Change Is Good?

     We go through things in life, this is true. But are they always “trials and tribulations”? There have been many "changes" that have taken place in my life since the inception of the ministry. So much so, it has been difficult to keep up with the many flowing ideas due to life just happening. I had begun to feel guilty about my time, or should I say my lack of time for Daddy’s plan for my life. But Daddy quickly let me in on a secret to ministry. It really doesn’t have a time clock or schedule. The restraints we feel most times are self-inflicted and created by our own agendas. However, that is another blog on another day.

     Since beginning the ministry a lot has changed in my life. Yes, I say "beginning" because once the seed or idea is planted in us, it is already taken form/shape and starting to create a life of its own. If you don’t believe this then let me ask you one question. How many nights a week do you lie in the bed daydreaming, brainstorming, and imagining how your calling will play out in the future? If your answer is at least one night a week then your ministry has begun. The only thing you’re waiting for is the physical fruition to actually manifest. The burning desire is so alive in you, how can you deny its existence? The ministry began when you accepted the mere thought of doing something in the name of our Lord and Savior. When I accepted this idea for this ministry my life went straight to fast-forward. I relocated to another state, got into grad school, began a relationship after being single for a number of years, finished grad school, started a brand-new career, and then I got married. That’s a lot! And in between all of that I thought about THIS a lot. However, in my "waiting or preparation" phase, I have discovered some things that I would like to take a moment to share with you.

     Having time to reflect over just the past few months alone, the enemy has presented many opportunities for me to be offended, disappointed, hurt, and of course angry with so many changes happening in my life in such a short time. How can I shorten the replay? I got it! There is that one cliché that we all know so well. “Weddings and funerals”, and I had both this year. But for some time now I have been following a little revelation I received a few years ago. It’s kind of along the lines of the slow to speak and slow to anger kind of thing. Putting this into practice I began to realize that some situations happen simply to reveal things to you that you otherwise would not have noticed due to being distracted with the obvious. Yep! You're not always focused on the right thing when troubles rise.

     There are so many scriptures that talk about anger and the dangers of reveling in it. I said it that way because in my younger years I certainly enjoyed reveling in it. But as I have grown I put away childish things to the best of my ability, that is. LOL!

     Psalms and Proverbs give us a very good idea to the dangers of giving into anger. Let's see:

• Psalms 37:8 says, "Refrain from anger and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil."
• Proverbs 15:18 says, "A hot tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention."
• Proverbs 29:22 says, "A man of wrath stirs up strife in one given to anger causes much transgression."
• Proverbs 30:33 says (and this is my favorite), "For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife." (Plain and simple.)

     Now let’s try a little exercise. Go back and replace the word “wrath” with anger and then replace the word “strife” with one of the following: trouble, conflict, fighting, discord, friction, or dissension. Whichever one will paint a clearer picture for you. Oh let’s not forget to change “transgression” to one of the following: wrongdoing, misbehavior, disobedience, offense, or indiscretion. Getting the picture? Okay, let’s drive the nail into our coffin with a couple of more such as Proverbs 19:11 says, “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his GLORY to overlook an offense". James 1:19, 20 says, "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God". Now raise your hand if you want to be found guilty of any of these angry actions described in the Scriptures. First of all, I want to be known as having good sense. Secondly, I am not giving up my glory that easily. Finally, I don’t want to be found guilty of not producing the righteousness of God on purpose by choosing anger.

     Now, are we sinning every time we become angry? Of course not! Joyce Meyers explained it best.

“Is all anger sin? No, but some of it is. Even God Himself has righteous anger against sin, injustice, rebellion and pettiness. Anger sometimes serves a useful purpose, so it isn’t necessarily always a sin. Obviously, we’re going to have adverse feelings, or God wouldn’t have needed to provide the fruit of self-control. Just being tempted to do something is not sin. It’s when you don’t resist the temptation, but do it anyway, that it becomes sin.” ~ Joyce Meyer

     Here is my conclusion of the matter. When we allow our emotions to rule in situations, we might miss a very important clue that can change the entire course of God’s intended outcomes for our lives. I still remind my children at times in their lives to sit back, be quiet, and watch. That is a very important strategy as we grow in this life. Do you want the truth? Be quiet. In the “holding your peace” moments, He exposes real enemies, false or superficial connections in your life, and identifies true relationships that you may never have recognized without going through the situation. I like to call it “PURPOSE BY DESIGN” moments. Think about it. We as mankind never surprise Daddy. He’s omniscient, right? Therefore, who needs the guidance? We are the ones who need to be informed of what’s happening to us or around us. But, how many times do we ignore direct information based on our own perception of a person or situation?

     God is trying to tear down walls and uproot things in your life that are not pleasing unto Him and will block your growth. At the first trembling of the ground our first immediate thought is the enemy is trying to get us. I’m not saying this can’t be true sometimes, but I am asking you to consider the fact that it may not always be the case. Doors close, resources dry up, people leave us hanging, and all we see is the rejection or betrayal. Sometimes it’s God showing you something. Sometimes he needs to remove things in order for you to see the real picture. And when you fight (get angry) to hold onto what needs to change, you open yourself to the enemy for real. What am I saying? Some of the trials and tribulations we go through are self-inflicted. Sometimes we are our own enemy. It’s just that simple. God told you to cut somebody off, but because you did not they are wreaking havoc in your life right now. God told you to let an opportunity go because he had something better for you, but because of fear you held on tight. Now you are struggling with lack. When he tells us to leave someone alone and don’t bother with the situation, don’t say anything, but you have that one comment... You got it! “That’s how the fight started, Your Honor.” Sometimes we act like we're the omniscient ones and He's the one who needs guidance when it comes to our lives.

     Bringing it back to me because that's who He was talking to at the beginning of this… So, seeing as how I don’t always listen, I go through something to get the intended understanding. So sigh in relief today giving thanks to the purposely designed situations that have set us free of false connections, revealed true relationships, and have offered us peace in the end. When you know… you can grow… to be slow… to emote. Look that one up! ;)

Warmest regards,
Bird

B & F Ministry