I was walking through Wal-mart yesterday and in passing, I saw the face of a woman. Her face has been with me since then. I have been praying for her although I do not know who she is. Something in her expression touched me deep in my soul. I recognized the face of someone who is severely depressed. I have seen this face in my own mirror in past years. It is not something I feel very often anymore. But knowing depression in my own life, helped me relate to the pain and hopelessness that gripped this woman.
In the last week, I have been reading the Psalms. The Psalms are full of the emotions of man. They range from purely joyful moments to utter despair. It is amazing how the Bible has the answer to every one of life's problems! This is because it was written about real people! God inspired these words to those who have gone before us so we would have a way to deal with all the things that come our way. It is a manual for our life and a love letter from our God. His Word will get us through with grace and mercy.
So as I was reading, I found the answer to heal depression in one verse! It is comforting how one verse can be so packed full of answers for my life. I can testify to the accuracy of this verse because the Lord has used this method to heal my life of depression.
Psalm 42:5 says; "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior..."
Here are the steps that I see in this verse:
Step 1: The Psalmist asks himself the questions; "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?" It is important to ask yourself these questions so you know what it is that is causing the depression. You can even ask the Lord to help you. You might even want to talk to a friend about it. But figuring out what is really going on is the first step.
Step 2: Put your hope in God! Hope is actually the emotional state that is opposite of despair. So if we spend some time meditating on who God is, we see the hope of Him helping us through the situation. If we remember He parted the Red Sea, He healed the sick, He raised the dead, and He died for us, we have a much better perspective to gaze at our problem. When we consider God, every circumstance has hope. After all, nothing is impossible with God and everything is possible!
Step 3: Make a decision to praise Him! Jesus is our Savior. Often when I feel depression gripping my soul, I get out my journal and I start writing down everything I am thankful for. Sometimes it is hard to start, but as I get going, I feel my soul being lifted and I thank God for all of the beautiful creation around me, the amazing people in my life, and His abundant love for me. I am His favorite! You are His favorite! We are all His favorite! We cannot be grateful and depressed at the same time.
I am blessed to testify to the fact that depression is not something we need to live with day after day. God has given us the answer to dealing with depression. Depression was a daily struggle in my past and now it is just a word on the list of things from which the Lord has healed me.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Morning Glory!
I have the pleasure of getting my grandsons ready for school several mornings each week while my daughter is at work. We have a routine we go through to get ready for our day. Included in this routine is a short bible study. Deuteronomy 11:19 says about God's commandments; "Teach them to to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." This is something I took to heart when my children were at home and it is a pleasure to continue this tradition with my grandchildren. It is a wonderful time of talking about the Lord and His Word together! We love it!
Well, recently we had an extra special morning. I was running really late. So I was making lunches while the boys ate breakfast. Although I was not happy about oversleeping and rushing to make it to school on time, God took the opportunity to "perfect His strength in my weakness." He is always so sweet and comforting! As I was preparing lunches I looked over at the table and saw a scene that brought tears to my eyes. My eight-year-old grandson was reading the Children's Bible to his three-year-old little brother. He was holding the bible with the pictures facing his little brother and reading it, just like I do. He went along reading and then he stopped in the middle and did something remarkable. He looked away from the words and look straight into his little brothers eyes and he explained something to him.
It was a beautiful moment! I forgot about the lunches and paused to feel the presence of God in my kitchen! They were reading about the poor widow who put two small copper coins into the offering in Mark 12:42-44. This is the point where he stopped the story and spoke directly to his brother. He said, "You know when we are at church and they pass the baskets around and we put our money in?" His brother answered, "Yes." He replied, "This is what was happening when the widow gave her coins in the temple." I loved it! He had given a practical example from his three-year-old brother's life that connected him to the bible story! I could not have done it better myself. The glory of God filled my kitchen and I basked in it!
