Adrian!!!

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Boxing is a formidable and unforgiving sport. You must have skill, speed, and the utmost strategy to defeat your opponent. Ideally, you want it to end in a knockout, to your favor.

In Rocky IV, Rocky Balboa's friend, Apollo Creed, challenges a massive and elite Soviet Russian boxer named Ivan Drago. In spite of Rocky's incessant warnings against the fight, Apollo takes on the Soviet brute. Ivan's superior athleticism and physical build are no match for Apollo and he dies in the ring.

Rocky is so enraged by the outcome and Drago's obvious indifference at having killed Balboa's long time friend, that Rocky challenges Ivan to a fight in the Soviet Union on Christmas Day. Rocky takes on an unorthodox training regimen that, along with sheer determination, brings him victory over the giant, ending in a knockout.

Whenever I hear about the Rocky movies, this one specifically, I am quickly reminded of a similar story that takes place in the Bible. It is found in a book by the name of 1 Samuel. Within that book, a story is told about a young sheep herder by the name of David.

He has been working in the fields for many years keeping his father's sheep. It hasn't been a lazy vocation. David has been challenged by predators that have come to attack and kill his flock. I guess you could say that David was a Rocky in training.

Not only did David have to keep his sheep together at all times, but the predators in question consisted of a lion and a bear. Both of which David killed with his bare hands. Rather impressive. Yet, little did David know that these events were part of a greater training against a giant, a literal giant.

A Philistine by the name of Goliath who stood over nine feet tall and was terrorizing the Israelites - a group which David was a part of. David was also a man who had a close relationship with God and trusted God to help him kill the lion and bear that had threatened David's flock.

So, with nothing more than a slingshot and five smooth rocks that David had picked from a nearby stream, he ran to the battle line to face Goliath, challenging him to a match.

David was so confident and courageous in God that he called out the giant as being as good as dead saying, "This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down..." - 1 Samuel 17:46. Taking aim at the Philistine, David slung one, smooth stone, deep into the forehead of Goliath and he fell facedown, dead.

All of the training and solitude had paid off for David and the Israelites were freed from the tyrant, Goliath and the rest of the Philistines. This story of David always helps me to believe in myself and know that because I have God in my life, anything is possible.

No matter what situation I face, there is the great force of God who has my back. Helping me to be strong and courageous in the face of fear and anxiety. Along with a reassuring peace that remains immovable in uncertain times and intimidating circumstances.

I figure if David could be that courageous to take on a giant and win, there's really nothing in my own life that I can't overcome because of the strength and confidence I have as a result of being in a relationship with God.

Encouragement for the week:

Is there a giant in your life that you would love nothing more than to knock out? You're definitely not alone.

Whether it's anxiety over starting a new job or a fear of ending a toxic friendship, you have what it takes to overcome and defeat the situation.

If you are a Christian, you know you have a mighty team in your corner to help you take on anything or anyone. You have the power and presence of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit as your trainers and support system and they will give you the courage to win.

If you are not a Christian, you can look for Jesus and you will find Him. He along with the Father and the Holy Spirit will enable you to face any situation with boldness and strength.

Take A Pause

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Pronounced a couple different ways (seelah, saylah), the word Selah, as defined by Wikipedia, means several things. From "rock" or "like a rock", to "stop and listen" and "pause, think of that". It may also indicate a break in a song.

For me, Selah has become a meaningful practice in my life as I've applied the meaning to stop, pause, and reflect, much more than the other meanings given by Wikipedia. Often, I will find a quiet place to reflect deeply about things and events in my life that have had an impact on who I am as a woman.

Some of the things I stop to think about and reflect on have been both positive and negative in nature. The negative reflective points have been a source of lessons learned, the greatest being wisdom in how to better navigate my way through negative or difficult times to come.

It's at times of reflection that have gleaned the most insight, refreshment and peace. I know that even though I am a Christian and have chosen to follow Jesus, I am not perfect and need a lot of guidance and grace. Mistakes are often made and help, frequently needed. If it wasn't for finding Jesus, I wouldn't be here.

At the end of the day, it's by reflecting that I can come into an appreciation of where I've been and where I am going. That the mistakes made in the past have no hold on me now and do not determine or define my future.

I'm definitely not the same person today as years ago and that is a good thing. I don't believe we're meant to be complacent in thought or action but to go through the tough stuff, brush ourselves off and keep moving forward.

Encouragement for the week:

Have you ever wanted to go back in time and re-do something that you still regret doing?

Of course, we all wish that. The reality is, we can't but we can take time to think things out when met with a similar situation today.

To take a pause, insert wisdom, and do things differently that will be beneficial.

If you are a Christian, you know that pausing to seek wisdom from God will only benefit us when facing difficult situations and decisions. Continue to take time, pausing and reflecting, before acting.

If you are not a Christian, you can look for Jesus and you will find Him. He is ready to help you make better decisions for your life.

Deep Introspection

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Introspection is defined as the, ‘Contemplation of one’s own thoughts, feelings, and sensations; self-examination; heart-searching.’

As I daily live out this life of following God and surrendering to what God wishes to do in and through me, as well as remaining physically ready for whatever comes next, there exists a common denominator within me. One that causes me great introspection throughout this faith walk. I suspect it will keep resonating within me until the denominator is quenched once and for all…but can it? The denominator I speak of is feeling alone.

I have often found myself standing in the midst of people, even chaos, and being unable to deny the unmistakable gnawing of feeling so alone. “But you are not alone, my Child,” God says. “I know I’m not totally alone God, for I have You", I reply. “But I really do feel alone, Lord", I add.

