I woke up this morning to the horrible news about the reporter and her camera man getting shot and killed in VA. How tragic. My heart hurts for the families of those that lost their lives. The woman that was in the middle of her interview was also shot, though, praise the Lord, she is stable and recovering in the hospital. Then there is the man that did these heinous things. I am sure his reasons are many, but one of them is sure to end up being tied to desiring to make a name for himself. Many people who do shootings like this want to be famous in some way. It is in the heart of many to desire to be recognized as special. Few accept graciously having an ordinary life.
I looked within myself to see if I struggle with this, and sure enough I do. Its not going to cause me to do heinous things, for in Jesus I have a name more precious than any name I can acquire on my own. Beloved, precious, family, daughter. These names have eternal meaning. My own? Not so much. On my own my name would never stand up to any kind of spiritual, holy scrutiny. Sometimes I find myself wanting to be more. My type A personality charges ahead to the front of the line wanting to be seen, recognized as uniquely special, and worthy in some way to be remembered by mankind.
God, in His infinite mercy, strips this away from us as we grow in Christ. Well, He does when we listen. It reminds me of John the Baptist. He was preaching the coming of Messiah, and the kingdom to come. Everyone knew who he was. He was the man baptizing in the Jordan river. He spoke and many came to hear him. He had his own disciples. When Jesus came, those disciples were jealous for John's sake. They did not understand who Jesus is, and so were offended that He was drawing more attention than John. Many things were said along the way, but one of the most important for me in regard to making a name for myself is something that I have prayed many times. "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30. John knew it was not about himself, but about Jesus. It is not about making a name for myself, but making much of Jesus. His is the name that must be put forth, praised, lifted up, glorified, and recognized. The battle of the flesh is ongoing, but in Christ nothing is impossible. The prayer for all of us in Christ should be to live a life that causes others to see Christ in us, not us at all.
Thought Questions
Where are you pushing yourself forward and trying to make a name for yourself? What can you actively do so that Jesus increases in you and your testimony and you decrease like John taught?
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Rays of Light in the Midst of a World of Darkness
I read an article today on Facebook. It affected me profoundly. I have been watching the news on the Ashley Madison site, which I had never heard of until yesterday. I saw that Josh Duggar professed to use the site after his records were released. I also saw the article on Jared Fogle and his admission of soliciting sex from minors. My heart was so grieved because of this and other stories that were causing me to feel the heaviness of darkness that our world is today.
Tonight I read another article and it reminded me that in the midst of darkness God always leaves pinpricks of light to remind us of who He is and that He is The GOD of Hope, not despair. The story is a 9-11 story about a flight that was turned back from the American border to land in New Newfoundland in the midst of 9-11 and all that happened. It was Delta Flight 15 bound for Atlanta. I will include a link to the story here so that anyone who sees this and wants to read about how God moved a whole community to help those left adrift because of the tragedy unfolding on 9-11 can read it.
I had felt so sorrowful today at all I was hearing in the news. It still fills me with sorrow to see people throw their lives and the lives of their loved ones away so carelessly. It reminds me of the wickedness of our hearts and how apart from Christ there is nothing truly good in us. I like to think I would never do the things these men are guilty of, and I might not do those specific things, but what other sins of my own am I guilty of? Even in Christ I struggle daily with sin. How much more the person apart from Him? Our wicked hearts imagine all kinds of things both large and small to do. That is why we need Jesus so much. He came to seek and save that which was lost. The righteous man sees not the things of the Spirit for they are spiritually discerned. What does that mean? In one sense it means that only those who understand their wretchedness come to God, called by the Father, to receive Jesus as Savior and learn to let Him be Lord. Those who believe they are good turn away for they believe at some level that they aren't that bad so don't need Jesus to redeem them. They use a system of measures of good and bad and hope that the weight on the good side is enough to help them make it through the door to heaven.
We live in a world of darkness, and Jesus alone is the Light of Heaven to give us hope in that darkness. He uses His Word, but He also uses people. People acting opposite of basic human nature by setting aside all of their regularly scheduled financial and personal goals to take care of the 10,500 people who found their way into Newfoundland due to a horrible tragedy as it was unfolding. I hope that the article I am posting is read by someone, and that it reminds you too that God is good all the time and He always gives us rays of light in the midst of life's darkness.
https://www.readfulapp.com/site/Headlines?tag=Breaking%20Headlines&item=55cbaa7b5573e31f1d8a1aae
Tonight I read another article and it reminded me that in the midst of darkness God always leaves pinpricks of light to remind us of who He is and that He is The GOD of Hope, not despair. The story is a 9-11 story about a flight that was turned back from the American border to land in New Newfoundland in the midst of 9-11 and all that happened. It was Delta Flight 15 bound for Atlanta. I will include a link to the story here so that anyone who sees this and wants to read about how God moved a whole community to help those left adrift because of the tragedy unfolding on 9-11 can read it.
I had felt so sorrowful today at all I was hearing in the news. It still fills me with sorrow to see people throw their lives and the lives of their loved ones away so carelessly. It reminds me of the wickedness of our hearts and how apart from Christ there is nothing truly good in us. I like to think I would never do the things these men are guilty of, and I might not do those specific things, but what other sins of my own am I guilty of? Even in Christ I struggle daily with sin. How much more the person apart from Him? Our wicked hearts imagine all kinds of things both large and small to do. That is why we need Jesus so much. He came to seek and save that which was lost. The righteous man sees not the things of the Spirit for they are spiritually discerned. What does that mean? In one sense it means that only those who understand their wretchedness come to God, called by the Father, to receive Jesus as Savior and learn to let Him be Lord. Those who believe they are good turn away for they believe at some level that they aren't that bad so don't need Jesus to redeem them. They use a system of measures of good and bad and hope that the weight on the good side is enough to help them make it through the door to heaven.
