What You Need To Know
Research shows that heart-centered feelings associated with gratitude, appreciation, and caring are health enhancing. When you find one thing, however small, to be thankful for and you hold that feeling for as little as 15–20 seconds, many subtle and beneficial physiologic changes take place in your body:
Stress hormone levels of cortisol and norepinephrine decrease, creating a cascade of beneficial metabolic changes such as an enhanced immune system.
Coronary arteries relax, thus increasing the blood supply to your heart.
Heart rhythm becomes more harmonious, which positively affects your mood and all other bodily organs.
Breathing becomes deeper, thus increasing the oxygen level of your tissues.
Other scientific evidence that gratitude improves health comes from research accumulated by Robert A. Emmons, professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis. Emmons found that gratitude makes you healthier, smarter, and more energetic. He also showed that people practicing gratitude daily, for example, as writing in a gratitude journal, reported higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness, and energy than those who didn’t.
If all of this happens when you focus for just 15–20 seconds on something that brings you pleasure, joy, or a feeling of gratitude, imagine what would happen to your health if you were able to cultivate thoughts of appreciation on a consistent and regularly basis.
What Causes This
The health benefits of gratitude (which is really the same thing as love) are an amazing example of how sturdy the bridge between the mind, body, and emotions really is and how simple it is to put this connection to work in your own life. But, as you well know, simple isn’t necessarily easy. Cultivating gratitude, like maintaining strong muscles and bones, takes discipline and will. That’s right. It takes practice to feel gratitude and reap its physical and emotional benefits.
There are valid physiologic reasons why focusing on gratitude isn’t easy. Physically, we humans evolved along with a nervous system wired to ensure our survival by keeping us alerted to possible danger from the occasional wild animal or violent storm—events that were relatively infrequent within a life span. Now fast-forward that same nervous system to our current era of mass media, when all of the possible dangerous events from the entire planet are beamed into our living rooms day and night. You can see why holding thoughts of appreciation is hard.
Spiritual and Holistic Options
Years ago, my father said to me, "Gratitude is the first thing forgot." Though this is often true, it doesn’t have to be. But it takes practice to turn it around—practice to notice what gratitude feels like in your body and to notice when you get off-track and into a downward spiral of fear, anger, or despair. It also takes diligence to stop that spiral by consciously deciding to focus on something that feels better.
Here’s how to use the power of appreciation and gratitude to enhance your health and your life on all levels.
Create Gratitude TouchstonesWrite your favorite memories or peak experiences on index cards and keep them close at hand as gratitude touchstones. Here are a few examples: your spouse, your sleeping child, a beautiful place in nature, a favorite pet, an exciting trip, a special moment with a friend.
Appreciate yourself for all that you are and all that you do.Take a moment right now to look back and acknowledge how far you’ve come since last year, six months ago, even three months ago. (Journaling is a great way to keep track of this kind of information and update your self-appreciation circuits regularly.) Because we are conditioned to focus so much on what we still have to do, we forget to acknowledge ourselves for all the things we’ve actually done—and all the ways in which our presence actually helps and supports others.
Take yourself right into your heart, right now. Imagine that you are now surrounded by everyone and everything you’ve ever loved and cared for. And each of them is telling you how much you’ve meant to them. Let each of them speak directly to your heart while you breathe fully, taking it all into your own heart.
Include yourself in the list of those to whom you give freely.The Golden Rule says to "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Let me give you that same rule in another form: "Do unto yourself as you would have others do unto you." If you want to have true prosperity—which I define as health, wealth, love, and happiness—you must learn to give freely. But you must also be able to receive with a full and grateful heart. Your health depends on it!
Understand the power of tithing.The general formula for prosperity is to tithe 10 percent of your income to the source of your inspiration. It keeps the circulation of prosperity going. What you give freely and generously comes back to you ten-fold because you can’t "out give" the universe. But it won’t come back unless you’ve developed your ability to receive it! You do this by opening your heart to yourself and your own innate goodness.And, given that prosperity is not just about money, it’s important to understand that you are also "tithing" when you give your happiness, love, and caring to others. It’s crucial that women really take into their hearts how much they already "tithe," even if not in the form of actual dollars. This helps enhance your sense of worth and worthiness. And as a result, improves your health.
Take care of your body and your health.Every time you take your vitamins, eat organically grown food, read articles on my Website, lift a dumbbell, or sit down to meditate, you are giving back to yourself. You are including yourself in the circle of gratitude and caring. You are filling your cup so that you can drink fully—and from that space, help others do the same!
September 26, 2007
September 25, 2007
A Time to Remember - living an abundant life
Yesterday I was having my morning devotions and prayer time and specifically focusing on a friend seeing a new doctor. I was searching for a scripture or something that could be an encouragement to her. It's funny how sometimes we are looking to give to someone else and in the process the Lord gives something to us.
As I sat there flipping through my Bible I suddenly was reminded about a time back before I had my thyroid surgery. It was about a month after the nodule was discovered and appointments were being made to discuss having a biopsy done on it to rule out cancer. As I searched the Internet gathering information and my stomach was churning it seemed like I was going to be faced with a difficult decision.
One afternoon a week later I was doing some cooking and had some praise music on. Everyone was gone and I was home alone. A song came on that caused me to put everything down and go sit and pull out my Bible. As I opened to a verse that came to mind, one that I have never read before there were these words: Psalm 118:17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
Those words hit me like a ton of bricks one moment and the next moment it felt like someone literally, physically lifted something off of my back. I knew in that moment that my nodule was not cancerous. Something inside me changed so drastically and gave me a confidence I had never experienced before in the face of such difficulty.
When my appointment arrived to have the biopsy done I made the choice to not take the pre-op medicine to help you relax before they stick a huge needle in your neck...yuck. I knew that either the nodule would be gone or the biopsy would not happen. I chose not to cancel the appointment because for some reason I felt strongly that I still needed to go. When I went in and they started prepping me, the nurse fired up the ultrasound and sure enough...the nodule was still there. I thought..."Oh, great, what have I done." There was this adrenaline rush and huge feelings of doubt. And, truth be told, I started scolding myself for being such a nut case for thinking like this and not taking that medicine to help me get through the procedure.
About ten minutes passed and I was so close to bolting off that table. I felt numb and couldn't figure out how I misunderstood what God had showed me, and how I felt He was leading me. But, then the surgeon came in. He was a really friendly guy and seemed like he had a steady hand...Praise God :-). He grabbed the ultrasound wand and took a look at the nodule himself. After about 30 seconds he looked at me and said, "And, why are we doing a biopsy on this thing?". I burst out laughing and said, "I don't know, I think its crazy too." So, he called my doctor and they spoke for a moment and everyone agreed that this nodule did not look cancerous, although its really impossible to tell 100%, and decided this thing should not be touched. Woohooo. I couldn't believe my ears. I realized in that moment that God had shown himself loud and clear. It felt like such a huge victory.
The difficult part is that its been hard to carry around that original confidence that He placed in my heart on that specific day as time as gone on. But, what I felt like He was reminding of was how I knew one thing for sure before walking into that appointment. I knew that God had shown me that my nodule was not cancerous, and I had nothing to be afraid of.
