Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.
I have had many people make positive impacts in my life. But over the years I’ve learned something.
People tend to adopt the habits, attitudes, and behaviors of those they spend the most time with. It’s a mix of social influence and mirror neurons at work. If you hang out with driven, positive people, you’re likely to pick up their optimism. Surround yourself with negativity or apathy, and that will drag you down too. Choose the people you hang out with wisely, and they can shape you more than you might think.
People can have a positive impact us, but maybe we can make a positive impact on someone else.
Seeing with God’s eyes is perceiving the world through a lens of divine wisdom, compassion, and understanding. It’s looking beyond the surface appearances, biases, or our limited human perspectives to get to a deeper truth about existence, people, and creation.
Seeing through God’s eyes implies aligning our perspective with God’s attributes which are love, mercy, justice, and holiness. It’s about seeing others as God sees them. Seeing them as inherently valuable -created in His image (Genesis 1:27) and that they are worthy of compassion, regardless of any flaws or circumstances.
For example, Jesus’s interactions with the marginalized. Like the Samaritan woman in John 4, reflects this divine perspective.
To see with God’s eyes is practicing empathy, forgiveness, and humility in daily life. It could mean looking past someone’s actions to understand their struggles or recognizing beauty in the mundane.
Seeing with our faith in God means perceiving the world through a lens of trust in God’s divine wisdom.
Being guided by belief in God’s presence, love, and purpose. It’s about letting faith shape how we interpret life’s events, relationships, and challenges. Aligning our perspective with God’s truths which is revealed through scripture, prayer, and spiritual practice.
This involves:
Trusting In God’s Plan: Believing as Romans 8:28 suggests that,
“All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Even when the circumstances are unclear we must believe the promise of God in this scripture.
Heart Centered Vision: Following 2 Corinthians 5:7,
“We walk by faith not by sight.”
We prioritize, spiritual insight over worldly appearances.
Compassionate Lens: seeing others as God‘s creation, reflecting Jesus‘s command to love others as ourselves as in Matthew 22:39,
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Our neighbors are not just people who live by us they are everyone.
Guidance Through Prayer: seeing the Holy Spirit’s discernment to view situations with clarity and hope.
Practically this means:
Approaching trials with hope, and trusting in God sovereignty.
Forgiving others, seeing them through God’s grace.
Studying scripture, like Psalms, and the “gospels,” which are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to internalize God’s perspective.
Cultivating gratitude, recognizing God, hand in all things.
Faith driven site, transforms, fear into trust, judgment into mercy, and despair into hope. It’s less about changing what we see and more about how we see it through the assurance of God’s love and promises.
Being a mother is difficult and a challenging responsibility that is defiantly under appreciated. It takes patience and commitment.
Every mother learns the importance of wearing many hats within the home.
Being a mother involves a blend of emotional, practical, and spiritual qualities often shaped by love, sacrifice, and resilience.
Love and nurturing provides unconditional love of fostering a child’s sense of security and worth through affection, listening, and support.
Patient and adaptability, raising children requires patience for their growth and mistakes but also flexibility to handle unexpected challenges from temper tantrums to teenage rebellion.
Responsibility and sacrifice, mother need to prioritize their children’s needs -physical (food, shelter, safety), emotional (guidance, encouragement), and educational before their own.
Teaching and role modeling, they ned to instill good values, manners, and life skills, modeling integrity and resilience to shape character.
Emotional strength, mothers navigate worry, guilt, and societal pressures while staying grounded, often leaning on personal convictions, others or the church body for support.
They need practical skills like time management, budgeting, and problem-solving which are keys to balancing family needs and self-care.
Motherhood also includes praying for their children, teaching faith, and trusting God for their future.
It’s less about perfection and more about a consistent effort, learning through challenges, and growing alongside their children. Every mother’s journey is unique, and shaped by circumstances, culture, and personal beliefs.
Motherhood includes cleaning, cooking, laundry, chauffeuring, nursing, and anything else that comes along.
A mother’s job isn’t easy it’s hard work. But it is worth it.
God always provides a solution or path forward when a difficult situation in our lives seems impossible to overcome. We only have to trust in God’s ability to intervene and create a way where there seems to be one.
