Beauty in your life- change your thoughts for a positive outlook
How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?
It’s difficult to stay focused on anything these days. The world is such a busy place. We have to stay focused on our goal -the big picture.
I think it’s all about setting boundaries that say yes to our visions and no to things that we distract us. learn to say no to distractions and commitments that down align with our priorities, and allowing ourselves to focus our energy and time on what truly matters.
The word Axiology is derived from the Greek words “axios” (worth) and “logos” (study), and is the philosophical study of value, encompassing ethics (moral values) and aesthetics (beauty and taste).
A more detailed explanation is Axiology is the study of value and value judgments, exploring the nature of values, their hierarchy, and their relationship with individuals, societies, and cultures.
It is often divided into two main fields: ethics which are moral values and principles, focusing on what is considered right or wrong.
And aesthetics which is beauty and taste, artistic expression, exploring what is considered aesthetically pleasing.
Axiology seek to answer questions like:
For example, a woman who wants to start her own business will less likely to choose this path when she begins to have children. She will value her children over starting a business because that value is set higher for her that starting a business.
Under this biology can help us:
What’s a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had?
Because I am socially awkward, I have trouble speaking to others. It takes me a while to trust people before I speak openly. I wish I had the skills to just walked up to someone and start speaking to them. My social awkwardness seems to spike and I feel rushed and have a difficult time getting people to hear me.
Also if I get talked over, or someone is rude to me. I shut my communication with down and go silent.
In June 2012, my view of God’s sovereignty went from theoretical to critical when I learned I had bladder cancer. The doctors gave me 1 year to live.
Three days later I had a grapefruit-size tumor removed. I believed God had numbered my days. I remember thinking about everything I’ve experienced in life and this is what kills me. Why should I even try to survive this was my mindset.
Over years of treatment, I wrestled with God’s sovereignty, the idea that God has the absolute power to rule over His creation. I didn’t question the truth of His rule and reign over things. I was grateful He had provided me with a solid biblical understanding of His character. I struggled to find comfort from God’s sovereignty as I looked ahead to an uncertain future for my family and me.
Through years of intravesical therapy and constant cystoscopies, I knew God held the outcome in His hands. Dr R.C. sproul wrote,
“If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.”
God’s sovereignty guarantees that our heavenly Father reigns over all. We see this truth throughout the Bible,
“Whatever the Lord pleased, that He has done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all the deeps” -Psalm 135:6
Nothing can touch us that hasn’t first come through His hands.
But that guarantee of God’s sovereignty is not a promise that terrible things will never happen. But He tells us in Romans that for those who love God, all things work together for good.
This isn’t a promise that I wouldn’t die of cancer. And there’s no assurance I would not suffer, hurt, grieve, or have my life radically altered. But it Got me to the mindset where I needed to be. “I’m going to fight until my very last breath. Satan would not see me give up so easily.
In the darkness of my suffering, God shined the light on His sovereignty by His love, faithfulness, and redemption. He allowed me to see that He was not just calling the shots, but He was crafting beautiful purposes for His children.
His power knows no rival and His goodness to His children never fails. Nothing can prevent God’s purposes for us from coming to pass (Job 42:2). Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-29. Our sovereign God is also our loving Father.
What is your favorite type of weather?
I am definitely a Heliophile, a lover of the sun. I thrive on hot weather. Being able to feel that hot sun on my skin energizes me.
In contrast, Winter brings my mood down, I have no energy. If I could I would hide inside all winter. I have a general feeling of unhappiness. I almost have to force myself to go outside, especially during snow storms.
Fake News seems to be every where, but it’s not new. Satan and his minions have been speaking fake news regarding God, His family, His kingdom, and His identity since the beginning of time.
God had been using this to alert His people of the false reports that the enemy is sending against people, cities, and nations.
A reminder to,
“Stay alert, watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” -1 Peter 5:8
If what you are hearing doesn’t align with the Word of God then know, it is fake news. God is good, just and He keeps His promises. He is the God of peace, His wisdom and counsel establishes righteousness.
Fake news from the enemy is the smog that pollutes the minds of people all over the world. It’s the bad reports and deception that cloud truth and births wrong beliefs and distorts love. This is nothing new but the level of deception has increased greatly. With this increase we have to increase or level of research as well as our prayers.
All of God’s people are called to pray for their city and nation. As the world focuses on earthly issues, believers must focus on prayers in the spiritual realm. We are called to change the spiritual climate over the earth. Changing the spiritual climate is the responsibility of followers of God.
