calling myself “out!”

Now, before we go any further, I have to tell you, I am generally a positive person. I am an encourager and if you read any of my previous blog posts, you will see that. So, I am not here to call myself or you a failure for falling short because falling short does not make us failures. This isn’t what this is. Rather, this is a moment to be real—honest. To call myself out when I mess up. And we all mess up! There is not one of us that has not made a mistake, done something, or said something we wished we hadn’t. This happened to me recently. I have set principles for myself and one of those is to make every effort to avoid gossip. Never easy. I’m not always successful at it either. Sometimes I can avoid it, sometimes I don’t.  So, I’m calling myself out. Holding myself accountable for doing a thing I don’t want to do. Maybe you know what I’m talking about? You do what you know is wrong even though you want to do what you know is right? Well, great news! We are not alone, and this isn’t new or unusual!

why do i do what i hate?

Ever ask yourself, “Why do I do what I hate?” I know I have and so did a guy named Paul. The Apostle Paul was a prolific writer of the New Testament and in the Book of Romans, he talks about this very struggle; “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:15 NIV). Here we see Paul calling himself out. Holding himself accountable for not doing what he knows he should do and doing the thing he doesn’t want to do. Calling ourselves out when we do something we don’t want to do is to our benefit so potentially the next time when we’re confronted with the same situation, we don’t do the thing we hate. Holding ourselves accountable for our actions is the only way to effect change and to stop doing what we hate to do. While we will never be perfect and we won’t always get it right, it is advantageous for us to stop pretending we never miss the plate so that we may continue to grow and move forward.

next at bat

Maybe you don’t struggle with this, but for those of us who do, I would like to suggest to you that while perhaps this inning you fell short of tagging the bag, it’s okay. Get up, wipe off the dust and wait for the next at bat. And if we’ve allowed our “Out!” to cultivate change within us, then at our next at bat we may just be called “Safe!” at the plate. See, we all fall short at times, we are human, so don’t berate yourself for it but it’s important to acknowledge it, call yourself out and learn from it. And who knows, there in the lesson, you may find a moment to treasure. 

Fifty-two Weeks Ago

Last April, we were all adjusting to quarantine and wondering what the future held for us and our loved ones, neighbors and communities. My husband had ordered my birthday gift online and we went to “curbside pick-up” since the stores were not allowing people inside. We drove down empty streets that only a few weeks ago teemed with activity. Even the nearby college campus (that we pass frequently) typically bustling with students, was now a ghost town. It was all very surreal. The usually packed mall was empty. Super weird. It felt like we were living in an apocalyptic movie! I know you all have your stories that ring very similar to mine. We, along with the rest of the world, waited with bated breath for the next bad report, the other shoe to drop, the closure of another state. It seemed the world had come to a standstill. But as we all know, whether in quarantine or not, life marches on.

On The Personal Side

My youngest daughter graduated high school by walking across the stage, picking up her diploma and proceeding off. No traditional pomp and circumstance with her graduating class. No large crowd in attendance to cheer them on. My son graduated from AIT (Advanced Individual Training, Army) in May and married in October. My oldest daughter announced we were going to be grandparents. My second eldest daughter and her hubby began to try and figure out what life as missionaries during quarantine would look like. And, my husband and I celebrated our thirtieth anniversary in July! Now, on the surface, these life events, as you read them, seem normal, some even exciting, but what you don’t see are the challenges within each event. The painful awareness that my youngest daughter would never get that moment back—her senior year had been ripped from her. The willy-nilly of the unknown wondering if my son would be able to graduate and come home because Base was under quarantine. Not to mention the stress they faced planning a wedding during that time. The rush to get my oldest daughter up to Canada to her husband (he’s a Canadian and his Visitors Visa had expired the previous November) before the borders closed in March. Watching my second eldest daughter and her husband float along in-limbo, being unable to give them any guidance other than to just wait. Our anniversary was a beautiful day planned by our kids, with just us and it was wonderful, but I had always dreamed of having a big vow-renewal ceremony for the big number thirty. Blessings within trials. Trial within blessings.

