What makes RELATIONSHIPS work?

 

The LORD JESUS said:

Matthew 18:20

King James Version

20 For where two or three 

are gathered together in my name, 

there am I in the midst of them.

That's the best verse I found with regards to relationships.

We all interact with each other at home, in school, at work, and at social functions.

But are our relationships warm, and real?

Are people really kind, and genuine?

Do we really care for each other?

Love can only be possible when Jesus is in our midst, for the Lord taught us to love.

And when we're born again, we look to Scripture and the Holy Spirit to teach us about Jesus.

Unless we have been anointed by the Holy Spirit of God, our way of loving, will fall short of God's.

Only JESUS can teach us how to love, as God would.

His own life and ministry, his own death and resurrection, are proof positive of that love.

He is the best pattern for humans to love God, and each other.

By His own life, the Lord Jesus showed us how to love the Father, how to pray, how to be obedient to the will of God, how to love each other.

Because we are in the world, we become subject to the ways of the world.

We are fallible.

We act from our own steam.

Best thing to do, when relationships are tested, is to pray to Jesus for help.

We must pray for clarity.

We must pray to be taught to love.

Jesus will surely show us, through the Holy Spirit.

We will then be directed to Scripture, for all the answers we need can be found in the WORD of GOD.

Relationships can only be repaired through Jesus.

Through the GRACE of GOD.

Jesus will teach us how to forgive.

He was very clear:

Matthew 6:15

King James Version

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, 

neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

He also said:

Luke 6:37

King James Version

37 Judge not, 

and ye shall not be judged: 

condemn not, 

and ye shall not be condemned: 

forgive, 

and ye shall be forgiven:

We are even to love our enemies.

Luke 6:27

King James Version

27 But I say unto you which hear, 

Love your enemies, 

do good to them which hate you,

We cannot judge others, for perhaps, we're more in error.

Matthew 7:5

King James Version

5 Thou hypocrite, 

first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; 

and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote 

out of thy brother's eye.

Who decides who has a pure heart?

This article will tell you.

Relationships can only work if we have God in our heart.

If we have the Spirit of the Lord in our hearts.

If we follow the path Jesus paved for us.

And only by being born again can we understand God's Spirit and His commandments.

By ourselves, we will fail greatly.

Strength in Jesus

Prayer to JESUS
Where do you wish
to take this heart of mine
that has YOU in it?

I'm just beginning to know Jesus.

Since I became a born-again Christian nearly 11 months ago, I'm beginning to know the LORD.

He has showed up in my dreams at least several times, decades ago.

In those dreams, He was the golden light filling the doorway, the Jesus in place of the emerald tabernacle at my favorite church, the landlord, and the path that I have "walked before".

Strange that last one.

I still haven't decoded that first dream.

But I think He had been keeping an eye on me, and once, I saw the LORD in my dream, His hands outstretched by his sides, looking at me, saying nothing.

But He also showed me how it was to be for me in another dream, where precariously narrow steps led up to a second-floor doorway, filled with golden light.

Those steps were so narrow, you can only put one foot in front of the other, one at a time, with the steps cantilevered from the wall.

Try imagining that as you go up the stairs.

There was only the wall to the left, with the white dove painted on it, the narrow, wooden steps attached to the wall, and that doorway filled with light.

There was no railing for support.

That dream was decades ago, and true enough, my life reflected all the challenges that came with those almost impossible stairs.

The Lord also showed me many dreams and images of what is to happen, what is happening, and my role in it.

How do I know these things were of Christ?

Well, I had not bought into the world, thus, the many challenges.

19 If ye were of the world, 

the world would love his own: 

but because ye are not of the world, 

but I have chosen you out of the world, 

therefore the world hateth you.

John 15:19 

King James Version

Fortunately, my father taught me well, how not to sell out, how to endure, how to have fortitude.

Of course, God chose my parents, for they will be teaching me as I grew up.

Every circumstance of my life was perfectly-designed by God, for teaching, learning, wisdom, and correction.

