Their Story is Always True..

Once upon a time, in a small, picturesque village, there lived a humble baker named Eli. His bread was famous far and wide, but Eli always insisted it was just "ordinary baking." Every morning, he'd look at himself in the mirror, admiring how his hands, strong and skilled, could create such wonders.

Eli's neighbor, Anna, often praised his generosity for sharing bread with the villagers. He would smile and agree, knowing well that his bread was the best in the village, perhaps even the kingdom. Anna, a kind soul, was always there to lend a helping ear to anyone in need, yet Eli found her stories a bit too mundane for his taste.

The village children loved Eli's bread, especially the sweet buns he baked on Sundays. He felt they were lucky to have someone like him in their village, someone who could bake such delightful treats. Meanwhile, Anna spent her afternoons teaching the children to read and write, though Eli often wondered why she bothered with such trivial tasks.

One day, a traveler came to the village and heard of Eli's famous bread. He was eager to meet this master baker and learn from him. Eli welcomed the traveler with open arms, knowing this was another chance to showcase his superior baking skills. As they spoke, Anna joined them, offering the traveler some homemade jam, but Eli quickly steered the conversation back to his bread.

As the days passed, the traveler learned much from Eli, praising him for his unmatched talent. Eli basked in the admiration, feeling it was no more than he deserved. Anna continued her quiet work with the children, her efforts unnoticed, but she didn’t seem to mind.

In the end, the traveler left the village, inspired by Eli's skill and passion. Eli felt a deep sense of pride, knowing he had impacted another life with his extraordinary talents. Anna waved goodbye to the traveler, her contribution to his journey known only to her and the children she taught.

In this story, every other sentence subtly reveals Eli's narcissistic traits, while contrasting with Anna's humble and selfless nature. To uncover the hidden message, read the story focusing on Eli's perspective and actions, then read it again considering Anna's role and contributions.

The Irony of Prayer: Pursuing Wants, Receiving Needs

This world will dissatisfy you every chance it gets. The life, job, person, and things you know you deserve don't want you as badly as you desire. It's not what you have or lack. It's 100% you. You submitted, committed, quit, and rededicated your efforts with a new plan, only for it to fail again. What's it called when you do the same thing repeatedly, expecting a different outcome? I know it has a name, but instead of finding that definition. We try again. Even when we get tired and say I'm only doing this one more time, we try two more “agains.”

The irony is everything you’ve prayed for is being manifested. Everything you have asked God for is provided in overflow. Yet you are frustrated when he answers prayers for needs to cover wants, and you still aren’t satisfied with what God is doing. We call circumstances punishments when we don't want to be accountable for the cycle we repeat.

Reflection allows one to replay the videos of life as they are or in your perception. You choose your perception when anger is the impact. You recognize your flaws when it's too late. We pick our next new thing, person, toy, or project as the therapy session; you compromise for the work required to submit your life, attitude, and intentions to God to lead without your help or advice.

It's easy to choose your right when everyone else is wrong. It's even easier to expect everyone else to accommodate your wants when you can't meet your needs. When peace beyond your understanding is the goal, and the revelation comes in your pursuit for clarity, God removes all obstacles in y’alls way. Even if you need no one and can't trust anyone, God will show you with him. You can do anything your heart desires, but most importantly, where his will leads.

Biblical Context:

Philippians 4:6-7 (New International Version):

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

3 Points to drive the message home:

1. Transformation Through Trials: Emphasize how challenges and disappointments can be transformative. This focuses on the idea that each struggle or failure is an opportunity for growth and deepening one’s relationship with God, rather than a setback.

2. The Power of Perseverance in Faith: Highlight the strength found in persistent faith, especially when outcomes are not as expected. This point underscores the importance of continuing to trust and seek God’s guidance, even when faced with repeated disappointments or unmet desires.

3. Divine Perspective Over Personal Perception: Encourage a shift from a self-centered viewpoint to a God-centered perspective. This involves recognizing that our understanding is limited and that true contentment comes from seeing our lives and our struggles through the lens of faith, trusting that God’s plan is greater than our immediate perceptions.

Be Blessed

The MenUStree

Balancing Life's Roles: Faith, Family, and Fulfillment

Striving to excel as both a father and husband while competing in a career to support a family is a singular goal with various challenges. A man's success as a father is judged by his children, while his role as a husband is evaluated by his wife, who assesses him even for his smallest mistakes.

This struggle of balancing multiple roles is a recurring theme across generations, potentially leading to a loss of faith in the value of relationships and personal experiences. This challenge is not limited to family life; it can manifest in any area, such as education or work, where personal failures or fears may prevent someone from fully embracing life, with its hardships and triumphs alike.

The idea of service here is to contribute positively to the lives of others, despite one's limited understanding of the ultimate impact. This approach offers a profound benefit: living a life devoted to a higher purpose, free from the fear of loss or unfulfilled desires. It's a choice between chasing fleeting worldly satisfactions or trusting in a higher power to guide one's life with love and purpose.

In summary, the decision lies in whether to live a life burdened by dissatisfaction and others' judgments, or to lead a life of service, embracing the freedom that comes with faith and obedience.

Biblical Context:

Matthew 6:24, which states, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Consider these three points:

1. Prioritize Purpose over Profit: This verse reminds us to prioritize our purpose and values over material gains. When we focus on what truly matters – such as relationships, personal growth, and spiritual fulfillment – we align our actions with our deeper beliefs and values.

2. Seek Guidance in Faith: Trusting in a higher power provides a framework for making decisions and handling life’s challenges. It suggests that by seeking guidance through faith, individuals can find strength and direction, especially when faced with difficult choices or balancing multiple roles in life.

3. Understand the Limitations of Material Wealth: The verse highlights the limitations of pursuing wealth as a primary goal. Material wealth can provide comfort and security, but it cannot fulfill all human needs, such as the need for love, purpose, and spiritual fulfillment. Recognizing this can lead to a more balanced and fulfilling approach to life.

Be Blessed.

The MenUStree