I can’t seem to explain or describe my ‘aloneness’ in relation to what that feeling stirs within me. Quite often I have to be content to feel alone and move forward while questions of, “Will I ever stop feeling like a foreigner in a strange land? Will I ever stop feeling so alone?”, make a mess of my already perplexed mind.

They say, “Don’t have any regrets.” Before becoming a Christian, I lived a smeared and dirty life filled with regrets. Regret for all the horrible things I did and how unworthy those horrible things made me feel about myself. Then when I became a Christian, all of that changed in an instant and I was released from every regret and sinful deed. I was freed.

Now I live a life knowing I will never have regrets because when my heart is impressed to help someone, I’ll help. When I’m prompted to tell someone I care or that I love them, that's what I'll do. Just because I feel alone, doesn’t mean I can’t extend a word of encouragement to someone else who might be feeling the same.

We all long to be loved and cared for and our hearts really do cry out...for something. Something beyond us and our understanding. I often cry out to God from my heart for all the desires that are housed there but the best takes time and that means waiting.

So I have to wait and I have to be patient. I can barely type that word without laughing out loud for I am not the most patient woman but my many experiences with God have, well, stretched me to grow into a state of being patient as I, often, need to be.

As long as I have known God I know He has a sense of humor. I can’t always say that it’s the kind of humor that I can appreciate but it does make Him easier to relate to. He knows my inner hurts and needs and He is always working in me and my life, even though I may not see any progress. In turn, I know the commitment I have made to Him because of wanting His very best for me.

As for my aloneness? Well, someone reminded me of how alone Paul must have felt. Paul is a fellow in the Bible who was called to do God’s work and he was opposed a lot for doing so. So much that he only had a few good friends who stood by him as he did the work he needed to do. My heart goes out to Paul, but it was as though his dedication to God always seemed to mask that aloneness and he just kept going.

In my own experience, every time I've been met with this feeling of being alone, God has always met me there, saying in His still, small voice, "You're never alone, beloved, for I am here with you." His voice soothes and satiates me until the next time I feel alone, for it won't truly be satisfied until I'm with Him in eternity.

Encouragement for the week:

Ever feel alone? It's a natural, human response that we all go through from time to time.

How do you fill the loneliness? Is the solution lasting or fleeting?

If you are a Christian, you know how a dedicated life to God can be lonely sometimes but you also know that nothing truly satisfies like a deep, intimate relationship with God. He will fill you to overflowing and meet you in the times of feeling alone.

If you are not a Christian, you can look for Jesus and you will find Him. He can fill the spaces of loneliness in ways the world never will. He is the 'something' your heart is longing for.

In The Line Of Fire

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In this movie, Clint Eastwood's character, Frank Horrigan, plays a Secret Service agent in charge of protecting the personal safety of the President of the United States. As the story unfolds, Frank becomes the target of an ex-CIA assassin, turned would-be killer, who wants to take out the current president.

This foe taunts Frank with detailed information from his past including a failed attempt to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, whom Frank was assigned to protect early in his Secret Service career.

As this dramatic thriller comes to a close, Frank successfully thwarts the assassination attempt and the target is removed from Frank's character and reputation, along with the assassin. Frank is, again, known as an agent of honor and integrity.

Do you ever feel like you're walking through life with a bullseye on your forehead? That you're being shamed, judged, or gossiped about by others without ever understanding why? There have been many times in my life when I have been misunderstood. When a look on my face seemed to translate into a negative disposition to others, without them ever saying a word.

When non-malicious behavior, on my part, was deemed overtly malicious by someone who never asked a single question. It was extremely disheartening for me to find out that my attitude, personality, and habits were being formed by others who had not only never talked to me but who never knew me.

For whatever reason, the person never took the time to engage in a conversation with me and really get to know me. To find out how I tick, what my facial expressions truly mean, and what motivations lie behind my actions.

So, how can you find out who someone is and what lies behind their serious face? Conversation. Whether in person or over the phone, you can get to know a person pretty well and their demeanor, feelings, motives, and personality.

In a short period of time, you can find out what prompts that person to anger, disinterest, or indifference. Next thing you know, the person you used to target with your bullish words and gossipy ways, turns out to be a pretty decent human being. You have become friends with someone who is incredibly cool and it's all because you took away the veil of your own judgement and adopted an accepting attitude.

There is a book in the Bible called Matthew and in chapter 1, verse 7, it says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." (NIV) Wow. That's pretty harsh, isn't it? Not really because what goes around, really does come around and Jesus knew that better than anyone. That's what His perfection and divine knowledge were all about. He could always call things out that other people never saw.

I used to be a person who judged others negatively and what I put out, eventually came back onto me by others judging me unfairly. So the next time someone tells you not to judge a book by its cover, take it to heart before making your next move.

Encouragement for the week:

Have you ever been unfairly judged, feeling like the bullseye on a target? It can be intimidating, disheartening and hurtful.

It matters that you're understood and not unjustly viewed through a skewed lens. Though others may judge you, don't let the pain of their untrue assessment stop you from reaching out to someone you may have judged in the past.

If you are a Christian, the words of Jesus should be a stark reminder of how we should be conducting ourselves as His followers. Be a person who takes the time to get to know someone who is different from you for they may not yet know about Jesus.

If you are not a Christian, you can look for Jesus and find Him. He holds no judgement toward you. He loves you and wants you to experience an abundant life without judgement toward yourself and others.