Stability in the Storm {Part 1 of 4} Live a Life Free of Expectation

This is a tough one.  

I have been in friendships that have had unrealistic expectations placed on me, and I’ve placed unrealistic expectations on friends.  

I’ve been in churches big and small that have had unrealistic expectations placed on me, and I’ve had unrealistic expectations that I’ve placed on leaders at churches and church structures.  

Oh in my mind, my expectations were very realistic…as I’m sure that’s what others would say from their perspective as well.  

We all expect that if we do something for someone, then we deserve to be treated the same way if not equal, then more so.  The problem with that formula is that it breeds disappointment.  If our friend doesn’t meet our expectations or that church leader or church structure, then we feel hurt and unimportant.  We feel discarded and so we start over again seeking out a new friend and a new church that will meet all of our expectations.  Like I said, I’ve been on both ends of this cycle and have learned that these expectations are one of the traps that the enemy, the Devil, loves to use to cause us as a people pain. 

In Luke 6:32-36 Jesus is speaking about this very subject.  In verse 35 he says, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.  Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

Jesus himself is letting us in on something that is key to stability in our lives.  Not only are we to love our enemies, but we are to lend to them without expectation.  Even though Jesus is speaking of our enemies, you could easily substitute the word “friend, church, church leader, neighbor, co-worker” anyone really.  Our enemy is so much harder to love, so start with the people who aren’t your enemy, because that’s super easy…right?  –I think you get the point.

When we lend to others without expecting to get anything back, what does that really mean? 

                -lending my “things”

                -lending my time

                -lending my money

                -lending my emotions (caring for others)

When we do these things, Jesus says that we will be rewarded greatly!  (Glance back at verse 35)  One of those rewards is freedom.  When we don’t place expectations on others to return what we’ve done for them, the enemy cannot bring disappointment and THAT is freedom!  Another reward is a spiritual reward, that we will be sons/daughters of the Most High.  Jesus is saying that when we do these things, we are displaying our spiritual family traits.  Our rewards go much further and they are given to us in this lifetime on earth and beyond into eternity. 

What other ways can we lend to others without expectation?  Let’s challenge ourselves to live a little bit more free this week.

I welcome all comments posted here or on my Facebook page Tasha Johnson, Author, Path of the Blessing

Perspective

A view of the sky from our vacation in Maui; closest thing to Heaven.

In another blog, I had written about my friend Jesse.  Here's a link to that blog:  FAITH WALK  He’s afflicted by a disease that is trying to claim his life.  I’ve been part of a large group of family and friends that have been believing for his healing.  I do believe he will be healed and fully restored either on this side of eternity or the next.  The hardest part about this process is knowing that the door of death is involved in reaching the rest of our lives beyond this earthly existence.  I’m exercising my faith and trying with all that I have to see beyond and gain heaven’s view instead of my own time restricted earthly view.  This isn’t the first time I’ve had to stretch my faith concerning a friend who’s facing a deadly illness and I suspect it won’t be my last. 

What I’m trying to overcome is my natural earthly instinct to see life’s trials and afflictions as finality and with that comes the thought of “no hope”.  I’m in process of getting my mind to grasp hold of God’s truth and to get in alignment with heaven’s perspective; that life will continue on for all of us, either in the eternal presence of our Creator in Heaven, or in eternal torment in Hell.  One path gives us hope of full restoration, including our bodies, living a life void of pain and suffering. The other path without Christ offers no hope, no freedom from pain. 

All of us are eternal beings and whether we choose to believe that or not, life will continue on forever for all of us.  Ecclesiastes 3:11 …He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. This verse clearly states how all of us feel; that we can’t even fathom the scope of eternity.  That this earthly existence is a mere speck of time compared to eternity.  

Every trial and hardship we face on earth is like a drop of water in a vast ocean that never ends. 

Many are facing divorce, losing their house, have lost a job, struggling with addiction, and are contending with illnesses and injury.  Jesus sees us within our earthly time restraints and in his compassion is with us through it all.  Job 28:24 for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.  Nehemiah 9:27 …But when they were oppressed they cried out to you.  From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them… For us, a hardship can seem forever, but in heaven’s perspective it’s just a fleeting moment.  I remember when my first child was born, and that first year was so hard.  My husband and I wondered if we would ever be able to sleep again, eat a meal on time, or have time for ourselves.  It seemed like a very long year.  Now that same child is 15 yrs. old and taking Driver’s Education.  Where did the time go?  What I perceived at the time was an unending season of hardship turned out to be such a small amount of time in my life.  Perspective. 

Whether you’re hardship is illness, finances, loss of marriage, loss of a child there is HOPE.  We have an eternal hope through Jesus Christ.  This time spent here is nothing compared to the joyous future we are heading towards if you are in relationship with Jesus Christ.  Are you in need of hope today?  If you want to experience the hope of eternity then choose to be a follower of Jesus.

Pray this prayer with me, it’s not so much the words as it is your heart attitude.

Lord Jesus, thank you for dying for me, forgive me for my sins, wash me clean.  I choose a new path now, to follow you all the days of my life, and to honor your name.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

If you’ve just prayed that prayer, congratulations!  Your next step will be to find a local church to encourage you in your relationship with Jesus.  Now that you are a part of God’s kingdom, you too can begin to gain a heavenly perspective to help you navigate life’s hardships.

Go to the iTunes store and download and listen to the song, There is a HOPE by Life Center for further encouragement.  “There is a hope and his name is Jesus.” –Life Center Ministries

You can reach me on Facebook here:  Tasha Johnson, Author "Path of the Blessing"  and through Amazon.com you can find my book, Path of the Blessing to help guide you to staying on course with your relationship with God.

Pennies from Heaven

Art from Heidi-Malott

Wouldn't it be great if money really did rain down on us whenever there was a storm?  Frank Sinatra made this song famous based on this one idea. (Pennies from Heaven Lyrics) What Frank didn't know is that it’s TRUE!  

Malachi 3:10 … “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”  This blessing that is poured out from heaven can come in many forms depending on what you've brought into it. If you've given God your money, then you will be blessed financially.  If you've given God your time serving others, you’ll be blessed with more opportunities to serve at a higher level of influence. You see, Malachi 3:10 begins like this:  ^“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty. 

My husband, Troy and I serve as lay marriage counselors at our church.  A couple that we meet with was going through a huge financial burden to the point of eating once a day, if that.  After discovering this and the fact that they hadn't eaten yet that day (it was almost 8 pm), my husband took out all the cash we had with us and it was a $20 bill.  The husband’s eyes filled up and he and his wife told us that they had just asked Jesus for $20 on the way to the meeting.  They had been feeling like God didn't see their need and that he didn't hear their prayer.  Only Jesus could have set that up.  Earlier that day, I had been searching for lunch money for my girls, I had seen the $20, but decided not to send it with them and so I took the $3 out instead, leaving the $20.  That night that couple really did get money from heaven, and my husband and I got to be a part of it.

Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

Could you use blessings from heaven?  Whether you are going through the storms of life or days full of sunshine and happiness, God’s word stands true.  Jesus has blessings from heaven waiting for you; so much so that you won’t be able to contain it.  Ask Him, it’s really that simple.

If you want to know more how you can live a blessed life, then order my book, Path of the Blessing on Amazon.  Find the Compass that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob used to discover their most blessed path, and how you can utilize that same compass today!