I was so mad at this driver on the road the other day. She was slow and moved into my lane and then back out again and then back in. I just needed her to get out of my way because I had places to go. I judged her, boy, did I judge her. And then I saw it. Her car was adorned with an out-of-state license plate. Clearly, she was unsure of her surroundings and where she was going. 

Why was I so quick to hate on her and hope that she would just get out of my way? This woman did not wake up that day with the intent to annoy me or cause me to delay. In fact, she didn’t even know I existed. She was simply going about her way, trying to get where she needed to be in an unexplored part of our country. Haven’t I been in that place? The place where an unfamiliar city leaves me with no choice but to break a half dozen laws so I can arrive at my destination? Yep. Been there. And I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you have as well.

My pastor, Craig Groeschel, says, “we just others by their actions but we judge ourselves by our intentions.” Basically, we let ourselves off the hook while we keep the hook in someone else’s mouth. 

It’s much easier for us to place a sharp, corrective eye on someone else than on our own soul. We are quick to pass judgment on another while we shower ourselves with mercy. We tend to excuse what we do all the while accusing someone else for what they do. It would be wise of us to give people the benefit of the doubt and assume the best instead of the worst.

Why do we do this? Why do we assume that someone else’s actions are detrimental while ours are completely innocent? Why are we so grace-filled with ourselves but justice-driven toward others? 

As you go on with your day, don’t just let this way of thinking tweak the next few hours. Allow yourself to truly consider someone else’s path. May we show kindness and gentleness to others the way we want it shown to us.

If you want to assume something about others, assume the best.

Today’s Reading
Ephesians 4:32
Colossians 3:12

Expectations.

We all have them. We do.

Kim Heinecke, one of my most cherished friends says, “The key to happiness is expectation management.”

She. Nailed. It.

We get so preoccupied with what we expect to happen and how we expect life to turn out that we find ourselves miserable because said expectations don’t pan out the way we assume they will. We are so miserable, in fact, that we miss out on what is actually occurring.

We can’t let our expectations of life cause us to miss the experiences in life.

So how does one remedy the beast of managing expectations?

1. Aim low. I know, I know, this goes against everything you’re taught. “Expect the best!” or “Aim for the stars!” people say. There is no problem with wanting a full and rewarding life. But when you place unreasonable expectations on a human being, experience, goal or dream, you will most assuredly be disappointed at some point. Be careful that your expectations don’t rob you of potential, unexpected joy. Example: My oldest son is getting married soon, which means I will gain a daughter! I do not have expectations of them doing things on my time frame, in my way or according to my desires. It is not about me. What are my expectations of Noah and Ella? Just to be in a healthy relationship with them. When this occurs, I will be able to enjoy the experiences that come upon our paths.
2. Be grateful. Isn’t this the antidote for just about everything? Scripture is full of commands that we are to “give thanks” or “be grateful.” Why? Because gratitude changes us from the inside out. Example: Life is busy for most people. So instead of being frustrated that I don’t have the perfect Christmas celebration on December 25th, I will choose to be thankful that my family can celebrate on the day we find that works for everyone.
3.  

I have witnessed more people disappointed in their lives because what they wanted and expected didn’t come to pass. Yet, the thing that did occur was equally as powerful and meaningful. They just could not see it. I was this way in my earlier years. But with each year that I gain, I have learned to manage my expectations, which can be unrealistic and somewhat irrational.

Are you placing unrealistic expectations on your life and on the people in your life? If so, chances are that there is an internal void you are attempting to fill. I encourage you to search your heart and then ask God to search it deeper.

We can’t let our expectations of life cause us to miss the experiences in life.

Today’s Reading
Phil. 4:6-7
Col. 3:16-17
1 Thess. 5:18

God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.

Surely you’ve heard that phrase. Many have said it so who really knows the genesis of it. But it is so encouraging and freeing. It basically says to us that we don’t have to have it all, we just have to make ourselves available to what God wants to use us for. Easy enough, right?

The Bible is filled with regular, run-of-the-mill people who did remarkable, out-of-this-world things through God’s intervention. God called them, He equipped them, and then He empowered them to do what He wanted them to do.

We are all just a bunch of unqualified people who are empowered by an extraordinary God.

This is the story of my life. If you knew me as a young child and teenager you might be flabbergasted at who I am today and how I live my life.

At age five, would you believe that I stood on a stage with my entire ballet class and covered my face while the rest of them danced? All due to being embarrassed in front of a crowd. But in my adult years, I actually became very comfortable on a stage whether I was leading worship or speaking.

Only God.

At age 15, would you believe that I failed the writing part of my state achievement test? The state of Texas said I did not “meet the minimum requirements” to pass writing for my grade level. And yet once I hit my twenties, I grew to love the written word. To embrace the complexities of writing pieces in order to build others up. And now, I’ve written hundreds of blogs, several YouVersion reading plans and two books. I have even been paid to write for different organizations. Oh, and I also teach English composition and grammar to high school students. 

