Working on Emotional Maturity

Lighthearted Letters

Dear Creation,

When you feel like you don’t deserve to receive something good, that may seem like humility. But it’s not. That feeling is actually based on an arrogance embedded in an immature human heart. You see, if you don’t deserve to receive goodness in your current condition, that implies that you could potentially reach a condition where you do deserve goodness. Except that the abyss between the patheticness of immature humanity and the magnificence of Yehovah’s goodness is so vast that we can never bridge the gap without FIRST receiving goodness from Him.

It is only by receiving the goodness that Yehovah desires to give us that we can ever develop into a condition worthy of that goodness. Deserving is before. Fulfillment is afterwards. We can never ever deserve His goodness to the point that it is ludicrous to even be concerned about it. We can, however, learn to…

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‘Growing pains’ is a misnomer

Growing pains are common, but there’s little consensus on their scope or cause, writes Elizabeth Chang in The Washington Post. A recent review of studies on growing pain found that

“only half of the studies mentioned lower limb pain; only 48 percent of the studies reported that the pain came in the evening; and only 42 percent said it was episodic or recurrent,”

writes Chang. More than 8 in 10 studies didn’t specify the age that the pains emerged, and a whopping 93 percent made no reference to growth. Studies floated a variety of causes, including

“issues related to anatomy (hypermobility, knock knees, or low-bone-mineral density, for example), psychological issues such as stress, vascular issues such as skeletal blood flow, and metabolic problems such as low vitamin D levels.”

But the evidence supporting any one of them is thin to non-existent. [The Washington Post]

Encouraging growth through hardship

American children have had a tough few years, but parents can help kids grow through the crisis, writes Anya Kamenetz in The New York Times.

“By around age 8, most children are developing the cognitive maturity required to see that negative experiences may have benefits,”

writes Kamenetz.

That doesn’t mean parents should “push” kids to grow through bad times. It’s better for parents to think of themselves as “expert companions,” says psychologist Richard G. Tedeschi,

“guiding children to a new, and potentially better, place.”

That means not just teaching your kids that growth through hardship is possible, but preparing them to handle difficult emotions, listening to their experiences

“without judging or downplaying anything,”

and them helping them derive new meaning from their struggles. And encourage them to help others, which can “lend perspective” to their experiences and expand

“on the feelings of compassion that arise when we encounter difficulties.” [The New York Times]

luxurious

about these things

“Summer is a period of luxurious growth. To be in harmony with the atmosphere of summer, awaken early in the morning and reach to the sun for nourishment to flourish as the gardens do. Work, play, travel, be joyful, and grow into selfless service. The bounty of the outside world enters and enlivens us.” -Paul Pitchford

Photo by Marge McCoy

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Beautiful Day

Grow your Life & Soul

What a beautiful spring day! I feel the warmth of the sun coming through the sliding door, making me excited for the new season ahead.

Do you look forward to the change of seasons? I know I do. For some reason, I feel its a new beginning for Mother Earth, the animals and all the new change about to happen. I feel that change is vital to growth and rebirth. I am constantly finding opportunities or things that give me growth in all areas of my life. I never want to remain stagnate – I feel that would be death for me.

Enjoy the new season upon us! See the growth and beauty in change. May you grow this season, in a big or small way, but grow!

Deanna

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Chosen to Trust

We may trust others, not always because we have empirical evidence to make that choice, but often because we have chosen to trust. We have confidence in the goodness of our brother or sister’s heart because we fundamentally believe that the Lord is active in their lives. Even when trust is violated, we can choose to see it as an opportunity for growth, not condemnation.

God calls His children to a relationship of trust. Trust is core to our faith and required for us to be men and women who are defined by love and not fear. When our trust in God wavers, we find ourselves depending on our own ingenuity and assessments. It is a pathway to anxiety, confusion and eventually ruin.

Read the May issue of the Christadelphian magazine Christadelphian Tidings on Trust

Is it really so?

Many nations in the world encounter difficult days in this time of CoViD-19. In many countries, the earth came to shake a lot and volcanos came to give a spectacular amount of smoke and ashes and magma flowing down.

(We would consider all that signs of the time.)

In many countries, nature shows that it conquers the virus and conquers man that destroyed already so much. But nature is the stronger one to man.

For sure

“We’re on the verge of something”

and we can feel it moving! Many deny that there is That Mightier Power which is above any man. Many try to fight against It or against His creation.

