My husband called me yesterday and said "God is good!" I agreed with him and asked him why the declaration. He had told God that we need a house to move to. Our search last weekend came up empty and there is nothing new available. We have to move out of this house by July 15 which is arount the corner. As Keevin traveled in his truck through the Asheville gorge he turned the radio on. The radio signal was weak but he managed to pick up 106.9 long enough to hear Beth Moore say, "God provides." Keevin heard from God that He will provide a home for us in due time--we just have to trust Him.
Later in the afternoon Keevin made the same declaration via text. He had prayed for a specific parking spot at a truck stop. He is driving a temporary truck while his is in the shop. This truck doesn't have a good radio and it doesn't have a good air conditioner. Keevin wanted a particular spot so as not to be near other trucks with running motors (for their ac's) while he kept his windows down for a cool breeze. Our great God granted him his wish. Thank You Holy Dad!
When Keevin relayed both of these accounts I thanked Holy Dad because my hubby seemed so confident. you see, as a person willingly and unconditonally trusts our great God then God grows our trust with answered prayer and peace. One thing leads to another. I challenge you to search Jesus' words about how doing things His way leads to better things, better life.
In my eyes, confidence is feeling solid and knowing the truth. And guess what God's word says about confidence? Proverbs 3:26 (AMP): "For the Lord shall be your confidence, firm and strong, and shall keep your foot from being caught [in a trap or some hidden danger]." That verse looks like this when I personalize it: "Lord, You are my confidence, making me firm, steady, determined and strong. My rock, solid foundation in You keeps me from getting caught up in messes that trip me up. Thank You Father for giving me confidence!"
How does one get to this level of confidence? Jeremiah 17:7 (AMP): "[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is." This verse starts out by telling us what it leads to when we do what it teaches. Blessed. Happiness. Celebration. A confident Christian who looks like happiness will attract many folks to Jesus. But to get there we have to do 3 things. 1. Believe. God is true and He is real. Jesus is who He says He is. We have to take these statements that They are who They say They are. Take Them. Own Them. 2. Trust. Unquestioning belief and loyalty. Our King Jesus deserves this kind of affection and devotion. Hum, that sounds like love, doesn't it? 3. Relies. Depending on God and listening for His answers is one of the most confidence-growing actions one can do. It may not look like it on paper but when you hear our big, amazing God talk to you in response to a converstation you have with Him--then you'll know what I am talking about. You'll feel it, feel Him.
What if you are one of those people who don't like God or are angry with Him at the moment? I say to you--talk to Him. He is more kind and compassionate than we give Him credit for. Ephesians 3:12 (Amp): "In whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (and unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear)."
This courage and confidence is not to be taken lightly. It is what you want, isn't it? Move forward and claim it. God wants you healed from whatever has brought you to the lower level that you are in. Hebrews 10:35 (NLT): "Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings to you!" This verse in a personal context sounds like this: "I am holding on to my confident trust in You, Lord, no matter what happens. I am looking forward to the new person I am becoming!"
If you don't feel strong enough yet to claim this confidence try the next verse. Hebrews 13:6 (AMP): "So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and bodly say 'The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?" This is a good one to journal for 21 days.
What if you're a man or woman who is sabotaging your efforts? And why would you do that to yourself? Moving out of comfort zones, even those we complain about, is hard to do because these zones feel familiar. But feeling familiar doesn't always equal with being good for you. 1 John 3:21 (MSG): "And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves we're bold and free before God." (CEB) says it this way: "Dear friends, if our hearts don't condemn us, we have condfidence in relationship to God." Personalizing this one looks like this: "I am standing up to myself and saying "NO" to stunted growth. I am growing my relationship with You, Holy Dad, and stand boldly and free and confidently."
Friend, as a confident Christian you can attract many, many folks to Jesus. Jesus is a confident person and He wants you to be one also. This blog is based on the next verse and I love it! Isaiah 32:17 (NIV): "The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." FOREVER! (AMP) reads it this way: "And the effect of righteousness will be peace [internal and external], and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever." Journal this one for 21 days.
I encourage you to take up the practice of handwriting these verses once a day for 21 days to feel God's hand of favor on you, in your soul, in your spirit. Your body, actions, behaviors and thoughts, will follow what you put in it. It works because I know it works!!
Enjoy good life, confident life. Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
New Personality
Lots of us have wished at one time or another that we were someone else. Are you wishing today that you could be someone else? Well, you can be! It's true.
Our souls shape our personalities. I recently researched our body/soul/spirit and discovered some interesting things. I will tell you on another blog about how these 3 things are important to who we are. My eyes were opened! Our souls contain our imagination, conscience, memory, reasoning, and affections. Hense, our personalities are shaped by our soul. As you look at what our souls are, you can figure out that our personalities can be regenerated by changing our imaginations, consciences, memories, reasonings and afffections. These things are often empowered by our experiences all throughout our existing lives. But our empowerment can be changed depending on what we allow to enter our spirits.
A good personality looks like this: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. An unattractive personality looks like this: hate and jealousy, sadness and depression, restlessness and hyperness, impulsiveness or inablitity to relax, meaness of spirit, doing bad things, distrust, condemning and fault-finding and just plain negative, and lastly mindlessness. Compare the differences and highlight the ones that apply to you. Now highlight the ones you want to apply to you. Be very honest here as I am sure you want a different you. Philippians 4:6 says that the Holy Spirit gives us this kind of personality. And the Holy Spirit is referred to as The Truth. John 8:32 (MSG) says: "Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you." But how does one experience the truth? The previous verse tells us. John 8:31 (GWT): ...if you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples." The Bible is so wonderful as it tells us how to have a good life and that a great life is possible, but it also tells us how to obtain it.
So the unattractive personality as listed in the last paragraph is usually an anxious, chaotic person who cannot seem to get a handle on things. Philippians 4:6 gives us good advise (AMP): "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God." An important action word in this verse is "thanksgiving." Give it a try--whenever you have a negative vibe about something search for anything to thank Holy Dad about. Even if it feels silly, do it anyway--you'll be doing what Jesus says to do. I like the Message for this verse: "Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns." Feeling a negative vibe about something gives you an opportunity to talk to God.
The apostle Paul gives us another piece of advise. Philippians 4:8 (NLT): "...Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." He didn't say to think about false, dishonorable and wrong things. He didn't say to think about dirty, ugly and unlovely and substandard things. We are influenced by alot of media outlets that allow these very negative things in our minds and then we sit and dwell on them. These negative thoughts become attached to our subconcious and resurface in our actions and behaviors. Proverbs 23:7 explains this phenomenon (GNT): "...what he thinks is what he really is." Did you hear that? Your personality is what it is because you choose the thoughts and influences that go in your soul.
I have discovered that memorizing verses automatically caused me to keep God in my thoughts. It was really amazing how I didn't have to work at my thoughts--His thoughts just popped in. Memorization is great!! And the Bible tells us to meditate on His good word.
Now look at a new personality, Philippians 4:7 (GWT): "Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus." You got it--instead of our worldly media infuences, a person should choose God's good word to shape a great, attractive personality. (MSG) says: "Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Hum, replacing Christ for the negatives. That's the way a beautiful person achieves the "beautiful person" status. It will take work but it is so worth it! It's what you were asking for--isn't it? A new personality?
