Being Loving, Kind, and Merciful: Does Not Mean I’m a Doormat

On December 19, 2024December 18, 2024 By Naty MatosIn Inspirational ThoughtsLeave a comment

As followers of Christ, we are called to embody love, kindness, and mercy. These attributes reflect God’s character and demonstrate His grace to the world. However, those with a tender heart may face challenges, including being taken for granted or used. How can we balance showing mercy with guarding our hearts?

The Call to Love, Kindness, and Mercy

Jesus set the ultimate example of love, kindness, and mercy. In Matthew 5:7, He says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Reflecting on the call to clothe ourselves with compassion, Colossians 3:12-14 reminds us: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another… And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Living this way reflects Christ’s love and draws others to Him. Yet, we must also walk in wisdom, as Jesus instructs in Matthew 10:16: “Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

Avoiding Being Taken for Granted

Set Healthy Boundaries: Loving others doesn’t mean allowing them to misuse your kindness. Jesus Himself set boundaries, withdrawing to pray and rest when needed (Luke 5:16). He invites us to find rest for our souls in Him, saying in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Discern Motives: Pray for discernment to recognize when someone genuinely needs help versus taking advantage of your kindness. Philippians 1:9-10 says, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best.”
Speak the Truth in Love: When necessary, confront those who misuse your kindness with gentleness and respect. Ephesians 4:15 urges us to speak the truth in love, ensuring we build others up. As Proverbs 27:6 states, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
Rely on God’s Strength: Acts of mercy must flow from God’s love, not human approval. Galatians 6:9 encourages us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Depend on God’s Spirit, as Zechariah 4:6 reminds us, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Trusting God as Your Defender

Even when others misunderstand or misuse your kindness, take heart in knowing that God sees your heart. Psalm 62:6 declares, “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.” Rest in His promise from Exodus 14:14: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Trust Him to vindicate you and provide the strength to continue loving others.

In all things, let Jesus’ words in John 13:34-35 guide you: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” As you navigate the balance of kindness and boundaries, let your actions glorify God, reflect His love, and steward the gifts He has entrusted to you.

Nurturing Financial Growth Within God’s Principles

On March 14, 2024March 9, 2024 By Naty MatosIn ThriveLeave a comment

As we approach the April 7th debut to our podcast, Thrive, we wanted to take a moment to share valuable insights that echo the essence of “Thrive” and align with our mission of fostering financial growth for families rooted in faith.

Nurturing Prosperity with Scriptural Wisdom 🌱

“The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.” (Proverbs 10:22)

In this journey toward financial well-being, we understand the importance of aligning our actions with timeless principles. Our commitment to weaving scriptural wisdom into practical advice forms the backbone of “Thrive.” Today, we’d like to share a gentle reminder on embracing abundance, inspired by God’s promise of prosperity.

Contentment and Stewardship 🙏

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'”* (Hebrews 13:5)

True wealth lies not just in material possessions, but in the richness of contentment. On the podcast, we will explore the concept of contentment as a cornerstone for financial stewardship. Learn how finding joy in the present can be a catalyst for wise financial choices, ultimately paving the way for lasting prosperity.

Navigating Financial Challenges Together ⚓

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

Financial challenges are a shared experience, and as we journey together, “Thrive” aims to create a space for communal support. We will discuss practical ways to navigate financial hurdles within the context of community, emphasizing the strength found in unity.

Stealthy Launch, Lasting Impact 🚀

While our April 7th launch date is just around the corner, we appreciate your companionship on this pre-launch journey. Subtle as it may be, each blog post serves as a stepping stone towards the meaningful conversations “Thrive” will foster. We invite you to engage, share your thoughts, and anticipate the podcast’s arrival with us.

For more thought-provoking content, stay tuned to our blog and join our community on social media. Together, let’s unlock the door to abundance, enriching our lives with financial wisdom grounded in faith.

Wishing you peace and prosperity,

The “Thrive” Team 🌿💖✨

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Inequality

On May 16, 2011 By Naty MatosIn Articles4 Comments

“Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
the wretched refuse of your teeming shore,

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me”

(Portion from the poem by Emma Lazarus the New Colossus, which is graven on a tablet within the pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty stands)
~

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
   I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
   I was homeless and you gave me a room,
   I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
   I was sick and you stopped to visit,
   I was in prison and you came to me.’

Matthew 25:34-36

Do you see any similarities in the passages before?

My heart has been grieving for a while hearing “God fearing people” spew so much hatred towards others, just because they are different. I don’t understand why we can’t see each other as people. Instead we keep the barriers of races, socio-economical backgrounds, and gender. Do you really think that God sees us that way? I think that if God wanted us to look all the same and have the same he would have made us all the same.

If we are created in God’s image, there’s something beautiful in each human being that’s inherited from God himself, then why are we the ones separating when God is all about unity?

We complaint about how some people benefit from our labor and are not the best stewards of those benefits; and that may be true. Don’t you believe in a God of justice that will judge those who don’t steward what has been trusted in them? Don’t you believe in a God of provision that will take care of YOUR needs, therefore who cares what your neighbor has?

We are complaining about helping the tired, feeding the hungry, giving room for the homeless, clothing the naked, helping the sick and visiting the prisoner. I stand on the Word of God that says in Matthew 25:45 “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’

Don’t we want to hear “‘well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:23) if we don’t do what is required, instead we will hear that God placed those people in our lives and directly or indirectly we didn’t do what we were to do and we will be held accountable for it.

Did we forget when we were there? When it was us being the poor, the rejected, the ones in need? By us I don’t necessarily mean us, but maybe our ancestors, and if the hand of God and I’m sure someone else’s help, you and I would not be here. It’s time to embrace the Heaven culture, where our differences just enrich us instead of divide us.

Be blessed.