Sometimes, things initially appear to be beautiful.
Upon closer inspection, they can be the things that are most toxic, if not prepared correctly before ingesting.
It’s important to not merely watch what we eat; but, learn about its background or nutrient base, as well.
Everyone loves to hide our juicy bits, imagine how much easier life could be if we embraced sharing our vulnerability and lived life as “If We’re Honest,” as sung by Francesca Battistelli! Fear would disappear!
Are the storm clouds rolling inward to “punish”
or,
outward to “clear the way?”
The choice of perspectives is ours, alone.
Are you moving ”East to West, ” or seeing, traversing the true distance when God shows you, as requested by Casting Crowns?
Sometimes things we do or places we go can make us feel like we are trapped.
But, are we actually surrounded by bars preventing us from changing our locations or situations, or are they merely an illusion we choose to see; because, we are afraid of embracing our fears of changing and the uncertainty of the unknown?
Guess what? ”God Only Knows, ” according to For King and Country... but, WE have the power to share who we are with others! Open up, let your Light shine!
Sometimes, all we need is a little sunshine beating down on us to be secure in remembering the warmth of God’s Abundant Love is surrounding us, daily.
”O Come to The Altar,” by: Elevation Worship and feel the warmth of Jesus’ love, even on days the sun isn’t shining!
Notice the sun is on the right and upswing side of God’s “V.”
Much like the “V” in love, the sun is on the upswing, perhaps reminding us we will be raised with God’s Love before entering or getting to the “E” of eternal or everlasting love and life with God.
Let's ”Radiate, ” as Hannah Kerr sings.
Take a moment to remember, honor, and BE great-full, (not grate-ful,) for those who bring a little added “splash of color” to your life, today, and always.
For me the greatest influence is ”The God I Know, ” whose love permits me the freedom to embrace all of my quirky and crazy... broke my doubt and gives us all unconditional love about which Love and The Outcome sings, quite Beautifully!
The smallest bush may not be the mightiest; but, it does not refuse to shine and shimmer with all it has within it to BE.
Mercy Me sings about the ”Best News Ever.”
For me, it's a message, “we are loved by God unconditionally, no matter the package in which we exist.” We are equally created in the image of God and are all God’s children.
We all blossom uniquely, as God meant it to BE!
Seasons come and seasons go. The leaves and flowers may change; but, the trunks of perennials remain.
As humans, we were made in God’s image to withstand many seasons of challenge and change.
Some of us weather few storms, while others endure many.
Unlike trees and shrubs, we are not dependent on others to know if we are not receiving the nutrients we need and we aren’t necessarily dependent on others to help us relocate.
When God gives us a nudge, it’s up to us to embrace our fears and move onto the path or location we’re being guided towards in order to not only have enough light; but, in BEing a Light or beneficial for those around us.
There’s no better time to follow the suggestion of the Newsboys’ song... “Live With Abandon.”
How will you take this unprecedented opportunity to strengthen and live, more into your faith?
For me, it’s embracing “a call to serve” through the music God began bringing to me, as a child. I had always been too afraid to share it... until God brought me the support I have needed, in God’s infinitely perfect timing.
How is calling you to step into your Divine Love and Service towards others?
Are our lives resembling the outstretched hands, always needy and empty... waiting for God and others to fill them, our hearts, and our souls, without doing the same for others?
Or, do we provide, as we are called?
Do we wait until the people around us are totally depleted of food, water, or shelter in The Word of God to nourish and strengthen their spirits; and, wonder why they feel forgotten and alone... or do we engage when given, or better yet, try to create opportunities to feed and fuel those who are too depleted to bother asking for help, anymore?
How many of us will do for wildlife; but, not for the humans we see “singing sad songs” or perched around us, each day?
Why is that?
Is it because in nature or with wildlife, we might have a better chance of the ones we’ve helped... return to “flutter” or “climb about,” or “make a show,” of public appreciation we can capture to show the world... with no verbal commitment for further engagement?
Is it because we fear, “once we begin, it’ll never end...” when helping our fellow man?
Yet, we expect God to always be there to answer our every need, no matter how frequent or how large, the asking.
The song “First,” by Lauren Daigle reminds us to seek God first; then perhaps, we can relinquish the Gifts we’ve been given so freely.
What are we willing to give... of ourselves, our time, our talents, our treasures... in order to foster those or similar Gifts in those who would like an opportunity to BE that kind of Gift... for someone else, too? It might be someone a little too spiritually “tattered or torn” to ask; but, who makes an effort to show up.
Is it better to always keep things trimmed nice, tidy, short, and precisely... or is it better, sometimes, to permit a little bit of slacking, loosening or lessening of our need to control the perception of things being so tidy?
We might find letting a little slack, provides a perfect bit of camouflage for an eyesore or two, while providing the perfect opportunity for other creatures to perhaps find a happy home, nestled in what we initially viewed as “such untidiness, or disarray.”
Perhaps when we contemplate a song like “Healed,” by Nichole Nordeman... we can remember we have nothing to prove or fix. We have “sinned;” but, Christ died and we are forgiven. It’s time to embrace we are “healed,” whenever we are ready to accept and claim it. And, it is so.
What can you let go of controlling, so tightly, today, it might help another to breathe a little freer, or into whom can you help breathe “new life?”