Throughout my life I have struggled with doubt, fear, discouragement and loneliness. I spent years hiding everything inside because I was taught if you’re struggling “don’t you dare show it, keep it secret.
It was after years of depression, anxiety attacks, and seeing therapists, that I realized if I didn’t get the “secrets” out I was going to self-destruct. It was only then that I began to heal.
After I was saved by Jesus. I realized I was not in control of my life -God was. Yes, I had the choice but I didn’t have that final say -God does.
That is when I chose God as my foundation not anything in the world. From what I learned through was, the world was full of pain. God is full of love and hope.
I discovered that when a person is able to face terrifying obstacles with the assurance that God is truly in control, a awesome sense of power, strength, assurance, and confidence behind to well up inside of the heart.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were able to face the fiery furnace and risk their lives because they knew God was in control and they weren’t going to worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
King David learned this lesson through his life of ups and downs, successes, and fierce challenges. God called David a man after His own heart. In Psalm 103, David praises God for His dominion, crying out, “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.” David recognized his humble submission to the One who sits on the heavenly throne, the Lord of all creation.
David’s awareness of God’s character, and His complete sovereignty. This word sovereignty denotes God’s supreme and absolute rule, control, and authority over this entire universe and every single human being. He is all-powerful, all knowing, and all present.
There are so many people in this world who either deny God’s existence or try and say He’s responsible for all the bad things that happen. When subsequently, it’s our bad choices that make bad things happen.
Why do they do this? Why do they seem to stumble over it and overlook God’s sovereignty? Maybe its because they don’t understand the Word of God, or try to mold Him into what they think He should be. Replacing His righteousness with their own. As a result, if anything happens they may claim that God has nothing to do with it.
If we replace God’s sovereignty with sheer luck, we are simply saying that there is no plan or order in the universe, as we are just victims of circumstance. God is not in the luck business, He’s in the blessings business. Luck runs out, but the blessings of the Lord endure forever.
What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.
Nothing in life is a guaranteed. It’s impossible to predict that nothing will go wrong ever. Everything we do in life has potential to fail. Even if you’ve done it one thousand times or once,
I would love to go skydiving or race in the Indy 500, but there is a chance something could go wrong. While we shouldn’t live in fear, we should never get big heads and think that nothing could go wrong. In everything we do, there are risks we need to outweigh the risks and benefits of doing anything in out life
Even professionals have failed. Steve Irwin a famous Australian zookeeper and conservationist, known as the crocodile hunter died filming a nature documentary in 2006 and was attacked by a stingray and stabbed in the chest multiple times and as a result, died before reaching the shore.
There are only two things that are guaranteed, “death and paying taxes.
What was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?
The hardest personal goal I have set for myself was retraining my brain to think positively.
During my entire childhood, my brain was fed negativity. My mother made sure of it. Things like “you are not good enough, you can’t do anything right, no one will ever love you, you’re so stupid.” She had trained my brain to never think positively about anything I ever did, as I thought what she told me was true.
I lived with thoughts like this for nearly 40 years. Which led to drug abuse in my younger years to try and escape from the pain, doom, and gloom I constantly felt. It was the only time it was felt happy.
I was married, had children, and held down a full-time job, and still felt worthless. But I knew I would Never! Treat my children the way my mother treated me.
It wasn’t until my children were raised and moved out, that I began working on myself.
The way you communicate with yourself has a major impact on how you feel about yourself. Positive self-talk has the power to propel you to great heights.
Negative self-talk can bring you down to the depths, where you feel like giving up. I found myself regularly engaging in negative self-talk because it was ingrained in my head. I beat myself up about everything I did positive or negative. When you constantly tell yourself you won’t succeed or do anything right it leads to wanting to make yourself unalive.
But it turns out it is possible to teach an old brain new tricks.
It can be really difficult to think of things you are grateful for when everything in your life seems to be going wrong.
Many studies show that finding a bit of thankfulness each day can actually increase happiness and decrease depression. By developing an attitude of gratitude, we can feel more fulfilled and joyful each day.
An attitude of gratitude is a regular habit to express appreciation for all different parts of life, no matter how small.
“Once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things you lack” -Germany Kent
Count your blessings. Don’t just think about your blessings in your head. Write them down. Then you can go back to them when you are discouraged.
