When you’re lonely and feel no one cares, where does your heart go?
When you’re afraid and search every corner for harm, where does your heart hide?
When you’re broken and believe not one could mend a shattered piece, where does your heart reach?
Run to the Only One who can love unconditionally.
Hide in the Shadow of the One who can defend.
Take comfort in the Only One who can heal a ravaged soul.
He is looking, and He sees the child He created.
He is lingering, and He adores you.
He is waiting, and He loves you.
One touch, one word, one moment in His presence…
Your heart will never be the same.
He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:10-11
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
Are you one to pause and breathe or to stomp and run?
In high profile training operations, the first rule of explosive response, or any violent attack on a unit, is to assess yourself before assessing others.
For, if you don’t take the time to evaluate your bullet entry and see your blood,
You cannot accurately see or help to heal the one beside you.
In this life, you will have trouble.
You will have pain, and you will have sudden impalements to the soul.
How you respond and retaliate will determine how many others you can help save and heal.
Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
Being in the church culture these days, I hear much said about what a Christian should or shouldn’t say, how a Christian should or shouldn’t respond.
There’s always a new vantage point, a new opinion they needs to be heard, and typically, there will be two or three in oration at various times, even if these are in opposition to one another.
So, who is right and who is wrong?
Who are we to listen to?
Who are we to follow?
Well, for Jesus followers, the answer is abundantly clear, or at least, it would be argued that it “should be.”
Yet, even in the Church Body, there are varying opinions, beliefs and denominations that cause us all to land at various points of standards concerning any one given “biblical rule.”
So again, who is right and who is wrong?
Who are we to listen to?
Who are we to follow?
We definitely need to start in the Word of God. If you claim to be a Jesus follower, that truly should be your book of preference for daily living and lifestyle.
And then, we definitely should start with the life of Christ. If He’s your main guy, then mirroring His examples will definitely be helpful.
And finally, starting with the specific things God loves (there are seven actually listed in specificity), and maybe the greatest commandments of which Jesus Himself spoke might be great beginning.
By the time I do these three suggestions to their fullness, it’s usually bedtime, and I don’t have a lot more time to add more opinions or fingers to point toward all the things everyone might be getting wrong.
Maybe we should all take a step back and begin again.
Maybe we should all take a moment in front of the mirror and take a really long, hard look inside.
Maybe we should grab His love letter to us and begin reading for what it has for US and to convince US instead of all it doesn’t have for THEM and has to condemn THEM.
And maybe, just maybe, by the time we do these three things, we will have given enough time for Him to begin to change us from the inside out.
And then, maybe there will begin to be a whole lot less wrong AMONG US, and we can become a whole lot more effective FOR HIM…
But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lordyour God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:34-40
And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:3-5
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Too many people in this world bite, ridicule and wound those closest to them who care the most.
Too many people in this world viciously attack the ones who love them the most because they’re willing to speak truth.
Too many people don’t know who their friends are and walk away from the best.
Too many people embrace the toxic, the loud, and the angry, believing because “they’re family,” that’s what they’re suppose to do.
Too many people hold onto a bloodline that kicks them around and demands they be a doormat when they should say goodbye and not look back.
Too many people keep close those whom should be released and let go of those whom should be captivated.
Look around. Evaluate. Be honest.
Don’t stay out of obligation, fear or routine.
Don’t walk away out of rage, envy or apathy.
Open your eyes to see clearly and hear with precision.
Make wise choices, and make calculated decisions.
You can do this.
And the next generation is depending on you to do it right.
They are watching and waiting.
Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.
*I do not own this post, and I do not know this person. So, I am not endorsing or condoning anything of his other than this post alone.*
I screenshot this post way back in 2020 as a simple reminder for myself and others.
During those hard months of 2020, I felt myself tempted to be fearful.
Then, I felt myself tempted to grow angry at some who decided to walk in fear of the future.
Then, I felt tempted to get “preachy” at what Christians should and shouldn’t be doing.
Then, I just stopped and had what you might call an epiphany…
At times, there is an expectation from the culture around, maybe even a demand, that we, as Christians, should never worry, fear, fail or be sinful.
As Christians, I believe we often can have the same expectation or demand of each other.
As humans, truthfully, we should all realize this is a false reality that will only bring more pain, disappointment, and often, more sin and failure to each of us.
Being a Christian doesn’t mean we will never have troubles about which to be concerned.
Being a Christ follower doesn’t mean we will never face a terror by night, a tragedy or certain death that might bring fear.
Being a believer certainly doesn’t mean we somehow never fail or never fall into sin and live a perfect, “Pollyanna” lifestyle.
And if anyone ever told you those lies, or you picked them up for yourself along the way; then, I pray you will grab your Bible right now and start reading it, cover to cover.
Our faith isn’t based on some fairytale that paints a false reality.
Our faith doesn’t result from some superpower of strength and knowledge that alters the world in which we live.
And our faith certainly isn’t founded on a plethora of perfect people, living perfect lives.
No, our whole history is filled with the wretched, the broken, the flawed and the desolate.
The only difference between my life and someone who isn’t saved is my Savior, Jesus Christ!
Because with Him, I may not always be fearless, but I will certainly fear less.
Because of Him, I may not be ever be without doubt, but I will certainly doubt less.
Because of His grace, I may not be perfect, but I can definitely live my life seeking His perfection.
Because of His mercy, I may not become sinless, but I will definitely sin less as I pursue His purpose and His plan rather than my own.
So, if you’re struggling today to live out this Christian faith without mistakes, give yourself a break and just have a little talk with Jesus.
And if you don’t know “that guy,” I challenge you to simply say His Name. Take a minute and talk to Him, too.
You might be amazed at what you’ll find…
Fearnot, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:10
For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
Sharing a bit of my testimony with a group of ladies last night reminded me of some things I know to be true, but often forget in the healing process of life.
Your scars are not meant to be shameful.
Your scars are not meant to be hidden.
Your scars are not meant to be concealed.
If you’ll give those scars to Jesus, He will not only bring His glory from them, He will heal the wounds you have left as well.
Our scars tell a unique story, owned by no one else.
Our scars bring glory to Our Creator because He’s brought healing and strength.
Our scars show someone else how to respond to the pain and how to win.
Our scars show someone else they too can survive.
So, wear your scars humbly and confidently.
Our Lord does.
He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Start this new year by flushing those things you don’t need.
Flush the anger. Flush the pain.
Flush negative thinking and self degradation.
Flush laziness, apathy and procrastination.
Let it all flow away from you and embrace those things that are best.
Embrace love. Embrace peace. Embrace joy.
Embrace positive thoughts and self evaluation.
Embrace determination, tenacity and advancement.
Let it consume you and propel you to a better tomorrow, a higher mountain top.
The valleys may come. The storms may rage.
But if you are pressing forward toward the best ahead, you can learn to dance in the rain.
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.
My journey didn’t stop with mere time travel or writing; it led me to become one of the most sought-after empaths, a soulful psychic who reads the hidden depths of the human spirit. I’ve been blessed—or perhaps burdened—with an ability that allows me to feel the emotions of people from every corner of time.
I am a licensed psychologist based in Greece. My love for housekeeping has inspired me to create this blog about home management and family relationships. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing!
Dedicated to movie nerdom, nostalgia, and escape. In the late 90s, I worked at Blockbuster Video where they let me take home two free movies a day. I caught up on the classics and reviewed theatrical releases for Denver 'burbs newspapers and magazines. Today, while raising two young, beautiful daughters with my amazing wife, I look forward to anything rated R and not Bluey. Comments and dialogue encouraged!
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