mother’s lap and died.  How tragic for a mother to have her child die in her arms! The grief and pain that mother must have experienced.  What’s interesting is that the mother laid her son on a bed and went to see the prophet that told her she would have a child.  However, when she was questioned about her family, she said “it is well” (2 Kings 4:23).  Can you imagine that?  Her son just died and she’s saying that all is well.  Some may say that her grief had driven her to insanity, but we can also say that her faith was so high that she refused to accept her son’s death.
 

 

 

I wonder how many of us act this way in the midst of adversity. Do we say all is well even though our family is in crisis, the bills are piling up, the children our ill, we lost our job, and there’s no food in the pantry?  Do we rise above the crisis and look up to the one that is not limited or held back by any circumstance? Psalm 23 says that the Lord is our shepherd.  He restores our soul and comforts us!   
 

The grieved mother stood strong in the face of her son’s death and said ‘it is well’.  Thankfully, she received her blessing.  She found the prophet who prayed for her son and the Lord performed the miracle of bringing him back to life.  I wonder what would have happened if she would have not faced the adversity and not gone to see the prophet for prayer! How many of us have missed out on blessings because we didn’t face the issue, we doubted, we gave up too soon?  I know I have.   

Let’s learn from this woman.  Let’s keep our head up and our faith strong.  In the midst of adversity, don’t doubt, don’t give up, and don’t let negativity overcome you.  Speak positive, meditate on the word of God and his promises, and allow him to heal your pain and restore your situation.  I pray that your eyes be enlightened and that you may know “what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1:19).

Battle of the Mind vs. Spirit

Have you ever gone through a tough time in your life and have needed some type of medication to get through?  Maybe you might not have been able to sleep; you might have had some type of anxiety, have been depressed, etc… You convinced yourself that you needed help and sought professional help from a doctor or psychologist in order to meet your need.  Know that all of these drugs are addictive. They can become downers and you can rely on them once your body has gotten used to their effects.  Throughout this time in your life you battle with your mind…meds or no meds.  Your spiritual being is telling you to seek the Lord and move forward with your life believing that through Him and only Him you will be healed, but your mind is telling you otherwise….I need someone to be there for me, someone that can tell me what I am going through, someone that can help me go through this, someone that knows, someone that will give me something to feel relief. 

See there was a brief time in my life where I too had the struggle with the mind and the Spirit. I was going through a tough journey. I found myself depressed and anxious. I felt all alone and to tell you the truth, in a worldly sense, I was alone.  I had accepted the Lord as my Savior, but I still hadn’t experienced what it was to have full blown faith in Him.  So, I felt the need to seek help.  Throughout this time, I sought out help from a professional and was medicated giving in to the battle of my mind.  I was suffering from anxiety and also horrible nightmares with sleepless nights. After about 3 months, even though the doctors told me to stay on the medication, I decided I no longer needed them.  I had acquired faith in the Lord and allowed myself to pray, cry it out every time I went to church, and let Him work in me.  "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).

I asked God to heal my mind, body and soul in order for me to move forward and not be dependent on medication. "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13). I knew the Lord would heal me.  I had faith in Him because only he could do it.  A lot of darts were being thrown my way and I couldn’t attack them all. Having God in my life allowed me to learn that I didn’t need to be dependent on any medication.  Instead of weaning myself off the meds, I simply threw them away and acted like nothing ever happened.  Well, those of you that know how these meds work, you need to be weaned off of them in order to not get side effects, but through God, I was perfectly fine.  I no longer had any sleepless nights, or suffered from anxiety and if I felt it coming on, I prayed and glorified God and allowed myself the time to relax and step away from the things that were making me anxious.  I learned how to work and deal with the anxiety.  Our body is the Lords and we should keep it clean from toxins that will prevent it to work the way the Lord intended it to.  We have to learn to listen to it and allow it to tell us what it needs so that we can live a healthy and peaceful life in the Lord.  "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Seek to win your battle between the mind and the Spirit!

 

 

Eternity, where will you spend it?

