God is Fair & So is His Favor

I heard a sermon once in which the preacher made the statement that "God is not fair". The words bothered me so much immediately. I have since really struggled with that 'claim'. As it depicts God in a light that I personally feel, is so false.

Since the sermon that I heard, God has shown me continuously, verse after verse, there's a reason that message has bothered me so much. I have read scriptures that say otherwise.

God IS fair.

Some definitions of 'Fair': Free from bias, dishonesty, or injustice: a fair decision; a fair judge. Free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism. 

I think about how as a parent I attempt to make things fair for my children. How it's my job as a parent to bring about that "fairness" and do things in  a "just" manner. Because, Life is not fair. People are not fair. Situations are not fair. Hardships are not fair. Circumstances are not fair. There are more things on earth that are NOT fair, than fair. So it's my job to keep things in my home as fair as I can. As a parent I love my children equally. Not one more than the other. They are each so different from one another. Each with her own strengths and weaknesses. Talents & gifts. Each with her own endearing ways. I could never love one more than the other. They are each so precious in their own ways. They each brings something no one else ever could to our little family. And in my raising them, I believe in treating each one fairly, free from bias, prejudice or favoritism.

Through life & all the unfairness it brings I believe we can have peace in the fact that we serve an incredibly fair God. We serve a just God. When life and all it throws at us is unfair, we can rest in knowing our God is righteous and just, good and FAIR. Our God loves His children equally and counts us as precious in our own ways. He sees what we each bring to the table.

Here take a look at the proof I found. (There are many verses that talk about God being fair and how we should be fair like him, these are only a portion.)

Genesis 18:19 I have chosen him so that he would command his children and descendants to live the way the Lord wants them to, to live right and be FAIR. Then, I, the Lord will give Abraham what I promised him.

Leviticus 19:15 Be fair in your judging, you must not show special favor to poor people or great people, but be fair when you judge your neighbor.

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is like a rock; what he does is perfect, and he is always fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong, who is right and fair.

1 Kings 9:4 But you must serve me as your father David did; he was fair and sincere. You must obey all I have commanded and keep my laws and rules.

Job 34:17 Can anyone govern who hates what is right? How can you blame God who is both fair and powerful?

Psalm 9:8 and he will judge the world in fairness; he will decide what is fair for the nations

Psalm 9:16 The Lord has made himself known by his fair decisions

Psalm 33:5 He loves what is right and fair; the Lord's love fills the earth.

Psalm 89:14 Your kingdom is built on what is right and fair. Love and truth are in all you do.

Psalm 103:6 The Lord does what is right and fair for all who are wronged by others.

Proverbs 21:3 Doing what is right and fair is more important to the Lord than sacrifices.

Isaiah 30:18 The Lord wants to show his mercy to you. He wants to rise and comfort you. The Lord is a fair God, and everyone who waits for his help will be happy.

Jeremiah 9:24 But if people want to brag, let them brag that they understand and know me. Let them brag that I am the Lord, and that I am kind and fair, and that I do things that are right on earth. This kind of bragging pleases me," says the Lord.

Ezekiel 18:25 But you say, 'What the Lord does isn't fair.' Listen, people of Israel. I am fair. It is what you do that is not fair!

John 5:30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

2 Thessalonians 1:6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you

Hebrews 6:10 God is fair; he will not forget the work you did and the love you showed for him by helping his people. And he will remember that you are still helping them.

I believe favor comes from God. I believe His Favor is fair because God is fair and favor is available for all of us who love Him. Favor can be bestowed upon all of God's children. Anyone who loves God can pray for favor and should pray for favor. 

God rewards. God gives. God takes away. God is fair. God will be fair.

Life isn't fair. Circumstances are not fair. But God is fair and we can find favor with Him.

Favor = (noun) an attitude of approval or liking (verb) feel or show approval or liking

Fact is God loves us all. When we strive to do what pleases the Lord we can find favor with him. Though we all fall short, God still approves of us. Like when our children fall short, nothing they do or don't do could ever make us love them less. If God didn't love us, He wouldn't have sent His son to die in our place. God created each of us. We are loved even when we fall short.

