I raised my children without the internet or cell phones. They were the last generation to know what life before was all about.
Raising children without these things was a different world that it is today. There was a whole different set of rules. It was either landline phones or face to face interaction which influenced the daily life or both parent and children.
No internet or cell phones we turned to books or relying on grandparents for help.
Parents had to trust children as they played outside. As they were free to roam neighborhoods, played outside until just before dark or when the street lights came on.Television was limited to cable or broadcast channels. There were cartoons and simple shows like, “saved by the bell.” Children listened to music on “boombox’s. I remember Nintendo came into the scene.
There were no GPS trackers or find my phone apps or Life360. I had to rely on trusting my neighbors and my children. But I also had to teach them about “stranger danger.”
This allowed children more freedom to become independent. But, disciplining children for wrong actions were on display and putting a child in time out was beginning to become a thing.
There’s a reason the Israelites went around the same mountain for almost 40 years. It’s the same reason many of us are stuck in repetitive cycles and battles year after year. We’re failing the same test with no idea why.
1 Peter 1:6-7 says,
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith -mote precious than gold that perished though it is tested by fire -may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Tests expose what is in us and where trust truly lies. They aren’t meant to harm ud, but to sanctify us so that we will become more like Jesus.
Even after we put our faith in Jesus there is still a lot of work to be done. Thankfully, God is gracious and refines us little by little. He doesn’t expect us to exhibit all the fruits of the Spirit immediately. He knows that it takes time. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula.
The primary way God helps us grow in love, patience, kindness, etc… is by placing us in situations that require us to develop and exercise those characteristics.
“It’s the people that frustrate us that God will use to grow us. We won’t learn how to love well if we only love lovable people.”
I seem to find myself in situations that are weirdly similar to previous ones. A sign that we are failing the same test if found in the same pattern we see in life.
If we’re not learning the lesson, God is trying to teach us. He allows us to re-take the test. If we don’t pass the first time, we will have another chance, and another, and another until we do. God doesn’t do this to punish us. He trying to reveal our weaknesses and dibs so that we seek Him to learn how to overcome them.
Its important to remember that we don’t pass tests from God in our own strength. We pass them by relying on God’s strength and walking in obedience to His instruction.
God tests us when we are in a trying or difficult situation, and that gives us the opportunity to put into practice what God has been teaching us.
I think that God wants to develop joy or peace in stressful, overwhelming situations. Because we will never know biblical peace and joy in our lives if it’s always “perfect.” Happiness can be based on what happening around us. But biblical joy and peace can exist regardless of our circumstances because it’s rooted in Jesus and a godly perspective.
Through the years God has helped me grow in biblical peace that has allowed me to endure stressful situations. When I have anxiety it’s my evidence that my faith is in my situation -not in God. I could worry about all the “what ifs” or focus on God and pray. He has helped me through every trial before so, why do I doubt Him now. He has always made a way.
“Count it all joy, my brother (and sisters) when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” -James 1:2-4
When God places us in difficult situations we mustn’t run back to old habits and mindsets, but run to God for guidance. Any characteristics we possess that aren’t Christlike we should be working to remove them.
So, don’t be surprised if you find yourself being tested on the same characteristics over and over until you pass the test. We won’t reach perfection on this side of heaven. There will always be more to learn and develop.
The best way to pass Spiritual tests is to trust God and be obedient to His Word. Which isn’t always easy. I find myself asking God “What are you trying to teach me through this trial?” God gives us the resources and wisdom we need to pass the tests if we ask Him. But, it’s up to us to apply what we’ve learned and received from God.
We can pass these tests. Remaining stuck in toxic cycles, bound by sin, and defeated are not our portion in Christ Jesus. We are overcomers. We are no longer slaves to sin, but set free in Christ Jesus.
What does “having it all” mean to you? Is it attainable?
Having it all means life, love, and freedom. These are attainable without chasing the Joneses it’s defining success on my terms. It means prioritizing what fulfills me over societal pressure or the need to flaunt status or wealth.