Evaluate everything you allow to enter your being and make heathy decisions. Make a decision right this minute to change your mental receiving lifestyle (hope that makes sense). Be a new person by this time next week--I would love to meet the new you!! You would love "you", too!!
Enjoy good life. Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Our souls shape our personalities. I recently researched our body/soul/spirit and discovered some interesting things. I will tell you on another blog about how these 3 things are important to who we are. My eyes were opened! Our souls contain our imagination, conscience, memory, reasoning, and affections. Hense, our personalities are shaped by our soul. As you look at what our souls are, you can figure out that our personalities can be regenerated by changing our imaginations, consciences, memories, reasonings and afffections. These things are often empowered by our experiences all throughout our existing lives. But our empowerment can be changed depending on what we allow to enter our spirits.
A good personality looks like this: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. An unattractive personality looks like this: hate and jealousy, sadness and depression, restlessness and hyperness, impulsiveness or inablitity to relax, meaness of spirit, doing bad things, distrust, condemning and fault-finding and just plain negative, and lastly mindlessness. Compare the differences and highlight the ones that apply to you. Now highlight the ones you want to apply to you. Be very honest here as I am sure you want a different you. Philippians 4:6 says that the Holy Spirit gives us this kind of personality. And the Holy Spirit is referred to as The Truth. John 8:32 (MSG) says: "Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you." But how does one experience the truth? The previous verse tells us. John 8:31 (GWT): ...if you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples." The Bible is so wonderful as it tells us how to have a good life and that a great life is possible, but it also tells us how to obtain it.
So the unattractive personality as listed in the last paragraph is usually an anxious, chaotic person who cannot seem to get a handle on things. Philippians 4:6 gives us good advise (AMP): "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God." An important action word in this verse is "thanksgiving." Give it a try--whenever you have a negative vibe about something search for anything to thank Holy Dad about. Even if it feels silly, do it anyway--you'll be doing what Jesus says to do. I like the Message for this verse: "Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns." Feeling a negative vibe about something gives you an opportunity to talk to God.
The apostle Paul gives us another piece of advise. Philippians 4:8 (NLT): "...Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." He didn't say to think about false, dishonorable and wrong things. He didn't say to think about dirty, ugly and unlovely and substandard things. We are influenced by alot of media outlets that allow these very negative things in our minds and then we sit and dwell on them. These negative thoughts become attached to our subconcious and resurface in our actions and behaviors. Proverbs 23:7 explains this phenomenon (GNT): "...what he thinks is what he really is." Did you hear that? Your personality is what it is because you choose the thoughts and influences that go in your soul.
I have discovered that memorizing verses automatically caused me to keep God in my thoughts. It was really amazing how I didn't have to work at my thoughts--His thoughts just popped in. Memorization is great!! And the Bible tells us to meditate on His good word.
Now look at a new personality, Philippians 4:7 (GWT): "Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus." You got it--instead of our worldly media infuences, a person should choose God's good word to shape a great, attractive personality. (MSG) says: "Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Hum, replacing Christ for the negatives. That's the way a beautiful person achieves the "beautiful person" status. It will take work but it is so worth it! It's what you were asking for--isn't it? A new personality?
Evaluate everything you allow to enter your being and make heathy decisions. Make a decision right this minute to change your mental receiving lifestyle (hope that makes sense). Be a new person by this time next week--I would love to meet the new you!! You would love "you", too!!
Enjoy good life. Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
It's A Wonderful Life, The Rest of Your Life full of Confidence
I recently suffered a week full of despair, rejection, discouragement, disappointment, and uncontrollable crying. Keevin and I are going to have to move from this wonderful home and neighborhood because another neighbor (?) reported to the owner that we were holding church services in our home. It is true that we advertised with signs about our new church but have yet had anyone to come to worship here. We had planned to move it to a rental space once we had a couple of folks attending. I even felt guilt that we had failed God. I felt embarrassed, ashamed at perhaps going about this church plant the wrong way. All sorts of emotions filled me and filled me up and flowed over.
Have you ever been in a crisis that took such a hold of you as to paralyze and numb your senses? My life during the last week looked nothing like: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I didn't want the situation to control me like it did--and guess what, neither did God!
What I learned about myself was that I suffered from deep rejection pain. It is true that 10 % of people in our world will not like us, so rejection is to be expected. But why do we suffer so much from rejection, from painful hurts, guilt and shame? Why do we hold onto them so tightly? Because we trust ourselves. We think we are dealing with it the right way. Philippians 3:3b (NCV) says this: "We worship God through His Spirit, and our pride is in Christ Jesus. We do not trust in ourselves or anything we can do." So, have we been trusting in the wrong person? The answer is YES! When we get bogged down in our life messes we are actually trusting ourselves.
But it's not just trust, it's actual pain. UCLA neuroscientist, Naomi Eisenberger says that rejection activates the same brain area that generates the adverse reaction to physical pain. What she is saying is that rejection (or any other fear, guilt, etc.) causes actual pain. I started noticing what I felt physically after reading this information. When ever a rejection, painful thought popped up I had a sting in my chest. Naturally we run away from pain. That's why we don't deal with these negative emotions.
Let's look at statements Holy Dad has provided for us that tells us how He doesn't want us to suffer like this. Jesus told us He doesn't want us to live our lives full of guilt and shame. John 8:11 (NCV): "Then Jesus said, 'I also don't judge you guilty. You may go now, but don't sin anymore.'" Now look at (NIV): "Then neither do I condemn you, Jesus declared. Go now and leave your life of sin." Notice that He doesn't want us to feel condemned or guilty. Instead, He wants us to do life His way.
And Psalm 25:15 offers us a strong statement to cling to. (AMP): "My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He will pluck my feet out of the net." Last week I felt like I was caught up in a net and couldn't get free, but guess what? I found a hole to get out of. But before I get to the escape look at (GWT): "My eyes are always on the Lord. He removes my feet from traps." And (GNT): "I look to the Lord for help at all times, and He rescues me from danger." And my favorite, (MSG): "If I keep my eyes on God, I won't trip over my own feet." Yes, our own feet trip us up. Why? Because we are running away from pain instead of standing up to it and trusting that God really knows what He's talking about.
I learned from Self-growth.com, Dr. Monica Frank, a clinical psychologist,that cognitive restructuring is a technique that focuses on changing the underlying thought processes that tend to create and perpetuate the behavior. Um, that sounds a lot like my 21 Day Journal notes. Also, memorizing, daily quoting God's word to ourselves and handwriting it for 21 days will seal it in and delete the bad stuff out.
Satan's power is as strong only as much as you allow it to be. That's why God's word speaks so much about our self-control. Satan wants us to think we don't have any control but we really do. He just doesn't want you to know that or challenge it.
Romans 12:2 (NLT): "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is." Everytime you have a rejection thought, a fearful thought, a guilt-ridden thought, say no to it. This system really works because I used it last week and experienced life changing effects. At first I had to say "no" every few seconds because the thoughts were coming at me fast and furious. Then it became hourly. But there was a point when my "no" took hold and subdued the negative thoughts and emotions. I journaled to God that I felt new energies. That explains how He transforms us into new persons.
And see how He advises us to say "no" to Satan. James 4:7 (MSG): "So let God work His will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper." Friends, it really works!!!!
But don't miss the connecting advise in all these verses on this blog: worship God through His Spirit, keep my eyes on God, let God work His will in you, and "I don't condemn you." He even paints a picture of the wonderful life He has for us by doing life His way. Galatians 5:22-23 (MSG): "But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard--things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely."
Thank You Holy Dad for this wonderful life You have given us. Please help my readers to want this life enough that they will do it Your way. Thank You, Father!!
Enjoy good life. Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Have you ever been in a crisis that took such a hold of you as to paralyze and numb your senses? My life during the last week looked nothing like: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I didn't want the situation to control me like it did--and guess what, neither did God!
What I learned about myself was that I suffered from deep rejection pain. It is true that 10 % of people in our world will not like us, so rejection is to be expected. But why do we suffer so much from rejection, from painful hurts, guilt and shame? Why do we hold onto them so tightly? Because we trust ourselves. We think we are dealing with it the right way. Philippians 3:3b (NCV) says this: "We worship God through His Spirit, and our pride is in Christ Jesus. We do not trust in ourselves or anything we can do." So, have we been trusting in the wrong person? The answer is YES! When we get bogged down in our life messes we are actually trusting ourselves.
But it's not just trust, it's actual pain. UCLA neuroscientist, Naomi Eisenberger says that rejection activates the same brain area that generates the adverse reaction to physical pain. What she is saying is that rejection (or any other fear, guilt, etc.) causes actual pain. I started noticing what I felt physically after reading this information. When ever a rejection, painful thought popped up I had a sting in my chest. Naturally we run away from pain. That's why we don't deal with these negative emotions.
Let's look at statements Holy Dad has provided for us that tells us how He doesn't want us to suffer like this. Jesus told us He doesn't want us to live our lives full of guilt and shame. John 8:11 (NCV): "Then Jesus said, 'I also don't judge you guilty. You may go now, but don't sin anymore.'" Now look at (NIV): "Then neither do I condemn you, Jesus declared. Go now and leave your life of sin." Notice that He doesn't want us to feel condemned or guilty. Instead, He wants us to do life His way.
And Psalm 25:15 offers us a strong statement to cling to. (AMP): "My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He will pluck my feet out of the net." Last week I felt like I was caught up in a net and couldn't get free, but guess what? I found a hole to get out of. But before I get to the escape look at (GWT): "My eyes are always on the Lord. He removes my feet from traps." And (GNT): "I look to the Lord for help at all times, and He rescues me from danger." And my favorite, (MSG): "If I keep my eyes on God, I won't trip over my own feet." Yes, our own feet trip us up. Why? Because we are running away from pain instead of standing up to it and trusting that God really knows what He's talking about.
I learned from Self-growth.com, Dr. Monica Frank, a clinical psychologist,that cognitive restructuring is a technique that focuses on changing the underlying thought processes that tend to create and perpetuate the behavior. Um, that sounds a lot like my 21 Day Journal notes. Also, memorizing, daily quoting God's word to ourselves and handwriting it for 21 days will seal it in and delete the bad stuff out.
Satan's power is as strong only as much as you allow it to be. That's why God's word speaks so much about our self-control. Satan wants us to think we don't have any control but we really do. He just doesn't want you to know that or challenge it.
Romans 12:2 (NLT): "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is." Everytime you have a rejection thought, a fearful thought, a guilt-ridden thought, say no to it. This system really works because I used it last week and experienced life changing effects. At first I had to say "no" every few seconds because the thoughts were coming at me fast and furious. Then it became hourly. But there was a point when my "no" took hold and subdued the negative thoughts and emotions. I journaled to God that I felt new energies. That explains how He transforms us into new persons.
And see how He advises us to say "no" to Satan. James 4:7 (MSG): "So let God work His will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper." Friends, it really works!!!!
But don't miss the connecting advise in all these verses on this blog: worship God through His Spirit, keep my eyes on God, let God work His will in you, and "I don't condemn you." He even paints a picture of the wonderful life He has for us by doing life His way. Galatians 5:22-23 (MSG): "But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard--things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely."
Thank You Holy Dad for this wonderful life You have given us. Please help my readers to want this life enough that they will do it Your way. Thank You, Father!!
Enjoy good life. Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Thursday, May 17, 2012
A Confidence Buster: WORRY!
Rocky and I took a morning walk today. I sipped on cup of hot tea as we walked down the gravel road past our neighbors homes. It is the first sunny morning we have had in a while and I am enjoying it greatly. Sunshine magically lifts our spirits, doesn't it? I was greeted by the beautiful flowers and greenery that had sprung up since my last outing. I was amazed at the amount of growth that had occurred but realized that we have had a couple of ugly, drizzly, coldish weeks of weather. Boone, NC's lushness and beauty is presenting itself quite majestically. Thank You Holy Dad for the enjoyment I have experienced this morning!!
Enjoyment. Do you experience it? God wants us to experience it. But do you believe it? Do you trust what He says is the truth? Do you believe that enjoyment is celebrated and experienced only by confident folks?
As Rocky and I were enjoying our morning, sunny walk I talked to God about searching for a job in a month or so. I think we will be able to get a second vehicle and hopefully by me having employement Keevin will be able to find a job here in Boone. I told Holy Dad how beautful this neighborhood is and that I was enjoying it. I then asked Him to grant me somethng. My next job--I want it to be an enjoyable experience and if there are coworkers (there is no "if" b/c there is always someone who doesn't like us) who treat me disrespectfully that He would help me to let it go in one ear and out the other. What about you, is that your wish? Well God reminded me of a verse I have memorized. Psalm 37:4 (NIV) "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." I have always understood that verse to mean "do what God wants and He will give you things you really want." Is that what you thought about that verse also? We'll talk later about this one.
I looked in the concordance of my Bible for "worry" verses. He led me to Psalm 37 for alot of word dealing with worry and fret and anxiousness. We all know the feelings of worry. Just last night our sweet neighborhood black lab, Shadow, barked all night long. Ordinarily I can fall back to sleep but last night I would reawaken and fall back to sleep several times b/c of Shadow's barking. I kept having a reoccuring dream of worry--that someone would break in on us. I really had no basis for my fear but the dream kept me from resting well. As the morning dawned and I spoke with Keevin, he suggested that maybe she was barking at deer running through the neighborhood. And that is a very possible explanation being that we have seen the deer in the early morning hours. Can you see how fear caused a mental anxiety in me that showed up in my sleep? Guess what the definition of worry is?: to be anxious, troubled and a troubled state of mind. Troubled state of mind. A troubled state of mind is far from being a confident state of mind.
Let's take a look at chapter 37 of Psalm and figure this thing out.
Verse 1. (NLT): "Don't worry about the wicked. Don't envy those who do wrong." Remember those people who don't like you?
Verse 2. (MSG): "In no time they'll shrivel like grass clippings and wilt like cut flowers in the sun." That's what God promises will happen to them--so don't worry about them! But I have a feeling for most of us worry is a worrisome habit--one we need to break.
Verse 3. (NLT): "Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper." Do you find yourself slowing down in the "hope" department because you just can't trust God to the extent that will help you? Look at The Amplified: Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed." Did you see the word confident? It means to be confident in God. Your confidence comes from God's confidence. The way trust works is you have to use the little bit you have and God will grow it---it really happens. I have experienced trust-growth and know how it has changed my life. Have you heard the saying "one thing leads to another?" Well one little bit of trust leads to another bigger bit of trust.
Verse 4. (NIV): "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." We've heard this one already today but I discovered a little gold nugget as I looked at other translations. (NCV): Enjoying serving the Lord, and He will give you what you want." Did you see the word "enjoying?" Enjoy doing what? Serving the Lord! It means you should be having a good time whatever it is you are doing to serve God. God reminded me of this translation as I talked to Him earlier during the morning walk. He wants me to enjoy the job He will give me and not let the people who won't like me (they will be there, too) to mess up my enjoyment. I always pictured that to delight God meant doing things to please Him, not necessarily doing things to please me. But when a person loves Holy Dad as much as He wants them to then pleasing me and Him are basically the same thing. Doing things His way = confidence. And isn't it funny that He tells us to trust and enjoy in the middle of all these worry verses?
Verse 5. (NCV): "Depend on the Lord; trust Him, and He will take care of you." 2 days ago (prior to this research) I journaled my thoughts: You are my worry-free Lord, my "I'll take care of you" Jesus, and my "I'll show you the way" Holy Spirit. And look, He showed me in His word that I got it right! But don't overlook the word "trust" in the verse. Trust means to have a firm belief in the reliabilty, etc of another --confident, expectation, hope, etc. Grow your trust = grow your confidence.
Verse 6. (MSG): "He'll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon." Your life is officially important!
Verse 7 (NLT): "Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes." And (MSG): "Quiet down before God, be prayerful before Him. Don't bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top." I spoke of coworkers earlier but this could apply to a sibling who is trying to get all of mom and dad's attention. Or a Christian brother or sister who is trying to scoop up a Sunday School teaching position that has been given to you. This verse plainly tells us what to do and how to act when these situations happen--and they will happen.
Verse 8 (GNT): "Don't give in to worry or anger; it only leads to trouble." Remember the troubled state of mind?
Verse11 (NCV): "People who are not proud will inherit the land and will enjoy complete peace." You have to give up what you consider to be confident growing ways (that aren't working--at least long term) and do it God's way. Peace. Enjoyment. That's what you can look forward to.
Verse 23 (NCV): "When a person's steps follow the Lord, God is pleased with his ways." That sums it up. Follow God's ways. Trust Him. Grow your trust. Please Him.
Have I convinced you yet to do it His way? Proverbs 3:5 (AMP): "Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding." This verse touches on the trust, confidence and mind. (MSG): "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own." He knows the reasoning we think with--our reasoning.
When you find yourself in a troubled state of mind audibly speak and listen to your voice. Perhaps name the location of where you currently are. Hearing your voice pulls you out of the state of mind and places you back in the present. If you aren't in a situation to speak audibly then handwrite it or use a firm voice in your thoughts. Tell yourself to stop it and say it very firmly and mean it. After a while your brain will recognize that you mean business and your subconcious will obey you instead of you obeying your subconcious.
Bob Beckel on The Five (Fox News channel) said last night that AA has a saying: "get out of your own mind." Friend, you would do well to get out of your own mind and into God's.
Do you want a 21 Day Journal Note? Here it is for those of you employing these:
(Psalm 37) I am refusing to worry about those who don't like me. I am not jealous because it seems they are unscathed by the bad things they say and do. God, you say that in time they will fade away. I am trusting you unconditionally and will continue to do good. I am enjoying your good life and the things your good earth has to offer. Father, because of your great love for me, I am enjoying serving You and giving back to You. I feel so honored when I experience Your goodness. When I am confronted by the folks who don't like me I will quiet down and be still in your presence. Their presence will shrink away and You will rise up. I refuse to get into mental trouble by worrying. You have promised to help me stand up and bear any trouble, danger or fear (2 Cor. 12:9) and I claim this promise. Thank You Lord for Your healing, peace and good life!
end of journal note.
Enjoy confident living! Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Enjoyment. Do you experience it? God wants us to experience it. But do you believe it? Do you trust what He says is the truth? Do you believe that enjoyment is celebrated and experienced only by confident folks?
As Rocky and I were enjoying our morning, sunny walk I talked to God about searching for a job in a month or so. I think we will be able to get a second vehicle and hopefully by me having employement Keevin will be able to find a job here in Boone. I told Holy Dad how beautful this neighborhood is and that I was enjoying it. I then asked Him to grant me somethng. My next job--I want it to be an enjoyable experience and if there are coworkers (there is no "if" b/c there is always someone who doesn't like us) who treat me disrespectfully that He would help me to let it go in one ear and out the other. What about you, is that your wish? Well God reminded me of a verse I have memorized. Psalm 37:4 (NIV) "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." I have always understood that verse to mean "do what God wants and He will give you things you really want." Is that what you thought about that verse also? We'll talk later about this one.
I looked in the concordance of my Bible for "worry" verses. He led me to Psalm 37 for alot of word dealing with worry and fret and anxiousness. We all know the feelings of worry. Just last night our sweet neighborhood black lab, Shadow, barked all night long. Ordinarily I can fall back to sleep but last night I would reawaken and fall back to sleep several times b/c of Shadow's barking. I kept having a reoccuring dream of worry--that someone would break in on us. I really had no basis for my fear but the dream kept me from resting well. As the morning dawned and I spoke with Keevin, he suggested that maybe she was barking at deer running through the neighborhood. And that is a very possible explanation being that we have seen the deer in the early morning hours. Can you see how fear caused a mental anxiety in me that showed up in my sleep? Guess what the definition of worry is?: to be anxious, troubled and a troubled state of mind. Troubled state of mind. A troubled state of mind is far from being a confident state of mind.
Let's take a look at chapter 37 of Psalm and figure this thing out.
Verse 1. (NLT): "Don't worry about the wicked. Don't envy those who do wrong." Remember those people who don't like you?
Verse 2. (MSG): "In no time they'll shrivel like grass clippings and wilt like cut flowers in the sun." That's what God promises will happen to them--so don't worry about them! But I have a feeling for most of us worry is a worrisome habit--one we need to break.
Verse 3. (NLT): "Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper." Do you find yourself slowing down in the "hope" department because you just can't trust God to the extent that will help you? Look at The Amplified: Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed." Did you see the word confident? It means to be confident in God. Your confidence comes from God's confidence. The way trust works is you have to use the little bit you have and God will grow it---it really happens. I have experienced trust-growth and know how it has changed my life. Have you heard the saying "one thing leads to another?" Well one little bit of trust leads to another bigger bit of trust.
Verse 4. (NIV): "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." We've heard this one already today but I discovered a little gold nugget as I looked at other translations. (NCV): Enjoying serving the Lord, and He will give you what you want." Did you see the word "enjoying?" Enjoy doing what? Serving the Lord! It means you should be having a good time whatever it is you are doing to serve God. God reminded me of this translation as I talked to Him earlier during the morning walk. He wants me to enjoy the job He will give me and not let the people who won't like me (they will be there, too) to mess up my enjoyment. I always pictured that to delight God meant doing things to please Him, not necessarily doing things to please me. But when a person loves Holy Dad as much as He wants them to then pleasing me and Him are basically the same thing. Doing things His way = confidence. And isn't it funny that He tells us to trust and enjoy in the middle of all these worry verses?
Verse 5. (NCV): "Depend on the Lord; trust Him, and He will take care of you." 2 days ago (prior to this research) I journaled my thoughts: You are my worry-free Lord, my "I'll take care of you" Jesus, and my "I'll show you the way" Holy Spirit. And look, He showed me in His word that I got it right! But don't overlook the word "trust" in the verse. Trust means to have a firm belief in the reliabilty, etc of another --confident, expectation, hope, etc. Grow your trust = grow your confidence.
Verse 6. (MSG): "He'll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon." Your life is officially important!
Verse 7 (NLT): "Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes." And (MSG): "Quiet down before God, be prayerful before Him. Don't bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top." I spoke of coworkers earlier but this could apply to a sibling who is trying to get all of mom and dad's attention. Or a Christian brother or sister who is trying to scoop up a Sunday School teaching position that has been given to you. This verse plainly tells us what to do and how to act when these situations happen--and they will happen.
Verse 8 (GNT): "Don't give in to worry or anger; it only leads to trouble." Remember the troubled state of mind?
Verse11 (NCV): "People who are not proud will inherit the land and will enjoy complete peace." You have to give up what you consider to be confident growing ways (that aren't working--at least long term) and do it God's way. Peace. Enjoyment. That's what you can look forward to.
Verse 23 (NCV): "When a person's steps follow the Lord, God is pleased with his ways." That sums it up. Follow God's ways. Trust Him. Grow your trust. Please Him.
Have I convinced you yet to do it His way? Proverbs 3:5 (AMP): "Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding." This verse touches on the trust, confidence and mind. (MSG): "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own." He knows the reasoning we think with--our reasoning.
When you find yourself in a troubled state of mind audibly speak and listen to your voice. Perhaps name the location of where you currently are. Hearing your voice pulls you out of the state of mind and places you back in the present. If you aren't in a situation to speak audibly then handwrite it or use a firm voice in your thoughts. Tell yourself to stop it and say it very firmly and mean it. After a while your brain will recognize that you mean business and your subconcious will obey you instead of you obeying your subconcious.
Bob Beckel on The Five (Fox News channel) said last night that AA has a saying: "get out of your own mind." Friend, you would do well to get out of your own mind and into God's.
Do you want a 21 Day Journal Note? Here it is for those of you employing these:
(Psalm 37) I am refusing to worry about those who don't like me. I am not jealous because it seems they are unscathed by the bad things they say and do. God, you say that in time they will fade away. I am trusting you unconditionally and will continue to do good. I am enjoying your good life and the things your good earth has to offer. Father, because of your great love for me, I am enjoying serving You and giving back to You. I feel so honored when I experience Your goodness. When I am confronted by the folks who don't like me I will quiet down and be still in your presence. Their presence will shrink away and You will rise up. I refuse to get into mental trouble by worrying. You have promised to help me stand up and bear any trouble, danger or fear (2 Cor. 12:9) and I claim this promise. Thank You Lord for Your healing, peace and good life!
end of journal note.
Enjoy confident living! Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Release! Relief! 5-10-12
What keeps you in an emotional prison? What limits you? What can free you from your emotional disability? Today's blog will address all of these issues and provide answers and a new way of life.
Signs of limitation and restriction:
anger, depression, disagreeable, bitterness, unfriendly, intimacy issues, violence, dissatisfaction, resentfulness, harshness, pain, jealousy, anguish, hatred, avoidance, hostility, whinning, cruelty. These are the signs, not the causes.
Isaiah 61:1 (NLT): "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon Me, because the Lord has appointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed." The Amplified Bible speaks to the afflicted as well as the physical and spiriutual captives. Isaiah was fortelling of a person who would do these things for us. That person is Jesus who did come and provided for us ways of being released. Notice the word announce in that verse. Jesus announces the possibility of release. But who holds the key? You do!
Verse 2 (NCV) says: "He has sent Me to announce the time when the Lord will show His kindness and the time when our God will punish evil people. He has sent Me to comfort all those who are sad." NLT speaks of your enemies. NIV refers to you who mourn. And GWT calls you those who grieve.
Grief fits here because you are acting from intense emotional sufferings. You are being controlled by the emotions but the emotions are fueled by a cause. Whatever the cause is-you are still being haunted by it.
You are the one who is emotional and hurt, angry, etc but God is the One who is authorized to punish the evil people in your life. It doesn't mean that we cannot defend ourselves when absolutely necessary-- just be sure that you know what absolutely necessary means.
By allowing God to do His thing and forging on to do your thing brings rewards. Verse 3 (NIV): "And provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor."
Look at the trade off:
ashes (frown, scowl, furrowed brow, pursed lips) >>>>>>beauty
mourning>>>>>>>gladness
spirit of despair>>>>>>>garment of praise
And not only that but you become and appear as strong as an oak tree--you become His splendor!
Do you know what splendor is? It is: great luster, brillaince, pomp, grandeur. You become His bling!
But how do you get release if you hold the key?
Romans 12:21 (MSG): "Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good." I know, I know--you are still dealing with all those negative emotions. So how do you release those negative emotions?
Well it seems we need another reminder of God's role in all of this. Romans 12:19 (NCV): "My friends, do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with His anger. It is written: 'I'll punish those who do wrong, I will repay them,' says the Lord." Looks like one of our confidence elements (Galatians 5:22-23) is used here--patience. Yes, it's very hard to sit back and wait but that's what God tells us to do--and we trust Him!
Besides patience, there is something else you can do. Forgive unconditionally. That's what I said, or rather God said. Jesus told a little story in Matthew 18 to illustrate the act of forgiveness. It's funny how you have to give up resentment toward someone (or release) in order to feel personal release. Matthew 18:35 (MSG): "And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy." What will happen to you if you don't forgive?
Look at the previous verse 34 (NIV): "In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed." Do you see the correlation of the jail and torture to your limitations brought on by the strong emotions in you?
God did not design you to live this way. James 1:20 (NCV): "Because anger will not help you live the right kind of life God wants."
What does forgiving unconditionally mean? How should you ask God to help you? His word guides us. 1Peter 2:19 (GNT): "God will bless you for this if you endure the pain of undeserved suffering because you are conscious of His will." He knows He is asking you to perform a hard task--but He wants to help you!
And do this: Matthew 18:22 (NCV): "Jesus answered, 'I tell you, you must forgive him more than seven times. You must forgive him even if he does wrong to you seventy-seven times. That sounds extreme, doesn't it? But do you want to be a confident person? That's what it takes!
So many times our enemies only live in our minds but when we are face to face with an offender God wants us to take it another step further. 2 Corinthians 2:7 (NLT): "Now it is time to forgive him and comfort him. Otherwise he may become so discouraged that he won't be able to recover."
