Tag: Prayer

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Flu Season, Yuck!

1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

I am so sorry I have been absent this week. My family, like so many others around us, has been battling the flu🤢

I am feeling better today and wanted to do something I haven’t done in a while.

Yep, it is BRIGHT SIDE FRIDAY!

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Give me your five! Here are mine…

1. A husband, who was also very sick, still tried taking care of me when he could.

2. Being on Christmas break + being sick = no writing sub plans!

3. Having the sweetest service dog in the whole world, who wouldn’t leave my side and tried to cuddle real tight when my fever was causing me to shiver.

4. The beautiful dusting of snow we got today. Enough to make everything pretty, but not too much that makes it a pain.

5. This one is probably obvious, but thank you Lord for your healing touch.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! May God bless you this New Year! I can tell you I already feel blessed just being able to stand up without the world spinning out from under me.

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Be A Snowman!

Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Be A Snowman:

snoopy snowman

Be a jolly, happy soul
Spend some time outdoors.
Avoid meltdowns.
Be well-rounded.
Live well, life is short!

My friend posted this on her Facebook page today and I just fell in love with it!

Seriously with all the hustle and bustle of the season, we need to take some time and be a snowman. Find the little things in life that make you smile.

Remember we don’t have to do it all.  It is OK to say no. And for goodness sake, nothing has to be perfect! Not the decorations. Not the cookies. Not the wrapping. Or even the gifts.

This is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. See it through a child’s eyes. Enjoy the pretty lights. Hold your breath for the sound of jingling bells.  Inhale the wonderful smells around you.  Sing Christmas Carols at the top of your lungs and totally off key.  Or as one of my favorite movies puts it…

elf singing

So grab your hot chocolate, Christmas cookies and turn on your favorite Christmas movie.  And when life sends you a snow storm, start a snowball fight!

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May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May He make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
May He turn his face toward you and give you peace.

 

Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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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.

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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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

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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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.”

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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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.

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Learn to Fly!

2 Timothy 4:18
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I am reading Anxious For Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World, by Max Lucado. In his book, he talks about an acrobatic team.  The flyer explains how the key to their success is remembering he is a flyer and his partner is the catcher.  His job is just to jump and let his partner do all the catching.  It is dangerous for him to try and catch his catcher when he jumps.  It simply is not his job!

Max goes on to compare that to our relationship with God.  We have to put our full trust in him.  Let God do his job! “Your Father has never dropped anyone. He will not drop you. His grip is sturdy and his hands are open.” It is not our job to control things.  we must let go and Let God!  As Max puts it, a wonderful thing happens when we let go and let God, we FLY!

Paul went through some pretty horrific moments in his lifetime.  If anyone deserved to have fear and trepidation in their walk with God, I am saying Paul had reasons.  However, Paul never questioned any of the positions he was left in.  Not when he was stoned, ran out of town, or thrown in prison several times.  Instead, he went out of his way to encourage Timothy and the church by saying,

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothey 4:18)

Wow!  Can you sit back and let that sink in for just a moment? I mean really let that sink in!  No matter what we are facing in our lives, God is there. No job, God is there. Cancer, God is there. Divorce, God is there.  He will rescue you from every evil attack and will bring you safely to his heavenly kingdom.

What does that rescue look like?  I don’t know.

How long will it take? I don’t know.

What I do know is he has promised to catch me.  All I have to do is Fly!

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Copyright © 2017 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

 

 

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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.

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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.

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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.