Change is hard, isn't it? Moving from the familiar into the unfamiliar can be a bit overwhelming at times. A couple of days ago, I was thinking about a move my husband and I made over a year ago. What's funny about the whole move, is how opposed I was to it at first. I liked where we were living; I was comfortable there. The idea of going somewhere new? Well, not so appealing. I am a girl who hates change. If I'm in my comfort zone, let me be. So, not long before we moved, I wrote this entry in my journal;
Well, this is it. It's our last week in our house. I am so sad. My husband doesn't know this, but I really want to stay where we are. It's so hard to let go of the familiar and move into new "territory." I feel like Abraham being called to go to a different land. Not sure I want to, but need to trust God's leading in our lives.
That was written on February 2nd, 2010. Exactly ten days later, on February 12, 2010, I wrote this;
Okay, I just read my last entry, and I have to laugh. I LOVE our new house. It just really feels like home already. It's funny how I just dreaded this move and didn't want the change. But, now that it's here, well, I'm lovin' it. Maybe that's an analogy for life. God has so many good things for us, if we just let go of the past and step into the future. He'll provide in ways too incredible to imagine.
Not only am I still loving our house, but I'm also loving what God's given us in our "new" life. Friends! I had prayed for some good friendships. Looking back, I would never have made them where I was. I needed to move. Scratch that. We needed to move. It was the best thing that happened to us, as a family.
So, here I sit one year later, so thankful that I didn't get my way. God's way was so much better. What's more, his future is so much better. Don't be like me. Don't resist change. If God is calling you in a new direction, trust him. He has good plans for you; plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11).
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Easter Miracles
What I wanted to do yesterday was to write something inspiring or thought-provoking about Good Friday.
But, alas, my children had other plans for me. Then, miracle of miracles, when we got home today, they, of their own volition, took themselves to their rooms and fell asleep. It is an Easter miracle; one day early, mind you, but I'll take it!
Which leads me to today's topic; miracles. I have to confess something right here and now. The fact that I am still a Christian, that I have faith in Christ's saving work is a true miracle. Here's why. A few days ago, I wrote about the nature of my fickle heart, how easily I can be tempted, even moved to follow the wrong path. But, after all these years, I still believe something that I believed as a child. Namely, that Christ died on the cross for me and rose again to give me new life. Now, I know myself well enough to say I don't believe many things for my entire life. For example, when I was a child, I used to eat spaghetti without sauce. I believed the sauce was "icky." Now, if you gave me noodles with no sauce, I'd turn my nose up at it. These days, I think broccoli is the best vegetable. A few years from now I may have moved on to brussel sprouts (highly unlikely, but I'm trying to make a point here). Or take, for example, when I was in college; I believed Christian music was annoying. Now, it's about all I listen to.
My tastes, beliefs, perceptions about the world, about life, are always changing. But not my belief in Christ. This belief, this story has stayed the same in my heart all these years. It's never changed, it's never wavered. It's been a beacon of hope guiding me along life's paths. So, how is it that I have come to believe the same thing that millions of other Christians around the world have believed for centuries. How can my fickle heart be so faithful to this creed? I've two words for you - well, three actually; The Holy Spirit. If nothing else is proof of God's being real, the fact that Christians, for centuries upon centuries, have believed exactly the same thing, is enough for me. We didn't make this stuff up. Who would? A man dying on a cross to save the world from its own self-detruction? But, we do believe. And that, to me, is the biggest sign that all of this is true.
If God had not been at work in my life, I wouldn't have kept the faith through all life's ups and downs. Trust me. There have been times when I have wanted, like crazy, to stop believing. But, somehow, I haven't. And it isn't because I'm such a dedicated follower. I would have stopped following a long time ago when the going got rough. That, to me, is the greatest testimony to the truth of scripture - the truth of God. We believe because he's revealed himself to us. We keep on believing because he keeps us in the faith. And should we ever turn our backs on him, he will never turn his back on us. He believes that the sacrifices he made to buy us back were worth it. His heart isn't fickle. So somehow, when it comes to faith, he's kept mine from being fickle too. A true Easter miracle. Oh yes, and the kids are still asleep; I'd say I experienced a double Easter miracle today.
