Listen, don't assume.

There are always two sides to every story, maybe even more. But most of the time no one gets to hear all of them and when they don’t they just assume things. I am going to admit; I do this. I assume things without knowing all of the details. Knowing how it feels to not be listened to because people don’t care they just want to hear one side and that only is probably one of the most frustrating things in the world. So here is my challenge for you! Listen to people. Don't judge and/or assume things based on such little knowledge you have. Everyone deserves to be heard. Don’t single someone out because you might not necessarily like them. And above all of this it’s not even your place to judge or say when something is or is not true or right. Yes, there is a fine line between knowing the truth of something and knowing when someone is telling the truth. Overall though it’s not your place to be the final judge, so just step back get some other view points and then do the right thing. Don’t be hasty because you think something is going differently than you think it should. None of us can control everything and we never will be able to. So let go of all of that control you think you have because in all honesty you don’t have it you just think you do. Life is going to go on with or without you so just listen to people and understand them and what they’re going through. It might just help you out in the end too, who knows? :)

Christmas Time!!!

Wow, Christmas is upon us already! That is so crazy to think about! Time honestly just flies by. To be honest, I used to hate Christmas. That's probably crazy to you all reading this because it’s kind of hard for anyone to hate Christmas but I did. Not because I didn’t get good things because I did, lots and lots of very good things. But even though I did get all of those things, I wasn’t happy deep down. I was lonely. I wanted to just have traditional things like opening one gift on Christmas Eve or wearing all matching pajamas on Christmas Day and I wanted to do that with my family all together. I suppose I wanted that because that’s what "normal" people have and it’s just a consistent thing to have in life. I was tired of being with someone different every year and being at different places. Looking back now though that was so selfish of me, people were opening up their homes to me and letting me be a part of their family even if it was just for the day or those few hours. I realize now that even though I wasn’t with my family and the people I would have rather been with I was with people and not alone by myself. I realize now how amazing I have it. There are hundreds of thousands of millions of people who don’t get presents, loving people to be with, a warm house to stay in and I have the audacity to be depressed because I wasn’t with more loving people. Today, I am living in a wonderful, beautiful warm house with the most loving people in the world. Thinking back now that was an answer to a prayer I never even had the brains to pray for. God works in such miraculous ways! We are so undeserving of the reason of Christmas- Jesus being born of a virgin to save the entire world from an eternity in Hell. If you have never heard the true story of Christmas then I encourage you to read it for yourself in Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-39; Matthew 2:1-23. It's a live changing story and it might just change yours for the better. Don’t forget the Reason for the season. Jesus loves you and that is why He came to this wretched world.

Have you prayed about it as much as you have talked about it?

Prayer: the act or practice of praying to God. A supplication or expression addressed to God. An earnest request or wish. A religious service consisting chiefly of prayer. One that prays.

That right there is the dictionary definition of prayer. So mainly all of these words can be summed up to talking to God about your problems. It sounds fairly easy for the most part, right? Well not really because if it was then more people would be doing it, including myself. I would assume the most common of excuses is: "It's hard to pray to someone you can't see or some who doesn't talk back to you immediately." So the funny thing to me is that’s the perfect Person to be talking to! When you go to your friends or family about your problems they can misguide or mislead you or they can cripple you in a way by not telling you the truth. We all look for comfort more than instruction and correction and that’s fine. But why not get both so both needs are met? Prayer is so overlooked. If we as people of God and a nation founded on Godly principles would just pray for Gods guidance and wisdom in our lives we would probably be in better situations. Our lack of faith in God is so low though so we can’t even imagine how great prayer can be if one would use it. So I challenge you to take time out of your busy day or you’re not so busy day and give God the attention He deserves. Prayer works miracles and maybe one we all can witness one if we would but pray.

