The multgrain bread did not agree with me this morning. I usually eat a couple of slices of plain white bread but thought I would try the other kind today. I have learned that my gut likes plain white bread better than the healthy stuff. You see, I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome--the diarrhea type and an occassional bout of constipation. Dealing with this dysfunction has been crazy for me and I'll tell you why.
I am an LPN and have known about IBS for a long time. I knew I had it. I have worked for Gastroenterologists and counseled patients with the ailment. I have been doctored by a gastroenterologist. But yet could not get a handle on it. All I had learned on how to treat it was to add fiber to my diet and take antispasmotics. Then the antispasmotics were scarce at the drug stores. I panicked because the diarrhea was a bit disabling.
I am a hyper, type A personality. Add fear and anxiety and a stressful job. What did I get? IBS. When I got serious about my relationship to Holy Dad I told Him that I wanted to work for Him. I also asked Him to heal my IBS. Well an amazing thing happened. I was scanning the internet and came across an eye-opening website: helpforibs.com authored by Heather Van Vorous. She told of things I had never heard of in all my nursing career. An interesting fact is That the enteric nervous system (ENS) is the only part of the peripheral nervous system that is capable of mediating relex behaior in the absence of input from the brain or spinal cord. In other words, there is a brain inside the bowel that is independent from the brain in the head. Her favorite analogy of having IBS is like having very sensitive skin, only the problem is internal. Causes of IBS are dietary and stress. Coffee (even decaf), fats, eggs. diary products and certain fibers are hard on the IBS sufferer. And I have to put something easy (like white bread) on the stomach first thing in the morning or
I'll be sorry. I was amazed at the results when I first starting watching when and what I ate. It feels like I've been cured of my IBS. Oh, yeah, I asked Holy Dad to heal me!! And I don't have to take any medicines for it with the exception of a fiber capsule before eating something offensive. The fiber capsule is unlike food fiber--it actually coats the intestine. I am sooo happy with the results but occasionally I try something new and discover it is a food that I need to be careful eating.
I share all of this with you because the cause of my problems is mainly stress. The definition of stressed out is: tired, nervous, etc as from overwork, mental pressure, etc. And the meaning of nervous is: emotionally tense, restless, fearful. Do any of these adjectives describe you? Stressors create a whole host of physical problems, not just IBS. That's why God talks about giving your cares over to Him, warnings of anxiety and worry, cautions of angry outbursts, etc. He knows stress can cause unhealthiness.
Let's look at Proverbs 3. This chapter deals with the benefits of wisdom. In the previous paragraphs I shared interesting facts about IBS. I took the time to read up on my dysfunction. Well God wants us to read up on His advise for all kinds of problems and solutions.
Verse 1 (MSG): Good friend, don't forget all I've taught you; take to heart my commands.
Verse 2 (GWT): Because they will bring you long life, good years, and peace.
Verse 3 (NIV): Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them on the tablet of your heart.
Verse 4 (MSG): Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people.
Verse 5 (GNT): Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.
Verse 6 (MSG): Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He's the one who will keep you on track.
Verse 7 (GNT): Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong.
Verse 8 (MSG): Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!
Verse 11 (GNT): My child, when the Lord corrects you, pay close attention and take it as a warning.
Verse 12 (NCV): The Lord corrects those He loves, just as parents corrects the child they delight in.
Verse 25 (MSG): No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday's just around the corner.
Verse 26 (GWT): The Lord will be your confidence. He will keep your foot from getting caught.
Obeying God and delighting Him (making Him happy) brings on amazing happenings in our lives. He brings healing in all sorts of ways. Our lives improve so much--beyond our comprehension and imagination. He gives us His peace concerning the situations that He chooses not to change. His peace is a stress reduction by itself.
I am on day 17 of the last 21 Day Journal Note that I wrote to you about. Self-control is one of the features that God wants us to utilize. I am choosing to eat differently to have good health. What can you do differently to achieve good health? And remember that the key to my good health was well hidden from me until I made a conscious decision to serve Him with my whole life. Friend, He wants you to have good confidence and good health but you must be willing to do it His way--the right way!
For relaxation: when you take your bath tonight lovingly caress your feet with soap. Take notice of how the wash cloth or puff feels against the skin of the foot. And make sure to lather lotion on those tired, achy feet. There are lots of nerve ending in the foot and relaxation is brought on by massaging those muscles, tendons and skin. It feels really good!
Friend, pursue healthiness!
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Friday, April 13, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
Good Friday, Good Everyday.
Yes I have returned. We had a couple of computer issues these past few weeks. I missed bloggoing to you good people. Hope all is well with you.
Rocky and I took a walk up the road yesterday. We detoured down an explored gravel street and met up with a nice neighbor. Her name is Dorothy and she has lived in her cabin for 6 years. She was headed over to her garden to cut some asparagus for her daughters birthday dinner. I asked if I could follow her to the garden. She has a really nice plot of land to work with. It is fenced in to keep the deer out and she has a compost bin, which is something I want. Her asparagus is purple and she says that it is much better than the green ones. She is growing kale, lettuce, rhubarb and blueberry vines. I spied some tallish leaves and it turns out to be garlic. This is unlike the gardens Keevin and I grew up eating from: collards, turnip and mustard greens, corn, string beans, peas, cucumbers and tomatoes, potatoes, peanuts and watermelon. Dorothy said she planted most of the items last fall and she now has these wonderful vegetables this early in the spring to enjoy. I learned alot from her.
Earlier this week I was sitting on the porch writing. A gentleman stopped his car in front of our house. He was stopping by to introduce himself. His wife grew up in our house and he told a few stories relating to that. As Rocky and I took our walk up the mountain yesterday this same gentleman stopped his truck and spoke to us on the gravel road. I have to say this is the neighborly-ist place I have ever lived in. It makes me feel at home and not alone.
Today is a celebrated day all around the world. Good Friday. There were some comments on facebook asking why not refer to this day as Bad Friday. This marks the day that Jesus experienced torture and death. I really don't like talking about His suffering because He did experience such horrific pain before death came to Him. We don't like facing pain of any kind, ours or others. But Jesus didn't experience His pain for nothing, to be brushed over, to be ignored. He died for you and me! All the suffering was the sin of the world accumulated in a time frame and He accepted it. He didn't look forward to it. He even asked His Father if there could be any other way to accomplish what we needed to please let it happen, but if this was the way it had to be--then so be it. His blood, His life blood was a payment for all the sins before and after His time of death. We owe our very lives to Him!
Is it hard for you to grasp that He is real? The fact is the people of Jesus' time didn't believe in who He said He was. He performed miracles in front of them time after time. He offered up words of wisdom. Some were willing to let go of their practical, human way of thinking and trusted Him and His words and followed Him. They experienced wonderful things of God for obeying and trusting. It doesn't mean that they were totally free of bad things but Holy Father saturated His goodness in their lives.
Peter tells of his account of Jesus to the folks he ministered to in 2 Peter 2: 16-21 (NCV): "When we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not telling just smart stories that someone invented. But we saw the greatness of Jesus with our own eyes. Jesus heard the voice of God, the Greatest Glory, when He received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice said, 'This is My Son, who I love, and I am very pleased with Hm.' We heard that voice from heaven while we were with Jesus on the holy mountain. This makes us more sure about the message the prophets gave. It is good for you to follow closely what they said as you would follow a light shining in a dark place, until the day begins and the morning star rises in your hearts. Most of all, you must understand this: No prophecy in the Scriptures ever comes from the prophet's own interpretation. No prophecy ever came from what a person wanted to say, but people led by the Holy Spirit spoke words from God."
