Freedom of Speech isn’t what it use to be in America. Today, fear of public opinion is silencing many, afraid their beliefs will lead to a feeding frenzy in the media, falling out of favor like a fading star. Thus, individuals are forced to relocate their voice, finding other avenues to express how they really feel.
In an episode called State of Grace, the writers of Joan of Arcadia present a show focusing on a junior in high school who stutters. Though intelligent, he is unable to communicate what is in his mind without severe stammering. Subsequently, he turns to writing to voice his opinions. Joan played by Amber Tamblyn encourages her new friend to relocate his voice from the debate team to writing for the school newspaper.
As graduates enter the work force this spring, its harder than ever to discover where you can maximize your God given talents. Though money is an important factor, failure to apply your gifts in a position can stifle your joy. Until you locate a place that values your assets, people will continue to search for an ideal match. May you enjoy the journey as you relocate your voice to find your place in this world.
Please share how or who has influenced you to stand up for your belief in the comment section below.
Words such as dwell, live or reside highlight what it means to inhabit a geographical location. Yet, you can be present in one place and be void of contentment, enthusiasm and joy. Thus, modern homes often consist of silence, an obvious sign that something is missing or wrong. Perhaps, this empty space needs to be replaced by an inhabitation of praise.
It doesn’t take a doctor to recognize the gleeful from those swamped by the worries of life. Whether you’re dining out at a restaurant, shopping at the mall or walking through a park, those inhabited by anger, bitterness and strife stick out like a sore thumb. The wake left behind by these troubled souls can impact those leaning on the fence, pondering their next move.
The apostle Paul describes an internal battle that persists daily in Galatians 5:16-18. Natural inclinations persuade individuals to gratify their own sinful desires, to indulge in those things that bring pleasure. Unfortunately, these feelings last briefly, before fear, guilt and shame take over. Therefore, to achieve an abundant life, John 10:1o, you must experience a complete transformation, Romans 12:1-2, before an inhabitation of praise becomes a reality.
The first round of March Madness, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship begins March 18th in Dayton, Ohio. While most sports rely on talent to win titles, momentum is a crucial element for teams to advance and move on to the next round. However, once a school experiences a losing streak, especially late in the season, its hard to find the flow that led to their initial success.
In life, each day contains a series of twists and turns, taking you to the top of Mount Everest at one moment, before an avalanche of circumstances buries your flow in a pile of humility. Subsequently, your passion for getting up vanishes, causing you to get stuck in a puddle of apathy. Like Popeye without his spinach, tasks become endless chores sucking any joy remaining in your soul. Searching for answers, people will ponder, “where did my flow go?”
The master of parables, short stories with nuggets of truth, Jesus had a way with words, helping the lost discover the flow they were looking for in life. Whether you were a Pharisee like Nicodemus, a Samaritan woman looking for love in all the wrong places or a prostitute on the verge of being stoned to death, Jesus provided clues in the Bible to obtain a flow which would last a lifetime, John 10:10. If you’re not satisfied with your current living conditions, John 3:16-17, John 4:13-14 and John 8:11-12 contains a road map for life to locate the permanent flow you desire.
Although inconsistent at times, I’ve tried to be a positive person in my spheres of influence, set on changing the mindsets of defeated souls. In high school, one of my ministries was seeking out the depressed and down to bring a glimpse of happiness, laughter and joy to their sad faces. However, now I find the shoe on the other foot as sorrow has moved in, keeping me company during the entire month of February.
Like a prized heavy weight slug fest from the Rocky series, my body has become a punching bag for Apollo Creed, scrambling for the ropes to hang on. Repeated blows to the heart have erased any remnants of confidence, making room for sorrow to feel at home. Since I lost control of my health weeks ago, I am finding solace in this helpless condition. Stripping away my impurities, desolation has forced me to seek a higher power to be rescued from disappointment.
