Look - See the Hunger

 

(picture from unu.ecu)

I saw a billboard that displayed a beautiful woman and read, Hunger Can Be Hard to Detect. An ad campaign for Feeding American; promoting food banks.

The spiritual parallel struck me before anything else.

The person standing on the corner with a sign begging for cash because they’re hungry; the children who’s only meal for the day is one they get at school; the folks in tattered clothes entering a shelter, those waiting for their food stamps to come in…need help.

We are surrounded by those who consume delectable foods beyond the feeling of content. We’re also surrounded by those who will go to bed hungry tonight, again.

We know about the disadvantaged around us, and covid is making life harder. Do we realize the scope of it? For the statistics or ways you can help, click on your browser and do a local search. Your help is greatly needed. Government shouldn’t mandate how we help; we should be helping out of the kindness in our own hearts.

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But, as we look around and recognize how enormous this problem is, look a little further – and see just how many of your friends and neighbors, the strangers in the store with you, the moms and dads picking up their children after school with you – and yes, even those who sit next to you in church – are spiritual skeletons.

Some problems are evident; the mom without a coat you see walking over a mile in the cold every day to pick up her children, who wear thin, old jackets with no hats, gloves or scarves. Maybe you want to offer them a ride, but – will it become a daily commitment you’re not up for? If you get to know them, will you feel obligated to help out in other ways?

Some problems are not as evident with appearance; the mom wearing a brand-new pair of designer shoes every day could be contemplating suicide, the old man driving the Cadillac could be in debt up to his ears with no idea where to turn, the college kid that whips out daddy’s credit card at every whim might be addicted to porn, drugs or alcohol. Yes, they have needs, too.

With all of the tangible needs so visibly in our face every day, it’s easy to overlook the emptiness of spiritual starvation.

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Hunger Can Be Hard to Detect.

Sometimes, God places the answers to our prayers within other people. Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky. What a way to ensure we hang out with each other. Our pastor reminds us regularly that God is all about relationships.

In 2020, we’ve been deprived of spending time with others, sometimes, even those we love most- which brings sadness, depression and anxiety. But, it’s also breeding sentiments that boast that we can do everything ourselves; that we don’t need others. If we’re thinking that – we’re so wrong.

And with so much division in our culture, admit it, sometimes, we’d rather be by ourselves, than mingle with someone who might be judging us.

God is calling us to come together, to give of what we’ve received and to receive from others. We can’t let the eternal give and take of humanity be stolen from us. We need each other so much that Jesus has instructed us to love each other, not just as we love ourselves, but AS HE LOVES US!

 

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” – John 15:12 (NKJV)

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Inner Dialog

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What’s your mantra? Does it line up with what you want it to be?

I use the term ‘mantra’ lightly, as it’s not necessarily a prayer or incantation I refer to, but the definition that says it’s is simply an often repeated word or phrase.

To me, your mantra is the word or phrase your mind plays back to you regularly. For example, one might hear her own voice daily declaring, “I’m so fat, I’ll never lose this weight….” Or, one might hear her inner voice telling her something like, “I’m powerful, positive, healthy and strong!”

Which voice is likely to empower you and help you to get the most out of your day? Which is likely to take you in the right direction?

We may think we have a positive mantra because we want to be a positive person. But, if things aren’t going as we want them to, or if people are less than enthusiastic about hanging out with us, maybe we’d better take a closer listen to what we tell ourselves every day.

(examinedexistence.com)

Admittedly, it can be hard to make a positive profession about our weight when our jeans get tighter every time we put them on. When everything around us seems to be going wrong, it’s not always easy to declare, in a whisper, that we are successful, happy people.

We too often tend to look at our circumstances, and then – access the situation. Our attitude can change our situations!

No one else knows your secret thoughts, your hidden fears. Well, accept God Himself. We can become masters of deceit when we don’t want the people around us to know how we feel or what we’re thinking.

Never really thought of yourself as deceitful? Me neither. But, who are we deceiving more, those who surround us, who love us – or ourselves?

(silvieandmaryl.com)

Walk past a picture window and glance at your reflection. What’s your immediate response? Yes, the one that flashes through your mind before you clean it up to tell me about it.

Granted, if your physique isn’t something you struggle with, that might be a bad example.

Maybe you view the people around you as more powerful than yourself. Maybe you’re intimidated by them. When the man from the next office over strides by with his shoulders back like he owns the world, does that bother you?

Or maybe, you think you’re better than him. Maybe your ego shouts over any voices of intimidation.

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Okay, so maybe I’m coming up with bad examples. What comes to your mind?

Where is it hard to say something nice about yourself? Where do you find it hardest to take compliments? Where is it most difficult to believe what God says about you?

It just could be that the soundtrack playing your mantra has become so familiar to you, that you don’t consciously hear it anymore. But, it’s still feeding you a lie. And the part of you that’s being fed that lie is the part of you you’re least comfortable with, it may even embarrass you.

So, take a minute to listen. Hear what you say to yourself every day. The best place to listen is in front of a mirror. Write it down. Is it good? Is it something you’d proudly share with others?