People before and during Jesus' time are alot like us who are after Jesus' time. They were told about Him before He arrived and we are told about Him after He came, died and rose again--and is alive today. It is good for us to follow closely what the writers of the Bible have to say to us. Even Jesus' own words are recorded by these authors. Jesus' story is told in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These books contain lots of encouragement, cautions, hope and truth. Why not make a commitment to Jesus to study about Him. Ask Holy Father to help you be more like Him. You'll learn from the words of the 4 authors that we are to be the face of Jesus in our world, to our neighbors, friends, coworkers, family, people we rub elbows with in the grocery store, etc.
My next door neighbor is singing a solo at the Methodist church tonight. Keevin and I will dress up and go to celebrate Jesus' death, burial and resurrection with Priscilla and Doug. It is even good to see Jesus' face on our neighbors!! How are you celebrating Good Friday?
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Rocky and I took a walk up the road yesterday. We detoured down an explored gravel street and met up with a nice neighbor. Her name is Dorothy and she has lived in her cabin for 6 years. She was headed over to her garden to cut some asparagus for her daughters birthday dinner. I asked if I could follow her to the garden. She has a really nice plot of land to work with. It is fenced in to keep the deer out and she has a compost bin, which is something I want. Her asparagus is purple and she says that it is much better than the green ones. She is growing kale, lettuce, rhubarb and blueberry vines. I spied some tallish leaves and it turns out to be garlic. This is unlike the gardens Keevin and I grew up eating from: collards, turnip and mustard greens, corn, string beans, peas, cucumbers and tomatoes, potatoes, peanuts and watermelon. Dorothy said she planted most of the items last fall and she now has these wonderful vegetables this early in the spring to enjoy. I learned alot from her.
Earlier this week I was sitting on the porch writing. A gentleman stopped his car in front of our house. He was stopping by to introduce himself. His wife grew up in our house and he told a few stories relating to that. As Rocky and I took our walk up the mountain yesterday this same gentleman stopped his truck and spoke to us on the gravel road. I have to say this is the neighborly-ist place I have ever lived in. It makes me feel at home and not alone.
Today is a celebrated day all around the world. Good Friday. There were some comments on facebook asking why not refer to this day as Bad Friday. This marks the day that Jesus experienced torture and death. I really don't like talking about His suffering because He did experience such horrific pain before death came to Him. We don't like facing pain of any kind, ours or others. But Jesus didn't experience His pain for nothing, to be brushed over, to be ignored. He died for you and me! All the suffering was the sin of the world accumulated in a time frame and He accepted it. He didn't look forward to it. He even asked His Father if there could be any other way to accomplish what we needed to please let it happen, but if this was the way it had to be--then so be it. His blood, His life blood was a payment for all the sins before and after His time of death. We owe our very lives to Him!
Is it hard for you to grasp that He is real? The fact is the people of Jesus' time didn't believe in who He said He was. He performed miracles in front of them time after time. He offered up words of wisdom. Some were willing to let go of their practical, human way of thinking and trusted Him and His words and followed Him. They experienced wonderful things of God for obeying and trusting. It doesn't mean that they were totally free of bad things but Holy Father saturated His goodness in their lives.
Peter tells of his account of Jesus to the folks he ministered to in 2 Peter 2: 16-21 (NCV): "When we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not telling just smart stories that someone invented. But we saw the greatness of Jesus with our own eyes. Jesus heard the voice of God, the Greatest Glory, when He received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice said, 'This is My Son, who I love, and I am very pleased with Hm.' We heard that voice from heaven while we were with Jesus on the holy mountain. This makes us more sure about the message the prophets gave. It is good for you to follow closely what they said as you would follow a light shining in a dark place, until the day begins and the morning star rises in your hearts. Most of all, you must understand this: No prophecy in the Scriptures ever comes from the prophet's own interpretation. No prophecy ever came from what a person wanted to say, but people led by the Holy Spirit spoke words from God."
People before and during Jesus' time are alot like us who are after Jesus' time. They were told about Him before He arrived and we are told about Him after He came, died and rose again--and is alive today. It is good for us to follow closely what the writers of the Bible have to say to us. Even Jesus' own words are recorded by these authors. Jesus' story is told in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These books contain lots of encouragement, cautions, hope and truth. Why not make a commitment to Jesus to study about Him. Ask Holy Father to help you be more like Him. You'll learn from the words of the 4 authors that we are to be the face of Jesus in our world, to our neighbors, friends, coworkers, family, people we rub elbows with in the grocery store, etc.
My next door neighbor is singing a solo at the Methodist church tonight. Keevin and I will dress up and go to celebrate Jesus' death, burial and resurrection with Priscilla and Doug. It is even good to see Jesus' face on our neighbors!! How are you celebrating Good Friday?
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Friday, March 16, 2012
New Beginnings
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
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
Friday, March 2, 2012
New Beginnings!
New Beginnings Family Church. I think we have settled on the name. Last year my husband, Keevin, felt God leading us away from middle TN to start a new church. He put fleeces out to God (asking God for definite signs) for answers like where and when. Keevin received several specific pointing signs but he wanted to be sure and asked God for more--and He gave more. When we finally felt setted that we had the answers, God gave us a bonus sign in a resturant from a waitress. I looked over at Keevin and questioned him, "did you ask God for another sign?" He replied "no, did you?" I just shook my head. "I guess this is a freebie from God. Boone, NC was the where and August 2011 was the time. So we packed up and moved our camper to Boone, NC the last weekend of August. We lived in our camper until the middle of January. Now that we are settled in our new home we have begun to make more decisions toward the new church.
Keevin and I have served in lots of churches. Some of them were unhealthy and we got hurt by church people. Can you relate? We thought about our decisions to choose the churches we did. Some were callings by God as Keevin served as Youth Minister in a few. Others were by God's leading. One particular church we wanted to leave before we did but God wouldn't release us. Church choosing is a serious matter and should be lead by God as to where you worship and serve. I have shared our church history with you because of our past hurt and pain we feel there are others out there who have suffered the same. This new church is birthed with a passion to do church in a healthy way. God's healthy way.
Keevin called me a few minutes ago to tell me that he has figured out our vision statement. I was very pleased to hear what he had to say because it is already my number one goal for my personal life. You've heard of the 10 Commandments- -but since Jesus came, ministered to us, died for us, and rose from the dead (He is alive today!!!) the 10 commandments no longer apply. Why? Because when Jesus finished His work on this earth He asked Holy Dad to send us the Holy Spirit to live inside of us, to guide us, comfort us, love on us, whatever we need--He's with us. But Jesus did announce a new commandment to replace the old ones. Mark 12:30-31 (NIV): "The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." That is the vision statement for New Beginnings Family Church. This scripture in #1 on my 20 core memory verses--it is that important to be ingrained in the brain.
I like the above verse from The Message. It gives me a clearer picture of what God really wants from us. "Jesus said, The first in importance is, Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy. And here is the second: Love others as well as you love yourself. there is no other commandment that ranks with these." I even combine the two versions for personal growth. No matter what church you are a member of this should be a vision statement for your personal spiritual life. You'll be amazed at how He blesses you for loving on Him.
