You’re the only person who knows how messy your emotional closet may be. Sometimes we’ve been holding onto the same hurts for so long that we’re not even aware that something is wrong.

Taking the time to let go of old hurts, releasing unnecessary guilt, getting people who make you feel bad about yourself out of your consciousness are necessary.

Take some time to clean up your emotional inner-house. This means taking at least 20 minutes to sit with yourself in meditation, quiet reflection and journaling to reflect upon anything that’s been bothering you lately, especially anything that you’ve been avoiding

Know that there may be some discomfort. Make sure you have a support system  to help you. Utilize breathing techniques, get an exercise routine, talk to a wise friend  or a therapist – The bible declares, “in a multitude of (wise) counselors there is safety…”  (- Proverbs 11:14)

Make sure that you have a way to deal with the emotional sneezes that will rise when you start to clean up and the dust rises.

Trust God to help guide you forward to a clean and clear response on how to handle the situations you may have to confront.

You are stronger than you think you are. You have an emotional buffer – an emotional immune system to carry you through the rough times. You have the love of Jesus.

Once again, this is why strengthening your inner immune system utilizing the Word of God and seeking wise counsel are vital to emotional resiliency.

When you connect within–your next step will become clear. Sometimes the answer will be something you can do on your own, and other times outside support will be the exact thing you’ll be called to reach out for.

Just like when you get a cold or the flu, we do need medicine to heal it, and other times our immune system is enough to conquer the illness.

Cleaning up your inner-house on a regular basis may feel uncomfortable in those minute moments, but in the long run it leads to more joy, happiness, and prosperity in your work and life.

What does it mean to be healed? What does it look like to live into the wholeness that God has prepared for your life- that God is always inviting you into? I want you to really take a moment to think about this because all of us have been hurt at some point and all of us have been cured at some point, but some of us are still figuring out what it means to be healed. 

 What’s more, the vision of healing sold to us by mainstream society is a very shallow one. Every day on TV ads and billboards we see new and exciting images of health. If you only take this one pill, or buy this one mattress, or join this one diet plan, you can be young, fit, and beautiful forever. If you drink this miracle water….

But if you believe that healing is possible, and that being healed is so much more than being cured, then you may find a sense of peace, and even wholeness, in the midst of your woundedness.

Let’s push ourselves to understand the difference between simply being cured, which is the removal of the thing that is making us sick, and healing, which means being caused to become sound, or healthy again, be it physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Try to believe that healing is always possible. Be open to the possibility that when it finally comes, it may not look like what we may have ever imagined. Be open to being surprised by healing, to being surprised by different kinds of healing. Come to know a God that is full of surprises.

Healing will make you well; the dis-ease (or problem) has to stop, but only wholeness, the sense of being in an unbroken, undamaged state, will allow you to move forward, fully repaired, and rebuilt.

When confronted with our own brokenness, be it a physical illness or a broken relationship or woundedness in our own souls, how often do we look first for easy answers and then for blame? It’s the most natural thing in the world because, in the face of extraordinary pain and trauma, it gives us a sense of control. If only we know who to blame, whether it’s God or another person or ourselves, then it gives our suffering a straightforward meaning.

When we encounter our own brokenness, the first thing we want is to go back to the time before we knew the pain. Once we realize that’s impossible, we begin to ask who is at fault. But Jesus knew that as long as you’re focused on blaming, you cannot begin the journey of healing. And this journey of healing can look like different things to different people. Healing can take on different forms.

We have to carry a sense of openness. We have to be open to being healed.

The hard lesson in this is that sometimes healing doesn’t mean that the difficult things in your life suddenly disappear. In fact, they probably won’t. Remember, healing is so much deeper and more profound than simply being cured. But it does mean that, in spite of the difficulties that life throws at you, you can still find wholeness and meaning and peace. It is entirely possible to be cured without ever really being healed. This means that you’re still living in the fold of old wounds. If you are cured but you’re unwilling to do the work of being healed, then you will still continue to define yourself in relation to your own woundedness, and you’ll never truly escape it. 

We should want to learn how to have faith in God’s healing, even when it feels impossible. We should want to be open to healing, even when we don’t know what that healing will look like, even when it means something different, something more, than being cured. We want to have the courage reach for healing, to reach for the hem of Jesus’ garment in our time of need.

Like the courageous woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34), she was open to healing, even when a cure was impossible.

When you come to God in prayer it is a powerful thing. Because if you pray for healing, and you believe that healing truly is possible, you will receive it. But it may not look like the healing you wanted. In fact, it probably won’t be. What’s more, you may not be prepared to receive the kind of healing that God will give you. Those of you have been through physical therapy or in recovery from addiction know that sometimes healing, true and genuine healing, can be a painful thing. That’s why so many of us choose to live in the comfort of our own woundedness. 