In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus addressed His disciples before leaving the earth and descending to heaven. This scripture is called The Great Commission. In this passage, Jesus says; "...go and make disciples of all nations..." and "...teaching them to obey all I have commanded you..." It applies to all those who are disciples of Jesus. Disciple means "learner." As long as we are on earth, we are going to be "learners or disciples." The more I read my Bible over and over, I realize I will never come to a full understanding of it. I will never get tired of reading it! I will always find new truths as God reveals Himself to me personally through His Word each day!
Every believer on this earth has someone in their life who is willing to listen. We each have circles of influence which God has given us to make a difference. Many Christians I know claim they do not know enough about the Word of God and they use this as an excuse to disqualify themselves from fulfilling The Great Commission. When Jesus said this, He was not making a suggestion! He was commanding us! I know I do not feel fulfilled when I do not have outlets to testify and teach about Jesus. When God gives us a command, He is doing it for our own benefit! We were born to worship and praise God!
So on this special morning when things looked rushed and hectic, the Lord stopped me in my tracks by sending His glory into my kitchen. My grandson was following my example and sharing what he knows about God's Word with his little brother. What a joy! Although my eight-year-old grandson might not be aware of The Great Commission, he was fulfilling it in my kitchen! This is discipleship--pure and simple! It was a beautiful sight in my eyes and I know it blessed the heart of my Father in Heaven! Just like that, God filled my morning with His glory!
Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age."
Well, recently we had an extra special morning. I was running really late. So I was making lunches while the boys ate breakfast. Although I was not happy about oversleeping and rushing to make it to school on time, God took the opportunity to "perfect His strength in my weakness." He is always so sweet and comforting! As I was preparing lunches I looked over at the table and saw a scene that brought tears to my eyes. My eight-year-old grandson was reading the Children's Bible to his three-year-old little brother. He was holding the bible with the pictures facing his little brother and reading it, just like I do. He went along reading and then he stopped in the middle and did something remarkable. He looked away from the words and look straight into his little brothers eyes and he explained something to him.
It was a beautiful moment! I forgot about the lunches and paused to feel the presence of God in my kitchen! They were reading about the poor widow who put two small copper coins into the offering in Mark 12:42-44. This is the point where he stopped the story and spoke directly to his brother. He said, "You know when we are at church and they pass the baskets around and we put our money in?" His brother answered, "Yes." He replied, "This is what was happening when the widow gave her coins in the temple." I loved it! He had given a practical example from his three-year-old brother's life that connected him to the bible story! I could not have done it better myself. The glory of God filled my kitchen and I basked in it!
In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus addressed His disciples before leaving the earth and descending to heaven. This scripture is called The Great Commission. In this passage, Jesus says; "...go and make disciples of all nations..." and "...teaching them to obey all I have commanded you..." It applies to all those who are disciples of Jesus. Disciple means "learner." As long as we are on earth, we are going to be "learners or disciples." The more I read my Bible over and over, I realize I will never come to a full understanding of it. I will never get tired of reading it! I will always find new truths as God reveals Himself to me personally through His Word each day!
Every believer on this earth has someone in their life who is willing to listen. We each have circles of influence which God has given us to make a difference. Many Christians I know claim they do not know enough about the Word of God and they use this as an excuse to disqualify themselves from fulfilling The Great Commission. When Jesus said this, He was not making a suggestion! He was commanding us! I know I do not feel fulfilled when I do not have outlets to testify and teach about Jesus. When God gives us a command, He is doing it for our own benefit! We were born to worship and praise God!
So on this special morning when things looked rushed and hectic, the Lord stopped me in my tracks by sending His glory into my kitchen. My grandson was following my example and sharing what he knows about God's Word with his little brother. What a joy! Although my eight-year-old grandson might not be aware of The Great Commission, he was fulfilling it in my kitchen! This is discipleship--pure and simple! It was a beautiful sight in my eyes and I know it blessed the heart of my Father in Heaven! Just like that, God filled my morning with His glory!
Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age."