It’s a beautiful, sunny day and Annie decides to go out for a stroll at the park.  As she admires the beauty and greatness of nature, she waves to her neighbor and takes long deep breathes feeling blessed for her life.  All of a sudden, she hears a loud cry, a shout and a blast of a trumpet.  She looks around but those walking and jogging in the park don’t seem to be affected by what she heard.  She looks down and notices that the ground is further and further away but the clouds are closer and closer.  She sees other souls in the air as well and realizes the moment has come.  The moment we have all been waiting for…the coming of our Lord!  Imagine the love, the peace and joy that overcame Annie as she met the Lord in the air.  He’s more amazing than she ever imagined!  All the pictures she ever saw of Him did not do any justice to His magnificence. What about her neighbors?  She looks down and sees that they are still below.  They look confused now because they could have bet their life that they just saw Annie in the park, but now she was gone. 

Eternity...Will you spend it in heaven or hell? Will you be like Annie meeting the Lord in the air as 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 tells us or will you be like the confused neighbor?  Whether we think we have many more years left or not is irrelevant. We need to be thinking about where our final destination will be…Heaven or Hell?  What about the destination of our friends and family?  We comfort ourselves in believing that we are saved and are going to heaven without ensuring that we are seeking God’s kingdom first above all things (see Matthew 6:33).  And if we are sure about our salvation, then great! But what are we doing to ensure others are saved?  Are we going to sit by the sideline enjoying dessert while others starve?  Mark 16:15-16 says, “…go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Are you doing your part to ensure others hear the truth of God’s Word?

If you are not saved, never had an encounter with the Lord, or maybe you did meet Him but have since gone astray, I invite you to let God into your life.  “For my Father's (God) will is that everyone who looks to the Son (Jesus) and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I (Jesus) will raise him up at the last day"(John 6:40.) Give God the opportunity to work within you, cleanse you, and make you whole. Psalm 100:5 says, “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever…” God wants nothing but the best for you.  Will you give Him a chance today? I pray that you do! 

Divorce, don’t see it as an option!

Do you ever have a horrible argument/fight with your spouse and think that divorce is for you?  Why do many people make divorce an option?  According to the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, the definition of divorce is the action or an instance of legally dissolving a marriage.  About 50% of marriages in the US have ended up in divorce.  When we say our marriage vows we should present them with the conviction of love and honor them for the rest of our lives.  Marriage vows specifically say, “…..Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart’s deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?”  This means regardless of what you are going through, you should stick by your spouse and love them through the good times and the rough times.  In Mark 10:6-9 it states, "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."  If you fear God and say that He is your savior, nowhere in your mind should the topic of divorce come up.  ***

Have enough respect for yourself, the marriage and your spouse to allow God to work in your marriage, and as a servant of God, do anything in your power to make things in your marriage right.  Marriage is a sacred commitment made between you, your spouse and God.  If things get tough pray about it, seek help, and try to make amends with your spouse.  Think back to when you were both young and in love, when you first met each other, when you saw him for the first time and you got butterflies in your stomach…what made you feel that way?  Pray, and allow God to mend things and allow time for healing.  Stop the bickering, sit back and listen, and let God lead the way.  He will always have the answers to your prayers.  Make a commitment to one another that you will make the time for each and reactivate your love. 

Being married is not an aspect of life to be taken lightly and it is a lot of work. If there are children involved, it’s even tougher, but as our lives move forward and marriage progresses, allow yourselves time to go out, make date nights, dress up for each, and do the special things you used to do for one another.  The little things are the ones that matter.  Take time to listen, not only to God but to each other… tell him what you like, what you need and how you need it.  Remember that we both speak different languages and we have to learn in our marriage what language our spouse speaks in order to make each other happy.  “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith" (Hebrews13:4-7).  

***There are many situations; even the Bible speaks about them, in where divorce might be an option.  This blog is for those who contemplate it because they are fed up. 

Giving Life

Do you find it hard to give to others?  Why is that?  When we give to other we are renewing their Spirits.  It doesn’t matter what we have or don’t have, God sees that from a humble heart we are giving what we might not have to someone who has less than us.  As Joyce Meyers says in her book of daily devotions, Starting your Day Right, “We are to lay down our selfish, self-centered life-styles, and gear our lives toward doing something for the betterment of someone else.”  When we put ourselves aside and bless someone with our giving, we are giving them new life.  It doesn’t have to be materialistic; it could be a smile a hug or even a handshake.  They might just need that reassurance that someone is there to hear them, to acknowledge their presence, and seek to in time of need, someone to pray for them and keep them in their heart.  

