Growing up Thanksgiving meant being off school and eating a big meal. It also meant time with family and giving thanks. After we ate and dishes were washed, we would sit around playing games. We were a competitive bunch and still are. It was a time for family. No one went anywhere except to travel to visit family. Everything was closed except for gas stations. We never had much money, but we ate good. There was turkey, mash potatoes, stuffing, candied yams and corn. Those were the good ole days.
We never put up a tree until December or even start
thinking about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. The whole month of December was long enough
to get excited for Christmas. November
was for Thanksgiving! In November we
thought about how our country started.
How the Pilgrims came over here so they could have religious
freedom. Our thoughts turned to God and
we thought of ways we were thankful.
This will be the sixth
Thanksgiving I have worked at Walmart.
Before that I worked at a hotel and usually worked Thanksgiving but had
my evenings off. Working at Walmart it
seems the push for Christmas is earlier and earlier. I believe they start putting up some
Christmas items in August in the lawn and garden area of the store. Halloween goes up as soon as school starts
and comes down on November 1st.
Right away the store starts to turn red and green. What happened to Thanksgiving? Oh, there is a small display where you can
buy paper plates, napkins, and tablecloths but not a whole section of the store
devoted to giving thanks. Who does that
anymore anyways? There is no money in
giving thanks!
Black Friday was
something that started the day after Thanksgiving to get people in the shopping
mood. Sale prices were good enough
people would flock to the store as soon as they opened Friday morning. Then stores started opening earlier and
earlier. Then someone said let’s start
the sales Thanksgiving night. Before you
knew it, the sales started at 6pm. The prices
are so good on some items they are wrapped up until the clock strikes the magic
hour. Employees guard the wrapped-up
displays like they are gold. Almost
every employee must work Thanksgiving.
People start coming in at
3pm to wait until six. I have seen
people with folding chairs to sit on waiting for that must have gift. Always they shop in pairs so one could sit
while the other looks for good deals. Asset
protection is working overtime and there are people at all doors checking receipts. There is often reports of pushing and shoving
and sometimes worse when the clock strikes 6pm.
What happened to Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is still for days off from school and enjoying good food. Families usually get together to eat and watch football. Many still remember to give thanks even if it is not in a prayer form. So, what does it mean to me? Time to start thinking about all the blessing I have and be thankful I have a job. Thank you, Walmart! But more importantly, Thank You God!
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Psalms 41:10 says “Be still and know that I am God;”. Jesus also said to the storm “Be Still!” in
Mark 4:39. He was speaking to the
storm. He was telling the storm “be
still” because He is God! I think God
wants us to know He is saying be still to our storms in life. God is saying to our storms “Don’t worry
about this storm in your life, I got this!”.
Some of you are worried
about your relationships or finances but Jesus is saying “be still”. Matthew 6:25-34 talks about worry. It is Jesus speaking here, the same Jesus who
told the storm to be still. He is saying
He cares about the birds and the flowers; He cares more about you. He
knows you are struggling in life and He wants you to be still and think about
Him.
Find time each day to
just think about God. Read from the
Bible and read it again slowly. I read
from a devotional called Our Daily Bread online. It links to a Bible passage. I find it very insightful. I also keep a prayer journal where I write to
God about what is going on in my life.
It takes time but it is so worth it to start my day with God. The storms of life seem less when I start my
day this way.
Be thankful! Oh, I need to be more thankful. Find things that are going right in your life
and be thankful about them. Just little
things like food and shelter. Remember,
God is watching over the birds He is surely watching over you. Thank Him for the storms too! We
all have storms in our lives from time to time.
Some storms are bigger than other storms, but God is saying He will see
you through.
Just tell your storm to “be still because your God is bigger than the storm. Let Jesus take control of your life. And, just Be Still!
Just a few books found at Christianbook.com Home There are lots of gift ideas I found when I search the words “Be Still”.
Disclosure: Whenever you click on the link for either the books recommended below or the Christianbook Home link and make a purchase I receive a small percentage without any costing you extra.
These daily devotional readings will encourage you in your Christian life throughout the year. Mrs. Stamm says, “Each day offers new opportunities. There will be new choices to make, new decisions, new avenues of service for the Lord. It may even be a day filled with heartache and pain, a day filled with unsolved problems. How different our day will be if we begin with a rejoicing spirit, knowing it has been entrusted to us by the Lord!”Begin each day with a verse of Scripture and a meditation amplifying that Bible verse in light of your innermost needs. Millie Stamm has drawn upon a lifetime of personal experience and devotional reading to build these inspirational messages. You will feel as if a good friend has come to chat and share insights that God has given her. If you feel the need for daily encouragement in the Lord, this book is for you. You will find reassurance and support as Millie Stamm brings messages such as: “Today burdens weigh heavily upon us. Often we are so pressed in on every side that it seems all strength is gone. What a relief to know that when OUR strength is exhausted, we have HIS strength available. He is an unfailing source of supply.”