So, yesterday I shared the story with my friend who was feeling nervous about her appointment and after I got off the phone, I thanked God for reminding me of such a powerful time. Reminding me that I had let go of that confidence that made me walk with such conviction that even a needle to the neck didn't scare me. And, that as I walked with conviction, confidence and expectation...that God would be delighted to show up and make His Glory known.
I recently read a quote by Saint Irenaeus that said, "The glory of God is man fully alive." Honestly, when a person feels sick 24/7, its hard to feel fully alive and embrace God's word that says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10) But, He says that's why He came...and so I believe Him.
I have to say that the day I got up off that operating table at the hospital after not having that biopsy done...I did feel fully alive. I felt something that I will never forget. It was just a taste of what God is trying to do in our lives. Who would of thought that something like that would have a lasting impression on my walk with God.
So, today I sit here on an overcast, Tuesday morning. Whitney was up coughing last night until nearly 1:00 a.m., Sydney had major bloody nose around 3:30 a.m. and didn't go back to sleep until about 4:00 a.m. and I didn't go back to sleep until almost 5:30 a.m. I won't pretend that I'm feeling like "all that and a bag of chips." I'm exhausted on top of being exhausted. But, if I can sit here and enjoy the presence of the Lord and what He has done for me and what He will do today, and in the future...then I think I'm having a small piece of the abundant life. I think these are the days where my love for God and my own faithfulness are lived out. Not the days when I have everything going according to plan and things fall into place so easily. No, today is the day that I feel incredibly grateful and thankful for all that God has done. The sun is not shining outside my window...the birds have found a different tree in someone else's yard to hang out in. But, inside my heart the sun is shining today. It feels full and ready to dive deeper into life than ever before.
John 7:38
Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
Have an abundant day, no matter what you are feeling or what the circumstances. God is good.
Blessings, Tanya
As I sat there flipping through my Bible I suddenly was reminded about a time back before I had my thyroid surgery. It was about a month after the nodule was discovered and appointments were being made to discuss having a biopsy done on it to rule out cancer. As I searched the Internet gathering information and my stomach was churning it seemed like I was going to be faced with a difficult decision.
One afternoon a week later I was doing some cooking and had some praise music on. Everyone was gone and I was home alone. A song came on that caused me to put everything down and go sit and pull out my Bible. As I opened to a verse that came to mind, one that I have never read before there were these words: Psalm 118:17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
Those words hit me like a ton of bricks one moment and the next moment it felt like someone literally, physically lifted something off of my back. I knew in that moment that my nodule was not cancerous. Something inside me changed so drastically and gave me a confidence I had never experienced before in the face of such difficulty.
When my appointment arrived to have the biopsy done I made the choice to not take the pre-op medicine to help you relax before they stick a huge needle in your neck...yuck. I knew that either the nodule would be gone or the biopsy would not happen. I chose not to cancel the appointment because for some reason I felt strongly that I still needed to go. When I went in and they started prepping me, the nurse fired up the ultrasound and sure enough...the nodule was still there. I thought..."Oh, great, what have I done." There was this adrenaline rush and huge feelings of doubt. And, truth be told, I started scolding myself for being such a nut case for thinking like this and not taking that medicine to help me get through the procedure.
About ten minutes passed and I was so close to bolting off that table. I felt numb and couldn't figure out how I misunderstood what God had showed me, and how I felt He was leading me. But, then the surgeon came in. He was a really friendly guy and seemed like he had a steady hand...Praise God :-). He grabbed the ultrasound wand and took a look at the nodule himself. After about 30 seconds he looked at me and said, "And, why are we doing a biopsy on this thing?". I burst out laughing and said, "I don't know, I think its crazy too." So, he called my doctor and they spoke for a moment and everyone agreed that this nodule did not look cancerous, although its really impossible to tell 100%, and decided this thing should not be touched. Woohooo. I couldn't believe my ears. I realized in that moment that God had shown himself loud and clear. It felt like such a huge victory.
The difficult part is that its been hard to carry around that original confidence that He placed in my heart on that specific day as time as gone on. But, what I felt like He was reminding of was how I knew one thing for sure before walking into that appointment. I knew that God had shown me that my nodule was not cancerous, and I had nothing to be afraid of.
So, yesterday I shared the story with my friend who was feeling nervous about her appointment and after I got off the phone, I thanked God for reminding me of such a powerful time. Reminding me that I had let go of that confidence that made me walk with such conviction that even a needle to the neck didn't scare me. And, that as I walked with conviction, confidence and expectation...that God would be delighted to show up and make His Glory known.
I recently read a quote by Saint Irenaeus that said, "The glory of God is man fully alive." Honestly, when a person feels sick 24/7, its hard to feel fully alive and embrace God's word that says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10) But, He says that's why He came...and so I believe Him.
I have to say that the day I got up off that operating table at the hospital after not having that biopsy done...I did feel fully alive. I felt something that I will never forget. It was just a taste of what God is trying to do in our lives. Who would of thought that something like that would have a lasting impression on my walk with God.
So, today I sit here on an overcast, Tuesday morning. Whitney was up coughing last night until nearly 1:00 a.m., Sydney had major bloody nose around 3:30 a.m. and didn't go back to sleep until about 4:00 a.m. and I didn't go back to sleep until almost 5:30 a.m. I won't pretend that I'm feeling like "all that and a bag of chips." I'm exhausted on top of being exhausted. But, if I can sit here and enjoy the presence of the Lord and what He has done for me and what He will do today, and in the future...then I think I'm having a small piece of the abundant life. I think these are the days where my love for God and my own faithfulness are lived out. Not the days when I have everything going according to plan and things fall into place so easily. No, today is the day that I feel incredibly grateful and thankful for all that God has done. The sun is not shining outside my window...the birds have found a different tree in someone else's yard to hang out in. But, inside my heart the sun is shining today. It feels full and ready to dive deeper into life than ever before.
John 7:38
Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
Have an abundant day, no matter what you are feeling or what the circumstances. God is good.
Blessings, Tanya
September 23, 2007
Just an Update
It's been an interesting week for me on many levels. I guess I can start with trying new meds...sigh. The cortisol cream lasted for about four days before I had to give it up. It made me so exhausted all I could do was just lay there in bed in a state between wanting to sleep it off and not being able to sleep at all. Too tired to read and yet not tired enough to take a full nap. Very frustrating. I tried the thyroid meds once so far. Felt the same basic feeling. Really tired.
I told my friend the other day, maybe I'm just meant to lay here and heal that way :-/. Its so frustrating to know what your body needs but then your body not accept it. Just doesn't make sense to me and I can easily spend hours laying here trying to think of solutions. That just usually leads me to more exhaustion.
You would think after all this time I would have accepted the fact that this is where I am, but I still have these lightening bolt moments that jerk me around and remind me of how I used to be. I miss running so much that I feel like I'm going to come right out of my skin. Not just hitting the road for a jog, but running with my kids. Chasing them all over and tackling them on the lawn. I know they miss it too because they have been reminding me more lately about the stuff I "used" to do with them. It feels a bit like a bee sting every time one of those memories gets brought up.
