Happy Monday to all! Dear friends, I hope you had a great weekend and are refreshed to live out another wonderful week that our Awesome God has given us. We had a beautiful day of sunshine and warmer temperatures here in Boone, NC yesterday. But Saturday night and on into Sunday morning was stormy, thunder and lightening. So when the sun came out in time for church, I was happy!! Keevin's aunt and uncle, Ida and Paul, drove over the mountain from Elizabethton, TN to worship with us. It was so nice to spend the day with them. I have realized here in our new town, without the net of friends and family back home, that connections are important. Both those in presence, voice or computer are all appreciated and very fulfilling.
Keevin's job story unfolded right before our eyes during my last blog. However, the story didn't end there. Keevin showed up two days in a row for his new job with the asphalt company, however the workers were sent right back home. Why? you ask. Because it has to be above 60 degrees and not raining. So the first day was very chilly and the second was raining. Keevin and I felt very let down and discouraged but we went back to God and asked Him for a job. Ida happened to call and check on us and I sadly told her the situation. She lovingly talked to me and encouraged me. But at the end of the conversation she said she would pray for us when she got off the phone. Not long after that Keevin had the idea about calling his last boss from STS trucking company in Smyrna, TN and ask him about over-the-road jobs out of the Greenville, TN terminal, which is about 1 1/2 hours away from here. Tim was happy to help him out and promised to have him home on the weekends (when we meet for church). We were ecstatic!! Keevin admitted to me that he hadn't thought of calling STS untill that day. You know what I think? I think it was God stretching our faith. And I think God answered Ida's prayers. God could have led Keevin to consider his previous employer at the beginning but what would we have learned about our faith and have you experience it with us? Why do you think God doesn't reveal the big plan to us from the beginning? I also believe that God deals with us the same way He designed us to think and grow. Take my writing, for example. I didn't start out sounding like this. My style has evolved. If you have ever decorated a room, you will remember that one thing led to another, none of it on paper when you first started out the project. Doing life God's way is certainly not boring. It is truly a winding path.
Where are you on the faith path that God had designed for you? Look down and see where your feet are planted and go from there. God is with you and steering you in the right direction--it just may take on some twists and turns, but that's ok. It means that your life is a colorful one.
So what is today's journal note about? This note gave me the freedom to speak up for myself. The freedom I felt from this one also added the benefit of speaking up for myself in a loving way and not an angry or guilt-ridden way. It also removed a barrier of the dread of doing it, the fear of it, and possible rejection.
21 Day Journal Note # 11
Don't Keep Hurt Feelings Bottled Up Inside!
Matthew 18:15-16 (MSG) If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him--work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend. If he won't listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again.
When one of my friends hurts me I will go to her and tell her how I feel. If she understands my feelings then our friendship is stronger. If she doesn't understand then I have the option to take another friend or two along so that the presence of others will help us all to remain objective and hopefully salvage the relationship. If the situation remains unresolved then it maybe time to step away from the friendship.
end of journal note.
Confidence elements that are founded by this journal note are: peace, gentleness, and self-control.
Confidence busters that are deleted from my life: fear of rejection, powerlessness, timidity, unhealed wound, unnecessary guilt, anxiety, anger, bitterness/resentement, dissatisfaction, frustration, being cowardly, unsettled and weak.
Friend, take 21 days to jot this one down once a day and discover the freedom I now have. I warn you that when you discover your freedom it will not be a dramatic feeling. You'll quietly notice that you are able to speak up unlike times past. That's when you'll find yourself doing the happy dance (or wanting to).
Now on to other matters: I have been mullilng over a new project idea and wondered if you could help. I want to write a Life Directive (Bible Study) on self-identity (who am I?) A tentative title is "Comfortable in My Own Skin". What I want from you is to know what keeps you from feeling comfortable in your skin? What stifles your life? I want ideas from you to give me directions and topics of what to read about and research God's good word for. I have lots of ideas from my personal life but you may give this life directive move substance and value. We are all in this life together and lots of us have similar situations and feelings, so please feel free to share with me and it will be in confidence. Either comment on this blog or send me a note at WynndyWilson@yahoo.com. Also, sign up for this life directive the same way-by responding to my email account or this blog and I will add you to the receiving list. Thank you in advance for your input.
Friend, I wish you a great day and week. You are what you think!!
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Keep the faith!
What a lovely day this Monday is!! God has blessed Western NC with sunshine today. Lately we have had lots of cloud cover with sprinkling of rain--not enough to water my plants. Oh well. Being that I have water means that the lack of rain is not a current problem. I am grateful that we are not suffering drought conditions here and I am praying for our neighbors across the US who do have the problem.
Yesterday, Keevin and I held the first gathering here at the campground pavilion to worship our amazing God and fellowship. We hauled the coffee maker, creamer, sugar and snack cakes to the pavilion and used our broom to sweep off the benches so no one would get dirty. We had a good time with a couple by the name of Parker, which happens to be my maiden name. We also met a new friend, Teresa, and her grandson. Teresa and I will be starting a Bible study before long and I hope she brings some of her friends and co-workers. Keevin and I don't operate by traditonal standards as most churches do and yesterday was no exception. Being that it was chilly outside, we were all bundled up in our overcoats, jeans and brogans. Not the traditional Sunday-wear. But we like it different. God doesn't care as long as we lift up His name ad praise Him.