There are times that God allows us to think of someone at the moment.  You might not see this person on a regular basis, or you might have dreamt of them. That is all for a reason. Don’t question it; pray for them and allow God to work through your prayer for their need on that day.  Through your prayer you are giving them life.  In 1 Peter 1:8-9 it says, ^“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”  Just because we can’t see the Lord it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do for the greater good.  God has giving us an opportunity to serve Him with our hearts and souls, and serving Him through serving others.  He is exalted when we give back to life what has been lost.  Give when you are allowed to give and even if you are not, God will allow you the possibility to give and you will be blessed abundantly because of your giving.  ^“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  2 Corinthians 9: 7-8 

Before the summer began, I had the opportunity to meet this young lady, who seemed homeless, outside our shopping center.  She came up to me and asked me for money.  I didn’t have any cash on me, so as I put our groceries in the car, I grabbed a bag and gave her some food.  That is what she needed the money for.  I gave her things she could eat at that moment.  I am grateful to God that I was able to be used to feed her body, heart and soul.  She thanked me graciously and all I could do was worry about her for days and pray for her.   Because I had no cash, I could have just walked away without doing anything, but my Spirit would not allow me to; I had to do something!  See my weakness is seeing children/youth being hurt by any circumstance.  At times, I wished I could have brought her home for a home cooked meal, but I did what the Spirit asked me to do.  Would you have done the same?  Would you have given back life?

Living Debt Free Series: Disciplines

Welcome back! In this last part, I’ve outline some of the disciplines we should develop.  Ever heard of the phrase, “you reap what you sow”? As we unveil each discipline, we’ll see how they relate to this phrase.

1. Tithe- Tithing is defined as giving a tenth of our increase (income) to God’s Kingdom; ideally, to the church we attend.  Now, many debate that tithing was for Old Testament times and not the New Testament.  Others get into the semantics of tithing based on gross income vs. net income.  Regardless of your position, we can all agree that there is a blessing associated with sowing into the Kingdom of God.  Malachi 3:10 says: "'Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." It’s interesting that God is actually asking us to test him on this! 

*Personal: There have been times where I could have not tithed and used that money for bills or other needs.  I have proceeded to tithe and believe that God will supply, and He has every time!

2. Pay it back- We already established that we should not be borrowing, but if we do, we should pay what we owe.  Psalm 37:21 says: "The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives."

3. Give- The bible says that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).  We should always be looking to give.  And giving doesn’t always equate to money.  We can give of our time, of our belongings, or even of ourselves by helping someone in need.  Proverbs 3:27 says: "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.” The beauty of giving is that it instantly produces a double blessing.  The person in need is blessed and the person giving is also blessed in return.

*Personal: I was sitting in traffic when I saw a lady walking up and down the street holding a sign asking for help.  I did not have money in my wallet at the time, but I did have a fruit in my bag.  So I called her over and gave her a fruit to eat.  Although it was a small deed, I felt instantly satisfied to have blessed her with what I had.

4. Save- Learn from the ants! Proverbs 6:6–8 says: "Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter." So there’s a savings component here. Savings, not for the sake of being greedy and hoarding everything, but so that we can be prepared during difficult times and to bless others as well. “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has" (Proverbs 21:20).

The Bible says that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).  The key to living a debt free life is 1) recognize that God is our source, and 2) understand that we must be givers.  The more we bless others, the more we will be blessed. 

 

I pray you’ve learned some important tips from this series as you journey through living a debt free life. Remember, that the Lord is your source.  We need to do our part by being responsible with what God grants us, bless and give onto others, and trust that the Lord will take care of all our needs. He never fails!

Living Debt Free Series: Trouble

In the last blog, we discussed the importance of believing in God as our source. Through prayer and with thanksgiving, we should ask him to meet our needs. In the 2^ndpart of this series, we’ll outline some of the ways that we get in trouble financially. It may seem trivial, but often, people aren’t even aware of the habits that get them in financial trouble.

