tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54325745888942441362024-02-18T21:35:38.772-08:00Free To BeWhat does it mean to be free? What does it mean to simply be?
When I am asked to describe myself, I often reply that I am PWLawyerMom - I am a pastor's wife ("PW"), lawyer, and mom of three amazing kids. PWLawyerMom is an accurate description of my roles in society, but this is not who I am. I've been so consumed with "doing", that I have forgotten what it means to "be". This blog explores my journey as I find the freedom to simply be. Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-51938371581796575802020-08-20T07:52:00.004-07:002020-08-20T07:52:58.166-07:00Finding A New Way To Feel<p> </p><blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left: 5px solid rgb(226, 226, 226); box-sizing: border-box; color: #f07562; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 20px; text-align: center;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding, a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity. Proverbs 14:29 MSG </em></blockquote><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">Even as I said the words, I knew that I should not say them. I was angry, and I could feel myself losing control. As my emotions took over, I yelled more and said more hurtful things. As the anger began to subside, I saw the hurt faces around me and knew that I had made a terrible mistake. At that point, the crushing guilt and regret took over. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">Anger can be a good emotion. Anger compels us to seek justice and to change situations that are unfair. However, anger that is not righteous and that is uncontrolled can be devastating. Why is anger so hard to control?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">We live in a society that teaches us that some emotions are acceptable and others are not. From our childhood we are instructed, “Don’t cry.” “Stop getting so angry!” “You need to be positive.” “Why can’t you just be happy?”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">While it is not healthy to languish in depression and hostility, it is also not healthy to push down all of our emotions. When we try to “just be happy” during a devastating time, we push down the sadness and move on. When we force ourselves to ignore the anger that simmers below the surface, the anger does not go away. Instead, the anger is quiet for a while, as it slowly simmers. The more we push down our emotions and bottle them up, the more likely we are to lose control and explode.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">Proverbs 14:29 says, “Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.” Quick tempered anger is not only harmful to the people around us, but Proverbs 14:17 is also clear that anger can be harmful to us because “the hotheaded do things they’ll later regret.” </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">If we want to be slow to anger, we have to face our emotions and address our emotions as they arise. We need to find ways to feel our anger, sadness and fear. If we feel our emotions when we are in a safe environment, we can learn from our emotions and move on. When you feel intense emotions, take a few deep breaths and examine your feelings to get a clear understanding of why you are angry. Pray that God will help you manage your anger in a healthy way. It is also helpful to talk to a trusted friend about your anger. A friend can often offer insights and can pray for you. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">Learning to manage our anger is not easy, but do not be discouraged. We are not to conform to the patterns of this world. Instead, God promises us that we can be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Romans 12:2 (NIV). With diligence, prayer, and perseverance, we can be transformed and learn to manage our thoughts and emotions in a healthy way. </p><blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left: 5px solid rgb(226, 226, 226); box-sizing: border-box; color: #f07562; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 20px; text-align: center;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Jesus, Thank You for allowing us to feel and for giving us emotions. Help me learn to manage intense emotions, like anger. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.</em></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><i>This post was originally featured at <a href="https://www.encouragementcafe.com/post/finding-a-way-to-feel">Encouragement Cafe</a>, <a href="https://www.oneplace.com/devotionals/encouragement-cafe/finding-a-way-to-feel-encouragement-cafe-august-17-11831395.html">Christianity.com</a>, <a href="https://www.oneplace.com/devotionals/encouragement-cafe/finding-a-way-to-feel-encouragement-cafe-august-17-11831395.html">One Place</a>, <a href="https://www.lightsource.com/devotionals/encouragement-cafe/finding-a-way-to-feel-encouragement-cafe-august-17-11831395.html">LightSource</a>, Crosswalk, and <a href="https://www.ibelieve.com/devotionals/encouragement-cafe/finding-a-way-to-feel-encouragement-cafe-august-17.html">iBelieve</a>.</i></p>Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-21443797522493016882020-04-24T10:31:00.001-07:002020-04-24T10:31:20.732-07:00Far From Perfect Episode 2<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei9DjzDVs000P3vUT3hkYaXbDIGjXmPCPSb4b4RsAIHiRmHqkvj1MuwXY_0NuPIpLtC1Bz-BPqmvOPnSOngnWxMO8ZRVGwJwd9Q1AIwScbbtNRDpImvEHpQRhTBA-Wo3BTq0ImiqLXbsC/s1600/Far+From+Perfect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei9DjzDVs000P3vUT3hkYaXbDIGjXmPCPSb4b4RsAIHiRmHqkvj1MuwXY_0NuPIpLtC1Bz-BPqmvOPnSOngnWxMO8ZRVGwJwd9Q1AIwScbbtNRDpImvEHpQRhTBA-Wo3BTq0ImiqLXbsC/s320/Far+From+Perfect.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I hope you enjoy episode 2 of Far From Perfect:<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U6FOgcwVI8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U6FOgcwVI8</a>Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-79984467812590113462020-04-20T06:44:00.002-07:002020-04-20T06:44:15.765-07:00Locked Down: When God Puts The World On Bedrest<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #676767; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 27px; vertical-align: baseline;">
When I was pregnant with my first child, I had a rare complication at 24 weeks. I had a placental abruption that placed my life and my child’s life at risk, and I had to remain in the hospital on bedrest until my child was born. I had no idea that this was the beginning of a 12-week stay in the hospital.</div>
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This was before we had smart phones and streaming services like Netflix. I had no ability to work remotely and had to take a leave of absence from work. I tried to make the hospital my home, so friends and family decorated with photos and a potted plant. One terrifying medical complication transformed my life from a life of freedom and independence to a life that required me to rely on others for everything.</div>
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As you can imagine, my hospital stay was anything but relaxing. I was monitored multiple times a day, and I had 23 ultrasounds. I constantly worried, “what if my child dies?” Then I agonized over what would happen even if he lived because I knew that there was a high likelihood of serious, lifelong complications.</div>
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During the past month of sheltering in place, I have thought about those 12 weeks often. I learned a few lessons during that time that have helped me now.</div>
<ol style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #676767; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 30px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; list-style: outside decimal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Sometimes you just feel things, and you do not have to understand why</u>. When I became sad and cried, people would ask me if I was depressed. Did I need antidepressants? Was something wrong with the baby? I wanted to scream, “Everything is wrong!” There was never any one reason that I was emotional. Did there need to be a reason? Was it not reason enough that my entire world had been turned upside down? Did I need to explain the trauma of thinking that I had lost my baby? The entire experience was terrifying, disappointing, frustrating, and hard. I mourned not having a “normal” pregnancy. I had my baby showers in the hospital. I did not get to decorate the nursery or even pick out the crib. I did not know if bedrest even helped, and I longed to be independent and free. I missed my friends and family, and I was overwhelmed.I am experiencing many of the same emotions now. I am afraid of a virus that I cannot see and do not understand. I hope that staying at home is protecting my family and community, but in the end, despite my best efforts, I will not be able to control what happens. I am mourning so many events and milestones in our lives that have been paused or cancelled. I am exhausted from carrying the mental load of a full-time job, homeschooling three kids, and trying to have a healthy home. These emotions often sneak up on me. I go for a run and burst into tears. I take a bath, and I am overwhelmed with anxiety. Sometimes I just feel things, and I do not need to explain why I feel the way I feel.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; list-style: outside decimal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Nature nurtures the soul.</u> After 6 weeks in a hospital room that faced a brick wall, they moved me to a new room with a view of trees. Just seeing trees gave me hope. Eventually, the hospital arranged for me to go outside in a wheelchair and visit my dogs. As I sat in the warm sun with my two Labrador Retrievers at my feet, I felt peace and hope.During the first weeks of this crisis, I worked non-stop. I was confined to my house, and I felt like a prisoner. I eventually started going for walks and runs outside. This time outside did not fix everything, but it reminded me that life goes on. Flowers are beginning to bloom, and birds are laying eggs. As new life springs up around me, other trees fall in a storm and die. No matter what is happening in the world, there is some comfort in knowing that the cycle of life continues. The world is so much bigger than I am.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; list-style: outside decimal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">It is ok to be crazy.</u> After a few weeks in the hospital, I started to go crazy. One night, I finally told my doctor that I needed to get outside. Within an hour, my husband was wheeling my entire bed out of the hospital. As he wheeled me down the hall, people looked at us as if we were crazy. I think they thought that we were making a break for it. We found an empty parking spot in the parking lot, and he backed my bed into a parking space. As we looked at the night sky, we laughed so much about how ridiculous everything was. To this day, that is one of my favorite memories with my husband. For an hour, I felt like we were doing something outrageous, and even though I was in a hospital bed, I felt more normal than I had felt in weeks.There is nothing normal about disrupting every routine in your life. Some people are losing their jobs, and many are isolated and alone. Many families need space from one another, but they have nowhere to go. It is ok to feel crazy because the world is crazy.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACUKxNRwXfTNuaT3POsST2FNZr3Fb61MlFmDkTfQpUoPSyopFABXREigqQk8eDuvnzisnhibyHyYXMLmEhrPUcK1pj0ZOerByJXHOgI_hlZq7ZrtprlUQ3guZYybjcqlNcG8GKFSt1SFe/s1600/bedrest+covid.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACUKxNRwXfTNuaT3POsST2FNZr3Fb61MlFmDkTfQpUoPSyopFABXREigqQk8eDuvnzisnhibyHyYXMLmEhrPUcK1pj0ZOerByJXHOgI_hlZq7ZrtprlUQ3guZYybjcqlNcG8GKFSt1SFe/s320/bedrest+covid.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ol start="4" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #676767; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 30px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; list-style: outside decimal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Do not pressure yourself to find meaning in the middle of a crisis</u>. We never found out why I had a placental abruption. Many of my friends and family speculated. Did I work too hard? Did stress cause it to happen? Had I been injured? Did I have a rare medical condition? If I could not understand why this had happened from a medical perspective, maybe there was a lesson God was trying to teach me. Was God punishing me? Was there some greater meaning that I was failing to grasp?I learned many lessons from my time in the hospital, but the lessons came much later, even years later, after the crisis had passed. There is enough pressure now, without the added pressure to understand why this is happening and what you should learn from it. For now, I will take comfort in knowing that there will be a time for understanding and finding meaning, even if that time is not now. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV).</li>
