Change? Bring It On!

Change? Bring It On! “They forced me to change everything*^#@! I did it, but I don’t have to be happy about it and neither do you!” When change comes knocking at our door, in our place of business or in our relationships we can embrace the change, be a silent angry lion or fight it boldly tooth and nail! Ideally change is designed to improve a situation, fix a matter when all else fails, or trying something new when old ways just aren’t working. Of course, the other possibility is that someone is simply trying to sabotage a situation or ruin a relationship most often out of jealousy. It seems that misery loves company. And unhappiness strikes by breeding dissention and trouble! When we are confronted with change and we feel immediately spiteful we must learn to quickly acknowledge this feeling and ask, “Why? Why do I feel antagonist? Why am I angry when I look at a particular individual? Why is this so upsetting to me?” The answers can be many and very often will make us feel uncomfortable. It could be that the new way is something foreign to us and it would require a new skill, education, or a modified mindset. It might be that this change is something we’ve always despised. We might also note that a consistent negative attitude toward an individual or the task at hand might remind us of someone or something from our past. We might even be scared of rejection or failure. Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Are we fighting against something that is good? Are we wrestling because of personal insecurities? Are we waging a war simply because of the fear of the unknown? It is important that we find out why we are struggling with the thought of change. Once we get our answers, then and only then can we move forward and embrace the change that is designed for unity, uniformity, advancement, increase or improvement. Let us leave anger at the threshold of the door. When we relapse we can walk away to recall our new spirited mascot. We can take a walk or meditate breathing in deeply to draw in new happy endorphins. Always exhale with peace in your heart and wave goodbye to all the negativity that could cause you remorse. Learn to more quickly support what was designed for the betterment of all. With a positive attitude we will allow ourselves room to transform. With an open approach we will see benefits that will permit us to modify our old mindsets. With an optimistic outlook we can be released from our former routines for the betterment of the group or cause. What once held us back will overtime fade into the pessimistic abyss. Better to work through change with a great attitude than to go through the process anyway and risk being left behind, become bitter or be replaced. All those who work together toward advancement will reap great rewards. The only unhappy ones will be those who contest. In the end the rebel will be unhappier than the first day he heard the good news! “That’s great news! I’m happy to be a part of the change and excitement. I can’t wait to get started!”

How I Know God Loves Me

How I Know God Loves Me Everything is wrong in my life. How can I believe that there is a God who loves me? Every morning we wake up and yesterday has worked out itself. The result or progress made may be to our liking or loathing. If yesterday had gone the way we planned, we would probably be seeing a greedy and self-serving result. The answers to our desires and prayers are not by any sole doings of our own. There is no way that we can soften a hardened heart, make charitable the selfish, or sway the unconquerable. We could not possibly put all the players in their proper place, the perfect words in their mouths, nor make stronger or weaker the attitudes that would make our circumstances workout in agreement. It is by the grace of God that all things work out as they do. We can look back over our trials and agree that in the end the result was best for us. Often the outcome was not anything we would have dreamed up for ourselves. How few times in our lives are we brought to our knees over the great and miraculous mercies of God that we’ve witnessed? Can you recall a time that your world seemed to have crumbled, feeling as though you’ve lost control of your finances, relationships, or home? Have you ever felt so powerless, defenseless and incapable that you fell to your knees, not in prayer, but striking with anger to the God that loves you? “If you loved me Lord, why would you make these things happen?” When the storm has passed and the sea of our lives is calm again, it is then that we often pray confidently in thankfulness to the God that loves us. Could our thankfulness be deeper than a superficial prayer? Could we reach more profoundly into our souls so that we may with awe and trepidation acknowledge the greatness of our God? Could we be so bold and humbled to speak to God as Job did, ““I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eyes see you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” We need only feel this way once to learn that God is in charge. We are children of God. And being His children we should not allow ourselves to come between us and the love God offers. “O How I Know God Loves Me.”

God Is Our Witness

God Is Our Witness “No one will know what I’ve done. There are no witnesses.” If we have been deceitful our conscience tells us it’s wrong. If we are not faithless, there is a sting and wrenching in the pit of our stomach that cuts deeper than being caught. Earthly witnesses, or not, the wicked evidence is there being recorded in our souls. The effects of our bad behavior upon another can perhaps fade with time. We may be grateful that others have softened after many years as they witnessed a turnaround in our lifestyle. We might hope that others will turn the other cheek and pretend that nothing has happened. In the bible Job shares this, ”O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book! O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved on a rock forever!” We need not put all our thought into what others think or whether they know what we’ve done in secret. God knows. God knows what happened yesterday. He knows what will transpire today. God knows what we will do tomorrow. There is a witness who will know what we’ve done. When we rise in the morning, a new page is being turned in our book. As we go through our day, our thoughts, acts and deeds are being recorded with an iron pen. When we lye our head down to sleep at night that is when the “period” is placed at the end of our day’s accounts. Every day we have an opportunity to open our hearts to God. In every situation we have a chance to reject sinfulness. In every prayer we have a God who can forgive us. Let us live daily by God’s word. God is our witness. God is miraculous and merciful. Because God loves us, with each new circumstance, He holds His iron pen, and with hope waits for us to show Him we’ve altered our ways.

A New Day To Make Things Right

A New Day To Make Things Right “You want to rehash everything! You make me want to pull my hair out!” It’s aggravating and tiresome when we are trying to move forward and someone is living in the broken past. Moving forward with what seems like stubborn people in our lives can feel like it sucking the life out of us. However, in all our righteousness we may need to take time to reassess ourselves. We might humbly confirm that we are on the right track. However, shockingly, we may discover and might have to own up to the fact that we are “the difficult one.” Human behavior is not perfect. At one time or another we will find ourselves involved in a challenging and less than praiseworthy relationship. Challenge, however, should not keep us from trying to move toward a more Christ-like life. At the heart of Christ is love. If love is not a recognizable element of our behavior then it’s time to break down the wall that keeps love from emerging. Our unkind or naively learned behavior was probably acquired from our youth and past difficult relationships. We may have developed hurtful, insensitive and tactless defenses in order to survive emotionally. However, today we can take meaningful baby steps to “grow up spiritually.” With hope, love, forgiveness and faith at the heart of our successes, failures and tranquility, these new steps and this new walk will be one of love as we grow into our spiritual adulthood. Reverting back into trying to fix yesterday is futile. We must live today in a manner that will restore health and spiritual wellness into our relationships. The heart yearns to hear the words “I’m sorry.” The human body is starved for a hug that says “I love you.” But past these transitory emotional and physical consolations, what keeps us meaningfully, humanly and spiritually moving forward? Our words must resonate with compassion and caring for our neighbor. Our deeds should reflect hearts reared in love. Our thoughts must translate into visible transformation of a disciple for Christ. When our attempts to work together at raising our morals, standards and values fail we may have to sadly move forward spiritually without our loved ones. However, as we move forward in growth on our spiritual journey, we must pray and hope that one day by our faith-filled promising example our loved ones may grow with us. Hope filled actions speak louder than words. Compassionate deeds move the heart. Faithful efforts heal brokenness over time. Jesus asked some people to follow Him. The response was on more than one occasion, “Let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus does not ask us to leave people behind. However, we must leave all our excuses behind in order to know Him, follow Him and to proclaim the kingdom of God. Our aim is to live here, on God earthly kingdom, in love and to serve one another. Forgive yourself and your neighbor for yesterday. Today is a new day to make things right.