We are all Correct: We May all be Wrong

Perspective is important. A person's personal

experiences will cause their perspective to lean a

certain way. They will defend that perspective

because it is their reality.

Another person will have 

a different perspective 

based on their personal 

life experiences, and that

person will defend their 

perspective just as 

emphatically.

Each person's perspective is their authentic reality. 

Neither person is incorrect.

The issue comes in when

each side is unwilling to

acknowledge the other 

has an authentic position

and dismisses them

completely. 

Maybe that is why God

said we are to LOVE one another.

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as Ihave loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world you are my Disciples.", John 13:34-35, NLT

My lenses are different than your's, but I love you

enough to recognize that my lenses aren't the only 

ones that are looking at the issues. I love you where 

you are and where you come from. I love you as we 

both travel to a place where we can look at things

through the perfected lenses God wants us to see 

things through.

Open the eyes of our heart Lord, so we can find the

unity that comes through You and loving others the

way you want us to.

 "Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths of your instructions.", Psalm 119:18, NLT

Linking up with Grace and Truth at Arabahjoy.comand
Dance With Jesus

Collecting Stones of Offense #write31days

Laying Our Stones Down: #write31days Day 1

When my children were little, they collected stones. They loved the big, shiny, and jagged as much as the small, smooth, and dull. Everywhere we went, whether a weekly trek to the local library or a special vacation to Disney World, they would come home with pockets and hands full of rocks. I can’t count how many I recovered from the washer, heard clanging in the dryer, and worked to dislodge from the vacuum.

We gathered so many rocks and stones, that instead of planting flowers, we decided to create a rock garden. This gave my children a place to put their treasures without them causing damage to the machines on our home.

As they have gotten older, their desire to pick up random stones has lessened. They still come home with a special one every now and then, and they cling to it. These special ones are not released to the rock garden, but are displayed on shelves in bedrooms. Unlike the many they gathered as small children, these stones have their own story behind them. The girls can tell you exactly where they picked each one up, what was going on at the time, as well as why that one was chosen over another one.

Recently I recognize that my daughters are not the only stone hoarders in my home. I have my own collection of stones that I simply wasn’t aware of.

I’m not talking about the random ones you can pick up from a parking lot and place around a tree for a rock garden. The stones I am talking about are stones of offense.

Someone does or says something to us or about us, and instead of forgiving; we pick up that stone and hold on to it. We use it to keep score on how many times the assaulting person has wounded us. We keep it in a place of honor and can recite painful details of the moment we picked it up.

The problem is that the more stones we pick up, the heavier our burden becomes. We become weighted down holding on to these “painful treasures” and they begin to affect other parts of our lives. I know this can't be God's plan for us to be burdened this way.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

"Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”, (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT)

I encourage you to join me as we walk through the next 30 days learning to leave our weariness and burdens at the feet of Jesus. 

Dear Lord, I recognize that I have picked up a few stones and over time, I sense myself becoming weary from carrying them. Help me release the stones and each wound they represent. Help me truly forgive my offenders and walk in your freedom. I thank you for this, In Jesus' name ~ Amen

As the Holidays creep closer, the sense of dread and anxiety begins to build for people who are facing a different Holiday than ever before. Perhaps it is the first season without a spouse, child, or parent. The longing for "The way things used to be" combined with the growing reminders that "Things will never be the same" can become crippling for some people. 

There is hope. You are not alone. There are tools and plans that you can develop that will help you manage the grief. You can't make it go away because it is a process to go through...not run from. 

I am offering a free grief workshop on managing grief during the Holidays. This workshop is for people who are grieving as well as people who love someone who is grieving. You play a role and can make this season easier on the people buried in grief.

If you can't attend the workshop, but need some coaching, contact me and I will help you make a plan.

Hope. Joy. Peace. Where can I find them?

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

*hope... TRUE HOPE... Not temporary or fabricated, can only come from the Lord. Life causes us to lose hope because of heartbreak, loss, or circumstances that shake our foundation.

Hope can be restored even after it has been lost. Its okay to ...doubt, question, and try to figure things out on your own for a bit as you wonder if God can still be trusted... After all , 'He didn't stop the terrible thing from happening' so with that, is He able to be trusted?

The answer fully and completely is YES! Your loss was not a punishment. It was not the act of a mean God striking out to see if you would still be standing on the other side!

Bad things happen... They just do. We all walk paths we don't think we can ever recover from. (Recovery is NOT FORGETTING-but thats a different post) Your path of brokenness is different from my path, but there are still shattered pieces along the way.

Our ONLY source of TRUE hope is God. With His hope comes peace and joy. The hope, peace and joy are buddies and hang out together! If you need hope, peace and joy today please message me. I will pray with you and for you.

There is hope to be had... I can help show you how to grab hold of it! *ask me about grief and loss coaching and lets get started!