We live in a world of darkness, and Jesus alone is the Light of Heaven to give us hope in that darkness. He uses His Word, but He also uses people. People acting opposite of basic human nature by setting aside all of their regularly scheduled financial and personal goals to take care of the 10,500 people who found their way into Newfoundland due to a horrible tragedy as it was unfolding. I hope that the article I am posting is read by someone, and that it reminds you too that God is good all the time and He always gives us rays of light in the midst of life's darkness.
https://www.readfulapp.com/site/Headlines?tag=Breaking%20Headlines&item=55cbaa7b5573e31f1d8a1aae
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Social Anxiety
We are surrounded by people today. In our neighborhoods, at work, and at play. It seems that social anxiety shouldn't be an issue because we are used to being around people all the time. We learn to interact with one another across a broad spectrum of life experiences. So, what is the problem? Why do so many people struggle with social anxiety? In 2007 the adaa.org determined a figure of 6.8% of people struggle with this. This number has gone up over the last 8 additional years.
Many things cause us to be anxious. Fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, fear of germs, fear of not being liked, fear of not being accepted, and many other thoughts motivate social anxiety. The key that I just said was thoughts. The battle has always been and will always start in our thought life. Proverbs 23:7 tells us, "As he thinks in his heart, so is he." Our thought life directs our hearts and the two together cause us both incredible joy and incredible fear.
When I realized a short time ago that I have been battling with social anxiety, I came up with a plan to combat it. I realized this problem after praying a lot and asking my heavenly Father what was causing me, an extrovert, to be okay with not going anywhere. Over time He showed me that I am struggling with a battle in my mind leading to social anxiety. I love going out and doing things but I have been struggling with my health and I became more and more isolated to the point of becoming fearful of going out and being around people. I am not content with living in that kind of fear, so I prayed for a plan and what my Savior gave me is beginning to draw me out of my fear and helping me to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
My first step is acknowledging the problem. Second, praying for God's wisdom instead of my own thoughts on the matter was next. The Lord showed me that my overcoming in this area is to take small trips out of my house and around people so that I get through the fear. I go to shops and interact with people, I go to lunch, and interact with people, I take trips and interact with people, and other things to expose my fear and help me work through it. In addition I confessed this to my husband and asked him to help me overcome it by going with me out and about. One of my fears has been based on my home being my safe zone regarding my Diabetes. At home I have all I need to manage it if my blood sugars go high or low. I get fearful of being out and about and not paying attention and my Diabetes getting away from me, or getting out and about and not having all I need to manage it. Therefore the idea of going out has been causing me stress. How did I handle this? I now carry a pack of all I need when I go out. This way I can take care of myself, and still learn to thrive instead of just surviving.
It is a process. God is faithful. I quote my Rhema verse often, thinking about it and my Lord always helps me.
Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own undestanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."
What anxiety are you struggling with? Pray and ask Jesus. When you have identified it, ask Him for a solution, then work through what He gives you so that you can be mentally, and spiritually healthy and so that you can thrive instead of just survive in the battle areas of your mind and heart.
Many things cause us to be anxious. Fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, fear of germs, fear of not being liked, fear of not being accepted, and many other thoughts motivate social anxiety. The key that I just said was thoughts. The battle has always been and will always start in our thought life. Proverbs 23:7 tells us, "As he thinks in his heart, so is he." Our thought life directs our hearts and the two together cause us both incredible joy and incredible fear.
When I realized a short time ago that I have been battling with social anxiety, I came up with a plan to combat it. I realized this problem after praying a lot and asking my heavenly Father what was causing me, an extrovert, to be okay with not going anywhere. Over time He showed me that I am struggling with a battle in my mind leading to social anxiety. I love going out and doing things but I have been struggling with my health and I became more and more isolated to the point of becoming fearful of going out and being around people. I am not content with living in that kind of fear, so I prayed for a plan and what my Savior gave me is beginning to draw me out of my fear and helping me to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
My first step is acknowledging the problem. Second, praying for God's wisdom instead of my own thoughts on the matter was next. The Lord showed me that my overcoming in this area is to take small trips out of my house and around people so that I get through the fear. I go to shops and interact with people, I go to lunch, and interact with people, I take trips and interact with people, and other things to expose my fear and help me work through it. In addition I confessed this to my husband and asked him to help me overcome it by going with me out and about. One of my fears has been based on my home being my safe zone regarding my Diabetes. At home I have all I need to manage it if my blood sugars go high or low. I get fearful of being out and about and not paying attention and my Diabetes getting away from me, or getting out and about and not having all I need to manage it. Therefore the idea of going out has been causing me stress. How did I handle this? I now carry a pack of all I need when I go out. This way I can take care of myself, and still learn to thrive instead of just surviving.
It is a process. God is faithful. I quote my Rhema verse often, thinking about it and my Lord always helps me.
Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own undestanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."
What anxiety are you struggling with? Pray and ask Jesus. When you have identified it, ask Him for a solution, then work through what He gives you so that you can be mentally, and spiritually healthy and so that you can thrive instead of just survive in the battle areas of your mind and heart.
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