Coming off the heels of yesterday...

After yesterdays post, I felt there was a few things left unsaid. One thing in particular that may be misconstrued is the realization of the wolves in sheep's clothing. The fact is that these individuals are there and awareness of them is half the battle; however, it is only through a concept of Emotional Intelligence or EQ that and individual can see the reality of the wolf life. Through the process of stepping back and realizing what makes these individuals their character and choices, the way they are allows a more accurate perception. This perception can give understanding of the best way to handle certain situations.

The point I was making yesterday is to not be deceived by certain things or people in this world but to be aware of the reality. So then the question in my mind raised, "What would Jesus have us do with this realization?" I think I came to the conclusion that Jesus would have us love them but not to the point at which we lose ourselves.  We can love those wolves in sheep's clothing...but from a distance.

For me it is all too easy to sacrifice my wants, needs, and goals for others whom I love; however, I have to stop and ask myself if this is the abundant life that God has died to give me. Well I can say when the sacrifice is for those, whom I love, then it is not such an altruistic endeavor. I am by nature a helper and it brings me great joy to help other people and while this is a good aspect of servant leadership it is good to remind myself that I am just as valuable and in need of help as the individual I would help. And how much more will I be able to help others if I, myself, am being helped?

God created us to live in community; therefore, helping and receiving help comes from those around us in our micro-community of the world community. While it is a nice thought that we can help everyone in our community it is relatively impossible. Some community members will refuse to be helped and appreciate the love that is being given. When Jesus said we are to love one another, He wasn't just speaking of our friends and those whom it is easy to love but also those who are difficult and a challenge to love.

While I agree with this I do have to say that there is an extent to which loving those who refuse love, can reach. There was no guarantee that those we love will love us back, just as God's experience of loving the world but the whole world doesn't love Him back. But I am not Him and when loving those who refuse love starts to take away from the person I am or steal my joy, that is the time to re-evaluate the situation. Perhaps there was a time that you loved an individual who refused your love? Well then you have insight into the great dilemma of will, which I won't go into now but at a later date.

Don't sacrifice who you are for another individual, EVER. God made you just the way He wanted you. You are His masterpiece! That is not to say that the effects of this world that have made you angry or bitter are part of God's design for the person you are and that is something for you to address, but always remember your original identity comes from and is hidden in God. That is the source of your identity and integrity!

 




Integrity is, in a nut shell, doing what you said you were going to do. If you say you are going to help someone or do something then the character trait of integrity is the vehicle that takes words to action. Sadly, in this society, much integrity has been lost for many; however, Jesus did and continues to do what he said he was going to do and as His beloved, this is a character trait that needs to be revived.

So if you say you love someone, show it otherwise they are just meaningless words of a broken world, or better yet show it with action then follow up with the words! Blessings!

Happy Love Month...yeah right!

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"It is shocking how rude people can be...even church people!"-Sarah

Recently I was speaking with my daughter and she was astonished as how rude some people can be! She currently works as a server and had a few bad days where she was enlightened to the rudeness of some people and in particular, "church people!" Now I know I may get flack for this post but I'm just being authentic so hang with me!

I couldn't help but to empathize with her because, as of late, it appears we are both learning the same lesson in different ways. Just like Keith Green used to say, "Going to church doesn't make you into a Christian any more than going to McDonalds makes you into a hamburger!" It is so true!
So many times Christians who love the Lord with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength seem to perceive the church building as a safe place; however, in my life experience it is really no different than outside of the doors to the building.

Now this can go two ways from here, the direction of expectation and the direction of acceptance of reality, so I will go both directions.

First, and rightfully so, there is this misconception that within the walls of a church building is to be found, those individuals who have given their heart to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, who strive to be more like Him everyday and in every way. Those who express love for others, strive to do no harm, and try to make this world a better place till their journey up. This may be quite a naive view point; however, it is totally understandable to expect christians to act like christians, expressing the fruit of the spirit (ie. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control Gal 5:22-23); however, I have found this to not be entirely true. In fact, while there are many authentic christians in churches there are always a few wolves in sheep's clothing lurking. That is the reality!