When you experience suffering and loss, it’s natural to cry out, “Why is this happening? Where are you, God?” Offering profound insights from an array of classic and contemporary theologians, teachers, and missionaries, these comforting readings open your eyes to God’s purpose and provision—even in the midst of pain and tragedy. 192 pages, softcover from Crossway.
My last post I talked about broken relationships and
how they affect one’s mental health.
After I posted it on my blog, I realized I did not discuss forgiveness. Colossians 3:13 states “Bear with each other
and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” This is not a request. We need to keep the peace with each other especially
among Christians. How do you think the
world thinks of us, as Christians, if they see us fighting with each other or
being disrespectful?
Forgiveness is an important step to take towards healing. I cannot stress this enough! Forgiveness is not for the one who wrong you, it is for you. We can have peace if we forgive someone who wronged us. For instance, before my ex husband and I split up he said some pretty nasty things to me. It took a long time for me to forgive him and to realize the situation at the time prompted the harsh words directed at me. Once I forgave him, I could start to grow as a free and independent person. Years later he asked me to forgive him and my response was I already had.
Forgiving the one who hurt you does take time. Some hurts are easier to forgive than
others. For me it was easier to forgive
my ex-husband than to forgive the guy who molested me when I was a little
girl. Child molestation affects one’s
entire life and all areas of one’s life.
For instance, I truly believe it affected how I looked at marriage and
may be one of the reasons I was not successful at being married. I have a hard time forgiving that man even
now. Years ago, I saw him at a family
funeral. He was all hunched over and it
was difficult to walk for him. He could
not have been older than in his 50’s. I
thought to myself “you deserved this for what you did to me!”. Yes, I felt bad for thinking it, but I could
not help thinking God may have punished him in this life for his sin. He was a son of a church leader and a friend
of one of my brothers. I think I have
forgiven him so I could have peace within myself.
One of the steps you can take in working on
forgiveness is to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Think to yourself why did they say or do that
to you? Were they hurting themselves and lashed out at
you? Or were they criticizing you for
something without being aware of the whole story. There are lots of reasons people hurt one
another. Understanding the why eases the
steps to forgiving the other person. On
the other hand, people who commit serious crimes like murder or rape, may not
have a good reason for doing what they did.
Those people we just have to place in God’s hands and ask Him to help us
forgive them.
I started this blog post with a verse that ends forgive as God has forgiven you. Are you forgiven by God? God loves everyone and wants to have a relationship with them. He also knows we make mistakes and sin against Him and others. He wants to forgive that sin so He sent His Son, who never sinned, to pay the penalty of sin, death, so we might be forgiven. We only have to ask God to forgive us. If you have questions, feel free to ask them in the comment section or message me on Facebook. Otherwise, I am sure any pastor or priest would be happy to discuss this with you.
A few books from Christianbook. Disclosure: By clicking on the links below and ordering I receive a small commission without any additional costs to you.
Bestselling author, T.D. Jakes, explores forgiveness as an idea and at the same time offers specific and clear actions for those who seek to apply the idea in their daily lives. Offenses are a part of life, but conflicts can be resolved and relationships do have a future, if we learn how to forgive. No matter how great or small the injustice, Jakes shows how the matter can be put behind you for the sake of a better tomorrow if you can Let It Go.
When you’ve been wronged, the best thing to do is forgive and forget, right? That’s what many Christians believe, but is it biblical? Adams dispels misconceptions about forgiveness, reveals God’s true plan for absolution, and shows you how to apply it to your own relationships. Learn how to “forgive and forget” God’s way. 175 pages, softcover from Calvary.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 says “Two people are better off
than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other
can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise,
two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be
warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can
stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided
cord is not easily broken.”
These verses are very difficult for those of us who
are alone due to a broken relationship. This
is one of the hardest blog posts for me to write and I have been putting it
off. Yet, as I read these verses this
morning, and shed some tears, I knew God wanted me to finally write about how
broken relationships affect our mental health.
Most of us, probably all, have been in some form of a
broken relationship. Some it is a
friendship gone bad. With others, like
myself, it is a divorce after a long marriage.
