Tag: illustration

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Let There Be Light Part​ 1

Genesis 1:3
Let there be light. 

John 8:12
I am the light of the world.

How do you explain PTSD, anxiety, or depression to someone who has never been there?

How do you tell someone watching their loved one suffer that they cannot help or make it go away?  It isn’t their fault.  They did nothing wrong. Don’t take it personally. Their loved one is fighting their demons and they just got caught in the crossfire.

How do you tell someone if I could get out of bed, or off this couch, I would?  If I could quit crying, I would.  If I could stop flying off the handle, I would.  If I could. I would.

No. I didn’t choose to be this way today.  No. I haven’t gotten up on the wrong side of the bed.  No. I am not just feeling a little blue.  No. It isn’t just that time of the month. No. I am not angry at you.

How do I explain how I fee? I feel like I am trying to sweep a dirt floor in the middle of a hurricane.  I can hear everyone around me trying to explain it is a dirt floor.  I know the more I sweep the more dirt I will find.  I hear you scream out, “Why in the heck are you doing this?” while the wind whips around me depositing even more dirt.  But. I. Still. Sweep. And sweep.  And sweep.  I can’t stop.  The broom keeps moving and my hands are glued to it.  I can’t even look up to take a breath.  I. Must. Sweep.

There are no remedies to these problems.  There are no cure-alls.  There is just coping.  Getting through.  Today I would like to let you in on a few of my getting throughs.

Please let me start by explaining there are many medications that can help with the chemical imbalances that occur with PTSD, anxiety, and depression.  My body just doesn’t play well with any of them.  For those they work for, Praise God!  I am so excited for you. I have family and friends who find help in this area.

When I finally figured out meds were not for me, I reached out to others.  I prayed so hard for God to just take it all away. He chose to send me some help instead.  He put people in my life who understood.  People I could turn to in the darkness, who would hold my hand and walk with me. They became lights in my darkness.

I appreciate those people more than they will ever know or understand.  I know I can text and call them at the drop of a hat and they are there. But I didn’t want to always be dependent on them.  That is when God stepped in and said, “Let there be light!”

My light came in the form of four big paws and a very wet nose.  He, like me, ​had gone through some very unpleasant things in his life and was looking for just the right person to love him.

To learn more of my story come back tomorrow.
Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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I am confident that I have no confidence! Or, do I?​

Judges 6: 12, 14 & 15

12When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

14The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

15“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

I have confidence in sunshine,
I have confidence in rain.
I have confidence that spring will come again!
Besides what you see I have confidence in not me.

confidence-i-can

For those of you Sound of Music fans who were singing along above, I apologize for the word change.  But I have to tell you confidence is not a close friend of mine.  I am so glad the bible is filled with not-so-confident characters to help me not feel alone.

One of my favorite Bible stories, when I was little, was about a man who had very little confidence.  As a matter of fact from the world’s point of view, he really didn’t have much to be confident of according to the bible.  This man described himself like this, “Look at me. My clan’s the weakest in Manasseh and I’m the runt of the litter.”

You can read the whole story in Judges chapters 6 through 8.  But for now, let me give you a little taste.

The Israelites had messed up yet again and turned back to doing evil in God’s sight.  So, he turned them over to Midianites who were very cruel to them.  They would march into their land and destroy everything. So the Israelites made hideouts in the caves of the surrounding mountains.   After being reduced to grinding poverty they finally cried out to God for help.

So, who does God send but Gideon the man of the weakest clan and the runt of the litter!  As a matter of fact, poor Gideon has such little confidence about anything he asked God for signs just to make sure he was hearing him correctly.

Oh, and to add insult to injury. Gideon was just finally finding a little confidence and sure that he was supposed to go out and defeat those guys who eat nuts and bolts and drank motor oil for breakfast. God gave him stepped up and gave him the next part of his plan.  Gideon my man you are getting an army of just 300 men to fight along side you!  Oh, and by the way, for your weapons of choice you will get a torch, jar, and trumpet.

Yes, you read that correctly!  God not only chose what the world deemed as a wimp, but he gave him just 300 men to go fight a huge army of elite fighting machines with just a torch, jar, and trumpet.  Now doesn’t that just scream confidence builder! Personally, I think I just would have screamed.

