Not in the spirit yet? I have to admit that I feel like I have already experienced Christmas and there's no reason to go to the trouble of decorating. Last weekend I spent lots of family time and enjoyed every bit of it. Moma said that Thanksgiving this year felt like Christmas. The funny thing is not one bit of Christmas decoration was around. My mom, sister, aunt Janice and I shared time while baking pies and cakes. The fun of it was the discussion of Grandma Millie's 7 layer cake. Lorie determined that the 1 cup of lard was the secret ingredient. Grandma's cakes really do taste different. Aunt Janice even wrote down the recipe, borrowed a cup of lard and vowed to cook it for their Thanksgiving meal at Regina's (my cousin) house. And she did. I crashed their family meal later that evening (because Aunt Janice said I could) and taste tested her cake. It tasted just as good as Lorie's. Oh, and the relationship time was the icing.
I have heard from lots of facebook friends that they are simply not in a Christmas mood. One friend asked if it would be selfish to put up decorations just for herself. She also replied to some others that she really wasn't in the mood. I commented to her that it was worth putting it up if it reminded her of Jesus. The ambiance that is emitted from the soft colorful glows lifts our spirits and that is exactly what Jesus does for us. I am among many who may be celebrating the important day with only my spouse but I am also celebrating it with Holy Dad and Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I will be putting up a few lights in the camper and a couple of little pre-lit trees out on my little deck. You see, we don't have to let bland moods get us off track from celebrating Jesus--He is after all so very important to us and our lives. Let's lift Him up, even if you are the only one in your home.
So--what keeps us out of the Christmas mood? Stresses. Homesickness. Financial troubles. Family squabbles. Bad memories. Distorted thinking. Loneliness. Pain. Depression. And there are probably more.
All of these scenerios are very real and deeply affect us. The fact is--these situations are in front of you, blocking you from enjoying life--agree? So--do you want to enjoy the 2011 Christmas time? Let's see what we can do about it.
We have blockages. In fact, we nurse and coddle our blockages. Perhaps it is attention you are getting from your affliction. You may enjoy self-pity. Old bad memories play over and over in your mind like a tape recorder. Pride keeps you from forgiving or asking for forgiveness of a friend or family member. You come up with excuses for not getting out and meeting friends in your new town. Changing the way you think feels too big of a task. No energy due to depression. No hope due to no job.
And friend, I have been there and done that. I am no stranger to hard times, to anxious times, to distorted times. A few years back God allowed my car to suffer an oil pump diaster and we couldn't afford to have it fixed. At the same time Keevin's job was going down the drain. We had to live in our camper because that was what we could afford. I no longer had transportation for employment--and could't receive unemployment for that situation. We moved our camper back to Murfreesboro, TN where Keevin was able to get a better job, but it took a while to recover enough to move into a rental house with our grown children. Still out of employement myself, I had lots of time on my hands. That is when God showed me the gift He had given me. The gift of writing. It is one of those strengths that comes naturally for me. I don't have to do much thinking about it--I just start writing and it flows. His word says He has given all of us gifts. They sometimes appear later in life, though. I share my story with you for you to see that hard times are also gifts from God. It may take a while for you to figure it out. It also depends on how you are relating to God about the situation. I gave the hard times to God and He showed me the gift He wanted me to use for Him. It has been one of the most fulfilling happenings in my life. My writing has strengthened my relationship with God, myself, my husband, my children and the rest of my family and Keevin's family. Keevin and I once again are living in the camper but this time because the Lord led us to Boone,NC to start a church. We hope to be in a rental apartment before too long. God knows what He has planned for us and we are waiting patiently for Him.
Where do you stand with God? Do you talk daily to Him with the first words out of your mouth being praises? Do you read His word daily to hear from Him? Do you actually learn from His word about problem areas in your life? He has answers and advise. It is the best advise in the world--oh yeah, He created the world and the way things work. You'll be so in love with Him by experiencing the healing His word brings about. With healing comes clarity, peace and the ability to accept love.
That clarity, peace, and ability to accept love will help you to be in the Christmas decorating mood.! The next 21 Day Journal Note will help with the blockage problem--give it a try.
21 Day Journal Note # 21
Blockage
1 Corinthians 10:19-22 (MSG): Do you see the difference? Sacrifices offered to idols are offered to nothing, for what's the idol but a nothing? Or worse than nothing, a minus, a demon! I don't want you to become part of something that reduces you to less than yourself. And you can't have it both ways, banqueting with the Master one day and slumming with demons the next. Besides, the Master won't put up with it. He wants us--all or nothing. Do you think you can get off with anything less?
