We harm no one through bitterness as much as we harm ourselves. "Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die." In the face of evil and suffering, responding to God or others with bitterness, distrust, and accusations bears no good fruit. But responding in honest brokenness and turning to God in submission, faith, and trust yields untold riches of peace and comfort.
Adversity itself does not cause our joy. Our joy comes through the expectation of the development of godly character. God doesn't ask us to cheer because we lost our job, or a loved one contracts cancer, or a child has an incurable birth defect. He tells us to rejoice because He will produce in us something money can't buy and ease will never produce...the quality of perserverance.
Persevering is holding steady to a belief or course of action. It's steadfastness in completing a commitment.
God gives each of us a race to run. To finish well we must produce perseverance. A believer's life is not a hundred-meter dash, but a marathon. Those who lack patience, endurance, and discipline will drop out of the race.
We rejoice through trials, not because we find them easy, but because we know they will one day produce great reward.
In His love,
Dalinda
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Find Ways To Discover Advantages To Your Disadvantages
You and I constantly bump into people submerged in self-pity. They are hopelessly lost in the swamp of discontent. All they can tell you is how wrong this was, how unfair she was, how someone's promise was broken, and on and on.
We usually can do very little to change our lot. We can only change our reaction to our lot. We cannot change our past, for example. I don't care how brilliant we are, our past stands in concrete. We cannot delete it. But we can learn to see our past from God's perspective, and use the disadvantages of yesterday in our life, today and forever.
I want to share a story with you about a man by the name of Tom Sullivan. He was addressing five thousand men and women in Dallas, as he spoke to the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table of the insurance companies around the world.
Sullivan has been on the "Good Morning America" show. He's also done guest television apperances on "M-A-S-H" and "Fame." He was in the film Airport '77. He's a world-class athlete, with two national championship records in wrestling. He was on the 1958 Olympic wrestling team. He earned a degree at Harvard in clinical psychology. He's a musician. He's an author. He runs six miles a day on the beach. He swims. He sky dives and has thirty-seven jumps to his credit. I should also tell you that Tom Sullivan is blind.
Five thousand successful insurance people were on the edge of their seats applauding, enjoying, laughing, and learning as they listened to a man who couldn't even see the podium in front of him, to say nothing of seeing the smiles on their faces.
He had one major point in his talk: "You've got a disadvantage? Take advantage of it! People don't buy similarity. They buy differences." The disadvantage is what makes you distinct and different. The similarities are no big deal.
What's your story? Everybody has a story. And sure, it's got some injustice in it. The message I want to leave with you is simply this: Disadvantages need not disqualify. Imagine the lives you could touch and strengthen simply by being all you can be.
God knows the end from the beginning, and He knows you and your needs far better than even you do. Don't ask, "Why is this happening to me?" Rather, ask the question, "How should I respond?'" Otherwise, you'll miss the beneficial role suffering plays in life.
Blessings,
Dalinda
We usually can do very little to change our lot. We can only change our reaction to our lot. We cannot change our past, for example. I don't care how brilliant we are, our past stands in concrete. We cannot delete it. But we can learn to see our past from God's perspective, and use the disadvantages of yesterday in our life, today and forever.
I want to share a story with you about a man by the name of Tom Sullivan. He was addressing five thousand men and women in Dallas, as he spoke to the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table of the insurance companies around the world.
Sullivan has been on the "Good Morning America" show. He's also done guest television apperances on "M-A-S-H" and "Fame." He was in the film Airport '77. He's a world-class athlete, with two national championship records in wrestling. He was on the 1958 Olympic wrestling team. He earned a degree at Harvard in clinical psychology. He's a musician. He's an author. He runs six miles a day on the beach. He swims. He sky dives and has thirty-seven jumps to his credit. I should also tell you that Tom Sullivan is blind.
Five thousand successful insurance people were on the edge of their seats applauding, enjoying, laughing, and learning as they listened to a man who couldn't even see the podium in front of him, to say nothing of seeing the smiles on their faces.
He had one major point in his talk: "You've got a disadvantage? Take advantage of it! People don't buy similarity. They buy differences." The disadvantage is what makes you distinct and different. The similarities are no big deal.
What's your story? Everybody has a story. And sure, it's got some injustice in it. The message I want to leave with you is simply this: Disadvantages need not disqualify. Imagine the lives you could touch and strengthen simply by being all you can be.
God knows the end from the beginning, and He knows you and your needs far better than even you do. Don't ask, "Why is this happening to me?" Rather, ask the question, "How should I respond?'" Otherwise, you'll miss the beneficial role suffering plays in life.
Blessings,
Dalinda
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Since I Met Jesus EVERYTHING Is Different
Life is filled by many things, but do they fill us?
"I want to spend time with God, but I just can't seem to find the time." Sound familiar? You will always have interruptions. The enemy doesn't want you to spend time with God. But God will bless your efforts to spend time with him.
To grow in a relationship with God, we have to spend time with Him. It's the most important calendar item of the day!