I find myself in a writing stupor this week and I want to share with you why that is. I believe you will be able to relate and use the info for future use. Week before last we past out flyers for our cleaning business with little response. Last week Keeven began a search for a job--because we do have to eat. He was starting to stress out and I started to stress out. And we found out that there are few jobs around here (which we had an idea before moving here of that possiblity). I tried to keep my faith in God as strong as possible but sometimes it wavers. Last Tuesday we drove over to Mountain City, TN (TN state line just 8 miles from campground) to look for truck-driving companies. Not many in that area either but on the way back home we spotted one of the MayMeade plants. They do asphalt, haul gravel, etc, with dump trucks. He stopped by and the guy told him where the main office is and to go there. They had just fired 3 guys (sorry guys!) and had possible job openings. So we backtracked to the main office. While traveling back I noticed a church sign that said "exercise faith muscle." I didn't place much importance on it and shoved it to the back of my mind. Not long after that my mentor, Ida, called to check on us and she shared a story about faith in God with me. Thanks Ida!! And as I sat in the truck while Keevin was filling out an application I saw a logo in the local newspaper. It said "focus on faith." Three times God was telling me to keep my faith in Him. Keevin came out of the office and left the application there as the boss was out of the office. We drove back home. Time went on and he continued his search for a job. I would also search for one but I have to wait and see how his situation turns out because we are a one-vehicle family. Hopefully I will be able to take him to work and then find empoyement within those hours of his. Friday came and we both had break downs. I was so depressed and worried. Reality sets in and a body can't help but feel desperate. Well, the depression messed with my mind. My mind felt paralyzed and couldn't think much about anything. Have you ever felt that before? And Friday's are my blog days, but I wasn't able to write at all. Saturday morning came and I took Rocky, our little dog, out for a walk in the campground. I told God, "I trust You even if You don't provide Keevin with a job. You will make things work out!" And friend, I didn't feel much better but I did mean what I told God. We are sure that He sent us here and will take care of us and give us means to start the church for Him. Keevin and I moped about in the camper eating lunch and he noticed that he had a voice mail. For some reason his phone doesn't receive good signal inside the camper. A glimer of hope shown on his face as he listened to it. The boss of the MayMeade company had called on Saturday morning about some positions. I shouted "hallelujah"!! Granted, he doesn't officially have a job yet but there was hope and on a Saturday which is not a work-week day. Do you think that the minute I told God I trust Him no matter what was the time that the MayMeade plant boss left the message? Could be.
Even though we had job hope, my mind was still frozen from the bad chemicals that my brain had fed it from the depression and worry. That bad chemical is called cortisol. It seems to take me a while to recover from crisis-mode. So today I am trying to move past a little lag and accomplish my task of working for God.
Questions for you: How many times have you been in a mind-paralyzing state and God spoke to you and you shoved it away never to go back and admit that God was speaking to you? Have you searched for a mind-healing method that allows God's thoughts to rewire your thinking so that when you are attacked you will be able to still hear God through the paralyzing times? Are you practicing "trusting" God? Have you memorized Psalm 37:3-4 (NIV): "Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart"? Friend, God is our ruler and authority. He knows all and rules all. His thoughts are higher than our sqrawny human ones and His ways are higher than ours. It is hard to remember this when we are under attack but if we preventatively prepare ourselves we will be shielded from the harmful effects that Satan has planned.
I want to explain to any newcomers what a 21 day journal note is. Our brains and minds are fed lots of incorrect information from childhood up and that mess is soaked into our subconscious minds. Our brain becomes so accustomed to the wrong information that it registers it as truth. That in turns causes us to think distortedly. Just reading God's good words doesn't change us because our brains reject is as our truth. It is a scientific fact that we can rewire our thinking by handwriting God's word and thoughts once a day x 21 days. It takes 21 days to change a habit and our thinking is no different. It amazingly works. Handwriting triggers the brain in a wonderful way. You will feel the effects by day 4 but continue on to the 21st day for complete healing. I have been sharing the 21 day journal notes that have helped me. A lot of them have healed relational pain and have set me free from the prison that they had me in. Please, please give it a try. If you are a person who learns from unorthodox methods-such as visual or oral -then try to find a way to incorporate these 21 day journal notes into those systems.
Now for the journal note:
21 day journal note # 10
How to overcome past relational pain:
Psalm 37 (NIV) 1. Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong. 7. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. 9. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
I am not fretting and worrying because of past relational pain. Instead, I am standing still before You, Lord, waiting patiently and calmly for You. I refuse to get stuck in an angry rut toward people who have hurt me. I choose to forgive them. Fretting and worrying produces only one thing and that is bad behavior. Bad behavior breaks up relationships. God is dealing with bad behavior whether it is mine or others. But since I hope in You, Lord, I will thrive!
end of journal note.
Did you notice that the scripture I used at the beginning of this blog (Psalm 37:3-4) is smack in the middle of today's journal note?
Well friend, I have a huge praise. Keevin just walked in the door and announced that he starts work in the morning at 6:30. Hallelujah!!!!!!! God is soooo Gooooodddd!!!
Please learn and employ the good things that God has so graciously showed me--and all of it is in His wonderful word.
Have a great day, Friend!!!
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
Yesterday, Keevin and I held the first gathering here at the campground pavilion to worship our amazing God and fellowship. We hauled the coffee maker, creamer, sugar and snack cakes to the pavilion and used our broom to sweep off the benches so no one would get dirty. We had a good time with a couple by the name of Parker, which happens to be my maiden name. We also met a new friend, Teresa, and her grandson. Teresa and I will be starting a Bible study before long and I hope she brings some of her friends and co-workers. Keevin and I don't operate by traditonal standards as most churches do and yesterday was no exception. Being that it was chilly outside, we were all bundled up in our overcoats, jeans and brogans. Not the traditional Sunday-wear. But we like it different. God doesn't care as long as we lift up His name ad praise Him.