He also knew I had a cheerful heart.

I taught myself to look at the brighter, funnier side of life when things looked bleak.

Perhaps, that's His God gene in me.

Of course, that gene got more pronounced as I got older, most especially when I became a born-again Christian in the fall of last year.

I just wish I turned to Him when I was in pain during my earlier years, not knowing where to turn to.

In those days, I had no idea.

No one told me the beautiful things about God, that I finally learned through the Holy Spirit in September 2019.

God waits for us to go to Him for our pain. 

Only God can cure our pain, for it is not just pain of the body, the heart, the mind, but also the soul, and the spirit.

That's what God does.

He allows suffering, so your soul will wake up.

He doesn't enjoy that we suffer.

There is no vindictive bone in God's body.

24 God is a Spirit: 

and they that worship him 

must worship him in spirit 

and in truth.

John 4:24 

King James Version

It is our ignorance and stubbornness that gets us into trouble.

And when you finally embrace Christ in full, as born again, prepare yourself for God's TRUTH, through the Holy Spirit.

Would I live my life all over again, the same way, knowing what I know now?

Is there any other life that would have taught me so much, so long, and so lasting?

Is there any other life that has tested the mettle of my spirit, and my love and devotion to God, my family, and my work, despite my many imperfections and errors?

This is the life I was given.

I take it.

I accept it.

I thank God for it.

It is a beautiful life created for God.

May I live up to His expectations.

He created me, as He created you -- in Their image and likeness.

God doesn't make mistakes.

We do.

And yet, in His divine mercy, He sent us His SON Jesus, He sent us the Holy SPIRIT to teach us, and He's always there for us.

I believe all that to be true.

The WORD of God -- Scripture -- tells me so.

And the dreams and images He gave me, told me so, too.

I feel the love, and the protection.

One day, I'll be able to tell you more.

For now, I live the life I'm given, I follow the path of Jesus, I listen to the Holy Spirit, and I love God even more.

How can this life be anything but beautiful!

Updated 21 January 2022

Your Experience of God is Uniquely Your Own

If you search for God with all your heart, you will surely encounter Him in a way only you can identify.

Everyone will experience Him differently.

We're all many billion facets of His Being, and that's how it will be for each one of us.

And so I wonder why people say theirs is the only true way of experiencing God or of honoring Him.

That's how religions have been formed.

And that's how we've all been controlled to think.

But what if God came to you in an entirely different way?

Would you welcome Him if He came to you differently?

Like in an unexpected dream I once had of Him.

I woke up knowing He was all that, making Himself felt and known as that.

He was gentle and yet powerful.

Soothing and yet sublime.

And since I have been searching for Him all my life as I did my own thinking, He came through in many different ways. 

So who's to say what is right or what is wrong?

Who's to say theirs is the only correct way of experiencing God?

Perhaps, if people stopped arguing or debating, putting each other down, or mocking each other, God can come through beautifully and unimpeded.

I feel that if you really want to experience God personally, all you have to do is ask.

Pray to Him directly.

I pray to Him as a daughter would to Her One True Father -- the Creator of All.

And He always comes through my dreams, visions, or mind's eye in a way I can understand.

Thus, this blog and other blogs I've created.

There's so much to share, only because I have opened my heart and mind to Him.

Perhaps, He doesn't see any block in my receiving Him in my heart, mind, or spirit, so He comes through beautifully.

It has become so for me that I'm like an expectant child, happily awaiting more messages or instruction from Him.

And the same would be for you if you open your heart and mind to Him and Him alone.

Welcome whatever message, answer, or instruction that will come through that you may have asked for.

Only God can clarify your mind and heart.

Only He will give you the answers you seek.

I merely share with you my own experiences.

Your own will be different from mine, for you are uniquely you.

God doesn't need us to create a new religion from our experiences.

As our Father, He would want us to get along and to help each other.

We are all brothers and sisters and He is our Father and Creator.

Why do we make things too complicated?

Where there is complexity, there will be division and confusion.

God is All About Unity.