God has the power and the ability to work in ways that we as humans cannot understand (Philippians 2:13-14). He promises to meet our needs. It should be a reminder of the hope and resilience that encourages us to surrender to His plan rather than our own.
He works on our behalf even when we can’t see it. We see all the times God made a way where there seemed to be no way:
Parting the Red Sea -Exodus 14:13-31
The fall of Jericho’s Walls -Joshua 6:1-20
David and Goliath -Samuel 17
Elijah and the widow of Zarephath -1 Kings 17:8-16
Daniel in the Lion’s Den -Daniel 6:16-23
Jesus feeding the 5000 -Matthew 14:15-21
The Resurrection of Jesus -Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20.
Maybe you can think of a few ways God made a way in your life that you thought there was no way.
When disagreeing with anyone it’s important to be respectful.
I can’t control another person or their actions.
Media tends to spin everything and put things out of context for their beliefs and values. Anymore we need to be careful of what we see or hear on the news. Because it may not be the real story.
More than likely the public figure isn’t who we think they are.
I choose to put every situation I don’t agree with in God’s hands. That’s where battles are won anyway. And only God knows the truth in the situation.
Have you ever been around a complainer? The car ahead of you is crawling at a snails pace. You have a person in your life that constantly interrupts you.
Americans in general find an alarming number of things to complain about. I’ve heard the rate of complaints among Americans range from 70 to 84 percent. Yet one of us likes hanging out with complainers. Complaints can be like viruses, it’s important to stay away from them, but that’s not necessarily easy.
We are born with brains that have a negative bias. We tend to focus on things that are not right, rather than attending to the things that are right around us.
When that tendency turns into a habit, and the world quickly becomes an unpleasant or dangerous place.
There are a few strategies we can try when we hear ourselves complaining:
Step back. Looking at the bigger picture. Asking ourselves whether it will matter in five minutes, five months, or five years.
Look within. Taking our complaint seriously. Ask “what is the real issue” does the small thing irritating you represent a theme or larger issue in our lives that needs to be addressed.
Take five minutes to write down your complaint and you may find out what’s pushing your buttons.
3. Make a game out of your complaints. Wear a bracelet or rubber band on your wrist. Every time you hear yourself complaining switch it to the other wrist. The goal is to go 30 days with the bracelet or rubber band on the same wrist.
4.Choose the right outlet. Consider the best way to privately share your issues: in person, in an email, during a phone call. Never complain on social media.
5. Air valid concerns. Your complaint may addresses a genuine need that can lead to a solution. The key is to share your complaint in a kind way that is seen as helpful and not critical.
6. Find the positives. When you have a complaint, start and end with a positive. Because when we complain all the time people shut us down and completely miss your message.
Someone might say, “I love when you go to the store. Next time when you go get groceries, please let me know before you leave and I’ll send you my list. Instead of complaining about the things that were bought because you didn’t like the stuff. It’s more helpful when you work together. It’s important to avoid the word but, because it wipes away the positives.
7. Practice gratitude. Remind yourself every day about one thing you were grateful for, no matter how small. If negativity has become a habit it’s important to write positives down so you can have something to go to when you need a positive response.
Changing your perspective takes time. It takes practice to learn a tolerance to other’s annoying habits. We all have them.
With some effort we can all learn to pay attention to what we’re always complaining about. We can choose to be uplifting instead of dragging people and ourselves down with complaints.
You might discover that less complaining that it adds happiness not just for a a day, but your entire life.
A career plan if you want to be happy should be based on your natural talents. What can I do effortlessly that others find challenging? What do others consistently praise you for?
Because I was home raining children I took on some part time jobs that I didn’t really care for. But that eventually turned into volunteer work, helping others.
In whatever we do we should do it as if God is our boss. Do your work for the glory of God. Even if it isn’t a job you like doing.
God’s salvation is a powerful force, with the message of Jesus being seen as an instrument through which this power is made available two people for their redemption.
Romans 1:16 states that the gospel is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes in Him.
“For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Messiah, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes.”
Salvation is a divine act. This emphasizes that salvation is not something we as human achieve on our own, but rather a gift from God, made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The gospel is not just a message, but a force that can transform our lives and bring about salvation. This is the power of the gospel.
