What It Means To Be A Sinner

My heart hurts for all the mistakes I've made.  I'm sad that I feel like I've disappointed God.  That  my focus should be on him and what he wants for me, but it's on things.  I know he is here.  He's been with me all my life, but I can't hear him.  I can't get the evil out my head sometime.  I feel trapped a lot and a disappointment.  It's so hard to get back emotionally and mentally to were I'd like to be.  I want to be happy.  I need to be happy and I don't listen.  True happiness comes from God.  I wonder if what I want and what God wants is one in the same?  Sometimes I think he wants me to do what he wants.  Or maybe it's just hard to do what I know I should.  I'm so confused.  I think others get confused about God and just give up on him and sometime life.  I've seen the blessings in my life and I don't want to give up.  I want to get it right.  If I am a sinner can I ever get it right?  Right is doing what I know and feel in my soul and in my heart.  I will always make mistakes and I will never be perfect, that's what it means to be a sinner.

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Get Out the Box

We live in a fearful time.  Sometimes it feels as if someone wants us to be afraid.  Like we live in a box.  When that one person tries to think outside the box and go against the grain of normal, they are turned on.  People turn against them for being different for wanting different.  We are made different.  We all have different skills and tools which are our gifts.  Once you find out what your gift is and use it....you become that person trying to get out the box.  For today, get out the box.  Don't be afraid to be different.

1 Peter 4:10

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

Keisha

Steps to Change

Steps to Change

1.  Identify what the problem is:  If you don’t know what you want to change then how can you start the process of change?

2.  Motivation:  Having the motivation to change is very important.  Some people may have to change everything to get out of there certain situations.  Are you ready to give up everything or everyone if you have to?  Are you ready to give up people who do not add positivity to your life, but influence chaos and destruction?  Once you have the motivation to make change and you are determined then you will be willing to do whatever it takes for change to occur.  

3.  A Support System:  Everyone needs someone; a positive parent, a teacher, pastor, counselor, someone who is going to positively influence you in making good choices.  If you are going to make change you need someone in your corner to help with support.  So, when you have days that you feel like giving up (you will have those days*).  Your support system can encourage you to continue on the journey, because the battle may be long, but when you win the war you have succeeded.  *Giving up in the sense that you want to resort back to old behaviors.  The behaviors you are seeking to change are easily to fall back into, because we have become so familiar with them, so when things get hard it is our natural desire to go back to what we know.

4.  A plan.  A plan is the start of every good venture.  Having a plan is having the road map to get to the change you want to occur.  The plan could be to start exercising or drawing every time you want a cigarette.  Just having a plan will help you reach your desired goal for change. 

5.  Change in perception.  Once you change your perception or thinking it will help in achieving your goal.  If you are trying to stop smoking cigarettes, for example, and you think about the relief and satisfaction smoking brings it’s going to be hard to stop.  If you change your thinking to focus on positive things and how your health will be better or how much money you will save this will continue to encourage your goal. 

6.  Focus on today.  Don’t worry about yesterday; don’t get caught up in tomorrow.  Focus on how your change can occur today, right now.  If you focus on today and what it takes to continue the process of change today then you won’t get overwhelmed.  We have negative thinking that can creep into our minds getting us off focus.  Because we slipped up yesterday, or there is going to be a party and people will be smoking tomorrow will only overwhelm us.  Focus on change today and what you can do today.  I’m not saying don’t learn from the mistake you made yesterday or be ill prepared for tomorrow.  I’m just saying today is enough problems in itself, focus on being successful in the moment.

7.  Pray.  That’s what I always end with.  For me prayer is soothing to my soul and gives me hope and faith.  When I pray I know everything will be alright, even in the midst of the most uncomfortable and hardest times in life.  When I pray I am thankful and encouraged.  I pray.

"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] 

Keisha

I get so angry I want to cry.  Maybe I just personalize things to much?  Maybe I'm to sensitive?  But being black in America is a struggle that I'm tired of fighting.  It's like being bullied and reaching the point were you aren't going to take it anymore. I don't want to fight anymore, but I can't change people just myself.  I wanted to see the movie "Top Five."  It isn't playing in the area I live.  I've noticed that none of the black films I have wanted to see have been played in the theatre I like to frequent.  However, across town on the "south side" the modern segregation of today the movie is playing all day long.  Is that marketing or a way of keeping people segregated? It saddens my heart to tears.  I just want to live without being judge by the color of my skin.  The misconception of what ignorant people conceive.  It's hard enough that we as people are judge daily, and that we have enough struggles in life on its own, that the extra is the last thing on that camels back.  In my world people would be accepted for who they are; nice, mean, kind, single, married, outgoing, loud, rich or poor whatever the case may be.  No one is perfect and people seem to forget that everyone of us is unique and made in the image of God.  If God can accept us in all his glory and brilliance, and as sinful as we are, why can't we accept each other?  Just venting.....

Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another

14 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Romans 14:1-4

Keisha

Day 55.  One more day!!!! It's Thursday and Friday isn't coming fast enough. Halloween for some cultures is a time in which they remember their loved ones who have passed on.  They celebrate the life they once had and the love they once shared.  It's a beautiful time to remember those who are no longer with us in flesh, remembering how our cherished loved ones have impacted our lives.  They may have passed on, but will never be forgotten.

What's on my mind.  Injustice.  I dislike when someone in power abuses their power.  I don't like when people who are less fortunate aren't treated fairly.  I can't stand fake people.  The ones who smile in your face like they really care about your well being, and talk mean behind your back, plotting.  I am so glad that God is not man, because if he were he might have some of these faults.  I feel blessed to know on my worse day and in my worse moments he is still by my side encouraging me to stay strong.  I live with the satisfaction that he will make all things right.  That he will make all your dreams come true if you believe.  I know some moments in life can make you doubt or waivers your faith, but the truth is everything happens for a reason.  The challenge today is to give all your worries and cares to God.  Once you give them up let them go and don't think about them anymore.  Today I will leave you with a verse.

◄ Psalm 55:22 ►
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Keisha

Day 54. When it rains it pours.  When one thing seems to go wrong then a couple things will follow suite.  When times get hard you just have to dig your heels in the ground, pray, and fight the devil away.  He will strike when you are doing good.  When you are doing Gods work.  Be patient, because this to shall pass.

What's on my mind.  So much to say about so much.  When things transpire and you are doing your best that means a blessing is near. When things really start to turn sour I just pray and hang on, because God's Will is going to win out every time.  Holding strong seems hard sometime, but the end promise is worth the fight.  Life has hard roads, but we have to ride them.  God will never leave us stranded.....the challenge today is to encourage someone going through a tough time to hold on.  Encourage them to pray and pray for them.  Don't forget to pray for your enemies.  Today I will leave you with a verse.

Isaiah 40:31
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.

Keisha

Day 53.  I had a horrible day.  When the day sucks it puts a cloud on everything.  I just really had to be thankful that the day was almost over.  Thinking that tomorrow has to be better.  Still looking forward to a peaceful weekend.

What's on my mind.  A lot of negativity.  Trying to focus on the positive.  Trying to center myself and get back to normal.  It's so important to not allow petty things to get you off track.  It's even more important to speak your mind when you feel strongly about something.  Before I act I think about the positives and negatives of my actions and if it can really hurt me I won't risk it.  Fear is incredible.  I envey the person with little fear and chases after life like a tiger to a gazelle.  Life has a way of taking you down paths you didn't really want to travel.  In those instances you just have to find the positives out of the situation.  I believe everything happens for a reason.  The challenge today is to find one thing you love about yourself and celebrate it.  Today I will leave you to think about this challenge.

Keisha