The Voices From Without

A good while ago I did a post about the voices from within in which I talked about  how we put pressure on ourselves and listen too often to the voices in our own heads. 

Today I want to discuss how we can use the voices coming at us from other people to learn about ourselves and grow as a person. God uses people to teach us, to help reveal flaws in ourselves and cause us to think. 

I've recently had such a thing happen. At first, I was hurt over the comments but realized afterward that I needed to self evaluate because if someone saw me in this manner that I was hearing expressed then I probably needed to make some changes. That's a healthy, adult way of looking at the situation, right?? Yes it is! Sooo, now is the time to implement changes in my life to become a better person. I'm obviously not portraying the person I thought I was. I'm not displaying the Christ-like lady I want to display. I probably need to spend more time "studying to be quiet" as the Bible says. At any rate, this probably sounds like a New Year's Resolution but since it's May, it isn't. It's just a realization about myself that someone has brought to light and I want to change the persona. 

I hope that this will help someone else to see that when others make comments that hurt or even grate on your nerves, it may be time for self evaluation and possible changes. Sometimes what we think we portray to others isn't at all what others are seeing. 

Learning From the Apostles

I know everyone must be shocked that I'm posting again the next day but I had an idea to blog about. I recently was reading at the beginning of the book of Acts and a thought struck me. After Jesus gave some instruction to the disciples, they got to watch him ascend up into a cloud. As I finished the first chapter, I wondered what the apostles did from the moment of Jesus' ascension to the moment of Pentecost. This would be approximately 10 days or so. I did some research and continued reading for a couple more chapters. I think we can learn a few things from how the disciples handled Jesus leaving them. 

The first thing they did was go back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives to the upper room and gather together in prayer and support for one another. The Bible says there were about 120 men and women which included Mary, the mother of Jesus and his brothers. Jesus had told them to wait on the promise of the Father, which was the power of the Holy Ghost (comforter). They were being obedient. 

We can learn from the disciples to be obedient to the Lord and to spend much time in prayer and fellowship as we are waiting for God to show us the next move to take. 

Another conclusion we can see is that the disciples were searching and reading over the scriptures to know what to do. We know this because Peter stood up in the midst of them all and quoted from the book of Psalms. They used these verses of scripture to decide to cast lots and replace Judas Iscariot for the ministry. 

We, too, should continually study, read and search Scripture to know how to live our daily lives. The New Testament tells us that the things were written in the Old Testament as examples for us. Christians today can look at OT and NT scripture for examples. There's instruction for us. It truly is the owner's manual of life! 

What Is Godliness?

Been pondering some things lately. I believe people use the term "Godly" far too loosely in the world today. Have you ever had someone say to you that "she or he is a godly person" or "she or he exudes godliness"? I'm afraid that far too often we have contact with a person who is extremely nice or kind and speaks in a soft manner and they dress in a modest, conservative way and we automatically assume that the person is a godly person. After all, they just SEEM godly. Yet, even though the person appears in all outward appearance and character to be godly, they are truly far from God. 

Can a person be godly if they never pray, read AND study their Bible or spend time with God and trying to live out what His Word says? Remember that Jesus told a story about people who will someday say "Lord, Lord did we not cast out devils in your name?" Jesus said that the Father would tell them "Depart from me for I never knew you". 

When we worked up close and personal with teens in years past, it was easy to jump on the bandwagon with others who thought they were looking at certain "Godly" teens because they outwardly were obedient and nice to others and never missed Sunday school. Yet, when you dug a little deeper into their personal life, you found out that they never spent time in prayer, or reading their Bible outside the Sunday school classroom, or trying to live a separated, sanctified life that showed others they belonged to Christ. So, were they godly? Were they examples of godliness? I'm not sure you can rightly live for God if you never spend time in His Word learning about who He is and what He commands. 

I think the above phrase says it all. You may be able to fake your Christianity before others but true godliness cannot be faked. If you are spending time with God and in His Word, studying and hungering for it, then it will just come forth to others. 

Just something to consider. Profess godliness! Don't be a faker...live your life so others know whose side you stand on and in whom you trust. God's Word should fall from your lips freely and unapologetically! 

Is Success Expected?