In reality the church walls are just a smaller subset of the population as a whole. Scientists would call this a sample and by nature of a sample it is a smaller representation of the whole or population. There is also a thing in statistics called an outlier. These are random scores that are far away from the mean or average response score. Unfortunately, in my experience there are more outliers within the walls of the church building than most of us would like to admit. Those who profess with their lips but their hearts are far from him (Matthew 15:8) are those who say all the right things but do not know the maker of their soul.

To these individuals, like the pharisees, they only care about looking good and getting the praise of men, while deceit is in their hearts. In Matthew, Jesus continues to explain that it is out of the heart where the words of our mouth come from and those who speak evil of their father or mother defile the word of God. Can't you just picture it? Here are the religious leaders of the day, looking all holy and perfect, and Jesus calls them out on their heart state telling them that they are in all actuality evil because they do not have a close relationship with Him! They only know Jesus at arms length and refuse to let any true change take place in their hard self-centered hearts. Jesus said, "the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart and those defile a man." (Matt. 15:18)

Some individuals do not realize that it takes an actual relationship with Jesus to change a heart and that relationship comes through humility! What the world sees as good is often times the opposite of what God sees as good. The world says humility is weakness which is bad; however, in God's economy, weakness is an avenue for Him to be strong for you, which is good. This I have experienced personally! In reality, to be humble and weak is knowing your own limitation and where you stand in the grand scheme of life, rather than living in a fantasy world created in the mind. It takes true strength to show weakness!

One of the saddest things I have experienced is meeting these types of people that live behind a mask of false perfection and arrogance like these pharisees.  I do not want to ever be so hardened and self-centered so as to not love others out of the abundance of my love relationship with the author of love.
The thing to remember here is just because a person attends church does not mean they are a Christian and just because a person does not attend church does not be they are not a Christian. Even if individuals profess to be a Christian, if their heart is not in close relationship with Jesus then we are to judge them by their fruits.

Are they loving? Or do they treat others with contempt and ill will?

Are they joyful? Or are they angry all the time?

Do they have peace? Or are they constantly stressed out?

Are they patient? Or do they pressure and push for what they want, and want it yesterday?

Ar they kind, thinking of others before themselves? Or are they only concerned with their own wellbeing?

Are they a generally good person, whom people like to be around? Or do they treat others as replaceable and expendable?

Are they faithful with their commitments? Or all talk and no walk?

Are they gentle with others? Or do they deal harshly with others?

Do they practice self-control? Or just give in to whims of emotional outbursts and tantrums?

Now I am sure that we have all fallen in one of these areas a time or two, I know I have more often than I want to admit; however, in looking at these fruits of the spirit it is an overwhelming presence of the fruit bathed in humility that is representative of the love relationship with Jesus.

I am not a fan of judging any person on anything; however, Jesus said in Matthew 7:20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits"when speaking of those wolves in sheep's clothing. He speaks of those who do not produce fruit and how they will be cut down and in the next few verses states that it is only through KNOWING Him that eternal life is secured. So in this day and age, we ought to not be naive to think that the church building is a completely safe place but to always be on the look out for those who say one thing and do another.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another"John 13:34-35

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love" 1 John 4:7&8

Happy February! Here's some love go share it! Blessings!

You become who you hang around with!

It's really true! You tend to take on the traits of those you spend the most time with.  I have recently gone through a break up, well four months ago, of an engagement relationship. While that may seem like a long time, for a 3 year relationship it was more like going through a divorce. It's not that I had not been through this type of thing before, for I am well acquainted with loss of various types and a previous divorce; however, I found myself stuck and not being able to climb out. I was experiencing depression and recurring dreams that seemed to be prolonging my healing process but then today I went to the beach!