In these times of trials, we could seclude ourselves from all contact with all other humans. We could go in full lockdown and let the darkness pass, without having to interfere in our own house. But we should know that having to live in this present world, we can not ignore it. For those who believe in God and His sent one, it is high time to come out of the darkness and step into the light.

WTFAI

I heard it said that these are dark days for our nation. I wondered, according to who? why am I to agree? I do have free will and a choice, do I not? That is my decision, to embrace what is, and to choose to see it as my opportunity to infect my sphere of influence with the Love that has been so graciously been bestowed upon me.

Photo by Philippe Donn on Pexels.com

I am choosing to behold, observe and revere the mystery of the nature of things. In carrying on with the experience that if I am aware and honest, pausing to reflect upon the magnificence and miracle of living, I can experience the “Light infused darkness” that accompanies acceptance of uncertainty. I don’t know and don’t need to. Growth doesn’t occur in my comfort zone. Celebrate life and give thanks for the chance to make this a…

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A little ray of sunshine.

We should know that it has no use to let negativity overshadow our life. Though we do have to grow up with falling and standing up again, we always better try to stand up each time and to go on with the experience we got, using it not to weaken us but to sharpen us and to strengthen us in our life.

Every time we are confronted with something negative, we should take a deep breath and try to remember the better happenings, the events we enjoyed, the people who could give us some warmth and the friendships which are dear to us.

The best reliance is the the deeper inner self, the trust in what is perhaps hidden deep in ourselves. Never shall alcohol, overeating, or drugs be of any real help. Sometimes it may look it can give some solace, but it shall not really bring alleviation.

All being created in the image of God we should know we do have Somebody to count on. Wherever we are in whatever situation we might be, we should not feel lonely or on our own. If we really want to allow the Supreme Divine Creator enter in our life, He shall be willing to take our stretched out hand and to help us over the ridge, the dessert or the dangerous river.
In Him we can find our Helper, our Sword, our Light and The One Who brings us further in this life.
In and with Him, the God of gods,  we shall be able to feel the love and to give love to others so that they shall come closer to us wanting to share the same feelings of unity and close friendship in this universe which has so much to offer.

Always keep looking for the positive and believe in yourself, because you are here created and placed on this earth with reason. You will not always see it directly what your purpose in life will be, but when you continue your way you shall find out and find it worthwhile living.

Open yourself to see opportunities and to love your life. Be wise enough to be grateful. Be courageous enough to be happy.

Success.

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Please do find also to read:

1. Depression Is and When
2. Searching for fulfilment and meaning through own efforts, facing unsatisfaction and depression
3. Running away from the past
4. Remember there’s a light in the next day
5. What If you’re only driven by stress?
6. Getting fate in your change to positiveness
7. Without God no purpose, no goal, no hope
8. Materialism, would be life, and aspirations
9. Depression, Anxiety, Pressure and megachurches
10. Thanksgiving wisdom: Why gratitude is good for your health
11. Aligned
12. Importance of parents 1
13. Always a choice
14. Change should not be stressful
15. Happiness is like manna
16. We have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace
17. The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands
18. Everything that is done in the world is done by hope
19. Commit your self to the trustworthy creator
20. Be an Encourager
21. Joy: Foundation for a Positive Life

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Other articles of interest:

1. Who do you think you are?
2. Love your life.
3. You’re worth it.
4. God – Made
5. In All Honesty
6. April Showers: A Celebration of Life in Loss
7. A new routine
8. Your New Identity: An Interview with Jeff Crouse
9. Rick Warren’s Horrific Tragedy & The Sickening Response of Some “Christians”
10. Beyond Kindness
11. Happy international women’s Day 2014
12. Leave the Apathy
13. Revital of life
14. Burn my ego
15. How to Feel Good About Yourself

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  We have to maintain a positive attitude and remember that each time God shines a little sunshine in our lives, it is an opportunity for us to show our gratitude and to bring positivity to others. Be a ray of sunshine! Don’t allow  your complaints to  turn your life into a continual rainy day.  Recognize the good that you are experiencing and rest in God’s goodness towards you. Just rest in His eternal light!
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• Cold Sun (thelovesprockets.wordpress.com)
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The Hurt Healer

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.’ – Helen Keller

Do you believe that every day brings the possibility for a little ray of sunshine? Or does negativity overshadow your life? Is your glass half-empty and running out fast? Or is it half-full and waiting for a sparkling refill? The choice is yours.

