Loneliness

Good morning!

Man, what a week it has been. I'm thinking it's Tuesday! LOL! My boss has kept me very busy this week.

Today's devotional about loneliness really strikes close to home for me. Tony and I just had a discussion yesterday about how we feel so misplaced all the time - like we are living in a world that we just don't fit in. The scripture says that this world is not our home and that is the main contributing factor as to why we don't feel like we belong...simply because we don't. But as Christians and in the "body" of Christ <-- the church - we should feel like we at least fit together.

I know for myself, I am a person who is constantly surrounded by people and events but still feel lonely often. Sometimes I am talking and the words are coming out but they're not forming in words what I'm feeling in my heart... but God totally knows where I'm coming from and has been my comforting Father in so many lonely times.

We have to ask ourselves this - am I feeling lonely because God wants my focus to be on Him? If so, give Him your focus - read your bible, pray, talk with him and ask for his guidance - He won't let you be lonely for long.

- am I feeling lonely because I'm drawing away from everyone who cares about me? - If so, check yourself. The Devil loves to isolate and fill your head with lies and strongholds that do nothing but push you into a hole. If you're hiding in a hole you can't get out and share the love of Christ.

- am I feeling lonely because I'm too scared to get involved? - If so, get involved! Always do what scares you! (if there will be a positive impact - what do you have to lose?) Faith without works is dead! Check out your church bulletin and see what's going on - then get into it!

If you're feeling lonely in a busy world - check out what's going on in your life. What are you feeding yourself? Just like when you eat really bad for a long time you start to feel horrible... but you know when you're eating healthy because you feel good. What are you watching, hearing, speaking? Do an inventory on the people in your "inner circle" - are they positive and productive? Do they fill you up or drain you? Some people that are closest to you are draining you of your life. It doesn't mean they are bad people - it just means that their motives are differant than yours and you need to get connected with people who are looking to share the love of Christ. If you say to yourself "hmmm... I don't have anyone in my life that I feel is negative or draining..." Then ask yourself this "Am I that person?" <-- Whoa! Shock... ! Sometimes it's just the reality check that we need.

Walking with Christ is not a Sunday thing. It's an every day thing. It's life. Nothing frustrates me more than to see people outside of church who walk with Christ - not live the Word of God on a regular basis. No one is perfect... we will all mess up over and over again.... we will slander one another... but the key is to try hard... try SUPER hard to live a life of love. I love the verse below where some of Jesus' followers thaught it was too hard to walk with Him and so they left him - then he asks His disciples are they going to leave too... read below:


James 6:60-68

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"
61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit[e] and they are life. 64Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."

66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

67"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.

68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

I love that!!! "To whom shall we go" or "where else can we go" God has the words of eternal life! Why would you want to go anywhere else? The things of this world are TEMPORARY highs!

Ask God to help reveal "Who am I?" Then check your life. Check your friends, check your text messages, check your HOME.... read your BFF's tweets and Facebook Status' .... are they Kingdom thinkers or worldy thinkers? I can guarantee you that your loneliness will subside once you seek God's direction and do an inventory on your inner circle.

Sorry guys... totally in preacher mode this morning! lol! I'm drugged up on Tylenol Sinus and coffee! lol! I just hate that we sit around waiting for God to deliver... like He's some sort of vending machine - that we just push a button - B1 - and plop! Our treat falls out... He does not work this way. He's all into blessing us and He loves and forgives us regardless! He's not a "performance based" loving Father - He loves just because! We have to start doing and loneliness has no ground to stand on.

*deep breath*

Tony and I are working on creating a ministry called The Brown Bag Special - we will make sack lunches for the homeless in down town Nashville and deliver to them. Not sure of all the details yet but we're thinking a couple of sandwiches, some veggies, fruit, chips, sweet treat, a soda and water, and a scripture card. We are praying for God's direction with this.

We are tired of being bystanders.

Proverbs 14:31 (New International Version)

31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Proverbs 28:27 (New International Version)

27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

1 Samuel 2:8 (New International Version)

8 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.
"For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's;
upon them he has set the world.

If you think you would be interested in this ministry please let me know.

Have a great day today!

Love,

April