The following video is by Maritza Parra, an author, speaker and trainer.
In this video, Maritza explains how those who criticize you are really projecting their negative self-thoughts onto you.
Ignoring Negativity
You can visit Maritza Parra's blog by clicking here.
"If one of you is planning to build a tower, you sit down first and figure out what it will cost, to see if you have enough money to finish the job." (Luke 14:28 GNB)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Is It In You To Finish? (Part 3)
To read part 2 of this entry, click here.
This is a continuation of the topic "A God-Ordained Hurt" with the subtopic "A Monumental Blessing".
The Roman soldiers have led Jesus to Golgotha, the place of His crucifixion. His cross has been laid on the ground and they lay Him on top of it. Holding down one arm, the executioner drives a stake-like nail into His wrist. He cries out in pain, and then He thinks, “Why am I doing this? Clarissa is going to be disobedient to My Word. Yet not My Will but Thy Will be done. I will praise You, Father.” Then Jesus’ other arm is held to the cross as the executioner drives a nail into that wrist. He cries out again, and this time He thinks, “But she’s going to backslide, yet I trust You, oh Lord.” Then His feet are nailed to the cross. There’s another cry of pain, followed by the thought, “But for at least 30 years of her life Clarissa is going to be unhappy that she was born. Yet I trust You, Lord.” Finally, Jesus’ cross is raised into the air, and He begins to experience an excruciatingly painful death. The weight of His body hanging from the nails is pressing down on His lungs, and it’s causing Him to suffocate slowly. Each breath that He draws is more painful than the last, and He thinks, “But God, she is going to lose faith in my Word when the circumstances in her life do not agree with My Word. Yet, Thy Will be done.” And as if the thoughts weren’t enough while He was hanging from the cross, there were people taunting Him saying, “If You’re the Son of God, then save Yourself and come down from there.” Jesus could have easily came down from the cross, He had that power and so much more, but instead He remained for your sake and mine. With the thoughts flowing, and the taunts and jeers, and the horrible pain that He was suffering, Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” However, instead of coming down off of the cross, Jesus continues to hang there. After six hours of this incomprehensible pain, He cries out again with a loud voice and then He dies.
Why did God ordain this hurt in Jesus’ life? It was for the monumental blessing that it would supply to the nations. When Jesus died with His arms outstretched, it was to welcome you into His arms. “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.” Though your sins be as scarlet, He will wash them white as snow. It was a God-ordained hurt, but it brought about a monumental blessing. God bless you.
This is a continuation of the topic "A God-Ordained Hurt" with the subtopic "A Monumental Blessing".
The Roman soldiers have led Jesus to Golgotha, the place of His crucifixion. His cross has been laid on the ground and they lay Him on top of it. Holding down one arm, the executioner drives a stake-like nail into His wrist. He cries out in pain, and then He thinks, “Why am I doing this? Clarissa is going to be disobedient to My Word. Yet not My Will but Thy Will be done. I will praise You, Father.” Then Jesus’ other arm is held to the cross as the executioner drives a nail into that wrist. He cries out again, and this time He thinks, “But she’s going to backslide, yet I trust You, oh Lord.” Then His feet are nailed to the cross. There’s another cry of pain, followed by the thought, “But for at least 30 years of her life Clarissa is going to be unhappy that she was born. Yet I trust You, Lord.” Finally, Jesus’ cross is raised into the air, and He begins to experience an excruciatingly painful death. The weight of His body hanging from the nails is pressing down on His lungs, and it’s causing Him to suffocate slowly. Each breath that He draws is more painful than the last, and He thinks, “But God, she is going to lose faith in my Word when the circumstances in her life do not agree with My Word. Yet, Thy Will be done.” And as if the thoughts weren’t enough while He was hanging from the cross, there were people taunting Him saying, “If You’re the Son of God, then save Yourself and come down from there.” Jesus could have easily came down from the cross, He had that power and so much more, but instead He remained for your sake and mine. With the thoughts flowing, and the taunts and jeers, and the horrible pain that He was suffering, Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” However, instead of coming down off of the cross, Jesus continues to hang there. After six hours of this incomprehensible pain, He cries out again with a loud voice and then He dies.