But, alas, my children had other plans for me. Then, miracle of miracles, when we got home today, they, of their own volition, took themselves to their rooms and fell asleep. It is an Easter miracle; one day early, mind you, but I'll take it!
Which leads me to today's topic; miracles. I have to confess something right here and now. The fact that I am still a Christian, that I have faith in Christ's saving work is a true miracle. Here's why. A few days ago, I wrote about the nature of my fickle heart, how easily I can be tempted, even moved to follow the wrong path. But, after all these years, I still believe something that I believed as a child. Namely, that Christ died on the cross for me and rose again to give me new life. Now, I know myself well enough to say I don't believe many things for my entire life. For example, when I was a child, I used to eat spaghetti without sauce. I believed the sauce was "icky." Now, if you gave me noodles with no sauce, I'd turn my nose up at it. These days, I think broccoli is the best vegetable. A few years from now I may have moved on to brussel sprouts (highly unlikely, but I'm trying to make a point here). Or take, for example, when I was in college; I believed Christian music was annoying. Now, it's about all I listen to.
My tastes, beliefs, perceptions about the world, about life, are always changing. But not my belief in Christ. This belief, this story has stayed the same in my heart all these years. It's never changed, it's never wavered. It's been a beacon of hope guiding me along life's paths. So, how is it that I have come to believe the same thing that millions of other Christians around the world have believed for centuries. How can my fickle heart be so faithful to this creed? I've two words for you - well, three actually; The Holy Spirit. If nothing else is proof of God's being real, the fact that Christians, for centuries upon centuries, have believed exactly the same thing, is enough for me. We didn't make this stuff up. Who would? A man dying on a cross to save the world from its own self-detruction? But, we do believe. And that, to me, is the biggest sign that all of this is true.
If God had not been at work in my life, I wouldn't have kept the faith through all life's ups and downs. Trust me. There have been times when I have wanted, like crazy, to stop believing. But, somehow, I haven't. And it isn't because I'm such a dedicated follower. I would have stopped following a long time ago when the going got rough. That, to me, is the greatest testimony to the truth of scripture - the truth of God. We believe because he's revealed himself to us. We keep on believing because he keeps us in the faith. And should we ever turn our backs on him, he will never turn his back on us. He believes that the sacrifices he made to buy us back were worth it. His heart isn't fickle. So somehow, when it comes to faith, he's kept mine from being fickle too. A true Easter miracle. Oh yes, and the kids are still asleep; I'd say I experienced a double Easter miracle today.
Monday, April 18, 2011
crazy faith
*Once traveling it's remarkable how quickly faith erodes. It starts to look like something else-ignorance, for example. Same thing happend to the Israelites. Sure it's weak, but sometimes you'd rather just have a map.
*From Peace Like a River by Leif Enger.
Reading an awesome book right now and came across this quote. The book is actually fictional although it sounds like a "religious" book. Intriguing story. Mostly, I wanted to quote this author because what he wrote struck a particular chord with me today. I feel the pain the character in this story is experiencing. How often I feel the fool for believing in things I can't see, things that make no sense. Even though I can "talk the talk" when it comes to faith; it's much more difficult to "walk the walk." I had to smile when I read that "sometimes you'd rather just have a map" comment. I feel that way often; God why can't just spell it out in plain language, what exactly do you want me to do?
Not only do I wish he'd give me explicit instructions about how to live, but sometimes I have a hard time believing everything he says. I do feel naive. I do feel the fool. What foolishness to believe in a Maker, a God who created everything out of nothing. Sounds more like a bedtime story than a place to lay a foundation of faith. Then, I realize more than anything that what I'm suffering from is not a lack of faith, but a vain desire to appear more sophisticated, wise, intelligent to the world. I don't want to be the one that everyone thinks is a "little over the top" when it comes to "religious" things.
Oh, how fickle the human heart. Not hard to see when I look at my own. Of course, to say that my faith is always shifting with the winds of change isn't exactly accurate either. God has brought me quite aways in this journey of faith. But I find that with a more deeply rooted faith come bigger challenges, greater obstacles, and more painful trials to endure. Sometimes I wish it weren't so hard. For my friends who are runners, I often think of it as a "race" of life. I'm a terrible runner, but maybe, hopefully in the case of faith I run a good race; a race worth cheering about.