My eyes and mind have not been on You, Lord. I have allowed outside influences to control me. I find myslef encouraging and nursing them. I am sinning and my sin is blocking You out of my mind. Because of You and You only do I have confidence and strength to face my challenges. I am comforted that You are holding my hand through this process and You won't let me fall. Praise You!!!
end of journal note. Hand write this note for 21 days to rewire your brain and to replace the blockage that is keeping you from feeling festive. You'll start to feel the effects by day 4 but continue on to day 21 for full and lasting effect.
Ok friend, you have a big decision to make. I have explored reasons as to why you are not in the Christmas mood and I have offered reasons as to why you stay in the blue mood you are in. I have offered up God's solutions to feeling festive for His celebration. It's the right thing to do and you'll feel amazing results. Check out Isaiah 32:17 (NIV): The fruit of righteousness will be peace. The effect of rightousness will be quietness and confidence forever.---That's one of my faves!!
Now start your Christmas decorating, inside and out!
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
Friday, December 2, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Moving toward the next celebration
If you are like me you endured some traveling within the last 5-6 days. My traveling was well worth the endure. I enjoyed awesome relationship times with my Mom and Dad, siblings and their families, aunts and uncles and some cousins. I just wish I had spent some time with all my cousins--but there are a lot of them and not enough time. Thanksgiving morning I found myself in Momma's kitchen with my mom, my sister and my Aunt Janice. We were baking Grandma Millie's 7 layer cake (which ended up being 10 layers) and had a great time reminicing over the techniques Grandma Millie used in making that cake. Aunt Janice vowed to go home and make the same cake and take it to Regina's-which she did. It was an awesome time creating more memories for us ladies to reflect back on. Momma said this Thanksgiving felt more like Christmas and not a single piece of Christmas decoration was in sight. It was all about relationship sharing.
What about you? Did you connect positively with someone during this highlighted time? Relationships don't come easy for some of us. Fear of rejection, failure, loss (death), etc cause gaps to come between family and friends. These events can occur in childhood and continue on into adulthood. If you read the first paragraph with envy I want you to know that it is possible for you to experience the same connections.
If you feel depressed, lonely, overlooked, invisible--I encourage you to write down your feelings. Follow your thoughts. This exercise will lead you to the central fear that is causing your dissatisfaction. Whoever or whatever caused your dissatisfaction can be forgiven. And I challenge you to forgive this person or situation. I don't intend for you to do this on your own--but with Holy Dad's help. Let's visit 2 Timothy 1:7 (Wynndy's combined versions) "God did not give me a spirit of fear/timidity, But He has given me a Spirit of power, love and self-discipline/sound mind." The truth is those fears of rejection, loss, failure, etc are not from God and He is replacing them with His power, love and self-discipline/sound mind. These wonderful things are already inside of you--you just have to ask Holy Dad to activate them. Now look at Philippians 2:13 (AMP) (Not in your own strength) for it is God who is all the while effectually at work in you (energizing and creating in you the power and desire), both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." I memorized this verse exchanging the your and you with my, me, etc. I have enbedded it in my subconcious in a personal way and it is very effective. I want to point out to you that God is the One who energizes you and creates in you power and desire. Sometimes we feel sluggish and uninspired. It's ok to feel this way--but be sure to recognize this state of mind and then turn to Holy Dad for help. What results in this type of activity is His satisfaction, good pleasure and delight. You may be wishing you could have some of the satisfaction and delight. Well you can. Follow me to 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NCV). I have exchanged the us, you, etc for me and I. "Jesus has the power of God, by which He has given me everything I need to live and serve God. I have these things because I know Him. Jesus called me by His glory and goodness. Through these He gave me the very great and precious promises. With these gifts I can share in being like God, and the world will not ruin me with it's evil desires." Did you notice all of the gifts and promises in these verses? These are ours!!! What a fabulous early Christimas present. But did you notice the last sentence where it says "I can share in being like God"? See, you can experience His satisfaction, good pleasure and delight.
But we're still facing those ugly fears that have cause disconnects in our relationships. First of all get your relaitonship with Jesus and Holy Dad in order. Ask Him to help you love Him with your total being and energies as He would want you to do. Next, work on healing your relational injuries. It's not totally your fault (or it may be) that you were injured but it is your responsibility (and thankfully possible) to heal these wounds. The Holy Word heals you. Try the next 21 day Journal note for a new way of relating.
21 Day Journal Note # 20
Fear of Intimacy
Psalm 27:10 (GWT) Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will take care of me.
Galatians 4:7 (MSG) Doen't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.
Psalm 34:18 (NLT) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in spirit.
1 Corinthians 7:3 (NLT) The husband should not deprive his wife of sexual intimacy, which is her right as a married woman, nor should the wife deprive her husband.
Lord, I have a fear of intimacy! Childhood circumstances and adulthood situations have prevented me from bonding with family and friends. I recognize that the spirit of who I am has been crushed. But Lord, Your hope wells up inside of me. I am Your child, Your family. You are my lifeline. I haveYour love, power, strength already infused in me to help me conquer this fear. I will from this day forward seek to satisfy my husband and he will satisfy me. Thank you for healing my spirit and energizing my sexual life within my marriage.
end of journal note.