Sunday's are still my Achilles heal wishing so bad that we were all getting ready to go to church as a family. Especially on Family Meal Time that our church has once a month. It's a potluck event and after the service we have a chance to eat together and visit with people that you haven't had a chance to see in a while. We always left feeling that we made a deeper connection with more people and couldn't wait for another opportunity to deepen that relationship down the road.
Right now I'm still working through my book "Shattering Strongholds". Here are some things that I highlighted for myself in the book so far:
"Too many in the Church today see themselves in terms of their pasts, their upbringing, their shattered marriages, their lost jobs, their lack of money, etc. The don't see themselves in terms of their potential in Christ."
"Scripturally correct teaching will not automatically clear up wrong ideas. Truth can be twisted when it has to filter its way through a mind filled with strongholds."
It's been a great book to read so far and its definitely packed with a lot of things that make me stop and really process. I'm reading this book a lot slower than usual. My best friend always makes fun of me because I can charge through books pretty fast. The problem is that I miss a lot sometimes and have to go back and reread some things. So, I am trying to go slow, digest, and then go on to the next area. We'll see if this serves me better :-).
I think I'm feeling a bit worn out lately...I mean more emotionally worn out as of late. When I feel better I try to do more with my kids and family and friends. Try to reconnect with others and let them know I am still here and they are still important. But, lately I have had a few friends going through some difficult times and have been spending a lot of energy on being there. I just don't know if I have the stamina to keep that up right now. I'm still trying to keep my own head above water. I so love to see people encouraged and grow. Its a passion of mine really. After losing my mom and going through my divorce I only had a few friends who truly supported me. One lived in California...God bless you Janelle, and my best friend here Monica, and the other was my good pal from Northwest College Daniel. I know what it feels like to be in pain and look around you only to find everyone either too busy or too wrapped up in their own stuff. I know what it feels like to go to bed at night and wonder how you are going to make it through tomorrow. Its not a dramatic statement, it is a true reality when you are grieving the loss of a mother or a marriage. So, when I see my friends suffering in these ways I can't help but want to help give them hope. Because that's what we are all looking for during these dark times. We all need someone who is willing to get in there with us during the yucky stuff. Its not pretty to be vulnerable, needy, confused, and overwhelmed on every level. None of us want to show that side and its very hard to find people who will roll their sleeves all the way up and help with the dirty work. People who can still see who we REALLY are through all the mascara streaks and melt downs. I want to be that person and yet I'm finding myself so fatigued and worn out that its been more difficult for me to do that. Its yet another area I feel like I'm letting people down with this illness. And, its yet another area I have to trust that God will bring the right person into these friends' lives who can be that right now.
Well, speaking of tired...I'm wiped from writing and Spencer walked in wanting to play a game together...I know there will be a day when I have energy for both. I know God is moving on my behalf and I know there will be a day when I can sit with my friends in the ashes of their lives as they heal and move forward. I have to believe that my own story includes healing and moving forward. God is good!
Blessings, Tanya
I told my friend the other day, maybe I'm just meant to lay here and heal that way :-/. Its so frustrating to know what your body needs but then your body not accept it. Just doesn't make sense to me and I can easily spend hours laying here trying to think of solutions. That just usually leads me to more exhaustion.
You would think after all this time I would have accepted the fact that this is where I am, but I still have these lightening bolt moments that jerk me around and remind me of how I used to be. I miss running so much that I feel like I'm going to come right out of my skin. Not just hitting the road for a jog, but running with my kids. Chasing them all over and tackling them on the lawn. I know they miss it too because they have been reminding me more lately about the stuff I "used" to do with them. It feels a bit like a bee sting every time one of those memories gets brought up.
Sunday's are still my Achilles heal wishing so bad that we were all getting ready to go to church as a family. Especially on Family Meal Time that our church has once a month. It's a potluck event and after the service we have a chance to eat together and visit with people that you haven't had a chance to see in a while. We always left feeling that we made a deeper connection with more people and couldn't wait for another opportunity to deepen that relationship down the road.
Right now I'm still working through my book "Shattering Strongholds". Here are some things that I highlighted for myself in the book so far:
"Too many in the Church today see themselves in terms of their pasts, their upbringing, their shattered marriages, their lost jobs, their lack of money, etc. The don't see themselves in terms of their potential in Christ."
"Scripturally correct teaching will not automatically clear up wrong ideas. Truth can be twisted when it has to filter its way through a mind filled with strongholds."
It's been a great book to read so far and its definitely packed with a lot of things that make me stop and really process. I'm reading this book a lot slower than usual. My best friend always makes fun of me because I can charge through books pretty fast. The problem is that I miss a lot sometimes and have to go back and reread some things. So, I am trying to go slow, digest, and then go on to the next area. We'll see if this serves me better :-).
I think I'm feeling a bit worn out lately...I mean more emotionally worn out as of late. When I feel better I try to do more with my kids and family and friends. Try to reconnect with others and let them know I am still here and they are still important. But, lately I have had a few friends going through some difficult times and have been spending a lot of energy on being there. I just don't know if I have the stamina to keep that up right now. I'm still trying to keep my own head above water. I so love to see people encouraged and grow. Its a passion of mine really. After losing my mom and going through my divorce I only had a few friends who truly supported me. One lived in California...God bless you Janelle, and my best friend here Monica, and the other was my good pal from Northwest College Daniel. I know what it feels like to be in pain and look around you only to find everyone either too busy or too wrapped up in their own stuff. I know what it feels like to go to bed at night and wonder how you are going to make it through tomorrow. Its not a dramatic statement, it is a true reality when you are grieving the loss of a mother or a marriage. So, when I see my friends suffering in these ways I can't help but want to help give them hope. Because that's what we are all looking for during these dark times. We all need someone who is willing to get in there with us during the yucky stuff. Its not pretty to be vulnerable, needy, confused, and overwhelmed on every level. None of us want to show that side and its very hard to find people who will roll their sleeves all the way up and help with the dirty work. People who can still see who we REALLY are through all the mascara streaks and melt downs. I want to be that person and yet I'm finding myself so fatigued and worn out that its been more difficult for me to do that. Its yet another area I feel like I'm letting people down with this illness. And, its yet another area I have to trust that God will bring the right person into these friends' lives who can be that right now.
Well, speaking of tired...I'm wiped from writing and Spencer walked in wanting to play a game together...I know there will be a day when I have energy for both. I know God is moving on my behalf and I know there will be a day when I can sit with my friends in the ashes of their lives as they heal and move forward. I have to believe that my own story includes healing and moving forward. God is good!
Blessings, Tanya
September 21, 2007
Hurry Sickness by Constance Rhodes
(This article is courtesy of HomeLife.)
The other day, I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. “How are things?” Greg asked, as we waited in line at Starbucks. “CRAZY!” I answered. “But, good!” I hastily added, as if to assure both of us that while I was indeed busy, I had it all under control. As I began rattling off the things that were going on in my life, an unmistakable flash of concern crossed Greg’s face.
“Are you OK?” he asked. “You look a little thin.”
