Increase Your Peace

Increase Your Peace  

 

 

 

Stress.  It’s something we all deal with from time to time, but we all seem to handle it a bit differently.  How should we be handling it though?  For me, I tend to resort to missing meals, missing sleep, and a negative attitude.  None of those things are very good decisions; and to be honest with you all I definitely have some work to do in this area!  I’ve discovered a major flaw, however, in how I go about “fixing” my stress.  Typically if it’s caused by exams, friend problems, or anything I think I’m capable of overcoming, I spend a lot of time trying to fix the issue.  The problem with this is I can’t always fix the issue myself, thus, leading me into further frustration. 

The truth: When we are obedient and do everything with excellence, we can find peace through trust in God.

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.  The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12: 2

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

In other words, when we are doing our best to serve God but there are still some bumps along the way, we really just need to step back and let God do the work.  He may not fix your problem but He will give you peace IF you let Him.

The truth: “Fixing” the stressors in your life isn’t always necessary.  God will calm your storm.  

You know that old saying, “everything happens for a reason?”  Well, whether or not you believe that to be true, God allows us to face trials for several reasons, but He never wanted to see us suffer.  God provides peace because He does care, and although it may seem hard, sometimes we just have to allow the stressful times to pass and rely on God to carry us through.

The Lord will fight for you. You have only to be still. Exodus 14:14

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

So God may have left us with the world in which we, in fact, will face many stressful events, but He also left us with the gift of peace.  Kind of silly to just ignore something like that, you know?  It’s so easy to slip into fix-it mode, but when we take another look at the Bible, it is clear that the stressful times have lessons to be learned and God will be there to give us PEACE.

The truth: God’s peace passes all understanding.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

I can tell you from my personal experience, all of the verses I have listed are no joke.  It’s hard to explain, but there have been times where I’ve been so stressed, then a simple prayer gives me such strong assurance and security that I’m not walking this journey alone, and everything is going to be alright. 

So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed with stress, rather than try to “fix it”, remember God’s promise.

Until next time…

Peace out. ;)

Integrity

Integrity

 

 

On my mind lately is the idea of what we do when nobody’s looking.  Now I’m not talking picking your nose or dancing like a crazy person to your favorite song…but rather, the person you are when the world isn’t watching.  We all have our morals, our beliefs, and our convictions; all of which are typically simple to follow when we have an audience.  I mean really, who wants to look bad in front of someone else? However, it can be pretty easy to step outside the lines when nobody’s there to call you out.  So maybe you already exercise what you preach, but if I were to guess, I’d say all of us have our moments where our selfish, humanly side takes the driver’s seat.

The truth: There’s always an audience of one.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men Colossians 3:23

Not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart Ephesians 6:6

Living on earth, it’s easy to assume that nobody sees the things we do it secret; but it’s foolish to draw this conclusion.  You can’t hide it from God—and his opinion is the only one that really matters anyway.  (For reference, Jonah is a perfect example of this.) 

The truth: True character is what you do when nobody’s looking.

Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ in front of others, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. ² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4

So sure, you may not get all the “credit” you desire for doing what’s right when nobody’s watching on earth; but I think that comes along with the territory of being a person of character.  We’re not always going to get rewarded for the things we do when nobody’s watching, but God sees and He will reward you in Heaven. When we do what is right simply because it’s right, God does not let that go un-noticed!

The truth: Everything you claim to be is meaningless if there’s an “on” and “off” switch.

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 2 Corinthians 5:11

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. Proverbs 10:9

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. Proverbs 11:3

Honestly, what’s the point in putting on a show?  Imagine judgment day…do you think God’s going to be there stating, “Wow, you did a great job living a righteous life when everyone was watching.  Forget about the times in secret where you fell short, because you sure impressed everyone!”  Yeah, I’m gonna guess it won’t go like that. Being righteous and integrity-filled is all about how you live your life despite the presence or absence of an audience.  When it’s all said and done, your character and integrity is only between you and God, and the “ideal model” you’ve created for the world to see is irrelevant. 

