Category: advice

Pain Part 3

Pain is unavoidable and is an unpleasant part of life. If I were to say that I enjoyed pain you would know something is wrong with me. I hate pain, it hurts! So what do you when you feel pain? How do you react when someone hurts you?  To be honest when I am hurt I my first thought is not to be kind. I would like to hit the person who hit me back. Yet Jesus tells us to turn and offer the other cheek. (Luke 6:29 If someone strikes you on one cheek,turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well. ) No matter how many times I read this verse I still say, “Really?” Yet then I also remember visiting a dojo, and watched a sensei do a demonstration. He stood with a gentle smile on his face while a student proceeded to strike him repetitively on both cheeks. His expression never changed no matter how many times he was struck, he just stood there smiling. I was on the opposite side of the large room and could hear the sound of each hit, and I could see the red marks left on his cheeks. At the end of the demonstration he simply said, “We are to do no harm. Just because you are hit does not mean that you must react. To hurt the one who is attacking you is to do harm. Taking time to determine if the attack is truly threatening and evaluating your response is important.” He was not teaching that his students become punching bags, but to not react in anger. Pain can lead to anger quickly. Scripture tells us to be slow to anger and that a gentle answer turns away wrath.(James 1:19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,/Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.) So then the next time you are hurt take a moment and think what is your best reaction. Just because we are in pain does not mean we are allowed to cause pain in return. (Genesis 31:29 I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’) Every day some one or thing may hurt you, and the pain you feel will make you feel bad. Yet even while in pain you can choose to do the right thing no matter how much it may hurt. Think about the story of Job and how much pain he went through. Pain of losing children, his health and his wealth. Yet even when criticized and told to curse God and die he remained faithful to God. When he made it through all this tragedy he went a step further. God was going to deal with his friends who basically kicked him while he was down. Yet Job interceded for them and saved their lives. He is a better man than I am(okay I am a woman, but you get my meaning). His example inspires me to do better and to ask God to help me to become a more gentle person who does not have to act in anger just because I am in pain.

God bless and keep you from all harm.

Grief One Size Does Not Fit All

Everyone  grieves in their own way and in their own time. We all suffer one king of loss to the next. You grieve the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, a home, a pet, and anything you may have lost.

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I have suffers various loss in my life. This does not make me an expert on grief though. I have sought counseling and read books to help me with my grief.This is the latest book that I have read.Please be Patient I’m Grieving Author Gary Roe. I first learned of this author on Facebook and took a course he offered for free. His teachings have helped me deal with the losses I have suffered and he even took time to write to me personally and encourage me as I heal. It is not often that I publicly recommend books or author so I am going to just suggest that you visit his page and learn for yourself about his teachings.

This is the web address for his page

Gary Roe – Author, Speaker, Survivor

He does not just teach on personal grief but also how to help others who are grieving.

I pray that this will help at least one person out there.

Prayers and of blessings of healing and comfort for you all.

 

 

 

Don’t Look Down!

Once upon a time when I used to climb rocks an mountains I was taught not to look down, Keeping my eyes focused on what was ahead, and looking for any place that I could securely grasp on to to as I climbed to the top. If you looked down you could be overcome by fear. You start thinking about how high up you are and how far you could fall. I will not say that I never looked down, but the feeling I got when I saw how high I had climbed and how much further I had to go may not of frozen me in my tracks but it did speed up my pulse. I cannot tell you why I chose to climb steep mountains and not take stay on lower ground, but the view from the top of those mountains was breath taking. I wish my body would allow me to  to climb again. The feeling of exhilaration I got as I reached the peak and the beauty of overlooking scenery that can only be seen in its fullness from a higher place.

God wants to take us to all to a higher place. A place that we can see more clearly, and above the ugliness of this world. A place of beauty and peace. Peace is what I feel when ever I get away from the world and get back to nature. A place where nothing is man made. It is my happy place. Any place in nature that is away from the hectic rat race of this world. I love to look at all that God created and the wonder that it fills me with.

Peter may not have been climbing a mountain, but he did walk on water and when he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked down he began to sink. It is easy to be overcome by all that is going on in this world. There are terrible things happening every second of every day. There is no escaping it, bad things are going to happen. Yet no matter how bad it is there is still beauty that can be found if you only look in the right direction. Seeing the love of God is the most amazing breath taking thing you will ever see. You see it in the smile of those filled with His perfect joy. I know those who have suffered tragic loss and yet when I look into their eyes in the midst of their sorrow I see a joy that no words could ever describe. This is the beauty of God’s love. A new born baby, the wistful smile on a seniors face as they recall the days of their childhood. It is all around if you look for Him . He said that if you look for Him you will find Him, but He is not down, He is up.  Jesus ascended up to heaven and He will return when the time has come and take us up with Him. Just keep your eyes looking up into the sky, and one day you will see the most beautiful sight on earth. You will see Jesus on His horse coming for you and me.