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Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-66101851507445025392020-04-17T05:37:00.000-07:002020-04-17T05:37:13.312-07:00Far From Perfect<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Check out our brand new Project:Re3 video series, “Far from Perfect.” Each Friday I will share from my life as a pastor’s wife, lawyer, and mom and the fact that I am far from perfect in any of those three roles. Here’s the good news...just because we often are far from perfect, it doesn’t mean we are far from God.</div>
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Be sure to follow this link and subscribe! Thanks!</div>
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Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-76007880472314895362020-03-13T09:53:00.002-07:002020-03-13T09:53:52.651-07:00Covid-19 The Most Important Decision<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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To the Re3 Community (from Beth): Over the next few weeks, we are going to be entering the unknown. As Covid-19 spreads, the uncertainty that we feel now will likely increase. We will continue to be faced with decisions, and we will be in many situations where we have little or no control over much that is happening.<br /><br />Yet, there is one decision - the most important decision - that we can cont<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">rol. We can decide who we will be during this scary and uncertain time.<br /><br />People say that disasters bring out the worst in people. I would love to challenge each of you to prove this statement wrong. I would love to see this situation bring out the best in us.<br /><br />I have watched so many of you give your time, money, and talents generously over the years. In the next few weeks, all of us will have the opportunity to decide who we will be.<br /><br />If schools are canceled, there will be many children that may be hungry because they depended on school for breakfast and lunch. How can we help them? Will there be creative ways that we can get food to these children?<br /><br />Also, if people get sick, or if schools are canceled, many people will be forced to miss work. While some people will have paid time off, many people may not be paid during this time. I would love for each of us to think creatively about how we will help our community if this happens.<br /><br />If you are blessed and will have the opportunity to be at home, you may be able to share love by caring for a nurse or police officer's child. If you have 3 bottles of tylenol, and your neighbor is sick, you may be able to share with them. If you know that someone cannot travel to the store, you may be able to bring them groceries.<br /><br />We have many in our community that are immunocompromised. We can show them love by washing our hands and staying home when we are sick.<br /><br />There are so many things I cannot control. But I can control who I will be. I hope that we will each make the most important decision, and that we will decide to be love. Remember, love is not self-seeking, and love "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)</span></div>
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Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-60404742580345846162020-02-28T07:26:00.001-08:002020-02-28T07:26:04.861-08:00The Let Down: Disappointed By God <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCro4rmtc809_oWwOkVUn7aBmizthqclmwXUqB5fMeAjk4AzG_lu5j0xzzPLU-wZCAsz-0BULRS4Kx3rA3Ej8cT_az4Xtjwdyse0K8E-DR89qoSFunnbUFT5rIlBYBMjoXOdHioX8YGSr/s1600/IMG_9944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCro4rmtc809_oWwOkVUn7aBmizthqclmwXUqB5fMeAjk4AzG_lu5j0xzzPLU-wZCAsz-0BULRS4Kx3rA3Ej8cT_az4Xtjwdyse0K8E-DR89qoSFunnbUFT5rIlBYBMjoXOdHioX8YGSr/s320/IMG_9944.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Have you ever been disappointed by God? If you have struggled with feelings of disappointment and doubt, I encourage you to listen to my talk, "The Let Down. Disappointed By God." I shared about times when I have felt disappointed by God. If you are interested in listening, you can listen a number of ways:<br />
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You can listen on the <a href="http://www.projectre3.org/">Project:Re3 website</a> or you can listen by clicking the following links:<br />
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<span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><strong>APPLE PODCAST</strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: lora, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/project-re3/id1496250936" style="color: #034365;" target="_blank" title="iTunes">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/project-re3/id1496250936</a></div>
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<span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><strong>GOOGLE PODCAST</strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: lora, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<a href="https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS83OTgwNjUucnNz" style="color: #034365;" target="_blank" title="Google Podcast">https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS83OTgwNjUucnNz</a></div>
Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-55745482427326157412020-02-28T07:19:00.002-08:002020-02-28T07:19:30.637-08:00What Is Love? <div class="row" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #676767; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 24px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
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February is the month of love. We have teenagers in the house, so I get to see love through their eyes. They have helped me remember the times when emotions felt so intense, and I thought that love was just like the romantic books and movies. During those early years, love was defined by feelings and emotional responses.</div>
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As I grew older, I experienced some other ideas about love. When I first became a mother, I started to think that love was self-sacrifice. In order to show my love for my child, I thought that I needed to neglect all of my own needs and focus only on the needs of my child. I took this new world view to the extreme, and I felt guilty if I did anything for myself. If I exercised, I thought that I was selfish because I had already missed time with my kids while I was at work. I felt like I needed to be actively engaged with my kids every moment that I was home, creating amazing memories and devoting myself exclusively to quality time with them.</div>
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In addition to believing self-sacrifice was a sign of true love, I also believed that being over-responsible and having no boundaries was necessary to earn love. I feared that if I ever said no to a friend, family member, or co-worker, they would stop loving me. I felt that I needed to earn love, and I sometimes believed that people only loved me for what I did, not for who I was.</div>
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I have also confused love with control. Even today, I desperately want to fix everything for everyone because I want people that I care about to feel loved and fulfilled. However, the more that I try to control circumstances or other people, the more out of control I feel.</div>
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There have also been times when love felt very much like guilt. I have spent time with someone, not because I truly wanted to, but because I knew that I would feel guilty if I did not. During these times, I have made decisions because I knew that I “should” do something, not because I was motivated by love.</div>
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So what is love? In 1 John 4, love is described:</div>
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Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><sup style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">8 </sup></span>Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><sup style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">9 </sup></span>This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><sup style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">10 </sup></span>This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><sup style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">11 </sup></span>Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><sup style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">12 </sup></span>No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:7-12 (NIV)</div>
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In these verses, we see that God is love and love is infinite. We may treat love like it is limited, but there is no limit to love. Many things in life are limited – our intelligence, our patience, our motivation – but love has no limits. We do not need to ignore our needs, and we can set boundaries and still be loved. We do not have to work to earn love because love is a gift, not an achievement. When we truly accept the perfect love of God, we can love others with that same love. We will no longer need to control others to love them, and we do not have to motivate ourselves with guilt. When we fully live in God’s love, God lives in us and his love is complete in us. <br />
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<i>This post was originally featured at <a href="https://everydayexiles.com/2020/02/25/what-is-love-3/bethgianopulos/">Everyday Exiles</a>. </i></div>
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Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-11275987755163586622020-02-05T07:42:00.000-08:002020-02-05T07:42:01.020-08:00Free From Anger<br />
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as I said the words, I knew that I should not say them. I was angry, and I
could feel myself losing control. As my emotions cascaded over me, I yelled and
said hurtful things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mind screamed
for me to stop, but the anger steamrolled over any attempt at restraint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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the anger began to subside, I saw the hurt faces around me and knew that I had
made a terrible mistake. As my anger began to fade, crushing guilt and shame
rushed in to take its place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anger
can be a good emotion. Anger compels us to seek justice and to challenge
unfairness. However, anger that is not righteous and that is uncontrolled can
be devastating. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
have learned a few ways to manage my anger:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 24.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Recognize basic needs -
HALT</span></u></b><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I feel anger, I need to stop, take a breath and think “HALT.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I simply ask myself, “Am I hungry, angry,
lonely or tired?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may think that I am
angry, but when I pause, I realize that I am hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot think clearly, manage emotions, or
help others if we have not responded to our basic needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 24.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Acknowledge anger</span></u></b><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: When we force
ourselves to ignore the anger that simmers below the surface, the anger does
not go away. Instead, the anger is quiet for a while, as it slowly simmers.
The more we push down our emotions and bottle them up, the more likely we
are to lose control and explode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Prov%2014.29" target="_blank"><span style="color: #46a7a0;">Proverbs 14:29</span></a> says, “Slowness to anger
makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Prov%2014.17" target="_blank"><span style="color: #46a7a0;">Proverbs 14:17</span></a> is also clear that anger
can be harmful to us because “the hotheaded do things they’ll later regret.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Give yourself permission
to feel your anger</span></u></b><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we want to be slow
to anger, we have to face our emotions and address our emotions as they arise.
