God of Mountains Topples Walls of Fear

 

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills— from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1

From the breathtaking mountains of Colorado . . . back down to the foothills of Mount Neverest (laundry).  I didn't want to come home.  I wanted to stay there and stare at God's art work all day, every day!



What did I come home to, besides lots of dirty clothes?  A busy autumn schedule, a spiritual battle, and a wall of fear . . . it looms over me. 

• How am I going to ____? 


• What if ____ happens? 


• I don't feel good about ____.   


• Am I going to be able to be ____? 


• Am I ever going to be content with an imperfect life and house?  


• What about my friend's hurts? 


• What if ____ happens to my family?


• What if my dreams for Women On God's Mission are too big? 


• What if I've bitten off too much with my schedule?


• How can I continue to make the 45 minute commute to church 2-3 times per week? 


• Do my goals match God's plans for me? 

Fears like a dripping faucet nag at my heart - that loved ones who do not believe in Jesus, as the Way the Truth and the Life, will lose their opportunity with God. And fears for precious friends facing persecution around the world . . . on and on, the walls of fear could rival the Wall of China.



Thankfully, peace is not inextricably connected with time, place, vacation, God's beautiful creation, nor with anything I do or don't do! C.S. Lewis said, "God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there.  There is no such thing."  Where God is, there is peace.  Even in the midst of hectic real life!  I thank God that He uses these fears to draw me to Himself.  If I had no fear, there would be no need for God. 

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

Romans 8:15

If I am carrying fears around, I am accepting a "gift" from the father of lies, Satan.  After I lift off the enticing wrapper I drag around a back-breaking, heart-wrenching, rash inducing time bomb.  Through me Satan disrespectfully flaunts a small victory in the face of his and my Creator God, while he designs to do everything he can to destroy me, my family, and any godly influence from my life!  In contrast, our wonderful God sweetly yet powerfully assures, "I have it all under control."  He calms the storms around me, giving me freedom to breathe, freedom to sleep sweetly, and the assurance that He is working on ___ and ___.  God understands!  God cares! 



Are you in a fearful place?  Surgery is scheduled, your biological clock is ticking, you lost your job, your baby has cancer, loved ones are moving away, your house won't sell, your husband is being called up for another tour of duty, you don't know if you are on your way to heaven when you die (see above under Lovely Links to get help), your very life is at stake in a land where there is no freedom of religion . . . whatever it is, Satan would love to tie us up in ropes of fear - he wants to snuff out all of the big dreams that come with following a big God!



Like my Indonesian sister in Christ told me tonight, "I just need to meditate more on His word and draw myself even closer to Him. This cloud of uncertainty and doubt has been a thorn I need to get rid of FAST!" 



And when we are too weak to cast off our fears, He can and He will!  Will you kneel with me right now and commit our fears to God?  He has all the answers we need.  He is the answer.  Pray and watch the walls topple.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’" Isaiah 41:10

Click here to read more verses about God's answers to our fears

Just God and Me

"Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts." Jeremiah 15:16

On Saturday I listened to an inspiring Christian woman speaking about godly priorities while cleaning my room.  Later that same day, while I was folding underwear and sorting socks, I heard another famous woman interviewed on a highly revered Christian website.  As her voice streamed through my laptop, my hopes for a meaty message quickly faded.  I was left feeling parched.  Yes, she mentioned God, spoke about prayer as well as other true and good things, but never communicated God's own words.  Most of her words were about her. 



More than any other time in human history, we have countless opportunities to hear and learn from God's Word: radio, television, internet, books, church, CDs, Sunday school, small groups, conferences, magazines, DVDs, blogs, YouTube, email, Facebook, etc.  Certainly there are messages and interviews worth hearing that point us to God.  It takes some work, but we can wade through fluff and find solid biblical teaching.



My concern, as I get to know myself better and listen to others around me, is that we too easily depend on the testimonies of other humans.  Before realizing it, my own quality time with God slips away.  Unless the words of others springboard me toward further personal study in my Bible, munching from the crumbs of other people's spiritual meals soon leaves me depleted, hungry. 

"And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.'" John 6:35

If I allow this spiritual malnutrition to continue, my starved self turns to my husband and children, friends and pastor, to feed me, to fill me.  I open my refrigerator, go shopping, listen to music.  My emptiness echoes in my soul, and when women come to me for counsel I give them my helpful opinions and good ideas instead of God's.  At times my family feels the brunt of my ugliness.  I've allowed the potential fruit of the Spirit to wilt and rot.  Then finally, after the damage has been done, I end up where I should've been in the beginning: on my knees and in His Word.