After dropping my daughter at school, I grabbed my favorite coconut coffee and headed to the beach with my journal in hand. As I sat there in the 64 degree weather, I started to remember the person I had been prior to this relationship. Words that came to mind were: kind, peaceful, fierce, tenacious, adventurous, happy, beautiful, loving, independent, strong, courageous, fearless, positive, encouraging, funny, secure, and compassionate. These among other thoughts swirled in my head with a great desire in my heart to reclaim them as part of my current identity. It was after an older gentleman walked by staring in my direction, to which my thoughts commented, "What are you looking at?" with lets just say a not so flattering expression on my face, that I stopped myself and asked, "Who are you Lori?" "Who have you become?" I realized that I used to be the secure confident person that greeted people with a smile and friendliness not contempt. I was not viewing others as enemies but as friends I simply had not met yet. It was that I realized the idea of becoming more like those individuals you spend the most time with, is really true.

You see my ex was the type of person who, as he himself admitted, was always fighting the world and felt others were trying to get something from him. Even if there was nothing to struggle with, he still struggled. I realized that I had taken on this trait over the last 3 years. I no longer saw the world through eyes of love and appreciation but through eyes of frustration, impatience, and anger. This is definitely not who I was created to be! I had gotten into a mindset of rushing, always being connected to technology, and thinking if I was going to make it in the business world I would have to work non-stop in order to do so and if I didn't the world would end! What a croc! Now I am not saying anything negative about my ex, it's just that that lifestyle does not agree with me. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a rather laid back and relaxed individual, more of a Type B person. I am more of a calm natured go with the flow person. A person who is trustworthy, non-judging, and extremely understanding, so my friends tell me. My ex was a Type A++ person; high stress, impatient, critical, etc; and that's not to say that he didn't have good qualities, he did but that is why we are no longer together, incompatibility. Let's face it, the world would be boring if we were all the same and I'm not coming down on Type As just accepting that they are not a good match for me. Many people do not value the things I do, nor do they believe and think the way I do; therefore, my ex is not right or wrong, he is just not a good match for me and I'm ok with that!

So at this point, I stopped and watched the people around me, appreciating the little toddler playing in the sand and the middle aged men who decided to have a South Florida polar bear swim in the 66 degree Gulf of Mexico. It was then that I realized that I needed to get back to being me and the funny thing is, that woman, is amazing! She is beautiful, strong, loving, compassionate, caring, hopeful, adventurous, optimistic, happy, funny, non-judgemental and you know what? people love her! It only took a moment to realize that she was in there and I just need to slow down and change my thoughts back to what I know about her in order to find her. The fact is she never left! I just let someone else's traits latch on and wasn't staying true to myself. I am a lover not a fighter, unless someone I love is in danger, then I'm fierce but I am happiest when I stay true to myself and abide in love. That is where I belong! We only have one life and I want to live it, but it has to be lived in the now! Live is for the living so why don't you go and live it! Blessings!

Some days…are bad days

Recently I have been plagued with dreams that affect my day when I wake up.  As a student of psychology I can say, quite scientifically, that this is the process of my brain trying to make sense of a rather senseless situation and process all the thoughts and emotions that accompany. However, as a human I am feeling overwhelmed with emotion and fighting depression every step of the way. Wait…what? Depression? That's not me! How did I get to this place? I am typically a glass half full, silver lining, and make the best of all situations, even the tough ones, but right now I find myself in a place of darkness. While this may just be situational, coming up on months, we are approaching that time when a therapist may diagnose me with depression. It isn't every day that I deal with these great feelings of pain and anger over loss…it's just when I have the dreams. I wake up with a heavy weight on my chest and tears in my eyes, wanting both to go back to sleep to dream something else but not enough to do it for fear of re-entering that same dream, and to get up and push it all aside realizing it was just that a dream and give it no value (quite unsuccessfully I might add).

Like I said it doesn't happen every day…just about every other day. I quickly grab my journal and frantically write down every thought and feeling, thinking if I get it out of me then I will feel better…but I don't. I question God on why this happened, the incident that spawned the dreams, when I thought it was His plan? I didn't just think, I knew I had heard from God and this was definitely His plan, so…was this pain and suffering His plan as well? What is the purpose in that? A lesson?  I get angry. I thought You loved me and wanted me to have abundant life Lord? Too much stress, too much hurt, too much heartbreak for one person to bear. I can handle this Lord, it's making me crazy!!!! And I end it begging for deliverance from the pain. If the dreams would just stop, I would be okay.