He knows I like things simple, so He comes into my life that way.

I have a five-year-old heart that seeks clarity, simplicity, and joy.

If you desire Him more than anything in the world, you will love how He will show up in your life.

Make Him the priority in everything and He will reflect the thought and energy you have.

Allow no one to tell you how God will be in your life.

For your soul to be happy, you must know Him directly.

That has been the objective of our lives anyway -- to experience the Love That Only He Can Give.

Actually, all we need to do is re-connect and re-member.

He was never far away from us.

He was always in our hearts. 

When you seek God above all, expect to be forever changed.

Updated 21 January 2022

How To Make Wise Decisions

Do you have an easy time making decisions?

Or is life fraught with difficulty over making such decisions?

May we simplify it a bit for you?

Such as after reading an important chapter from a book I was studying, and giving myself a moment to let the new ideas sink in before going back to sleep, a "thought" came to write something about decisions.

The "thought" said there were only two (2) decisions to make anyway, so I let the idea simmer beautifully in my being for a moment, even as part of me wanted to go back to sleep.

It was but 3:30 in the morning and I especially savored the longer sleep on Sundays.

But no, when an idea takes hold, when an important "thought" is born, there can be no going back to bed for a writer like myself.

The "thought" said that if we wish to make decisions, there are really only two important things to consider:

1. Does it bring you towards God?
2. Does it take you away from God?

Decisions that bring us towards God mean our decisions feel good to us and truly benefit all concerned.

There is no ego, no greed, no manipulation, no schemes, no worldly stuff, nothing complicated, only things of the Spirit -- only God and Love.

That which takes us away from God when we make decisions keeps us awake at night for our soul says something's not quite right.

Good decisions have God in it.

There's always love, peace, joy, gentleness, and kindness.

With every decision you need to make, always make GOD your guide.

When He created us, He gave us the capacity to love and even gave us free will.

He gave us our intelligence, our talents, our bodies, and our hearts.

How we make use of those depends on our own soul's growth and not on our personalities.

There is always the free will to change for the better.

We always have the option to love or not to love.

If we chose the path to God, then it's automatic we become kinder, more loving, and compassionate.

Choosing the path away from him destroys our self for we do not choose His Light and Guidance.

Every decision is always a decision to reach up to God or to turn your back on Him.

But how can one turn your back on the One Who Created you?

Unless you don't remember or acknowledge that He created you.

Well, perhaps it's time to remember that we won't be on earth if He had not created us.

It's really that simple.

I chose to get up and follow that "thought" to write this post for it was important.

Even as I'm far from perfect, God gives me that opportunity each day I breathe and wake up to get closer to Him.

Every thought, every word, every deed is an opportunity to make a stand about my own path -- towards God or away from him.

As always, I choose HIM.

He was that "Thought".

He inspired me to write this and I'm most grateful.

Making decisions can really be easy.

God has simplified it.

We merely cloak it with worldly stuff and we lose our way.

Come back on the path, sail back to Him.

The world will not nourish nor sustain your soul.

Only God will.

Updated 21 January 2022

Contentment is a Beautiful Thing

When I think of peace, I think of the ocean.

Of quietude and nothingness.

Of not having to be anything or something, but just to be.

To relax and rest your mind.

To have your moment's peace and serenity.

Even as contentment can be anywhere you are, with who you are.

Of not having to compete in any way whatsoever.

Of patiently waiting in line as others do for you know you will have your turn, too.

Of knowing you have done your best and sometimes you just need to let things evolve on their own.

You become content when you have no competitive bone in your body.

It's also when you appreciate everything around you.

Especially when you know God has always been good to you, and that if there was unkindness among humans, it's always because we forget to be kind, sweet, and loving.

Many things we can be content about:

1. That we each were born into a family.
2. That we are able to wake up each day.
3. That we have food on the table.
4. That we have a place to sleep.
5. That we have clothes and shoes to wear.
6. That we have work, no matter how humble it may be.
7. That we are loved by God.
8. That God doesn't judge us.
9. That we have each other, no matter how few friends we have.
10. That we each have great potential.
11. That's there's nothing to prove to anyone.
12. That we are complete as we are.

