Tag Archives: victory

Go Ahead and Name It… But Don’t Stop There!

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Have you ever felt just… off? Like there’s something wrong, but you just can’t pinpoint what it is? That nagging feeling won’t leave you alone and you rack your mind to identify it. Sometimes the source is as simple as a bill needing paid but at other times it’s a more complex emotional issue that will eventually need to be addressed.

When that “Aha” moment comes and you settle on the source of your angst… there’s a bit of relief from naming it: anxiety, grief, anger, attention deficit, clinical depression, discontent, compulsive behavior, fear, exhaustion, addiction, loneliness, frustration… or something else just as discouraging. But once you’ve slapped a label on it, in the words of Journey, “Where do we go from here?”

This is where I found myself… not so long ago. I felt frustrated and misunderstood. My feelings were raw, my heart sensitive, and yet, not much around me had changed. Because I couldn’t identify the source of my emotions, I didn’t really know how to talk to anyone about it. I stayed trapped in that place of edginess until I decided to stop wondering about it and went to the One who made me! I’m so thankful for the truth deep in my spirit that God loves me and knows exactly what is going on in my heart!

After some prayer and heart-searching, I realized that an old foe had come back for a visit… its name: rejection. From childhood, this has been a source of pain and through the years, layers have been added. I also feel like layers have been removed through healing and a deeper understanding of who I am in Christ. But life happens and we get knocked back onto our proverbial backsides at times.

But THIS is what I want you to hear… when you and I have come to the place where we are able to name our struggle, that is not the end! It is just the beginning of our journey (no pun intended )!  

Too often we settle for simply naming our issue and then we allow it to manage us:

  • I deal with anxiety, so I can’t …
  • The grief is too much, I guess I’ll always feel this way.
  • Yes, I have ADHD, that’s why I …
  • No one gets me, so I don’t even try
  • I have anger issues, that’s just who I am.
  • I wish I could travel, but I’m too nervous to go anywhere

Just because you and I name our struggle does not give us an excuse to not address it! Where do we go from here? We go from naming our challenge to dealing with it and then overcoming it!

These struggles are REAL issues and often can be traced back to painful experiences. However, no matter how valid your pain and discomfort, do not allow it to hold you captive! Do not allow it to limit who you are or what you can do! Grab ahold of the label, look it in the eye, call it by name, and get ready to live your life well… in spite of it!

Here are some weapons that helped me effectively subdue my “label.”

  • Talk to someone you trust and ask for their support. Bringing feelings, circumstances, concerns, and fears into light brings a measure of freedom in and of itself.
  • Do an online search for practical strategies relating to your label. There are tried and true ways to manage executive dysfunction, grief, addiction, and just about anything you can label!
  • Therapy… Patient, objective support and input from a therapist is valuable. Some employers even offer free sessions as part of a healthcare package.
  • Research natural healing: magnesium for stress, exercise for attention deficit, essential oils for anxiety, etc. (Be sure to check with your physician if you are taking medications.)
  • Speak positive declarations over yourself! Refuse to make your struggle your identity! You are created amazing! Declare truths over yourself out loud on a daily basis. If you are unsure of your value or identity, check out these blog posts: Stolen Identity and Worth by Birth.

Do what you can in the natural and then ask God to put His SUPER on the natural!

  • Understand that the Name of Jesus is above EVERY name! Jesus above every label, diagnosis, emotion, and trauma! The promises of God are true and sure. If God is for us, who (or what) can be against us? He is greater in us than any label on us. Check out: Ephesians 1:18-23, Philippians 2:9, Romans 8:31-35, I John 4:4. Let this song be your declaration: I Speak Jesus.
  • Hide the Word of God in your heart, place it on your fridge, play it in your car… The Truth of God’s Word will help you deal and defeat what life has sent your way.

Is overcoming a life-challenge easy? Of course not! Rarely is anything worthwhile accomplished without effort. But is it worth it? YES! Not only will you grow in strength and wisdom, but your successful journey will serve to inspire others. Go ahead and name your challenge and then tell it to shut-up and sit down! You are an Overcomer!

Live Loved

PS: If this blog post encouraged or challenged you, please share on social media! Blessings!

#thankful

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Have you noticed the new t-shirt trend?  Sure, there are still the sassy ones out there: “Sarcastic comment loading,” or “What makes you think I care?”  But there is also a wave of t-shirts available now that celebrate… celebrate strong girls, celebrate world changers, and celebrate positive attitudes: #thankful, #gratefulheart, #blessed, #spreadkindness.  As a teacher, I see the trend and I’m loving it.

When life is tough, your attitude can make or break your day! 

