Home Plate

My son is six years old and he had his first baseball game today. His first time  to bat he hit the ball and stood there with amazement. I think he was shocked he hit the ball because it seemed like he was frozen. The coaches and everyone yelled, "RUN!!!". He took off running so fast that he didn't stop at the bases to see where the ball was. He hit second base and the coach told him to stop but he was determined to make it home. Slowing down was not an option for him. The other team scrambled around with the ball trying to get him out. By the time the opposing team came close to getting him, my son was safe at home.

My son went from plate to plate running through all the chaos, focused on his goal of the home plate. This is the same attitude we should have about life. When there is chaos all around trying to take us out, it is time to focus, and keep running. The Bible says in Philipians 3:12-14 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take holdof that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Keep pressing toward whatever your goal maybe, whether it is spiritual, financial, emotional, or relationships. Keep running toward your home plate. 

How to get Joy?

  It was on heart to write about joy for this post. Joy is often confused with happiness. Happiness is an emotion that can come and go. Joy is a supernatural characteristic that comes from knowing God. It is the character God puts in us to make us unshakeable, worry free people. 

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. – Psalm 27:5-7 (NIV).

The previous scriptures were written by David, who was basically working for a horrible boss. His boss was really jealous of him because David was destined to be greater than him. Even though David was dealing with all this, he knew God, therefore he still praised and had joy. 

I was searching for information about God not giving us more than we can bare but I found some surprising opinions. People were saying God gives us more than we can bare. God isn't going to give us more than we can bare because when we are in Him, we can bare anything. If you are dealing with any kind of stress, pray to God. If nothing seems to happen right away, keep praising God. Thank Him in advance for making away out of no way. Stay in God and He will fill you with joy. The joy gives different perspective of the problem that will allow you to bare all things.

Beautiful Butterfly

The butterfly is such a fascinating insect. It goes through transformations that are similar to life's spiritual transformations. Going through a spiritual transformation can be an ugly process. It's hard, and sometimes giving up seems like a good option. This post is to encourage you that after the ugly process, there is a beautiful butterfly.

The first stage of a butterfly is the hatching process, they are born. They are born not as butterflies but as caterpillars. This is the beginning of life. Just a simple creature living, crawling around eating. The eating continues, the caterpillars are always hungry. All they do is eat because they can not get enough. They spend their time searching for food. They get so big that they have to shed their skin. They shed over and over again until it is time for the third stage.

During the third stage they run and hide. Many times they bury themselves underground for protection. Some of them form cocoon like objects in trees. This stage is also known as the resting stage. This can last from anywhere from two weeks to six months. After this stage, emerges a beautiful butterfly.

I have personally had some things in my life that I had to shed. I was taking in too much of the wrong food (bad choices), therefore I had to get rid of the hurt and shame from those mistakes. Changing(shedding) can be an ugly process. There have been times that I need to hide. I had to get away from everyone because I needed some rest in God and to be restored into something new after shedding the bad choices I made. During that time of being in God, He fills me up with His love by me reading His word, meditating on it and praying with fasting. The process can be challenging because of temptation of loneliness, doubt but stay in the process (the cocoon). Finally, the beautiful butterfly arrives and we are ready to fly. In Isaiah 61:3 NIV to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

God wants to restore us to spiritual beauty. He wants us to live a life free from emotional hurt and filled with love. When we let Him restore us, we can fly, meaning we walk in our purpose. In Him, we are a new. Therefore if any person is [in grafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified Version