Fly in my Coffee

Has this ever happen to you? Perfectly sunny, wonderful morning, cool breeze as you settle down on the Vernada(that's a porch at my house, but the Golden Girls had one). You prepare to greet the day with that first cup of weekend coffee. You lift the cup to your lips and what is floating around in there, but a Fly in my Coffee. That pesky fly then sets the whole day in motion, the dark clouds roll in and depressions sets in. Back to bed you go, because nothing good can come from the day now it is ruined by the tiny fly. I'd like to believe flies are Gods insects and a way of getting our attention. I'm going to ask him about this when I get to heaven.

Why am I talking about the fly this morning, because there was a time where it would have sent me back to bed. A time when depression and despair engulfed my life. Nothing, no one could free me from this, I didn't look depressed. I worked, I socialized, I smiled at you and took care of my son (or did he take care of me)but come the weekends, shut the curtains and leave me alone to hide from the world. I really began battling these depressions demons when I was young. I'm telling you this because we all battle depression in some way, some more than others. There is no crime, you are no less a human being, no less a woman or man, mother, sisters, brother, son....no less a child of God. I recall when I first dropped out of college, I was not prepared to handle being away from home (we should prepare our children better for this) I was hospitalized for a short time, a dear friend of mine was furious. He said " I thought you were stronger that this, you just have to snap out of it," we didn't speak for many years. One day he hit bottom himself and my experiences helped him. He learned for some depression is temporary...but for others it must be treated for a lifetime.

It's no news to you that there are various forms of depression, depression set off by events, death, divorce, weight gain. There are those who suffer from Clinical depression, it's a physical condition. Alot of Christians and non-Christan's differ on this clinical depression because it very often must be treated medically. Doesn't God give those abilities to doctors to minister to our health?

This brings me back to the Fly in my Coffee this morning,I am thankful first to God and to physicians gifted by God, and for friends and family that God places in our lives at times of despair and depression. I cannot deny that sometimes I want to crawl back into bed, close the curtains and shut the world out. But ...I now turn to the greatest Physician first and his word. The stripes on his back were for healing Gods people.1 Peter 2:24 Who His (Jesus Christ) own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness, BY WHOSE STRIPES YE WERE HEALED.
Being depressed is not a sin, but we are accountable to get help and ask for help in these times. When I am talking with others now about their worry or depression I share these passages, and I now read them daily for my life.


Have a great weekend.

Because He loves me,

Deb

Philippians 4:6-9 (New International Version)

⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Matthew 6:25-34 (New International Version)

Do Not Worry

²⁵"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^a]">[a]?

²⁸"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Bandaids and Bactine

I use to think a band-aid and a little bactine, a kiss and some toll house cookies could fix everything. I remember my son a young boy of 4 or 5 sliding down the hill in front of the house where we lived it was summer, and he was using his snow sled. He slid off that little round disc meant for snow and not dirt and scratched himself up pretty good. He came screaming crying into the house and I looked at him and said, I don't see any blood you'll be okay and off he went to do it again. Another time he decided to skate head first down a very steep incline, lots of bandaids and bactine. But,each time he would get up and try it again. Then there was the time, I got the call that he was hurt really hurt and I rushed home to see him pale holding his arm.... he never cried not one time... but I did. Several months surgery, a few srews and therapy later, his arm and elbow where almost as good as new. Now all he has to show for it is that long jagged scar, I wear the scars of these incidents in my heart as every parent does. We hurt for our children when they hurt. But bactine, band-aid and a kiss can't fix those unseen hurts the ones our sons an daughters carry in their hearts. There is not a band-aid large enough to repair those life lessons they must learn on their own, but I will bake the cookies and restock the bactine just in case he needs me.

mikes ma 2006

Facing the Overwhlming/thanks Roger

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjAFakRHD3g[/youtube]

I've been thinking alot about last Sundays message. Facing the Overwhelming.

The message really hit home with me as I had just been talking about worry. Rogers outline says that there are 3 approaches
1 We feel hopeless

2. We turn to the world for help

3 We turn it over to Jesus.

Just so you know, I have felt all those emotions, hopeless, turning to the world and being of the world. But how much lighter the "overwhelming" becomes when I turned it over to Jesus.


He read from John:6:1-14 if you haven't read that you should, talk about overwhelming?

His messages references came from another favorite book in the bible Pslams

Psalm 60:11 (New International Version)

11 Give us aid against the enemy,
for the help of man is worthless.

and

Psalm 121:2 (New International Version)

2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.



Are you facing Overwhelming situations in your life? I have and sometimes I still do when I forget where my help comes from.


Be praying for me as I continue to pray for you.


Because He loves me,
Deb

Trusting

I was thinking about what I posted over the weekend, giving you back to God. I had a discussion with some friends/co workers and one said "Debbie, you are not trusting God", when you worry all the time. She is right the bible clearly says

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

—Proverbs 3:5-6

Why is it so hard as humans to wrap ourselves around that verse. I struggle and I know that if I give it all to him trust in him completely for my life "God is Good". But then the devil hops up on my shoulder and in pops the worry again. I'm working on it and praying through it. : )

I shared with them the following poem I found.

Yesterday... Today... and Tomorrow

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is Yesterday with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.

All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word said. Yesterday is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.

Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds - but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.

This leaves only one day - Today. Any man can fight the battles of just one day; it is only when you or I add the burdens of those two awful eternities - Yesterday - and Tomorrow - that we break down.

It is not the experience of Today that drives men mad - it is the remorse or bitterness for something which happened Yesterday and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.

Let us, therefore, live but One Day at a Time.

[ Author: Jennifer Kritsch ]

God doesn't promise us tomorrow, I better do the best I can with today.

Love ya

Deb

I'm giving you back to God

Sometimes ...well all the time I worry about things that are out of my control. I am doing better but realize that when I do this I am not letting God have complete control of my life. When my son turned 18 graduated high school he began to test his freedoms. In a moment of "mom insanity"the dictionary defines this according to the law

1. 2. In most criminal jurisdictions, a degree of mental malfunctioning sufficient to relieve the accused of legal responsibility for the act committed.
2. 1. Extreme foolishness; folly.
   2. Something that is extremely foolish

I yelled at him and said that's it I can't take this, I don't understand you, I don't know you. I am giving you back to GOD!!!!!! Everyone one of us has has probably thought or said this. Guess what, at that moment I realized my son is not mine to give back, he has and always will be Gods. He is a gift that I was given from God. His life is already mapped out, as noted in the Purpose Driven Life..."you were in Gods care even before you were born." God knows my son, your children's plans and futures already. It is my job to show him Gods way. I don't know that I have always done a good job of this, but I am learning. I am learning from my son, when I worry about him, and he reminds me of that day that I yelled "I am giving you back to God". He said remember Mom you gave me back quit worrying. He is a funny young man, and I am blessed to have him. Today as so many days, I lay him at the altar and ask God to give him wisdom and keep him safe.

Power of Friendship

I can't imagine how I would have made it all these years without my friends. I just turned 50, and don't deny I was dreading it. But I am so thankful that God brought together a group of friends and family who wanted to share this occasion with me. We had a Sista's weekend and wow what a terrific, inspiring, laugh till you cry, pinky swear time it was. I have often felt ashamed of where I had been, how my life turned out. Like everyone I had plans and dreams, a family, house, dog.... the whole deal. A job as a psychologist.......and this weekend I realized there is no shame in my life. I am blessed with a wonderful son, a supportive family, a man that loves me and friends ........ and I am exactly where God wants me to be.