Month: July 2023

July 27, 2023

Finding Your Way – Fruits of Suffering

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)

Happy throwback Thursday! Ten years ago, on July 26, 2013, I posted an inspirational story about the struggles of a butterfly. It was befitting for this however long series titled “Finding Your Way.”

I’ve often seen people fall completely apart when facing trials and tribulations. The emotional stresses tied to struggles sometimes paralyze folks to a point they can’t see the forest for the trees; thus, rendering them helpless. And as a result nothing gets done to the best of their ability. As to why finding your way through difficult situations is so very very important to living an abundant life.

“A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.  One day a small opening appeared.  He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to squeeze its body through the tiny hole.  Then it stopped, as if it couldn’t go further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly.  He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bits of cocoon.  The butterfly emerged easily but it had a swollen body and shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch it, expecting that any minute the wings would enlarge and expand enough to support the body.  Neither happened!  In fact the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around.  It was never able to fly.

What the man in his kindness  and haste did not understand:  The restricting cocoon and the struggle required by the butterfly to get through the opening was a way of forcing the fluid from the body into the wings so that it would be ready for flight once that was achieved.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives.  Going through life with no obstacles would cripple us.  We will not be as strong as we could have been and we would never fly.” ~~Author Unknown

July 21, 2023

Finding Your Way – Evil Intentions

They hatch the eggs of vipers and spin a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is broken, an adder is hatched.

Isaiah 59:5

Yesterday my son called to tell me about his son’s unfortunate situation. It was identical to what he had experienced with his son’s mother. Apparently my grandson went to visit his toddler twin girls. When he got to their home he’d learned their mother had taken them elsewhere, thus, ensuring he would not get to visit with them. My grandson became upset and called his dad about his heart wrenching reality. My son told him not to do anything foolish over the matter and explained what had happened to him and what I’d told him about dating.

What I told my son when he was a young man: “if you want to know how a girl will act, meet her mom. Chances are she’s going to either be a carbon copy or polar opposite but more likely a carbon copy.” However that analogy can also be applied to social groups! If you want to know how a person thinks, observe the circle in which they travel. And! Even then you gotta be careful because you will always find chameleons in any social structure.

My grandson is very young and has little to no life experience; therefore, he’s paying a heavy price for his youthful follies. I pray he makes it to manhood without too much emotional baggage.  Because, sadly, he’s not getting it when it comes to cultivating healthy relationships.  His drive to score sexual encounters prohibits him from learning everyone has desires and or agendas. Let’s pray!

PRAYER
Father God, thank you for this day not promised. Heal the brokenness of people that have cultivated evil in their hearts. Speak peace and blessings to their life. Amen  

July 20, 2023

Finding Your Way – Perfect Peace

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 26:3

A few days ago I was in a meeting that I’d hoped for a better outcome that would end years of infighting. It was clear from the opposing side there was no resolution because their message was about getting revenge based upon their objections that were filled with lies and half-truths. As I sat in silence I listened intently and wrote most if not all of their grievances. And as each of their complaints were addressed with satisfactory and truthful answers to explain my actions, then they began to inundate the meeting with off-the-cuff complaints. And I’d already addressed foreseeable issues before they became an avenue for anyone to say I’d wrong them. Today as I start my day I’m in “perfect peace” because my mind and my actions were done for the love I have for Christ. I live my life in such a way that I want to convey to God I’m grateful for every blade of grass. Because! I learned decades ago we can only be our best and have perfect peace when we learn the art of gratefulness in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER

Father, someone’s life is filled with an untold amount of stress. Speak gently to their souls on being grateful as learning this critical life lesson will open the door to your perfect peace. Amen