While broken friendships can hurt, it is the long-term romantic
relationship is what I am writing about today.
Divorce or the breakup of a long-term relationship leaves one wondering whether they are defective in some way. This can cause deep depression which, without help, can lead to isolation and even suicide. I still struggle with this today. My head says everyone is defective because of our sin nature and we have a Savior who will someday make us whole. But my heart still cries out for the need to feel loved.
Every day I see Facebook posts, usually from my
youngest friends, who struggle with relationships. They talk about wanting someone who looks at
them with adoration in their eyes. They
go from one relationship to another looking for the piece that is missing in
their hearts. I can understand how they
feel about wanting someone to adore them.
It has been a long time since I felt that. Yet, Jesus reminds me how much He adores me
every day. Still, there is a longing to
feel that from someone you can see and touch.
Long term relationship break ups can also lead to low self-esteem. I also struggle with this. My heart says I am not worthy to be in a relationship. I am too defective! Maybe if I lost some weight or my house was in perfect order all the time, I could be in a relationship. Or my heart tells me I am too selfish to be in a relationship. Oh, I could go on and on about my defectiveness! Then my head kicks in and says, “wait a minute!” you do have some good qualities. I would start to list them, but my heart says that would be bragging and I cannot do that. So, I just have to remember how dearly loved I am by God and do my best to live for Him and let Him worry about my relationships.
If you are hurting from the breakup of a long-term relationship,
please do not isolate yourself. Find
things to do as much as possible. Go to
church or community activities and try to be friendly. Think positive thoughts and try and smile
about them. Force yourself to go even
though you do not want to even get out of bed.
Being around people makes one feel better.
I am so thankful for my church. They have been there for me though my divorce and afterwards. There have been a lot of times when I have not felt like going to church and did not. Those times I felt really depressed all day. Other times I forced myself to go and felt loved and welcomed. This is what we need in our lives.
Remember: God loves you very much and He has a plan for you. He even might have a wonderful relationship planned for you. Just trust in Him. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.!”
A few books on this subject from ChristianBook. As always if you click on the link for one of these books and make a purchase you help support this website at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
How do you love with no love in return? How do you love when no one notices or cares? Bestselling author Paul Miller tackles these tough questions at the heart of our struggle to love head-on. Drawing from the book of Ruth, A Loving Life offers the help we need to embrace relationship, endure rejection, cultivate community, and reach out to even the most unlovable around us as we discover the power to live a loving life.
Your soul holds a massive record collection: melodies, rhythms, and bass lines. Memories that ask you to dance and memories that haunt you in a minor key. Lies that become soundtracks to your days while truths play too softly to be heard. Spoken word poet Amena Brown’s broken records played messages about how she wasn’t worthy to be loved. How to Fix a Broken Record chronicles her journey of healing as she’s allowed the music of God’s love to replace the scratchy taunts of her past. From bad dates to marriage lessons at Waffle House, from learning to love her hair to learning to love an unexpected season of life, from discovering the power of saying no and the freedom to say yes, Amena offers keep-it-real stories your soul can relate to. Unabridged audio CD; approximately 4 hours 46 minutes; 4 CDs; performed by Amena Brown.
The Sunday morning small group discussed Colossians 3
verses 18 through 4:1 and it left me feeling like there were a lot of “I should
have” done this or that in my past. I
admit I am far from perfect! Reflecting
on these verses left me feeling bad about my life in many ways. Here is where I failed in the past in not doing
what I should have.
The passage starts out “wives submit to your husband”. I did that to the point I was the perfect doormat! Yeah, I should have had more backbone maybe
my husband would have loved me more. I
was doing what I thought was right. I
should have done better!
Verse 21 says “fathers, don’t aggravate your
children. If you do, they will become
discouraged and quit trying.” (NLT). For
me, I felt like a failure when it comes to how I raised my children. Still do in some ways but I was doing it
alone. I should have done better! Hindsight. I should have paid more attention
to my kids than to my own schoolwork or entertainment. I feel guilty when I see my peers who have
young adult children who are off to college or getting married. Neither one of my kids have chosen those
paths. I feel like I should have raised
better kids.
When it comes to employment, the next thing talked
about in this passage, I feel like I should have done better here. After all, I have a master’s degree, yet I am
working at Walmart. I should have done a
better job at my internship or paid more attention to detail in my
coursework. I should have applied for
more jobs and worked on my interview skills.
Even at my current job I feel like I should have done better and maybe I
would be in a better position.