A few days ago, I {finally} relaxed on a massage table as I used the gift card my husband gave me last Christmas.  As the therapist started working on the knots in my shoulders, I actually had to work at calming my mind and letting go of my “To-do” list as well as my “Problems to solve” agenda.  As I listened to the soothing music, I began to talk to the Lord.  I thanked Him for my job, even though it’s stressful.  I thanked Him for my home, even though it needs some upkeep.  I thanked Him for our cars, even though the payments are coming due.  I thanked Him for my family, even as I wondered how I was going to budget Christmas.  I thanked Him for His goodness, even though I know I don’t deserve it.

By the time the therapist got to my hands, I felt overwhelmed with thankfulness!  But this thankfulness was different. I was thankful for simply having all 10 of my fingers!  I began to think of not just what I have, but also what I don’t have… an insurance claim for a house lost to a fire, a doctor’s appointments for a terminal condition, or an addiction to manage.  I don’t have empty cupboards or a home infested with pests.  I don’t have to visit a family member in jail today or a missing loved one to file a police report on.

Is life perfect?  Not for anyone!  But if I don’t choose thankfulness, what’s left to choose from?  Complaining, whining, bitterness, self-pity, jealousy.  None of those sound particularly pleasant.  In fact, all of those attitudes will make me a less than enjoyable person to be around.  Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we need to “vent” to an understanding ear.  But if we stay in that place of perpetual complaining, our attitude {and facial expression} will scream #sourpuss, no t-shirt necessary!

The other day, my friend said, “We can complain ourselves right out of a victory!”  That statement was an eye opener for me!  The reality is that life feels like a battle at times.  What will my battle cry be?  #whyme? #Idon’tdeservethis! #lifeisnotfair!  These battle cries will lead to discouragement and failure.  Our battle cries should be declarations of victory! #Icandothis #blessed #Godisgood #endurewithgrace #thankful!

I am thankful!  I have the best Dad ever!  He is a faithful God and trustworthy Father.  Even when life sends me spinning, I know that He has me in the center of His Hand.  If you need that same confidence, turn your face heavenward!  God created you and He loves you!  He IS love!  He has good things in store for those who trust Him!  Hebrews 12:28 in the Passion translation says, “Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakeable kingdom we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights His heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe.”  Your right to an unshakeable kingdom comes when you acknowledge God as your Father, Healer, Deliverer, and Savior!

#extremelythankful

Please comment and share what you are most thankful for today!

Live loved!

P.S. My husband just walked in and told me what the chickens are thankful for: they are not turkeys! 🙂

To All Who are Weary…

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What are you facing today?  What giant is blocking your path?  What struggle is stealing your breath?  What pain is battering your heart?  Are you weary? This word is for you!

“Yet I totally trust you to rescue me one more time, so that I can see once again how good you are while I’m still alive! Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for He will never disappoint you!” 

Psalm 27:13-14 tPt

 

Hold tight!  God is in yesterday, today, and tomorrow; but He wants you focused on His presence in your present.  He will give you what you need to endure today’s battles.*

No matter what is wearing you down, it won’t always be like this… You will endure this season and come through stronger!

Let this be your battle cry: “My God is faithful! He won’t disappoint! I will trust in Him!”

This word is for you, this word is for me! Our God is faithful!

*Updated: I wrote this on Saturday and was so blessed by this song on Sunday morning: King of My Heart. He is good and He is never gonna let us go!

Live Loved and Victorious!

*Matthew 6:33-34

Please share on Social Media to bless someone else!

Walking On Water

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“You need to get out of the boat and start walking on the water!”

Wait…. I need to what?

It was one of those “valley times” in my life.  I was trying so hard to trust that the Lord was at work in my circumstances.  But quite honestly, I really didn’t fully trust He could handle it all for me.  My mouth was saying, “I trust You,” but my hands were gripped tight to the helm still trying to make life work out the way I felt it should.

 

Trusting the Lord explicitly had always been a struggle for me.  I’d known it down deep for a long time, but I’d managed to keep that knowledge tucked away in my heart until the time when I couldn’t anymore.  As security began to be stripped away, the truth surfaced.  And the Lord whispered in my ear, “It’s time to deal with this.”

Over and over in Scripture, we are presented with the understanding that God is a Father1.  Isaiah 9:6 declares that He is our Everlasting Father! For those with a fabulous relationship with their earthly father, this presents a ready connection enabling them to grab ahold of God as an amazing Heavenly Father.   Unfortunately, there are far too many whose earthly father created an unhealthy understanding of what fatherhood is…  and that image is transferred to our Heavenly Father, unfairly.

I loved my dad and I know he loved me.  He loved the Lord too and carried an anointing to teach on his life.  However, he was human and like me, imperfect.  Because he was a diabetic, managing his sugar was an issue.  Many times throughout my growing up years, his sugar imbalances caused mood swings, an explosive temper, and often irrational responses to situations.   Those experiences led me to believe that even though God loved me, He also could be moody, hard to please, and impatient with my failures. Untrustworthy.

I can imagine what you’re thinking…  when I grew in my faith, I should have known that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  I should understand that God was not like my dad. I should’ve grasped that God loves me unconditionally, right?!