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Unveiled
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a wedding of some close family friends. It always amazes me to see the beauty of the bride as she walks down the aisle to her waiting groom. It is a special moment when the father gives the bride to the groom and lifts up the veil. All of the love of the bride comes shining through her face!! In this moment she is free to share all of herself with the man of her dreams. Her father has given the groom permission to have and to hold his daughter.
This special time in the wedding reminds me of our Father in heaven's gracious gift of intimacy! In the Old Testament, we see intimate relationships between God and man. In Exodus 33:11, it says; "The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." When Moses came back to camp after speaking with God, something peculiar happened. It says in Exodus 34:29; "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony (The Ten Commandments) in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD." His face was glowing like a bride. This frightened the people so Moses began to wear a veil over his face. But Moses took the veil off when he went to meet with the Lord.
In the temple in Jerusalem when Jesus was alive as man on earth, there was a veil that hung in the Holy Place of the temple. It was a separation between the people and the presence of God. At the moment that Jesus died, the veil ripped from top to bottom. The veil was from ceiling to floor and about 12 inches thick. Only God could have ripped this veil. It is such a beautiful imagery God our Father gave us. The church is referred to as the Bride of Christ. So when Jesus died, the Father removed the veil so that all believers, who are the bride, could enter into an intimate relationship with His son, the Groom.
God has given us this gift through Jesus to enter into His presence each day and to talk to Him as a friend. In the process of spending time with God, His glory is revealed in our lives. And unlike Moses, we are to walk around without a veil. And as we do, our faces will be shining with the radiance of having God with us! And through this miracle, people will be faced with the reality of the glory of God.
I love meeting with my Lord in the morning. He always greets me with the anticipation of a groom waiting for His bride. He reminds me how loved I am! He shares his thoughts and plans with me. He helps me understand how valuable I am to Him and those He has placed in my life. He fills my cup to overflowing. And then I can go to face the day with His glory all over me and around me. As I walk through the day, I can share His wisdom and great wonders with all I meet. Just like He waits for me, He is waiting for you! Go to Jesus! You are His bride and He is your groom!
2 Corinthians 3:18- "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
This special time in the wedding reminds me of our Father in heaven's gracious gift of intimacy! In the Old Testament, we see intimate relationships between God and man. In Exodus 33:11, it says; "The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." When Moses came back to camp after speaking with God, something peculiar happened. It says in Exodus 34:29; "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony (The Ten Commandments) in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD." His face was glowing like a bride. This frightened the people so Moses began to wear a veil over his face. But Moses took the veil off when he went to meet with the Lord.
In the temple in Jerusalem when Jesus was alive as man on earth, there was a veil that hung in the Holy Place of the temple. It was a separation between the people and the presence of God. At the moment that Jesus died, the veil ripped from top to bottom. The veil was from ceiling to floor and about 12 inches thick. Only God could have ripped this veil. It is such a beautiful imagery God our Father gave us. The church is referred to as the Bride of Christ. So when Jesus died, the Father removed the veil so that all believers, who are the bride, could enter into an intimate relationship with His son, the Groom.
God has given us this gift through Jesus to enter into His presence each day and to talk to Him as a friend. In the process of spending time with God, His glory is revealed in our lives. And unlike Moses, we are to walk around without a veil. And as we do, our faces will be shining with the radiance of having God with us! And through this miracle, people will be faced with the reality of the glory of God.
I love meeting with my Lord in the morning. He always greets me with the anticipation of a groom waiting for His bride. He reminds me how loved I am! He shares his thoughts and plans with me. He helps me understand how valuable I am to Him and those He has placed in my life. He fills my cup to overflowing. And then I can go to face the day with His glory all over me and around me. As I walk through the day, I can share His wisdom and great wonders with all I meet. Just like He waits for me, He is waiting for you! Go to Jesus! You are His bride and He is your groom!
