From Pity to Praise

How To Get Right With God

Sometimes smart people do dumb things, wise people do foolish things, and Godly people do sinful things. Some of those things are big, dark, and ugly that may be clouding the past, and keeping them from a great future. Maybe it’s a secret we’ve never told anyone like an abortion, an affair, or stealing something, a lie we’ve told.

Regardless of how we have messed up, the one thing many people is that we have all made mistakes. Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Yet, many of us don’t know how to recover afterward.

In today’s world things are getting dark. It’s becoming harder and harder to ignore the signs of the times. It might be a good idea to get right with God.

So, how do we get right with God after we’ve done something entirely wrong?

The Bible tells of an account of David which is one of the best examples of someone who blew it big time and then got his life right with God. David was one of the most Godly men in the Bible. He loved the Lord, yet in his weak moments he found himself committing adultery with Bathsheba and then trying to cover it up by murdering her husband.

Psalm 51 gives us a mental image of what’s going on inside David’s heart after Nathan the prophet confronts David about his sin. 2 Samual 12 shows us the steps David took on his road to spiritual recovery.

Here’s a breakdown of the steps David took to get tight with God:

Step 1: Come clean with God. Get honest and get your mistakes out in the open. Sometimes we become afraid of losing our reputation or being publicly exposed. And sometimes we’re afraid of losing the security we get from indulging in our “favorite sin.” But the peace we get in return for coming clean will be worth it. We can trust that God’s ultimate outcome will be good.

Step 2: Ask God for forgiveness. We have to ask God to wash, cleanse, and forgive us. David doesn’t try to negotiate a deal with God or minimize His sin. He says,

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions” -Psalm 51:1

Step 3: Own responsibility for your sin. We need to own our part in our mistakes and also their consequences.

“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight, that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge” -Psalm 51:3-4

Step 4: Accept God’s forgiveness and cleansing. Like David, once we confess to God that we messed up and tell God we want a restored relationship with Him, at that very moment we receive His grace and forgiveness. But in order to experience God’s forgiveness, we first need to believe we are forvgiven, accepted and loved unconditionally by Him.

Step 5: Request a fresh work of grace. Maybe you’ve been tempted and found yourself saying, “I’ll go ahead and sin and then ask for grace later.” What we need is for God to create a fresh work in our hearts so that we don’t want anything to do with sin. Like David, we need to pray, “create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast Spirit within me.” (Psalm 51: 10).

Step 6: Resolve to use past failures for God’s work. God wants to use the most difficult, sinful thing we’ve ever done and make us a trophy of His grace. God will use all of our sins to glorify Him if we let Him. David tells God, When you do this new work in me, “then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise” ( Psalm 51: 13, 15).

Step 7: Pray for limited fallout. Our sin never affects just us individually. But we can pray that in His grace, God will minimize the damage our sins might have had on those around us.

Over and over in the Bible, we are reminded that we serve a God who, although He doesn’t treat sin lightly, understands that we are human and struggle with sin. And out of His life for us, He wants to forgive us and take our very worst moments and claim them for Himself.

If you’re like me I was taught that if I make a mistake or do something bad God will punish me for it. Psalm 103:12 says that God removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”

Uninteresting News

Scour the news for an entirely uninteresting story. Consider how it connects to your life. Write about that.

I am not interested in too much news. Most of the news is propaganda, taken out of context and fear mongering.

It tries to influence opinions and is not based on facts.

All news is uninteresting if it’s not based on truth.

God Is Our Mighty Fortress

We are born into a world that is hostile to God. Humanity is at war with God, but thank God, He can make peace with us. God is so full of great mercy, grace and love for us, that He sent a peacemaker. We can be brought into fellowship with God by Jesus’s sacrificial death on the cross. Jesus signed the peace treaty between us and God with His blood so now whoever comes to Him in faith is pardoned their sin, and brought into peaceful fellowship with God, and adopted into His family.

But what happens when the world threatens our peace? Challenges and difficulties can shake us, but don’t let them question your commitment to God. It is in these times that our faith can be refined and deepened, much like gold that is purified by fire.

The world tries the disconnect us from God and make it harder to feel God’s love, and guidance that can result in spiritual emptiness and even a loss of joy and peace.

