Best life you can only have..

There’s always a better universe, unless you just enjoy the one you’re in, yours could be the best one there is.

Countless choices,

Creates countless universes.

At every moment,

Every second.

Is a chance,

To take the right stance.

Every time we decide,

What we want to be our guide.

He can change your life,

And doesn’t take more strife.

Just wake up,

And send glory up.

Every moment be grateful,

And thank the Great and Powerful.

Every moment be gracious,

And think of Lord Jesus.

Think What would He do,

If at any moment he was you.

Expecting Judgement

Each person casts judgement upon what they expect life to be. An expectation is created on how life should be then, at any given time, one judges life in relation to that original expectation. If the expectation isn’t met one may question life. “If I do this I expect this to happen”. Blindly placing expectations on life, without the guidance of who designed the path, is a hard way to live. When all the work is done towards expectations and judgement comes back as insufficient, what emotions are caused? Regret, envy, anger, frustration, resentment, or sadness most likely will be caused. Once gratitude becomes a judgement, appreciation for current position and all trials that led to that point, perspective of expectation can be altered. Faults of the expectation and of the actions taken can be re-examined, if necessary. Accepting what is done is done and moving forward is, with better guidance, more beneficial.

In addition to the emotions felt at time of judgement of expectation, one may ask the question: what is the purpose or meaning of life then? Also known as “the secret to life”. Regardless if worded as meaning, purpose, or secret the fact remains the same; who are you asking that question to? Asking others who have had similar experiences or set backs, most likely, won’t have an answer. Others, who say to have that answer, may feel their life is only sufficient to their expectation and are content, so they will explain their path as if it’s a “one size fits all”. In the end, who can be asked such a deep question?

Meaning and purpose must be set by something. Can searching for what they might be outwardly, asking someone else, result in an answer for you? Did they set your life meaning or purpose? Do you want to chase after their meaning or purpose? Only inwardly can these answer be found. It takes a leap of faith to believe our paths are all set by God and that He knows and gives us what’s best for us but that’s what faith is. Without that faith, it’s a blind scramble to find the answer. Conducting one’s life closely inline with Gods purpose without knowing Him is a blessing that, if realized, can cause one to now live in grace. The further one deviates off Gods path, the deeper into the darkness one will be lost.

Regardless of accomplishments, success, or pleasures felt; when the glory, given to yourself, and the pleasures fade, what is left? Confusion. Why doesn’t this still feel right? Why am I not happy yet? What am I missing here? God doesn’t work in confusion and denying his guidance there’s no way to navigate out of the darkness and confusion. Find what God, the one who created all including you, had expected or planned for your life and then you can be expecting better judgement.

“Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

James 4:13-14 KJV

Choose a side of why…

Without suffering and evil, how would we know joy and grace? Without tests and trials, how can we grow and gain faith? My prior life had a lot more comfort afforded by an easy, well paying job that afforded my sinful mind time and resources to chase earthly desires. After being saved through Jesus Christ I left that old life and am now in a “worse” situation by many aspects but I enjoy this struggle more now knowing and believing this life will lead to true fulfillment and purpose. How much suffering is caused by envy, greed, or resentment for the current condition someone is in and by comparing it to others? Your path is your own. Your life is yours. Everything that is, is the best it can be. Regret causes questioning of answers that cannot be changed. “Everything happens for a reason” is a saying that cannot be sporadically applied. If everything happens for a reason then all we are left to do is understand why. To each question of why, one chooses which’s side to see, the light or the dark, the good or the bad. Looking to darkness of why can cause one to will feel negative emotions but looking to the light of everything, one can feel grace. Focusing on the light/Jesus allowed Peter to walk on water. Questioning his path caused him to sink. It’s all about perspective and choosing a side. It’s much easier said than done and we all fall victim to tough times. We all question our path at times but striving each day to be better and grow one’s faith, I believe, is a better path than giving in and allowing darkness to consume.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

James 1:2-8 NIV

Present experience, future story…

It’s still happening. Regardless of which side of history you think you’re on. It’s still occurring. Regardless of who is wrong or which viewpoint may be true. It’s still going on. Sit and fight who is right, wrong, or what you think someone else should do. It’s still being done. While being crushed with anxiety or sheltering in fear, those who cause it make moves around it. It’s going to be recorded. So, years from now, when they ask “grandpa where were you when…..?” What story are you going to tell?

We all can write a story. All our lives have been full of mistakes, hard times, tragedies, but also blessings, great times, and happiness. Each individual story when combined become the tapestry of history. It’s apparent the vital time we are in will be a turning point in history. Once the books are written they will learn about this time. When that generation comes knocking, wanting to ask grandpa or grandma what their story is, what are you going to tell them?

Loss of senses…

It’s all been dulled,

The deeper I am being pulled.

