Just a Thought

[tanashiarw]

Abundant Life?

The Bible is not just stories, history we read about, or words on pages of a book. The Bible is the Word of God. The Word was with Gid and was God and the Word came so that we could have an abundant life (John 10:10).

The Word called forth life and all we see was created by The Word. As we read The Word, study and memorize the Word, we read, study, and memorize life. We wonder why things aren’t right in an area of our lives, but what are we reading, studying, and memorizing in that area of our lives? Word? Life? Death? Blessings? Curses? What are we studying? Watching? Listening to? What is it? Are we seeking life, an abundant life in that area or are we okay with “good”?

By the way, why are we okay with good when people ask us how we are doing? Don’t we read, study, and memorize the Word? Don’t we have Jesus? He came so we can have an abundant life. Are we receiving that abundant life He came came for? Are we seeking His abundance OR are we going to live based on what the world say is good (normal and regular)?

We are children of the Most High God. We aren’t regular or normal. We are children of the King of Kings. We are sons and daughters of The King, not just any king. Our lives are to look like our Father is The King. Abundant life!

Just a Thought

[tanashiarw]

Go Where?

When the Israelites went in to spy on the land God promised them, most of the spies came back with a negative report. They said things like, “the people living there are very powerful. The cities are very large and strongly defended. We saw giants in the land” (Numbers 13:28). They went on to say, “We cannot fight these people! they are much stronger than we are. They are strong enough to easily defeat anyone who goes there” (Numbers 13:31, 32).

They knew that they knew that they knew that this land was promised to them by God. They had been with God as He led them through the wilderness and yet, when they got to the promised land, they saw with eyes of fear. They said things like, “Let’s choose another leader and go back to Egypt” (Numbers 14:4). Wait! What????!!! Go back to Egypt?!?!?!

Egypt was the place where they were in bondage, in slavery. Did they forget how they cried out to the Lord to save them from this bondage and how the Lord answered them? Yet, because they were afraid to go into the place, the season, the position God said they should go into, they wanted to go backwards. They wanted to go to the place where they were comfortable, where they knew what would happen, where they were complacent.

Are you looking back at the places, seasons, positions you have been through and wanting to go back because you knew what to expect, you were comfortable, you were complacent in that place? Remember how you asked God to move you out of this season, that place, that position? Why would you want to go back to that?

God thinks about you and He has plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11). They are thoughts of good and not of evil to give you hope and a good future. God’s definition is not our definition of good. Remember His ways and His thoughts are greater than ours. So His good is our awesome, spectacular. Why would you want to not go the way God has planned for you? When He plans for us, He makes a way for us. We don’t have to be concerned about how we will do what God has for us. It is His concern. We just have to go where He say go and do what He say do.

Just a Thought

[tanashiarw]

I Apologize To...

This morning I had the thought...

We will ask others to forgive us and we will forgive others when they ask, yet, when it comes to self, we don’t ask for forgiveness nor do we forgive ourselves. We will go to others and ask if they’ll forgive us for those things said or done that was mean, against them, that just wasn’t right and yet, we don’t do that with ourselves.

Why should we apologize to self?

When you are in a relationship with others, apologizing is something you most likely will need to do. To apologize to someone means that you are expressing regret for something that you have done or said that was wrong. You have done something where you have insulted, failed, injured, or wronged the other person in some way (Merriam-Webster, dictionary.com). 

With self, we tell ourselves how ugly we look and every single thing that is wrong with self. When we do this to someone else, we usually have to apologize. Why don’t we apologize when we do this to self?

We are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Loving self comes first. We love others enough to apologize and restore the relationship, but why don’t we love ourselves enough to apologize and restore the relationship with self? 

Self care starts with self love. We should not give up on self for we tend to give up on those dreams we’ve had. We should be patient and kind to ourselves. Encourage ourselves! 

We should look to incorporate actions like these toward ourselves every single day of our lives. It’s not like you can avoid you. Choose to love you today and everyday.

Just a Thought

[tanashiarw]

Believe Who?

The Bible tells of a woman who had an issue with bleeding for 12 years. She spent all of her money and yet, no one could help her (Luke 8:43). 

How many of us, when there is an issue in our lives, go to everyone who cannot help? We may not realize at the time they cannot help, but eventually we find out they cannot help us. As Christians or people who have a relationship with God, we are to cast all of our cares on God and yet, we sometimes look for earthly answers to our spiritual issues. By the way, every issue is a spiritual issue. 

This woman spent all she had seeking answers with no good outcome. No answers! It wasn’t until she got to Jesus that she was healed. She didn’t even have to say a word. You know why? We do what we believe. She believed this was her only hope and in doing what she believed, she was healed. 