Have you ever been snubbed? At work? In a department store? At school? At church? It happens. It happens to us and we do it to others. It happens a lot at church. It is terrible that we can be mean Christian girls. That is the ugly truth. By facing it head on we can deal with. The truth is I felt certain ladies snubbing me in the past at different churches. I used to get hung up on the idea and go paralyzed spiritually and emotionally and that effected my behavior. I was of no use to God. By employing the 21 Day Journal Notes I have been healed of the snubbing effect. But of course that didn't stop folks from snubbing me. As it happened to me again I just walked past it mentally with a little stinging felt but it didn't devastate me as before. Then recently a gentleman from one of our past churches told Keevin during a phone conversation, that the ladies of the church had snubbed me and he gave details about it. When Keevin told me about the conversation I was overwhelmed with sadness and loneliness. As I reviewed my behavior toward those ladies I could not detect any maliciousness on my part (because sometimes we cause the behavior given to us). Feelings of worthlessness surfaced so I talked to Holy Dad about it. The subject became a passion for the week. I wanted me and the Holy Spirit to conquer this devilish thing.
What I want to teach you is how to overcome whatever problem area you have in your life. First of all talk to Holy Dad about it. Cry to Him, tell Him all the details. Then let Him speak back to you and search the scriptures for verses that apply and tell you how to correct the problem area. Trust Him to heal you and lead you to do whatever it is that He asks you to do. I find it helpful to have a dictionary handy. Knowing what your problem means can help you find the answer.
As for the snubbing, Webster says: to treat with scorn, disdain, etc. Scorn means extreme, often indignant, contempt. to refuse or reject with scorn. Disdain is to regard as beneath one's dignity, scorn. aloof. And indignant means feeling or expressing anger, especailly at unjust or mean action. Do you see how I followed the dictionary for a clear picture of what really is happening here? Indignant came up a couple of times and notice the word anger in it's definition. I googled snub on the internet and it led me to psychologytoday.com. Psychologytoday.com explains that the cause is resentment--years of imagined or real episodes of disrespect or disregard. I'm talking about the people who snub you--this is why. And if you find yourself snubbing someone--take notice and deal with your own history. The same website went on to say that "resentment is bascially a refusal to forgive, an unwillingness to let bygones be bygones and bury the hatchet. We review and rehash our painful past, even as we profess to want to let go of it." Are you getting the picture? Psychologytoday.com says that resentment is an addictive state of mind---yes addictive. So often we don't realize we are doing it but we sure feel it when it is being done to us.
Now on to what God's word says. Galatians 6:1-3 (MSG): "Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived." God wants us to deal with our mess and our church family members's mess. Help each other out. The person who snubs you probably doesn't know why he/she does it--but you do, now. Pray for that soul to have a softened heart and to be healed by God from the pain and hurt. Don't kid yourself into thinking that you don't have the same problem because you might--and you might not. Just keep a watch on yourself. Holy Dad wants you to forgive the one who offended you even though it feels tough to do it.
Now forget about the episode. Ask Holy Dad to help you erase the memory of it--or better yet, heal the memory with forgiveness. But as for the forgetting, take a look at Philippians 3:13 (NIV): "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." Forgetfulness can be a healthy God-tool. He gives us His power and strength (other God-tools) and this would be a time to call in on them.
But church family member, have patience with God as He works on the one who snubs you. John 3:20 (MSG): "Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure." People who are full of pain will do anything to avoid pain including denial and believing illusions that they are in the right. If you've ever been addicted to something you know that overcoming addictions is hard--but possible. If you have been a follower of this blog you know that I lovingly refer to Galatians 5:22-23 as the confidence elements: love, joy, peace, patence, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But look at what's listed in verses 19- 21 and the other items listed with it (how bad they are): (MSG): "It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; and impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of communtiy. I could go on." How many of those jumped out at you--either you are doing them or they have been done to you? Do you really like that kind of life? Do you want to change it? Then do things God's way.
Doing things God's way produces this effect, Galatians 5:22-23 (MSG): "But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard--things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." I like those thoughts a lot better than the previous verses. And these 2 verses sound like what I hope New Beginnings Family Church represent--all done because we love our Holy God with our total being and energies and love one another.
Friend, you may have found yourself snubbed not because you are another woman but because you are of a different skin color or nationality. Or you may have a handicap or physical impairment. You may have allowed your past pain and hurt to cause obesity or anorexia, anxiety, impusivity, etc. Folks often look down on these issues and people but that's not God's way. Look at what Jesus did and is still doing today, Matthew 9:35-36 (MSG): "Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When He looked out over the crowds, His heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. 'What a huge harvest!' He said to the disciples. 'How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!'" Friend, we are the harvest hands that He is wanting. Be healed so you can help heal others. And pray for healing of those who are hurting you--because they are hurting inside.
Friend, if I have snubbed you--please forgive me and please forget that I snubbed you. And friend, if you have snubbed me--please be assured that I forgive you and I am forgetting about it. You are free to live guilt-free of this bad thing. I love you!
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Keevin and I have served in lots of churches. Some of them were unhealthy and we got hurt by church people. Can you relate? We thought about our decisions to choose the churches we did. Some were callings by God as Keevin served as Youth Minister in a few. Others were by God's leading. One particular church we wanted to leave before we did but God wouldn't release us. Church choosing is a serious matter and should be lead by God as to where you worship and serve. I have shared our church history with you because of our past hurt and pain we feel there are others out there who have suffered the same. This new church is birthed with a passion to do church in a healthy way. God's healthy way.
Keevin called me a few minutes ago to tell me that he has figured out our vision statement. I was very pleased to hear what he had to say because it is already my number one goal for my personal life. You've heard of the 10 Commandments- -but since Jesus came, ministered to us, died for us, and rose from the dead (He is alive today!!!) the 10 commandments no longer apply. Why? Because when Jesus finished His work on this earth He asked Holy Dad to send us the Holy Spirit to live inside of us, to guide us, comfort us, love on us, whatever we need--He's with us. But Jesus did announce a new commandment to replace the old ones. Mark 12:30-31 (NIV): "The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." That is the vision statement for New Beginnings Family Church. This scripture in #1 on my 20 core memory verses--it is that important to be ingrained in the brain.
I like the above verse from The Message. It gives me a clearer picture of what God really wants from us. "Jesus said, The first in importance is, Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy. And here is the second: Love others as well as you love yourself. there is no other commandment that ranks with these." I even combine the two versions for personal growth. No matter what church you are a member of this should be a vision statement for your personal spiritual life. You'll be amazed at how He blesses you for loving on Him.
Have you ever been snubbed? At work? In a department store? At school? At church? It happens. It happens to us and we do it to others. It happens a lot at church. It is terrible that we can be mean Christian girls. That is the ugly truth. By facing it head on we can deal with. The truth is I felt certain ladies snubbing me in the past at different churches. I used to get hung up on the idea and go paralyzed spiritually and emotionally and that effected my behavior. I was of no use to God. By employing the 21 Day Journal Notes I have been healed of the snubbing effect. But of course that didn't stop folks from snubbing me. As it happened to me again I just walked past it mentally with a little stinging felt but it didn't devastate me as before. Then recently a gentleman from one of our past churches told Keevin during a phone conversation, that the ladies of the church had snubbed me and he gave details about it. When Keevin told me about the conversation I was overwhelmed with sadness and loneliness. As I reviewed my behavior toward those ladies I could not detect any maliciousness on my part (because sometimes we cause the behavior given to us). Feelings of worthlessness surfaced so I talked to Holy Dad about it. The subject became a passion for the week. I wanted me and the Holy Spirit to conquer this devilish thing.
What I want to teach you is how to overcome whatever problem area you have in your life. First of all talk to Holy Dad about it. Cry to Him, tell Him all the details. Then let Him speak back to you and search the scriptures for verses that apply and tell you how to correct the problem area. Trust Him to heal you and lead you to do whatever it is that He asks you to do. I find it helpful to have a dictionary handy. Knowing what your problem means can help you find the answer.
