Faithfully Seeking God | The Lighthouse After the Storm

  Have you ever noticed how a single comment from a friend or colleague can shift your entire mood? We often carry the weight of other people's expectations, allowing their daily actions to shape our internal value . It is easy to forget that our identity belongs to us alone, not to those who surround us. The emotional impact of these external pressures can be subtle, yet it slowly erodes our self- confidence over time. When we constantly seek validation from others, we risk losing sight of our own inherent worth. We must learn to recognize these patterns to protect our hearts from unnecessary negativity. By choosing to reclaim our identity, we begin a journey toward true freedom. We can protect our self-worth by setting healthy boundaries and surrounding ourselves with those who truly uplift us. Let us explore how to break free from the cycle of external judgment and embrace our authentic selves. Key Takeaways Recognize how daily interactions influence your personal value. Und...

  Puppy Love Have you ever been in love? It's a question that most people would have answered yes to a decade ago, but it seems harder to connect with others in today’s world.  The first stage of a connection is often "puppy love". We associate the concept primarily with tweens and teenagers, but it can happen at any age during any time of our lives. Goggle chat says, "it is an informal term for an intense often adolescent romantic crush characterized by infatuation, excitement, and idealization similar to a puppy's adoring affection." This type of love cannot last because it's the initial innocent stage of a relationship that is full of passion and daydreaming, but it lacks a deeper understanding of the other person. In puppy love the feelings are surface level based on looks and fantasies of what could be without any effort being put forth. As I sat with that definition the idea made me wonder how often people fall into puppy love with Jesus and simp...

  Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. G rief hits us in waves. Sometimes months or even years after a loss emotion will bubble up to the surface. The sting of losing people, places and things that were once dear to us can destabilize emotions in ways that we don’t realize until significant time has passed.  Walking around the lake on this particular day I was reflecting on some things God removed me from in order to protect my heart, grow my faith, and heal wounds I didn’t yet understand. I’ve learned that healing begins when we focus more on God and less on the people that mishandled us.   Scripture says, “don’t be impressed with your own wisdom, instead, fear the Lord”.  ...

Knock. Knock. Knock.   I looked at the clock. It was 10:09 am.   I quickly  walked to the door and looked through the peep hole to see two ladies. They were nicely dressed and looked to be in their sixties.  I opened the door. "Hello", they said with friendly voices as they introduced themselves. "We are getting to know our neighbors", they said and "we just wanted to say hello and talk to you about the trouble our world is experiencing today".  At this point it should have occurred to me that these women were Jehovah Witnesses (JW's), but it did not. I was in the middle of working and my mind was still at my computer even though my body was standing there at the door. I said "Yes we are living in the last days" in a matter-of-fact voice that conveyed the Lord told us this would happen.  The lady closest to me smiled with her mouth but not with her eyes and I wondered why she was watching me so carefully. I felt uncomfortable so I told the...