Perspective

Do you have a choice how you see things? I hear people tell me; it is what it is. That means that you just have to deal with whatever you're dealing with because it is not going to change. Although we may be unable to change certain things, like death or unplanned situations. We should still give God the credit for it all, the good and the bad. Too many times, I hear Christians blame Satan for their mishaps without probable cause.

I had the joy of going to two different funerals yesterday. My great Aunt passed and a dear friend of mine. Both of these women were older, witty and really had similar personalities. Both women loved God and were respectable older ladies. 

These funerals both had good turnouts. I felt different between the two services. I knew my great aunt when I was little, she was my favorite of my nana's sisters just because she was so funny and quirky. I loved the bold personality she had, not caring what anyone thought of her, much like my friend who passed. Not that I am comparing the two, but I didn't know how close my Aunt was with God. I knew she believed due to her upbringing, but I wasn't striving to walk in her footsteps. My friend however, I knew, Everyone knew where she stood. These women would hand out clothes to the homeless and strived to serve others. The point of this is not to say one woman was better than the other because that is not my objective. 

As I sat in the pew listening about the lives of these women, I thought about how all the people in the audience felt, that what was so different. Seeing my Aunt, the tears could have felt like a bathtub , but at my friend's funeral there was laughter and comfort.This had nothing to do with the two women themselves, but the perspective of the audience. How they viewed death was completely different.

The Bible tells us throughout the Bible to see as God does.  Ephesians 1:18 (Go read it) says (paraphrasing) that the eyes of your heart be filled with Holy wisdom. This means that we shouldn't' t view things worldly. This would eliminate judging all together, and jealousy, people pleasing. If we could see the world as God does, look Kingdom based, how much more focused Christians could we be? Jesus tells us this same idea in His sermon in Matthew, where He talks about when a Christian no longer holds on to the word of God is useless. When we focus on what the world has to offer and are too ashamed to be the salt of the earth. Worried about hurting feelings because the truth hurts sometimes, that is when a Christian is useless to God. Useless. fruitless, Un purposeful, hopeless, counterproductive. All of the words mean the same, incompetent. Does that hurt to be referred to as such by someone who created you? It stings my soul, to think that I could ever disappoint God in that way.

 This is not to raise your anxiety level but to make you aware that we need women like my aunt and my friend, strong minded, stubborn, witty, christian women to stand up for what is right. We need to be like the kids' song ( which is referenced to Matthew 5:14-16) and let our light shine. We need to be focused on God's kingdom and what we do to grow it. That is our calling, our purpose as christians. Our time here on earth is limited. A wise woman asked me, "What will your dash say about you?" The day we were born to the day we die, all they have is the dash in the middle. How will you use it? How will you view the opportunity we have been given? How will you honor God with your life? 

Isaiah 55 tells us that God's ways are higher than ours, that we will never reach our goal of being as God is until we are made new in heaven. It continues to tell us that we are to repent and to seek the Lord. Read Isaiah 55:7. I love that ending, abundantly pardon. That He (God) will set aside our sin like it never happened. Justification of Faith that is only obtainable through Jesus's sacrifice on the cross. If God is so easy to forgive us, we should do the same for others. The Bible is full of attributes of God and nature of His character. 

Attributes of God

Infinite Psalms 147:5

Eternal Deuteronomy 33:27

Unchangeable Hebrews 13:8

omnipotent (Unlimited Power) Luke 1:37

omniscient (Complete and perfect Knowledge) 1 John 3:20

omnipresent (Everywhere, all the time) Matthew 28:18-20

Character of God

Loving 1 John 4:8

Just Job 37:23

Holy Revelation 15:4

Merciful Isaiah 30:18

Joyful Romans 12:6-8

Kind Colossians 3:12

Forgiving John 3:16

Long suffering 2 Peter 3:15

Slow to anger Psalms 145:8

Good Psalms 145:1

These are just a few I looked up for you. You will never know who you are, if you don't know who created you. We spend our entire lives trying to " be someone", " make a difference". We all want to live our best lives (yolo) but the only way we can do that is through His Word. I am happy for my aunt and my friend to finally be at home with Jesus,  I know that death can be a hard thing. Let's change our perspective now so that when tragedy hits, we can still have peace because we know God is always with us, for us and working in us.

Dear Eli Roi (God who sees me)

I thank you for being such an attentive God that you care how I feel. I thank you for teaching me in everyday life moments, no matter how small. God I thank you for giving peace to the families at this time, but I thank you for always being there most of all. I thank you for the cross and your son so that people like Ida and Barbra can live in paradise now. I thank you for using people like my papa to spread your word, so that I can have a hunger to know who you are to me. I thank you for how holy, and good, just and loving you truly are. You have proven yourself over and over again already in my life. I know that you are good, even when things don't seem good. I know that no matter what you are for me, not against me. God, you give us peace and joy to know that a place such as heaven does exist and we are able to be in your presence forever. God I thank you for your Holy Spirit that I am able to feel your presence now, as I wait for your everlasting paradise that awaits me. I thank you that no matter how stubborn I am at times, that you never give up and that you are always eager to teach me everyday. I pray for those who do not have that peace in you that you would touch their lives, make them see as you do. God I pray that all will be able to see the world and forgive others as you have demonstrated to us through your son. I pray that we can go on with our day to day lives giving you honor in whatever we are doing. I pray that our dash would not be useless in your eyes but that we can stand firm in knowing that we are to please you and not man. I pray that our urge to do so will be so much more than the fear of being rejected from the world. I pray that I can lead by example, and that I will always strive to do what is right by you. I pray that I never lead anyone astray, but closer to you. I thank you for giving us your word to know who you are, and sharing some knowledge with us. I pray that through everything I do, that people will be able to say that I know you without a shadow of doubt and people will follow my example of giving you all the honor and glory. I pray that my dash on my tombstone says Jesus. Whatever I do points straight to you.

In Jesus Name, Amen