I have battled anxiety for a few years now. Early on it was pretty bad. Now, it is just every once in a while, and I can usually tell when it is coming on. I know the cues for what sets it off. There are a couple of things that are sure fired triggers. I also know what reigns it in- for me it is scripture. I have a spiral set of "go to" index cards when I feel it building up. It is actually my second set because I gave the first one away:)
One of things I hate about anxiety is the feeling of being out of control. I can't control what is going on around me, so my mind and my body try to physically go out of control as well. I hate the shaky, nervous feeling anxiety brings with it. I also hate feeling like I am the only one. I know I am not, but when it hits, I kinda feel isolated.
In my quiet time the other day, I found this verse-
In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.
Psalm 94:19
Now I have researched anxiety in my Strong's Concordance and managed to miss this verse.
I can not tell you how it comforted me to know the psalmist not only had one area of anxiety, but a multitude. Can I get a witness? Anxieties that he takes ownership of. They are not God's anxieties.
God brings a multitude of comforts.
For each and every anxiety I have, He has an answer.
That does delight my soul!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
PLACE
Hubs and I were having an *ahem* discussion about "place", mostly mine, and operating within it. More specifically, defining it's boundaries.
You know...
It's not your place to say
You spoke out of place
What place is it of yours to tell me blah blah blah
So here is the question for you (and oh how I hope you answer) :
What is our place?
I talked about calling out blatant, unrepentant sin the other day.
That is all our place in my opinion.
But what about things that are just tweeks? Things we see others doing that are damaging to the body that they may not even recognize are hurting anyone.
That woman or young girl at church whose skirt is repeatedly just a little too short or shirt just a little to sheer.
The young man who repeatedly is demonstrative in his play for girls or in his attempt to exercise his dominance over other guys.
That teenager who is popping off at their parents in front of everyone.
The mom who loses it on her kids A LOT.
What about people you know well who are acting out of emotion and the result is hurting others?
What about that group of women or men who went out for a night and things got a bit, just a bit, carried away?
That wife who belittles her husband at bible study. Or on the phone?
The husband who bad mouths his wife in front of others.
Where is your place to speak to those issues?
Is relationship the determining factor?
Does it matter how well you know them?
Or do you have a place as a woman and man of God to address it regardless of how well you know them?
So we don't spend time arguing over this point, yes the how matters.
Absolutely.
In truth and in LOVE.
You don't do it with either of these you are acting out side the bounds of your place.
So lets pretend we are all mature enough we can do address the issue with both of those.
Where is the line that you are not allowed to cross?
I would love to hear from you minister wives, as I am sure you have had your fair share in dealing with this.
Looking forward to the insight!
You know...
It's not your place to say
You spoke out of place
What place is it of yours to tell me blah blah blah
So here is the question for you (and oh how I hope you answer) :
What is our place?
I talked about calling out blatant, unrepentant sin the other day.
That is all our place in my opinion.
But what about things that are just tweeks? Things we see others doing that are damaging to the body that they may not even recognize are hurting anyone.
That woman or young girl at church whose skirt is repeatedly just a little too short or shirt just a little to sheer.
The young man who repeatedly is demonstrative in his play for girls or in his attempt to exercise his dominance over other guys.
That teenager who is popping off at their parents in front of everyone.
The mom who loses it on her kids A LOT.
What about people you know well who are acting out of emotion and the result is hurting others?
What about that group of women or men who went out for a night and things got a bit, just a bit, carried away?
That wife who belittles her husband at bible study. Or on the phone?
The husband who bad mouths his wife in front of others.
Where is your place to speak to those issues?
Is relationship the determining factor?
Does it matter how well you know them?
Or do you have a place as a woman and man of God to address it regardless of how well you know them?
So we don't spend time arguing over this point, yes the how matters.
Absolutely.
In truth and in LOVE.
You don't do it with either of these you are acting out side the bounds of your place.
So lets pretend we are all mature enough we can do address the issue with both of those.
Where is the line that you are not allowed to cross?
I would love to hear from you minister wives, as I am sure you have had your fair share in dealing with this.
Looking forward to the insight!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF....
You.
Me.
Them.
Us.
If you could look back over your life, your life exactly one year from today, what would you see?
Who would be standing there 365 days ago?
How is that person different today?
What struggles have you faced?
What victories have you had?
What new seasons of life have you embraced and which have you moved out of?
I can tell you the girl typing this is not the same as she was 365 days ago.
She was broken over the past year in ways she never dreamed of.