“I’m fine,” I assured him. “I’ve just been working a lot.” And I had been. So much, in fact, that I hadn’t eaten or slept well for longer than I could remember. The truth was I had unwittingly fallen victim to a newly named disease: Hurry Sickness.
Our Romance with ChaosThe term Hurry Sickness was coined by Dr. Meyer Friedman. Incidentally, this is the same guy who first identified the Type A personality; you know, the one that describes driven, overachiever types?
Even if you’re not Type A, chances are you, too, have fallen victim to Hurry Sickness.
Just consider how frustrated you feel when the car in front of you is driving a few miles below the speed limit. Or you’re in such a hurry that something as basic as going to the bathroom can seem like an unnecessary luxury.
Running from one commitment to the next, trading time spent with friends and family for the ability to feel productive, you find yourself fantasizing about what it would be like to unplug from the world for a few days and just breathe. Well, maybe that’s not such a bad idea.
Hurry, Worry, and Fear“Working at breakneck speed for extended periods of time does not enhance productivity; it reduces it,” says Dr. Edward Hallowell, author of CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! “When we work too fast for too long we get tired, become inefficient, make mistakes, and become unable to think clearly and sharply.”
Living in such a chronic state of stress also can have a dramatic impact on our health, triggering problems like allergies, arthritis, obesity, diabetes, depression, anxiety, and, in my case, insomnia and loss of appetite.
There are other trade-offs to consider, too. With no margin for recreation, our bodies and minds stay in a constant state of overstimulation, making it hard to relax and just be content. Since time is money, we begin to make decisions about our relationships based on how they can serve our needs, rather than exploring how we can serve others. Eventually, our lives become more about surviving the day than about embracing life.
So, why do we keep this frenetic pace? I have a theory: We’re afraid. Afraid of being still and facing the reality of our disappointments. Afraid that if we don’t take care of something ourselves, it won’t be done right. Afraid that if we set boundaries, we might let someone down.
More than anything, I think we live each day with the fear that if we say no to something, we might miss out on an opportunity critical to achieving our dreams, hopes, and purpose in life. And here is where we play right into the hands of our enemy: We’re too busy to take time to hear what God is saying about how we are to live our lives.
The Antidote: Faith! If anyone could have fallen victim to Hurry Sickness, it would have been Jesus. Talk about a purpose-driven life; He was called to save the entire human race! Jesus certainly had the right to multitask, yet He didn’t live as you or I might if we knew we only had 33 years on this earth. Instead, His life was an example of choosing substance over volume. He spent time away from work to be with God. He shared long, slow meals with His disciples. He even took His time when Lazarus died — a story where we learn God is often glorified the most when our plans and our timing fail.
In Jesus’ life, we find the only true antidote to Hurry Sickness: faith in God. Too often, however, we assume responsibility for running our lives. Not only does this propagate fear and frustration, but it’s literally an exercise in futility.
Proverbs 19:21 tells us, “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.”
On a practical level, this means that, in spite of our best efforts at controlling our lives, God’s plan will prevail in the end — whether we like it or not. It also means we can’t mess up God’s plans for our lives by saying no to something we don’t need to be doing. Since God is a God of order, it means we don’t have to live a chaotic, burned-out life to fulfill His calling for us. Such knowledge gives us permission to reset our priorities, putting relationship with God, family, and friends before all the things we think we must get done.
Hurry Sickness may be a reality of our culture, but it doesn’t have to be a reality of our lives. As Christ-followers, we can choose to live lives that are set apart. We can actively seek to become more attuned to God’s voice than we are to the ding of our e-mail. And we can learn to trust that we don’t have to be in control of everything.
As we do these things, we come closer to reflecting the character of God. And maybe, in that place of choosing God’s character, we’ll find those moments to just be — to breathe in the air, the life, and the beauty around us, lift our eyes toward heaven, and worship the One who created it all.
Constance Rhodes lives in Franklin, Tenn. She is the editor of the book The Art of Being.
The other day, I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. “How are things?” Greg asked, as we waited in line at Starbucks. “CRAZY!” I answered. “But, good!” I hastily added, as if to assure both of us that while I was indeed busy, I had it all under control. As I began rattling off the things that were going on in my life, an unmistakable flash of concern crossed Greg’s face.
“Are you OK?” he asked. “You look a little thin.”
“I’m fine,” I assured him. “I’ve just been working a lot.” And I had been. So much, in fact, that I hadn’t eaten or slept well for longer than I could remember. The truth was I had unwittingly fallen victim to a newly named disease: Hurry Sickness.
Our Romance with ChaosThe term Hurry Sickness was coined by Dr. Meyer Friedman. Incidentally, this is the same guy who first identified the Type A personality; you know, the one that describes driven, overachiever types?
Even if you’re not Type A, chances are you, too, have fallen victim to Hurry Sickness.
Just consider how frustrated you feel when the car in front of you is driving a few miles below the speed limit. Or you’re in such a hurry that something as basic as going to the bathroom can seem like an unnecessary luxury.
Running from one commitment to the next, trading time spent with friends and family for the ability to feel productive, you find yourself fantasizing about what it would be like to unplug from the world for a few days and just breathe. Well, maybe that’s not such a bad idea.
Hurry, Worry, and Fear“Working at breakneck speed for extended periods of time does not enhance productivity; it reduces it,” says Dr. Edward Hallowell, author of CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! “When we work too fast for too long we get tired, become inefficient, make mistakes, and become unable to think clearly and sharply.”
Living in such a chronic state of stress also can have a dramatic impact on our health, triggering problems like allergies, arthritis, obesity, diabetes, depression, anxiety, and, in my case, insomnia and loss of appetite.
There are other trade-offs to consider, too. With no margin for recreation, our bodies and minds stay in a constant state of overstimulation, making it hard to relax and just be content. Since time is money, we begin to make decisions about our relationships based on how they can serve our needs, rather than exploring how we can serve others. Eventually, our lives become more about surviving the day than about embracing life.
So, why do we keep this frenetic pace? I have a theory: We’re afraid. Afraid of being still and facing the reality of our disappointments. Afraid that if we don’t take care of something ourselves, it won’t be done right. Afraid that if we set boundaries, we might let someone down.
More than anything, I think we live each day with the fear that if we say no to something, we might miss out on an opportunity critical to achieving our dreams, hopes, and purpose in life. And here is where we play right into the hands of our enemy: We’re too busy to take time to hear what God is saying about how we are to live our lives.
The Antidote: Faith! If anyone could have fallen victim to Hurry Sickness, it would have been Jesus. Talk about a purpose-driven life; He was called to save the entire human race! Jesus certainly had the right to multitask, yet He didn’t live as you or I might if we knew we only had 33 years on this earth. Instead, His life was an example of choosing substance over volume. He spent time away from work to be with God. He shared long, slow meals with His disciples. He even took His time when Lazarus died — a story where we learn God is often glorified the most when our plans and our timing fail.
In Jesus’ life, we find the only true antidote to Hurry Sickness: faith in God. Too often, however, we assume responsibility for running our lives. Not only does this propagate fear and frustration, but it’s literally an exercise in futility.
Proverbs 19:21 tells us, “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.”