Why did God ordain this hurt in Jesus’ life? It was for the monumental blessing that it would supply to the nations. When Jesus died with His arms outstretched, it was to welcome you into His arms. “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.” Though your sins be as scarlet, He will wash them white as snow. It was a God-ordained hurt, but it brought about a monumental blessing. God bless you.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Is It In You To Finish? (Part 2)
To read part 1 of this entry, click here.
This is a continuation of the topic "A God-Ordained Hurt" with the subtopic "A Monumental Blessing".
When I speak of a God-ordained hurt, I’m not talking about those situations where you were disobedient and the circumstances that followed due to your disobedience. I’m talking about those situations where either: 1) you have absolutely no control of what’s going on in your life (take the stories of Job or Joseph as an example), or 2) those situations in which you believed you were being obedient unto God but your circumstances are not matching up to God’s Word. What’s worse in such conditions is the knowledge that you have the ability to change things and turn them around. To use a statement I heard a minister say, “Nothing requires more trust than submitting to suffering that you believe in your heart is the will of God when you know that you could take some action yourself and relieve that suffering.” In such times can you use the power that God has placed in you to remain there or will you run? There’s a quote that says, “Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.” Can you dare to be different and wait for the monumental blessing that is to come if you stand in the midst of a God-ordained hurt?
The ultimate example of such a God-ordained hurt and of someone daring to stand through it is in Jesus and His death on the cross. If you would permit me, I would like to dramatize Jesus’ death on the cross, and I’m going to ask you to imagine with me the thoughts that could have been going through Jesus’ mind as He hung on the cross. I ask that you will pray for me, because I understand this imagining might be a stretch for it does not state in God’s Word all of the thoughts that ran through Jesus’ mind or all of His reactions while He hung on the cross. In this re-enactment I’ll be considering Jesus’ humanity, not His divinity, for in the English Standard Version of the Bible Heb 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Just to forewarn you, I’m going to be using parts of my life, so I don’t want you to be shocked by what you hear and miss out on the point of the illustration. Instead, think on the things in your life that Jesus might have been thinking about as He was nailed to and hung on the cross.
To read part 3 of this entry, click here.
This is a continuation of the topic "A God-Ordained Hurt" with the subtopic "A Monumental Blessing".
When I speak of a God-ordained hurt, I’m not talking about those situations where you were disobedient and the circumstances that followed due to your disobedience. I’m talking about those situations where either: 1) you have absolutely no control of what’s going on in your life (take the stories of Job or Joseph as an example), or 2) those situations in which you believed you were being obedient unto God but your circumstances are not matching up to God’s Word. What’s worse in such conditions is the knowledge that you have the ability to change things and turn them around. To use a statement I heard a minister say, “Nothing requires more trust than submitting to suffering that you believe in your heart is the will of God when you know that you could take some action yourself and relieve that suffering.” In such times can you use the power that God has placed in you to remain there or will you run? There’s a quote that says, “Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.” Can you dare to be different and wait for the monumental blessing that is to come if you stand in the midst of a God-ordained hurt?
The ultimate example of such a God-ordained hurt and of someone daring to stand through it is in Jesus and His death on the cross. If you would permit me, I would like to dramatize Jesus’ death on the cross, and I’m going to ask you to imagine with me the thoughts that could have been going through Jesus’ mind as He hung on the cross. I ask that you will pray for me, because I understand this imagining might be a stretch for it does not state in God’s Word all of the thoughts that ran through Jesus’ mind or all of His reactions while He hung on the cross. In this re-enactment I’ll be considering Jesus’ humanity, not His divinity, for in the English Standard Version of the Bible Heb 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Just to forewarn you, I’m going to be using parts of my life, so I don’t want you to be shocked by what you hear and miss out on the point of the illustration. Instead, think on the things in your life that Jesus might have been thinking about as He was nailed to and hung on the cross.
To read part 3 of this entry, click here.
Continue To Stand Out...
