It All Begins In the Mind!

This week I started a new online study of "Prayers for a Woman's Soul" by Julie K. Gillies.

I've had this wonderful prayer devotional book for a while and have read it.  But I chose to do this study for three reasons:

1. I love Julie K. Gillies (and knew she would lead me the right way!)
2. I knew it would be profitable (time in prayer and God's Word always is!)
3. I knew I needed to get refocused on my prayer time (it's been a busy summer!)

As we started out the week focused on the topic of Chapter 1: My Mind, I knew this study was just what I needed.  :) God has done what He always seems to do, reestablished the message over and over throughout the week...at every turn!

Examples:

Through time in His Word He revealed to me a bad attitude I had toward a family member that began in my mind.

Through our mentor mom at MOPS I was reminded to discern fact from feeling (what is true?!) in relation to controlling our emotions, again something that begins in my mind.

Through a Christian radio program I was reminded that what I tell myself (in my mind) will affect every other part of my life.

Julie says that the enemy's plan is to consistently assault our minds until we surrender. She wrote, "The number-one way to resist the enemy is through prayer. Though the attacks against our mind can be subtle, God grants discernment when we ask Him."

It's true!  As I've focused on My Mind in prayer this week, He has revealed to me the negative mindsets that hinder not only my walk with Him, but every other relationship in my life.  Insecurity (self-focus), pride, negativity, anger, a critical spirit.  It all goes back to my mind!

Maybe you struggle with fear, worry, envy, comparison, lust.  Whatever your struggle, it goes back to your mind.  These negative mindsets must be replaced with the Truth that we find in His Word (the Holy Bible).  

We truly do need to take every thought captive and be transformed by the renewing of our minds through Christ.  And Julie is right when she says there is no better place to start than through prayer. When we ask for discernment and help, He is faithful to answer!

If you're interested in joining Julie's study (or would just like to read the first chapter of her book for yourself) check out this link.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove that the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."  

Romans 12:2

"So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace." 

Romans 8:6

P.S. Julie K. Gillies did not ask me to write a post about her study, I just felt led to this morning.  :)

Transformation Through His Word

On Saturday I had the opportunity to to share my testimony at ReNEWed Life Women's Event.  The focus was "How God has Transformed My Life Through the Word".  Here I will share what I said (or at least close to it)

Really there was soooo much more I wanted to say.  I mean, really, how has the Word NOT transformed my life?!  I love God's Word!  But I had a 5 minute or less goal (even though I think I might have talked 6 minutes).  This seems like such a vague overview of my life and the way the LORD has worked in me.  Then again, I believe it was what He wanted me to say for "such a time as this"...and so I never want to say more or less than that.  :) 

I grew up faithfully attending church and went to Christian school from kindergarten through 12^th grade.  At the young age of 5 I made the choice at the preaching of the Word of God to ask Jesus Christ to be my personal Savior.  I had a strong faith growing up.   I was taught the Word.  I even memorized a lot of scriptures. 

But as a young adult I found myself in a different place.   I was not only exposed to different ways of thinking,  I became angry with God when things didn’t go the way I thought they should.  I aslo had this nagging feeling that I could never measure up to the perfectionistic expectation God and others put on me. So I gave up.   One bad choice at a time, I began living life my own way.   I sought after the things the world had to offer me.     

During that time, I twisted the Word of God to fit my own agenda.  I told myself that it didn’t really matter how I lived, what I did or what others thought of me, that God loved me and I was okay with Him.   I thought I was so free.  But I had forgotten the truth I had learned, that a person can either be slave to Christ or a slave to sin, there is no other way.

Even though I was still often smiling on the outside, inside I was so conflicted.  The Holy Spirit used the Truth I learned as a girl to convict me.  I couldn’t escape it.  His Word most certainly is alive and active…” (Heb 4:12) and it was working in me. 

One day I came to a crossroads.  The world had left me, as it always does, in a pit.  My poor choices had left me with consequences.  I fell down on my knees and cried out to God.  I asked Him to forgive me and I promised to submit my life to Him completely. 

Everything changed from that day.  I realized I had been believing a lie.  God never asked me to be perfect.  But He did say, “If you love me you will obey me.”  Ironically, when I became a slave to Christ, I never felt freer!

