Please Forgive Me For Being Selfish

Happy New Year to all of my faithful readers! As I write this, it is the first week of February, and this is my first post of 2021. In fact, it’s my first post in several months. I really have no excuses for my lack of writing. No major stressful situations going on, even though that potential certainly exists in today’s world. I can’t even say it’s because I can’t think of anything to write because there is plenty to talk about, especially for what I usually write about.

So why haven’t I been writing? As I thought and prayed about this, I was convicted in a major way. I realized it’s because I am just being selfish. My writing gap comes at a time where my readership on this site has grown to the highest level than I’ve ever had. I’ve also received many compliments about how these articles have been a great help to some people. So why stop writing now? I think it happened for several reasons. One is that I still have a tendency to let doubt creep in. I think thoughts like, how could anything I have to say positively affect people? No one cares what I have to say. Can I really help anyone? I not only allow those thoughts in but act on them by procrastinating on my writing instead of listening to God’s voice who says that, since what I have to say is coming from Him, it can have great impacts on people.

I also tend to let laziness get in the way. I do not function well in the cold dark days of winter in Western New York and tend to get a bit down emotionally during these months. Still, I need to stop using that as an excuse and stay active. Writing is one of the ways I can do that.

So once again I will apologize for being selfish. Perhaps some people don’t think my writing is good or helpful. Perhaps it is difficult to become motivated to write. However, I feel like God is telling something. I regularly ask Him how I can be used to make a difference in this world while I am here. I believe He is reminding me to use the great knowledge He has taught me, and make myself available for Him to use me as a vessel to communicate His love, peace, and truth. It’s not up to me to decide whether I am worthy or good enough for a task. It’s just a matter of being obedient. So now I am getting my typing fingers ready, and seeking to communicate what He wants me to say. I am so sorry to keep you waiting. More to come very soon 🙂

Seeking the Best In Ourselves and Others

Why is it that so many people tend to see the negative in themselves and other people? I would consider myself a positive person. However, I too notice that sometimes I tend to focus a bit much on the faults of myself and those closest to me.

It is true that we all have our faults, so they are quite easy to find. However, I believe we also need to remember that we are gems created by God. So the next time you look around at God’s beautiful creations, please consider yourself as one of them.

I want nothing more to make positive impacts during my time on earth. Here are a couple of suggestions I recently read:

• Love ourselves – This is a dangerous one for me. I am already a bit too self-centered for my liking, and this can be taken as encouraging that behavior. However, I believe that is not what is being offered. An old book by Josh McDowell says we should see ourselves as God sees us. Nothing more, nothing less. We are unique creations of the creator of the universe. That in itself is enough to be grateful for. Here’s the key…if we can love ourselves in a healthy, Godly way, it will not only make our own lives better, but it will also overflow into the lives of others. Joy is contagious, and what better way to share with others by just being happy ourselves.
• See the positive in others – As mentioned, it’s easy to see faults. The problem is that if that’s what we look for, that’s what we’ll see and get. Everyone has something positive about them. Why not focus on the positive in all individuals we deal with? We are much more likely to bring it out in them if we do.
• Show Appreciation – Why is it that the words “thank you” are not heard half as much as they should be? I’ve heard so many stories about how a simple word of appreciation completely changed individuals and situations for the good. Words of appreciation can positively impact any individual of any age.

So the challenge for myself and anyone else who wants to join with me is to see the good in ourselves. Yes, we all have faults, but we have so many positives to offer. Let us focus on those positives and then watch as our worlds change for the better each day. I can’t wait to see and hear about the results.

A Positive Path To Freedom

I often mention in this blog the power that positive thoughts can bring to our lives. Think positive thoughts, and bring positive results, right?

The problem is that this is sometimes easier said than done. Why? Because there are times where negative thoughts get in the way. They remain in the front of our minds, and the positive thoughts are pushed to the back or are driven out of our minds completely.

After talking to some people lately, I am seeing that many of these negative thoughts are lack of due to lack of forgiveness, especially to themselves. These people get so caught up in the mistakes they’ve made or the people they’ve hurt, and they continuously dwell on them. They don’t think they’re good enough, and as they think these thoughts, they bring more negative situations into their lives. I can vouch for this because I’ve been there at various times of my life.

What’s the solution? Forgive yourself. We’ve all made mistakes, and unfortunately we’ve all hurt people. We’ve done some things we shouldn’t have, and we haven’t done some things we should have. It’s about time to let it go. We can learn from our mistakes, but we cannot dwell on them. If God will forgive us for our worst mistakes (all of our mistakes I should say) then we need to do the same.

What’s the result. First of all, I have found that when I ask God for forgiveness and I forgive myself, I feel a major burden lifted. I feel a kind of freedom that I cannot explain. What’s better, is that the removal of those negative thoughts makes more room for the positive. When we dwell on positive thoughts, great things happen in our lives.

Please don’t let your past mistakes bring you down. Learn from them and take any necessary actions to account for them. However, Once the deeds are done and the apologies are made, let them go. You can’t change the past. You can be positive now, which will result in a positive and productive future. Give yourself that freedom today and enjoy the blessings : )