CHANGE YOUR WORLD! IT'S MAGICAL!

   When you are in bed with depression 

beginning this will be the hardest part. 

But, you have got to try this even though everything in you will say that you just cannot. You may feel weighed down, or that it is impossible. But I can attest to you that this next opportunity  is by far the simplest but not the easiest. Here goes!

    DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE YOUR ENVIRONMENT!
     Paint a wall, or pull weeds, mow the lawn if you have one, paint the front door, clean windows, redo something, clear out clutter. The project is your choice! What can YOU come up with to do?  Do something to make an improvement in YOUR environment. Just get up and begin. Put one foot in front of the other and the magic will begin to happen.

When you do something that changes your environment for the better something magical happens inside of you (wherever you may be). 
You are EMPOWERED.  
Get ready for GREAT IMPROVEMENT in the way you feel as you take advantage of this OPPORTUNITY.   
Things will get better for you,  IMMEDIATELY! 

Enjoy being empowered and continue using this tool. It is the magic wand you can wave over depression.

I pray that the blessings of God fall like a gentle rain on all who read this. Amen. I believe!

GOOD THINGS REALLY CAN BE FOUND EVEN IN THE WORST SITUATION

You can find great relief in times of anguish and depression. This will work for the one who does it. Find the good thing to do and do it!

Simply take a sheet of paper and list all the things you don't like about your life. List everything that comes to your mind.

THEN! Turn the page over and begin to list everything you LIKE in life. Things you are thankful for. As days go by you will find things that need to be added to this list of positive things in your life. These things can be anything and nothing is silly! This is no one's business but yours. This is YOUR list.

This next part is important. Make a habit of reading over all you like about life. Don't even turn the sheet to the other side. Only read the good things in your life.

• Never read the list of negatives.

• ONLY read over the list of things you feel good about. The positive list.

On my positive list I remember very well some things I listed; the beautiful blue sky, the birds flying across it,  all of nature, and also people I was thankful for. Things just began to come to me as the days went by and I added to my good list.

I kept my list with me at all times. You must too. I kept it face up on the dash of my car. I read it often. 
  FIND THE GOOD THING TO DO AND DO IT!
Go ahead do it right now  =))

VICTIMIZED BUT NO VICTIM!

Recently I have been reminded that although life entails its' moments or maybe even years of victimization by some ego centric person that crossed your path...and even though terrible acts may have been committed against you, if you are out of the situation don't allow yourself to continue to be the victim! 

Yes, you may have months or even years of processing and healing but you are no longer in the situation and are not a victim. 

There are many, many things we can be victimized by. Family violence, alcoholism, drug abuse, unfaithful spouse, a deadbeat parent, even as a result of poverty, just to name a few of the very common ones. 

      Perhaps you are the victim of sexual harassment or bullying at work or at school. If these things are happening or have happened in your life the first act of a person who refuses to be victimized is for you to make an outcry to someone. If you are in school make an outcry to an official at school like your school counselor, a teacher, or the police. If you are at work, take a stand. Write a letter and give it to someone in higher authority in your company but if the act is criminal as in sexual assault or assault, terrorizing, or stalking, tell the police in your area.

      Once these things are brought to the light and stopped then you can be on your way to recovery. A recovering victim.
Sometimes help in your recovery process seems hard to find but it is there through seeking wise counselors, prayer, and joining different groups under strong leadership.

People are victimized in life and it is important that we recognize it is an awful thing. There is great need for wise counsel and healing but it is important for those who experience the different types of victimization to see themselves in a different light. Don't see yourself as a victim but instead do something proactive about it. There are legal ways to do this and that is what I am suggesting. I believe there is ALWAYS something that can be done. Don't just roll over and take it.

Once you experience standing on very shaky legs and getting yourself out from under the victimizer the next best thing you can do for yourself is declaring to yourself, "I AM NO LONGER A VICTIM!" I believe there are many people who although they are no longer in the situation still wear the mindset of a victim. Some find this to be there new COMFORT ZONE but no matter how UNCOMFORTABLE  it may feel you must discard the old and put on the new! 

