Courage For Today

needed

Avoid Being the Label Maker

Self-Worth

We live in a Society that loves labels.  By definition, a label provides information, or some clue, as to what is being labeled.  We label our food so that we know the can we are about to purchase is Green Beans and not Black-eyed Peas, or that we’ve purchased Vanilla Wafers and not Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Labels not only contain the name of what you’re possibly buying, but oftentimes contain much needed information such as nutritional facts.  After all, I need to know how many calories are contained in the cookies I am about to enjoy so I know how many extra miles to walk on the treadmill.  Labels even tell us what size clothes are on the rack so that we make sure we buy what fits.  Labels are everywhere we look and we can’t avoid them.

Unfortunately, labels can be deadly weapons in the wrong hands.  We’ve all heard stories about medicines that weren’t labeled correctly or had improper warnings.  We can probably all think of a child we knew in school that was not considered “athletic” or was not considered “cool” and was labeled.  We all know someone who is overweight and is labeled.  We all know someone who is shy and is labeled.  Labels are even assigned to those with a certain accent, as with my Southern accent, usually in a negative manner. You can even be labeled based on your income level or your education level or by the job you have.  Let’s admit it, we tend to look down on the Fast Food employee and look up to the Physician.  We even label others based on the car they drive or how large their home is. I’m sure you can think of many more examples or perhaps have even been a victim of being labeled yourself.

My point is that labels based on fact provide needed information.  Labels based on opinion; incomplete information, bias; or simple differences among people take on a new identity.  At that point, labels become judgemental and are like a sharp knife cutting and slashing anything in it’s path. Facts don’t matter to the labeler.  Reasonableness and Common Sense don’t matter to the labeler. Nothing avoids the wrath of the label in the wrong hands.

As a Christian, I can’t honestly say that I’ve always stayed away from labeling others.  I’ve been guilty of saying harsh things many times and sometimes wish I could take my words back; unfortunately, you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.  If you’ve been guilty of labeling others, I can tell you that you’ll cause more harm to yourself than to the ones you’re trying to label.  If you’ve been a victim of labeling, never forget that you are a special creation in God’s eyes.  We’ve all  been given a unique set of gifts and talents that God will encourage you to use in a mighty way.  No one of us is better than another in God’s eyes.  The person the World saw as a Shepherd, God saw as a King.  The person the World saw as a carpenter, God saw as a Savior.

God doesn’t have any use for labels and neither should we.  Just because the World may label us or someone else, doesn’t mean we have to join in.

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Understanding the Puzzle of Faith

Encouragement

Faith is one of those concepts that has always been hard for me to grasp.  Not only that, but I would just get downright mad at others who would sometimes just tell me to “have faith.”  I already knew that I should have faith, but I spent many years wondering how?  I wanted someone to tell me how.  These well-meaning friends that were telling me to “just have faith” didn’t ever tell me HOW to have Faith or what exactly to do.  I know there isn’t some magic formula, but there had to be something to grab on to.  It was just an abstract concept to me and I struggled with how to attach some “meat” or a real meaning to this thing we call Faith.

I can tell you from personal experience, my discovery of Faith has come from the school of hard knocks.  It hasn’t come from some book I read (other than the Bible), or some message I’ve heard, just blood, sweat, and tears.  So, without further ado, here are my suggestions on how to make Faith real in your life.  I even used the letters F-A-I-T-H to make it easier to remember:

Follow what God has already directed in your life.  I remember many years ago when my daughter was struggling on her decision to become a missionary.  She prayed and agonized over the decision for years and could never come to peace with a decision.  She was totally miserable because she always felt called to be a missionary, but just couldn’t take that step of faith.  One day, she was talking and praying with my wife and mentioned that she just didn’t know what to do; she just couldn’t get God’s direction on what to do.  My wife, in her Godly wisdom, told my daughter that she believed God had already given her the direction and instruction she needed, but that my daughter wasn’t being obedient to follow that direction.  Once she heard that from my wife, it was as if a ton of bricks was lifted from her shoulder.  God’s will and direction for her life was there all along; she just wasn’t willing to accept it at the time.

