Tag: Community

I’m Sorry

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I’m Sorry

I corrected myself. “I’m actually not sorry. I have no reason to apologize.”

Increasingly often, I find myself saying “sorry,” and I’m not sure why. Why do I feel the need to apologize on someone else’s behalf? Why do I feel the need to apologize when I’ve done nothing wrong? Why do I feel the need to apologize when I’m the one hurting, crying, frustrated, or upset? Why am I sorry?

If I’m honest with you, I will confess that a majority of my “sorry’s” are not actually heartfelt towards the receiver. “I’m sorry you have to put down your phone and come to the table.” “I’m sorry you have to help me.” I’m sorry you have to put away the clothes I’ve washed, dried, and folded.” These “I’m sorry’s” are covered in sarcasm and drenched in exasperation. They are not sincere nor do they seek forgiveness. They are knives hurled at the other person in a retribution effort for whatever “crime” I feel they have committed.

Does this make me mean? Probably…

Does this make me feel better? Briefly…

Does this help the situation? Not really.

These types of “I’m sorry’s” are not only unhelpful, they are unwholesome. And yet, they come out of our mouths more frequently than do genuine requests for forgiveness. They are used in attempts to make us feel better while intentionally jabbing the other. They are not kind, and simply put, they meant as malice, masking our true feelings.

No wonder we are so skeptical of everyone and everything! When what comes out of our mouths are not rooted in kindness, truth, and love, we become hardened, because we suspect everyone is doing the same. We build walls around ourselves and our hearts in protection. We hide behind carefully crafted facades so that we might feel safe and “in control,” when those very barriers do nothing other than keep us separated from the people we want acceptance from. Marinade in that one for a minute…

We must temper and soften our “sorry’s” back to their original place of an apology, or appeal for forgiveness. We must eradicate the ever popular “sorry not sorry” phrase from our vernacular. We must stop passive aggressively seeking to put ourselves above one another. We must remove our cloaks as well as our daggers. We must admit when we are wrong, even and especially when we feel we’ve been slighted in the process.

Wrong in our motives. Wrong in our words. Wrong in our behavior.

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9 NIV).

I am sorry for my contribution to this spiteful act.

I will focus on the intention behind the words I speak.

I do ask for a transformation of my heart today, to more closely resemble that with which is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy…and put these into practice, so that I may feel His peaceful presence (see Philippians 4:8-9 NIV).

Organized Chaos

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Organized Chaos

October 16, 2019

Does this picture remind you of your life? It certainly does mine of late! Organized chaos. I even have a t-shirt that touts the phrase “Chaos Coordinator.”

Macmillan Dictionary defines chaos as “a situation in which everything is confused and a mess.”

I think, most of us, operate in this state of being, the majority of our adult lives. We try to cram more than is humanly possible into our over-scheduled days. We constantly fill our spaces with noise, whether it be the TV in the background, the radio blaring in our cars, or audio books spoken directly into our ears through AirPods. 

When we attempt to multitask the multitude of things we’ve piled onto our plates, in addition to all the noise we are inundated with, we cannot possibly, rationally believe we can master any single one of them. We simply exist in a constant state of chaos: a messy and confused situation of being. A life remiss of peace.

Jesus told His disciples, “I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid” (John 14:27 CEV).

The world, and all its things, does not offer peace. It may come “packaged” in a wrapper that would make you believe peace is within; however, true peace is one without worry or fear. Worry of disappointment. Fear of failure. Worry of worth. Fear of disapproval. Worry of capability. Fear of the unknown. 

Worry and fear are never present within peace.

Instead of hiding our cluttered mess by closing our doors, instead of celebrating chaos as a celebrity status, instead of attempting feigned organization of our current situation…my dear friend, willingly hand over that with which we desperately clutch, in order to “save face,” because all we are doing in actuality is building more layers for peace to permeate. 

The more layers, the more time it takes to feel its presence. Peace is a fruit of the spirit He wishes us to feast upon. Peace brings about lasting change. Peace disperses like the warmth of a fuzzy blanket sitting near the fire. Only His peace breaks through the cancer called chaos in our lives, freeing us from its cyclical chains of bondage. 

