It’s all up to you. You’re not a victim or casualty.
You can choose, but you have to choose now.
Time is ticking. Minutes are flying. Seconds zoom by right now as you speak.
So, make your choice, and choose it well.
For tomorrow is a new day, and today will be gone forever.
Never to return.
And soon enough, you’ll be saying goodbye to 2023 and Hello, 2024!
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
It’s rare and of much value, never to be seen again.
What will you do with it?
What will you make amends?
The clock will keep on ticking.
Time will never end.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
There is such a push in modern culture to do the same things, wear the same things.
There is such a demand to be the same as everyone else, compare and correlate.
If you are a follower of Christ, He never designed for this pattern.
Look at His disciples. Look at His creation.
Peter and John seemed to be polar opposites.
Snowflakes and raindrops are never identical.
He called you to be you, tempered by His Spirit, molded by His Son.
Find yourself in His design. Find yourself in His plan.
You’ll be amazed at what you discover.
You’ll be overwhelmed by what you reclaim.
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
For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
If you’re progressing, you’re going to be changing.
You can never become without growth.
You can never advance without change.
You can never develop without pruning.
When a seed bursts into a plant, the seed pod breaks.
When the sprout grows, it has to break through the ground.
When the stems reach for the sky, they have to stretch and move.
And if the tree is to one day flourish and bear abundant fruit, it has to be pruned.
Growing is never easy, and sometimes, it’s definitely not fun.
But if we are to be what we are called to be, we must embrace it.
We must look for opportunities to learn, to progress, to change.
If we are to succeed, we must learn to love the stretch.
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
I love roses. Really, I love flowers of almost any kind, but I’ve always been partial to roses, poppies and Gerber daisies.
Particularly, in red and hot pink… but these orange roses above are absolutely beautiful as well!!
And lately, I’ve been drawn to them more and more while being reminded of the phrase, “Stop to smell the roses.”
See, life has just been crazy busy lately. Busy in good ways, I suppose, but busy nonetheless. And I find my heart longing for a pause…
A pause for refreshment. A pause for reflection. A pause for renewal.
In everyday life, and especially, in the busy days of life, if you don’t have those pauses that bring refreshment, reflection and renewal, you might very well die. If you don’t die, you might drown in the heaviness around you. If you don’t drown, you might just grow resentful or depressed or burnt out.
You’ve got to pause. And you can’t pause with chaos in your head. You’ve got to pause away from the frantic. You’ve got to pause out of the panic. You’ve got to pause beyond the emotion and turmoil.
Get alone till you’re not alone anymore.
Sit still until you are still.
Breathe until you do breathe.
And then, inhale even deeper and smell those roses.
And then, take another minute to count them.
I promise you. If you’ll do this often, you’ll find you can face tomorrow a whole lot easier. … doesn’t mean tomorrow will be easier. It just means you’ll be a little stronger to face it.
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness.
[*I do not own nor possess this pic. Simple google search.]
Sometimes, you’re going to appear insane simply because you disagree… or at least, those in the River of conformity will say.
Sometimes, you’re going to sound crazy simply because you won’t comply… or at least, those in the push for an agenda will claim.
Sometimes, you’re going to wonder if you might be going nuts simply because you won’t say yes… or at least, those in the camp of trend, popularity and fame will declare.
Never allow those around you, and especially those against you, to convince you to jump off the cliff simply because every sheep on the planet has.
Make up your own mind.
Choose one Sovereign authority and follow Him.
His Truth is Absolute, and absolute Truth is, itself, exclusive.
Don’t lose it.
Don’t give it away.
And certainly, NEVER sell it to the highest bidder!
Truth is a precious gift. A precious commodity.
Hold on to it.
No matter the cost.
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Wow. Came across this song tonight and felt it tug on my soul.
Sometimes, severing a relationship, a friendship, a bond, a soul tie is a must.
If simply for survival…
For a life to once again thrive…
Unless, you’ve been to the point of silent pain, irrevocable destruction, or heart wrenching betrayal, this concept may seem foreign, even ludicrous to your ears.
But if you’ve cried yourself to sleep at night over words that were spoken against you…
If you’ve hidden your face in shame for deeds you never committed…
If you’ve stood in utter shock and amazement as one who promised to defend nonchalantly walked away,
or lied to your face,
or spilled slanderous gossip to cause heads to turn…
Then, you might begin to understand.
Sometimes, severing is simple survival.
And healing brings a heart to thrive again.
“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.”
Romans 16:17-18 nkjv
“Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them; For their heart devises violence, and their lips talk of troublemaking.
Proverbs 24:1-2 nkjv
“We sever the tie of constraint; the leash that keeps us cohering to someone else’s plan rather than stepping out and realizing our true potential,” says Anthony of the impetus behind the single. (per ccmagazine.com)
*this song nor the quote, I do not own nor possess. Simple google search.
the grizzle grist mill 