This is a condensed version of a quote from an Apple Computer:
"Every tree is known by the fruit it bears; you do not pick figs from thorn bushes or gather grapes from bramble bushes." (Luke 6:44 GNB)
Here's to the Crazy Ones...The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently...they have no respect for the status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things...They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward. Maybe they have to be crazy...Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.Continue to be a square peg and stop trying to fit into a round hole. Who knows where your life might take you if you're willing to branch out and break free from the norm?
"Every tree is known by the fruit it bears; you do not pick figs from thorn bushes or gather grapes from bramble bushes." (Luke 6:44 GNB)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Remember the Promises
This post will be short. I saw a rainbow today. It reminded me of God's promises. Not so much the promise that the rainbow represents, but the personal promises that have yet to come to fruition. If you believe in God, what are the personal promises that He's made to you? If you do not (and I hope that someday you will), what promises have you made to yourself--promises that seem so far away or as if they will never become a reality?
In both cases, remember the promises. It will help you to continue on this path of change.
"God is not like people, who lie; He is not a human who changes his mind. Whatever he promises, he does; He speaks, and it is done." (Num 23:19 GNB)
In both cases, remember the promises. It will help you to continue on this path of change.
"God is not like people, who lie; He is not a human who changes his mind. Whatever he promises, he does; He speaks, and it is done." (Num 23:19 GNB)
Friday, September 18, 2009
Is It In You To Finish? (Part 1)
[Edit on 10/4: Okay, I realized that my original post was a tad long in the tooth for one blog post. Lol (or laugh out loud). I'm going to break it up into four parts.]
This entry will take a different route than the ones posted previously. Last Sunday I was permitted to be one of the speakers to address our church's congregation for Teen Sunday. I am thankful to God for the opportunity. This was the message that was presented. My question for you today is, "On your path/journey of change, do you have strength to see it through to the end?"
Hoping the best for you,
Clarissa
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” - Matt. 27:46
Topic: A God-Ordained Hurt
Subtopic: A Monumental Blessing.
A monumental blessing can come from a God-ordained hurt. First, let’s look at the word monumental. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, definitions for monumental are very great or massive, and a definition for massive is impressively large. Let’s hold these definitions in mind and move to the phrase a God-ordained hurt. What does ordain mean? It means to issue an order. Why would God issue an order to bring hurt into our lives? What benefit could we receive from this hurt? God wants to bless you in such a monumental way that not only will you glorify Him, but those around you will glorify Him as well. However, in some cases, in order to give you that blessing God needs to remove those mindsets that confine Him, thereby preventing Him from moving as greatly as He desires in our lives.
Take the story of Lazarus’ death found in John chapter 11 as an example. Lazarus was sick unto death, and a message was sent to Jesus that the one He loved was sick. When the message was delivered, instead of immediately leaving the town He was in, Jesus stayed for two days. By the time Jesus arrived where Lazarus was, Lazarus had been in the grave for four days. In his death, Lazarus left behind two sisters, Mary and Martha. Both sisters believed that if Jesus had been there Lazarus wouldn’t have died. What caused Jesus to stay behind? Why did He not move sooner? Why did He allow Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, to suffer through a time of mourning when He could have easily healed Lazarus? Because this was a God-ordained hurt meant to bring about a monumental blessing. As Jesus says in vs 4, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” In the town of Bethany, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Before Lazarus’ death, there were people that believed that Jesus had the ability to heal. However, after Lazarus was raised from the dead, these people understood that Jesus was more than a healer; they knew that He was the very Son of God. Mary and Martha’s hurt and pain through the death of their brother was deep, but it was his death that brought about a monumental blessing that expanded the confined mindsets of the people and brought glory to God.
To read part 2 of this entry, click here.
This entry will take a different route than the ones posted previously. Last Sunday I was permitted to be one of the speakers to address our church's congregation for Teen Sunday. I am thankful to God for the opportunity. This was the message that was presented. My question for you today is, "On your path/journey of change, do you have strength to see it through to the end?"
Hoping the best for you,
Clarissa
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” - Matt. 27:46
Topic: A God-Ordained Hurt
Subtopic: A Monumental Blessing.
