Break The Mold: Keep Your Word

Oaths

³³"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' ³⁴But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; ³⁵or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. ³⁶And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Matthew 5:33-37

Why is it so hard to keep our word? Is it the commit issue? Is it, just lip service we give to people?

What is it?

From as far as I can go back in my life. My dad has always, pushed that I keep my word. That when I said yes, that I would follow through. Even when I have to say no, that I maintain what I said. Now that I have gotten older. I'm beginning to realize "keeping thy word" is hard for a lot of people. We say, we will, I'll be there, I will call you, Let's hang. But nothing happens. Why?

Death of many friendships is by not keeping your word. In an age, where its common to say "let's hang" but the expression is used in the heat of the moment. It sounds good at the time. Yet, after everything is done. We realize we didn't mean what we said. It's gotten to the point of it, being habitual to many. We obtain so many phone numbers, That we supposedly intended on calling. Yet, we allow the numbers to accumulate. That one person may have been waiting for a call. They may need help, a friend, shoulder to cry on. But it starts from the beginning, if you don't intend on hanging out. We are usually pretty good on making that happen.

We must change our mindset and be men/women of our words. A lot more would be accomplished. A lot of pain could be avoided.

We allow laziness to slip in. We become selfish, we don't see the point of keeping our word. For one moment, think about how you can improve this? We all love to give lip service, because its easy, it requires very little from us. We just simply move our mouths.

But putting our words in to actions. Requires that we sacrifice our time, our hearts, and ears. Keeping your word is an old custom, once held so high. Is now an after thought to many. So inconvenience yourself in a world where many have no concept of oaths, promises, or covenants.

Break the mold, keep your word!

Christmas Shoes

The song Christmas Shoes is played every December. But the song is a great reminder of what Christmas is about. That Christmas goes beyond the presents, sipping egg nog, and the pine smell of Christmas trees.

Put yourself in this kid's position. How would you react? Treat Christmas has if, a love one is slipping away into eternal sleep.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNsvE33pRSw

Holiday Identity Check

Every holiday has an identity, which defines the holiday. The identity usually dictates how, we approach the holiday. Have you ever thought that, maybe we have gotten the identities of holidays messed up? That we have been swayed to think that Christmas is really about Santa Claus, swiping the credit card, and fulfilling our urge to consume. What about Thanksgiving? Is it all about the food and football?

As Christmas gets closer, the madness gets even more maddening. Have we forgotten what holidays are about? Do we think that the holidays would be unfulfilling, if we didn't perform the "tradition flow" of the holidays. Are we scared to shake things up? Is it selfishness? You can only answer that yourself.

The holiday challenge:

Is to look at our identity for the holidays. Does it, need some revamping. Do you need, to throw it out completely?

I have been on both sides of the fence. Less is more and more is less. Be real, be the identity of the holiday and you will see what its truly about.

Brokenness: Be The Clay

I remember it, so vividly. The night that I broke down in tears. I finally had succumbed to the forces of brokenness. I was tired of living the lie. I was tired of pretending it was ok. With my bible study leader reaching out her hand. I snatched it.

I had avoided this for such a long time. I had played it off, as if it were nothing. That I could make it on my own. I knew the life I was living, was not pleasing to the Lord. I was a child of God, who had strayed away for far too long. I believed, I just didn't want to commit. That moment plays through my head on many occasions. But why? Why is it so, life changing?

A lot of us, relate tears, losing our composure, not sure what to do. We see it, as sign of weakness. The masses say, get up and suck it up. This is why being broken, being so genuinely and completely broken is a beautiful thing. When people realize that they are not enough. That they must change something in their lives.

Brokenness is a necessary thing. It helps us, realize how far we are from perfection. That perfection will never be attained. This is why the brokenness process is so effective. We must let ourselves be vulnerable, to leave our comfort at the door, allowing God to slip in and mold us.

That's what I did that night. I finally allowed God to mold me. God is still molding me and will continue to do so, until I leave this world. I will always remember that night, as the night that I said, change me Lord!

I've had my ups and downs. But the Lord has been faithful. It started with brokenness and in many ways, it may end that way too.

Be the clay.

Why I Blog

Since I've started blogging. I have had several unique experiences to share in the blog sphere. Friday was one of those days. I was typing out a blog. Then.

A older woman from one my classes. Came to say hi and see how life was going? She saw what I was doing and asked, if she could read the blog. I said sure, gave her the link, she got right on in the computer lab. She began to navigate through all my entries. She came across one and started to cry.

She looked at me and asked " What if someone you love, asked why you love them?" I was little surprised by the question. Has I attempted to answer the question. She started to cry even more, I realized God was behind this situation. I barley knew her, but it didn't stop her from venting her frustrations, anger, and fear. She was juggling her job, being a mother, and feeling alone in this dark world.

Long story, short I got to pray with her and gave her encouragement. As I was trying to digest the whole deal. I realized, it was my words, that I typed that sparked the breakdown. That my blogging, indeed made a difference, it reminder her of the promises of God.

I don't need a comment to feel good about what I posted. That there may be several others who have read, that have been impacted. That Friday, I finally realize why I blog.

Words are powerful, especially if they are for someone else.
Blogging for HIS glory!

Victims Of

We are, or at least think we are, victims of something. We all have been or felt abused, taken for granted, or felt unimportant. We all believe that we are victims of something. We victimize ourselves, to believe we are victims. We want people to throw a pity party for us. We want the attention of a person, who will vent with us.

I'm not saying, that being a victim is bad. There are plenty of legitimate victims such as, rape victims, victims of war, poverty. On the flip side people begin to take advantage of being victim. They find a way to distort anything, so others will feel ill of their demise.

What is bothering, is that for most people. We allow ourselves to victimize ourselves. We take time to find the bad. So that we can feel bad about ourselves. I have seen plenty of the people be victims of horrendous things.They could have chosen to let those actions defeat them. But they rose to the occasion and conquered it.

We go, as far as we allow ourselves. Most of us, have support from all sorts of venues. But ultimately, we must take the initiative to rise. We can't do it alone. But we must not be lazy about it.

Victims we are, but isn't being a victim a choice?

We choose to have that label. Again, nothing is wrong with that word. But it does, become a detriment when we allow it to dictate our lives. Being a victim is not a permanent state. If anything, we can learn to overcome the difficulties, of what we call life.

So are you a victim of something?

If so, what are you going to do about it?

My Life

My life... what will it amount too?

My life.... what I am doing here?

My life.... am I making a difference?

Your life ....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsDyAgKWA34