Tag: My Message
Painting The Roses Red
“As much as we thirst for approval we dread condemnation.” -Hans Selye
God has really put it on my heart to write on the subject of honesty.
While witnessing to several people over this past month, I noticed that the majority of them seemed to share the same feelings of unworthiness and regret.
Worse however, they all seem to be in the same season of denial in regards to their situations.
In one way or another, each person had expressed to me that they were feeling lost. That they could not seem to find one glimmer of hope. Absent of faith and out of patience.
Immediately a familiar song, “Painting The Roses Red” , from Lewis Carroll’s Alice and Wonderland popped into my head.
(Click the link above to view lyrics)
Many people claim to be living a happy life, but in actuality they are only hiding behind the walls of what they believe happiness should look like to others.
If we are living only on the outside, but dying on the inside, that kind of suffering can only remain undetected for so long.
When we try to paint our hearts red (full of love, God, goodness and purpose) but can’t even feel them beating in our chests, we set ourselves up for inevitable damage.
When our lives become more like lies then we need to be aware that God eventually will expect us to reveal our true colors.
If we do not get honest with ourselves and others willingly, God will most definitely allow circumstances in our lives to do it for us.
“The white rose is the symbol of purity and innocence. However, if everyone were to be a white rose, none would truly be white. We grow, we make mistakes, and who doesn’t bleed nor have a scar? Painting the roses red is our cycle of life in all it’s mystery.
Everyday of life is another day towards deaths arms…Are you living or dying?
Reality: Life is the ONLY most contradicting phenomena ever.
How good of a painter are you?”- Philosophy by MKR
James 4:6 – God shows favor to the humble and oppressed
The reason our faith grows grey and our hearts lose their beat is not because God has forgotten about us or because we are not useful to Him any longer.
Faith fades when we suffocate our spirit and live to serve our flesh.
If we lose hope in God then that means we have put too much of it in the world.
We cannot be two shades of ourselves in this life. If we are on fire for God and trust in His plans for us, the embers of that fire should burn brightly for the world to see!
If we refuse to be the color God needs us to be in a black and white world, we cannot be surprised when we are left feeling dull, inadequate, or bored while others beautifully color the pages.
“The absence of flaw in beauty is itself a flaw.” -Havelock Ellis
God knows your heart, your desires, and your priorities.
He created us all with beautiful flaws, each of us a unique shade of who He is, and collectively we are breathtaking by His design.
“Lean too much on the approval of people, and it becomes a bed of thorns.” -Tehyi Hsieh
If your heart is hurting, don’t paint a coat of denial over it thinking nobody will notice.
God knows what is underneath.
Be sure you remain true to what’s right; remain true to the truth.
Short cuts to happiness will only leave you with short term happiness.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” -Maryanne Williamson
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
Please Pass This Message On
At Peace While In Pieces
“Change is certain. Peace is followed by disturbances; departure of evil men by their return. Such recurrences should not constitute occasions for sadness but realities for awareness, so that one may be happy in the interim.” -Percy Bysshe Shelley
“Curse war, pray for peace, and may the Lord have mercy on our souls.” -Unknown
You are very much in a position of power at this time of feeling powerless.
Trust God.
He is in control and through you will execute His power.
Choose to listen to the voice of truth that victory is assured and guard yourselves against the whispers from the enemy that you will never make it through.
Chin up soldiers. We were born for a time such as this.
“Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him, ” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.”
I Corinthians 15:24-28 NKJV
Please Pass This Message On
Breaking Away From They
As you start your day, your week, your mission, this new season, be sure that what you are laboring for is also laboring for you!
If you’re a bit sick to your stomach from all that is going on around you and a bit heavy laden from what lies before you on that never ending “to do list”, rest assured that all of us are also feeling very much overwhelmed.
While this pandemic is by all means relentless, we must not forget that the love of our heavenly Father is far more relentless and that He is mighty to save.
How can one be saved though if they refuse to call out for help?
How can we go on about our daily lives in fear, while pretending we have it all together?
This happened every year when they went to the Lord ‘s house in Shiloh. Peninnah would say bad things to Hannah to cause her to cry.
Then Hannah would not eat anything. Hannah’s husband, Elkanah said to her ‘I do not know why you are crying. I do not know why you are not eating. You should not be sad. I am better than 10 sons.’
One day they were at Shiloh. They had finished eating and drinking. Hannah stood up. Eli the priest was sitting by the door of the Lord ‘s temple. Hannah was very, very sad. She cried very much and she prayed to the Lord.
And she said a promise to God. She prayed, ‘You are the Lord Almighty. See how sad I am. I am your servant. Remember me and do not forget me. Please give a son to me. If you do that, I will give him back to you for all of his life. Nobody will ever cut his hair
– 1 Samuel 1:7-11
All the times you think you are waiting on God He is actually waiting on you…to speak up!
God cannot address the sorrow, the pain, the bitterness or the confusion we choose to bury down in our hearts and try to block away from our minds.