An upbeat attitude can bring brighten up the gloomiest of circumstances. Choosing to think positively can revive you when you feel weary, provide clarity in chaos and keep you encouraged during uncertainty And when you make a conscious decision to refuse to allow the darkness to engulf you, you keep the way clear for your optimistic thoughts to shine.

Admittedly there are some days when tragedy strikes or a huge disappointment has to be dealt with and it is impossible to feel anything but despair. That’s a natural and expected way to…

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Not following the tradition of man

Looking for having success we can follow different paths. To come to the most positive way to get somewhere we best look into the very Old book of books, the bible where we can find a lot of advice, better than that of man of today.

The first of the Epistles to the Colossians (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, following the tradition of men according to the rudiments of the world, and not in accordance with Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 KJ21)

The apostle Paul tells the Colossians,

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition …” (Letter to the Colossians 2:8);

telling them that

“they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:23).

What is of value?

It is by

“holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God” (Colossians 2:19).

And how does this happen?

By reading the word of God; it provides essential spiritual nourishment that we need every day. But it is not so much a case of trying to stop ourselves doing things that our human nature inclines us toward thinking and doing, but rather trying to occupy our thoughts to a greater degree with spiritual things. The result will be that we will be less and less inclined to indulge in fleshly thoughts and activities, but will grow “with a growth that is from God” as we appreciate his word to an ever greater degree.

Reading the Word of God we can come to get to know the Works of God, His Plan, how He has chosen Himself a people and how we too can become partakers of the promise God made in the Garden of Eden. There a positive message was given to those who had broken the relationship with God. The Creator saw the faults of the 1° Adam and took care that there would come a 2° Adam to save all people. But it would be up to the people themselves to accept or to ignore the Good News of the Saviour.

The promised one was the son of God, the Nazarene Jeshua (Jesus Christ). Under his blessing a person can come “in the light of Christ” and can get a positive mind. To come to more knowledge and mature in faith and spirit the person has to open his mind  in such a way that Christ can come in him or her. The one who got to know Christ wants to build a relationship with him and with his followers.

Central to our relationship with God is “Christ in you” (Colossians 1:27). “Him we proclaim”, writes Paul, “that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28).

How is your maturity developing? Absorbing the true sense of the divine word is a foundation for this. May we all increase day by day in the “knowledge of God” and become “mature in Christ” so his way of thinking becomes more and more our way of thinking.

Such a right way of thinking shall also create a right way of living and having us taking on the right attitude for living and for having good relationships with others and to become successful in our life. We also can see that like at the beginning of the world the 1° Adam rejected the right of God to be the Master in the world, we do find lots of people who take such an adversary attitude against the Creator as well. They mostly bring lots of negative elements against those who believe in the Creator. They also shall try to do everything to get those believers a negative feeling.

From Scriptures we learn that we should not envy others, but we also come to see how the world develops and which position human beings are going to take in it and how we are set to chose. We also have to make up our choice to whom we want to belong.

Note in the dramatic account of Paul’s experience of shipwreck on the way to Rome in Acts 27 that Paul says

“the God I worship”

and then significantly adds,

“to whom I belong.”

Do we view our God in that way?

Those who are baptised commit their lives into the service of God and of Jesus Christ His son. In the same way, the people of Israel under Moses entered into a covenant with God. Moses told them,

“For thou art a holy people unto Jehovah thy God: Jehovah thy God hath chosen thee to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 7:6 ASV)

Sadly, most of the people in the generations that followed failed to have the sense of belonging to God possessed by those entering the promised land. If we make no commitment to belong to God, then we belong to the world – a world which is facing an awesome shipwreck!

Isaiah has a vision of our days; it describes a time when the kingdoms of men come to an end and “the lofty pride of man shall be humbled” (Isaiah 2:11). It is a message against “every high tower” (Isaiah 2:15) and never have buildings been built higher than today. Later Isaiah sees in vision:

We should be conscious that there shall come a day thta we shall not have to face the day of man but the day of the Adonai, divine Creator Who shall bind up the wounds of His people and shall heal the bruise caused by the blow they received from other man. at that day those who did not want to know of the Name of the Most High shall have to hear that Holy Name of the Adonai, the Most High Lord the elohim Hashem Jehovah. At that day those who did not want to know of Him shall hear and see from afar, his anger burning, in thick rising smoke. they than should know it is too late to avoid His lips full to the brim with fury, His tongue a consuming fire. His breath shall race over them like a tornado or like a racing torrent that rises up to the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction, and put a bridle in the peoples’ mouths to lead them astray. Shall you be ready and shall your song be like one that is sung on a night when a holy feast is kept, and will your heart be happy, as if walking to the sound of the flute, to the mountain of Jehovah, the Adonai, to the rock of Isra’el?