Of course, that's but a few of the many blessings we have each day and each lifetime.

The days you feel unhappy, restless, or discontented, stop a moment and rest.

You need to care for yourself at that moment.

Perhaps, you're not feeling loved or appreciated.

Be kind to self always.

Don't let others pressure you into being who you are not.

God knew what He was doing when He created you.

You were created in the image and likeness of God.

That's a good ground for serenity. 

Aspire never to compete.

It's much more fun to work harmoniously alongside others.

If you can't, then work well with yourself.

Some are cut out that way. 

Discontent comes from comparing yourself with others.

I've already known a long time ago that there will always be better-looking, luckier, and more intelligent people than me.

I've come to terms with all that.

When you accept, you begin to relax.

You begin to appreciate yourself more.

All that really matters in the end is if you are living up to God's Truth alone.

And this blog intends to explore that.

21 January 2022

Something Good Surfaces All the Time

Do you believe that something good surfaces all the time, despite all the challenges in our lives?

I firmly believe that, for when it seems all is lost, something wonderful surfaces on its own.

And it seems that the key there is when you "trust and allow".

It always good to do your best but sometimes, you must ALLOW Heaven to help you.

Sometimes, you must step back and let God work His Miracles "through" you or "through" others.

After we pray and ask for help, we don't really know how the miracle will take place -- in what form, through which people, or how it will come through us.

But one thing for sure, Heaven never sleeps. God is always awake. The Angels are always on stand-by, waiting for God's Instructions.

There's only so much we humans can do and oftentimes, when we're all exhausted and depleted, not knowing what to do anymore, something wonderful surfaces and we say such things like:

"That was a miracle!"

"Where did that come from?"

And we gasp in awe at how things "seem" to have evolved on their own, without us even lifting a finger.

Another key to miracles is to keep believing.

Have faith that God is in charge and sees all we go through each day. 

There is nothing in Heaven that will not be for our good. It is all good. It is all God. We simply have to have faith that God is in charge, despite the seeming disorder and chaos in our lives and in this world.

Keep that grace.

Keep that faith.

Keep that love in your heart. 

You will love working with God.

If it feels good in your heart, then you know it's been a "prompt" from Heaven.

If it makes you cry as you set about that task, then you know it's from Heaven, for it touches your heart so.

If you do things without calling attention to yourself, but merely directing people back to the God, then you know it's from Heaven.

With help like that, how can one fail?

Updated 21 January 2022

6 Things For a Beautiful 2019

A new year will be here soon.

Another wonderful opportunity to think, speak, and do better.

And while we're still at the doorway, we can assess how it's all been for us and see what we can do better this time around.

Every day, as always, is a golden opportunity to create more wonderful and positive things and to be kinder to others.

It's your life.

You must give attention to how you're living it.

Have a desire for God so great that nothing can ever dampen your spirit.

When you love God so much, you will also make sure others become know about Him.

What really matters most anyway in life?

1. That we love God above all.

2. That we know God's will.

3. That we believe in Jesus.

4. That we are guided by the Holy Spirit.

5. That we live by Scripture.

6. That we respect each other's rights.

7. That we love each other.

It's always good to stick to the few basics.

Doesn't make sense to over-think it, really.

But these are what always spring from my soul.

I'm sure you'll have your own "tenets" for living.

After all, it's your life and you ought to live it your way, the best way you alone know how.

I created this blog primarily for myself, to document my own life and thinking at each moment, and to help me remember stuff I may have forgotten.

If people care for my thoughts, I'd be so honored that you'll want to look into my 60 blog posts so far. That will give me the added boost to keep writing and remembering.

I've also got other blogs and loads of projects I wish to accomplish. By the Grace of God, I'll have the continuing creativity to do all that.

It's really good to say goodbye to the past and to greet 2019 with a new heart, a new resolve, a new form of creativity, and a more open mind.