A monumental blessing can come from a God-ordained hurt. First, let’s look at the word monumental. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, definitions for monumental are very great or massive, and a definition for massive is impressively large. Let’s hold these definitions in mind and move to the phrase a God-ordained hurt. What does ordain mean? It means to issue an order. Why would God issue an order to bring hurt into our lives? What benefit could we receive from this hurt? God wants to bless you in such a monumental way that not only will you glorify Him, but those around you will glorify Him as well. However, in some cases, in order to give you that blessing God needs to remove those mindsets that confine Him, thereby preventing Him from moving as greatly as He desires in our lives.
Take the story of Lazarus’ death found in John chapter 11 as an example. Lazarus was sick unto death, and a message was sent to Jesus that the one He loved was sick. When the message was delivered, instead of immediately leaving the town He was in, Jesus stayed for two days. By the time Jesus arrived where Lazarus was, Lazarus had been in the grave for four days. In his death, Lazarus left behind two sisters, Mary and Martha. Both sisters believed that if Jesus had been there Lazarus wouldn’t have died. What caused Jesus to stay behind? Why did He not move sooner? Why did He allow Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, to suffer through a time of mourning when He could have easily healed Lazarus? Because this was a God-ordained hurt meant to bring about a monumental blessing. As Jesus says in vs 4, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” In the town of Bethany, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Before Lazarus’ death, there were people that believed that Jesus had the ability to heal. However, after Lazarus was raised from the dead, these people understood that Jesus was more than a healer; they knew that He was the very Son of God. Mary and Martha’s hurt and pain through the death of their brother was deep, but it was his death that brought about a monumental blessing that expanded the confined mindsets of the people and brought glory to God.
To read part 2 of this entry, click here.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The Break Is Over
Okay. If you've been on a break, it's time to end it. What type of break am I referring to? The one where you've grown tired of fighting, of struggling, and simply of waiting. You're tired of fighting with those around you or you're tired of fighting with yourself by continually wondering why you're not changing (or why you've stopped changing). You're tired of struggling with the old habits you're having to break and the new habits you have to learn in order to change. Finally, you're tired of simply waiting. What is taking so long anyway? Something, anything, substantial should have happened by now, right?
Well, it's time to remind ourselves that change takes time. Anything that is rushed has a shoddy result. Even if the result isn't shoddy, it isn't as good as it could have been if more time had been taken. Have you ever seen a building that was built too quickly? On the surface it may be beautiful, but soon you start to notice the beauty is superficial. The roof leaks in spots, the floorboards weren't glued down well, and you're starting to see a crack or two in the ceiling. If a little more time had been taken during construction, maybe these problems would have been avoided.
The point I'm trying to make is that during out times of waiting we get a chance to develop as individuals. This is a time for our personal issues to be corrected or for the emotional baggage we've carried to be healed. In turn, our character is strengthened and things that once bothered us no longer do. This is good, because this strengthening brings about a greater determine and resolve that will be needed for the next leg of our journey. In other words, this is our preparation time for what lies ahead.
So let's get off of our break and get back to this journey of change.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; (Ecclesiastes 3:1,3b KJV)
Well, it's time to remind ourselves that change takes time. Anything that is rushed has a shoddy result. Even if the result isn't shoddy, it isn't as good as it could have been if more time had been taken. Have you ever seen a building that was built too quickly? On the surface it may be beautiful, but soon you start to notice the beauty is superficial. The roof leaks in spots, the floorboards weren't glued down well, and you're starting to see a crack or two in the ceiling. If a little more time had been taken during construction, maybe these problems would have been avoided.
The point I'm trying to make is that during out times of waiting we get a chance to develop as individuals. This is a time for our personal issues to be corrected or for the emotional baggage we've carried to be healed. In turn, our character is strengthened and things that once bothered us no longer do. This is good, because this strengthening brings about a greater determine and resolve that will be needed for the next leg of our journey. In other words, this is our preparation time for what lies ahead.
So let's get off of our break and get back to this journey of change.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; (Ecclesiastes 3:1,3b KJV)
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