What A Year

These and other challenges and adversities, along with all the worries and the pressing issues, moved me to seek comfort and hope on a whole new level. I was compelled to seek God in a way that one does in desperation—whole-heartedly and fervently for strength, solace, and assurance. Each time, God met me there for he is faithful. I was consistently reassured by his Word. Scripture like this one was a balm to my soul; “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46:1-3 NIV (Emphasis mine) This is a beautiful reminder that no matter what we face here, God is with us! What a consolation! Can you relate to feeling shaken, as one most likely would feel if the earth were giving way and the waters roaring with mountains quaking? But thankfully God is still God and he is not shaken! He alone is our refuge. He alone is our strength. He alone can help us find moments to treasure in the midst of our most trying times and our most challenging years. Allow God to reveal himself to you, where you are, in the midst of your mess and know he is with you for he is faithful! Clinging to Jesus’ promise here; “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”” Matthew 28:20b NIV

Wisdom nugget from me; “Through the pandemic, one thing has become ever so clear, even more-so than it ever was before and that is this; Life is precious. We are not promised tomorrow so make the most out of each moment and treasure them in your heart! Seek the blessings in the trials!”

More Scripture to Encourage You

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jesus speaking) John 16:33 NIV

I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left. Lamentations 3:19-24 MSG

And please, if you find yourself feeling hopeless, depressed, anxious or having thoughts of suicide, please reach out to seek help! Your life is precious!

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/ 1-800-273-8255

Do you remember when you were a kid and another kid maybe said something that hurt your feelings or teased you? I remember demanding them to, “Take that back!” As if they could. And whether forced into an apology by a parent or another adult, or genuinely given, the damage was done. Painful words resonate in our memories and they cannot be taken back. No matter how much we want them to be. 

Why Would You Say That? 

When I was in elementary school, there was a boy a couple of years older than me who just loved to pick on me. I have no idea why I was his target, I have theories now that I’m older but when I was in fourth grade, I had no clue what I’d done to this sixth grade boy to deserve his wrath. I remember thinking, “I don’t even know your name and you don’t even know me!” The mean things he said to me, I wanted him to take that back! I encountered the same thing in high school, (as so many do), with a group of girls who again, didn’t even know me or I them! Once more leaving me to wonder what I’d done to deserve their cruel words and threats of violence. I had been taught to ignore the behavior back in elementary school. Ignore them and they will stop. They didn’t. Afraid to tell because it would only increase the risk of further bullying and violence. 

One of my daughters then became the victim of bullying in middle school. Painful words spoken that could never be taken back. Her father and I fought with the school board to no avail. They failed us and our daughter even with a ZERO Tolerance act in place. Still today, the effects of those words spoken to her linger. Have you ever encountered this? I’d venture to say at some point in your life, whether a classmate, a co-worker/boss, a parent, a teacher or spouse or from social media, you’ve experienced someone’s cruel words spoken into you that cut you so deep that you wished they could take them back. 

Let Our Words

Why do we as humans find it easier to tear another person down rather than lift them up? What is it that we’re afraid of? That encouraging another will somehow minimize us but tearing them down builds us up? I don’t think there could be anything further from the truth! Personally, when I have taken the time and made the effort to encourage another, or offer kind words or even just a friendly hello, I actually feel better! I can encourage my own spirit by valuing another. Whereas I have found that when I’ve spoken an unkind word, whether “deserved” or not, no matter my “reason”,  I feel like a wretch for potentially hurting another!  Maybe you know what I’m talking about? That’s why I love this passage of scripture found in Ephesians; “And never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them.” Ephesians 4:29 (TPT) Even if you’re unsure of what you believe about God or the Bible, please allow me to encourage you to recognize the wisdom in these words. How much better it is to give a beautiful gift of a kind word than speak ugly words that can destroy? What would you prefer to hear? Wouldn’t those within your sphere benefit from a beautiful, kind word spoken to them same as you would?

So, what to do? 

How does offering encouragement to another help us when harsh words have been spoken to us and we want to demand, “Take that back!”? First, I have learned that I need to forgive those who have said cruel, hurtful things to me. My forgiving them doesn’t make what they did okay—it wasn’t— but it releases me from the pain inflicted. Second, I have to be intentional about speaking kind, life-giving words to others. When I can bring a smile, or a bit of encouragement to another, it’s like denying the enemy the ground he thought he’d gained. It’s almost impossible to offer a friendly word when we are filled with bitterness, or anger ourselves. As we read further in this chapter of Ephesians, it tells us; “Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults. But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another. Has God graciously forgiven you? Then graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ’s love.” Ephesians 4:31-32 (TPT) Why? So we may speak life to others and not end up saying something we wish we could take back! Because once a word is spoken, we cannot take that back!

