I’ve tried to write several times lately and WordPress hasn’t been working for me. My post wouldn’t publish, wouldn’t save… I don’t know what’s been going on but as I type this morning, I haven’t had any weird messages pop up saying something “failed” so I’ll take that as a good sign.
Guys.
I am grateful. I am so grateful. I was going through something rough lately but a blazing light has led me to the end of the tunnel. And I’m ecstatic about what’s on the other side.
A new hope. A new beginning. A new chance to move forward and be all that God intended for me to be.
He’s taken me step by step from one place to the next, preparing me for the journey. He’s made the way for me and said “trust Me, Velvet. I have something awesome for you up ahead.”
He wasn’t lion. Though He is THE Lion. The Lion of Judah. All knowing, all seeing. All powerful.
Considerate
Giving
Compassionate
Just
Gracious
Merciful
Father
Provider
I’ma make a video about my situation and post soon. <3
All I can say is this: even if you’re going through a hard time, just keep doing the right thing, even when it’s hard. After someone treated me badly, God enabled me to have peace, joy, love, kindness and all the other fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Even if someone wrongs you, we mustn’t harbor resentfulness, but forgive them and have compassion on them. My friend said it well the other day: “when we look on other’s that have hurt us with compassion, we’re looking at them through the lens of the One who saved you by grace”.
And God says “we forgive because God first forgave us”. If God hadn’t first forgiven me, I wouldn’t have any reason to forgive anyone. Why forgive at all? Because it’s the “right” thing to do? God first set the precedence when He sent His one and only son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.
Forgiveness isn’t just a “good” idea. It’s God’s idea. He invented it. And He empowers His children to be able to do it. And what a beautiful testimony of His love it is when true forgiveness occurs. Sometimes you have to forgive someone over and over again as the thoughts of how they wronged you resurface. Forgiveness is seldom a one-time thing. Give the thought back to God and ask Him to change your heart and your mind towards that person and help you forgive them. God will do this.
………..
Okay.
This is what happens when I start typing random thoughts before I’m fully awake. I’m midway through my coffee and should probably put this to the side and finish drinking it while I read my bible.
Then I’m going to work.
Hope you have an AWESOME FRIDAY. Last Friday in August. Enjoy! <3
another morning has arrived. Praise the Lord! I’m glad He got me up today. He allowed me to, anyway. I love waking up naturally and not feeling tired. It’s wonderful. Having enough sleep is SUCH a blessing. I am thankful.
And to think I could’ve done something about this a long time ago. Hahah
But for my non-confrontational personality, “inconveniencing” somebody else is never my first choice. I will choose to bend to other’s wills before my own if I can help avoid hurting someone’s feelings. But then there are the times that I don’t put other’s feelings before my own.
Lemme pause, it’s good to be considerate of people’s feelings and not set out to make anyone else’s life harder, but choosing whether or not to have a conversation shouldn’t be so earth-shaking if it might involve stepping on a toe, or making someone annoyed or uncomfortable…. especially if the premise is to make life better.
For example: I had a hard conversation via texts the other day. NOTE next time I will respond to the first message by saying “I’d much prefer to talk about this in person. When are you free?”
Anywho, that is not what I did. We texted back and forth for a bit, and the person I was texting with was angry with me, so they were probably interpreting my responses as coming back as angry and bitter as they were feeling. Not cool and not true! I saw that person the next day and asked if they wanted to talk and they said no. I don’t feel that it’s been resolved. So we are going to talk today. :O
We’ll see how that goes! Naww, but I’ve been praying a lot and feel pretty good about this whole thing. I know where I stand, I know I wasn’t in the wrong, and I know that this person in hurting. The good news is, they aren’t saved yet. So I’ve been praying a lot for their salvation.
God says “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16
God wishes we were either HOT for Him or COLD towards Him; not lukewarm.
I heard a great sermon the other day that referenced this verse. They said that God doesn’t want us to be on the fence, choosing God’s will and God’s ways today and our will and the world’s ways tomorrow. If we are all the way committed to being against Him, we will reach rock bottom more quickly! God WANTS us to be dependent on Him! He wants us to realize how badly we need a savior and then come to see that God sent us Jesus to do that very thing: save us from our sins. Teach us in the way we should go. Reconcile us to God. Give us the peace of Christ. Change us by the Holy Spirit to live a righteous life.
So I’m praying for this conversation to go well. Either way, I won’t react, I won’t get all up in anyone’s face. I won’t be surprised by any anger channeled towards me. I realize this person is taking out a whole slew of problems on me and I’m choosing to forgive them before they say they are sorry. I’m choosing to look at what they must be feeling in their heart during this hard time: frustration, loss of control, hopelessness.