     Head knowledge rarely becomes heart knowledge without experience opening the door.

During this valley journey, I asked a trusted friend to pray with me.  After our prayer time, she dropped a truth bomb, “You need to get out of the boat and start walking on the water!  You need to let go of trying to control and stand back, trusting God to do His work.”

As my mind processed the idea, I came to the place where I couldn’t shove down the trust struggle anymore.  I laid it all out on the table and looked up at my Heavenly Father… who already knew all about it… and asked Him what He wanted me to do.  In the still of that moment, He showed me where I needed to let go.  I didn’t wait, I didn’t waiver, I did what I knew He was directing me to do that very evening.  I let go of the wheel in the midst of my storm and I stepped out of the boat.

I’d like to say it was easy, but it wasn’t.  I’d like to say that the storm stopped immediately, but it didn’t.  I’d like to say that I felt totally exhilarated, but I didn’t.

However, I learned that when I keep my eyes on Jesus, the storm won’t defeat me!  I learned that He IS trustworthy!  He is not moody, or inconsistent, or grumpy.  He loves me so deeply that there is nothing I can do to change that…  And He never left me, especially in the midst of my storm!

Because I trusted in Him, He brought me victory on the other side of that storm!

Recently, NeedtoBreathe came out with a song called, “Walking on Water.” How this song speaks to me!  It reminds me of my journey learning to trust the Lord, unconditionally.  There’s no turnin’ back!

Live Loved,

Please comment and share!

1Isaiah 63:16, Psalm 68:5, Psalm 89:6, Romans 1:7, Galatians 4:6-7

Building Giant Killer Faith A.K.A Nurturing Your Mustard Seed

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Yes, this is a mustard seed!

Have you ever seen an actual mustard seed?

Tiny, right?!  It’s hard to imagine that inside that bitty thing is a tree!

But that tree will only grow if the right conditions exist.  The same is true of our faith.

 

When Jesus challenged His “interns” to choose forgiveness instead of offense–over and over–they must have been shocked!  Their response was, (in my own words) “You have to be kidding!  You want us to forgive someone that many times?  Then You are going to have to increase our faith, because we want to knock them a good one that doesn’t seem possible!”

His response: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” (Luke 17) He said it this way another time: “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Amazing thought, right!! (Matthew 17)

Remember that teeny tiny mustard seed?  It’s chock FULL of potential for power in the spirit realm!  It can rock mountains, uproot challenges, and knock down giants!

But that seed needs to be nurtured and cared for, so that the tree within can mature and become a flourishing tower of declaration that is well-known in hallways of Hell!

Check out the size of this mustard tree!

So… how do we nurture our mustard seed faith?  How do we provide and enhance the conditions needed for our faith-seed to grow?  Consider what every plant needs to grow:

Soil: Our faith needs to be planted in truth, the Truth of God’s Word, His love for us, and His promises to us.  Be sure that your soil is kept healthy and fresh.  Daily devotionals like Jesus Calling are helpful for stirring in Truth each day. Also, remember to add nutrients! (Psalm 119:105)

Nutrients: These are the truths of what God has already done for you!  It’s the memories of prayers answered, the miracles we have experienced, the people who have been blessings to us. (Psalm 89:1,14-18) Create a journal of remembrance that you can re-read when your faith needs a boost!

Water: Pouring thankfulness over your heart and mind will water that seed of faith!  Thankfulness is a declaration that life is far from perfect, but there are blessings all around for the faith-building heart to find.  (Psalm 103:1-14) Start each day by listing 10 things you are thankful for!  (Hot water is one of my list-toppers!)

Pruning: This is the uncomfortable part of growing.  Sometimes we need to remove that which hinders growth.  Pull out the weeds of negative thinking, tear down lies the enemy whispers, and cut off commentators comments of gloom & doom.  This will leave plenty of space for faith to grow! (John 8:44 says that satan is the father of lies!)

Sonshine: Soak up the light of His Son! There is no substitute for sitting at the feet of Jesus!  If that sounds foreign or odd to you, try finding a quiet place and calm the frantic pace of your mind; ask the Lord to come and rest on you… then wait!  His warmth and light will bring you peace that will cause your faith to bloom! (Mark 6:31)

Faith seems abstract and hard to grasp… we wouldn’t call it “faith” if it wasn’t!

Hebrews 11:1 in the International Children’s Bible says it beautifully: “Faith means being sure of the things we hope for. And faith means knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.”

 

Sometimes it’s hard to see beyond life’s struggles to the victories on the other side, but taking concrete and purposeful steps to grow our faith will help us stand strong believing that victory will come!

Watch out giants!  There’s some rock-sized faith coming your way!

Live Loved,

P.S. Click the reply button to share some of your victories to encourage other readers!  P.P.S Also, sharing this post on social media will bless others (and me!) Thank you!