The Ripple Effect

We can’t demand someone to take back hateful words, because they cannot be taken back, but we can work on forgiving them. We can begin with love because love covers a multitude of sins (1Peter 4:8). We have the power to shift the tide when we allow compassion and love to move us rather than our pain. The more we encourage others, maybe they will feel so lifted up, they will then in turn offer encouragement to someone who needs it and so on and so on. The ripple effect. And in the process, you will gladden your own spirit! We never know how our words may impact another, so let’s strive to speak life—even to ourselves — it has the power to overcome the darkness! Your kindness may be the only kindness someone experiences that day providing them a moment to treasure.  So, who do you know that could use a word of encouragement today?

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:29-32 (NLT)

Bullying is a serious problem and should not be ignored. If you are experiencing bullying, there are numerous resources! Here are just a few:

For teens: https://www.stompoutbullying.org/get-help; https://www.nationalsafeplace.org/bullying

For adults: https://www.healthline.com/health/workplace-bullying

1-800-273-TALK (8255) https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/get-help-now

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, don’t wait! Please seek help immediately! Your life is so very precious! Call 1-800-273-8255https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/

What has ever been the greatest demonstration of love shown to you by another? Maybe a grand, out-of-this-world marriage proposal. Maybe even something as dramatic as saving your life by donating an organ or blood you needed. Maybe something as simple as a bouquet of flowers from a steadfast friend to cheer you up while you sit in depression. For me, personally, one of the greatest demonstrations of love shown to me in my life has been the way my husband of almost thirty-one years has simply remained constant and dependable by my side through all of life’s ups and downs. So, now, what’s the greatest demonstration of love you have displayed? Was it received or did you experience the pain of rejection?

Now, imagine with me for a moment, a love so great for you that the ultimate sacrifice was made—another’s life. Can you conceive it? If someone died for you as proof of how loved you are, would you accept it or decline it? What would cause you to reject it?  Feelings of unworthiness? The need to be self-reliant? Switching gears here now, go with me even further if you dare. Now you are the one who made that sacrifice for another and they have rejected your gift of love. How do you feel? Heartbroken? Devastated? Mystified? You wanted them to be loved and they declined the invitation. Do you wonder if maybe God experiences those same emotions when we deny the sacrificial love that he demonstrated to us?

^“Now, would anyone dare to die for the sake of a wicked person? We can all understand if someone was willing to die for a truly noble person. But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!” Romans 5:6-8 (TPT) Hard to believe? I know. Why would God do this? Surely there has to be a way to earn this love. But what if I told you that you can’t earn it! In a society where we all have to work so hard to earn everything, including love, it can be challenging to believe this. But this love is a gift. One that God wants desperately for you to receive!

Maybe feelings of shame or just plain ole’ lack of knowing this truth keep you from being loved by the One who gave all. I would encourage you today, that whatever is keeping you from receiving that love, to reject that and not the love! The same way you want the love you offer another to be accepted, God wants you to receive his love. We are so loved, that the thought of being separated from us for eternity compelled God to make that ultimate sacrifice—what Jesus did, he did for love—for you to be loved.  “This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.” 1John 4:10 (MSG)

So what is keeping you from receiving that gift of unconditional love today? Allow me to encourage you to truly search your heart for that answer. Breathe, pray, seek and take a moment to just be loved by the One who loves you more than you may ever even comprehend. What is there to lose?

So how do we find stillness when so many thoughts race through our over-active minds? Good thoughts. Bad thoughts. Productive thoughts. Non-productive thoughts. They come whether we want them to or not. Turning them off is nearly impossible. Learning to redirect them takes practice. When troubling thoughts want to invade my mind, I have to be very intentional about redirecting them to positive reflections. When worry wants to demand my attention— while the concern is very real, worry is of no benefit—I endeavor to shift my worry to prayer. When anxiety wants to overwhelm, learning to be still and listen to God is fundamental to turning off the anxious thoughts and turning them to positive and productive thoughts.

Does your soul long for some quiet and stillness? To turn it all off and just BE? To just breathe? What would that be like? To rest with Jesus for just a few minutes a day? Where do we even start?  ^“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Mark 4:39 (NIV). Begin there. In the stillness, ask Jesus to calm your thoughts. Allow it happen. If Jesus can calm the wind and waves, he can calm your raging mind. When a worry wants to interrupt, redirect your thoughts and let the intrusion float by. It will be challenging, especially at first since there are so many other things that demand our attention. But stick with it! There are so many benefits for you in the stillness!