This can become a catalyst for seeking God more earnestly and discover His presence and strength in new ways. It’s when we feel burdened beyond our strength than we a learn to rely on God rather than our own abilities.

Be careful there is also potential for spiritual stagnation or backsliding. If it’s not handled with faith and intention, worldly pressures can lead us where our growth in faith is hindered.

It is at these times we must remind ourselves that God’s love is unwavering and His promises are true.

Spending time with Him can anchor our hearts and minds in God and can deepen our relationship with Him.

Seeking others who are like-minded who can offer support, encouragement, and. accountability, and share our experiences and pray with them can help us maintain peace with God.

We can identify situations and relationships that pull us away from God and then take preventative measures, choosing righteous living and aligning with God’s principles can also help us be more at peace.

Using scripture as a sword of the Spirit can help us combat negative thoughts and strengthen our resolve. So memorizing a few can really make a difference.

Focusing on gratitude can help us shift our perspective from our struggles to God’s purpose and love.

Above all we can trust in God’s plan, even if it involves suffering, or unanswered questions. Remember God can use even difficult times to refine our faith and bring good in our lives.

Ultimately, maintaining peace with God when the world threatens it involves actively choosing to stay connected to Him and trusting in His unfailing love and promises. This can require intention, dedication, and a willingness to embrace spiritual growth over worldly situations.

Things That Make Me Happy

List 30 things that make you happy.

Real happiness does not come from others or the world it comes from within. It took me years to realize I had to be happy and love myself to feel content in this broken world we live in.

That being said my happiness comes from a few things:

A deep connection with God.

Being a part of the church body.

Being able to experience God’s grace and forgiveness.

Seeing others come to the body of the church.

Helping people in need.

Raising children to be valuable members of society.

Peace in the middle of chaos.

Seeing beauty in nature because of God’s creation.

The simple blessings I receive every day.

Spiritual Warfare

When we learn that there’s an enemy that stalks around like a roaring lion we begin to see where Satan is working and invading our lives.

God has given us tools to demolish our enemy. There are divine weapons that are used to tear down arguments and anything else that opposes the knowledge of God. And ultimately bring everything into obedience to God.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us, “for the weapons of our warfare are not of flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds. Throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Messiah.”

These weapons are powerful enough to demolish strongholds which can be interpreted in areas of sin, false beliefs, or anything that goes against God.

We were born to follow God I think this is why we thirst for something and try everything we can to fill that endless void we all feel in life. When we choose God that endness void will finally feel full.

When we align our thoughts and actions with God’s teaching and live in obedience to Him a balance is found.

God’s Love And Faithfulness -Psalm 92

Why Do Bad Things Happen To God People?

Life is full of decisions. Every day we make choices some big and some small, that affect our lives and the lives of others.

Last week I had a friend who was in a bad motorcycle wreck. A relative of his asked me why bad things happen to good people. He had a good heart and would help anyone he could. I admit I had to ask myself what I say. It was something I had to pray about.

So, at times there is one decision that stands above all others, a decision that shapes our life or destroys it. That decision is whether or not you choose to listen to God’s warning or not. God will always warn us but we are too distracted to hear it, or not in a relationship with him to care. Sadly, I think this is what it boils down to.

God gives us warnings, not to harm us, but to help us. He earns us because He loves us and wants what’s best for us. Sometimes we think we can ignore God’s warnings, but the truth is, when we ignore His warnings, we put ourselves in dangerous positions.

His warnings are often accompanied by consequences if we don’t follow them warnings. God is a loving God, but we also have free will. God will not intervene in situations where He warned us and we don’t listen because of free will.

God is warning us for our protection. Imagine you’re walking down a path in the woods, and someone shouts at you to stop -there’s a cliff ahead. If you listen and stop, you are saved from falling. But if you ignore the warning and keep walking, you might fall off that cliff. God’s warnings are like that. They are given to protect us from danger.

God often warns people about the consequences of sin. But we have to ask ourselves are we too distracted to hear God’s warnings? Do we have a close relationship with God to know His voice?

The Bible has numerous examples where ignoring God’s warning led to negative consequences, including suffering, judgment, and destruction.

