I recently shared a posting that I saw on Facebook, originally put out there by Touching Lives. The words read “Get your fire back. It’s not over until God says it’s over. Start believing again. Start dreaming again. Start pursuing what God put in your heart.”
The day I first saw it was a day of me doubting my abilities again. But the thing is, I may put some words down…..and like the way they’ve been joined together to create…something. But it’s a gift from God.
By being fearful and reluctant to put those words out there……I’ve given myself more credit. My ability comes from the creator….and I do well to remember that. That’s why I shared that posting. I needed to remind myself.
A couple of years ago, two friends each gave me the same decorative jar. The first friend who found this appropriate for me, was a nursing friend. I was leaving nursing to pursue other endeavors.
The other friend sent the jar to me about a week or two later, spontaneously. Just a visible reminder to keep moving forward.
But it struck me as so ironic that both of these friends had found and purchased the same jar, with me in mind, to give me a friendly boost, a reminder of what God had given me.
The jar is about 7 inches high, brown base, cream top with a little cover. On the cream area are the words “Stop Doubting and Believe. Love, God.” 
How disappointing to not use our gifts or abilities for Him. We tend to make it about OUR skills, OUR fears. He wanted us to use whatever gift for His purpose. It is not just OUR skill. He is the One who gives us gifts, strengths, and the ability to create.
Certainly after I received the second one in such a short time, there was noting I could say except, “Okay, got it. I’m doing this.”
But that attitude to work on my writing and finally put it out there where it could be (horrors and possible hurt!) rejected, was scary, is sometimes still scary. That’s when I need to remind myself that He also said, “I did not give you a spirit of fear.” He gave me a gift, an ability to string words together that sometimes have a lovely message.
Fear is part of Satan’s lies, convincing you that you will fail, that you are not good enough. Yes, I heard, and absorbed those demon’s lies. And I chose, to listen to those lies for a while. There was a time, I didn’t realize it was a choice. I listened to his sultry voice telling me repeatedly I didn’t have the voice, the author’s voice, my author’s voice, to do this.
But those are the types of lies Satan tells so we don’t move ahead, we don’t use a gift. He convinces us we are not good enough.
But that is not the path God has chosen for me. The gift is from Him. Even if my writing gets rejected, it is still NOT a rejection of me….because that means I take more credit unto ME.
How liberating that thought process has been! And why now so late in life? ‘Well, it ain’t over ’til it’s over.’!
So when my doubts creep in. I need the reminder that God blessed me with a couple of gifts. So often it is easy for us to slide into the doubts and lies the enemy whispers.
I CHOOSE to remember God’s nudge, “Stop doubting, and Believe. Love, God.”
Part of my writing this blog is to get the feedback from you, my friends, to surge forward when my human doubts try to overpower the gifts that God has blessed me with.
So feel free to remind me anytime! Blessings.
Enjoy some of Mybellaviews
If you live your life animated by the flesh—namely, your fallen, corrupt nature—then your mind focuses on the matters of the flesh. (YOURSELF) But if you live your life animated by the Spirit—namely, God’s indwelling presence—then your focus is on the work of the Spirit. (OTHERS) A mind focused on the flesh is doomed to death, but a mind focused on the Spirit will find full life and complete peace. You see, a mind focused on the flesh is declaring war against God; it defies the authority of God’s law and is incapable of following His path. Romans 8:5-7 The Voice (BOLD inserts mine)
I have noticed my happiness is more pronounced when I am doing for others—rather than being concentrated on me and my wants, desires or worries.
Volunteering in some area or doing something as simple as opening or holding a door for someone else is an act of kindness. There are so many ways we can do things for others—volunteer to help with childcare, volunteer to do some errands for someone you know can’t get out, help walk pets if they have a sick family member, deliver some meals to a family struggling with an ill family member…there are so many ways to help others, and take us out of our selfish, self-centered ways.
