Our level of disappointment is directly proportionate to our level of appreciation.

Unspoken expectations:

We all need to live life with great expectations. But our expectations need to be reasonable ones. Some of us have unspoken expectations. We expect things from others that were never agreed upon or spoken about. We expect something of someone or something that was never discussed. It’s these expectations that get us.

Realistic expectations:

We expect so much from God, even when His word doesn’t say what we expect. When this happens, we get disappointed. Disappointment is defined as the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations. We will hear people say things like, “I thought you meant this,” or “I thought you said this.” We really need to govern our expectations with reality — the reality of what has been said or agreed to.

Godly expectations:

Especially when it comes to God, people so often accuse Him of not caring because He didn’t meet their expectation at the time. But what they expected wasn’t based on fact or in the core truth. Let’s find out what the word of God actually says, then adjust our expectations to what has actually been said or agreed upon.

What we will find is that we won’t experience as much disappointment in our lives.

Just a thought,

PSS

The Bible teaches us that living peacefully with others is not just a good thing to do — it's something that God wants for all of us. There's a quote in Romans 12:18 that says, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men." This quote encourages us to try to get along with everyone. It reminds us that peace isn't something that just happens — it's something we have to actively work toward. To live in peace, we need to be mindful of our actions, our words, and even our thoughts, to help create a peaceful and friendly atmosphere.

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." This is an encouragement to be a peacemaker, to be a person who actively creates peace. The term "peacemaker" comes from the Greek word "eirenopoios," which means "one who makes peace." So, being a peacemaker is not just about living peacefully ourselves, but it's about helping others to do the same. They are the ones who step in to calm down disagreements and foster understanding among people. According to Jesus, peacemakers are as special as God's own children, highlighting how important it is to work toward peace.

The Bible also offers a comforting message about finding peace within ourselves. In Philippians 4:6-7, it says, "Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." These words remind us that we can experience a profound sense of peace when we place our trust in God. This type of peace is so deep and powerful that it's beyond our full understanding. It can help us stay calm and feel secure, even when we're facing difficult situations. So, the peace that the Bible talks about isn't just about living harmoniously with others, but also about experiencing a deep sense of calm and certainty within ourselves because of our faith in God.

Just a thought,
PSS

The Bible teaches us that living a good and pure life isn't just about avoiding bad things: it's also about doing good things like showing love, being patient, being kind, and staying strong and calm, even when things are hard. This idea comes from a part of the Bible, Galatians 5:22-23, that lists these good things. Jesus also talked about this when he said that the people who keep their hearts pure will be able to see God. This means that what we think, say, and do should be good and pure.

In the Bible, Jesus also talks about his followers being the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” This means that Christians should live good and pure lives themselves and also help make the world a better place. Being the “salt of the earth” means keeping the good things about God’s world alive and making life better for others. Being the “light of the world” means helping others see the good in the world and showing them the way to God. By doing this, Christians can help make things better, even when there's a lot of bad stuff happening.

But, the Bible also tells us that it's not always easy to live a good and pure life, especially when there are a lot of bad things happening around us. It can be hard to do the right thing when other people are doing the wrong thing. But the good news is that the Bible says God will always be there to help us. There's a part in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 10:13, that says God won't let us face anything we can't handle. And in another part, Philippians 4:13, it says we can do anything with the help of Jesus. So, even though it can be tough to live a good and pure life, we're not alone. God is always there to help us.

Just a thought,
PSS