Tag: life

A Journey Directed

When we start out on this journey of life we never really know where we may end up when it comes time for our journey to be over on this side of eternity.  Some would say that there are many different paths that we can take on this journey.  Some stay close to their roots and never leave their hometown.  Some may take off and never look back.  How we are raised definitely  does impact the choices we make and which direction we may choose to go down, but ultimately we all do have a choice of which roads we are going to travel.  

Our jobs and careers may take us down certain roads that otherwise we may have never gone down.  We may meet certain friends or a mate that we choose to follow down a path they are on.  The sad truth is that often tragedy and trauma may hinder the good path we were on to cause us to stray onto paths that if those things had not of happened we would have never gone down.  

A question some may think about could be,  “Is it too late to turn around from the place I am at, especially if it is not a good place to be?”  Most if not all people have at some point been on their journey and looked around and seen this was not the best place for them to be.  It is at that moment that we have to choose to take a different path.  There will be struggles to find the right path.  Our past negative choices sometimes cloud our vision of the right path to be on.  Traumas of life may have darkened the path we’re on that we can’t see the light of day on how to get to a better place. We may be bound to others or addictions that hold us back from getting to the road of self improvement.  

In the book of Daniel it is very evident that God knows the future. Through visions and dreams and subsequently their interpretations Daniel wrote about events so precisely that often some historians in their disbelief say that the book of Daniel had to have been written after the fact of all the prophecies fulfilled because it was so accurate they can’t believe Daniel would have known hundreds of years before.  At first Daniel didn’t know, but God does.  He is the Beginning and the End and He already knows what choices we will make or what choices we would have made.  Every possible scenario that our life could take God knows the outcome of what it would be.  This is why some doors open and some close.  

The most important thing to remember is no matter where you are on this journey and you know that it is not the best place to be we can take comfort and solace in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” May you trust in Him and in your dark moments on this journey let your faith give you rays of hope to see the path you need to be on.

~TRS “an old article updated and added too” 🙂 3/15/26

Taking Responsibility

Take Responsibility; Pay the Price 

In times past many would quote a definition from Webster, but now it is a simple thing to type in a word online and get many options to choose a definition from.  I wanted a simple explanation of what many even from a kid should know about so I chose to use the definition from talkingtreebooks.com with a “simple definition for kids” for the word: responsibility, which means “you do the things you are supposed to do and accept the results of your actions.” 

For many of us at various times in our lives I am sure we may have experienced a time when we did something that did not turn out quite the way we wanted it to and did not want to admit and/or accept the consequences of the actions that we chose to do.  It is a parent/caregiver’s responsibility to teach their children about responsibility and to hold them accountable for their choices.  Often people will make bad decisions based off of the negative life experiences they have tragically had to endure such as abuse, trauma, or being raised in a home of an addict, narcissist, or witnessing domestic violence.  However, if a person then chooses to make negative  decisions also and blame it on their own past there has to come a point that they take responsibility for their own current choices.  Unless there is something drastically wrong with your mentality everyone has the capability to change. 

Changing to become a “better person” is an option every single person has the ability to do. Our choices impact others, therefore we need to be held accountable and take responsibility if some form of harm befalls others from our decisions. 

In the OT book of Joshua chapters 6 and 7 explains a situation when the children of Israel were told not to do something and that if that thing was done; specifically to take plunder of things accursed death would be a result.  This lets us know that we typically know in advance what we should or should not do.  We hopefully are taught from a young age not to commit crimes. Even if a child was raised in a home with thieves at some point in their life they are going to be told that is a crime and jail time will be a consequence.    This lets one know that once truth about a matter is known it becomes a choice to continue in it or change. 

In Joshua chapter 7 the man named Achan took those “accursed things” and hid them in his tent.  When he was found out or “caught” he could have tried to lie his way out of it, but he at least even knowing the consequences he took responsibility and admitted it. He explained that he coveted the things; which basically is like having an itch you just feel you have to scratch.  His choices not only impacted him, but his family and was a direct link to 36 others dying.   When you make a choice once or especially if it is a continual choice you are making, know the time may come to pay the price.