We need to find ways to feel our anger, sadness and fear. If we feel our
emotions when we are in a safe environment, we can learn from our emotions and
move on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you feel intense emotions,
take a few deep breaths and examine your feelings to get a clear understanding
of why you are angry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbryShWKdh4t0QUo7Xjbon5jz5-DGAnxaIlAk6q-y-MpEcWoJ_cO4hkHdgBLkLzRjUGv_dG08ki0fbmyxekmvOSwCzIGrTuSKrnlo2A8c2lEFR1sYTVDBc_YpHQuNzDV21jTVQCjZTVHuX/s1600/anger.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbryShWKdh4t0QUo7Xjbon5jz5-DGAnxaIlAk6q-y-MpEcWoJ_cO4hkHdgBLkLzRjUGv_dG08ki0fbmyxekmvOSwCzIGrTuSKrnlo2A8c2lEFR1sYTVDBc_YpHQuNzDV21jTVQCjZTVHuX/s320/anger.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prayer and support</span></u></b><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray that God will help you manage your anger
in a healthy way. It is also helpful to talk to a trusted friend about your
anger. A friend can often offer insights and can pray for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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to manage our anger is not easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, God promises us that we can be transformed by the renewing of
our mind. <a href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Rom%2012.2" target="_blank"><span style="color: #46a7a0;">Romans 12:2 (NIV)</span></a>. With diligence, prayer, and
perseverance, we can be transformed and learn to manage our anger in a healthy
way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>This post was originally featured at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/projectre3/posts/3015254751841735">Project:Re3</a>. </i></span></div>
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<br />Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-83438347723526209652020-01-30T14:47:00.000-08:002020-02-05T06:49:03.198-08:00Janu-worry<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No matter where you live, how much you earn, or how healthy you
are, at some point, you will worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
week, my husband preached about worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In preparation for his sermon, he took an unofficial Facebook poll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He simply asked, “What are the top 3-4 things
you worry about?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within minutes, people
were sharing their worries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The top 10
worries were:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Change<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Trivial things such as having a clean house<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having enough time <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Failure<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Work<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Relationships<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Purpose<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Health<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finances<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Family<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I shared this list with a friend that lives in Nambia,
she told me that there is so much worry in January that they have a word for it
– “Janu” or “Janu-worry”. She said that
worry in Nambia is similar to worry in America. They worry because students return to school,
people often spent too much money during the holidays, and there are also the
general worries of life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SPrB2oFzw7FwqC_zamPFZeFnY7WaUUWj_8M8w_LHtCjNI5LYPskXRTzblOEla-vNGt3peQnmw6W9D-nnJzORDarFt1tfhI9Sl4h3A5W8zMqX0u2uIlmBOi-3QG4eRvewKCj20yjrw02R/s1600/worry.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SPrB2oFzw7FwqC_zamPFZeFnY7WaUUWj_8M8w_LHtCjNI5LYPskXRTzblOEla-vNGt3peQnmw6W9D-nnJzORDarFt1tfhI9Sl4h3A5W8zMqX0u2uIlmBOi-3QG4eRvewKCj20yjrw02R/s320/worry.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">What we worry about reveals a great
deal about us.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Firstly, we tend to worry
the most about the things that we value the most.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">For many of us, our family is the most
valuable part of our life, so we worry about the safety, health and well-being
of our loved ones.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Others deeply desire
security.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">We believe that having enough
money will help us feel secure, so we worry about finances.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Still others worry about our health.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">We worry that if we are not healthy, we will
lose the ability to live life to the fullest.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Secondly, we worry about things that
we have little to no ability to control.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">While there are always actions that we can take to better our lives,
much of what happens in life is out of our control.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">No matter how much we care for a family
member, we cannot control them.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Even if
we work hard and save our money, sometimes life circumstances impact our
finances in ways that we cannot predict or control.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">While we can eat healthy foods and exercise,
we cannot control whether we get cancer.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Additionally, many of the predictions we make when we worry never
happen.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have not eliminated worry from my
life, but I have developed some practices inspired from Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
that have helped reduce worry.</span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Recognize that worry focuses on fears of the unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Worry focuses on the mistakes of the
past and tries to predict the worst-case scenario for the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worry cripples us with the “what ifs.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I die tomorrow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if my child never recovers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I lose my job?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul commands us to “not be anxious about
anything.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul knew
that feelings are beyond our control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
be human is to feel emotions, so if we experience painful and traumatic events,
we are going to feel pain, fear and anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Paul’s command is essentially a command not to remain in the grip of
anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we cannot control the
feelings that cascade over us, we can control how we act and respond to those
feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to control our
response, we first have to recognize that we are falling into the trap of worry
by focusing on the “what ifs”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Transform worry into prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></b>In Philippians, Paul tells us to transform our
anxiety and worry into prayer and petitions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Prayer is effective because prayer helps us shift our focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer allows us to replace the unanswerable
“what if” with “even if.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of
thinking “what if my child doesn’t recover,” prayer helps me realize that God
is with me so that I can instead say, “even if my child doesn’t recover, God
loves my child as much as I do, and God will be with my family.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Be thankful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Paul
instructs us to bring our requests to God with thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Gratitude
and thankfulness are so powerful to combat worry because thankfulness brings us
back to this moment in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worry focuses
on the unchangeable past and the unknown future, but thanksgiving and gratitude
force us to be present in the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Living in the now is a powerful weapon against worry because the now
simply is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you are in the now, you
are not trying to rewrite your past or predict your future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are simply where you are, feeling what
you are feeling, and thanking God for even the smallest blessings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(4)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Remember
God’s promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Paul
promises us <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">that “the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This post was originally featured at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/projectre3/posts/3003153023051908?__tn__=K-R">Project:Re3</a> and <a href="https://everydayexiles.com/2020/02/02/janu-worry/bethgianopulos/#.XjrVo2hKg2w">Everyday Exiles</a>. </span></div>
<br />Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-74501036640667868132020-01-30T13:52:00.001-08:002020-01-30T13:54:13.849-08:00It Happened One Christmas: Be Still And Wait<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #676767; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 27px; vertical-align: baseline;">
When I was young, Advent was a time of joy. My heart would nearly burst with compassion and love as I raced toward Christmas. However, as I have grown older, Advent has changed for me. I have witnessed suffering, evil, betrayal, and heartache. I have also felt deep loss, and I have watched people I love grieve the loss of children, parents, and friends.</div>
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I have wondered, what does this season of waiting and anticipation mean to me during the dark, cold nights of loss and longing? What hope and joy can be found?</div>
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During these times, I do not understand God or the world that I live in. In the Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis imagined what Christ may have been like in Narnia. Early in the story, the children are trying to understand who, or what, Aslan is. When one of the children asks, “Is he – quite safe?” Mr. Beaver responded, “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”</div>
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Like the children of Narnia, I long to be safe. I want my faith to be safe, and I want the world to be good. At a minimum, I want to understand why bad things happen, and the meaning of it all. However, much about the world is unsafe and chaotic. Even more disturbing, little about the world makes sense. For each answer I find, many more questions arise.</div>
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When I study Christ’s life, I realize how many people tried to describe him, yet words fell short. How does anyone describe the savior of the world with words and names? He was described as the Lion of Judah, but he was also described as a lamb. He was called the great high priest, but he was also called the good shepherd. He was descried as a holy servant, yet he was also called the head of the church. It is this inability to fully understand every aspect of who Christ is that makes me feel like Christ is not “quite safe.” Yet, despite my inability to comprehend the fullness of this mystery, I know in my heart that Christ is good.</div>
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As I move through this season of Advent, I know that I will need to sit in the stillness and wait. I will need to wait with my feelings of despair, discomfort, and anxiety. As I wait, I pray that I will make peace with the things in life that I do not understand. I am reminded that “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9. I may not fully understand, but I know that Christ is good, “[a]nd we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.<br />
<br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 14px;">This post was originally featured at <a href="https://everydayexiles.com/2019/12/10/be-still-and-wait/bethgianopulos/#.XjNQcWhKg2w">Everyday Exiles</a>.</i></div>
Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-17842515190355189272018-12-11T11:30:00.002-08:002018-12-11T11:30:51.659-08:00When You Give, You Receive<div class="rich-text-block w-richtext" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Instead, bless – that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9-10 (MSG)</em></blockquote>
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My husband is a master gift giver. No matter what the occasion may be, he always surprises me. He makes a sport of it, and each year he strives to outdo himself. The gifts are not always expensive, but he works to find a personalized gift that meets a specific need that I have or that he knows I will enjoy. </div>
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We live in a culture that is cultivating consumerism. At Christmas, every advertisement is beautifully created to convince you at an emotional level that if you receive the perfect gift, you will be forever filled with joy. The advertisers are so skillful that they have even made me cry during diaper commercials! </div>
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My husband is an excellent gift giver because he doesn’t fall prey to the culture of consumerism. Instead of mindlessly purchasing the latest hot item, he carefully listens as I mention an item I may need or an activity I want to try. He then lovingly and thoughtfully selects unique gifts that he knows I will enjoy. </div>
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People often say that it is better to give than to receive. However, when my husband gives with a heart of joy, he receives much in return. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (ESV) </em>When my husband gives gifts, he is joyful because he loves seeing my surprise and joy. </div>
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1 Peter 3:9-10 says, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“instead, bless – that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.” (</em>MSG). Giving as God intended creates the opposite of a culture of consumerism. When we give with an open heart and open hands, we will often find that we do not need or want as many material things as we originally thought. We find that even when we give sacrificially, we are able to live contentedly without the money or the gift that was given. </div>
