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When The High Has Left – How Your Life Can Make A Difference Today!

February 9, 2015 by Traci

when the high has left

You’ve never gotten high, you say?  When is the last time you’ve self-medicated with people pleasing?  Drowned your sorrows in that bowl of ice cream with a side of potato chips?  Consumed way too much of a “good thing” in order to feel some fulfillment and then check out?  We ALL choose our own high, and when we fall, we fall hard.  We are a people in search of the next thrill.  We like the rush of excitement pulsating through our veins.  The feeling of people telling us we are important.  We crave new and pleasure.  But what happens when the high has left, and you are forced to face yourself in the mirror?  Do you like what you see, or are you empty?  Here are some ways your life can make a difference- TODAY.

Realize The Media Is Faulty At Best

Are you looking to the media as your source of fulfillment?  Do you think because you don’t have that amazing title yet, best selling book, or look great in a bikini that you don’t matter?  All of that is faulty at best.  Look deep into the soul of a person in the limelight, and you will find a person seeking emotional and mental rest.  Stop the striving for something that has a shaky foundation, full of fault lines.  Fractures in the soul, seeking to be made known, with the only inevitable crumble surmounting.  You are enough in Christ.  You matter right where you are at today. 

Be A Real Friend

I’m convinced, more than ever, people don’t want fake.  When others look at your life, they don’t want to feel like they can never measure up.  It’s okay to show the amazing things you are good at, but with that, share your honest struggles and how God helped you (or is helping you) overcome them.  People don’t want perfection, they just want genuine.

Lose The Entitlement Mentality

Have you ever imagined up a whole scenario in your head?  You have played out, quite literally, an entire play of how you should be treated, only to be left disappointed.  Who’s to blame?  The person that couldn’t read your mind and refused to be cast in your imaginary movie?  Nope…. that’s right, you- and I.  With entitlement, breeds a whole bunch of nasty discontentment.  Realize that you and I are only entitled to… well, nothing.  Find your beginning, your middle, and your end, in Christ alone.

Don’t Let Bitterness Overshadow The Blessings

Maybe life has dealt you your share of ugly.  Maybe you have every reason to be angry and hurt.  But don’t let bitterness overshadow the blessings.  The blessings are always there for the picking, we just choose to stomp on the garden and grind up the beauty underfoot with our many parties of pity.  Confess and uproot the bitter, and make room for a shower of blessing!

Think Of Others First

This life promotes “me”.  If I’m pretty enough, smart enough, wealthy enough, the most popular, or climbed to the peak of the corporate ladder, I matter.  The reality is, no matter how high we climb, the air is always thin an unpredictable up there.  We can only stay “high” for so long, before we come crashing down.  The endless striving never ceases.  Enough is never enough.  Ecclesiastes says it’s all vanity.  So put yourself aside.  Look to others.  Who’s hurting?  Who needs some encouragement?  Who could you lift up today?  Thinking of others instead of ourselves will make your life matter, and put a smile your face.

Be Concerned With Promoting God

What will others remember about your life after you are gone?  Will they remember all the awesomeness that you once were, or will they remember how you lifted up Christ and made Him known?  Will they remember how you made them feel when others rejected them?  Will they remember the way they saw Christ lifted high in every area of you life?  That’s my goal… to make Him known and lifted high!

Home Is Your First Place To Make A Difference

Home should be your first and most important place for ministry.  If you aren’t thriving in your ministry within the walls of your camp for dwelling, how can you be effective without- in your community, church, or workplace?  One of the greatest impacts we can have on our society is love lived out in the home.  A mother and a father living and dying for one another daily, as Christ did for the Church.  Parents raising up children in the ways of the Lord.  Start at home.  Thrive at home.  Without love in the home, everything else is pride on steroids. 

People Want Hope

Hope is an anchor for our soul!  Without hope, what is there?  Don’t just talk, blog, and brag about your struggles, let others know there is hope in the struggle.  That Christ is what is making a difference and causing you to rise up triumphant!  Christ has already won the victory, and He wants to be victorious in your life today!  Let Him!

hopefortodaysignature

original image: unsplash.com

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Filed Under: hope

Comments

  1. Barbie says

    February 9, 2015 at 10:32 am

    AMEN! Some really great tips here Traci!

