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TT.004: How Do You Handle Life’s INTERRUPTIONS?
Life is unpredictable. The only thing we can count on from the world is inconsistency. I think it is imperative that we understand that, in order to free us from the trap of setting our expectations on the fragile things of this world. Obstacles are bound to happen and the road turns in ways we cannot expect. It is like driving through torrential rain or fog, most days we can only see 5ft ahead if we are lucky. What is beyond that is completely unknown. It could be straight smooth roads opening to sunny skies or it could be a 100ft plummet into some of the darkest days of your life.
Okay those are two extremes and maybe all you are gonna face is a bump in the road….or a leaf. The fact is, sometimes we feel small like an ant and that leaf seems huge and life altering, but God knew it would be there. In fact, He put it in your path on purpose to correct and redirect you towards exactly the path you were meant to walk down. If you are not catching on to my reference yet this should do it, God is saying, “Stay calm! We are going to walk AROUND the leaf!”…(A Bugs Life) haha but seriously, don’t you ever feel that way? Like how is it that something as trivial as a leaf in our way (a relational rejection, a new job offer, a diagnosis, a canceled social event) can make us panic so much and lose our minds?
Our plans/path may have been interrupted by that leaf, but the ground is still beneath our feet. That relational rejection was God’s protection. That new job offer is an opportunity to advance, gain experience, expand your mind, test your trust, and allow God to pour out more blessings of provision into your life. That diagnosis may not feel like it, but it is an opportunity to cling ever so much tighter to the faith you have in the ultimate healer! Just like the blind man Jesus healed in John chapter 9, He may be using the diagnosis in your life to be an example of great faith that someone in this world needs to see in order to hold on to faith through their own situation.
And lastly, I know with COVID-19 we have all experienced some cancelled social events and gatherings that we are used to partaking in to mark special occasions like birthdays, weddings, graduations, or even funerals. If that is what has set your mind reeling and caused you to lose your peace, just remember, it is not the activities or motions we go through that create value in those events. In this current cultural storm we have to walk more carefully and intentionally to navigate our daily lives. I believe and hope, for the most part, it has caused us to finally slow down, be still, and really listen to the Holy Spirit. It has shown us areas where we had lost a bit of that genuine human connection and it is teaching us how to repair those areas. Just like Christianity is not about the religious activities or rules we follow but rather the loving relationship we each have with our heavenly father, the joys of life and relationships with our friends and family are still alive and well! They are not dependent on whether we blow out birthday candles together (can you believe we used to be allowed to blow our nasty breath all over a cake and then share it with our friends?! hahaha) or gather and “pick a side” to watch two friends profess their love to each other…etc.
As we leave 2020 behind us, the fundamental ways our lives worked will remain impacted. School, Church, Work will all continue to look different for future generations. I’ll say it again, our only constant in this world is inconsistency and we could get lost in the fear of the unknown but our home is elsewhere and that place offers us a consistent loving relationship with the One who wins! Let’s walk around the leaf together, live there and learn to love like Him!
Blessings FAM!
What leaf in your life has you feeling like an ant? How can you shift your perspective in that situation to reveal the steady presence and protection of God in and through it? Nothing is wasted and so even when we feel like we have failed to handle a leaf situation correctly, don’t let that derail you from trying harder to tune in to God’s purpose in the face of the next leaf. Each time we are intentional about learning what God is trying to teach us in every circumstance, we get better, stronger, and wiser in the aftermath. He is always working on us, we are His masterpieces in progress!
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TT.002: What is a cause you care deeply about?
I think it is safe to say that we all wish the world were a better place. There are so many things wrong in our fallen world. Evil has been on the rise since the garden! We are seeing so much of that come to light these days with everything being dug up on systemic racism, sexual crime rings, and political manipulation to “cover up” various unsavory deeds…etc. Like anything else, when left ignored and unattended, issues like these only grow deeper and more ingrained in our way of life as a society. When we think of how deeply rooted these issues are, it can be overwhelming to imagine ever solving them! We must each focus in on the one thing that burdens us most. It is there where I believe we will find our calling. It is there where our passions and talents can hopefully coincide to a point of making the greatest impact we are capable of for the kingdom!
So what is your thing? And how can you engage to solve it? That first question might be really easy to answer but the second, i’ll bet, is a lot harder! As individuals it can be hard, even when we know our thing, to know how to help. Usually there is an organization out there that is already doing good work towards relief or resolution and the only practical way to help, for those of us with day jobs, is to donate to their cause financially. Time is harder to offer when we all have jobs and families to maintain. On top of that, many of us might also give less than we would like to the causes we care about because maybe we are not sure what organization to trust with our money, or we create excuses for why the money is best used differently to support your own life efforts or lifestyles. (no judgement, I am talking to myself here too!) I am not saying it is bad to care for yourself out of your own pocket full of hard earned money, but I do wonder… if there was a way to have more assurance that your money was going to a virtuous organization while also getting a little something for yourself that fits your lifestyle and showcases what you care about, would you go for it?
That is the basic premise behind FAM’s Cause Collection series, coming soon! I will have more details on how to be involved with these in the future, as I learn and figure out the specifics myself. God is stirring my soul and organizing my steps towards accomplishing some cool things through this ministry and I am really excited about this one! So stay tuned!
Blessings FAM!
Let me know what you care deeply about. How have you been involved in the fight for resolution to that cause? What are some ways you wish you could be involved? Are you an artist with time and talent to dedicate for your cause? If so, let me know! There may be a fun way you can help! Please use my contact form to reach out or leave a comment below.