Instead of flashing fast cars or the fanciest house in the neighborhood I invest in relationships, and experiences.
Freedom means having a savings that is adjusted for what life throws at me -inflation, emergencies. I know those things are inevitable.
I curate my life around what gives me joy, not what screams “look at me.” That’s what having it all means to me.
I consider myself a smart person, but sometimes I do not have common sense. In my teenage year my father would tell me I was too smart for my own good, meaning I would be so interested in big abstractions, but would completely tune out the basic stuff even to my own detriment.
Sometimes I did really dumb stuff.
My first car was a 1967 Monte Carlo -so basically a boat. It sucked down the gas. I was always running out of gas, because I always thought it would go a little further. I’m pretty sure my father, picked it out for me, because he thought if I got into a accident I would have all the metal around me to be safe, or because I would have to stay home, because I would have enough money for gas to drive it. My entire check would go toward gas for that car.
I knew I was running out of gas, but I pushed that thing as far as it would take me, or thought it should take me.
Still today I tend to ignore some rules or think it doesn’t matter, but it matters to God. When I heed God’s warnings things just turn out better. It’s important to give special attention to His guidance, instructions, and promptings, and the act accordingly,
It’s about being mindful of His voice, whether through the scriptures, the Holy Spirit, or even a word of knowledge by trusted people and responding with a willingness to align our life with God’s will.
God’s warnings are often given for our protection and guidance, helping us avoid harmful choices and negative consequences. It’s not simply about avoiding punishment, it’s about experiencing blessings and fulfillment that come along from living in accordance with God’s will.
My pastor always says, “If God tells you to turn right and you turn left you may find yourself into danger.
Noah’s obedience to God’s warnings about the flood, Lot’s initial hesitation to leave Sodom, and Jesus’s frequent warnings to His followers are all examples of the importance of heeding God’s warnings.
We need to stay sensitive to the guidance of God in our daily lives. It involves making difficult choices, relinquishing plans or changing direction in order to align with God’s will.
God’s desires for His people to live in righteousness and avoid judgment.
Proverbs 1:33 offers a promise to those who need God’s warnings.
“But, whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
This calls to vigilance and obedience remains relevant today. Urging Jesus’s followers to live in accordance with God’s will and remain steadfast in faith.
We don’t talk about hope when all is going well. When things are going along smoothly, there is no reason to. There is no expectation that things will take a nose dive. But eventually, they will.
I’m not trying to be fatalistic. It’s simply a fact. We live in a fallen world. as a result, at one time or another, our circumstances will stink.
That’s when we talk about hope. That’s when it counts. When things are not going well. Because we are hoping for something better, for a turn around. For things to improve.
People don’t look for hope when life is good. People look for hope when life stinks. That’s when it counts.
For those of us who put our faith in Jesus, we don’t have a “get out of jail free card“ when life hands us a crummy situation. Just because we are God’s children doesn’t mean we are immune from the tough stuff.
We have kids who struggle in school, who are intent on learning the hard way. We have disappointments. We get unwanted diagnoses. We experience tragic loss.
The difference is, we have hope. It’s not a hope that God will wave a magic wand and make the tough stuff disappear. That’s the earthly hope. A part of us certainly wants that, and we often pray that God will fix everything like new or mostly like new.
Biblical hope is different. It doesn’t focus on removing difficult circumstances. Biblical call hope is looking forward to a confident expectation. There is no confidence in earthly hope.
In those days when we were living apart from Jesus, we were excluded from citizenship, and we did not have the covenant promises of God made. We lived in the world -without hope and without hope.
In Ephesians 2:12, Paul wrote to the Gentile Christians. He explained that before they knew Christ Jesus, they were without hope. They did not know God. And since they did not know God, they had no deliverer. It is the same for unbeliever today. Paul told the Gentiles this,
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago” –Ephesians 2:10
From the very beginning, God had a plan for them and us. He created us for a specific purpose, to do good things you planned for us to do. This is our hope.