Remember my people, the war is not against the flesh and blood; it’s in the spirit. Ephesians 6:12.
Hope you have a BLESSED Friday. I am working 9-6 and then hopefully going dancing later if my left knee permits me. It’s bein’ a leeeetle funkay today. Gotta be careful. If I do dance it will be brief since I’ve been seriously loving going to bed early and getting up early, feeling rested. I love enjoying my quiet time with the Lord in the morning.
Definitely a good cycle to be in! I much prefer it. Wednesday-Saturday night I can pretty much get to bed by 10 if I want to. 😀 Hmm actually tonight may be more like 11. Still not bad.
But I’m up now. I actually woke up for the first time around 4:45am. And then again at 615ish. I got up at 6:30ish. Had a nice time of adoration and prayer in candlelight. Made coffee and some breaffffffast. And now am talking to y’all.
To collect my current thoughts regarding a situation I am in:
Do not fear people. Do not live to please people.
Stick to your convictions and do not conform to other people’s morals just to get them to like you.
Do not run from confrontation. Stick it out through the fire and talk it out.
Get to the bottom of the issue, apologize if necessary, even if the reason for your apology is that the other person has to go through something and not necessarily because it’s your fault.
Ask how you can help or change or do better if necessary.
Look to God for His peace and ask Him for it. Ask and you shall receive O children of God! 🙂
Talk to God about what to do before talking to other people about what to do. Ask God for wisdom in what to say or not say.
After prayer and reading the bible, then talk to other people. I can always do better at this one.
*something happens.
*calls BFF #VENTSESHBEGINS
Not always the best idea.
Lastly, always look to God. Whatever situation you’re going through is a flicker in time. A blink. And it soon shall pass. And when the trial ends, you shall be more like gold. <3
Lord, I thank you for this hiccup. I thank you for this chance to forgive somebody who is acting unreasonable. Lord I pray that you would come them down. I pray that you would soften their heart. I pray that you would open their eyes to the heart of the issue: their feeling of not being in control, frustration for the way that cards have been dealt, and tendency to point the finger. Lord I pray that your Holy Spirit would infiltrate their heart in the name of Jesus. I pray that you would change them from the inside out, because you alone have the power to change hearts. Thank you for loving me abundantly and without condition. Thank you for always drawing me closer to Yourself and reminding me of your endless power. Amen.
I’ve done some pretty society-deemed-cool things in my life.
Been to some cool parties. Traveled to a few places. Met some cool folks. Seen a ton of concerts.
Hiked some mountains in California and other places.
But contrary to what society and the world says, what I have done does not define who I am.
If it were that easy, I should be happy being a mountain-climber or a college graduate or the top of my class.
But those things will never be enough.
If our identity
is rooted in
what we have seen
or done,
or what we have,
we are easily shaken.
We forget the things we have done and the places we have been and what is most important to us when we compare ourselves to others who society deems more successful or better-off than us.
We’ve all done it. We’ve all compared ourselves to someone else and felt like we didn’t measure up. In middle school it was with whoever had the best clothes or coolest gadgets.
In high school it was who had the nicest car, cutest boyfriend or girlfriend, or who got the best grades.
In college it was who got invited to the best parties or went on the most interesting trips.
After college it’s who has the most success in finances, employment, or marriage.
———-> As soon as we compare ourselves to others who have more or have done more, what we had before feels like it doesn’t measure up. It’s a human and societal tendency.
I’m here to tell you it’s not fair or right to compare ourselves to people who are just as flawed as we are, and who have walked a completely different walk than us.
How could comparing ourselves to a 100% unique brother or sister do any good? !
How can we expect ourselves to be like somebody else? We are ourselves! We are who we are.
You have probably told yourself that. But you still compare yourself to others.
And that’s because you want to grow. You want to be better. You want to improve. Us humans do that. We desire to be better. To go further. To live bigger.
And that’s cool. That’s great, even. Without a goal in sight, a prize to aim for, a direction to go in, life seems a lot less meaningful.
So lemme tellya a secret.
For the purpose of giving yourself direction, you can compare yourself to somebody.
You can compare yourself to this person for the sake of getting better.
The purpose of this comparison is to become a better person.
So here goes.
There is one and only one person
we should ever compare ourselves to
Purple Majesty in Yorktown (not the actual name of the flower lol)
and it’s not yourself, so don’t get all excited. You and I both know you have plenty of growing to do. 😛
Pretty in Pink in Yorktown (I make the names up :D)
First, I’ll tell you what this person didn’t have.
