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.

The Sun Will Rise with Healing In Its Wings

The Word of God brings life and health to the very depths of the human spirit, soul, and body.  There are no words that I can say, other than God's word, that will bring healing.  Today I give you God's Word. 

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his  wounds we have been healed.  1 Peter 2:24


Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his
holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits---
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and
compassion
who satisfies your desires with
good things
so that your youth is renewed
like the eagle's.
Psalm 103:1-5 NIV

But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.  And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.  Malachi 4:2 NIV


Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  Isaiah 53:4-5 NIV

By His wounds we ARE HEALED.  To God be the Glory!  Amen.

A Life Based on Trust

Today's devotional from Grace for Each Moment reflects on trusting God in the darkness, that our faith is not based on the way we feel.  Our faith is based on Jesus Christ.  Read the following:

I have learnt to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.           Philippians 4:11-12


   As a follower of Christ you have powers at your disposal that enable you to tackle life positively and constructively.  Remember that dynamic discipleship is based on faith that finds expression in deeds, not in feelings.  Focus on the fact that God loves you, even though you might be experiencing the darkest time of your life.
   Acknowledge the fact that He will never leave you, even though you may not be able to feel His presence right now.  If your life is based on your faith in 'Christ, your confidence will increase and you will overcome every feeling o inferiority.  There will be no situation that you will not be able to handle through Christ's wisdom and power.


I thank You, Lord Jesus, that I can start every day with confidence because I find my strength in You.  Amen.

The text tells us to focus---focus on God's love as the deed, or the action, to take versus the feeling of despair. We often think of doing good deeds for others.  Perhaps today the good deed we do should be to simply focus on how much God loves us.  Focus---tell yourself---God loves me.  Christ died for me.  Find a Bible verse that resonates God's love for you and pray it over and over.  Perhaps John 3:16 prayed this way:

For God loved me so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that if I believe in Him, I shall not perish but have everlasting life.

I have gained so much insight from Grace for Each Moment.  I included a link in this post in case any of you would like to order it.   Grace for Each Moment has been a daily blessing and inspiration for me.

To God be the Glory!  Amen.

Setting Boundaries for Depression

He gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command.  Proverbs 8:29 NIV

No one thinks, "I think I'll be depressed today."  People don't choose depression.  If you have chronic depression it is a chemical imbalance in the brain, part of your biological makeup.  You don't choose to be depressed; you just are---depressed. However, the person who experiences depression does have choices.  Namely, how you deal with being depressed is a choice you get to make.

In my last post I wrote about being on vacation---sitting by the sea and viewing the boundaries God established for the oceans.  However, I was so enthralled by the whole scenario I failed to write about the boundaries.  In dealing with depression we can also, through God's help, set boundaries.   For example, at one point my therapist asked me how low I was willing to go.  He shared with me that he had been depressed to the point that he decided to let himself go to the point where he cried endlessly for weeks.

I had already been there and did not want to go back.  I had no intention of getting to the place where I stayed in bed and cried for days at a time.  I refused to go that low.  I wasn't thinking about it at the time but what I had decided to do was set a boundary.  Depression in my life that day would not be allowed to go there.  Just as God set boundary lines for the seas I had set a boundary line for depression.

We can do that.  We can choose to set boundaries for this chronic illness and refuse to let it take our lives.  One way to set boundaries is to take meds as prescribed.  If you have diabetes you take your meds in order to live a healthy life.  So, if you have depression you take your meds.  It's that simple. 

Last year I was so depressed while on vacation I rarely left the room.  This year I set boundaries and chose to do the things that make me healthy.  My sweet husband and I had the best vacation we have had in years.  It's not easy to be proactive and set boundaries.  It takes work and choosing to eat right, live right, and take meds if that's part of your regimen for health.  But if God has set boundaries for a body as immense as the ocean, He can set boundaries for depression.  Let Him guide you.  It can be done.  I'm living proof.  Praise God I'm still alive!  And you are too...

To God be the Glory!  Amen.

Vacation and the Boundaries of God

I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established the deep fountains of the earth.  I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth's foundations,  I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.  And how happy I was with what he created -- his wide world and all the human family!                                                                                                                      Proverbs 8:28-31 NLT  Enjoying a much needed vacation with my husband, we sat at the water's edge taking in the blue, cloudless sky with the sea lapping at our feet.  The ocean breeze was just enough to keep us cool.  We had rented an umbrella and chair from the vendor on the beach and had decided that "God was in His heaven and all was right with the world." It was Sunday, the day of rest and worship.What better way to worship Him than to spend a day on the beach reflecting on all that He had created!  I worshipped as I watched children of all ages run and play their sweet hands shaping castles in the sand.  Couples strolled on the beach holding hands simply enjoying the day, the view, and each other.