Salvation is for everyone. The gospel is for everyone who hears and believes.
The New Testament provides the framework for understanding God‘s plan for salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
The last live performance I saw was at the Bees Stadium in Utah it was a Kenny Chesney and Megan Moroney concert last year. Unfortunately, I had nosebleed seats, and couldn’t get any good pictures. But unless you’re not a country music fan, here is a photo.
Let’s be honest, doubt isn’t a foreign concept to any of us. Whether you’ve been following Jesus for decades or a brand new on this walk, there’s a good chance you’ve wrestled with questions that seem to shake the very foundation of what you believe. And it’s okay. Doubt isn’t the enemy of faith, it can be a doorway to a deeper trust in God.
We can overcome doubt by walking through some biblical principles the address a few of the most common struggles that we all face.
Am I really saved?
The nagging fear that maybe God isn’t as present or involved in your life as you’d hoped
These are some doubts. I still have from time to time. How about you?
There is some practical ism to tackle these doubts head on and discover how God uses them to strengthen our faith. Maybe doubting isn’t something to be feared, but an opportunity for God to meet us in a deeper way.
It’s easy to assume that doubt makes us a bad follower, but nothing could be further from the truth. Some of the greatest heroes of faith in scripture wrestled with doubt, and God didn’t abandon them -He met them in their questions.
Take Thomas a disciple of Jesus for example. After the resurrection, he famously refused to believe that Jesus who rose from the grave until he could see and touch Jesus‘s wounds for himself (John 20:24-29). And what was Jesus‘s response? Did He rebuke Thomas for his doubt? No. He met him where he was, offering His hands and side as proof. Jesus didn’t dismiss us. He gave him what he needed to believe.
King David, a man after God‘s own heart, also wrestled with doubt. In Psalm 13:1-2, he cried out,
“How long Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”
David votes didn’t make him any less faithful, they revealed his deep dependence on God.
And who can’t forget about the father in Mark 9:24 who cried out,
“I believe, help my unbelief.”
This one line perfectly captures the tension we all feel, belief and doubt can coexist.
Doubt , brought to God, and actually deep in our relationship with Him. It forces us to lean into His word and promises, seeking answers in His truth rather than our own emotions. Instead of seeing doubt as a sign of failure, we need to view it as an invitation to grow in our faith.
2. Trust God’s Word, Not Your Feelings
One of the hardest doubts as a follower of Jesus is wondering, “Am I really saved?” is the kind of question that can keep us up at night, replaying our mistakes and wondering if we’ve truly done enough or bleed enough to secure a place in heaven. But there is good news, our salvation doesn’t depend on our feelings. It depends on God’s promises, and His promises never fail.
The Bible is crystal clear. If we confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior and believe in His resurrection, we are saved (Romans 10:9-10). Jesus Himself promises us,
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, no one will snatch them out of my hand” -John 10:28.
Notice how these assurances don’t hand on how we feel on any given day. They rest entirely on the finished work of Jesus.
Feelings are important, and can be incredibly reliable. But they fluctuate with circumstances, stress, and even what we ate for lunch. God‘s word on the other hand, is a solid foundation. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that Jesus is,
“The same yesterday and today and forever.”
Our salvation is as secure as His character.
When we struggle without about our salvation, we can make it a habit to memorize and meditate on scripture that affirm God‘s promises. Scripture like Ephesians 2:8-9,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith.”
Beyond our salvation, learning to trust God’s Word over our feelings applies to every area of life. When whispers to us, “God isn’t listening,” or He doesn’t care about you,” remind yourself of the truth in 1 Peter 5:7,
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
Trusting God’s Word over our feeling isn’t always easy, but it’s the key to overcoming doubt and standing firm in our faith.
3. Reflect On God’s Faithfulness
One of the best ways to combat doubt is to reflect on God’s faithfulness both in scripture and our own lives. The Bible is full of reminders of God’s constant presence and provision.
If we look at Exodus 14:21-22 of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea, God didn’t just make a way for them; He literally split the sea to lead them to safety. During their time in the wilderness, He provided manna, quail, and water, meeting their every need.
