Lifestyle & Faith

This week Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and reminded me that God is my ezer kenegdo, and that He, my Daddy, has got me in His hands- just like the father in this photo.

“When we think of a new year we think of new beginnings, new goals, and new resolutions. It’s always good to strive to make new goals,” says SEELE Editor Ally. With Philippians 3: 12-14 as a guide, Ally reminds us that our goal is Jesus, who is the model of looking forward, not backward.

"I’ve really been aware the past two weeks of how much salt and light matter to those around us," says SEELE editor Ally. "It often may feel and seem that those around us aren’t seeing our faith or getting enough of Jesus. But, they are, even though we may not realize it.

Oftentimes we rush through the Lord’s Prayer, not even meaning what the words are saying. It’s a key prayer that Jesus told us we ought to pray. May this skit be encouraging to you as you pray The Lord’s Prayer!

Seele contributor, Cassandra Portee reminds that in the midst of others mishandling us and mistreating us, we are to still love.

For our Friday post, Seele's editor shares when we're waiting for our blessing, God may keep details hidden, and reveal on a need-to-know basis until the blessing is ready to be given to us. Why? So that we won't mess up the blessing.

For our Friday post, Seele's editor shares a unique way to think about bitterness. Bitterness does more harm to you than the person who offended you. Don't become bitter but give them and the offense to God.

Seele contributor, Rebekah Mazzei shares, “As a body of believers there needs to be a daily conviction about how we expose our truth to the people around us. Teaching is firstly exposed by our words and actions; especially for youth and young adults desperately trying to emulate others.”

Most of us know the first part of verse 10 of Psalm 46 by heart: “Be still, and know that I am God.” And we think that means to rest, to have a little R&R in the Lord while we wait for a storm of life to pass. But, that’s not quite correct. Just like all Bible passages, Psalm 46 must be understood in context. In fact, it means something different if you’ve always thought it meant to take a little R&R. Read and find out as Seele editor, Ally shares the meaning of Psalm 46:10.

The kings of Israel and Judah were a mixture of good and bad kings. Bad, meaning that they did evil things and strayed away from God. One mark of a good king is that he would hold the kingdom to accountability when it came to what his people worshiped. Quite simply, he got rid of idols- foreign altars and pagan shrines. Our God takes an invested interested in our lives, and he only wants us serving him because there is a freedom and joy when as Paul states, we are only a “bondservant” to Christ. So, if you have an idol in your life (an addiction, a bad habit, an activity that consumes you- any sin) make a concerted effort to lay it at the foot of the cross and be free from it.

Our skills, talents, knowledge are not a waste. They’re all things that God can use so when you gain a new piece of knowledge, you are actually positioning yourself to be used by God. Today’s Friday Post is inspired by a chat we had with Zealand band leader, Phil Joel.

 I feel that the word “calling” is a word that gets bounced around in evangelical churches a lot. It’s a word that we get hit with time and time again when we look at interviews of those we look up to. I’ve even asked people in interviews, “how did you know you were called to be a singer, actor, etc?” But maybe you and I have been thinking about “calling” differently that doesn’t align with the Heavenly view of “calling.”

“Oh God, where do you want me to be? What do you want me to do?” We’ve all prayed prayers like this. Have you ever felt like you don’t know where to be and what to do? In these seasons we feel lost, and we may feel like God isn’t speaking…

Have you ever felt emotional, like just breaking down in tears because you’re trying to keep everything inside? There are moments in life when tears  seem to be the only solution to all that’s going on inside. It’s important to let it out and I think God wants us to let out and express our emotions in a healthy way.

I’ve been there and you’ve been there. Someone you know and care for (a friend or family member) is in a conflict with someone else, and you so badly want to intervene. You want to come to the aid of the person you care for by explaining to the person they’re in conflict with where they may be at fault or where they may be misunderstanding your friend.

You know how sometimes in life we can get involved in something or with someone that we know we shouldn’t be getting involved with? Often the things we get involved in are over before we even know it. We may not know it early on, or may not want to see “it” for what “it” really is, but others can see that the “it” in our lives is over before we see it.

Have you ever had a discussion over text or email that went bad, where the person totally took you out of context or totally misunderstood you- and it left you thinking that if the conversation would have happened in person, the discussion wouldn’t have ended in a full-blown argument or hurt feelings?

Christians know that the word stress shouldn’t be in our vocabulary. But, what do we do in those situations in life where anxiety and stress are running at us with full force and they seem to catch us? There’s only so much a human can take in trying to center one’s mind on Scripture but stress seems to still ensue. Seele editor, Ally offers some thoughts.

Seele’s editor writes on God's hand needing to be in whatever we’re wanting in order for that thing to succeed.  Have you desired something in life- a job, to move to a new city, marriage, to start a business? In order for it to truly work, God has to be in it. Happy Friday!

Seele's editor points out that when we’re involved in unfavorable situations that lead us to other opportunities, they may be opportunities that may not have come if the unfavorable situation didn’t happen- so perspective, elasticity and and flexibility are key. Happy Friday!

Seele's editor points out that it’s so easy for us to think that we are good Christians because we tithe, bring a dish to the church picnic, volunteer, donate a coat to the homeless coat drive, sing in the choir and so on. And yes, these things are important to God because they are an expression/ a path of love, of the love that lives in us and the love that went to the cross 2,000 years ago. But, we must put ourselves to the test and see if we really know Jesus.

How do you know when to make a move? When to take that step and just do “it,” whatever “it” happens to be? It can be hard to know when to do “it,” especially when you’re trying to discern God’s will if He indeed wants you to do “it.” God will often show you a stair, to reassure you to move towards "it," but He may not show you the whole staircase. To take the stair is trust Him, even though you can't see the whole staircase.

This week’s Friday post is from Christine Caine’s devotional, Unshakeable… We all want God’s favor, but Christine points out how it’s much more than everything going our way.

Sometimes in life God has us in seasons of ‘wax on, wax off’ or ‘up and down.’ And, we’re wondering, why do I have this puny job, or why do I have to do this or that. That puny job or this or that are often the foundational and key moves that we will draw upon later in life to do even bigger things.

The example  of David when he and his men lost their wives + children + possessions was overwhelming for David. So when his men talked of stoning him, David turned and strengthened himself in God, who led him into find a solution for his problem.

The life and journey of Moses is extremely fascinating. There is no denying that God’s hand was on his life. There’s so much to learn from the life of Moses, especially when it comes to leadership principles. But today Seele will focus on the topic: getting out of a slave mentality, specifically when you’re put in an environment you weren’t born into.

Seele Editor-In-Chief, Ally Portee ushers in the month of Eve with the topic of: “that voice.” We know that voice. Eve knew that voice, for it caught her off guard in the garden, in Genesis 3: 1-5. That voice is a nasty voice, it comes in the form of our thoughts.

Seele contributor, Cassandra Portee shares her thoughts about the mercy and grace we find at the throne of God. It’s a Place where we can go boldly and confidently to lay our burdens and receive healing, love and perspective. Happy Friday

If the light hits a photo too early in the dark room, it will destroy the image. If light hits a child of God too early while they are in process, it can destroy the person and the plans God has for their lives. It is crucial to trust the slow road. It is crucial to stay in the “dark room,” and let patience have its perfect work in you