If you consistently meet with Him, it becomes a holy habit, so that if you skip a day, you miss Him like a friend who has moved away.
True transformation takes place when the inner spirit and outer image become one in celebration with Christ. God wants use to embrace the whole package of who He created us to be. There is so much more to us physically, spiritually, and mentally than we can imagine. As we grow to know Christ more, we are able to see ourselves in the truth of God's light and in the truth of His healing and empowering Word.
Few of us take advantage of this incredible privilege the way we should. God has layed Himself out before us like an incredible spiritual buffet where we can taste His delights as He reveals each one to us, yet we settle for ordering a Happy Meal and ignore the lavish spread.
God allows us to find Him if we only look. But we think Happy Meals taste good enough, so we never stop to consider what might be on the buffet table.
Leave those Happy Meals behind and dive into the buffet. Will you join me?
In Him,
Dalinda
"I want to spend time with God, but I just can't seem to find the time." Sound familiar? You will always have interruptions. The enemy doesn't want you to spend time with God. But God will bless your efforts to spend time with him.
To grow in a relationship with God, we have to spend time with Him. It's the most important calendar item of the day!
If you consistently meet with Him, it becomes a holy habit, so that if you skip a day, you miss Him like a friend who has moved away.
True transformation takes place when the inner spirit and outer image become one in celebration with Christ. God wants use to embrace the whole package of who He created us to be. There is so much more to us physically, spiritually, and mentally than we can imagine. As we grow to know Christ more, we are able to see ourselves in the truth of God's light and in the truth of His healing and empowering Word.
Few of us take advantage of this incredible privilege the way we should. God has layed Himself out before us like an incredible spiritual buffet where we can taste His delights as He reveals each one to us, yet we settle for ordering a Happy Meal and ignore the lavish spread.
God allows us to find Him if we only look. But we think Happy Meals taste good enough, so we never stop to consider what might be on the buffet table.
Leave those Happy Meals behind and dive into the buffet. Will you join me?
In Him,
Dalinda
Monday, July 18, 2011
Our Desires vs God's Desires
When we insist on trying to pursue our own desires even when they run contrary to God's desires, we put ourselves in a place we don't belong.
Why is it that we try so hard to belong in places we were never meant to be? Usually, it's because we want so badly to be there. But what we've all failed to realize at one time or another is that it's not being where we want that brings the fulfillment and satisfaction we seek; it's being where God wants us to be.
God has designed and equipped us to fulfill a particular role in this world. If we spend all our time trying to be somewhere else or do something else, not only will we probably experience dissatisfaction in the place we weren't meant to be, but we we'll also miss out on the rich blessings God has planned to give us in the place He planned for us to be.
Oh, sure, the other side of the fence might look greener, but it's an optical illusion. It's not really a field full of grass; it's a field planted with grass that Satan has planted to look green so he can deceive us into moving to his side of the fence. And when we get there, we'll find that in pursuing what we thought was the best, we've cheated ourselves out of what the best really was.
I'm certain that the best I can think of for myself pales in comparison to the best God has in mind for me. I'd rather trust His judgement on which grass is greener. After all, if He says that His side of the fence is greener than the other side, I'd rather believe Him than trust my own eyes.
My desires are God's desires!
Blessings,
Dalinda
Why is it that we try so hard to belong in places we were never meant to be? Usually, it's because we want so badly to be there. But what we've all failed to realize at one time or another is that it's not being where we want that brings the fulfillment and satisfaction we seek; it's being where God wants us to be.
God has designed and equipped us to fulfill a particular role in this world. If we spend all our time trying to be somewhere else or do something else, not only will we probably experience dissatisfaction in the place we weren't meant to be, but we we'll also miss out on the rich blessings God has planned to give us in the place He planned for us to be.
Oh, sure, the other side of the fence might look greener, but it's an optical illusion. It's not really a field full of grass; it's a field planted with grass that Satan has planted to look green so he can deceive us into moving to his side of the fence. And when we get there, we'll find that in pursuing what we thought was the best, we've cheated ourselves out of what the best really was.
I'm certain that the best I can think of for myself pales in comparison to the best God has in mind for me. I'd rather trust His judgement on which grass is greener. After all, if He says that His side of the fence is greener than the other side, I'd rather believe Him than trust my own eyes.
My desires are God's desires!
Blessings,
Dalinda
Friday, July 15, 2011
The “Give” In Forgiveness
Harboring unforgiveness is probably one of the most dangerous heart conditions we can have because the Bible tells us very plainly that if we will not forgive other people, then God cannot forgive us.
Forgiveness releases the accused from your custody and turns him over to God…the righteous Judge. The one and only One who is both able and responsible for carrying out justice.
We sometimes feel that if we forgive someone, justice will not be served. They’ll get off scot-free. We’ll be doing little more than giving them permission to do wrong again, seeing how easily we let them get away with it this time.