Despair is looming,

For darkness I’m consuming.

I do not want this,

this that I don’t want to miss.

What do I fear,

My path no longer is clear.

How did I get this way,

What’s wrong I cannot say.

Am I enough,

Or is the terrain just too tough.

A world I do not know,

My fears starting to show.

Beat down with doubt,

Mind full of fleshly clout.

A fight within myself,

Not knowing of any else.

Questioning every turn,

The drink is nothing to this burn.

Each sip is easy,

Of what makes most queasy.

Drowning my sorrow,

Dull my thoughts til tomorrow.

Then starts regret,

I gave in to what I can’t forget.

Have to chose a side of the fence,

Before I lose the rest of my sense.

What do I know….

Before, I used to always believe in the power of the human mind. It’s ability to adapt and overcome any situations, but the mind is limited to what it has learned and experienced. If it is closed off to possibility of higher understanding and deeper meaning, that power is limited. It is said the greatest mind knows that it knows nothing. Then where can further learning come from? Knowledge is confined to what is believed to be “rational” thought, limited to what can be seen and proven. Looking to the skies and stars won’t lead to deeper understanding because there is no knowledge given by celestial bodies. There is One without form that has given wisdom and path to deeper understanding. A mind closed off to this path is limited to its earthly understanding. A freed mind, knowing there is more than just this world, is open to wonder and potential. Perspective molded around gratitude and faith produces perseverance and character knowing that even the hardest times are given to us to make us better. Closed minds may ask “why me” and give in to hard times or try to fight through with reckless abandonment. Knowing trials are given for a reason and believing that the storm will pass helps to focus the mind on what it is suppose to learn going through those tough times. The power of the mind is choice, to choose which side to be on. We choose our perspectives on anything and everything, which mold our realities. Choose to humble ourselves and say that we are weak, clear the mind and ask for deeper understanding. Now I believe the true power of the human mind is to know it is powerless alone.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

You’ll never have less than now….

It might feel like it’s a struggle now. Trying everyday to acquire more or build on to what you have. Trying anyway you can to put your left foot in front of your right and provide. You are providing right now, as much as you can. Tomorrow you will do more and in return receive more. More blessings, more gain, and more time to live. No matter how little you might feel you have right now tomorrow you will have more. No matter how much today might have taken away, tomorrow you will have lived another day that can never be taken away. However much it feels overwhelming right now it is only temporary. Once this storm has passed, you’ll look back and wonder. Possibly it is still to get harder and then wishing it was as easy as it is now. Regardless of any current situation or ones to come, tomorrow you will have more than today. More experience, learning, memories, and time alive.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

1 Peter 5:10 NIV

Am I alone…

Are you ever alone? If you talk about what you do when you’re alone, does that time not count anymore? Sometimes a man just needs time to himself. Remove himself from all the distractions. Whether it’s family or work, distraction doesn’t mean they are negative, they can be static that might fuzz inner communication. By calming the static clearer paths can be found. Paths that lead to the results visioned from an undistracted mind. A mind swirling in problems can’t swirl in a realm of solutions. Problems will occur, they always have. They have led us to any given point of life. At each point, do we ever look back and analyze the process. Why did we choose that? Why did we decide this? Was it done from fear? Were we worried about things that really don’t matter? Or do we just float through life and when things don’t pan out like we wanted, we just complain until the next botched situation? Deeper discussion resulting from deeper conscience. Can’t dig down deeper without breaking through layers. Peel off all the layers and realize we are never alone.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Isaiah 41:10 KJV

Out of the darkness

The world seems consumed by it,

Temporary pleasures seem adequate.

They fill us momentarily,

Then fade just as quickly.

A constant need for material bliss,

Only brings us deeper into abyss.

Emptiness can’t be filled by darkness,

Just makes being hollow seem like happiness

The excuses we make,

Makes it harder for the darkness to break.

Not until we can see the light,

Will this world ever look right.

Reals purpose

What is real and whats it’s purpose? Depends on what is believed to be real. Is real defined by its value? Is worth determinate of its realness? Worth of love, of value, or of its nature. We can assess by saying is this really worth my time. Value of time’s worth, is that dependent on the outcome that occurred. Is the risk worth the reward. What are you really risking? Risk losing things whose worth is only as much as you determine it to be. Will you value time over possibility of a greater reward? Will you value material over true fulfillment?Will you value comfort over the possibility of reaching true purpose? Will a life fulfilled by meaning and purpose be worth the risk losing everything you have now? Does everything you now have provide fulfillment? Some spend more brainpower thinking of ways to escape their reality instead of improving it. How much of one’s life requires improvement or does one’s perspective of life require it? In the end, “Worth it” is dependent on perspective. Determining the true value shows what is worth being real.