Well I don't have any upswing to this post…it's just a bad day (like every other day lately), and I guess the confusion, pain, anger, overwhelming feelings, and tears are bound to happen in a journey of working through loss. I woke up in despair pleading with God, that I can not take it anymore! I just can't! All the questions of what went wrong, searching for meaning, and longing for peace. I guess I am hoping that He will get me through this bad day and at some point I will look up from this pile of crap and see the rainbow that will lead to my pot of gold, as I have been told by the smartest man I have ever known. Until then, I'm trying to be patient and gentle with myself. :-(

Hold on to hope!

I have recently been struggling with a truly difficult situation in my life, then today I received some clarification from the Lord. Have you ever thought you heard something from the Lord that did not pan out like you thought it would? It is so challenging to make sense of these situations in our lives but in order to live a life of peace, we have to make sense of it somehow. I was in the space of hearing from God and believing He had brought me to a place of answered prayers a few years ago. Now while it was me, veering away from Him in the time since, that led to a dark place of hopelessness, it is still never a comfortable place to be in. I had taken His promise and then, in my own strength, went from there resulting in a traumatic ending to what I once thought was His will for me.
Sometimes God has to break things to rebuild them right!
I have learned many things over the last few days, especially about myself, like just how far away my spirit had gotten from Him, so that I could not even hear His voice. It wasn't that He wasn't speaking but I wasn't listening. There was a way that seemed right to me, so I went with it, but it ended in death.  It was a slow hidden death of the intimate connection between God and I, but still a death, and in that death I was lost once again, forgetting His promises to me.
I had gotten so focused on the earthly realm that I forgot my inheritance and the promises He made to never leave me, to protect me, to provide for me, to love me more than any other, to rescue me, and restore me.
So this huge trial happened at the worst time but perhaps in God's eyes it was the best timing. His ways are not our ways! It seems now looking back that I had gotten so far off track that He had to do something to get my attention and remind me that He is a jealous God and I am His, first and foremost! So I was broken…to the point that I did not think I would recover..I mean you get to a point when you start to wonder, "just how much of these tough things can I survive till I cannot anymore?" but they just keep coming! So this event was so difficult that I, once again was feeling lost in the ocean, just trying to get by moment by moment. All the emotions came all at once with lasting effects, chaos ensued. I knew that I was broken beyond repair, as far as the world was concerned, but I sought Him for something…a promise…relief…some sense of a life raft but there was none…
Swirling in a sea of grief and pain, crying at the drop of a hat, I was feeling the full extent of my spiritual separation from fellowship with God and then despair set in. Looking through my natural eyes, nothing seemed like it was going to work out nor did it look like I would survive this trial. Then trying to function in my own strength, I was brought to my knees of that power as well. You see, He had to break me and He did. I haven't felt so lost in the dark and alone before but I had to experience that to know the light again.
So there I was lost in the darkness and despairing doubt, then I got some sleep and woke up with a revelation in my spirit. For some reason, I woke up with hope and a sense of excitement today, to which I questioned, "What's up with this?" Why was I experiencing hope and excitement with a sense of great expectation on this day rather than the one before? I sat down to do my devotional and I came to Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. What?? Wait? God of hope?
But until now I had no hope, only despair and doubt. It was then I realized that I am, by nature, a hope-filled person, and I had been living in a state of hopelessness because I was looking at things through natural eyes not the spiritual eyes of my heart. In essence, I was living in a state that is contrary to who I am as a person! I came to the conclusion that I have to accept the fact that I am a hopeful person and it is only in that space/mindset that I am being fully me, the me I was created to be. However, if I am not living in that mindset, but living in the mindset of doubt and despair, I will not survive.
God being described as the God of hope is many times in the Word, but somehow I forgot who I am and that if He is the God of hope then hope is alive in me. I had lost sight of the fact that my identity is in Christ and it is by nature hope.
What a relief this understanding brought me, to comprehend that I was struggling because my spirit knew what my brain did not, that I am a hopeful person and it is absolutely essential, for my survival, to be hopeful and hope-filled, anything else is death to me.
Saying all that to say that my hope is in Him, and I will hold on to that hope, Him, because that is who I am! Psalms 42:11-Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Life changes perspective!