I realize that most people nowadays think of ‘number one,’ and mean themselves. But truly I get such satisfaction and pleasure when I reach out to help others. My life seems abundantly better when I acknowledge there is more to this world than ‘me, my, mine.’
Pondering our ‘troubles, worries, or lacks, wants, desires’ and keeping those uppermost in our minds poisons us from spotting all the abundance there is in this world. It doesn’t let us see how very blessed we have it, many times while others near us, do not. It’s sometimes so easy to think we are the most important part of life—at least to us—but it is humbling to see how blessed we may be in light of the life of many others.
Some have suffered lost limbs, neurological deficits, continued pain, paralysis, the loss of child(ren), homes, and so many other losses. It is always admirable to me to see these folks put themselves out there. So many are not huddled in their home, locked in their misery, just worried about themselves.
If you give to others less fortunate, your own problems seem much less like a problem and more like a part of everyday life—not something that will break the limb of your tree. You are able to see and feel so much more grateful when you realize all you have and what others may not.
Think about it. Reach out and help someone. See how you feel. And I would love to have you share with me your experience with giving.
I know it helps with ‘mybellaviews.’
1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper and not to harm.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
God blessed each of us with certain gifts. He gave some great physical skill, some have incredible musical talent, some are wonderful artists, writers, teachers, preachers and more. But He gave us skills, gifts, and we are each unique.
We are at a time in our society when some folks are trying to make everyone equal. The most recent story I’ve heard is a valedictorian and some people within the school felt it was not right this hard working student should receive accolades and the honor of being a valedictorian. Who has more of a right? That student worked hard to make the grades, do the studying, complete the assignments, and should be acknowledged for the accomplishments.
Yet, some feel “all” should be equally recognized. I believe all should be given the opportunities, but we are not all gifted in the same manner. And I feel it is wrong to award all who play on a team with a trophy. An award should go to the top one or two persons who have earned the recognition. They have a skill, worked hard and should be acknowledged. Yes, the team members should all be applauded, but not all awarded the trophy, medal or accolade; those should be reserved for the one who has the most skill. I feel it is demeaning to the ones who excel in scholastics, athletics, or whatever, while those of us who are average get the same notice. We are not all equal.
A valedictorian is an honor, and not all students deserve it. Some barely skate through school, they choose to not do assignments, to skip classes and sometimes entire days. Why should the student who has put forth little to no effort be awarded even an advancement? There is a young man who skipped school a total of 33 days. The school rules state if a student missed 21 days, it was an automatic fail of grade, and one would not be promoted. Yet this man was; his grades were poor, it was obvious he did not want to be there, and was still promoted to the next grade. No one is accountable? What favor have we done for him? What lessons has he learned? How has the school system prepared him for adulthood? The rules are there for us to follow, and there needs to be consequences when they are not obeyed.
Somehow, we have become a society where there are no consequences, and we do not have to be accountable for bad behavior, and all are given the same awards. What makes anyone want to strive with that attitude? I think it’s a shame.
God wants us to each do our best, but we all have different strengths. He made some to lead, some to nurture, some to be excellent and able athletes, some are smarter and work harder at their studies. There are some who are great speakers, teachers and motivators. There are others who are strong organizers and can get groups of people moving forward in a team effort. There are those who are good builders and those should be working at building whatever is needed. But we need to use our strengths and skills and not believe we are all the same. He made us individual and unique for reasons.
Because you are unique, use YOUR strengths and skills, and appreciate that others have different skill sets to use.
My prayer is we change our direction now. It is sad presently for ‘mybellaviews’ wondering about accountability and the lack of .
Joshua 1:5-9, 18 I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage.
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.
Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
The first chapter of Joshua from verses 5-9, God gives reassurance, encouragement, and firm direction to Joshua. He promises to be there, and He will comfort and support the same as He did with Moses. (And of course, Joshua would have seen this first hand since he was one of the closest advisors to Moses). But God also repeatedly stresses ‘Be strong and of good courage.’
