Monday's Outlook: Silence

Have you ever desired silence? That’s how it was for me this weekend, through this morning. I found it to be a little to noisy all around me. I joked on a Facebook Status over this weekend about being at the Rainforest Cafe’ and it being too loud. Well, it was the truth; there were all kinds of animals, waterfalls, and even music going. It was a complete indoor jungle. Sometimes we let things/people over crowd us and we go through living our lives as if we are in a jungle. All the while we never seek the silence and contentment with God.

We have to make it a habit for ourselves to desire the silence sometimes. Some of us are waiting and waiting for answers from God, but are unable to hear him because HE is trying to speak over so many things that we have going on in our lives. You may be right on the brink of getting what you need and then there goes the jungle again. The children are acting up, the husband/wife acting up, your friend is on the phone with their problems, you trying to please your boss by working overtime; God is saying be still, be silent for a minute, hear from me, so I can give you what you need to fix those things.

We seem to have a ton of excuses when it comes to making time to build the much needed relationship with the lord. I found my biggest mistake to be setting a time to read the word or pray. It made the relationship appear as an uneasy obligation, almost forced. Your relationship with God should be natural. So I just set my heart on desiring him. The more I desired him, the more the time seemed to appear for just me and him. The days certainly didn’t get longer, and I know we still operate on 24 hours. However, God knew that I wanted to HIM and I was seeking HIM. I had a desire to spend time with him. When ever I start to get off track and the jungle seems to appear. I know, Ok, you have too much going on. It is time to be silent. It is time to go to your silent place. If things seem to be getting a little noisy around you and you feel like you are right in the middle of the jungle, it may be time to seek SILENCE.

Always praying for you,

TAP

Monday's Outlook: The Blame Game

I listened on the phone to a friend one day and all I could her was “They did this” and “They did that” referencing what others had done to stop whatever she was trying to accomplish. I sat there on the phone and listened for awhile, because that’s what I do before I usually chime in with my thoughts. My friends will tell you that I am really straight forward when I am asked my thoughts on something, but I try to make it a habit to listen clearly first. So after she had finished her rambling, she sighed and said “What should I do now?” I looked at the phone, because I hadn’t heard anything in her story about her part in the situation. So, I said “Do whatever you have in your own ability to help yourself!”

So many of us always add up the obstacles that will prevent us from getting the things we want, and if the obstacles add up to be over our set limits we stop trying! That turns into you blaming every other person or thing, but ourselves. I will tell you God is a good God and he works miracles beyond our thoughts, but even he requires some action on your part. HIS truths are all up in the details and HE is waiting for you at the finish line, but you will never get there if you don’t take accountability for your own stuff! Then there are the people who always say “The devil trying to stop me.” I won’t even address that because we give that character to much credit! *Newsflash* he isn’t all that! However, there is something to be said about your own responsibility. 1 Corinthians 3:8 says “Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his OWN labor. That means you have to put in some work!

If you want the new job, it is you that must first acquire those skills to get it. You have to put in the application or submit the resume.  If you want that promotion, it is you that has to be first diligent in the position you have. Even in ministry, if you want it to grow and be fruitful, you have to give your all to it. The new house or the new car, you have to set your mind to saving and being financially fit. Yes, doors will close and there will be obstacles, but you can’t give up. You can’t result to blaming others and not taking account for what you didn’t do. When you feel like you have failed at something ask yourself “What didn’t I do?” and then DO IT!


Always praying for you,


Tap

** Post will now appear as Monday's Outlook instead of Today's Reflection(as I saw a fellow blogger using the word reflection in there daily post). Look for new post every Monday!**

Tapping into Greatness: Today's Reflection: RELATIONSHIPS

Tapping into Greatness: Today's Reflection: RELATIONSHIPS: "I have been spending a lot of time thinking about relationships lately; the importance of them, and who/what make up a relationship. I look ..."

Today's Reflection: RELATIONSHIPS

I have been spending a lot of time thinking about relationships lately; the importance of them, and who/what make up a relationship. I look at society, and we have become “independent” beings in a lot of ways. I hear people say “I don’t need anyone,” “All I need is God” or “I can do this by myself.” The reality of the matter is we all need someone at sometime, and we should very well be looking for the healthy relationships and not foster the unhealthy.

Of course, God is and should be your center, but we are flesh placed here on earth with many people. I highly doubt that God would have us here with each other if he didn’t intend for us to use each other in positive ways. In fact there are many scriptures that emphasize the idea of togetherness: “How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when God’s people live together in harmony!” (Psalm 133:1), “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35, NLT), and my favorite “Encourage one another daily ... so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13, NIV).

On, the same token while it is important to have relationships it is important for them to be healthy. The relationships you have will produce fruit, but the kind of fruit that is being produced is the key! You have to have respect, honesty, trust commitment, giving, and taking in the relationship. For example: If I tell you my issue (I trust you with my stuff) I expect you to respect me enough to keep it between us. I expect you to be honest enough to tell me if I am causing the issue. I expect you to be committed enough to pray and hang in there with me. I expect you to give encouragement as well as take encouragement.  You see how the process went down? One thing that burns me is when people say “Oh, I am going have them to pray for me, just pray you don’t need to know what’s going on.” Look, I don’t know about you, but when I say go to God for me…I want you to be specific! I don’t want any misunderstanding. Now, I’m not saying tell the world your issues. I’m saying it is important to be able to tell someone your issues and know they will be there for you. If you have someone you are calling your best friend, but you can’t tell them your issues…. relationship check, please! If you have a mate that you can’t go to and expect for he/she to lead you to prayer and stand by you… relationship check!

My point is this, it is important to have healthy relationships that are producing good things for both parties. If you are in relationship with people or even things (another topic) that are not getting you anywhere, but are simply pulling you to a stand still in life  it is time to do a relationship check. See if God is at the center of that relationship. See if its time for it to go or just in need of getting back on the right path. We were not meant to be in isolation, but to be out loving each other in harmony!

Always praying for you,

TAP