Insert Tabetha now.  I lack confidence in my abilities all the time.  I am not confident about being a wife and mother.  I am so not confident in my writing or teaching.  I am so not confident in standing up in front of people and speaking.  Let me let you in on a little secret.  Confidence does not mean lack of fear. Confidence means you go through with the plan in spite of the fear.

Much like Sister Maria, Gideon had lots of concerns, questions, and fears, but he marched on.  He took those three hundred men and defeated that army of ninjas, without lifting a sword

So you see it is OK to have questions, concerns and even fears because…

Strength doesn’t lie in numbers.
Strength doesn’t lie in wealth,
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers,
When you wake up, wake up! 
It’s healthy!
All I trust I leave my heart to,
All I trust becomes my own!
I have confidence in confidence alone.
Besides, which you see, I have confidence in me! 
(I Have Confidence by Richard Rodgers)
Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Punishment, Discipline or Consequence

Psalms 103:10 (MSG) He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.

punishment

  • a penalty inflicted for an offense, fault, etc.; severe handling or treatment.

discipline

  • to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.

consequence

  • an act or instance of following something as an effect, result, or outcome.

(http://dictionary.reference.com)

What is the difference between a punishment, discipline and consequence? They can all hurt. We probably deserve them. Unless of course we are experiencing a punishment or consequence that was brought on by someone else. Not that that ever happens huh? Well there is a difference between them.

Punishments are dealt out by someone. They are almost a revenge of sorts. You did this so now I get to do this to you. Now stop furling up your brow at me. I know what you are thinking. I punish my kids when they do something wrong. Shouldn’t we punish the murderer for his crime. I didn’t mean revenge like an evil thing. I meant it like a make things even. Kind of like a pay back. Your son or daughter break the neighbors window with a ball, he or she must pay for the window. We try to even things up. If your son or daughter learns from this punishment, you have actually disciplined them.

Wow, that just brought me to another word, discipline. Punishment is meant to bring things even for the moment. Discipline is meant to learn or gain something from it. OK, the only thing
swirling in my head right now are diet and exercise. To many these are punishments…hahaha. Are they really though? Do we gain something from them? Good health, muscles, flexibility and energy. Yep we gain therefore you can no longer say they are a punishment. It is discipline!

Consequences are natural outcomes. They just happen based on what has already taken place. Kind of like a chain reaction. People often refer to it as action/reaction. You put your hand on a hot stove you get burnt. Can you or anyone else control just the outcome? No, you can only control the outcome by controlling what you did in the first place. If that is the case then what you are experiencing is not punishment, or discipline. It is a consequence.

There is someone who controls punishments, disciplines and consequences. As a matter of fact He keeps us from them a lot of the time when we don’t deserve it. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve (consequences), nor pay us back in full for our wrongs (punishments). As a matter of fact He loved us so much He sent His one and only Son to die for our punishments and consequences (John 3:16). We don’t have to go to Hell now. He knows we aren’t perfect and He doesn’t expect us to be. He gives us unconditional grace and love when we slip up.

Does this mean there is no discipline involved? Will we never see consequences and punishment in our lives? Absolutely not! God is and does discipline. He leads us down the path of righteousness (Ps. 23:3). That takes discipline. It takes trying and trying again until we get it right. What we don’t experience is the punishment of God not loving us anymore and turning away from us. We don’t experience the consequence of “you sinned; your going to Hell right now.” We are no longer separated from God because of our sin.

We are loved. We are dusted off our boo-boos kissed and sent on our way again. We are given advice and told how to avoid getting into the same situation. We are not just walked through it, but loved throughout it. Are there punishments that come with it, maybe. Will you face consequences for your actions, probably. But you will not get what you truly deserve. You will not be separated from God. He is still there waiting for you to put your hands out and cry help me father, so He can run to you and pick you up, cuddle you and love you. He can tell you everything is going to be alright little one. We will get through this together.

Father forgive me for my faults. Discipline me by guiding me through the paths of righteousness. I am going to walk through the valley of death, but help me not to be afraid by walking by my side. Guide me so that I can feel secure. Chase after me with love every day of my life, so I can come home to you. (Ps. 23:3-6). Thank you for not treating me as my sins deserve, nor paying me back in full for my wrongs (Ps. 103:10). Thank you for sending Jesus to die for me. To take away my sins, so that I can live with you forever (John 3:16).