 I just want to add that  there are indeed horrific acts against victims that I won't even name. Much compassion and prayer go out for all having experienced such criminal acts. It takes great courage and resolve to stand, to pursue healing, and to recover in these situations. In no way do I over simplify your recovery or experience. 

FIND THE RIGHT SEED AND PLANT IT!

Introducing in this Blogspot Feature my great niece, Margaret. In her short years on this earth, this now single parent of two very little boys  has had some of the hardest struggles in life. Margaret and has learned first hand, in some horrific trenches that her dependence and strength is found in only our Father God and Lord Jesus Christ. Victoriously, He makes a way where there doesn't seem to be a way.
                                                         ~~~~~
Do you know? The bible says that, 'God has given us the ability to be wealthy and prosperous in the Lord'.

'A lazy man will reap what he sows and because he is lazy and will not work the thorns of this world begin to cover his field.

The man who does not occupy his field is allowing his field to be occupied by the things of the world and NO good fruit comes of thorns.

Jesus said,"DO MEN GATHER GRAPES OF THORNS, OR FIGS OF THISTLES?" You can read it in  MATTHEW 7:16.

If you keep reading He goes on to say good trees make good fruit and bad trees make bad fruit. Heres the deal bad tree make bad fruit, why ? Because they are being occupied by corrupt morals/ principles.

Being lazy produces corruption by nature because that one is not tending to their field and because they are not doing anything at all (which is an action, not in motion) and results in poverty,  destuction ect. You have to work in your field. The field of (life) .

So here we go;
You want a marriage, you get married .
You want money, you go get a job.
You want friends, you go find someone to be friends with.

Okay, that's nice and all, BUT!
      (Here's the stop sign.)

• WHAT KIND OF FRIENDS DO YOU WANT?
• WHAT KIND OF WIFE/HUSBAND DO YOU WANT?
• WHAT KIND OF LIFE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE ?

IF you want good fruit you have to sow good fruit in your field. If not then don't do anything at all and see what happens, thorns will just start to appear in your field.

 So doing nothing results in the same way as someone sowing bad seed. Neglecting to do the right thing is neglecting to plant good seed. 

 The bible says,'To know the right thing to do and do it not, to him it is sin.'

It's kinda like this, 'guilt by association' . If you see someone beating someone else are you going to sit there and do nothing about it?  NO! But using wisdom you are going to aid that victim. (In the book of Proverbs we are taught how to not react in a way that would be like grabbing a dog by the ears and being attacked by the dog.) 
SO -- quietly call the cops if there is a chance you might be shot or otherwise put yourself as a victim, RIGHT? But, Love must find a way to help. 

Okay so your going to do something about the problem. If you do not do anything at all then you are GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION. 

 So many christians want to say WELL THE DEVIL DID IT, AND NEVER ASK THEIR SELVES DID I HELP HIM DO IT? Just a thought. I know I have been  guilty of this many times in my life.  Choose to take action! Amen !

So you see choosing to do nothing with the field of your life is sin. Find the right thing to do and DO IT!

Neglecting to do what you KNOW is right is sin.

All knowledge and wealth comes from God the Father, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT! Choose to apply God's understanding to your life ! PROVERBS 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

PROVERBS 24:30
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

God can use us even when we are angry if we just keep doing the right thing.

Today at the end of the workday a fellow worker stopped by my desk. I thought she was bringing a folder with corrections for me complete and send on it's way. However, this was not the case. This person proceeded to rant about how "ya'll are doing these wrong" . Her reference isn't to me it is to a part of the department that I am not even responsible for and she is out of line. Us and them.
 
