Hurt Feelings....It Happens

And to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19

I often wonder if Jesus had His feelings hurt when He was rejected. His rejections were big ones not petty ones like some of you go through here on Earth. Being left out, being ignored, being unfriended on Facebook, being blocked on Facebook, divorce, being talked down to by someone, breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, lies are spread about you, someone close says hurtful words. Rejection hurts and you kind of have to blow it off and not dwell on it. 

Maybe some of the rejection helps you to reassess your life and make changes. It is not always bad. But it still hurts, take it from someone who has been 'tossed under the bus' a few times and by people close to me. Ouch. For sure you have to learn to move on and let it go. If you don't you can build up resentment and bitterness and turn into a very harsh person. Some deeply wounded people may need to seek professional counseling.

Rejection can be a form of demonic bondage you need to be released from. A stronghold that needs to be broken. Wherever you are today know that Jesus and God never rejects you. Come to Him just as you are. He forgives, heals, extends grace and let's you have new beginnings. Just let Him. 

PRAYER: I have been angry after rejections Lord and I know that is not good as a believer and it does not help me stir up feelings of love for sure. Help me move on, in Jesus' name. Amen.

No Connection

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:9-10

I am sure glad I have a 24/7 connection to God and can communicate and get through to him anytime. No waiting on a connection, signal or the power to come back on in order to do so. People now days who live off the grid, and there are getting to be more than you could imagine, have ways to connect to what is important. God is for sure important.

Even though you have this 'all access back stage pass' to our Heavenly Father, how many of us take Him for granted and just call on Him in crisis? Ouch. Maybe your experience growing up in church was cold and impersonal and no one encouraged you to get into the word of God and spend time with Him daily. It is only when you make an effort to do this that you truly become more like Him, and that is your goal correct?

Being a Christian is not boring. It is exciting. If you are bored maybe it is time to see if you ever truly did ask Jesus to be Lord of your life and not just sign up to be a member of thus and such church. Not pointing the finger but simply asking you to examine your heart and if you don't want to spend any time with Jesus ever then maybe something needs to be fixed.

PRAYER: My prayer today Lord is to pray for those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus to examine their hearts. I pray to Lord that my love for you does not grow cold. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below for song of praise:

https://youtu.be/b-oZbBS_OhM

Monsters Within Us

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

As much as you might try to tame it the jealousy monster inside of you sometimes it rears its' ugly head. Jealous of a persons' status or title. Perhaps jealous someone got promoted over you. Maybe it is jealousy between siblings feeling like their parents are favoring one child over another. It could be jealous that one grandparent gets to see the grand baby more than them. Perhaps you are jealous of another person's freedom. Maybe you are jealous of another's lifestyle and possessions. I am sure you could add to the list. 

The bottom line is simple. Stop it! All that stuff is not from the Lord. He didn't create you to be like that. It is the enemy, Satan, who attempts to divide and conquer and jealousy is one of his key tools. Don't allow it in your life. If you struggle with it now confess it to God and ask Him to create in you a different heart that isn't like that. It clouds your thinking and makes you say things you don't mean. 

Be grateful for where you are in life and what you have. Get rid of all those earthly sand bags weighing you down and keeping you from enjoying the life Christ intended you to. When you feel jealous stop right there and pray and ask God to break that stronghold in your life. 

PRAYER: Oh Father I don't like the feeling of being jealous. It creates anger, hatred, division and it simply not your choice for me. I ask you to help me rebuke the attempts by Satan to make me slip onto that mode. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Friends In The Junk Folder

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:44

Friends are very important. Close intimate friends are even better. But to have a trusted friend betray you or stab you in the back is hurtful. If I could take a show of hands from readers I wonder how many of you would raise your hand that this scenario has happened to you. You are placed in the 'junk folder' of sorts.

You can't dwell on stuff like rejection or it can eat away at you. You can't try to figure it out. You can't beg the person to come back in your life. You just simply have to trust God and pray and try to keep the hurt from eating away at you and robbing you of the joy of living. 

Satan is the one who causes division and he uses people to do his dirty work. Sometimes these people are aware and captivated by evil and at times they may be unaware. Being kind, loving, and forgiving is the way to achieve victory over this painful experience.