This journal note indicates that our relational injuries influence our current relationships (or lack of). Try this one, handwriting it once a day x 21 days for a rewiring of your brain. Once you have come to the place of forgiveness and feel like your are moving up and onward, just remember that you have been healed but the other one who has caused those injuries to you has not. That's not to say that your healing won't bring about some amazing relationship resolves but beware that there are two sides to a relationship and you can only control your side of it. Please ask Holy Dad to hold your hand as you approach the one who has wounded you. Holiday times can be so stressful but I hope this one helps your face it and enjoy it.
Enjoy those turkey left-overs and rework those relationships.
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
What about you? Did you connect positively with someone during this highlighted time? Relationships don't come easy for some of us. Fear of rejection, failure, loss (death), etc cause gaps to come between family and friends. These events can occur in childhood and continue on into adulthood. If you read the first paragraph with envy I want you to know that it is possible for you to experience the same connections.
If you feel depressed, lonely, overlooked, invisible--I encourage you to write down your feelings. Follow your thoughts. This exercise will lead you to the central fear that is causing your dissatisfaction. Whoever or whatever caused your dissatisfaction can be forgiven. And I challenge you to forgive this person or situation. I don't intend for you to do this on your own--but with Holy Dad's help. Let's visit 2 Timothy 1:7 (Wynndy's combined versions) "God did not give me a spirit of fear/timidity, But He has given me a Spirit of power, love and self-discipline/sound mind." The truth is those fears of rejection, loss, failure, etc are not from God and He is replacing them with His power, love and self-discipline/sound mind. These wonderful things are already inside of you--you just have to ask Holy Dad to activate them. Now look at Philippians 2:13 (AMP) (Not in your own strength) for it is God who is all the while effectually at work in you (energizing and creating in you the power and desire), both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." I memorized this verse exchanging the your and you with my, me, etc. I have enbedded it in my subconcious in a personal way and it is very effective. I want to point out to you that God is the One who energizes you and creates in you power and desire. Sometimes we feel sluggish and uninspired. It's ok to feel this way--but be sure to recognize this state of mind and then turn to Holy Dad for help. What results in this type of activity is His satisfaction, good pleasure and delight. You may be wishing you could have some of the satisfaction and delight. Well you can. Follow me to 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NCV). I have exchanged the us, you, etc for me and I. "Jesus has the power of God, by which He has given me everything I need to live and serve God. I have these things because I know Him. Jesus called me by His glory and goodness. Through these He gave me the very great and precious promises. With these gifts I can share in being like God, and the world will not ruin me with it's evil desires." Did you notice all of the gifts and promises in these verses? These are ours!!! What a fabulous early Christimas present. But did you notice the last sentence where it says "I can share in being like God"? See, you can experience His satisfaction, good pleasure and delight.
But we're still facing those ugly fears that have cause disconnects in our relationships. First of all get your relaitonship with Jesus and Holy Dad in order. Ask Him to help you love Him with your total being and energies as He would want you to do. Next, work on healing your relational injuries. It's not totally your fault (or it may be) that you were injured but it is your responsibility (and thankfully possible) to heal these wounds. The Holy Word heals you. Try the next 21 day Journal note for a new way of relating.
21 Day Journal Note # 20
Fear of Intimacy
Psalm 27:10 (GWT) Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will take care of me.
Galatians 4:7 (MSG) Doen't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.
Psalm 34:18 (NLT) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in spirit.
1 Corinthians 7:3 (NLT) The husband should not deprive his wife of sexual intimacy, which is her right as a married woman, nor should the wife deprive her husband.
Lord, I have a fear of intimacy! Childhood circumstances and adulthood situations have prevented me from bonding with family and friends. I recognize that the spirit of who I am has been crushed. But Lord, Your hope wells up inside of me. I am Your child, Your family. You are my lifeline. I haveYour love, power, strength already infused in me to help me conquer this fear. I will from this day forward seek to satisfy my husband and he will satisfy me. Thank you for healing my spirit and energizing my sexual life within my marriage.
end of journal note.
This journal note indicates that our relational injuries influence our current relationships (or lack of). Try this one, handwriting it once a day x 21 days for a rewiring of your brain. Once you have come to the place of forgiveness and feel like your are moving up and onward, just remember that you have been healed but the other one who has caused those injuries to you has not. That's not to say that your healing won't bring about some amazing relationship resolves but beware that there are two sides to a relationship and you can only control your side of it. Please ask Holy Dad to hold your hand as you approach the one who has wounded you. Holiday times can be so stressful but I hope this one helps your face it and enjoy it.
Enjoy those turkey left-overs and rework those relationships.
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
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