God’s faithfulness isn’t just an ancient story, it is alive and active today. I can think back to moments in my own life where God has stepped in and gotten me out of a few situations that I could not have gotten myself out of. I’m sure you can think of a few situations was well. These moments prove that He is with you. It’s because of the Lord’s great love for us that we are not consumed. His compassions never fail. They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
4. Fight The Lies of the Enemy
I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Doubt often comes straight from the pit of hell. Jesus called satan the “father of lies” in John 8:44, and one of his favorite tactics is planting seeds of doubt in our minds. Whether it’s whispering that God doesn’t love us, that He’s abandoned us, or that we’ve gone too far for God to give us grace, Satan knows how to twist the truth. That’s why it’s important to learn how to overcome doubt when we begin to follow Jesus and replace those lies with the truth of God’s Word.
When we recognize the lies satan tells us and replace them with God’s truth, doubt loses its grip. Satan tries to undermine our faith, but God who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
5. Lean into the Church Community
One of satan’s sneakiest tricks is trying to isolate us in our doubt. When we wrestle with questions of doubt or feat it’s tempting to keep to ourselves, but Scripture reminds us that we were never meant to walk this journey called of life alone.
The church and local Bible studies are gifts from God. They were designed to strengthen our faith in tough times. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us,
“Let’s consider how to provide one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.”
Friendships with other believers provide encouragement, accountability, and reminders of God’s truth.
Consider what Proverbs 27:17 says,
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
God uses churches and fellowship with other believers to help us grow stronger, especially in moments of doubt.
Sometimes hearing someone else affirm God’s promises and His love can reignite our faith in ways we couldn’t achieve on our own.
Let the church be your safety net, whether it’s attending a Bible study, or joining a small prayer meeting, leaning on others can help us overcome doubt. We don’t have to carry the weight of doubt alone. God placed people in our lives to walk with us through it all.
6. Learn to trust God in your daily life
We can trust God in the details of our daily life. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking God is too busy running the universe to care about our problems, but Scripture tells us a different story.
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus reminds us that if God cares about the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, He certainly cares for us. He knows exactly what we need when we need it and promises to provide for us.
The key to trusting God daily is developing habits that keep our focus on Him. Praying, Bible reading and gratitude is a ways to stay focused on Him.
God is deeply involved in our lives, even when we can’t see it. Trusting Him in the daily details will not only help us overcome doubt but also help us draw closer to His heart.
7. Pray with honesty and persistence
If we want to know how to overcome doubt we should start by talking to the One who knows us best. Prayer is one of the most powerful tools we have, but it’s easy to forget that it doesn’t need to be polished perfectly. Some of the most effective prayers are the ones that come from a place of raw honesty.
Psalms is a perfect example of this. They are filled with David’s unfiltered cries to God,
“Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” -Psalm 10:1
David didn’t hold back his doubts and fears, and neither should we. Honest prayers are a way of inviting God into the messiness of our thoughts and allowing Him to bring us peace and clarity.
Remember prayer isn’t just about asking for things, it’s about growing closer to God. As we pour out our hearts to Him, we will discover that doubt begins to fade and is replaced by the assurance of His love and presence.
Our doubts don’t have to derail our faith. In fact, it can be a stepping stone to a stronger, deeper relationship with God.
Pain is a part of life. Pain that is difficult to experience. We deal with pain every day in some form or another. Some is the result of our own poor choices. But the pain in our lives is sometimes the result of others poor choices.
It is in this journey called life that we begin to define ourselves. And they make up the experiences that shape who we are.
“Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you.”
It is through pain that we have incredible stories and amazing images of the context and content of our lives. We need to understand that God does not hold our past against us, but the pain we endured during that time has the incredible ability to mold and define who become.
I have scars on my face due to a deep fryer accident as a young child.
Many of us outward signs of pain scars or wounds that tell a story. The events or people we remember every time we see our scars.
Our scars whether physical, emotional, or spiritual often make moments of struggle, survival, and divine intervention. Our scars can symbolize how we’ve overcome trials.
Scars say we have won the fight, they are not just blemishes, but symbols of resilience and triumphs over adversity. They represent the battles we’ve faced and the strength we’ve gained through overcoming them.
They are a reminder of our capacity for endurance and our ability to overcome challenges.
From Pity to Praise 