I also should have done a better job with my finances
and getting stuff done around the house.
I should have been more organized when it comes to boxes of stuff. So many of my boxes have moved from one home
to another untouched. I should have
worked on making payment arrangements and worked hard at not building up
debt.
Even my body is a mess! I should have taken better care of it and not
eaten should much sweets and fast foods.
I should have established a regular exercise program. I should have spent less time on Facebook and
more time being active.
I often feel like my life is a mess! I have so many “should haves” in my past which affect how my life is now. So many things I should have done but I put off doing. I am really good at procrastination! BUT here is the key to all this! God works with the here and now and He forgives our past! He died on the cross for all my ‘should haves’ and they are forgiven! Yes, there still are consequences to the should haves! But I am forgiven! Today is a clean slate! Today I choose to practice verse 23 “Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” This is present tense! It means from this day forward! We do not really get to start over, but we can start fresh today.
Here is a couple of books on starting over from ChristianBook. The first one I highly recommend because it is also a Bible study which I did last year. The link to the ChristianBook is also below. Remember clicking on the links and making a purchase enables me to keep this website going at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
If only I had loved more, been smarter about money, contributed to a big cause. . . . Regrets can be overwhelming—but it’s never too late for a fresh start! Break the “sorry cycle” by recognizing, releasing, and letting God redeem your mistakes. Includes a new chapter and a discussion guide. Paperback.
A few small selfish decisions can implode the reputation and integrity of the best Christians—and none of us is above risk. Looking at the story of David in Scripture, Geiger explores how to “ruin your life” before you do—or find hope and grace if it’s already happened.
I wrote this post in October 2019 when I was still living in Rhinelander. I wrote it in more of a scientific format but was never happy with how it was written so I am revising it. In 2019 I took a survey of six women with chronic pain. My thesis is chronic pain affects mental health.
Below are the survey questions with the responses.
Survey questions- six responders-all female
What age decade are you in?
The youngest in the survey responders is between 30 and 40, the oldest is in her 70’s.
At what age did you start to notice your pain?
One respondent has had chronic pain since she was 14 years old. Others noticed their pain started in their 40’s and 50’s.
How long did it go on before you sought someone in the medical field?
One respondent suffers chronic pain due to limb loss and sought medical attention immediately. Others waited up to 12 years to seek medical attention for their chronic pain.
Besides OTC medications, what other things do you use to help with pain?
There are several things the responders do to help with their chronic pain. Some use prescription drugs including narcotics and muscle relaxers, while others use heat and cold. Other things mentioned included: hot baths, stretching/exercising, Chiropractors, supplements, change in diet and my favorite, prayer.
Have you gone to physical therapy?
All but one of the respondents have gone to physical therapy.
What kind of exercises do you use to help with the pain?
The list of exercises ranges from walking to recumbent bike or elliptical. Many found stretching exercise to be very helpful.
Do you take any prescriptions to help you with the pain? Do not say what kind.
Half of the respondents answered yes, and the other said no. One respondent answered seldom.
When is your pain the worse? Morning or at night?
Many of the respondents said both depending on the type of pain they are having. A couple of them said their pain was usually worse at night. Another said their pain was worse in the morning.
How does your pain effect your mood?
My respondents reported several different terms describing how their pain effects their mood including: crabby and unsocial, grumpy, and irritable, difficulty in focusing, frustrated, impatient, unfriendly, tired and lacks energy. One responded she tries to stay upbeat but when the pain is at its worst, she must concentrate on each step she takes. I need to learn this!
Does your chronic pain keep you from doing things you use to do?
Some just responded yes to this question while others responded how their pain effects what they want to do. This tells me I should have rephrased the question to ask “how” instead of “does”. The oldest responded she still does what she wants only slower. Love it!
How does that make you feel?
A few chose not to answer this question. I was trying to make the point chronic pain affects our mental health. Again, I could have rephrased the question. Some of the ones who did respond mostly indicated they were frustrated in one way or another. One said it made her determined! We all need to be determined to continue through our pain.
Does your chronic pain effect your relationship with others?
A couple of the respondents said yes, with one stating it effects how she responds to her young children.
Do you ever feel no one understands how much your chronic pain affects you?
One person responded all the time while others just responded yes. One person noted she has a great support system, but she works with the public and the public does not understand. Finally, one noted for the most part you cannot see whether a person has chronic pain and so it is difficult to understand it.
Anything else you would like to add?
Only two responded to this question. One said she has a great support system who understands and that she would be in worse shape, mentally, if she did not have the support. The other said attitude is important.
