When in Doubt…Phone a Friend!

Psalm 37:30-31
30 The godly offer good counsel;
they teach right from wrong.
31 They have made God’s law their own,
so they will never slip from his path.

Do you remember the game show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

A player was asked a series of multiple-choice questions of increasing (or, in some cases, random) difficulty. Large cash prizes were offered for correctly answering each level. There were three lifelines you could use if you got stuck on a question: 50/50, ask the audience and phone a friend.

Today, I found myself stuck at one of those questions in life that I could not answer. As a matter of fact, the more I thought about it, the more frustrated I got.

Now, I know as a Christians we are called to go right to the source, pray and read the bible to find your answer. However, sometimes I just need that human contact. I need to be able to phone a friend.

God was prepared for that! I have been blessed with a group of friends I can call when I need them. They provide Godly counsel.

My phone a friend was not only able to talk me off the ledge today, but gave me a new perspective. I was able to see my situation from different viewpoints.

I pray that you have Godly counsel and if not I will continue to pray that God brings someone into your life. I will also pray you will fill those shoes for someone else.

So keep those phone lines open! I just might need to phone a friend.

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Wowzer! What! A! Day!

1 Thessalonians 5:18
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

My student looked at me and said, “I think I fit a whole week into today!”  All, I could do was look at her and say, “Amen, Sister!”

Wowzer! What. A. Day!

It started with a dead battery in my car.  Followed by $183 mischarge to my credit card.  Next came a painful phone call to my doctor’s office who cannot get me in until December 11th.  Did I mention I did this whole day without one arm?  I have popped the tendon in my left elbow and have to keep it in a sling.

Oh, and please do not get me started on drama club after school!  We are two weeks from curtain and my crew still does not know their lines or blocking. It was painful to watch!

So, what can I do about all of this?

Nothing.

What am I doing?

Whining!

Why?

Because I am human and contrary to some people’s beliefs, Christians do not come equipped with rainbows, unicorns and pixie dust!

We get to have long days.  We get to have bad days.  We get to have Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Days!

It is OK.  It doesn’t mean God is mad at us.  It doesn’t mean we have done something wrong.  Hold on to your hats, but it doesn’t even mean Satan is out to get us.  Sometimes they are just terrible, horrible, no good very bad days.

So what do Christians do about them?  We thank God and move on.  God has called us to thank him in all circumstances.

Besides, I know exactly what I am going to thank him for right now.

THANK YOU GOD THIS DAY IS OVER!

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

What’s My Motivation?

Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

Recently I head someone explain how she had gotten hurt by something a friend had said. She wanted to go all Chuck Norris on this friend, but then took a breath and stepped back. She asked her self why was she really angry with this person. What was her motivation for wanting to go and yell and scream at this friend?

Can you imagine for a moment if we all took the time to ask ourselves this question every time we started to open our mouths? What a different world we would live in!

I am not saying there are not times we need to be firm or get a point across, but even those types of situations have ways of working out better when the words used are kind and considerate.

I know as a teacher when my kiddos are getting a little out of control, I do not speak louder. Instead, I begin to speak quieter. Yes, there may be a firm tone in my voice but it is still gentle and soothing. They calm down and are usually ready in a few moments to explain to me, in a much calmer way, what happened.

I am not for one minute saying I have this all figured out. Just ask my hubby. There are many arguments where I speak first and think later. Oh man, now not only did I admit to that, but he has it in writing…lol!

I am going to end this with one more saying I heard this week…

“When you put your mind in neutral, don’t leave your lips in drive!”

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

 

 

A New Adventure Just Around the Corner

2 Chronicles 15:7
But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.

Still round the corner there may wait,
A new road or a secret gate.
J. R. R. Tolkien

Every time I read the quote above I get nostalgic. I struggled as a child to learn to read. I am dyslexic. No one knew it until I entered high school and a teacher who was also dyslexic recognized the signs.

When I was young I learned to read because of my best friend. Angie read anything she could get her hands on! She would tell me the most fascinating stories of faraway places she had escaped to. I wanted to go!

She was so patient with me as I struggled to make those letters sit still long enough to turn them into words. Never once did I feel stupid with her. She continuously encouraged by regaling me about her newest adventure.

When we finally discovered a few tricks to help me out, I was off! I was soon searching for buried treasure, fighting an evil witch and following white rabbits down holes. I knew with every book I was sure to find a new road or a secret gate.

It has been many years and thousands of adventures. I still love getting lost in a book. Some of my favorite places to escape are with Frodo Baggins, Peter Pan, Tom Sawyer and Dorthy Gale. However, one place I return to the most is to visit with a lion in a land called Narnia.

I don’t care how many times I read the book or watch the movie, I still hold my breath when we first meet Aslan. Then tears swell up and anger rises within me as he lays his life down for Edmund. Finally, the cheers and excitement as he is resurrected and defeats the witch.

Just like my best friend, these adventures encourage me to keep going.

Paul in another book, 2 Chronicles 15:7, also encourages us to not give up. “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

My work was rewarded. I never gave up on learning to read. Now the world (and other worlds) all lay before me.

So, when you face another tough problem remember to keep going because still round the corner there may wait, a new road or a secret gate.

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

 

Time For A Nap

Mark 4:38

And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, “Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?”

I can’t take it anymore, I am laying down and taking a nap!  I need the world to go away for awhile.

Scarlett O’Hara had it right when she said, “I’ll think about that tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day.”