*From Peace Like a River by Leif Enger.
Reading an awesome book right now and came across this quote. The book is actually fictional although it sounds like a "religious" book. Intriguing story. Mostly, I wanted to quote this author because what he wrote struck a particular chord with me today. I feel the pain the character in this story is experiencing. How often I feel the fool for believing in things I can't see, things that make no sense. Even though I can "talk the talk" when it comes to faith; it's much more difficult to "walk the walk." I had to smile when I read that "sometimes you'd rather just have a map" comment. I feel that way often; God why can't just spell it out in plain language, what exactly do you want me to do?
Not only do I wish he'd give me explicit instructions about how to live, but sometimes I have a hard time believing everything he says. I do feel naive. I do feel the fool. What foolishness to believe in a Maker, a God who created everything out of nothing. Sounds more like a bedtime story than a place to lay a foundation of faith. Then, I realize more than anything that what I'm suffering from is not a lack of faith, but a vain desire to appear more sophisticated, wise, intelligent to the world. I don't want to be the one that everyone thinks is a "little over the top" when it comes to "religious" things.
Oh, how fickle the human heart. Not hard to see when I look at my own. Of course, to say that my faith is always shifting with the winds of change isn't exactly accurate either. God has brought me quite aways in this journey of faith. But I find that with a more deeply rooted faith come bigger challenges, greater obstacles, and more painful trials to endure. Sometimes I wish it weren't so hard. For my friends who are runners, I often think of it as a "race" of life. I'm a terrible runner, but maybe, hopefully in the case of faith I run a good race; a race worth cheering about.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
a desert (no, not dessert) place
Feel like I'm in a desert place (wish I was saying a dessert place, so much more fun.) I don't know why, but I feel like God is really far away from me. Anyone else ever felt that? I guess the key word in the statement I just made is that it "feels" like God is far away. The older I get, the more I realize feelings aren't facts. We can count on our feelings as much as we can count on the weather. Just as the weather changes constantly, so too do feelings.
But what do I do when I'm in this desert feeling place? How do I get through it? Admittedly this is not the first time I have ever felt this way. There have been many times when God seemed to be, well . . . off in a galaxy far, far away. So I think back to what I've done in the past. Sometimes I've pouted, sometimes I've shrugged my shoulders as if to say, "Well, who needs you anyway?" Sometimes I've hung on by my fingernails waiting for something, anything to change. And it usually does. Usually I come back to a place where I feel (there's that word again) closer to God, more like he's in the same room with me, right there beside me.
What does a person do when they're in that desert place? I think these times have been the ones that have tried my soul more than anything. After all who doesn't feel pretty good about God when everything is peachy keen. We feel blessed, happy, full of life. But when the hard times come, what keeps us from being knocked over? I believe it's faith. Faith that's "being sure of what it hopes for and certain of what it doesn't see." (Hebrews 11:1) After all, this is "what the ancients were commended for." Noah, Abraham, Moses, David; all believed in a God they couldn't see, in promises that hadn't been fulfilled, confident that God was able to do what he said he would.
And so it is that we live by faith; the kind that can be shaken but never blown apart by the winds of change. It's the kind of faith that stands up to anything, takes the blows, and keeps fighting. Beause it knows that, eventually, feelings will change, but faith stands firm forever.
But what do I do when I'm in this desert feeling place? How do I get through it? Admittedly this is not the first time I have ever felt this way. There have been many times when God seemed to be, well . . . off in a galaxy far, far away. So I think back to what I've done in the past. Sometimes I've pouted, sometimes I've shrugged my shoulders as if to say, "Well, who needs you anyway?" Sometimes I've hung on by my fingernails waiting for something, anything to change. And it usually does. Usually I come back to a place where I feel (there's that word again) closer to God, more like he's in the same room with me, right there beside me.
What does a person do when they're in that desert place? I think these times have been the ones that have tried my soul more than anything. After all who doesn't feel pretty good about God when everything is peachy keen. We feel blessed, happy, full of life. But when the hard times come, what keeps us from being knocked over? I believe it's faith. Faith that's "being sure of what it hopes for and certain of what it doesn't see." (Hebrews 11:1) After all, this is "what the ancients were commended for." Noah, Abraham, Moses, David; all believed in a God they couldn't see, in promises that hadn't been fulfilled, confident that God was able to do what he said he would.