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Giving reminds us that, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”</em> (James 1:17, ESV). Giving reminds us that we do not “own” anything, but we are merely caretakers of the blessings that God has given us. Giving releases our dependence and ties to material wealth and goods, freeing us to receive God’s perfect love. </div>
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This Christmas, remember that a heart that openly gives also receives immeasurable blessings. Do not give in to a culture that cultivates consumerism. Instead, give cheerfully and thoughtfully. Then, you will know in your soul that God is pleased because you have given with an open and cheerful heart. </div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Jesus, Thank You giving the perfect gift of salvation. Protect my heart, mind, and soul from a culture that is cultivating consumerism. Remind me that when I give with an open and loving heart, I am blessed. As I give, fill my heart with Your perfect love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.</em></blockquote>
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<i style="background-color: #e4e1db; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 21px;">This post was originally featured at <a href="https://www.encouragementcafe.com/post/when-you-give-you-receive">Encouragement Cafe </a>and <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/encouragement-cafe/when-you-give-you-receive-encouragement-caf-december-11-2018.html">Crosswalk</a>.</i><br />
<br />Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-32704433030131288712018-11-07T05:48:00.001-08:002018-11-07T05:48:24.338-08:00Clay Pots<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #676767; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 27px; vertical-align: baseline;">
For years, my oldest son has been obsessed with football. This summer, before he started ninth grade, he begged to play for his high school team. My husband and I discussed it, and we agreed that our son could play. However, we both knew that there was a good chance that the practices in the grueling heat, getting tackled, and the hard work would eventually lead our son to decide football was not for him.</div>
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Just after school started, we had a parent’s meeting. In the meeting, the coach told us about his philosophy. He told us that he didn’t allow players to play based on skill alone. He wanted his players to work to play. The more effort a player put in during the practice, the more likely it was that he would play.</div>
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He then told us a story. He said that he had this skinny freshman that would not stop. He said every time the player missed a pass, he asked the coaches how he could do better. He said that when other players were resting, this player was asking someone to throw passes so that he could practice. He said that he put this scrawny freshman up against one of his big seniors, and the freshman was fearless. Even when he was knocked down, he got back up and immediately prepared to be hit again.</div>
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At the end of the meeting, he told my husband, “The boy that is training so hard is your son. He is going to play a lot, not because he is so good, but because he doesn’t stop.”</div>
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When I think about my son playing football, I also think about Paul. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul says:</div>
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But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (NIV)</div>
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Following Jesus often feels like playing football. We are constantly hit from every direction. There are times that we immediately jump back up, only to be tackled to the ground again. Yet even though we are struck down again and again, we are not destroyed.</div>
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A few years ago, I looked like I had it all together. I had a successful career as a lawyer, I was a mother to three children, my husband and I had started a mission organization and church, and I was actively involved in the community. I was “living the dream”. We had everything a person could need – a warm, dry home, cars to get us to school and work, some extra money for family vacations, and plenty of food to eat.</div>
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Yet, like the clay pots Paul refers to, my life was fragile. I looked fine on the outside, but when the pressures of work, family, and ministry pressed upon me, I feared that I would shatter. I was burned out and tired. I had poured out so much of myself that I felt empty and alone. And then, as if the general pressures of life were not enough, my family was dealt another blow – we suffered a terrible trauma that literally broke me.</div>
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In those weeks, months, and years that followed, I was pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted and struck down. There were mornings that I truly believed that if God loved me, he would have let me die in my sleep. During those confusing, lonely times, part of me died. In my own way, I carried in my body the death of Jesus.</div>
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Yet, in those dark, vulnerable moments, I found that I had even more compassion and empathy for others than I had ever had before. In the years that followed, when someone was hurting, I identified with them on a much deeper level than I ever could have if I had not endured my own deep suffering. Somehow, in the midst of the storms of despair and pain, I also found life.</div>
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I emerged from those desperate days with a new outlook. I knew that I had little to no control over anything. I also realized that being a Christian did not mean that I would live a life of joyful bliss. Instead, many days would leave me hard pressed on every side, perplexed and even struck down. Like my son on the football field, I took a hit time and again, but I continued to get up and fight again. Because even though I was hard pressed, I was not crushed. I may have felt loneliness, but I was not abandoned. And no matter how many times I was struck down, I was not destroyed. I survived because despite the fragile clay pot that is my life, I am filled with a power and strength that is deeper and more abundant than I could have ever known.</div>
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You may feel fragile like a clay pot. You also may feel the crushing pressures of pain and heartache. You may be suffering from health issues, the betrayal of a friend, or you may be grieving the loss of a loved one. Yet, despite these painful blows, Christ’s power lives in you too. Even as we die to ourselves, Paul assures us that life is at work in you.</div>
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<i>This post was originally featured at <a href="https://everydayexiles.com/2018/11/04/clay-pots/#.W-LsC5NKjIU">Everyday Exiles</a>. </i></div>
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Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-8006152357309208892018-10-18T05:28:00.001-07:002018-10-18T05:28:45.322-07:00Finding Rest<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 14px;"><br /></i>
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I am constantly looking for tips and tricks to be more efficient. I recently discovered an app that allows me to organize my “To Do List” by categories. The app even has a challenge to complete a set number of tasks each day.</div>
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When I first started using the app, I was excited. I had categories for work, home, family, shopping, and travel. I wrote down all of the items I needed to do and assigned due dates. After the first week, I was going strong. I either checked off an item as complete (that is the most amazing feeling in the world – to cross an item off of a to do list), or I changed the due date to give me more time.</div>
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Fast forward a few weeks to this moment. I now have 33 uncompleted items on my personal list. I have even more items that need to be completed on my work list. When I look at the list, I feel my heartbeat race, and I feel the crushing weight of anxiety in my chest. The app that was supposed to help me feel more organized and efficient has become another item on my to do list. Instead of feeling accomplished, I feel discouraged. Instead of feeling efficient, I feel like there is never enough time in a day. When I sit for five minutes on the couch, I feel guilty because I know that there are so many other important things I need to do.</div>
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I recognize that many of the items on the list do not matter in the big scheme of things. If I don’t wash the dishes tonight, the world will not end. Likewise, if I have to delay my response to a legal question until next week, I will not lose my job. However, many items on my list are important. For example, “Write Everyday Exiles Post” is on my list. “Purchase plane ticket for Kenya mission trip” is on the list. I also have a reminder to send a note to a friend that is sick on the list.</div>
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My struggle is that many of the items on the list are <u style="box-sizing: border-box;">good</u> things. Many of my “to do” items are things that the Bible says that I should do – I am reminding myself to reach out to people that are hurting, to plan a trip that will allow me to serve vulnerable people in need, and to write these posts for anyone that may need to hear what I have to say. However, no matter how important the task may be, Jesus commands us to take time to step away, even from the very important things, so that we can attend to <u style="box-sizing: border-box;">the most important thing</u>.</div>
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In Mark 6:30-32, the apostles had returned to Jesus after going out to teach and serve others. When Jesus saw them, he did not immediately say, “Why are you here wasting time? People need to know who I am! Go out and spread the good news!” Instead, Jesus noticed that they had not had a chance to eat, and he said, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”</div>
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Jesus immediately recognized three things. First, we cannot serve Christ if we have not taken care of our most basic needs. If we want to be effective in ministry and life, we need to acknowledge and address our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. A therapist once taught me “HALT.” When I felt anxious and out of control, she told me to stop for a moment and ask myself, “Am I hungry, angry, lonely or tired?” When I determined which feeling was most influencing me, I could address my most basic needs.</div>
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Second, Jesus instructed the apostles to go to a “quiet place” “by yourselves” to “get some rest.” Jesus knew that they could not get rest in the midst of the crowds that needed something from them. When I am feeling empty, I often tell my husband that I cannot take another moment of “anyone needing something from me.” Too often, I feel like my children, husband, friends, parents, and coworkers all need me. When I am completely exhausted, I have nothing left to give. The only way that I can get the rest I truly need is to remove myself from the people that need me.</div>
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Third, and most importantly, Jesus said, “Come with me.” Too often, I am trying to complete every task and overcome every challenge on my own. I forget to ask Jesus to join me, and I definitely forget to take a moment to sit quietly and allow the Holy Spirit to fill me.</div>
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We often view busyness as a badge of honor, and we view rest as laziness. However, Jesus is clear that if we do not take time to rest with him, we cannot be effective for him. It is only when we take time to rest, even if that means rest from important things, that we can focus on the most important thing.</div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 14px;">This post was originally featured at <a href="https://everydayexiles.com/2018/10/16/finding-rest/#.W8h4IntKjIU">Everyday Exiles</a>.</i>Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-79788071955513193622018-05-03T07:40:00.002-07:002018-05-03T07:40:39.627-07:00Love Yourself<div class="post-info" style="background-color: #e4e1db; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; margin: 25px 0px 30px;">
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<span class="post-date">May 1, 2018</span> <span class="post-author">by Beth Mabe Gianopulos</span></div>
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<span class="post-category">Category: <a href="http://www.encouragementcafe.com/blog/category/devotion" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s linear;">Devotion</a></span></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Mark 12.29-31" data-version="niv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Mark%2012.29-31" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;" target="_blank">Mark 12:29-31 NIV</a></span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">A few days ago, I was having lunch with my friend. To save time, my friend agreed to pick me up in the patient drop off area at work (I work at a hospital) so that we could ride together to lunch. As usual, I was running late and the elevator was stopping on every floor.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">While I was on the elevator, a coworker stopped me to discuss an urgent matter. I needed to immediately send an email because the matter was time sensitive. Because I was already late, I had no choice but to walk and type out the email as I rushed to meet my friend.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">I hurried out the door and jumped into the car. I quickly started apologizing while finishing my email. I said, “I am so sorry. I just need to finish this email and then you will have my full attention.” There was a brief pause, and a voice said, “I think you have the wrong car.”</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">In my haste, I had gotten into a stranger’s car! I looked at the lady and said, “Please tell me that you work here and you are not a patient.” She responded, “I am not a patient, but he is.”</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">She pointed out the window to a man that was standing, staring in disbelief at me as I sat in the passenger seat of his car. I knew in that moment that I was far too busy and torn in too many directions.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">I live in a world where I am always trying to do multiple things at once. I am often calling to change a child’s dentist appointment while driving the kids to school. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">I am thinking about how to handle a tricky work issue while I run. I text while I walk to meetings. I talk on the phone while I do laundry. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">In my hurried frenzy, most of my time is spent pouring my energy, love and emotions into others. I try to make sure that I love God with all of my being, and I work hard to make sure that I fully love and care for my family and friends. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">However, in the midst of the craziness, I rarely, if ever, take time to love and nourish myself. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When Jesus told the disciples the greatest commandment, He stated that we are to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Most of us do not take issue with a command to love God and love our neighbor. However when we begin to think about loving ourselves, we get uncomfortable.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">We have often been conditioned to think that loving ourselves is selfish, self-indulgent, or a guilty pleasure. Some of us even become martyrs as we continually give everything to others and leave nothing for ourselves.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Yet, Jesus is clear in His </span><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">command</span><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"> to love ourselves. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">I spend much of my time trying to give the world so many amazing gifts. I give away my knowledge, my love, and my time. However, I rarely, if ever, take time to receive these gifts in return. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">How have you failed to love yourself? Have you expected far too much of yourself? If so, it is never too late to begin to heal what can be healed. </span></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Jesus, help me learn to love myself. Show me that I am worthy of love and care. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.</span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">For more encouragement, visit Beth at </span><a href="http://pwlawyermom.blogspot.com/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">http://pwlawyermom.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">© 2018 by Beth Mabe Gianopulos. All rights reserved.</span><br />
