Do You Have What it Takes?

Are you enough?

Do you feel you measure up in this life?  What are the standards are which you base a measurement?  Do you have what it takes each day? . . .

At work?  Remember dear friends, there will always be another deadline, chance of lay offs and disgruntled employees.  The amount of effort put forth cannot change these factors.  If the standards of measuring worth are based on completing assignments, keeping our positions and pleasing everyone; then, failure is inevitable.  We cannot measure up to the world’s standards on the success ladder.  Striving to be enough in the business world leads to stress, addiction, depression, physical illness and misery. 

²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Colossians 3:23-24

With a significant other?  Oh, dear friends, this one gets tough.  Of course, we want to be enough for our significant other.  We love and care for them; but we should not conform to their every standard.  We must stand firm on morals, beliefs and character traits that make us unique.  Now, don’t get me wrong, there are changes we make in life to reach maturity; but the core of our spirit is grown by God’s standards not human standards. 

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:2

Parenting?  The standards here can become quite confusing.  Just look at Face Book or Instagram and scroll through parents praising their great adventures or amazing kids.  I love looking at family photos and experiences of others; but these cannot be the standard on which we base our worth as a parent.  Also, do not base it on the kids’ words.  They can throw daggers our way when discipline comes into play.  Know in your heart that you were chosen to be the kids’ parent and you are enough.

⁵ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Family?  These standards again can become quite confusing.  Watching movies, especially around the holiday season, with families gathering and enjoying celebrations together set this perfect standard for the family.  Seeing photo shop images on social media depict everyone getting along and loving each other perfectly.  No one is going to post about the kids fighting, extended family bashing your character, a parent remaining distant, etc.  Family includes struggle, trials and painful moments.  The real standard to focus on is inviting God into these moments.  He will prevail.  He will guide, guard and protect.

Bottom line: we are ENOUGH!  God created us in this era, at this time, for a purpose.  He opened a door in this chapter of life for employment.  This provides the money required to carry out His plan.  Should this door close someday, you are still enough, and He will open another one.  He brings others into our lives to grow us, use us and provide joy.  The pain, disappointment and struggle in relationships will happen.  We are human and we cannot be perfect for one another.  BUT, God can!  God is the One that always remains present, displays the power to heal and bring peace, and He knows the big picture.

Trust Him.  Seek Him.  He reminds you throughout all of Scripture that you are enough!  Take a look, soak in His Word for yourself.  He will confirm your worth.

  

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig

Preparation is Critical for Success

I sit in the stands watching my stellar daughter play the game she loves.  Thoughts of basketball consume her mind 24/7.  If she is not playing, she is watching or preparing for the game.  She could run the game on her own; yet, she chooses to listen to the coach. 

For my daughter, she has 11 years practice in listening to her coach.  From birth she has heard his voice, felt his protection and ran to him in times of need.  Fast forward to now, she continues to listen for his voice on the court, seek his protection when games get a bit rough and run to him when a game plan is needed. 

I enjoy watching the two communicate and work together almost as much as I enjoy watching my daughter dominate on the court.  Yes, I am a bit bias. . .but, she is great out there on the court.  She displays leadership, encouragement to all players and excellent teamwork. 

During practices, her coach teaches plays to prepare the team for the game.  This preparation is critical for success.  Without preparation, the team would run around on the court aimlessly, void of any direction or plan.

There is another voice my daughter has trained to hear in life.  Her ears hear the voice of her Father guiding each step.  She cares for others, lights up any room she enters and loves as God intends.  She is prime example of how to shine His Light in this world.

It takes preparation off the court and implementation of the learning while in the game.  Life requires preparation prior to stepping out in the day.  Implementing the Truth carries out the plan God has for each of our lives.  Surrendering our lives, believing the Truth provided and confessing our faith starts the process of implementation.

God speaks from birth into our lives.  God protects His Children.  God holds His arms open wide for us to run in times of need.  God is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent.   

God communicates in ways that we hear while facing this life.  He works through us to speak Truth to the lost and the hurting.  He uses us to lead others to Him.  This life requires teamwork with God to defeat the enemy.  He asks us to encourage one another, work together to build His Kingdom and lead others by example.

How do we prepare for such difficult work?

Read His Truth.  Sit in His presence.  Invite Him into every moment.  He desires to walk along with us in this life.  He is right there, speaking to us with every moment we face.  Listen for His voice.  Obey His guidance.  Appreciate the blessings He provides in your life.  He will do more than we can ever imagine. 

¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:16-21

I love watching my daughter in this life.  She provides prime example of leadership, encouragement and teamwork. . .all in His name.  She does this on and off the court.  I pray she stands strong in this world and does not conform to the world’s patterns.  I pray you stand strong my friends in this world as well. 

