Nov 5, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, On Faith.
I screw up regularly. In case y’all thought my claim to Christianity is perfectionism, it isn’t. It’s forgiveness and being loved through the parts I need forgiveness for. [Can I get a sigh-of-relief-AMEN for that one?]
I am a perfectionist because I try to do everything right. But I’m about as far from perfect as Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. I don’t eat right, sleep enough, love enough. I’m just not that good at taking care of myself.
I do know one thing: God loves me through it all. No matter what. Which is kind of a foreign idea to me. I mean, when I mess up here on earth, people are quick to call me on it. And vice versa. I admit my anger. My judgments. My negative, sinful actions and thinking. How I feel inside is often manifested on the outside. And it ain’t always pretty.
I also admit I need Him. The parts of me that don’t want to work right. The parts I don’t want to fix, but know they should be. And I’m able to turn to Him and ask for help.
“Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.”
~Proverb 2:11 NLT
It’s easier, now. Getting to Him instead of pushing Him away.
It’s easier to just say, “Hey, God?” and let Him walk through the door. Even if I don’t think the door is open. Or that He’s listening. Because it is. And He is.
Frankly, On Faith: Earnestly Seeking God
So even if I’m too stupid to see what’s happening or how to handle it, I’m smart enough to step back, let go, and let Him lead.
TWEET THIS: Frankly, On Faith: Earnestly Seeking God @MollyJoRealy #franklyonfaith #faith
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
Oct 22, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, On Faith.
Isn’t it great–I mean, soul-soothing, flower-smelling, song-singing great—to know that God has so much planned for your life? We start life with our own designs, our blueprints, if you will, and He comes along as the professional and lets us know what will work and what won’t.
And here’s the thing. He’s right. Because He can see the whole neighborhood we’re trying to get into. He knows the structure, the elements, how close it is to the convenience store, and which stores we shouldn’t be close to.
Yeah. That’s our designer, God.
We want our spiritual home on earth to be everything He needs it to be for us. But it won’t stay the same. There will be renovations. Heck, maybe even a move or two. If you’re a nomad, maybe God will ask you to show up in the park but not stay too long.
“For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.”
~Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT
I like to capture this verse when I’m overwhelmed, or worse, feel trapped. I know things will change. That knowledge causes me to recognize the everyday glories, and exhale the momentary dissatisfactions.
Life itself is fleeting, and we never know when God’s plans for us will shift.
We should always leave the porch light on and let Him enter at will. He doesn’t care about the mess. He cares about the people living in it.
Give Him the chance to redecorate your life, and give Him your ear when He tells you when it’s time to fix the cracks in the pavement.
Frankly, On Faith: Have a Firm Foundation
TWEET THIS: Fluid Blueprints with a Firm Foundation @MollyJoRealy #faith #asformeandmyhouse
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
Oct 8, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, On Faith.
We’re a busy culture. We are go-go-go with not just a lot on one plate, but many plates. The Bible warns us the sloth will perish in poverty, but we can take the opposite to extreme which is just as ignorant.
Scripture has many verses about the need for rest. It refreshes our spirits, gives us time to connect with God, allows our bodies to recoup and recharge.
Health experts have always praised the benefits of rest.
This doesn’t mean sleep, which we do every day. It means to limit your activity so you can refresh, to give yourself a moment of tranquility, a period of solitude and/or quiet.
It can also be a way of celebrating a job well done.
“And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy,
because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.”
~Genesis 2:3 NLT
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Rest Easy.
Resting is a conscious choice to relax and enjoy the world around you. What does that look like to you?
TWEET THIS: What does resting look like to you? @RealMojo68 #resteasy #franklyonfaith
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Sep 5, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Frankly, My Dear . . .: Nippers, Bruno, and Molly Jo Realy
I worked on NOLA this weekend. Like, a lot. Of course, along with writing comes being creative in other ways. Like creating this cover for my Facebook Group:
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Excerpt from NOLA by Molly Jo Realy (work in progress)
And that got me thinking about the other memes and designs I’ve created. So I wanted to let y’all know the monthly PDF is now available at MollyJoRealy.com. This month I designed a fun inspirational wallpaper for your computer or mobile device. Feel free to download and share! (Sorry, no NOLA memes yet. Be patient!)
I also put up a sub-link so y’all can do the same with all the Frankly, On Faith memes. Yup, they’re now available as a PDF download or computer wallpaper.
Keep an eye on the libraries throughout the month as new PDFs may be added through individual posts.
I mean, it’s autumn, right? Oh, shush. I got my Pumpkin Spice Latte. That makes it autumn in my book!
I’m thinking soup recipes, autumn pics, just a whole lotta leafy fun.
Anyway, it’s late and there’s a thing happening in New Orleans I need to finish writing.
So, with a lot of wallpaper and a waiting protagonist,
Happy Everything,
~Molly Jo
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . . : Your Monthly PDF is available. @RealMojo68 #PDF #franklymydear
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
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Aug 20, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Frankly, On Faith.
Are you an emotional pack rat? Do you hold onto the past in hopes of rescuing those broken bits and pieces to make them whole? Do you stay in the game longer than you should?
When Jesus called His disciples, He told them to drop everything. They couldn’t move forward without letting go of what hindered them, and in the perspective of heaven versus earth, what hinders is, well, nearly everything.
It’s hard, right? Even now, as Christians, we want to make the best of things. It’s hard to see something crumble and let it be. We want to whip out our spiritual Super Glue and fix it all.
But we can’t. And we’re not supposed to.
There are times when the best we can do for ourselves, our peeps, our God, is to walk away and not look back. We’re cautioned so many times for our own good to just move forward. Lot’s wife was turned to a pillar of salt when she glanced at the turmoil behind her. Jonah was swallowed by a whale when he refused to move on.
But what about the other side of the coin? What about when we’re ready and willing to move forward but those around us aren’t? Isn’t it our duty to stay and witness to them? Shouldn’t we do everything we can to bring others to God?
“If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message,
shake its dust from your feet as you leave.”
~Matthew 10:14 NLT
In this context, “refuses” isn’t someone saying, “No, thank you.” No, this is basically someone bolting the door and chaining the fence. You’re just not going to get through to them, no matter how hard you try!
When you’re in a situation so dark your own spiritual safety is at risk, when you know those around you will not budge, it’s okay to leave and not look back.
This doesn’t mean you stop praying for them, caring for them. But do so from a distance. Because when you leave behind those who don’t accept you, it puts you on another path toward those who will. It keeps you from falling into the quicksand of apathy, and firms the ground beneath you. It takes away those who detour your path to God.
When your path is clear of debris that could otherwise trip you up, you’re able to set your footing on solid ground. When you let go of what you shouldn’t hold on to, your hands are open to hold His.
Whether its people, circumstance, or your own past, sometimes leaving can be the best thing you can do.
When you walk away from a past, you walk toward a future.
Frankly, On Faith: Be Willing to Let Go
TWEET THIS: Frankly, On Faith: When you walk away from a past, you walk toward a future. @RealMojo68 #faith #shakethedust
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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