May all of you achieve and enjoy all your heart's desire for yourself and your families.

Here's wishing all of you a magnificent 2019!

Updated 21 January 2022

The Secret to True Communications

It has been and will forever be.

The secret to true communications is "listening".

Take that further and we can say the priceless secret to true communications is "listening with the heart".

Listen with your whole being.

You can tell if people are just tolerating you when they sort of listen but they're not really interested in what you're sharing. They're more intent on speaking or don't really get what you're all about. And possibly, it doesn't matter much to them.

And oftentimes, those who really have a lot to say don't get listened to, only because they're basically quiet, non-invasive, highly-sensitive, and shy.

That's why a lot of people end up in the nut house. These are the forgotten people. They never get to share their wisdom -- drowned in all the world's cacophony.

People don't listen to them, make fun of them, think they're weird, think they're crazy, think they're of no value, just have them along for the ride, and even ridicule them.

But there's a very strong possibility these "forgotten people" may make more sense than we seemingly-normal people do.

Of course, they can't tell us anything anymore because they've gone off the far edge from our neglect and ridicule. This profound and touching movie I saw a few days ago will show you a very good example.

I honestly believe EVERYONE's an interesting person for we are all children of God. And if I had the time and space in the world, I'd listen to ALL of you. Maybe I can still do that. I'd listen to your stories, to what made you who you are, to everything you had to go through, your joys and your pain. I'd listen to your dreams. I'd make it easy for you. Because no one made it easy for me, but I can do it for you. I have it in my heart to do so. That's my dream and my reality. It's my mission. By the Grace of God, I will be able to pull it off.

It takes great heart and sensitivity to be able to "detect" what people truly need. It takes all the listening with our hearts that we can muster. If we can do that, we'd all learn a lot from each other and all our lives will be transformed beautifully.

Interestingly, there's that word "detect" in "detective". Like a good sleuth, you have to find out what people really need or want by listening to them. Oftentimes, the key is in what they're not saying. Coax them to verbalize it.

That's how we can communicate better. Let's listen with our whole being to who people are, what they are, what they have to say. 

I've even trained myself to listen to those who cannot speak. I live and breathe it every single day. They test our love, care, attention, and compassion.

The eyes speak much. So do the hands, the face, the voice, the smile, the inflection, the tone, the person's whole countenance, the things they do, and the things they don't do.

Everything actually speaks for you before you even open your mouth.

The only question, has been, have we been listening?

Do we know the message behind the words, the laughter, the tears, the joys, the sorrows, and all that sharing?

Do we listen with our heart?

Do we listen with our whole being?

Do we listen with the God in us?

You will love all the things you will learn just by listening that way.

And your life will be forever changed because you made time and realized what  mattered most. You will be grateful for everything.

Make time to listen to others now and really listen with your whole heart now.

You don't need a stethoscope.

Updated 21 January 2022

The Soul of an Enlightened Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs live in the idea zone.

But Spirit-filled entrepreneurs, the caring ones, live in the vision zone.

They envision something that would help themselves and everyone on the most precise level.

They will shun many projects, offers, and ideas if these don't truly help people, even at the risk of having to personally live super minimally till they get a project they believe in, going.

They will not work with people who merely wish to aggrandize themselves.

That's not the whole objective of their work, you see. Thus, many people think enlightened entrepreneurs are deluded beings with no sense of reality, but of course, how very off-base they are.

Such entrepreneurs will not create products and services that will make people addicted to it. That's what makes them an endangered species in this world of ours.

Enlightened entrepreneurs are not interested in making a fast buck for that's pretty easy and yet can be soul-less.

Sure, they may sell everything they own in pursuing their vision.

As they say, they will sell everything except themselves, their families, their friends, and their community.

That's tantamount to saying, they will not sell people so they can reach their objectives.

That's why it takes a clear vision, a magnanimous heart, and precise planning to get work done.

He will work with what he has, who he is, what God fires him up to do so -- and will only create stuff with real value.

There will be no empty promises for that will not fill his heart and help others.

