Saturday Synopsis

Can you believe it, we are already 31 weeks through this year? 

As this week begins to wind down, on this edition of “Becoming Today”, it’s time to pause and reflect upon the conversations we shared over the past five days.

Things got started with our discussion involving the “dog days”. 

I surmised that dogs generally have pretty good days, so why not embrace them? In our conversation we touched upon a number of topics, one of which I think we can’t stress too much, to make the choice to empower our joyfulness.

Joy is one of the greatest gifts we can receive. 

I pray that you are consistently developing and redeveloping your joy. 

Finding it, unleashing it, sharing it always be “Becoming” joyful, joy filled and joyous. A lack of joy is of our own creation, it is born from how we choose to respond to circumstances. 

So I encourage you to: Choose Joy. Choose a Joyous Life.

That we know can be accomplished by nurturing yourself with positive, compassionate self-talk. Not hanging onto old baggage. Releasing the present interruptions and focusing on who you truly are. 

Now coming from a place where you are more content, approaching all things, people, situations from a place of peace and remaining calm, it’s time to keep that momentum building… both forward and upward! 

If you feel you may be lacking in this area of self-empowerment, fear not, you are not alone. No one is born this way, we all have fears, doubts and insecurities. Plus all of us have the ability to overcome any lack. None of us are perfect, so let’s empower ourselves by first accepting who we really can be “Becoming”. 

When you have improved the vision of who you are, then you can shift towards where you want to be. Open yourself up to new possibilities. Dreams do come true. Trust yourself, do what you love and love who you are while doing it. Embrace your times of imperfection with grace and forgiveness and empower yourself to conquer any self limiting aspects. 

Tuesday we spoke of “Radiating Gracefully”. 

The question for many is, what exactly is Grace?

A simple definition is that Grace is a gift from God. 

Building from there we need to add that it is a gift in the purest sense. One we do not deserve and is not earned.  We simply are eligible to receive it because of God’s unconditional love for us.

Grace involves love and mercy given to others even when it is undeserved. This applies to both the Grace we receive from our Heavenly Father and the grace we need to have and share with one another. 

It does not require grand actions. Bestowing grace upon someone else can be as simple as a random act of kindness, doing something for someone without expecting anything in return.

Grace is quite easily understood and yet wonderfully perfect in its complexity; defined in our purposes as  “the love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have it, not necessarily because of anything we have done to earn it”.

The simplest definition I have ever embraced on this topic is “God’s unmerited favor”.

Sounds wonderful, and when you have received God’s gift of Grace in your life, believe me as I testify, it feels even better.

Pastor Rick Warren also notes, “The Bible gives an easy, three-word answer for how you receive the grace of God: “by trusting Christ”.

Easy right? Powerful? Abundantly and amazingly so.

So how do you receive the grace of God? Accept it. Acknowledge it. Live it. 

Midweek, which always seems to fall on a Wednesday, is when we resume our extended odyssey. It is our active search and rescue mission for wisdom. 

In “Receiving Life”, we shared a study of the Book of Proverbs, chapter 18.

Verse four notes the beauty of wise words, “Words of wisdom are like a fresh, flowing brook— like deep waters that spring forth from within, bubbling up inside the one with understanding”.

However when words are not coming from a place of wisdom verse eight points out, “The words of a gossip merely reveal the wounds of his own soul, and his slander penetrates into the innermost being”.

Hurting people hurt people. It doesn’t make it right, and it does nothing to heal them, rather it just adds to the pain when they are ultimately held accountable. 

That’s why it’s best to take a moment and breathe before you lash out. A mere moment can prevent a lot of pain as is shared in verse 13, “Listen before you speak,  for to speak before you’ve heard the facts will bring humiliation”.

Another piece of cautionary advice echoes this need to listen first in verse 17, “There are two sides to every story. The first one to speak sounds true until you hear the other side and they set the record straight”.

Just because you hear something before you hear another take on it does not make it correct. Being first is not necessarily always best. You need to wait until you have the facts and not the hype in order to make informed decisions. Go beyond the headline and yes details in the fine print are always very important.

As we look ahead to verse 20, we see that reaching an informed understanding has it’s benefits as we read again, “Sharing words of wisdom is satisfying to your inner being. It encourages you to know that you’ve changed someone else’s life”.

Yes we also have the responsibility to share what we learn along the way. It’s how change is empowered. Unlike some of the examples we’ve discussed today I’m not talking about just spouting off, rather doing so in a balanced respectful manner.

Listening and responding from a place of peace and love is how we can effect change. Not just in ourselves but in our lives, our communities and our world.

Choosing our words carefully and learning when and what to share, or not is a requirement. It’s our responsibility, as verse 21 reminds it is one that can not be taken lightly nor should it be ignored. 

