Dealing with the Storm

July 20, 2016July 19, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Yesterday the Jeep had just been pulled inside the garage and the groceries delivered to the kitchen when I looked out the kitchen window and saw a storm brewing. The angry clouds were followed by huge pieces of hail bouncing onto the roof, windows and sidewalk, making me feel like I was inside a popcorn machine with hot kernels. Then as quickly as it came, the storm was gone, leaving soggy grass and misplaced mulch as a reminder that it had indeed come.

As I looked out the window at the now blue skies, I thought of how often my emotions can do the very same thing. In an instant, I can go from “sunny skies” to torrential rains! Sometimes it’s an accumulation of dark clouds that descend and eventually bring the emotions, the tears, the discouragement to my heart.

I obviously have no control over the weather, but there are things I can do to calm the storms that touch down in my heart! During the thunderstorm, I did what I could to be safe – I stayed inside, I closed the door, I kept on the alert. There are things we can do during an emotional storm as well and I’ve made a list to review when I see the dark clouds gathering around my heart. I hope this will encourage you, too!

Dealing with Emotional Storms

Spend longer periods of time in God’s Word (especially the Psalms).
Look up Scripture about my particular issue and journal my findings.
Talk to the Lord about my burden more than I talk with others about it.
Get to church services to hear how God will encourage me through the Word of God being preached.
Don’t isolate myself – Spend time with people who will encourage me.
Reach out to someone who I know will give me biblical counsel.
Ask people to pray for me.
Listen to uplifting music that will turn my thoughts to Christ.
If I’m able, get out of the house and go do something rather than sit and dwell on my storm.
Turn off television – especially shows that are on the negative side – reality shows, crime reports, etc. Not that you can’t be informed about current events, but don’t watch it if it discourages you!
Work on memorizing Scripture concerning my storm.

If you have dark clouds gathering around you, protect yourself from real, destructive damage by taking action. Just behind the clouds, the Lord wants to warm your heart with His sunshine and encouragement.

Refresh your heart in your storm!

What do you do when your heart is discouraged?

A Refuge for the Storm

July 7, 2016July 7, 2016 RefreshHer1 Comment

Last night a storm rolled through East Tennessee. I made a dash out to the back porch to rescue the pillows on the swing from being carried to Virginia! The wind was blowing so hard and the rain had begun to fall in sheets. I didn’t stay out on the porch any longer than necessary, but quickly made my way back to the refuge of my home.

I then gathered my Bible study books and Bible and curled up on the sofa to read and pray. I opened a new favorite book of mine, “Praying Through the Names of God” by Tony Evans. The name for the day was “ELOHIM MACHASE LANU” ~ God my Refuge. How appropriate was that on a stormy evening?!

As I read the Scriptures that use this name for God, I was reminded of how often I run to other things or people before I run to my Refuge. It’s sinful to allow something else or someone else be my Refuge when God is the One Who will do what none other can do!

When I stepped out into the storm to rescue my pillows wouldn’t it have been foolish if I would have run out to the arbor in the backyard for refuge from the howling winds?
What if I decided to make a run over to the neighbor’s house to protect me?
Or what if I just grabbed a bag of Oreos and munched away while standing in the pouring rain?
All these are foolish, and trust me, I didn’t think of anything but getting inside to the refuge of my own home – the closest thing to me!

But how often do you and I look to someone else – perhaps our spouse or our pastor or church leader to be our refuge when a storm hits?
Perhaps food is a source of comfort and we use it as a crutch to get us through. We may think – “Another cookie, chocolate bar or bag of chips and we’ll be just fine.”
Maybe medications are the balm we use to calm us down and keep us from really noticing how difficult this storm really is.
List making and trouble-shooting could be another replacement for running to the One Who is our eternal Refuge. He has the answers we need, and we will only hear those answers in His Word and in prayer.

We must do what is wise – head to the Door – straight to our God, ELOHIM MACHASE LANU, our Refuge and know the safety, the love, the protection He is. He must be our first source as a Refuge. Just like my house was the closest refuge, God is nearer to us than even our trouble is! Running to anyone or anything else is sinful and foolish. Let’s get out of the presence of the thunder’s rumble and run to our Refuge where we’ll find all we need.

Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God (Elohim) is our refuge (Machase Lanu). Psalm 62:8

With love,

Christian growth · Christian Life · trials · Uncategorized

Step – Don’t Stagger

February 2, 2016February 1, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

The path was fairly familiar to me – it was the route from the main meeting place at camp to the back of the camp site. I had walked it many times in the daylight. I knew there were steps, a hand railing, then a sidewalk, a parking lot and another set of stairs. But at the moment that I was standing at the beginning of this journey back to my duplex, the sun had sunk down to slumber mode. The sky was as dark as a deep cave, and we had no lanterns to light our way. I was not alone, thank the Lord; I was with a sweet friend and we clung to one another, groping our way in the blackness like Hansel and Gretel, looking for home.