And so it is that we live by faith; the kind that can be shaken but never blown apart by the winds of change. It's the kind of faith that stands up to anything, takes the blows, and keeps fighting. Beause it knows that, eventually, feelings will change, but faith stands firm forever.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
a thorn in the flesh; part two
Feel like I'm in a fog today. Wanting to write something really inspirational, but having no idea what that might be. I published another post today entitled "a thorn in the flesh." We all have them, don't we? Something in our lives that we desperately want to be free of. What yours is, only you might know. A thorn in the flesh, to me, is anything that keeps us from being the ideal person we'd like to be. It leaves me wondering: why are they necessary?
2 Corinthians 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited . . . there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Well that stinks, doesn't it? No one wants to be weak. No one wants a thorn sticking out of their side. So what's the deal?
I really consider my thorn to be bipolar and I would have to say, were it not for this illness, I would probably not rely on God as much as I do. In fact, without it, my faith may not have been important to me at all. But I know that, as a direct result of my illness, I have sought God out like nothing else. Were it not for this weakness, I may not have sought him out at all.
Whatever your thorn in the flesh is, I hope you are encouraged to realize that it could be the very thing that "saves you" from self-reliance; from the lie that says we can be be strong enough to handle our own problems. It may be the very thing that causes you to reach out and cry, "God, why are you doing this to me?" And maybe, just maybe, we'll hear his answer as Paul did, "My grace is sufficient for you." And we'll find that it really is true.
2 Corinthians 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited . . . there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Well that stinks, doesn't it? No one wants to be weak. No one wants a thorn sticking out of their side. So what's the deal?
I really consider my thorn to be bipolar and I would have to say, were it not for this illness, I would probably not rely on God as much as I do. In fact, without it, my faith may not have been important to me at all. But I know that, as a direct result of my illness, I have sought God out like nothing else. Were it not for this weakness, I may not have sought him out at all.
Whatever your thorn in the flesh is, I hope you are encouraged to realize that it could be the very thing that "saves you" from self-reliance; from the lie that says we can be be strong enough to handle our own problems. It may be the very thing that causes you to reach out and cry, "God, why are you doing this to me?" And maybe, just maybe, we'll hear his answer as Paul did, "My grace is sufficient for you." And we'll find that it really is true.
a thorn in the flesh
My husband had a conversation with someone about bipolar today. Apparently this person has a friend who is struggling and not getting relief from the meds she's on. Turns out she's on one of the same meds I'm on, but apparently it's not working for her. Feel so bad about that. I am very blessed to be on the right cocktail of drugs right now. It's taken awhile to get to a place of stability, lots of trial and error. Sometimes it's a real roller coaster ride; feeling good for awhile and then realizing that a certain drug isn't working as it should. Of course it's all indiviualized; what I "works" for me may not "work" for someone else.
My concern is for those who are on meds and still suffer. I often pray that that new and better meds will be created - ones that are more effective and have fewer side effects. I also pray that the public would be more educated in their understanding of mental illness. I see glimmers of hope, but there's still a long road ahead. If you know someone who's struggling, reach out to them. Tell them it's never to late to get help. Most of all tell them not to give up.
My concern is for those who are on meds and still suffer. I often pray that that new and better meds will be created - ones that are more effective and have fewer side effects. I also pray that the public would be more educated in their understanding of mental illness. I see glimmers of hope, but there's still a long road ahead. If you know someone who's struggling, reach out to them. Tell them it's never to late to get help. Most of all tell them not to give up.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
A Mary-ish Day
Kind of checked out today. It was extremely nice. My husband came home to find me sitting on the couch eating, no, not bon bons, but popcorn with M&M's (for the sweet/salty effect) and watching "Are you smarter than a fifth grader?" (which, I will have to say, I am not.)
It's nice to check out of life every once in awhile. I must say, it's not easy when two little ones are running around the house (or is that running the house?) Anyway, for some reason the kids decided to play quietly in their rooms for awhile - an hour or more to be exact. Don't know what got into them, but I took full advantage of the peace and quiet and indulged myself.
