When you are offended by something someone says you need to look to your self instead of at them. For people who say offensive things are truly hurting inside and thus communicating from brokenness. Their true intentions are not to hurt you. If you are offended, it is most likely your pride being stirred, which in case provides a beautiful opportunity to lay siege on your pride and watch it starve.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Pleasure, Proverbs, Priority
Low morales are like cheap food and drink. When you have a cheap drink it's usually loaded with sugar to compensate for the poor quality. With food it's soaked in preservatives and additives. When you have it, it tastes good at first but quickly loses it's satisfaction and soon leaves you emptier than before, wanting more or feeling sick. A cycle can easily start and then we all wonder why we aren't satisfied with life.
The pursuit of pleasure is an empty life (Proverbs 21:7). Pleasure is here one moment and gone the next. To prioritize our life in gaining pleasure is setting us up for constant dissatisfaction.
Pleasure in itself is not bad the same as money in itself is not bad. But when you make them the ultimate goal for your life then that's when the emptiness grows.
Ever wondered why people spend so much money on high quality foods and drink? They pay twice, three times, four times as much for something when you can get the "same" thing for loads cheaper. And isn't true that the taste of many things that are of higher quality usually need to be acquired to fully enjoy?
Yes, but once the taste is acquired nothing compares to the satisfaction the delicacy brings.
Such is the same with high morales. Though you may "lose" out on many pleasures by choosing not to settle for below grade, the reward is true satisfaction that lasts long after you enjoy its fruits.
For instance, instead of spending your hard earned money on superfluous nights at the bar on weekends, choose to stay in. Save your money for a few months and take that trip that you keep saying to yourself "one day".
The pursuit of pleasure is an empty life (Proverbs 21:7). Pleasure is here one moment and gone the next. To prioritize our life in gaining pleasure is setting us up for constant dissatisfaction.
Pleasure in itself is not bad the same as money in itself is not bad. But when you make them the ultimate goal for your life then that's when the emptiness grows.
Ever wondered why people spend so much money on high quality foods and drink? They pay twice, three times, four times as much for something when you can get the "same" thing for loads cheaper. And isn't true that the taste of many things that are of higher quality usually need to be acquired to fully enjoy?
Yes, but once the taste is acquired nothing compares to the satisfaction the delicacy brings.
Such is the same with high morales. Though you may "lose" out on many pleasures by choosing not to settle for below grade, the reward is true satisfaction that lasts long after you enjoy its fruits.
For instance, instead of spending your hard earned money on superfluous nights at the bar on weekends, choose to stay in. Save your money for a few months and take that trip that you keep saying to yourself "one day".
Fear is a radio
Is fear just a deterrence from a particular thing?
Or is it more than that?
What if, what we fear is actually what lifts our lives to the very next level of happiness, success, expression, position, and prosperity?
What if fear is really our subconscious speaking to us. Like the body's only communication is through pain, what if our deeper mind is communicating through fear?
Telling us to face our fears. To look at it straight in the eye and watch it dissolve before us, revealing all the treasures hidden behind it.
Like a tree fallen on a path causing us to detour, once removed, we now have all that is available along the new unblocked path. Undiscovered strengths, talents, interests, creativity, passions, loves, relationships, ideas, the possibilities are endless.
Take a moment and ask yourself what frightens you. What are you scared of or scared to do?
Then think of what you are lacking in your life. Passion, adventure, challenges, love, etc.
You thinking what I'm thinking?
Or is it more than that?
What if, what we fear is actually what lifts our lives to the very next level of happiness, success, expression, position, and prosperity?
What if fear is really our subconscious speaking to us. Like the body's only communication is through pain, what if our deeper mind is communicating through fear?
Telling us to face our fears. To look at it straight in the eye and watch it dissolve before us, revealing all the treasures hidden behind it.
Like a tree fallen on a path causing us to detour, once removed, we now have all that is available along the new unblocked path. Undiscovered strengths, talents, interests, creativity, passions, loves, relationships, ideas, the possibilities are endless.
Take a moment and ask yourself what frightens you. What are you scared of or scared to do?
Then think of what you are lacking in your life. Passion, adventure, challenges, love, etc.
You thinking what I'm thinking?
Mind
A journel-photo entry of someone very dear to me:
"Ever since I took the plunge to NYC I learned a lot of valuable lessons, and one of them is this: You can always choose happiness.
You can CHOOSE to complain about the little and big things in life and only bring about negative, toxic, bitter energy that will seep deep within everything you love, and in yourself.
OR
You can CHOOSE to meditate and daydream of the good things in life, those you love, and an ever loving God who wants to help you succeed and find true happiness in every aspect of your very blessed and beautiful life. You don't need to take on this load and you don't have to be so quick to judgement and anger when all that will ever do is sabotage the very purpose and potential you were put on this earth to do, and the possible millions of other people you can inspire and change for the better.