Sorrow has lead me into the furnace, testing my faith beyond what I expected, 1 Peter 1:6-7. Stretching me like Plastic Man, I have a new appreciation for misfortune, viewing it as an opportunity to display a heavenly perspective, James 1:2-4. After this hurricane, I will be a better man, able to see the sun on the other side of the storm. With no easy way out, I am content to find solace in sorrow until the Lord calls me home.
Inside a coffee grinder, beans are crushed, pounded and smashed into submission until the process is complete. Sometimes circumstances in life performs a similar act on individuals, grinding and pressing people until their energy is sapped. Drained, exhausted and spent, my joy for living has been misplaced by a sea of despair.
Perhaps anguish is the guilty party, sucking souls of contentment, fun and thanksgiving. Despite being known as a man after God’s own heart, 1 Samuel 16:7, David wasn’t exempt from this emotional state. Psalm 31:10 expresses the toll the grind of life takes on the human body.
Lately, my faith has been void of joy, left behind during my healthier days when work was something I took for granted. If you take James 2:26 literally, you can’t have one without the other. Thus, joy is a byproduct of faith, a fruit inspired by the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23. Like the Samaritan woman, I need to go to the well of living water, John 4:10, so that the grind of life doesn’t crumble my faith. If you’re thirsty for something more in life, absorb the words of Jesus in John 4:13-14.
After another frustrating day visiting the doctor, sometimes its hard to stay motivated. When I woke up this morning, I didn’t feel like reading the Bible or praying. Part of me thought, “what’s the point?” I’ve done everything I can think of and I’m still not cleared to return to work.
Perhaps, this same emotion is experienced by millions of individuals on a daily basis. Once you bust your butt and work hard without any tangible results, apathy and pessimism often set in. Thus, staying hopeful is a battle, especially when others around you seem to be better off than yourself. In these moments, faith must be more than a feeling or else you will collapse under a sea of disappointment.
Despite my initial inclination, I fought through these urges to give God my first fruits, the first hour of my day. Although I did not receive the outcome I wished for, there is still enough time in this day for my prayer to be answered. When desperation sets in, the Lord is the only firm foundation remaining, Psalm 28:1. Within my own uncertainty, I cling to the promise of Psalm 28:7, hoping to leap for joy instead of feeling depressed.
Abuse, damage, injuries and pain are synonymous with hurt. When the course of life turns in your favor, contentment, happiness and joy are expected. However, as the tables turn, sending unexpected storms and trials, the true nature of a human being is unveiled. In the heat of the moment, how will you respond to adversity? One of the strangest stories of the Bible’s highlights this point, doing what’s even when it hurt.
Jephthah was a mighty warrior, following in the footsteps of Gideon, Judges 11:1. Jephthah was moved by the Spirit of God prior to a battle with the Ammonites, prompted to make a vow to the Lord. According to Judges 11:30-31, Jephthah promised to sacrifice the first living creature he came across on his way back home. Perhaps speaking before thinking things through, this victorious leader didn’t see a soul until his one and only daughter came out to greet him. Yes, this passage seems like a scene from Forrest Gump, “stupid is as stupid does,” Judges 11:34-37. Nonetheless, this is one of those head scratching verses of the Bible that illustrates keeping your promises, even when it hurts.
The story of Jephthah lives on today as a painful reminder for those make vows without contemplating the price to be paid. David likely eludes to Jephthah in Psalm 15:4, emphasizing the importance of doing what you say. Solomon also appears to be moved by this principle, adding the thought process one should go through before making any vows, Ecclesiastes 5:4-6. In an age where many children have lost faith in their parents, letting them down time after time, make sure you keep your word even when it hurts.
You don’t have to be in high school to discern whether or not you belong. Based upon your personality and the people you encounter, conversations and friendships can quickly turn into tug of wars, seeking control. My own defense mechanism causes me to begin cautiously, often listening more than talking before opening up. However, once I feel comfortable in a certain setting or group of individuals, my true identity shines through.
However, there are many things which wage war against your soul in this life, making victory elusive, 1 Peter 2:11. Depending upon your motivation or degree or perseverance, many give up, throwing in the towel before they taste success. When you add this factor to the excess baggage people carry from their past, reaching the summit of John 10:10 seems unrealistic. Spirits of doubt, failure and pessimism imprint a loser mentality upon the souls of many. Instead of claiming the promise of Philippians 4:13, a lack of faith prohibits these bystanders from obtaining joy.