So don’t look down, keep looking up. A better day is coming!

Spiritual Health/Physical Health-Fear

Fear can cause physical damage to our body. You can feel chest pains, shortness of breath. Fear can cause a panic attack. There are many things in this world that can cause fear. The enemy wants us to be afraid.There is a long list of phobias. Fear can be a prison. Some are afraid to be in a large crowd, others are afraid to be alone. Some are so filled with fear that they cannot leave their homes. You have heard the saying ‘Scared to death’. People even enjoying being scared by and watch horror movies or go to haunted houses, and tell ghost stories. Fear can cause a fight or flight mentality. It can also cause you to freeze in your tracks and make you feel immobile, like there is nothing you can do and that there is no escape.

Yet we do not need to live in fear. 365 times it is written to fear not. God wants us to trust in Him and not be afraid for nothing. When Jesus was tempted by Satan He spoke the Word. We have 365 scriptures to battle fear every day of the year. When fear comes upon you instead of giving into the fear you can speak His Word. I am not saying that this is easy, especially when you are first taking a stand  against fear. Are mind is a battle ground. There are so many what if’s that are thoughts gravitate to when facing scary situations. To be honest I know I am one who often looks at the worse case scenario. Yet recent health issues has made me remember that I cannot be afraid that it will only have a more negative effect on my current situation, and can cause my health to get worse. My mother died of a stroke 4 years ago and just a week ago I was diagnosed with hypertension. I had to choose not to be afraid of the diagnosis but be grateful that the diagnosis tells me to care for my body and my health and that I am able to see a doctor. Trusting in the Lord does not come easy for me but He has given me His Word and I can trust Him.

Here are some scriptures to help conquer fear in your life.

  1. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3 NIV
  2. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
  3. One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! Acts 18:9 NLT
  4. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Psalm 91:4-8 NLT
  5. But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”Mark 5:36 NLT
  6. I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear? Isaiah 51:12 NLT
  7. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 NLTFear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood. Isaiah 54:4 NLT
  8. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38 NLT
  9. Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil,  for you are with me Psalm 23:4 NIV
  10. The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 NIV

And here is a good article on fear

“Fear Not!” 365 Days a Year

“Fear Not!” 365 Days a Year

Bill Gaultiere

July 29, 2010

Category: Devotionals
Tags: , ,
Jesus says, Fear Not

Most every day I talk to someone who is afraid or anxious (which is generalized fear). Maybe you fear what people think of you… Not having enough money… Public speaking, flying, being far from home, or spiders… Failure or rejection… Losing a loved one… Disease or pain… Death…

We all long for more of God’s peace in the midst of the stresses of our lives!

How Many “Fear Nots” are There in the Bible?

“Fear not!” is the most repeated command in the Bible. In fact, it’s been said that there are 365 “Fear nots” in the Bible — one “Fear not” for every day of the year! Lloyd Ogilvie in Facing the Future without Fear even said there are 366 “Fear nots” in the Bible, one for every day of the year, including Leap Year! God doesn’t want us to go a single day without hearing his word of comfort: “Fear not!”

Actually, as I share in my book Your Best Life In Jesus’ Easy Yoke, there are way more than 365 “Fear nots” in the Bible! Thank God because we need to be reminded to “Fear not” and trust God everyday.

Are there Really More than 365 Fear Nots in the Bible?

Many people say, “It’s a nice thought to say that there are 365 ‘Fear nots’ in the Bible, but it’s not true.” Indeed, there is not a version of the Bible that 365 times says, quote unquote, “Fear not.” For instance, the King James Version says “Fear not” or “Be not afraid” 103 times, but not 365 times.

So why do I say that there are more than 365 “Fear nots” in the Bible?

“Fear” is spoken of over 500 times in the KJV. Furthermore, in addition to the “Fear nots” many times the Bible teaches us to “Fear God,” which really means reverence God alone and do not fear anyone or anything else.Expanding the search to look at verses encouraging us not to worry or not to be anxious would add many, many more “Fear not” Scriptures. This is why I say that there are more than 365 “Fear nots” in the Bible.

A Fear Not Prayer

The Psalmist often leads us in a “Fear not” prayer. The Psalms are the Bible’s great soul book, meant to train us to respond to all life situations and difficulties through prayer and trust in the Lord.

One example is Psalm 56. David has been seized by the Philistines and he starts to become afraid, but instead he sets his vision on his Lord and Savior in his midst. He praises God and his word to him: “Fear not!” He puts his trust in the Lord…

When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
In God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?
(Psalm 56:3-4, repeated in similar words in verses 10-11.)