CHOOSE happiness, don't let your mind control you, discourage and bring you down.. To make you feel worthless and alone.
CHOOSE to meditate on goodness every time you feel depressed or defeated, for it will fill the emptiest parts of yourself and give you a reason to believe, to know your worth and keep going.
CHOOSE to love always and nothing less. Everyone is battling something, so CHOOSE compassion over disdain and hatred. Don't let the little things take away your joy. It belongs to you and you can CHOOSE to let it be taken or you can CHOOSE to grab and take a hold of it in even in the darkest of times."
You can CHOOSE to complain about the little and big things in life and only bring about negative, toxic, bitter energy that will seep deep within everything you love, and in yourself.
OR
You can CHOOSE to meditate and daydream of the good things in life, those you love, and an ever loving God who wants to help you succeed and find true happiness in every aspect of your very blessed and beautiful life. You don't need to take on this load and you don't have to be so quick to judgement and anger when all that will ever do is sabotage the very purpose and potential you were put on this earth to do, and the possible millions of other people you can inspire and change for the better.
CHOOSE happiness, don't let your mind control you, discourage and bring you down.. To make you feel worthless and alone.
CHOOSE to meditate on goodness every time you feel depressed or defeated, for it will fill the emptiest parts of yourself and give you a reason to believe, to know your worth and keep going.
CHOOSE to love always and nothing less. Everyone is battling something, so CHOOSE compassion over disdain and hatred. Don't let the little things take away your joy. It belongs to you and you can CHOOSE to let it be taken or you can CHOOSE to grab and take a hold of it in even in the darkest of times."
Close your eyes
#FallingSun #LiftedColors. #CloseYourEyes and #OpenYourMind. It's there, in that dark space, where #Meaning attaches to #Life. It's there where you will find the one person you've been searching for your entire life. Looking everywhere for. In school. In bars. In the gym. In relationships. In religion. In your career. In your family. In pleasures. In fashion. In books. In travel. In television. In social media. In your past. You will find, in that quiet, boundless, matter-less space inside your mind, awaiting patiently, You. The #TrueYou. Yourself free of the chains of fear. Light-stepping without the weighted gravity of caution. Absent of doubt. Liberated from Indifference. The You that #God intended to#RuleTheWorld with #WeaponsOfMassAffection. You has been waiting for an invitation to take it from here. The only cost: #LetGo.
You, the acorn
The natural order of growth in this world He created.
As a tree undoubtedly grows when given nourishment by sun and water
So our Soul grows when receiving God's love.
The tree as it matures from a small twig to a large branchy organism
Provides oxygen, shade, fruit, resources for everyone around.
It is exactly the same with us. As we mature in our faith and continue to receive His wisdom, it is simple effect that we stay within His natural order and begin to receive blessings that surpass our own needs and overflow into others' lives.
It is a natural feeling to want to bear fruit. It is good to crave prosperity. For when these things come to pass during our journey with Him, it means we are growing and maturing into the large branchy organisms He intended.
As the acorn yearns to shade the field
We crave to grow and bless our world
As a tree undoubtedly grows when given nourishment by sun and water
So our Soul grows when receiving God's love.
The tree as it matures from a small twig to a large branchy organism
Provides oxygen, shade, fruit, resources for everyone around.
It is exactly the same with us. As we mature in our faith and continue to receive His wisdom, it is simple effect that we stay within His natural order and begin to receive blessings that surpass our own needs and overflow into others' lives.
It is a natural feeling to want to bear fruit. It is good to crave prosperity. For when these things come to pass during our journey with Him, it means we are growing and maturing into the large branchy organisms He intended.
As the acorn yearns to shade the field
We crave to grow and bless our world
Man is
Man is what he thinks all day long.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Photo shoot with NY photographer Ricky Cohete
Desires of your heart
God gave you the desires of your heart. Then won't he also provide means for attaining your dream? It's the same as if the president wanted to develop more public schools. Would he tell the statesmen, teachers, and construction engineers to begin building but give no funding? Of course not. Patiently wait on Him and be persistent in your efforts. He will deliver in just the perfect moment.
Plan like it depends on you but...
Plan like it depends on you, but pray like it depends on God.
-Mark Batterson
This quote has answered a question deep in my heart that's been puzzling me most recently. I knew that we have to trust in God and not rely on our own understanding. However, I also knew the power of planning and setting goals for yourself, family, etc. "What am I supposed to do?" I would ask myself. Is making set, definite, clear plans a statement of my lack of faith? Was I supposed to throw my hands in the air and expect God to do accomplish my goals for me? I assumed there was a balance but I didn't know how much of what I was supposed to do.
This quote revealed to me that there isn't a balance. It's not a little less planning and more praying nor vice versa. It's full blown both! To plan like it depends on your efforts, will power, dedication, and discipline. Then pray like all your plans depend on God to make it happen.
We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it. (Proverbs 16:9 MSG)