Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
The Power of One Little Word
Wield the Power
Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
Holy Spirit Duct Tape
Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
Envy is a Junk Food
Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
These verses remind me of dieting. You are cruising along, eating all the good healthy foods and then BAM! That one food you struggle with hits you right in the face. You can give in and try eating just a little. What harm could just a little do, right? Before you know it, you have eaten the whole thing and are back at the store loading your cart up with more!
Envy can sneak up on you like that too. It is great to have goals and work hard toward something but beware of that slippery slope. The obsession with that goal can quickly turn your heart to envy of someone who has already reached it. Feast on the fruits and you will reach your goal.
Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
Battles Begin in the Mind
Galatians 5
Galatians 5:1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
Every battle begins in the mind, at least that is what I have been told every time a New Year comes around and the infamous resolutions come out. Actually, I don’t care if it is a new year, new month, new job, new relationship or new whatever! I tend to have the same idea. This is a fresh start and I won’t let blah blah blah happen again!
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am all for fresh starts and beginning again. I mean that is what grace is all about. What I need to remember is to not let my new goals enslave me. I must find a way to keep balance in my life without chaining myself down. The minute I chain myself down I will break my “rule” and then I will hate myself and get frustrated and just walk away from it completely. That will get me nowhere!
Religion can sometimes get that way also. We get caught up in all the “rules” of the church and forget God set us free from the pomp and circumstance when He sent Jesus to die for us. We don’t practice all the old rituals. They are not what the new covenant is all about. The new covenant is about two simple things, l
If WE, as what my pastor husband likes to refer to as the Big C- Church, remember those two simple things, we will find it much easier to commune with the lost. If WE can concentrate on love and not let things like the way a person dresses, speaks, what he eats or drinks, smokes, the way acts, or who he is involved with, get in the way WE can show them what Christ was really about.
If WE can just love our neighbors, we will win the battle in our minds and truly be set free.
Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
Battle in the Pit
Psalms 77:12 (NIV) I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.
Those of us with mental illness do not have a corner on the market on anxiety and depression. As a matter of fact, recent studies say 1 in 10 Americans have suffered from depression in the last year. We all battle with sadness and fears and we all end up in the pit sometimes. You are not alone!
So where do we turn when out trust in God seems to waiver? When answers don’t come immediately, and God seems so far away? What should we do when rescue doesn’t come, and we begin to slip back into “Why Me?” We begin to doubt God loves us and cares for us. We feel as if God is rejecting us. Does God even love me anymore? Will God never again come to my rescue and bring me peace?
Asaph faced the same questions in Psalm 77. He found himself crying out to God for help when he was in distress. He talks of being anxious and not finding comfort. He couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t find the words to express what was going on (verses 1-4). He followed all the teachings we have heard such as Philippians 4:6, “do not be anxious…by prayer and petition… present your requests” and “Humble yourselves… cast all your anxiety on him” (1 Peter 5:6 & 7) and yet no relief comes.
Then we hit rock bottom (verses 7-9). The pit begins to close in on us and we start wondering if God has forgotten about us. In just a few chapters over in chapter 88, Asaph describes this time as being “counted among those who go down to the pit” (vs. 4) and “put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths” (vs 6). Just when it feels there is no way any light will ever penetrate our soul again; a thought comes to mind. Do you remember when…?
Do you remember the time you were running late, you had to park at a meter only to find you had no change, but by the grace of God, the meter still had an hour left on it? Or the time, you pumped your gas and ran in to pay when you realize you forgot your money, and someone offered to pay? What about the time you felt so alone and down on yourself and someone smiled and told you how lovely your outfit was today? These are God winks! These are weapons to defeat the enemy.
When we step back and take a moment to remember all of the things God has brought into our lives, all the times he has saved us, we take our eyes off the problem. We are reminded just how great our God is (Psalm 77:13). We revel in his display of power among our lives (vs 14).
No, peace may not come right away. Our answer may still be on the horizon. We may have to wait it out in the pit for just a little while longer, but now we have a weapon to battle with while we are there. We have something to hang on to. We have hope because of all the great things God has done in the past. We have hope that he will restore us once again and make his face shine on us that we may be saved again (Psalm 80:7).
Prayer: Thank You, Father, for all the miracles you have brought into our lives. Thank you for hearing our cries and prayers from the pit and being right there with us. Help us to always remember just how much you love us and are there for us. Bring to our memories Your manly faithful acts in the past, so we can take our eyes off the current problem and put them where they belong, on You. In Jesus name, Amen.
Your Turn:
Choose your weapon! What event from your past will you choose for encouragement, to battle in the pit? Share your comments below. You never know, your story might be the one to save someone else.
Copyright © 2018 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
Overwhelmed with Troubles, Near Death, in a Pit, without Strength.
Hebrew 11:1
Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
In the throes of depression, anxiety or even a PTSD attack, I feel alone. I feel I am in the pit. I am surrounded by darkness.
Yet, in this darkness that is full of evil, sadness, hatred, anger a sweet sickening voice calls out softly. It pretends to be my friend. It pretends to understand. It pretends to comfort me. It says things like…
Life is so hard. Your life is a struggle. It just isn’t worth it. Just give in. You are so tired. It would e easier if you just give up. You don’t want to fight anymore. You can’t fight anymore. Everyone else would be so much better without you in their lives. That is what you really want. you are a selfless, loving person. You want what is best for them. So go ahead. Do what is best for them.
In the pit, I feel like Psalms 88:3-4
I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. I am counted among those who go down to the pit. I am like one without strength.