  

   

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig

The Light is > the darkness

The past month filled with sadness.  My heart weighs heavy while thoughts of concern consume my mind.  Multiple lives have been lost over the last month so close to the holidays.  My prayers spoken daily cry out for peace, comfort and for loved ones to feel His presence in the pain. 

Life throws tragedy, trials and trouble our way daily.  The little trials we can navigate through fairly easy.  The slightly bigger troubles may require a greater effort to manage the emotions.  But it is the tragedies that knock us off our feet.  The tragedies will stop you in your tracks, numb every ounce of your body and leave you in a dark place.

Loss of a loved one, splitting families, adultery, terminal diagnosis, abuse, addiction, etc.  Tragedies hit like a ton of bricks.  Sideswiped by such news and events can leave a person questioning.  Prayers not answered can leave a person bitter.  In these moments is where I worry the most for others.

I see the sadness hitting so close to home.  People I care deeply about experiencing deep sadness.  I want to take the pain away, walk step by step with them and see them at peace again. 

I know what life can be when tragedy strikes, and God is not invited in the situation.  I have walked the path away from God.  I handled life full of pride. . .thinking, “I got this.”  I numbed in every way possible to avoid feeling the emotional pain of tragedy.  I prayed empty prayers; I prayed and then walked away doing it my own way. 

And then, I surrendered.  I hit the darkest moment in life and gave up on my plan.  I realized life, full of tragedy, trials and trouble, must be lived with God.  Truth heals.  Purpose provides answers.  Love tames emotions.

I desire for others to feel the presence of God in all the struggle.  I yearn for others to know that God is bigger than the pain.  I hope and pray for His Light to shine in the darkest of moments.  I cannot force others to receive His Hope, walk by faith or surrender their lives to God.  But I can pray mightily daily. 

Prayer is powerful.  I have seen it move mountains in my own life.  I have also had some not turn out the way I planned.  In those moments, for a slight bit, I questioned.  God simply laid it in my heart that He had a bigger plan in place.  Though tragedy strikes and we cannot understand; we must keep faith that the end is in His hands.  He will bring good out of situations though they may bring unexplainable pain this side of Heaven. 

I cannot erase others pain.  I cannot speed up their healing.  I cannot be the one to save others.

BUT I can continue to pray.  I can continue to walk the path laid for my life.  I can take every opportunity given to shine His light on others.  I can share Truth at every moment available.  I can show kindness to all I meet.

We never know what another person may be experiencing.  We cannot fathom the sadness another may feel.  Struggle is real and big and painful.  Love others.  Smile at others.  Be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Plant the seed of Hope in all you meet.  You will be the Light that allows for a moment of calm, peace and comfort for another person.  If we all walked around spreading Truth, love and prayer then others’ hearts would be filled with seeds that God can blossom.  God will provide healing, peace and comfort.  Though the wounds will never go away, they can be healed.

Be kind.  You never know the shoes another person is walking in. . .

Be joy.  You never know the darkness inside the other’s spirit. . .

Be His hands and feet.  Focus on the moment in front of you, the opportunity to love another person.

   

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig

Only by His Strength

As the holidays approach each year, I can remember a time when dread creeped into every moment.  I would resent the fact that every event involved food.  I hated the idea of gathering around food.  I battled the thoughts of earning the food that I would ingest.  Or, I would drown in guilt after going back for seconds because the food tasted good.  I would calm the struggles inside my head with eating disorder behaviors. 

Exhaustion followed such a cycle.  Consumed with thoughts of guilt and shame over a substance our body requires to survive is overwhelming.  The thoughts steal joy in each moment.  Oh, the years I have lost. . .

But, through these struggles arose strength.  I may not be where I “should” be with recovery given the years I have been working through it; but I am moving in the right direction.  It takes time to grow strength.  It takes time to heal from brokenness.  It takes time. . .      

Too often, we fall in a trap of rushing.  We rush around to get things done.  We rush from event to event and mark it off the calendar.  We rush to meet a deadline.  And so on.  But there is no rush in recovery, forgiveness, healing, maturity or mental health.  Rushing through increases the risk of missing an important lesson along the way.  Moving too fast through healing leaves vulnerability for relapse. 

Offer grace to yourself through any healing you may face.  The holidays can be tough for a variety of reasons.  Family may be the toughest of them all; be it due to loss, unforgiveness, longing for closeness, etc.  Battling food may cause tough situations for someone.  Alcohol addiction may be the culprit for struggle.  The list continues.