Favor as a form of favorite would imply that God has favorites, which Romans 2:11 says For God does not show favoritism.  

Therefore, God does NOT have favorites or favor certain children. God does not bestow his favor upon only certain followers like some game of chance or by a lottery system.

If salvation is available for all of us and Jesus died for ALL mankind wouldn't that mean we all have favor available to us? Proverbs 8:35 For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD. Are you following? Favor IS for all of us who love God.

We shouldn't brag about our blessings or things we receive or have. To speak in a way such as to say "Favor ain't fair" is an 'in someone's face' statement which sounds like 'I am more spiritual than you or God favors me more because of this or that'. 

And this isn't how God works. Favor IS fair. We all can be blessed. Anyone who loves and serves God can receive God's favor. Being blessed with this or that, while the person next to us has something less at the moment doesn't mean they are less than us as a person or christian. It doesn't mean you have done something that warrants a bigger amount of favor. Someone having more money or less, a higher social standing or less, a job or a loss, a family or striving to have a family, etc. doesn't mean more or less "favor."

We can ALL count our blessings and should NEVER compare our blessings or favor to anyone else's.

Sure, favor can come in different forms. We don't all receive the same rewards and blessings in life. Because we're all different. We all have different talents, strengths, weaknesses, struggles, needs, wants, desires, etc. 

God is fair. So I believe His favor lines up with His fairness.

And that favor is absolutely available to all of us.

Psalm 5:12 Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Psalm 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Proverbs 3:34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

Proverbs 11:27 Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.

I know I sound like a broken record, but I really believe this!  God truly is fair and anyone can find favor with Him! 

Count your blessings. Don't compare your life to anyone else's. We have all been created as equal and are loved equally by God. Embrace your salvation. Strive to follow the example set before us and live a life of righteousness by being fair in your day to day interactions with others. Find peace in God's ability to be fair when all else isn't.

Redeemed

Definition of "Redeemed"

to buy or pay off; clear by payment: to redeem a mortgage.

to buy back, as after a tax sale or a mortgage foreclosure.

to recover (something pledged or mortgaged) by paymentor other satisfaction: to redeem a pawned watch.

to exchange (bonds, trading stamps, etc.) for money or goods.

to convert (paper money) into specie.

to discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.).

to make up for; make amends for; offset (some fault, shortcoming, etc.): His            bravery redeemed his youthful idleness.

to obtain the release or restoration of, as from captivity, by paying a ransom.

Theology . to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner.

Exodus 15:13

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

Isaiah 43:1

But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

Pressing Past Pain & Living

Living through your pain or sorrow can be an agonizing task.


This too shall pass & Life goes on cliches don't always help.


Life can be a painful, emotional roller coaster. Living can hurt.


We want what we don't have and then when we have it we want what we had. We see the good when it's too late and only see the bad when we're in the midst.


How do you be content and embrace the now despite your pain, sadness, hurts or frustrations?


1. Don't focus on your problems or on what you don't have. Do focus on your blessings and what you do have.


2. Although cliche, you do have to remind yourself that "This too shall pass". "A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child is born into this world" -John 16:21 -THIS too SHALL pass. You are going to come out on the other side. You are going to be okay. You will smile again. There will be joy. There is hope. There IS hope in Jesus! "He will wipe every tear from their eyes, there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain!" -Revelation 21:4 "Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning!" -Psalm 30:5


3. Every moment is a teaching/learning moment for us on earth. If we don't learn to live through our pain we will never help another live through theirs. If you don't embrace your now or spend too much time wishing it away, you may one day look back with regret on this time you can't get back. Learn to embrace your now so that when faced with another trial you can put to practice what you were taught.


4. Allow yourself time. Take care of yourself. Let yourself feel your feelings. Don't sweep emotions under the rug. Don't let emotions control you, but don't hide them either. The sooner we allow ourselves to feel, the sooner we will heal. Feeling isn't dwelling. And don't ever heed to the advice that says "Just Get Over It". You don't just get over it. Whatever "it" is. Everything is a process. It's through the process that we learn. Nobody learns anything over night. So if we don't allow ourselves to go through the process we are only cheating ourselves from fully recovering and coming out on the other side better & stronger.