Chaos is the complete opposite of peace. Why do we keep holding onto the very thing that causes us such strife? Why not dump our drawer full of deception and start anew? Refreshed in His preciously peaceful presence each and every morning until THIS becomes our new state of being! Peace can exist within: ourselves, our family, our home, our community…a place free of stress, worry, fear and chaos. 

This is my desire. Will you join me in daily pursuit of His peace? I don’t want the world’s chaos. Just give me Jesus! Through the power of His Holy Spirit, may we invite Him into any places in our lives where we have tried organizing our chaos instead of handing it over.

Help

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Help

October 8, 2019

In grade school, we learned to raise our hand. Speak up. Ask questions. Request help. This such a basic lesson, and yet, one most adults have forgotten. We don’t raise our hand, speak up, ask questions or request help. We are embarrassed. We are prideful. We are stubborn. It seems we’d rather give up, drown, or fail before we did this simple task: raise our hand.

The other side of the coin is raising our hand to offer help. Some do this too frequently. Some rarely do it. Some don’t think they are “qualified” to do it.  Some don’t feel they have the means to do it. Some believe another will do it. Some just flat don’t want to do it.

Whichever side you fall on, the reason we avoid help boils down one thing: doubt. We doubt ourselves. We doubt our ability. We doubt whether or not there’s a real need. We doubt…instead of asking or volunteering. 

Everyone needs help, at one point or another; though we’d rather not admit it. But here’s the thing: we are human. We cannot do it alone. We get caught up in the mind battle of, “why can’t I just…”

Even Moses, the prophet whom God chose to deliver the commandments and lead the Israelites out of Egypt, needed help. When they were fighting the Amalekites, Moses raised up his hands, and the most incredible thing happened: God was there! He sent Moses help in the form of two caregivers (Aaron and Hur).

“As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up–one on one side, one on the other–so that his hands remained steady until sunset” (Exodus 17:11-12 NIV).

…and the Israelites won! Moses wasn’t on the “front line” fighting. He stood on a hill, arms raised, silently supporting. When Moses grew tired, Aaron and Hur saw a need and filled it… steadily holding up his hands. You see, we are all puzzle pieces in God’s master plan. We are meant to join and work together. In doing so, we are granted access to a larger picture. When we admit “we can’t,” He sends someone in His stead to help.

“Help each other with your troubles. When you do this, you truly obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 ICB).

Whether you are the one in need of help or one who feels called to help, raise you hand, my friend. He will use you mightily. He will strengthen you. And maybe, you will no longer doubt you are worthy of His grace.

Know Me

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Know Me

September 30, 2019

Do you know me? I mean, really know me? No, of course you don’t. How could you possibly know me, if I don’t share my story? But who wants to hear my story? While we may want to be known, and loved where we are, so few of us are willing to share our story. We are afraid of peeling back the mask we apply daily, revealing our true selves, and all the layers that have brought us up to this point today. However, it is only through this process, allowing ourselves to been seen in all our glory, that makes us “known.” Makes us “seen.” Makes us part of a community.

That’s what this is all about: community. We are wired for it. We crave it. We are predestined to cultivate it. And yet, it is the very thing we fight. We believe we must have it “all together” in order to be accepted. We think we have nothing to share unless “all our ducks are in a row.” We buy into the lie that we are worthless. Therefore, in our unworthiness, how could we ever be “known” and accepted into a place of community?

My friend, if any of this rings true for you, then you are in the right place!

Let’s Get REAL Together is about our collective stories.

Let’s Get REAL Together is a place for sharing.

Let’s Get REAL Together is a community.

It starts with a simple truth: we were created in God’s image. This fact more than qualifies you as worthy! It counts you as royalty! We each have a unique portion of Him within us. When we gather together , share with each other, comfort one another, and ground ourselves in His truths, then we are brought to a beautiful place of REAL community…a collective family, who sees His goodness residing within each of our human skin. A purposefully created piece, unlike any other. Someone whose value is immeasurable. A treasured gift, waiting to be revealed.

My prayer is you will allow yourself to be known because of His greatness within you. You will accept His calling for you because you are on purpose. You will join us as we seek to align our lives with His truths. #LetsGetREALTogether #Faith #KnowMe #Inspiration #MondayMotivation