I have felt out of place most of my life. I’m sure it stems from my childhood. I always felt that I didn’t matter. For years it felt like a bruise that never healed.
The feeling like I never belonged plagues me for years. Until God came into my life. And told me that I am enough, I do matter, I am loved. That each of us are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).
Uniqueness isn’t a flaw it’s often the very thing that brings light into places others can’t reach. When I learned to separate my mother’s voice from the truth I began to heal the bruises she left on me.
For many years all I wanted was a life relationship with God. While my expression to God was true, I struggled with feeling like I didn’t measure up. My own effort to reach my perceived Godly standard I felt bad when I fell short of that standard. It’s a roller coaster way of living that gives nothing to God because it is focused on me and my efforts and it actually separates me from God. Yet, through it all God patiently waited for me to live His truth that I am loved, saved, redeemed, and through Jesus, can live in a personal love relationship with Him.
What I’ve discovered in years past is that my genuine desire to love God above all else, to live in all that Jesys has done for me and to be led by the Holy Spirit had no substance without the willingness to actually do it.
For years I prayed to God giving Him the desires of my heart, hoping that He would do something miraculous in me, to change my life and ease my struggles with myself. I was expecting that God would do something that isn’t His to do, to bypass what I could only I could do -to willingly step out in faith and believe Him alone.
My desire for Him was there, but I wasn’t willing to live and believe Him above my fears, and insecurities. My heartfelt expression to Him wasn’t founded on my absolute trust and belief in Him alone.
1 John 3:18 says, “My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.”
John emphasizes here the difference between desire and willingness, our desire to love is expressed in what we say, but it’s our willingness to love that gives it substance. Willingness is expressed through actions and in truth. Truth is the reality of how we live. So, while it’s important to express love, its fulfillment is found through the acts of love. Every day I tell my husband I love him, which is a true expression of my love for him, but if I’m not living in that life for him day to day by choosing to live for him above myself, the expression has no substance and does nothing for our relationship. This is what John means by the word truth, there is only truth in what we say, when what we say is made true in our lives and our relationships by the way we choose to live.
When God speaks to us our responses can be limited by the way we see ourselves and our circumstances. But that is a faithless response which effectively says to God, I believe what you say for the most part, but some of it isn’t true if me or my situation. In other words, it’s refusing to believe God. I’ve always had a strong desire to be everything I could be for God, for Him to be reflected in the way I live. But I wasn’t willing to abandon everything, to turn my back on what I’ve seen as truth about myself, and face Gid and fully embrace Him truth about me.
In Judges 6:13 God called Gideon to save Israel, God referred to him as “a mighty man of valour” This was not at all how Gideon viewed himself and he quickly let God know they He must be speaking to the wrong person because he was from the weakest clan and way “the least of his father’s house” (Judges 6:15). Gideon had a simple choice, was he going to believe what God said to him or refuse Him? But to say to God meant saying “no’ to all he felt about himself, abandoning his limited perspective, and believing by faith all that God had said. Because Gideon faithfully did that despite how he saw himself, he fulfilled God’s call for his life.
I have always believed that something was missing, or I needed more from God before I could freely live for Him. Even though this is how I genuinely felt, it is also convenient for me because it always gave me an excuse -something beyond my control for not living in my own heart’s desires. Believing this is faithless and leaves a gap between us and God. The reality is that if we’ve accepted Jesus has already given us everything we need -we are saved, forgiven, and redeemed through His life, death, and resurrection. He also freely gives the Holy Spirit to all who ask and believe, so we each have within us God’s Spirit which enables and equips us. If we want, we can go around in circles searching for something that is already there, when the only thing we are lacking, is a willingness to take our eyes off ourselves and believe in everything that God has said by faith. There is nothing more we need, there is only more to discover as we spend our lives growing in spiritual maturity with Jesus.
God could very easily remove all of our insecurities, fears, doubts, and misgivings as He could have for Gideon but then faith and belief would also be removed. With faith and belief gone so is the ability to love. Instead, God lovingly leaves us with imperfection and free will so we can always have the opportunity to choose God instead of ourselves.
His vast eternal perspective over our own limited one. He doesn’t expect us to “get over” our problems or get better at being giving, less selfish people, He simply longs for us to take our focus off ourselves and look for Him. This change of focus doesn’t make things easier or our flesh disappear, it simply puts them in their place and reduces them to irrelevant shadows in God’s revealing light.
