“Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”  Psalm 9:10

Lord, when I lost my voice, you spoke up for me.  When I was sick, you healed me.  When I was lost, you guided me back home.  When I was in danger, you protected me.  When I started to fall, you caught me.  When my worries started to overwhelm me, you gave me peace.  When no one would listen, you heard me.  When I became weary, you strengthened me.  When I was broken-hearted, you dried my tears.  When I was lonely, you were with me.  When I was in need, you were my provider.  When I was discouraged, your love encouraged me.  When I was confused, you gave me wisdom.  When I wanted to give up, you enabled me to keep fighting.

Lord, with all the things that you’ve done for me and all the things that you continue to do for me, how can I ever say no to you?  How could I have ever turned my back on you?  How can I not get down on my knees to praise you?  My life is not my own, it’s yours to do as you will.  I know that I can trust you because you only have good intentions for me.  It would be foolish of me to stop trusting you now.  I will endure and continue to fight the good fight of faith.  My strength is in you.  You are the source of my peace and my joy, now and forevermore.  Thank you!

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life…” Philippians 2:115-16 NIV

It starts off small, a slight grumbling in the pit of your stomach. Then, your heart starts pounding. You can’t stop tapping your foot on the floor or drumming your fingers on the desk. Your cheeks become flushed. Your blood pressure rises.

It’s an airborne virus and it rapidly spreads from one person to another. Many people don’t know they have contracted it until it’s too late. If left untreated it can lead to depression, isolation, cardiovascular disorders, weakened immune system and possibly death.

Few people recognize the seriousness of this virus and too many people don’t even know it exists. It’s called Chronic Complaining. You might know someone afflicted by this. This person won’t realize that they have it. They will read this and start complaining about all the people that they think should read this.

Please, don’t get mad at me. I know we all get frustrated and complain about things to vent. I’m guilty of it too. However, complaining becomes a problem when the first thing out of your mouth, after you say hello, is a complaint. It’s a problem if the only things that come out of your mouth are complaints. It’s a problem when your complaining outweighs your praising.

Have you ever noticed when one person in a room starts complaining about something, everyone in the room ends up joining in shortly after? The next thing you know the whole group is complaining and angry about everything. The room fills up with a suffocating negative energy that remains long after the complaining stops. There is nothing positive about complaining–it only stirs up anger, causes people to become stressed out and it takes the focus off of finding a possible resolution.

As believers, we’re supposed to be spreading encouragement. We’re supposed to bring light to the darkness not add to it. Can you imagine the good that could be accomplished if instead of focusing our energy on complaining, we focused it on finding the solution? There would be no stopping us.

There is no problem in this world that God does not already have the solution to. So, next time you feel like you’re coming down with a case of Chronic Complaining, stop, take a breath and ask yourself if complaining will help the situation or add to the chaos. Never let your complaining outweigh your praising.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3-4

It’s confession time. Now, this is going to sting a bit but just bear with me. I’m going to take a deep breath and please feel free to do the same before you read on. Now, exhale.

It all started last week. Someone that I consider a good friend said something to me that I took offense to. I thought that it was hurtful and thoughtless. The person was completely clueless as to how upset I was too. I let it go for the moment and kept it safely hidden away in my mind. Later, as I was in prayer, the memory of what was said earlier popped into my mind. The enemy likes to use those things that we think we have hidden to distract us. This eventually led to other memories of hurtful things other people said. 

I was thoroughly into a tirade of self-righteous indignation when the Lord stopped me. He calmly and gently said, ” I hear you daughter but have you noticed that big two by four in your eye?”

“Ouch!”

He continued on by saying, “do you know how many times you’ve said something stupid and no one called you out? Do you know how many times your words have hurt someone? Do you know how many times other people have shown you mercy and still love you even in spite of yourself? Do you know how many times I have shown you mercy? Beloved, you need to love and show mercy to others, just as I have shown you love and mercy. ” 

“Double ouch!” 

It’s time to get the planks out of my eye. What about you?

“For you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.”  Psalm 86:17

I’m letting go today.  I’m letting go of all the painful memories that haunt my dreams.  Letting go of the guilt from my past mistakes.  Letting go of the garbage that I’ve been collecting.  Letting go of every negative thing that was said about me.  Letting go every knife stuck inside my back.

I’m letting go of this pain, this fear, this worry.  I can no longer carry this weight.  I was never meant to be a receptacle for anger and animosity.

I’m going to allow the Lord to heal me.  I’m going to apply His Word to my wounds as a soothing balm.  I’m going to allow His love to restore me.

I’m going to remain in His presence.  His peace will cover me.  His arms will protect me.  His angels will tend to me.  Because I belong to Him.

I was beautifully created in His image.  I am loved, gifted, cared for and truly blessed.

Yes, today, I’m letting go, moving forward and holding on to Jesus.  I will rejoice and praise Him forever.

“Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord” Psalm 121:1-2

I woke up about three o’clock in the morning. It felt like there was a weight pressing against my chest. It was hard to breathe and I started to panic. My mind raced with worries but not about my health. It was the worries of the day, week and future that assaulted my mind. I thought about things I regretted, people who hurt me and people who I may have hurt. Once those negative thoughts started, they just wouldn’t stop. I sat up in bed and cried.

I hate crying. I hate feeling out of control. I wanted to talk to someone but the late hour prevented me from even looking at the phone. Besides, what would I say, “I’m freaking out and I don’t know why?” How could anyone possibly help me? How could they know the right words to say?

As the tears and worries continued to flow, I heard a voice whisper in my ear, “lean on me.”

That was all I needed to be reminded that I was not alone. I always have access to a never-ending supply of love. Sometimes when we are in the midst of pain or fear, we forget this fact. The Lord is always with us. He understands what we are going through, even when we don’t know how to put it into words. He can bring calm to chaos. He will give us wisdom that no one else can even conceive. He comforts us. He loves us, immensely and He is always available for His children. In your dark hours, lean on the Lord. He will never let you down.

“He who watches over you will not slumber.” Psalm 121:3

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:27

I have a confession to make. For most of my life, I have been living in the delusion that I am a superhero. By day, I’m the mild mannered employee, friend, sister and daughter but as soon as there is a hint of trouble, I throw on my cape and turn into: The Mighty Worrier Princess.

I can’t fly. I don’t have super human strength or speed. I can’t turn invisible. I’m not a  mind reader and I most certainly can’t move objects with my thoughts.  My super power is worrying and I can worry like nobody’s business.

Now,  like all super heroes, I have a weakness. My weakness is reality. In reality, my super power is useless. It doesn’t protect anyone. It doesn’t solve any problems. It doesn’t get bills paid and it doesn’t find jobs. What it does, is makes things worse. I get migraines,  sick to my stomach and my heart beats too fast. I also get depressed,  frustrated and angry.

Being a superhero is exhausting and I want out! I’m ready to retire. It’s time to put aside my delusional thinking and to call on a true super hero. He’s omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. He cures diseases. He has an army of angels. He created the heavens and the earth. He even conquered death. Superman, Batman and Spiderman don’t have anything on him.  His name is Jesus and He loves me and is waiting on me to stop this foolishness and call on Him. By the way, He’s waiting for you too.