For those who do not know, Jesus, it is tragic when they lose loved ones. It’s painful for believers too. But we have hope in the future. None of us are happy when a loved one is facing death. But we have to have confident expectation that we will see them again.
I may not be able to tell you what happened to believers who have died in the past. But if we believe in Christ Jesus we will not grieve like people who have no hope.
Since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with them the believers who have died. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 tells us,
“Concerning those who have fallen asleep (died), so that you don’t worry like the rest and have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died in was again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”
The human body can survive without food for 1 to 2 weeks depending on one’s health, hydration, body fat reserves. we can survive with without water about 3 to 4 days. And only 1 day without hope. While hope is not a physical necessity, like water or food, it is critical for mental and emotional survival. Without hope, people succumb to despair, which can lead to loss of life, especially in extreme circumstances.
The purpose of hope is to sustain us through unimaginable hardship.
While physical needs are essential, mental resilience -driven by hope is equal revival for survival. It’s less about literal timelines and more about the power of mindset.
I would like to talk to my niece. I haven’t spoken to her in years only became my family is I think weird. We are family but we don’t act like family. She moved away and unless she needs something we prefers to stay in her own bubble of life.
We used to be really close, but she has gotten on with her life and don’t want her family in it. Which is her choice of course. But I miss her and our talks.
Being Judgmental seems to be second nature to many of us, and these days it seems like through greater the judginess, the bigger the external reward, which makes resisting the urge even harder.
The judgier the post on social media or YouTube video, the more likes it seems to get. The Judgier the content the greater the viewership.
I think judginess is leading us to a cease pool of inactivity, bullying, polarization, and pain. Judginess has oozed out of all of us despite our best intentions.
I think understanding the other person’s perspective is essential to solving problems is key. We’ve gotten to the “if you disagree with me I hate you phase.” There is no growth in that just more judging. We have to be able to distinguish between judging actions and judging people.
We need to ask ourselves “What do I really know about the person I’m judging? We all have histories and baggage. We all have various levels of reactivity, apathy, hurt, denial, anger, and hypocrisy. We are all imperfect. We can consciously choose to cut the person some slack and still influence them to change their behaviors.
We’ve all been judged. We all know how it feels to be stung by judgment. Do we really want to add the suffering and pain of someone else? Unless the person has wronged you personally, chances are you don’t let this reflection temper your judgment.
We can see the impact of judginess all around us. Fighting in the streets, bombings, shootings. All by people who have believed someone else’s words of why they judge others. It’s become a ripple effect of judgment that leads to pain.
The things I hold most dear are pictures of my ancestors in Hungary. My grandparents pictures show the struggle it took for my family to get where we’re at now.
I also cherish my father’s harmonica. He taught himself to play while at a hospital while they basically put his face back together from a war injury. He was there to get half of his face blown by a IED in war. I’m sure I will never be able to play. I still remember him playing when I was a little girl, it was the thing that made me smile and still do.
How does a person glorify God? Our main purpose is to glorify God. That’s what living is all about. It’s not about our desires, but His. We tend to focus on everything we want rather than what God wants.
Spiritual maturity is simply concentrating and focusing on God until we are caught up in His majesty and His glory.
Throughout my life, I have tried to fill the hole in my soul, with everything things but God. Alcohol, drugs, sex, and material things. It’s wasn’t until I used God to fill the hole that I felt whole.
Here are some steps to live for the glory of God:
Confess your sins
Confession of sin glorifies God, because if you excuse your sin, you absolve yourself and responsibility and blame God for letting you get into a mess.
Adam illustrates this in Genesis when God confronted him, he had an excuse
“This woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree” -Genesis 3:12
He was practically saying, “You did it, God. If You hadn’t given me this woman, none of this would have happened.”