What are those benefits to dedicating a few minutes a day to being still, you ask? So glad you did! It re-grounds you. “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’” Mark 4:35 (NIV). Jesus told the disciples this before the storm came, but, in the throes of the storm, fear invaded their thoughts and they forgot what Jesus had said. What fear do you need calmed so you can re-ground? Jesus will meet you in the stillness and remind you his promises are true.

In the stillness we gain perspective.  “He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’” Mark 4:40 (NIV). All the disciples could see were the waves crashing over their boat. All they felt was the wind and the spray of the water relentlessly battering them and their perspective was that the storm was going to destroy them. Faith in what Jesus had already promised shifted to fear. What perspective do you need shifted? In the stillness, God can help you zoom out to see his perspective.

In the stillness we find clarity.  ^“They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him’!” Mark 4:41 (NIV). As the storm raged, they were overcome with fear, so the disciples woke Jesus (oh, yeah, he was asleep in the boat!) saying, “Teacher. don’t you care if we drown?” Mark 4:38 (NIV), but after Jesus calmed the storm, in the stillness, they could clearly see Jesus was no ordinary man, that he was so much more than just “teacher”. What do you need brought into clarity? In the stillness, the Holy Spirit will guide you to clarity.

There are so many more benefits to be encountered in the stillness than merely what is mentioned here. I would love to encourage you to carve out that time, just a few minutes a day to discover those benefits. Maybe it means getting up a few minutes earlier than normal and in the quiet, before you look at your cell phone or turn on the T.V., just be still. Breathe. Seek God. It may take effort, and you will have to be intentional about it, but there in the stillness, you will discover a moment to treasure.

Before we dive into what this powerful love is though, let’s explore what power means. One definition from the Merriam Webster dictionary is this; ability to act or produce an effect. So, if power is the ability to act or produce an effect, whatever follows it is what is being put into action or produced. As in, the power of the wind produces a breeze and we see the effects of it as the trees blow. We don’t have to look far to see the effect of the power of hate. It produces pain, destruction, division, to name only a few consequences. The effects of a natural disaster can produce devastation, destruction, etc. But how often do we see what the power of love produces? I would venture to say not often enough compared to the negative news that seems to dominate the spotlight. Is there somewhere in your life you have seen the effects of the power of love though? Maybe in your home, your community, your church, your office? Are you a part of that effect?

Now that we understand power, let’s look at the source of true love. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:7-11 (NIV)

Did you catch that? God is love. Love comes from God. God showed his perfect love by giving us his Son. The effect of the power of his love is our salvation! Can you imagine that powerful kind of love? If we can lean into this truth and tap into the source, the power of love can break barriers that were erected by hate or hurt. The power of love guides us to forgive. The power of love leads us into places we never thought we’d go, to people we never thought to reach out to. When we allow the power of love to guide us through each day, we can give more of ourselves, knowing God’s love pours into us continually so we can love more intentionally. Genuine, true and authentic love comes from the One who is love, God. When we understand that, we can then accept and receive his perfect love for us. After we receive that life-giving love, we then in turn can give it away to others! That is the power of love! Not that we take it, but that we give it! So don’t waste a moment! Today, who can you love? Who can you reach? Who can you forgive? What barrier will you break? All for the power of love!

In dealing with depression, I too have felt that sense of hopelessness and it’s a dark, dismal place. But if you can just see even the tiniest, faintest glow of light, reach out for it and don’t let it go! No matter what you’re experiencing right now, there’s always a glimmer of hope. Can you see it?

When I need to reach for that glimmer of hope, I love reading the Psalms. It reminds me of God’s great love and faithfulness. We read about his glory and wonder and how that same glorious God is with those who mourn. Reading how God is a Rock and firm foundation, gives me resolution in my heart about God and his character, encouraging me to put my hope in him.

Psalm 42-43 is especially inspiring because the author gets very real with God and himself. He acknowledges his desperate need for God and then continues on in his Psalm by speaking to his own soul. Do you ever do that? Talk to yourself. What do you tell yourself when you are in that hopeless place? Do you speak words like; Things will never change? Anxiety is just a part of life? Depression cannot be overcome? Let’s listen in as our author, still in conversation with God, now turns his thoughts inward. “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why are you so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalm 42:5, 11, 43:5 NIV-emphasis mine) Three times the writer says this throughout his prayer to God.