What this person (the one you should compare yourself to) didn’t have:
This person didn’t have the most money.
He didn’t have the latest hiking gear.
He didn’t have the most successful dating relationships.
He was hated by most people.
He was loved at first and then treated like a loser, by some of the people closest to him.
People were nice to him so he could do things for them and get them free stuff but he loved them anyway. Unconditionally.
<3
Now for what he did have.
What he did have:
And while you are reading, be comparing this man to yourself, and see how you measure up. It may take a while.
A tiny flower by the James River
He had a heart of love, not darkness <3
<3
He was grateful for all he had, knowing each breath is a gift
<3
He trusted that the outcome of a storm would always be a rainbow or provide more growth.
<3
He never dwelt on what he could not change … I love the word dwelt. Isn’t it great??!
<3
He was able to look past people’s facades and images of success and happiness, knowing what every person craved and needed in their heart, and his desire was to help people meet that need: of love.
York River
joy
His words brought life,joy, and clarity.
He spread joy to others wherever he went.
Hisjoy brought out the best in others.
Instead of tearing people down,
he built people up
always
York River
He was so incredibly calming.
Whenever somebody needed a shoulder to cry on, a place to take refuge, or a listening ear, he would be that person. He didn’t complain or lash out or shrug people off.
He was always approachable.
In fact, he was magnetic. People were drawn to him wherever he went. And he had the power to fill whoever came to him with incredible peace.
<3 🙂 <3
He didn’t force anybody to do anything, but gently and lovingly approached all people and situations.
~
~
~
He spoke truth to his brothers and friends when they were in trouble and helped them overcome their struggles.
He never enabled anyone to do something that was harmful to themselves or others. He was never thinking about getting ahead or beating somebody at something. He was seeking love and unity.
He never held onto bitterness or resentment towards people that hurt him, but forgave them fully and immediately. Immediately.
~~~~~~~
<3
~~~~~~~
The only person
we should ever compare ourselves to
is
Sunset over the York River
J e s u s
He was the perfect human.
He is the only one who has ever, can ever and will ever set the standard for how we should live our lives.
Lovingly teaching others.
Keeping short accounts of what people have done wrong to us, and forgiving others for their faults, well aware that we are so faulty ourselves.
He wasn’t taken by surprise when people fell short; he loved them anyway.
If you don’t know Jesus, believe me when I say this:
I’ve been getting to know him for almost two years now, and the truth is, learning about Jesus and trying to become more like him is the most noteworthy thing I have ever done. It’s way cooler than any mountain I’ve climbed, trip I’ve gone on, or experience I’ve experienced.
Jesus is the ultimate role model
& the more I find out about him, the more I realize how important it is to know him.
The more you know about Jesus,
the more you want to become like him.
Jesus is the only one worth comparing ourselves to. He is perfect. None of y’alls brothers, sisters, bosses, coworkers, friends, girlfriends or boyfriends are perfect. They are all human; AKA heavily flawed. They may go on some cool trips or have some fancy possessions or beautiful significant others, but they are trying to figure out how to navigate this journey of life the same as your are.
Raise your standard.
Raise the bar.
Compare yourself to the Risen King.
If you don’t know about Jesus, I recommend getting to know him.
Picture Somebody in your life that has hurt you. Maybe it was your best friend. Or your Mom. Maybe it was your boyfriend or girlfriend. Your teacher. Your coach. Your co-worker. Your boss. A random person at the store.
I just finished reading another awesome book by Neil Anderson, author, pastor, professor of theology among many other things.
“The Bondage Breaker” offers a Christian explanation as to why we think and behave the way we do. It discusses how spiritual warfare interferes with our everyday lives, and what we can do to address these issues and free ourselves from the spiritual bondage we are in.
Anderson’s writing is clear and communicable, as well as easy to relate to. He gives real life examples of people under most every type of possible bondage that we struggle with; addiction to drugs/alcohol, pornography, eating disorders, abortion, suicide, homosexuality and others. Anderson helps the reader understand how and when the bondage may have been formed, and gives direction on how to break free and find truth in Jesus Christ.
The main stress of this book is that as believers, we are children of God and God’s love and forgiveness can never be taken away from us. If we learn how to become strong in our identity in Christ by depending on Him and choosing Him, we can let go of our bondage and be set free by the gospel.
Do you or someone you know have behaviors and/or thought patterns that you can’t seem to get out of/break away from? This book is for you.
Do you often feel worthless, unworthy or that there’s no real point to living? This book is for you.
Do you find yourself doing the exact thing that you promised yourself you would not do and then feeling remorse? This book is for you.
Read Neil Anderson’s “The Bondage Breaker” today!
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