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"><i style="text-align: left;">This post was originally featured at <a href="http://www.encouragementcafe.com/blog/post/love-yourself" style="background: transparent; color: #37adc1;">Encouragement Cafe </a>and <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/encouragement-cafe/encouragement-caf-may-1-2018.html" style="background: transparent; color: #37adc1; outline: 0px;">Crosswalk</a>.</i></span></div>
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Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-45706030354340822112018-03-26T15:34:00.003-07:002018-03-27T06:17:43.863-07:00What Is Your Cross?<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #676767; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 27px; vertical-align: baseline;">
What does it mean to follow Jesus? If I am to “take up my cross”, what is my cross? What is your cross?</div>
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I have often heard people say that any hardship a person may encounter is that person’s cross to bear. Whether a person is battling illness, dealing with depression, or going through the end of a relationship, we view any of life’s difficulties as a cross to bear.</div>
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However, I believe that taking up my cross may entail much more than enduring life’s hardships and difficulties. In Mark 8:34, Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrf2rOAqaZhb673JEuo6dkIyHkbzXRf5etlRLbyKnV5QvRoMemwAtZiWeRwPKatkxwl3YaZHzzzN0Tb0RYrMYxrQSKanBhNvfHD9ibh5276vJUyvZBX0QJuf2gnnOJxEyoq4OOtQ6-CmA/s1600/Cross.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrf2rOAqaZhb673JEuo6dkIyHkbzXRf5etlRLbyKnV5QvRoMemwAtZiWeRwPKatkxwl3YaZHzzzN0Tb0RYrMYxrQSKanBhNvfHD9ibh5276vJUyvZBX0QJuf2gnnOJxEyoq4OOtQ6-CmA/s320/Cross.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Before Jesus died on the cross, he spent his time out in the world. He didn’t spend his days in church surrounded by people that looked like him, had the exact same religious beliefs as him, and acted like him. He didn’t choose to spend his time with people that were easy and fun to be with – instead, he surrounded himself with people that challenged him, asked difficult questions, and sometimes even betrayed him.</div>
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Jesus consciously sought out the outcasts. He looked for the people that society had forgotten. He talked to the people that were unclean. He ate with the most despised people in a community. He did not waste his time worrying about what other people would think of him because he was too concerned with loving anyone that was lost and needed him.</div>
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He was also surrounded by legalistic, religious people that believed they were better than him, and he was surrounded by people that did not believe his message. He encountered people that supported him as long as following him was easy, and he met people that hurled slurs and abuse at him.</div>
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Jesus also had a number of loyal followers. His disciples and friends not only literally followed him from place to place, but they tried to live their lives in the same way that Jesus did. As Jesus’ disciples followed him into places filled with danger, despair, and need, they were forced to reconcile themselves with their own doubt, fear, and pride.</div>
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Following Jesus often means choosing a difficult path. Jesus did not tell his followers that he had come to make sure that they would have happy and pain-free lives. Instead, Jesus sought out the lonely, sick, and needy. When he found them, drowning in their deepest and darkest despair, he offered love, grace, and hope.</div>
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To truly follow Jesus will mean something different for each of us. However, it could mean that I have to give up some of my security and safety to travel to an “unsafe” area and help the needy. It could also mean that I have to give up a promotion, or even risk my job, to make an ethical choice at work. It could mean that I have to step out of the comfort of my church to meet people that are not like me – people that will question me, challenge me, and even say unkind things to me. Taking up my cross could mean that I have to meet someone in their darkest place – I may have to weep with them, struggle with them, and love them even when I do not like them. Carrying my cross may mean that I have to face the darkest parts of me – I may have to acknowledge my own doubt, fear, greed, jealousy, and selfishness.</div>
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C.S. Lewis wrote, “Holy places are dark places. It is life and strength, not knowledge and words, that we get in them. Holy wisdom is not clear and thin like water, but thick and dark like blood.” (Till We Have Faces). To take up our cross is to venture into holy, dark places with the faith that our lives will be transformed as we grow in strength and wisdom.</div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 14px;">This post was originally featured at <a href="http://everydayexiles.com/2018/03/25/what-is-your-cross/#.Wrl0ti7waM8">Everyday Exiles</a>.</i></div>
Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-12646396480140322022018-03-21T13:26:00.000-07:002018-03-21T13:26:03.175-07:00From Ordinary to Extraordinary<div class="post-info" style="background-color: #e4e1db; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; margin: 25px 0px 30px;">
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<span class="post-date">March 21, 2018</span> <span class="post-author">by Beth Mabe Gianopulos</span></div>
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<span class="post-category">Category: <a href="http://www.encouragementcafe.com/blog/category/devotion" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s linear;">Devotion</a></span></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.</span></em><strong style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"> </em></strong><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”</span></em></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.</span></em><strong style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"> </em></strong><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” </span></em><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"> </span></em><strong style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"> </em></strong><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">At once they left their nets and followed him.” <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Mark 1.14-18" data-version="niv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Mark%201.14-18" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;" target="_blank">Mark 1:14-18 NIV</a></span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When I was a teenager, I read this passage in awe. I could not comprehend why the disciples would just walk away from everything they knew to follow Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Of course I understood that Jesus was the Son of God, but when I read the passage literally, it sounded like Jesus just walked up to Simon and Andrew and said, “Hi. Nice to meet you. I am the Savior of the World. Follow me.”</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">I couldn’t understand walking away from the life that I knew because I still thought that I was in control of my life. I also thought that I was the best person to make decisions about my life – I wanted to hold onto my fierce independence. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">I was striving for things – I was preparing for a career, to have a family, and to live on my own.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">As I type these words today, I am in my forties. I’ve had the opportunity to “be in control of my life,” and I have realized that control is an illusion. There is very little that I can control. I have also had the opportunity to make millions of decisions over the years. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Many of my decisions opened the door to pain and heartache, and self-reflection has revealed that I am not as equipped to make decisions about “my life” as I once believed I was.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Having lived through pain, remorse, and bad decisions, I think I finally understand Simon and Andrew’s enthusiasm when Jesus offered them an opportunity for a new kind of life. I imagine that Andrew and Simon may have been like me – they were weary from trying to do it their own way.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">I wonder if they were also tired of placing their hope in the mundane and meaningless things we place our hope in. Had they placed all of their self-worth in their work as fishermen, only to wake up one day and wonder, what is the point of life? </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Did they look at their past, present and future and wonder if their life had any meaning or purpose? Did they place all of their hopes and dreams in relationships with family and friends only to be abandoned and disappointed? </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">If they had, then Jesus’ invitation to live a different sort of life – a life with a clear purpose – must have rekindled a deep longing that had been latent deep in their soul. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">In the passage just before, Jesus says, ““The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Frederick Buechner said, “life is extraordinary, and the extraordinariness of it is what Jesus calls the Kingdom of God.” In our desperate search for acceptance, success, and happiness, we often fail to see the extraordinariness of life.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">We may be living, but we are racing through life distracted, with little time to see, hear, and feel what is around us in each moment. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When Simon and Andrew chose to follow Jesus, they chose to stop stumbling blindly through life, trying to find their own way on their own terms, and instead embraced the Kingdom of God by connecting to the extraordinary world that surrounded them.</span></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Jesus, Thank You for calling us to live extraordinary lives. Open our hearts, minds and souls to the extraordinary world around us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.</span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">For more encouragement, visit Beth at </span><a href="http://pwlawyermom.blogspot.com/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">PWLawyerMom</span></a><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">© 2018 by Beth Mabe Gianopulos. All rights reserved.</span><br />
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"><i style="font-size: 21px;">This post was originally featured at <a href="http://www.encouragementcafe.com/blog/post/from-ordinary-to-extraordinary" style="background: transparent; color: #37adc1;">Encouragement Cafe </a>and <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/encouragement-cafe/encouragement-caf-march-21-2018.html" style="background: transparent; color: #37adc1; outline: 0px;">Crosswalk</a>.</i></span></div>
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Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-68392044794033234352018-03-12T10:00:00.000-07:002018-03-12T10:00:00.788-07:00The Faith Of Our Friends<div class="post-info" style="background-color: #e4e1db; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; margin: 25px 0px 30px;">
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<span class="post-date">March 12, 2018</span> <span class="post-author">by Beth Mabe Gianopulos</span></div>
