Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” ~Bonhoeffer
Do you ever feel like you’re wearing too many layers?
I’m not talking about clothes.
I’m talking about the layers of masks & armor that we carry around.
-the energy, thoughts, emotions, stories, & protection mechanisms we hold onto.
It’s the thoughts that tell you to close yourself off, because people will only hurt you.
The stories that tell you not to take the chance, because you’ll probably just fail anyway.
The same force that drives you to slam on the breaks when you see an accident coming
– your body’s way of protecting itself.
I used to never smile with my mouth open, because I was self-conscious of my teeth.
I used to never sing in front of other people, because I was afraid of being bad.
I had a mask blocking my expression because I was afraid of being judged.
I was trying to protect myself from embarrassment or insecurity.
But you know what I was doing instead?
Imposing that very same judgement I was trying to avoid, on myself.
Doesn’t it get heavy?
We are not presently living our lives when we’re in survival mode.
We are energetic beings, & it is in our nature to always be giving & receiving energy.
But we’re not meant to hold on.
This is not a journey of collecting layers to carry with you.
We’re meant to experience the present, learn & grow from, & continue moving forward while always letting go. Because whether you realize it or not, you are on a path that is unfolding just for you.
But sometimes on a long journey, you have to take a pause to reevaluate what you’re carrying & clear your suitcase to make a little room. It’s kind of hard to receive newfound inspiration, if your mind is cluttered with grievances from the past.
Because only when we let go, are we able to clear the space to fully receive
the gifts our journey has to offer.
Peel away the layers through transformative practices, to guide you back home
to the divine essence beneath it all that is you.
It all starts with a decision to stop holding on.
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TO WHOM ARE YOU LISTENING?
“A wise man will hear and will increase learning; and a man
of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels” (Proverbs 1:5). KJV
Loved ones, life is full of decisions that do not have absolute, specific-by-name,
how-to directions in the Bible.
For example: How many hours a day should my children spend
on screens? Where should the family go for vacation?
Is it wise to go on a date with a coworker?
We all have notions about the truth, but how do we know for sure that
these ideas are coming from God? Am I hearing God? Or am I only hearing myself?
Worse yet, am I hearing the temptations of Satan disguised as the leading of
the Holy Spirit?
Sometimes distinguishing our own ideas from God’s leading is difficult.
What if our urges are actually coming from the enemy of our souls and not from God? Remember, the prophet said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
How do we bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”?
(2 Corinthians 10:5) when we aren’t sure where the thoughts are coming from?
Friends, God communicates His will to mankind through the Bible, His inspired Word
(2 Timothy 3:16-17). Through the divine providence of God, He has preserved the 66 books of the Bible throughout the centuries for man’s perfection. It is through the Word that we are sanctified (John 17:17), and the Word is the light for our path (Psalm 119:105).
Again, through His sovereign providence, God also guides us through circumstances
(2 Corinthians 2:12) and godly mentors providing wise counsel (Proverbs 12:15).
When God wants to speak to us, nothing can stop Him.
Here are some ways to discern the source of our thoughts:
If we are confused about whether or not we are hearing God,
it is good to pray for wisdom (James 1:5).
[It’s good to pray for wisdom even when we don’t think we’re confused!]
We should ask God to make His will clearly know to us.
When we pray, we “must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts
is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6).
If we have no faith, we “should not expect to receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:7).
Talk to God in prayer and earnestly wait for His answer.
However, keep in mind that God doesn’t give us everything we desire,
and sometimes His answer is, “wait” (Psalm 27:14) or “No.”
He knows what we need at any given time, and He will show us what is best. If God says, “No,” then we can thank Him for the clarity of His direction and move on from there.
Study the Word
The Bible is called “God’s Word” for a reason—it is the way God speaks to us.
It is also the way we learn about God’s character and His dealings with people throughout history. All Scripture is “breathed out (inspired) by God” and is the guide for a righteous life (2 Timothy 3:16–17). While we speak to God in prayer, He speaks to us through His Word. As we read, we must consider the words of the Bible to be the very words of God
(1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Any thought, desire, inclination, or urge we may have must be brought to the Word of God for comparison and approval. Let the Bible be the judge of every thought. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to divide soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”.
No matter how urgent the urge, if it goes against what Scripture says,
then it is not of God and must be rejected. (Hebrews 4:12).
Follow the Holy Spirit’s Leading
Paul wrote, “This I say then, walk in the Spirit,
and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
The Holy Spirit is God (deity) — a divine Being with the Father and the Son.
He has a mind, emotions, and will. He is the source of God’s word and uses it as His SWORD (Ephesians 6:17).
He is always with us (Psalm 139:7–12) and intercedes for us in prayer (Romans 8:26–27).
The Holy Spirit wills to fill us (Ephesians 5:18) and
produce in us His fruit (Galatians 5:22–25).
No matter what decisions we’re making day to day,
we can’t go wrong when we exhibit love, joy, peace, etc., to the glory of God.
When we have a random thought pop into our heads, we must learn to “test the spirits”
(1 John 4:1). Will following this inclination lead to more Christlikeness?
Will dwelling on this thought produce more of the fruit of the Spirit in me?
The Holy Spirit will never lead us to gratify the sinful desires of the flesh; He will always lead us toward sanctification (1 Peter 1:2). Life on earth is a spiritual battle. The enemy is eager to supply diversions to distract us from God’s will (1 Peter 5:8). We must be vigilant to ensure that what we heed is more than a feeling but is truly from God Himself.
Remember, God wants to show us the right path to take.
He’s not in the business of hiding His will from those who seek Him.