As for the snubbing, Webster says: to treat with scorn, disdain, etc. Scorn means extreme, often indignant, contempt. to refuse or reject with scorn. Disdain is to regard as beneath one's dignity, scorn. aloof. And indignant means feeling or expressing anger, especailly at unjust or mean action. Do you see how I followed the dictionary for a clear picture of what really is happening here? Indignant came up a couple of times and notice the word anger in it's definition. I googled snub on the internet and it led me to psychologytoday.com. Psychologytoday.com explains that the cause is resentment--years of imagined or real episodes of disrespect or disregard. I'm talking about the people who snub you--this is why. And if you find yourself snubbing someone--take notice and deal with your own history. The same website went on to say that "resentment is bascially a refusal to forgive, an unwillingness to let bygones be bygones and bury the hatchet. We review and rehash our painful past, even as we profess to want to let go of it." Are you getting the picture? Psychologytoday.com says that resentment is an addictive state of mind---yes addictive. So often we don't realize we are doing it but we sure feel it when it is being done to us.
Now on to what God's word says. Galatians 6:1-3 (MSG): "Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived." God wants us to deal with our mess and our church family members's mess. Help each other out. The person who snubs you probably doesn't know why he/she does it--but you do, now. Pray for that soul to have a softened heart and to be healed by God from the pain and hurt. Don't kid yourself into thinking that you don't have the same problem because you might--and you might not. Just keep a watch on yourself. Holy Dad wants you to forgive the one who offended you even though it feels tough to do it.
Now forget about the episode. Ask Holy Dad to help you erase the memory of it--or better yet, heal the memory with forgiveness. But as for the forgetting, take a look at Philippians 3:13 (NIV): "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." Forgetfulness can be a healthy God-tool. He gives us His power and strength (other God-tools) and this would be a time to call in on them.
But church family member, have patience with God as He works on the one who snubs you. John 3:20 (MSG): "Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure." People who are full of pain will do anything to avoid pain including denial and believing illusions that they are in the right. If you've ever been addicted to something you know that overcoming addictions is hard--but possible. If you have been a follower of this blog you know that I lovingly refer to Galatians 5:22-23 as the confidence elements: love, joy, peace, patence, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But look at what's listed in verses 19- 21 and the other items listed with it (how bad they are): (MSG): "It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; and impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of communtiy. I could go on." How many of those jumped out at you--either you are doing them or they have been done to you? Do you really like that kind of life? Do you want to change it? Then do things God's way.
Doing things God's way produces this effect, Galatians 5:22-23 (MSG): "But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard--things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." I like those thoughts a lot better than the previous verses. And these 2 verses sound like what I hope New Beginnings Family Church represent--all done because we love our Holy God with our total being and energies and love one another.
Friend, you may have found yourself snubbed not because you are another woman but because you are of a different skin color or nationality. Or you may have a handicap or physical impairment. You may have allowed your past pain and hurt to cause obesity or anorexia, anxiety, impusivity, etc. Folks often look down on these issues and people but that's not God's way. Look at what Jesus did and is still doing today, Matthew 9:35-36 (MSG): "Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When He looked out over the crowds, His heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. 'What a huge harvest!' He said to the disciples. 'How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!'" Friend, we are the harvest hands that He is wanting. Be healed so you can help heal others. And pray for healing of those who are hurting you--because they are hurting inside.
Friend, if I have snubbed you--please forgive me and please forget that I snubbed you. And friend, if you have snubbed me--please be assured that I forgive you and I am forgetting about it. You are free to live guilt-free of this bad thing. I love you!
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Friday, February 24, 2012
What am I doing?
Happy Friday, friends! And it's a warm one at that! Everyone is ready to feel spring weather and enjoy the outdoors.
To my Jacksonville, NC friends--we are saddened by a family facing tragedy of a housefire and 3 children perishing in the fire. Other family members are being treated at 3 different hospitals. Sounds like this is a God-loving family and lots and lots of folks are praying for them.
Sometimes big, bad things that happen to folks in our communities that cause folks to rally around the victims and give support and whatever they need. It's during events such as this that ministries are born. A person might discover that they are good at planning a fund-raiser for such a time. I have a friend in Murfreesboro, TN who collects furniture and clothing to help burned out families because she has had several co-workers who had that same need. Now she finds great pleasure in helping folks in bad situations.
People who are fortunate enough to discover a passion suddenly finds themselves with a purpose in life. It is a very good and satisfying feeling. It's what God intends for our lives. But we may have to clear out some inappropriate passions that lead to wrong purposes. A passion is any emotion--hate, love, or fear. It is an intense emotional excitement such as rage, enthusiasm or lust. It is also the sufferings of Jesus, beginning after the Last Supper and continuing to His death on the Cross. You can see that hate and fear, rage and lust are not the plans and designs God would have you operating under. You probably didn't know that your anger issues, hate, overwhelming fears and lust are causing you to be a not-so-confident person.
There have been 3 different people in the news that have followed their passions and had different outcomes. February is African-American month. Fox & Friends have shared good stories of folks who have succeeded in life. The story was told yesterday of a 79 year old african-american lady who had a great attitude about life. Her father died before she was 2 years old so she and her sister were raised by a single mother. Her mother taught her that life can be unfair and not always smooth. She learned that lesson early in life from her mother and it shaped how she dealt with the bad things that came up. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in her twenties. She was treated and healed but had to have partial mastectomies. In her sixties she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She now has lower percentage of lung capacity as surgeons removed a lobe from her lung. But did that stop her from enjoying life? She was determined to travel somewhere that no african-american woman had been to. So a few years ago she learned how to fundraise and recieved moneys enabling her to go and enjoy the North Pole. Since then she has step foot on the South Pole. And she has another trip planned that no african-american woman has accomplished but we will have to wait until next year to hear about that trip. Don't forget that she is 79 years young.
A second person is Whitney Houston. Everyone has heard that she passed away probably from a bad combination of prescriptive meds and alcohol. She started out singing for our great God in church. Then she got side-tracted and the drugs seem to have control over the rest of her life. Drugs were her passion and became her purpose. It's interesting that her mother wrote her a letter for the day of the funeral. Cissy Houston tells a post-life Whitney that the day she was born the Holy Spirit told her that she would not have Whitney for a long time. The Holy Spirit knew what Whitney would have passion for.
A third person is the 34 year old pastor (husband and father) who is in prison and scheduled for execution in Iran because of his faith (and refusing to give it up) in Jesus Christ. Holy Dad, we ask you to give comfort to this awesome man of yours and strength to his wife and children. Please put your arms around them and tell them that everything is going to be ok. Father, I know you have a reason for allowing this bad thing to happen. Perhaps it is to shock us americans to a reality that our brothers and sisters in other countries would love it if they could worship you freely just as we do. The amazing thing is they worship You regardless of their life expectancy. I am afraid we take our freedoms for granted and do not elevate You high enough because we are not challenged. Thank You Lord for whatever it is that You do for this Iranian pastor and His family!
1Peter 4: 1-2 (MSG) says this: "Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like Him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want." We are a spoiled country. We are spoiled Christians. The beginning of our country was for Godly and noble purposes. But my have we traveled so far from it that we no longer are connected with the reason for the pilgrims to cross the Atlantic and suffer diseases and death and barren land that had to be fashioned into liveable habitats.
A friend of mine (from Lascassas, TN) sent me a verse for the day. It is a good one. James 1:17 (NCV): "Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars, who does not change like their shifting shadows." What this is telling us is that whatever comes our way in life, whatever Holy Dad allows to happen to us, is a gift. Holy Dad gifts us with passions and purposes so we can do the things He has planned out for us. Friend, He gifts us with life made new through His Holy Word. Verse 18: "God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things He made." Wow. He wants to shape us and give us great lives because we are the most important things He made--but friend, allow Him to remake you into something great by following what He says to do in His word.