It's not easy for me to take a break. I always feel there's something I need to be doing, which, of course, is usually the case. We are so busy anymore, aren't we? Running here and there, doing this, that, and the other thing. Why is it so hard to just rest sometimes?
I like the story of Mary and Martha. When I was little, I remember thinking, 'I will never be like Martha.' After all, Martha was just plain silly. I mean, who would be working so hard when Jesus was there and she could sit down and chat with him for awhile? Well, when I was little it was easy to be more like Mary. I really didn't have that much to do; ride my bike, hang out with friends, clean my room every once in a great while. No, life was pretty easy all in all.
But on my way to becoming a grown-up, things changed. Life got more complicated, more complex. And the older I got, the more I had to do. Like a balloon, my days just filled up and filled up and filled up. The more I had to do, the less time I felt I had to rest. Suddenly, as a grown-up, I was identifyng more with Martha. I understood why she was "worried and upset about many things." I got why she was so irritated with her sister.
I'd like to say that I'm so much wiser now, that I've learned how to be more Mary-ish these days. But the truth is that each day there is a Mary/Martha struggle going on inside of me. That's when I try to remember the wisdom of creation. Each day was set aside for something specific to be created; not too much, not too little- just the right amount of stuff created each day. All in good time, all in good order. And then, when it was all said and done, what did God do? He rested. I'm sure he didn't have to (he is God, after all.) But, I think he was setting an example for us. Yes, work is important. But I think, in its own right, rest is equally important. A time to relax, rejuvenate, reflect; who couldn't do with a little more of these things in their life?
So, find some time to be more Mary-ish this weekend, and I'll see you back here next week.
It's nice to check out of life every once in awhile. I must say, it's not easy when two little ones are running around the house (or is that running the house?) Anyway, for some reason the kids decided to play quietly in their rooms for awhile - an hour or more to be exact. Don't know what got into them, but I took full advantage of the peace and quiet and indulged myself.
It's not easy for me to take a break. I always feel there's something I need to be doing, which, of course, is usually the case. We are so busy anymore, aren't we? Running here and there, doing this, that, and the other thing. Why is it so hard to just rest sometimes?
I like the story of Mary and Martha. When I was little, I remember thinking, 'I will never be like Martha.' After all, Martha was just plain silly. I mean, who would be working so hard when Jesus was there and she could sit down and chat with him for awhile? Well, when I was little it was easy to be more like Mary. I really didn't have that much to do; ride my bike, hang out with friends, clean my room every once in a great while. No, life was pretty easy all in all.
But on my way to becoming a grown-up, things changed. Life got more complicated, more complex. And the older I got, the more I had to do. Like a balloon, my days just filled up and filled up and filled up. The more I had to do, the less time I felt I had to rest. Suddenly, as a grown-up, I was identifyng more with Martha. I understood why she was "worried and upset about many things." I got why she was so irritated with her sister.
I'd like to say that I'm so much wiser now, that I've learned how to be more Mary-ish these days. But the truth is that each day there is a Mary/Martha struggle going on inside of me. That's when I try to remember the wisdom of creation. Each day was set aside for something specific to be created; not too much, not too little- just the right amount of stuff created each day. All in good time, all in good order. And then, when it was all said and done, what did God do? He rested. I'm sure he didn't have to (he is God, after all.) But, I think he was setting an example for us. Yes, work is important. But I think, in its own right, rest is equally important. A time to relax, rejuvenate, reflect; who couldn't do with a little more of these things in their life?
So, find some time to be more Mary-ish this weekend, and I'll see you back here next week.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Hope
Oh, the joy of spring. The kids are outside playing, and, from where I am, I can watch their every move. So much better than putting them in front of the TV while I write!
Today's topic: my struggles with bipolar
I am much more stable than I used to be. It wasn't until I was 31 that I was diagnosed and my treatment plan began. Life before my diagnosis was pretty miserable. I knew there was something wrong with me, but I honestly didn't know what. Somedays were a complete struggle. Depression was the worst - still is. From dragging myself out of bed, to going through the motions of the day, to the time when my head hit the pillow again, each day was so difficult. If I were to describe what it's like to be depressed, it's like carrying a ball and chain around with you wherever you go. Yes, you can still function. But it takes that much more effort to carry on. Somedays it just didn't seem worth the fight. There were many days when I could easily have pulled the covers over my head and stayed in bed all day long.