What do you believe? about yourself? about your situation? Do you believe God does what He does for everybody but you?

Lies!!! the father of lies want you to believe you are excluded, but I am here to tell you that you are not. God doesn’t have a group of favorite kids called pastors or with titles that everyone doesn’t have. Lies!!! We are all His favorite. He knows what we all need. He knows exactly how we receive love and how to love us individually and uniquely.

When the woman touched Jesus, power discharged from Him (Luke 8:46). He could tell something happened because He felt it leave Him. 

What happened?

Her belief came into contact with His power and healing happened. It didn’t take a long list of to do items. She believed Jesus was the only way to be healed at this point and she went after her healing like her life depended on it. Which it did. 

Are you willing to go after your healing like your life depended on it? Are you willing to believe Jesus has the answer to your situation?

I dare you to believe!!! What could happen? You develop a relationship or a deeper relationship with someone who loves you without strings attached? That’s not a bad result at all. You could be healed? Not a bad result. Forgiveness occurs? That’s a great result for there is freedom on the other side of forgiveness. The result of having a relationship with Jesus is better, is greater than anything you can think or imagine. So again I ask,

Who do you believe?

Just a Thought

[tanashiarw]

Believe

36 Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said to the leader, “Don’t listen to them; just trust me.”

37-40 He permitted no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John. They entered the leader’s house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles. Jesus was abrupt: “Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn’t dead; she’s sleeping.” Provoked to sarcasm, they told him he didn’t know what he was talking about.

40-43 But when he had sent them all out, he took the child’s father and mother, along with his companions, and entered the child’s room.

(Mark 5:36-40)

We tend to ask God for things like good grades, A on my test, or not to get into trouble again, not to do that same old thing that got me into this situation again. We go to God with the issue, but do we really want what we’re asking for? 

Sometimes, yes and sometimes, no. 

The other question is: Do you believe that you can actually get an A on that test, not get in trouble again and not repeat past mistakes? Do you?

Jesus put people out that didn't believe so He could raise the daughter from her sleep. The people didn’t believe and even laughed at Jesus.

What situation are you looking at in your life and routing that Jesus can change it? That jesus can raise it from the dead? from a place of sleep? Are you laughing because you don’t think He can wake it up or fix it? If you were in that home that day, would you have been part of the everybody that were put out because of their unbelief? What are you doubting? Who are you doubting? Do you know Jesus? I mean for yourself. He’s your Father and you have an intimate relationship with Him or do you? Get to know who Jesus is for yourself. Not what everyone else has said about Him, but get to know Jesus as your Heavenly Father. You won’t regret it! Watch Him raise some situations from the dead. Watch Him create new in your life. He's our God of love. Let Hm love you the way you ought to be loved.

[tanashiarw]

Self Care

What does it mean to care for self?

When you are in pain, don’t ignore the pain.

When working out, the personal trainer will tell you to push through the pain. This only applies to workouts. Pain in your physical body or pain in your emotions, mental pain, should not be ignored. 

Caring for self means seeking help.

We were not placed on earth to do life by ourselves. That’s why God put soo many people here. We all have different talents, skills, and specialists to assist each other. Ask for help!

Pain is an indication that something is not right and you don’t have to walk around like nothing is wrong with a superficial smile on your face. Some of us see through that smile and are waiting for you to say something. Some of us are bold enough to ask you what’s wrong or what’s going on with you, check on you. You MUST be brave enough, bold enough to tell it, to share it so we can help you, point you in the right direction if we can’t help, so you can release that pain you’ve been carrying around for so long. It doesn’t belong to you! Release it! Let it go!

Remember, You are Valuable and You are Loved! Take care of self!

Just a Thought

[tanashiarw]

In Your Corner

Who is in your corner? 

Your answer may be your friends. Let’s look at friends.

Friends. How many of us have them?

I looked up the definition of friend and found something interesting. According to Merriam-Webster, a friend is someone who 

1. you are attached to by affection or esteem

2. someone who is not hostile

Is that all it takes for someone to be a friend? 

We have a whole list of criteria for someone to be a friend, including the above. What about their ability to tell you the truth whether good or bad OR their ability to not talk about you behind your back. What about you? Are you being the friend that you want? If you want a loyal friend who doesn’t talk behind your back, are you being that friend?

Gideon was about to go to battle and he was afraid. God told him to take Phurah, his servant, down to the camp to hear what was being said (Judges 7:10).

God could have told him to take any of the 300 who was left in the army, however, God told him to take this person. This person who serves Gideon, who is his armor bearer. The person who carries Gideon’s armor in time of battle. My question to you is, who is your armor bearer?