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<span class="post-category">Category: <a href="http://www.encouragementcafe.com/blog/category/devotion" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s linear;">Devotion</a></span></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. </span></em><strong style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"> </em></strong><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. </span></em><strong style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"> </em></strong><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” “ </span></em><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"><a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Mark 2.3-5" data-version="niv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Mark%202.3-5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;" target="_blank">Mark 2:3-5 (NIV)</a></span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">This year for Lent, I decided to read the book of Mark slowly and deliberately. I am trying to read the book with new eyes. Today, when I read Mark 2, I immediately knew the story of the four friends that carried their paralyzed friend on a mat to be healed by Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">However, today I was struck by this statement, “When Jesus saw </span><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">their</span><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"> faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">I have always struggled to understand how Jesus’ miraculous healings apply to our day to day lives. When I think about faith, I understand how my faith can impact my own life. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">I know that I need faith in God to have a relationship with Christ. I know that I need to have faith to follow Jesus. I also understand that I need to have faith when I pray. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">However, this passage says </span><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">nothing</span><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"> about the paralyzed man’s faith. For all that we know, he may have had no faith. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Instead, Jesus was so moved by the faith of this man’s friends, that Jesus not only healed the man, but he also forgave his sins. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">These four men did not simply tell Jesus that they “believed” that he could heal their friend. They showed how much they believed through their persistence and action. No one knows how far the men traveled carrying their paralyzed friend. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When they arrived and saw the large crowds, they could have simply given up. However, they fought their way onto the roof, carrying their friend between them. Then, when they were on the roof, “they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by </span><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">digging</span><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"> through it.” </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">How much time and effort did it take for them to toil away, digging away a roof? How many people would have given up and called it a day?</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When they finally had a hole large enough to fit their friend through, they lowered his mat through the hole until the man was lying in front of Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">I would love to live my life with faith that is so strong that God would look at others and forgive them, heal them, and make them whole. Because our faith journey is so personal, it is easy to become so focused on our “individual” spiritual journey that we forget about our community. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">In this story, Jesus is clear that our faith not only has the power to change the course of our own lives, but our faith also has the power to change the lives of others. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Do you live your life with faith, persistence, and action that can change the lives of others? We don’t even know the names of the four friends in this story, yet they changed their friend’s life by loving him so fiercely that they put their faith into action. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">They did not allow obstacles to stand in their way. Because they believed and acted on their faith, their friend was healed. </span></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Jesus, Thank You for placing friends in our lives to love us and intercede on our behalf. Help us to have powerful faith and to act on our faith to love and help others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.</span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">For more encouragement, visit Beth at </span><a href="http://pwlawyermom.blogspot.com/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">PWLawyerMom</span></a><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">© 2018 by Beth Mabe Gianopulos. All rights reserved.</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: #e4e1db; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: minion-pro, serif; font-size: 21px;">This post was originally featured at <a href="http://www.encouragementcafe.com/blog/post/the-faith-of-our-friends" style="background: transparent; color: #37adc1; text-decoration-line: none;">Encouragement Cafe </a>and <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/encouragement-cafe/encouragement-caf-march-12-2018.html" style="background: transparent; color: #37adc1; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Crosswalk</a>.</i>Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-33833128615931276522018-03-10T09:05:00.001-08:002018-03-10T09:06:27.023-08:00Faith In The Storm<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #676767; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 27px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When my daughter was two years old, we took her to a concert to see a children’s group perform. While my husband was taking my son to the bathroom, I felt Maria go completely still in my lap. I looked at her, and she took a shallow breath. Then, to my horror, she stopped breathing. I began to shake her in an attempt to wake her. Her lips were turning blue, and I stood hysterically screaming, “Does anyone know CPR?” I ran into the hall and found paramedics. They were able to help her breath again, and I collapsed into a crumpled ball on the floor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We later learned that my daughter had a febrile seizure. She had an infection, and her fever had spiked so quickly that her body shut down for a few seconds. In the months that followed, we had to take her to the emergency room for pneumonia. I was so traumatized and terrified that I could not sleep. I was afraid to close my eyes for a minute because I was afraid that she would stop breathing. I somehow believed that if I watched her closely, I would be able to prevent her from being sick or dying. So I would sit by her bed, watching her chest rise and fall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It has been years since my daughter’s sickness, but when I read about Jesus calming the storm, I think about my attempts to control the uncontrollable.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let
us go over to the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"> other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him
along, just as he was, in </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> the boat. There were also other boats with him. A
furious squall came up, and </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> the waves broke over the boat, so that it was
nearly swamped. Jesus was in the </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples
woke him and said to him, “Teacher, </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> don’t you care if we drown?” He got up,
rebuked the wind and said to the </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> waves, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died
down and it was completely calm. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"> He said to his disciples, “Why are you so
afraid? Do you still have no faith?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"> They were terrified and asked each
other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"> waves obey him!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Like the disciples on the boat, I was in the middle of a terrifying storm. I cried out to Jesus, but I had no faith that he would take care of me or my daughter. Even though I prayed desperately for her to be healed, I continued to try to control the situation. I asked Jesus to protect her, but instead of trusting him, I watched as she breathed every breath.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have lived enough life to know that sometimes we go through storms and people die or remain ill. I do not believe this story was meant to convince us that Jesus will always “fix” our situation by changing our circumstances. However, I do believe this story has a lot to say about who we believe is in control.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don’t think Jesus was upset that the disciples were scared. Anyone would be afraid in a terrifying storm at sea. However, I think Jesus was upset because he was sleeping through the storm, and the disciples woke him. If Jesus wasn’t worried about the storm, why should the disciples have worried about something the disciples had no capacity to control?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In our lives, we will live through storms. We will also be afraid. However, we must realize that we are not in control of the storm. Only God has the power to calm the storm. We have the power to control where we place our faith and how we respond to the uncontrollable.</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #676767; font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 14px;">This post was originally featured at <a href="http://everydayexiles.com/2018/03/08/faith-in-the-storm/#.WqQOIejwbIU">Everyday Exiles</a>.</i>Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-24638354502799952352018-02-28T15:48:00.004-08:002018-02-28T15:48:51.910-08:00All the Father Has Is Yours<div class="post-info" style="background-color: #e4e1db; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; margin: 25px 0px 30px;">
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<span class="post-date">February 28, 2018</span> <span class="post-author">by Beth Mabe Gianopulos</span></div>
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<span class="post-category">Category: <a href="http://www.encouragementcafe.com/blog/category/devotion" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s linear;">Devotion</a></span></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. </span></em><strong style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"> </em></strong><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. </span></em><strong style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"> </em></strong><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. </span></em><strong style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"> </em></strong><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”</span></em> <em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"><a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Luke 15.28-32" data-version="niv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Luke%2015.28-32" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;" target="_blank">Luke 15:28-32 (NIV)</a></span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When our family plays games, we play with a fierce desire to win. There have been times that kids (or adults) have refused to finish a game because our strategy is ruined by another player, or we may even “accidentally” knock over the game board, abruptly ending a game.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Each year, we enter some of our crafts and art in the Dixie Classic Fair. Like so many other aspects of our lives, we are competitive about our entries. We always hope to win, especially when we have spent hours on our entry. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Last year, each of my kids entered art work. Although they are all talented, my daughter is extremely creative, so we all assumed that if anyone in our family would win, it would be her.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When we arrived at the fair, we immediately searched for our entries, and we were shocked to learn that my youngest son had won the Judge’s Choice and First Place awards for his entry. As we celebrated, I could see tears forming in my daughter’s eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">She was devastated because she worked so hard - she had spent hours on her art and cared deeply about her creations. Alternatively, her little brother didn’t really love art and had not worked nearly as hard as she had.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">I know her pain. How many times had I worked so hard to gain God’s favor, only to see someone else receive a reward? </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">The pain of resentment is not new. Jesus told a parable about two sons that received their inheritance early. One son remained with his father and diligently worked while the other son wasted all that he was given. When the wasteful son returned home after losing all his money, the father hosted a huge celebration. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">However, like my daughter, it was hard for the faithful, hardworking son to celebrate because of the resentment in his heart. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Resentment prevents us from joining the celebration of life because resentment focuses on what someone else has that we believe we should have. In order to find freedom from resentment, we must focus on what we do have. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">That night, my daughter decided not to focus on the ribbon that her brother had. Instead, she focused on enjoying the moment that she was in – she found freedom from resentment by embracing the gift of the moment that she was given. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When the Father sees that we are held hostage by resentment, he responds, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Luke 15.31" data-version="niv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Luke%2015.31" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;" target="_blank">Luke 15:31</a>. As Christians, we can overcome resentment when we recognize that every blessing has already been poured upon us. Everything the Father has is already ours. </span></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Jesus, You know the times that I have allowed resentment to steal my joy. Help me stop focusing on what others have that I believe I should have. Instead, help me see the many blessings that You have poured upon me. Open my eyes so that I can see that everything You have is already mine. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.</span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">For more encouragement, visit Beth at </span><a href="http://pwlawyermom.blogspot.com/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">PWLawyerMom</span></a><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">. </span><br />
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"><i style="font-size: 21px;">This post was originally featured at <a href="http://www.encouragementcafe.com/blog/post/all-the-father-has-is-yours">Encouragement Cafe </a>and <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/encouragement-cafe/encouragement-caf-february-28-2018.html">Crosswalk</a>.</i></span></div>
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Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-56401304808085141142018-02-26T15:08:00.000-08:002018-02-26T15:08:06.285-08:00Be The Sun<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #676767; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 27px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A few days ago, my son jumped into the car. He excitedly showed me the bracelet that he had made in class. It said, “Be The Sun.” He told me, “It is just like your key chain!”</div>