Accept God’s timing.  I don’t have enough space in this article to tell you how many times God’s timing has been perfect in my life.  Now, I didn’t say HIS timing was what I wanted it to be, but it was always what I needed it to be.  There were jobs and promotions I thought I deserved and didn’t get, only to realize why many months later.  There were financial decisions that I needed to make that had I made them when I wanted to make them, would have turned out disastrous.  I could go on and on, but my point is that you have to accept and trust that God’s timing is perfect and there for a reason, even if you don’t understand it.

Ignore the naysayers and Invite wisdom from others.  Don’t spend your time listening to wisdom and advice from ungodly people or those that haven’t experienced what you’re experiencing.  Don’t listen to financial advice from someone working 3 jobs.  Don’t listen to your hair-dresser give you Stock market advice.  Instead, seek out wise and Godly counsel from those you trust and who are experts in the area you are needing advice, or at least experienced in the areas.

Turn toward HIM, not the problem.  This is probably the most difficult of all.  Whatever you’re going through, no matter how bleak, no matter how depressing or seemingly hopeless it is, Focus on HIM not the situation.  I don’t mean that you sit back and do nothing to help your situation.  What I do mean is that you pray and cry out to God and let HIM know that HE is the most important thing in your life.  Let HIM know that even though you don’t understand what’s going on, your accept that HE is in control and knows what’s best for you and your situation.  You’ll be amazed how turning toward HIM will strengthen and uplift you, even during the darkest times.

Humble yourself; we don’t deserve anything anyway.  At some point, we all have to realize that if we never received another thing in this world; if I never accomplished anything else in life; I am still victorious in Christ.  I am a sinner saved by Grace.  I don’t deserve anything but HE loved me so much that he died for me.  That alone, should be sufficient no matter what may happen in life itself.

I pray that whatever you may be experiencing right now that you’ll find new courage and strength in your daily walk of Faith.

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Living With Well Dressed Intentions

Self-Worth

A couple of weeks back, I broke down and bought a new suit for myself.  I hate buying clothes for myself.  I’m not sure why because once I buy them, I really enjoy them.  For some reason, I just hate spending money on myself.  Unfortunately, I had a business meeting to attend in New York and needed a suit. I’ve gone through trauma recently because I’ve gained weight and my waist size can’t fit in my existing suits.  Now, I could exercise and eat right, but that seems like too much work.  I decided it was just easier to buy a new suit.

What a great feeling it was to put on my sleek, new Grey suit.  I even bought a new shirt and matching tie.  If I do say so myself, I looked pretty sharp. It’s amazing how confident I felt for the meeting knowing that I looked sharp with my new shirt on.  Man, I felt like a million dollars and, I believe, it showed in my actions during the meeting.  I’m sure, over time, the newness will wear off and I’ll get fatter and, sooner or later, I’ll have to break down and buy another suit.  Until that time, I sure will enjoy this one.

It reminded me somewhat of the day I accepted Christ back when I was a young teenager. It was such an exciting, confident feeling and it was as if I had “a new suit of clothes.”  If you believe the Bible and believe that you are a new person in Christ when you accept HIM, as I do, than it really is comparable.  When I accepted Christ, I was a new person.  I was more confident, more at peace, and much happier than before.  My “new suit of clothes” in Christ was more than I could have ever hoped.

Over time, I began to take Christ for granted.  HE almost became like an old suit and just didn’t seem to fit any longer.  It was as if I needed something new.  Over time, I stubbornly learned that I really didn’t need anything new.  I really didn’t need a new suit of clothes.  What I had in Christ was all I needed.  It wasn’t HIM that left me; it was me that grew tired and bored with HIM.

I began to realize that I needed to pray more; to worship more; and to place HIM first in all that I do.  It was amazing that by doing these simple things, what I had been viewing as the “old suit” became new again.  I was back to my old self of confidence and joy.  Not because I did anything special.  HE was still God and HE never left me.  I just renewed the relationship that HE was so longing all the time.

Does Christ seem like an “old suit” to you?  Just remember, that HE has never left you.  I pray that you will renew your relationship with HIM and become one in Christ again.

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