Only God.

What I want to leave you with today is this: a life fully surrendered to God brings the most fulfillment and reward. Allow Him to take what you have and use it to transform your part of the world.

We are all just a bunch of unqualified people who are empowered by an extraordinary God.

Today’s Reading
2 Peter 1:3

Have you ever asked that question? Or maybe one akin to it such as, “Why didn’t God stop _______ from happening?”

I can’t remember a time in my life where Jesus wasn’t a part of it. I’ve attended church from the moment I was brought into the world. I am incredibly grateful that this is my heritage.

Jesus has been my Savior since I was eight years old, but there were many periods in my life when He was not my Lord. Yet, even in my sinful seasons of life, He was always at the forefront of my mind. When I was in sin, I knew I was in sin. No amount of justification could have eliminated the tremendous conviction I felt for my wayward actions.

But the farther along I am in my journey with Jesus, the less I ask “why” questions of Him. The less I doubt. Not merely just because I’ve been walking longer but also because I’ve chosen to walk deeper.

• I push through pain to get to the other side of healing instead of circumnavigating it.
• I petition Him to burn off the rough edges of life instead of living with a “that’s just the way I am” mindset.
• I beg Him to search my heart and reveal the sin I’m dancing around with.
• I surrender my own desires and ask Him to replace them with His.

These are simple tasks but not effortless and certainly not enjoyable.

I have learned and continue to learn more about God, His character, His attributes, His ways, and His heart. I know He is good, that He is loving, that He is for me, that He has amazing plans for me to participate in. Learning more about Him seems to be answer enough for the “why” questions that arise in my heart. Even if the question approaches my lips, it’s rare that it ever departs them. Because to expect that I can imperfectly, finitely understand a perfect, infinite God is a bit ridiculous. I’ve grown to not only love my Jesus but trust Him immensely. More than chariots and horses, more than people, more than money, more than comfort, more than things. 

I don’t think God is upset with us when we ask him why things happen. God is not some formidable figure in the sky whom we can’t approach. He is our Heavenly Father, and He wants us to come to Him. But, let’s consider changing the sentence of our internal dialogue with Him and instead ask…

How are you going to use this, God?

Today’s Reading
Ps. 20:7
Prov. 3:5-6
Is. 55:8-9

For the last couple of months, I have been spiritually dry. I’ve still spent time reading God’s Word and praying. I’ve still spent time in worship. I’ve still spent time helping others on their journey.

Because the truth is, I know what to say and what to do even if I’m spiritually parched and worn thin.

But, I don’t want to be spiritually parched and worn thin. That place where you feel like nothing from the Bible is penetrating your soul and you just open up the Bible App to keep the streak from ending. I want to be thriving and growing and learning and filled with peace in the midst of whatever storm or issue I face.

I began to backtrack and see when exactly I started to feel this way. Within minutes, I knew what it was that led to my spirit being impoverished during this season.

It was my diet.

Not the physical food that I ingested every day but the spiritual food. The things I listened to, the things I watched. There have even been some extenuating circumstances that I’ve walked through recently that have affected me. I’ve been angry and frustrated and discouraged. And instead of filling myself back up with the things that actually fill me back up, I have chosen otherwise.

Not anymore. In the car, I’m listening to books that build me up or podcasts that transplant courage to my spirit. At the gym, I’m getting my worship on while I pump iron and sweat like a crazy woman on the stairmaster.

Do you ever get to this point? My guess is you have and probably will again. It really is so simple. We must be feeding on the right things spiritually if we want our spirits to soar.

When your spirit is starving, check your diet.

Today’s Reading
Matt. 6:33
Romans 12:1-2
1 Cor. 3:16

It’s May 14th. We are ⅓ of the way through this year.  It’s been exactly 134 days since we entered the year 2019. And you know what people do at the beginning of each year?

They make resolutions and set goals.

My guess is that most of the people who set goals on January 1st have already caved and allowed those goals to be cast aside. With each tempting situation, we obtain a plethora of excuses to satiate our justification process.

Too much? Toes sore?

I hear ya.

Tell me if these excuses sound vaguely familiar:

• “You can’t restrict your diet forever – that’s not realistic. You have to live a little.” Life is short and we should enjoy it. But what happens when our “live a little” turns into “live this way all the time”? Before we know it, our healthy diet and eating plan has basically disappeared.

• “Exercising is good but don’t overdo it because after all, the Bible says spiritual training is more important.” I agree that we should train spiritually for our souls are what last forever while our flesh does not. But, what happens when we neglect our physical bodies so much that we can’t even enjoy our relationships, live the abundant life He promised us and do the things He’s called us to do?