The life that God offers us with Him is far beyond anything we could imagine when we become attuned to Him, responsive to His words, and obedient to all He says. A love relationship with God isn’t difficult, it’s freeing and life-giving. I’m not saying it will never feel like hard work but, when it does, it’s because we have to put something of ourselves in the way of God’s love. We all need to identify what we’ve put in the way, and then be willing to remove it for the sake of our relationship with Him.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” -Matthew 6:33
By prioritizing God’s will, He will provide what we need. And He will direct our efforts for success.
Your life without a computer: what does it look like?
Life without a computer would change how I live. I would not have as much conversation with my son. It would change because I would not have this blog.
I have lived life without a computer, and I am extremely thankful for that, because my children did not grow up with the internet or computers. It gave them more of a chance to learn how to communicate and think for themselves.
In today’s world the media teaches children what to think and not how to think.
Life without computers would likely be slower, more localized. It would lead to face to face interaction with I think would be a good thing.
The Bible teaches us to obey God rather than man, especially when human laws contradict God’s commands. Obedience to God is expressed through following Jesus’s teachings, which involve loving God, loving others.
God’s commands are not optional suggestions, they are absolute requirements. Not obeying God is a grave mistake that can lead to disastrous consequences in this life and the next.
Obedience to God brings blessings, protection, and ultimately eternal salvation. It’s important to remember that usually men do not care about your soul. But God does 100% of the time. God knows what’s best for us and will never lead us astray.
His wisdom surpasses our understanding, and His ways are higher than our ways.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways. And my thoughts than your thoughts” -Isaiah 55:9
No matter what challenges or temptations we face, we should always strive to obey God. Trusting in Him completely and following His commands faithfully.
True freedom comes from surrendering our will to God’s perfect plan for our lives. Embracing obedience leads us towards peace, joy, and fulfillment beyond measure.
Remember, sin, even if it is legalized by man is still sin in the eyes of God. Legality doesn’t equate to morality, regarding yours, mine, or anyone else’s opinion. Isaiah 5:20-21 tells us,
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own sight, and prudent in their own sight.”
It’s always wise to remember that “all things are lawful for us, but all things are not helpful. All things may be lawful, but don’t be brought under the power of any (1 Corinthians 6:12).
How do we survive with a dark world in the period before Jesus’s return? I often wonder if I am strong enough to endure what is coming. But I think it relies on cultivating our faith, discerning truth from deception, and living a godly life through obedience to God‘s word.
The key is seeking personal revelation and inner spiritual capacity to receive it, and fostering gratitude, and hope while participating with communities that are like-minded, and remaining watchful.
We need to develop spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation, this will help guide our decisions navigate crisis and discern spiritual deceptions.
I think we need to learn to recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, this is the secret of survival and living a quality life.
We must practice repentance and closeness with God. Making sincere effort to repent and draw close to God to be spiritually prepared for the challenges we face.
To discern truth, we need to know the Word of God. And be willing to obey and follow it to avoid spiritual darkness of heresy, and deception when it comes up. We need to learn to distinguish, truth from the adversary, deceptions to help avoid spiritual traps and temptations.
This includes focusing on the rise Jesus, and trust in His saving power. And practicing holiness and goodness, which means living a life of wholeness and to do good to others.
We must also find a Bible -based church and actively engaged in it, this will provide support and grounding during times of spiritual turmoil.
It’s important to cultivate hope and optimism. Embracing hope, happiness, and optimism rather than succumb to fear and worry.
1 Timothy 4: 1-2 tells us,
“The Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron.”
We must maintain strong faith in God and Jesus, stay watchful and alert for deception and constantly engaging in spiritual practices, like prayer, scripture, study, and worship.
“Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking who, he may devour, withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers (sisters) who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings” -1 Peter 5:8-9
Studying and obeying God Word helps us to gain discernment and avoid spiritual deception.
There are ways to protect us spiritually, like resisting the devil by standing firm in our faith. Putting on the whole armor of God, we must equip ourselves with spiritual protection, provided by God. We must guard our hearts, Proverbs . 4:23 tells us to protect our hearts, which is the wellspring of life.