Yes, I am overwhelmed with troubles, near death, in a pit, without strength.
But, wait! These words are in God’s word. God knows where I am. God knows what I am feeling. He used the exact words I am feeling. He even knows I feel like I am crying out to Him and He is rejecting me (Ps 88:14).
He has also provided a magic word to see me through the pit. There is one word, just five little letters long, that will see me out of this pit. That word is FAITH!
The writer of Hebrews us in chapter 11 verse 1 said,
Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
So, where does this leave me in my pit of despair? It leaves me confident that as I hope for God to save me and assurance that even though I don’t see Him right now He is there.
THAT IS FAITH!
The KEY of Power
Revelations 1:18
I am the LIVING ONE: I was dead and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
I held the small cold metal in my hand. I turned it over and over, running my finger down its jagged edge. It was mine. All mine! My parents had trusted me with a key to the house! Wow! What a huge responsibility. They must have thought I was quite grown up!
A few years later, another key was placed in my hand. This one to a 1966 Ford Mustang. I was sixteen years old and just passed my driver’s license test. My dad and mom bought me a car. Wow! What a huge responsibility! What power! It was all mine!
Next came the key to my first apartment, then several rental places. One beautiful, magical day came a few years ago. The realtor said, “Congratulations! It is all yours! Here are your keys!” My first home. It was amazing. It was a huge responsibility! It was powerful!
There is just something about holding keys to something, whether it is a car, apartment, or a house. It means you own a part of something. It is YOUR car or YOUR home! You are not just along for the ride or staying somewhere.
My friends, I want to remind you something. Satan tries to convince us he is this all big and powerful being. He tries to manipulate and deceive us with his lies of power and grandeur. However, he doesn’t even have the keys to his own home! It clearly states in Revelations 1:18 that Jesus holds the keys to death and hell. He isn’t even important enough to have a key to his own home.
Satan has no control! He even had to ask permission to torment Job (Job 1:6-12)! He is not a big, bad all powerful being. He does not have any control over you. He cannot touch you without God’s knowledge. He doesn’t even hold the keys to his own home. He holds NOTHING over us. Shoot he can’t even blackmail us because God knows everything we have done and is waiting and willing to forgive at any moment.
Live today with your head held high! The next time Satan comes around bothering you, just remind him, he doesn’t even own the keys to his own home!
Copyright © 2018 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
Stop It! You Are Not Going to Die!
Judges 6:23
But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”
“Oh, stop! You are not going to die!”
I am not sure how many times I heard this growing up or how many times I have said it myself to my own kiddos. It is a rather popular phrase to throw out when someone is overreacting.
These words jumped out at me recently when I was reading the story of Gideon in Judges chapter 6. I stopped and giggled. Yep! Even, an Angel of the LORD used this phrase!
Now, I am not so sure this Angel had the hands on the hips, head cocked, eyes rolled and loud sigh when he said these words to Gideon. However, I sure heard it that way when I read it. Then I stopped and wondered just how many times had God spoke those words over me?
How many times had I once again turned a mole hill into a mountain? Now, I am not talking real problems here. I am talking those little things that you just let your imagination run with and now the world is coming to an end. The sky is not falling chicken little!
I can hear God telling me, “You are not going to die!” As a matter of fact, a frequent phrase I hear is, “Are you done yet! You are not going to die!” When that thought enters my head, I draw my bottom lip back in, suck up the snot bubble, wipe my eyes and reply, “Yes LORD, I am finished. What do I do now?”
You see, I hear these words when I have been trying to work out my issue on my own. I have not turned to God. Instead, I decided I was big enough to solve this problem all by myself. In simple words, I. Have. Messed. Things. Up! Now I am slinking over to my corner to lick my wounds wondering why everyone is out to get me.
It is in that moment, my wonderful Heavenly Father leans down and quietly says, “Are you ready for some help now? If so, let’s get you cleaned up and walking in the right direction again. Now, pull it together sweetheart, you aren’t going to die. We can make this right. Don’t be afraid, I am going to be right here with you.”
I will never be too old to mess up and I will never be too old to hear these loving words!
Copyright © 2018 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
God and Jesus Needed Rest
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
“If you are not exhausted, then you are not working hard enough!”
Anyone else want to slap someone who tells you this? I know that isn’t very Christian like of me, but that phrase gets my blood boiling.
OK, maybe when I am working out really hard or practicing for something I should feel exhausted, but a good exhausted. I don’t however, think I need to feel exhausted at the end of everyday, which is what this person was trying to tell me.
As a teacher, the first few weeks back to school are always exhausting. Your body has to get use to the schedule and routine again, but eventually you get in your groove. Trying a new thing can feel exhausting, especially if you get frustrated with it. Oh, and don’t get me started about the whole daylight savings time!!!!
I do not believe we were met to always be at exhaustion level though. I think we leave ourselves vulnerable when we hit exhaustion all of the time. Life is hard and we have to work at but it doesn’t mean we have to kill ourselves over it.
Jesus told us to come to Him when we are weary and burdened, and He will give us rest (Matthew 11:28). Even He knew we were going to need a rest! He promised us we would find rest for our souls if we walked with Him.
God Himself took a rest day! By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done (Genesis 2: 2-3).
And of course there is my personal favorite. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion (Mark 4:38). My friends Jesus took a nap! Be more like Jesus! It is Ok to rest up. If God and Jesus needed some downtime we certainly could use some.
Copyright © 2018 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.