- Dec 26, 2015
New Year is a very special time for most of us and it is special to God as well. He knows we lift our sights at this time of year and I am sure this is why He gave this time to us. In scripture, He shows Himself to be a God of times and seasons, so it's not sentimental that I should say this.
Years ago in the 70s I had to do with a Christian Center that really had the Presence of God and a really nice spiritual family atmosphere. There was much praise and worship and rejoicing there. This church was also prophetic. Each year at this time, we saw the New Year in with praise, rejoicing and celebration.
And right at midnight, we would wait on Him expectantly for a prophetic word for the coming year. It was wonderful, each time He would speak to us through the pastor in leadership there who moves very well in the gift of prophecy. It was good to hear what The Lord had to say. We would follow that will early morning supper and chat and went home happy and content to wake up and live in that new year.
I really missed that for a number of years when I moved on. But I still like to
keep that tradition myself in a quiet way with The Lord.
At the end of a year (the last week) I like to dismiss the things that I am happy to say goodbye to from that year, to reflect on the good things and thank God for them.
Then I would have pleasant expectations for the next year and make plans rather than resolutions (they don't work with most of us). But making Plans and applying yourself to them is a good way to go.
Word of Compassion
For a number of years Christmas and New Year was wrecked for me and I know
a few Christians who can relate with that. It seems our enemy knows the importance of this time too - that we have expectations and maybe a vision in God. Often he can attempt to frustrate that and squash our expectations so they're nipped in the bud before they come to anything......and.....sometimes it's just to make us upset
(creating a same year after year effect) so we are low on expectations and do not
hold much hope for the year.
That's sad and I can relate with with it. Many years ago, I experienced a medically induced chemical imbalance that affected me awfully, following wrong steps on a negligent practitioner's part when he should have known I was acutely anemic at the time. After that, I ended up in a hospital wrongly diagnosed and detained against my will and mismanaged by the staff. That was at Christmas and new year time.
That was followed by a number of years where each year there was something that
was really upsetting at Christmas and New Year time. My son started to spend the season with friends instead that was less upsetting because he was happy there.
Don't judge him for that because he cared for me such a lot and was always there for me apart from a few years he lived away on my advice when he asked my permission.
They were difficult years I was glad to see the end of.
However, my new lease on life was followed by several years where a few close friends kept sharing some deep problems over and over repeatedly with me. I actually experienced what is called 'burn-out' as a result of this - a physical condition of exhaustion that effects you emotionally as well (you can't feel a thing) it's quite
distressing and detrimental to your prayer life because you can't express your love for Him or sense His Love for you. I had no joy in my walk with God at that time, none whatsoever but had to rest and trust in God.
I got over that. He restored me and gave a sense of Love, Joy and Peace back to me.
But each Christmas and New Year was affected by a nephew's hardship that hit him hard that time every year (more than most people experience). So now, I have to take two weeks off each year from anyone's problems - I refrain from communications that get me down now and especially at this time of year.
Word of Advice
I ADVISE THAT YOU DO WHATEVER YOU CAN THE SAME, IF THAT IS
POSSIBLE AND YOU HAVE A NEED FOR IT. MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE CAN BE
THERE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS REALLY IN NEED. AND YOU CAN ASSURE
THEM OF A NICE TIME TOGETHER IN THE NEW YEAR THEY CAN
LOOK FORWARD TO. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO DO NOW.
BESIDES, YOU WILL FEEL FRESHER FOR IT - FOR THEM AS WELL
AS YOURSELF. SO THAT IS NOT UNKIND. COMPASSION IS ALRIGHT
WHEN IT'S HEALTHY AND SYMPATHY AND DEMANDS DO NOT DOMINATE.
IF YOU FEEL DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THAT, I POSTPONED THINGS
UNTIL GOD GAVE ME THIS WISDOM. YOU CAN DECIDE WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU.
This is another way you can go about things: you can make their Christmas week special in some way and then take the New Year week to 10 days off so you can still
be refreshed. Christmas can be for giving happiness and comfort........ and New Year
can be just for you: help yourself to it. See what's right for you.
Back to Joy!
Do you know that in some countries, celebration is a very important part
of their way of life us Westerners in English speaking countries have not ever
experienced? Especially in the Middle East. Some of them have three day wedding celebrations with three bridal dresses and all. Most of those countries have more than
the standard occasions we have like Christmas and Birthdays.