5. There is value in your pain. Pain can make you defensive or pain can make you sympathetic. Pain can give you courage or pain can make you wallow. You choose how you react in the midst of your pain. You choose if you are going to "live" through your pain or "just get by". If you choose to LIVE you will be better for it. Our struggles in life create empathy. Pain can call attention to unhealthy things.


"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever". -Lance Armstrong ... 


Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens:

     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot, 
     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

6. Ups and Downs are inevitable. "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" -John 16:33


7. Laugh!


8. Go outside and enjoy the SUN!

No If's by Joyce Meyer

No "Ifs"

by Joyce Meyer - posted May 07, 2012

For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening…nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
—Romans 8:38-39

To fully understand all the different facets of love, we must talk about the two kinds of love: the God-kind of love and man’s love. Man’s love fails, gives up; but God’s love does not. Man’s love is finite, comes to an end; but God’s love is infinite and eternal. Man’s love is dependent on favorable behavior and circumstances; God’s love is now. People place conditions on their love, but God’s love is unconditional.

According to God’s Word, He loved us before the world was formed, before we loved Him or believed in Him, or had ever done anything either good or evil. God does not require us to earn His love, and we must not require others to earn ours. As believers in Jesus Christ, the love we are to manifest to the world is the unconditional love of God flowing through us to them.

Loving people unconditionally is a very big challenge. I would be tempted to say it’s impossible, but since God tells us to do it, surely He must have a way for us to do it. Sometimes we pray to be able to love the unlovely and then do our best to avoid every unlovely person God sends our way.

Learning to walk in love with unlovely people and learning to be patient in trials are probably the two most important tools God uses to develop our spiritual maturity. Believe it or not, difficult people in our lives help us. They sharpen and refine us for God’s use.

Love Others Today: “Lord, help me to love others today without imposing ‘ifs’ or conditions. Let me remember that as I do it, I’m being refined by You.”

---

From the book Love Out Loud by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2011 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Letting Go

Let go and let God 

knowing that the source of all good IS in charge.

"When one door closes another door opens; 

but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, 

that we do not see the ones which open for us." -Alexander Graham Bell

"Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened." -Dr Seuss

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us." -Joseph Campbell

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7

"There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind.     But keep in mind that letting go isn’t the end of the world; it’s the beginning of a new life."

I want to let go, I'm weary and bound
I'm giving it up; I'm laying it down, oh
Take it away, out of my hands
Out of my reach and safe in your plans.

'Cause I need to know, that you can hear me,
Fill me with your peace, yeah, and cover me gently,
Like only you can...

So take me, and hold me, break me and mold me,
Take me, and hold me, break me and mold me
I want to let go

Cradle my hands, knuckles so white
Open them up, and say it's alright, oh
Show me a plan, call it your own
Make it a journey, leading me home

'Cause I need to know, that you can hear me
Fill me with your peace, yeah, and cover me gently
Like only you can...

So take me, and hold me, break me and mold me, oh
Take me, and hold me, break me and mold me
I want to let go

Some Monday Reflections...

There is nothing like a long drive all alone to give you time to reflect. Yesterday I was driving home from a fabulous, absolutely fantastic Girls Weekend away in Minneapolis. Minneapolis in general brings about a world of emotion for me. It was a place God brought us to and that I followed & went hesitantly. Leaving all I knew and a place where everything was seemingly perfect. It was one of those God kept leading, pulling, and tugging situations until we would obediently follow. It was a place where a picture was painted one way, and then upon arrival we saw what we signed up for. Most of all it was a place where God wanted us temporarily.

We left an amazing youth ministry that we had been apart of for 8 years & an awesome church that we loved and where we were so loved. To begin the journey I was pregnant with baby #3. Jeremy had to go ahead and make the move without us, while I stayed back to sell the house. 4 months of living a part, which in the grand scheme of life is nothing, but when you are hormonal as ALL get out, it can feel like an eternity.