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For a moment, my heart smiled. Even though he didn’t know what those words meant to me, my son had observed and imitated a phrase that had been a life line to me.</div>
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Before I carried this phrase on my key chain, I was exhausted. I spent my days desperately trying to be a good mom, a good wife, a good pastor’s wife, a good attorney, a good friend, and a good person. As I frantically worked to be good enough, I was plagued by guilt and shoulds:</div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Libre Baskerville"; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You should spend more time playing with the kids because they are growing up so fast.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Libre Baskerville"; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> You should work more and take on some additional projects.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Libre Baskerville"; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> You should volunteer with that organization.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Libre Baskerville"; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> You should serve in the new ministry at church.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Libre Baskerville"; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> You should cook more, keep a neater house, and keep up with the laundry.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Libre Baskerville"; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> You should call your friend that you haven’t talked to in months.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Libre Baskerville"; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> You should be happy and full of joy.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Libre Baskerville"; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> If you did what you should do, you would be good enough. </em></div>
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You would think that all of the shoulds and guilt would have spurred me to greatness. Instead, the opposite was happening- I was resentful, exhausted, and filled with self-loathing because nothing that I did was ever enough. During my time with the kids, I was anxious about the six loads of laundry that needed to be done. I could not take on any additional projects at work because I didn’t even have time to address the latest crisis. While I desperately wanted to volunteer in organizations that had captured my heart, my schedule was already so full that I was late for everything. As the pastor’s wife, I wanted to be an example of service at the church, but my full calendar left little time to meet and plan. I knew that I should be full of joy, but I was pulled in so many directions that I didn’t even have time to take care of myself. I had no time to get my hair cut or even see my doctor for my annual physical.</div>
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Never meeting the unending list of expectations took its toll on me. I was plagued with shame, and I hated myself. I knew that I was not doing anything well, and I was not enjoying life. Everything felt like a burden. I had lost touch with who I was, and I had no idea what I wanted.</div>
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When I was at my lowest, I talked to my therapist about my struggles. She asked me to think about the sun. The sun does not rise in the morning and think, “I should work harder to warm the Earth. I should try to light the entire world. I should shine brighter.” The sun was made to give light and life to the world. The sun simply is what it was created to be.</div>
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In that moment, I knew that I didn’t need to work harder. I needed to be me. My goal was to simply be what I was created to be. I needed to “Be the Sun.”</div>
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Ephesians 5:8 says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” In Christ, I am a new creation. I don’t have to work and try so hard. Instead, I can let the light that is within me shine on the world.</div>
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We all need to stop “shoulding” on ourselves. When you are beaten down by all of the “shoulds,” take a deep breath and remember that you are enough because you are you. You do not need to work and try so hard. If you simply live to be who you were created to be, you can be the sun and light the world.<br />
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<i>This post was originally featured at <a href="http://everydayexiles.com/2018/02/25/be-then-sun/#.WpSSr6jwbIU">Everyday Exiles</a>.</i></div>
Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-58025736370626570442018-02-22T16:19:00.001-08:002018-02-22T16:19:32.157-08:00What Really Matters<div class="post-info" style="background-color: #e4e1db; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; margin: 25px 0px 30px;">
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<span class="post-date">February 22, 2018</span> <span class="post-author">by Beth Mabe Gianopulos</span></div>
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<span class="post-category">Category: <a href="http://www.encouragementcafe.com/blog/category/devotion" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s linear;">Devotion</a></span></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Eccles 1.2" data-version="niv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Eccles%201.2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes 1:2 NIV</a></span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">The past few months have been all consuming. Thanksgiving, Christmas and family celebrations filled our social calendar. At work, I was overwhelmed as I tried to complete matters at year end. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">My kids were busy finishing school projects. As we rushed from activity to activity, I felt overwhelmed, tired, and frustrated. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">In the midst of the chaos, I worried about everything - from what I should wear to the office Christmas party to whether we would have time to clean our house to host family celebrations. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Then, in the midst of the busyness, a friend died. Her death and funeral forced me to step back and re-evaluate what really matters.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">My husband loved our friend deeply, and he prepared the message for the funeral. When he spoke about our friend, he did not mention how big her house was, instead, he talked about how welcoming her home was. He didn’t mention whether her house was perfectly decorated and clean because what he remembered was how she opened her home to family and friends. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">He didn’t talk about how much money she had, but instead, he talked about how generously she loved. He didn’t list her career accomplishments, but he did talk about her steadfast patience and love. He did not mention how much she weighed or how she dressed, but he did talk about how her smile transformed a room. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">In Ecclesiastes, the teacher, a man blessed with wisdom and wealth, laments, “Meaningless! Meaningless! .... Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Eccles 1.2" data-version="niv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Eccles%201.2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes 1:2</a>). Despite being blessed with wealth, a large family, wisdom, and education, the teacher understood that most of the things we chase in this life are meaningless. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">If we simply move through life, without talking the time to ponder and reflect, we can inadvertently live lives that mean nothing to us or to others. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Like the teacher, I had spent the past months without focus. As I reflected on my friend’s life, I knew that I wanted to be remembered for the things that she was remembered for. I wanted to be remembered as kind, giving, patient, loving, and a follower of Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">I needed to be reminded that when I die, no one will care what I wore to the office Christmas party. People will not reflect on the cleanliness of my house. People will not care how many possessions I have. What people will remember is how I made them feel.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">If you, like me, sometimes lose focus, take time to think about how you want to be remembered. Once you have determined what matters most to you, look at your life. Are you living a life that helps you be the person you want to be?</span></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Jesus, Help me focus on what really matters. I want to live a life that honors You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.</span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">For more encouragement, visit Beth at </span><a href="http://pwlawyermom.blogspot.com/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">PWLawyerMom</span></a><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">© 2018 by Beth Mabe Gianopulos. All rights reserved.</span><br />
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"><i style="font-size: 21px;">This post was originally featured at <a href="http://www.encouragementcafe.com/blog/post/what-really-matters">Encouragement Cafe </a>and <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/encouragement-cafe/encouragement-caf-february-22-2018.html">Crosswalk</a>.</i></span></div>
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Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-19978213196194968852018-02-13T06:09:00.000-08:002018-02-13T06:09:02.299-08:00Lent <div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did not grow up observing Lent. Now, I love Lent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beginning on <a href="http://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/ash-wednesday-bible">Ash Wednesday</a> (which is tomorrow), <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/lent_1.shtml">Lent</a> is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Lent is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities.<br />It is a time of self-examination and self-denial.</span></div>
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For years, our church has challenged people to not only give up something, but also to take on something. If you have not observed Lent and are trying to decide what to give up, you can look at it a number of ways. You can give up something that you feel like distracts you from your relationship with God (people have given up television, social media, etc.) You can also give up something that you feel like you rely on to much or "need" too much. For example, people sometimes give up soft drinks, desert, etc. By giving up something that you crave, it forces you to turn to God when you would normally turn to something else for comfort. I have also given up things that I believe are detrimental to my soul in the past. For example, one year, I gave up "negative self-talk." The act of sacrifice during Lent helps us focus on the sacrifices of Christ. Historically, some people would fast. I have also had friends that try to fast from a meal each day of Lent.</div>
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We also encourage people to "take on" a new habit or discipline. For example, some friends have committed to daily Bible study, daily gratitude, or taking on other habits throughout the season of Lent.</div>
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Each week, Sunday is excluded from Lent. This means that you can "indulge" in whatever you give up on Sundays.</div>
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This year I am giving up all "electronics" between 6 pm and 9 pm. The only exception is that I can watch a television show with my entire family if they choose to do that for part of our family time. I have found that social media, responding to work emails, online shopping, and similar activities distract me from valuable time with my family. I could also use that time to relax, craft, read, or do other more beneficial activities. I am also "taking on" leading an online Bible study. The study will help me read and reflect on the life of Jesus each day. </div>
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Have you observed Lent in the past? If so, what have you given up or taken on? What do you love or dislike about Lent? Have you learned any lessons from the season of Lent? </div>
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Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-24891156581016254852018-02-06T06:18:00.000-08:002018-02-06T06:18:16.510-08:00Behind The Veil<div class="post-info" style="background-color: #e4e1db; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; margin: 25px 0px 30px;">
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<span class="post-date">February 2, 2018</span> <span class="post-author">by Beth Mabe Gianopulos</span></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“The more talk, the less truth;</span></em><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"><br style="padding-bottom: 35px;" /></span></em><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"> </span></em> <em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">the wise measure their words.</span></em></div>
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<strong style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"> </em></strong><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">The speech of a good person is worth waiting for;</span></em><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"><br style="padding-bottom: 35px;" /></span></em><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"> </span></em> <em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">the blabber of the wicked is worthless.</span></em></div>
