Peaceful Friday to all readers! It's peaceful here in middle TN, but on the coast of North Carolina where my family lives they are bracing for the biggest hurricane (Irene) in 20 years. Gov. Bev Purdue announced this morning on the Fox news that it may hit Morehead City, NC first. That is about 1 hour up the coast from my family in Jacksonville, NC and Camp Lejeune Marine Base. I am praying for safety for the eastern seaboard.
These folks in NC are busy preparing for diasaster and are boarding up windows, securing boats and some are evacuating the area. I grew up on the coast. I know first hand what it feels like to experience weather like this. We would stay glued to the TV for updates. Even now I am keeping an eye on this storm. I have family living down in Sumter, SC and up in Wilmington, Jacksonville and New Bern, NC. Lots of reasons to stay in prayer for safety for the coastal regions. Constant threat of storms is a normal part of life for coastal residents. Thunder storms, rain, wind, lightning. It comes with the territory. The sherrifs dept has a tough job of keeping "hurricane partiers" off the beach during these extreme weather times. I am sure the deputy sherrifs would rather stay in where it is safe instead of out in harms way protecting folks who deliberately face danger and make light of it.
Sounds like a lesson to me. Deliberately running into danger. Folks who run to the hurricane are wanting to experience a high while facing danger, adding alcohol and recreational drugs to dull their thinking capacities. Do we do similar things when it comes to bad behavior? Sure we do! Just this past week the Holy Spirit confronted me about jealousy. At first I didn't recognize it for what it was, but then I noticed a pain in my heart. I am trying to be more noticeable of my inner being so that I can stay on top of my bad behavior and correct it with God's help. So I searched God's scripture to see what it says about jealousy. I went to "Gotquestions.org" and typed in the word jealousy. After reading one section without any eye-opening answers I clicked onto the section about God's jealousy. I read that being jealous for something that God declares to belong to you is good and appropriate. Well, I thought, just maybe I am in the right this time. Afterall the thing I am jealous for is something that God designed for us to enjoy. But I still didn't feel peace about it. So I talked to my husband, Keevin. He asked me: "are you wishing that if you can't have it then she shouldn't enjoy hers?" Oh. He hit the nail on the head. That's it--I have been sinning and I need to correct this area of my life. One of the things I need to do is accept the fact of my situation and allow God to grow something else wonderful from it and move on and not regret the loss. In correcting my distorted thinking I am moving away from the danger of a known bad behavior. Bad behavior is toxic to one's life and the people we come in contact with. I am being responsible by turning away from it and seeking shelter and safety with God. Thank You Heavenly Lord!! I will be starting a new 21 day journal note to help rewire my thinking. Here it is:
21 Day Journal note # 8
Jealousy---Bad Behavior!
I felt the pangs of jealousy--like a stab in my heart. And then I reflected the pain back to the object of my jealousy. I didn't want that person to have what I couldn't have. But feeling this way definitely breaks Your command, Lord. Romans 13: 9b-10(NIV) says: "Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Father, help me to accept the things in my life that are painful. Instead, produce something good from it. I am following Your direction and living out the plan You have for me. Thank You for steering me away from my bad behavior over to Your wonderful life of peace and love.
end of journal note.
I uncovered some interesting information while researching jealousy further. Look at this definition: Jealousy is a secondary emotion and typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values, particularly in reference to a human connection. Jealousy often consists of a combination of presenting emotions such as anger, sadness, resentment and disgust." Does any of this ring a bell for you? It is Toxic and will erode away your good life. Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV) says: "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. So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" And notice the list of sins that jealousy is included in Galatians 5: 19-21 (NIV): "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immoraltiy, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkeneness, orgies, and the like." And then there are the confidence elements found in the next 2 verses: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." So my friend, please take very seriously the jealousies that you feel. Take responsiblity to correct these areas of your life.
I assign todays journal note to confidence elements: love, peace, gentleness, self-control.
I assign todays note to confidence-busters: fearful, insecurity, anxiety, anger, sadness, resentment, disgust, powerlessness, self-centeredness, stronghold, unforgiving, wound, and jealousy.
Keevin and I are upon the transitonal weekend. Today is his last day at work and tomorrow we start to tie up more loose ends, especailly with the camper. We will say good-byes to our church friends on Sunday and feel grief for the end of one season. We are resisting Satan's temptations to worry about work and money in the coming months. Lord, we are trusting You with all of our heart! You will provide and keep us going so that we can do great work for You. Thank You Lord!!
Reading friends, have a wonderful weekend and begin to remove those toxins from your lives.
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