I find myself in a writing stupor this week and I want to share with you why that is. I believe you will be able to relate and use the info for future use. Week before last we past out flyers for our cleaning business with little response. Last week Keeven began a search for a job--because we do have to eat. He was starting to stress out and I started to stress out. And we found out that there are few jobs around here (which we had an idea before moving here of that possiblity). I tried to keep my faith in God as strong as possible but sometimes it wavers. Last Tuesday we drove over to Mountain City, TN (TN state line just 8 miles from campground) to look for truck-driving companies. Not many in that area either but on the way back home we spotted one of the MayMeade plants. They do asphalt, haul gravel, etc, with dump trucks. He stopped by and the guy told him where the main office is and to go there. They had just fired 3 guys (sorry guys!) and had possible job openings. So we backtracked to the main office. While traveling back I noticed a church sign that said "exercise faith muscle." I didn't place much importance on it and shoved it to the back of my mind. Not long after that my mentor, Ida, called to check on us and she shared a story about faith in God with me. Thanks Ida!! And as I sat in the truck while Keevin was filling out an application I saw a logo in the local newspaper. It said "focus on faith." Three times God was telling me to keep my faith in Him. Keevin came out of the office and left the application there as the boss was out of the office. We drove back home. Time went on and he continued his search for a job. I would also search for one but I have to wait and see how his situation turns out because we are a one-vehicle family. Hopefully I will be able to take him to work and then find empoyement within those hours of his. Friday came and we both had break downs. I was so depressed and worried. Reality sets in and a body can't help but feel desperate. Well, the depression messed with my mind. My mind felt paralyzed and couldn't think much about anything. Have you ever felt that before? And Friday's are my blog days, but I wasn't able to write at all. Saturday morning came and I took Rocky, our little dog, out for a walk in the campground. I told God, "I trust You even if You don't provide Keevin with a job. You will make things work out!" And friend, I didn't feel much better but I did mean what I told God. We are sure that He sent us here and will take care of us and give us means to start the church for Him. Keevin and I moped about in the camper eating lunch and he noticed that he had a voice mail. For some reason his phone doesn't receive good signal inside the camper. A glimer of hope shown on his face as he listened to it. The boss of the MayMeade company had called on Saturday morning about some positions. I shouted "hallelujah"!! Granted, he doesn't officially have a job yet but there was hope and on a Saturday which is not a work-week day. Do you think that the minute I told God I trust Him no matter what was the time that the MayMeade plant boss left the message? Could be.
Even though we had job hope, my mind was still frozen from the bad chemicals that my brain had fed it from the depression and worry. That bad chemical is called cortisol. It seems to take me a while to recover from crisis-mode. So today I am trying to move past a little lag and accomplish my task of working for God.
Questions for you: How many times have you been in a mind-paralyzing state and God spoke to you and you shoved it away never to go back and admit that God was speaking to you? Have you searched for a mind-healing method that allows God's thoughts to rewire your thinking so that when you are attacked you will be able to still hear God through the paralyzing times? Are you practicing "trusting" God? Have you memorized Psalm 37:3-4 (NIV): "Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart"? Friend, God is our ruler and authority. He knows all and rules all. His thoughts are higher than our sqrawny human ones and His ways are higher than ours. It is hard to remember this when we are under attack but if we preventatively prepare ourselves we will be shielded from the harmful effects that Satan has planned.
I want to explain to any newcomers what a 21 day journal note is. Our brains and minds are fed lots of incorrect information from childhood up and that mess is soaked into our subconscious minds. Our brain becomes so accustomed to the wrong information that it registers it as truth. That in turns causes us to think distortedly. Just reading God's good words doesn't change us because our brains reject is as our truth. It is a scientific fact that we can rewire our thinking by handwriting God's word and thoughts once a day x 21 days. It takes 21 days to change a habit and our thinking is no different. It amazingly works. Handwriting triggers the brain in a wonderful way. You will feel the effects by day 4 but continue on to the 21st day for complete healing. I have been sharing the 21 day journal notes that have helped me. A lot of them have healed relational pain and have set me free from the prison that they had me in. Please, please give it a try. If you are a person who learns from unorthodox methods-such as visual or oral -then try to find a way to incorporate these 21 day journal notes into those systems.
Now for the journal note:
21 day journal note # 10
How to overcome past relational pain:
Psalm 37 (NIV) 1. Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong. 7. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. 9. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
I am not fretting and worrying because of past relational pain. Instead, I am standing still before You, Lord, waiting patiently and calmly for You. I refuse to get stuck in an angry rut toward people who have hurt me. I choose to forgive them. Fretting and worrying produces only one thing and that is bad behavior. Bad behavior breaks up relationships. God is dealing with bad behavior whether it is mine or others. But since I hope in You, Lord, I will thrive!
end of journal note.
Did you notice that the scripture I used at the beginning of this blog (Psalm 37:3-4) is smack in the middle of today's journal note?
Well friend, I have a huge praise. Keevin just walked in the door and announced that he starts work in the morning at 6:30. Hallelujah!!!!!!! God is soooo Gooooodddd!!!
Please learn and employ the good things that God has so graciously showed me--and all of it is in His wonderful word.
Have a great day, Friend!!!
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
Friday, September 9, 2011
Included!!
Welcome to all readers!! God directed you to this blog for encouragement today. I feel that most readers will be able to relate to the topic, but first let me tell you about a dream I had last night.
When I woke up I had to think twice about what I had just experienced. Was it real or just a dream? A fellow church lady came up to me and asked where all the ladies were. It was lunch time and no one could be found. It would have been super nice to have enjoyed the meal with friends, enjoying nice conversations and catching up on each other's families. And sharing meal suggestions, coupons, the latest chick flick, etc, would have been warming and comfortable. It would seem that this church has cliques. Does my dream sound familiar?
So I started to brain storm about cliques. First of all, what is a clique? It is a small, exclusive circle of people. And what is the opposite of clique? That would be excluded. Exclude means to refuse to admit, consider, etc; reject. There's that nasty word: reject! We usuallly observe this as a problem for women but men are also excluded from the cliques. My own husband has felt the sharp pain of exclusion from men, and these were men at church. Cliques occur at home, work, school, high-end department stores, etc. I feel we even exclude ourselves before we can be rejected by others, but we still place the blame on others. But why do we form cliques and why are we rejected? Cliques and rejection are symptoms. They are signs of troubled relationships. However, seeing the symptoms in our own lives can be hard to recognize since we get so used to feeling this way and expecting that kind of treatment or dishing that treatment out to others.
I recently led a group of ladies (Front Porch Devotions) in a study of relationships and one of the sessions was about relating to our fellow church members and how hard it can be. We also learned how to reach out to each other and why it is important to do so. We also discussed how this doesn't happen if we are relationship-handicapped and don't know how to do it.
Are you in a clique and exclude others from your circle? Are you the rejected one? Whichever one you are--you are a hurting soul. That's right, even if you seem to be surrounded by friends. Snubbing people and not even acknowledging their presense is exclusion and rejection. It makes you feel superior and the excluded one inferior, which is what you want. You may not want to admit it but I ask you to give it some thought. And you--rejected one, you are so afraid of being rejected that you shy away from friendships because you cannot bear the pain of rejection. I know how that feels and empathize with you but I know that you can be healed. I am healed!! God's word heals.