In the world thought process...YES! In our friends and family's thought process...Often Yes! In our own minds...usually Yes! 

The world, loved ones and our own selves want us to be successful in life. We want to be financially successful, marriage successful, child rearing successful, employment successful, and even in our hobbies we want to feel successful. 

Success is measured in different ways by different people. We put ourselves under tremendous pressure by expecting success (really this is often defined or measured as perfection) from our endeavors. We compare ourselves to what others have accomplished. We can become envious and then depressed because we have not done as well as someone else we know or see around us.

I have no problem with setting goals through careful and prayerful thought and trying to attain them. However, we cannot be so goal focused that we overlook the here and now of every situation. 

I think old Albert may be on the right track in this quote. A person can become so focused on attaining what they feel is success and never really contribute to those around them. If you have not been of value to your spouse, children, parents, community, state or country, have you really been successful at all? If a person is successful at climbing the corporate ladder and/or building a large business but never invested time in his family, he has not contributed to helping build a life and relationship with his wife or children. This can go for the wife who is in the business world also. I could give many more examples or scenarios but I think you get the picture. 

Does God expect success from us? When I think of what the Bible says, I'm convinced not! Even if success comes in some way, shape or form--it is not us who was successful. It was God who blessed and allowed it!!!

God expects faithfulness. He expects obedience. You know when Joshua lead the Israelites across the Jordan into the Promised Land and they took Jericho. Success came strictly because they followed God's instruction to the letter. A short time later when they went to the little town of Ai, they were defeated because they were not obedient to what God said. 

I am reminded of a devotion I read years ago about a man who was told by God that he had work for him to do and to go outside his cabin and push against the large rock. The man did as he was told for several days but try as he might, he could not move the rock. Still he was obedient each day but began to grow weary in the fact that he could not move the rock one inch. After awhile, the devil began to say to the man that he should give up and that it was no use because he would never be successful at moving the rock. Finally, the man became defeated and discouraged in his own mind and cried out to God that he didn't understand why God had told him to push against the rock because he had not been able to move it. God responded, "I never told you to move the rock. I told you there was work to be done and to push against the rock. You were obedient and faithful all this time. Now your hands are callused, your arm and leg muscles are firmer and stronger because you did as you were told. I will now move the rock for you!" 

God doesn't call us to be successful. He calls us to be faithful and obedient! That's what He expects! When you feel like a failure. When you feel irrelevant in the job you are trying to do. Just remember that you are expected to be faithful and obedient. God may or may not allow you to be successful but you WILL earn rewards in heaven for being faithful in the work He has for you. Hope this helps encourage someone today! 

When the Norm Changes

Often times change comes suddenly and unexpectedly and the average person is unable to cope. Even though life has had a major altertion from the norm, they refuse to accept what has happened and fight to hold on to what was. They will not move forward and learn what is necessary to make adjustments and live in a new manner. 

During the 14 months that my mom battled cancer, our family was constantly saying "Welcome to the new norm". From learning to administer pain meds and flush out feeding tubes to seeing Mom without hair. If you do not accept the here and now and adjust your attitude to it, you will be frozen and unable to deal and cope. 

No matter what is happening in your life that is different than you are used to or different than you want it to be, you must always be willing to move on to the new plan. Those who do not adjust and learn to cope with the reality of the situation, will become angry and miserable. They may also completely shut down and become useless. 

When my husband entered ministry  life (and myself and kids also) the kids had a major life change. They were leaving everything they knew behind and moving to a strange town in  a strange state and leaving close friends and family behind. I bought a book called Who Moved My Cheese for Teens by Spencer Johnson. I read it with them to try to help them see what was necessary for them to cope with the situation. The book uses test mice examples to show what happens when you refuse to accept the change. 

There will always be unexpected change in life. Some are simple daily changes to schedules or things just not happening the way you are used to or the way you want. Some will be big life changing events that feel like a tornado has ripped through  (maybe one literally rips through!) and causes such upheaval and change in routine that grieving actually takes place. That's fine as long as you, as quickly as possible, accept the change and move on and do what is now necessary for life. Sometimes health changes and you must learn how to deal with taking daily meds or how to deal with the loss of a limb or eyesight or hearing or what have you. Maybe you must now deal with caring for a special needs child. Whatever the new "Norm" is, the faster you accept, the faster transition will come and return to routine...just a different routine. 

