tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68052888416918034902024-02-20T16:07:08.648-07:00Sing4JOY / Janet LynThrough life's joys and sorrows, we are all on this journey together. For me, this adventure called life always goes better with music and faith and a lot of love and a lot of hope. My life is living proof that there is always hope. Always. So join me here for the ride of a lifetime. Oh, and feel free to bring along a lot of really good, strong coffee. Life goes better with that, too. And bicycles. And baseball~which reminds us that anything really is possible.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09407400029851150705noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805288841691803490.post-23116365278143034952012-07-11T16:30:00.000-06:002012-07-11T16:30:15.612-06:00Love is Everything<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">HOPE relentlessly.</span></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">FORGIVE generously.</span></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Choose KINDNESS continually.</span></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">LIVE fearlessly.</span></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">LOVE passionately.</span></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">...And be kind to each other, everyone.</span></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">LOVE with no holding back.</span></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">LOVE is EVERYTHING in LIFE.</span></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">~jl </span></b></i></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09407400029851150705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805288841691803490.post-79824913726356618912012-06-17T13:49:00.003-06:002012-06-17T14:03:50.651-06:00Forgiveness...and a Father's Heart<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Father’s Day 2012</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I forgave my father a long time ago.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He never apologized. He never asked for forgiveness.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But there came a time in my life where I realized I had to dig deep in my heart and forgive him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I realized forgiving my father was what I had to do in order to move on with my life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I realized forgiving my father was the only way I could try to have a future and let go of the hurts of the past.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It took me awhile to understand that forgiveness does not excuse someone for hurting you or the people you love, and forgiveness does not mean you have to subject yourself to any more of that hurt.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes you have to make the toughest choice to let go in order to live.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For me, forgiving my earthly father was the only way for my heart to heal and really know and understand the love of God as my Father.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like many people, I spent years never being able to fully relate to all the messages about God as a loving Father who accepts us no matter what, who wants to be with us, who believes in us, who loves us unconditionally, who is strong and honest and peaceful and merciful and kind, who would never harm us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it bothered me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It especially bothered me because I knew I was not alone.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew too many children and adults who did not have a loving, accepting father in their lives. I knew too many people whose image of a father was someone uncaring or abusive or absent or violent. I knew too many people who never heard the words, “I’m proud of you.” I knew too many people who longed to have a great father cheering them on in life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the same time, my friends and people I knew who had wonderful fathers who believed in them and wanted to spend time with them and loved them and protected them and kept them safe could not relate to why it was so hard for others to trust God as a loving Father.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you feel like you had to take care of yourself most of your life, it’s not easy to let go and trust that God will really be there for you when you need Him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When your image of a father is someone to fear, it’s nearly impossible to really believe that your heart is safe with God and that there is no fear in real love.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But a funny thing happened when I finally found the strength to forgive my father.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I finally began to find the freedom to open my heart.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I finally began to learn about real love.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I finally began to learn to trust God more, to slowly believe He really loved me and wanted the best for me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I finally began to see that God really did have good intentions toward me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I held onto that hope with all my heart. I still do.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="textjer-29-11"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="textjer-29-11"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”</i> ~Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="textjer-29-11">Another version of that verse promises us that God has <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“plans </i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (MSG)</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I began to look around, I finally realized that God had placed wonderful people in my life to love me and look out for me and remind me of His goodness. He has given me people who have my back, no matter what---people who would never harm me or let me be harmed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God brought people into my life to show me by example how He intends a healthy, loving family to live.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of my friends, who is raising his child alone, is one of the best examples I’ve ever met of someone who truly has a father’s heart of unconditional love. He is kind and selfless and compassionate and forgiving and a strong man of God. He accepts his responsibility as a father completely and wholeheartedly and without question.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have great friends who love their wives and kids with a strong and faithful love that is inspiring. They give their families what they need most: time and love and acceptance and encouragement and support and strength and security. They have fun together as a family and they help each other through the hard times.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other friends have shared their stories with me about what wonderful fathers or stepfathers they had. Hearing their stories always makes me feel hopeful.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through all their examples, I have learned so much about the true Father heart of God.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I have learned to believe in real love.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If your heart is hurting this Father’s Day or you’re missing what you didn’t have with an earthly father, God can do the same for you. He promised. And my life is proof it’s true.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“<span class="textps-68-5">Father to the fatherless, defender of widows; this is God.</span> <span class="textps-68-6">God places the lonely in families…”</span></i><span class="textps-68-6">~Psalm 68:5-6a</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even though there were times I wished I knew what it would have been like to grow up in a healthy, happy family, I don’t feel sorry for myself. Self-pity and regret take too much away from living. I don’t have time for that. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have too much life left to live. I have too much love still to give --- and receive.