We inched our way along, eyes widened to catch any ray of light that may be cast our direction, though there was none. One step at a time, we moved slowly along, letting our heels scrape against the back of each step and our toes feeling forward for the next set of stairs. We did finally make it – much later than we ever thought, but we vowed we would never come to camp again without a flashlight. I’m pretty sure that whole area has lights now, and we could skip merrily back to our bunks without our major problems or hesitations we had that night!

Staggering would be the word that described our progress. We were slow, deliberate, and apprehensive.

Just yesterday I read in Romans 4:20 –

He (Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith,giving glory to God.

Abraham was told that God would make of him a great nation. Though he was old and his wife’s womb was “dead,” he didn’t stagger! He moved ahead! Confidently laying one foot in front of the other, he trusted God’s promise and clung to it in faith. Rather than looking like me and my friend on our dark path, he made strides, moving forward with steps of faith pounding on the pavement of his life until God fulfilled His promise to Abraham!

As I read that verse, I wrote in my journal, “Am I staggering, or am I trusting God’s promises today?” When we are going through any kind of hardship, trial, illness, test, or decision, we need to open God’s Word and find a promise to claim. Then, holding fast to it, we can lift our head and move forward. Otherwise, we will be staggering. Our hearts will be full of fear and doubt and there will be nothing but darkness before us.

Step – don’t stagger today! You’ll only do that when you cling to the promise of God!

What promise of God’s are you clinging to at this time?

With love,

Prayer · trials

A Talk With My Father

January 14, 2016January 13, 2016 RefreshHer4 Comments

In church on Sunday I got to sing one of my favorite old songs for special music – “I Will Serve Thee.” Here are the lyrics:

I will serve Thee because I love Thee

You have given life to me.

I was nothing before You found me,

You have given life to me.

Heartaches, broken pieces,

Ruined lives are why You died on Calvary.

Your touch was what I longed for,

You have given life to me.

As I sang, I thought about all the years I’ve been God’s child and how faithful He has been. I sing, not because of any special talent – I sing because my heart is so full of gratitude. What a wonderful Savior He is. As I sang I didn’t know how soon I’d need the reminder of this message, or how quickly I would see His goodness displayed to me once again.

The following morning I received news that my father was being admitted to the ICU of the hospital following a procedure. While my fleshly daughter’s heart wanted to panic, pack a suitcase, drive to KY and stand watch, the daughter of the King had a little preaching session with herself. “There’s nothing I can do there right now. My mom and sisters are there. He’s in the Lord’s hands and nothing will happen outside of His control. I can trust my earthly father in the hands of our Heavenly Father.” Then, too, the song from Sunday flooded my heart – “Heartaches, broken pieces, ruined lives are why you died on Calvary.” What comfort to be reminded that all these heartaches and broken things I was feeling was part of why I needed a Savior in the first place.

The next morning, again, I was seated in my Quiet Place, reading, praying, and taking to my Heavenly Father the burdens on my heart. While I was reading and studying about prayer, I had read Psalm 21:1,2 –

The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips.

I took my burdens to the Lord in prayer, then my phone rang. When I answered it, it was my dad! He called me from his ICU bed to say hi, tell me he was feeling better, and to check on us! The voice of my father…it comforted me. It reassured me. It made me rest.

After hanging up from our conversation, I made the connection with what had just happened. I had prayed for my dad. I had studied about prayer. Then I got to hear his voice (my dad’s). Then I got to hear His voice (God’s). It was God’s whisper to my heart that He cared. He is at work. He is answering. He was soothing my heartache and broken pieces. He didn’t have to do that for me, but He did.

Falling to my knees once again, my heart cried out His worth of my praise and of my service. “I will serve Thee because I love Thee. You have given life to me.” Yes, it’s still one of my very favorite songs.

You may not have seen such a response to your recent prayers, but it doesn’t negate God’s love or involvement for you and your situation. It’s times when His voice is silent that we must believe in faith that God is at work doing what is best for us. He still cares – even when we cannot hear His voice.

How have you seen God’s Fatherly love towards you this week?

With love,

trials

He Brought Me to a Large Place

August 29, 2013 RefreshHerLeave a comment

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Now for today’s Pastor and Husband Encouragement:

Pastor’s Encouragement: Pray that your pastor will counsel and teach with discernment through the wise use of Scripture and faith in god’s power to work. Pray that he will be protected from the effects of sinful or negative attitudes that he encounters as he counsels. Mal. 2:7; James 1:5,6

Husband’s Encouragement: Praise his servant’s heart. Maybe your husband’s not a handyman, but does he run errands for you? Let you go first? Take care of you when you are sick? Help you make decisions? Praise him for his willingness to serve others. Let him know that you see his unique service as a great strength

With love,