Tag: Humanity

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No Hope?

Isaiah 40:31

But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

This week my World History students have been studying five major religions of the world. I took away a valuable idea from all of them.

The key focus of my lesson was how do our religious beliefs influence the way we live our lives. At first, my students struggled with the concept. Then we began to talk about each religion’s idea of what happens to us when we died. They quickly realized all the religions had one thing in common, hope and faith in the fact there was something else after we died.

What I took away from this lesson was a sadness for those who do not have this hope and faith. I can’t imagine walking through life without either of those. Why would I get up in the morning? Why would I even try to live my life or improve upon it?

I suffer from depression and PTSD. I know what those dark hopeless days feel like. It is Isaiah 40:31 I often turn to remind myself that my hope is in the Lord and he will renew my strength.  He will give me wings to soar far from this depression and I will be able to run and walk again.  Without that hope, I would stay crumpled up emotionally and sometimes physically in the fetal position unable to go on.

I am so thankful for my religious beliefs.  They bring me comfort and strength.  They do influence the way I live my life.  I want to share this hope and faith with everyone I meet.   I pray for those who have nothing to believe in.

I leave you tonight with this one thought:

If there is no God and Heaven when we die, what did I truly miss out on while I lived?

If there is a God and Heaven when we die, what will I miss out on forever?

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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I Need You to Just “Be”

Psalms 40:1
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.

I sat and listened as my friend poured out her heart and soul.  She was devastated, frustrated, angry and felt totally alone.

I remember a few years back this same friend had come to my rescue.  After a simple phone call at 10:00 at night, she showed up on my doorstep.  She wasn’t there to fix anything.  She was there just “to be”!

This concept of not fixing something can be very difficult for some people. Not to sound sexist or anything, I know for men it can be extremely difficult.  They are naturally born fixers and problem solvers.  However, there are many times we women don’t need “fixes” or even solutions.  We just need someone “to be”.

There are many times in life where there are no words to fix things. I am reminded of a song by Jason Gray, Not Right Now.

Don’t tell me when I’m grieving
That this happened for a reason
Maybe one day we’ll talk about the dreams that had to die
For new ones to come alive
But not right now

While I wait for the smoke to clear
You don’t even have to speak
Just sit with me in the ashes here
And together we can pray for peace
To the one acquainted with our grief

I know someday
I know somehow
I’ll be okay
But not right now
Not right now

This song always reminds me of Psalms 40:1. There are many times I wait for the Lord because I just want him to listen to my cry.  This verse tells us he turns to us and listens.  He is just there. We are not alone.  We are not forgotten.  He is listening. He is just “being”.

My response to my friend was simple.  I told her I was sorry. I wish I could fix it, but I know I can’t.  I could give her a million “Christian” things to say and verses of encouragement, but I knew they wouldn’t help, right now. So, I offered to just listen and empathize with her. I told her when she needed me to be her cheerleader and encourager I would, but today I was just going to sit with her and be miserable with her so she was not alone.  I was just going “to be”.

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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We Were Not Called to Climb Every Mountain

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

I have come to the realization, I can’t live anyone else’s life and I don’t want to.

I have a friend who sells jewelry as a side job.  Her hopes and dreams are for it to take off so she can quit her full-time job.  She loves selling this jewelry.  She loves wearing it and she loves the smiles on her customers face when they first put it on and they realize they are beautiful!

Recently she made a confession to me.  She belongs to various social networking pages specifically designed for consultants that sell this jewelry.  She was reading peoples successes and she began to feel very jealous.  She wished she could be them. The Holy Spirit quickly pricked her soul and said, “No, you don’t!  You don’t want the trials and tribulations she has been or is going through.”

When she told me this I realized I have done the same thing many times.  I have looked at magazines or watched TV, social media or even just saw someone walking down the street.  I have said things like,

“I wished I looked like _________.”

“I wished I had that person’s _______.”

“Wow, I wish I could do _______ like that person.”

God has marked out a path just for us to travel.  He has equipped us with just what we need to walk that path.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked for us.

Why do some paths lead down pitfalls and rocky roads, while others seem to walk on rainbows and sunshine?  I don’t know, but I can promise you something, no one is always walking on either one.  When you see those people who seem to be on the high, you never know the cliffs they climbed to get there.  What’s more, you weren’t meant to make that climb.

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

Let us throw off the jealousy, envy, covetousness, enviousness, green-eyed monster, jealousy, resentment that entangles and let us find our own path of blessings, grace, mercy; favor, kindness, mitzvah, advantage, aid, assistance, gift, help, relief, support, comfort, consolation, solace; bonus, extra, delight, joy, and pleasure.

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Love Doesn’t Mean Agree

Galatians 5:14-15For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

I have lived through several Presidents. Each one has had his good points and bad points. Each one has had his supporters and his non-supporters. Unfortunately, over the years access to information and the ability to express one’s opinions on said information has sky rocketed. The last President and current President have had it the worst. FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter and any other number of social outlets have turned human beings into mortal enemies.

I am not going to get political here I promise. I don’t care who you voted for. I don’t care about your beliefs. What I do care about is your reactions to fellow human beings.

I am over joyed at the many pictures that are coming out right now of people helping people in Texas. No one is stopping to ask who you voted for? What is your sexual orientation? What are your religious beliefs? What color are you? Do you hate cops? Are you a thug? No, people are just reaching out a hand.

Loving your neighbor does not mean agreeing with him or her. Loving your neighbor does not mean liking who they are or what they do. Loving your neighbor means being willing to take the time to listen. Agree to disagree. Defending without offending. Yes, that last one is possible.

I am going to add one more I don’t care to this blog. I Don’t Care What Your Religious Beliefs Are! The above saying came out of the Bible, but you can find the concept in many other religions. For those nonreligious people, you can also say it is just plain old good common sense.

Loving one another makes peace. Hate does nothing but destroys us!

Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.