What events in your life has had a negative impact that can be turned around (with Holy Dad's help) to serve His purposes? If you have had the great pleasure of discovering your passion and purpose--I challenge you to step it up to the next level. What bad thing has control over you that keeps you from having a conscious life? Holy Dad can help with this! Beth Moore's blog contains segments that her sister, Gay, has written about her hopeless alcoholic years and the rescuing by Holy Dad who heard her cries for help. It is inspiring even in a helpless 35 or so year span. Can you guess Gay's new purpose and passion? Yep. Helping other ladies in need of help in their hopelessness. It's a good read if you are inclined to google it. Just google Beth Moore and you'll see it.
And of course I have a 21 Day Journal Note that fits well with this topic.
21 Day Journal Note # 29
Really Bad Decisions
Lord Jesus, I am painfully admitting to You today that in the past I have committed really, really bad sins. Lord I know that abortions, sexual promiscuity, fantasies, cheating, lying, gossiping, meddling into others business, stealing, physical abuse to others, abandonment, harshness, bullying others and myself, etc, are all terribly wrong. The things I am guilty of are weighing heavy on my mind and have for a very, very long time. It consumes me and controls me. I am ready to give it up and give it to You. I am reading Psalm 32:1 (NLT) "Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!: Please Jesus, help me to forgive myself! I have read in Matthew 12:32 (MSG): "If you reject the Son of Man out of some misunderstanding, the Holy Spirit can forgive you, but when you reject the Holy Spirit, you're sawing off the branch on which you're sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives." As long as I accept and not reject You, Holy Spirit, I am ok! My Lord, please help me to forgive myself and others who may have contributed to the state I found myself in at the time of my sins. My Lord, heal my wounded heart from this grief. Thank You immensely.
end of journal note. Friend, hand write this 21 day journal note once a day for 21 days to give your life new passion and purpose.
Now really start living!
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
To my Jacksonville, NC friends--we are saddened by a family facing tragedy of a housefire and 3 children perishing in the fire. Other family members are being treated at 3 different hospitals. Sounds like this is a God-loving family and lots and lots of folks are praying for them.
Sometimes big, bad things that happen to folks in our communities that cause folks to rally around the victims and give support and whatever they need. It's during events such as this that ministries are born. A person might discover that they are good at planning a fund-raiser for such a time. I have a friend in Murfreesboro, TN who collects furniture and clothing to help burned out families because she has had several co-workers who had that same need. Now she finds great pleasure in helping folks in bad situations.
People who are fortunate enough to discover a passion suddenly finds themselves with a purpose in life. It is a very good and satisfying feeling. It's what God intends for our lives. But we may have to clear out some inappropriate passions that lead to wrong purposes. A passion is any emotion--hate, love, or fear. It is an intense emotional excitement such as rage, enthusiasm or lust. It is also the sufferings of Jesus, beginning after the Last Supper and continuing to His death on the Cross. You can see that hate and fear, rage and lust are not the plans and designs God would have you operating under. You probably didn't know that your anger issues, hate, overwhelming fears and lust are causing you to be a not-so-confident person.
There have been 3 different people in the news that have followed their passions and had different outcomes. February is African-American month. Fox & Friends have shared good stories of folks who have succeeded in life. The story was told yesterday of a 79 year old african-american lady who had a great attitude about life. Her father died before she was 2 years old so she and her sister were raised by a single mother. Her mother taught her that life can be unfair and not always smooth. She learned that lesson early in life from her mother and it shaped how she dealt with the bad things that came up. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in her twenties. She was treated and healed but had to have partial mastectomies. In her sixties she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She now has lower percentage of lung capacity as surgeons removed a lobe from her lung. But did that stop her from enjoying life? She was determined to travel somewhere that no african-american woman had been to. So a few years ago she learned how to fundraise and recieved moneys enabling her to go and enjoy the North Pole. Since then she has step foot on the South Pole. And she has another trip planned that no african-american woman has accomplished but we will have to wait until next year to hear about that trip. Don't forget that she is 79 years young.
A second person is Whitney Houston. Everyone has heard that she passed away probably from a bad combination of prescriptive meds and alcohol. She started out singing for our great God in church. Then she got side-tracted and the drugs seem to have control over the rest of her life. Drugs were her passion and became her purpose. It's interesting that her mother wrote her a letter for the day of the funeral. Cissy Houston tells a post-life Whitney that the day she was born the Holy Spirit told her that she would not have Whitney for a long time. The Holy Spirit knew what Whitney would have passion for.
A third person is the 34 year old pastor (husband and father) who is in prison and scheduled for execution in Iran because of his faith (and refusing to give it up) in Jesus Christ. Holy Dad, we ask you to give comfort to this awesome man of yours and strength to his wife and children. Please put your arms around them and tell them that everything is going to be ok. Father, I know you have a reason for allowing this bad thing to happen. Perhaps it is to shock us americans to a reality that our brothers and sisters in other countries would love it if they could worship you freely just as we do. The amazing thing is they worship You regardless of their life expectancy. I am afraid we take our freedoms for granted and do not elevate You high enough because we are not challenged. Thank You Lord for whatever it is that You do for this Iranian pastor and His family!
1Peter 4: 1-2 (MSG) says this: "Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like Him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want." We are a spoiled country. We are spoiled Christians. The beginning of our country was for Godly and noble purposes. But my have we traveled so far from it that we no longer are connected with the reason for the pilgrims to cross the Atlantic and suffer diseases and death and barren land that had to be fashioned into liveable habitats.
A friend of mine (from Lascassas, TN) sent me a verse for the day. It is a good one. James 1:17 (NCV): "Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars, who does not change like their shifting shadows." What this is telling us is that whatever comes our way in life, whatever Holy Dad allows to happen to us, is a gift. Holy Dad gifts us with passions and purposes so we can do the things He has planned out for us. Friend, He gifts us with life made new through His Holy Word. Verse 18: "God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things He made." Wow. He wants to shape us and give us great lives because we are the most important things He made--but friend, allow Him to remake you into something great by following what He says to do in His word.
What events in your life has had a negative impact that can be turned around (with Holy Dad's help) to serve His purposes? If you have had the great pleasure of discovering your passion and purpose--I challenge you to step it up to the next level. What bad thing has control over you that keeps you from having a conscious life? Holy Dad can help with this! Beth Moore's blog contains segments that her sister, Gay, has written about her hopeless alcoholic years and the rescuing by Holy Dad who heard her cries for help. It is inspiring even in a helpless 35 or so year span. Can you guess Gay's new purpose and passion? Yep. Helping other ladies in need of help in their hopelessness. It's a good read if you are inclined to google it. Just google Beth Moore and you'll see it.
And of course I have a 21 Day Journal Note that fits well with this topic.
21 Day Journal Note # 29
Really Bad Decisions
Lord Jesus, I am painfully admitting to You today that in the past I have committed really, really bad sins. Lord I know that abortions, sexual promiscuity, fantasies, cheating, lying, gossiping, meddling into others business, stealing, physical abuse to others, abandonment, harshness, bullying others and myself, etc, are all terribly wrong. The things I am guilty of are weighing heavy on my mind and have for a very, very long time. It consumes me and controls me. I am ready to give it up and give it to You. I am reading Psalm 32:1 (NLT) "Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!: Please Jesus, help me to forgive myself! I have read in Matthew 12:32 (MSG): "If you reject the Son of Man out of some misunderstanding, the Holy Spirit can forgive you, but when you reject the Holy Spirit, you're sawing off the branch on which you're sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives." As long as I accept and not reject You, Holy Spirit, I am ok! My Lord, please help me to forgive myself and others who may have contributed to the state I found myself in at the time of my sins. My Lord, heal my wounded heart from this grief. Thank You immensely.
end of journal note. Friend, hand write this 21 day journal note once a day for 21 days to give your life new passion and purpose.