2 Corinthians 3:18- "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
Friday, March 2, 2012
"Do Not Be Anxious About Anything"
I got a phone call the other day that blessed me and at the same time scared me to death. Some friends of our family are getting married and asked me to read a scripture passage in their wedding ceremony. Wow! I felt so honored! They are beautiful people! I am so grateful to be attending their wedding and never expected to be a part of the ceremony! As you know, I love the Word of God and believe in the power of the Word and so this is a gift to me!
So, you are probably wondering about the "scared to death" part of this phone call. Did you know most people rank the fear of dying below the fear of speaking in front of groups? I understand this! Fear of speaking in front of groups has been paralyzing to me in my past! It just freaks out my senses to be in front of a group and hear the sound of my voice over a microphone. And the anticipation of it in years past really messed with my mind and caused my heart stress.
In college this fear was so out of control I actually blacked out while presenting a project in front of a classroom full of people. It was humiliating! This fear harassed me for years. After college, I promised myself I would never speak in front of a group again. I did not anticipate any need to speak in front of a group so I thought those days were over.
Then, when I surrendered my life to Jesus, I began to feel the need to testify! The Bible is full of verses calling us to testify and witness. This need has lead me in front of many groups. In order to not allow this fear to control me, I have worked out a commitment to God as His witness. I will only speak in front of groups when asked if I feel passion in my heart for the topic or if I am asked to testify about Jesus. So, as you can see, it was clear during this phone call "Yes" was my answer even though deep down in my flesh, I was feeling fear!
The difference now in how I handle this fear is my dependence on God! I have made a commitment to God to say, "Yes" and not let this fear control me. And He has promised me He will be with me. The Lord has helped me to overcome this fear in the moments I have stood before groups. I have even felt a sense of blessing and joy standing before groups! It is a great testimony to His presence in my body through His Holy Spirit! These times have definitely built my faith!
God is so faithful and sweet! He always blows my mind! When I asked what scripture it was that they wanted me to read, I immediately could hear the words in my head! It is a scripture I have memorized because it so pertains to my life and has brought healing to my fear! I need this scripture often and I see God knew I would need it on that day! This couple chose three scripture passages out of the whole Bible and this is what I ended up with! Philippians 4:6-9! The first verse I will read says this; "DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Then, verse 7 says, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
I will proclaim this promise of God before about 180 people! And do you know what I am expecting in the moments that I stand before this group? The peace of God, which transcends all understanding! Even through the weakness and fear in my flesh! Praise Jesus!
So, you are probably wondering about the "scared to death" part of this phone call. Did you know most people rank the fear of dying below the fear of speaking in front of groups? I understand this! Fear of speaking in front of groups has been paralyzing to me in my past! It just freaks out my senses to be in front of a group and hear the sound of my voice over a microphone. And the anticipation of it in years past really messed with my mind and caused my heart stress.
In college this fear was so out of control I actually blacked out while presenting a project in front of a classroom full of people. It was humiliating! This fear harassed me for years. After college, I promised myself I would never speak in front of a group again. I did not anticipate any need to speak in front of a group so I thought those days were over.
Then, when I surrendered my life to Jesus, I began to feel the need to testify! The Bible is full of verses calling us to testify and witness. This need has lead me in front of many groups. In order to not allow this fear to control me, I have worked out a commitment to God as His witness. I will only speak in front of groups when asked if I feel passion in my heart for the topic or if I am asked to testify about Jesus. So, as you can see, it was clear during this phone call "Yes" was my answer even though deep down in my flesh, I was feeling fear!
The difference now in how I handle this fear is my dependence on God! I have made a commitment to God to say, "Yes" and not let this fear control me. And He has promised me He will be with me. The Lord has helped me to overcome this fear in the moments I have stood before groups. I have even felt a sense of blessing and joy standing before groups! It is a great testimony to His presence in my body through His Holy Spirit! These times have definitely built my faith!