Sometimes, I find myself in situations where I just need to walk away.  I need to find my cup of coffee, eat the cookie, buy the shoes or take a nap. My family refers to these as I need a normal minute, please. A moment where the world as you know it doesn’t exist.  The world stops and you get off.  You excuse yourself from reality.

Jesus did it too!

In Mark 4 we find many stories Jesus was going around preaching and teaching.  He had a full day.  An exhausting day.  Full of people.  Lots of needy people! I am sorry dealing with all of those people all of the time always needing things from him makes him a saint in my book.

At the end of his long day, he asked his disciples to escape the world with him.They got in a boat and headed out. It says some other boats followed him. O goodie more people with needs right.  What did Jesus do? He took a nap!

What is my point here? Well, that is an easy one.  It is OK to just take the nap!  We need moments to recharge our batteries.  We need moments of normalcy.  Jesus took naps.  Be like Jesus!

Now, if you don’t mind I am going to go take my nap!

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

So Blessed

Romans 15:5-6
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I know normally I do my grateful blogs on Fridays.  However, last week was so full I never even got to blog on Friday.  Besides after a very bad awful good for nothing weekend, I have broken through and been blessed!

So, here we go!

1. Dad was able to eat on Sunday

2. Dad gets to come home from the hospital on Wednesday

3. Both of my parents’ vehicles died, but we were able to get them taken care of and no one got stranded or hurt in the process.

4. I have wonderful friends and family helping my mom get back and forth to the hospital since she has no vehicle.

5. My husband was blessed with a wishlist item.  We got a great deal on a truck that he has wanted for the last several years.

I know things look bad somedays.  I know Satan can seem to be pulling every rug he can find out from under you.  However, if we can just hang on and keep on keeping on you will find blessings.

Just remember you always have friends around to help you.  Make that call, don’t let pride get in the way. We are all called to give a helping hand.  This is how we show God’s love to those around us.  We help whenever and wherever we can.

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Peace Be With You

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I want to start by thanking all of you for your thoughts and prayers for my family. My father came through surgery fine. He did have to have some of his esophagus removed but the doctor was very confident of the work he did.

He will be in ICU for the next couple of days and of course, the next seven days are the critical ones. I have to say, he looked wonderful tonight when we left the hospital. My mother is also doing well and much more relaxed.

My family has spent many days in and out of hospitals through the years including ICU waiting rooms. Families tend to bond while there. Never do you stop and ask if you are the same race, religion, political viewpoint or sexual orientation. You hold each other’s hands, cheer, cry and pray together. Today was one of those days.

A family across the room from us did not get such great news. The matriarch of the family was brought in for open heart surgery. Once the doctor got in, he realized there was so much more wrong. My families hearts went out to them as they received the news.

I don’t know what people do when they receive horrible news and have no hope. I turn to my family and God and no matter what comes my way, I have a place to go for comfort. I am not saying things are always unicorns and rainbows, but I know rainbows will come. I just have to hang on.

God will sometimes calm the storm, but he will always calm the child! Just cast your cares on him because he truly loves you!

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

You Know What Day It Is!

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Do you know what day it is?

Yep it is…

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Let’s take a moment to rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

Here are my gratitudes for this week.

1. I had a hard day, but my students stepped up and kept me smiling.

2. I got to come home, get in my jammies and due NOTHING!

3. I am currently reading a good book

4. I have so many wonderful friends in my life that have offered to help my family out over the next few weeks as we face my father’s surgery

and number 5…

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There are some days there isn’t a cup big enough in the world to get me through, but I am always thankful for coffee!

Your turn! What are you grateful for this week?

Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Anxious! Who’s Anxious?!?!?! ME!

I recently read on a blog by Joe Miller that according to Amazon, the most highlighted book by Kindle readers is the Bible. And Philippians 4:6-7 is the favorite passage. Here it is from the New International Version:

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

These verses are actually part of one of my all-time favorite passages in the bible.

Philippians 4:4-9
Final Exhortations
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. Whatever 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.

I recently started reading Max Lucado’s book Anxious For Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World. I was so excited when a few pages in, he also quoted this passage as one of his all-time favs!

I am having a hard time putting the book down so don’t mind me if my next few blogs talk about what I am learning.

My father is about to go through a long rough surgery with an even longer and rougher recovery. To say that I am anxious is like saying oxygen is sometimes helpful. I will admit I am ANXIOUS!!!!

What are some of your go-to passages when you feel anxiety creeping up on you? Post in the comments below. You just might have the one someone needs to hear. I know I could use all the verses right now.

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Hang on! Call on! Move on!

First I would like to apologize for not blogging the past couple of days. I have been battling the stomach flu.

It is amazing just how horrible you can feel from a little itty bitty microscopic thing! This dude can bring you to your knees in a matter of minutes! I am not ashamed to say I found myself in the fetal position praying God heal me or take me now, don’t leave me like this!

I was physically in pain, but have you ever been in so much emotional pain that you felt this way. Well, I know a couple of guys in the bible that did!

Jonah was:

Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the LORD God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”

“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”

But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
–Jonah 4:5-11

Elijah also had his issues:

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the Gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.

“I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

1 Kings 19:1-4

If these two great prophets can have issues that make them feel overwhelmed and distressed why don’t we think it is OK for us to feel that way sometimes too?

We are all going to go through periods of our lives that seem like too much to carry. The important thing is to hang on, call on and move on.

Hang on…James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Call on…Proverbs 3:5-6 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.

Move on…Philippians 3:14 I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.

Don’t give up! Never Surrender! Simply Hang on, Call on and Move on!

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.