When Feelings Overwhelm {Choose Truth}

Days of one disaster after another. Misunderstandings, calendar errors, a string of bumbles where people are scratching their heads and wondering where mine has gone.

Humbling.

The library calls to tell me I have a book more than 14 days overdue. The pharmacy calls to tell me I forgot to pick up a prescription.

I open the oven to bake a treat for my kids and the handle falls off.

And I'll tell you, during weeks like that I find myself fighting hard the urge to sob "I give up!"

But even when I feel like this...

in Christ I am this...

See, the feelings... they come and go.

No matter what, I'm really always a bit of a mess. Sinner saved by grace.

But the feelings, sometimes they are messy, sometimes not. Sometimes cheery, sometimes blue, sometimes just plain defeated.

What feelings never are is permanent.

And that is why when my emotions start to rise like tsunami waves, I have to choose.  Am I going to believe the feelings or am I going to believe the truth?

The truth about who I am, the truth about my situation... the only place to find the real Truth... is in the Word.

So I stop. I sing. I read. I soak myself right up to the chin in God's Word and remember who I am.

Our gifted pastor has compiled a two page list of scriptures entitled "The Believer's Affirmation: Our True Identity and Calling in Christ." He has graciously allowed me to make this available to download. Just click on the picture above to download the pdf.

Linking with Michelle's Thought Provoking Thursdays at Intentional Me.

Experiencing the Fullness of Joy ~ Psalm 16

Of all the authors in the bible, David is my go-to guy when I am feeling down.  David had a remarkable way of pouring out his sorrow to the Lord eloquently.  He wasn’t afraid to be real.

What appeals to me about David’s writings is that no matter how miserable he was, no matter how hopeless and desperate it all seemed, he always ended up praising God. David knew where he stood with the Lord. Read more.

We're talking about the fruits of the spirit at Do Not Depart. To download this study go here.

Abiding in His Word ~ Finding the Time

My nine year old daughter recently asked me, worriedly, “Mama, how can I remember to read my bible every day?”

My daughter is a girl who loves God. She wants to read her bible every day. But sometimes she doesn’t do it. Life distracts her, just as it distracts many of us.

Perhaps you also face this dilemma. After years of struggling to read my bible daily, I realized the simple answer to my daughter’s question. I needed to make it a habit that fit naturally into the routine of my day.

Now you may be thinking “Ah, the early morning quiet time.” And yes, I do mean that, but not exclusively.

Getting up early to pray and read God’s Word is a great joy and blessing. But sometimes an early morning quiet time just isn’t realistic...

I'm hanging out at Do Not Depart today, 

chatting about getting creative with your schedule and making daily time with God a habit.

Will you come join the conversation?

Photo by Leland Francisco

When the Prayers Just Won't Come

Photo Credit

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

We all have seasons in life... times of peace and calm, and times when the wind blows hard. Sometimes life becomes so stormy it is hard to find the words to pray.

These are times when we turn to other believers to ask for help, for sustenance through prayers lifted up on our behalf.  God has also graciously equipped us directly through His Word.

Come to Him... come to His Word... and rest.

Years ago, a wise woman taught me to pray scripture word-for-word. One morning, in a bible study with other young mothers, she asked us to open our bibles to a particular scripture. She told us to pray it aloud together, personalizing it as we went...

I am sharing my thoughts on praying scripture at Do Not Depart today. To read the rest of this post please join us...

God loves you this much

Meditating on Psalm 139:1-18 this morning....

He knows everything about you v.1 ... what you do v.2 , what you think v.3 , your goals and your resting (even laziness!) v.4

He knows what you are going to say even before you say it v.4

He completely surrounds you, even above... His hand is on your head v.5

He is everywhere, you can't escape Him v.7-10

Nothing, not distance or darkness, can prevent God from guiding you v.8-12

He is the One who made you, in a fearful and wonderful way v.13-16

Although you were hidden away in your mother's womb as you grew, He still saw you v.15-16

He knows exactly the number of days in your life and has since before you were born v.16

He is with you, sleeping and waking v.18

May you experience the joy of the Lord this day, and rest under His mighty hand. 

photo by Matthew Hull