In some Asian countries, they experience moments of bliss in the midst of
hard situations we know nothing about that helps them cope with that stress.
The word bliss is not in the average person's vocabulary in English speaking countries. Not since the world wars at least and modern way of living.
But in bible days, Israel had many Feast Days given by God our Creator,
where the people would come together and celebrate. They would make merry
- they did not need wine for this - with gladness of heart.
Notice, that God instigated all this? Yes He knows what's good for us.
In fact, He said on one occasion "do not grieve, for this is a holy day".
You know, there is something holy about gladness of heart the world
does not know anything about.
If you are reading this after New Years Day, take the first 2 or 3 weeks
of January to plan a few things and brighten your outlook for 2016.
There is something good and right and comely about
STARTING A NEW YEAR FRESH WITH HIM.
God Bless You - Enjoy!!!
- Dec 26, 2015
Today I feel to write on this very important topic. Actually, I have not even thought of or used this word for many years since experiencing a few times of unimaginable hardship. So if you are experiencing relentless pressure, hardship or trauma, there is always someone else in a boat next to you (with the same or similar) it's just that you can't see them for the fog.
Being compassionate in nature, I have also experienced 'burn-out' from excessive exposure to people's problems when I got through those difficult years and have been restored by Jesus. The burn-out state is where you become physically exhausted from too much pressure (overload). So in this post I will help those who have burdens and those who are affected by someone else's.
During that time, which can last from a few months to a few years, you cannot experience pressure of any kind - especially in communications - so people's problems of any kind are off limits. Also, when I experienced this, I could not feel emotion of any kind. That is disturbing and distressing. No joy or happiness, no inclination to help anyone, no feeling in prayer - you cannot express your love and praise to God or sense His Grace and Love.
Many people have left the ministry, counseling and psychology after burn-out and very few can return to those vocations - they are advised not to or affected permanently in some way. And if you attempt to do so too early (before the healing process is complete or you have not had sufficient respite) it can come back. I have to be careful of that because I have had two re-occurrences. I know what to watch for, what I can handle and what I should not attempt, after that, I can assure you!
When is Enough, Enough?
I will address those who are weighed down with other people's problems first because I have to write the negative about that to help some of you. Then I will address those with traumas or relentless situations, so I can leave your thoughts on the positive. Is that OK with you? By the way, some of you who are experiencing traumas are better skipping this part of my post because you may take something to heart that could upset you.
I can assure you that none of this is meant for you to take personally.
You will find part of my story in the previous post. A New Year - Word of Wisdom.
What I did not say there is I had one friend who was wanting her elderly husband to die because she did not have the courage to place him in a nursing home. She thought she was being kind but always verbalizing her discontents. Every so often she would say to me "I don't know why God has'nt taken him and what He wants of me".
The answer was obvious. She would not hear it and somehow preferred to complain to me, over and over again.
I had another friend in an unhappy marriage and missing her family overseas terribly. Almost every time I saw her she would say things like "No-one knows how I feel, no-one can help me.....the government does'nt care if we get a house or not....... believe it or not something else happened and I'm so upset.....my husband does'nt care and the kids won't help me......I'm going crazy......the government worker made me sick". And she was always getting more of what she spoke into her life by confessing these things all the time. A few times she said she wanted to take her life. At the same time, I had a good friend with a serious condition who was battling for his life and almost died 3 times but would not give up cigarettes that was the cause of the problem.
With the exception of the 3rd friend, these friends made known their problems to me repeatedly as if they had not told me before and allowed me no mercy. It was maddening. They knew I was a compassionate person and took advantage of it to the best of their ability. That is the only way I can explain it. They seemed to get some relief for the moment but needed another fix when next I was available. Really, although they asked for my advice "what can I do?" they never appreciated it.
Something else you must remember is this: by listening too often to someone's problems, you can be helping them dig a grave for themselves (so to speak). In other words, making matters worse because the more they tell you, the more negative they get entrenched and this can impact you if you're not careful.
There was an answer to the marriage situation too but neither spouse would make the first step - they expected the other one to. Then their kids would be happier too and the house situation would be less stressful with love in the family - they both kept directing what love they had to their kids. That is a form of avoidance and is actually not healthy for children. Remember, they are sensitive and smarter than you may realize. Instead, draw on God's strength, fill yourself up with all His Love you can take and share that with each-other. That way you provide a covering for your children instead of signals of insecurity. They will thank you for that when they grow up.
