Why did I lose power?

Mark 8:36 – 37 [Msg]

36 What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?

37 What could you ever trade your soul for?

I felt like I have lost my compassion for the people.  I have become cynical  and callous with  people I spend time with.  I didn’t notice it right away, it wasn’t until one of my associates (who never agrees with anything anyone says unless its negative) agreed with every word that slipped out of my mouth.  I felt the light go on in my head.  I had an internal conversation in that moment…”Am I being TOXIC? Why am I not extending GRACE to people?  Why am I so ANGRY?” For 24 hours I took a break from everything and I traced my steps to see what had changed, where did I shift and miss it?

I had stepped-out on my relationship with God.  I made a turn to do what I wanted to do without seeking God – I remember when I did it.  I chose to do what I wanted to do and not what was best for me.  No studying, no worshipping, no discipline, no nothing good for my soul!!  I reverted back to a place God delivered me from.  I was in CONTROL MODE!

I had lost my eternal perspective on what was important and what was not.  I clearly lost the space where I use to experience God’s unfailing love and amazing forgiveness.  I had become numb to compassion.  I had put on my worldly outfit and stepped out on GOD and was walking in SELF and not faith.

Having & being in Control is one of the areas [Soft Spots] in my life that keeps me from experiencing God to the fullest.  It clearly blocks my way to all that God has for me.

What is the one thing that might be “blocking the way” to experiencing God fully for you?

Pray this prayer with me:

Lord, help me to see how much I lose when I lose you.  My perspective on my life and all of life gets distorted when I don’t make space for You, operating in your love for me.  Your love is better than life and truly I long for more tastes of that love.  Fill me with Your compassion, Your heart, Your eyes, Your ears and use me as a vessel to show YOUR love for me and someone who needs a touch, word or a miracle from YOU, THIS I ask in Your Precious Son’s Name, AMEN!!

Written by: The “Butterfly”

Reconnecting with God…OnPurpose!

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Pressure reveals ALL!

Pressure tell’s the real story!

Jame 1: 3-13 (MSG) ~ 3 You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 4 So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. 5 If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. 6 Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. 7 Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, 8 adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. 9 When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! 10 And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don’t ever count on it. 11 You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that’s a picture of the “prosperous life.” At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing. 12 Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life. 13 Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way.

Pressure makes you who you are. It is how you decide and manage to deal with issues and problems that builds your character and turns you into a leader or superior being amongst the human population. Darwin’s theory of the “Survival Of The Fittest“, clearly favors those who can deal with the pressures that life imposes on them.

The word of God gives us a way to deal with the pressures of life: James 1:5 – If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get His help and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. 

I watched a young man lose his cool over a game last night.  As I listened to him rant, I couldn’t help but see him as an employer, employee, parent, leader or mate.  It made me think about how I publicly handle situations I’m unhappy about.  How am I coming accross with people when I am under pressure?  It made me take notice of myself.  Do I want to represent myself in that manner?  Do I want to represent God in that manner?  Not to mention…it is just a game, it is not life threatening?  Is it worth the pain and pressure of being angry?  I remember when raising my son I would offer him a count down to rectify a situations – it did two things…1) I had a chance to calm down and not overreact & 2) I taught him about grace and self control.  I think I will start to use that method again with everyone – I will call it: reflective positioning …counting to 10 when under pressure and asking God to help me in “that” moment.  If you decied to try it too…comment and let me know how it worked for you.  I want to be better than the day before!

Embrace pressure, take in change and keep your head up because you will either be a piece of broken coal or a diamond at the end of all that pressure!

Pray this prayer with me:

Most Precious Lord Jesus…
Gentle And Wonderful God…
Truly Awesome And Ever-present Holy Spirit…
When every ounce of my soul wants me to survive for myself, let me think of you.
When the pressure and distress of my life pushes out my thoughts for others and for you, let me count your blessings in my life.
When the distress of my life grows so great I think I will crumble, be over me, under me, and all around me.
When my sin of selfishness punishes me with fear, doubt, insecurity, and a total separation from your love, let me kneel before your suffering endured for me on the cross of Calvary.
May all I say, think, and do be a blessing to you and to your call upon my heart.
All these things I humbly pray in the name of my most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, my Mighty God, and my Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom I can rely.
Amen!!!

Written by: The “Butterfly”

Being Better…OnPurpose!