Suddenly, Joshua is in charge of this head-strong, unruly bunch of people when they can almost smell their success and the end of the journey after many years. They are anxious to settle, not finish going further in the journey, but to plant roots and start building something firm.
Yet, God still had more for them to conquer, to push back and overcome the remaining peoples. So He encouraged them to be strong and to go out and finish with courage the tasks He had commanded. He wanted them to continue to go forth and finish the task He had set before Moses, so they could settle in the land of milk and honey, wonderful figs and olives, and so on. It was not yet time to be finished with the task, close, but not finished.
God recognized they were unsure now that their leader had died. Would God still be with them? Did they have to continue on? After all, it had been years of travelling, fighting and overcoming the peoples God commanded them to overtake. The people were anxious to be settled, start their establishments, build permanent homes, and start the life as residents versus nomads.
God gave firm reassurance that He would continue with them, and He encouraged them to continue on with strength and courage although they were almost done with this nomadic life style.
They should remain strong and of courage because He travelled with them. He would continue to be with Joshua the same way He had travelled with Moses leading the people. And they continued until the job was done, and each tribe received their reward.
It is the same for us. We need to continue to have strength and courage when we have been directed by God even when the path is rocky, strewn with holes and dangers, and it has been a long time (to us) that we have been travelling. The reward of spending eternity with Him, ad hearing “well done, my faithful servant” is worth it.
The book of Joshua is a wonderful book to read whenever you need reminding of His strength, as well as many other verses throughout. But knowing Joshua is filled with God’s direction toward courage has been a huge benefit to ‘mybellaviews.’
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
1 Corinthians 7:7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministeries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
We are all unique. That’s a blessing. Can you imagine how icky life would be if we all were the same, all the time? Everyone’s emotions would be the same to each thing that happened–there’d be no need, really, to talk about it. If everyone feels the same, reacts the same, it’s not a catastrophe to some, and a blip in the road to someone else. We’d all have the same opinions, the same views, the same goals. There would be no major sadness, joy, or wonder. No need to appreciate someone else’s talents. We’d be the same. Boring!
I know that some people tend to compare themselves to others. I assume this is more a female trait since I hear women wishing they had something different often. But I don’t know that. Maybe men do that also. Whether it is a talent, a skill, a way of carrying oneself, an ability to be gracious and welcoming at all times, or someone’s beauty, or hair, eyes, or whatever. We see differences and wish, or at least wonder, if our lives would be different if that trait or skill would somehow change our life, make us better, make us MORE.
But God created us to be different. And I so appreciate He did. I have some traits that I truly enjoy that others don’t. I also have friends who have traits and skills that I don’t have, and feel blessed that I can call upon them to use their skill for a particular task. For instance, my friend, Patty and her photographs.
Another lily from my friend, Sonja’s garden
I have other friends who don’t mind doing some construction projects with me. They sometimes have better ideas than what my mind has. So they share the idea, we find what works the best for me, and then they jump in and help me get the project done….but better than I envisioned.
But the point is, we all have gifts and traits that others admire, sometimes envy, or just appreciate. Because we are not all the same, this gives us reasons to appreciate, to strive for things, to try to be or do better.
Because of these differences– strengths, skills, abilities, talents–we can merge them and become a team, a stronger unit than alone. We learn so much from others who have different skills, thoughts, experiences and so on than ours. We hear new outlooks and perspectives and adapt or refuse them from our life. But if we were all the same, there would be no differences…it seems to be it would be blah, and bland.
So I appreciate the great flock of friends I have who have all sorts of abilities, strengths and blessings that I don’t have. And most of all I appreciate that they feel I am also a blessing to them.
So, I hope you enjoyed seeing how lovely it is being ….. different. They’re all lilys,…..same group, but individuals.
Enjoy some of unique blessings
Enjoy some of “mybellaviews.”
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!