TO FUNK OR NOT TO FUNK- WHAT WAS THE QUESTION?

I am 100% sure that every single one of us have found ourselves in a funk more often than not.  But what's so bothersome is that sometimes it is for no reason at all in that there was no major catastrophic life altering event that triggered it.  The truth is, in this world that we live in, with information overload, fast track technology, it is pertinent for us to keep up with the times but at times we forget that no matter how much we try, it gets harder and harder to keep our normality intact. 

I've decided to write my blog today while immersed in this funk to impart the very essence with you.  Most often, our faces show how we feel when in a funk, and the first thing that others do is to try to make us feel better.  I do appreciate when that happens, because we know they care.  But no matter how much they care and how much they do to make us feel better, it is up to our own ability to get ourselves out of the funk.  I would personally just give them a hug and pray for their breakthrough.

When we understand and is clear to us that this phase is temporary, all we really need to do is to let it ride.  We have to identify the factor that caused it, really digging into ourselves to find the reason why there is a diminished self-worth.  Was it something someone said to us that caused it?  Is it because we have raised the bar of achievement so high and then feel overwhelmed to reach it?  Is it financial?  Most likely, the reason we get into a funk is because the devil lied to us and we are buying into his schemes.  he is the voice in your head that says you're not good enough and that your past mistakes is so unforgivable that you might as well crawl into a hole and die.

Moreover, we try to silence that voice by acting out, self-medicating or worse, doing something that digs us deeper into that hole.

STOP!

So why write a post at a time like this?  Well, because it is part of life.  It is part of the imperfect world of an imperfect human being living an imperfect life.  When someone like me who is immersed in God can still feel this way, it proves that God will allow us to go through times like these so that we can not only move even closer to him but also to understand that we are not citizens of this world where pain such as this is prevalent.  It's funny though because it is the world's expectation of us which we stress ourselves out with that causes the funk.

For me, I would just have to ride this out, remind myself that I am made from the perfect image of God and that the devil has already been convicted.  His future is already determined by God.  For me to agree with a loser makes me a loser.  So I have to disagree and immerse myself in God's promises and have that conversation with Him through his Word.

Until my next rant... LOVE ONE ANOTHER!

"WHO" IS THERE FOR YOU?

I couldn't help myself. I had to do it, just for kicks.

Joking aside though, after I finished this piece (which was actually just a quick sketch done in my tiny sketchbook), I've decided to look up the symbolic meaning of the owl.  Much to my surprise, certain cultures have different symbolisms for the owl.  However, for this purpose, I chose the positive meanings.

Throughout many cultures, the symbolic meaning of owl deals with: Intelligence, brilliance, perspective, intuition, quick-wit, independence, wisdom, protection, mystery, and power.

Native American tribes (primarily plains' Indians) viewed the owl as a protector against harm and their feathers were ritually worn to ward off evil spirits.

Ancient Athenians made the owl an emblem of wisdom and even emblazoned the image of the owl on their coinage. http://www.symbolic-meanings.com/2007/08/14/owl-symbolism-deeper-meaning-of-owl/

For me, an owl is someone who keeps watch at night.  It is nocturnal and awake while the world sleeps.  In our slumber, we are vulnerable and in need of the most protection.  The owl can be compared to God, the one who watches and guides us when we are most vulnerable to the wiles of the world.  Consider yourself so blessed when you have God on your side at all times.  He stands watch for the hearts who love him.  I can attest to the fact that when I ask for answers, He is ready to give them to me.  When our hearts work closely with our minds, God's voice becomes more audible.  Skeptics would sarcastically comment about a booming voice.  No, there is no booming voice, no words to describe it because our minds cannot even comprehend an iota of God's ways and how He speaks unless you are tuned into His "channel."

All you have to do is simply listen with your heart, not your ears or your minds and I guarantee that His voice will be heard.  I pray that if you truly want to hear His voice, you will seek Him and draw close.  It is so worth it!

Until my next rant… LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!  I love you and I mean it!

WHAT'S BEHIND THIS DOOR?

Watercolor - old door

TRUST

The most necessary and fundamental of all human character but the hardest to attain or surrender.  Trust is the foundation in which the strength or the weakness of any type of relationship hinges on.  

Most of us have our guards down in the infatuation stage of a relationship.  The excitement of a new love blinds us to postpone truths about someone because the hard truth upon which faulty humans are made of is cloaked under that pretentious exterior.  But sooner or later, we are faced with the realization that person is just that... a human being.  However, we seem to act so surprised when the true colors come out and have to deal with whatever decisions we might have gotten ourselves involved with.

Let me let you in on a secret... there is only one person that you can lay your trust onto in this world.... God.  God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Humans are faulty, everyone including you.  We were born to sin against God and against each other.  So why on earth would we fully trust another person.  Ok, don’t get me wrong.  We CAN trust people to a certain level but please don’t be so surprised if any of the people you put your trust into disappoint you in one way or another.  That is because we all sin and fall short of the glory of God.  

The best way to handle disappointment by another human being is to forgive.  Realize that you have disappointed others as well, so be quick to forgive so that others can also forgive you.  We don’t deserve forgiveness but yet the last person we should disappoint or sin against is God.  So if we can sin against God, what more to a mere human being?  Jesus said whatever it takes, forgive seven times or seven hundred and seven times.

But you say, that’s easier said than done.  Yes indeed it is, but one can only say such thing because we acknowledge that when we sin against another, we know deep in our hearts that if it was done to us, we could never forgive them.  

I love this saying... HOLDING ONTO ANGER IS LIKE DRINKING POISON AND EXPECTING THE OTHER PERSON TO DIE.

Such person does not even lose sleep over you so why not offer it up to God, who can handle it for you, and then forgive that person and move on.

It really is easier to do, if you only put it in perspective.

Until my next rant... LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!

LET'S SMASH TOGETHER!

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LIVING THE GOOD LIFE

When life happens, we sometimes see ourselves down and frustrated over something that we could not otherwise control.  Worrying over certain situations or sometimes getting angry does nothing for us.  Sounds cliche? Well not if God has your back.  God did not stutter when He said that leave your worries to me, give it up to me, because I can handle it better than you.  If it wasn't true in my own life, then God has to be lying, right?  But time and time again, He has proven that His word is gold, and I, for one, can vouch for that.

However, because we are mere humans, we let these things affect us in such a way that it controls our minds, bodies, and soul, so much so that it causes illness that are pretty much irreversible, sometimes even taking negative actions that we would regret for the rest of our lives.  Why?  Because we were conditioned to think that giving our problems to God is easier said than done.  It takes a lot of practice to give it up and then… wait for it…. WALK AWAY FROM IT!  Yes, there I said it, walk away from it.  By that I mean, don't even think about it anymore, you gave it up, so let God handle it because He said He would, right? Then sit back and watch Him work!  That's it!  Simple as that.  But before all this can happen, you really, really, really, really need to give it up.  Don't make the mistake of taking it back by starting to worry again.

When you find yourself starting to worry about it again, apologize for doing so, and then give it back again.  Practice makes perfect.  This applies to EVERYTHING.  All you have to do is try.

Until my next rant… LOVE ONE ANOTHER!