Everything In Its Proper Perspective

My father used to say "everything in its proper perspective". And I have to admit that for many years, I had NO IDEA what this meant. It seemed like, no matter the circumstance, he found a way to use it. 

When I was supposed to clean my room: Everything in its proper perspective.

When I questioned him about something: Everything in its proper perspective. 

When I was concerned about school or my teenage angst: Ramona, everything in its proper perspective. 

What he meant was everything had a right time and place. It was up to me to make sure that my life, my mind and my decisions were in proper perspective, in right shape and at the right moment. 

Perspective is how you see things or a point of view. But it's also being able to tell what is and is not important.

Often times we get to stuck on where we are NOT that we lose perspective on where we are supposed to be going. We are so busy recounting all of things that we think are wrong our lives, that we cannot see what is totally right. We obsess on what is missing and lose sight of everything good around us. 

Some days you have to stop and smell the roses. I mean literally take a look around you and see all the ways that God has blessed you. First and foremost, you're alive and breathing. That deserves a praise break in and of itself. 

*happy feet*

You are healthy. You have a roof over your head. Your lights are on. Your belly is full. You have clothes and shoes in the closet. You might even have $25 in the bank. You have friends and family who love you. You have a job, a car, a significant other. 

You may have less or you may have more. But you have something else that's more important. 

You have a purpose. You have lives that you impact. You have a God-given destiny. You matter. 

I know you might not think you do, but God knows. Because that purpose is His. That compassion you show? That's God. When you forgive the unforgivable? That's God. When you love the unlovable? That's God. When you sing the church house down? That's God. Because you are affecting lives; in ways that you cannot imagine. 

Stop selling yourself short. Stop selling God short. Get, and keep, a proper perspective about yourself. You are God's chosen. 

You. Make. A. Difference. 

So tomorrow morning, stand in the mirror and remind yourself that you are fearfully and wonderfully made and then read Psalm 139 Link---> Psalm 139

That alone will help you keep everything in its proper perspective. 

In love, 
Mona

Guest Post: I Ain't Scared No More

When I was a young girl maybe like 7 or 8 in age I loved to watch scary movies. Jason, It, Pet Cemetery, a long list and I was never afraid. Until the day I watched Nightmare on Elm Street. It terrified me! You remember, it was the one with the the guy (Freddy Kruger) who wore a glove with razors as finger and wore that super ugly sweater, yeah him. He was killing kids and had been arrested and released on a technicality and so a group of outrage parents cornered him and burned him alive in a huge furnace and somehow he becomes the nightmare demon-spirit. He came back to torture the kids of the parents who had killed him. He would kill them in their dreams and it would kill them in real life. 

My poor dad would stay up all night counting sheep with me. Until one night I woke up, screaming and crying the "demon killed one of the sheep." On that night, probably out of frustration and lack of sleep, he asked "why does this one scare you so much and why do you keep sneaking and watching it?" My response at a young age was very prophetic and neither of us would know it until much later on in life, but I said "because daddy there really is a nightmare demon, one who will come and kill you in your dreams and Nancy has almost figured out how to beat him and I need to know how she does it." 

He grabbed me close and laid me on his chest and said "No baby, Freddy isn't real." See Nancy was one of the teens who had watched many of her friends get killed but she had begun to figure out how to defeat Freddy. By studying some ancient cultures she figured out that she could bring things to the real world with her and that if she turned her back on him and feared him not, it would drain his power and he wouldn't be able to hurt her.
 

Fast forward to present day and I still wake up screaming and crying "the demon is killing the sheep!" Yup you heard me right. The Bible tells us in John 10:10 "The enemy comes to steal kill and destroy" (NIV). He comes and kills your dreams and you begin to parish in real life. I see it today as clear as I seen it then and I can no longer sit and watch my friends, family even strangers die. 

My dad is still a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. Shoot I'm sure if I called him he'd count sheep with me. But this time it is my Heavenly Father who comforts me, because the Bible also tell me in John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." See Nancy had to figure out how to defeat Freddy on her own but we, my brothers and sisters, don't. We know going in that our Father has already defeated our demons, yes all of them. What we can learn from Nancy is to study our Word; that turning our backs on the demons take away their power and to fear not. We have a gift that takes care everything else for us. "Thank You Jesus!"

Isaiah 41:10 reads "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." 

"GLORY"!  See all you have to do when that demon-spirit of doubt, fear, rejection, guilt, condemnation, low self esteem, depression, alcoholism, gambling,  who ever or whatever comes is to remember these things: We were told they would come! Turn your back on it! Fear not! Run with your mind on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Philippians 4:8 

You can't see me but I actually took a praise break and gave a little shout because you can snatch that dream right out that demons hand and bring it right back to real life with you because "no weapons formed against you shall prosper" Isaiah 54:17. 

The demon that has come to torture the children of the Parent who has destroyed him has no power over us. Be of good courage and know that you are not alone. God is with you, He is your strength and your peace. Someone is always praying for you even when you don't know it. 


Be Blessed,
Sis Denise Esters