Fathers and sons attempted to surf in the crashing waves and were, for the most part, impressively successful.  The ice cream truck drove up and down the beach selling delicacies to the tune of "Three Blind Mice."  We watched sea gulls dive bomb into the ocean fishing for their next meal and perhaps just to show off a little bit.  Michael C. and I even had our own picnic lunch on the beach consisting of sandwiches and humus.  Man, was it good!  On this vacation Sunday my darling husband and I truly worshipped our Creator.  We delighted in all that He has made.  Even as I contemplated the vastness of the relentless sea I was reminded that it is people that God loves most of all.  It is people that God sent His son, Jesus, to rescue.    The earth drowns in the ravages of sin but Jesus came to die on a cross to rescue us from sin.  Jesus rose from the dead conquering sin so that by believing in Him we too conquer sin and can live forever with Him.  As amazing and awesome as the ocean is  it doesn't even compare to what Jesus did and is doing for His greatest creation---people.   This Sunday I worshipped my Lord with my husband while God reminded me that He loves His all His wonderful creation, especially you...and me.   To God be the Glory!  Amen.

God's Wonderful Gift of Peace

Sometimes I read words that others have written that express what I want to say much better than I can.  Today is such a day.  I want to share with you from Grace for Each Moment the words of Solly Ozrovech regarding God's gift of peace. 

Jesus promises peace to His followers. Often God's blessings and peace are all that we desire here on earth to help us in our everyday lives.  The Lord does not want us to worry or lose hope because of things that are happening around us.  That is why He promises to "bless His people with peace" (see Ps. 29:11).  The Lord does not force His gifts upon us, but He is always ready to grant them when we are ready to receive them.  If we ask for peace in prayer, then the Lord will bless us with His peace in our innermost being so that we may experience His peace here on earth.

Sometime in our daily struggles we forget the most important part, that is to ask.  Ask God for peace.  And His peace that transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4). 

To God be the Glory!  Amen.

Depression and Spiritual Warfare

"Do not be afraid, Daniel.  Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them."
                                                                                                           Daniel 10:12

For Christians who are seeking the Lord depression sometimes comes as the result of spiritual warfare.  In the Old Testament book of Daniel we are told in chapter 10 that Daniel sought understanding from the Lord and that he mourned for three weeks.  Daniel's mourning is not described in detail but he at not "choice foods"  and had no meat or wine.  To me, this sounds a lot like symptoms of depression.

Later in the same chapter Daniel is visited by an angel who tells him he has come in response to his prayer but was delayed because he (the angel) was fighting the spiritual prince of Persia.  Then Michael, the chief angel, came to help so that the angel could come to answer Daniel's prayer.

When we are seeking the Lord and fall into depression we must remember that faith is not a feeling.  Faith is a gift from God that strengthens us in our inner spirit.  We may not feel the Lord's presence but, nevertheless, He is with us.  Feelings are deceptive.  It is Satan's goal to steal and kill and destroy our faith.  But Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10).

The Holy Spirit is always at work within us to give us abundant life.  Depression may last for weeks but hang on.  Help is on the way.  Remember Daniel's story and know that even the great prophets of the Bible experienced depression.

Our Lord loves us and is greater than anything we feel.  He will never leave nor forsake us.  Hallelujah!  God is good and loves us when we're depressed and when we're not depressed.  Faith tells us He WILL answer our prayers.  Never, never, never give up!

And as always...To God be the Glory!  Amen.

Confidence in God

I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the 

LORD

in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 27:13-14

No matter where the road may 

lead me

no matter how the path may

wind

Regardless of the up and downs

and hills that I must

climb

Of this one thing I can be sure

God will never let me 

down

He guides and always 

lights my way

His goodness does

surround.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, 

and He delivers them.                            Psalm 34:7

Praying the Armor of God

In the past I have blogged about remembering in the dark (the darkness and agitation of bipolar disorder) what Jesus has taught me in the light.  Part of what I have learned in the light is to speak God's word daily and to clothe myself in His mighty armor.

We, Christians, are in a spiritual battle.  In the New Testament book of Ephesians, Paul, tells us that to fight this battle we must be clothed in the armor of God  (Ephesians 6:10-20).  Therefore, I pray the word, clothing myself in His mighty armor using His own word, the Sword of the Spirit, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, as my defense.

Sweet Lord, I pray, clothe me in your mighty armor:  the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, and the sword of the spirit.  That I might stand strong in the faith and do everything in love.

If I have blogged this before and you find me redundant please forgive me.  I feel so strongly about being prepared in God's word that I felt the need to write this again.  If you have not read this recently then, well, there you go.

To God be the Glory!  Amen.

Southern Heat

The heat ascends as if from the very ground
shrouding, winding, leaving tendrils
of wet warmth
to smother and engulf
threatening
molten lava seeking to inhabit
even the depths of my mind.