So let me ask you again; What do you say to yourself when your soul is downcast? Where do you put your hope? In temporary things that will only satisfy momentarily? Have you ever tried putting your hope in the sure foundation, God? Have you talked yourself out of having any hope at all? Reading further into our chapter, the author cries out to God; “I say to God my Rock, why have you forgotten me?” (Psalm 42:9 NIV) Can you relate? That’s okay—God knows what we feel and invites us to get honest and real with him. This author does and hides no emotion from God, telling God exactly how he feels. But he doesn’t stay there! That is the key. He goes on and declares once again to his soul; “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why are you so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalm 42:11 NIV)

It’s not that we will never feel hopeless or discouraged or downcast (because we will), but it’s what we tell ourselves when we are that can make the difference between staying in that hopeless place or seeing hope! Try encouraging yourself by speaking life giving words like; “God is with me!” “God is faithful!” “Put your hope in him O my soul!” “I will yet praise him even though I feel hopeless!” “Hope gives me a reason to keep going!” “My hope is in a firm foundation that will never fail!” “I can have confident expectation that with God, all things are possible!” “I can look forward to tomorrow!” “I have a hope in a good future!” “I will cling to the glimmer of hope when my soul is downcast!” “The God of hope fills me with all joy and peace as I trust in him, so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!”

See, what you tell yourself is so very important and can either stir up hope within or squelch it. So I encourage you to start today changing your conversation you have with yourself! There is hope and you can find hope in a hopeless place!

I would love to encourage you to dive in deeper to scripture when you need assurance and help finding that glimmer of hope in whatever your current circumstance may be! Here is some scripture to encourage you;

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 NIV)

“Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!” (Romans 15:13 TPT)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV)

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,” (Hebrews 6:19 NIV)

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

And so many more, so dive in and explore!

And as always, if you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm or harming others, there are people who are there to help you through this! Please reach out to: 1-800-273-8255 – https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthians and in this particular section of his letter (1 Corinthians 13), he’s closing out the litany of his description of what love truly is with this, “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT). Faith and hope are vital to our well-being. Faith in our loving Father helps us hold on through challenging times. Faith keeps us from becoming lost. And when our faith is in an unshakable God, it keeps us rooted. Hope feeds our souls. Hope gives us purpose and helps us to thrive. Hope in Jesus gives us courage to hold on when everything feels as though it’s unraveling. Faith and hope are essential and important, but love…love is even greater than these!

Paul preludes this well-renowned ending of his letter to explain what love truly is and why it is the “greatest of these” with these words,  “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 (NLT). As I read through this verse, it becomes clear to me that this perfect love that Paul describes is not feeling driven. The mention of the negative emotions and behaviors, jealousy, pride, rudeness, irritability, injustice, are to be conquered by love. Intentionally. It’s a choice. A decision. Easy? No! Worth the effort? Absolutely!

Another “greatest of these” that love fit’s in, is found in Matthew 22:37-40, where Jesus explains to us just how important love is: “ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.””

Reminding myself continuously that this type of love is not an emotion or feeling based but rather is an action activated from a decision, helps me to chose to love my neighbor as myself. Love guides us into maintaining faith and holding on to hope, and when we do that, love helps us to see others as precious treasures to be loved. By choice. Not by feelings. Without love, we fan the flame of hatred. Without love, we fuel the fire of intolerance. Without love, we are nothing and gain nothing. Without love, we will struggle to endure through every circumstance.

Love. It can move mountains. It can heal brokenness. It can restore the lost. It is a treasure to be bestowed upon others. Love teaches us to bear with one another. Love enables us to see one another beyond our differences. Love strengthens our resolve to never give up, to hold on to faith and to remain hopeful. Love never fails. Love is the “greatest of these”! And if we strive to walk in love, we will certainly find moments to treasure along the way!

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Ever feel like that? Maybe you feel like that now thanks to our current lock-in. You can’t advance and there’s nowhere to retreat. You’re stuck. Forward movement has been impeded. I would venture to say there have been and will be seasons in your life when you encounter stalemate. Maybe you, like my youngest daughter, are a high school senior and because of our current health crisis, all your plans for this year came to a screeching halt. Stalemate. Maybe you just launched your small business and you had to close your doors. Stalemate. Or your wedding was cancelled. Stalemate. No going forward and no retreat.

Whenever my husband (and later our son) would lock in stalemate, I’d watch as he would assess his situation, searching for any way to advance his position. He’d move an arm here or there, use his feet in hopes to trip up the opponent or gain ground, whatever he could do. Every fiber of his being was invested in finding a way out. His thoughts were solely focused on advancement. He refused to stay there, locked in stalemate. Sometimes it worked, but sometimes not. The referee would only allow it to go on for so long before blowing the whistle and sending the competitors back to the starting position. Do you need the whistle blown? To get back to your starting position, breathe, regroup, and go again? Staying in stalemate is not an option and is no good for anyone.