When I recommitted my life to the LORD, I began to get back into His Word and let His Word get into me.  I have found that every time I open the Bible (with little kids it can be hard to find time, but when I take the time) God show me something that is relevant to my life.  I have grown in my faith.  I’m thankful for that because when hard days come (and they still come whether you’re a Christian or not), I am prepared.  I have my heart and mind set on Truth.   

I was thankful for that foundation when despite being overjoyed at the birth of our first son, weeks later my hormones plummeted and I experienced a severe case of PPD.  I was filled with such hopelessness, fear, despair and a desire to die.  It was the Word of God, the Truth that I knew from being in His Word beforehand; the Truth that other shared with me that got me through.  I repeated over and over II Tim 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.”

Then the miscarriages came.  During those tough days others spoke words of encouragement to us, but it was the Truth in God’s Word, that encouraged me the most.  Yes, it was hard.  But even in the midst of grief His Word filled me with peace and hope.   

(I wish I would have shared what I originally planned...I knew that as Proverbs 3:5 says that I must "Trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding.")

When I had my third miscarriage last year, I knew it was time to put the faith I said I had into action.  Faith is taking God at His Word.  In Psalm 33 (4-5, 20-22) I read, “For the Word of the LORD holds true and we can trust everything He does.  He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the LORD fills the earth. We put our hope in the LORD.  He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice for we trust in His holy name.”  The question was did I believe it.  I chose to believe.  No, I didn’t understand why, and I still don’t, but I don’t have to really, because I trust my Master. 

I still have a lot to learn and that’s why I keep going back to His Word.

This isn’t just for me, friends.  As I close I want you to know, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from or even where you’ve been or what you’ve done, God has a plan for your life.  There’s nothing He can’t forgive.  There’s no one He won’t change.  There’s not one thing He won’t see you through… if you will submit your life to Him completely.  Get into His Word.  Abide in it.  “Then” as John 8:32 says, “you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” 

Soon I hope to share more about that fabulous day at ReNEWed Life Women's Event.  After so much planning and preparation, it was a joy to see it all come to fruition.  It was a day of answered prayers!  Our God-gifted and spirit-led guest speaker, Wendy Blight, spoke beautiful Truth to our hearts. The worship music was amazing!  The other local speakers "hit it out of the ball park"!  God was glorified...and my heart rejoices!  He is amazing!!

The Storm

SNOWPOCALYPSE 2011 or so they say. It was a typical winter day here in northeast Iowa. Bitter cold, wind and a little more snow to blow around and drift.

But as I listened to the proclamations of weather doom for the Midwest yesterday, my mind drifted back to nearly 4 years ago when another storm raged.

My oldest son Andrew was only 3 weeks old when the electricity went out. We were facing a severe ice storm. When my husband Alan had said he was concerned about the power going out, I thought, “What’s the big deal?” I grew up in a small town in Indiana where the longest I ever remembered the power being out was 4 or 5 hours. He mentioned the possibilities…the complications on the farm, no power for DAYS. I seriously thought he was being overly dramatic (he loves weather and so I thought he was a bit excited). I sarcastically said with a rueful smile, “Days?!” He didn’t look amused when he said, “This is Iowa!“ He was serious!

I still didn’t take it seriously myself…never imagining that when the power went out it would stay out for EIGHT days and NINE nights! The longest eight day and nine nights of my life! I couldn’t be Amish, ya’ll!

When the electricity went off I wasn’t prepared for what came next. We had to pack up our stuff including everything required for a 3 week old baby (and that’s a lot of stuff folks!) and head up the road to Alan’s parents’ house. They didn’t have power either, but they did have a brand new home that was well insulated. We would run the generator 2 hours a day…1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon/evening. Those were some long days. Do you know how quiet a house is when nothing is running, not even a refrigerator? Do you know how loud a baby sounds in the middle of the night without any other noise? Do you know how hard it is to play UNO by candlelight?

Today, it probably would be tolerable. But under the circumstances it was terrible.

You see, worse than the storm that raged outside was the storm raging on the inside…of me! I was facing down a severe case of postpartum depression. Not the baby blues. No, outright, suffocating, deep depression. The kind of depression that feels as if it’s gripping you around the neck and is pulling you down into a pit of despair.