We all screw up in life. So, what do we do when we ignore or mistake God’s warnings?

How do we heed God’s warnings:

Actively listen to God’s voice through prayer, scripture, and spiritual guidance. Reflecting on our actions and motivations and seek to identify the areas where we may be straying from God’s path,

Then we need to recognize the pattern of our disobedience or need for correction, and turn away from those actions and seek forgiveness.

God’s warnings are ultimately for our good and following His guidance leads to blessings and a closer relationship with Him.

When we don’t heed God’s warnings it is usually a lack of trust, deception o sin, or pride and rebellion.

I think the church culture taught us that we are “covered by the blood.” and we can do what we want to because of it. But that is not what God teaches in His Word. We can’t follow a couple of rules and think we are “okay” with God.

This may not be the only reason bad things happen to good people but I think it’s one of them. We live in a broken fallen world, and if we are not connected to the Creator we will not hear His warnings.

Habits That Bring Joy

Describe one habit that brings you joy.

One habit that brings me joy is feeling God presence. There is nothing like it I’ve ever experienced.

Being overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit is one of the most intimate and awe inspiring experiences I encounter. I transcends words.

It is like a flood or peace comes over me. A stillness that hushes my soul.

It’s like the Spirit of the Living God falls not as a whisper, or a wind but, but a wave that crashes over shoreline to my soul.

That is pure joy to me. That’s what I strive for to be in God’s presence.

Things I’m Curious About

What are you curious about?

I am driven by an insatiable curiosity and passion for learning – always exploring new ideas and perspectives.

I thrive in environments that challenge me to think deeper and grow intellectually.

Having Situational Awareness

I probably don’t have to tell you the world is becoming a scary place. Whether you live in a large city or a small town there are victims of crime every day.

I live in a small rural town, and just a few months ago there was a shooting. I man was shooting at his girlfriend from who was trying to leave a bad situation. He shot her multiple times and shot into a pharmacy. An acquaintance of mine was leaving work, and he saw the bullets flying he hit the floor, the bullet missed him by inches. If I hadn’t seen the bullet he would have been shot. That’s what I call situational awareness.

So many times we have tunnel vision. Our face is in our phone, or we just want to get to where we’re going. We end up focusing our efforts and energy somewhere else, rather than on what’s around us.

Without realizing it, we don’t pay attention to things around us. Just today, my daughter told me about a situation at the grocery store that broke my heart. In the parking lot at the grocery store, she saw an older woman walking her small dog on the grass. Just as she turned her head she saw a large dog, jump from a vehicle and run towards the women and attacking her dog, killing it. Thankfully the woman was not hurt.

My husband is ex-military and has always talked about situational awareness. It’s the ability to understand and react to your surroundings. It involves perceiving potential hazards, understanding their significance, and then making informed decisions to ensure safety. This skill is crucial for navigating everyday situations. And, it’s becoming more important in today’s world to respond effectively to threats and unexpected events.

Here’s a breakdown of key aspects, hopefully, it will help someone.

Perception:

Observe your surroundings:

Pay attention to your environment, including people, objects, and events.

Identify potential hazards:

Look for anything that could pose a risk, like unusual behavior, suspicious activity, or unsafe conditions.

Use all your senses:

Don’t rely on sight, be aware of sounds, and smells.

Limit distractions:

Minimize distractions, don’t have your face in your phone all the time, and stay away from devices that have excessive noise to stay focused.

2. Comprehension:

Understand the situation:

Analyze what you perceive and determine if there is a potential threat or hazard.

Consider the context:

Think about the environment, the people involved, and the potential consequences of the situation.

Recognize patterns:

Identify any unusual or out-of-place behaviors or situations

3. Action:

Make informed decisions:

Based on your perception and understanding, decide on the best course of action.

Choose appropriate responses:

Determine how to react to the situation, whether it’s avoiding a potential threat, seeking help, or taking other necessary steps.

Act quickly and decisively:

Don’t hesitate to take action when needed to ensure your safety or the safety of others.

4. Developing Situational awareness:

Practice mindfulness:

Be present in the moment and pay attention to your surroundings.

Trust your intuition:

Listen to your gut feeling when something doesn’t seem right.