Within the secrets of successful people is tucked away a precious nugget that says they can be who they want to be, because they already see themselves that way.

 

(prepare1.com)

If I see myself as fat and lazy, I’m probably not going to find it easy to live the life of a healthy, productive woman. Logical. But, we take our thoughts for granted. Only we can change them, and it’s our choice to do so or not.

Where will you start making changes today? That mantra won’t magically change overnight. You’ll have to work at it. You’ve lived with it for how long now?

But, let the changes begin right now!

You might know what Jeremiah 29:11 says. You might know that God has good thoughts of you; good plans for you. But, do you tie His hands with your own unbelief? Do you sabotage His plans with your negative mantras and insecurities?

Whether it seems easy to do or not, - trust Him.

(familytreecounseling.com)

“How precious also are they thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand…” – Psalm 139:17 – 18 (KJV)

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Again, I Say....

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Why pout? Where’s the strength in that?

Yeah, sometimes we just don’t feel strong. Everything doesn’t have to be about strength. But, why take a step back every time we step forward?

Ah, we’re waltzing!

Or, stepping back to take a look at where we’ve come from and where we’ve traveled along the way? That’s a beautiful picture, isn’t it? One that’s totally worth taking in periodically, for sure.

Moving forward, standing still; dancing or resting. We’re alive!

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Whether it was hard to get out of bed this morning or you leapt from your slumber anticipating the day - you woke up!

Whether you were stiff while you brushed your teeth, forgetting to notice the beauty in your reflection or you greeted the day humming, with a smile hanging off your ears and offering up a prayer of thanksgiving - rejoice, you have glorious breath in your lungs!

Whether you feel it or not you have power, because you love.

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But, you can only express that love as you allow yourself to receive love.

Guess what! “God IS love!” (1 John 4:8)

When God fills your life, He saturates you with Love to overflowing. That’s the love that you pour out on those you cherish.

God doesn’t simply have love, or choose to love; He IS Love!

And if God is Love, how can we love without Him?

In His gracious love, whether we feel worthy or not, He allows us to choose how much of Him we’ll receive; how much of Him we want; how much love we’ll allow Him to pour through us.

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Rejoice. If you’re not filled to overflowing, you can be.

Simply receive.

Choose to receive!

The more you receive, the more you can give away.

In those moments when you feel like you have nothing left to give, God’s Love will pour out of you.

“I can’t…” is a lie!

You can!

You get to choose!

(christianitymalaysia.com)

Today, choose Love.

Rejoicing has to follow. Not because we insist it follows love, but because it’s the natural order of things. Rejoicing is a consequence of Love.

Love creates strength and wears joy.

(welcometofamily.com)

By the way, joy doesn’t always smile. Joy isn’t that bubbly energy we see some people exuding. Joy can be there even in the tough times, when it’s hard to smile. “The joy of the Lord is our strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10)

So, again, I say – rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

Heavenly Father, today I choose You!

Right this minute I choose to let Your Love in to bathe my heart

and soothe my soul.

You are Love; fill me with Yourself and pour out of me onto everyone I meet today. Let joy resound in me and strength rise up.

Restore me, O God. You are my Light and my Salvation, in You I rejoice.

Thank You for every blessing You provide, especially those I fail to notice.

I love You, Lord.

With the authority in Jesus’ precious Name, I pray. Amen.

Joy

“Why is the devil after your joy?” Pastor Mark asked Sunday morning. He answered it with, “He wants to steal your strength.”

 

Nehemiah 8:10 is a commonly quoted passage from the Bible and one Pastor used in his sermon. “The joy of the Lord is your strength…”

 

It stands to reason that if joy is where your strength is housed, then to steal your joy, one would steal with it, your strength. How much weaker are you when you’re depressed or just feeling lifeless, than you are when you stir up the joy that’s within you?

 

Joy is not happiness. Happiness can surely stir up your joy, but your joy is not dependent upon your happiness. To quote Pastor Mark again, “Joy is not dependent on your circumstances.”

 

Oftentimes we need our joy to be bold when circumstances are at their worst.

 

My friend, Robbie Iobst, writes a Joyvotion weekly. She recently published a book of them, called Joy Dance. You can be added to the list of many she emails weekly with her Joyvotions, by letting her know you’d like to receive them. (Click on her name for her email address or click on the book title for information on the book.)

 

Joy is too important to procrastinate about it. You need it now; and it’s only given by God. It’s there – in your heart, right now. Reach in and grab some. Bring it out and wear it like a garment. (Isaiah 61:3) Tear off that old spirit of heaviness and drape yourself with joy. It’s a choice.  

 

If you’re walking around carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, you’re choosing to. Picture yourself before God’s throne and place your burdens at His feet. Let them go. He can do more with them than you can anyways. We cannot allow those burdens to drain us of our joy – because then we are drained of the strength we need to make it through the next minute or hour, or coming days. Without the strength found in our joy, we cut our lives short.

 

Choose joy. Choose it now.

 

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say Rejoice.” – Philippians 4:4 (KJV)