Only a couple of weeks before I had been on “cloud nine.” The highest of highs. Rejoicing over the birth of my first child! I was thrilled to be a mommy. I had the most beautifully perfect son, a loving husband. My life was perfect, everything I’d ever dreamed of and I praised God for it! Yet, that didn’t keep the depression from seeping in. A chemical imbalance the doctors said and perhaps they were right. Yet, a spiritual battle quickly broke out as well. The Father of Lies saw his opportunity and took full advantage. It was scary. It was lonely. It happened despite the fact that I was a born-again Christian. Despite the fact that I knew God’s Word and His Truth.

The electricity came back on. We went home. My mom came from Indiana to help out. Still the storm raged inwardly.

I spent a lot of time crying. Wishing I would die. Wishing to not feel.  Wishing I could just go to sleep. Yet, when I did sleep, I experienced terrible dreams and woke up in a cold sweat. Being a Christian, I felt guilty. Shouldn’t I be able to overcome this with my faith in Him? If I really loved my baby, wouldn’t I be able to "snap out of it" and think of him instead of myself? Boy, the Enemy was coming at me from every angel. If he couldn’t get me with anguish, suicidal thoughts and fear, he’d be sure to get me with guilt.

Torment! That’s the best word to describe it.

Despite the pain, despite the lies going through my mind, despite the darkness that consumed me, there was another voice whispering still. The Truth! Yes, the same Truth that fills my earliest memories. The Truth that penetrated my heart day after day, month after month, year after year before this storm came raging. As the lies of the Enemy filled my mind, the voice of Truth quietly filled my heart. Sometimes the words came through my husband, other times through my mom and even a couple of times from Christian friends. Sometimes (often to my own surprise) they came out of my own mouth as I cried out to God for help. Out of my heart flowed the Truth that filled it long ago, even though it was now harder to hear and believe.

I held on to small glimpses of hope. My mom read scriptures over me. She sat on the floor, crying and praying with me. My husband was my rock, solid and steady. Each of them pointed me to the Truth.

Like the storm outside, the storm within me eventually subsided. Thankfully it didn’t last too long, although it seemed like an eternity when I was in the midst of it. I saw the Truth for myself and I held onto it! He lifted me out of the pit and steadied me on my feet once more. Again I rejoiced over my blessings! Perhaps rejoicing even more than before, because now I grasped how blessed I was to have a God who protected me through the worst storm of my life. I realized how faithful He was, shining bright even in the worst of my own inner darkness. Despite the lies of the Enemy and the torment in my mind, God never left me. He saw me through the storm!

No matter what STORM you face, He is in control and will see you through! Fill your mind with His Truth! Prepare yourself now for the storms that come...and even as it rages, grab onto the Truth and hold on! Know there is hope in the Truth! TRUST Him to see you through...and be safe in any storm, friends!

"When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation." Proverbs 10:25

Thank you LORD for your powerful, loving protection! You promised you would never leave nor forsake us, your children. Help us to stand on that Truth so that we can see past the storms of this life. They come to us all at one time or another, in one way or another. Help the Truth of your Word to penetrate our hearts in such a way that we will be safe even as we face the darkest of times, both inside and out, because of the hope and peace that we have in You. Thank you, dear Jesus! Amen.

False Advertising

I use hair gel. More than my share. If you look at my picture, you’ll probably realize why. Natural curl! I use the gel to tame my curly locks. If I didn’t, I’d have an afro (seriously, I would!). My hair has become curlier and curlier throughout the years. So I have befriended the hair gel and some other choice hair products.

The gel I currently have says, “New! Wind resistant!” on the front. Seriously, wind resistant? Who are we kidding, folks?! Although it’s pretty good gel, I’ve never honestly come across anything that can keep my hair from being blown around by this many times fierce Iowa wind.

I see it all the time, false advertisement. Every product you see is “New and improved”, “Bigger and Better” or some fat free product “Tastes great”. Yeah, not so much. It’s like I’m immune to false advertisement. I expect it. I ignore it. I don’t take any of the hype too seriously. I don’t count on any of it to be true. I have an “I’ll believe it when I see it” attitude.

BUT I have learned to count on one source. I’ve learned that there’s one place I’ll never find false advertisement. God’s Word! All of God’s promises prove true (Proverbs 18:30 the verse on my blog header). I’ve learned that even when it sounds too good to be true, if it’s in God’s Word I can believe it.