I saw this quote today and it stopped me for a moment because it took me back to the beginning of my college days. It was my third year in bible college and along with being a full time college student, I was home schooling three children, had a new baby, volunteering at our church, and my husband was dealing with a mystery illness that the doctors could not identify. Due to the extensive schedule, choosing classes had become a tricky game of "see what fits". I had been avoiding one course in particular since the beginning of my time at this college because I knew it would be a class that was not only totally unfamiliar but also uncharacteristic of who I was as a person. Just the thought was overwhelming and seemingly impossible for me to ever successfully complete with any sort of grade that would be sufficient to pass. No, this class, through mounting fear, had become my nemesis! This class was...speech!

Public speaking in front of a group of people can be unnerving to most, but for me a person who found security in my natural qualities of being the quite support for my husband's endeavors and really more of a follower by nature, it was absolutely frightening! So there I was only one class could fill the only opening I had in my schedule and it was speech class. To say I was a little upset at God for putting me in a class where, I was certain, I was set up to fail, would be an understatement. It was quite possibly the most difficult class of my entire college career. I must have gone home from that class in tears more times than not and quit that class, in my head, a dozen times only to finally make it to the final exam.

Our final exam consisted of getting a topic, having two minutes to prepare a two minute speech, and then delivering said speech. Up until that point I had a close friend who really helped me in the class and I don't think I would have made it without her friendship and support, now I was totally petrified! I had lost it in class a few times because of the stresses I was dealing with my husbands illness and the doctors inability to identify what the issue was. She was there to help me finish my speech and carry me through.

So for final exam we went consecutively, my friend and I, and I can not remember what my speech was about, but I remember what hers was about. She had been given the topic, "It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." We discussed her topic and were on opposite sides of the issue. I was totally against the concept, probably due to the fact that by this point I was literally starting to watch the man I love more than life itself, start to slowly wither. Something was wrong but the doctors could not give us an answer. Out of fear, I suppose, my position arose to the fact that I had a great love and did not want to loose him. The contemplation of that grave of a loss was unbearable and incomprehensible at that time, so I did what anyone would have done, I rebelled against the pain. I remember reasoning that pain of that magnitude was not worth going through, kind of the, "ignorance is bliss" mentality. She disagreed with me because she believed that love was the greatest thing a human can experience and that without that love, the understanding of our creator would never fully be realized.

So here, ten years after the cancer diagnosis and nine years after his death, raising four children on my own, a second failed marriage, and numerous other losses I can honestly say that yes, I agree with this quote by Mr. Tennyson. Unfortunately, no matter how painful it is, to know love is to know life and the absence of love for fear of losing that love is like a painter with no brushes or paint. Love is what gives color to our world and what makes life beautiful. Just like the artist, the colors are not always bright and cheery, they are sometimes muted and dark but they are still the substance that gives meaning and purpose to our souls! These loves and losses are what define us as human, giving meaning to our lives, enriching our world, and defining us as created beings. While resilience is woven into the fiber of our being and I am so thankful for that, to know love and lose it is greater than never knowing love,  because, it reminds us that we are human and the beauty that comes from living life!

Funny how life can change a certain perspective, remember I said I was more of a follower and a support person, well apparently God did not agree with that perspective either! Over the years I have become a leader. There is some sort of ingrained quality that, through all the tough circumstances, has arose and blossomed. This leadership ability has since effortlessly transferred to each of my four children. I can not imagine what they would be like  or who they would be if the past series of events had not happened the way they did. Every time I see one of my children rise up with that same familiar tenacity, unmoving confidence, and undeniable strength of leadership, I am taken aback at first wondering where they gained these traits and then I smile with the pride only a single mother knows, realizing that I know exactly where they got it from...speech class!
Blessings!