Do you have a daily quiet time with God alone?  I understand, it can feel nearly impossible at times with the busyness of life.  Do you enjoy listening to Christian radio but sometimes let that take place of your quiet time?  What about church - do you tank up on the sermon and small group lesson, hoping it will carry you through your stressful week? 



Dear sister, we need "just God and me" time.  If it means getting up earlier, staying up later, shutting down the computer, getting away from the house for awhile, turning on a good video for our kids, declining an invitation from a friend, hiring a baby sitter . . . we will only be PEACEFUL and USEFUL when we spend time with God.  Alone.

"His (her!) delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he (she!) meditates day and night.  He (she!) shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he (she!) does shall prosper." Psalm 1:2-3

Stay tuned for ideas to help you develop a quality daily meeting with God.



Special thanks to The Narrow Gate for the picture above.

How To Get Better ZZZzzzzs

Do you have trouble sleeping peacefully through the night like I do?  For me the cause can be a busy mind, not wanting to slow down (party time!), worries, or a physical ailment.  I know this problem can either wear and grind, tempting me to whine and grouch at my family.  Or, it can draw me to God in prayerful dependence.

God has a purpose in sleeplessness and restlessness.  That purpose is greater than our need for sleep.  One of my favorite poets, George Herbert (1593-1633), imagined what may have occured when the triune God planned our creation.  I love this ancient poem:

The Pulley

When God at first made man, having a glasse of blessings standing by;

Let us (said he) poure on him all we can:

Let the worlds riches, which dispersed lie,

Contract into a span.

So strength first made a way;

Then beautie flow'd, then wisdome, honor, pleasure:

When almost all was out, God made a stay,

Perceiving that alone of all his treasure

Rest in the bottome lay.

For if I should (said he)

Bestow this jewell also on my creature,

He would adore my gifts in stead of me,

And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:

So both should losers be.

Yet let him keep the rest,

But keep them with repining restlessnesse:

Let him be rich and wearie, that at least,

If goodnesse leade him not,  yet wearienesse

May tosse him to my breast.

George Herbert, 1633

There are many practical ideas to help one sleep better.  I'd love to hear what works for you! Here are a few I've picked up along the way:

Don'ts

- Don't eat after 7 p.m.

- Don't be too active just before you need to sleep (walking or stretching is okay).

- Don't eat dairy products late - they take at least 4 hours to digest.



Do's

- Ask God to relax your mind and help you sleep.

- Turn off the TV and computer at least one hour before bed time.

- Exercise (earlier in the day)

- Keep your room organized and beautiful = a restful oasis.

- An idea from my Dad: beware of pride - your ideas aren't so important that they can't wait until tomorrow. :)

- For a mind that won't slow down, listen to the radio on low volume all night.

- Have a regular bed time, and don't deviate from it more than 30 minutes on the weekend.

- Read or do something that relaxes you, saving a Bible verse for just before you nod off.

- Try lettuce tea.  Pour a cup of boiling hot water over a handful of lettuce in a mug, and let it steep for 30 minutes.  I've tried this once, and it was amazing how it relaxed me.  One of my friends quipped, "It worked for Peter Rabbit!"

- Journal before bed.  This especially helps me if I direct my entry to God, telling His all that's on my heart.

- Pray down your mental list of needs, remembering not just your needs but the needs of others.

- To relieve your mind, keep a notepad next to your bed to jot down thoughts.

- Quote Bible verses you've memorized.

- List your blessings by going through the alphabet, or list characteristics of God and thank Him for Who He is: Almighty, Beautiful Savior, Counselor ...

Rest isn't a right - it's a gift.  Let "The Pulley" of restlessness draw you to God.

"I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."  Psalm 4:8

Image courtesy of http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/

You're On!

"...that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."  Ephesians 4:22-24

My word for February is "On."  (to find out more about my word for the month, look above at God Appointments - Chocolaty Choices article).  What do you think of when someone says "on"?

- Turn on the light

- Turn on the radio

- Supper is cooking on the stove

- Workable, energized

- Accessories

- You're on! (a challenge)

- On to bigger and better things

- It's always greener "on" the other side

- The best words after a power outage: "Power's on!"

- On Friday we are going to the basketball game

Taking on new habits to replace poor discarded ones can be exciting!  This morning I woke up early, brainstorming about what I need to "put on."

Putting On New Habits

I started with facing my need to be more organized in my homemaking.  Thankfully there is a terrific resource already out there for people like me: http://www.flylady.net/. Along with great cleaning tips, I found a great article that gave me a quick recipe for keeping your hair shiny ... it involves apple cider vinegar - check it out!