Let's refresh our memory of scripture from my last blog. It is Romans 13: 9b-10 (NIV): "Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." If we obey God's word and truly show love to our "neighbor" we would do no harm to our neighbor. Now look at Romans 16: 17-18 (NIV): "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetities. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people." The word divisions sounds a lot like cliques, doesn't it? So what are the teachings Paul is talking about? Back up to Romans15:1-2 (NIV): We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please oursleves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." Friend, that may mean that you need to build yourself up and become strong through God and His word. Verse 7 says: "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." See, Christ has already accepted you--you are not totally rejected. Rejected one--use this verse as a 21 day journal note to rewire your brain and create a good, solid foundation to live on.
And as a final note, Paul urges in verse 32 of chapter 15: "so that by God's will (something God wants) I may come to you with joy (sounds like a fun time) and together with you (did you hear the word together?) be refreshed (what an outcome)."
I hope that both the clique people and the rejected people have heard me. I believe one of you is more aware of the group you are in than the other. Think about it.
And I present to you: 21 day journal note #9
Stop being upset and fearful!
John 14:27 (AMP): Peace I leave with you; My (own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, netiher let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled).
Jesus, I am accepting your loving gift of peace. Per Your command: I will not allow myself to be agitated and distrubed. I will not permit myself to be fearful, intimidated, cowardly and unsettled. Christ, Your gift of peace is allowing me to live calmly, confidently and wholly--Holy for You. Thank you my blessed Jesus!
end of journal note.
That was a good one, wasn't it? It really helped me to get past intimidation, agitation, etc. I realized that Jesus doesn't like that kind of behavior and it certainly doesn't look like Him. After all Christian means little Christ.
Friend consider healing and forgiving so that you can flourish and grow. Your gratitude will lead you straight into a life of service for Him--it will be a natural thing to do, so don't struggle against it.
What confidence elements from Galatians 5:22-23 would you assign to todays blog? and
what confidence-busters do you recognize in your life that can be healed and corrected?
Celebrate Jesus today!!!
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
When I woke up I had to think twice about what I had just experienced. Was it real or just a dream? A fellow church lady came up to me and asked where all the ladies were. It was lunch time and no one could be found. It would have been super nice to have enjoyed the meal with friends, enjoying nice conversations and catching up on each other's families. And sharing meal suggestions, coupons, the latest chick flick, etc, would have been warming and comfortable. It would seem that this church has cliques. Does my dream sound familiar?
So I started to brain storm about cliques. First of all, what is a clique? It is a small, exclusive circle of people. And what is the opposite of clique? That would be excluded. Exclude means to refuse to admit, consider, etc; reject. There's that nasty word: reject! We usuallly observe this as a problem for women but men are also excluded from the cliques. My own husband has felt the sharp pain of exclusion from men, and these were men at church. Cliques occur at home, work, school, high-end department stores, etc. I feel we even exclude ourselves before we can be rejected by others, but we still place the blame on others. But why do we form cliques and why are we rejected? Cliques and rejection are symptoms. They are signs of troubled relationships. However, seeing the symptoms in our own lives can be hard to recognize since we get so used to feeling this way and expecting that kind of treatment or dishing that treatment out to others.
I recently led a group of ladies (Front Porch Devotions) in a study of relationships and one of the sessions was about relating to our fellow church members and how hard it can be. We also learned how to reach out to each other and why it is important to do so. We also discussed how this doesn't happen if we are relationship-handicapped and don't know how to do it.
Are you in a clique and exclude others from your circle? Are you the rejected one? Whichever one you are--you are a hurting soul. That's right, even if you seem to be surrounded by friends. Snubbing people and not even acknowledging their presense is exclusion and rejection. It makes you feel superior and the excluded one inferior, which is what you want. You may not want to admit it but I ask you to give it some thought. And you--rejected one, you are so afraid of being rejected that you shy away from friendships because you cannot bear the pain of rejection. I know how that feels and empathize with you but I know that you can be healed. I am healed!! God's word heals.
Let's refresh our memory of scripture from my last blog. It is Romans 13: 9b-10 (NIV): "Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." If we obey God's word and truly show love to our "neighbor" we would do no harm to our neighbor. Now look at Romans 16: 17-18 (NIV): "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetities. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people." The word divisions sounds a lot like cliques, doesn't it? So what are the teachings Paul is talking about? Back up to Romans15:1-2 (NIV): We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please oursleves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." Friend, that may mean that you need to build yourself up and become strong through God and His word. Verse 7 says: "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." See, Christ has already accepted you--you are not totally rejected. Rejected one--use this verse as a 21 day journal note to rewire your brain and create a good, solid foundation to live on.
And as a final note, Paul urges in verse 32 of chapter 15: "so that by God's will (something God wants) I may come to you with joy (sounds like a fun time) and together with you (did you hear the word together?) be refreshed (what an outcome)."
I hope that both the clique people and the rejected people have heard me. I believe one of you is more aware of the group you are in than the other. Think about it.
And I present to you: 21 day journal note #9
Stop being upset and fearful!
John 14:27 (AMP): Peace I leave with you; My (own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, netiher let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled).
Jesus, I am accepting your loving gift of peace. Per Your command: I will not allow myself to be agitated and distrubed. I will not permit myself to be fearful, intimidated, cowardly and unsettled. Christ, Your gift of peace is allowing me to live calmly, confidently and wholly--Holy for You. Thank you my blessed Jesus!
end of journal note.
That was a good one, wasn't it? It really helped me to get past intimidation, agitation, etc. I realized that Jesus doesn't like that kind of behavior and it certainly doesn't look like Him. After all Christian means little Christ.
Friend consider healing and forgiving so that you can flourish and grow. Your gratitude will lead you straight into a life of service for Him--it will be a natural thing to do, so don't struggle against it.