On a practical level, this means that, in spite of our best efforts at controlling our lives, God’s plan will prevail in the end — whether we like it or not. It also means we can’t mess up God’s plans for our lives by saying no to something we don’t need to be doing. Since God is a God of order, it means we don’t have to live a chaotic, burned-out life to fulfill His calling for us. Such knowledge gives us permission to reset our priorities, putting relationship with God, family, and friends before all the things we think we must get done.
Hurry Sickness may be a reality of our culture, but it doesn’t have to be a reality of our lives. As Christ-followers, we can choose to live lives that are set apart. We can actively seek to become more attuned to God’s voice than we are to the ding of our e-mail. And we can learn to trust that we don’t have to be in control of everything.
As we do these things, we come closer to reflecting the character of God. And maybe, in that place of choosing God’s character, we’ll find those moments to just be — to breathe in the air, the life, and the beauty around us, lift our eyes toward heaven, and worship the One who created it all.
Constance Rhodes lives in Franklin, Tenn. She is the editor of the book The Art of Being.
September 19, 2007
Doing Something New
Do you ever dream about just selling everything and going on a long journey? I've always loved the idea of selling our house, buying a nice RV, packing up the kids and traveling around the US for awhile. I have this vision of us loaded up with our bikes, golf clubs and balls and bats driving down the beautiful coast line. Stopping here and there for surfing lessons, swimming with the dolphins at Sea World, and Bob and I taking long, slow walks on the beach. I see my body healing itself just from the doses of fresh salt water air and allowing the tide to pull all of this junk out of my body. I see us laughing, discussing, debating, praying, running and enjoying life from a whole new perspective.
My terminal flaw is that its hard for me to just think about that and then let it go. I actually have the nerve to start crunching numbers and see if it is actually feasible to do such an outlandish thing. Once I start doing real planning, reality sets in. What would Bob do for a job when we returned? How would the kids feel about leaving our home and friends? What about when we came back? Where would we live? Would we have enough money left over to buy another house in the same neighborhood? Or is the whole idea of letting go of a safe, secure, tidy little life all about seeing what other possibilities are out there? Are we so afraid of letting go of our 7000 square foot lot and comfortable routine that we never allow ourselves a chance to realize bigger dreams? Are we afraid of being alone with our families and not having a crazy schedule?
To me, it sounds like heaven on earth. To have my kids all together and have their undivided attention. Not competing with the next soccer match, or swim lessons. But, discovering things together that we never would have had the chance to otherwise. I guess that's what summer vacations are for, but I have yet to see it fully work out that way for most of us. Its usually a week here or two weeks there and then right back to it. Does that afford us the time to make lasting impressions and changes in the lives of our children or family? I don't know. I'm just talking out loud here. Maybe I'm trying to talk myself out of a crazy dream.
Well, if you see a big CASADEGORE sign on the back of a big RV heading south to the beach I guess that means I answered my own questions :-). In the meantime, I'm going to keep dreaming and taking those virtual walks on the beach with my husband while my kids and Buddy the dog are behind us racing the waves back and forth.
Blessings, Tanya
My terminal flaw is that its hard for me to just think about that and then let it go. I actually have the nerve to start crunching numbers and see if it is actually feasible to do such an outlandish thing. Once I start doing real planning, reality sets in. What would Bob do for a job when we returned? How would the kids feel about leaving our home and friends? What about when we came back? Where would we live? Would we have enough money left over to buy another house in the same neighborhood? Or is the whole idea of letting go of a safe, secure, tidy little life all about seeing what other possibilities are out there? Are we so afraid of letting go of our 7000 square foot lot and comfortable routine that we never allow ourselves a chance to realize bigger dreams? Are we afraid of being alone with our families and not having a crazy schedule?
To me, it sounds like heaven on earth. To have my kids all together and have their undivided attention. Not competing with the next soccer match, or swim lessons. But, discovering things together that we never would have had the chance to otherwise. I guess that's what summer vacations are for, but I have yet to see it fully work out that way for most of us. Its usually a week here or two weeks there and then right back to it. Does that afford us the time to make lasting impressions and changes in the lives of our children or family? I don't know. I'm just talking out loud here. Maybe I'm trying to talk myself out of a crazy dream.
Well, if you see a big CASADEGORE sign on the back of a big RV heading south to the beach I guess that means I answered my own questions :-). In the meantime, I'm going to keep dreaming and taking those virtual walks on the beach with my husband while my kids and Buddy the dog are behind us racing the waves back and forth.
Blessings, Tanya
September 14, 2007
Prayer for a couple friends
I have two women that I stay in contact with via e-mail. One I actually met when I went to Fresno this last Spring. Both of these women are as sick as I am and in desperate need of some answers. Julie is the one living in Fresno and she has been having problems with low potassium to the point she had to go to the ER a few nights ago. Her blood pressure was 100/0. I've never heard of that before. The rest of her story is similar to mine.
My other friend is from Kansas City, Suzanne and she has heart issues and cannot tolerate meds like me. She has had a difficult time finding anyone who really knows what they are doing.
My heart feels so heavy for all three of us sometimes. I feel like I want desperately to help them, even though I can't even help myself most days. Tonight as I was praying for them and searching for an encouraging verse I felt the Lord prompt me to Isaiah 58. Its a chapter on true fasting. I knew that it wasn't a chapter for them, but for me. I felt like the Lord would have me do some fasting on their behalf. Even though I cannot fast food which is the most traditional thing people think of, fasting can be giving up anything that feels like a sacrifice. Its different for everyone and so I won't speak here as to what I'm going to do.
I do, however, want to humbly ask if anyone would like to join me. Not just to pray for me or my friends, but anyone you know in your own life who is going through extra struggles right now. Maybe its you that's struggling, it can be anyone. I'm doing my fast for 30 days and one of the reasons I'm sharing this is for accountability. Discipline isn't my strong suit, so I find my friends help me stay the course. If you want to let me know you are joining me, that would be great...if not...I understand. I feel like its another opportunity to see God's glory in our lives and in those we care about. Some things in life require us to go the extra mile and I see fasting something as one of those things. I'm believing for walls of disease and illness to be broken, for bodies to be restored and lives to change. I could use some company in this quest if you would care to join.
Many Blessings, Tanya
PS: Here is a link to an article regarding fasting and on Isaiah 58
http://www.crosswalk.com/11549851/
My other friend is from Kansas City, Suzanne and she has heart issues and cannot tolerate meds like me. She has had a difficult time finding anyone who really knows what they are doing.
My heart feels so heavy for all three of us sometimes. I feel like I want desperately to help them, even though I can't even help myself most days. Tonight as I was praying for them and searching for an encouraging verse I felt the Lord prompt me to Isaiah 58. Its a chapter on true fasting. I knew that it wasn't a chapter for them, but for me. I felt like the Lord would have me do some fasting on their behalf. Even though I cannot fast food which is the most traditional thing people think of, fasting can be giving up anything that feels like a sacrifice. Its different for everyone and so I won't speak here as to what I'm going to do.
