Born of Frustration

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8

Working in sales, I have experienced some high-highs and some low-lows over the past 17 years of my career path.  Just last year, the first eight months were spectacular-my team and I were blessed and exceeded our sales goals by the end of the summer.  From August until December, things were just busy and the last few months just flew by, and while difficult, we finished the year on a high note as things got better. 

Much the same, I truly believe that the reason God allows us to experience trials and sorrow in our lives is so that we might learn that He has the power to sustain and provide for us all things that produce earthly blessings.  All of God’s children go through storms in their journeys through life.

We must remember that it is while we are in the “ going through” stages of any crisis or trial that God’s peace becomes clear to all.  Praise be to God!

SUCCESS

As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.  2 Chronicles 26:5

I recently stumbled across one of my favorite quotes from Albert Einstein... "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting different results."  

How will this year be different for me?  Well, I think I am on my way to understanding by looking back retrospectively at what was a very difficult and painful year.  For instance, how many times did I shrug off God's will for my life and follow my own, or listen to someone else?  Too many times to recall, and many times, I feel like I failed miserably.

The first book of Psalms states "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked...but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."  Seeking guidance in God's law rather than in the deliberations of the "wicked" is paramount for success in this life.  Knowing that God's will is good and perfect, it makes sense that we should seek Him in all that we do.  When we live in accordance to His will, we are on the pathway to success. 

Don't let your Bible collect dust on the shelf...open it up and explore God's Word and you will be on your way!

Better Days

“I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.  “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29:11

Just a few days into this new year, I felt the need to offer some words of encouragement to a few family members, friends, and neighbors who are most certainly looking forward to better days ahead.  I have been able to find some solace in the above passage from Jeremiah since my mother's passing last summer.  In addition to giving me peace and comfort, this verse has also helped me to better understand just how much God loves each and every one of us, even when the world seems to be falling apart.

When things aren't going the way that we would chose to have them, many people grow angry with God and view him as this angry and rigid deity that is just watching and waiting to zap us with misfortune.  This misconception couldn't be any further away from the truth about our Father.  You see, God loves is and only wants good things for each of us.  He not only wants us to have a bright future with him eternally in heaven, but also in this life as well.

When we recognize His goodness in our everyday lives, we begin to understand and believe that He really does love us and wants the very best for us, which ultimately provides us with a hope that sustains us.  God is good all the time, all of the time God is good!

Just Another Day

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow, God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."  Matthew 6:34, The Message

Most people have made their New Year's resolutions and will stay faithful for a short time, at the very least. The gym is typically packed the first few weeks of January and then back to normal by the middle of February. When we make resolutions, we should make some attainable goals so that we don't become frustrated and just give up. The same holds true with God as we need to learn to trust him one day at a time.

When we take each day as it comes, it keeps us closer to God and more responsive to his will for our lives. The problem is that trust is not a natural response for us, especially if we have been hurt before.

If we can exert our will to trust God in all circumstances, He will provide for us our needs-each and every day, which helps us to live in a deep dependence on him for all things in all situations.

This One's For Me

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.  Matthew 7:7-8

 I truly believe that there is much more to prayer than simply asking and receiving.  After all, God is not just some proverbial genie in a lamp sitting around waiting to answer our every wish.  It has taken me many years in my walk of faith to realize that God always seems to work on issues deep within our hearts when we petition him with our requests; many times He answers our prayers much differently that we would expect Him to.

This new year, as we persist in talking and listening to God, let us open our minds and hearts to allow God to work in his supernatural ways to give us a greater understanding of ourselves, our situations, and His purpose and direction for our lives.  

Praise be to God!

Sowing The Seeds of Love

Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a loyal spirit within me.  Psalm 51:10

Despite not having much of a ‘green thumb,’ I still understand the concept of sowing seeds that will eventually produce plants if nourished properly.  For instance, if you plant sunflower seeds, the seeds will eventually produce sunflowers, and so forth.

We are all familiar with the saying that "we will reap what we sow" and just like seeds, if we have sinful desires and thoughts, it will become evident later that some 'bad seeds' have been planted in our hearts.

We must continually go to the Lord and ask him to give us clean hearts so that our lives will produce clean thoughts, motives, and behaviors.

None of us will be entirely 'clean' or free from sin in this life, but one of the most worthy goals we can pursue in this new year is to glorify God in all that we say or do.

New Year's Day

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:23

Life is constantly full of new and fresh beginnings and how we approach them makes all of the difference in the world.  We can sometimes face new beginnings with anxiety and sometimes even complacency.  Looking back at 2016, I can honestly say that I have never been this glad to welcome a new year and one that I hope is far better than the last one. 

We must remember that each new day/new year presents a whole new series of opportunities, including opportunities to fall in love with God more deeply and to know him better.  When we remain positive and ‘begin again’  with the right attitude, it will impact our relationship with others and effect the people in our lives.

God’s mercy towards us is new every day, despite what we have done or not done the day before and regardless of how we have treated him or others.  This frees us from the burdens of yesterday’s failures and regrets to live the lives that God intended for us to live.

May you and your loved ones be blessed in 2017!!