The Sixth Sense...The Sense of Humor

Sometimes things are funny just because they are funny.  Take falling for instance.  Now, I desperately try not to laugh when I see someone fall especially if they are hurt.  But just the sight is so hilarious with arms and legs going in all directions most of the time I can't help but snicker.

When I fall I usually end up laughing so hard I almost wet my pants.  Today, however, I did the "fallen and I can't get up" kind of thing.  Oh, I managed to get up---after the stars I saw faded and I rescued my flip flop to put back on my foot.  My wonderfully hard head broke my fall smacking first the sink, then the toilet, and finally the concrete floor in the tiny bathroom where I had fallen.

With my body sprawled in all directions I moaned and lay there trying to get my bearings.  I was lying on the floor in a tiny bathroom in a store in Sugar Valley.  Moaning, and moving, trying to determine if anything was broken, I was a bit taken aback when the store owner ( a tiny, little thing) stepped up to my line of vision and said, "I'm not gonna try to help you up."  "No,"  I responded, "just let me lay here for a minute and catch my breath."

A few minutes passed which seemed like hours and she came back.  "Do you want me to call the ambulance?" she asked.  Again I said, "No, honey I'll be fine," clearly lying through my rattled teeth.  I lay there for a moment more and thought, "What am I going to do?"

Then it came to me---a song I sing to my little grandson while I rock him to sleep called "Just a Little Talk With Jesus."  So I had a little talk with Jesus.  "Sweet Jesus," I prayed, "please help me get out of this floor!"  I have to say that's one of the quickest prayers I've had answered.  Within scarcely a minute I was off the floor finishing up my business and slowly getting the heck out of dodge.

Now when I think about it I just have to laugh.  Banged up a bit, bruised a bit, I still can only imagine the sight of me lying in that floor with that little lady saying, "I'm not gonna try to help you up."  She meant well and frankly I did not want to be moved at that time.

I say all that to say this.  Some things are just funny and most of the time falling is one of them.  Thank God for the sixth sense...a sense of humor!

To God be the Glory!  Amen.

The Butterfly

I feel like a butterfly who has emerged from its cocoon.  The darkness has abated and the light of God's love shines brightly in my heart and soul.  Jesus is the true light who has come into the world shining His light on me (John 1:9). 

I was talking with a friend of mine the other day who didn't know my mental health issues.  I've managed to hide it quite nicely, if I do say so myself  (basically by hermitizing).  At one point I finished my sentence with, "You know what I mean."  To my surprise she said, "No, I don't know what you mean."  We thanked God together that she had never experienced the deep well of bipolar, or any other, kind of depression.

I sometimes forget that not all people have bouts of depression.  For this I am thankful.  But for those of you who do know what I'm talking about you understand the beauty of color, the wonderful scent of honeysuckle, and the glorious sound of children laughing.

You understand the butterfly and its struggle to leave the darkness of the cocoon.  You understand the indescribable joy of emerging from the darkness into the light.  This is what I am experiencing now.  Thank you, Holy God, for the True light, the Light of Jesus that fills my soul and makes my heart sing.  Thank you God for reminding me over and over, "Remember in the dark what I have taught you in the light."

To God be the Glory!  Amen.

God Is My Hiding Place

For Christians with a mood disorder, prayer is the tool in our toolbox of coping skills that keeps us alive.  I am learning to pray, not my words, but God's word and that has made all the difference.  For instance:

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge.  I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.                                                         Psalm 57:1

These words from the Psalmist speaks to me in a very personal way.  Where can I run?  Where can I hide from the darkness of despair and depression?  I will run to God hiding in Him until the disaster of mood swings has passed.  When I pray to God His word, prayer becomes the very hiding place of God.  I wait knowing that in Him my soul takes refuge.


Everyone has a "thorn in the flesh" and bipolar disorder seems to be one of mine.  But I trust God.  He has sent me an understanding doctor who prescribes the medications I need.  God helps me to speak words of truth to my therapist digging deep to remove thorns of untruth showing me who I am and that I am loved by God just as I am.

And He is teaching me to pray His word planting seeds that will nurture and grow me despite ugly thorns in the flesh.  God is my hiding place and prayer is the vehicle that takes me right into His presence.

To God be the Glory!  Amen.

 

Accept the Gift

For to me, to live is Christ.   Philippians 1:21

To be Christian is to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God.  The living Christ, however strange it may sound, actually lives inside the Believer.  Circumstances, can and will at times, overwhelm we Christians threatening to rob us of the joy of simply being Christian. 

Today's devotional from Grace for each Moment says, "Accept the gift of Himself in your life and allow Him to live through you."  Whatever our circumstance we can stop, reflect on the goodness of God, accepting the gift of Jesus in our lives.  The key is acceptance.  Accept the gift.  Daily accept His gift.  Each moment accept His gift.  When we know Jesus nothing can separate us from His gift.  The gift is Jesus Himself.  Praise God!

To God be the Glory!  Amen.