(2019) I wanted to do this survey to see how others dealt with their chronic pain. When I first started to have problems with my back, I thought I was the only one. I started to feel depressed and stayed away from activities I used to love. All I had energy was for work and even there I struggled to get through each day. I thought I was trapped, and I felt I would have to live in pain the rest of my life. I also felt trapped by my schedule at work. I was always working from 2pm to 11pm every day including weekends. I rarely made it to church and that was taking a huge toll. The summer of 2018 I was off for six weeks. I started looking at different ways to earn income which would not be so hard on my back. I started this blog in October 2018. Over the winter I started having trouble with my shoulder and in the spring my left foot really started to give me problems. Between my back, shoulders, and foot I was racking up costly visits to the doctor. This summer I started walking with a cane. I thought this was going to be my life.
However, as I approached my 61st birthday and knew we were going to put in more self-checks at work I made up my mind I was going to investigate retirement at 62 years old and I was not going to work 2pm to 11pm anymore. It has been about three weeks and I am so much happier now. I have orthotics now and can walk most of the time without my cane. I am also getting to church every week and I love it!
Fast forward to today (June 2022). In December of 2021 I had total knee replacement. I was given a list of exercises to do on my own because I lost my insurance and could not afford therapy. I was off work for more than two months. When I went back to work my back started to have a lot of pain. I had new insurance, so I went to my primary right away and she sent me to a therapist and a spine doctor. This new therapist showed me exercises and told me why they worked for my specific pain. She said since my knee was still healing, I was walking differently, and it was affecting my back. Therefore, she gave me knee exercises along with back strengthening exercises. Equipped with this knowledge I find my back and knee getting stronger every day. The spine doctor gave me a back brace to wear. I found it works best when I am on my feet at work. I am also allowed a stool to sit on and that helps my back pain. Sometimes, when I do hurt it is harder to smile and be friendly with people I encounter. I try to remember it is not their fault I am in pain, and I should try to smile more.
My recommendations are: first, to seek God when the pain is bad. Remember, Jesus suffered a great deal when He died on the cross for you. He loves you very much and wants to have a relationship with you. Second, find a doctor who makes you feel like they are listening to you and will lay out a reasonable treatment plan. In my past I was referred to a doctor who did neither and felt very disrespected. Thankfully, I spoke up for myself and got a different doctor. Finally, as my former store manager says, “stay mobile”. He had an injury to his back several years ago but you would not know it by how hard he works. On my days off I do not have much pain, but I sit a lot. While I love to just sit and do computer work or watch TV it is not good for my joints. I need to make myself move around as much as possible. Being mobile and active helps with chronic pain and elevates one’s mood.
My schedule is very busy right now as I am involved in caring for a relative with driving them to appointments and other places. I am also involved in many things at church which I love. Sometimes I just take some time off to nap or read so I do not overdo and suffer pain. God said to work six days and to rest the seventh. Even if I cannot take a whole day to rest, I do try to take a few hours. Do what is best for you. Yes, chronic pain does affect your mental health if you let it. There are many ways to help with chronic pain listed in the survey questions’ answers and from my own experiences. I pray this has been helpful.
Below are a few books I recommend on this topic from:
By clicking on the link to any of these books or the christianbook website (above) and making a purchase you help with the costs of keeping this website running. I earn a commission from the sale at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
If you’ve dealt with ongoing pain, you know that not all pain relief comes from a bottle of pills. Living with a chronic condition can be relentless and not everyone reaches a point of complete healing. As a sufferer of chronic pain himself, author Rob Prince explores the spiritual aspects of pain, addressing the difficult questions and realities of a chronic condition.
There is an older Christian song named They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love that reminds me how we as Christians should present ourselves to the world. The word compassion can also be used for love. So many times, I ask myself why are Christians hated so much? Sometimes some of my young friends posts stuff about how Christians show hate to people by behaving certain ways. I think to myself that does not represent all Christians! Yet that is what the world sees. I do keep in mind sometimes innocent ideas like being pro family looks to the world like one is anti-gay. The world also thinks if one is pro family or pro life one must hate women and gays. Most Christians do not hate anyone! But are we showing the world enough compassion?