What confidence elements from Galatians 5:22-23 would you assign to todays blog? and
what confidence-busters do you recognize in your life that can be healed and corrected?
Celebrate Jesus today!!!
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
Friday, August 26, 2011
Attack Jealousy
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
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
Friday, August 19, 2011
History of Hurts August 19, 2011
Hello there! I am going to start out by talking about the weather. We here in middle TN have been waking up to mid-60's degree temperatures, lately. The crispness in the air promotes freshness, newness, even stimulates us. I know we are still in the summer months but the slow drop of temperature in the mornings is a signal that fall is on the way. Another change of seasons. I am so glad God programed this earth to allow for gradual changes. It gives us a chance to readjust and get accustomed to the new atmosphere.
Keevin and I have been going through some gradual changes, too. Our story begins back last year when Keevin was restless and sensing that God wanted him to do something. Unable to figure it out he asked God to show him what was blocking him from hearing God. God urged Keevin to give up his regrets about past things--things he hadn't done and things he had done, good things he didn't try and bad things he wished he hadn't done. So Keevin gave up his regrets. He then felt free--free to be available to God. He told God "I am ready for You." Whatever, whenever and whereever. Keevin felt a strong sense that God had called him to be a pastor but when and where were still unaswered. So Keevin asked God to give him signs and God did. He gave many distinct signs pointing to Boone, NC. The whereever was to be about 6 months. God gave us time with our children and time to tie up some loose ends. Lascassas Baptist Church ordained Keevin last Sunday night. That was on the preparation list and is now checked off. Keevin told the church members that he wants to reach out to people who have been hurt by churches. We want to experience a more God-like church, one that is truly healthy, loving, non-judgemental and not at all legalistic. I know we will have alot of trial and error times to learn from but God can still turn things into good for Himself.
Keevin and I have been greatly hurt by almost all of our past churches. There was one particular church that was healthy and growing and thriving, even without a pastor for a years time. We have taken lots of mental notes of how God was in that church. I believe that God allowed us to experience these many hurts to give us a passion for the calling He has planned for us.
Hurt feeling. The normal human response to hurt is to run away from the source, withdraw or even fight against the source. Conflict. A church that promotes conflict within its core members is a mass of bad behavior and not attracting anyone to Christ. No one should be invited to a church like this. It is not a haven of unconditional love, no condemnation and forgiveness. However, the Bible talks about us holding each other accountable and walking beside each other through tough times, even if it is a time of correcting areas in our lives. Walking beside means helping someone and not hurting them, doing it with love. I feel for sure that when a fellow Christ follower mentions a particular area of concern to one another that the Holy Spirit has already tapped the person on the shoulder about the situation. Can you see how this is a "walk beside you" type of event and not a conflict or a shut-out?
But still, how many of us have experienced the correct way of dealing with our bad behavior? We all behave badly. I think we can go back further in our personl histories and discover that the same attitudes and conflicting behaviors were modeled in front of us at home, school, or around so-called friends.
Rejection, emotional and physical abandonment, abuse, put-downs, never able to please, feeling unloved, not listened to, misunderstood, etc grows us into shy, withdrawn, mousy type of people. This type of person cannot be used by God in the full way He intends. But all of this can be fixed, healed by God's word!! That leads me to 21 day journal noted # 7.
21 Day Journal Note #7
Tired of Being Mousy and Withdrawn?
John 14:27 (MSG): Peace. I don't leave you the way your're used to being left--feeling abandoned, bereft. Don't be upset. Don't be distraught.
When I find myself in the middle of being relationally challenged I will feel Your peace. They may abandon me, reject me and even deprive me of a relationship. But You, Lord Jesus, are alsways with me. I refuse to be intimidated, mousy and withdrawn. I will not feel distraught or agitated with doubt and mental conflict. These negatives (which show up as bad behavior) are very un-Jesus-like. Instead, I will feel your peace, quietness, calmness and confidence, forever. Thank You Jesus!!
end of journal note.
I want to direct you to 2 Timothy 1:7
(NIV): For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
(MSG): God doesn't want us to be shy with His gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.
Can you see how God doesn't want us to be shy and timid? He wants us to be operating in His power, love and to use our self-disciplining techniques to accomplish this.
I assign this to the confidence elements of: love, peace, self-control and let's add boldness.
I assing this to confidence-busters: shyness and timidity, fearful, powerlessness, self-centered, uncertainty, unforgiving, unspiritual, wounded, anger, depression, anxiety, abandon/rejection, cowardly, critical, unsettled, weak, restless, unloved. Wow--see what you can overcome with God's word!!
Friends, be bold, loving and sensible.
Have a great weekend and worship our Wonderful, Holy God!!
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
Keevin and I have been going through some gradual changes, too. Our story begins back last year when Keevin was restless and sensing that God wanted him to do something. Unable to figure it out he asked God to show him what was blocking him from hearing God. God urged Keevin to give up his regrets about past things--things he hadn't done and things he had done, good things he didn't try and bad things he wished he hadn't done. So Keevin gave up his regrets. He then felt free--free to be available to God. He told God "I am ready for You." Whatever, whenever and whereever. Keevin felt a strong sense that God had called him to be a pastor but when and where were still unaswered. So Keevin asked God to give him signs and God did. He gave many distinct signs pointing to Boone, NC. The whereever was to be about 6 months. God gave us time with our children and time to tie up some loose ends. Lascassas Baptist Church ordained Keevin last Sunday night. That was on the preparation list and is now checked off. Keevin told the church members that he wants to reach out to people who have been hurt by churches. We want to experience a more God-like church, one that is truly healthy, loving, non-judgemental and not at all legalistic. I know we will have alot of trial and error times to learn from but God can still turn things into good for Himself.
Keevin and I have been greatly hurt by almost all of our past churches. There was one particular church that was healthy and growing and thriving, even without a pastor for a years time. We have taken lots of mental notes of how God was in that church. I believe that God allowed us to experience these many hurts to give us a passion for the calling He has planned for us.