Putting On New Attitudes

You know what?  I've realized this week that I talk negatively to myself all the time!  That's got to stop!  With God's strength I can accomplish what He wants me to do, and I don't need to beat myself up all the time.  I need to sift all thoughts through Philippians 4:8 ...

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

One of the best books I've read about the mind is by Dr. Caroline Leaf - The Gift In You.  In a clear biblical manner, Dr. Leaf describes from a medical point of view how it really is possible to renew your mind.  Very encouraging.

Putting On Creativity

I'm custom designing a personal notebook with a sheet for every week.  Some things I need to include on my list are:

- Menus

- Calorie intake

- Exercise log

- Daily diary

- Grocery list

- To do list

- Bible verse of the day

That's just the beginning!  I'm praying as I go along, and God is giving me wisdom and creative ideas that are best for my family.  I know He can do the same for you.  Praying for you today!

 

P.S.  Here is one of my favorite passages about putting off/on ...

Colossians 3:1-17 

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.



Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.



For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.



When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.



Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.



Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,



in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.



But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.



Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,



and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,



where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.



Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;



bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.



But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.



And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.



Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.



And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Image source: unknown

20 Ways to Beat the Winter Blahs

It's here!  It's officially the season  of the Winter Blahs.  We're talkin' tired!  Where did my energy go?  Perhaps it had enough sense to head south to warmer vistas.  Sadly depleated enthusiasm - I think I'm a candidate for an enthusiasm transplant or transfusion ... fusion ... which reminds me, I think one of the answers might be to head over to Corn Fusion, the fun store at the mall which sells White Cheddar Popcorn (spoken in hushed tones), plus a multitude of other snacky delights.  I'm seriously considering it. In fact, I just might invite all my local friends to join me there for a Winter Blahs Party! 



So how do we combat the battle of the blah?  Believe me, I'm making this list for myself first, and if you happen to benefit, fabulous!  Just so you know, these are not listed in order of importance ...

Winter Blahs Prescription

Choose two and call me in the morning.

1.  Eat right.  This is so hard for me ... it takes planning.  My favorite way of eating to feel good is to  vamp up the fiber by eating more fruits and veggies, whole grains and beans, almost completely eliminate sugar, keeping my calories at 1,600 daily, have healthy snacks ready to grab (gotta love those snack sized ziplock bags), and eat two 41 calorie Dove dark chocolate pieces every day.  :)



2.  Take Vitamin D - Our body isn't getting enough sun, so choose foods and OJ that have D, and/or get a reliable supplement.  I like Standard Processing and Garden of Life products.  Add in some B vitamins as well.  I found a liquid form at the health store I put under my tongue every day.  It makes a difference!



3.  Drink more water. It's extra dry, so we can become dehydrated easily.  To see if you're dehydrated, poke your fingernail into the tip of a finger.  If it stays with a dent for too long, without bouncing back, you are most likely dehydrating. 



4.  Take time to breathe.  More oxygen will help me feel better and more energetic.  I also recently learned, from the Oxycise! program, that we expel fat through our carbon dioxide.  Hallelujuh!  I can lose weight simply by breathing!  Breathe in through your nose and out your mouth as if through a straw.



5.  Lower expectations.  Keep the list reasonable, and beware of trying too intently to impress or please others.  We aren't the only ones struggling, so we should also lower our expectations of other people as well.



6.  Call a friend.  It's amazing what this can do for us!  A chat over the phone or a get-together at the coffee shop can be the best therapy.



7.  Don't take self or others too seriously.  At this time I can just about fall off the cart with my wacky emotions.  Take one day, one hour at a time. 



8.  Ask for help.  It's embarrassing to admit that we can't "do it all"!  But, it's true.  We need to tell people if we need help - it will probably lead to a deeper and more meaningful friendship.  Buy frozen pizzas on sale to have on hand.  I thank God for frozen pizza (self, see #1).



9.  Pray!  Of course we need to pray, but we probably need it even more now.  I don't mean getting up at 3:30 a.m. and kneeling by our bed for 3.75 hours.  I mean talking to God about everything throughout the day. 



10.  Remember God.  That means we read His Word and think about it through our daily tasks. Is God the same every season? Yes! He is the same every season of the year, as well as every season of life! God is faithful no matter our circumstances.



11.  Shake it up.  Do something different!  Go to a new store or restaurant.  Cheer up a friend by kidnapping them for an hour or two.  Surprise your family one morning with Chocolate Cheerios (I personally crave the Honey Nut Cheerios with chocolate milk!).  Try a new hairstyle.  Rent a Corvette (well, maybe that's going a bit too far).



