Just Because Someone Was A Jerk, Doesn't Mean You Have To Be

Here's a post I read that my friend re shared from someone on her timeline. (Words in red mine)

"Happy people don’t go around intentionally making others miserable. They just don’t. They don’t tear down, or pick fights, or create drama where there is none to be made. They don’t wish bad on others, or belittle. I used to think it was my job to “win” with people who’d been rude. I 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 respond to negative comments, and I 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 try to change people’s minds, and then one day I thought “what the hell am I doing? I’m doing exactly what they want. This isn’t revenge. This is me falling into their trap. Shame on me.” 

I don’t try to get back at people anymore. It’s such a waste—of my time, of my energy, of my thoughts. Nah...you can go ahead. I can’t control you. I’m just going to be over here drinking my healthy, mood boosting coffee living my life for me if you need me.

I’m gonna choose grace. I'm gonna chase gratitude. I’m gonna bring joy to the table. I’m gonna reach for hope. I’m gonna run with faith. I’m gonna guard my heart, and I’m gonna protect my peace. I’m gonna dream, I’m gonna do good, and I’m gonna be kind. I’m gonna encourage, and I’m gonna uplift others and I can’t do that if I get down on their level. 

I’m gonna do what God’s asked me to do, and I’m gonna keep my thoughts on Him, which is exactly where they belong. 

I hope you’ll follow suit and let it go, cause there is absolutely no happiness to be found in anger, bitterness, jealousy, and hate. None. 

Maybe they don’t deserve it, but YOU do. Life is so short, and it’s so easy to waste it dwelling on BS. Spread light, and if other people don’t like it, get so loud you can’t hear them anymore. 

Honestly, The best thing you can do is to pray for them. They must be going through something to be in such a negative place. So you can either extend hurt, or you can extend mercy, but you can’t do both. Please don’t jump in the ring and continue the cycle of negativity. Don’t play the game. Don’t do that to your own heart. Don’t do that to the others. There’s no glory there, and I know that’s not who you are."

#breakthecycle

Here's a picture from a page that I follow which I thought goes nicely with this. 

"Jesus separated Himself from the Father by going to the cross and suffering so you wouldn't have to."

Just because you were hurt or abused by somebody, doesn't justify your seeking revenge on others or becoming a jerk/abuser

A Proper Identity From John 1: John The Baptist

Written by Craig Griebel

If there is one question that most everyone deals with at some time in their life it is this: who am I? Am I simply what others tell me I am? Am I just the product of how I have been raised? Perhaps my genetics are all that make me who I am? Who am I? We struggle with this question our entire lives and feel that we can never find an answer. I remember walking the parking lot of Amarillo College asking myself that simple question. Who am I? In a way, I tried to answer that question myself. Perhaps I could be defined by my accomplishments, friendships, grades, relationships, or really anything that could just simply tell me who I was. However, God had a different answer. He slowly took away the things that I believed could define me until I was left with one simple deduction: I am simply His adopted son. Yet, even after knowing this answer, I still sometimes question exactly who I am. Luckily, one man in the Bible seems to really understand the meaning of this question and will be able to help us answer it in a God centered way.

John the Baptist is the child of Mary’s sister, Elizabeth (making him Jesus’ first cousin). John has a pretty special calling on his life and actually was given that calling before he was even conceived (see Luke 1 for more details). John grew up to be quite the prophet. When we enter John 1, we see that he is in the wilderness baptizing people and telling them to repent. Many of you may know that story but have you ever realized what happened when John’s ministry began to grow? People started thinking that he was more than a prophet, perhaps the Messiah himself. Priests and Pharisees began sending men to him to simply ask the question: who are you? John 1:20 tells us: “He did not refuse to answer, but he declared: ‘I am not the Messiah.’” The chapter continues with them asking more questions about who John is. Perhaps he is the great prophet Elijah, returning to help the Messiah banish the Roman Government. Perhaps he is the great prophet that Moses predicted in Dt. 18:15. Finally, John just gives them an answer: “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: make straight the way of the Lord – just as Isaiah the prophet said.” (John 1:23) John had a proper grasp on who he was in the midst of people trying to basically tell him he was the Messiah. He didn’t react in pride and accept their praise, but instead knew exactly who he was.

