
There is always a villain in every story and I am no exception. It's my opportunity to learn how to pray for someone that I can't run away from. You see, I'm a person that will push bad things out of my life, hurtful things. I love the feeling of positive people, of positive words, of edification. I grew up with some of it, but a lot of it, I remember, was much more negative and darker in nature. I navigate towards happiness because all I remember from negative was pain and hurt. So as an adult I push it away. I push villains away, I don't want to defeat them, I just don't want them in my bubble...unfortunately I know that the same pattern happens with each new one I run into...I think it's time to defeat my thinking and start praying for these folks.
The picture above is a very sad but true statement, No matter how good you try to be, no matter what good you try to share, there will always be a critic who says you are not good enough. Negative thoughts and words stick instantly, positive ones take at least 30 seconds for your brain to absorb them...that's why God says in Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
There's good things in that Book... I like to read it.
I don't read the Bible friends to be "all religious and stuff". I don't read it to be better than anyone, I don't read it to hide under it's words so I can live one way and speak another. I read it because I want to apply it to my life. I want to love the life I'm living and I want to be given the freedom to experience what life would be if I didn't have worldly limitations. Such as fear of writing because there might be a critic in the bunch that says all sorts of negative things. Or afraid of dying so I don't do anything worthwhile, or afraid of what someone will say about me so I don't try those cool new knee high boots, or afraid of reading the bible, because someone might think I'm strange, or afraid of praying for someone...because they might be healed...or my new favorite, praying out demons so they might run into the pigs and cause the water clarity people to come after me when they run into Big Stone Lake and make pig farmers mad at me...that's a good one by the way, (thanks to my "critics")
I'm loving on you, and trying to be transparent with my life. Not because I'm needy, and perhaps I am a little, but because I want you to learn to be free and transparent. It's scary and it can be hurtful, but as I said yesterday, I'd rather be hurt by honesty than snuck up on by deceit any day.
I encourage you to love YOUR life. You don't have to make excuses for why you aren't doing better...we all know what it's like to try to be good.... it doesn't always work. But you just keep trying to be like Christ...you just keep loving people, you just keep asking the Holy Spirit to guide you to a better way than what you have now...and there is no "perfect" until you meet Jesus, but there sure is more in each day worth fighting for.
Have an amazing day friends, we were never promised tomorrow. Make today count in a positive way.