Three things. Think of three things you are grateful for each day. What are the constants in your life”
Shelter
A bed
Food
Be grateful for yourself. Take time to recognize all the unique things that make you, you. Think of the things you have accomplished (big and small), your God-given talents, and the people you have helped. Once you can appreciate yourself, your ability to see things more positively will grow.
When we train ouryto look at life through the lens of gratitude rather than disappointment, we find ourselves happier and more at peace. When we focus won gratitude the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in.
Psalm 91 speaks about being surrounded by the goodness and power of God. It is packed with reminders of how God works on behalf of those who love Him and dwell in His presence. Psalm 91 is written to people to dwell in the secret place of the Most High. People who find strength and life from the Lord as they cultivate an intimate relationship with Him. It means they confess their sins, repent, and lean on God in their lives.
Psalm 91 contains a series of promises about how God will sustain followers of Jesus, who are dwellers, no matter what comes at them.
He will protect you from every trap and disease.
He will cover you and give you refuge.
You will not fear the terror of night, arrows by day, and the deadly disease or pestilence.
He commands His angels to guard over you, to protect you.
He will answer when you call.
He will be with you in troub
He will home you.
He will reward you with long life.
He will show you His salvation.
Psalm 91 brings us a sense of God’s control in this messy life. When things are good and not so good, God is in control. He is with us when trouble comes knocking on our door. We can lie down and sleep in peace because He is always beside us.
When we make God our dwelling place, we possess peace. We have guidance, protection, deliverance, spiritual blessings and eternal security.
God doesn’t say we won’t have difficulties and challenges. But He does say He will be with us in those times, rescuing us and protecting us. He will always work on our behalf of those who know Him and love Him.
That is His promise to us. And He is faithful to keep all His promises. King David knew God’s kingdom is everlasting. His dominion endures throughout all generations, and He is faithful I’m all His Words, and loving in all His deeds (Psalm 145:13).
“The Lord upholds all who fall and raised up all those who are bowed down” Psalm 145:14.
The truth is I have never been into artists unless they are music artists, which I like the old ones who didn’t scream their music at you, or have the music so loud you can’t hear a word. And write songs physically with Artificial Intelligence.
My favorites are Alan Jackson, George Strait, and the legend Chris Ledoux. As well as Credence clearwater revival. And Bog Seger, Tanya Tucker, Loretta Lynn.
“It will happen in that day, that his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing oil” – Isaiah 10:27
We have all at one time or another felt weighed down by something, as if a burden is around our neck, or our shoulders pressing down on us.
The yoke may fear or worry. It may be something you have been dealing with for so long that you think it will never go away. Isaiah 10:27 gives us hope.
Our yoke is broken because of God’s amounting on us. That means we all have what we need to break free of everything in our lives that is keeping us bound.
Jesus said in John 8:31-32, that is we continue in The Word we will know the truth and it will set us free.
We were created and saved to stand up and break every yoke that is preventing the Spirit of God from being fully manifested in our lives. But we must not stop a quarter of the way up the mountain, we must continue to the top.
“Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due seasons, we shall real if we don’t lose heart” -Galatians 6:9
God wants to break every yoke off our lives by His anointing. The Bible tells us Jesus has come to set us free, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (Galatians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17).
Freedom and liberty are our portion. Don’t settle for anything less. Keep pressing in and pressing on. It happens little by little, but we are changed day by day. We just need to keep our eyes on Jesus.
How does someone who is blind to the glory of God, come to see Him for He truly is?
The natural eyes, ears, and brains are part of the process. Without them, we can or see or hear the natural things that reveal God’s glory -creation, gospel, scripture, and Jesus as human and fully God. But natural seeing is not decisive in seeing the glory of God.
In Matthew 13:13 it says,
“Therefore I speak to them in parables because seeing they don’t see, and hearing they don’t hear, neither do they understand.”
Something more than the use of the natural eyes, ears, and brain must happen. The way Paul puts it in Ephesians 1:18 is we that we must have “the eyes of our hearts enlightened, that you will know.”
This may sound strange -the heart has eyes. But not beyond comprehension.
Sometimes it can be difficult to know how to respond when we look around and disasters are happening and evil looks like it’s winning. Sometimes it’s difficult not to allow temporary troubles to affect our peace.