I do, however, want to humbly ask if anyone would like to join me. Not just to pray for me or my friends, but anyone you know in your own life who is going through extra struggles right now. Maybe its you that's struggling, it can be anyone. I'm doing my fast for 30 days and one of the reasons I'm sharing this is for accountability. Discipline isn't my strong suit, so I find my friends help me stay the course. If you want to let me know you are joining me, that would be great...if not...I understand. I feel like its another opportunity to see God's glory in our lives and in those we care about. Some things in life require us to go the extra mile and I see fasting something as one of those things. I'm believing for walls of disease and illness to be broken, for bodies to be restored and lives to change. I could use some company in this quest if you would care to join.
Many Blessings, Tanya
PS: Here is a link to an article regarding fasting and on Isaiah 58
http://www.crosswalk.com/11549851/
September 11, 2007
Survival Mode
It's so much easier to talk about coming through difficulties and seeing God's work on the other side, but I don't often blog when I'm feeling really physically ill. I felt a little convicted about that because it can certainly sound like I can get through these times fairly easy. But, my husband can tell you that its nothing like that at all. In fact, I'm sure he is as weary with all of this as I am.
I guess I'm never really sure what causes these set backs. I only know that doctor's and authors of health books speak of them. What they don't speak about is how on top of feeling miserable physically, it can really break your spirit down. I recently read a report from a Lyme health convention that over 80% of the deaths that occur due to this disease are from suicide. That didn't surprise me. Don't fret...I'm not in going down that road for myself. It just goes to show that these things have the potential of stripping away your hopes and dreams and leaving you feeling like a prisoner in your own body.
My biggest challenge is to not let my mind go to places it shouldn't. For example, I've been waiting for this cortisol and thyroid cream to be made and it should have been done last Friday. But, its Tuesday and I still haven't heard from the pharmacy. I've called and they said it would be done today...no luck. So, I'm thinking is God protecting me from something? Is it not even going to work, so why bother calling them and hounding them for it? Or...is it just taking them a while? It has to be mixed with Emu oil, so that had to be special ordered...I was thinking that maybe the Emu's went on strike and are demanding better sleeping arrangements and a three day work week.
I received one of my daily devotions and the caption was "Your Time is Coming". That came last Friday and I was like, "Ya, that's right...my time is coming!!!" Doing my little spiritual happy dance on that day was easy because I wasn't feeling too bad and had some extra sleep under my belt. But, by Monday I certainly wasn't feeling like doing a spiritual cha-cha. In fact, I was feeling the exact opposite. Today was a bit better, but after I have super hard days like that I go to bed begging God to either take me home or bring healing soon. Usually what happens is that, thankfully God doesn't listen to the prior and gives me a portion of the former. And, I have to be thankful for that! I was still able to get my kids to where they needed to be this morning and make it through an appointment in the middle of the day. Its hard to explain what it feels like to have your body just start shutting down without your consent. What's even harder right now is remembering what a healthy body feels like.
So, today was my "gripe on the blog" day and "I so need some prayer right now" blog. I am still clearly a work in progress and have a long way to go on many levels. Thank you for your patience with me and I am doing everything I can to keep my faith alive, not give up and press forward. I keep telling myself that everything in life is temporary and subject to change. I have so much to be thankful for and have to remind myself that just having a grateful heart goes a long way to bring healing both physically and spiritually. I'm being challenged beyond anything I've ever gone through to keep my eyes on God and not my circumstances. The good news is that, Lord willing, when the sun comes up tomorrow I have another chance to look up instead of down.
Psalm 112:4
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
Blessings, Tanya
I guess I'm never really sure what causes these set backs. I only know that doctor's and authors of health books speak of them. What they don't speak about is how on top of feeling miserable physically, it can really break your spirit down. I recently read a report from a Lyme health convention that over 80% of the deaths that occur due to this disease are from suicide. That didn't surprise me. Don't fret...I'm not in going down that road for myself. It just goes to show that these things have the potential of stripping away your hopes and dreams and leaving you feeling like a prisoner in your own body.
My biggest challenge is to not let my mind go to places it shouldn't. For example, I've been waiting for this cortisol and thyroid cream to be made and it should have been done last Friday. But, its Tuesday and I still haven't heard from the pharmacy. I've called and they said it would be done today...no luck. So, I'm thinking is God protecting me from something? Is it not even going to work, so why bother calling them and hounding them for it? Or...is it just taking them a while? It has to be mixed with Emu oil, so that had to be special ordered...I was thinking that maybe the Emu's went on strike and are demanding better sleeping arrangements and a three day work week.
I received one of my daily devotions and the caption was "Your Time is Coming". That came last Friday and I was like, "Ya, that's right...my time is coming!!!" Doing my little spiritual happy dance on that day was easy because I wasn't feeling too bad and had some extra sleep under my belt. But, by Monday I certainly wasn't feeling like doing a spiritual cha-cha. In fact, I was feeling the exact opposite. Today was a bit better, but after I have super hard days like that I go to bed begging God to either take me home or bring healing soon. Usually what happens is that, thankfully God doesn't listen to the prior and gives me a portion of the former. And, I have to be thankful for that! I was still able to get my kids to where they needed to be this morning and make it through an appointment in the middle of the day. Its hard to explain what it feels like to have your body just start shutting down without your consent. What's even harder right now is remembering what a healthy body feels like.
So, today was my "gripe on the blog" day and "I so need some prayer right now" blog. I am still clearly a work in progress and have a long way to go on many levels. Thank you for your patience with me and I am doing everything I can to keep my faith alive, not give up and press forward. I keep telling myself that everything in life is temporary and subject to change. I have so much to be thankful for and have to remind myself that just having a grateful heart goes a long way to bring healing both physically and spiritually. I'm being challenged beyond anything I've ever gone through to keep my eyes on God and not my circumstances. The good news is that, Lord willing, when the sun comes up tomorrow I have another chance to look up instead of down.
Psalm 112:4
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
Blessings, Tanya
September 9, 2007
2nd Corinthians 10:3-5
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
I'm doing a study on "Strongholds" right now and I have to say it has been tough for me to dive into this. However, when you know the Lord is shining a light on a certain area, I have found it counterproductive to ignore the flashlight. So, just to be clear...part of my learning process is this blog. It forces me to be clear and put things down in a logical way. Otherwise, these truths swirl around in my head and never take root. Thank you for letting me learn this way and for being a part of the process. I guess I could write it all down in a journal, but I know you all will keep more accountable than an empty notebook would.
The book I'm reading out of was recommended to me by a family friend in Alaska who has prayed for me since I was about 16. It's called "Shattering your Strongholds", by Liberty Savard.
So, here is what she says about it in the workbook: "A personal, inner stronghold is the logic, reasoning, arguments, justifications, rationalizations, and denial you use to protect and defend your right to believe something--regardless of whether or not it is true."