The places that have healed have made her stronger.
There are still places that are mending.
Decisions were made that she never saw coming.
She has many joys.
She has regrets.
She wishes she would have more quickly acted like Christ and not given so much time to the enemy.
She has a heart for the poor that was not there before.
Well, it was in theory.
Now it burns within her.
She has a heart that longs for integrity.
A heart that has been forced to trust.
She has been humbled.
She has exercised forgiveness.
She is aware of her resentments and not just justifying them.
She is more purposeful in her life.
She is making the choices instead of just letting them happen.
She is still afraid at times.
Days she would still like to run in a cave and hide.
But they are fewer.
Prayers for justification have been changed to prayers of mercy and grace.
Prayers for truth.
Prayers for integrity.
She still messes up, she still sins.
She has learned to repent quicker.
She has learned to obey sooner.
She still battles pride and self-seeking, but she recognizes it sooner.
She lays it down before Him.
So how about you?
What would be your testimony of the past year?
Are you different?
Better or worse?
Have you come to know Jesus more?
Do you even know Him at all?
Please share with us.
Your testimony matters.
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."
Revelation 12:11 (NKJV)
Me.
Them.
Us.
If you could look back over your life, your life exactly one year from today, what would you see?
Who would be standing there 365 days ago?
How is that person different today?
What struggles have you faced?
What victories have you had?
What new seasons of life have you embraced and which have you moved out of?
I can tell you the girl typing this is not the same as she was 365 days ago.
She was broken over the past year in ways she never dreamed of.
The places that have healed have made her stronger.
There are still places that are mending.
Decisions were made that she never saw coming.
She has many joys.
She has regrets.
She wishes she would have more quickly acted like Christ and not given so much time to the enemy.
She has a heart for the poor that was not there before.
Well, it was in theory.
Now it burns within her.
She has a heart that longs for integrity.
A heart that has been forced to trust.
She has been humbled.
She has exercised forgiveness.
She is aware of her resentments and not just justifying them.
She is more purposeful in her life.
She is making the choices instead of just letting them happen.
She is still afraid at times.
Days she would still like to run in a cave and hide.
But they are fewer.
Prayers for justification have been changed to prayers of mercy and grace.
Prayers for truth.
Prayers for integrity.
She still messes up, she still sins.
She has learned to repent quicker.
She has learned to obey sooner.
She still battles pride and self-seeking, but she recognizes it sooner.
She lays it down before Him.
So how about you?
What would be your testimony of the past year?
Are you different?
Better or worse?
Have you come to know Jesus more?
Do you even know Him at all?
Please share with us.
Your testimony matters.
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."
Revelation 12:11 (NKJV)
Thursday, May 6, 2010
FOR OUR NATION
Psalm 2
Why do the nations rage,
and the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against His anointed,
saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces
and cast away Their cords from us."
He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
and distress them in his deep displeasure:
"Yet I have set My King
on My holy hill of Zion."
"I will declare the decree:
the Lord has said to Me,
'You are My Son,
today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
the nations for Your inheritance,
and the ends of the earth for Your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' "
Now, therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
and you perish in the way,
when his wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
GOOD NEWS IN ACTION
Psalm 106...you can read it here.
Over and over they messed up.
They failed.
They rebelled.
They ignored.
They turned away.
They suffered consequences.
Then verse 44 happens.
Nevertheless He regarded their iniquity when He heard there cry.
And for their sake He remembered His covenant,
and relented according to the multitude of His mercies.
Psalm 106:44-45 NKJV
The good news...regardless of how you and I have messed it up,
He hasn't.
In no way shape or form has He
failed,
rebelled,
ignored,
or turned away.
He is here today for you and for me.
Confess.
Repent.
Come to Christ.
He came for you.
Over and over they messed up.
They failed.
They rebelled.
They ignored.
They turned away.
They suffered consequences.
Then verse 44 happens.
Nevertheless He regarded their iniquity when He heard there cry.
And for their sake He remembered His covenant,
and relented according to the multitude of His mercies.
Psalm 106:44-45 NKJV
The good news...regardless of how you and I have messed it up,
He hasn't.
In no way shape or form has He
failed,
rebelled,
ignored,
or turned away.
He is here today for you and for me.
Confess.
Repent.
Come to Christ.
He came for you.
Monday, May 3, 2010
THE GOOD NEWS
The Gospel is the good news. We are to share the good news to this world. Here is my question - can there be good news if there is no bad news first? Don't people have to know the bad news before they can fully appreciate the good news?
