Self-Improvement

Finding Gratitude and Grace in Loneliness

by Maddy Banks

There are many laments in the Bible.

You’ll find them in Psalms, Ecclesiastics, Jeremiah and more. I’ve always felt they had reasons to lament….but- for the most part, I don’t. I have everything I need. Because of the LORD’s grace, I am mobile, and as I like to say, “I can eat, sleep, dress and rest.” So indeed, I’m grateful. And even more, I have a roof over my head, and am almost ashamed to say, while others are starving, I’m on the Keto Plan, trying to lose weight.

The surprise for me

Decades experiencing periods of loneliness. Thankfully I usually divert my mind most of the time away from this…towards the blessings all around me when I simply look for them. And if it had not been… Well you know the rest. I’d really be lost.

After experiencing a serious fall a few days ago,

I realize I missed some personal care and attention. As a matter of fact it made me reflect, as many older adults do, that it’s mostly me and Jesus nearly every time I have an illness crisis. So sorry,  I’m whining a bit today. I don’t want to move and I haven’t. I’m still nursing my aches and pain, and my mental and emotional “go get em tiger” is definitely off. 

Members are Quite Numerous

So, I’m writing because there are more in this club (I wish I knew them) and to say life is still good and worth living. And it’s good to still love others, help when you can, smile, compliment and be pleasant to people. Give a buck or two to the beggars old and young, and support organizations out there working for the good of others.

God’s Grace is Greater than My Past

I continue, because I still believe the best is yet to come. Christ doesn’t offer me fairytales, he doesn’t say “everything will be alright.” He says, “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome [conquered] the world.” I am confident that Jesus will be with me as I live and trust him and know that through Christ I am a conqueror. One of the aspects of faith is not the “absence of sorrow or loneliness, but the quiet courage to keep hoping anyway.” I may not know what’s ahead, but I know Who holds it — and that is enough.

OLD WOUNDS: Forgetfulness A Blessing in Disguise

by Maddy Banks

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Healed Scars of the Past

There are some wounds so deep, if you were to remove the harden scabs they’d begin bleeding so profusely you’d be unable to recover from them again. This is why sometimes atrocities of the past are purposely forgotten and deeply buried. One must seek God’s wisdom and his will before reopening such wounds.

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Open: Only if Need Be

These heartaches and burdens should only be reopened or explored if truly beneficial, never to satisfy personal or professional curiosity. Even God, once we are forgiven and accept His saving grace, remembers our sin no more. I advocate leaving some wounds closed so that one may be healed. Let the wound be so healed that it does not leave a scar.

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Proceed with Caution

However, if wounds of the past remain open and bleeding, and impacting every area of your life today, then by all means begin the opening process, so that going forward you can begin to apply the healing balm of Jesus Christ and be free!

 

Flower-Flicker; Scott Robinson-Flicker; Jelle Oostrom-Flicker

 

Purposeful Visions Creating Life

by Maddy Banks

Without a vision, the people perish Prov. 29:18

BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VISION

It gives life. Participate in your vision every day.

For me, visions are how we see ourselves in the future. It addresses goals, aspirations, great ideas and amazing possibilities. Your visions are never ordinary. The size of a vision is only measured by you; try not to limit it.

Yes, you can have more than one vision; you can even have add-ons. Sometimes on the journey to realized visions the scope changes…it is enlarged.

It often takes time for visions to manifest or be realized. Keep your vision in the forefront; never lose focus. Work towards it frequently even if the steps are miniature ones. Research, reevaluate, revitalize, compile, recreate, renew, and do whatever you can to keep moving towards it.

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DO NOT BE DAUNTED IF PERCHANCE YOU ARE WAYLAID

Start again. Living presents the ever present opportunity to try again. Visions may require adjusting as you journey through the changes that life presents; nevertheless, refuse to perish. Your dream may be the catalyst for someone else’s vision. Your dream may drive another’s aspirations.

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Visions are a breath of fresh air and cannot be limited by age, race or gender. I rather be a visionary always looking towards possibilities, than to dry up and wither “like a raisin in the sun.”1 I challenge you to attack your vision with vigor and to reject the naysayers. As long as you can see yourself within the vision move forward and change the world today and for generations to come.

(1) A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes

CHANGING BY RENEWING

by Maddy Banks

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MENTAL RENEWAL

Renewing the mind is a daily endeavor. The journey to betterment is continual and never stops. If you are still involved in living, and if you’re reading this you are, you must embrace an ever evolving mental renewal.

Never cease learning and exploring to gain more wisdom and grace. To retrieve the mantel of compassion you momentarily threw aside after tasting some of life’s difficult realities, daily renewal is one of the life altering keys.

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HOW SHALL WE RENEW?

Throw aside every weight that slows you down, deters you, or that prevents you from renewing daily. Change something in your life. Try just one thing, and it doesn’t need to be anything major.

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START HERE:

  • Learn something new
  • Listen to others intently
  • Pick up a self-help or self-improvement book in an area you’d like to change or improve on
  • Slow down and make sure you get all the details no matter what environment or situation you are in
  • Eliminate negative preconceived notions
  • Allow goodness and mercy to grow in your heart
  • Forgive and be forgiven

RENEWAL PRAYER:

I speak a life altering renewal in your life that will change negative habits and behaviors. I speak a renewal of self-encouragement, open mindedness, an outpouring of love and compassion given and received. I speak a renewal of joy once again in life’s simple pleasures. I speak the ability to put into perspective the things in this life. I speak encouragement, inspiration, and change. In Jesus name, Amen.