God is so faithful and sweet! He always blows my mind! When I asked what scripture it was that they wanted me to read, I immediately could hear the words in my head! It is a scripture I have memorized because it so pertains to my life and has brought healing to my fear! I need this scripture often and I see God knew I would need it on that day! This couple chose three scripture passages out of the whole Bible and this is what I ended up with! Philippians 4:6-9! The first verse I will read says this; "DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Then, verse 7 says, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
I will proclaim this promise of God before about 180 people! And do you know what I am expecting in the moments that I stand before this group? The peace of God, which transcends all understanding! Even through the weakness and fear in my flesh! Praise Jesus!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Always Pray and Don't Give Up!
More than four years ago, my husband and I began to pray for the sale of a business we own. This business had been causing us problems and arguments in our marriage for over 20 years. It was a profitable business, but we came to the conclusion that we needed to get rid of it for the best interest of our marriage. So we prayed for over four years and we had not gotten an offer or any real interest.
A problem came up in November related to this business. We have some very wise friends who we meet with when we are having a disagreement that we can't resolve in our marriage. They have been married for over 45 years and they are great role models to help us in times of tension. We are so grateful to God for them and we both value their opinion and have great respect for them. We scheduled a meeting with our friends to seek counsel and resolution.
One of the questions that came up during our meeting was, "How often do you pray together about selling this business?" We thought about it and realized our prayers were very sporadic. What they counseled us to do was to pray EVERYDAY together for the sale of our business. So we made this commitment to pray together everyday for the purpose of the sale of this business.
Within a few weeks of this commitment, we got an offer on the business. WOW! This really encouraged our prayer! We went through the process of getting everything together and working with our client over the next month. And we continued to pray everyday! The deal was set to go through on January 6th. Just before Christmas, my husband received a phone call from someone else with another offer on the business. Two offers in a matter of 6 weeks when we had not received an offer in 4 years! We were praising the Lord and we continued to pray and seek His guidance in this deal.
On January 6th, the first deal fell through. We were shocked! It was a disappointing day for both of us as we were so excited to have closure in this area of our lives. But, we realized God had seen all the details in the future and had provided all we had needed to answer this persistent prayer. Last week, our second deal was finalized. During the time between the failure of the first deal and the closing of the second, we prayed and prayed.
As I spent time with the Lord and continued to pray, He lead me to some scriptures about persistent prayer. Luke 18:1 says, "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them they should always pray and not give up." He told a parable about a widow who kept coming to a judge day and night to seek a ruling over her adversary. This judge did not fear God or care about men. He kept refusing her request until finally he gave her the judgement she asked for because her persistence wore him down. At the end of this parable, Jesus compares this judge with God and says, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find (persistent) faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:6-8)
This scripture hit me straight in the heart. It was a promise directed to encourage me. So I started crying out day and night. I wanted the Lord to see persistent faith in my life! It hurt my heart to read that statement. I wanted Him to find persistent faith. And I let go of doubt and prayed in faith. I encouraged my husband that we were not counting on the plans of men but on the faithfulness of God. I was sure this sale was God's will and I took every thought captive that interfered with the outcome I was praying for. I simply believed no matter what! And what fueled this belief was a deep desire to bless Jesus who constantly blesses me.
As I have realized God's gracious answer to our prayers, I have increased my prayer time on a daily basis. I have added things to my list that I believe are His will but seem impossible at this time. My husband has joined me in praying for our next miracle! Whatever we have given up on in the past has become the cry of our hearts day and night! We are committed with the grace and help of Jesus to have persistent faith on this earth! I pray this story encourages you to cry out day and night to Jesus for the answer to whatever you have given up on! He has given us a promise. Our part is to "always pray and don't give up!"
A problem came up in November related to this business. We have some very wise friends who we meet with when we are having a disagreement that we can't resolve in our marriage. They have been married for over 45 years and they are great role models to help us in times of tension. We are so grateful to God for them and we both value their opinion and have great respect for them. We scheduled a meeting with our friends to seek counsel and resolution.