Philippians 4:6: "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

I Thessalonians 5:18: "In every thing give THANKS: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

        Even though Thanksgiving was last week I still wanted to do a post on it because it really is just a great holiday and reminder. I think we all get caught up in the materials of this world and forget the bigger picture. So Thanksgiving is that small reminder for everyone to take a step back and look at life and realize how great it is. We should do that every day but we're all human and forget. A friend on my Facebook posted: "Black Friday- a day in America where people line up outside for hours to trample each other for the cheapest stuff just hours after being thankful for what they already have." So seeing that was humerous but then at the same time eye opening because its like total opposite things and as a country we are all doing them in the same weekend! Well I guess what I'm trying to say is to remember to be thankful as much as you can. Even for things like Patience and trials and when things don't exactly go our way. No one likes someone who is constantly complaining about things so be thankful and Give thanks in everything! :)

 

Joy:

“We must know sorrow to be able to fully appreciate joy. Joy costs pain, but the pain is worth it.” This is a quote by Katie Davis from her book: Kisses from Katie. Unless you have experienced some kind of pain you probably don’t get this saying. But we all live in a broken world full of pain and hurt so I'm sure everyone can relate to this quote in some way. I know in my own personal life sometimes I just focus on all of the pain and hurt that I am going through at that point in time and I don’t appreciate things that bring me joy through that pain or because of it. I feel like I, as a person, always dwell on the negative of this life and never see anything positive and knowing all the good there is out there that is a very selfish and pathetic thing to do. We have no excuse or reason to not be happy or to be angry or mad at anyone or anything. We are so blessed! But in the midst of all of our pain we forget that. So I want to encourage and challenge you through your times of pain. Always keep in mind that there is a reason you are going through this whether it be to make you a stronger person or maybe to encourage someone who is watching the way you handle a situation. But no matter what you’re going through you should always glorify God. And instead of just focusing on all of the pain and negativity of this life be happy and thankful for that joy it brings you and all of the joys of it. Joy is so satisfying! So why not enjoy it?

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

 But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:2-4

 

Patience with people you don’t like:

 

                I'm pretty sure we all have someone we're not necessarily found of. It’s not that you hate them, it’s just the things they do may irk you really bad. I know that I have some people like that in my life and I have to deal with them on a day to day basis. It is very hard for to talk to those people because I have tried fixing the problem between us but they refused to do anything to help. So for me at times it is very difficult to respect and obey them, but I am trying my best to. I was once told by somebody that If a person is rude or mean to you to kill them  with kindness, In the Bible in Romans 12:20-21 it says: “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” So whenever I want to make a snide comment back to them or tell them what’s up I am reminded of this verse. Irritating people can ruin your day and/or life but don’t give them that power. God says: “Vengeance is Mine” [Romans 12:9] so let’s let God do His job while we do ours. Enjoy your life and if these kinds of people come into your way treat them nicely and keep going. Remember, you hold the happiness for your day. So make everyday a happy one. J

Proverbs 16:20- "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happpy is he."

                Like I mentioned in one of my previous post, Patience comes in many different forms and ways. It doesn’t always have to pertain to more mental situations you’re dealing with it can deal with the physical ones too. A physical situation, that requires patience for me right now, is wearing braces. If you have had braces you know how annoying they can be; if you haven’t, count yourself lucky. When I first got my braces on (which was a year and six months ago) my orthodontist told me that I would probably have then on for two and a half years. I wish that was still the case but not anymore. I have a really small mouth as it is so there’s barely enough room for my teeth so wisdom teeth’s growing in wasn’t even a possibility. So I had to have a surgery to get my wisdom teeth out. And at the same time as that surgery I had to get a tooth pulled and my impacted tooth exposed so they can pull it into the right spot. That surgery was nine months ago and my impacted tooth is still in my gum. So that estimate of two and a half years is out of the door now, sadly. It’s a tad frustrating because I wanted them of before graduation but apparently I’m not anymore. Because of how slowly the impacted tooth is moving it is uncertain to when I will get them off. But I do count myself privileged to even be able to have them because a lot of people can’t even afford to get them on in the first place. The only way that I am even able to have them one is because my orthodontist, Anderson and Moopen, is paying for me to have them. So I am so grateful to them for that so being even a little bit frustrated about wearing them for so long wouldn’t even be fair for me to do. I know this probably isn’t the best of examples but it’s the one I thought of. So whatever you may be dealing with right now, whether it is mental or physical, step back and look at all the good things in it. For me, having straight teeth is my reward for wearing them for so long but along with that I have been able to meet so many amazing people at my orthodontist that I probably never would have been able to in the first place. I might be something small that you’re waiting for but you might as well make the best of it anyways. Try to find the good in everything, it will make you a happier person and it will also make you appreciate the small things. There’s no reason to dwell on the negative it doesn’t get you anywhere anyways.