Category: Validation

Pride...

9/6/2014

Do you struggle to keep the balance between pride and humility?

I do.

Our society teaches us to boast our every success. Social media is flooded with shout outs for the things we have done. As authors we are told to market ourselves, get our name out there, make our mark in the industry.

But we must maintain a humble heart before the Lord.

So how does that work?

“I am excited about what I have done—but it takes nothing away from what you have done. And I am no better than you in anyway.”

Is it just me, or is that completely insincere and rather nauseating?

I have to hold every thought captive. Analyze it. Is it about me, or am I pointing others to Christ? Is this for my glory or His? These are tough questions and I often dread the answers.

Because I suffer from pride.

How do you stay humble?

From Guest Blogger:
Michelle Janene
www.turretwriting.com

~Until next time,

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Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
Sinclair Publishing
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

Persecutors...

9/6/2014

I’ve actually gotten into trouble for laughing too loud at work.

When given my 15 year service award, the manager said “I don’t think she’s ever had a bad day.”

Yet there are those who make it their mission in life to tear me down.

Our lesson at church this week was “take up your cross and follow me”. For a long time I struggled to know what that meant. You see, I’ve always had it in my head that to “take up the cross” meant that you had to leave… go be a missionary in another country… move across the world… in some way physically leave the life you had in order to begin a new one with Christ as the center. Turns out that’s not necessarily true; you can take up your cross right where you are. They key is to put Christ as the center of it all.

My cross is to keep my joy and happiness in the face of those that cannot. When others try to tear me down due to their own unhappiness and insecurity, I keep my spirit of peace. When they try to transfer onto me those attributes that they are not willing to/ or capable of letting go of, I shower blessings on them. My happiness is a choice. My choice, not theirs. As soon as you realize that they truly have no control, life takes on a whole new meaning.

Their insecurity, their hatred, their fear, their control, is all their journey - not yours. Never expect anyone else to validate your value. They can't. They can only see the limits of what their own baggage allows them to see.baggage

“Love thy neighbor. Pray for your enemies. Love, as I have loved you.”

My cross is to love those that cannot love me. The reasons and excuses for their hatred and fear don’t really matter anymore. My cross is to show Christ’s light to a screwed up world, in my own back yard - and keep my happiness doing it. And only then, can they see the true light that shines for the world to see.

~Until next time,

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Tweet me @LorettaLea
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Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
Sinclair Publishing
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

The Un-Perfectionist

8/21/2014

The Un-Perfectionist. This type of person knows that they are not perfect, and praise God that they don't have to be. They relish in their own forgiveness and the love of God...

however...

They expect complete and total perfection from those around them. There is no excuse for others not to live up to their standards. They set the bar so high that there is no way on earth that anyone can live up to it. They forever let you know that you are not measuring up.

This is not a new problem. Jesus said:

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

Why do we hold others to a higher level of responsibility than we hold ourselves?

Judgementalism. A dangerous place to be my friends.

"Judgement is MINE says the Lord."

If you can learn to let go of our own expectations of others, and focus on God, life will be a lot more calm and peaceful for everyone.

~Until next time,

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Tweet me @LorettaLea
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Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

Overcoming Insecurity...

8/20/2014

I'm not good enough.
I can't do it.
Everybody hates me.

It's not enough that the world beats us down at every turn, but we have to keep up the fight, and continue to beat ourselves up when everyone else is done.

I'm a failure.
I can't do anything right.

Or, the expectations that we put on ourselves when we compare ourselves to others.

I can't make it on my own.
I'm afraid to be alone.
I don't make as much money as she does.
I have to show the world that I am better.

Better = more, bigger, better, nicer, more expensive, MORE.

So how do you let go of those feelings that cripple you. I've heard people say "Just get over it." That seems a bit cruel. These feelings go down deep and shake the very core of who you are. If it was that simple, there would be no problems.

The answer is a little deeper. Christ shows us in his life. You see, His purpose for coming here to earth was not about Him. "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve others." He wasn't put first. It was about us. He wasn't thinking of His own accomplishments, He put others before Himself. We have to learn to take ourselves out of the mix. I will repeat the opening line in one of my favorite books, The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren. "It's not about you."

If we can stop dwelling on all of our failures and downfalls, then we can start to get past them. Don't think about how you see yourself, or how others see you. Think about how Christ sees you. Life will take on a whole new meaning.

If we can stop seeing ourselves through the judgmental eyes of others, then we can truly begin to see what our real value is. Because, truthfully, all insecurity really is, is the judgment of others imposed on us. Judgment is God's and God's alone. People have NO RIGHT to do that to each other.

Christ came to live (and die) for us. If you can turn things around and live for Him, then you will find true value and purpose in your life.

Pick up a copy of this book. It will change your life. (No, I get no kick-backs - but I wish I did!)

The Purpose Driven Life. by Rick Warren

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Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

Withdraw to Serenity...

8/20/2014

There is something truly blessed about the Sierra Nevada Mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe. Its beauty and magesty are astounding. It leaves me speechless just to look upon the beauty of the glistening Topaz color of the water on a clear day.

I am here for a week now staying atop the gorgeous Heavenly Valley. I don't think the name is any accident. I have come to relax, rejuvenate, and to spend some time alone with God - something I get way to little of at home.

Christ is our example in this. When he was stressed, he withdrew from the crowds to pray. He chose to spend time alone with God.

Self-Worth

7/27/2014

In a world gone mad with outward beauty, how do you rate yourself? I’ve always viewed myself as falling short in that area. While not disfigured, or grossly ugly—I definitely don’t fit the “ideal” of what American finds beautiful. And I have always been aware of that fact.

Knowing I am a creation of God, fashioned by His loving fingers, at times helps but at times doesn’t. God doesn’t make mistakes—so why does the world make me feel so unwanted? God knows what He is doing. There is a plan and a purpose and all of it will turn out for my good, so could I get a clue of that plan here?

I have to remember; self worth has nothing to do with me. I must find my value—regardless of how the world views me—in the fact that Christ thought me worthy enough to die for me.

Self Worth

By Michelle Janene

@MichelleJaneneM

TurretWriting.com

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Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

It's just a name...

7/18/2014

Well said.

Think about it.

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Tweet me @LorettaLea
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#JesusChristLifeCoach
#JesusIsMyLifeCoach

Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

Why can't you validate my feelings?

7/16/2014

Why do we look to others for validation?

We don’t need someone else to agree with every movie we like, every song we download, or how we spend our time; yet we insist that others approve of us in every way. We insist people esteem us. They must like us and our choices, and if they have a different opinion, or don’t jump up and applaud at every breath we take, somehow we are less than we think we should be.

Why does it matter what others think of us? What is it about the human experience that craves others to validate us? Truly, the only one that matters is God. When we insist that others follow along with everything that we want or say, in essence we are taking their choices away from them. We are telling them that their choices aren’t important and they need to agree with everything we do. Free will and the ability to make our own choices is a God-given right. Who are we to take that away from someone else?

We are enough for Christ to die for us. We are in need nothing more than God’s love. What others think of us should never matter.

So why is it so hard to live that way?

See life differently.

Valadation

By Michelle Janene

@MichelleJaneneM

TurretWriting.com

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Tweet me @LorettaLea
#jclc
#JesusChristLifeCoach
#JesusIsMyLifeCoach

Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!