But of course, God’s healing is so much bigger than us as individuals. Our relationships need healing, our communities need healing, the nations of this world need healing, and the Earth itself needs healing. This is not something we can do on our own. The very nature of the task ahead of us requires that we heal together. That it is not enough to find healing for yourself without turning back and helping those who are still waiting to be healed.  Your healing is my healing, and my healing is yours. We walk this journey together by the healing that God has in store for us.

So let us clean up and clean out…

Let us be free from the uninvited unpleasantries of life, and move toward a higher place, a higher position, in desired condition.

Let us be free from the uninvited unpleasantries of life and no longer be detained, be in bondage to the hurts and the wounds, or any dis-ease.
 

God of wholeness,
heal the hurts,
both inside and out,
that make life
difficult each day.
Ease the pain,
loosen the chains,
bringing freedom
in their place.

(Poem written by Tanya R Dooley, Prayers for Healing, Faith & Worship)

Undoubtedly we are at the close of another year. As we take a moment and review what this year has brought us, we may find ourselves with regrets, or with no regrets. Oftentimes we are anticipating the newness of the New Year because we desire a fresh start.

At the end of this year I am really evaluating what one of my mentors said earlier this year, “What do you have in your hand?” – Yvonne Camper.

So I am asking myself on tomorrow, the last day of the year, what do I have in my hand? That tool is destined for me to use to achieve greatness in God. In Exodus 4:20, God asked Moses, “What do you have in your hand?” and it was a staff in which Moses would use later on to perform many miracles!

As you reflect on where you’ve been and what you’ve been through.  Thank God that you made it!

Some are wishing for 2019 to be over, but be mindful of taking a poor attitude into 2020 because at the end of 2020 you’ll be saying the same thing.

We prepare to make resolutions. Be resolved to consistency and purpose.

Let’s consider how we finish this year, 2019.

We should finish strong

2 Corinthians 5:17 says,

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Out with the old, in with the new. Christ is here to lead us into a brand new year, where we can start fresh with a brand new, positive mindset.

Let us not go into 20/20 with hindsight being 20/20, meaning, let’s not go into another new year, a new decade knowing the right thing to do after something has happened.

Let me explain why this phrase has that meaning. First, “hindsight” means “thinking about things after they’ve happened”. You can use it like this:

In hindsight, I realize that she was probably right.

This means that you didn’t think she was right in the past, but now that you think back on it you realize that she was right.

“20/20” means “perfect vision“. Eye doctors measure people’s vision using two numbers. If the first number is low, your vision is good. If it’s high, you aren’t able to see well. I have 60/20 vision, so I really need to wear my glasses. But 20/20 is the lowest score and means that you’re able to see perfectly. “20/20” is pronounced “twenty-twenty”.

So when you put those together, “Hindsight is 20/20” means that you can easily tell what you should have done in the past, but it’s harder to decide what to do in the future.

In a nutshell don’t worry about your past decisions, because you can’t change them now.  Press forward with no regrets. God has a plan for you, after all you’ve been through,

(Read Jeremiah 29:11).

“Not that I have already attained,^] or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Wishing many blessings to you and your families during this season and into the New Year!

Now that the season of holiday shopping is coming to an end, are you feeling blue because you’re broke?

Being overwhelmed by overspending can be frightening and even ulcer inducing! At this time of the year we often end up with money problems if we are not wise stewards. It may make you feel better to know that you are not alone.

Let’s look at a few things that we can help us be aware of the Debt Deception:

Seek help.

Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where no counsel is, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”

It’s okay,if you have to, get professional help.

Check Your Attitude

Philippians 4:6 says, ” Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Your attitude will make all the difference in how you feel about your situation. No matter how “broke” you may think you are, don’t confess that over your life. It is difficult to improve your finances when you’re feeling miserable.

Consider the Cost

Set a budget. Know how much you intend to spend.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” – Luke 14:28

Here are a few things that may occur when we are in debt:

Responses to Debt

Among the negative effects are low self esteem and possible impaired cognitive functioning. Meaning you can’t learn, remember, be attentive, or solve problems well when you’re freaking out over bills created during the shopping frenzy!

Debt can hurt. Allowing the prospect of financial insecurity that comes from overspending, to overtake us, just so we can have a few extra gifts under the tree, can increase pain. It has been reported that people feel almost twice as much physical pain after recalling financially unstable times in their lives compared to the secure periods.

Does debt cause mental illness or does mental illness cause debt?