Jeremiah 29:7 says,
“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
Not only will prayer pushback the kingdom of darkness, but as the kingdom of God is established and your city, peace and prosperity will come and you will prosper.
The deceptions we are seeing exposed in the media should be seen as a call through prayer that releases truth and God‘s good news. As deceptions increase so should our prayer.
Truth trumps lies. Prayer is our trump card that God is bringing forth to gain the advantage. It is an offensive move that will put the enemy’s camp on the defensive. It is the weapon that will push back deception and create space for a move of God in your city and the nation.
“Lord, I have heard of Your fame. I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord, renew Your work in the middle of the years. In the middle of the years make it known. In wrath, You remember mercy” -Habakkuk 3:2
This is next week’s teaching in my church.
Who was your most influential teacher? Why?
Through my journey in life, I have had a few influential teachers. My pastor has been one of those teachers. Most people go to church one day a week and then go about their business during the week.
It is rare for a pastor to go beyond their duties to really teach people how to live with Jesus in mind. My pastor is one of those people. It’s not expected that a pastor would teach more than the religious principles from the Bible.
My pastor guided me toward a life of faith, and purpose encouraging me to dive deeper relationship with God. I think that is why I am where I am with God and my faith today.
Ultimately he has helped me find the joy and fulfillment in living a life that honors God and brings His glory to pass.
Jesus taught that the first and greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And to love others as yourself and to treat others the way you want to be treated. To seek wisdom and understanding from God. My pastor has helped me to learn all of these and put them into action.
Hatred is a powerful emotion that can cause serious damage to the person who feels it as well as to whoever or whatever the hate is focused on. It’s often deep-rooted and difficult to heal.
Hate can be spread from one person to another, through attitudes and behaviors from one person to another. It can be used (and is) used to incite discrimination, hostility, and violence.
Propaganda can be used (and is) to instill hatred and fear against groups of people.
Politicians can use (and do) incendiary language to mobilize supporters and delegitimization opponents.
Hate Speech:
Hate speech can lead to feelings of fear, anxiety, and insecurity.
Hate speech can be an early warning of violence, including atrocity crimes.
Hate speech can make society ore vulnerable to political violence and terrorism.
Hate always has an emotional impact. Hate can’t manifest as angry outbursts, anxiety, depression, as well as PTSD.
There are ways to combat hate and discontent.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that” -Martin Luther King Jr
What do you wish you could do more every day?
I wish I could spend more time with my children. Spending more time with family helps strengthen bonds, and fosters a sense of belonging, and makes great memories.
My daughter is really busy working a full time job, and also helps run her boyfriend’s successful flooring business. And my son lives out of state and his work requires a lot of overtime. So it’s difficult to get us all together as a family.
While I was going over the past the other day, thinking of the crazy situations I lived through and it dawned on me through them all Satan certainly meant to cause me harm.
When we go through trials it often feel like Satan has the upper hand. We struggle to see what good could come out of suffering, but after a while, we gain a new perspective that what Satan has intended for harm has instead been flipped on its head and turned into good.
In Genesis 50:20, Joseph didn’t Satan when he told his brothers,
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
But, it’s not hard to imagine Satan working for Joseph and his family’s destruction every step of the way. Joseph kept his attention not on what Satan was attempting but on what God was doing.
I used to work at a faith-based drug recovery center. They had a thrift store in which the proceeds would go to help addicts seek rehabilitation for free. I talked to a few people who said using drugs or alcohol filled the void in their hearts. But seeking recovery and focusing on God changed their lives. Satan overplayed his hand in a few situations.
He overplayed his hand a lot, most notably, when his involvement in Jesus’s crucifixion. God’s love an faithfulness was evident through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection.
Satan may have won a few fights, but he will not win the war. In certain situations or temptations might seem like a victory for satan, the ultimate fight against evil is still ongoing but despite setbacks a larger war against evil is winnable through faith and commitment to God.
1 Peter 5:8-9 warns us,
“Be don’t and self-contained. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he might devour. Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers (sisters) in the world are undergoing the same suffering.”
God gives us the grace to be called to his eternal glory, while we may suffer a little while, perfect, established, and strengthened to settle on us.
Peter was talking about persecution, but the general assumption is that suffering is common to us all. Suffering and illness are a special type of suffering that Satan uses to discourage us even to the point of hopelessness. Hence, being devoured by our enemy.
However, we can render him a toothless lion by recalling when God has gotten us through and comforted us.
There are three things to remember when satan is attempting to devour us.
Suffering satan’s painful arrows proves unequal to the task of spoiling our faith, and our hope grows stronger as we discover that he cannot win.
From Pity to Praise