I think we give ourselves too much credit.
We act as if we achieve and possess things because of our own doing. We tend to credit earning degrees with studying hard, financial success with working hard, home ownership with a good credit score along with a substantial savings account, and beautiful families with good mate selection and good genes. We often forget and/or don't acknowledge the fact that none of these things would be possible without God.
My son is happy & healthy not JUST because of awesome parenting but MOSTLY because God keeps him safe, protected, and surrounded by love. I am employed in a tough economy not JUST because I am skillful, knowledgeable, and experienced in my career but MOSTLY because God has placed me at this particular job at this very time for a divine purpose. I am currently working on my Master's degree not JUST because I finally decided upon and applied to a program but MOSTLY because God has a greater plan for my life that includes higher education. It's even as simple as the fact that I do not wake up in the morning JUST because I set an alarm clock but ABSOLUTELY because God touches me, allowing me to breathe, granting me the opportunity & grace of another day!
Let us not mistake WHO really pays the mortgage, car note, daycare and all of those unexpected expenses. Let us not forget WHO allowed us to move up the corporate ladder, obtain degrees, and/or become entrepreneurs. Let us not forget WHO blessed us with beautiful children and family & friends who support and encourage us to be our best selves. Let us not be foolish enough to believe that we play the lead role in our lives and God acts as a supporting character but let us humble ourselves and be wise enough to understand that it is truly the other way around. Nothing happens by our own doing but simply because God is who He is... AWESOME!
I pray to always remember who deserves all the credit for my life. Luke 1:37 says, "Nothing is impossible with God" & Matthew 19:26 reads, "With God, all things are possible". WOW! Ain't that something?! Please take the time out each and every day to give credit to WHOM credit is due.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Weather (Whether) or Not
It has become routine to check the weather channel for the forecast. I downloaded an application for it on my Blackberry that allows me to view the 10 day, daily or hourly forecast. It helps me plan how to dress Jayden, what I'm going to wear myself, what types of activities I can plan for & when (can't have a picnic in the rain), what I may eat that day (because if its hot outside, I probably won't be eating a big bowl of soup), & even what type of hairstyle my hair can tolerate (the summer heat was hard on the afro).
The weather somehow has a way of changing or dictating our moods also. If it's cold and dreary outside, our mood can feel blah or sad. If it's thundering and lighting, we sometimes feel scared. And if the weather is bright & sunny, we might feel cheery and upbeat.
These same attitudes are transferred to the spiritual aspects of our lives. When things are going "right" & the sun is shining bright, we are happy. But when the things are going "wrong" & the storms are raging, we feel discouraged, depressed, and even hopeless. We forget that we own umbrellas, raincoats, or rain boots. We forget that we have flash lights & candles in case the power goes out. We forget that we are already internally equipped to not just handle the storm but survive it. Most importantly we forget WHO is protecting us & keeping us safe during the storm. Our focus becomes so much about the storm & what kind of damage it is predicted to do, that we lose ourselves in the madness of it all instead of just being still, patient, and riding the storm out.
I've only been in this world for 31 years. But from my experience, I recall that storms are temporary. There have been storms that have come through my life that felt like Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans may not ever really be the same, just as there are situations that occur in our lives that may cause us to not ever really be the same. But just like New Orleans, my storms have only made me better, stronger, & more beautiful. They have given me a perspective I may not have ever before been able to grasp or understand. I have learned not to always run inside for shelter from the rain because perhaps it is just God's way of cleansing me from the impurities of this world & from the things that simply need to be washed away from my life. Instead, I utilize the opportunity to dance in the rain; accepting it at face value, not focusing on the losses but appreciating the gains.
The songwriter said...
Though the storms keep on raging in my life,
and sometimes it's hard to tell my night from day.
Still that hope that lies within is reassured
as I keep my eyes upon the distant shore;
I know He'll lead me safely to that
blessed place He has prepared
But if the storms don't cease,
and if the wind keeps on blowing in my life,
my soul has been anchored in the Lord.
I realize that sometimes in this life
you're gonna be tossed by the waves
and the currents that seem so fierce,
but in the word of God I've got an anchor;
and it keeps me steadfast and unmovable
despite the tide.