Jesus said to show compassion to one another. Jesus showed us how to be compassionate by his example. Throughout the Gospels Jesus took compassion on people. Matthew 14:14 says “…he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” He also had compassion on the people when they were hungry after listening to him for three days in Matthew 15:32. Finally, Matthew 9:36 reports Jesus had compassion on them “because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” We need to be more compassionate! I need to be more compassionate. Especially at work with people who I do not like. Do not get me wrong here, the people I do not like usually are people who have harassed me or have tried to steal from my store, not people who are different than me. Yet, Jesus did not say I have compassion on those who treated him well. Those same people who ate of the food Jesus provided in Matthew 15 could have been the same ones who shouted, “crucify Him!” later on.
This speaks to me!
John 3:16 states “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only
Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”. God loved the world, he does not want anyone
to perish! How are we supposed to reach
people if we do not show them compassion?
Colossians 3:12 says “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly
loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, gentleness, and patience”.
How do we show people compassion? By treating people as equal no matter who they are or the color of their skin. We need to speak words of kindness to this hurting world of people. It does not matter if they belong to a different political party or whether they are straight or not. We do not know if the people we encounter know Jesus or even if they have even heard of him besides a swear word. We also do not know what the people we encounter are going through. Perhaps, someone you encounter is thinking of killing themselves? We can save people’s lives just by being nice to them. We should not judge! That is up to God! Just be compassionate!
The following is a small lists of books from Christian Book. By clicking on the links for the books and making a purchase I earn a small percent to keep my website going at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
The Bible studies in the Jeremiah Bible Studies Series bring Scripture to life in twelve lessons filled with teachings from Dr. David Jeremiah, one the most widely viewed and respected Bible teachers today. Each volume includes study questions, commentary, and reflections to help readers understand what the Bible means to them today.The author Luke was a first century physician. In Luke: The Compassion of Christ, he reveals how Jesus, as a compassionate physician, came to offer a cure to the terminal condition of sin that we all share…an illness that could only be remedied by sacrificing his own life in payment on the cross.
Boundless Compassion by author and retreat leader Joyce Rupp, is a 6-week personal transformation process for developing and deepening compassion. Throughout these readings she nudges, encourages, and inspires you to grow in the kind of love that motivated Jesus’ life and his mission for his disciples.For the first 6 days of each week, you will read a 3-4 page meditation followed by a reflection, prayer, and scripture. The seventh day of each week is for “Review and Rest.” If using in a small group setting, you can use the seventh day questions to initiate conversation.
Just before this passage Jesus feeds 5000 men plus
women and children from two fish and five loaves of bread. He sent everyone away and told His disciples
to go into the boat to the other side of the lake. Jesus needed some alone time to focus on His
Father in Heaven. He must have been tired,
yet He was praying most of the night.
Meanwhile, the disciples were in a boat crossing the lake and a storm
came up. Jesus went out to them walking
on the water. When they saw Him they
were afraid with good reason. There was
a storm around them and someone was walking on top of the water! Peter ask if he could join Jesus on the water
and Jesus said yes. Peter got out and
started walking on the water. As long as
Peter was focused on Jesus, he was fine but as soon as he saw the storm raging
around him he started sinking. Jesus rescued
Peter and as soon as they got back into the boat the storm stopped.
How many of us try to focus on Jesus but become
distracted by our storm? I know I do! What is your storm? Many are battling depression and/or
anxiety. Some are battling chronic
pain. Others are going through grief and
loss. There are many storms. There is only one real solution! Jesus wants to calm your storm. However, sometimes we need to go through a
storm to learn a valuable lesson. Jesus
will go through the storm with you but you need to focus on Him!
How to focus on Him? Follow Jesus’ example. Prior to walking out to the boat Jesus was praying. He was focusing on His Father. Oh, what sweet communication must have been going on between the two of them. Jesus probably felt refreshed, from talking to His Father, even after a long day of healing sick and feeding all those people. So, the first thing Jesus did was to pray. Talk to God about all your problems. He wants you to have a relationship with Him that is sweet fellowship where you can talk to Him about what is on your mind.
Second to focus on Jesus. You can focus on Him by reading His Word. After all, the Bible is God’s love letter to all of us to use as a guidebook for our lives. Read His Word every day. I like Our Daily Bread online. It can be found at: https://odb.org/ Each day it gives a scripture passage and a short devotional. Today’s reading was on this scripture passage. I felt led to write about it while I was writing to God in my prayer journal, so I did. Sometimes God works that way in my life.
Finally, praise God for helping you through the storm or even during the storm when you feel His presence. When the storm was calm after Jesus and Peter got back into the boat the disciples started praising Jesus. They recognized He was the Son of God. Telling Jesus you recognize Him as God and giving Him control of the situation will make you feel better. But they did not do that by themselves. They did it together. God wants us to praise Him together. Get together with other who share your beliefs. God wants to have fellowship with us, and He wants us to fellowship with others. So, pray, read the Bible and go to church! You have probably heard that all your life but God wants you to still do it!