12.  Keep going to church.  We need the fellowship, we need teaching from the Word.  If you've been gone for long, it's time to go back!



13.  Journal.  Sometimes it really helps to write it all out.  I love writing out my prayers to God.  It helps me focus and even get a better understanding of my heart.



14.  Dream.  What are some of your hopes and dreams?  You may already have the husband, the house, the children, and are too tired to daydream.  If you're like me, you're just hoping for a good night sleep with pleasant dreams!  Have some room in your schedule to plan things to look forward to: a play, a concert, a communitee cooking class, ask a friend to teach you how to knit, plan a dinner party (it can be potluck!), etc.  Subscribe to a magazine that features a current interest.  Begin planning (and planting seeds inside) for your garden and think ahead to those fresh spring smells.



15.  Reach out.  Think of someone who is worse off than you - shut in, someone alone, anyone who is needy physically, spiritually, emotionally, etc.  Send an email, call, visit, meet for coffee, take your kids so you teach them to think of others, or go just yourself so you can talk "girl talk" more easily.



16.  Rest.  This means to take a breather.  I should probably be napping right now, but writing is up there with eating or breathing, so it is restful for me.  Rest to you might be baking, walking, listening to music, exercising, going somewhere quiet, extra Bible time, taking a bubble bath, or shopping. 



17.  Get moving.  I hate the "E" word, so I prefer to say, "I'm going to go jubilate for 30 minutes."  This makes me feel better, preparing me for more restful sleep and keeping my emotions in better control.



18.  Tie up loose ends.  We're talking about finally writing a note to your aunt, making that dentist appointment, balancing the checkbook, paying the fine, apologizing to your neighbor, keeping your promise to take your son out on a date ... take care of something important, but not necessarily urgent, that is weighing on you.  You won't want to clean out the basement when the weather gets nice, so do it now.



19.  Laugh!  Watch a funny (and clean) movie or old comedy reruns.  Check out Tim Hawkins or Jeff Allen, two of many Christian comedians.



20.  Look around the corner.  It's not going to always be like this.  Spring will come again to our world and to our hearts.



If you are truly depressed you may need to see a medical doctor.  If your condition is easily diagnosed as a case of the Winter Blahs, please pick one or more from the above list and add it to your life.



Remember, you're not alone!  Winter blahs come to everyone everywhere, and can hit at any time of the year. Thankfully, our God never changes, and we can always count on Him to get us through!

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16

Image courtesy of http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/

Pre-Holiday Prescription

 

Are you multi-tasking at the moment? Wondering how you are going to get everything done before the guests arrive or you pack up to head out of town?



1. Stop, as soon as you can (please do NOT let the boiling pot burn down your house, and DO help Johny's boo-boo).



2. Go get a piece of paper (check the garbage can - the piece must be bigger than a gum wrapper).



3. Grab a pencil or pen (the only thing I could find near the computer this morning was an orange highlighter ... it worked just fine).



4. Number your paper down the side as far as you can.



5. Next to each number write down a blessing. At first it might be like a slight sprinkle, but soon you'll get warmed up and it will develop into a steady rain, maybe even a down-pour. You're doing great!



6. Now that you're warmed up, write down what is troubling your spirit today. It could be sickness, a broken dishwasher, the prospect of facing the holidays without a certain loved one this year, disappointment, rejection, loneliness, financial woes, exhaustion, worries about how the family is going to "get along" this Thanksgiving ... anything that causes your heart to ache, tears to fall, or your fist to want to hit the wall.



7. Now, give the list to God. Pray through the list, thanking Him. If it seems impossible to thank God sincerely for the trial you are facing, ask Him for strength to thank Him. God can use even "bad" blessings, things that tear us apart, for good.



If our lives were perfect, why would we need Him? And who would want to listen to us if we haven't been blown about by life's turbulance? People cannot know what we believe is real until they see it tested by time and trials.



8. Let God lift your spirit in full assurance that He knows and loves you, while He offers you His presence and supply through anything and everything, 24/7/365!

"Even there _______________________ Your hand shall lead me,

and Your right hand shall hold me." Psalm 139:10

The fill-in-the-blank line was added by me. There is room on that line for whatever is on your heart, dear Friend. If you follow this recipe once, it should greatly help you during the hurry and scurry of this holiday season. If once isn't enough, reapply daily as needed! Happy Holidays!

P.S. Read Psalm 103



To learn more about thanks-living, read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.



Image courtesy of http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/