The enemy is a thief and a liar, but sometimes it’s God that allows us to walk though unpleasant circumstances in order to provoke us to reach our breaking point.
The point where, like in the above passage, Hannah finally reaches after years of being provoked and prevented from properly giving her sorrow over to Lord.
The point where we ourselves stand up and open our mouths to confront Him about things that have been weighing us down.
We cannot stay in the place we are or operate the same anymore and shout
THAT’S ENOUGH!
God…
“I cant do this anymore!”
“I want to know why my friend is sick?”
“Why did my family have to go through this?”
“Why is all this happening to me when I had it all together?”
This direct confrontation with Him about our private pain, sorrow or rage not only brings us back from self reliance and back into His arms and protection, but it allows us to be honest with ourselves about the things we often try to distract ourselves from, but then wonder why things never seem to change.
A direct confrontation with what is holding us back is what will allow us to walk forward into Gods promises over our lives.
We must ask God to use our suffering as a seed. The fruit that grows from sharing our story with others does not go to us it goes back to God where in belongs.
He gets the credit not us and His people seek His face not the strength of us or other people.
Asking God to relieve you of your circumstances so that you can feel better about your own works or to spare your ego will leave you unanswered and in turn resentful.
I too am very familiar with what it is to be priority challenged. Sometimes, actually, most of the time, I find myself easily getting lost in the world’s whirl wind of distractions.
Now more than ever it is critical that we focus on today and that we begin to
Break Away From They
“They” are those that tell you it is hopeless or you never will.
“They” are toxic relationships or friendships that block you from spending time with God so He may reveal to you the mighty purpose He has on your life.
Today, no matter how small it may seem to you in comparison to the big mess our world Is in, make sure that you make it a priority to do something to
Break Away From They
“They” being old patterns of your own behavior that have you stuck on settling.
Most of us work so hard at anything to try and feel alive and that we have a bigger purpose. We often toil in vain and are only left feeling drained and defeated while doing a whole lot of nothing at all.
There is no peace without purpose and there is no purpose without a plan.
As we walk through this season let us ask the Lord to restore in us our passion and reveal to us our purpose.
Let us never stop praising Him in our progress and loving one another in our pursuit of breaking away from they.
To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
(Colossians 1:29 NKJV)
Please Pass This Message On
Nicholas DiCarlo- My Father, My Hero
I’ve loved one person unconditionally. He’s the most caring, and generous, and charming and flat out the funniest guy I’ll ever know…he’s my father.
-NL
My dad has never failed at being the most amazing father a girl could ask for.
I have been through so much in my life, especially over the last 10 years, and there is not a single person who has continued to love me the way he loves me.
MARGARET TRUMAN-
It’s only when you grow up and step back from him–or leave him for your own home–it’s only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it.
My dad has remained the one person I trust with not only my heart, but with my brokenness. He has seen me at my worst, yet he always sees the best in me. If ever I am in trouble, he willingly holds his hand out for me to grab to return to safety.
There are things in life which have caused me to lose most of my hope in men and even wonder if good men really exist?! When I look at my dad, all of that doubt disappears.
He truly is all of the proof I need….
My heart was broken; he was there to mend it.
My purpose was lost; he was there to help me recover it.
My past had destroyed my spirit; he helped me rekindle it.
My friends and family gave up on me; he wouldn’t even imagine it.
FANNY FERN-
To her, the name of father was another name for love.
Dad,
This Father’s Day I couldn’t buy you a gift or even see you so I could tell you how much I love you… But I do.
I love you so very much that I wanted
the world to know.
This blog post barely touches on the impact you have had on my growth, on my heart, and in my life.
I thank God for you every day, but I am especially grateful on this one.
May you be blessed, know that I admire you, and be sure that there is no one I appreciate more in my life than you.
You are amazing Daddio.
– Love,
Erica
Please Pass This Message On
Saying I’m Sorry: Relentless Repentance
“Let us be very gentle with our neighbors’ failings, and forgive our friends their debts as we hope ourselves to be forgiven.” -William Makepeace Thackeray
The song featured below, Luck by American Authors, beautifully expresses the art of saying I am sorry.
Personally, the lyrics hit so close to home in regards to my testimony that I wanted to share them with all of you!
When I finally accepted accountability for my horrible behavior as an addict, the next step of recovery was to try and rectify the relationships I had destroyed because of my actions.
I was awful to my family, my friends, myself and to God.
I had so much to apologize for and for the first time in a long time, I sincerely sought to be forgiven.
Unfortunately, some things cannot be repaired after so much damage has been done, but that has not stopped me from relentless repentance.
We are not always forgiven by the people we have done harm to, but by grace we are always forgiven when seeking God’s forgiveness.
Although my days of destruction and addiction are over, I now make it a priority to tell God I am sorry when I am wrong every single day.
Please listen to this inspiring song to get more of a glimpse of how I said I’m sorry then, why I say I’m sorry now, and why I am forgiven by God forever!
I have provided the lyrics for you to read!
God bless you all and be forgiven! Say your sorry and mean it! That’s all it takes.