One of the questions that came up during our meeting was, "How often do you pray together about selling this business?" We thought about it and realized our prayers were very sporadic. What they counseled us to do was to pray EVERYDAY together for the sale of our business. So we made this commitment to pray together everyday for the purpose of the sale of this business.
Within a few weeks of this commitment, we got an offer on the business. WOW! This really encouraged our prayer! We went through the process of getting everything together and working with our client over the next month. And we continued to pray everyday! The deal was set to go through on January 6th. Just before Christmas, my husband received a phone call from someone else with another offer on the business. Two offers in a matter of 6 weeks when we had not received an offer in 4 years! We were praising the Lord and we continued to pray and seek His guidance in this deal.
On January 6th, the first deal fell through. We were shocked! It was a disappointing day for both of us as we were so excited to have closure in this area of our lives. But, we realized God had seen all the details in the future and had provided all we had needed to answer this persistent prayer. Last week, our second deal was finalized. During the time between the failure of the first deal and the closing of the second, we prayed and prayed.
As I spent time with the Lord and continued to pray, He lead me to some scriptures about persistent prayer. Luke 18:1 says, "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them they should always pray and not give up." He told a parable about a widow who kept coming to a judge day and night to seek a ruling over her adversary. This judge did not fear God or care about men. He kept refusing her request until finally he gave her the judgement she asked for because her persistence wore him down. At the end of this parable, Jesus compares this judge with God and says, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find (persistent) faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:6-8)
This scripture hit me straight in the heart. It was a promise directed to encourage me. So I started crying out day and night. I wanted the Lord to see persistent faith in my life! It hurt my heart to read that statement. I wanted Him to find persistent faith. And I let go of doubt and prayed in faith. I encouraged my husband that we were not counting on the plans of men but on the faithfulness of God. I was sure this sale was God's will and I took every thought captive that interfered with the outcome I was praying for. I simply believed no matter what! And what fueled this belief was a deep desire to bless Jesus who constantly blesses me.
As I have realized God's gracious answer to our prayers, I have increased my prayer time on a daily basis. I have added things to my list that I believe are His will but seem impossible at this time. My husband has joined me in praying for our next miracle! Whatever we have given up on in the past has become the cry of our hearts day and night! We are committed with the grace and help of Jesus to have persistent faith on this earth! I pray this story encourages you to cry out day and night to Jesus for the answer to whatever you have given up on! He has given us a promise. Our part is to "always pray and don't give up!"
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Expert by Default
I was spending some time this morning thinking about an unpleasant time in my life. You may be wondering why I did this. It is amazing the useful information we can gain from our past bad experiences. I am a firm believer in Romans 8:28 which says; "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." I truly believe that through my agony, God was working for my good even when it did not seem like it. I remember questioning the Lord about this as I was going through this very hard situation! In the end I chose to believe this verse despite my circumstances and today I live with the benefits of all the glorious things that came from that trauma!
Lately, I have felt the leading of the Lord to revisit this time in my life to help others who are going through similar experiences. As I delved into this experience once again in my memories, I felt the confidence of knowing what worked in this situation to cultivate my healing. It is amazing to me how close the Lord walked with me during this traumatic and emotionally painful time. It also is mind-boggling how clearly I remember the days! It seems like a supernatural preservation of experiences for such a time as this!
As I was thinking and writing about these things, I realize that I am an expert on this topic. Expert means "experienced." The definition included the phrase; "having, involving, or displaying a special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience." Well, it is true! I am an expert in an area of life that no one would want to be called an expert in. It is one of the last experiences I would have chosen to participate in on the earth! The truth is, I have a special skill and knowledge in this horrid area of life not by my choice but by my experience, which was completely out of my control. So I am an expert by default!