1.  Borrowing: Ever signed up for a loan, charged on a credit card or borrowed money from a friend? If we can’t identify how we are to pay this money back within a short period of time, we shouldn’t be borrowing it. Romans 13:8 tells us, “owe no one anything except to love one another…” It’s so easy to borrow and make promises like “don’t worry, I’ll pay you back.” But then, we find ourselves drowning in debt. Proverbs 22:7 says: “The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” Slaves, in this day and age? Yes, that’s what we become by borrowing!

2.  Lack of Self-control: We can’t be impulsive shoppers if we want to live debt free. “He who is impulsive exalts folly” (Proverbs 14:29). We need to make a list of what we need before going shopping, and then practice self-control by sticking to what’s on the list. This can be a challenge with all of the advertisement in stores but necessary in order to be free of debt.

3.  No Budget Plan: We have to plan out and track expenses. Whether we balance our checkbook, use a spreadsheet or some accounting software, it’s important to track where the money is going. This allows us to identify areas where we are being wasteful. “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).

4.  Co-Signing: This is a sure way to get into financial trouble. Out of kindness, we may want to be a co-signer for a person, but if we make this decision, we need to ensure that we are able to fully cover the debt should the person not pay. This is a huge burden and a gamble! Proverbs 17:18 says: “one who has no sense shakes hands in a pledge and puts up security for a neighbor.”

Lord, as we journey towards living a debt free live, we pray that you guide us and help us make wise choices. Help us practice self-control, and to be responsible with the blessings you provide us. In Jesus name, Amen!

 

Next on our journey towards living debt free, we’ll discuss some of the disciplines we should practice. Stay tuned...

Living Debt Free Series: Our Source

This week, we are going to be featuring a series on how to live a debt free life.  Let’s face it, who doesn’t have debt?  Sadly, I still do, but I’ve made improvements as I journey towards living debt free.  We can become free from debt, and be good stewards of the money and resources that God in his mercy grants us if we follow some biblical principles. In this 3 part series, we will address:

1.       Whose our source

2.       How we get in financial trouble

3.       Disciplines to develop

Week after week, the bills come in and before our next check has been deposited into our account, we have already designated how we are going to spend it. Most of the money probably goes to bills and the rest for entertainment; if there’s anything left! In this economy, many don’t even have a job and are struggling to find ways to make ends-meet. Is there a solution? Absolutely!

               

There is a promise for those who seek and believe in the Lord. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  Now, just because we believe God will supply all our needs doesn’t mean we should go on a shopping spree and buy the latest gadget, if we really can’t afford too.  It means that we should not live under stress and worry about having our needs met.  We should pray and trust that the Lord will fulfill our needs while we are thankful and responsible with all that we have.  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God.”- Philippians 4:6

We can’t be wasteful and need to focus on what is truly needed as opposed to what is wanted.  Half of the time we end up with a closet full of items that we wanted at the moment, but didn’t really need. Even worse, we end up charging items that we just couldn’t do without as if we had an emergency. (And no, taking advantage of the latest BOGO sale is not an emergency!) J

So the first step is to believe that God is our source! If we seek him in prayer and ask him to teach us how to make good choices, then we’ll be on our way towards living a debt free life!

All Things Are Possible

As women, we have a lot on our plates.  We deal with household issues/duties, taking care of our children/spouse, working full-time or part-time, etc… all of it takes a toll in our lives.  Situations may rise that tempt us to deal with things in an unspiritual way.  We think that if we are not in a church service or a spiritual setting that we don’t have to be in communion with God.  In all walks of our path as women, mothers, daughters, granddaughters, and employees, we need to know that God is always with us and if we give Him the glory and praise and worship him throughout the day, we will be blessed.  We cannot let anything derail us off course, and interfere with the blessings God has for us.  We must be strong and reach above the matter and say “…with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26) We must praise God and believe that He will provide the guidance and sanity needed to move forward. 