From a human perspective, this makes since. But according to God’s Word, wrongdoers will get their just due. But we’re not the ones responsible to carry out the penalty. Romans 12:19 says, “Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay,’ says the Lord”
Jesus taught us that we are to forgive those who hurt us, pray for those who despitefully use us, and bless those who curse us. That is hard! But there is something harder…being full of hatred, bitterness, and resentment. In reality, you are keeping yourself imprisoned by your offender.
Set yourself free! Don’t try to get people back for what they have done to you. Leave it in God’s hands.
In Him,
Dalinda
Forgiveness releases the accused from your custody and turns him over to God…the righteous Judge. The one and only One who is both able and responsible for carrying out justice.
We sometimes feel that if we forgive someone, justice will not be served. They’ll get off scot-free. We’ll be doing little more than giving them permission to do wrong again, seeing how easily we let them get away with it this time.
From a human perspective, this makes since. But according to God’s Word, wrongdoers will get their just due. But we’re not the ones responsible to carry out the penalty. Romans 12:19 says, “Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay,’ says the Lord”
Jesus taught us that we are to forgive those who hurt us, pray for those who despitefully use us, and bless those who curse us. That is hard! But there is something harder…being full of hatred, bitterness, and resentment. In reality, you are keeping yourself imprisoned by your offender.
Set yourself free! Don’t try to get people back for what they have done to you. Leave it in God’s hands.
In Him,
Dalinda
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Don't Be In Such A Big Hurry!
"I have so much to do today! I have three loads of laundry to wash, dry, fold, and put away. I have a doctor's appointment at 2 and have to have the boys at their ball game at 5:30 and go to the store sometime in between." Sound familiar???
Sometimes I get so busy that I feel like I am forgetting something. And sometimes I get so exhausted just thinking about what all I have to get done...You?
As I consider the things I do each day and how much importance I place on each little task, I realize it's nothing compared to what God did in one single day. God created the heavens and the earth in the time it took me to do laundry, go to my doctors appointment, get to the store and have my boys at their ball game. If I skipped doing the laundry, the worst thing that would happen is we'd have to wear clothes stuck in the back of the drawer.
Our souls matter to God. He prepared a place for us to live and learn about Him. He gave us the work we do, but the stress we feel is self-imposed. I can only imagine how I would freak out if I was assigned God's to-do list.
My advice to you and me is, "Don't be in such a big hurry!" We may be full of dreams for our lives, but we may also be trying to achieve our dreams out of season. We can make huge messes in our lives and sometimes get upset with God because things didn't work out the way we thought the Lord said they would. Things will happen as God said if we wait on His timing.
We never learn patience without something to be patient about.
Blessings,
Dalinda
Sometimes I get so busy that I feel like I am forgetting something. And sometimes I get so exhausted just thinking about what all I have to get done...You?
As I consider the things I do each day and how much importance I place on each little task, I realize it's nothing compared to what God did in one single day. God created the heavens and the earth in the time it took me to do laundry, go to my doctors appointment, get to the store and have my boys at their ball game. If I skipped doing the laundry, the worst thing that would happen is we'd have to wear clothes stuck in the back of the drawer.
Our souls matter to God. He prepared a place for us to live and learn about Him. He gave us the work we do, but the stress we feel is self-imposed. I can only imagine how I would freak out if I was assigned God's to-do list.
My advice to you and me is, "Don't be in such a big hurry!" We may be full of dreams for our lives, but we may also be trying to achieve our dreams out of season. We can make huge messes in our lives and sometimes get upset with God because things didn't work out the way we thought the Lord said they would. Things will happen as God said if we wait on His timing.
We never learn patience without something to be patient about.
Blessings,
Dalinda
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Daily Adventures With God
There is nothing more exciting or more fulfilling than going on daily adventures with God!
Everyday God has an appointment for you to keep. You can, however, miss your divine appointments when you are too busy thinking about your own aganda.
As believers, our main purpose is to make a difference in this broken world. Divine appointments keep us focused on eternity and gives us something exciting to talk about....rather than complaining about the things that challenge and frustrate us during the day.
Everyone of us has the opportunity to be God's extended hand of love to someone in need. The key is to look for the divine appointment that God has scheduled for you each day and not be so consumed with your own agenda that you miss the opportunity to touch a life.
Always remember that His reflection in us is more beautiful than we could ever make ourselves.
Have a blessed Wednesday!
Dalinda
Everyday God has an appointment for you to keep. You can, however, miss your divine appointments when you are too busy thinking about your own aganda.
As believers, our main purpose is to make a difference in this broken world. Divine appointments keep us focused on eternity and gives us something exciting to talk about....rather than complaining about the things that challenge and frustrate us during the day.
Everyone of us has the opportunity to be God's extended hand of love to someone in need. The key is to look for the divine appointment that God has scheduled for you each day and not be so consumed with your own agenda that you miss the opportunity to touch a life.
Always remember that His reflection in us is more beautiful than we could ever make ourselves.
Have a blessed Wednesday!
Dalinda
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