Hurt feeling. The normal human response to hurt is to run away from the source, withdraw or even fight against the source. Conflict. A church that promotes conflict within its core members is a mass of bad behavior and not attracting anyone to Christ. No one should be invited to a church like this. It is not a haven of unconditional love, no condemnation and forgiveness. However, the Bible talks about us holding each other accountable and walking beside each other through tough times, even if it is a time of correcting areas in our lives. Walking beside means helping someone and not hurting them, doing it with love. I feel for sure that when a fellow Christ follower mentions a particular area of concern to one another that the Holy Spirit has already tapped the person on the shoulder about the situation. Can you see how this is a "walk beside you" type of event and not a conflict or a shut-out?
But still, how many of us have experienced the correct way of dealing with our bad behavior? We all behave badly. I think we can go back further in our personl histories and discover that the same attitudes and conflicting behaviors were modeled in front of us at home, school, or around so-called friends.
Rejection, emotional and physical abandonment, abuse, put-downs, never able to please, feeling unloved, not listened to, misunderstood, etc grows us into shy, withdrawn, mousy type of people. This type of person cannot be used by God in the full way He intends. But all of this can be fixed, healed by God's word!! That leads me to 21 day journal noted # 7.
21 Day Journal Note #7
Tired of Being Mousy and Withdrawn?
John 14:27 (MSG): Peace. I don't leave you the way your're used to being left--feeling abandoned, bereft. Don't be upset. Don't be distraught.
When I find myself in the middle of being relationally challenged I will feel Your peace. They may abandon me, reject me and even deprive me of a relationship. But You, Lord Jesus, are alsways with me. I refuse to be intimidated, mousy and withdrawn. I will not feel distraught or agitated with doubt and mental conflict. These negatives (which show up as bad behavior) are very un-Jesus-like. Instead, I will feel your peace, quietness, calmness and confidence, forever. Thank You Jesus!!
end of journal note.
I want to direct you to 2 Timothy 1:7
(NIV): For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
(MSG): God doesn't want us to be shy with His gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.
Can you see how God doesn't want us to be shy and timid? He wants us to be operating in His power, love and to use our self-disciplining techniques to accomplish this.
I assign this to the confidence elements of: love, peace, self-control and let's add boldness.
I assing this to confidence-busters: shyness and timidity, fearful, powerlessness, self-centered, uncertainty, unforgiving, unspiritual, wounded, anger, depression, anxiety, abandon/rejection, cowardly, critical, unsettled, weak, restless, unloved. Wow--see what you can overcome with God's word!!
Friends, be bold, loving and sensible.
Have a great weekend and worship our Wonderful, Holy God!!
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
Friday, August 12, 2011
It really works!!
Happy Friday to all!! It is a good day because God has graciously given it to us. Did you have a good week? What could you do differntly next week for a better outcome?
Keevin and I did not get the camper moved over to our house last weekend because it rained all day on Saturday. So the plan is to move it tomorrow. I will be meeting with some lady friends from church in the morning. We meet once a month to study relationships done God's way. We call these meetings Front Porch Devotions. We each bring a dish of food and enjoy the home of one of our friends. I have been encouraging them to continue their meetings and studies when I am gone as we have grown quite close and loving. They have assured me that they will. Lots of healing has taken place around our circle of discussions. I will dearly miss them. I also want to encourage you to find or start a group of church friends that you can study and share time with.
Another milestone happened today. Keevin turned in his 2 week notice at his workplace. My husband is a very hard worker and diligent and dependable. In his resignation letter he explained that God has plans for us--to move to Boone, NC and to start a new church. His supervisor said that he was going to tell God that he is not happy with His plans, but he understands why Keevin is leaving. That really made my husband feel good about his reputation.
Well I have had a nagging worry that is hard for me to explain. I am having a hard time with the fact that I will be at home in another town, another state than where my children will be at home at. Maybe it is a mother-thing. I don't know, I just know that it is an annoying feeling. So I talked to God about it last night. But first I want to share a journey with you, then I will picked back up on this story.
A few days ago I was looking up some Bible verses on Biblestudytools.com. Philippians 4: 4-7 (NIV) is # 4 of my 20 core memory truths. But look at how The Message says it: "Celebrate God all day, everyday. I mean revel in Him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. 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." Isn't that a good one!! It seemed to say alot to anxieties and what to do when it happens, so I decided to make a 21 day journal note out of it. But I paraphrased it to personalize it for my future neeeds and started my journaling.
21 day Journal note # 6: Turn Worry into Prayer
Holy Dad, I am celebrating You all day, everyday. I delight in You. I find pleasure in You. I am making it as clear as I can to all I meet that I am on their side, working with them and not against them. I am helping them to see that the Master is about to arrive. Jesus, You could show up any minute! I am not fretting or worrying. When I first sense worry in my being I will pray. I will let petitions, and praises, and thanksgivings shape my worries into prayers, letting You, Holy God, know what my concerns are. Before I know it, a sense of Your wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle me down, It's wonderful what happens when You, Christ, displaces worry at the center of my life!
end of journal note.
Now, for the rest of the story. So last night I felt a nagging in my mind about leaving the children. It was at that moment the phrase "when I first sense worry in my being" flashed in my mind. I immediately talked to God about it. He assured me that the children are happy with living here as they both have ties to keep them attached. He also reminded me that He sent His son away to live with us for 33 years and that everything turned out ok. I thanked Him.
I learned from Dr. Caroline Leaf, a Christian neurologist, that it takes 21 days of journaling God's truth to rewire the brain but that a person will feel the effects on day 4. As I opened up my journal book this morning I noticed that today's note was day # 5. I thought to myself "Wow!" and worshipped God for His good provisions to me. Yes, day 4 of my journal note has helped me but I will continue on until day 21 for the full effects. The funny thing is I didn't have any real big needs in my life to start this journal note but thought it sounded really good. God knew that it would be of tremendous help to me for future needs and I am thankful that He showed me His good word.
I assign this journal note to confidence elements: self-control, gentleness and peace.
I assign this jouranl note to confidence busters: unnecessary guilt, worry and anxiety, and abandonment (as I don't want my kids to feel that I am abandoning them).
Friends, I want you to continue journaling and healing. Ask God to help you forgive and be forgiven and grow and serve Him. Don't miss out on His opportunities!!