Personally, I had been experiencing a difficult situation at work.  After some time, the issues kept brewing and I felt I was about to explode.  I had to vent out so I decided to e-mail my best friend since she always tries to provide a spiritual perspective.  As I read her e-mail, I got chocked up.  This is what she said:  

“It's tough to work under that circumstance.  Don't let the situation get under your skin.  The devil is using it to steal your joy but don't permit it. Overcome your emotions/feelings by having the strong will to show Christ love even when the individual doesn't deserve it and is mistreating you.  Remember that we have to overcome evil with love.  The more we show love the happier we feel and the more victory we have over the devil, and those that he is using against us.  If we allow people to get 'under our skin', we are giving the devil authority over our life, but when we stand firm on the Word and do as told (which is to show love) then the devil has no say.”

I started feeling the presence of the Lord.  I began praising and trying to do my best to keep a positive perspective in the situation and not let every little thing bother me because at that instance everything was a bother…everything that was said, done and even things from the past.  I was still not feeling great, but felt God convicting my heart through her words. 

Once my workday was over, I headed to pick up my daughter at childcare.  As soon as I got into the car, I started praising God again.  As I praised, my eyes filled up with tears.  I was begging God to bring relief to my soul.  I had been holding things in for a long time and needed to let go of it all. Through my praise and worship, I kept saying “Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortaleze.” (“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”- Philippians 4:13). At one point, I felt the presence of the Lord and His fire.  I saw angels surrounding my vehicle, my baby girl was praising God in her own little way, and felt God was letting me know that things were going to be fine.  He was taking control to steer my path and I just needed to let go.  I was able to release all my feelings.  I cried with deep sorrow as if I was grieving a huge loss.  I grieved over having to deal with a situation that was out of my control and was hurtful to me, but I was consoled at that moment because “…He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). I felt bigger and better things were coming, and I had to have faith that if I believed in God and allowed Him to truly work in my life all things would be possible.

Pick Your Thoughts

We are so bombarded with advertisement, commercials, information, images, etc…that our minds get fatigued.  We are constantly in "processing" mode.  Some of the information is positive and helpful to our spiritual walk [like this blog J], but many are not. The Bible tells us that we need to renew our minds and work towards consciously picking our thoughts so that we are focused on the right things.

Here are some helpful tips to practice daily: 

1. Renew your Mind: We have to constantly renew our minds through the word and with the help of the Spirit.  The enemy, flesh and the world will waste no time filling our minds with nonsense.  “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:2 

2. Meditate on the Right Things: The word tells us specifically what we should be filling our minds with. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” – Philippians 4:8 

3. Don’t waste your Time and Energy: Don’t waste your time and energy feeding into anxiety, depression, or negativity.  These will only distract you from listening to God speak to your life and can physically make you sick. Instead follow what 1 Peter 5:7 says: “Casting all your care upon him, for He cares for you.”

Remember, pick your thoughts! Start each morning in prayer and set your mind.  And as you get side tracked throughout the day, remind yourself to refocus and meditate on the right things.

Spirit Led or Emotionally Led?

How many of us find ourselves questioning God?  Demanding answers and putting at question His decisions and plans for our lives? Does He not know what He does?  Does He not have the best in mind for you?  Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not on your own understanding.  In all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.”  We love to hear that God will direct our path but find it hard to turn our life, desires and dreams over to Him.  We say we trust in Him, but do we really?  We want God to sit on the passenger seat to direct us as we drive but when he steers us down a path that isn’t clearly visible, we want to turn the other direction (as if we know more than God).

It reminds me of Job’s dispute with God.  And let’s face it, Job was righteous!  Job 1:1 says that Job was “blameless and upright and one who [reverently] feared God and abstained from and shunned evil [because it was wrong].” And yet, Job had experienced so many hardships that He began to have self-pity and to question why these trials had come to him.  I love God’s response on Job 38:4, “where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Declare to me, if you have and know understanding.” Ouch!