My sins CAN be forgiven. I DO have a purpose and God DOES have a plan for my life. I AM loved and I CAN love others. In fact, I CAN do all things through Him who gives me strength. He WILL supply all my needs. I CAN experience true freedom, peace, joy and hope. His grace IS sufficient. His mercies ARE renewed every morning. I CAN know how to live because His Word gives me a guide.

Honestly, all of this sounds too good to be true. But it IS true!

Although my hair gel will probably never be truly “wind resistant” I know that I truly can resist the devil and live a life pleasing to the Lord…because the Bible, God’s Word to us, says so and I believe it!

What about you? Have you been in God’s Word lately? God’s Word is alive and powerful! Do you believe that the words there are words inspired and ordained by God Himself? Words that He wants to speak to YOUR heart! Do you know that God’s Word is TRUE, God’s Word is full of PROMISES to you and me and that God NEVER breaks a promise?

He is a FAITHFUL, LOVING Father who will never leave or forsake you! Even though it sounds too good to be true. You can count on it because His Word says so…and there’s NO false advertisement there!!

Love to you friends!!  I'm going to go read my Bible and see what He wants to say to me today. Will you join me?  :)

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Hebrews 4:12

Lessons from the Vacuum Cleaner

Today I got out our handy, dandy trusty Eureka vacuum.  I started in our living room.  I swept away...back and forth...back and forth thinking about my to-do list.  It took me a while, but I noticed something...hmm, it didn't seem to be picking up.  The vacuum isn't very old and it normally works very well.  I had a long list of things to do.  I was in a hurry.  I didn't feel like dealing with a problem.  I kept vacuuming.  I kept vacuuming...the same area over and over.  It wasn't working.  There was clearly a problem and it needed to be dealt with.  I thought, "What a hassle!" 

I took off the canister.  Woa!  It was full.  I looked at the filter.  Woa!  It was clogged.  I mean, it was really clogged.  Why hadn't I noticed this before?  Why hadn't I emptied it the last time I used the vacuum?  I wasted all that time trying to vacuum...over and over...with a full canister and a clogged filter.  It only took a few minutes to empty the canister...and just a few more to take a toothbrush to the filter.  I couldn't believe the amount of dirt that I got out of the filter!  I had to vacuum the living room all over again, with my "renewed" vacuum cleaner.  This time it worked beautifully!  I was so glad that I took the time to take care of the dirt and the clog...and wondered why I hadn't done it sooner.

Why didn't I deal with the full canister and clogged filter before..before there was a problem?  I was so busy trying to save time that I wasted time trying to vacuum with a machine that wasn't working to it's full capabilty.  Why didn't I stop to deal with the problem when it arose?  The solution was so simple.  I dealt with the dirt, the clogged up filter, and things went so much more smoothly. 

I believe there' a spiritual application here.  I'll let you figure it out...

I got up early one morning

and rushed right into the day;

I had so much to accomplish,

I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,

and heavier came each task.

Why doesn't God help me? I wondered,

He answered, "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty,

but the day toiled on, gray and bleak.

I wondered why God didn't show me,

He said, "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence,

I used all my keys at the lock.

God gently and lovingly chided,

"My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning

and paused before entering the day.

I had so much to accomplish

That I had to take time to pray.

Grace L. Naessens

AND I would add to Grace's words that we should also take the time to be in God's Word and to let God's Word get into us.  Going to God in prayer and spending time in His Word...it will help us keep the dirt in our lives dealt with and our hearts "clog" free...allowing us to work to our fullest potential.  :)   

Feelings

Ever feel weary? I know where you can find rest…

Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden (burdened), and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Ever feel hopeless and desperate? There’s a place to go for that too…

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

Ever feel doubtful and scared? God’s Word says…

When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. Psalm 94:19

Feeling insecure and uncertain? There is hope...

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

Jeremiah 17:7

Do you feel ashamed? No need, you can be radiant with joy...

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

Are you feeling lonely? Scared? You are not alone, He is with you...

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:18

Are you feeling worried? There’s someone who cares, a friend…

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.  I Peter 5:7

Feeling anxious or uncertain? There’s an answer for that…

Let all that you are wait quietly before God, for your hope is in him. Psalm 62:5

Do you feel that you can’t change? Unable to overcome?  It’s NOT true (even though the Enemy would love to keep you there)...