And this is something that just amazes me. John had such an awesome grip on who he was that he didn’t become cocky and arrogant when people thought he was the chosen Messiah himself. Because in my life, when people praise me it is easy to get a big head. It would be easy for John to just say: “Yep, I’m the Messiah.” It would even be even easier for him to say: “I am God’s head honcho right now, the prophet he promised to make a way. You better listen!” But no, this guy just quotes a passage of Isaiah and simply continues doing exactly what God calls him to do. In fact, he is so secure in continuing to proclaim the message of repentance and preparation that one day he ends up being killed for his words (see Matthew 14). What exactly did this guy understand to give him such a firm grasp on who he was?

I’ll tell you what I think was different about John: he had a firm grasp on who God was. He had his eyes set on Jesus and because of that, he had a perfect understanding of who he truly was. In fact, we see that in John 1:29, John the Baptist sees Jesus coming in the distance and says: “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” He was looking for Jesus and his life was centered on Him. So this then makes us question ourselves: What are we focusing on?

Because this is the surest way to find out what you are putting your identity in. If you are focusing on your girlfriend or boyfriend, you will build your identity upon that person. If you are focusing on your troubles, your troubles will begin to define you. Perhaps you are centered on your career, schooling, or intelligence. Those things will then become exactly who you see yourself as. But here is the problem: what happens when God takes those things away from your life like He did for me? Then who are you? See, that is why we must focus on Jesus! He is the only thing that is constant in our lives! He is the only basis of identity that never changes! How awesome is that?

So who am I? Well, I am a child of God! Who am I? I am saved by a grace that is simply amazing, allowing me to be adopted into the kingdom of Heaven? Who am I? I am a new creation, and the old things I have done that I regret no longer define me! Wow, could I ask for a better identity than that? And so I must remain focused on Him. For when my eyes are upon Him I have no doubt as to who I am!

Not Letting What We Do Define Us

In a society where we constantly compare ourselves to people on social media and real life, it's easy to feel bombarded by expectations of others to do more and be more to be successful, popular, or well-liked. 

Numerous times in the past, I remember finding myself in "What career/ major/ degree I need to achieve" to be successful in my eyes and in others. And I'll just be honest and say that none of that really matters without knowing God's purpose for your life. Because you can be rich, successful, famous, and have everything you could imagine wanting and achieving in life, but if you don't know Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him, you won't be living fully and freely. 

Whether it's homemaking, DIY projects, hobbies, sports, writing, blogging, etc. Ask yourself this question, "Who am I doing this for?" Because it's easy to get lost in the pressure of doing to impress people and be wrapped up in trying to define ourselves by what we do or think we should be doing, rather than aiming to please and serve God with our time, gifts, talents, passions, interests, resources, and ambition. 

When we aim to please the Lord by serving people around us and serving Him, we find more joy, peace, and fulfillment in our lives and it's more evident in our attitudes and how we treat people. All of that stemming from knowing who God is and who we are in Him who gives us our identity. And when we are confident and assured of our proper identity, opinions from people and ourselves won't really matter in the end. Watch this video below to understand more about not letting what we do define us.

Focusing on Faith in Healing

I can remember times in my life where I questioned God for unanswered healing in my body when I was going through terrible insomnia and physical pain issues that resulted from an incident in college. No matter what my doctor, chiropractor, and medications did, it didn't fix the problems. It was one of the most challenging and frustrating times I went through. There are well-meaning Christians (particularly in the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement) who are extremely passionate about preaching on healing and believing miracles and exclaim if you're not healed it's because you lack faith, but that's only partially correct as I have known sick people who genuinely loved the Lord and had faith yet they never received healing for their disease or physical pain. But many are quite dismissive of that fact and love to quote Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24 which declare that by His stripes (Jesus) we are healed, but that's referring to spiritual healing (salvation and freedom from sin) more than physical healing. 

We have to remember that we live in a fallen world where diseases and pain exist as a result of sin and it's curse. Yes, God can heal if He wanted to but He doesn't always deliver healing on Earth. Sometimes, that healing occurs after the person has passed away and is in heaven. This isn't about whether He "can" heal, but rather does He "want" to heal? Like Luke 22:42 says, "Not my will, but your will be done." Not everyone gets healed from cancer, blindness, or whatever ailment is out there. Here's a well-written post by a friend of mine on healing. 