You may think that we need to be cautious of what we see, what is going on around us, however, we do not fight against flesh and blood (what we see in the physical), but against principalities and power, and rulers of the darkness (what we don’t see)...(Ephesians 6:12). 

Gideon saw the thousands that were with the enemy, however, he had someone with him who helped him in his time of need, when he was afraid, when he was facing something he never faced before. Phurah was with him in this time. He carried his armor and he didn’t leave his side. 

Who’s in your corner? Who’s helping you in a time when you are facing obstacles you have never faced before? Who’s walking with you? Do you have an armor bearer? Someone who is reminding you of the weapons you have, of the full armor of God? Who is praying for you and with you? These are the things that are important. You can have someone who is fighting for you, however, who is fighting with you? Showing you how to fight in this battle as you go through life? It was not the 32,000 or 10,000 that was with Gideon. It ended up being the 300. For you, it’s the ones you can count on 1 hand and you have some fingers left.

It’s time to take inventory. Who is in your corner?

[tanashiarw]

What’s Your Focus

Why focus on your weaknesses? It’s like when you have a pimple on your face and you focus all your time and energy on getting rid of it. You forgot that you have a whole face and some more skin without pimples, however, you spend a lot of time, money, and energy on getting rid of what is not right, in your opinion. You forgot about what IS right with you. You forgot about your strengths. You forgot that you do things right most of the time and that this weakness is making you insecure, less confident. It is making you stand a little less tall with your head not all the way up and not that much eye contact. It is making you doubt the person you know you are. Did you know you gave your weakness this much power? It is dictating what you do and not do in your life. That’s a lot of power. 

Instead, focus on your strengths. Your strengths make you feel good and confident about yourself. Your strengths make you walk tall with your head up and with confidence. You have no problem looking people in the eye when you are having a conversation. This is what happens when you focus on your strengths. Go through your day knowing you are a child of the Most High, not that you messed up this morning or yesterday. Focus on who you are created to be and keep moving. You are loved!

Just a Thought

[tanashiarw]

Stone or Flesh?

When God gave Moses His laws and commandments He wrote them on stone tables or tablets (Exodus 24:12). Why stone? He could have chosen so many other materials. He could have chosen wood, precious stones, oil, or spices, yet He chose stone.

Stones are heavy, weighty, firm, strong, and hard. According to dictionary.com, a stone is a hard substance formed of mineral matter, containing rock, shaped for a particular purpose.

These stones were heavy, firm, hard, and strong and these were what were chosen to write God’s law and commandments. Is it possible that these stones represent the heavy, firm, hard hearts that we may have?

Moses dealt with someone with a hard heart. Pharaoh was told to let the people go, but he would not listen. Even when he couldn’t deal with the smell of death of the Nile River because of the dead fish, the death of of his livestock, boils on the people and other animals, hail that destroyed what was in the fields, locusts, and more, his heart was hard. He did not listen to the warnings. He did not let the people go (Exodus 7-11) and the consequences from his hardened heart was not good at all. It led to death of first born sons.

The convenant that God made for this day is one where He writes or imprints His laws upon our heart and our mind (Hebrews 10:16). To imprint, according to dictionary.com, is to make a mark by pressing something onto a softer substance so that its outline is reproduced.To write, according to dictionary.com, is to trace or form characters, letters, or words on the surface of some material with a pen, pencil, or other instrument or means.

His law and commandments are made with an instrument or means on our heart and mind, which is a softer substance. No more stones or hard substances. Our heart and our mind are the places where they reside. Places that are moldable and changeable because of decisions we make.

Are we listening? Do we have a heart of stone or flesh?

We can choose to listen. We can choose to have a heart of stone. There are consequences to each. Which will you choose?

Today I am giving you a choice of two ways. And I ask heaven and earth to be witnesses of your choice. You can choose life or death. The first choice will bring a blessing. The other choice will bring a curse. So choose life! Then you and your children will live. (Deuteronomy 30:19)

The choice is yours.

Stone or flesh? Life or death?

Just a thought.

[tanashiarw]

He Speaks With Purpose

God has been addressing our ancestors in different ways for centuries (Hebrews 1:1). Why do we think we can’t hear God in multiple ways? 

He knows exactly how to get our attention, yet, we tend to ignore these ways, maybe because of familiarity. This doesn’t negate the fact that He is talking to us and it is up to us to heed what He is saying.

Something for you to think about is this....

God isn’t talking just to be talking. He doesn’t do idle talk. He speaks with purpose and when He speaks to you, there is a specific purpose that He needs to get across to you. He is telling you about your plan, your purpose, you know the perfect one He created for you, yet, we keep ignoring Him like He is just babbling on about nothing important like people tend to do. 

