Category: Empty Nesting

01.Aug.2012 |

Emotions Under Control

1 Comment

When facing crises and painful situations, it’s difficult to live according to biblical teachings. When one chooses a standard other than principles of the Bible, the likelihood of experiencing something like depression increases.

Jesus is the ultimate example of looking to God when emotions run high. Even though he never sinned, he did feel the temptation of giving in to his emotions. Mark 4 is a prime example of Jesus being tempted while he spent forty days without food.

Let us focus on God, in doing so the intensity of painful emotions are reduced.

Did you like this? Share it:
07.May.2012 |

A Bad Day

0 Comments

Problems have a way of preoccupying our minds. At night especially problems are magnified and so we are glad when morning comes. In the morning a better perspective is found.

Still though problems easily seem to own us and we therefore can default from the truth.

With problems we can doubt our value. To God however our value does not change, even on a bad day. Gods view of us is constant.

In Psalm 139:14, we find it written that we are “beautifully and wonderfully made.”

Just because things don’t go to plan, God doesn’t change His love or view of us. He does not regret His creation. We are still “wonderfully made.”

Don’t let problems devalue you. Rather let God’s design of you drive you forward. Grab hold of His promises and surge on.

Be in church regularly. Why? We forget so easily what we’ve learned. Maybe we don’t need a piece of wisdom the first time around but at some stage we will.

God doesn’t change His mind. He thought out, spoke out and watches over our lives to their completion. Even on a bad day, His promises are not withdrawn.

Did you like this? Share it:
13.Apr.2012 |

How are you feeling?

2 Comments

“How are you feeling?” “That doesn’t feel right.” “If it feels right do it.”

We are a feeling driven society. Usually though on the other side of a “feel good” is a “feel bad”".”

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:3, “All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature.” He’s writing to believers.

Salvation is a launching pad into a life of change for any believer.

Life continually needs adjustment after salvation. We need spiritual surgery. While Dean was recently ill, life was restrictive and painful. We tried all sorts of alternatives, refusing surgery. Surgery though once done, meant that he could live life again to the fullest.

What we often do, is hang onto sin or bad habits due to the feel good. The consequence is a crippled heart, incorrect thinking and a less fulfilling life. We justify our poor behavior.

Allowing adjustment though leads to our freedom again.

Paul writes in the above Scripture, “used to.” He lets us know that we can leave our wrong behavior and habits in the past and develop new ways. There is a life of opportunities and change for all beyond salvation.

Did you like this? Share it:
29.Nov.2011 |

Pain

0 Comments

It would be so nice to live in a world of no pain. Doctors’ offices are full of people pursuing just that. Relief from physical, emotional and mental pain.

Pain hurts. We see situations of this from the beginning of time.

Many times in our desperation we try to appease our pain in detrimental ways. For example, Bathsheba attempts to appease her loneliness by sleeping with the king. The consequences were disastrous.

Painful situations can be short or long term. The latter is extremely depressing. In our coping we can tend to avoid the event as much as possible or we obsess about it. We can feel overwhelmed and it is difficult to focus on anything because of our emotional and mental numbness.

At this point, pursuing happiness is a fairly futile objective. However doing small things to keep the day moving, are possible. These do provide us with a sense of victory.

Even when bedridden, we can make the decision to think Bible rather than succumbing to a wandering mind. Over time, I’ve stockpiled verses that I speak to myself when life is tough – the Lord is my strength, I can do all things, be anxious for nothing, rejoice in the Lord always…

In the midst of pain, there is always the wanting to be out of it and the sense of fear. But meditation on the words of God combat this and provide that sense of well being that I crave.

Gods word is relevant to everyone. It is full of the experiences of thousands of people and their life with God. There are great role models to be found in these pages for our lives today that are yet being lived.

Did you like this? Share it:
26.Jul.2011 |

Depression, Bad Days, What Will I Do.

4 Comments

Tough times and depression are not a new dilemma. Whether depression is a disease is still debatable. In these times, we are fortunate that there is medication that can decrease our pain in crises. Often though, taking a pill dulls the mind and emotions rather than changing the mind and emotions. That is an issue that we should take up with God.

Depression is seen throughout the Bible, even as early as the book of Genesis when Cain murdered Abel.

Pain is a part of life. Christ’s pain in His life provided us with life. Therefore what can we discover of God when going through a tough time?

The journey to the will of God is not always easy. But the will of God is our best life.

Sometimes depression or down days are opportunities to make adjustments – deal with our anger, envy, bitterness, which all can lead to depression. By holding onto any of these things is of no benefit to ourselves. Realize them,and determine to let them go.

Situations do not have to determine your life outcome. In Acts 27, Paul believes God mid storm while others expect death. He survives the storm.

In Acts 28:3, Paul is bitten by a venomous snake. While those around him expect his death, Paul believes God and is unharmed.

Whether a day remains depressing, is often determined by our view of the day. This means that we have a choice as to what to believe.

Note Paul’s extravagant praise in the epistles, even of the Corinthian church. Again it was his choice. His choice to go to faith and praise resulted in a highly fruitful life.

20110726-073146.jpg

Did you like this? Share it:
« Older Entries