To Live For Something Greater

The irony of doing the right thing is that there is no sure way of knowing that you are approaching the situation correctly.  There are, however, indicators that things are moving in the right direction and guidelines for us to follow.  Deep down, I think many of us know when we have crossed that line.  When I am on the wrong track, I always pray for guidance on how to make things right and how not to do the same thing again!  Normally, asking for forgiveness is part of the equation.  Throughout The Bible, Jesus gives us guidelines and examples…

What holds us back from presenting our faith first?  For me, I would say that I liked my private faith-filled life.  It was very comfortable.  I relied on Jesus and was able to serve others without many questions regarding my faith.  That routine worked for many years, but then that same faith pushed me beyond my comfort zone.  Not only was I pushed out of my comfort zone regarding my faith, but also in the delivery.  My faith is strong, but my writing skills and biblical knowledge are not something I would brag about.  The other small detail was…

So often we don’t know when we hurt people with our words.  Finding ways to minimize or eliminate harsh words is key.     We can’t take back our words.  Hence the importance of being very careful regarding the words that come out of my mouth.  In the heat of the moment, I am not always good at choosing my words.  I have made enough mistakes that I am becoming good at hearing my errors, now I am working at eliminating those moments. Being aware of our words is the first big step in minimizing the issue.  When tensions escalate…

Recently a statement caught my attention claiming that there was no perfect church.  The discussion was regarding how all churches have issues, some big some small, with members working around the imperfections and finding the good.  People have imperfections too.    Thankfully I don’t have to be perfect so long as my intentions are good.  I am far from perfection but strive to be faithful to Jesus.  Always challenging myself to consider how Jesus would react to the situation.     Things that are not perfect, my behavior, habits, moods, the list could go on forever.  What I do have are good…

When faith is first in your life, the unknown is far less scary.  As you give up control and rely on Jesus clues are given and signs appear that help you find your way and prepare you for what’s to come. I listen and am alert to different clues that arise.  There is a lot of noise that attempts to pull me off track, but when I am drawn to something, I do my best to follow the lead.  I remember having this unusual desire to go buy a book from a bookstore.  Bookstores are not something I frequent…

Each of us faces our own personal struggles.  Some of us may have similar issues, but we have our unique set of circumstances.  We really don’t know what other people are going through because we are not walking in their shoes.  Despite only knowing our personal issues, everyday struggles are real.  Some days the conflict seems to weigh us down.  We try to work through the obstacles, yet more issues arise.  It might seem like prayers are not answered or worse, not heard.  Jesus has a plan for each of us.  His plan may not work with our time…

Some time ago I heard a quote from Radhika Reddy, “You are not always going to be able to do what you love, but you can love what you do.”  For most of my life, I have loved what I have done.  I find something that makes me happy and I keep myself focused on enjoying what I do.  Many times it is the people that I am with that allow me to love what I do.  I don’t remember saying yes or no to a job because of the product or service.  My focus was always on the…

When my priorities are straight, I seem to have a much better handle on being patient.  My first priority is my faith, which when held in that position aligns everything in place.  It doesn’t mean that I have everything in control it means that I have given control to Jesus and am willing to walk in faith on the path that presents itself.  What I am not doing is sitting around waiting for something amazing to happen.  I am exploring opportunities that cross my path.  I don’t say no to something because I don’t want to be…

I know when I am stressed about something that I have not done a good job of giving my worries to Jesus.  Let’s face it, it is hard not to let stress fester. The more I let the stress bother me and take me off track the more I worry.  It is great to have friends who are good listeners, but nobody wants to hear all my worries.  It is exhausting and unproductive to one’s relationship when it is ongoing.     Jesus is my go-to for all my stress and worries.  When I feel that unsettling nag…

This week I was reminded of the beauty that comes from a loving union.  One of my favorite couples shared an anniversary this week.  The social media posts made me smile and gave me an opportunity to be reminded of all the joy they share.  This couple radiates love and kindness in everything they do, but particularly in their marriage. It is almost as if there’s a selflessness about their acts of kindness. The acts of kindness are to each other, but somehow that magic radiates to all those around them.  They are an example of how good union…