So often for many of us, people with problems show no mercy (unintentionally most times) they are not happy unless they get you down. In fact, just recently when I visited a friend who likes the way I cheer her up, insisted on making me suffer with her and got very unhappy with me - she acted terribly and it took 4 days to shake it off.
Some people act very poorly when under pressure. She was determined to make me feel guilty for being happy.
Many people have a false sense of security when they have a listening ear, so the more the better. But wait a minute, are they better for confiding in you last time or the time before that? Be careful when people share their problems that you don't end up sharing them with them. In other words, their load becomes your load. Some people don't know when enough is enough.
When it comes to friends, so often we think "what will they do without my help, atleast I can give a listening ear. It brings them some relief. This is getting stressful but how will they cope if I don't?" Friend, as long as God is around, you are not indispensible. He is there for everyone 24 hours a day and most people make Him a last resort as long as you're there for them every time. Learn how to direct them to Him by having your own personal acquaintance with Him. Truly that is the best kindness you can show anyone.
What can I do with this Burden?
I'm glad you asked. Just recently, I was conversing over the phone with a lovely Christian friend, she changed the topic and said I just had a word for you (from The Lord) "We are not supposed to carry our burdens, Jesus is our burden-bearer". 30 minutes after that conversation I had an alarming phone call.
In the natural, it would seem that He had rejected my prayers of faith and was facing me with a situation instead. Acting on that word, I chose to trust Him and things turned around to praise and thanksgiving.
He says to us all "I am your burden-bearer" because David and others have proved Him as such time and time again and Jesus Himself invites us to "Come to Me for I am gentle and lowly and you will find Rest for your souls". Notice He said Come to Me? That is where we find our REST my friend, in the Arms of Jesus or sitting at His feet.
He continues to say in that verse "for My yoke is easy and My burden is light".
To do this sometimes, you need to remember to "trust Him with all your heart and not to rely on your own understanding". I don't say I'm perfect at this but that's what I did in that situation when I think about it and other situations in recent years. Don't try to work it out - let it rest with Him and in doing that, you will find rest. Don't take it back when you've finished your prayer time and say "I must worry about this some more" because in effect, that's what we often do, is'nt it? For more encouragement like this please go to
Worry and Anxiety, Find Answers in these Scriptures!
- Dec 25, 2015
Something important to address, I have been concerned about for sometime, came to my attention today and that is Toxic Sermons and also Toxic Lyrics by Song and Music Artists, even from good preachers sometimes and lots of Music Artists. Yes, both of these were brought to my attention in the same day!
For today's experience, I am speaking about words spoken in various sermons on a Christian website I found with some good sound teaching on it, followed by several MP3s I went through later in the day when looking for more
Christian music. You can't be too careful.
There was damaging content in a handful of short sermons and negative words
in most of the songs I heard. I want to tell you something they had in common.
Each sermon and song had really nice sounding titles - as impressions go -
hence the saying: we can't judge a book by it's cover. I mean to say, the titles
were so godly and promising? In contrast, I found them so different.
DO BE CAREFUL AS TO WHAT YOU ARE FEEDING YOUR SPIRIT
AND YOUR MIND AS WELL - THAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT'S
COUNSEL TO YOU IN THIS POST. WE NEED TO SIFT THE CHAFF
FROM THE WHEAT, MY FRIENDS.
Do not be frightened to do this with preachers, regardless of who they are.
The days are gone where you can just sit and be fed by preachers
and neglect having a sound personal knowledge of scripture. With end-times
quickly approaching - it will no longer be who is right but what is right.
We were never meant to rely on preaching for our spiritual food.
Did you know these things?
And by the way, bible colleges do not make Pastors and Evangelists. Many Christians have a zeal for bible teachings, attend colleges and then aspire to be "in the ministry"......they take up positions as Pastors often and some in Evangelism. But wait a minute, who makes a real Pastor or Evangelist?
If you read Ephesians 4 closely, Jesus does! He calls and He appoints.
He does the equipping and the training - through the Holy Spirit.
Bible teaching may be involved as part of their training under His leadership,
but they will have a personal knowledge of scripture and applying it to
situations and an intimate relationship with God's Presence that becomes
evident in their hearts and lives. They will also carry the presence and testimony
of Jesus. So you see, one is not meant to be self-elected or man-elected.
Yet how many well meaning Christians go to college because
they "want to be in the ministry".
Throughout the churches, these are the people who are preaching mostly.