On to a very important question---Who or what is causing your strong emotions--who has you in jail? There may be several people who have injured you as well as yourself. Knowing circumstances behind a persons actions helps us to forgive because we can then feel empathy instead of pain. Unfortunately we don't always have the luxury of knowing details yet still we are told to forgive--in order to gain freedom.
By the way, release means to set free from confinement, work, pain. To let go.
Release so you can be calm, cool and collected.
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Signs of limitation and restriction:
anger, depression, disagreeable, bitterness, unfriendly, intimacy issues, violence, dissatisfaction, resentfulness, harshness, pain, jealousy, anguish, hatred, avoidance, hostility, whinning, cruelty. These are the signs, not the causes.
Isaiah 61:1 (NLT): "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon Me, because the Lord has appointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed." The Amplified Bible speaks to the afflicted as well as the physical and spiriutual captives. Isaiah was fortelling of a person who would do these things for us. That person is Jesus who did come and provided for us ways of being released. Notice the word announce in that verse. Jesus announces the possibility of release. But who holds the key? You do!
Verse 2 (NCV) says: "He has sent Me to announce the time when the Lord will show His kindness and the time when our God will punish evil people. He has sent Me to comfort all those who are sad." NLT speaks of your enemies. NIV refers to you who mourn. And GWT calls you those who grieve.
Grief fits here because you are acting from intense emotional sufferings. You are being controlled by the emotions but the emotions are fueled by a cause. Whatever the cause is-you are still being haunted by it.
You are the one who is emotional and hurt, angry, etc but God is the One who is authorized to punish the evil people in your life. It doesn't mean that we cannot defend ourselves when absolutely necessary-- just be sure that you know what absolutely necessary means.
By allowing God to do His thing and forging on to do your thing brings rewards. Verse 3 (NIV): "And provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor."
Look at the trade off:
ashes (frown, scowl, furrowed brow, pursed lips) >>>>>>beauty
mourning>>>>>>>gladness
spirit of despair>>>>>>>garment of praise
And not only that but you become and appear as strong as an oak tree--you become His splendor!
Do you know what splendor is? It is: great luster, brillaince, pomp, grandeur. You become His bling!
But how do you get release if you hold the key?
Romans 12:21 (MSG): "Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good." I know, I know--you are still dealing with all those negative emotions. So how do you release those negative emotions?
Well it seems we need another reminder of God's role in all of this. Romans 12:19 (NCV): "My friends, do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with His anger. It is written: 'I'll punish those who do wrong, I will repay them,' says the Lord." Looks like one of our confidence elements (Galatians 5:22-23) is used here--patience. Yes, it's very hard to sit back and wait but that's what God tells us to do--and we trust Him!
Besides patience, there is something else you can do. Forgive unconditionally. That's what I said, or rather God said. Jesus told a little story in Matthew 18 to illustrate the act of forgiveness. It's funny how you have to give up resentment toward someone (or release) in order to feel personal release. Matthew 18:35 (MSG): "And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy." What will happen to you if you don't forgive?
Look at the previous verse 34 (NIV): "In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed." Do you see the correlation of the jail and torture to your limitations brought on by the strong emotions in you?
God did not design you to live this way. James 1:20 (NCV): "Because anger will not help you live the right kind of life God wants."
What does forgiving unconditionally mean? How should you ask God to help you? His word guides us. 1Peter 2:19 (GNT): "God will bless you for this if you endure the pain of undeserved suffering because you are conscious of His will." He knows He is asking you to perform a hard task--but He wants to help you!
And do this: Matthew 18:22 (NCV): "Jesus answered, 'I tell you, you must forgive him more than seven times. You must forgive him even if he does wrong to you seventy-seven times. That sounds extreme, doesn't it? But do you want to be a confident person? That's what it takes!
So many times our enemies only live in our minds but when we are face to face with an offender God wants us to take it another step further. 2 Corinthians 2:7 (NLT): "Now it is time to forgive him and comfort him. Otherwise he may become so discouraged that he won't be able to recover."
On to a very important question---Who or what is causing your strong emotions--who has you in jail? There may be several people who have injured you as well as yourself. Knowing circumstances behind a persons actions helps us to forgive because we can then feel empathy instead of pain. Unfortunately we don't always have the luxury of knowing details yet still we are told to forgive--in order to gain freedom.
By the way, release means to set free from confinement, work, pain. To let go.
Release so you can be calm, cool and collected.
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Thursday, May 3, 2012
The Gift of Identity
The definition of identity is: The state or fact of being a specific person or thing; individuality. The definition of identity crisis is: The state of being uncertain about oneself regarding character, goals, etc. Do you know who you are, where you came from, etc or do you have questions? I believe a large number of ladies can identify with difficulty with their own identification. Identify means to fix the identity of. So let's do just that!
I have always been interested in genealogy. My great-aunt Dean Parker compiled the Parker family tree lots of years ago--before ancestry.com. She was unable to go beyond our 4 great-grandfather and so we were unable to determine where our family originated from. One day I would like to be able to join ancestry.com and find but for now--I don't know.
I faithfully watch Who Do You Think You Are and Finding Your Roots (on PBS). These folks are usually surprised to find out commonalities they share with far-away relatives. But I say that God created us with genes that are past down through DNA and we shouldn't be surprised at the similarites. A few years ago Keevin and I visited with my sister, Lorie and her family in Raliegh (Wendell), NC. We hadn't been to their home in a long time. I was surprised to see similar items in their home that we had. Lorie said, "did you buy it at Walmart?" And I answered yes, but still we bought the same things in a particular pattern. We share commonalities that we didn't know we had. A few years ago God opened my eyes to my writing gift. But when I think about what it takes for my Dad and my brother, Drew, to preach it only makes sense that they too have a gift with words. We all share common things but do them differently.
So you see looking at your family can shed some important things about who you are--the gifts you may have. And looking at your family can reveal some unnecessary behaviors that you have picked up that have nothing to do with who God made you to be. In fact these behaviors hinder you from being all you can be. A fun way to look at what is good and what is bad is to make a list of your family members. Write down the good things about each one. Ask yourself if you connect with the good thing. And list the bad behaviors. Do you suffer from the same ones? I hope to encourage you to look up the trouble areas in the Bible and convince yourself that Holy Dad wants more for you than what you are getting out of the troubled area.
My monthy Bible read (I read the same 4 chapters once a day for a month) is Matthew chapters 1-4. Matthew starts off his book with Jesus' genealogy. Matthew and Luke are the only two authors who give account of Jesus' human family line. Of course Holy Dad is His Father and also ours. Matthew's book is addressed to a Jewish audience. Luke is talking to gentiles (all other non-Jewish people). Matthew traces the lineage of Jesus through Joseph (His step-father). Luke recounts through Mary's family.
Looking through both sets of genealogies one can see some of the same people. Jewish marraiges were arranged from the same family lines. This would explain why Joseph's lineage is applicable even though he was not Jesus' biological father.