So how can someone establish a foundation for victory? What must one do to turn their fortune from failure to celebration? A Calvinist will say you don’t have a prayer; you’re either chosen or not. The Arminian will disagree, claiming everyone has a shot. While God’s grace does play a major role in victory, Ephesians 2:8, there is more as acts of contrition and penitence demonstrate whether or not someone is on the right track, James 2:26. From my own journey, below are essential ingredients which have put me into position to achieve victory.
1) Like Jesus, you need to find a quiet place, seeking solitude daily to get your heart and mind in the right place, Luke 4:42.
2) You need to find and or develop friendships which elevate your self-esteem and spiritual hunger, Acts 2:42-47.
3) Fill your idle time listening to uplifting music whether through Pandora, Radio Stations or You Tubes that will get you through each day, filling your mind with wholesome lyrics and thoughts, 1 Samuel 16:23.
4) Try to read a chapter of the Bible daily which will enhance your faith while transforming your mind, Romans 10:17.
5) Spend time each day in some form of recreation, whether running, working out and investing in a hobby which makes you happy, providing a sense of accomplishment daily, 1 Timothy 4:8.
6) Once a week, write down, preferably in a journal, goals that you want to fulfill before the day, week or month is over. This exercise provides needed vision for the future, Hosea 4:6.
7) Devote time once a month either helping, serving and volunteering within your church or community. It’s better to give than receive.
May these ideas inspire you develop your own daily/weekly disciplines and practices which will lead you toward a foundation for victory. May God honor the commitments you make to better yourself in 2014!
In Luke 2:8-9, an ordinary group of people have a supernatural encounter with angelic beings. These blue collar workers. shepherds in a field, were interrupted from their daily responsibility of overseeing their master’s sheep. As bright lights shined on their face, each was gripped with fear, paralyzing their bodies as each dropped to their knees trying to protect their eyes the glory of the Lord.
Noticing their response, the angel sent by God brings a message of hope to a dark night in verses 10-12. According to Luke 2:13, a great company of heavenly hosts appear. The Greek word Luke chooses is stratus, referring to layers and layers of angels in the skies. This event doesn’t happen at church or in temple, rather God celebrates Jesus’ birth out in the open. Somewhere in between Luke 2:9 and Luke 2:14, the shepherds exchange their fear with joy as the angel sang praises to God.
Unfortunately, this simple story has been neglected, overlooked due to modern practices of this holiday. Christmas is not about exchanging gifts, receiving items that you either don’t need or have too much of. Rather, Christmas is spiritual practice of exchanging your earthly fears with the joy of Jesus entering the world. Romans 5:6-8 highlights the true meaning of Jesus’ birth, coming to earth and dying as a perfect sacrifice so that the fear of death is eliminated. May the promise of John 3:16 transform for you the purpose and meaning of Jesus on this Christmas Day.
As a child, watching the Wizard of Oz was an annual event, terrifying at times, haunted by the wicked witch. Yet, I always hung in there for the finish, expecting the fairy tale ending. However, I wonder if any other grown ups still think there a better place some where over the rainbow.
According to King David, this place does exist, like heaven on earth, Psalm 23:6. Once an individual is able to place their sole trust in the divine shepherd, access to a life beyond the rainbow is attainable. Though gold is not mentioned, happy days are here again and again, staying in daily fellowship with God. This spiritual anointing is symbolic of rebirth, living life to its fullest, John 10:10.
Unfortunately, life deals out more nightmares than fairy tales. Sure, from time to time, miracles do happen, but its hard to have faith in a world full of people falling apart at the seams, oozing a trail of sin in their rear view mirror. This negativity serves like a bad after taste you can’t get rid of with gum or mints. Rather, hope lies in the beholder, seeing beyond the current shower into what is ahead, the rainbow. May you experience this joy before you die, Luke 23:43.
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