They are taught academically, how to make up sermons, counsel and all the rest of it.
This creates a problem in the Body of Christ: we are taught the fear of man instead of the fear of The Lord. Everything they say goes and we must conform.
But again, wait a minute_ Jesus said explicitly to His disciples "it should not be so
among you" so somethings wrong is'nt it? Yes it is, when men and women get more
respect than The Lord does and we are taught to follow them blindly (right or wrong).
JESUS WANTS HIS CHURCH BACK!
So what is Toxic Content?
One of the sermons I heardwas called Embracing the Promises, and for the
very first verse he brought up one of the preacher's favorites from Malachi 3:18
"Will a man rob God yet you are robbing Me.........bring the full Tithe into the storehouse and see if I will not open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing......"
He stated that we have to pay tithes to protect ourselves from the wrath of God
and secure His blessings (by paying for them). Misrepresenting God's character and intentions for Christians. I have covered that kind of thing in my post
Did Early Christians Tithe? Do Preachers Pressure You? Find The Real Facts!
You will discover how those verses are taken out of context to this day, when the
early church fathers fought against introducing it as far as the 4th century.
Yet so many are intimidated by demands to tithe. They feel threatened and condemned if they don't take on that practice and many believe they have to do this to walk in obedience. While many even experience financial hardship - trying to keep up with another form of taxes, so to speak, instead of giving as they are able etc like
the apostle Paul correctly instructed us.
Another verse that is used in sermons is "Many are the afflictions of the righteous
but The Lord delivers us out of them all". (Ps 34:19) Is that what you want to believe for?
Friends, that was in old testament days before Christ came and gave to believers
the power to use His name and seated us in heavenly places (spiritually speaking).
Have you heard this verse in preaching? "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?" (Jer 17:9) That does not apply to a child of God either, who has been Born Anew to a Living Hope - in Jesus we are new creations. We have a new heart that is responsive to the Spirit of God and desires to please Him.
IF SOMETHING SAID IN A SERMON MAKES YOU FEEL YUCK, MOST
TIMES, IT IS NOT OF GOD ANYWAY
(something that is having a negative impact on you)
IT IS POSSIBLE TO RESIST THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND TO FEEL
UNCOMFORTABLE BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONVICTION
AND CONDEMNATION: ONE WILL MAKE YOU AWARE OF
SOMETHING, THEN LEAVE YOU. THE OTHER WILL NOT LEAVE
YOU ALONE AND TENDS TO HARASS YOU.
What Songs do You Listen to?
Most Christian bookstores and website listings for CDs and MP3s presents modern-day christendom whereby music artists are giving out all manner of mixture in the name of God. There is so much negative exposure - just like we find in the secular world.
Clearly, Christ did not call or commission them to do the things they do much less fill your mind with the very poor choices of words they use. They even have the nerve to bring metal music into Christian circles and homes that definitely belongs in the world.
The Lord said concerning our day that there would be shepherds and hirelings, wheat and tares (those who are from Him and those who are not) neither is the message their music contains or their motivation. Most times, they are lovers of money, they bring in a fortune - profaning the sanctuary of God and exploiting the Church to their end and they have the nerve to take His name in vain.
At best, when it comes to music, The Lord did not call us to entertainment but to Praise and Worship.We can enjoy the things of The Lord if we like (Christian Music) just make sure it is the things of The Lord.
TAKE CARE WHAT MUSIC INPUT YOU ARE GIVING YOURSELF.
DOES IT FEED YOUR SPIRIT? IF IT DOES, YOU CAN
SENSE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.
Songs like the popular Amazing Grace so many Christians like contains some heavy depressing words and is not good for us to hear on a regular basis. We even call ourselves wretches in that song that is so unscriptural. The writer was a slave-trader who came to repentance and does not relate with our experience. How many lyrics from song writers stories do not relate to us and we listen to and sing their songs often.
Even the well loved It is Well with My Soul contains words like
"When sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, You have taught
me to say it is well with my soul".
No, don't identify with negativity in songs. This one is telling you to accept your lot in life, so to speak (whatever happens). In other words, don't put up a godly resistance to what is not of God in your life......just take everything and bare it. Friends, that is actually unscriptural. I used to love that song until I listened closely to the words one day. I don't play it anymore.
YES, CHOOSE WORDS THAT WILL LIFT YOUR SPIRIT
BLESS YOU WITH PEACE AND BRING YOU
INTO HIS PRESENCE.
Take Care!