I pulled out my MacArthur Bible Handbook to research the information for today's blog. I stumbled on a chronological list of the New Testament Books. The book of Matthew was listed as number 3. I would have thought that God would have placed big importance on Jesus' life and teachings-- and I guess He did by making sure that it was the first book in the New Testament. However, the first book that He inspired is very very interesting. Have any of you ladies taken Beth Moore's Bible study "James" yet? I haven't but I am going to buy it soon. James was the first book of the New Testament God inspired. And guess who James is. James was the oldest half-brother of Jesus. Yes, a family member of Jesus. You can probably relate to the hate/love relationship with a sibling that Jesus had with His. James had at first rejected Jesus as our Messiah but later believed. James experience a relationship with a post resurrected Jesus. And what important things did God want to inspire first? James' book is about wise living, godly behavior. His passion was to teach his readors to uncompromisingly obey God's word. James teaches us about the gifts God gives us, the gifts that give us identity.
James 1:17, 18 (NCV): "Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars, Who does not change like their shifting shadows. God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things He made." Friend did you hear it? Read back through it very slowly taking note of each word and the meaning of it. This is rich stuff. Important stuff. Your confidence level may be low right now but God says YOU are the most important of all things He has made! It is the truth. It's ok that you don't feel it right now but give His word a try and soak it in and within 21 days you will feel it.
It's funny how I was inspired to write about genealogy this morning as I was reading about Jesus' lineage. After watching a little news I turned to watch Joni Lamb on the Daystar channel. She was interviewing a christain psychologist by the name of Dr. Jerry Mungadze, who uses science and God's word for therapy. He is an expert on the brain and she quizzed him about this wonderful organ that we all have. He says that the functions of the brain are: to process our experiences, houses our memories and moderates hundreds of thousands of nerve signals throughout the body. He claims that identity is at the heart of insecurtiy--who you are. Growing up our parents give us our self-image. He also said that there is a section in the brain that houses our identity.
Then he revealed something wonderful. Our biological parents birthed us but God created us. He said the key thing is the human being is designed by God. We are trying to fix ourselves by ourselves. Instead we should be reaching out to the one who created us to fix us. And guess what else he said? God made you. You are an original. Do you believe it? This is one he got from God's word and science.
Let's go to Galatians. No, I not quoting the confidence elements in 5:22-23 but I do love these 2 verses. Galatians 6:4 (MSG): "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life." Remember the list of the good and bad things I suggested you write down about you and your family? That's what God suggested for you to do.
Now back up to Galatians 5:25-26 (MSG): "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original." There it is my friend. You are an original. There is no need to compare because we are all different and all have some wonderful qualities that Holy Dad gave just to us. That's how He makes each of us special in our own way--not a copy cat. And guess what?!?! Galatians is the second book that Holy Dad inspried--yes the one with the confidence elements. See how much He loves us!?!?
I have a 21 day journal note to fit the ocassion of identiy. Here it is:
(Based on Galatians 5:25-26 and 6: 4) Lord, I am a part of You. You lovingly created me, birthed me. Thank You for my life! Because of this fact I am going to start living my life in Your deliberate way. I am exploring who I really am and rejecting the junk I have learned from our culture. Thank You for the beautiful body you have given me. Thank You for the experiences that have made me uniquely me. Thank you for giving me the real way to live outlined in Your Word. Thank You for hope and I am embracing it and will live it out. You have made me an original! Thank You Sweet Lord!
end of journal note. Handwrite this once a day to rewire your thinking. Just think, 21 days to a new itdentity!
Friend, you have a decision to make. Do you continue down a path that someone steered you down just because you were related to them. Will you take the path that God promises will lead to a good life, one He will help you with? Come on, make your choice.
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
I have always been interested in genealogy. My great-aunt Dean Parker compiled the Parker family tree lots of years ago--before ancestry.com. She was unable to go beyond our 4 great-grandfather and so we were unable to determine where our family originated from. One day I would like to be able to join ancestry.com and find but for now--I don't know.
I faithfully watch Who Do You Think You Are and Finding Your Roots (on PBS). These folks are usually surprised to find out commonalities they share with far-away relatives. But I say that God created us with genes that are past down through DNA and we shouldn't be surprised at the similarites. A few years ago Keevin and I visited with my sister, Lorie and her family in Raliegh (Wendell), NC. We hadn't been to their home in a long time. I was surprised to see similar items in their home that we had. Lorie said, "did you buy it at Walmart?" And I answered yes, but still we bought the same things in a particular pattern. We share commonalities that we didn't know we had. A few years ago God opened my eyes to my writing gift. But when I think about what it takes for my Dad and my brother, Drew, to preach it only makes sense that they too have a gift with words. We all share common things but do them differently.
So you see looking at your family can shed some important things about who you are--the gifts you may have. And looking at your family can reveal some unnecessary behaviors that you have picked up that have nothing to do with who God made you to be. In fact these behaviors hinder you from being all you can be. A fun way to look at what is good and what is bad is to make a list of your family members. Write down the good things about each one. Ask yourself if you connect with the good thing. And list the bad behaviors. Do you suffer from the same ones? I hope to encourage you to look up the trouble areas in the Bible and convince yourself that Holy Dad wants more for you than what you are getting out of the troubled area.
My monthy Bible read (I read the same 4 chapters once a day for a month) is Matthew chapters 1-4. Matthew starts off his book with Jesus' genealogy. Matthew and Luke are the only two authors who give account of Jesus' human family line. Of course Holy Dad is His Father and also ours. Matthew's book is addressed to a Jewish audience. Luke is talking to gentiles (all other non-Jewish people). Matthew traces the lineage of Jesus through Joseph (His step-father). Luke recounts through Mary's family.
Looking through both sets of genealogies one can see some of the same people. Jewish marraiges were arranged from the same family lines. This would explain why Joseph's lineage is applicable even though he was not Jesus' biological father.
I pulled out my MacArthur Bible Handbook to research the information for today's blog. I stumbled on a chronological list of the New Testament Books. The book of Matthew was listed as number 3. I would have thought that God would have placed big importance on Jesus' life and teachings-- and I guess He did by making sure that it was the first book in the New Testament. However, the first book that He inspired is very very interesting. Have any of you ladies taken Beth Moore's Bible study "James" yet? I haven't but I am going to buy it soon. James was the first book of the New Testament God inspired. And guess who James is. James was the oldest half-brother of Jesus. Yes, a family member of Jesus. You can probably relate to the hate/love relationship with a sibling that Jesus had with His. James had at first rejected Jesus as our Messiah but later believed. James experience a relationship with a post resurrected Jesus. And what important things did God want to inspire first? James' book is about wise living, godly behavior. His passion was to teach his readors to uncompromisingly obey God's word. James teaches us about the gifts God gives us, the gifts that give us identity.
James 1:17, 18 (NCV): "Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars, Who does not change like their shifting shadows. God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things He made." Friend did you hear it? Read back through it very slowly taking note of each word and the meaning of it. This is rich stuff. Important stuff. Your confidence level may be low right now but God says YOU are the most important of all things He has made! It is the truth. It's ok that you don't feel it right now but give His word a try and soak it in and within 21 days you will feel it.