I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord GOD. “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.” (Ezekiel 34:15-16 NKJV)
LUCK– lyrics by
American Authors
How can we make amends when we said all we said?
I call and you don’t pick up
How can I say instead that I hope it’s for the best?
I won’t, and I won’t give up
I’m sorry, Mother
I know I let you down
I’m sorry for how I up and left this town
How can we push aside all the bad and make it right
Now you got me all choked up
I’m sorry, brother
I know I let you down
I’m sorry for how I up and left this town
Please just listen cause I don’t ask for much
I am my own man
I make my own luck
How can we both pick sides when we know nothing’s right?
Open up the door that’s shut
How can I have my pride and drink away my soul tonight?
Sorrow’s filling up my cup
I’m sorry, Father
I know I let you down
I’m sorry for how I up and left this town
Please just listen cause I don’t ask for much
I am my own man
I make my own luck
Well some birds aren’t meant to be caged
And I just can’t see the light of day
Please forgive me
I can’t remember
Please forgive me
no one is calling
Please forgive me
I can’t believe it
No…
Gonna pick myself up, so I don’t let this ever grow
Even if I mess up, I won’t let this ever go
It’s hard to stay
It’s hard to stay
Cause some birds aren’t meant to be caged
How can I set us free?
I’m what you taught me to be
Shouldn’t that be enough?
It’s time that we make amends
Let’s forget the things we said
You know we were all just talk
I’m sorry, Mother
I know I let you down
I’m sorry, Father
I didn’t stick around
Please just listen cause I don’t ask for much
Please Pass This Message On
No Fear
Join me live this Sunday, 6/8/14, at 3:30pm PST for an all episode of new My Message Radio!
This week’s show will surround the topic of overcoming fear, anxiety, insecurity, and overthinking in terms of romantic relationships.
Host, Erica DiCarlo, will be reading her post A Truth, A Reminder, A Victory from her blog My Message and taking live calls in the studio at 646-595-3870
Please visit My Message Radio for more details and to follow the station!
God Bless! 
Please Pass This Message On
The Meaning Behind The Mean
We are all tired. We are all in the same war fighting different battles. We are all fragile. There is nothing that is right about a world that is filled with so much that is wrong.
The reason people are mean is because they are mad. They are mad because they are tired. They are tired because they are hurt. They are hurt because someone else was mean, the world is mean, and this life is mean.
Next time someone is mean to you think that far back into the reason instead of assuming it is about you.
Treat the problem with the proper medicine and healing begins. Kindness, compassion, humility and the Holy Spirit can lead all the broken to the healer if we allow ourselves to step out of the vicious cycle of defeat.
Jesus is the only One who can cure the disease mankind spreads to one another daily. He is the only peace that can calm the chaos this world creates on the daily. He is the only truth in world that lies.
Don’t run from the adversity in your life. Run at it. Don’t turn your back on those who hurt you, but give them back to the One who can help them and you
Please Pass This Message On
In All Seasons
We worry, fear, stress, and feel alone. If we are in the hands of God, creator of Heaven and Earth, why then wouldn’t we trust He knows our needs?
God loves us so very much, we are included His workmanship.
Next time you feel like you have no purpose, consider the One who gave you one. Consider the power, the wisdom, and love of God. He is always the same, never changing. Although we may change, our circumstances may change, and as the seasons change, God orchestrated it all from the beginning. We need to trust Him not our own understanding.
We may be small, but our God is bigger than our problems!
For more inspirational photography visit my photography blog, My Moments
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. (Genesis 1:5 NKJV)
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20 – 3:21 NKJV)
Please Pass This Message On
The Harvest
It is so very important for us to remember who we are and why are here. Many people are so lost and unable to see that we are not here by accident or for no reason at all. We are part of God’s very powerful, very purposeful and very real design.
The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
(Isaiah 9:2-7)
Just as the farmer sows seeds, tends to his crops with care, and in time reaps a bountiful harvest, our time here should be taken very seriously.
God has placed us here to tend to the work of Lord who is the Lord of the Harvest.
As we go through the various seasons of our lives we can rest easy knowing that He has given us the promise of reaping an eternal reward for our efforts in the Lord’s absence and in His Name. We all have a place in service for Him, we all have the opportunity to partake in the harvest, but there are many people who will refuse to work.
We are each seeds planted here by God:
We are to nourish ourselves with the Word, grow in our faith and spiritual maturity in order to bear the fruits of the Spirit. Like the seasons of the year to the seed, our lives should repetitively consist of growing, maturing, enduring, and bearing fruit in Jesus Name.
MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT!
DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME OR TAKE IT FOR GRANTED
THE ONES WHO ARE IN THE FIELD WILL PARTAKE IN THE FEAST WHEN IT IS TIME FOR THE HARVEST. THE ONES WHO REFUSE TO WORK WILL BE LEFT WITH NOTHING TO EAT
-BRANDON HEATH- THE HARVESTER
“But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,
“so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’ “
And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? “
The sower sows the word. “And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
“These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.
Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
(Mark 4:10-20)