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I continue to pray that my own father will someday fully understand and receive God’s unconditional, forgiving love for him, too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you cannot relate to the idea of a great father to celebrate on Father’s Day or you did not even have a father in your life, take heart. There is hope.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you let Him, I know God can be for you everything your own father chose not to be or maybe could not be. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God will never abandon you. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God will never neglect you. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God will never abuse you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God will never forget about you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God will never threaten you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God will never use violence against you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God will never lie to you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God will never, ever leave you alone. Never.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God is loving and kind and forgiving.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God is supportive and accepting and caring.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God is selfless, self-sacrificing and compassionate.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God is truthful and faithful and responsible.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God’s heart toward you is calm and peaceful.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God is strong and persevering and full of hope.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God believes in you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God wants the very best for you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God wants to give you a future and a hope, no matter what kind of past you’ve had.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God values you. He treasures you. He cherishes you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God loves you unconditionally and He accepts you no matter what.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God’s arms will always be open wide with love for you, the way a good and loving father’s arms are always open wide with love for his children.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We can feel safe with God and His Father heart of unconditional love toward us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s the very best Father’s Day news of all.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09407400029851150705noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805288841691803490.post-77802050237842648702012-06-15T12:25:00.008-06:002012-06-15T12:42:38.657-06:00Finding Faith in Hard Places<div style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">*(The following is a reprint of a column I wrote Feb. 18, 2010. I share it here again because it's as true now as it was then. I pray it encourages you to never give up and hold onto hope no matter how hard life gets. ~jl)*</i></span></span></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I hate the hard places in life.</span></b> Completely hate them. Can’t stand them. Cry over them. Stamp my feet and throw my arms in the air and holler into the night at them. Rage with angry tears streaming down my face at <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">the hard places in life, the ones where life is completely unfair and injustice continues unchecked</span>.</span></b></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The times when a child dies.</span></b> The times <b><span style="font-size: medium;">when anyone dies “too young” whether they are 2 or 40 or 75</span></b>.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">The times <b><span style="font-size: medium;">when someone takes advantage of another human being</span></b> ~~ and gets away with it.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">The times <b><span style="font-size: medium;">when someone hurts another person</span></b> ~~ physically, verbally, emotionally and/or spiritually. </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> The times <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">when anyone abuses another person</span></strong>, child or adult, or a defenseless animal.<br />
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The times <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">when someone violates someone else’s trust</span></strong> in any way.<br />
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The times <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">when someone uses the power of their words to hurt someone else</span></strong>, especially behind their back.<br />
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The times <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">when guilt or shame or fear threatens to shut you down. Or someone you love.</span></strong><br />
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The times <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">when a friend or loved one is hurting very badly but there’s absolutely nothing you can do but love them.</span></strong><br />
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The times <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">when your heart hurts so badly you can’t breathe</span></strong>.<br />
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The times <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">when someone has to wait and wait and wait for test results that could change a life one way or another.</span></strong><br />
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The times <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">when you do everything you know to do and life still throws you a tragic curve.</span></strong><br />
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The times <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">when you don’t get to tell someone you love how you feel. Or even tell them goodbye.</span></strong><br />
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The times <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">when you lose someone so dear that you have to try to remind yourself to breathe.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">I absolutely HATE those times in life.</span></strong><br />
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I do <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">NOT</span></strong>, at those moments, listen to or say the horrible words, “Well, this must be God’s will.” How harmful that lie is!! <strong><span style="font-size: large;">God’s will is NEVER EVER to harm His children. NEVER EVER.</span> <span style="font-size: medium;">God’s heart breaks even more than ours at life’s tragedies.</span></strong><br />
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I do <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">NOT</span></strong>, at those moments, smile sweetly and count my blessings and say, “Well this must all be for the best.” <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Are you KIDDING me?</span></strong><br />
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If anyone around you ever utters those lies or misrepresentations, run as fast as you can. Especially if you hear anyone ever tell you, “Don’t ever question God.”<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Are you KIDDING me?</span></strong><br />
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God made me who I am. He is not going to fall off His throne because I am hurting and ask him questions. <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">He knows me and loves me.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">The God I know and love wants, more than anything, for me to be real with Him. To be honest and truthful with Him.</span></strong><br />
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God knows what I’m feeling anyway. Why would I lie to myself or Him and pretend otherwise?<br />
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I’m in good company. <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of the people who loved God most asked Him the most questions. </span></strong><br />
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<strong>News Flash: <span style="font-size: medium;">I’m human. All too human.</span> </strong><br />
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That’s why one of my heroes of the Bible is <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">David.</span></strong> <br />