It's funny how I was inspired to write about genealogy this morning as I was reading about Jesus' lineage. After watching a little news I turned to watch Joni Lamb on the Daystar channel. She was interviewing a christain psychologist by the name of Dr. Jerry Mungadze, who uses science and God's word for therapy. He is an expert on the brain and she quizzed him about this wonderful organ that we all have. He says that the functions of the brain are: to process our experiences, houses our memories and moderates hundreds of thousands of nerve signals throughout the body. He claims that identity is at the heart of insecurtiy--who you are. Growing up our parents give us our self-image. He also said that there is a section in the brain that houses our identity.
Then he revealed something wonderful. Our biological parents birthed us but God created us. He said the key thing is the human being is designed by God. We are trying to fix ourselves by ourselves. Instead we should be reaching out to the one who created us to fix us. And guess what else he said? God made you. You are an original. Do you believe it? This is one he got from God's word and science.
Let's go to Galatians. No, I not quoting the confidence elements in 5:22-23 but I do love these 2 verses. Galatians 6:4 (MSG): "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life." Remember the list of the good and bad things I suggested you write down about you and your family? That's what God suggested for you to do.
Now back up to Galatians 5:25-26 (MSG): "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original." There it is my friend. You are an original. There is no need to compare because we are all different and all have some wonderful qualities that Holy Dad gave just to us. That's how He makes each of us special in our own way--not a copy cat. And guess what?!?! Galatians is the second book that Holy Dad inspried--yes the one with the confidence elements. See how much He loves us!?!?
I have a 21 day journal note to fit the ocassion of identiy. Here it is:
(Based on Galatians 5:25-26 and 6: 4) Lord, I am a part of You. You lovingly created me, birthed me. Thank You for my life! Because of this fact I am going to start living my life in Your deliberate way. I am exploring who I really am and rejecting the junk I have learned from our culture. Thank You for the beautiful body you have given me. Thank You for the experiences that have made me uniquely me. Thank you for giving me the real way to live outlined in Your Word. Thank You for hope and I am embracing it and will live it out. You have made me an original! Thank You Sweet Lord!
end of journal note. Handwrite this once a day to rewire your thinking. Just think, 21 days to a new itdentity!
Friend, you have a decision to make. Do you continue down a path that someone steered you down just because you were related to them. Will you take the path that God promises will lead to a good life, one He will help you with? Come on, make your choice.
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Thursday, April 26, 2012
4-26-12 Success despite the big fear
It's funny that today I am planning to write about replacing fear of doing something (anything) with Jesus' help and found myself frustrated with google as they had changed everything about my blog dashboard. I am very technically handicapped and this change has thrown me for a loop. I don't see the background I chose for the blog and don't know how to get it back--however, it may show up on the actual blog--I don't know. So if you are opening this post up and wondering why it's different I will tell you that I am not happy with the presentation and hope to learn more and make it prettier.
Lord Jesus, I trust You to help me figure this out and present a word of confidence to my audience that You would be happy with. Thank You!
Just this week I have been thinking about starting up a neighborhood ladies Bible study--a study of relationships. But I found my mind thinking of why I shouldn't. For most of my life I have had a problem area of the fear of rejection from people. I learned from Joyce Meyer today that there are a few common fears: fear of man (mine), fear of past mistakes, fear of the unknown, fear that God is angry with you or not pleased with you, fear of what you are-is not good enough and what you doing is never good enough, and fear of being lonely. Did you nod your head to any of these? I know I have a fear rejection from people yet I seem to always be battling it. Yes it is a battle. I won the battles on some of the other fears but now it is time to put this fear down.
The Bible teaches about these battles. 1 Timothy 4:1 (AMP): "But The [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach." It is true that I have not totally turned away from my faith but I do given much attention to spirits who are seducing me away from working for God. The thought of rejection is always in the back of my mind and may be more up front than I care to admit. Even so, it is a battle, one that I do not want to fight. The sight of that kind of battle looms large in my mind. How do I get the courage to march foward?
The Bible teaches about marching forward, too. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (MSG): "and He told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness." Weaknesses can equal fears. So, it looks like I need to stop focusing on my fear of rejection (and all things technical) and trust that Jesus is everything I need. I like The Amplified Bible version of this verse but it is lengthy--bare with me. (AMP): "But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weakness and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!"
I have come up with a new 21 Day Journal Note using these 2 versions of 2 Corinthians 12:9. Here it is:
Jesus, You are telling me that Your grace (favor, loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for me. You are enabling me to stand up and bear any trouble, danger, or fear. Jesus, Your strength and power are fulfilled and show themselves in me when I allow You to take over my problem areas. I will quit focusing on my problem areas and concentrate on Your strength and power. I am feeling Your rest and peace. Thank You Lord!
end of journal note.
I encourage you to join me in handwriting this note once a day for 21 days to rewire the brain from focusing on the fears. It's time to focus on Jesus and what He does for us and how we can teach others to turn to Him for the same help. You can exchange the words "problem areas" with an acutal problem written out. Doing this will personalize the journal note and make it more effective for you.
Let's win this battle with Jesus--We can do it with His help.
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Lord Jesus, I trust You to help me figure this out and present a word of confidence to my audience that You would be happy with. Thank You!
Just this week I have been thinking about starting up a neighborhood ladies Bible study--a study of relationships. But I found my mind thinking of why I shouldn't. For most of my life I have had a problem area of the fear of rejection from people. I learned from Joyce Meyer today that there are a few common fears: fear of man (mine), fear of past mistakes, fear of the unknown, fear that God is angry with you or not pleased with you, fear of what you are-is not good enough and what you doing is never good enough, and fear of being lonely. Did you nod your head to any of these? I know I have a fear rejection from people yet I seem to always be battling it. Yes it is a battle. I won the battles on some of the other fears but now it is time to put this fear down.
The Bible teaches about these battles. 1 Timothy 4:1 (AMP): "But The [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach." It is true that I have not totally turned away from my faith but I do given much attention to spirits who are seducing me away from working for God. The thought of rejection is always in the back of my mind and may be more up front than I care to admit. Even so, it is a battle, one that I do not want to fight. The sight of that kind of battle looms large in my mind. How do I get the courage to march foward?
The Bible teaches about marching forward, too. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (MSG): "and He told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness." Weaknesses can equal fears. So, it looks like I need to stop focusing on my fear of rejection (and all things technical) and trust that Jesus is everything I need. I like The Amplified Bible version of this verse but it is lengthy--bare with me. (AMP): "But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weakness and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!"
I have come up with a new 21 Day Journal Note using these 2 versions of 2 Corinthians 12:9. Here it is:
Jesus, You are telling me that Your grace (favor, loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for me. You are enabling me to stand up and bear any trouble, danger, or fear. Jesus, Your strength and power are fulfilled and show themselves in me when I allow You to take over my problem areas. I will quit focusing on my problem areas and concentrate on Your strength and power. I am feeling Your rest and peace. Thank You Lord!
end of journal note.
I encourage you to join me in handwriting this note once a day for 21 days to rewire the brain from focusing on the fears. It's time to focus on Jesus and what He does for us and how we can teach others to turn to Him for the same help. You can exchange the words "problem areas" with an acutal problem written out. Doing this will personalize the journal note and make it more effective for you.
Let's win this battle with Jesus--We can do it with His help.
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
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