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. I Corinthians 10:13

Feeling defeated? Don’t know if you can go on? He’s an overcomer and with Him you can be too...

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Do you feel lost or uncertain where to go next? He will show you the way...

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8

Feeling fearful? Afraid? He’s holding your hand...

For I hold you by your right hand - I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” Isaiah 41:13

Feeling restless and in need of peace? You can only find it one place…

I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world can not give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

These are promises from God’s Word, dear friend! And unlike the world, God always keeps His promises! And unlike our own feelings, God never lies!! If we read it in His Word we CAN count on it, it’s true! All we have to do is except His promises! If we go to Him in faith believing, we WILL receive!! (Matthew 21:27) If we will simply ask, His peace is ours!! He doesn’t say He might give it to us, He says He WILL!

Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you WILL experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand (passes all understanding or comprehension!). His peace WILL guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

Struggling in one or more of these areas? I encourage you to take the corresponding promise from scripture above (or look up some for your own in the concordance of your Bible or at www.biblegateway.com, write it on a 3x5 card, carry it with you and meditate on it this week. Fill your mind and heart with the truth of God’s Word…and be set free from these negative, defeating feelings!

Remember feelings lie, God (and His Word) does not!

Disqualified

A couple of weeks ago I had one of those days. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? One of THOSE days! I’m not sure if I woke up on the wrong side of the bed or not. I do know that my attitude wasn’t the best. I didn’t feel well physically, emotionally, mentally (pregnancy can do that to you). I had a long list of things on my to-do list that day…and they were things that really needed to be done. I had some stressful situations arise, a lot of interruptions to my agenda and the tension inside of me rose to the point of bursting.

I had done my devotions that morning, but skipped my regular Bible reading. I didn’t take much time (besides some “pop-up” prayers) to pray to my Savior that morning even though I knew I would need his strength and Spirit to accomplish the goals of the day. There was just so much to do you know?!

I had just read and studied a few days before the words of Paul in Hebrews 12...about running the race God has set before us with endurance. Hebrews 12:2 says we do this by “keeping our eyes on Jesus.”

Well, let me tell you the truth here, friends…my eyes were not really set on Jesus this particular day. As the day continued on I felt weak, tired, stressed…and ticked off! I had reached my boiling point. My husband and I ended up in an argument (surprise, surprise). I said some not-so-nice things. So did he. The day only got worse!

My spirit was bitter, angry and not where it should be. I knew it. I came to the end of my day feeling like a complete failure. I felt like I should be disqualified from the whole race!!

I asked myself, “How does a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian get so off track so easily?!” I let my flesh take over…again.

As I took an honest look at the events of the day I realized that I really set myself up for failure that day. I should have set apart my time with the Lord as sacred. I’m pretty sure that if I had started my day more fervently in God’s Word and prayer I wouldn’t have ended up where I did. If I had sought His strength and guidance, focusing on HIS agenda for my day instead of trying to “wing it” on my own, I would have been so much better off. I would have accomplished more…and been a lot nicer to be around in the process.

I was reminded of the weakness of my own flesh and the words in Mark 14:38, “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body (flesh) is weak.”
That is why I must keep my eyes on Jesus! Only He can help me run this race with endurance. I can not do it on my own. He doesn’t disqualify me for making mistakes, but he does correct me like any good father corrects his child. Reminding me of my own weakness and His abundant provision if I will seek Him!

When will I ever learn?! Forgive me Lord! Remind me of this day each time I am tempted to rush right into my day in the future. Remind me that without You I am weak and full of fault, but with You I can be the Christian woman I long to be…loving and blessing others. Thank you for loving me despite my short comings and imperfections. Continue to convict and discipline me when I am wrong, helping me grow and learn to walk more closely with You.

I want to be able to say like Paul did in II Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.”

Thankfully the Lord did not disqualify me from the race! He forgave me. And so did my husband. :) And strangely enough, I feel closer to each of them today. I am abundantly loved and blessed!

I won’t give up. I will get a new grip and keep running the race:

“So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fail but become strong.”
Hebrews 12:12-13

I am loved and so are you. He doesn’t give up on us. He draws us to Himself:

“Long ago the Lord said…”I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”
Jeremiah 31:3

Remember this is a marathon not a sprint, friends!! :)