GHFGM – A Lack of Knowledge Can Destroy You

As a child I frequently heard this quote “what you don’t know won’t hurt you” and now that I’ve matured I know that this quote is wrong, as while ignorance may be bliss I’ve found that a lack of knowledge can destroy you, and this passage of scripture confirms it Hosea 4:6 ! There’s a reason for this instruction : Romans 12:2 (NIV) -Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The world will fill your mind with information and trending topics that will make you complacent, cold, and uncaring and endanger your life as you”ll start making choices and decisions that will not only be detrimental to you but they could also destroy you! Making the choice to randomly become intimate with someone and not having any prior knowledge about them or how they’ve conducted their life could cost you yours, not knowing that some behaviors aren’t as harmless as they may seem could lead you down the destructive path of  addiction which can and has led to death, not knowing that engaging in mindless conversation via social media could cost you your job, etc, as this list could go on and on.

We have to make every effort to embrace wisdom and knowledge as ignorance could prove to be costly with the price to be paid being your life. A lack of knowledge can and will destroy you and now that you’ve been warned it’s up to you to seek the Lord doing as this passage of scripture instructs us to:

James 1:5-7 (NIV)

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Blessings, Love, & Peace Tracy

GHFGM – Rejoicing and Mourning With Others

So much is happening in the world around us and in our personal lives until we’ve all had the opportunity to live out this passage of scripture: Romans 12:15(NIV)-Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. What I find most interesting is that many of us and particularly those of us who profess to be children of God are not willing to be obedient as it pertains to “rejoicing and mourning with those who do so.”

Lately I’ve found myself hesitant to share my testimony in regard to blessings or answered prayer as when I sought to do so recently a brother in Christ responded “I don’t know why the Lord was so quick to answer your prayer I’ve been suffering for a long time and praying without ceasing to no avail!” The envy and jealously I felt instead of happiness and joy that we should feel and display when the Lord moves on behalf of a brother or sister in Christ broke my heart! By the same token when others are in sorrow many of us are so focused on our own challenges and trials that we won’t take the time to acknowledge let alone mourn with those who are mourning.

As children of God we are to not only hear but to also do what the Word says, and as we live out our faith daily we’ll encounter times of joy and times of sorrow and when we extend our heartfelt joy and thanksgiving when others are blessed and sorrow for and with those who mourn we’re being and obedient to the Lord and only blessings can follow our doing so.

Blessings, Love, & Peace Tracy

GHFGM – A Time To Weep

In the wee hours of this morning I found myself with a heavy heart crying and weeping with sadness as it seems as if there’s trouble on every hand and many are faced with so many challenges and struggling in ways that’s incomprehensible. The tears that wet my pillow also watered my prayers and the universal sobs that escaped my lips with empathy did so for those I know and those I don’t know, and this passage of scripture spoke to me in that moment:

Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NIV)

⁴  a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

There absolutely is a “time to weep” but as children of God many of us are of the mind-set we should keep a stiff upper lip, crying is for babies and those who can’t handle their emotions, and we should never allow anything or anyone to reduce us to tears but our elder brother Jesus was troubled in his spirit and moved to tears as he felt the grief that Mary expressed due to the loss of her brother Lazarus (John 11:32-35). If Jesus was able to weep for those in distress who were hurt, mourning, and wounded why can’t we.

When people are celebrating and rejoicing we must celebrate and rejoice with them as it’s during those times that the joys of life are being acknowledged but by the same token when people are weeping we are to weep with them as it’s during times of grief, hurt, and mourning that our tears can provide solidarity and bear witness to our feeling the pain of another:Romans 12:15  (NKJV) – ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

A time to weep is upon us so set aside some time today allowing for and giving yourself permission to weep for and with those globally who are weeping and as you do so let this passage of scripture be your guide:Psalm 39:12 (NIV)–¹² Hear my prayer, Lord, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were.

Blessings, Love, & Peace Tracy