~TRS 5-25-25

Making Changes Last

When things seem to be going good in our lives or we are at least content with our circumstances we rarely would see a need for change.  The simple definition of change is to alter or make different, usually with the intent to make better or improve.  Stop for a moment and reflect on what in your life you wish was different.  What in your life could be improved? What do you wish was better?  

In most support groups one may hear a portion of a prayer from Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr referred to as, “The Serenity Prayer.”  Within it one asks God for the peace to accept the things that cannot be changed, the courage to change the things that are within our power to change and then for the wisdom to know the differences of what we can and cannot change. 

We have to know and realize that we will never change another human.  We can encourage, influence, maybe even persuade but ultimately it is up to each individual of whether they make the changes in themselves that maybe we wish they would.  Maybe we have been in a similar situation as a certain person and we know that if they did X, Y, and Z their life would show some improvements, but until they get to the point of being willing to make those changes on their own nothing will happen.  

Working as a counselor and now a pastor too, I have heard many “rock bottom” stories.  Rock bottom is that symbolic place that people often refer to where they finally start the process of changing.  

In the late 70s and early 80s James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente came up with The 5 Stages of Change Model.  Within this model one can look at the different stages to see where they may be in regards to making a change.  The first stage is Pre-Contemplation which is basically the stage that you still feel no need to change.  You believe that there is no problem and no reason for a change, even though others may see it.  In this stage you will reject any advice or help because you see no need in it.

Then 2nd stage is Contemplation; this is where you actually start to think that it is in your best interest if you do start to make a change.  This leads to Planning or what some call the “brainstorming” stage.  You think of all possible options that you can do in order to make change happen.  You may have many ideas, but the next stage is to pick a plan and put it into action.  

The Action stage is where other people will also see a difference.  There will be evidence that you are making a change.  It will be seen in how you act which will be a direct result from your thoughts and beliefs changing.  As the change happens and others see the differences and improvements the last stage is Maintenance.  Once at this stage the change has happened and you continue doing what is necessary to make the changes made last.

March 16, 2025

~TRS

Justice Served

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the “just” person as “one who typically does what is morally right and is disposed to giving everyone his or her due.”  Cornell Law School explains that justice is “the ethical, philosophical idea that people are to be treated impartially, fairly, properly, and reasonably by the law.  The laws are to ensure that no harm befalls another, and that, where harm is alleged, a remedial action is taken; both the accuser and the accused receive a fair trial.  

In the gospel of Mark chapter 3 tells of a time when Jesus entered into the synagogue where there was a man with a withered hand.  The Pharisees watched Jesus to see if He would heal the man on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.  To be accused is to have a claim that one has done something wrong or illegal.   1 Peter 5:8 informs us that we are to “be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”   Satan means adversary or accuser and that is what he will do.

The devil will bring up your past and all the things done that go against the will of God.  None are perfect and all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.  Just like whoever makes a game it is the inventor of it that gets to make the rule book.  God is creator and creation and those created need to know the rules to live by.  It has been said that none of us play by the rules all the time.  Romans 3:20 explains that it is “by the law the knowledge of sin” is known.  Since we all have sinned then the only way to be justified is to have one who can pay the debt or fine we cannot pay ourselves. 

With faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe through the act of repentance we can one day stand before God knowing our debt was paid.  Some unwisely speak to say that “God will be my judge” with the thought that as long as they are a “good person” and have not done any “major” wrongs in life, then they will be granted access to Heaven.  However, this is not going by “the rule book.”  

When true justice is served it will be based upon whether your debt has been paid or not.  We can’t pay it but a way was made.  If one has not accepted that then you will be judged according to the rules and you will have to give an account for all wrongs done.  True justice is to get consequences for that which was not done right.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God.  Yet, there is hope that we are made righteous through our faith and belief that will give us rays of hope into eternity.  

TRS 12-3-23