Yes

Worrying about debt triggers stress which reduces your resilience against mental health. Mental health problems decrease self control, increase spending, and basically mess up financial judgement. Behavior patters that compel some to spend without restraint can drive a person right into debt and trigger unsettling emotional responses.

No one is immune.

Denial of Debt

Acting as if you have the luxury of endless deficit spending; spending compulsively while ignoring the deteriorating condition of your credit. Putting off dealing with problems until some outside event – credit denied, threat of foreclosure, legal action, harassing phone calls from debt collectors – forces a change. Ignoring reality is a handy defense mechanism for the brain. It is a way to rationalize mistakes and protect your ego. The problem is reality always sets in…

“The wicked borrow and do not repay…” – Psalm 37:21(a)

Stress Resulting from Debt

Stress is the opposite of denial; debt and stress are like conjoined twins. Stress is a term that was coined in 1936 by Hans Selye an endocrinologist, as “the non specifice response of the body to any demand for change. In modern terms in relation to debt, means you hyperventilate when your credit card bill comes! Stress manifests itself in: lack of sleep, loss of focus, nagging worry. Stress can affect big things like your job, since you fear losing it would make your financial situation even worse. It can affect small things like lunch, since you feel guilty for ordering a $2.00 soda, instead of water.

You don’t need an endocrinologist to tell you that is no way to live!

Fear and Panic

Fear and panic is stress with the scab torn off! A late payment notice just doesn’t make you uncomfortable, it gives you rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dry mouth, headaches and the shakes. Come on now, I know what I’m talking! (Help us Lord!)

The National Institue of Mental Health estimates about 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety. Financial worries are a massive trigger for those disorders. You assume the worst, like that you’ll be homeless if your house gets foreclosed or your car is going to break down on the way to work and you’re going to get fired for being late.

Nobody wants to live like that.

Anger

It is no one else’s fault that you made the choices you made. Yet and still some of us just get mad! Mad at the creditors, mad at the mailman, mad at the boss, mad at the spouse, mad at the kids, mad at themselves, mad at life! This ruins relationships. Physiologically it can lead to migraines, heart disease and even reduce your resistance to infections. Yes it can!

Depression

We can deny, freak out, lash out over debt, but the bills are still there. Depression sets in. People who struggle with debt are more likely to suffer from depression. Hopelessness sets in and can lead to more debt, more pain, we want the pain to end…

“…and the borrower is slave to the lender.” – Proverbs 22:7 (b)

So in this last week of Christmas shopping, with all the last minute opportunities to spend more, let’s take a moment and thank God for the ability to gain financial wisdom and the opportunity to ask him for it, if we lack…

Don’t let the world dictate how you spend…..

Tis the season to be jolly they say. Tis the season to experience some serious financial wounds, if you’re not careful.

In preparation for this most festive time of year it is so important to set our sights above;on the true Reason for the Season, but I digress..I am not about to preach, not right now anyway, however, let’s consider what happens around this time of the year!

Festive outbursts of emotion: in the matter of overspending (and actually this can be a year round issue!), the pressure and stress of spending, and crisis spending (spending behavior which happens during a period of poor mental health motivated by an emotional and psychological, rather than material need. Festive stress can trigger mood swings and that will surely make it hard to control spending. We talked about depression, right. During those bouts we are prone to COMFORT spending or spending to boost our low mood.

Ok, so you say, you’re ruining my spending mood now….I’ll stop reading this! No, help is on the way! Knowledge is power, when we tap into our minefield of emotions that are triggered by memories, or expectancies at this time of the year, we have can obtain the power to stay balanced while the world is traveling at the speed of light trying to get that next deal, that last gift, you know what I mean.

Not having enough money restricts our choices and can wreak emotional havoc on our psyche. And then, check this out, borrowing money, which leads to debt, which can lead to all sorts of other problems that we most definitely have to discuss on another blog.

There are a few things I want to leave with you to hopefully encourage you to enjoy your holiday wisely and as stress free as possible!

Do happy and healthy things: Stay away from alcoholic beverages; Sleep at least 7 hours a night; put away the knife and fork if you feel the need to eat when you’re feeling low; eat better; exercise more; take better care of yourself. This is where you will begin to feel a level of control over yourself, hence we pray it roll over to holiday spending!

Don’t ignore your current bills. Stay on track! Volunteer your time or a few dollars to help someone less fortunate. Take walks, do something creative!

And remember it’s all about attitude!

Say it again Dr Luke!

“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious min. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”

We can attest to the faithfulness of God to provide through unexpected blessings and the fruit of our labor. As we wisely steward our budgets and pursue a mindset governed by the Word of God in it’s essence and refocus on the things most important in our lives, Christ our Savior, our loved ones, family and friends, and being genuinely kind to one another in all humility, we are less likely to succumb to that “festive” outburst of emotional spending.

