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Are You Feeling Smashed? Time to Unleash Power?

March 10, 2017 by

Most everyone I know feels smashed.

We’re called the sandwich generation.  I’d call us the flat tire generation.  We have a crisis blowout concerning our kids and before we get it fixed another happens with our parents.

Friends have said, “We’ll get together when things settle down.”  Two years in we’re still waiting.

But it can leave you feeling crushed with no ounce of reserve left.

I was refreshed though last night when I read a favorite verse again.

Zechariah writes, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Wow!  All my chasing and crashing often accomplishes little more than stress.  But when I settle back into trusting that God will accomplish everything I need I find his power again.

No matter what crunch you’re facing right now, just take the time to give it back to God.   Settle down into the rest he wants to give you.

Then you’ll discover a peace in your heart and mind that will help you think clearly.  You’ll find renewed strength in your body.  And you’ll see God’s power enter into your pressure cooker life and release the steam.

Personally, I think I’ll go sailing.  I’m going to let God have his shift for a while.

*Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)

Filed Under: Happiness, Health, Success Tagged With: ,

How Do You Find Peace When Blindsided by Death?

February 15, 2017 by

We were stunned last night to learn that a friend’s daughter suddenly died.  She was friends with my kids growing up, in the height of life and now’s gone.

Death slams us when a loved one is taken from us or we face it ourselves doesn’t it?  Anyone who tells you otherwise isn’t truthful.

In those times I find helpful rereading God’s promises.

David prayed, “You will not abandon me to the grave nor will you let your Holy One see decay.”

Over and over God promises that nothing in this life or even death can separate you from his love.

In that assurance you can rest that in Heaven all things will be made perfect once again.

I don’t understand it all and often when staring down death my faith grows shaky.

Yet then I remember all the miraculous ways God has cared for me.  And I think, “Would he desert me when I need him most?”

Then peace filters in again and it’s enough for now.

*Psalm 16: 10 (NIV)

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What to Do When Love Explodes and You Can’t Restore It (Part 2)

December 20, 2016 by

beach-couple

 

Last post we talked about how, when a friendship or marriage explodes, at some point you need to move on in peace.

But what about when you’re continually forced to interact with that other person and the hurting cycle won’t stop?

An acquaintance recently mentioned his struggle with this.  He’s divorced and shares custody of his children with his ex-wife.  So they constantly interact and often negatively.

 

From the little I know, he tried to keep their relationship together but she wanted to move on and did after child three.  Seems like a strange time to figure out you can’t live with your husband but I’m not here to judge.

When they interact now, they often have conflict.  One is late to pick up or return the kids.  One has to change the day because of an emergency.  One wants money for something for the kids the other doesn’t see the need for.

The list goes on and on and they’re both stuck in this relationship of hurt.  The scabs are continually ripped off the old injuries and new wounds are opened up.

 

It leaves both feeling continually hurt and angry.

 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Love Tagged With:

Staying Calm When Your World Explodes

July 19, 2016 by

I almost missed the end of the world.

I was at home in our sun room on Friday morning writing.  As I watched the humming birds and bees flit about the flowers I had no idea the world was exploding.

 

Fireworks exploding

 

When I’d turned off my computer the evening before the polls showed the Brits would vote to stay in the EU.  Yet the pollsters got it completely wrong.  Wow, go figure.

I glanced at the financial news about noon and the stock market was tanking.  The Prime Minister was resigning and the world was collapsing.

 

Here I was blissfully enjoying a summer morning writing with no idea the world was ending.

 

It reminded me of the 2009 financial collapse.

During that some clients were in full out panic.  The phone calls never ended.  I sounded like a yogi repeating my mantra, “Don’t panic.  Ride it out.”

Honestly, the most freaked out were the fundamentalist Christians. Their pastors preached this was the beginning of the Great Tribulation and they weren’t taking no for an answer.

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Filed Under: Happiness Tagged With: ,

How to Find Peace Again in the Midst of a Chaotic Life

July 5, 2016 by

Do you ever feel like you’re caught up in some kind of cosmic battle?  I mean, we’re all bombarded every day with the negative aren’t we?

 

Hiking Alps

 

The news media breathlessly reports 24 hours a day on the latest crisis that could end the world.

The stock market tanks because of some economic report out of China.  The federal government spins out of control with the antics of politicians.  The World Health Organization identifies the next pandemic illness that will sweep the planet.

Add on top of that the real challenges we all face in everyday life and we can feel overwhelmed.

Yet, we need to stay engaged don’t we.  I mean, we need to be up on the latest news so we can prepare.  We need to marshal our forces, plan for the worst, be ready for the coming onslaught.

Yet, it all can leave us feeling exhausted, agitated and yes, sometimes just a wee bit cranky.

 

What happened to relaxing?  Where did the peace go?  How can I just turn off the noise?

