Heart - shaped Vacuum

Some have this...Some don't.  Even if you have your differences, you are blessed if you have family who care about you, are there when you need them, are loyal to you and defend you, accept you as you are, and include you in their lives. Experiencing love from a mother, father, sister or brother can encourage and strengthen you in a way nothing else can, and the lack of it during difficulties makes you feel the ultimate rejection and loneliness. After all, if they don't love you, why would anyone else? Sometimes I feel like a failure, especially as a mother, because sometimes it seems what I do is never good enough and I am always falling short of expectations for me. But regardless of this, my one hope is that those I love KNOW that I love them beyond a doubt...that even if others show indifference or an air of superiority toward them, that I love them right where they are. No matter what. In essence, I believe our greatest need in life is to feel loved and accepted for who we are. We all strive in different ways to prove ourselves worthy of acceptance. This is why it's so important to have a relationship with God and know His unconditional love, otherwise we will never achieve our full potential. Knowing we are loved by God and our first family are essential elements of a firm foundation for success in all we do...otherwise we limp through life feeling unknown, unwanted, and unimportant, seeking recognition in worldly things in an attempt to fill a heart - shaped vacuum.

The eternal self

"It is the eternal which makes us who we are..."  Thanks, Jeff, needed to read this tonight. When you feel you've been chewed up, spit out, and left for dead, and all your efforts and sacrifices feel like they have been for nothing. When you feel devalued and disrespected even when you have tried to do your best and give your all. When you feel that the essence of who you are has been plundered and used against you for the sake of others' selfish benefit. Remind yourself Who you belong to...Who has been watching...Who knows everything you ever have, are, or will go through before it happens. God's purposes in your life are meant to mold your eternal self, to show His glory in your humility. He WILL restore, and He WILL raise you up. I pray that God gives us the hope we need for the future for which He is preparing us. Hope is the fuel that fires our faith, and love is the strength that keeps us going!

Be careful

Some people think they are out-smarting you, when actually they are just taking advantage of your kindness and trust.  If they are doing it on purpose to further their own selfish interests, then they are thieves. Stealing your time, energy, opportunities and dreams away from you is worse than stealing your money. It is betrayal, and an obvious expose' of their lack of integrity and moral character. They are incapable of true friendship or love, because someone who truly cares about you will watch out for and protect you, not use you or throw you to the wolves. Pay attention to who you trust...they can make or break your life.

Hidden sin

No one wants their dirty laundry displayed, but you can't let hidden sin control you either. God IS light. If we want to live as His people, then we have to live IN the light instead of being afraid of it like Adam.  Just lies from the enemy...and our own pride talking. God can use whoever He wants, no matter what they've done.

If God's opinion is all we truly care about, then what is there to fear? The enemy convinces us that "if people knew that about me, it would harm my reputation as a man/woman of God and hurt my Christian witness".  I know because of how many times I've said it to myself.  Perhaps God can use you more when you are "real" and understand others because you've been there. You become relatable. 

Christian culture conditions us to be "set apart", but not in the way God intended. He said to be IN this world not of it. I'm sure Chuck Colson and Jim Bakker have done more SINCE their sin was revealed than before. 

The self - righteous "set apart" Christian leaders/lay people harm those of us trying to be real and transparent. It's a system set up to fail because of human pride. God's way is more simple than that, and based on love, not laws.

All men fall, but trying to hide our sin hinders and shackles us, even if just within ourselves,  separating us from God like Adam in the Garden. When we are humble and transparent,  it is threatening to Christians that are hiding. They fear revealing their own mistakes and imperfections, and losing control.

It is when we let things go that God reveals TRUE freedom. The enemy doesn't want us to know that.

Love Someone This Season

You gorged yourself on Thursday, shopped all day Black Friday, picked up your 10' tree (for $150) on Saturday with your $50,000 SUV, finished buying Galaxy Tablets, designer clothes, flat screens and jewelry on Cyber Monday. You think this is what you've "earned" or what you "deserve" because of your hard work or upbringing. Enjoy the season...but don't forget where your blessings come from. Be humble and give God thanks. The homeless man on the street or single mom hoping she still has food and heat for her children Christmas Eve may not "deserve" their lack any more than you deserve your abundance. Be gracious, be kind, be loving and generous when you can, because tomorrow YOU may be the one facing the holidays with nothing.

There are some that will withhold acceptance, affection, love and other intangible needs from you to maintain control over you. They may do this on purpose because they have selfish, abusive personalities, or because they are not capable of real love toward another and don't understand how their words and actions hurt you. Either way, it is a one - way relationship,