The good news is, God will use this special skill and knowledge to help others. Even though I was unwilling at first, now I have information to help some other people through similar traumas. It is the way our society works. We depend on expert opinion to make good choices and learn tools to take us to a healthier place. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded on expert opinion. Bill Wilson, who was one of the founders of AA in 1934, was an alcoholic. He ruined his promising career on Wall Street because of his alcoholism. He used what he learned as Jesus helped him get free to conquer alcoholism in his own life and help countless others get free from this debilitating bondage. I am sure when Bill Wilson was a young boy he did not wish to be an expert on alcoholism. I am quite sure it was not his mother's dream for him. But, regardless, it became his life work and still impacts multitudes of people today! Praise God for this helpful organization!
I am grateful to the Lord that He is leading me to use my "essentially unwanted" expert information to bless those in His kingdom. He has healed my wounds of shame, hurt, and anger so that I can freely share this information with people who need help through my experience! Are there any areas where you are an "expert by default?" Ask the Lord to prove Romans 8:28 in your life! He wants to use all things!
Lately, I have felt the leading of the Lord to revisit this time in my life to help others who are going through similar experiences. As I delved into this experience once again in my memories, I felt the confidence of knowing what worked in this situation to cultivate my healing. It is amazing to me how close the Lord walked with me during this traumatic and emotionally painful time. It also is mind-boggling how clearly I remember the days! It seems like a supernatural preservation of experiences for such a time as this!
As I was thinking and writing about these things, I realize that I am an expert on this topic. Expert means "experienced." The definition included the phrase; "having, involving, or displaying a special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience." Well, it is true! I am an expert in an area of life that no one would want to be called an expert in. It is one of the last experiences I would have chosen to participate in on the earth! The truth is, I have a special skill and knowledge in this horrid area of life not by my choice but by my experience, which was completely out of my control. So I am an expert by default!
The good news is, God will use this special skill and knowledge to help others. Even though I was unwilling at first, now I have information to help some other people through similar traumas. It is the way our society works. We depend on expert opinion to make good choices and learn tools to take us to a healthier place. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded on expert opinion. Bill Wilson, who was one of the founders of AA in 1934, was an alcoholic. He ruined his promising career on Wall Street because of his alcoholism. He used what he learned as Jesus helped him get free to conquer alcoholism in his own life and help countless others get free from this debilitating bondage. I am sure when Bill Wilson was a young boy he did not wish to be an expert on alcoholism. I am quite sure it was not his mother's dream for him. But, regardless, it became his life work and still impacts multitudes of people today! Praise God for this helpful organization!
I am grateful to the Lord that He is leading me to use my "essentially unwanted" expert information to bless those in His kingdom. He has healed my wounds of shame, hurt, and anger so that I can freely share this information with people who need help through my experience! Are there any areas where you are an "expert by default?" Ask the Lord to prove Romans 8:28 in your life! He wants to use all things!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
"Put Your Hand Over Your Mouth!"
I have a friend with whom I love to spend time! One reason I love to be with this particular friend is because she is a great listener. I find this to be a rare quality among women. Personally, I am working on becoming a better listener. It is hard to be a good listener. Maybe you can relate? It is easy for my mind to start processing my next sentence even before the person I am talking with has finished their thought. Listening takes discipline and lots of energy. Especially for women! But, this quality is worth learning. And I plan on learning, with the help of the Lord, to be a great listener despite myself and my natural tendencies. Spending time with my friend and learning from her has helped me in this area.
So, why is this friend a great listener? She is a wise and mature Christian woman. She models "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak..." from James 1:19. (It is funny that James says "Everyone..." Try to count on one hand those you know who are "quick to listen and slow to speak"). So, not only is my friend a great listener but she fascinates me with how slowly she chooses her words. She chooses them so carefully, I can see her contemplating whether she should say them or not. This requires so much discipline. It makes me think she is not only listening to me, but checking her answer in prayer with the Lord. It is safe to say that when she speaks, I listen, and I listen carefully. Because she is "slow to speak," her words tend to be profound! This is another quality I aspire to! It is nice to have someone in my life who is such a great example to me of listening and thoughtful speaking. Although I am sure she is not perfect in this area, she is a living example of how it looks to listen and speak slowly.
