Don’t worry, be happy

Tomorrow will worry about itself…

I am a planner and arguably an over-planner sometimes.  The what if’s have kept me up at night even when I think I’m not worrying over something.  My faith reminds me that tomorrow will worry about itself, and that I should be anxious for nothing, but with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, I should make my requests known to God.  

After all, I am to cast my cares onto God anyway. These spirituals keep me grounded and keep me going when I think that I have to do everything by myself when there is so much to do.  They remind me that I can only do what I can do within the 24 hours that God has given me to do it.  

Everyone gets the same 24 hours to do or not do whatever needs to be done during the day. Worrying doesn’t make the time go faster, nor does it help the work get done.  Worrying causes stress, grey hair and arguably a shorter, less enjoyable life.  

Live today.  Enjoy your life today.  Be in the moment today.  Right now, this moment is all that you have.

(Matthew 6:34, Philippians 4:6, I Peter 5:7)

Can Two Walk Together?

"Birds of a feather flock together."

This is something my mom always repeated to me growing up when we discussed my inner & outer social circles and my association with certain groups in general.  As you grew up and transitioned through puberty and adolescence, did you parents, guardians or anyone who cared about you take a special interest in your friends?  Did questions ever arise about who were your “road dogs,” your “ace,” your “crew” or your “partners in crime?”  Did they ever tell you that you needed to watch out for such-and-such or so-and-so and tell you to be careful?  Did they ever suggest that you befriend someone else because he/she seemed like a nice person?

Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your destiny.  Peer pressure is one of the top influencers among adolescents.  I don’t think some of us really understood what the big deal was until we looked around at our friends to see what they were doing and then looked at what we were doing.  Our “elders” knew the importance of being an eagle that soars solo or being in a “flock” of chickens that never get off of the ground.

One of the indicators of where we are or headed in our lives is the pack that we are rolling with.  Are they thugs? Thieves? Entrepreneurs? Service people? Lazy? Kind? Selfish? Caring? Bold? Daring? Silly? Determined?

Take note of your friends and see if they reflect the YOU that you say that you are.  I’m not saying that you should “unfriend” anyone because you believe they aren’t doing what you think they should be doing or because they don’t believe what you believe.  I am saying that if your friends are causing your life to be unhealthy for whatever reason, then you should consider their place in your life.  Not everyone is going to be able to walk with you in the places that God has prepared for you.  Chickens can’t fly where eagles are destined go. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3

Are You Dangerous?

“If you knew who you really were and acted like it, you’d be dangerous.”

Sometimes we try so hard to be who we think others want us to be or who we think we want to be that we forget to just BE!  Some people have a lifetime identity crisis.  They never realize who they are and are on a lifetime journey to discover just what that looks like.  Grass doesn’t have to try hard to grow, and a flower doesn’t struggle to bloom.  Under the right conditions with water and sun the flora around us just exists, and we marvel at its beauty.  In the animal kingdom, eagles do not ask the other birds what type of bird they are.  They do not require lessons on being an eagle, and a lion does not have to ask how to roar.  They just exist and do what they were born to do.

For those of us who are in Christ, know that we are the head and not the tail, we are above and not beneath, we are joint heirs with Christ, and we are the sons and daughters of God.  We know that our lives have purpose, and we are called to live according to His purpose.  His purpose is having a loving relationship with us, for us to have unity in His Spirit and for us to love others as we love ourselves (the Golden Rule).  If we are unclear of the details of our purpose, then He will reveal those details to us as long as we are tuned in to His frequency.

Stop wondering who you are.  You were fearfully and wonderfully made.  God made you perfectly and uniquely.  There is none other like you, and no one can do what you can do or contribute to the world in the same way you can with the same talents and gifts that God has planted inside of you.  Start stirring your gifts, use your talent for love, and BE the person God created you to be.  Be DANGEROUS!