Always remember that God is not a man that He lies. He does not lie. He doesn’t change His mind or take back what He says. When HE speaks, it IS for a purpose and He does exactly what He says He will do. And by the way, He keeps His promises too. (Numbers 23:19)

Just a Thought

[tanashiarw]

What Do You See?

Yesterday I saw a lady walking her dog. It appeared, at first, that there was nothing out of the ordinary going on. The lady was holding the leash and the dog was in front of her walking. He would get on the grass and she would guide him back to where he needed to stay, on the sidewalk.

As she walked by she said, oh he has no eyes.

Wait. What?! No eyes?!?

The dog turned around and there were no eyes on the dog. The dog was walking like any other dog with eyes and from looking at them, I would not have known if she didn’t say something.

Why am I writing about this?

It made me think.

How many times those of us with eyes who can see walk in fear like we have no one leading and guiding us? That dog was walking in front of his owner like he could see where to go and many of us walk behind someone, with our heads looking down and the road, at our shoes and we have eyes. We look beyond the natural and come up with all the things that can happen if we take a step in the direction we are called to go toward and that path, that direction has already been cleared for us like a plane that’s ready to take off on the runway. God has already cleared that path for me and for you, yet we look at what could be instead of what is.

That dog was running in front of his owner knowing that she was there to lead and guide him and that she was not going to allow him to harm himself or anyone else. Why do we not think the same about God? Why do we think He is going to allow us to fail? To bump into someone else? To hurt ourselves? He called you to a good thing! He called you to an awesome calling and He anointed you for it! He did NOT make a mistake! He knows exactly who you are, including your past, and He called you while in your blindness. Your response is to continue to go in the direction, in the path you were called to do.

God sees all and knows all. Allow Him to lead and guide you.

Failure is not an option.

Just a thought.

[tanashiarw]

Who’s in Control?

The fruit of the Spirit came with The Spirit.

When you said I believe Jesus, Holy Spirit moved in with these fruit. We have to take hold of these fruit and stop acting like we can’t control ourselves.

You have Holy Spirit in you. YOu CAN help yourself.

You CAN help it!

You CAN love!

You CAN be kind!

You don’t want to!

You CAN have joy!

You CAN have peace!

It’s in you!!!

It doesn’t leave you when you do wrong. It’s still in there!

You CHOOSE what you do with what you have.

Everytime you get out of control,

Everytime you do wrong in anger,

Everytime you curse someone out and say you can’t help it

You are speaking out of ignorance

The truth IS you can help it!

The truth is you chose to let your emotions control you instead of controlling them.

Who’s in charge?

Your emotions or you?

[tanashiarw]

Relax

We are to make every effort to enter that rest, that period of relaxing or ceasing to engage in strenuous or stressful activity.

God wants us to relax. He wants us refreshed and our strength recovered in Him. He doesn’t want us stressed out or working so hard that we can not do what He has called us to do. We put so much effort into doing things on our own and in our own way like a 2 year old who pitches a tantrum because they want to do it themselves and you still have to end up helping them. The thing is, we are not 2 years old.

God knew us before we were formed in our mother’s womb (Jer. 1:5). He formed us. It’s because of Him that we’re here and we’re here because He has a plan for us (Jer. 29:11). A plan for peace and well being and not for disaster, to give us a future and hope. His plan doesn’t include disaster or a stressed out life. His plan is for peace.

How do we get to a place of peace?

Enter into His rest.

How do we enter into His rest?

We who personally trust and confidently rely on God enter that rest, so we have His inner peace now because we are confident in our salvation and assured of His power (Hebrews 4:3).

Trust God.

How do we trust God?

When He says something to you to do, do it. This will help you to build that trust.

This is about relationship. You learn to trust the people you hang out with by seeing if what they say is true, if it works out, and if they are with you. God’s Word is true and is truth. His Word always work out and He is always with us. He moved in when we said we believe. So take a step, 1 step into the deep when it comes to relationships. Get covered in what God has for your. Get covered in God and watch what happens. Watch who you impact. Watch who asks for prayer. Watch who starts speaking to you. Watch what happens.

You want something different to happen in your life? You want different in 2018? Take a step into the deep. Get covered and watch what happens.

There are people waiting for you to get covered. People waiting for you to be submerged in the things of God so they can come to you, so you can pray for them, so you can impact their life.

It’s time to relax and go out into the deep.

Just a thought

[tanashiarw]

Reacting Are We?

Stop reacting!