Just a few books and Bibles you might be interested in reading. By clicking on the below links and making a purchase you support this website by helping with the costs at no extra costs to you. Thank You!
Embark on a spiritual journey that will transform the way you see Jesus! Based on her best-selling Bible study, Moore’s up-close look at Christ brings you face-to-face with the Lord. Hear him preach on the Galilean hillside, see him raise the dead, watch him calm the storm—and your heart will be his forever. 304 pages, hardcover from B&H.
Encounter Jesus in a Fresh Way Throughout the Entire Bible
The NLT Jesus-Centered Bible offers a variety of new experiences of reading the Bible through the lense of the life of Christ. Blue lettering highlights more than 600 passages in the Old Testament pointing to Jesus – references and promises that show God’s love story for your life. You’ll see where Jesus appears, cover-to-cover, in every book of the Bible. The distinctive blue lettering helps you quickly and easily discover what’s most important in the Bible: Jesus. Build your understanding – and your faith in Jesus – with these unique features: segments focus on Jesus’ answers to our most common uncertainties and concerns. Introductions to Old and New Testament books, written by prominent Christian leaders, show how each book in the Bible points straight to Jesus. Get to know Jesus with one-chapter-a-day Bible-reading plans that help you spend time with Jesus every day. References in a larger cultural context, giving you serendipitous insights into the people, places, and social forces that framed Jesus’ ministry. Draw closer to Jesus as you ponder the purpose of his words and actions. Provocative questions are linked with the text and are posed in the same style that Jesus used. They are great discussion starters for small groups, family devotions, outreach – anywhere you want to launch a compelling conversation about Jesus. Jesus’ spoken words and references to Jesus are highlighted with red letters in the New Testament. Names of Jesus are highlighted throughout the New Testament, giving insights into Jesus by examining how writers of the Bible referred to Jesus.
Features:
Easy-to-read New Living Translation
Imitation leather covers available in turquoise or charcoal
The apostle Peter didn’t attend a special class on how to walk on water—he just wanted to be closer to Jesus! With fresh biblical insight and immediate practical applications, Miskov will inspire you to follow your heart, take risks, step into the impossible, and discover the unique miracles God is working on your behalf. Paperback.
Please do not include tobacco use in your questions.
What was the first drug you tried?
Was this the drug you became addicted to or did you
try it and others before becoming addicted?
How long after your first use of the drug you became
addicted to did you notice you were addicted?
How did you feel about knowing you were addicted to a
drug?
Did you experience any hardship such as financial or
loss of relationships?
At what point did you decide to get help for your
addiction?
What kind of help did you get and was it effective?
How many times did you relapse before finally becoming
clean?
How long have you been clean?
How has your life improved?
Anything else you would like to add?
These are the questions I asked some people I knew who
struggled with addictions at some time in their lives. At this point I only received one reply. I wonder if I am qualified to write this
post. I have not been addicted to
anything beyond my morning coffee, ever.
Yes, I smoked when I was a young adult, but I quit cold turkey and when
I tried cigarettes again I did not feel the need to start smoking again.
So why am I trying to write about addictions? Well, part of my graduate program I took five
extra classes to earn a graduate certificate in addictions counseling. I did this to better my chances of getting a
job as a counselor. It was not
effective. It has been seven years and I
have forgotten most of what I learned because I never used it.
So how can I help those who struggled with addiction? Addictions can take people by surprise. You try something once and enjoy the feeling
it gives so you try it again. However,
it is not long before you have to use a higher dose to get the same
effect. Or you like the feeling you get
when you “use” you find you like it better than real life, so you use it more
and more often.
Some things, like tobacco, can be instantly
addicting. I did a research paper in
grad school based on the thesis: “People who start smoking before they reach 18
years old have a more difficult time quitting than people who start at an older
age.” The thesis proved to be true and
still today I often ask people, when appropriate, at what age they started
smoking and how many times have they tried to quit? Almost all said they started before their 18th
birthday and many have said they tried to quit several times. I did not ask tobacco users to fill out these
survey questions but maybe I should have.
Many find nothing wrong with using marijuana
regularly. They argue it relaxes them
and helps with their medical problems. I
know there is some research out there for the positive effects of medical marijuana
use but do the good effects outweigh the bad?