Written by Craig Griebel

I have a pretty skeptical mind. I really can't deny that. I feel that this sometimes makes it difficult to have the faith in God that I truly should have. This rings even more true when looking at the topic of God being a Healer. Now, I was raised in a charismatic church - meaning that I have been taught that God can heal every disease imaginable if we have the right amount of faith. And to be honest, as the skeptic I have always had a hard time truly having faith in God for this matter. Fast forward to a year ago when I'm diagnosed with kidney malfunctions - now the concept of God being a healer is more relevant than ever before. Now I need Him more than ever before. And that is what basically started this series - a need for me personally to look at faith and challenge myself to truly "Let go and Let God" have it.

There are really three main schools of thought concerning the healing nature of God. The first is that God can heal every disease and will heal it if we only have faith. The second is that God has the ability to heal every disease but often He chooses not to in order for us to grow in our walk with Him. The third is quite simply that God no longer gives physical healing - that is only something He did in the past to help the apostles spread the Gospel all over the world. I really don't write this note to get in an argument over which of these is correct - and I think to focus on this as an argument would ruin the whole concept of the series which is making all of this practical. But I do write this as much as a confession to myself as a help to other people: my God still has the ability to heal diseases. The "problem" is that God simply does not always see everything in the same light I do.

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.' This is the LORD's declaration. 'For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.'" (Isaiah 55:8-9). This passage is a humbling one for me - one that constantly kicks me in the butt. For you see, I work in health care and I see a lot of broken people. I see people that have stories which are more depressing than a Life Time movie. I look at these people and think: "God, why? Why do they have to be so broken? Why do you allow them such hurt? If you can heal, why don't you?" And this is where I become even more humbled - because occasionally I feel that He answers.

I feel the first answer is this: have you prayed for them? Has anyone bridged the gap and spent time actually interceding for this person. Too often I feel the answer is no. Again, I'm not trying to say that God automatically heals every disease when we pray but I do feel He would move a heck of a lot more if we actually, truly interceded. "The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful." (James 5:15-16) How often do I actually spend time in prayer and fasting for those that are sick? How often do I pray and fast to intercede for the lost? So often I just utter the phrase: "I'll be praying for you" and never seek God in the matter again. 

I had a patient a while back come in with some severe foot pain from a knee surgery that basically severed her nerves. The surgeon told her to expect a year of severe burning in her foot - and she came to the clinic in some of the worst pain I have ever seen. As I was talking to her about this condition one day, I told her that simple phrase: "I'll be praying for you". Suddenly, God convicted me - why not just pray for her then? She had stated she had faith in Christ so I asked her on the spot in that treatment room: "Do you mind if I pray?" After agreeing, I said a simple prayer of healing. My faith wasn't somehow super powered - it was a prayer of seeing someone broken and knowing I serve a mighty God. She left that day and when she returned a few days later told me she had no longer had any nerve pain. Months later she came back to the clinic for another condition and told me she still hasn't had nerve pain since the time we prayed. How life was different for this lady because God finally was able to break through the stubbornness and embarrassment in my heart to finally have me intercede for her on the spot.

However, that is not to say God always answers positively in our request for healing. Sometimes I feel He does say no to our petitions. Paul experienced this very sensation when he prayed for God to lift a "thorn of his flesh" off of him. Paul speaks of this matter in 2 Corinthians when he states: "Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it (the problem Paul was having) away from me. But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.'" (2 Corinthians 12:8-9) At times God does say "no". At times God does say "not now". The secret in faith is to not let your belief be destroyed in the times he does say no. The secret in faith is being content with whatever God's will is. And this can be hard when we see suffering. However, suffering is temporary while joy is eternal. Those aren't empty words - they are promises.

Indeed, God does still heal. However, God doesn't take orders from me. But I dare not take that fact and use it as an excuse. I have failed when it comes to truly interceding for others. I have failed when it comes to truly declaring the healing abilities of God. I have failed in trying to make God less supernatural than he truly is. I need to work on my faith in this matter. But it is encouraging to look and see that God still uses a failure like me. It is encouraging to see that God still moves through our prayers. And I pray it is encouraging to you to know that you truly can still have faith in a God who has the ability to heal our diseases.