I must confess I haven't gotten very far past this statement. I've been laying awake at night ticking off my list of the above definitions. It's hard to stop and consider that maybe the things you have believed all along have hindered your walk and hindered the Holy Spirit's ability to do His work in you and through you. One of my must uncomfortable places to start is dealing with how I see myself. I have had this life long battle with feeling like I never accomplish enough or I'm not enough for God unless I'm doing, doing, doing. I think being sick has obviously made that become a high light for me to easily take a look at. I try not to struggle against the tide but its hard not to feel less than when I can't be the kind of mom that I had always dreamed of being. My hope is that God will teach me that being a "good mom" doesn't always mean I have to be "doing" things for them. Maybe because of this illness they have had more of my undivided attention than had I been healthy. Maybe my prayers were actually answered in the respect that I have been forced to stop and listen to all of their stories, fears and questions. I have been much better with Sydney and Spencer now than I was with Whitney at this age of making sure I'm looking at them and listening when they talk. The challenge will be when I regain my health and can start "doing more", will I still understand that my value comes from "BE-ing" and not "do-ing"? It's not a quick fix.
There is much more to this story, but for now I will stop and take a break. There will be many more installments to the unraveling of my strongholds and I pray that there will be victory at the end. The Lord is really pressing in on me to believe that ALL things are possible with Him and to Trust Him with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding. Have you ever been "pressed on" by the Lord? It's not always very comfortable...lol! But, I'm going to sit in my intertube and float down the river and see where it takes me :-).
Many Blessings, Tanya
I'm doing a study on "Strongholds" right now and I have to say it has been tough for me to dive into this. However, when you know the Lord is shining a light on a certain area, I have found it counterproductive to ignore the flashlight. So, just to be clear...part of my learning process is this blog. It forces me to be clear and put things down in a logical way. Otherwise, these truths swirl around in my head and never take root. Thank you for letting me learn this way and for being a part of the process. I guess I could write it all down in a journal, but I know you all will keep more accountable than an empty notebook would.
The book I'm reading out of was recommended to me by a family friend in Alaska who has prayed for me since I was about 16. It's called "Shattering your Strongholds", by Liberty Savard.
So, here is what she says about it in the workbook: "A personal, inner stronghold is the logic, reasoning, arguments, justifications, rationalizations, and denial you use to protect and defend your right to believe something--regardless of whether or not it is true."
I must confess I haven't gotten very far past this statement. I've been laying awake at night ticking off my list of the above definitions. It's hard to stop and consider that maybe the things you have believed all along have hindered your walk and hindered the Holy Spirit's ability to do His work in you and through you. One of my must uncomfortable places to start is dealing with how I see myself. I have had this life long battle with feeling like I never accomplish enough or I'm not enough for God unless I'm doing, doing, doing. I think being sick has obviously made that become a high light for me to easily take a look at. I try not to struggle against the tide but its hard not to feel less than when I can't be the kind of mom that I had always dreamed of being. My hope is that God will teach me that being a "good mom" doesn't always mean I have to be "doing" things for them. Maybe because of this illness they have had more of my undivided attention than had I been healthy. Maybe my prayers were actually answered in the respect that I have been forced to stop and listen to all of their stories, fears and questions. I have been much better with Sydney and Spencer now than I was with Whitney at this age of making sure I'm looking at them and listening when they talk. The challenge will be when I regain my health and can start "doing more", will I still understand that my value comes from "BE-ing" and not "do-ing"? It's not a quick fix.
There is much more to this story, but for now I will stop and take a break. There will be many more installments to the unraveling of my strongholds and I pray that there will be victory at the end. The Lord is really pressing in on me to believe that ALL things are possible with Him and to Trust Him with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding. Have you ever been "pressed on" by the Lord? It's not always very comfortable...lol! But, I'm going to sit in my intertube and float down the river and see where it takes me :-).
Many Blessings, Tanya
September 7, 2007
Giving Thanks in all Things
It's been an exciting week filled with birthday parties, new hair cuts and clothes and a new school year. Compared to where I was a year ago, I have had to step back and thank God that I'm not only still here :-), but I've made some big improvements.
Last year I was unable to attend Sydney's birthday party and this year I not only went but got a chance to visit. Sydney kept asking me all week if I was still coming. I guess we all have a hard time getting our hopes up. Tuesday was a meet and greet the teacher/see the new school and it was so crazy there but we managed to stay a whole 20 minutes :-). Wednesday was the first day and I took both Sydney and Spencer to their bus stops, took pictures, gave hugs and high fives feeling so thankful to be able to participate in that experience again. I was however thankful for today because Bob was able to take those duties over so that I can start recovering from all the excitement.
My energy is still low and I tire really easily...mentally and physically. But, its no sacrifice to save my energy for bus and lunch duty :p!
We have some other exciting news that we are waiting for more confirmation on. My brother has a job interview over in Spokane on Monday and may possibly be moving here much sooner than we expected. He obviously needs to go through the process and see if its a good fit, but just the idea of living in the same state as my brother and his family brings me great joy. Unfortunately for me, but fortunately for him I won't be close enough to borrow and break his things or ask to "tag along" on his golf outings. But, close enough that we can drop by and I can give him a hard time. It will be a lot of fun.
Many of you have asked about Sydney and I really appreciate that. She is doing okay physically, but emotionally I think the incident caused a lot of fear. She has been experiencing some anxiety attacks at night and scared to close her eyes. So, we are pursuing some counseling for her since it doesn't seem to be getting better. I'm sure my lack of calm in the heat of the moment when it happened didn't help her at all...maybe I need some help too :-). We hope this will help her get some healing and that it won't be something that causes her distress down the road.
Well, here's to another school year, PTA notices and half-eaten lunches! I hope this finds you and your kids enjoying the fall and excited about learning. It seems like they grow up so fast once they hit school. I asked Spencer if he liked his teacher and he said, "Ya". And, I asked him what he liked about her and he said, "I like her hair!" That's my boy :-).
Blessings, Tanya
Last year I was unable to attend Sydney's birthday party and this year I not only went but got a chance to visit. Sydney kept asking me all week if I was still coming. I guess we all have a hard time getting our hopes up. Tuesday was a meet and greet the teacher/see the new school and it was so crazy there but we managed to stay a whole 20 minutes :-). Wednesday was the first day and I took both Sydney and Spencer to their bus stops, took pictures, gave hugs and high fives feeling so thankful to be able to participate in that experience again. I was however thankful for today because Bob was able to take those duties over so that I can start recovering from all the excitement.
My energy is still low and I tire really easily...mentally and physically. But, its no sacrifice to save my energy for bus and lunch duty :p!
We have some other exciting news that we are waiting for more confirmation on. My brother has a job interview over in Spokane on Monday and may possibly be moving here much sooner than we expected. He obviously needs to go through the process and see if its a good fit, but just the idea of living in the same state as my brother and his family brings me great joy. Unfortunately for me, but fortunately for him I won't be close enough to borrow and break his things or ask to "tag along" on his golf outings. But, close enough that we can drop by and I can give him a hard time. It will be a lot of fun.
Many of you have asked about Sydney and I really appreciate that. She is doing okay physically, but emotionally I think the incident caused a lot of fear. She has been experiencing some anxiety attacks at night and scared to close her eyes. So, we are pursuing some counseling for her since it doesn't seem to be getting better. I'm sure my lack of calm in the heat of the moment when it happened didn't help her at all...maybe I need some help too :-). We hope this will help her get some healing and that it won't be something that causes her distress down the road.