So think about it, do you act the same way when nobody’s looking?  Are your intentions to impress others, or do the right thing?

He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Luke 16:10

Until next time…

-Tamara

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

R.e.s.p.e.c.t.

 

 

Respect.  I think this is a word that is so often used incorrectly, and is greatly misunderstood.  Teachers, friends, parents; essentially, everyone demands it.  However it becomes a bit of a gray area when those demanding it don’t seem to deserve it.  I, like everyone else, had pre-conceived notions about it.  But rather than rant, let’s check out what the Word says.   

Regarding elders/authority:

Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:32

¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

Regarding parents:

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12

Regarding friends/anyone else:

¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:17

The truth: As you can see, the Bible commands respect to everyone.

So perhaps the distortion of this command is all the different definitions to “respect.”  Respect can mean “to honor or admire someone,”  “to be polite in regard to a person,” or even “to avoid violation or interference with.”  Based on what else we can find in the Word, I’ve come to a conclusion.

The truth: God doesn’t expect us to admire those who do sinful things, and we are not expected to support them in their wrong-doings, either.  Rather, we are commanded to treat them with kindness, and honor their authority.  In other words, be polite.  Don’t hop on board if the person is doing something which contradicts the Bible, but be aware that if they are in a position of authority it’s for a reason and you must be kind and regardful to them.   

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. Romans 13:1-7

I think this verse basically sums it up.  We need to respect authority, but must follow what God has commanded over all.  And when elders are contradicting God’s Word, it’s okay to “respectfully” resist ;).  For example, as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did with King Nebuchadnezzar (see Daniel 3.) 

On a final note, I encourage you to put these commands into practice if you haven’t already.  I know I can easily forget/disregard them, and will be working on it as well.  Long story short, God wants us to treat everyone with kindness, and to honor authority.  Were humans, of course authority will mess up sometimes.  In the end the only One who’s really in charge is God.

Until next time,

-       Tamara

Gratefulness

 Gratefulness

 

 

Gratefulness….it’s something we all get sick of hearing about.  It’s something we all think we possess.  It’s something we criticize others with.  But take a moment, and actually check yourself.  When was the last time you genuinely thanked someone for what they did?  When was the last time you recognized all of the gifts you’ve been given? What if you died today, only to wake up the next morning with only the things you thanked God for?  Interesting thought, isn’t it?  Now I know we can’t spend all night going through a long list thanking God for what we have every day, but we can, however, appreciate and acknowledge the gifts we’ve been given.  

The truth: There is always something to be grateful for.

First of all, if you have a roof over your head and food to eat, that’s a gift in itself.  And when in doubt, go to the cross.  God sacrificed His life for you, and would have done it ONLY for you.  Now THAT is something to be thankful for.

John 3:16…’nough said.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

The truth: Taking time to recognize what we do have alters our focus and perspective.

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” (MSG) Philippians 4:8

The truth: Taking time to give thanks changed me.

Last year, for one month I made it a goal to write one thing down each day that I was thankful for.  Each day I would pray and thank God for each thing on the list.  Now that might sound totally lame to you, but it really opened my eyes to all that I have been given. At least for me, it’s incredibly easy to lose sight of everything God has given me, and I find myself just wanting more stuff.  Taking this challenge not only helped me break away from my natural selfish tendencies, but it also gave me a more positive outlook.  As I’ve mentioned in a previous blog, positive thinking changes everything. 

On a final note, I understand that a lot of times I spend blog posts telling you “why doing these things will be good for you,” but really it’s not about that.  There’s one name to glorify and that’s God.  He’s given you and me so many things, and it’s really the least we can do to acknowledge them!

 I challenge you to try the one month goal.  If you’re anything like me, it will change your perspective big time!

Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

-Tamara

Hearing God's Voice: My story

Hearing God’s Voice-My story

 

 

So I’m not entirely sure who all reads this blog, but no matter where you are spiritually you will/have encounter(ed) this “obstacle” at some point [assuming you are a Christian].  I’ll start with my story.  When I was in middle school, I sat in church as I watched my friends pour their hearts out in worship to God.  They seemed so close to him. And I felt so distant. I’ve believed in God my whole life, but at the time I was really struggling with actually hearing God.  I mean, it just didn’t make sense to me.  How could someone just “know God was telling them something.”  Although this may seem totally basic to you, I was sitting in service one day when a simple sentence made things much clearer to me. The statement was “when you spend time reading the Bible, God will speak to you.”  Yeah it seems pretty obvious, but I can only assume I’m not the only one who was sitting there waiting for some sort light to shine down and God to speak.  The fact is, it doesn’t always work that way.

                However, as I continued to read the Word, God brought my attention to many verses which helped me get through struggles, challenged me, and encouraged me.  This simple practice has become an everyday thing and truly changed my life.  In addition, now that I have put the time in to listen to God, he has spoken to me in many other instances.  To describe it to someone who hasn’t experienced this before—it’s not like there’s a light coming down from heaven. For me, I am usually faced with a deep passion that seems unnatural to my own being.  When I allowed myself to become vulnerable to God’s voice, making prayers such as “God use me,” and “Guide me,” I would become overwhelmed with the power, passion, and heart of God. 

                Finally, as I grew closer to God, I began to hear Him in everyday instances.  When you pursue Him, he will speak to you!  You just have to be listening.  Many times it’s easy to get God’s voice confused with your own, but I found that the best way to distinguish it is by 1. Checking how closely it follows God’s word. If it’s not okay in terms of the Bible, then it aint God! 2. Identify the passion/purpose behind it.  Does it sound like something God wants you to do? Do you feel conviction?

I hope that by reading this you have developed a greater understanding of hearing God’s voice.  It can seem incredibly difficult at times, but He’s always talking to you and cares about you more than you know.  If you’ve been discouraged at any point, keep pursuing! I can promise you He will speak! And a good place to start is the Bible; it is the Word of God after all!

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

³ ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

 

Until next time,

Tamara

Unwrapped

Unwrapped

 

 

The wrapping is flawless, the bow is tied just right, and you’ve gone to present this gift to your friends.  Inevitably, it is to be completely torn apart.  In the end, you and I both know the only thing that matters is the contents of the package; yet we still wrap it and make it look as intriguing as possible. Now take what I just said to you and apply it to yourself.  We, as humans, automatically feel obligated to put on an act; a mask; in order to please the world. I mean, it’s the easy way out right?  Your packaging will be good enough that people won’t judge it, and from the surface they can’t see what’s inside.  Sound like a good deal to you?

Sure, blending in doesn’t really seem like a bad thing, in theory.  I mean, the outcasts are always picked on.  So why would you possibly want to be unique? Why take off the mask when everyone seems to like it just fine?

When we wrap ourselves in a design pleasing to the world, everything becomes uniform.  The unique gifts, talents, and personalities we have been given are over-shadowed and masked, and suddenly there’s nothing so special about you anymore.  So my challenge to you—unwrap the gift.  I don’t know about you, but I love seeing the unique things about each individual.  It’s fascinating to me.  I mean, God created us all so differently (even though there are billions of people in the world.)  There’s really nothing interesting about being like everyone else, and when we try to do so were deliberately avoiding what God has called us to be.

The truth: You have a unique purpose.              

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139: 14-16

¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

I’ve said this before, but it still stands true. You have been placed on this world to do something great; something no one else can do.  Maybe it’s something as simple as being a friend to the girl in your class who never seems to get noticed.  Or maybe you are to come up with the cure to cancer…WHO KNOWS! Regardless, you will not achieve these things if your focus is on blending into the crowd and acting like everyone else.