However, as in the days of Jeremiah, many people are refusing to walk
in the Old Paths of God (Jeremiah 6:16).
Here are some good questions to ask as we examine whether or not we are hearing God: Are the promptings confusing or vague?
God is not the author of confusion; He is the bringer of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33).
Do the thoughts of your heart go against God’s Word? God will not contradict Himself.
Will following these promptings lead to sin?
Those who “keep in step with the Spirit” have “crucified the flesh
with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24–25).
In addition, it is good to seek counsel from a friend, family member, preacher, or elder (Proverbs 15:22). Our pastors are there to help shepherd us: “Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17).
God does not want us to fail. The more we listen to God, the better we will be at distinguishing His voice from the other noises in our heads. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, gives His promise: “He goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice” (John 10:4).
Others may speak, “but the sheep do not listen to them” (vs 5.
.You can know the Lord as your shepherd by: Accepting His leadership over your life. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).
The better we know our Shepherd, the less we will give heed to the wrong voice.
We love you with the love of the Lord. Samuel
When Bad Things Happen in Your Life
I just finished re-listening to Job 37-42.
It is a fascinating section of scripture for a couple of reasons.
First, if you listen or read it as is, you see Who is actually speaking to Job.
Many believe it is God the Father, but in reality, it is Jesus who is speaking.
Second thing is the dialogue He is laying out to Job. It is all about how He made everything work together in creation, and how He has control over it all.
That includes Job’s entire situation also.
I’m sure Job, like many of us, had no idea why the horrible things were suddenly failing at his feet. Most people who only experience a loss of one child curse God, or if they lose their biggest client at their job they curse God, or get sick with a bad case of the flu even speak out against God. But Job lost all his children, his livelihood/business, and his health was stripped from him all in the same day. Even his own wife told Job he should curse God and die.
How could Job, a righteous man of God, not question what he had done to deserve all this. But through all of this he didn’t curse God, nor blame Him. In fact, Job sought counsel from friends to see if he had done something wrong so he could repent because he didn’t understand why these things were happening to him. Job however “held fast to what he had” which at this point was his faith, and Jesus rewarded him with twice the number of possessions than he had before.
I really think Job’s experience is essential to our walk with God because it reminds us when bad things come into our lives that God is still in control, and if we can persevere through the hardship until the very end He will reward us greatly.
Not just in physical things, but also eternal things.
Psalm 45:6-7 KJV “Your throne O God, is forever and ever; …
5Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s foes; the nations fall beneath your feet.
6Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
7You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God,
has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joy.…
A scepter of righteousness is a scepter of your kingdom.” (We hear remarks today like, “religion is out of date. Morality is different and we don’t need what some deem superstition of religious belief in a post-modern world.” Well if religion is on the decline, (the kind revealed in the scripture) just listen to the news and tell me how that’s working out for us? And don’t tell me, “Most wars are started by religion.” It is not the religion of the Bible and Christ but the false kind Satan substitutes for the real.
No, we serve an eternal God who has a plan for this world and our lives if we will follow Him. His kingdom does not have a shelf life on it. It is forever and will continue through all eternity. His words will not change. It is the source of light and life we need in this present world. His moral law is forever. Jesus said, “From the beginning, God created them male and female. No misguided and spiritually blinded government celebrating sin will ever change God’s moral law. The church is eternal. It will merge into eternity in heaven and the gates of Hell will not stop it.
Finally, the same God who revealed Himself in the Bible can be real in your life today.
If you don’t have Him in your life, you are empty inside and have nothing to look forward to except this temporal world which will all pass away, then eternal separation from Him. The same gospel the early church preached can be real in anyone’s life and can be a source of salvation to people who repent of sin, believe in what Christ did for them on the cross and trust Him as their Lord and Saviour.
I am so happy I serve an eternal God. He is much bigger than my puny thinking.
When I get into His eternal book and receive His eternal salvation I can glory in
His eternal plan and purpose for my life.
(To ignore it is the greatest mistake anyone can make.)
Beware of what you post online and share with others.
When we as followers of Jesus Christ post worldly topics and concerns on our pages,
we not only take our focus off of Christ and His message, but we become a distraction
and a stumbling block to others in the faith as well. We cause others to focus on the lawlessness in this world and in return it causes their love to grow cold.
Jesus warned us of both of these things in His teachings.
Matthew 18:6
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,
it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and
to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Matthew 24:12-13
Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
If you are truly trying to do good, then stop distracting others from
the Kingdom of Heaven’s work which is sharing the good news.
Harvard study:
Many researchers believe that education level is less important in maintaining a healthy brain than the habit of staying mentally active as you age. In one study, mentally intact people in their 70s and 80s were asked how often they did six activities that required active mental engagement-reading, writing, doing crossword puzzles, playing board or card games, engaging in group discussions, and playing music.
In the following five years, those who placed in the highest third in terms of how often
they engaged in mentally stimulating activities were half as likely to develop mild cognitive impairment as those in the lowest third. Agreed. And if you “we” stop learning and taking in new things, you may be more at risk for cognitive decline. An earlier report found a similar link between brain-stretching activities and a lower risk of Alzheimer’s.
Personally speaking, I am pleasantly surprised at how I can still discover music
that can inspire and hit me just as hard as it did when I was younger.
MercyMe – Grace Got You (Official Lyric Video)
MercyMe – Say I Won’t (Official Music Video)
MercyMe Performs “Even If” With Testimony
MercyMe – Greater (Official Lyric Video)
Berean Study Bible · Download
I came here to say ^ THIS ^
HAPPY DANCE. Giorgia Boschetto
My Soulié ~ in Munich, Germany 🙂