Loser

Just one little letter from my graduate school application is all it takes and then I'm back in 8th grade again, dealing with the devastating effects of rejection. Who would have thought at 38 years of age that would be all it takes? I don't really want to seem like a whiner but I received that letter today and whereas I know many, MANY people both have dealt with and are dealing with much graver issues, I sit here devastated with my dreams shattered once again so...here comes the whine, because it just makes me feel better to get it out!

 I had a rather difficult childhood and I won't go into many details; however, rejection was not only an experience but a way of life back then. Yet for this gangly unkempt 13 year old who had been tormented by peers for the preceding three years it never seemed that rejection sank in, somehow there was always a belief in hope and better things to come. Ahh the enduring hope of a naive child, can be quite a contrast from reality. So there I was, thirteen and having tried out for the girls 8th grade basketball team. I knew I had the skills necessary to play however was at quite a disadvantage because my nerves were getting the best of me. Due to the fact that my hands were shaking I had trouble dribbling and shooting the ball. I remember feeling like all eyes were on me and that with one wrong move I would be ostracized and once again end up feeling like a total loser. Try outs ended and I simply could not sleep that night. Upon telling my mother about how hopeful I was, I remember the cutting way her words sliced through me as she reminded me, once again, that I was, in fact, a loser and probably did not make the team. The words hurt but I had grown a certain amount of resistance to her throngs that started when I was six years old, so I had some measure of protective walls built up when she was involved. I dream t that night that my name was on the list that was to be hung in the 8th grade hall the following day and the joy I felt in making the team; however, remember it was just a dream. Sick with excitement and anticipation the following day, I ran to the door where the list was posted and scanned through the names, sadly to find my name was not there. It felt as if my whole world was coming to an end, everything I felt and believed about that day was torn apart and shredded in the acute awareness of the reality in which I lived. I was devastated!! I was a loser!! My mother had been right all along.

So that is what I felt again today. Upon getting the rejection letter from the graduate school, I feel devastated and like a loser. A million thoughts racing in my head, "what am I going to do now?", "I thought this was God's direction and plan?", "What exactly have I accomplished in these 38 years I have been alive?", "Others have careers and achievements...What do I have,...a solid track record of not being enough!" I can't help but wonder if anything has changed at all in the last 25 years? For I still seem to be the same person. No matter how hard I try I can not get away from that person who loses.

Following the 8th grade basketball tryouts, I did go to the coach and asked why I did not make the team. I didn't get a real good answer so I asked if there was anyway in which I could help out the team because I just wanted to be a part. The coach agreed and let me be the assistant, which basically meant I would collect balls and clean up after the team but had the bonus that I could practice with them. I went to the first practice and to my surprise not one of the girls chosen could do a lay up. I don't know if it was just nerves or the fact that they were all goofing around, probably still reveling in the fact that they had made the team. Oddly enough though, I , being able to practice with them, was the only one who could do a lay up that day, which was also my last day helping the team. I guess I had the satisfaction of knowing that I could do it even if nerves had thwarted my plan and that is all I needed.

So how do I do this again? In this situation? Do I just suck it up and re-apply next year? Well, what am I going to do till then? Just twiddle my thumbs? So many question, so few answers. Was this God's plan? I was so sure? Do I even know anymore? And if it was that I would go through this process and feel that rejection all over again, what was the purpose in that? Seems that it would just breed resentment and a loss of hope? What direction do I take now? Should I just give up? Because in all actuality...I'm tired of having to fight for every little thing. I'm tired of trying to prove myself. I'm tired of failing. I'm tired of losing. Well there it is, where I'm at. If you actually read this, then please don't hate me for whining. I only ask you to say a prayer for me for...without vision the people perish, this is so very true for me and right now the vision is lost!