"Immediately the father of the boy cried out, 'I do believe! Help my unbelief.' When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly coming together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, 'You mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!' Then it came out." Mark 9:24-26

God Gave Me My Heart's Desire + Removing Idols

What's an idol? It is something that you crave, want, enjoy, and are satisfied by anything more than God. It can be food, a nice house, marriage, achievements, success, revenge, etc. Even though most of these things are harmless and aren't sinful by default, it becomes an idol of worship when we think about anything or anyone more than we lift up our worship and devotion to God in our heart, thoughts, and lifestyle. 

God is a jealous God and does not want to be second place in our lives. (Exodus 34:14) It's a command that He takes very seriously and all throughout Scripture, it shows what happens when people turn to idolatry and worship themselves above their Creator. It never ends well. Psalm 115 is a good chapter to read regarding futility of idols and their trustworthiness. 

Here's a video I stumbled upon after listening to my pastor's message from Sunday morning since I wasn't there in church. It's very encouraging and my prayer is that it will bless anyone who watches it. 

And here's another video that Pastor Josh from my church did on a Wednesday evening bible study explaining how to live a life set apart from loving the world and the things in it to loving the LORD truly in our hearts. 

Cinnamon Bread

Photo location: Pakistan

If you ever invite neighbors or friends into your home for holidays or any occasion, this delicious cinnamon bread will be a crowd pleaser and make your kitchen and home smell inviting with the lovely scent of cinnamon all around. Nikole Hahn, a missionary, shared this recipe which has become a tradition in Pakistan. The recipe video is 1 minute long. 

If you live at high altitude, you can click here to make adjustments. Baking time, temperatures, and ingredients might need to be adjusted if you live above 3,000-foot elevation.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon (I like to dump my cinnamon in the bowl)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 eggs

Instructions: 

1. Grease the bottom of a loaf pan. You can sprinkle the bottom with a little flour to keep it from sticking, but I like to use cinnamon instead. After baking, the cinnamon on the bottom of the pan prevents sticking and gives a crispy cinnamon crunch to your bread.
2. Preheat the oven to 350* (or 375* if you are between 3,000 and 4,000 elevation level).
3. Mix dry ingredients together first. Then, add all the wet ingredients. Don’t overmix. Mix until smooth.
4. Pour batter into the loaf pan and bake for almost an hour. It will be done when the bread feels firm to the touch, and you can insert a knife in the middle and the knife comes out clean.
5. Use a knife to gently separate the bread from the sides. Wait a minute, then turn upside down on a cooling rack or plate.

Eat with your favorite topping hot out of the oven. The smell of cinnamon will fill your home with warmth and memories.

Taco Soup

Dunguaire Castle in Galway

This original recipe was shared by Mandy Post who serves in Galway, Ireland with her husband Jason and their four children. Mandy and Jason moved from Texas to Galway to help establish Galway City Baptist Church and disciple college students nearby by opening up their home for fellowship and dinner, their taco soup becoming a huge favorite. It has made a significant impact in their community as they seek to share the love of Christ with the students and mentor them. Equipping them to lead and train a next generation to know Jesus and make Him known across the globe. Here's a 3 minute video demonstrating how to make their taco soup and Mandy discussing her life-changing experiences with the students. 

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• one large onion chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic minced
• 2-3 sliced or chopped chilies
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 2 cans of corn (or 2 cups frozen corn)
• 2 cans of beans, drained and rinsed (kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans)
• 2 cans stewed or chopped tomatoes
• 1 16 oz can tomato sauce
• 2 packages taco seasoning (or add your own seasonings to taste: salt, cumin, chili powder, paprika)
• corn tortilla chips
• sliced or cubed avocado, sour cream, and cheddar cheese for toppings

Directions:

On medium high heat, sauté the onions and garlic in the olive oil in a large soup pan till soft, about 2-3 minutes. Add the chilies and cook for 1-2 more minutes. Add the ground beef and brown until cooked through. Once meat is finished cooking, add the corn, beans, tomatoes, and tomato sauce, mixing well. Then stir in the taco seasoning, and let the soup simmer for 15-20 minutes on low heat. Serve over tortilla chips with desired toppings. Enjoy!