And for many of us that may suffer lack during this season, continue to seek the Lord for financial needs and allow Him to be your source of peace in money matters.

Continue to give generously to your local church, to the poor. I declare YOU WILL LACK NO MORE!

GOD WILL PROVIDE!

Have confidence in the Lord, He will provide just what you need! And even the desires of your heart!

Don’t let your heart or mind think you don’t have enough!

You have MORE THAN ENOUGH!

Be mindful of seasonal pressures and have a fabulous festive season celebrating the birth of our Savior, the greatest gift that money couldn’t never buy!

For a wide variety of reasons, many of us find ourselves alone for the holidays. With the emphasis on families and being with others, the holidays can be an especially lonely and trying time, even for those of us who are usually okay being on our own. But don’t worry, there are many things you can do to make the holidays a little less lonely when you’re alone.

Pick up the phone. Call friends and see what they’re doing. Offer to bring a dish or see how you can contribute to the gathering. Most people love opening their homes and expanding the celebration. Try it it may work for you.

Be proactive. Create an “alternative family” made up of people whose company you enjoy. Plan and prepare a potluck feast if you like. Remember that you are not alone in being alone during the holidays. Get together with others and have some fun.

Plan an outing. Go on a hike, or go to the movies, a park or a museum. Enjoy the outing with your group or by yourself. Just get out of the house!

Pamper yourself. Treat yourself to a day of beauty at a spa, get a massage or find some other special way to luxuriate. Do whatever you enjoy doing.

Remember your bonds and blessings. Pull out photo albums and read old letters. While this may be bittersweet, it’s not toxic. If possible, get on the phone and talk with loved ones who are still living. Take in your surroundings a look beyond and see your blessings. During this time many focus on how much they can or cannot spend. Sometimes we just have to be content. Oftentimes an extra blessing will come your way because of the shift in your attitude.

Help others. Volunteering at a mission or shelter for the homeless will help you feel connected. Participate in activities like this at other times of the year, not just on one day of the year. This will make the experience more fulfilling. Volunteering at a soup kitchen gives you a healthy perspective. There’s nothing like that for slapping you back to realizing how blessed you are.

Hebrews 13:1-2 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.  Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.  

Travel. If you have the finances, get away for a few days. Find a tour group during the holidays. This can also get you out of the traditional holiday mindset.

Get through the day. If you’re unable to do any of these things, just get through it. Read, sleep, watch a favorite movie, a little rest and relaxation won’t hurt while everyone is rushing around in all the hustle and bustle!

The holidays can be a lonely time, but that doesn’t mean you have to feel alone. Stay focused and acknowledge the one who really meets your needs……

 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said….

Be Blessed!

As I was watching the news this morning, they were showing where they would surprise people in the grocery store by paying for their groceries at the counter. Paying for their groceries as a gesture of kindness, just because. And the look on the person’s face, the recipent of the gesture, varied from total surprise, to weeping, to in some instances incredulousness, as if to say, are you for real!

Random acts of kindness are uplifting. For the person on the receiving in as well for the person on the giving end. Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

Today we see so many random acts of violence it’s so heartbreaking. So traumatizing. Think about the effect these things have on a person.

I could make this a tremendously long blog, but I won’t…

My goal today is to spur you to commit an act of kindness, and if someone is kind to you, pay it forward.

Enjoy your week of Thanksgiving!

^” Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  – Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

“Give thanks, with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks, because He has given Jesus Christ His Son And now let the weak say, I am strong. Let the poor say, I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us. Give thanks…”

Those lyrics from the song “Give Thanks” by Eddie James have stayed with me all this week. During this time of the year when we see stores evolve from Halloween to Christmas, Thanksgiving being almost totally bypassed save for a few paper items, napkins, paper plates, tablecloths, etc, we almost forget about giving thanks. Not just for the thanksgiving dinner that may be prepared in our homes, but for what God has done for us…

With so much going on in society today, we are thankful that we are yet here. With mass shooting, tainted food, political storms, we have survived!

Amidst the issues of life we are still here! Relationships, finances, health, employment and/or careers! We have been able to maintain! And for that we are thankful!

I was reading a blog on YouVersion and it mentioned that statistics show that people who practice gratitude experience more joy, express more compassion and generosity and are even less likely to get sick.

So I challenge you today to practice an attitude of gratitude!

(Laugh out Loud!) As I write this blog, I have to say that I am grateful for the opportunity to use this platform as a form of expression, even though I didn’t save my previous draft, I am still thankful to be able to convey a spirit of gratitude despite losing my original post!

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.”

– 1 Thessalonians 5:18