Sometimes life is plush and laid back and easy going...other times it's desert and barren and takes alot of effort!

God Commands Oneness

Genesis 2:24 - Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

It is reiterated again in the New Testament in Matthew 19:5 and Mark 10:4-9. I want to take a look at becoming one. 

I believe there are many things to talk about in this. First of all there is the leaving and cleaving to one another. I did a previous post about leaving and cleaving. 

I think God intends for oneness to be in every aspect of the relationship. Not that they should have every thought and idea the same. But, they should be on the same page in finances, child rearing, church, and outside influences. There will be much turmoil and arguing if a couple cannot get on the same page in these areas. 

If one half of the couple likes to spend and the other is conservative in spending or prefers to pay bills and save, the arguing will ensue. If one half of the couple believes in loving discipline that includes spanking and the other only believes in timeout or grounding, arguments will happen. If one person is cautious about outside influences and the other is open to any and all things, there will also be arguing. 

Of all the things mentioned, I believe the one most important is church. It is not good enough to just look for and marry a Born Again Christian. You should marry inside your own faith. If you do not, there will be confusion for children where doctrine is concerned. There will be arguments about which church to attend. Also, within this the level of commitment to church should match your own. If one is nonchalant in church attendance and service and the other never misses and is very involved, again, arguments are bound to happen. 

  

Now, I'd like to say that some and probably most of these items mentioned will take being sure before marriage.  But, they can be worked out later in marriage. The happiest marriages are those with couples who have true oneness. Remember, God commands one flesh.

Social Media Monsters

I've been wanting to post about this for some time but my husband had total knee replacement 4 weeks ago and my time has been otherwise occupied caring for him and taking him to doctor appointments and physical therapy. Please understand that this post is directed straight at me along with anyone else who may be guilty. In our age of technology and the craze of social media ... Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, etc. we have created self absorbed, ego driven monsters. 

Everyone using them have at one time or another used it as their platform of "1 min to several minutes of fame". Not only do people air their dirty laundry and drama filled lives on their chosen media site, they are constantly checking to see who has reacted by liking, loving, commenting or sharing their post. If no one has, they suddenly feel rejected and ignored. If there is a large response, the ego is stroked and people feel important and valued.

Wow! I have been guilty of this! Especially where this blog is concerned. I mean many now famous people got their start by an ordinary blog! (Ree Drummond for instance) Now, I really have no desire to be famous but the more people who read your blog, the more people you have reached with your ideas!  I started my blogs to reach people, make them think, and to educate and encourage when I can. I have more than once felt useless and rejected when no one (including my own family) has commented on my blog posts or even acknowledged that they read it. I have learned to take it in stride and shove off those feelings because I apparently have more readers than I realize and they are reading but not commenting or sharing my posts.(I have realized this because once in a blue moon someone makes a comment and tells me they have been a long time reader!)  I keep in my mind that if I only make ONE person think or be encouraged or convicted or whatever, then I have served the purpose for which I started blogging in the first place. 

The above pic says it all really! It isn't just women but men also who are guilty of ignoring those around them while looking at their phones. I think cell phones and all technology devices can suck people in, but cell phones are so much more accessible. Tablets, computers, laptops, gaming devices can all create the same monsters as far as engaging in them and ignoring those around you. To me, it matters not which social media, website or game you are engaged in, if you are ignoring those around you, it is not a good thing! Resentments can build up quickly. Often the other person begins to do their own device engaging in response to being ignored by the first person and then pretty soon everyone is doing their own thing and isolating themselves from the very people sitting in the same room as them. 

I am going to start a new rule in my family that during meal time especially, there are no phones! People need to learn the art of conversation again. Over the past year, I have come to realize that even my husband and I talk less and are now silent for longer periods if our phones are put away. That is not a good thing! We have lost the art of talking to one another like we used to do. Don't get me wrong, we still have good conversations but there are times when it seems as though we struggle with topics to talk about and during those moments of silence, I notice that we both end up grabbing our phones and looking at something there. I don't like it and I want to do something about it. 

Just a little post to make you think and check yourself to see if you have become a media monster.