So, how do I model this listening and slow speech I see in my friend? I was asking the Lord this question when I thought of a phrase in the Bible. It is so practical to my learning process, it made me laugh. The phrase which came to my mind was "PUT YOUR HAND OVER YOUR MOUTH!" This was definitely the Lord speaking directly to me. He always lightens my deep thoughts with laughter and practical help. So, I got out my Bible and found that the whole verse was exactly what I needed. Proverbs 30:32 says; "If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, put your hand over your mouth!" Now, I can't remember the last time I planned evil, but I can recall many times that I have been foolish and exalted myself. It was helpful for me to see my quick words and bad listening skills as foolishness and pride. Sometimes the truth hurts for a few seconds but then it is so freeing. If I am thoughtless and impulsive in the things I say when I really should be listening, I will regret saying those things. And I would like to decrease my ratio of regretful statements to blessings.
As I reflected on the year, 2011, I really felt the Lord putting the emphasis on my mouth. Sometimes we find our greatest weakness rests in the area of our greatest strength. If you read my last blog in 2011, you would see it was about making sure to bless with a "Gift of Words." The Lord assured me to let every word of blessing flow without restraint from my mouth, but also to be disciplined when other words are formulating in my heart. Words such as advice or reproof or plans or angry outbursts. My mouth is meant to bless and not to curse (James 3:10). If what I am about to say is not absolutely, for sure, a blessing, then I will follow this simple resolution in 2012: I will "put my hand over my mouth!"
So, why is this friend a great listener? She is a wise and mature Christian woman. She models "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak..." from James 1:19. (It is funny that James says "Everyone..." Try to count on one hand those you know who are "quick to listen and slow to speak"). So, not only is my friend a great listener but she fascinates me with how slowly she chooses her words. She chooses them so carefully, I can see her contemplating whether she should say them or not. This requires so much discipline. It makes me think she is not only listening to me, but checking her answer in prayer with the Lord. It is safe to say that when she speaks, I listen, and I listen carefully. Because she is "slow to speak," her words tend to be profound! This is another quality I aspire to! It is nice to have someone in my life who is such a great example to me of listening and thoughtful speaking. Although I am sure she is not perfect in this area, she is a living example of how it looks to listen and speak slowly.
So, how do I model this listening and slow speech I see in my friend? I was asking the Lord this question when I thought of a phrase in the Bible. It is so practical to my learning process, it made me laugh. The phrase which came to my mind was "PUT YOUR HAND OVER YOUR MOUTH!" This was definitely the Lord speaking directly to me. He always lightens my deep thoughts with laughter and practical help. So, I got out my Bible and found that the whole verse was exactly what I needed. Proverbs 30:32 says; "If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, put your hand over your mouth!" Now, I can't remember the last time I planned evil, but I can recall many times that I have been foolish and exalted myself. It was helpful for me to see my quick words and bad listening skills as foolishness and pride. Sometimes the truth hurts for a few seconds but then it is so freeing. If I am thoughtless and impulsive in the things I say when I really should be listening, I will regret saying those things. And I would like to decrease my ratio of regretful statements to blessings.
As I reflected on the year, 2011, I really felt the Lord putting the emphasis on my mouth. Sometimes we find our greatest weakness rests in the area of our greatest strength. If you read my last blog in 2011, you would see it was about making sure to bless with a "Gift of Words." The Lord assured me to let every word of blessing flow without restraint from my mouth, but also to be disciplined when other words are formulating in my heart. Words such as advice or reproof or plans or angry outbursts. My mouth is meant to bless and not to curse (James 3:10). If what I am about to say is not absolutely, for sure, a blessing, then I will follow this simple resolution in 2012: I will "put my hand over my mouth!"
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