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
Keevin and I did not get the camper moved over to our house last weekend because it rained all day on Saturday. So the plan is to move it tomorrow. I will be meeting with some lady friends from church in the morning. We meet once a month to study relationships done God's way. We call these meetings Front Porch Devotions. We each bring a dish of food and enjoy the home of one of our friends. I have been encouraging them to continue their meetings and studies when I am gone as we have grown quite close and loving. They have assured me that they will. Lots of healing has taken place around our circle of discussions. I will dearly miss them. I also want to encourage you to find or start a group of church friends that you can study and share time with.
Another milestone happened today. Keevin turned in his 2 week notice at his workplace. My husband is a very hard worker and diligent and dependable. In his resignation letter he explained that God has plans for us--to move to Boone, NC and to start a new church. His supervisor said that he was going to tell God that he is not happy with His plans, but he understands why Keevin is leaving. That really made my husband feel good about his reputation.
Well I have had a nagging worry that is hard for me to explain. I am having a hard time with the fact that I will be at home in another town, another state than where my children will be at home at. Maybe it is a mother-thing. I don't know, I just know that it is an annoying feeling. So I talked to God about it last night. But first I want to share a journey with you, then I will picked back up on this story.
A few days ago I was looking up some Bible verses on Biblestudytools.com. Philippians 4: 4-7 (NIV) is # 4 of my 20 core memory truths. But look at how The Message says it: "Celebrate God all day, everyday. I mean revel in Him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. 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." Isn't that a good one!! It seemed to say alot to anxieties and what to do when it happens, so I decided to make a 21 day journal note out of it. But I paraphrased it to personalize it for my future neeeds and started my journaling.
21 day Journal note # 6: Turn Worry into Prayer
Holy Dad, I am celebrating You all day, everyday. I delight in You. I find pleasure in You. I am making it as clear as I can to all I meet that I am on their side, working with them and not against them. I am helping them to see that the Master is about to arrive. Jesus, You could show up any minute! I am not fretting or worrying. When I first sense worry in my being I will pray. I will let petitions, and praises, and thanksgivings shape my worries into prayers, letting You, Holy God, know what my concerns are. Before I know it, a sense of Your wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle me down, It's wonderful what happens when You, Christ, displaces worry at the center of my life!
end of journal note.
Now, for the rest of the story. So last night I felt a nagging in my mind about leaving the children. It was at that moment the phrase "when I first sense worry in my being" flashed in my mind. I immediately talked to God about it. He assured me that the children are happy with living here as they both have ties to keep them attached. He also reminded me that He sent His son away to live with us for 33 years and that everything turned out ok. I thanked Him.
I learned from Dr. Caroline Leaf, a Christian neurologist, that it takes 21 days of journaling God's truth to rewire the brain but that a person will feel the effects on day 4. As I opened up my journal book this morning I noticed that today's note was day # 5. I thought to myself "Wow!" and worshipped God for His good provisions to me. Yes, day 4 of my journal note has helped me but I will continue on until day 21 for the full effects. The funny thing is I didn't have any real big needs in my life to start this journal note but thought it sounded really good. God knew that it would be of tremendous help to me for future needs and I am thankful that He showed me His good word.
I assign this journal note to confidence elements: self-control, gentleness and peace.
I assign this jouranl note to confidence busters: unnecessary guilt, worry and anxiety, and abandonment (as I don't want my kids to feel that I am abandoning them).
Friends, I want you to continue journaling and healing. Ask God to help you forgive and be forgiven and grow and serve Him. Don't miss out on His opportunities!!
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
Friday, August 5, 2011
An Identity without a Name
Hi there, folks! How's the weather where you are? It has been storming here but we needed the rain--as a lot of places do. We are entering the new school year season. My grandson went for 1/2 a day today and my granddaughter will attend for 1/2 a day for kintergarden on Monday. It will be quieter around here for most of the days but there will be thngs for me to do. Keevin and I are moving our camper over to our house and will start preparing it for the next phase of our God-assignment. Satan is playing around with me and causing me to stress out. I am using this time as a reminder that I trust God and trust Him completely. Every now and then God tests us or Satan tries to trip us up--but either way I have the Holy Spirit inside of me to make the right decisions. Thank You O Great God!!
So, I guess you are wondering how I came up with today's title. An idea came to me as I read a good little book entitled "Heaven is for Real" written by Todd Burpo. Todd Burpo is the father of a then 4 year old son. In the book Todd recounts the many stories that his son, Colton, shared with him and his wife about an experience he had with Jesus while undergoing an emergency appendectomy. I know it sounds crazy but all the things the 4 year old said was true according to scripture and this 4 year old had never heard all of the amazing things that he told about. It truly seems this little one experienced heaven and Jesus. His mom was really entrigued about Colton's "other sister". His mom and dad had never shared with him about the miscarriage his mom had prior to his own birth. And mom and dad didn't know that the baby was a girl. So his mom asked what her name was and he replied "she doesn't have a name." He also revealed that his other sister has been adopted by Jesus' Father.
So getting back to my idea about our identity. We often feel our identity is based on our name, financial status, maritial status, family lineage, sexual preferrence, educational level, career choice and even body shape. But guess what? None of those things make up our identity, they are only paths. But our identity leads us down those paths.
So what is our identity? Let's start by talking about God's creation. He has given us incredible bodies and minds and different makeups. Our individuality and uniqueness is a very big deal. It is a well-known fact that no two fingerprints are alike. We may have a "twin" out there but we have lots of differences. Our minds are different. Our life experiences are different.
Each person has 5 distinct strengths. These strengths are areas that we are drawn to and have natural abilities toward. We also have secondary strengths that are not as strong as the first 5. There are many areas of strengths and combinations. These represent so many different identities. Let me share of few of my strengths with you. For instance, I have a strong belief system and have natural abilities toward communication and absolutely love restoration.
We are all born with creativeness, however our distorted thinking systems block our minds, hence our creativeness is stifled. My creativeness is released in the form of writing and teaching, thanks to communication. Restoration explains why I have a passion for helping me and others to reach healness, forgiveness and grow into the best us for God. And my number one strength is belief. Others may have a very strong sense of belief in other things but mine is God. My whole life is done because of God, influenced by God, for God and to illuminate God to others.
