Traveling the Unknown

When you close your eyes and travel to a happy place, where do you go? Some may go to a white sandy beach with a warm breeze blowing and you can see it in the way the palm tree leaves sway. Some may travel by airplane to a very busy city that the lights are neon, brightly shining and flashing. Last there are those who close their eyes and don't travel at all. They don't see past their current location with no destination ahead of them. It's too busy, it's too comfortable and the fear of the unknown keeps them bound up and frozen. Maybe the fear to dream, to experience, to have any kind of adventure will keep them from experiencing all God has to offer them. The fear of "what if's" may keep them from traveling and changing their views. The fear of a tire blowing out on their car, the fear of being robbed or beaten will keep them from changing their view or perspective of traveling or having adventures.
Most of us want a change of view or perspective. Change can be good or even great, yet some people have a difficult time with changes in their life or current situations, their job or their homelife.
But what if, what if we were to surrender to change? What if we were to experience the fullness of life?
Traveling down the road with no particular place in mind and stopping wherever you land your feet or put the brakes on? What kind of adventure could you be on then? It's an unknown all over again, but a good experience. At least I think it is. It's exciting to do something out of the ordinary. It's exciting to travel down the road and see little towns that have churches on every corner or two churches just a driveway away, little shops that remind me of old western movies where the town is closely knit together. It's exciting to see the different restaurants in these towns. Some of the restaurants are big name brands and other are mom and pop's places. None  the less, the unknown can be exciting, fullfilling, and an experience you'll never forget.
Just imagine where you could go and what you could experience, the things you could see if we would decide to walk with God. We have our nice homes that are warm and cozy, inviting to those who walk in. We have our yards that are filled with swings or children's swing sets, trampolines, or bicycles. God wants us to have the Super Bowl, Busch Gardens, or Disney World. In order to receive the fullness of God, we must be willing to step out of our ordinary and into His extraordinary.
I know He is building a mansion in heaven, but I'm not there yet and I want all the benefits that God wants to give me now. I want God's blessings and gifts that would overwhelm me. I want to go where God says go and do what God says to do. WOW, what an adventure, a road to travel, and an experience that would be exciting, pleasurable, and fullfilling
I'm on a journey to see new things from God, do new things through God, experience new things with God, and I'm so extremely excited to see what today will bring. After all, God tells us to live one day at time, live life abundantly, and enjoy all the fruits along the way.
So, just for today, I'm going to walk with God and see His world in a new way.

~  Marjorie

Forgivessness to yourself or others...

"I didn't do that." "It wasn't me." "Oh, my dog ate my homework."
Okay, these are the "small white lies," but they are still lies. What do you do when someone lies to you about small or big things?  We are given instructions as to what to do and why we should do it.

"So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. "
Matthew 5:23-24
God wants us to be reconciled with one another, but the simple thing of a lie can cause us to be seperated, drive us away from one another.  It is best to first go to your brother or sister and say "I've recognized I've done something wrong" and then admit your hurtful thought, word or deed. You will be amazed at the results of such a simple action like this. Sometimes that person doesn't even know you've been offended by them.
God loves us so much that he sent his son to die on the cross so that we would be reconciled with him in heaven.
If you can't apologize because of distance or circumstances, remember it is for your own sake that you choose to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
Mark 11:26
"But if you don't forgive other people, then your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins."
Place a chair in the middle of the room and pretend the person is sitting there. Next, tell them exactly how you are choosing to forgive them for what they did or did not do. If you need a friend there to help, call on one. If you think it sounds strange, that's okay. I can tell you from personal experience, you will feel much better after you forgive or ask for forgiveness.
Is it easy? NO! Is it worth it? YES!
You become reconciled with yourself, others and God.
Just think about this, God, the creator of the universe; the Alpha and Omega only wants to be loved by you and for him to love on you. WOW! Isn't that amazing!
It took time to believe that someone really loved me, it took a lot of tears to release the hurt that others have placed on me or I put on myself. Once I forgave them or myself, I felt so much better. Sometimes I had to forgive more than one time for the same offense. Please know, that is alright too.
The one thing to remember is this, when you forgive it's not saying you forget, it means you are letting that person off of your hook and you are beginning to be a better person.

May today you find peace with someone, even if it's yourself.

~Marjorie