Why do you rely on him
More than you rely on Me?
I literally knew you from the start.
I heard and smiled at your first heart beat.
Jeremiah 29:11
I intend the utmost best for you!

I gave it all for you,
Paying the ultimate price.
Why rely on him?
What does he offer?
Can he stop the sun’s revolutions?
Can he number every star?
Does the earth quake at the sound of his name?

He doesn’t deserve your reliance.
Why not rely on me to work through him
Or better yet remove him,
If he’s not up to task.

Rely on Me.
I will provide for you before you even know you have a need.

My eyes are, now and forever, focused on you.
I see your tears and will never overlook you.

We are a mess.
Not the kind you find in a kitchen
After a hastily prepared meal.
But a wonderful
Felix Culpa,
‘happy fault.’

We’re the type of mess
Occurring when paint meets brush.
When what was meant to be an exercise in formal technique
Turns into an abstract rendering
A work of aesthetics that only God could properly frame.

You and me,
We’re a mess that’s easy to mistake for chaos.
Like the explosive pressure needed to bring forth a diamond
It’s tedious,
Yet the yield is wholly worth the hours of precision.

The exhilaration of too loud music,
Its beat rippling through your chest.
The confusion and disorder until you decide to just go with the flow and let your body be carried by the melody.

Tangible and comforting,
This mess leaves me wondering at the possibilities of exploring beauty found in unlikely places.

May we seek and find those hidden treasures in life.

I love how matter-of-fact they are:

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and [He] will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if [He] does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-20, NIV)
Sometimes we believe God only blesses us when we receive what we desire. We reason away why certain things should come to pass. Deliverance from a fiery furnace would, of course, be right at the top of our logical list of petitions to God. Yet Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were aware of God’s glory and the blessings that come from fulfilling His commandments in spite of terrible persecution, even death.

The feeling of helplessness often follows when we endure an offense. Other times the thoughts of wanting to respond negatively to the offense is at the forefront of our minds. Yet there is one thing we must always remember… God will hold people accountable for the offense and deceit they commit. It’s one of the many sureties in life. I’ve learned to rest in that truth.

“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). He will definitely repay. He does so in such a seamless way, it supersedes any conceivable reprimand or punishment a person could concoct. He intimately knows the oppressor just as he knows the person who is oppressed.

Find peace in His bound less wisdom. Find rest in His plans.

There’s a reason long-suffering is a fruit of the Spirit. We can’t produce the level of understanding and patience another human being needs. People are flawed. They progress and regress constantly. Occasionally, they execute both in the same day. God given tolerance is essential to maintaining relationships. When faced with stress or chaos we often overlook the needs of people close to us, when in fact it is our opportunity to demonstrate the love, acceptance, and patience God wants us to share amongst each other. 
Don’t allow stress and hard times to draw wedges between your relationships. If anything, it’s a time to draw closer together. Ask God to give you the long-suffering you need to reach out to others even during the most desperate, overwhelming moments in life.

God gave me understanding through a song, “The Best in Me,” sung by Marvin Sapp. I correlated it with the understanding I received earlier today,  which was God believes in us because He can  simultaneously see our past, present, and future. I’m so very thankful He can or else I would give up on my ability to change.

Under pressure people can change, similarly to how pressure creates a diamond. At other times, pressure hinders the process. People react to genuineness and support. Positive reinforcement is more effective in most cases. Even eustress (good stress) is preferred over negative.

Long lasting change takes time. It has to be adopted, tried, and tested. Habits are hard to break and only through diligent repetition, focus, and dedication can a new habit be formed. 

​When things start to spin out of control, I become overwhelmed and immediately step back from the situation. I perceive the entire picture as opposed to the current situation. The crisis may only be a small puzzle piece in the grand scheme of things. Once one fire is extinguished, there will undoubtedly be another. But staying focused on the end goal keeps my head in the game. 

I think I’m a glutton for punishment. I’ve gone down a well known road yet again. I take responsibility for my actions but wonder why such trouble attracts itself to me… or maybe I’m attracted to it. Regardless, I feel a lose in my heart. The familiar feeling of a dream that has flitted away. As illusive and beautiful as a butterfly, my dream has fluttered out of my grasp. The ache in my heart will surely last a while. 

Our lives are living epistles.

Testaments to His glory,

and everlasting grace.

Even in our unsightly loses,

He gives power

in the simple utterance of His name.

Jesus, You are my victory.

My life’s gains, my triumps

all point back to You.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ten-ways-to-slow-down-teachers-elena-aguilar