“Your words are so powerful that they will kill or give life, and the talkative person will reap the consequences”.

Wednesday we also celebrated a bit as it was our 500th conversation here on “Becoming Today”. I thank you all for your support and pray that you are continuing to find our discussions helpful as you seek to discover what it is you can be becoming in this season of your life.

Next up, on Thursday I asked you to recall that we can be “Provided For”. 

Throughout the Scriptures there are examples and teachings that point to the fact that we are provided for. So why do we doubt?

At times we all need help. Don’t be embarrassed to ask. Turning to others in times of need should not involve shame. Instead realize it is a  strength. A sign that you have achieved the wisdom that you can not handle everything by yourself. 

Be willing to realize that you may not need the help you think you do. We don’t always require a solution  to the problem we think they have. Sometimes you just need a little guidance. Help in establishing a new direction, finding a new center. 

In asking for help we can receive a change in perspective, inspiration, or some practical encouragement that may result in transforming not only your circumstance, but your life as well.  

You don’t always get what you think you want, but if you try sometimes, you might just get what you need. So now let’s explore what happens when you do try and help is offered…

Instead of resisting help, learn to surrender to it. In learning how to accept Help we are Becoming able to live a life with gratitude. That simple act of true humility is pleasing to God. Accepting of child-like trust, to receive without the burdens of judgment shows we are evolving.  “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.“ (Matthew 18:3-4 BSB)

Even for those with this knowledge and many who not only know but have understood it as a belief, still accepting help can be uncomfortable. However remember there is no shame in asking for help nor freely accepting it. Giving and receiving  are an integral part of life.

So let’s delve into the question of ‘Why is accepting help difficult?

While a majority of people genuinely enjoy lending others a helping hand, for many it remains tough to be on the receiving end. 

While we know it feels good to support others through acts of kindness there are a few reasons why it remains uncomfortable to embrace the acceptance of the same kind of assistance. 

These include a fear of being vulnerable, having a feeling of unworthiness and those who continue to hold onto shame. Accepting help does not make you weak nor is it a sign that you have failed in some way. If someone is struggling with low self-esteem, they are more than likely also dealing with past beliefs tied to shame or feeling guilty.

As I typed this last paragraph I think those are topics we’ll need to address in depth in a future visit, but for now let’s accept that shame and guilt are unnecessary, unhealthy emotions. Furthermore in regards to our conversation today, you can begin to release them by simply saying, “yes”. Yes I can. Yes, I will accept your help. It truy can set you free.

Yesterday our talk was titled,  “Nope, You Don’t Need To”. 

It really is true, sometimes you really do not need to know. 

On our shared path of “Becoming Today”, we all must deal with our own consequences, the result of our actions, decisions, attitudes and beliefs.  So why not make it so we are celebrating the outcomes rather than trying to repair, overcome or run away from? 

As we lovingly detach from things that no longer serve us, among those is the need to know everything. There really is no need to understand all that we encounter and endure.

We are only responsible and can only be held accountable for our own thoughts, emotions, decisions and resulting actions. The consequences of the choices of others ultimately are not ours. Becoming one’s emotional caretaker is not healthy for either person when it is based upon a false belief that you can control their pain. 

What may lay ahead for someone, even ourselves we may never truly know. That’s why here on “Becoming Today”, we’ll explore why not knowing is more than okay.

I think most of us are familiar with the phrase “on a need to know basis”. However did you realize it applies to us concerning our own lives?

I suspect for many it did not. I was suspicious of the idea, but once I allowed myself to be vulnerable enough to explore the idea, I’m glad I did.

It was a tough lesson for me, and at times is still challenging. As throughout my life and professional endeavors I have always been involved in uncovering information.Bringing issues to light of day and seeking truth, justice and liberty for all. More than a cliche it was a credo, my motto, part of an oath affirmed for my life to be of service for the greater good.

While I have no regrets about that, I have come to the realization that when it comes to the future and details about my own life I really do not need to know. Furthermore my struggle to uncover these elements has led to delays, obstacles and heartbreak.

As uncomfortable as it remains at times I have had to learn to accept not knowing. I have come to see that God has the solutions and my demanding answers often only interferes with His plans for me. 

It’s part of His desire for us to be patient and live our lives steadfastly in faith. To trust in Him and worry not. As Jesus instructed,in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

God has the solution you need, even before you knew there was a need or perceived a problem. When you accept this as the Truth and allow yourself to receive His promise, God will show up with the answers,

 When? Soon. Suddenly…… now!

We have to find the strength to at times realize that not only do we not have all the answers, we also don’t need to know.

I hope you enjoyed this past week as much as I have.

Enjoy yourself this weekend. Stay safe, be responsible and come Monday, please choose to join us for our next edition of “Becoming Today”.