The Ostrich

I have been struggling with my annual bout of anxiety and depression. 

I must admit that I have been coping much better in recent years by catching it earlier,noticing triggers, practicing coping skills and throwing out unrealistic thinking.

Sounds easy, right? It isn't. It is constants work. 

Stress is high and that's a trigger for me. Work has been difficult lately with trying to get through that training and getting our truck passed too. 

Then I have friends that are hurting for various reasons and this makes me hurt.

And I have good stress to like upcoming vacation,a new grandchild, and a new daughter in law.

Recently I have allowed my self confidence level to drop. I listened to the deceiver tell me that no matter what I will never be a good enough wife, mother,  grandmother, worker, Christian, etc.

 And then I did the worst thing, I started to compare myself to those that I admire in those areas.

This is where I had to slam on the brakes of my thinking. I had to destroy those thoughts entirely. I may not be the same as so and so, or as (fill in this blank) as so and so, but I am unique. God made us each differently. And what makes you special, might not work for me. 

This reminds me of a word picture from the Book of Job about the ostrich. 

The ostrich is a bird. But it cannot fly. It is not a very smart bird for the most part either. Well, just listen to what Is written:

“The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare with the wings and feathers of the stork. She lays her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand, unmindful that a foot may crush them, that some wild animal may trample them. She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers; she cares not that her labor was in vain, for God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense. Yet when she spreads her feathers to run, she laughs at horse and rider. (Job 39:13-18 NIV)

So, what can I take from this illustration?

I do not have to be like everyone else. If I live according to my gifts and talents, I will have no reason to hide my head in the sand.

Pray for me, please.

The deceiver

The call from my friend reminds me of how often Satan whispers into our ears and how quickly we believe.

We believe him for many reasons and in many circumstances. 

We believe that God won't take care of us...

We believe that no one likes us....

We believe that we can't accomplish that....

We believe that there will never be enough....

We believe.......very often, everything he whispers.

For many years, I lived inside of a prison that I locked myself, the prison of insecurity. I kept myself away from many people, places, and blessings because I didn't feel like I should have good things.

Scripture tells us not to do this. There are many verses that teach us of our value and worth to God. There are many verses that teach us to trust, hope and wait. 

My favorite is:

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB)

I have got to destroy thoughts that go against what God teaches. If He teaches trust, I must destroy worry. If he teaches value, I must destroy insecurity. If He teaches patience, I must destroy haste. If He teaches courage, I must destroy fear.

And I must work to capture any and every thought that  is not in alignment with His will.

I hope and pray that if the deceiver is talking in your ear, that you battle against that and destroy the enemy.

In any case, pray for each other. We all battle something.

Consider the Ants

Bill and I are on a load that could not deliver Friday afternoon. It is now scheduled to deliver Monday morning. This was unexpected and we were unprepared.

And because of the nature of the content, we can't just sit anywhere. We are actually parked behind a fenced in area with a locked gate.

We were permitted to stop at a store so that I could run in and get a few things. It will be great. No noise, lots of movies, nice and quiet. And safety. We can deal with that.

Anyway, we got here and pulled up to the guard shack, we signed in and he told  us where to park and even told us HOW to park, nose in with back doors facing the lot. 

Ok, there were a couple of trailers parked beside where we were told to park, so I tried to pull in far enough so that our back doors were even with the trailers in the row. 

We were facing a bank of pine trees. 

We have good tv reception, plenty of food and water, lots of privacy and quiet. It was a good evening.

The next morning I woke up and started to make some coffee and breakfast. I also wanted to shake our rugs because we had tracked in some sandy dirt. When I picked up the first rug I saw ants. Hundreds of teeny, tiny ants. Where did they come from? How did they get in here? 

I carry a big can of bee spray (don't ask), that we kept very handy. So I grabbed it and sprayed the ants. Instantly they were dead.

I got out of the truck to see how they were getting in or where they were coming from. 

When I walked to the front of the truck I noticed a huge ant hill that I hadn't seen in the dark when we parked. And the nose of the truck had disturbed the hill when I parked.

If you have ever kicked over an ant hill, you don't have to ask why they are called an army of ants. They instantly go into actions, some attack, some defend, some begin the rebuild. And it all happens with no bosses, no policies, no board meetings,and no power point. It is just every ant in action. 

So apparently when I messed up the ant hill by parking over it, they saw an enemy, a really really big one. Yet, they didn't cower. They did what ants do. 

Scripture teaches us to be "wise" like ants. 

Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, (Proverbs 6:6 NASB)

The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer; (Proverbs 30:25 NASB)

What can I learn from the ants? 

*When troubles strikes, rush into action.

*Be prepared to attack your troubles

*Defend what's important

*Fix what's broken

*Do not consider the size of your enemy, face it with determination.

Time machine

While driving today I was listening to an audiobook. In the story a family was traveling in their car. Their young son was talking about making a time machine that would take you back to your most favorite thing you remember. Each family member reminisced and talked about their favorites days.

So I clicked off my book and began to think about what time I would go back to.

I have good memories of my childhood, one or two really come to mind.

I have some good memories of my high school friends.

I remember when first dating Bill and meeting Frankie for the first time. I think I loved him from the first minute. He was such a cute little version of his dad.

I remember the day I knew that I was in love,and the day I got married.

I remember vividly each of the births of my 3 kids.

I remember watching my niece being born.

I remember the day we moved into a house that we bought.

I have so many good memories. And as I tried to choose which one was my favorite, I realized that I don't need a time machine to take me back to that one day.as long as I have a memory I can revisit each of these days anytime I want.

Remembering is a good thing. And it is always nice when two or three or more people can remember the same thing. 

Good memories always seem better over time too.

Jesus tells us to remember Him. He tells us to do it often. But what He tells us to remember is not the most favorite day. 

No, He tells us to remember His death.

and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:24-26 NASB)

On the first day of the week, every week,the apostles and the New Testament church shared a communion meal in remembrance of the death of Jesus. In the same way the church of Christ still continues to do to this day. 

Why would Jesus want us to have this memorial?

Just as the Israelites held fast to Passover which memorialized their freedom and salvation from their chains of bondage as slaves in Egypt, we too, recognize that Jesus broke our bondage of sin. His death gives us victory over that bondage as well as hope of eternal life with God, if we obey the gospel.

Yes, this is a remembrance that I will gladly go back to each and every Sunday and share this memorial with others locally and all over the world as believers come together in remembrance of His death.

Junk

Someone recently asked me if I ever let people get me down.

Oh yeah,the things people do and say often drive me nuts. And especially if they are in the Lord's church. 

But what I try not to do is get entangled in other people's "stuff."

I believe that people want friends but don't know how to be one.

People want to feel loved and accepted yet do not love and accept others.

People hate to be lied to and then aren't completely honest or forthcoming themselves. 

Some want to "fix" other people but flinch when anyone tries to "fix" them. 

Be the person that you want as a friend. 

How to stop being anxious

Is there anything causing you to feel anxious? Maybe financial difficulties, rebellious teenagers, illness, running late, sarcastic spouse, ruined plans or any number of things.

This scripture reminds us what to do.

*Rejoice! Yes, rejoice. Give God praise even if it seems like not the right time for praise.

* Be gentle. Whatever your circumstances let people see you handle it calmly, as a person who knows that God is still in control. Don't be a grump.

* Remember that The Lord is near. Act as if He is bodily in your presence.

* Pray. Pray thankfully, with the assurance that your Abba (Papa) will take care of you.

Be bold

Speak the Word of Truth to others. Be bold. 

Their lives may depend on what you have to tell them.