Do you ever feel different, like you are an outsider? You are, and that’s a good thing.
You are an outsider because of your uniqueness. There’s no one else like you. There’s no club of people exactly like you.
Be proud of this. It’s the outsiders who change the world….
From an early age we learned to express ourselves. Babies have different cries. They have one cry when they are hungry, another one when they are tired, and yet another when they want attention. As a parent, you can distinguish the subtle differences and meet their needs.
When I was a child, boys (and men) started growing their hair long. From most parents reactions you would have thought they had started worshipping the devil! . They weren’t, they were simply expressing themselves.
Today we see more and more people displaying tattoos and piercings. These, too, are self expressions. If I am in a Starbucks (or wherever), I try to be served by the freakiest looking person who works there. I treat them as an equal, with respect because they are equal in God’s eyes. I want to leave an impression on them that they are seen.
Look beyond what you see on the outside. Look at the heart…
In the Bible, to repent means to “change your mind.” We think of it as punitive, but it isn’t.
I have often written about controlling your thoughts in this column. It’s easier than you might think. We make it harder because the battle is in the mind. You might be thinking, “that’s just how I am.” Yet you are how you think. You become how you think, too.
Do you want to be healthy? See yourself in shape. Read something about fitness/wellness regularly. Your thoughts will take a turn for the better, especially at mealtime. You will unconsciously begin an exercise regimen. Your mind will plant these seeds and you will act on them.
Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s automatic. Your old thought patterns will hang around. They are powerful but your mind is more powerful. Push them away. Change your mind about your health (or whatever).
Start today. In fact, start now. You can do anything you set your mind to…
This life has difficulties. I prefer to call them challenges. If you are in a period of life where you are free of major or minor problems, get ready because something is coming.
We have a choice when presented with a challenge. We can shrink from it or we can rise up and meet the challenge. I encourage you to think of challenges as opportunities. That’s right! It’s an opportunity to grow you and strengthen you. Facing difficulties isn’t fun, but you will come out of it a better version of yourself. It’s all about your attitude, how you look at life.
Flip the script on difficult times. In fact, welcome them…
Religion is defined as, “the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods.” In current culture, the word religion has become a negative term. There’s support for this.
I believe religion is one of the devil’s greatest tools. Many religions have created rules and rituals that don’t necessarily advance God’s Kingdom, but it certainly advances their own. Examine the religious leaders during Jesus’ time on earth. Some (not all) of the Pharisees saw Jesus as a threat to their power over their people. As scholars they should have recognized Jesus as The Messiah but were blinded by their own pride. It’s interesting to note that the demons recognized Jesus as the “Holy Son of God.”
The rules of religion keep people away from church and true worship of Jesus Christ. Thus, this is why religion has, in some cases, become pejorative.
Just follow the teachings of Jesus. He didn’t bring more religion. He restored and redeemed the people. Yes, he performed countless miracles, yet he never benefited personally from them.
And those are my thoughts on organized religion…
We evolve and we grow. The changes are slow and sometimes subtle, but every one of us can truthfully say we are different from ten years ago.
Growth requires change, good change. We see things through different lenses as life goes on. This should cause us to question our old beliefs and convictions, and eliminate the old ways that don’t serve us well.
The better version of you awaits in your future. Embrace the changes. And remember, if you aren’t growing, you are going backwards…
Weather is unpredictable. Life is a lot like the weather when you stop and consider it. Hot one day, cold the next. Always unpredictable. Always fascinating.
We don’t try to control the weather. We can’t. But we try like hell to control our lives. We really aren’t able to control our lives, either. We can only control our attitudes.
Keep your attitude focused on a bright future. Believe it, and you will see it…
All of us face challenges in life. We have an invisible enemy that wants to subvert us, and even destroy us. Don’t give in.
When we have an opposing force trying to stop us, the reason is because we are doing what we are supposed to be doing. Every time we say “YES” to God, we are giving ourselves an opportunity to be more like Jesus. This will bring you closer to God, and our enemy doesn’t like that. Therefore, the attack. He wants you to quit.
Just because we can’t see our adversary doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist. Remember who is behind the next problem you incur. And remember why he’s moving against you. Keep going…
There’s more going on than what we can see. Much more. There isn’t a lot in the Bible about spiritual warfare, but there is enough to know it’s real and not the stuff fairy tales are made from.
To help you keep perspective, every time you are given a challenge please remember there is a spiritual reason as well as a purpose behind it. God alone allows pain and struggles for them to happen. Otherwise He wouldn’t be in control and all of this would be random.
We have a choice: we can blame God or we can rely on God in those moments. There is a tremendous amount of Biblical evidence which shows, undeniably, that relying on God to show us the way is the only answer. Yet, you must make your own decision about what you will do.
Even though we can’t see the spiritual realm, that doesn’t make it less real…
All of us have stories. Some of them aren’t pretty, but those ugly parts are just a piece of the bigger picture. The dark parts of our lives don’t define us unless we allow them to.
Our stories connect us. They let us know we aren’t alone in the pain and struggle of life. We help others by willingly sharing our stories. Who can better understand what it’s like to lose a child than someone who had the same experience.
Why are we reticent to talk about our lives? This might be where shame enters the picture. I know someone who was sexually abused at 14 by a trusted family friend. She still feels shame but it wasn’t her fault. She was taken advantage of by a creep.
Shame can have power over us. If you are struggling with shame from your past, I encourage you to find a psychotherapist and work through it. You can and will heal, but it takes time. Please try, and don’t give up…
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