PRAYER: Father I hope I have never been guilty of hurting someone or being mean or ugly to them. Relationships are hard and they take work. Help me kind and loving to the friends you have placed in my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Get Rid Of Time Wasters

So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, making the best use of your time because the times are evil.Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17

As I sat recently at a coffee shop doing what I always do, writing, it amazes me how much junk mail comes not only in your snail mail box at home but on email. It takes forever it seems to wade through it and purge it releasing it to a junk folder. How much 'junk' is there in your life that needs to be put in a junk folder of sorts? Time wasters, energy suckers, good causes but over obligations?

Americans in particular are guilty of always being busy and almost feeling guilty if you are not. Why? I once heard an acronym for busy and that was 'Being Under Satan's Yoke'. Now that's an eye opener for sure. Young parents out there, start your child off right teaching him the value of work and responsibility but of also learning to be still. During this still time perhaps model getting closer to Christ. You may drag kids to soccer, dance, figure skating lessons, judo, and a host of other things but do you do the most important things parent can do and that is teaching them the value of being still.

Each of us reading this today should take stock of your schedule. Is it necessary to volunteer for every committee. What about be in every club that comes along? Or do you feel you have to do every social thing that comes down the pike? Sit back, take a breath, and learn to say no and learn to get quiet with God.

PRAYER: Help me Lord as I seek to say no to even important things and to make sure you then my family have quality and quantity time. Help me have courage to say no to things that may clutter my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Time Wasters

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4

In this technological generation you find yourself in you must be intentional to use your time wisely. As I sat down to write one day the massive amount of junk email that had to be waded through just to get to the writing was phenomenal and a bit frustrating. Oh to sit by a babbling brook and listen to birds.

You have to decide what in your life is truly important and what to say no to. You know you can let the phone ring and don't have to answer every text. You can actually leave your mobile device at home if you are not in a career field that demands you be on call 24/7. So much can be whittled away to allow you to have more peace, less stress, less pressure, but it has to be intentional. Some of you reading this may chuckle and say "This lady has no idea what I face at work daily" and indeed that would be correct. But it is your choice how you choose to start and finish your day.

I would suggest to you that this world is not your home. Some of you were once in church and maybe really on fire for the Lord but something happened and you became cold to things of the Lord. That is between you and God.  But daily as you flit from one thing to the other does Christ even pass in your thoughts? Try to make time EACH day to sit down alone somewhere with a Bible and notebook and spend time in the word. I challenge you to NOT wake up and go to Facebook or turn on the news. Before you know it there is no time for Jesus. Is He really important? Then do something about it.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I love it when I sit and ponder your greatness. I thank you for the word of God and the privilege I have to own it and read it. Draw those people to you who have become cold in their faith. Wake them up. Help them make time for you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Good Morning World!!

This is the day the Lord has made;We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Similar to how Air Force DJ, Sgt Adrian Cronauer kept the morale of the troops in Vietnam up by uttering a hearty "Good Morning Vietnam" out on the airwaves of Armed Forces Radio Network during the Vietnam War we as believers should wake up daily displaying a similar positive attitude particularly if you are not living in a persecuted nation such as many do.

It is easy to get in a slump over bad news on TV, a dismal medical diagnosis, a dissolved marriage, bad grades, disobedient or disrespectful children, being unemployed.  Morale is all about your attitude. Needless to say the service men and women serving their country in a very unpopular war needed a cheery funny person to listen to daily. Even though Sergeant Cronauer played by Robin Williams in the 1987 film, bucked the military rules to entertain the troops, his broadcasts brightened their otherwise awful day. 

Maybe just maybe your attitude could make or break someone's day. When life has you down look up to the King of Kings. This is a very temporary stopover with the ultimate destination being Heaven for those whose heart is right with Jesus. If you have not asked Jesus to be Lord of your life what are you waiting for. If you aren't feeling so cheery today stop and pray then read the Psalms. And oh yes, don't forget to give thanks.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus help me stay on top and stay cheerful no matter what life throws at me. I never know who may be going through a worse day than me. In Jesus' name. Amen.