For instance, smoking a joint is more harmful to the lungs because the
particles ingested are much larger. One of
my textbooks shows pictures of lungs which have been repeatedly exposed to
marijuana smoke and cigarette smoke. The
marijuana lungs were much more damaged. Another
study I recently read about showed people with serious mental health issues often
become more violent when they smoke marijuana.
One person who read the study and commented on social media he smokes
marijuana every day and never has a problem with violence. I asked him if he had a medical condition he needed
it for, and he said no. I wonder where
someone like that gets the money to buy enough marijuana every day. Many
of my textbooks state regular marijuana use decreases cognitive functioning.
Narcotic pain
pills are another common drug which people become addicted. I know of at least two people who struggled
with this addiction. Thankfully, neither
one is addicted anymore and are doing well.
One has gone on to become a lay counselor for people struggling with
addictions. I am so proud of her.
There are many other types of drugs and other things
people become addicted to and I could write about them if I had time. One last addiction I will mention is
alcohol. Alcohol can be consumed without
causing addiction in many people.
However, when it does alcohol is a very difficult drug to quit. I know of some who have gone to rehab several
times before finally giving it up.
Addictions ruin everything good in life. Addictions ruin relationships because the “drug” does not want anyone to take its place. It ruins a person financially both by being expensive and it lessens one’s ability to stay employed. My one respondent to the survey reported she lived in her car for a short time because of her addiction. Finally, addiction becomes your god and God, being the gentleman He is, will not force Himself on you. God wants to have a relationship with you. He wants first place in your life because He loves you so much and knows what is best for you. He is good. Drugs cannot say any of those things. So next time you are tempted to use a “drug” think of all the harm it will cause and say no to the drug. God bless!
Books you might like to read from Christianbook.com are below. Disclosure: I earn a small percentage of the price of the book at no additional cost to you. It helps keep this website to stay open.
This is not a book of “self-help” answers or “how-to” steps. It is a book about falling down and getting up again, about realizing that we need more than ourselves to be saved. The truth is, we’re not as bad as we think we are – and we are worse than we ever dreamed. When we live between those two realities, we are ready to let go of the last idol: the belief that we can save ourselves. A Focus on the Family Recommendation.
When a family member or friend is addicted to drugs or alcohol the situation can feel hopeless and confusing. In Understanding and Loving a Person with Alcohol or Drug Addiction, David Stoop and Stephen Arterburn help readers develop a plan of action by offering: Insight into brain chemistry and addiction Real-life ideas for encouraging healthy choices Guidance in how to help without enabling The connection between depression, ADD, and trauma Stoop and Arterburn have helped thousands of people around the country understand chemical addiction and how to love someone well in the midst of this gripping disease.
Today is September 11, 2019 and everyone is posting “Never
Forget” on social media. How can one
forget the day America was attacked and nearly 3000 lives were lost! For me that day started out taking my two
children to preschool. We had just moved
to Rhinelander the end of June and had just moved into our house. Our kids went to preschool at ages three and
four. I got home and was probably busy
doing something around the house when my husband called from work and told me
to turn on the TV. I believe the second
plane had already crashed into the World Trade Center.
As the events unfolded that day I was glued to the TV,
but it did not seem real. How could this
be real I asked myself. Yet it was
real! I do not remember much of that day
except picking up my children from preschool and rushing home to watch more of
what was happening. I kept hoping more
people would be found alive. We were all
in a daze.
September 12th we were all proud to be
Americans and everyone was buying flags.
People were going to churches and other places of worship with renewed
faith. Thousands of people went to New
York City to help out looking for survivors and cleanup. We were a nation who stood together. We found out who was responsible, and we went
to war against them. Men and women
signed up to join the armed forces and many trained to be police and firemen. Everyone wanted to do their part to keep this
great country.
We do not seem to be that nation anymore. I do not want to get political here, but it
almost seems like we only remember when September 11th comes around. What happened to us? Why is there still so much violence and hate
in this country? We are a nation divided
where those on the left blame those on the right and vise versa. What happened to our spirit of unity? Even better question is can we get it back
without going through what we did 18 years ago.
I am not versed in politics nor am I going to share on which side I belong to in this post. I am a Christian, but I know Christians on both sides of the political fence. Yet I can not help wonder if it our lack of faith in God brings out so much hate we see today. True followers of Jesus should be showing love not hate in these violent times. I pray this country will turn back to God every day.
Below is a couple of books on the topic I thought would be interesting. Disclosure: if you click on the links and purchase a book I will earn a small commission on your purchase without costing you any extra.