Well, here's to another school year, PTA notices and half-eaten lunches! I hope this finds you and your kids enjoying the fall and excited about learning. It seems like they grow up so fast once they hit school. I asked Spencer if he liked his teacher and he said, "Ya". And, I asked him what he liked about her and he said, "I like her hair!" That's my boy :-).
Blessings, Tanya
September 1, 2007
Trusting - One Step at a Time
Psalm 3:1-4
Oh, Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him."
But, you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.
How easy it can be to look at our circumstances and see nothing but trials and tribulations. Some days you can start to believe the media that the sky is falling, the end is near, why bother trying. How easy is it to see the look in people's eyes and see the doubt that you really indeed will get well. Unbelief is rampant...in each other...in ourselves. The mentality of restoration by our God is wearing thin as time marches on. I am not immune to this either and find myself pondering the question daily..."Lord, will you make yourself known again to this generation?...or have we/I become too complacent to seek you out?" It's easy to say we trust God while we have "enough". Enough health, enough money, enough food. But can we trust Him with our lives when they are stripped of these things?
I have begun to explore this sense of entitlement that I possess. I should be entitled to good health because I've obeyed God's laws to the best of my ability, I have been a good citizen and I have tried to be a good friend. When my health started to go south this feeling of anger really rose up. How can this be? When all three of my kids seem to be sick at the same time or we have an emergency room crisis, I think..."Why is this happening to us?" As if we are immune to earthly challenges. It's a dangerous road for me to be on, because it can invariably lead right to the cross. Me, asking God, WHY????
As I meditate on that question I feel compelled to ask myself another question..."What kind of a woman would I be minus all of the difficulties in my life? Each event has allowed me to be less impressed with myself, more patient and less judgemental of others, and to quote a woman living with terminal cancer..."It moves me away from the mirror and towards the window." The window I'm looking out of is one that looks towards God's house. The answer to the question, "Can I trust God with my life stripped of this world, I find the answer to be, "YES". And, my faith is meaningless unless I have times of having nothing but Him to get me through to the next day. How can I tell my friend who is going through a divorce that God will take care of her, unless I know that for a fact? How can I pray with my friend who is as sick as I am that God is in control, if I don't believe myself? When I am hurting, I certainly don't want theory or a trite answer. I want the truth. I want to know that when I put my trust in God and believe Him for everything I need, that He not only can and will meet those needs according to his will...but He longs to meet those needs.
Since Sydney had her fainting episode we all have been dealing with a little Post-traumatic stress disorder. We joke about it now, but just underneath the surface we all our holding our breath sometimes. I am about to start some cortisol cream and thyroid cream next week that my new doctor has had good success with for "people like me"...and I'm holding my breath a little. None of us want to be disappointed, but God is asking us to believe. The Bible says in John 11:40 "Jesus said to her (Mary), 'Did I not say that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" That was after he raised Lazarus from the dead.
That verse gives me shivers! I want to see the glory of God, but the process says I MUST first believe. To be honest, on days when I'm so sick that I can't get out of bed this is a stretch for me and I'm still learning one challenge at a time. But, something deep inside me...God's spirit I believe...tells me to just fall back in His arms and let Him fight this battle for me. I guess what I want to say is embrace life's difficulties as a way to get to know your creator more intimately. Allow it to make your faith true.
The last thought I've been meditating on is from Oswald Chambers' book, "My Utmost for His Highest." He shares, "Faith must be tested, because it can only become your intimate possession through conflict. What is challenging your faith right now? The test will either prove your faith right, or it will kill it."
I'm praying tonight that mine will be proved right...but we need to pray for each other that none of us will allow suffering and sorrow to kill it. And, I do believe God is trying to make himself known to this generation. We just have to choose to believe.
Thank you for coming on this journey with me! I pray that we all are able to taste and see that the Lord is good.
Much love and prayers, Tanya
Oh, Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him."
But, you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.
How easy it can be to look at our circumstances and see nothing but trials and tribulations. Some days you can start to believe the media that the sky is falling, the end is near, why bother trying. How easy is it to see the look in people's eyes and see the doubt that you really indeed will get well. Unbelief is rampant...in each other...in ourselves. The mentality of restoration by our God is wearing thin as time marches on. I am not immune to this either and find myself pondering the question daily..."Lord, will you make yourself known again to this generation?...or have we/I become too complacent to seek you out?" It's easy to say we trust God while we have "enough". Enough health, enough money, enough food. But can we trust Him with our lives when they are stripped of these things?
I have begun to explore this sense of entitlement that I possess. I should be entitled to good health because I've obeyed God's laws to the best of my ability, I have been a good citizen and I have tried to be a good friend. When my health started to go south this feeling of anger really rose up. How can this be? When all three of my kids seem to be sick at the same time or we have an emergency room crisis, I think..."Why is this happening to us?" As if we are immune to earthly challenges. It's a dangerous road for me to be on, because it can invariably lead right to the cross. Me, asking God, WHY????
As I meditate on that question I feel compelled to ask myself another question..."What kind of a woman would I be minus all of the difficulties in my life? Each event has allowed me to be less impressed with myself, more patient and less judgemental of others, and to quote a woman living with terminal cancer..."It moves me away from the mirror and towards the window." The window I'm looking out of is one that looks towards God's house. The answer to the question, "Can I trust God with my life stripped of this world, I find the answer to be, "YES". And, my faith is meaningless unless I have times of having nothing but Him to get me through to the next day. How can I tell my friend who is going through a divorce that God will take care of her, unless I know that for a fact? How can I pray with my friend who is as sick as I am that God is in control, if I don't believe myself? When I am hurting, I certainly don't want theory or a trite answer. I want the truth. I want to know that when I put my trust in God and believe Him for everything I need, that He not only can and will meet those needs according to his will...but He longs to meet those needs.
Since Sydney had her fainting episode we all have been dealing with a little Post-traumatic stress disorder. We joke about it now, but just underneath the surface we all our holding our breath sometimes. I am about to start some cortisol cream and thyroid cream next week that my new doctor has had good success with for "people like me"...and I'm holding my breath a little. None of us want to be disappointed, but God is asking us to believe. The Bible says in John 11:40 "Jesus said to her (Mary), 'Did I not say that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" That was after he raised Lazarus from the dead.
That verse gives me shivers! I want to see the glory of God, but the process says I MUST first believe. To be honest, on days when I'm so sick that I can't get out of bed this is a stretch for me and I'm still learning one challenge at a time. But, something deep inside me...God's spirit I believe...tells me to just fall back in His arms and let Him fight this battle for me. I guess what I want to say is embrace life's difficulties as a way to get to know your creator more intimately. Allow it to make your faith true.
The last thought I've been meditating on is from Oswald Chambers' book, "My Utmost for His Highest." He shares, "Faith must be tested, because it can only become your intimate possession through conflict. What is challenging your faith right now? The test will either prove your faith right, or it will kill it."
I'm praying tonight that mine will be proved right...but we need to pray for each other that none of us will allow suffering and sorrow to kill it. And, I do believe God is trying to make himself known to this generation. We just have to choose to believe.
Thank you for coming on this journey with me! I pray that we all are able to taste and see that the Lord is good.
Much love and prayers, Tanya
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