The truth: You can’t make a difference by fading into the background.

To create an impact, you have to step out.  You have to do something different.  Change doesn’t happen when you do what everyone else is doing!

Take Paul, (from the Bible), for example.  He was called by God to be an apostle.  Now just like we must do today, He had to go against the social “norms” in order to fulfill his calling. Although he faced many trials, he made such a great impact. He changed the world and led many to Christ because he was willing to step out and be different; fulfilling God’s calling in his life. Just imagine—what if he decided to just blend into the world and focus on pleasing others? Although you may not be called to missions, you still have a calling.  There’s something about you which is unique, but you must be willing to step out in confidence to create an impact! If you haven’t read much about the story of Paul, I encourage you to read about him in the book of Acts.

The truth: Embracing your calling, and being what you were made to be, (not what the world structured you to be) is HOT.

(yes I just said hot.)

Ever heard a guy/girl say, “Wow, she acts like every other girl I’ve met.  It’s so cute.”   Ever heard someone say, “Wow, I wish I could be just like that Britney Spears impersonator.”  Yeah, I didn’t think so.  Not that it matters to be accepted by society, (we only need to be accepted by God); however people are known to cling to those who stand out.  The things that are special and unique to you are the things that make you great! Why avoid them?!

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

And on an ending note….

And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever 1 John 2:17

I hope that this post challenges you to unwrap! (No, I’m not saying take your clothes off.)  You have unique gifts, and being like everyone else is boring! I encourage you to chase after your calling, and just be yourself! What have you got to lose?

Until next time,

-Tamara

What do you see?

What do you see?

 

 

Do you look at the glass half full, or half empty? –One of the most irritating questions I think has ever been asked. Alright, let’s be real here guys.  If I were to guess, I’d say most of us have been asked this question before, and would know the “right” answer is half full; then proceed to blurt that out.  Anyway, I’m just going to go ahead and admit; I’m a pessimist.  We’ve all know the spiel about “looking at the bright sight of things,” however the pessimists, like me, maybe think “I don’t want to look at the bright side!”

Now although pessimism can keep us in touch with reality, it can drag us down.  In fact, as I look back, I think my negative ‘tude has dragged me down more than I realized at the time.  Just to give an example, there have been several days where I have awoken from such a beautiful slumber to a demonic alarm blasting in my ears….where it’s easy for me to say “Ugh! This sucks!” Boom. Bad mood is set. And the whole day is to follow.  Seems like such a simple reaction, but it can impact so much more.  When you think about it, pessimism is simply a pity-party and a hindrance from enjoying, fulfilling, and chasing the call on your life. 

What a Negative Outlook Can Do to You:

·         Focus your thoughts on minor conflicts

·         Influence other people’s moods

·         Make your world seem as though it’s falling apart

·         Keep you from enjoying life

What a Positive Outlook Can Do to You:

·         Keep your mind focused on purposeful aspects of life

·         Influence other people’s moods

·          Reiterate the good things in your life

·         Encourage a joyful life

The truth: In the words of my mother, “You have the choice (of how you react)!”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope Romans 15:13

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it” Charles R. Swindoll

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

In other words, you aint no robot! Nobody “made you mad”, that was your choice of reaction.  When your heart is focused on the purpose, the blessings God has given you, and the big picture, you will find your life to be much more enjoyable.

The truth: A positive outlook precedes joy.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs  17:22

12 ^1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:2 (The Message)

^Love that.

Now before I conclude, I want you to understand something.  I’m not implying here that there’s no time for grief, and we need to always have a chipper attitude.  Rather, we must remember the things God has done in our lives.  God never promised happiness, but He did promise joy.  But if you want joy, you must seek it! I encourage you to try and step out of the natural tendencies to think negatively, and re-focus on what is good.  I certainly will be working on this myself!

Until next time…

-Tamara