Thursday, September 30, 2010

Way Out!

I saw this a while ago and thought I would hold onto it. Thought it was thought provoking. What do you think?

Philosophy says: THINK your way out;
Indulgence says: DRINK your way out;
Science says: INVENT your way out;
Industry says: WORK your way out;
Communism says: STRIKE your way out;
Fascism says: BLUFF your way out;
Militarism says: FIGHT your way out;
The world says: ENTERTAIN your way out;
 
But Christ says: I AM the way out!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

What's Your Reaction Action?

The other day I was talking with a bunch of people about the importance of the "reaction stage". Huh? So, what's that? Bottom-line, it is usually seen as a time in a persons life when they "explode". Pent up anger or some type of negative emotion finally decides to "unpent". The person may release their rage through drugs, alcohol, or acting out in some negative fashion.

I was pensive as I sank deep into my chair and contemplated my growing up years. Why hadn't I experienced this "reactive" stage that is supposed to be so typical and even somewhat necessary in the normal development of a person that has experienced an accumulation of past difficulties? Was there something wrong with me? (BTW, those are the kind of thoughts that I plague myself with many a day... which must be one reason why I long for sleep). So, back to the question. Am I normal? Why didn't I have a reactive stage?

Then, not one... but two light bulbs went off in my head. Wanna know what hit me like a lightning bolt? I didn't have one reaction - I had two. My first realization was when it dawned on me that withdrawal from the world is a reaction. Call it silence or passive aggressive behavior. But yes, my reaction was to refrain from action. To withdraw from a world that had hurt me. I repressed all my emotions at an early age. Withdrawal and repression formed my first reaction. It could be yours, too.

Second revelation... or reaction. I realized that when I finally began to understand emotions and feel again - my emotions exploded and ruled my every action. Do emotions rule your actions as well?

All this to ask you... "What's Your Reaction Action"?

Monday, September 27, 2010

Die-Hard !

I've heard that expression in both positive and negative terms. Positive source: A regiment in the 1800's was actually called the "Die-Hards" because of their resiliency and determination to fight to the bitter end. On the negative side: RE: Public Hangings. A die hard was literally a person who would die reluctantly, resisting to the end.

When it comes to our habits, (and it seems like a significant amount of them are bad), the expression, "Die-Hard" comes to mind. What habits are difficult for you to break? Yeah, sure, there are the obvious things like "it's hard to stop eating sweets" or "watching T.V endlessly"... things like that. But what about habits that are so embedded into our pysche that to rid ourselves of them seems virtually impossible?

Take me, for example. I have a lot of mindsets that need major adjustments. I could list them all but for the sake of time, I will limit it to one negative mindset that I want to kill, but is dying reluctantly, resisting to the end. What is it? I continue to allow myself to be run by my feelings. Oh? You don't think that's bad? Think again. When every little emotion attempts to dictate all your actions... that's something that's gotta go. But it is a die-hard. A die-hard I don't appreciate.

But guess what? I'm also a die-hard... and maybe you are too! The question is, "Who is going to die first... me or my bad habits?"

I'm shooting for the "Die Hard" regiment. What about you?

In God We Trust (All others we Polygraph)

Okay, I realize that two thoughts might be going through your head right now. 1)"True", you say as you chuckle. 2) Is this person trying to say that we shouldn't ever trust anyone? Is that really Christian?

Well, please feel free to jump in and correct me if you think I'm wrong, but a thought struck me the other night that was quite a revelation for me. It may be a no-brainer for you... as a matter of fact, I hope it is. You see, for my whole life I have loved people. Nothing wrong with that, right? Right. But more often than not, I tended to equate love with trust. In my backward thinking, I assumed that if I didn't trust someone then it would be an indication that I didn't really love them either. It hit me like a lightening bolt when I realized that to love people doesn't mean I have to blindly trust them at all times. As a matter of fact, to trust somebody implicitly could be a much larger burden on them than they want to carry.

Nevertheless, it is still a new awareness for me...the fact that I can't necessarily trust people but I can trust God at all times. I guess I really always knew it. I mean, when things started really getting difficult in my life, I did put my trust in God alone. He was the only one I could really depend on. He wasn't and isn't bound by time and trials that can mess with a person's head. People are wonderful and I love them, but they're just like me... they're people who are not always perfect, make mistakes, have regrets, etc. Bottom line - unfortunately, that means they can't always be trusted. But they can always be loved.

So yes, it's true. "In God We Trust ... All Others We Polygraph"

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Victim or Victor?

Yesterday, when I was talking with my husband about wounds and where they come from, Mike said something that really struck me. "We can choose to be a victim or a victor".
All throughout the night and the next day, those words kept entering my head. Victim or victor? Victim or Victor?

Yes, it's true that the deepest wounds come when we are wounded by the very ones we love. The people we thought we could put our confidence in. Those we trusted. But guess what? If you have ever experienced a wound that was a type of betrayal, know that you are in good company. Let me preface what I am about to say by telling you that in the past several months I have met many, many Christians who were so hurt by their wounds that they receded into a shell and refuse to "come out". If you are one of those people... I want to tell you how sorry I am. I know what it feels like. I really do. It's absolutely devastating beyond any pain that you have known before. I'm also sorry that you won't let anyone have fellowship with you anymore. You will be missed. This may sound harsh, but it is true... you have chosen to be a victim rather that a victor.

When Jesus died, he was wounded and gave up his life for the sake of those He loved - you and I, and He was wounded by those He loved. You and I thought we were alone, didn't we? But we're not. Jesus experienced the worst betrayal any man can know by the very people He loved so dearly. And He knew it was coming.

Because He chose to be a victor, we can live in victory! I say that as if it is an easy thing to do. It isn't. But I had an interesting thought on that very point that I'd love to get your opinion on. Tomorrow. See you then...

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Wounded Warrior

Sigh...those two words, "Wounded Warrior", keep coming to my mind. I don't know about you, but oftentimes things come to my mind that I don't understand. Thoughts swirl around without any apparent direction. So. When they persist and I'm trying to "figure them out", I have to first isolate them. The words "wounded" and "warrior" must be separated temporarily, in order for me to understand. Okay. Let's start with "warrior". What is a warrior? (Hey, you guys, I'm going to give you my eventual thoughts... but I would really like yours as well). What do you think of when you think of a warrior? I think of someone who persists. Is loyal. Is determined. A fighter. The largest battle takes place in the mind, and the true warrior knows that. A warrior has a heart of gold. They fight for what they think is right. A deep love underscores everything they do. They are thoughtful- and mindful of those thoughts.

It occurs to me that there are two types of "Wounded Warriors". Warriors who are willingly wounded for the sake of those they love, and warriors who are wounded by those they love, whether it be individuals or organizations that exists of people. Hmmm...definitely food for thought. Think I'll chew on it awhile and get back to you...

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Model or Role Model?

In this day, it is easy to get consumed with what I call "Model Mentality". People, especially women, frantically want to fit into a "model mode". Alas, most of us don't naturally fit into a size 1... nor do we all have perfect teeth, eyes, hair and weight. The list goes on, right?

It is so easy to focus on the desire to be loved. That is why so many people have the model mentality I mentioned above.

But what about being a role model? Can I? Can you? Of course. Admittedly, the thought of someone looking to me for encouragement and/or support, is a thought that at times fills me with awed wonder. Can I be what others need me to be? I can't even live up to my own standard, much less someone else's!

Then I remember Tim Hansel. I've spoken of him before. I highly recommend you get the book he wrote called, Ya Gotta Keep
Dancin!


In a nutshell, Tim is climbing a Rock and falls several hundred feet directly on to more rock. Nothing broke his fall. An incredibly hard impact that should of killed him is what awaited him. Did he survive and recover? Well, he survived... but he never recovered. For 30 solid years he lived in excruciating pain 7/24... yet he is the man who wrote: Ya Gotta Keep Dancin!

He is a role model that I would like to follow after. Who did he follow after? Who was his role model?

It's worth finding out, don't you think?

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Physiological Funk

My friends and family know I mean well and truly try to be a good person. At least, the people who really know me. But sometimes, I just feel so bad. Do you? Matter of fact, I feel so out of control and so tired of people telling me to just "pull myself up by my bootstraps" that I could spit. Alas, I'm a terrible spitter. Is that a word? Well, you know what I mean. Some people spit and it just shoots with power. I'm lucky to keep it off my chin... Oh. Gettin off track here.

The point I wanted to make is that sometimes we... no. I'm going to simply ask you a question. If someone ... let's say a Christian ... were comatose in the hospital, would you expect them to be an amazing example of Gods reflective love and grace? Perhaps you would think it their duty to encourage and build up all the people around them by sharing God's love in the way God would want them to? But, how can they do that when they are comatose? Perhaps they are in an isolation unit hooked up to IV's hanging on to their very life? Would you have the same expectation of that person as you would of, say, a healthy Christian?

The answer is obvious. Of course not. So, why is it that we have expectations of ourselves or other people that are unhealthy in a way we can't see? It's because we can't see it. But God does. That's why I keep talking about the fact that I am so glad God knows me. He knows when I'm "faking it". He knows if I'm "making excuses" as I procrastinate. But He also knows my heart and if I am sincerely having a difficult time. He understands functions of my body that I don't know about. Hey, He created me, why shouldn't He understand?

I've heard it said that emotional abuse is more potentially damaging simply because the abused person is filled with unseen, hidden wounds. But again, God knows that as well. If you allow God into your life, He will welcome you in turn. His healing of your wounds - seen or unseen - will take place.

Maybe you haven't experienced past or present emotional abuse, but you have or are dealing with unseen physiological factors that are messing with you. Believe me, we know when we are simply making excuses, procrastinating, being selfish,etc. Sometimes, though, there seems to be some other problem that doesn't easily fit into our guilty explanations. If that is the case. Don't worry. God knows.

You may, like me, at times feel a physiological funk. But something that is easy to do is to think that you're stuck without any chance for a "normal" life. Please, hang with me... I understand that thinking - but so does Satan...and he'll take full advantage of it. He has no problem adding fuel to the fire!

Next post I want to tell you about an amazing Christian. He's been a huge encouragement to me.

Hope it will encourage you as well!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Ground Zero

You know the term "Ground Zero" from the 9/11 tragedy of the World Trade Towers.
As you know, the towers fell. The fall was actually an implosion - as opposed to an explosion. The term "Ground Zero" refers to the ground beneath an explosion, or in this case, an implosion.

Yesterday, I told you I would tell you about something I did when I was feeling very down - as if I were the ground beneath an explosion. Honestly, I felt like "ground zero" personified. I was so distraught I felt like I had imploded on myself...like the World Trade Center tragedy compacted into one person. Believe me when I tell you that at the time, I wished I were in the World Trade Center when disaster struck. I'm not being glib here. I mean it. I get so down, I implode. Uh, think I could have used a little encouragement? Sure. But, it wasn't to be.

I finally decided to reach out. It was literally the only thing I could do that would take my mind off of my misery. So. I made brownies. No, I didn't eat them! (Okay, I might have had a couple... and the crumbs) The vast majority of brownies went to my new neighbors.

The surprise and delight in their eyes was not only evident of the encouragement they received, but it encouraged me as well. So. What? Is that it? Am I simply going to make brownies for everyone for the rest of my life? Is that what I'm going to suggest you do? No. What I did realize was that every time I do something that encourages someone else, it's as if I am "rebuilding" my imploded self.

One brick does not a building make. But a lot of material will do the trick! It's as if each bit of encouragement equals a brick. Different types of encouragement results in all the material necessary to build a whole building.

Do we always have the energy we need to be encouraging to others? Do we even think to encourage others all the time? No. But God can infuse us with His strength and enable us to see the world through His eyes, if we let Him.

Time to build up Ground Zero!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Where to start?

I've needed encouragement my whole life. Needed love demonstrated to me. But how can we show love, if we've never known it ourselves? Is playing the blame game going to solve anything? Psychiatrist and psychologist can potentially be very helpful under some circumstances... but the only One who can truly love us is the author of love itself: God.

We spoke about the footholds that Satan, "The Father of Lies", uses... but now we're going to talk about God... the Father of Everything.
I want to start off with the reminder that God is not Satan's evil twin. He is not the "opposite" of Satan. God actually created him. Remember, Satan was once a beautiful angel whose pride catapulted him from God's home, Heaven. He is simply a created being. God, on the other hand, is the creator and author of all things. Period. Let's see now, who do you propose we worship... the Creator or what He created? I'm going for the Creator of all things.

Now I could go on and on about all God's attributes... but for today, I want to focus on one thing: He loves us... and therefore knows best how to work in our lives. He knows how to love and encourage us like no other.

When you become His child, He works in you and uses you as one of the supreme ways He works for good in other peoples lives. When you encourage someone, it gives them hope. When you encourage someone, for one brief period of time, you stop thinking about yourself and all your problems and your focus is outside of yourself. Not only do others benefit, but you do as well...without even realizing it.

Hey, I'll tell you something I did when I was feeling exceptionally down.

Tomorrow.