Identity escape routes:

Know the exits and safe areas in your environment. Sit facing the door, sit on the end so you can be close to the exit.

Review your surroundings:

Periodically assess your environment and identify potential hazards.

Limit distractions:

Avoid distractions like phones or electronic devices as well as noises as much as possible.

By developing these skills, you can enhance your ability to perceive, understand, and respond effectively to your surroundings. This ultimately improves your safety and well-being. Its like drawing a mental map that helps us understand where we are.

I’m not saying it will always keep you safe, but in today’s world everything we can do will help.

A lack of situational awareness leads us to a state of situational stupidity, which consists of maintaining a thoughtless and/or ignorant position in which we do not take into account the environmental factors to make decisions. We run the risk of disconnecting from reality and acting on unrealizable desires and irrational expectations.

Spreading Kindness

Write about a random act of kindness you’ve done for someone.

To many times we can be so focused on ourselves and lives we forget about others in our own chaos.

I make it a point of trying to bless someone every day.

Whether it’s giving a genuine compliments, holding the door for someone, or checking in on a friend.

Every week I try to buy someone’s coffee behind me. Granted it’s not a caffe latte cappuccino brown sugar Java almond breeze nonsense, it’s from a convenience store but I know I made a persons a little brighter.

With fear, the need for power and group mentality seemingly trying to be taking over the world. It’s important to spread a little light in each day.

Those random small acts of kindness go a long way in a dark world.

Living A Blessed Life

How do you think people live a blessed life? The humble truth is believe in Jesus and be generous.

Living a blessed life isn’t really about getting it’s about being. The Bible tells us what it means to be blessed over 200 times. Throughout the scriptures, it describes times when God bestows His favor in a variety of circumstances and purposes. It began in Genesis with Adam and Eve. Being blessed is something God intended for mankind from the beginning. But sin has distorted that blessing.

The Hebrew Word for blessing is berakah something that brings prosperity and life. Paul tells the Gentiles in Romans 4:7-8, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered, blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count as sin.”

Paul quotes from Psalm 32:1 to argue that Gentiles (us) also received this blessing of forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus. He wants to make it clear that God’s blessing and the blessing of Abraham are for all people -that anyone can be blessed by God and can become His.

The ways Jesus describes bring blessed also show us how to live in a way that brings prosperity and life. Matthew 5:3-12 talks about the beatitudes, Jesus list the blessing by naming characteristics that represent His heavenly Kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount.

People whose life situations can seem far from a blessing, and don’t fit neatly in the trendy hashtag, and who mourn, are meek, persecuted, and poor in spirit can be blessed.

For Each blessed one Jesus names, He also announces a spiritual blessing, which far outweigh our earthly circumstances. These blessings include inheriting theearth, receiving mercy, and being called children of God. All these things are gifts from God.

What Jesus called blessed reveals the Father’s heart for us. A deep well of blessing to quench our thirsty souls.

Being blessed is not a spiritual substitute for being lucky. Meaning the good things in life don’t happen by chance. God who made heaven in the earth, still brings good things into our lives.

We become blessed when we are more like Him. It doesn’t come from material things. Being blessed is a perspective, a mindset of joy despite all our circumstances. It’s a pursuit of the knowledge and understanding of God‘s grace. A fierce resolved to seek His kingdom, His Word, Hid truth despite the temptations of blessing from the world.

Being blessed is more than a gift of material prosperity. It’s a state of being inextricably linked with a deep conviction to the One true God and all that He is.

We can live a blessed life by pursuing Christ -Ephesians 1-3

We can life a blessed life by being a does of the Word not just a hearer – James 1:22

We can live a blessed life by examining the lavishness of God’s grace -Romans 4:8

Sometimes it’s a struggle with disconnecting our blessings from physical circumstances because this is not what the world tells us. When we recognize that living a blessed life isn’t something we have to work for, buy, achieve, fulfill, and socially share to live up to that’s when we can truly feel and understand the blessing from God.

When we find we are sufficient in Jesus, we can see the depth of God’s blessing. But we have to fight for it and pursue it daily, or we can forget that we have it and get too comfortable in our worldly surroundings to experience the deep, joy of being blessed by God.