But if the storms don't cease,
and if the wind keeps on blowing in my life,
my soul has been anchored in the Lord.
While I may check the forecast, I cannot completely rely on its accuracy. There have been many times I prepared for a cold day only to find myself peeling off layers of clothing as well as days that I prepared for a sunny day, thankful to have an umbrella in the trunk of my car. The weather is unpredictable. However, one thing remains certain and dependable -- and that's the anchor that I have in a God who can bring a rainbow to any grey cloud, a God who specializes in weathering storms, a God who has a PhD in Meteorology! We must learn to develop a "weather (whether) or not" spirit... Whether or not I have a brand new car, whether or not I can keep up with the "Joneses", whether or not I'm married, whether or not people are talking about me behind my back, whether or not my employment is ending, whether or not my back is against the wall... I'm still going to give God all the praise, glory, and honor. I may have been damaged by some storms, but I am not destroyed.
When you have SUNSHINE on the inside, there is no rain cloud, no thunderstorm, or hurricane that can disrupt your true forecast.
The weather somehow has a way of changing or dictating our moods also. If it's cold and dreary outside, our mood can feel blah or sad. If it's thundering and lighting, we sometimes feel scared. And if the weather is bright & sunny, we might feel cheery and upbeat.
These same attitudes are transferred to the spiritual aspects of our lives. When things are going "right" & the sun is shining bright, we are happy. But when the things are going "wrong" & the storms are raging, we feel discouraged, depressed, and even hopeless. We forget that we own umbrellas, raincoats, or rain boots. We forget that we have flash lights & candles in case the power goes out. We forget that we are already internally equipped to not just handle the storm but survive it. Most importantly we forget WHO is protecting us & keeping us safe during the storm. Our focus becomes so much about the storm & what kind of damage it is predicted to do, that we lose ourselves in the madness of it all instead of just being still, patient, and riding the storm out.
I've only been in this world for 31 years. But from my experience, I recall that storms are temporary. There have been storms that have come through my life that felt like Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans may not ever really be the same, just as there are situations that occur in our lives that may cause us to not ever really be the same. But just like New Orleans, my storms have only made me better, stronger, & more beautiful. They have given me a perspective I may not have ever before been able to grasp or understand. I have learned not to always run inside for shelter from the rain because perhaps it is just God's way of cleansing me from the impurities of this world & from the things that simply need to be washed away from my life. Instead, I utilize the opportunity to dance in the rain; accepting it at face value, not focusing on the losses but appreciating the gains.
The songwriter said...
Though the storms keep on raging in my life,
and sometimes it's hard to tell my night from day.
Still that hope that lies within is reassured
as I keep my eyes upon the distant shore;
I know He'll lead me safely to that
blessed place He has prepared
But if the storms don't cease,
and if the wind keeps on blowing in my life,
my soul has been anchored in the Lord.
I realize that sometimes in this life
you're gonna be tossed by the waves
and the currents that seem so fierce,
but in the word of God I've got an anchor;
and it keeps me steadfast and unmovable
despite the tide.
But if the storms don't cease,
and if the wind keeps on blowing in my life,
my soul has been anchored in the Lord.
While I may check the forecast, I cannot completely rely on its accuracy. There have been many times I prepared for a cold day only to find myself peeling off layers of clothing as well as days that I prepared for a sunny day, thankful to have an umbrella in the trunk of my car. The weather is unpredictable. However, one thing remains certain and dependable -- and that's the anchor that I have in a God who can bring a rainbow to any grey cloud, a God who specializes in weathering storms, a God who has a PhD in Meteorology! We must learn to develop a "weather (whether) or not" spirit... Whether or not I have a brand new car, whether or not I can keep up with the "Joneses", whether or not I'm married, whether or not people are talking about me behind my back, whether or not my employment is ending, whether or not my back is against the wall... I'm still going to give God all the praise, glory, and honor. I may have been damaged by some storms, but I am not destroyed.
When you have SUNSHINE on the inside, there is no rain cloud, no thunderstorm, or hurricane that can disrupt your true forecast.
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