Life is a journey.  Sometimes the road presents curvy, treacherous or slick.  The terrain will not remain the same; be on guard, stand firm on God’s Truth to see you through all situations.  Take one step at a time.  Reach out for help.  Our purpose is to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to work together for good in this world and help one another mature in Christ. 

I am thankful for the journey, albeit quite rough.  I am thankful for those that reached out a hand when I began to fall.  I am thankful for God’s Truth and coming to know Him greater and greater through His Word.  His presence does not go unnoticed.  He has brought peace where anxiety once consumed.

Again, I may not be where I need to be in this journey; but the slower pace is gaining greater strength.  I can face situations with peace that I once thought impossible.  Not by my strength. . .only by His.    

Slow down the journey dear friends.  Enjoy the moment.  Love the people around you while shining the Light of Jesus.  We do not know the battle others face, the struggle inside their minds or the physical ailments battled.  Love even when others make it tough.  Pray about those that have caused pain, resulting in a tough journey.  Your prayers will bring peace.  Hang in there. . .

   

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig

I "Get to" Live This Moment

Close your eyes and imagine a place void of stress.  Take a deep breath in. . .slowly exhale.  Imagine yourself sitting in that place - no demands, no itinerary, and positive thoughts surrounding you.

Images would vary amongst individuals:  beach side watching the waves crash against one another; in the middle of the forest with the sound of nature all around; inside with a cup of hot chocolate while snow falls outside the window; sitting by a bonfire gathered with friends. . .

The list goes on and on; all dependent on the individual and where they find comfort.  Often the place imagined holds great memories.  Sometimes the place imagined is a desire or on an individual’s “bucket list”.  And yet some imagine a place they visit quite regularly; possibly their vacation spot.

My challenge to all:  Why must we imagine a place void of stress?  Why must we force a deep breath?  Why must we search for positive thinking?

The broken world attempts to steal peace, destroying calm and filling our thoughts with negativity.  Each year and with each generation, the world gets louder, busier and increases demands. 

“How are you doing?”  A question typically answered with, “Busy” or “Tired” or “Okay”.  I am guilty of such. 

Look at your calendar.  Yes, every evening fills with events.  With the holidays right around the corner, the calendar will fill at its greatest capacity.  We could approach these events with an attitude of “have to” or “get to”.  I understand that some events may involve family members that cause animosity amongst all.  I understand that memories attached to holidays make it difficult to enjoy the events.  Ergo, the “have to” mentality takes over.  Survival is the goal.

What if we tried to take even one gathering and approach with “get to” attitude?  What if we focused intently on the love, decorations, laughter and conversation of the event?  What if we remained in the moment?

I guarantee peace would enter the event.  Deep breath in and slow exhale out.  Remove the thought of anything else but the current moment.  Think, “I get to be here, what a blessing to have this moment.”

Over the years, I have worked diligently to change my thinking.  Negative thoughts consumed Every. Single. Moment.  I would have overwhelming anxiety before even leaving my home over EVERY EVENT.  Each day, anxiety blocked peace.  I could not focus due to the negative thinking.  I hated it.  Survival mode was my constant.  The moment I woke up, I counted down the hours until I could go back to bed.  There, I could hide from it all.  I was not fully enjoying this life given to me.  I was unable to live out the purpose God intended.

I think the major turnaround occurred just recently.  Yes, I have spent years on recovering from an Eating Disorder; but the true peace mentioned above began to appear most recently in my life.  The turnaround occurred when I felt hatred toward the lack of peace, and I threw my hands up in surrender.  I claimed to God that I can’t do it anymore.

The Holy Spirit whispered, “Finally”.  You see, the peace that passes all understanding only comes from God.  Peace among the broken world, the crazy itineraries and demands only comes through His strength.  We must take each day to the Cross, offer it up to God and He will bring mighty purpose in every moment of that day.  We can start the process by offering up thanksgiving to God. 

Take a deep breath in and slow exhale out. . .thank Him for just that – breath.  He breathed life into each of us and for a purpose.  The purpose is not to be busy or tired or just okay.  The purpose is to enjoy this life while shining His Light to those around you.  True peace comes with thanksgiving.  Focus on the moment.  Give this moment to God and watch the amazing purpose that comes from surrender.  He is peace.  Invite Him into your calendar.  Live with a “get to” attitude.     

   

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig

Live Unwavering

During a drive to work one morning, the sun began to rise over the tree line to the East.  No fog in sight.  Vision clear for miles ahead.  A perfect drive.

As a car approached in the opposite lane and flashed their bright lights.  Road talk for “brighting’ someone could be perceived as a warning for danger ahead.  Deer ran rampant at this time; therefore, I thought the driver could be cautioning of deer ahead.  I slowed down slightly and scanned the surroundings.  No deer in sight. 