There are ways to figue out who you are. The real you!! Think back to your childhood. What were your favorite and easiest subjects in school? This could be a clue to the real you. What projects or jobs were not really a challelnge but you just seem to know how to do it the first time? We can recognize areas of interest if we find ourselves asking "when can I do this again?" versus "Do I have to do this again?"
Some of your strengths may not be discovered until later in life as you may not have been introduced to it yet. It's all about God's timing. I didn't know about my gift of writing until I found myself without transportation which led to my unemployment. God used that time to help me develop my strength of communication. My writings center around my passion for healing, forgiveness and growth. But my belief steers it all toward God.
Our life experiences and circumstances also shape who we are. Our passions are often born from a tragedy or an exciting event. So you may want to ask yourself "what makes me cry or what makes my heart beat fast with excitement?"
And finally, the infusion fo the Holy Spirit. Those of us who are committed Christ followers are more than ourselves. Look at John 14:26 (MSG): "I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. the Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you." That verse is a great one to add to your core memory truths. And see what else the Holy Spirit does in Romans 8:15 (NIV): "For you did not recieve a spirit that makes you a slave agian to fear, but you recieved the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" Abba means Daddy. God is our Daddy--a trusted Daddy who takes care of us--after all He gave us the Holy Spirit to give us lots of super cool things in order to live this wonderful life. Look up other verses to see what the Holy Spirit does for you.
The 21day journal note has to do with slavery to a fear. As you work on this journal note allow the Holy Spirit to remove this fear and free you to be a better you for God.
# 5-- 21 Day Journal Note: Worried about what others think of YOU?
Galatians 1:10 (NCV): Do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the One I am trying to please. Am I trying to please people? If I still wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Yes--I am free from making other people happy. Free from worrying about their opinions. I am constantly aligning myself with Your plans and directions, Father. Jesus, I am your servant and my life is better for it. Thank you Heavenly Daddy!!
end of journal note.
Friend, discover the real you!!
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
So, I guess you are wondering how I came up with today's title. An idea came to me as I read a good little book entitled "Heaven is for Real" written by Todd Burpo. Todd Burpo is the father of a then 4 year old son. In the book Todd recounts the many stories that his son, Colton, shared with him and his wife about an experience he had with Jesus while undergoing an emergency appendectomy. I know it sounds crazy but all the things the 4 year old said was true according to scripture and this 4 year old had never heard all of the amazing things that he told about. It truly seems this little one experienced heaven and Jesus. His mom was really entrigued about Colton's "other sister". His mom and dad had never shared with him about the miscarriage his mom had prior to his own birth. And mom and dad didn't know that the baby was a girl. So his mom asked what her name was and he replied "she doesn't have a name." He also revealed that his other sister has been adopted by Jesus' Father.
So getting back to my idea about our identity. We often feel our identity is based on our name, financial status, maritial status, family lineage, sexual preferrence, educational level, career choice and even body shape. But guess what? None of those things make up our identity, they are only paths. But our identity leads us down those paths.
So what is our identity? Let's start by talking about God's creation. He has given us incredible bodies and minds and different makeups. Our individuality and uniqueness is a very big deal. It is a well-known fact that no two fingerprints are alike. We may have a "twin" out there but we have lots of differences. Our minds are different. Our life experiences are different.
Each person has 5 distinct strengths. These strengths are areas that we are drawn to and have natural abilities toward. We also have secondary strengths that are not as strong as the first 5. There are many areas of strengths and combinations. These represent so many different identities. Let me share of few of my strengths with you. For instance, I have a strong belief system and have natural abilities toward communication and absolutely love restoration.
We are all born with creativeness, however our distorted thinking systems block our minds, hence our creativeness is stifled. My creativeness is released in the form of writing and teaching, thanks to communication. Restoration explains why I have a passion for helping me and others to reach healness, forgiveness and grow into the best us for God. And my number one strength is belief. Others may have a very strong sense of belief in other things but mine is God. My whole life is done because of God, influenced by God, for God and to illuminate God to others.
There are ways to figue out who you are. The real you!! Think back to your childhood. What were your favorite and easiest subjects in school? This could be a clue to the real you. What projects or jobs were not really a challelnge but you just seem to know how to do it the first time? We can recognize areas of interest if we find ourselves asking "when can I do this again?" versus "Do I have to do this again?"
Some of your strengths may not be discovered until later in life as you may not have been introduced to it yet. It's all about God's timing. I didn't know about my gift of writing until I found myself without transportation which led to my unemployment. God used that time to help me develop my strength of communication. My writings center around my passion for healing, forgiveness and growth. But my belief steers it all toward God.
Our life experiences and circumstances also shape who we are. Our passions are often born from a tragedy or an exciting event. So you may want to ask yourself "what makes me cry or what makes my heart beat fast with excitement?"
And finally, the infusion fo the Holy Spirit. Those of us who are committed Christ followers are more than ourselves. Look at John 14:26 (MSG): "I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. the Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you." That verse is a great one to add to your core memory truths. And see what else the Holy Spirit does in Romans 8:15 (NIV): "For you did not recieve a spirit that makes you a slave agian to fear, but you recieved the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" Abba means Daddy. God is our Daddy--a trusted Daddy who takes care of us--after all He gave us the Holy Spirit to give us lots of super cool things in order to live this wonderful life. Look up other verses to see what the Holy Spirit does for you.
The 21day journal note has to do with slavery to a fear. As you work on this journal note allow the Holy Spirit to remove this fear and free you to be a better you for God.
# 5-- 21 Day Journal Note: Worried about what others think of YOU?
Galatians 1:10 (NCV): Do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the One I am trying to please. Am I trying to please people? If I still wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Yes--I am free from making other people happy. Free from worrying about their opinions. I am constantly aligning myself with Your plans and directions, Father. Jesus, I am your servant and my life is better for it. Thank you Heavenly Daddy!!
end of journal note.
Friend, discover the real you!!
Sisterly love to all, Wynndy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)