“24 the oxen likewise and the young asses that till the ground shall eat savory provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fork. 25 And there shall be upon every lofty mountain, and upon every high hill, brooks [and] streams of waters, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that Jehovah bindeth up the hurt of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.
27  Behold, the name of Jehovah cometh from far, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a devouring fire; 28 and his breath is as an overflowing stream, that reacheth even unto the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction: and a bridle that causeth to err [shall be] in the jaws of the peoples. 29 Ye shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come unto the mountain of Jehovah, to the Rock of Israel.” (Isaiah 30:24-29 ASV)

Those who do not know God’s word will indeed be terrified. But those who know God’s word, although their faith will be tested – as “man is humbled and each one is brought low” (Isaiah 2:9) – they will then rejoice in the total wonder of those days. Will you be there? You make the answer now!

Therefore it is important that you make the right choice and take the positive route. Not getting afraid of man around you, making you shy and withdrawn, or getting you down even to become depressed, but standing strong not getting intimidated by man, but believing and trusting in the Hand which is much more Powerful than any human person, remembering:

“The lofty looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.” (Isaiah 2:11 ASV)

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Additional reading:

1. What is life?
2. Greatest single cause of atheism
3. Do not be afraid. Good news because a Saviour has been born
4. Fear not tomorrow. God is already there
5. When discouraged facing opposition
6. Our relationship with God, Jesus and eachother
7. Relationship with God (articles)
8. Being Religious and Spiritual 7 Transcendence to become one
9. God’s wisdom for the believer brings peace
10. True riches
11. Observing the commandments and becoming doers of the Word
12. Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) by Chris Tomlin (video)
13. 8 fears caused by the fear of Man
14. Fearing the right person
15. Anxiety is the gap between the now and the later
16. God become master of our passions
17. Power in the life of certain
18. Being sure of their deliverance

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  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
• Does Paul Condemn Philosophy? (pastorbrianchilton.wordpress.com)
  Some Christians have criticized the use of philosophy due to Paul’s statement against philosophy in Colossians 2:8. Yet, Christianity teaches is knowledgeable, is based on truth, defines the nature and meaning of life, holds great logic, teaches aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology. Paul himself gives lessons in most of the previously mentioned systems. So, does Paul refute himself? Or is there a problem with the way many interpret Colossians 2:8? So, the question must be asked: does Paul really criticize the use of philosophy? In this article, Paul’s statement in Colossians 2:8 will be exegetically examined and in its proper context and the article will answer whether Paul really condemns philosophy after all.
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  Paul uses a form of philosophical apologetics to demonstrate that empty arguments and bad philosophy does not represent the truth. If one places his or her faith in any system that leads one away from the truth, that person will slowly erode into a system of erroneous trust and hedonistic living. That is not to say that one may not have elements of truth, but holding elements of truth does not necessitate that one holds full truth. A little bit of error can lead down a pathway of huge problems.
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• Colossians 2:8-10 How easy can we be deceived? (ashesofdiversity.wordpress.com)
  If we call ourselves Christians, are we not followers of Christ, and what does that mean? Do we spend time knowing God’s word so we can discern what is a deceit or what is truth?
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  How about using fear as a reason to not do things right. How about following your heart? Keeping yourself so busy you do not have time to study. How about liking certain philosophies even if they are secular, but we spend a lot of time trying to make it work with Christianity because it is more modern.
• Colossians 2:2-15 (olgatodd.wordpress.com) > Colossians 2:2-15
  See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
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  When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

• Moving Through Time: Timeline of Religion (pcr.wpengine.com)
  Since the beginning of time, mankind has formed beliefs of the unexplainable and unknowable. Over thousands of years, these beliefs became traditional, customary, and institutionalized within regional societies. People continue to express an interest in spiritual matters from all corners around the world. Everybody has pondered the meaning of life, what happens after we die, what existed before us, and whether any other life exists in the universe. Mankind may never know concrete answers regarding the spiritual. In fact, humans may destroy the planet before we can discover the remaining life in unexplored regions. Nevertheless, we continue to seek spiritual enlightenment and a connection with our Creator.