Why this makes me so angry I don't know exactly but Oh did I feel my disgust with this person rise. In my dealings with her I have noticed that she is always foremostly concerned about what everyone else is doing wrong which of course is her establishing that she is right before any communication can begin. I on the other hand could care less who is right, who is wrong unless they are breaking the rules of proper treatment of employees (including myself). Otherwise I am on the most part a let's get it done person and move on.

As I look over the events of the afternoon the WHYs come right at me. There I was minding my own business, doing my job and doing it well I might add and here comes the problem. I wondered why Lord do things like this occur? Then I remember my remark to the 3rd party involved in the situation after trouble had gone back to her cave. I distinctly let her know that the thing that bothered me about that person is how needful it is for her to establish how someone, is doing something--ANYTHING it seems, wrong, WRONG WRONG WRONG! LOL I so see through this type of defense mechanism, don't you? It just totally eats my lunch.

If you think about it, isn't that what gossip does usually? It establishes the 'other' party that isn't present as WRONG, SINFUL, ECT. or just simply one way or another LESS THAN the gossip party. That means the ones making the calls and dishing the gossip must be really high and mighty. Woooosh! There it is! Some people DO feel good somehow playing GOD. It is pretend though and in the end gossips hurt themselves and chip away at their own integrity and moral code. It also shows a lack of intelligence through choice of conversation topic.

So, choosing positive over negative things to speak about others is finding the good in a bad situation. Be a good example when you can and try and encourage when you can rather than use your tongue for harm.

It isn't always in the beautiful things that we are used but sometimes through our anger and frustration. Even then, God can use you. I am glad.

Keep doing the right thing, even when you are angry and even if others are doing the wrong thing!

PROTECT THE CHILDREN IN YOUR NEST!

Working in State Records has been such an eye opener about what mankind is capable of. I never knew of such heinous behavior until I began reading/working on the offender files. I was always one who didn't even care to watch the news because it was so full of negative. I have come full circle in my feelings and reactions about what I have seen. From anger, tears, to frustration, and mercy. I was reminded that Jesus died for the murderer, the child molester, as well as the gossip, the adulterer, and me.

I say full circle because I mesmerized myself into thinking that as a christian I shouldn't be angry over daddy's who rape their own little girls or boys. Or mommys who know what these daddys are doing and allow it to continue even though the child comes to them for help. Not the way I feel anymore. Someone needs to get angry and say SOMETHING!! The bible teaches us to be angry and not sin. It doesnt say dont be angry. I am angry and saddened by what is happening in my state and I am sure all states. I Don't want to just sweep it under the rug or keep it stuffed inside while it demolishes my heart because I'm not doing anything to try and help.

Parents need to realize what is commonly happening and maybe to one of your children's playmates. Be alert to the signs and find out what they are concerning other children. Be cautious of where you allow your children to spend time and who is there. Someone who can be trusted may have a visiting relative who is an undiscovered pedophile. This is a recurrent theme in the state records. (Please know there are some women pedophiles in the records I bear witness to but these are few by comparison.  Either they go unreported or there are few as the records indicate).

As a single mom for many years I have thought in hindsight that I was much too careful with my beautiful sons but now can say I was right in protecting them until they were old enough to take care of themselves. Am I trying to frighten you? Yes, into being the protector of your children and not a careless parent that might send your kids anywhere to have some peace and quiet. Most of you are probably smarter than that. God trusted your children to you, not to the 4 winds. I'll hush for now.

A YEAR OF HOLIDAYS FROM AN EMPTY NEST

EMPTY NEST / LONELY NEST ?  FEELING DISLOCATED? 

                                  You're not alone!

Lately, I have realized that  it is not always the thing on the outside that crushes the heart but a heart can faint, fail, misfire because of what is going on inside. As a singled mother of many years to 3 sons, now grown, I focused the majority of life on my sons. Keeping them involved in those things that would bring healthy growth and filling what could have otherwise been idle minds and hands.
Out of that kind of concentrated living as one who embraced motherhood responsibilities I knew I was the utmost important person in their lives. My life was full and I found self-worth and value in being their mother.

As my sons grew up and into careers, wives and homes of their own my motivation for anything began to drain. Being their mother had been the driving force in my life. Instead of maintaining a daily lectio divina with the Holy Spirit guiding me through this difficult time  I no longer had my motivating drive. Every good thing I did, I did for them and because of them. They were my supreme motivating factor. Otherwise I was slain by life. My ardent prayer was that God help me to be the kind of mother He would have me be.

In looking back I realize some of the times I got sidetracked. Always by my own human frailty. Yes, I smile, there were mistakes and after a few years of sorrow at seeing them I realize these were also part of the whole picture that God in His great mercy and compassion blessed us through in spite of. I tried unsuccessfully remarriage rather than concentrating on healing. I was too desperate. Still, He allows me to see the great good that was accomplished because of His love in me and His light in our lives. The reality of my imperfectness does not blot out what by His power alone was accomplished  in our poverty of not only finances but of earthly care from a family unit.

The three of us, however crippled by lack, were rich in love. Our great love for each other and God's great love for us. A love that loved us back.

My life as a mother and a good wife for 20 years, and then a single mom with an infant and toddler and adolescent son who are all grown and married by now has thus far been the pinnacle of accomplishment in my life. Motherhood has been my greatest achievement and highest earthly honor.

To become the lone person left in that nest has now become the great challenge of my well being. And the thing that was the source of my greatest strength has become the source of my greatest weakness. My Achilles heel

Even my heart began to fail me and I have wondered if this experience would be the end of my life on this earth so deep has the tear been to my psyche.
I have done, tried, all the goal setting, the positive life filling things I found to try but have only had periods of time I managed to stay afloat and then would go down for the count for longer and longer periods each time.

Each time the onset of the holidays brought deeper sinking. Holidays are as you know big family time, and with the standard of wonderful years of  Thanksgivings and Christmas shared I went under for the count again. This last season proved my lowest point, and now January, when all the tears had been cried and all the pain had been experienced,  I grasp for the one thing that would save me. I returned to the one thing that always saw me through. A love that loves us back.

My new motivating factor has now become to preserve my life and to not allow my heart to fail. To be the person God can be in me. For Him first. And by Him only. He has become the lifter of my head when there was no other. The friend who sticks closer than a brother.

In a One Month To Love blog I began to search for direction to grab hold of my only savior. I went back to week one to begin at the beginning and oh what an Electio Divina! The Holy Spirit used those simple living words to speak and give me much needed guidance. Here is the guidance I received!

“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.“ Psalm 46:10 (NASB)

My Electio Divina from the Holy Spirit to me, 'Doesn't that lead to strife inwardly and outwardly leaving you miserable and sick in heart? '

YES! YES IT DOES!

I humbly admit...confess, that after so many years in the exalted role of mother it was that importance, that exaltation, that feeling of love and worth and importance  that I fearfully held in a grip against the monsters in the mind desiring to take it from me!  Am I making sense at this point?
The bible tells us to, Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God and HE will exalt you in due time.  This speaks to me , Quit STRIVING to be exalted in your family with your friends and your work. STRIVING is a word full of negative meaning. Strife is what is brought about through striving and I am thankful to be guided by the word of God and the Holy Spirit through Lectio Divina that I received .

If you are interested in beginning your own ancient method of meditation to receive Holy Spirit guidance through that means here is a free website to help you know how to do that.

http://www.kerryandchris.org/2013/01/14/one-month-to-love-day-1/

WOW! CEASE STRIVING--Know that I AM GOD! Another scripture that comes to mind--
"Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and I will exalt you in due time."  Humilty isn't an 'act', humility is an action.

This may all seem quite over the top for many but I assure you for the one who goes through the situation as with a lot of trials it is quite devastating. God has brought me through to this moment and I am strong in Him alone. I am thankful that God is faithful. And yes I have and have had many, many things to be grateful for, through all these 30 something years.

FIND THE GOOD THING TO DO AND DO IT!!!