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David screwed up over and over and over again. He lost his temper. He raged. He sinned. <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">He ~~gasp!!!~~ questioned God.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Just like I do.</span></strong> Just like you all do, if you’re honest with yourselves.<br />
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Yet time and time again, even ~~ and actually, especially ~~ <strong>when he had absolutely no satisfactory answers to any of his questions to God, <span style="font-size: medium;">David still ended up each and every time declaring his unyielding trust in God.</span> It’s there in every Psalm.</strong><br />
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And in the end, despite his many flaws, <strong>David was called</strong> by God himself <strong><span style="font-size: large;">“a man after God’s own heart.”</span></strong><br />
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In return, <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">even though David didn’t have the answers, <span style="font-size: large;">he worshipped God with love</span> and passion and reckless abandon and a stubborn faith that seemed absolutely crazy to everyone around him.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: medium;">The Divine and ultimate paradox. One I know too well.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">A loving God does not expect us to see injustice or experience tragedy and blindly accept it. He certainly does not expect us to never ask questions.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">All He asks is that we trust Him in the end. All He asks is that we have faith.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith</span> </span><span style="font-size: large;">to believe He loves us.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith</span> to hold on no matter what. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith</span> to struggle and still believe.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith</span> even if we can’t see anything happening.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith</span> to wait with expectant </span><span style="font-size: large;">hope.</span></strong> <br />
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It’s hard as hell. But I’m trying to learn.<br />
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I hate waiting. Really hate it.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">I’m holding onto hope with everything in me.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Because sometimes, more often than not, it takes everything in me, simply to hold onto hope.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Yet I still believe.</span></strong><br />
<br />
David may have said it in more flowery poetic phrases.<br />
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Here’s my modern-day version, as real as it gets:<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Some days, life just kicks the crap out of you. But you go on anyway. That’s faith.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: medium;">I know I’m not the only one who feels this way sometimes.</span></strong></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09407400029851150705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805288841691803490.post-71818337395567222382012-06-09T13:24:00.002-06:002012-06-09T13:30:35.208-06:00Making Your Life Matter<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><u><i><b>Making Your Life Matter</b></i></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><i><b>By Janet Lyn</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><i><b>Copyright May 2012</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>We all want to know we matter, that what we do and who we are makes a difference in this world.</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>I believe one of the greatest ways we can give our lives significance is by encouraging someone else and sharing hope.</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">With all of life’s joys and sorrows and ups and downs, we all need to know we are not alone.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We all need to hear someone else reassure us that we’re going to make it through a tough situation.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We all could use a cheering section sometimes, that realization that someone else cares about us and wants us to make it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sometimes it’s as simple as telling someone, <i><b><span style="color: blue;">“I’m proud of you”</span> </b></i>--- and really meaning it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Most people don’t hear those powerful words often enough --- and the result can be profound.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As a teacher, I try to tell my students I’m proud of them as much as I can. Whether my students are elementary school children or university students, they never seem to tire of hearing that I believe in them and care about them.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At the same time, I try to challenge them to use their gifts and talents to help other people and make this world a better place.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sometimes encouraging someone can be as simple and meaningful as spending time together and really listening to what someone has to say and what’s in their heart.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sometimes what someone needs most is a heartfelt hug or a hand to hold or someone to walk beside them.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>Sometimes the most powerful way we can make a difference in someone’s life is with the power of our words.</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>Our words --- spoken or written --- have the power to communicate encouragement, compassion, hope and unconditional love.</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yet too often, we hold back those encouraging words --- maybe because we’re afraid they’re not enough, maybe because we’re caught up in our own world, maybe because we’re not sure exactly what to say.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But if you think about it, most people hear so many discouraging words from the world around them, so many unkind or thoughtless words that leave a mark in the heart and soul.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>That’s why the power of encouraging words can make such a difference.</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>That’s why the power of kindness is so strong.</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sometimes the difference between someone finding the inner strength and courage to go on in the face of difficulty or tragedy is as simple as knowing that even one other person is in their corner, committed to be there for them.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We all have to endure challenges and even tragedies at some point in our lives.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Those are the times we have to make a choice. We can choose to give up and feel sorry for ourselves. Or we can choose to endure and persevere and refuse to give up.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And then, when we are able, we can choose to use what we have been through to encourage someone else who’s going through a tough time to keep the faith and hold onto hope.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>We were created to connect with each other, to need one another.</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>When we reach out to someone else with encouragement and compassion and love, we make a difference in the world wherever we are.</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>Our lives matter when we use our lives to make a real difference in someone else’s life.</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">********************</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><i><b>***How are you making your life matter by making a difference in the lives of others? What has someone else done to encourage you? Did the power of someone's words or kindness make a difference in your life? Share your thoughts and ideas.***</b></i> </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09407400029851150705noreply@blogger.com0