In His Likeness w/ AntTBri

“Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has glorious and great reward.  For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and ENJOY to the FULL what is promised”.  Heb. 10:35-36 AMP

Driving home from work the other day, my travel buddy mentioned “you’re too funny, you keep me laughing”. Making mention of how life with me is different in that it includes lots of loud laughter, hugs, inquiries of what’s good with you today and smiles.  She says when I laugh, it makes her laugh (laughter is contagious). If there’s something to appreciate or celebrate best to believe I’m going to find it and blow it up so big that the negatives begin to diminish in importance.  Life and love has its challenges, obstacles, growth opportunities there’s a whole lot of discourse highlighting that so there is no need to keep expounding; I’d rather re-channel that energy and enjoy what I can control (how I’m going to respond/react).  It could be the stubbornness of my nature but I absolutely refuse to let the opposite of what I desire (know is a possibility or to be true) to win (beat me).  PEACE MATTERS! JOY MATTERS!  Lightness of heart is a grace gift essentially because we’re confident we’ll receive and enjoy to the full what God promised us. So we live and love as if it is already so regardless of current realities in the natural.  

There are always going to be factors, reasons, things that present as obstacles, opposition and obstructions to our hope/expectation so why not take advantage of every opportunity to experience or express joy, and relish in the happiness granted us in the moment?  Yes I laugh, hard, boisterous and almost always from the gut because it makes me feel better, lifts my mood and serves as a reminder that I’m not bearing any of this alone…as crazy as some of this stuff, situations and scenarios are my confidence is (remains) in God.  I am not living or loving void of joy, hope or happiness; nor am I miserable, meh, unhappy, angry, contentious, disgruntle and I do not hate everything and everyone while in process.  He has me, he has you and our win is inevitable as long as we endure the hard place with the correct heart posture.  More times than not I live and love in the joy of the Lord, it really is our strength to navigate obstacles, opposition and obstructions.  

Looking for the good is a real thing (Ps.84:11} [Prov.11:27]. It’s MAJOR, essential for the lightness of one’s heart and it is my intent to live and love heart happy confidently trusting God.  When leaving the house, coming home, while we’re there together peace is the ultimate goal (adults, teens, 4 year old and the 2 dogs included (see Prov. 12:10). Laughter…a sense of calm, community and care is essential for successful co-existence (in my household anyway). It’s intentional, an effort and aspiration in a follow after peace Hebrews 12:14 intent.  I leave the house with my love tank on full, my hope and EXPECTATION is in GOD so I need nothing from this environment (acceptance, affirmation, “authority”) but the opportunity to image the hope, peace and contentment found in God. That is our manifesting reality!!!  Honey, this one lives and loves looking for the good and most times I find it in not so apparent happenstance…thus the hearty laughter, unexpected responses, and beneficial reminders that if it doesn’t reflect what God said baby we’re not THERE yet…keep pushing, pressing, praying and praising your way through. Sometimes the loudness is a strategy to drown out or distract them from focusing on the obvious negativity.  You’d be amazed how much shock and awe can change the temperature and temperament of hot heads (terrible three’s and teens).  How it can break the intensity of backward thinking adults and the cycle of mundane, this is how it’s going to be forever mindsets.  

What if we started each day, reminding ourselves that God desires to gift us with his abundance? What if we understood this abundance to include grace, favor, honor and peace?    Would we appropriate the promise found in Ps. 92:14? Would we ask each other to share the good they experienced and expressed and if it’s not readily available would we try to help them get to it?  At the core of who I am, that’s my practice in the hard place of life and love…obstacles, hindrances, current realities don’t have the final say on my outcome. God does!!!  We are not without hope in any situation, scenario or sickness.  The God who does not and cannot lie promises His will be done. Live and love confident in that!  That confidence will help you find, create and enjoy reasons to laugh.  Laugh just because it’s funny, ridiculous, freaking unbelievable… laugh to lighten the mood, usher joy into your home (atmosphere), relationships with others.  I read somewhere that ‘laughter is the best medicine’ (see Prov. 17:22) and a lot of clinical studies support there are additional benefits in laughter.  Laughter reduces stress, increases resilience, combats depression and brings people together (strengthen relationships).  

Situations, scenarios and stupidity will not dictate my mood, mannerism or mindset (or those sharing life with me).  I’m not always saying or doing with the intent of being funny, most times I’m just bringing me to the experience and those around find what I say or do in the moment funny thus my roommate, laughter when we’re coming through the gate at work, leaving the compound, going to the grocery store, taking the kids to the beach…sitting on the couch watching our shows, preparing and eating dinner together, walking the dogs, taking a ride or just coexisting.  Life and love is heavy enough without the extra hoopla, so live and love as light as you can.  Purpose your confidence will remain in God, allow Him to handle it and by all means protect your peace (guard your heart) with all diligence.  

Remember you and I are graced for this obstacle…in the end life and love will reflect the very heart of God towards us.  Let’s resolve, that life no matter how it manifest is BECOMING what God designed, desires and designates for our being.  May we live and love from this knowing, tapping into this inner calm, cool, and collectedness that is the evidence of the God kind of joy.   Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state] of grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand.  Let us rejoice in our hope and confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. Rom.5:2.  We’re almost there~AntTBri