Embrace the Within no. 13

“Words matter.”

Embrace the Within.

What we say and how we say it are important things that we all find problems controlling. We get caught up in a moment, caught up in a feeling, caught up acting, and we forget to speak from the heart of Christ and we speak often with a hardened heart. A heart that is not aligned with Truth BUT aligned with our truth. And that is something I am struggling toward reconciling. In my past, I was quick to mock and scoff at folks that had not put in, what I judged, important enough consideration for their lives. I am still no fan of folks that can see that their path is wrong and continue to cling to that path BUT I will not treat them cruelly or harshly by calling them names and having a heart of anger towards them. And it becomes my obligation to ask for forgiveness not only from God BUT also from them for the cruelty and anger that was in my heart not so long ago.

Owning my past mistakes is one important step in making certain I acknowledge that I have done wrong and that I am leaving those actions and thoughts in the past. I am not going to dwell in those actions and thoughts. I am not going to blame myself or make excuses for those things. I am giving them to the past where they belong, however, I am using the lessons of the past to make me better align myself in the future.

I will leave the past in the past and use those lessons going forward. Not only is it important for me to ask for forgiveness BUT it is also to forgive myself for making those poor choices. There needs to be a change in my words and actions or nothing has changed in me. Salvation is not returning to my old habits, my old routines, and my old way of doing things. Salvation requires my personal ownership of my past and future actions. Salvation requires that I take personal responsibility for my words and actions going forward. Salvation requires a change in me. God isn’t changing. God doesn’t change. The way I follow God is not different from the scripture. The way I follow God is not open to a new agreement between God and I. The way I follow God is written. So, I have to choose if I am going to read, listen, and study what the Word says so I can serve God or if I am going to bend those words to serve me.

Peace to your home. Bless your being. The reign of God is now. Have the day you want. I hope you find whatever you’re looking for.

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #MyNepheshMyChoice #MakeYourselfGreatAgain #EmbracetheWithin

Embrace the Within no. 12

“Blessing after blessing comes to those who love and trust the Lord.

They will not fall away,

for they refuse to listen to the lies of the proud.”

Embrace the Within.

Do you feel that today? I feel that verse from Psalms 40 today. We are living a blessed life if that is what we want to live. God allows us to be as blessed as we want as long as we love and trust in God. And that is an important thing to remain focused toward in this day of increasing complication and turmoil.

This week has been quite the blessing. I am starting to pick some good looking tomatoes from the garden and continue the harvest of black-eyed peas. The fall crops are growing well and I began tying up the squash plants in the three sisters plantings I began a few weeks ago. I have a few sunflowers going well and the peppers are producing as well. God is blessing the garden BUT I still have to put in work on my own.

My garden doesn’t keep growing well by itself. I have to get down in the dirt of the raised beds and tie up squash. I have to get down in the dirt and weed out unwanted plants and trim dead branches and leaves. I have to get down in the dirt and plant the seeds. My job is to bring order to the plants so that they achieve their full potential. Plants can grow anywhere they want BUT my deliberate actions help them flower and produce more abundantly. My work in the garden is a blessing to the plants in the garden, a blessing to myself, and a blessing to others.

When we are planting seeds of God’s love and mercy, we are doing a blessing. When we are helping Christians grow and mature in their understanding of God’s scripture and truth, we are doing a blessing. When we are pointing out things that need to be changed and fixed in ourselves and others in Christ, we are doing a blessing. We are bringing a more fruitful and more abundant garden to God as an act of worship.

So, I will rest today and think about all the planting, pruning, weeding, and working I need to accomplish this week. And I will enjoy the blessings that come in service of the Lord’s garden.

Peace to your home. Bless your being. The reign of God is now. Have the day you want. I hope you find whatever you’re looking for.

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #MyNepheshMyChoice #MakeYourselfGreatAgain #EmbracetheWithin