When we finally moved I had 10 weeks left of my pregnancy. Moving day comes and I begin to have some minor complications...Resembling something I went through during my first pregnancy which put me on bed rest. Oh for the love Jesus, why now? Moving day... That put a stress on me like no other. I had a miscarriage before baby #2, so any issue that somewhat resembles any kind of pregnancy danger can do a number on your heart and mind. Top that off with leaving our family and friends and already being hormonal...this is how I personally entered in to our MN journey.

My first Sunday at our new church it took everything within me not to break down and cry. I walked around just fighting tears & holding back my every emotion. I didn't want to be there. No matter how hard I tried and how much I persevered, I was absolutely heartbroken. Leaving our kids back at our old church. Leaving my little brother who was in 8th/9th grade & still in our youth ministry. Where will he end up without us? Leaving family & friends and people who still needed us was just sad. Knowing how much it crushed others that we were leaving was harder than anything. I don't say that to pat myself on the back or elude to the fact that we are exceptionally special. Though God does find us all, exceptionally special. Its just that we left A LOT and it was really, really hard!

Obedience to God's plan isn't always easy, but it is necessary. Jesus didn't exactly run to the cross saying "Okay, kill me, kill me! Beat me, beat me!" He even prayed that God would take this cup from Him, "Not my will, but yours be done". Jesus is the prime example of obedience to God's will & in facing the ultimate cross. We all have crosses to bear. We all have mountains to climb with weight on our shoulders, We all have times of feeling persecuted, beaten down, & having our spirit's crushed. Jesus is our example of obedience no matter what.

It's taken me a while to truly allow the Lord to bring all of my thoughts together and to write about this and allow Him to use this portion of my life. Because I experienced some big time hurts when we first got there.

Sometimes our time there felt like a corny Lifetime movie where all of the movie watchers & the main character know of the culprits true colors, but everyone else is blind to it. Causing the main character to resemble the psychotic one. And you are just waiting and waiting for the end of the movie where the truth comes out & you are no longer looking like the guilty, bad guy.

As I had time to reflect over this part of my life, I can say that I first went to MN dragging my feet. Then Ironically, moved back to where the Lord moved us from in the first place dragging my feet. So MN was a great time. Its a place I love. Filled with people I adore. I would move back in a heartbeat, but again, God's plan prevails. Any place we have left, we have gone not necessarily wanting to or embracing what was next off the top of the bat. But going because God lead us. It's important to leave a place well.

So, back to my first Sunday at our new church in MN, I will never forget 2 women that immediately reached out to me by validating all that I was feeling. They didn't even know how sad my heart was. One just knew they had once left their home to move far away and enter the unknown, and the other knew what ministry life can be like and how people can expect you to just embrace them off the bat and be there for them like you are Mother Teresa. Pastors wife or not, I'm a human being with real feelings. I knew that "this too shall pass" but at the moment I was in the thick of it. And the thick of it felt like the world running around me expecting me to hop on and do everything their way or how they felt I should live my life, be a mom & a wife. And most of the "opinions" came from unmarried people, newlyweds, or those without kids. It was so hard.

Its easy to have an opinion about something we know nothing about.

We all have flaws stitched together with good intentions. I didn't mean to come across as hating a place. But I have to say, people weren't making it easy to love at this point. Never in my adult life had I endured more tearful nights at the expense of another's actions or words. Being gossiped about, stinks. Trying to be the best wife & mother you can be while being ridiculed for doing so is not an easy task at all.

But I stuck to my guns through the tough times and NEVER did my priorities waver. Not once. God first, Husband & kids next...then comes ministry. And my kids though young, have yet to resent ministry, because for us it has always been a family thing. Our kids are apart of it. And if they can't be, I sometimes stay back to be with them, or we get a sitter depending on the situation and what I feel is best for our family. But we will never sacrifice our family on the altar of ministry. And you shouldn't either. Whether it be a job, ministry, whatever. Don't ever sacrifice your family. God spoke to me over & over "You have the rest of your life for ministry outside of your home, right now your kids are your ministry and they will only be in your house for so long". After all, I am their only mother and the only woman who will answer for how she raised her girls.