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<strong style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"> </em></strong> <em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">The talk of a good person is rich fare for many,</span></em><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"><br style="padding-bottom: 35px;" /></span></em><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"> </span></em> <em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">but chatterboxes die of an empty heart.” <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Prov 10.19-21" data-version="niv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Prov%2010.19-21" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;" target="_blank">Proverbs 10:19-21</a> MSG</span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">What do the voices in your head say to you? When I am frustrated, tired, or depressed, the chatterbox in my head is loud and incessant. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When I do something that upsets my child, the voice says, </span><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“You are a terrible mother. You do not know what you are doing. You are messing up your children because you are making too many mistakes. Your child will look back on their childhood and resent you because of all the mistakes you make.”</span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When I have an argument with my husband, the voice says</span><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">, “He only loves you for the things you do. He doesn’t love you for who you are. You are a terrible wife. You never do enough. Your house is too messy, you never cook, and you do not spend enough time with him.”</span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When my coworker doesn’t speak to me all day, I hear</span><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">, “What did you do to make her mad? Maybe you are not working hard enough? You probably offended her when you made a joke yesterday.”</span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">The words I hear in each situation may differ, but the message is always the same. The message is,</span><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“You are not good enough. You will never be good enough. You are a disappointment. Your mistakes define you. You will never do enough or be enough to be loved.” </span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">In Proverbs, we learn that words matter. <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Prov 10.19" data-version="niv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Prov%2010.19" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;" target="_blank">Proverbs 10:19</a> (MSG) says </span><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“the more talk, the less truth.”</span></em><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"> I realize that most people would read this verse and think about the words they speak to others or the words that others speak to them. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">However, the words I speak to myself are just as powerful, if not more powerful, than the words that others speak to me. The words that are spoken most often in my mind are negative and destructive. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">These words are so loud and so incessant that they tend to drown out the softer voice that is whispering wise words of love.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Verse 11 goes on to say, </span><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“The speech of a good person is worth waiting for; the blabber of the wicked is worthless.”</span></em><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"> If anyone heard the words that I speak to myself, they would emphatically say that these words are “the blabber of the wicked.” </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">The verse is clear that the blabber of the wicked is worthless. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">What words do you speak to yourself? If the blabber of the wicked consumes your thoughts, pray that God will silence those destructive voices. Instead of listening to lies, turn to scripture that speaks truth, and know that you are loved, valued, and treasured. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">If you can’t find a verse, focus on <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Rom 8.38-39" data-version="niv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Rom%208.38-39" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;" target="_blank">Romans 8:38-39</a> which assures us, </span><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“</span></em><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.”</span></em><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"> </span></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Jesus, help me silence the blabber of the wicked. When I speak destructive lies to myself, help me focus on Your truth. Thank You for loving me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.</span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">For more encouragement, visit Beth at </span><a href="http://pwlawyermom.blogspot.com/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">PWLawyerMom</span></a><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">© 2018 by Beth Mabe Gianopulos. All rights reserved.</span><br />
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"><i style="background-color: #e4e1db; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 21px;">This post was originally featured at <a href="http://www.encouragementcafe.com/blog/post/behind-the-veil">Encouragement Cafe </a>and <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/encouragement-cafe/encouragement-caf-february-2-2018.html">Crosswalk</a>.</i></span></div>
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Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-60893841937709294732018-01-24T11:09:00.001-08:002018-01-24T11:09:33.098-08:00New Year, New You<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #676767; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 27px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If there was a Scrooge for New Year’s Day, it would be me. My hate of New Year’s Day has been a long standing hate that grows deeper with each passing year.</div>
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It is as if I have selective amnesia when the calendar flips to January 1. No matter how bad the previous year was, I, like everyone else, charge into the year with wide eyed anticipation. I relish the promise of a fresh start. I am ready to leave all of my old problems, quirks, pain, and insecurity behind as I burst forth into a new, fresh life. However, my excitement usually begins to waiver around the third week of January. That is when disappointment and frustration creep in as I slowly realize that no matter how much determination and resolve I have, a new day does not mean that I miraculously transform into a new me. Determination and grit may temporarily camouflage my bad habits and insecurities, but I know that beneath the surface, the old me remains.</div>
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Why are New Year’s Resolutions so hard to keep? If I am truly committed to change, why aren’t strength of will and hard work enough to bring the transformation I crave?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ98nD8I2pE6veSNqIus0gqzFUVIPKLEdb8Cdv81pgzkx_KAaT1aeWD53i-oBiQoyCQjrd6CDq2enlb_wz0mQF5_ytjhyOIfK00yGPivvjZfiSCXrXva0p8LxLI24Zg-acAJbfFbXSRB9/s1600/change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ98nD8I2pE6veSNqIus0gqzFUVIPKLEdb8Cdv81pgzkx_KAaT1aeWD53i-oBiQoyCQjrd6CDq2enlb_wz0mQF5_ytjhyOIfK00yGPivvjZfiSCXrXva0p8LxLI24Zg-acAJbfFbXSRB9/s320/change.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This past summer, my kids went on a mission trip to Valdosta, Georgia. That week, my kids joined other youth groups from across the nation to paint homes in the sweltering Georgia heat. When the youth groups arrived at their worksites, they were armed with determination, new paint brushes, and cans of paint.</div>
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For the youth that had not painted a house before, their first inclination was to begin painting immediately. They did not know that before they could paint, the old, weathered paint needed to be scraped way.</div>
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If the kids swiped bright, fresh paint over the weathered beige, they would have witnessed a true, but short lived, transformation. The house would look beautiful for a few months, but as the house stood against the elements of wind, rain and sun, the bottom layers of paint would begin to crack. The cracks would spread, until the shiny new paint also cracked and peeled away.</div>
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Because we wanted the transformation to last, the youth scraped the houses for days. Many groups spent more time scraping the homes than they spent painting. Once they removed the old, they knew that the transformation would last for years to come.</div>
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Chasing change in my life is like painting a house. Over the years, I have tried to cover the surface layers of my life. I have rushed in and applied fresh color over the peeling layers of pain and hurt. However, because I didn’t take the time to remove the cracked and broken pieces beneath the surface, the change cannot last. No matter how hard I work to change, the old hurts and habits eventually begin to crack and peel. The change that I desperately seek will not last until I tediously examine myself and scrape away the broken pieces of my past.</div>
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In 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV), we are promised, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” If we want to be transformed to a new and better creation, we have to remove the old to make way for the new. If you enter each new year with the old you, cracked and peeling beneath the surface, disappointment is likely to follow.</div>
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As Peter Drucker said, “if you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.”<br />
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<i>This post was originally featured at <a href="http://everydayexiles.com/2018/01/22/new-year-new/#.WmjWT6inGUk">Everyday Exiles</a>. </i></div>
Pwlawyermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05788661805937112758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5432574588894244136.post-36509010688244703232017-12-29T06:40:00.001-08:002017-12-29T06:40:31.788-08:00Becoming More Than I Am<div class="post-info" style="background-color: #e4e1db; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; margin: 25px 0px 30px;">
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<span class="post-date">December 29, 2017</span> <span class="post-author">by Beth Mabe Gianopulos</span></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.” <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="1 Pet 5.6-7" data-version="niv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/1%20Pet%205.6-7" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;" target="_blank">1 Peter 5:6-7</a> (MSG)</span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Each year, as New Year’s Day approaches, I agonize over my resolution. Like everyone, I have resolved in the past to lose weight, exercise more, eat healthier foods, to be more organized, to read my Bible daily, and the list goes on. Like most people, I’m usually strong the first month. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">As February approaches, life gets in the way, and before I know it, I am back in my old routine. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When I look at the goals that I have set in the past, the common theme is that ultimately, I am striving to be something or someone that I am not. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When I have resolved to lose weight, I do not really want to lose weight to be healthier. I want to lose weight so that I will look better in my favorite jeans. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">When I have resolved to read my Bible daily, I have ultimately approached Bible reading like a task that must be checked off an ever growing “to do” list. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">If I am honest, I am working so hard to be more like someone else because I do not really like who I am. I tell myself, “If I was as thin as my best friend, I would be so happy. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">If I could decorate my house and keep it as clean as my neighbor’s home, I would feel more peaceful. If I prepared gourmet, homemade meals, I would feel better about myself.”</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Somewhere along the way, I bought the lie that looking and acting like the world would satisfy the emptiness within me. Because I am always striving to be someone else, I am not content with who I am. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">In <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="1 Pet 5.6-7" data-version="niv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/1%20Pet%205.6-7" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;" target="_blank">1 Peter 5:6-7</a>, we are instructed to “be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs.” If I spend all of my time discontent with who I am, then I will never see the gifts that God has blessed me with. If I am so busy trying to look or act like someone else, I will never find the unique path that God has planned just for me. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"><a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Luke 14.11" data-version="niv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Luke%2014.11" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;" target="_blank">Luke 14:11</a> (MSG) says, </span><em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">“But if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.”</span></em><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"> I will only grow and become the person that God created me to be when I am content with who I am. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">This year, when everyone is resolving to be someone or something that they are not, what if you simply commit to being content? What if you simply decide to be content with who you are? What if your only goal is to be the best you that you can be? </span></div>
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<em style="padding-bottom: 0px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">Jesus, You know our hearts. You know that we sometimes look to the wrong things to bring contentment and happiness. As we begin a new year, help us to be content to be ourselves. Show us that by being content to simply be who we are, You will make us more than we ever dreamed we could be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.</span></em></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">For more encouragement, visit Beth at </span><a href="http://pwlawyermom.blogspot.com/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #46a7a0; padding-bottom: 0px; transition: color 0.1s linear;"><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">PWLawyerMom</span></a><span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">. </span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;">© 2017 by Beth Mabe Gianopulos. All rights reserved.</span></div>
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<span style="padding-bottom: 35px;"><i style="background-color: #e4e1db; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 21px;">This post was originally featured at <a href="http://www.encouragementcafe.com/blog/post/becoming-more-than-i-am">Encouragement Cafe </a>and <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/encouragement-cafe/encouragement-caf-december-29-2017.html">Crosswalk</a>.</i></span></div>
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