Problem of the Century...

Problem of the century... Most of us cannot seem to stay focused!!!

I suggest that this is because of our fear of ISOLATION & ABANDONMENT and some of us even have very valid reasons what these are fears. This fear causes us to fight solitude, become co-dependent, and sometimes very needy of PEOPLE! In 2013, it's easy to have access to people: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Path, Vine... the list goes on and on! This easy access puts us in a position where we don't HAVE to be alone if we don't want to be... these social networking sites have extreme potential to go from being good for NETWORKING to being badly DISTRACTING!!! 

It seems to me that the less clothes we have on, the sexier we look, the more illegal behavior we expose, the more popular we become and the more 'likes' & 'friends' we have. So then we become people that we never were just so that we can impress the people that we never could!!! When we become different people we run the risk of forgetting our calling, forgetting our purpose and leaving our destiny when we leave our identity!!!

We can get so focused on making sure that we don't miss what's going on with our 'friends' that we miss what's going on with our Father!!!

Mark 1:35 says, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."  Perhaps we should follow His example more often.  Jesus knew how to do things right!!!

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I am a Christian by Maya Angelou

Maya says it best...  

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin."

I'm whispering "I was lost,"

Now I'm found and forgiven.

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble

and need CHRIST to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak

and need HIS strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed

and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not claiming to be perfect,

My flaws are far too visible

but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I still feel the sting of pain,

I have my share of heartaches

So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not holier than thou,

I'm just a simple sinner

who received God's good grace, somehow.

-Maya Angelou

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Check out my FLOTUS MO...

"One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don't invest any energy in them, because I know who I am."  -MO

Haters?  You're talking about haters?  People that don't like you?  People that talk trash about you?  I'm sure the Obamas can tell us all a thing or two (or three or four) about what it's like to have haters...  However, I'm sure they don't sit around and wallow in the negative things that are said about them.

Neither do they sit on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram talking about the people that are talking about them.  Do they look for statuses and subtweets about them...?  NO, AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT!  Why?  I believe there are two important convictions that the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, [aka FLOTUS MO] holds to that we can all take note of:

1.  FLOTUS MO knows who she is, &

2.  FLOTUS MO has a strong sense of success.

In 1 Corinthians 15:10 the Apostle Paul tells us that it's only by the grace of God that he is what he is.  That, being my life verse, is one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible.  Not because it is more important than any other, but because it exemplifies a principle that I have had to and continue to work very hard on.  We have to understand that we are who we are.  

PLEASE NOTE:  This is not an excuse to be used to continue in sin, but it is an opportunity to embrace that we are uniquely made by a Creator that has graced us to be who we are.  No matter who you are, no matter how you look, no matter how you dress, what you love, or what you hate... it's only by the grace of God that you are who you are!  And until you know who you are and whose you are, you will be distracted from your goals and you will invest energy in the negative and false attacks that people make against you!

In John 13:35, Jesus tells His disciples that the way that they love one other will be what shows others that they are His disciples.  It's not how much we earn, not how much you know, not how you look, not how you feel... but how you love!  The FLOTUS knows that success is not about making money for herself, but it's about making changes for others.  It's important that as believers, we understand that discipleship is similar in this regard... discipleship is not about earning brownie points with God, but it's about loving one another.

It is our love for God and our Christian love for our brothers and sisters that should govern our actions, our words, our deeds and our thoughts.  Success isn't about you... Discipleship isn't about you... but it's about the people who's lives you change... it's about how you love the people you love!

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Pondering a few Proverbs...

"The heart of man plans his way... but the Lord establishes his steps."  -Proverbs 16:9

Even so with women... I'm not sure about you, but I am constantly trying to make plans for my life, then I face frustration when my plans don't work out exactly how I wanted them to.  However, we have to constantly keep in mind that although we make plans, God holds the itinerary.  Even though we have dreams, God is the dream-maker, dream-catcher and dream-keeper.  Although we have many great ideas about what we want our lives to look like, God has the master copy of life's blueprint and He already knows.

Because God already knows the only thing left for us to do is walk in His guidance, praying that our heart's desires and plans look like the steps that have already been established by the Lord.

...why? Well because all things work together for the good of them that love God and are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).  And since all things work together, you do not have to fear the terror of night or the dangers of the day (Psalm 91:5). And even when you find yourself afraid, you can face your fears head on because God has not given you a spirit of fear; but a spirit of power, and of love and of a strong mind (2 Tim. 1:7).

More than anything, let's try to walk in God's established plans for us because you should trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean on His understanding.  You should acknowledge Him in all your ways so that He can direct your paths.  Don't be wise in your own eyes.  Fear the Lord and turn from evil.  This will be strength to your body and nourishment to your bones (Pro. 3:5-7).

I'm not sure about you, but I definitely want to walk with the One who knows all, sees all, and can do all things.  Just a thought.

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