Thought of the Day—Do you have times when you struggle with self-esteem so you go to your local Walmart and stroll around to people watch until you feel better about yourself? Are those snickers and eye rolls? If you answered yes, you may have more than just a self-esteem issue; you may have a judgmental one. It is so tempting at times to compare ourselves with others who aren’t in our “class” or standing and we write them off with a wave of our mental hand. But in all honesty, we are the true “bottom feeders” if we stoop so low and are so shallow as to judge by glance. After all, who are we except perhaps one job away from welfare, one chronic illness away from poverty, or one accident away from mental impairment? Here’s another thought; Jesus came from and mingled with “the least of these”. Who are we to give anything else but compassion to others? We need to pray for new eyes to see others as God sees them; His blessed creation. Come to think of it, that’s exactly how He sees us. Kind of boosts the old self-esteem, don’t you think?
Tag Archives: Christianity
Thought of the Day–4/12/18
Thought of the Day—A moment of hesitation is worth far more than a lifetime of remorse. Stop, drop and pray before you act…
Thought of the Day–4/6/18
Thought of the Day—Have you ever noticed when sunflowers bloom, their large mustard yellow heads and black faces continue to follow the sun all throughout the day? It’s part of their DNA, how they are created. Here’s a question for you; what turns your head? What drives you, where do your passions lie, what peaks your interests? If you have trouble answering that question, you are not alone. But there is a caution that aligns with our hesitancy. For in this age of gimmicks, fads, trends and instant gratification, we are very easily distracted by those things that fade almost as fast as they appear and we end up looking like…well…bobble heads, never really focused in on anything of substance. Today I challenge you to reexamine the “head turners” in your life. Are they contributing to your life or eternal goals? Remember, we all have the same hours of every day and only one life here on this earth with no promise for tomorrow. Are we being good stewards of the time we have been given?
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)
Thought of the Day–4/5/18
Thought of the Day—I know most of you have heard the old adage, “time heals all wounds” which is true, especially when forgiveness was applied. Many times, what’s left is a scar that serves as a reminder of a painful but teachable experience and when put in proper perspective, can give strength to one’s character. But when we are in the process of healing, we need to be on the lookout for what I call scab pickers; those that attempt to reopen that same painful wound by throwing out reminders of the hurting incident and therefore, keep you from healing. Satan is a pro at doing this; so are some “so called” friends or family…don’t be deceived by their tactics but always keep these “antagonistic monsters” at arm’s length and pray for peace, healing…and perhaps selective memory loss?
Thought of the Day–4/4/18
Thought of the Day—Many times when we are facing a challenge, the biggest obstacle isn’t in front of us, but deep inside. Like evil twins, fear and doubt can cloud our judgment and cause us to trip up instead of stepping out in faith and putting our trust solely in the hands of the One who created us in the first place. So whatever it may be, give it to God and just back away…yeah, that means YOU…no fingering. Allow God to do what He does best; lighten the load, bear the burden, and liberally apply grace where and when it’s needed most.
Thought of the Day 4/1/18–It’s Not About the Bunny
It’s not about the bunny or the patent leather shoes
It is not about the colored eggs or mama’s brand new do,
It is not about the spectacle of baskets with candy heaping full
It is about the selfless love God has for me and you.
***
For God so loved the world that He gave his only son
To take our place, to take our shame, to die for everyone,
And on that first Easter morn when God raised Christ from his tomb
Hope also arose for all mankind, that our destiny would not be doomed.
***
So as you celebrate Easter, celebrate also the empty cross
And praise the name of Jesus Christ without whom we would all be lost,
For it’s not about the bunny but yet a sense of life renewed
Eternal life for us is possible because of the empty tomb.
Thought of the Day–3/25/18
Thought of the Day—God doesn’t want us to go through life like a simple pane of glass; thin, fragile and easily broken. Rather, God wants to transform us into strong, transparent, sparkling diamonds. But we must first submit to His authority and allow God to work in our daily lives; to discipline and teach us His ways. Bit by bit, He chips away the unnecessary and harmful habits in our lives until we become a useful multi-faceted gem that reflects His beauty…not our own…
Thought of the Day–3/23/18
Thought of the Day—Believe it or not, the only constant in life is change and that is a very good thing. If we never allowed God to change our attitudes and behaviors, we could never be molded into what He had intended for us to be. So as you face another of life’s challenges head on, have faith that God actually knows what He is doing. Just consider your pain and tears, your loss or your trials as life experiences that can be transformed into uniquely hued embroidery floss, applied by God to the beautiful, intricate and very ornate tapestry of your life. Allow Him to delicately but deliberately interweave the ordinary into something quite extraordinary…YOU…
Thought of the Day–3/15/18
Thought of the Day—Somewhere along the way, we have lost something very valuable…faith…in God, in our fellow man, in ourselves. The faith to know what is right and stand up for it, the faith to believe without seeing, to trust that a promise is honored by ones’ word. We have replaced faith with fear…fear of the unknown, fear of political uncertainty, fear of being without, fear of being alone and rejected, fear of the inevitable…death. And so we walk around blindly accepting anything that comes along including barefaced lies dressed in polished professionals offering alternative news, alternative integrity, and embellished truths. Don’t you think it is past time to reverse this trend? Let’s pray for a discerning heart, open eyes, discriminating ears and a disciplined tongue to sort through this blatant deception versus truth. Fear drives a wedge between different races, creeds, and cultures. Faith says we can get through anything together. Fear won’t get you past your own front door but faith will take you to places you’ve never imagined…Today, may your faith become bigger than your fear…
Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts. May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue—Psalm 12:1-3 (NIV)
Thought of the Day–3/12/18
Thought of the Day—I love sitting on a deserted beach, just staring out at the horizon, for it pretty much puts life in perspective. The relentless sea breeze tosses the hair and pulls at your clothing while the rhythmic cadence of the surf licking at the shoreline fills the senses. It is liberating, intoxicating and at the same time humbling. For it is at that very moment in time, regardless of your position or wealth or status on this earth, you are simply a human, a larger speck on this endless sandy shore; the creature, enjoying all that the Creator has created. And when I leave this place, the encroaching surf erases all traces of my existence, including my footprints…as if I was never there…But know this; you WERE created for a reason, unique, one of a kind and for this particular time and place. Isn’t it time you begin living the life God intended you to live? For He loves you like no other…can you say the same?
lifesimplyspoken 