stop complaining

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.

- Philippians 2:14-16a (NIV)

 

Entitled. 
That seems to be the label that we put on people that think they should get something for nothing. 
There are several generations out in the world that want everything handed to them. 
Many ages and genders that protest everything whether they understand it or not.

We have many “warped and crooked generation” people that we encounter every day, and we cannot change them.

I know that I cannot change the world, but I can do everything in my power to change me so I can shine.

I hold on to the Word because I know that my life is in Him.

 

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welcome

Give a warm welcome to any brother who wants to join you, even though his faith is weak. Don’t criticize him for having different ideas from yours about what is right and wrong.

- Romans 14:1 (TLB)

 

Some people have trouble going into a new environment. 
Me. I’m “some people”. 
Face it, we do not always thrive in new situations, around new people, sharing our thoughts and ideas because many of us have had our ideas shot down and some of us have been publicly shamed for ideas that others considered “dumb”. 
Don’t be the person that shoots down the suggestions of someone else. 
There is nothing as disappointing as being in a group brainstorming session and hearing someone else say “we don’t want to do that” or “that is a bad idea”. 
I also want to share The Message translation of this verse: 

Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.(MSG)

Just because you see things differently does not mean that they are wrong and you are right. 
Listen to others when they share their opinions, they are not always bad or incorrect, they have a reason for feeling the way that they do. 
As brothers and sisters in Christ, it is our responsibility to be warm and welcoming to everyone, to love everyone.

No matter what.

 

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F.R.O.G.

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.

- 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (NLT)

 

We hear a lot about instinct and the “trust your gut” or “listen to your heart” mentality, but we were not created to live life on our own. 
Years and years ago, when I taught Sunday school (don’t fall over, I got roped into it!) we had a campaign called F.R.O.G.

Fully Rely On God.

The point of the lessons was to teach our children that they do not have to make it in the world by themselves.

It’s dangerous to go alone! <- that is a Zelda reference for my youngest son, you are welcome, son.

Don’t be uninformed – fully rely on God.

Don’t be afraid – fully rely on God.

God is bigger than your troubles – fully rely on God.

And never ever give up – fully rely on God.

 

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teach me

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you".

- Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

 

Teachers come in all shapes and sizes. 
I have been fortunate to have some great teachers in my lifetime, and not all of them had a formal teaching education. 
Some of God’s creation has instinct, like the sea turtle.  
Female sea turtles lay 80-120 eggs on the beach and never return to their nests, the eggs and hatchlings are left to fend for themselves.
Studies show that almost all the eggs in a nest hatch at the same time and the baby turtles find their way to the ocean with their siblings. 
No one teaches the baby turtles to do this, they know instinctively that they must find the sea. 
Baby bears have momma bears to teach them to hunt and protect themselves, if left alone at too young of an age the cubs will not survive. 
Humans are more like bears that sea turtles in that we need to be taught the basic necessities in life, but who teaches us about God?    
We can’t grow if we don’t learn, and we can’t learn if there is not a teacher. 
Look to the Lord for instruction, He is the best teacher. 

 

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I’m happy

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

- Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)

 

Habakkuk was a “minor prophet”, so we don’t really hear a lot about him.

From this verse though, we can tell that he learned to always rejoice in God, no matter what his circumstances were.

We can learn a lot from him.

I’m happy even though I have bills to pay, even though my car’s check engine light is on, and the navigation system is lost, even though I am under a lot of pressure and stress, I will continue to praise and trust Him, and I am happy.

The chorus of a Lauren Daigle’s song Trust In You really speaks volumes to me:

When You don't move the mountains

I'm needing You to move

When You don't part the waters

I wish I could walk through

When You don't give the answers

As I cry out to You

I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You

I’m happy even though my life is a crazy mess right now, I know that praising Him and trusting Him will result in my peace and keep me happy.

It is well with my soul.

 

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sparrows

What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Not much more than that. Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And He knows the number of hairs on your head! Never fear, you are far more valuable to Him than a whole flock of sparrows.

- Luke 12:6-7 (TLB)

 

One of the things that I love about visiting my father-in-law in Iowa is watching the birds in his back yard. 
Dad has multiple bird feeders set up in his backyard and he feeds the various birds, squirrels, and rabbits every single day no matter the weather.

I’ve been up there at Christmas time and watched him go out during a blizzard to put food out for them. 
He did research and he buys food for the specific types of birds in his area which can vary from season to season.

It’s because of Dad that my husband and I started hanging bird and squirrel feeders at our home in Arkansas.

I was already feeding the neighborhood stray cats, raccoons, opossums, and the occasional fox so it wasn’t out of the question to add birds and squirrels to my “backyardagains”. 
It makes me feel good to see “the regulars” coming to the feeders and yes, I name each of the cats, raccoons, and opossums.

I can’t keep up with all the birds and squirrels to name them, they all look alike. 
I wonder, do all people look alike to the birds and squirrels? 

It’s amazing when you think about the fact that God knows every single bird, cat, raccoon, opossum, and human by name.

God may not call us by the same names we call each other, but He knows us and loves every one of us. 
He never forgets us.. 

We are so valuable to Him, more so than flocks of birds that are on this earth (have you seen the starlings when they fly? Look it up on you tube, it is wild!) 
We are so lucky to have a Father that loves us that much. 
I need to go feed my “backyardagains” now.  I’m very thankful that I am not the only one that knows their names.  

 

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you can’t hurt me

But when I am afraid, I will put my confidence in you. Yes, I will trust the promises of God. And since I am trusting him, what can mere man do to me?

- Psalm 56:4 (TLB)

 

Anyone who has been reading my daily messages for a while knows that I am open and honest in my writing. (Did you know that you can read my messages since I started publishing them in 2016 on my blog? https://dailybreadgodswordmythoughts.blogspot.com/ ) 
I have a lot of joy, sadness, and fear that I have shared here. 
Some of the emotions are silly, I’ll be the first to admit that, but some of them have merit. 
I am terrified of spiders, storms and things being out of my control. 
I feel the emotions of others on a very deep level. 
We need to turn to the Father when we are overcome by our fears, no matter how big or small they seem to us. 
God has promised to love us, and we can count on that promise 100%. 
Romans 8:31 says if God is for us who can be against us, which just reiterates this verse; when we trust in God, what can man do to us? 
Just don’t throw spiders at me while it is lightning and thundering. 

 

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