Easy-Yoke-Cover-FrontNo More Fear!

What fear is trying to take a hold of you right now? What threat or trouble are you facing?

Watch and pray with David, “When I am afraid of _________, I will trust in you, O Lord.”

In Your Best Life In Jesus’ Easy Yoke I show you how to use Scripture prayers of the heart like this to overcome anxiety and fear. Let me walk you through your fears and into the loving arms of Christ. You can learn to live with peace and power!

Spiritual Health Physical Health/1 Corinthians 6:19

The Body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit
18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

We must take diligent care of our body. It is a daily effort. To neglect our body is to neglect what God has given to us. When we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord we receive His Spirit to live in us. Many of us have some type of ailment. This was the inspiration for me to start a study on both physical health and spiritual health. I know so many who suffer from different health issues. Before I started this study my main health issue was pain due to injuries to my back that effected many areas of both my body and my attitude. I want to live a better life not restricted by my body. I had learned some years ago that when my pain level spiked my attitude got ugly. I was short tempered and my mind would think about all of the abuse it had gone through and I would be angry for all the wrong I had suffered. I would start playing the blame game. If this had happened to me I would not feel this way. Then I finally had enough and decided that I could no longer this way. Despite what condition my body may be in I had to learn to have the joy of the Lord. For it is written to count it all joy when you face trials and tribulations. I was also holding onto bitterness and resentment. I was not forgiving those who had hurt me. This had to change. I started with my tongue taking great care to learn to speak words of love, life, peace, and encouragement. Now the health problems of others are not the same as mine but I know from my own experience that we all face feelings that make our problems worse when we give into them. So I started looking deep into the scripture about caring for my body as well as tips on taking better care of the body.

Now a month after I started this study I have been hit with a new health issue. I now have been diagnosed with stroke level blood pressure. Any of you who have blood pressure you know what my body has been going through.This however is new to me since this is the first time in my life that I have experienced high blood pressure. I used to say with all my problems at least I had a good heart and good blood pressure. As a matter of fact the worse it had ever been was extremely low when my health would get bad. Now I am not a big fan of going to the doctor. Yet I knew that was not something that I could ignore. So I went to the doctor the other day so that I could know what exactly was happening with my body. I did not want anything to be wrong but I knew that for the last few weeks my body was going down hill fast and I needed to know what was wrong so that I could deal with it. Pretending nothing was wrong would have only done more damage. I had often heard from some people that that hated doctors and that they did not want to get checked out because they would rather not know. Now I am not saying run to the doctor or E.R. for every sneeze or cough. That to me is unnecessary. Yet when you feel that something is wrong do not ignore it. We need to know the cause so that it can be dealt with. Next month it will be four years since I lost my mother to a sudden stroke. If had not gone to the doctor and got examined I very well could have had a stroke but now I am under a doctors care and on medication and will be able live a healthier life.

Take care of your body. It is the only one on this planet that you will have. As long as there is life in your body you have a purpose Go has for you. No matter what shape your body is in you can still serve the Lord. You are more likely to be emphatic to another because you know from your own experience how pain and illness can effect a persons attitude and how one can feel hopeless and depressed because of their ailment. You are the witness to them that no matter what God loves us and cares for each and everyone of us. That despite our circumstance we still have hope and joy.

God bless and keep you always.

Time to get out of your shell

March 5, 2016 12:39 PM

The desire to get out of the house and do things and be around others is not due to being home alone or feelings of loneliness, as some might believe. Honestly it is much easier to be a hermit. Alone, there is no one to bother you. No drama, no one to fight with. No one who can use or hurt you can be a much simpler life. However God did not create us to be alone. If He had He would have stopped with Adam. Yet He looked at him and knew he needed a companion. A branch cut off from the vine will wither and die. Yet the vine will continue to live. It can be pruned till it is not more than a stump and will survive. Beneath the surface its roots are strong and continue to grow. With proper care the vine will grow.

You never know whose life you will touch when you get out. The love of Christ inside of you needs to be shared. There is someone outside of the safety of your home who may have heard of the name of Jesus, but has never seen His love. Even if you do not speak directly to this person, your actions can be just what they need to see to know His love is real. Something as simple as your smile can brighten their day. A seed kept inside of a package will never grow. You need to get out of your shell and spread His love and plant the seeds He has given to you and to me with a world starving for His love. You were created with a purpose inside of you. Let it grow and take root. It can only do this if you take action and not let it lay dormant. Get out and till the soil, and plant those seeds, and then keep the good work up and care for what you have planted and watch the fruits of your labors grow and produce more seeds for future crops. You have been blessed, now go and be a blessing.