We have to watch the words that come out of our mouth and not allow ourselves to be driven by our emotions. We need to stand firm on the Word of God and believe in His ways and purpose.  We get so lost in our self-righteousness and feelings that we think, “but I’ve been so good, how can these things happen to me?” Do not focus on the situation; learn to look beyond the situation.  “Look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.”- 2 Corinthians 4:18

You see Job’s answer on Job 42:3, “…I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” We have to seek to live Spirit led lives not emotional driven lives.  If we weren’t so emotionally driven, we wouldn’t make half of the mistakes and decisions we make!  Recognize the power of the Almighty and that regardless of what happens in our lives, we are blessed already because He loved us first and sent his son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sins.  Stand firm in His Word especially when the devil tells you otherwise.  Know in whom you have believed in.  “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes [and it will], you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything [you have to do your part], to stand [stand firm on His Word and let God do His part].” - Ephesians 6:13

Soul Searching

Have you ever sat down with a friend or even a group of friends, and had one of those moments where you found yourself looking from the outside in; re-evaluating if the friendship or the companionship is a positive influence in your life?  Maybe they are very vocal, yell too much, put down other people/their children, they may be negative all the time or their children might do things that you wouldn’t necessarily allow, etc.  Having the opportunity to step back and look from the outside in allows one to do some true soul searching. 

The Bible states in Proverbs 13:3 “Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”  Do you truly want to be that type of friend who just stands there and says nothing, even if the Spirit is churning within you and telling you to correct the behavior? Instead we think…but what would people think? Would they stop being my friend? Would I be disrespecting them?  We tend to go with the flow because in life we are taught that majority rules. We guard our lips to preserve others, in that moment in time, but there has to be a point where we stand back and say this is not for me.  I either say something positive to help them see their wrong acts or don’t associate with them any longer.  Remember that those who speak rashly will come to ruin; they don’t think before they speak, in turn, hurting those around them and breaking their spirits.  We should voice our opinion, in a respectiveful manner and with the Spirit's guidance, about what is right.

You might not be part of the majority, but it doesn’t matter. You are doing right by God and protecting those around you from reaping bad seeds. Galatians 6:7-8 explains: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Do you want your children to be a witness to something that you wouldn’t do or allow to be done in your home?  Think about it! Sometimes, some soul searching is needed in order for us to serve God in a purer sense and to allow our loved ones, children and spouses to see that we are truly looking out for their best interest.  Those thoughts, words and actions can get attached to you like a bug (sucking eternal life out of your spirit and those around you), and not allowing you to act appropriately by mimicking what you see. 

Ponder on these questions and do some soul searching... Are you who people think you are? OR Are you hiding your true self in order to be accepted?

Discipline Produces a Harvest

In the spirit of the Olympics, meditate on this verse: “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified”- 1 Corinthians 9:27.  Paul is speaking about running the race for the eternal prize, in other words, our spiritual race.  However, many people (including myself until recently) didn’t consider the various areas of life that this can apply too and how it impacts us running our race.  Consider Hebrews 12:11 “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! but afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” When Jesus had fasted for 40 days and was being tempted by the devil.  Jesus said “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”- Matthew 4:4. Do you see a trend? Discipline is the trend! 

God requires us to discipline our flesh, our minds, and our lives! We need to bring the flesh into submission by walking in the Spirit. “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh”- Galatians 5:16. The lust of the flesh doesn’t want to work out.  The lust of the flesh wants to be lazy, wants to eat everything and be glutton, wants everything it sees, etc…But for those of us that are learning to walk in the Spirit, we need to pray to God to help us submit our flesh to the word of God.  We can’t do it by our own strength but by the power of the Spirit.  Through prayer, studying his word, and learning to resist temptation and flesh, we begin to grow and become stronger and stronger. 

So the next time you feel lack of motivation and you don’t want to work out, force yourself to put on your sneakers and remind your flesh that you are in control of your body through the Spirit. You need to speak the word to yourself and practice self-discipline.  Remember, people always say they feel better after they work out, right?  It goes back to Hebrews 12:11…it’s painful to get yourself to work out and push through the lazy flesh, but afterwards, you reap a peaceful harvest; you get the good feeling, you get stronger, you get healthier, you get energy!  The same goes for eating.  The next time you are tempted to over indulge- ask yourself if you are truly hungry or if you are just being tempted to be glutton, and then force your flesh to submit to the Word.  If you are hungry, then eat, but if you aren’t, find another activity. Read the word, pray, exercise, spend time with you baby/hubby, etc…but refuse to submit to the flesh.