christianity Archives - Page 11 of 18

December 11, 2017

Who is driving the bus?

Psalms 29:11
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

I went to a new doctor today. After many years of seeing the same doctor, I had gotten quite comfortable with myself. My doctor was a good friend of mine. Unfortunately, he had to move his practice far enough away that I was no longer able to see him.

I have known about this move for six months. I have been on this new doctor’s list for about 4 months or so, but I had not gone in to see him. I hate meeting new doctors.

Now, I do realize no one likes to go to the doctors. I mean we don’t usually wake up and say…gee I wonder what my doctor is doing today. I think I should make an appointment to see him.

However, I HATE going to the doctor’s office and I REALLY HATE seeing a new doctor!!!!!!

I have quite a few issues. If you have read my older blogs you know one of them is seizures. I have not seen a neurologist in over 10 years because I gave up on them. So, I really hate discussing that problem, but I was expecting it. I also have two types of arthritis, asthma and Crohn’s disease. Again, I don’t like going over my history and what I am currently doing about them, but I was expecting it.

What I wasn’t expecting to discuss, my PTSD.

Before you ask, no my PTSD is not combat PTSD. I was not in the military. I wish my doctor would have asked that and just left it there. But NO! He wants to dive into what trauma in my life could have caused my PTSD.

Here is my theory on PTSD. It is kind of like Fight Club (movie reference). The first rule about Fight Club is you don’t talk about Fight Club! Yep! That sums up my feeling on my PTSD! Unfortunately, this new doctor did not agree.

***INSERT MELTDOWN HERE***

Now you would think someone who is writing her dissertation on PTSD was comfortable with her own fight. Well, most of the time I am. Unfortunately, the nature of PTSD does not leave you in control. You do not get to pick and choose how you will feel or respond. I have spoken in front of people before concerning my PTSD. Today, however, was just a day that PTSD was driving the bus and it was racing out of control very quickly!

Flashbacks flooded my head. I was crying the entire way home. None of my mind techniques would work. My service dog clung to me to try and make me feel safe and distract my mind.

I would love to tell you my first thoughts were some beautifully worded prayer that would tickle the ear of any Christian.

Nope!

I screamed at God! I screamed, “Why?”

I screamed, “How could you?”

I screamed, “Where are you?”

I screamed, “WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS!!!!”

What did I hear back? The Holy Spirit brought to my mind Psalms 29:11. He said I am giving you strength because you are mine. I am blessing you with peace. Accept it. Sit back and let me take control of the bus!

My heart stopped racing. My anger subsided. Reality began to return.

Thank you, Lord, for your strength and peace. You were with during the trauma. You held my hand and screamed and cried with me. You still hold my hand as you fill me with your strength and peace.

My voice has been heard by many young men and women. My story has been shared before. I have been the voice of the voiceless. I wish I would not have gone through my trauma, but I am glad that I survived. For if my journey can save even one person from giving in to the darkness, then I would gladly do it all over again.

December 6, 2017

Peace on Earth

Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests

My heart grows ill
And I wonder still
Is there place on Earth

So much hate
It seems our fate
To find no peace on Earth

Yet you came
To take the blame
To offer peace on Earth

My faith grows strong
That we’ll right this wrong
As I pray for Peace on Earth

December 4, 2017

Mary Who?

Luke 1:38
Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.”
Then the angel left her.

I am fourteen years old. I have known forever that our Redeemer was coming. But I NEVER imagined he would be coming like this. Through me!

Who am I?

I am just a young girl from Nazareth. Everyone knows nothing comes from Nazareth.

But yet you chose me. Me. You called me highly favored.

Who am I?

I am a young girl. I am not even married yet. Oh my! My poor fiance. He could have thrown me to the side. He could have killed me.

But he didn’t. He loved me. He cared for me. He accepted this child as his own.

Who am I?

I’ve never delivered a baby. I am so far from home by myself. Without my family. What if I do this all wrong? What if I am a terrible mother? What if you hate me?

But you didn’t. You were so tiny. You loved me. You changed me. You came to save and redeem me.

Who am I?

I am every woman and man who has been called to a purpose. A bigger purpose than themselves. A purpose they feel so ill-equipped for but answer “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.”

December 1, 2017

God Knows What You Need

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Mr. Murphy, with his stupid law, was my BFF today.

I started my day dropping everything I touched. Proceeded to fill my car and gas spit back out all over me. Went to the bathroom (I work in a high school), came out, got back to my classroom only to have a teacher walk in after me to tell me I forgot someone. Yep, I looked down and realized my service dog was not attached to me. Good news, he was exactly where I had left him, in the stall.

Go ahead laugh it up. I can hear you from here!

It gets better!

On my way home, I looked down and realized I had gone all day with my shirt on inside out. Did I mention the shirt had pockets and they had been hanging out the entire day.

Told you it got better!

Some days you should just stay in bed!

So….what could I possibly be thankful for today? Well, let me tell you…

This Guy!

This is my wonderful husband, Todd. I texted him when I got to work this morning to whine about my awful start to the day. Then, I called him at lunch to grumble about how my day had not gotten any better. I walk in the door and griped about the rest of the story of my day and my outfit being inside out. What did he do?

He laughed his head off!

I don’t mean a giggle. I mean roll on the floor, belly laugh with tears streaming down your face laugh!

I mean a totally contagious laugh.

I couldn’t be grumpy anymore.

Thank you Lord for putting this guy in my life. You knew there were going to be days like this and I would need someone to laugh me through.

November 29, 2017

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.

November 27, 2017

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!

November 23, 2017

The Empty Chair

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

A dear friend and one of the strongest women I know spent her first Thanksgiving without her mom. She wrote the most beautiful dedication. I wanted to share her words with you.

I hope it brings you peace and joy. I hope it reminds you, Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Today this chair sits empty because of a battle that is over.
However in the sadness of the first holidays without mom, we can find thankfulness.
I’m thankful for the 43 thanksgivings I got to spend with her.
I’m thankful for the gift of adoption that made that possible.
I’m thankful to the stranger who gave up her child and made that possible.
As a mother of 4, I know that was the worst day of her life.
I’m thankful for all the stories people who knew and worked with her have told me this past year.
I’m thankful for all the great memories I have and we are able to share.
I’m thankful that I have an awesome family and the best friends.
I’m thankful for my mom.
She was the best. ❤️

~Wendy Dement

Thank you Marsha for heeding the call to raising a beautiful, strong, Godly woman who has touched my life in so many ways.

To all of the chairs that may be empty this holiday season, know our hearts never will be because you were part of our lives!

November 20, 2017

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!”

November 17, 2017

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.

November 15, 2017

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!

Tag: christianity

Who is driving the bus?

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Peace on Earth

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Mary Who?

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God Knows What You Need

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When in Doubt…Phone a Friend!

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Wowzer! What! A! Day!

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The Empty Chair

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What’s My Motivation?

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A New Adventure Just Around the Corner

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Time For A Nap

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