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Rediscovering a Relationship of Freedom, Peace and Power with God

May 31, 2016 by

I went through hell and back spiritually.

I started out so well.  I experienced an amazing transformation that resulted in an incredible peace, joy and love.

 

Quiet Joy

 

Yet, I got tangled up in the legalism of religion.

I felt crushed with a never ending load of more rules to please God and experience his blessings.

 

Some days I felt like I was literally going crazy.  I prayed for the chaos in my mind to stop.

 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Happiness Tagged With: , ,

How to Overcome the Tyranny of Religion

September 8, 2015 by

I see a disturbing trend in churches. One I’ve gotten caught up in at times also.

In an effort to make Christianity relevant pastors often take the Bible and turned it into kind of recipe book for successful living.

 

Photo Credit: Mike_tn

Photo Credit: Mike_tn

 

Nine steps to a better marriage. Five steps to further your career. Twelve steps to overcome any problem.

Yet, let’s think about this. On a given Sunday around the world there has to be say a million more steps given. Wow, I didn’t even get the six from last Sunday going yet.

I watched it reach its logical conclusion in a conference that was popular in the 1970’s. At huge arenas all over the country during a long weekend people meticulously plowed through a huge red binder. It was filled with formulas, all indexed, to successfully navigate any challenge and receive God’s blessing in the midst.

 

The only problem was it left me and a whole lot of others not feeling encouraged but in despair.

 

We now we had the secret recipe book but how could I possibly remember let alone follow all of these steps every moment of every day?  And the underlying threat was to the degree you fall short God won’t bless your life as fully.

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Filed Under: Happiness, Heaven Tagged With: ,

What About a Cure for Bone Tired Exhaustion?

August 4, 2015 by

I’m tired. I mean some Mondays I need to get to Tuesday just to recover from the weekend.

Occasionally I just want to be one of our cats.

Our daughter took one of her cats to the vet to see if he was sick and the vet asked, “Is he lethargic?”

Our daughter answered, “So how can you tell?”

 

Photo Credit: Ryan

Photo Credit: Ryan

 

Now that’s a goal.

We’ve been trying to have dinner with two close friends for a couple of months. Between our crazy schedule and theirs it hasn’t worked. Even when we got things planned she had to cancel first to help their daughter move and then to help an elderly aunt.

She emailed us the last time, “I feel like a peanut butter sandwich, just squished.”

I think we can all relate.

Then add to that the incessant running some do because they just don’t want to stop and think about life particularly their own.

Then what about all the things we have to worry about? I mean it never seems to end does it? Our job, family, health, finances. And just when we get one challenge worked out it seems two more pop up.

 

No wonder we feel exhausted.

 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Happiness, Heaven Tagged With: ,

Finding Peace When You Feel Rejected by a Loved One

May 26, 2015 by

One of the hardest issues when we enter into a relationship with God is the rejection we’ll be surprised by. Especially sometimes from people we feel closest to.

 

Photo Credit: Edd Sowden

Photo Credit: Edd Sowden

 

I’ve seen it and experienced it several times. Of course it might be my personality that’s less than stellar on occasion also.

Yet, often it comes from ones we think will rejoice in the change that’s taken place.

But think about a wife who suddenly changes and her husband feels excluded.

Or a son and his parents feel somehow like they weren’t good enough.

Or a friend who now doesn’t enjoy some of the previous partying so she feels excluded.

What’s frustrating is when we’re trapped in that position we can’t go back because, well, we’ve changed. And we feel hurt going forward.

Now I’ll be the first to say some Christians can be really obnoxious. I’ve met more than a couple. And I don’t like hanging out with them either.

 

But I’m talking here about those who’ve been positively transformed yet find themselves feeling rejected.

 

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Filed Under: Happiness, Love Tagged With: , ,

Finding Confidence to Weather a Storm

February 19, 2015 by

Number 32 in the series “God Rocks: 101 Amazing Everyday Gifts!” Stories and promises of the awesome blessings God gives us each day. I hope it encourages you today!

 

I come from a long line of worriers. My family could take worrying to a new level.

I remember one weekend when our daughter was driving back to college. My mom called her and said, “Let me know when you’re leaving so I’ll know when to start worrying.” And she was serious.

 

Photo Credit: Ken Douglas

Photo Credit: Ken Douglas

 

So I grew up worrying constantly. And I’ve spent a life time learning how not to.

Yet, I’m not alone. A whole lot of people struggle with worry.

In my profession I see people filled with fear at times. Terrified to stay invested yet afraid to miss out.

I’ve watched friends stay in a job they hated because they were afraid to try something else.

Many of us have worried about a suspicious report from the doctor.

 

Yet, fear leaves us paralyzed which causes us to respond irrationally often. And frankly it’s just a horrible way to live.

 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Happiness, Success Tagged With: ,
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