Entangled

Have you ever gone to your storage closet and pulled out an extension cord and found it tangled up into many knots?  Or for our ladies have a long necklace that you pulled out of the jewelry box to find it is all tangled up and looks more like a choker?

As I was getting ready for work one morning I decided to pull out that long necklace but as I was pulling it out it was entangled to other necklaces.  So I pulled them apart and saw how tangled the one I was going to wear was.  I decided I will just take it with me since I have a long drive and work on it.  That necklace had so many knots that I wondered if I would ever get it apart, little did I know it had taken me fifty minutes to take apart.  This is where I heard God speak and say, “This is how easily something so beautiful can become entangled with other things.   I was not grasping what God was sharing with me.  So, of course, I love to probe and said, “I am not following God.”  His response, “In our lives those things that look so beautiful, so innocent, that we allow in become entangled and are hard to break apart.

What are some of those things that we have become entangled in that break us apart in our lives from our families, coworkers, friends and even God?  Could it be pride, loneliness, recognition, an addiction of some sort, or even apathy?  Maybe a lack of faith or hopelessness has plagued your life after a bad experience of some sort.  Maybe you were believing for something and it has not happened or maybe you were really hurt by something or someone and it has been hard for you to move forward.

You know the one thing in my life that a lot of people do not know is that I am always up for a challenge, like breaking apart those knots on my beautiful necklace.  I have had things in my life that have been way harder to overcome and I wish I can say it only took fifty minutes. But I continued to work on those knots in my life.  I want to ask you, “What things in your life are you entangled by, that the knots feel like they are never going to break apart?”  I am here to encourage you to continue breaking away at those things that keep you bound and knotted up.  The same way I continued to work on those knots on that beautiful necklace and in my own life is the same for you, continue to work at it!

Life Application

• Ask the Lord to show what you have become entangled too.
• Grab an accountability partner and expose those, so that they can hold you accountable (two are better than one)
• Apply his word and truth statements to those knots and they will begin to break apart. (His word does not come back void)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9 NIV).

This is what the LORD says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns (Jeremiah 4:3, NLT).

Be encouraged today, God is there for you and loves you so much! Do not become weary I promise you those knots in your life will break apart! I speak hope and peace over your mind and hearts today! Continue to work at it! This will be part of your story!

Carrier’s of Hope

Breathing hope one life at a time!

On June 27, 2018July 28, 2018 By Carrier's of HopeIn Faith, Fear, StrengthLeave a comment

History vs His-Story

How many times have you gone to one of the social media sites and looked up one of your friends or a friend of a friends post or timeline?  Somehow we all have a way of choosing the profession of suddenly becoming a private investigator.  We become so good at it, that we should be getting paid for it!  Have you ever noticed the way people post their lives? You scroll down to see their history.  You see the beautiful pictures and things that are happening. Then there are other people with their posts and you think, “Why did they post that or how many selfies did it take for that perfect looking picture?” I still do not understand the whole selfie thing with women, but that’s another blog for another day.

By the looks of things, people seem to have it all together.  Those flawless pictures, postings, events and parties, you name it’s there.  How often do you read or see what is truly going on? Why do people not post those challenges or hard moments? Only those perfect moments.  Could it be fear of being judged, ridiculed, or are ashamed to confess those hidden challenges? I mean who likes to put their life out there on blast for the world to see?  Who wants to be looked at that way, right?  I have been that person who posted those pretty moments in the midst of a dark time. Where I felt like I am not going to make it out of this storm, but let me give myself a boost and get the acknowledgment I may be seeking at that moment.  I do not recall ever posting a dark moment and if I did it was more like a “Prayer request: Please pray for me or my family” type of thing.  I have been afraid of being judged or the perfectionist side of me kicks in and says “I have to always display “looking perfect” at all times!” Instead of my name being Sandy Cortes, it was more like “Perfect Patty”.  Major identity crisis and such a lie I have bought into and that I am challenged by!  Did I mention I am a recovering perfectionist and still recovering? Yes, that me!

I am reminded of Jesus today.  Jesus went through hard times, faced abandonment, betrayal, disappointment, rejection and was humiliated and yet was perfect! Jesus sat with the ones who were dysfunctional, broken and did not have it all together, but this was all put part of his timeline in history.  Imagine sitting in a History class listening to a synopsis of a famous person. You hear how they began and struggled along the way. Those challenges sharpen them and made history.  Jesus made history!

One of the things I tell my clients, “We cannot change what has gone on in your life, what matters is what you do with it”.  This life of ours is part of the story, part of HIS-STORY. Every circumstance and challenge we face will glorify God! Every situation goes into a file and is tucked away. Then one day you pull it out and share a chapter of your story, you share your History!  I am not sure what you may be covering up or are being challenged by or are afraid of sharing but remember “This is part of the story “His Story”. It will be part of History and be used for his glory.  Think about that History class, the synopsis of that famous person is YOU!

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” ‭‭(2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭NIV).  ‬‬

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16).

Life Application

• What is on your timeline?
• What are some of this challenges?
• Keep a record of them.
• Imagine sitting in that History class.
• Listening to that famous person, YOU!
• Know when it’s time to bring out that chapter out in your life!
• Then you share your History.
• Recognizing that it was part of His Story for your life.

God Bless!

Carrier’s of Hope

Breathing Hope one Life at a Time!