Admitting this is hard, but I think it's important to put it all out there. I did contemplate suicide many times. I always say that I'm so glad to have faith. Because of it, I knew that ending my life would be so very wrong. God showed me that I would hurt so many people, and that, if my attempt failed, the road to recovery would be very difficult. Ultimately, I think what held me together was hope.
I hoped that someday things would be better. I hoped that life wouldn't always be so painful. I hoped that somewhere along the way the struggle to function would come to an end; that I would come out clean on the other side. And you know what? I have. No, life isn't pain-free. I still have my difficult days, but they're nothing compared to what I used to face. So, if you feel like the struggle you're burdened with will never come to an end - hold on to hope. It will never let you down. Because, in God's hands, hope never disappoints.
Romans 5: 3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not dissapoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.
Today's topic: my struggles with bipolar
I am much more stable than I used to be. It wasn't until I was 31 that I was diagnosed and my treatment plan began. Life before my diagnosis was pretty miserable. I knew there was something wrong with me, but I honestly didn't know what. Somedays were a complete struggle. Depression was the worst - still is. From dragging myself out of bed, to going through the motions of the day, to the time when my head hit the pillow again, each day was so difficult. If I were to describe what it's like to be depressed, it's like carrying a ball and chain around with you wherever you go. Yes, you can still function. But it takes that much more effort to carry on. Somedays it just didn't seem worth the fight. There were many days when I could easily have pulled the covers over my head and stayed in bed all day long.
Admitting this is hard, but I think it's important to put it all out there. I did contemplate suicide many times. I always say that I'm so glad to have faith. Because of it, I knew that ending my life would be so very wrong. God showed me that I would hurt so many people, and that, if my attempt failed, the road to recovery would be very difficult. Ultimately, I think what held me together was hope.
I hoped that someday things would be better. I hoped that life wouldn't always be so painful. I hoped that somewhere along the way the struggle to function would come to an end; that I would come out clean on the other side. And you know what? I have. No, life isn't pain-free. I still have my difficult days, but they're nothing compared to what I used to face. So, if you feel like the struggle you're burdened with will never come to an end - hold on to hope. It will never let you down. Because, in God's hands, hope never disappoints.
Romans 5: 3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not dissapoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.
Monday, April 4, 2011
much ado about everything
Been thinking about what I've been writing in my blog lately. Much of it centers on God, and I often use verses in the bible to make a point. So, I wondered today - should I be sharing more about my bipolar and less about the God part of my life. But, you know what I decided? If it were not for my faith, if it were not for God, I would NEVER have made it this far in life. He is my rock when everything else fails, and I can't help but write about him. So, if you expected more about bipolar - I apologize. I'll write about that, too. But be prepared to expect lots of "God talk" in my posts. Just warning ya!;)
Anyway, potty training is going suprisingly well. She's mostly getting the hang of it. Other than the occassional three-year-old tantrum, she's pretty willing to go in the toilet. Yay!
My issue of pottying (sorry, but I'm into that term now) is getting better. Slowly, but surely. Yesterday, I was feeling pretty stupid. I mean, who can't sit on the toilet and pee. How ridiculous is that. But, I stopped listening to the Liar and thought about what God says about me. Felt better after that. It's a battle in my mind, sometimes, and I have to decide what I'm going to listen to - the lies or the truth. Lies are easier to believe, easier to give into. But, in the words of Jesus himself, the truth sets me free.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.
Be encouraged friends and have a great week. I'll try to write more as the spirit moves (HA!)
Anyway, potty training is going suprisingly well. She's mostly getting the hang of it. Other than the occassional three-year-old tantrum, she's pretty willing to go in the toilet. Yay!
My issue of pottying (sorry, but I'm into that term now) is getting better. Slowly, but surely. Yesterday, I was feeling pretty stupid. I mean, who can't sit on the toilet and pee. How ridiculous is that. But, I stopped listening to the Liar and thought about what God says about me. Felt better after that. It's a battle in my mind, sometimes, and I have to decide what I'm going to listen to - the lies or the truth. Lies are easier to believe, easier to give into. But, in the words of Jesus himself, the truth sets me free.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.
Be encouraged friends and have a great week. I'll try to write more as the spirit moves (HA!)
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