• “I will invest in people and make a difference in their lives but right now is a busy season – I just need to focus on me.” We have to be filled up in order to pour out and impact people’s lives, but what happens when we keep all of it for ourselves every day, every year, all the time? That’s just spiritual obesity.

Am I hitting too close to home?

Don’t worry, I am preaching to myself mostly. If justifying my actions was an Olympic sport, I would easily take home gold. Easily.

Here’s what I want to remind you (& myself) of: you can start over today. Yes, 37% of the year has passed but that means there is still 63% left for you to complete the goals you wanted to. You don’t have to put it off until 2020.

If you want a reminder of how to do this, read this post of mine from January 22nd.

It’s not too late to start again. As long as there is breath in your lungs, it’s never too late.

Today’s Reading
2 Cor. 4:16-17
2 Cor. 5:17
Col. 3:9-11

I hate to wait. I do.

You, too?

I’ve been in and out of waiting rooms my entire life.

You, too?

I been in waiting rooms at medical facilities. Waiting for news from the doctor to assuage the concerns and what-ifs that were running a marathon in my mind. I’ve been in waiting rooms in the physical sense. Wondering when a certain ailment or injury would heal so that I could be up again on my feet. I’ve been in waiting rooms in my spiritual growth. Petitioning God to get me through this “season” so that I could just go into the next one.

We get impatient with God and think we have waited long enough. We want to know why, demand it even. We beg and plead and lay a plethora of fleeces before Him. We call on prayer warriors and rightly so for their prayers availeth much. But in this scurry of spiritual activity, sometimes we forget one incredibly monumental component of our faith expedition:

His timetable is not our timetable.

And if I’m being brutally honest, my humanity doesn’t like His timetable. Yet my spirit knows down deep in my knower that it is best and it is what brings unexplainable peace.

If we are still waiting, then God is not ready to reveal something yet. There is still more time needed to work something out for us, from us, around us, within us.

As I write these words to you, please know that I am trying to digest them myself. It’s my heart that is truly the recipient of these words. For, I’m waiting on things right now just like you. Relationships to strengthen, souls to be saved, paths to be laid out. But, in the words of my dear friend and prayer warrior, Ali Bergin, “He is the lifeline. He is the hope, the rope and the hand.”

Lean into Him. Grab hold of Him. And don’t let go.

If we are still waiting for it, then God is not ready to reveal it.

Today’s Reading
Isaiah 40:28-31
Proverbs 27:14
Proverbs 3:5-6
Colossians 1:11
Galatians 6:9
Hebrews 11:1

Because the Holy Spirit works in our planning and in the moment.

The statement Pastor Craig said was, “What walks into the room when you walk into the room?”

When I, Cindy Beall, walk into a room, what comes with me?

Is it the good stuff like hope, joy, encouragement, kindness and positivity?

(Mercy, I hope it’s the good stuff.)

Or is the the stuff we don’t want to acknowledge like negativity, discord, jealousy, rudeness and hatefulness?

(Say it ain’t so, Lord.)

As I was challenged by this, I’d like to challenge you with it as well.

What Do You Bring With You?

Today’s Reading
Matthew 5:14-16
Ephesians 5:8

There’s always talk about being worthy of something.

She was worthy of the valedictorian title.
He is a worthy successor to the governorship.
The donations will go to a worthy cause.

Worthy simply means having worth, being esteemed, deserving of something.

If you are a Follower of Christ, are you worthy of the title Christian? Lofty question, huh? Well, what if I told you that being worthy of this divine calling was actually more simple than you thought?

The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1 that we are “to live a life worthy of the calling we have received.” That’s the part that makes us freak out a bit because we may not think we are. Here’s where the game-changing part comes in. Verses 2-3 say to “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

So, how do we live a worthy life of this divine calling?

• Walk in humility
• Be gentle
• Be patient
• Bear with others in love
• Keep in step with the Spirit

“Gosh, Cindy, you made that sound so simple but it’s not.” Friend, you don’t have to be perfect in this; just strive for it. It truly is the little things that make the difference.

Want a little summation of my thoughts about what to do with these qualities? Okay, here goes:

Wake up each day asking God to help you keep others in the forefront of your mind instead of your own self. As you go about your day, greet people with an understanding that you don’t know what their life is full of in this season. As you wait, try not to grumble or complain. It’s unattractive anyway. And give grace to people when they disappoint you. And they will disappoint you. Give them the grace you so desperately want and need in your own life because of your shortcomings. And of course, surrender your fleshly desires to the Spirit’s rule in your life. Not easy, but very simple. Mostly do the things that build up your spirit instead of build up your flesh.

Easy enough, right?

As you practice this, you’ll find that your life is truly worthy of the calling you’ve received. You got this. Because He’s in you leading the way.

A Worthy Life Includes Humility, Gentleness, Patience, Grace + Being Spirit-Led

Today’s Reading
Ephesians 4:1-3