Our family became SO strong during our time in Minnesota. And in the meantime, God brought amazing friends into our lives. We have made lifelong friends. Met families that have impacted us greatly. Worked with amazing students and leaders! Grew in amazing ways. Learned so many life lessons in such a short time.

When I was still really new, before my baby3 was born, a fellow pastor's wife, brought me aside and said "I couldn't do it"..."I don't know how you did it"..."I couldn't have done it"...That was it. VALIDATION! She has no idea the impact of her validation in that season of my life.

Oh how we need to validate one another more often! How we must be tender and compassionate towards eachother. Less judging, and more love, grace & understanding!

**A little side note...there's an awesome miracle in all of this too...Pregnant and living alone. Taking care of 2 little ones by myself...In the winter, requiring a lot of shoveling and house selling stress. Some red flags & scariness on moving day...Makenna comes 3 weeks early and totally healthy...BUT the way the cord was attached to the "I hate this word" placenta...Basically it could have ripped at any point. During pregnancy, labor, etc. And resulted in immediate death. It's called Vasa Previa. When vasa previa is not detected there is a 95% chance of stillbirth. They didn't detect it in any ultrasound. This vasa previa was because of a valamentous cord insertion, wheras, again is miraculous. Because usually when that is detected they need you to have a c-section at 35 weeks as labor can cause death. Makenna was born at 37 weeks. I'm sorry, but if you don't believe in miracles...**

So a new move, a new baby, a non-resilient, at the time 5 year old who cries nightly because of the move, as if by obeying God, we are torturing her in the process. It was an emotional move for all of us.

But God brought about women, who without even knowing what I was feeling, validated me in ways I cannot be grateful enough for! 

And friends...Ohhh, dear, dear friends I will be blessed for a lifetime with. God is so good.

The Lord taught me forgiveness. He taught me grace. He taught me how to do the right thing, even when I felt like punching someone in the face. He taught me how to rise above & be confident in who I am and in the wife & mother He has called me to be no matter what any outside, naive source thinks. God is so good. I had a neighborhood and home I loved. I was so blessed during our time in MN. God blesses us so much when we obey. He blesses us when we do the right thing in tough situations. God blesses us for being gracious. And in being gracious there are no regrets. Gossip gets to anyone. Gossip hurts. Rumors stink. But pressing on and doing what's right brings such peace in the midst of hard times.

Had we not persevered and pressed on through tough times, we would have so many regrets. Instead, we have a place we love :) People I have forgiven...Because in Jesus example on the cross when He says "Father forgive them for they know not what they do" He gives us the power to choose to see people through God's eyes. And when we battle with another, it's not really them, but the enemy through them, using his manipulative & weaseling ways to get under our skin. As God can use us, so can the enemy.

We hold so much power in our choices.

Choose to love.

Choose to validate someone daily.

Choose to refrain from being sucked in to gossip & rumors.

Choose not to spread your speculations or personal opinions as facts.

Choose to speak kindly.

Choose to understand another. 

Choose to forgive.

Choose to kill people with kindness.

Choose to do what's right even when you don't feel like it.

Choose to obey God's leading wherever you are.

I Look To You

This song causes such emotion to rise up in my heart. The lyrics are beyond beautiful! A song we should all have on the forefront of our lips.

"I look to You
After all my strength is gone
In You I can be strong"



Try as we may, try as we might
To face this world alone

Hurts, Trials, and Battles unending
So much of life unknown

I'd rather have Jesus
When my strength shall waiver

For it's only in Him
I can be all the braver

A life time of peace
Continuous Joy

Confidence and Grace
My Savior to enjoy

I Look To You

As I lay me down
Heaven hear me now
I’m lost without a cause
After giving it my all

Winter storms have come
And darkened my sun
After all that I’ve been through
Who on earth can I turn to?

I look to you,
I look to you
After all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong
I look to you,
I look to you
And when melodies are gone In you I hear a song
I look to you

'bout to lose my breath
There's no more fighting left
Sinking to rise no more
Searching for that open door

And every road that I've taken
Led to my regret
And I don't know if I'm go'n make it
Nothing to do but lift my head

My levees are broken
My walls are coming down on me
My rain is falling
Defeat is calling
I need you to set me free
Take me far away from the battle
I need you
Shine on me!