Now really start living!
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Friday, February 17, 2012
House Cleaning
I was sitting on our sofa this morning looking up some definitions for today's blog when I heard a soft knock on the front door. It was our next-door neighbor. This is the best neighborhood I have ever lived in. She brought over some cookies with a note welcoming us to the neighborhood. She included their telephone number should I need anything. Isn't that sweet? As we stood in the living room talking she looked around and commented at how the owners had remolded nicely. I could tell she wanted a tour so we walked around and looked at the rooms. I appologized for the unkemptness. We still have unopened boxes lying around and the place could use a clean-up. To tell you the truth, I have been laying around and taking it easy this week. We traveled last weekend to Murfreesboro, TN for our daughter's wedding. The weekend was a full and intense one--but highly enjoyable one. When Keevin and I arrived home on Monday afternoon we were both exhasted. Poor Keevin had to go on to work that evening. So needless to say, the house was not touched much. But I hadn't paid much attention to the state of the house untill our neighbor came in.
Well, our spiritual houses get kinda dirty without us noticing untill something causes us to take notice. Some of the things that cause us to notice our dirty spiritual houses are restlessness, sadness, anger, resentment, agitation, etc. Anything that is opposite the list of confidence elements found in Galatians 5:22-23. If those signs and symptoms are not dealt with early on then they become a part of our daily lives and we get used to them. But what can cause us to face reality? A holiday comes along like Valentine's Day and we remember the bitterness we have toward someone who has hurt us. We are upset that we don't have a romantic interest at this time. We don't have the money to celebrate the holiday. Those are a few. What is your complaint about Valentine's Day or other holidays? I want to explain what has happened to you. A memory buried deep in your subconcious has been awakened. The definition of subconcious is occuring with little or no conscious perception on the part of the individual. Unconscious means the sum of all thoughts, impulses, etc. of which the individual is not conscious but which influences the emotions and behavior. The effects of stored bad feelings is a smoldering danger.
This seems way too deep to deal with, doesn't it? I agree but there was a time when I was fed up with feeling boxed in. Do you feel the same? Do you feel stuck in a rut? The word stuck means to be obstructed, detained, puzzled/baffled. It also means to cling, remain and to persevere, embedded and jammed. Did you notice persevere? That's a Bible word. Yes, my friend, it is a Bible word but in this context it is a negative. What might you be holding onto?
Someone in your past may have hurt you, emotionally or physically. It is rightful for you to have felt anger about the situation but holding onto the anger is causing you great harm--not the person who initially hurt you. Someone in your past may have said things to cause you to give up on hope, a future or happiness. You may be overwhelmed by overrun finances and just don't know what to do. Your thinking system is clogged with all of this junk.
So how do we begin to clean up our spiritual houses? God's word gives all the advise we need. John 15:3 (GNT): "You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you." He is teaching us everything we need to know in order to clean up. The scripture that I love alot is Hebrews 9:14 (GNT): "How much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the eternal Spirit He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will purify our consciences from usless rituals, so that we may serve the living God." You see God's word and Spirit doesn't work unless we are true believers and followers of Jesus Christ. We learned last week that Jesus loved us so much that He died for us to pay for our sins (remember what happened in the Garden of Eden?--we messed up a perfect thing). In order for us to get back in sinc with God we have to trust that Jesus is who He says He is. By having the Holy Spirit live inside of us we have all sorts of wonderful resources to get ourselves right. Did you notice in that verse that it mentions our consciences and useless rituals? Those are the tapes we wind and rewind in our minds and relive over and over again. What's up with all that junk in our subconicious?
If we had good stuff (God's stuff) enbedded in our subconcious then good behavior and emotions would happen. But as it is you may have bad stuff in there. Remember the pain and hurt that someone caused you in your past? You may be experiencing repressed anger. Repressed means to hold back, restrain. Psychiatry refers to it as: to force (painful ideas, etc) into the subconcious. Humm. To Force. That means going over the event again and again. We unknowingly do it trying to do it over again but it doesn't get a do-over, just a done again. All of this resentment builds and our subconcious seeks an outlet. That outlet leads to hatred. We claim the person as an enemy and feel that revenging the person will make us feel better. An enemy is one who hates and wishes to injure another. As it turns out--you are the enemy--not the other person. You wish to injure the other. The other person may not know that you are hurt by their actions or may have forgotten about the event. Ephesians 4:26 (MSG) says this about anger: "Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry--but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry." Your anger is justified, just not permitted to carry it in your heart forever. We humans hate to forget. I think we feel we are entitled to our rememberances--but it's those memories that cause us to be dirty and diseased. Disease means a particular destructive process in an organism. I believe it fits here. So what do we do with these diseased memories? We forget them. Leviticus 19:18 (NCV): "Forget about the wrong things people do to you, and do not try to get even. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. I am the Lord." I know it's hard to forget, especially when you have played that tape over and over again in your mind. You are ahead of this new game if you started the 21 Day Journal Notes from last week. Have you started, yet? His words are meant to replace those bad, nasty memories. His words create new tapes that you will welcome to be played over and over again.
Now, let's talk about what God says about our enemies. You may have someone who continues to hurt you--often. Matthew 5:44 (MSG): "I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer." After you get over your angry spell (before bed time) go to God and ask Him to help you forgive this person and forget the bad stuff. Then ask God what it is that He wants you to pray for this person. It may be relational healing, certainly salvation and a good relationship with Holy Dad.
But don't think that just because you have forgiven and forgotten about the event that the bad person will get off. Holy Dad will take care of it. He takes the burden off of you so that you can live a great life. Romans 12:19 (NCV): "My friends, do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with His anger. It is written: I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them, says the Lord."
Holy Dad gives us warnings about not listening to His teachings. 1 Peter 5:8 (NCV): "Control yourselves and be careful! The devil, your enemy, goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat." You see, Satan is the real enemy. It is he who is controling the bad person in your life. And don't allow yourself to be the bad person, too. Ephesians 4:27 (NLT): "For anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil." A foothold is a secure position. Think about it. SECURE. Take the security out of it and give Holy Dad control.
If you find yourself struggling with loyalty toward someone who has been hurt and feeling the need to hate the guilty party, I suggest you talk to Holy Dad and ask Him to take your own guilt-ridden feelings out of the picture and to help you pray for all those involved in the event the way He wants you to.
Now, friend, persevere God's way and not persevere the wrong way!
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Well, our spiritual houses get kinda dirty without us noticing untill something causes us to take notice. Some of the things that cause us to notice our dirty spiritual houses are restlessness, sadness, anger, resentment, agitation, etc. Anything that is opposite the list of confidence elements found in Galatians 5:22-23. If those signs and symptoms are not dealt with early on then they become a part of our daily lives and we get used to them. But what can cause us to face reality? A holiday comes along like Valentine's Day and we remember the bitterness we have toward someone who has hurt us. We are upset that we don't have a romantic interest at this time. We don't have the money to celebrate the holiday. Those are a few. What is your complaint about Valentine's Day or other holidays? I want to explain what has happened to you. A memory buried deep in your subconcious has been awakened. The definition of subconcious is occuring with little or no conscious perception on the part of the individual. Unconscious means the sum of all thoughts, impulses, etc. of which the individual is not conscious but which influences the emotions and behavior. The effects of stored bad feelings is a smoldering danger.