We weren't created to react to others' behaviors. We were created to be, do, and act.

To react is to respond or behave in a certain way in response to something; respond in hostility, opposition, or a contrary course of action; to exert a reciprocal or counteracting force or influence; to move or tend in a reverse direction (Merrian-Webster).

What we, children of God, should do is walk in the Spirit so you won't gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

How do we walk in the Spirit?

By putting on the armor of God. This allows us to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11-12). Put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the shoes of peace. Don't forget the shield of faith which block fiery darts thrown at you or the helmet of salvation or the sword of the Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit means with all that armor, we can walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control for there's no law against these things (Galatians 5:22-23).

Remember we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13) and no temptation has overtaken us that is not common to man. God is faithful and He will not let us be tempted beyond our ability and will provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Just a thought.

[tanashiarw]

Runner or Walker?

How do you experience and go through life? I'm apart of an active group and when we meet up, there are 3 groups. 1. Walkers - these are the people who walk the path or trail 2. Walk runners - these are the people who walk and jog the path or trail: they alternate 3. Runners - these are the people who run most, if not all, of the path or trail Now that we've looked at the groups and what they do, let's look at how these groups pertain to life. 1. Walkers - these are the people who take their time and smell the roses, or whichever flower you like, and appreciate those who are around them, as well as what is around them. They notice the small things, the details, and they have a great appreciation for who they are with and where they are. Sound like anyone you know? 2. Walk runners - these are the people who get to a point in their life and because they don't like what's going on, they want to speed through it. Since they can't speed through life, once they slow down, they realize the flowers along the way, the art they have missed, and the people they've disregarded. They realize the relationships that could have been stronger which would have helped them along their path. Sound like anyone you know? 3. Runners - why are you moving so fast? This maybe a question that they hear often. These are the people who don't slow down enough to appreciate life. They jog on the same paths or trails and they never notice the signs or the colors or the animals and trees. They don't enjoy their relationships, the ones they do have, because they keep moving. They go from one thing to the next not taking in what happened, when, or why. They're oblivious to their surroundings. Sound like anyone you know? I know all of these sound like someone I know. The question is, which one are you? Are you appreciating life and all it has to offer? Are you slowing down long enough to take in the sights and sounds and who and what is around you? Are you racing through life checking off boxes that you completed something but you don't even remember what happened? Instead of running and not appreciating, slow down and see the sights, have a few conversations you wouldn't have had before. You may find a new friend or something in common with a friend you already have. Have an awesome day! Just A Thought

[tanashiarw]

God On Your Side

Happy Friday! How many times have people been against you and you knew it and you take things into your own hands? Saul was jealous of David because he knew that God was with David and on his side. Saul knew that if he came against David that it would not be good for him. My question to you is: Why do you not know that because God is with you that it doesn't matter who is against you. You will come out not smelling like smoke. You will come out victorious! Saul tried to kill David several times. Even when Saul tried to have David killed, David defeated those who Saul thought would kill him. We see someone plotting against us and we start plotting against them. There's no need for that. Your weapon of choice is to go to God, where your power is. Just like God was with David, He is with us as He is no respecter of person. Just like God gave David a way of escape and increased him, He will do the same for you. Trust Him! So that boss at work or coworker that you think is after you, Trust God. Those who are against you, family & so called friends, Trust God. How else are we going to get through life?

[tanashiarw]

Weapon of Choice

Happy Friday Leaders! 1 Samuel 17:45 VOICE version says, You come to me carrying a sword and spear and javelin as your weapons, but I come armed with the name of the Eternal One, the Commander of heavenly armies, the True God of the armies of Israel, the One you have insulted. David was up against a giant who was almost 10 feet tall and his response to the trouble is that even though you come at me with your physical weapons, I come at you with God, my spiritual weapon. David knew who he was and who was backing him and fighting for him. My question to you is, do you? We face challenges & tests but James 1:2 says we are not to run from tests and hardships because ultimately we will find joy in them; our faith will blossom and we learn true patience. Joy in the face of trouble? If we approach trouble, tests, hardships knowing that God has our back and He's fighting for us, why wouldn't we face it boldly and find joy? Our weapon of choice, because we do have a choice, is not a physical weapon, but one where we go to God to seek Him as to what we should or should not do or say. When we take it on ourselves we are not including the power that is in us. How do we look going to battle with physical weapons, Goliath, instead of spiritual weapons, David, when we have God with us and in us and His power. We look defeated. So today, let me remind you that you have Holy Spirit in you and with you. He has your back! He's already defeated the enemy. He's fighting your battles for you, if you allow Him to. Remember Leaders, God loves you! Enjoy your Friday!