To do that is to when God and to assign guilt to Him. But God is never at fault when we sin.  Implying that God is somehowresponsible maligns maligns His holiness. So when we try to sneak out from under the absolute responsibility for our own sin, we commit grievous sin against the glory of God.
1 John 1:9 says,
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The Greek word for “confess” is homologeo, meaning “to say the same thing.” to confess means to agree with God that sin is all our fault and repent. This act glorifies God. We don’t have to beg God for forgiveness. He is faithful and just to forgive as soon as we agree with Him.
Don’t think you have to ask for forgiveness for the same sin over and over. All it will do is bring us down, exactly what Satan wants to do.
Matthew 7:7-8 says,
“Ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find, knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Bear Fruit
In John 15:8 Jesus told His disciples,
“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit.”
Why? Because then the world can see the results of a Spirit-filled life. That is what we are here for -to put God on display to the world.
Colossians 1:10 says,
“Walk in a manner worthy to the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work.”
Good works are fruit. While good works won’t save us, when we live a life of good works, the world will see that we glorify our Father in heaven.
Give Praise ToGod
Psalm 50:23 says,
“He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me.”
Praise honors God. One way to praise God is to give him credit for everything. In 2 Samuel 12:26-31, when Joan won the victory against Rabbah and got possession of the enemy’s crown, he sent for King David so he could present the crown to him. This is a good illustration how a believer should act towards God (our Master). We win the victory in our life, but we don’t wear the crown. We give it to the Lord, who has won the victory for us.
Be Content
We may be upset about our circumstances. But we have to remember who made us -God. He promised to supply all our needs. When we are content, with knowledge, God’s sovereignty in our lives, and that gives Him glory. If we are disoriented, it’s the same as questioning God’s wisdom. That doesn’t glorify Him.
In Philippians 4:11 Paul, testified,
“I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”
Paul was confident that God would use all things -poverty, as well as abundance, comfort, as well as pain for Paul’s good and God‘s glory (Romans 8:28). He didn’t say, I’ll give glory in spite of my pain, he said I will give God glory because of it.
When we are upset for any reason, our job, our partner, our finances it is a terrible testimony about the goodness of God. What kind of God do we have? Is He really sovereign? Can He really be trusted? Glorifying God means that we praise Him with absolute contentment, knowing that our life is God‘s plan for us now.
Pray According to God’s Will
Jesus said in John 14:13,
“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Jesus’s name signifies all that He is and all that He would want. Praying in Him name means pray in accordance to Him character and His will. And God likes to reveal His glory in answered prayer. That is why He commands us to pray -so He can show us His greatness and we can give Him the praise He’s worthy to receive.
Proclaim God’s Word
Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3:1,
“Pray for us that the Word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified in, just as it did also with you.”
How has the Word glorified through those believers? Because they heard it and believed. They trusted Jesus and we were born again, and God got the glory.
Presenting God’s Word clearly and accurately always gives Him glory. Every time a Sunday school teacher teaches a class, every time a Bible study leader opens the Word in someone’s living room, every time a parent sits down with their family and begins talking about the word of God, God is glorified. We honor Him by making His Word known and understood.
Lead others to Jesus
Call also good quarry when people are redeemed. He is glorified when Satan‘s prison is broke open and men and women are turned loose from the power of the evil one. People are saved from their sins in order to give God glory. so the more people who are brought to Jesus, the more thanksgiving is going on, and the more there are in the choir singing hallelujah (2 Corinthians 4:15).
When we lived to go off by God, He response by giving us overwhelming joy. If you say. When we have a tough life, we make it we don’t have any joy, but if we start glorifying, God, we will have joy.
Joy does not necessarily always make sorrow, discouragement, pain, and other failures go away, but as believers, we can experience supernatural joy, even in the midst of those tough things. When our joy begins to fade, it is a sure sign of encroaching sin or unbelief. It’s a sign. We need to confess the sin in our lives and pray like David,
“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation” -Psalm 51:12
Then we can yield to the Holy Spirit and our joy will return.
From Pity to Praise 