This seems way too deep to deal with, doesn't it? I agree but there was a time when I was fed up with feeling boxed in. Do you feel the same? Do you feel stuck in a rut? The word stuck means to be obstructed, detained, puzzled/baffled. It also means to cling, remain and to persevere, embedded and jammed. Did you notice persevere? That's a Bible word. Yes, my friend, it is a Bible word but in this context it is a negative. What might you be holding onto?
Someone in your past may have hurt you, emotionally or physically. It is rightful for you to have felt anger about the situation but holding onto the anger is causing you great harm--not the person who initially hurt you. Someone in your past may have said things to cause you to give up on hope, a future or happiness. You may be overwhelmed by overrun finances and just don't know what to do. Your thinking system is clogged with all of this junk.
So how do we begin to clean up our spiritual houses? God's word gives all the advise we need. John 15:3 (GNT): "You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you." He is teaching us everything we need to know in order to clean up. The scripture that I love alot is Hebrews 9:14 (GNT): "How much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the eternal Spirit He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will purify our consciences from usless rituals, so that we may serve the living God." You see God's word and Spirit doesn't work unless we are true believers and followers of Jesus Christ. We learned last week that Jesus loved us so much that He died for us to pay for our sins (remember what happened in the Garden of Eden?--we messed up a perfect thing). In order for us to get back in sinc with God we have to trust that Jesus is who He says He is. By having the Holy Spirit live inside of us we have all sorts of wonderful resources to get ourselves right. Did you notice in that verse that it mentions our consciences and useless rituals? Those are the tapes we wind and rewind in our minds and relive over and over again. What's up with all that junk in our subconicious?
If we had good stuff (God's stuff) enbedded in our subconcious then good behavior and emotions would happen. But as it is you may have bad stuff in there. Remember the pain and hurt that someone caused you in your past? You may be experiencing repressed anger. Repressed means to hold back, restrain. Psychiatry refers to it as: to force (painful ideas, etc) into the subconcious. Humm. To Force. That means going over the event again and again. We unknowingly do it trying to do it over again but it doesn't get a do-over, just a done again. All of this resentment builds and our subconcious seeks an outlet. That outlet leads to hatred. We claim the person as an enemy and feel that revenging the person will make us feel better. An enemy is one who hates and wishes to injure another. As it turns out--you are the enemy--not the other person. You wish to injure the other. The other person may not know that you are hurt by their actions or may have forgotten about the event. Ephesians 4:26 (MSG) says this about anger: "Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry--but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry." Your anger is justified, just not permitted to carry it in your heart forever. We humans hate to forget. I think we feel we are entitled to our rememberances--but it's those memories that cause us to be dirty and diseased. Disease means a particular destructive process in an organism. I believe it fits here. So what do we do with these diseased memories? We forget them. Leviticus 19:18 (NCV): "Forget about the wrong things people do to you, and do not try to get even. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. I am the Lord." I know it's hard to forget, especially when you have played that tape over and over again in your mind. You are ahead of this new game if you started the 21 Day Journal Notes from last week. Have you started, yet? His words are meant to replace those bad, nasty memories. His words create new tapes that you will welcome to be played over and over again.
Now, let's talk about what God says about our enemies. You may have someone who continues to hurt you--often. Matthew 5:44 (MSG): "I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer." After you get over your angry spell (before bed time) go to God and ask Him to help you forgive this person and forget the bad stuff. Then ask God what it is that He wants you to pray for this person. It may be relational healing, certainly salvation and a good relationship with Holy Dad.
But don't think that just because you have forgiven and forgotten about the event that the bad person will get off. Holy Dad will take care of it. He takes the burden off of you so that you can live a great life. Romans 12:19 (NCV): "My friends, do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with His anger. It is written: I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them, says the Lord."
Holy Dad gives us warnings about not listening to His teachings. 1 Peter 5:8 (NCV): "Control yourselves and be careful! The devil, your enemy, goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat." You see, Satan is the real enemy. It is he who is controling the bad person in your life. And don't allow yourself to be the bad person, too. Ephesians 4:27 (NLT): "For anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil." A foothold is a secure position. Think about it. SECURE. Take the security out of it and give Holy Dad control.
If you find yourself struggling with loyalty toward someone who has been hurt and feeling the need to hate the guilty party, I suggest you talk to Holy Dad and ask Him to take your own guilt-ridden feelings out of the picture and to help you pray for all those involved in the event the way He wants you to.
Now, friend, persevere God's way and not persevere the wrong way!
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
Friday, February 10, 2012
Happiness!
We are a few days before celebrating Valentine's Day. I have always loved Valentines Day and my wonderful husband has used it many times to express love in bonus doses. It has not been celebrated everyyear for different reasons, such as him not being home, decreased finances, etc., but the years that we are able to do some special things makes those times extra special. All married lives have ups and downs as do the live of single folks. Single folks tend to hate this time of year as it causes pain and a reminder of not having a close, intimate relationship with a loved one. Friend, I hope to help you be able to celebrate Valentine's Day this year.
Relational injuries suffered during childhood years and from adult relationships keep us from forming healthy relationships and even from feeling good about ourselves. I am working on a book "Comfortable in My Own Skin" that I hope will help you feel good about yourself--so good that you don't have to think about yourself and all the bad things that have happened to you.
A valentine is a sweet-heart chosen or greeted on Saint Valentine's Day. Did you read the definition closely? The sweet-heart is "chosen" or greeted". Friend, you are already chosen (now stay with me) and actually loved. I know you don't feel it yet but the love' never-the-less, exists. 1 John 4:19 (NIV): "We love because He first loved us." It is a short verse but packed full of great information. I hope that you take the information and use it to turn your love life around. Once you accept in your mind and heart that God loves you then you will be able to feel love. The plain truth is that God loves us. You may have problems feeling His love or even accepting His love because of past relational injuries. He knows that. Vs 18 (MSG) says: "There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life--fear of death, fear of judgment--is one not yet fully formed in love." Those injuries of yours has resulted in all sorts of fears. And as you well know, fears are disabling. But what you don't realize is that fears are reversible and can be cured. The memories of those injuries can be healed by God's Word (still follow me). Vs 19 (MSG) tells us about the turn-around: "We, though, are going to love--love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first."
I know, I know! Things have happened to you that is very unfair and probably at your most vulnerable time. Friend, I am so very sorry that those things happened to you. You are right! It was unfair and you had no control over it--and that makes it even worse. You might even be angry with God for allowing such a thing to happen to you. (Just take yourself back to the beginning in Genesis when He made everything perfect for us but we messed up and behaved badly.) If only you could have controlled it. Perhaps you replay the tape of it over and over again hoping to change it. Face it, my love, you can't change the past. But you can have the memories healed--not erased--but healed. Those memories continue to haunt you and control you. Now you don't want it to control you, do you? I didn't think so! My friend, it is not you who can heal your memories--it is God. He wants to heal you so you can feel His love and love back. Romans 12:2 (NLT): "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think, then you will know what God wants you to do." Make a decision this very second to change your way of thinking. Allow yourself to think God's way. You can do it--with His help--just ask Him!!
Ok. Are you ready for change? We are revisiting two 21 Day Journal Notes in case you didn't feel you needed them the first time I posted them. Handwriting these journal notes causes a connection between your brain and your mind (susbconscious) to happen. Dr. Caroline Leaf has written a couple of books about this phenomenon and how it is proven effect. Everyone knows that it takes 21 days to change a habit and that you have to replace a bad one with a good one. This is the same principle. Please, please want it (a happy Valentine's Day) bad enough that you will pull out a notebook and change your way of life. I experienced incredible changes by this method.
21 Day Journal Note # 10
How to Overcome Past Relational Pain
Psalm 37 (NIV)
Vs. 1. Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong. Vs. 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. Vs. 8. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. Vs. 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, You are dealing with bad behavior whether it is mine or others. Father, thank You for helping me to thrive!
end of journal note.
You can tell by this journal note (God's word) that we sometimes prevent our healing because of anger. We love to nurse anger inside of us. It's our way of getting back at the other person (or is it?). I think we may hold onto anger in honor of our injured self. If we let go of it are we telling ourselves that we aren't worth the fight (inside of ourselves)? That's the scam that satan is selling you and you are buying it. Well buy no more. God's word is free and freeing and loving.
Relational pain usually involves some form of rejection or abandonment. The next journal note speaks to it.
21 Day Journal Note # 13
Fear of Rejection
2 Timothy 1:7 (combined versions) God did not give me a spirit of fear/timidty, but He gave me a Spirit of power, love and self-discipline/sound mind.
My fear of future relational pain is from Satan. I refuse to feel this unnecessary fear. God, I have Your power and love infused in me. I have Your sound mind to think rationally and calmly when in the middle of being relationally challenged. I have self-discipline to use all of Your wonderful gifts and promises. Future relational pain will sting but I will not be devastated.
end of journal note. Hand write this one for 21 days to dissolve your fear of future relationships. This fear dooms the relationship before it ever has a chance. Get rid of the fear and get love.
My friend, do you have hope now? Handwrite these 2 notes and start to feel the effects by day 4 but continue to day 21 to fully change your love life.
But I want to ask you one more thing? Do you love Jesus? Did you know that God loved you so much that He gave up His only Son to pay the price for our bad behavior? Yes!! God gave up (sacrificed) Jesus for you and Jesus gave up (sacrificed) His own life for you. Now that's true love. Are you giving up (sacrificing) yourself and committing to Jesus? He wants you to so that your love life will be so fully satisfying that nothing compares to it. Love is really about sacrificing and giving up things for those you love (or hope to love in the future). Giving up anger and resentment frees you up to feel God's love and do all the great life things that God wants you to do. Remember at the beginning we discovered that Valentine's Day is about chosing a sweet-heart. Well, Jesus wants you to choose Him. Choose Jesus and you'll have a life-time full of love.
My Valentine Friend, I love you and pray that you will enjoy this holiday like you've never imagine it to turn out.
Jesus' healing and peace and love to all, Wynndy
Relational injuries suffered during childhood years and from adult relationships keep us from forming healthy relationships and even from feeling good about ourselves. I am working on a book "Comfortable in My Own Skin" that I hope will help you feel good about yourself--so good that you don't have to think about yourself and all the bad things that have happened to you.
A valentine is a sweet-heart chosen or greeted on Saint Valentine's Day. Did you read the definition closely? The sweet-heart is "chosen" or greeted". Friend, you are already chosen (now stay with me) and actually loved. I know you don't feel it yet but the love' never-the-less, exists. 1 John 4:19 (NIV): "We love because He first loved us." It is a short verse but packed full of great information. I hope that you take the information and use it to turn your love life around. Once you accept in your mind and heart that God loves you then you will be able to feel love. The plain truth is that God loves us. You may have problems feeling His love or even accepting His love because of past relational injuries. He knows that. Vs 18 (MSG) says: "There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life--fear of death, fear of judgment--is one not yet fully formed in love." Those injuries of yours has resulted in all sorts of fears. And as you well know, fears are disabling. But what you don't realize is that fears are reversible and can be cured. The memories of those injuries can be healed by God's Word (still follow me). Vs 19 (MSG) tells us about the turn-around: "We, though, are going to love--love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first."
I know, I know! Things have happened to you that is very unfair and probably at your most vulnerable time. Friend, I am so very sorry that those things happened to you. You are right! It was unfair and you had no control over it--and that makes it even worse. You might even be angry with God for allowing such a thing to happen to you. (Just take yourself back to the beginning in Genesis when He made everything perfect for us but we messed up and behaved badly.) If only you could have controlled it. Perhaps you replay the tape of it over and over again hoping to change it. Face it, my love, you can't change the past. But you can have the memories healed--not erased--but healed. Those memories continue to haunt you and control you. Now you don't want it to control you, do you? I didn't think so! My friend, it is not you who can heal your memories--it is God. He wants to heal you so you can feel His love and love back. Romans 12:2 (NLT): "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think, then you will know what God wants you to do." Make a decision this very second to change your way of thinking. Allow yourself to think God's way. You can do it--with His help--just ask Him!!
Ok. Are you ready for change? We are revisiting two 21 Day Journal Notes in case you didn't feel you needed them the first time I posted them. Handwriting these journal notes causes a connection between your brain and your mind (susbconscious) to happen. Dr. Caroline Leaf has written a couple of books about this phenomenon and how it is proven effect. Everyone knows that it takes 21 days to change a habit and that you have to replace a bad one with a good one. This is the same principle. Please, please want it (a happy Valentine's Day) bad enough that you will pull out a notebook and change your way of life. I experienced incredible changes by this method.
21 Day Journal Note # 10
How to Overcome Past Relational Pain
Psalm 37 (NIV)
Vs. 1. Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong. Vs. 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. Vs. 8. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. Vs. 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, You are dealing with bad behavior whether it is mine or others. Father, thank You for helping me to thrive!
end of journal note.
You can tell by this journal note (God's word) that we sometimes prevent our healing because of anger. We love to nurse anger inside of us. It's our way of getting back at the other person (or is it?). I think we may hold onto anger in honor of our injured self. If we let go of it are we telling ourselves that we aren't worth the fight (inside of ourselves)? That's the scam that satan is selling you and you are buying it. Well buy no more. God's word is free and freeing and loving.
Relational pain usually involves some form of rejection or abandonment. The next journal note speaks to it.
21 Day Journal Note # 13
Fear of Rejection
2 Timothy 1:7 (combined versions) God did not give me a spirit of fear/timidty, but He gave me a Spirit of power, love and self-discipline/sound mind.
My fear of future relational pain is from Satan. I refuse to feel this unnecessary fear. God, I have Your power and love infused in me. I have Your sound mind to think rationally and calmly when in the middle of being relationally challenged. I have self-discipline to use all of Your wonderful gifts and promises. Future relational pain will sting but I will not be devastated.
end of journal note. Hand write this one for 21 days to dissolve your fear of future relationships. This fear dooms the relationship before it ever has a chance. Get rid of the fear and get love.
My friend, do you have hope now? Handwrite these 2 notes and start to feel the effects by day 4 but continue to day 21 to fully change your love life.
But I want to ask you one more thing? Do you love Jesus? Did you know that God loved you so much that He gave up His only Son to pay the price for our bad behavior? Yes!! God gave up (sacrificed) Jesus for you and Jesus gave up (sacrificed) His own life for you. Now that's true love. Are you giving up (sacrificing) yourself and committing to Jesus? He wants you to so that your love life will be so fully satisfying that nothing compares to it. Love is really about sacrificing and giving up things for those you love (or hope to love in the future). Giving up anger and resentment frees you up to feel God's love and do all the great life things that God wants you to do. Remember at the beginning we discovered that Valentine's Day is about chosing a sweet-heart. Well, Jesus wants you to choose Him. Choose Jesus and you'll have a life-time full of love.
My Valentine Friend, I love you and pray that you will enjoy this holiday like you've never imagine it to turn out.
Jesus' healing and peace and love to all, Wynndy
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