I recently watched an interview on a syndicated talk show. The discussion was between a pastor, a former pastor, and a recording artist. What disturbed me the most was not their topic of discussion, but the idea that we, as Christians, are being judgemental and defying our faith when we call sin out as sin. If that is the case then every pastor in every church who is preaching the Good News should step down now. Because without the acknowledgement of sin, there is no good news. Yes, I know it is not my job to run around checking everyone's life, every little detail, and going "Yep that is sin....yep, that one too." It's not. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. It is however, my responsibility and our responsibility as the body of Christ, when obvious and/or blatant sin is apparent, to call it out for what it is. Do we do so condemning the person to hell? Without repentance and the acceptance of Christ, they were already condemned just as every other non-believer, including myself, was before they knew and accepted Christ. Do they need to know the bad news that they will go to hell without the acceptance of Christ? Most definitely yes. The darkness and despair of the bad news is immense and we fail as Christians if we leave people there. The depths of that despair sets them up for the glory of the good news, that Christ has already died for those sins and they can be set free. Without the acknowledgement of the bad news, the good news is simply a nice story.
We all mess it up. All of us. However, that can not be used as an excuse by us or against us to not call sin what it is. If being a sinner yourself somehow made you unqualified to speak into others lives, and I mean speaking in a manner that was both encouraging and challenging and at times confrontational, then Paul would have had nothing to write about. Peter - nothing to say. John - not a word. James; the writer of Hebrews; every one of them should have put down pen and paper. But that is not the case.
We are doing the body of Christ great harm when we are no longer willing to call sin out. When we no longer make the distinction between the ways and laws of God and the ways and laws of man. When everything becomes acceptable, salvation becomes relative. Salvation is not relative. It is absolute. Jesus Christ was, is and will always be absolute truth. It is in that truth that we are set free from the power of sin. It is by that truth we are able to overcome that sin. But we must first acknowledge it as such, and at times we need someone else to point out what we can not see right in front of our faces.
It is not easy - to be the one receiving the correction or the one giving it. Especially if you want to do it right. It takes a great deal of maturity. A great deal of wisdom. A great deal of prayer. Most importantly, a great deal of love.
But to not do it - the damage could be eternal.
Brethren, if any among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
James 5: 19-20
NKJV
I recently watched an interview on a syndicated talk show. The discussion was between a pastor, a former pastor, and a recording artist. What disturbed me the most was not their topic of discussion, but the idea that we, as Christians, are being judgemental and defying our faith when we call sin out as sin. If that is the case then every pastor in every church who is preaching the Good News should step down now. Because without the acknowledgement of sin, there is no good news. Yes, I know it is not my job to run around checking everyone's life, every little detail, and going "Yep that is sin....yep, that one too." It's not. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. It is however, my responsibility and our responsibility as the body of Christ, when obvious and/or blatant sin is apparent, to call it out for what it is. Do we do so condemning the person to hell? Without repentance and the acceptance of Christ, they were already condemned just as every other non-believer, including myself, was before they knew and accepted Christ. Do they need to know the bad news that they will go to hell without the acceptance of Christ? Most definitely yes. The darkness and despair of the bad news is immense and we fail as Christians if we leave people there. The depths of that despair sets them up for the glory of the good news, that Christ has already died for those sins and they can be set free. Without the acknowledgement of the bad news, the good news is simply a nice story.
We all mess it up. All of us. However, that can not be used as an excuse by us or against us to not call sin what it is. If being a sinner yourself somehow made you unqualified to speak into others lives, and I mean speaking in a manner that was both encouraging and challenging and at times confrontational, then Paul would have had nothing to write about. Peter - nothing to say. John - not a word. James; the writer of Hebrews; every one of them should have put down pen and paper. But that is not the case.
We are doing the body of Christ great harm when we are no longer willing to call sin out. When we no longer make the distinction between the ways and laws of God and the ways and laws of man. When everything becomes acceptable, salvation becomes relative. Salvation is not relative. It is absolute. Jesus Christ was, is and will always be absolute truth. It is in that truth that we are set free from the power of sin. It is by that truth we are able to overcome that sin. But we must first acknowledge it as such, and at times we need someone else to point out what we can not see right in front of our faces.
It is not easy - to be the one receiving the correction or the one giving it. Especially if you want to do it right. It takes a great deal of maturity. A great deal of wisdom. A great deal of prayer. Most importantly, a great deal of love.
But to not do it - the damage could be eternal.
Brethren, if any among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
James 5: 19-20
NKJV
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