2 Weeks ago I shared with you about our church assignment. We decided on a name "New Beginnings Family Church" with a purpose to help those who may have been hurt by unhealthy churches in the past. The past. It haunts us sometimes, doesn't it? Do you ever feel you are chained to the past? I do. God's word has healed me of a lot of hurts but my thoughts keep drifting backwards to past experiences--perhaps in an effort to change the outcome. Silly me. The outcome has already happened. However, I drag the negative aura of it into my present moment and I miss out on enjoying the present moment.
A few weeks ago I asked Holy Dad to talk to me about patience. Patience is one of the 9 confidence elements found in Galatians 5:22-23. I believe we give this element the least amount of attention and application of all of them. I have jotted down thoughts that have come to me and even being awakened at night by God for some inspiration. That particular night I got up and grabbed the notebook of notes because God kept sending lots of ideas, too many to remember. I put the notebook and a flashlight in my bed so I wouldn't have to keep getting it up. It was awesome because God clearly answered my prayer and met with me in a time of quietness--just me and Him. I'll share about how to achieve patience in another blog as He is still helping me to gather practical info to write about.
One day this past week I was painting some old pieces of furniture a beautiful nautical blue. Now 2 shelving units in my office look vibrant and add excitement in the room. As I was painting my mind drifted to past stuff. I found a cool local radio station of mixed music to listen to. I realized that I hadn't really felt like I was in Boone because the TV stations are all in Charlotte and I stay at home all week long. The radio station in Beech Mountain also advertised businesses in Boone and it felt good hearing that stuff. As I was painting, I found myself drifting back to other places of my past. It was while listening to the radio announcer that I realized a fact: I am in Boone, NC. I said it outloud serveral times. It helped to bring me back into the moment and enjoy where I now live and the activity I was engaged in--the present moment of restoring outdated shelves into vibrant ones. So I used that technique (reminding myself that I live in Boone, NC) everytime I caught myself drifting back. It felt good and freeing. This new habit will help to keep me in the here and now, which is a wonderful time, a new time. Every minute is a new minute. Every hour is a new hour. Every day is a new day. And on it goes.
William Donius was interviewed on Fox and Friends this morning. His book, "Thought Revolutions" sounds like a book I want to buy for reference. You know me, I love new info on how the thought life works and it sounds like he anwers a lot of questions. The interview yielded a few good nuggets of its own. He talked about the right brain and the left brain. He gave some pointers on the dominant hand and nondominant hand and handwriting. I was so intrigued that I pulled up some information on the internet. I still have more research to do but one website offered some great facts. The Bane of Your Resistance website (for blocked writers) offered this: According to newsweek "Brain scans show that handwriting engages more sections of the brain than typing." And, Virginain Berninger says that "sequential finger movements activate massive (did you hear that? massive amounts-Wynndy) regions involved in thinking, language and working memory. She also says that using a keyboard isn't the same as writing by hand. Keyboarding allows you to use one touch to select a whole letter. Handwriting requires executing sequential strokes to form each letter. The sequential finger movements engages the brain." I already knew that handwriting somehow rewires the brain--that is why I encourage you to write 21 day journal notes of God's word applying it to your problem areas. It really works.
So, are you wanting to get started on a new beginning? I have learned alot about new beginnings from the apostle Peter. 1 Peter 1:23 (MSG) says: "Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God's living Word." Does the whole handwriting thing make sense now? God's word changes our lives when we activate it. # 19 of my 20 core memory verses is from Peter but I have changed the you and we to me and my and I. The personalization of it sticks with me better. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NCV): "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." By picking this one apart I realize I don't have any excuses for drifting back to my past or reliving it. Go back and read each section slowly and soak in what it means to you. This morning during my time with Holy Dad I realized that the next verses were eyeopeners. For this season of searching for patience the word pops out at me when reading anything. And the word patience appears in the next section of scripture. 2 Peter 5-9 (NCV): "Because you have these blessings, do your best to add these things to your lives: to your faith, add goodness; and to your goodness, add knowledge; and to your knowledge, add self-control; and to your self-control, add patience; and to your patience, add service for God; and to your service for God, add kindness for your brothers and sisers in Christ; and to this kindness, add love. If all these thngs are in you and are growing, they will help you to be useful and productive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But anyone who does not have these things cannot see clearly. He is blind and has forgotten that he was made clean from his past sins." How's that for boosting your confidence? Good advise if activated. We already have the gifts, promises and blessings from Jesus, but it is up to us to do OUR best to add the confidence elements. And notice that these elements have to be allowed to grow. Growing these things help us to live productive lives. But if we ignore these wonderful things we walk around foggy. Lack of confidence. In denial. And yes, we live in the past just like I have been doing. I'm going to incorporate these verses in a new 21 day journal note. Will you journey with me to give up the past and build on the right kind of confidence?
21 Day Journal Note # 30
Living Today Fully!
(Adapted from 2 Peter 1:5-9 NCV)
Because I have these blessings, I will do my best to add these things to my life: to my faith, I will add goodness; to my goodness, I will add knowledge; to my knowledge, I will add self-control; and to my self-control, I will add patience; and to my patience, I will add service for God; and to my service for God, I will add kindness for my brothers and sisters in Christ; and to my kindness, I will add love. All of these are in me and are growing. They will help me to be useful and productive in my knowledge of You, Jesus Christ, my Lord! I know that not having these things causes me to not see clearly. For me to allow my past to live in my present causes me to be blind. So I am committed to live in my present with You, Jesus. Thank You for my wonderful life!!
end of journal note. Friend, for a new beginning handwrite this one for 21 days to rewire your brain with God's word.
The next verse, 10 is also important. Verses 5-9 won't work if 10 is not true for you. Verse 10 (NCV): "My brothers and sisters, try hard to be certain that you really are called and chosen by God. If you do all these things, you will never fall." Friend, all believers in Christ (Christ followers) are called and chosen but no one outside of this group is called and chosen. PLEASE BE CERTAIN!
Start a new life and enjoy today, fully!
Be confident, my friend (Isaiah 32:17 NIV The fruit of righteousness is peace; the effect of righteousness is quietness and confidence forever.)
Wynndy