Another possible warning is a cop ahead.  I was not speeding so no worries there.  Oooh, maybe they were warning of a wreck and to take caution around debris.  Nope!  Not a wreck in site.

The only conclusion I could muster up is the driver believed I should turn on my headlights.  I did not feel the need to illuminate the path ahead at this time of day, being that the sun provided plenty of light for driving.  The weather conditions showed no indication of extra lighting required for safe driving.  Do I really need to turn my headlights on?

The people pleasing character I possess forced me to turn the headlights on despite my belief that it was not necessary. 

Hmmmm?  Have you ever faced a moment in life when your beliefs, morals and character choose one direction while the world screams another direction?  Have you ever had authority strongly suggest an action that you don’t feel comfortable performing?

Why do we allow others to manipulate decisions, actions and beliefs?  Why do we feel compelled to “fit in” with others by conforming to worldly patterns?

 ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  Romans 12:2

The world is broken.  Hurting people hurt people.  Opinions don’t equal truth. 

God did not create carbon-copy individuals.  God created each of us uniquely and wonderfully.  He created each with a purpose and mighty plan.  God did not plan for our character to conform to the broken world; yet, he commands we mature through the renewal of our mind.  Referring to God’s Truth on a daily basis lays a foundation on which to stand.  This foundation grows our spirit and allows us to walk the path laid for our lives. 

My plan looks different from yours.  If I tried to tailor daily decisions based on your purpose, plan and persuasion, I would lose sight of God’s Truth for my life.  God created uniqueness in hopes we all work together to build His Kingdom.  He provided wonderful gifts inside everyone to use in this world.  He desires teamwork.  He provided the same Spirit to all.

⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; ⁵ and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ⁶ and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  1Corinthians 12:4-6   

Spend today recognizing your gifts that God placed in you at creation.  Use those gifts for good.  Avoid conforming to other’s opinions.  Stand firm on Truth.  Do not waver in this broken world; hold fast to Hope, for He is faithful.

Let us be strong in this world.  If we don’t want to turn on our headlights during daytime hours, let’s not allow someone else’s belief to change our decision!  😊

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig

No Purpose in the Pit

A beautiful butterfly takes time to develop into the creation we admire.  The little creature catches our eye when fluttering past.  To begin the process, an egg produces a caterpillar.  Synonyms for caterpillar include worm, maggot, larva, etc.  A vision of beauty does not arise when hearing the word maggot! 

The caterpillar takes a journey into a chrysalis, hides out and transforms into a beautiful butterfly that we enjoy.  More people take pictures of butterflies than caterpillars I am sure.  Butterflies are more appealing to the eye.

Do you think a butterfly wishes to return to a caterpillar stage?  They would give up flying to return to crawling along the rough, dangerous ground. 

Do you think a butterfly longs to hide in a chrysalis?  They would give up beauty and freedom to return to the hardships involved in transformation.

How often do we wish for a different stage of life?  Do you ever long to go somewhere and hide out?  Does a time in your past bring shame to your present journey?

A beautiful spirit takes time to develop.  The maturity we long for inside requires a process.  Each day builds on the next.  Each lesson learned, often through hardships, is part of the transformation.

I could create a long list of moments in the past I regret.  Often, those events creep into my thoughts and the enemy twists them in hopes to bring me down.  The enemy desires me to crash, crawl back into my pit and hide out.  This battle could go in two directions. . .

I could choose to fall in a dark pit of shame, guilt, regret, anger and sadness.  Allowing the enemy to win delays the greatness that God plans for this chapter of my life.  The journey stalls and my purpose cannot be fulfilled.  Choosing the pit over the path steals my joy in this moment and hides the light of God.

I could choose to combat the enemy’s lies with God’s Truth.  As I turn up the volume on God’s voice, the enemy cowers down.  God reveals the beauty that developed from my past.  Each moment in the prior chapters of my life have purpose.  Yes, they were difficult; but, without them, I would not be as strong and beautiful on the inside as I am in this moment. 

God prepares us daily for the next page, the following chapter and continues to write our story in life.  Looking back in shame hinders forward progress.  Rereading the past chapters in life breaks open the wounds.  Visiting the pit of the past steals our purpose of the present. 

Stand strong dear friends.  Don’t allow the enemy to lead you back in the pit.  There is no purpose in the pit.  God has transformed you from your past to move forward on the path laid before you and fulfill a mighty purpose.  Use the transformation to help others out of their pit.  Use spiritual growth to lead others down the path of recovery, growth and peace. 

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.^[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Take one step at a time forward on your journey in life.

 

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig