Creatures of habit

Whether it's food, sleep, extra activities... I'm a creature of habit.And not all my habits are productive.
I tend to overthink, over compensate, overreact, over indulge, over expose, over analyze, over infringe, over and over again.
Nighttime is my "write" time. Or should I say, the wee morning hours. I awaken somewhere between 2:30am and 3:00am and the routine begins.
Check the weather, check my email, check my facebook, read my bible, pray, read a commentary, read fellow bloggers posts.... Drink coffee.... Lots and lots of coffee...
Sometimes habits are not healthy, but this nightly ritual has proven to be very beneficial... I have found strength, inspiration, peace, joy...in the early morning hours.
I tell my friends and family, it's my God time.
What was the day before, and what is to come are reflected upon. An ending and a beginning. I like new beginnings. Fresh starts... Do overs... Second chances..

My life has been full of them.
In these hours I come to the core of what is important.... And it always come back to one central theme, thought, emotion.... Love.
Love is the foundation of who I long to be, what I long to reflect, who Christ is... Love.
It's what I believe in more than anything else... Love exist.
So, as bad, unproductive, unimportant, some of my habits are....this God time is one habit I don't want to break.

Warped humor

Proverbs 27:9 The Message (MSG)  Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.

I love to laugh....

I surround myself with friends who keep me in stitches. 

Laughter is the best medicine for me.  I just spent another day hanging out with one of my favorite friends.

She makes life fun. And the stress of the routine, the pain of life's dissappointments, the bordem of day to day, is washed away in the tears of a knee slapping moment.

How blessed I am to have such great friends.
They don't take life too seriously, and they don't let me either...

All is well in the world over a pumpkin spice latte and a good chuckle.

One thing I can say about my friends is this.....

They have a positive outlook on life. No sorrow to deep that a smile, a wink, a laugh can't make better. 

And...... That makes them the very, very, very best friends this girl could ever ask for.

Proverbs 17:17 The Message (MSG)  Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.

Tales from the Dark Side

I am dealing with an emotion I have been having lately.....

 

Anger has always been something I don't claimed rights too;  fearing it would reveal it's ugliest parts within me and devour my very soul.

Anger makes me lash out, makes me cruel, makes me UGLY.

I am usually a very "in control" person and anger takes CONTROL of me. I don't like not being in control of my own emotions and reactions....

I give away my power............ and in the RAGE.... I become weak.

ANGER runs the gamut of emotions, but the outcome of it's venom is spewed upon others who happen to fall prey, or slip past unknowing, ..................the innocent get the worst of it.

It is like a side of me that I never knew existed emerges from some deep crevasse.....

Where did this ANGER come from?

FROM AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION:

Anger is an emotion characterized by antagonism toward someone or something you feel has deliberately done you wrong.
Anger can be a good thing. It can give you a way to express negative feelings, for example, or motivate you to find solutions to problems.
But excessive anger can cause problems. Increased blood pressure and other physical changes associated with anger make it difficult to think straight and harm your physical and mental health.

I know, even God was an ANGRY God at times.... but I ain't no GOD! Guess, I need to do some relaxation, anger management type techniques and forgive myself for being less than perfect.

Here are some tips for dealing with ANGER I found:

• deep breathing
• visualizing
• change of scenery
• humor
• become a better communicator
• work on problem solving techniques

For now, I'm going to breathe and relax and laugh and communicate with my family better this weekend.

Gotta start somewhere!

Posted from Grace is for Sinners

http://www.graceisforsinners.com/life/drunk-dial/

Now What?

Ever had a season in your life where you question everything you thought was real and true? That is where I am. Seems like I have been in the "twilight zone" for so long.....
Now what?
I'm searching the Word for the answers...
Now what?
I feel such displacement.....
Now what?
I know enough about my Lord to know this...
He has the answers I don't have
Now what???
I'm believing that He will lead me.

But in the waiting.... the longing to hear Him.....I'm wondering....

Maybe my question should not be,

Now what???

But,.... What Lord???

If you're in this season, know you're not alone.
God is with you....

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

 ¹ For everything there is a season,
      a time for every activity under heaven.

Discernment

I usually don't ask for prayer, but I need my fellow believers to pray for spiritual discernment in my life.

Thank you for praying! 

Robyn

Ephesians 6:18 "In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open.

Keep each other's spirits up so that

no one falls behind or drops out."

Mental Breakdown

It happens to the best of us. I've    been there. On the verge of a total loss of your sanity. There are no words, no way to describe it.
I have awaken feeling like I'm having a heart attack. Shaking uncontrollably. Begging for the pain to just STOP.  I have dug my fingers into my own flesh to feel something other than the overwhelming feeling of pain.
Depression, panic attacks, anxiety are all very real feelings, experiences that plague a greater number of people than we can even imagine.
I would beg God for relief. Take me home. Release me.....
I have heard many people, even those within the church say horrific things about people having a mental breakdown. Lord help them that they never experience a time in their life when life here on this earth just becomes to much to bear.
Jesus knew that our journey here on earth would be filled with such pain and that is why grace, mercy and love is poured out on man from our Heavenly Father.
No matter what your circumstances, no matter the turmoil within, know this.... You are not alone.
Going through an unbelievable pain in my life, thinking I could handle anything if I would just pray harder, believe and have stronger faith, is impossible. I don't have that strength. With medication and the support of those who knew what I was going through, I came out on the other side.... But, I had support. I had tremendous support. And I had Christ.  It took weeks for the shaking to stop. It months for the anxiety to subside. It took time. It took prayer.
Those who know me casually would be shocked, because as one lady told me, "you got it all together.."  Little did she know.
I'm writing today for two reasons. I want to share my story so others will not feel alone, because love, many walk this journey with you. And second, I want others to know.... There IS another side... Even when you can't see it or even believe you will ever reach it.
Hang on... Have hope, let those who love you help you, and let Christ carry you....i know you are so tired...know he has the strength...
An old lady once told me years ago.... "Honey, everyone has issues..."
You are not alone.
Jeremiah 29:11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
For I know the plans that I  have for have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Trash in, trash out

My mother always said to us growing up, "trash in, trash out."  I never paid much attention to those words as a child, but I never forgot then either.

Somewhere around my early twenties the things my mother said when I was growing up would creep back into my mind.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

Training a child in the world today may seem harder, but what about the children of Israel. The Bible is full of rebellion... Followers turning away from God.  Do our children today have more pressures on them because of the media, the cultural norms, the internet?

David himself was rebellious. Jonah ran from his task....even Moses questioned God's request.

Sin has been present ever since Adam and Eve. And sin will remain present even today.

But... Even though these great men of God failed, they also became great. Just as we can become great in our time. The call is still being preached.... Go out and tell the good news...

"He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." Mark 16:15

It is my charge to tell the good news of Jesus. Share with others his saving grace and mercy... And teach his Holy Word.....

But, I need to begin at home.

5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 16:5-7