Yesterdays And Todays

"Certainly, we are never to forget the Lord or His truth or His mighty deeds in our lives. In fact, God repeatedly tells us to remember them.

But the failures of the past, the heartaches, the disappointments…much of these are to be left behind and not dragged into today.

The fact that a weed grew up in your garden yesterday shouldn’t destroy your delight in the rose that blooms there today."

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

- An excerpt from Go To Bed Blue? by Del Tacket at Truth Observed

Richer Friendships, Stronger Churches

"Friendships are richer when we are different.  They can actually be better when we find those people who are our opposites.  They rub off our rough edges.

Churches are stronger when we come from different backgrounds. We all add our wisdom to the work, wisdom that has come from vastly different experiences and lives.

And because of this, I think community is better when we aren’t alike. Our lives would be so much sweeter if we were less consumed about the what’s and why’s and more concerned about being friends and letting others into our lives and hearts without worrying about the outcome."

- An excerpt from Making Friends: An Example For Community by Sarah Markley

Pay Attention And See The Joy

"Sometimes I think we’re fooled into believing we have only one birth and one death. I don’t think that’s true. I think with the shrieking alarm of every day we’re faced with a choice to live or die, if not outwardly than certainly on the inside. And it’s the purest sort of choice, one that cannot be bargained with or cheated. Choosing to live a little less is the same thing as choosing to die a little more.

How much do we miss while chained to the Same Old? How many blessings pass us by? How much of life’s magnificence? The ugliness of this world surrounds us every day. It’s as close as the newspaper and the television. It’s a click away on your computer. It engulfs us to the point of surrender.

You can be numb and still see the bad, but you have to pay attention to see the joy. You have to watch for it. Seek it. The beauty that exists in this world is like the wind. It’s difficult to see, but much easier to see its effects. It fires the imagination and inspires hope. It replaces our wandering with purpose."

- An excerpt from Waking Up by Billy at What I Learned Today

Do You Have Too Many Layers?

"Salomon says in Proverbs 4:23, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

Do we try to use that verse to put up extra layers to protect our heart from hurt? To keep it from being damaged or broken? This could be because we've seen pain and hurt or unkindness in the past. We feel the need to protect ourselves because of something that has happened in the past. I don't believe this verse is given to us as an excuse to surround our heart with thick layers, making it impossible for others to reach. Or impossible for us to give fully....as far as guarding our hearts when getting to know others, I'm thinking I should trust in God's love and save the shields for when I need them." 

- An excerpt from Guard Your Heart From Evil Not Love by Heather from Balance With Purpose

Why Do We Need To Forgive?

"Who do we need to forgive? Who do we need to let off the hook? Now let me explain what forgiveness is not. Forgiveness is not minimizing the hurt. It hurt. Forgiveness is not justifying it, saying it was no big deal. It was a big deal. Forgiveness is not saying it wasn’t wrong. It was wrong. So what is forgiveness? Forgiveness is letting go of the pain and letting go of my right to get even. Why would anybody do that? Mostly for our own sake because we are living in misery the longer we hold onto it."

- Quoted from Resentment Destroys Relationships by Kevin at Shooting the Breeze