Blessed Is She Who Believed

"Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord. "  Luke 3:45

Believers wait...and wait...and wait.  We are told to trust in God and to wait upon Him.  There are times the Lord Himself speaks to our hearts regarding our loved ones.  Secret things He shares with us to give us hope and courage when the going gets tough.  As Christians, and humans, it is easy to forget these things the Lord has told us.  But during this time of Advent, of waiting for the coming of the blessed Lord Jesus, He reminds me that Mary believed the unbelievable, she, a virgin, housed within her body the very God of the universe, the Salvation of mankind.  God reminds me that those things He told Mary were fulfilled.  I have to believe as I wait that the things He has told me for my children will be fulfilled.  And in the believing...and waiting... I am blessed!

To God be the Glory.  Amen.

Speaking Joyful Words

A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good is it!  Proverbs 15:23

The season is Advent, awaiting the coming of the Son.  Sitting on my deck the Sun shines brightly on me, around me, and in me as the birds chirp sweetly to each other.

Awaiting the Son, the Messiah, Son of God, He shines brightly into my heart as I focus my gaze on Him.  He opens my mouth to speak joy to my loved ones as I listen to His voice in the silence of my being.

Bless the LORD, o my soul and all that is within me, Bless His holy Name.

To God be the Glory!  Amen.

I Sing a New Song

“And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” ~ Psalm 40:3

I sing a new song.  I do a new thing.  Now I work a part time job that I love and has been sent to me straight from God.  No longer do I suffer with bipolar disorder...I recover from it.  The road to recovery requires me to make choices to recover and to do those things that are good for me.  I sing a new song.  I travel a new path praising my God all the while.

Through the goodness of a friend, I discovered Peer Support and the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network.  Working at the Center, we focus on wellness and recovery, not on illness.  There I find people like me where we do not have to hide who we are.  We welcome the integration of all parts of ourselves, the well parts and the sick parts.  We are on the road to recovery and all that entails.

I have made many friends finding the strength within myself to share those less lovely parts of who I am.  Without judgement we accept each other.  I sing a new song and travel a new path.  

I have chosen the road less traveled and that has made all the difference!

To God be the Glory!  Amen.

Help Me Love You, O God

Show Me More Clearly The Way to Serve And 
Love You  More Each Day
From A Collection of Joy
by Helen Steiner Rice

God, help me in my feeble way
To somehow do something each day
To show You that I love You best
And that my faith will stand each test.
And let me serve you every day
And feel You near me when I pray.
Oh, hear my prayer, dear God above,
And make me worthy of your love.

Loving God's Word

From The Message Psalm 19

God's word is better than a diamond,
better than a diamond set between emeralds,
You'll like it better than strawberries in spring,
better than red, ripe strawberries.

For a long time while I struggled through the darkness of depression I quit reading God's word, the Bible.  I really couldn't understand why.  I have always loved His word and read it since I was a very little girl.  But at that time I had no desire to read His word.

Then one day Michael C. and I were at Barnes and Noble and I saw a copy of The Message, a paraphrase of the Bible by Eugene Peterson.  I bought it with my gift card and I have to say it's one of the best purchases I have ever made.  I can't get enough of it.  It's as though God is speaking directly to me.  I love it.  My heart and soul are filled to overflowing with the love that only comes from Him.

The bipolar disorder that has kept me down is so much better.  My Christian psychiatrist and therapist have helped so much.  I am on a new medication called Latuda that I know is a medication straight from God.  He has blessed me in so many ways, the best of which is His giving me a renewed love for Him and His word and His people.  Thank you, Jesus!

I hope anyone reading this who takes medications continues to take them.  God gave knowledge to doctors to help us with mental problems just the same as He gives doctors knowledge to help us with physical problems.  If you haven't found the right medication or combination of medications yet, hang in there and pray.  God will help you.

And...don't ever forsake the reading of His word.  There are so many in the Bible who suffered from depression and the like, including King David who wrote most of the Psalms.  Read them and you will see yourself in some of the agony David shares with us.  God loves you and He loves me.  Never, ever give up!

To God be the Glory!  Amen.

God's Forever Love

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.   Psalm 19:1

As I gaze upon the pink and indigo sky
of the setting sun
reminding of God's forever Love
day after day
night after night
my heart is aglow
with the knowledge of God
and my soul fills with peace.

To God be the Glory!  Amen.

Highs and Lows

Mood swings are not just words describing a mood disorder.  I live out these words as very real highs and lows in my life.  My moods have been all over the place in the past month but now I'm stuck.  I'm stuck in a melancholy I can't seem to shake.  All I can say is, "Sweet Lord Jesus, please help me."  I trust in Him and know if I just hang in there He will help me.  The hanging on is the hard part.