Food for thought

"Anybody could observe the sabbath, but making it Holy takes the rest of the week" -Alice Walker

Loving unconditionally

Lately I've had a lot of thoughts on unconditional love. You know... loving without conditions. :)

Why is it that this can, at times, feel like a risk? Logically we know it's what we should do, yet we feel vulnerable in doing so. Perhaps it's because we're attempting to love unconditionally, but we're actually loving with the hope that it will produce change, holding secret expectations that our love will somehow alter our "target." If we're loving with the hope of changing someone then we ARE taking a risk - we ARE vulnerable, because the odds of that person changing our against us. Our investment will likely go sour.

Loving unconditionally, however, isn't putting your investment in another - it's investing in yourself. YOU reap the benefits of peace, YOUR heart is softened, and YOU get to see your enemy (or child, or friend, or co-worker, etc.) through God's eyes, squelching any festering anger or resentment.

I'm starting to realize that we we're not commanded to have charity (the pure love of Christ) for the sake of others, but for the sake of ourselves. Like forgiveness, loving unconditionally is a gift we give ourselves. Isn't that the case with every commandment? They are all for our benefit and happiness.

Putting down our pride and trying to love past the inflicted pain or broken trust is never easy. I know I feel myself hesitating, as I think, "But he doesn't deserve my love." And you know what... he doesn't! But I deserve to give it. I deserve to heal. I deserve to be happy. I deserve to experience peace, amongst the turmoil.

Matthew 5:44. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

... not for THEIR sake - but for yours. (I hope I can do a better job of living this)!

I'm back

It's been awhile since I've blogged here. I haven't gone without recording my insights, I just haven't been recording them on here. I'll admit, I stopped because I was worried what others might think - fearing some might view me as hypocritical or self-righteous. And you know what... SOME WILL!

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind” -Dr.Seuss

So I'm back. By blogging, I know my words might be read by another, hence I'm required to dig a little deeper to insure my thoughts are portrayed accurately, and possibly even beautifully. It's good for me. It's also therapeutic.

My conclusion: Don't restrain your gifts because you're worried what others might think. If there's greatness within you, (and there IS), then let it shine! This may come at the risk of upsetting friends, family and co-workers... but you've been given gifts for a reason. Have the courage to share them, and when you sense hesitation ask yourself: DOES A FLOWER REFUSE TO BLOOM!?

Follow the course of nature, God's plan, and allow yourself to bloom.

My confession

My postings are a product of what I'm experiencing in the moment, conceived and birthed through my weaknesses. They're certainly not a product of my goodness. If I write about "remembering who I am" ...there's a good chance I forgot. If I write about "trusting in the Lord," it's probably because I didn't. Perhaps this makes me a hypocrite, yet in recording my thoughts I'm forced to deeper ponder the topic, and I always find myself recommiting to do better. Hypocrite or not, I find strength in doing so.

So here I am. Writing another post intended to strengthen me.

I trust the Lord has a plan for me, yet lately I've been dabbling in my own plan while crossing my fingers that, in the end, I can still qualify for His rewards. I am well aware that mercy cannot rob justice, yet I find myself saying, "Well, I'm human, I can't be perfect all the time... Surely He understands."

As I've pondered this ugly justification I've come to the conclusion that being human is not an excuse to give in to temptation, rather it is the very reason to rise above it. For every temptation I conquer creates an improvement in my character and, therefore, an improvement in my life.

Anything worth having is worth working for. I feel a noble character is worth having, don't you?

Charity edifieth

As I've began my "healing process" after my divorce, I set some goals in December, one of which was to serve someone every day. I did good for awhile, but the last couple of weeks I've been complacent and held myself less accountable.

I just flipped open to 1 Corinthians 8:1 "... charity edifieth." The footnote on edifieth read: "Builds up, strengthens, establishes, repairs."

Interesting. I've never thought of the word "edify" that way, and I never thought of "charity" to repair. Perhaps it's time to start focusing on serving again, as I could certainly use a little "repair" in my life.

Inspiration...

Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning
the devil says, "Oh crap, she's up!"

Remember!

You know when a mom tells her child not to do something, and the kid does it anyway - looking right at her knowing full well he's disobeying. Is there NOT a mom out there who finds this frustrating beyond all measure?

Yet, how often do we do this to the Lord? The patience He must have! I'm not just talking about an innocent mistake, later realized. I'm referring to the very instant sin is being committed, big or small, telling yourself, "I know better, I really shouldn't..." then choosing sin over righteousness.


Why? Obviously, there is a lack of self-control, but it goes deeper than that. Self-control is born from a desire to become our best, which desire is the fruit of understanding our divine heritage. When we know who we are and our relationship to our Father in heaven, choosing righteousness is a pleasure. Obedience becomes a quest, rather than an irritation.

Satan would have us forget our divine nature, as is so well illustrated in the story of Moses. This was, and is, his first plan of attack.

Never forget who you are.