I’m reminded of one of the most (considerably) famous stories in the Bible. David and Goliath. Even if you’re unfamiliar with scripture, you’ve most likely heard a reference to this story at some time in your life. The Israelite army was at a stalemate with the Philistine army. Each army stood on its side of the valley waiting. Neither advanced. Neither retreated. For forty days Goliath, a Philistine giant at 9’9” tall, taunted the Israelites every single day, slandering the name of their God. Can you relate to how the Israelites must have been feeling during this? Taunted by circumstances and unable to move? Stuck in stalemate. Then one day, David, a young, shepherd boy showed up to bring his older warrior brothers’ food and couldn’t believe what he was seeing. After some negotiations with King Saul, David grabbed five stones and his slingshot and agreed to face off with the giant. Enough of the stalemate.

“David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:45 NIV). And as the story plays out, David slung the stone, struck Goliath right in the middle of the forehead (thanks to all his training saving his sheep from lions and bears) and defeated him, thereby defeating the Philistine army who ran away once their champion fell. Stalemate gave way to victory for the Israelites.

So, you may thinking, “Okay, well that’s all well and good for them, but I don’t have David here with his stones and slingshot to help defeat this giant I’m facing to end my stalemate!” But you do! David did not go out there by his own might or strength. He couldn’t overcome the stalemate alone. He knew God was with him according to his bold declaration in the second part our verse. Assess your situation, seeking God’s wisdom and guidance on how you could advance. But when locked in stalemate, let God be the referee, blowing the whistle to allow you to restart. Let this time serve as a renewal. Breathe. A time to move out of stalemate, pick up your proverbial slingshot and stones, face your giant with God leading the way. And who knows, as you move from stalemate to victory, what moments you’ll find to treasure along the way?

If you have been encouraged by today’s reading, I would love to hear from you so leave me comment or a “like”! I would also love for you to follow me! When you do, you’ll receive this blog the moment it’s published! Thank you in advance!

If it’s a challenge to find a good report on the news or social media, maybe try turning that off for a bit and shift your focus intentionally to something that offers a good report. We are in a time of extreme challenge, no doubt about it. So when I feel overwhelmed with bad reports, I love reading this verse in scripture where the apostle Paul is encouraging a nation of people under horrific persecution for their faith; “So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.  Follow the example of all that we have imparted to you and the God of peace will be with you in all things.” (Phil 4:8-9 TPT).  Wherever you are in your belief about God or the Bible, I hope you can find some encouragement in this passage.  If we start at the end and work backward to the beginning, it’s clear that in order to have peace in our minds, what we think about is so very important and relevant to our well-being. I love that phrase “fasten your thoughts”! When you hear the word “fasten” what comes to mind? Attach. Fix. Secure. Hook. Chain. Attach your mind to the beautiful. Fix your meditations on the pure. Secure your thoughts on the admirable. Hook your attentiveness to all that is authentic. Chain your attention to all that is kind and merciful!  Think about what you think about!

We’re not the first generation to experience trials of epic proportions. I don’t know about you, but remembering those generations that have gone before and endured hardships, encourages and helps me to hold on. Being aware that we’re not the first to experience great adversity, can foster within each of us a strength that will inspire hope if we allow it. And hope can alter our perspective and can stir up a desire within us that seeks the good reports! Turn the dial, change the station!

I have loved seeing moments of encouragement through the efforts of some in the media industry, some celebrities and everyday people that are striving to thank our hero’s on the front lines and encourage us all! And a big THANK YOU to each one who puts themselves out there to help humanity! We need to hear more of those good reports! So seek those moments and treasure them in your thoughts so when the bad report comes, you can intentionally recall the good report and hopefully find balance in your thoughts.

If you have a good report, please let me know in the comments! With your permission, I’d love to share your good report to encourage others on my blog! Just type, “Permission to use” with your comment! If you do not want me to share, just type, “Do not share”. Thank you in advance for sharing your story!

I would love to hear from you, so leave me a comment if this article has encouraged you to seek A Good Report! Or you can just “like” this blog! I’d also love for you to follow my blog! You will get an email the moment it is published so there’s no need to wait to see it by chance on social media! Thank you in advance!