1 Corinthians 15:58 reminds us to be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the Lords work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
We must stand firm in faith, to persevere, knowing that God is faithful to keep us blameless on the day of Christ Jesus.
I would like to learn medical coding. Translating healthcare services into codes. Learning medical terminology, anatomy and physiology would be a new challenge for me.
What details of your life could you pay more attention to?
There are many things we should all pay more attention to. We take too much for granted.
The small overlooked things that make up daily existence, the smell of coffee in the morning, a smile from a stranger, the sound of rain on the window. These details that stitched together, form the fabric of life.
When we slow down and true experience, what’s happening around us, we are fully here, not locked and thought rushing to the next thing. Like isn’t shaped by big events alone it’s shaped by daily rituals, fleeting conversations, and quiet details. These things create the texture of life and paying attention helps us find meaning in the ordinary.
In the Bible, silver symbolize redemption because it was used as a price for a torment and ransom in the Old Testament, such as a half shekel given for atonement for each person‘s life. An ancient times this monetary value of silver became a biblical metaphor for the price paid for somebody’s salvation, with Jesus‘s blood being the ultimate redemption price that purchased souls from Sin. 1 Peter 1:18-19 states this.
“Knowing that you were redeemed not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers.”
The Israelites were required to give a half a shekel of silver as a ransom for their lives, and offering the concept of redemption through a valuable price.
The Tabernacle in the Old Testament was founded on silver, with pills resting on silver sockets, illustrating that the foundation of Israel’s worship was redemption.
The 30 pieces of silver Judas received to be betrayed. Jesus highlighted the immense cost of redemption and the spiritual corruption that can arise from valuing material wealth over spiritual truth.
The symbolic meaning of silver:
Purification: Silver is a symbol of purity and refinement, because it undergoes intense heat to remove its impurities. This process is metaphorically linked to spiritual purification of believers from sin, making them acceptable to God.
The Value of a Soul: The association of silver with value and wealth in an ancient world, combined with a use in the context of atonement, it serves to emphasize the great price of a soul in the profound significance of Jesus’s redemptive act,
When the whole world is unsound those who are following Jesus are on a sound foundation.
Ephesians 2:20 tells us we are built a foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone. The material on which we lay our foundation determines the strength of the structure it is built on.
As I look at the things going on in America, I see confusion, lack of moral compass and lack of respect towards others.
The message of a powerful foundation emphasizes the critical importance of a solid spiritual foundation for a stable, resilient life, that is built on the Word of God.
A proper foundation protects us against the storms of life, while a fault he found foundation leads to collapse. The power of God’s foundation lies, and his ability to provide a life of clarity, purpose, and strength, when faced with challenges, that ultimately ensures our spiritual survival and well-being.
The importance of a strong foundation lies in everything we do, whether, physically, or spiritually, having a solid foundation is crucial. Just like a building needs a strong foundation to be stable and durable, our lives require a firm foundation. The quality of our foundation determines the stability and success of our endeavors.
I think our foundational problems are the most challenging issues we face. when our foundation is corrupted, it affects our entire destiny. A faulty foundation limits potential and hinders progress while a healthy foundation leads to a healthier life and better outcomes.
Many people are currently living, confused lives not because of their present actions, but because of past mistakes were negative actions of others. Learning institutions seem to teach that there is no foundation on which to live. No purpose in life. And no creator. If we have none of those things, there is no responsibility, or accountability for action. The consequences of these actions can linger for years and an impact lives in various ways. I think it is essential to recognize an address these issues to break free from a faulty influence.
No matter what challenges we face during to having a strong foundation, we can choose to take a different path, even though some will continue to follow negative patterns set by other people, but we have the power to break free from these cycles.
It’s not enough to simply wish for deliverance or speak empty words. We must have a clear desire for change and take action to rebuild our foundation. By tapping into the power of Jesus, we can transform our lives and brag free from the limitations of a faulty foundation.
Having a strong foundation is crucial for any successful and fulfilling life. Our foundation encompasses our roots, family history and past actions. It is essential to address any negative influences from, our past and align ourselves with God’s principles. By doing this, we can rebuild our foundation and experience with the transformative power of Jesus in our lives.
After prayer and meditation. I have to go to the bank because of a computer mistake there. One place said they were paid but the money is still in my account.
My main priority is to fix the issue. Hopefully it will be simple.