It's the hardest thing to do, of course, for the world style goes totally against his own style of working.

But that's what real entrepreneurs are for -- to think independently of others.

That's his personal DNA.

He's cut out for the toughest job of finding or creating that which will be of real value to people. His search will be relentless.

He values your hard-earned money, for he, too, works hard to earn that dollar, even as you think he's a careless nut.

The enlightened entrepreneur can't really sell you useless stuff. That won't reflect all that praying, meditating, visualizing, thinking, sweat, and the God in his heart that powers him so.

Not to mention his boatloads of "experiments" to get things done as he carves a path for himself. Every experiment leads him closer to his ultimate dream or project.

He follows every conceivable thread God puts upon his path. He may work solo but it's not really so.

The enlightened entrepreneur is patient, persevering, tenacious, creative, kind, energetic, dynamic, imaginative, awake, and aware.

The man's got "soul".

Entrepreneurs usually work for themselves because they work and think fast, plus, they don't have the time to listen to a bored...I mean highly-paid board of directors. 

The best minds in art, business, science, and technology know all about ideas that come from God, so they must pay attention. 

Thomas Alva Edison was reputed to have a ball in each hand as he sat on a chair and napped (for he napped often) and if he came awake, the two balls would fall on metal pie plates positioned right below those creative hands. I haven't really heard if they accidentally fell on his foot. Now, that would really jolt the dude awake.

The idea being he'd remember what that dream or idea was.

We're now full of light bulbs because of him. He turned on the physical light for us and that made us work longer than we're already working but entrepreneurs don't mind. We have a built-in Energizer battery -- we just keep going.

Expect real entrepreneurs to be quirky, crazy, lost in their own wonderful, dynamic world of creativity and magnificent imagination. A lot of them see what we don't see, that's why we call them crazy. Still, they remain at it, oblivious to all naysayers and criticisms.

That's really how they test the strength and validity of their own vision anyway -- if their faith holds despite the clamor they do something more "normal".

Translated?

Normal is boring for true entrepreneurs. It goes totally against the core of their being. They don't mind your calling them all the delightful words in your cuss vocabulary. They have a mission to do and that day is now.

Sometimes, they forget to live in the real world where people have to sleep, eat, and be nice.

They're usually off in their art and science world, communicating with God (if they're the genuinely caring and prayerful ones), or talking to themselves as they work out all the variables of an idea.

Not all are like that, of course, but they do get off course from the human mainstream.

They're like frogs you will not be able to pin on a board and dissect for they don't like being pinned to a board and getting dissected. They love their freedom to think and be.

Entrepreneurs are a crazy, imaginative, hardworking lot who can create non-stop.

The only difference with the usual entrepreneur and an enlightened one is that the latter ALWAYS creates with heart and awareness. He's got so much faith in God that he will NEVER ever knowingly create products and services that will make people addicted to those. All for what? Repeat sales and ROI? 

Nah, he's not that unimaginative.

The dude's got heart.

With God in it.

All the time.

21 January 2022

The Main Lesson Ever

Love love love love love love love love love.

Ws there anything more important than love love love love love?

Nope.

So, if you have an imperfect life, tons of hardship, boatloads of enemies, scores of people and circumstances making life difficult for you, well, now you know.

Love love love love love.

When you can go home to Christ not having snuffed a life or drowned anyone, then you're okay.

When you are faster to forgive and forget than to carry a vendetta all the days of your life, then you may just make it at the gates of heaven.

How can you not love a person who has the Christ potential, too?

I mean, we are all Sparks of God, not one more than the other.

Sure, we're not all Christ-like but we can all become that if we really wanted to.

Why else did the Son of God come down to earth and show us The Way?

Except we kept going the other way.

We really need to remember we already have a built-in GPS.

Christ is the perfect model for all of us.

And you know what?

He taught an important lesson.

Love love love love love love.

Of course, the simplest lesson can be the hardest.

To help all of us a bit, let's all recite the mantra of:

Love love love love love

That's always a good start.

Updated 21 January 2022