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