    • Traci says

      February 9, 2015 at 10:58 am

      Thanks Barbie! Love you.

  2. Kela Nellums says

    February 10, 2015 at 11:59 am

    A reminder that I need often!
    God has planted Brian and I in a new place and we know that we’re to rest here and allow HIM to lead us; knowing that His path is the most fulfilling and not one that we’re trying to concoct on our own.
    I know that I can get caught up in a lot of what you mentioned. Its time to rest in His knowledge and guidance!

    • Traci says

      February 11, 2015 at 10:46 am

      Thanks! Praying for you friend! Exciting.

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About Traci

I'm a curly-headed dreamer, currently living in Ashland, Ohio. I'm a photographer, and recently made my business official (LLC). I would love to talk to you about booking a photoshoot with me! View my photo gallery (click here) Check out my pricing and choose your package (click here) I love coffee, chocolate and potato chips.  I love a good … Read More...

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"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - A "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn 

@traci_michele_photography @kingwoodcentergardens
What Jesus offers is nothing compared to what the What Jesus offers is nothing compared to what the world offers.  Read 1 John 2:15-17
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Don’t trade God’s perfect timing for impatient substitutes. 

The counterfeit isn’t anything compared to the real deal. 

Surrender brings peace, joy, and rest. 

So trust fully to His perfect plan for your life. 

No more rushing ahead. 
No more backseat driving. 
No more comparing.
No more striving. 

Lay down the endless coveting of an illusion of perfection. 

He’s everything you’re longing for, 
striving after, and so much more. 

Open your hands and release your grip. 
Now you’re ready to receive His good 
and precious blessings.
In a time with so many voices, opinions and commen In a time with so many voices, opinions and commentaries, we can get overwhelmed by the noise. 

What should we believe?
What should we say?
Who's side are we on?

You can never go wrong with running to the feet of Jesus.  Get alone with God today, open His Word, and hear the words that matter above all else.
Walk in God's law Keep God's testimonies Seek Hi Walk in God's law 
Keep God's testimonies 
Seek Him with your whole heart 
Steadfastly keep His statues
Keep His commandments diligently 
Fix your eyes on His ways 
Praise Him with an upright heart 
Guard His Word 
Hide His Word in your heart 
Be Teachable 
Declare His ways with your mouth 
Meditate on His precepts 
Delight in God's statues
Ask to have your eyes open 
Ask for understanding and wisdom 
Find your strength in His Word 
Choose the way of faithfulness 
Set His ways before you 
Turn your eyes from worthless things 
Trust in His Word above all else 
Find comfort in His promises 
Make God's ways your heart's song 
Be friends with those who fear God
Value God's Word far more than riches 
Remember His faithfulness that endures through all generations 
His words are sweeter than honey 
His Word is a lamp to your feet 
His Word is a light to your path 
His testimonies are your heritage 
His testimonies are the joy of your heart 
He is your hiding place and shield 
Do what is just and right 
Hate every false way 
Ask the Lord to be gracious to you
Ask His face to shine on you 
Learn to be saddened by sin 
Daily put His promises to the test 
Peace is given to those who love His law
This world will offer you information, but true kn This world will offer you information, but true knowledge comes from God and His Word.  What are we filing our minds and hearts with? What we meditate on, will consume us and change us.  Let's makes sure we are being filled with truth.  Read Proverbs 2 today.  Look at all we gain from seeking after the knowledge of His Word :

Receive 
Treasure 
Listen 
Be Attentive 
Incline Your Heart 
Call out for insight 
Raise your voice for understanding 
Seek & Search 

-> then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find knowledge of God, righteousness and justice.

He is my shield 
He gives me abundant wisdom 
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Wisdom will come in my heart 
Knowledge will be pleasant to my soul 
Discretion will watch over me 
Understanding will guard me 
Keeps me walking on the paths of righteousness
Hello! I'm Traci and I own Traci Michele Photograp Hello! I'm Traci and I own Traci Michele Photography, LLC.  I've always been passionate about photography and I decided to chase after my dream of becoming a photographer. 

I serve the Ashland, Richland County and surrounding areas of Ohio. 

My focus is on portrait / events / business branding photography.

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