All Categories

Identity and Destiny, cont.

6/6/2023

Real Dudes,
Below is a passage that someone shared with me. A passage and reminder that has helped him through what was posted in the previous blog about Identity and Destiny.
Enjoy,
Nate
Acts 13:38-39 (NLT) “Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39 Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do.

0 Comments

Identity and Destiny…how do I view myself, and where or who can I turn to with this self-assessment?

6/1/2023

0 Comments

Real Dudes,
Do you often find yourself wrestling with some toxic thoughts that continue to replay over and over in your head? What are some ways in which you’ve attempted to deal with such poisonous thoughts in the past? I chose a few songs listed below that I can relate with on occasion…can you also relate to the following experiences or questions that these lyrics point out as you have conversations with yourself inside your own head?

You Say by Lauren Daigle https://life1019.com/songs/you-say/
- “I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough”
  - For each of you individually, maybe ask yourself “I keep fighting voices in my mind that say __________________.” That say…what? You fill in the blank. What are these voices saying to you and how long will you allow them to continue speaking inside you?
Psycho in my Head by Skillet https://genius.com/Skillet-psycho-in-my-head-lyrics
- “I hate the other side of me…There's a psycho in my head - Makin' me feel like I'm livin' in misery, misery - Insane - These voices in my brain - Startin' to feel like it's gonna be the death of me, death of me…Livin' in hysteria - Nothin' makes much sense tonight - Maybe I'm too scared to trust - To stop the chaos in my mind.”
  - Deep down inside, what is it that you don’t like about yourself? What chaos is residing within you? Is it leading to misery, insanity, and or confusion?
In the Light by DC Talk https://www.songfacts.com/lyrics/dc-talk/in-the-light
- “What's going on inside of me? I despise my own behavior.”
  - We are oftentimes at a loss for words because of what we’re personally wrestling with. We can’t seem to be able to explain why we’re thinking what we’re thinking or explain why we’re doing what we’re doing, why? Has it led to turning against yourself…self-despise?
Destiny by Skillet https://genius.com/Skillet-destiny-lyrics
- “Is there a place where I - Could leave the world behind - And say goodbye to every painful memory - Where darkness ain't my destiny?”
  - Isn’t that true? Don’t we long to find that place? Don’t we just want to remove ourselves and go somewhere secluded when times get tough but struggle knowing where to go or who to turn to? Don’t we wish we could leave our past in the past but somehow it keeps lingering over and or following us? We look for light, but it seems like darkness has overtaken us? How is that possible?

Wow! Lots of pain and rawness in those experiences and questions. Nothing sugarcoated, for sure, but yet good for self-evaluation.
I suggest we lean into God…make Him our go-to. Find Him in His Word, in prayer, and in wise-council…listen and apply. I pray that this is when you’ll discover who He says you are from His perspective, and where or who He encourages you to turn to.

Some encouraging songs/lyrics that can also help us refocus on our true identity and destiny are the following…

No Longer Slaves by Jonathan David and Melissa Helser https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8TkUMJtK5k
Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cKm_mYVPQE
Who You Say I am by Hillsong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKw6uqtGFfo
You Say by Lauren Daigle https://life1019.com/songs/you-say/
Where could I go but to the Lord by the Heritage Singers https://heritagesingers.com/track/450216/where-could-i-go-but-to-the-lord
Running to the Light by Brandon Lake
https://www.google.com/search?q=song+run+to+the+light&oq=song+run+to+the+light&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i160l2j33i299l2j33i22i29i30l5.3110j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:bd01dc7a,vid:f0EDCp6lOwI

Men…please feel free to share with me any particular songs and or verses from God’s Word that have proven to help you through such times in your life. Just maybe they could help someone else in need today as well. Would love to read what you have to suggest. We’re in this together!
Practicing His Presence,
Nate

0 Comments

Styles of Communication, Parts 11 and 12 of 12.

5/25/2023

0 Comments

What is God doing in your heart right now? How should you respond?
Styles of Communication, Part 11 of 12

I ask you to please…

Allow me to include you, draw you in, and enable you to do what God has planned for you - now that He’s had an opportunity to speak into your heart…allow me to share with you how I possibly see God using you in the future (sometimes we need others to point out our gifts and set us on a good path)...allow me to show you the “how” to accomplish God’s plan for you…

Inviting…

1:17, 20; 6:31; 9:35; 10:21

Calling…

1:20; 3:13, 23; 6:7; 8:1, 34; 9:35; 10:42; 12:24 (calling them out), 43

Appointing…

3:14

Permitting…

5:13, 37; 10:14

Not permitting…
- 5:19, 37

Preparing…

3:9; 10:32-34; 11:1-3; 13:5-37; 16:17-18

Directing…

4:35; 5:19; 10:51 (He got straight to it…very direct); 11:1-3

Now that you’ve taken all this information in, it’d be a great idea to spend some time alone with Lord in prayer.

Styles of Communication, Part 12 of 12

I ask you to please…

Allow me to think about your requests throughout each day and take them to the Lord…as you take them to Him as well.

Praying…

1:35; 6:41 (“blessed”); 8:7 (“blessed”); 14:35-36, 39

Crying Out…

15:34, 37

0 Comments

Styles of Communication, Parts 9 and 10 of 12.

5/23/2023

0 Comments

If you heed His Words, then what rewards are there for doing so?
Styles of Communication, Part 9 of 12. This was probably one of my favorites throughout this study. Jesus is someone Who used words that were full of hope and life-changing. If we only had more people today following that example, then just think about what kind of difference could that make in our homes, churches, and communities. May it begin with me...

I ask you to please…

Allow me to show you how God can make an eternal difference in your life…

Assuring…

10:39 (“indeed”); (“assuredly” in 3:28; 6:11; 8:12; 9:1, 41; 10:15, 29; 11:23; 12:43; 13:30; 14:9, 18, 25, 30)

Hopeful/Hope-filled…

5:41; 7:29

Life-changing…

5:41

How do you know you can trust His Word?

Styles of Communication, Part 10 of 12

I ask you to please…

Allow me to share with you God’s proven faithfulness…did, can, and will He do it? We can see this played out in His...

Foretelling…

13:5-37; 14:30, 62; 16:17-18

Promising…

9:1; 14:62 (promise of fact).

Fulfilling…

14:72

What is God doing in your heart right now? How should you respond? I'll provide some suggestions next time for you to take into consideration.

0 Comments

Styles of Communication, Part 8 of 12

5/18/2023

0 Comments

Why does God communicate in such blunt ways at times?
I ask you to please…

Allow me to tell you that if you do nothing with the facts, disregard them, ignore them, reject them, do the opposite of them, then be willing to accept what God has prepared for you…and then take into consideration - what is God’s ultimate goal?…

Consequences…

16:16

Conditional…

9:23

Redirecting…

5:36

Correcting…

9:39; 10:14; 12:27
Calling them out…self-reflection…truth…7:9

Forgiving…

2:5, 10; 3:28

If you heed His Words, then what rewards are there for doing so? We'll take a look at a few of those rewards next time.

0 Comments

<<Previous

Identity and Destiny, cont.

Identity and Destiny…how do I view myself, and where or who can I turn to with this self-assessment?

Styles of Communication, Parts 11 and 12 of 12.

Styles of Communication, Parts 9 and 10 of 12.

Styles of Communication, Part 8 of 12

Author

Would you like an email reminder when a new post is up?

Archives

Categories