This is Your Brain on...

FAITH

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. -Hebrews 11:1

Faith-filled minds are knowing that no matter what God has got this!

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. -Matthew 15:28

Faith says With God all things are possible!

Repeatedly in God's word it says "your faith has healed you, your faith has made you well, your faith has cleansed you". Such power in Faith!

Faith is an act of obedience! The Lord wants us to trust Him in all things and to have faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. -Hebrews 11:6

Minds on Faith BELIEVE!

Believe God has GOOD for you! Believe God is GOOD! Believe the best is yet to come! Believe in hard times! Believe God holds this world in the palm of his hand.

Believe! Have Faith!

He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord -Acts 11:24

So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. -Acts 27:25

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. -Romans 3:22

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God -Romans 4:20

Faith heals, strengthens us, makes us righteous, speaks volumes to the world, it gives us hope, and makes us humble.

How do we get faith???
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. -Romans 10:17

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. -Romans 10:10

Whose Approval?

Most of us have had the feeling or experience of rejection. 


When others reject us for merely being ourselves, our self worth and esteem becomes so deeply bruised it crushes us.


That feeling of not being good enough or never measuring up can be so demeaning and heart-breaking.


As I write this, I am reminded of the Pretty Woman moment, where "Vivian" is shopping and the ladies reject her because of how she looks. They are beyond rude and snotty to her as if their poop doesn't stink just because they "appear" to be better. 
Appearances aren't everything though. 


Surely some of the prettiest people can have the ugliest hearts.


So, Julia Roberts or "Vivian" goes shopping with her sugar daddy & gets this whole new look & major confidence booster. With her new lease on life she walks in to the exact store she was in the day before, she reminds the ladies she was there earlier and is able to go on to say my favorite line in the entire movie!


"BIG mistake, BIG mistake, HUGE!" (at 3:20min)

Oh how I'd love the opportunity at times to tell someone they made a big mistake when they have rejected my family or me! How I'd love to show someone who I really am. To prove haters wrong. To say "You made a huge mistake" or "you were wrong about me". Or to make it known that "dissing me was the stupidest move one has ever made".


Perhaps someone has made you feel less than. Maybe you have been told you aren't good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, fast enough, skinny enough, mature enough, wise enough, etc. Maybe you have been wrongly labeled or pegged something you are not. Or people have narrowed in on only one of your traits and made that all you are about when you are about so much more. Maybe you have felt like you can't do anything right. Maybe people use your past against you, causing you to feel like you can't move on. Maybe you continuously feel rejected or like an outcast.


BUT...


It doesn't matter what people think.


If we are so concerned with the opinion of man, then the base of our self worth has been seriously misguided and is in need of some major redirecting. It's time to live for an audience of one. The One. The only One who matters.


If what you are doing, what you say, how you do it or how you say it, is pleasing to God, then nothing else matters and we can trust Him to have our back. We can trust God to allow all else to fall in to place.


People are going to disappoint us our entire lives. (insert debbie downer music here) People will let you down, because that is man's nature. God is fair. God is just. God doesn't disappoint. Whether you always agree with Him or not. Understand His ways or not. He is good. He is full of favor for those who love him & live for Him. Life is not fair, but God is. Circumstances are not fair, but God is. People are not fair, but God is.


Seek to please God first & foremost and you will be amazed at your new found confidence. Live for an audience of One rather than trying to please everyone on earth.
When we run around trying to appease man we resemble chickens running with their heads cut off. It's impossible. Just as people will let us down, we are going to have our moments as well. We will let others down. But we are to not live for the approval of man. Unless we enjoy the cycle of letting people down & being let down...over, and over, and over again.

Galatians 1:10
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. NIV


Do you think I speak this strongly in order to manipulate crowds? Or curry favor with God? Or get popular applause? If my goal was popularity, I wouldn't bother being Christ's slave. MSG


Do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the One I am trying to please. Am I trying to please people? If I still wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. NCV


For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. KJV


Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. NLT