HEAD TALK

Dear Friend:

Ever wake up thinking of a conversation you had with someone yesterday and your mind starts to rehash it? You wish you would have said this... You should have said that....

The day continues, and the conversation keeps playing in your mind. If I were to ask you how many hours you wasted on that "head talk," what would your answer be? Come on, be honest. One hour? Two hours? Maybe 6 hours? You have no energy at the end of the day, and it was not caused from any physical work. It was all mental.

I have been there, so I have learned to say this to myself over and over: Jesus has the power to help me when I cannot help myself. Just this week, God gently whispered this verse to my heart:

 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41 NIV).

Jesus was getting ready to go to the cross. He reminded the apostles that, no matter how much He prepared them, they would still be weak. He assured them that He knew their hearts were willing, so He told them to pray for His strength. After that scripture came to me, this one followed:

"… fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. would be powerful!  

Prayer: Dear Father, I was tempted to jump into the pit of despair. You caught me before I leaped! Your word never returns void. Please give me a psalm or song each time I need You. You are faithful. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV).

Thanking God for the cross lifted my spirits and restored my strength to carry on. Just as quickly, though, shame tried to settle in; but God rescued me from shame with yet another verse:

"… for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:29 NASB).

Irrevocable – ahh!  IT'S FINAL! No changing His mind! Love that! God loves us so much. He really does have a plan for each one of us. Let Him fight the fight for you.

When you need to change negative thoughts, ask God to reveal a psalm, hymn or song. For me, songs seem to appear out of nowhere, but I know God’s Spirit gives them to me. When they come, I just keep singing in my heart until the "Head Talk" stops.

 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (Colossians 3:16 NIV). 

As we follow this teaching, wouldn’t it be great to Skype each other at the end of the day and share how we saw God's strong hand leading us through a song, life experience or Scripture? I know it

Quick, I Need to Feel Better. Now!

Dear Friend:

To all women have a wonderful Sunday!

Pray today, with thanksgiving, for God's blessings on those with the high calling of motherhood. Pray for those women who are struggling to get pregnant.

May women feel loved on Mother's Day. May our God of hope fill us all with the confidence to trust Him.

I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians of England. 

John Wesley 

 Quick, I Need to Feel Better. Now! 

Admit it, the only reason you get fast food is because "You're Hungry Now".  You don't want to wait.
Isn't that just like us? Feel good! Quick!

You may also find yourself caught up in the "Disposable Syndrome".  Here is a list of some of those:
Disposable relationships
Disposable marriages
Disposable babies
Disposable products 
You want life to be easier. You don't like it, you get rid of it or you end it. You just want to be happy. Getting rid of it will make you instantly happy. Life is just a fast forward.

There are things I am waiting for but the answer to how they will come is not clear. I can try to rush things, conjure it up. But wait, if I am doing that than who am I trusting in myself or God?

I strive and the answers are full of frustration, confusion and  even lies. Stop right there! Slow down, sit down, quiet down! Imagining the outcome is what is the chronic problem. Usually imagining results in worry, fear, anxiety, completely "NO Peace". Don't let negative thoughts blind your reality. Do you use your energy for faith or fear?

I saw on a sitcom the other day. One character really is always talking without making much sense. So another guy said "You should tape what you say daily, you'll find you really don't make much sense." So the guy tapes himself and he concludes saying "I make perfect sense." He really doesn't. He's what we call being in denial. Are you in denial? Do you carefully consider your words, thoughts and actions?

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8 NIV)

PRAY:  God, You have told me what is good. And what You require of me. I want to act justly, to love mercy and walk humbly with You. Help me to slow down, sit down, quiet down and trust in Your ways. Show me where I am in denial. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

HARD DAY! I give you permission to cry.

Dear Friend:

Ever have something in your life that you were told was going to happen, but years go by and it doesn't? The thing that is going to change your life. But another year goes by and it doesn't happen. You made it another year. You sigh with relief saying "It didn't happen, Yeah"!
Until...
You wake up one day and today is the day. Things are set in motion and this thing you thought would never happen is going to happen. I hope you are following me. Well that happened to me.
Others around you are saying. Eventually you knew this was going to happen, what's the big deal? Get over it.

I'm trying.  I have been praying to accept it, trust God with it but I still have human emotions. Don't you!

Here's what a friend reminded me about in John 11:32-37

"When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
Jesus wept.
 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

JESUS IS ALL KNOWING. He knew that Lazarus was going to die. When it happened he wept. He felt the pain of others and the sorrow that they had to go through. He knew Lazarus was not going to stay dead. But yet he still wept with his loved ones.

Remember today that others may not be able to understand your sorrow or pain. BUT JESUS DOES! In fact he created emotions. Cry on His shoulder as long as you want. Go ahead, it is okay. I say go for the cry and be real. It is okay to feel bad, hurt, angry, betrayed  lonely etc. 

If you are like me being surprised today, give yourself a break. Don't be so hard on yourself.

If you are the person telling the other person get over it. Can you be a little more gentle? Give the person a hug. They will get over it in time. But a hug sure helps the process. It helps them feel like you care.

 
Prayer:  Father in heaven help me to accept this change. Help me to trust You with it. Help me to see your perspective. Lord heal my emotions. In Jesus' name. Amen.

PROMISES, PROMISES

Dear Friend:

Fresh out of bed, I put on my robe and head for my favorite chair. I crack the window open and enjoy the bright sunshine and the sound of a distant woodpecker hard at work. I have a great sense of peace about me, and my head is clearer than usual as I pray and read Scripture. I love days like this. I feel no angst. No distractions. Just rest. Thank You, Lord, for this beautiful moment. I read, “Sustain me, my God, according to Your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed” (Psalm 119:112 NIV). 

The sun is going down. I am once again settled in my chair. My view is filled with blue sky and pink scattered clouds. The window still cracked open and my heart still peaceful. Negative thoughts try to ruffle my feathers, but God is my fortress, and He blocks all attempts. Thank You Lord. From morning to evening, You sustain me. Scripture being fulfilled. Should I be surprised?

 “Sustain me, my God, according to Your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed” (Psalm 119:112 NIV). I love this Word. I love You, Lord. 

My greatest hope is that each day the fruit of God’s Spirit will continue to grow in me, bringing glory to my Lord. My end-of-the-day reflection also has me hoping that my family members will continue to grow in the Lord and experience precious restful moments like this. I am forever grateful that God has placed His “hope message” on my heart. I will live. My hopes won’t be dashed. My Father’s promise. 

Have you been crushed by the weight of others’ unkept promises? I pray that you will find a secret place to sit connect with God. To be filled with contentment beyond words. It is God’s pleasure! He looks forward to it! No appointment necessary.

Prayer:  I come before You seeking rest for my soul. Right here, right now. Visit me. Fill me with Your promises, so my hopes will not be dashed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.