In 2 Corinthians 4:18, Paul describes what our response should be to these difficulties: to look through the trouble to what lasts forever.
So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, because that would be impossible. What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen lasts forever.
Paul is not saying we should fix our physical eyes on what can’t be seen because that would be impossible. Instead, he is saying we should focus our internal spiritual eyes on the eternal.
The eyes in our heads help us to see what’s going on ng on around us and the eyes of our hearts see through what’s going on around us to see the eternal end game.
When you look at the world around you the war, the hatred, the killing, the self-promotion, pride, deception, and horror, do you see only with your physical eyes or do you see with the eyes of your heart? Do you only see despair and hopelessness? Or are you looking toward eternity and the One who is invisible but faithful, loving, sovereign, and entirely good?
The biggest struggles we face now are temporary, but the purity and goodness of eternity will last forever. This too will pass.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity into man’s hearts yet so that he cannot find what God has done from the beginning to the end” – Ecclesiastes 3:11
My favorite pastime is spending time in nature. It’s the feeling of peace that it provides.
When I feel stressed or have anxiety I know I can head to the hills and feel at ease.
The studies show us that spending time improves mood, as well as improves cognition and memory.
Being in nature reduces anger, fear, and stress and promotes pleasant feelings. It not only makes us feel better emotionally it also contributes to physical well-being. Reducing blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.
So, if your feeling stressed or anxious use nature as a healthy coping mechanism.
What would you do if you lost all your possessions?
If I lost all my possessions I would be devastated. The loss of my family pictures that could never be replaced would be beyond horrible. The loss of my physical Bible would be difficult because it is so much a part of my life.
But in the end I would know I had God to give me strength through it.
I honestly think it’s horrible the American government only offered $750.00 to each Helene survivor. What I disgraceful to these people.
In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, finding peace can seem like an elusive pursuit.
But what if I told you that there is a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that is available to you, regardless of your circumstances?
I can give you the concept of the peace of God from a biblical perspective, along with insight and understanding on how to cultivate tranquility in your life through faith and righteousness.
When we think of peace, it’s easy to associate it with the absence of conflict or turmoil. But biblical peace goes beyond mere external tranquility. It’s a deep sense of calm and contentment that can only be found in a relationship with God.
There are understandings that can guide you on your journey to find true peace that can revolutionize your life.
Trusting in God for Peace
Trusting in God is essential for finding true peace. Isaiah 26:3 tells us when we keep our minds focused on God and trust in Him, He will keep us in perfect peace. This verse captured the profound connection between trust and tranquility.
When we trust in God, we surrender our worries and fears to Him, knowing that He is in control.
I often think back to covid how many people were in fear and lost their peace. It showed how people didn’t have the peace of God.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight” – Proverbs 3:5-6
This act of surrender allows us to experience a deep sense of peace that surpasses human understanding. It’s a peace that brings comfort, reassurance, and hope.
Trusting In God involves relying on His promises, His faithfulness, and His love. It means acknowledging that He knows what’s best for you and that His plans are good and purposeful.
Even in the midst of difficult circumstances, when you choose to trust in God, He empowers you to walk in resilience and serenity.
However, choosing to trust in God requires a change in you’re perspective. It means shifting your focus from your problems and uncertainties to the One who holds all things together.
As you anchor your trust in God you invite His peace to rule in your heart and mind, guiding your thoughts, decisions, and actions.
Trusting in God brings:
Peace in the midst of uncertainty
Strength in times of adversity
Hope in the face of challanges
Rest for the weary soul
Assurance of His faithfulness
Trusting in God isn’t always easy especially when our circumstances seem overwhelming. we can strengthen our trust in Him through prayer, reading His Word, and relying on the Holy Spirit, then we can experience the depths of His peace that surpass understanding.
Let your trust in Him be the foundation on which you build a life filled with tranquility and hope.
The Giver of Lasting Peace
When it comes to peace, Jesus is the ultimate source. Unlike the temporary peace, the world offers. Jesus offers lasting and transformative peace that can calm troubled hearts and dispel fear. In John 14:27 Jesus assures us of His gift of peace.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
To experience the true peace that Jesus offers, we must first acknowledge Him as the source and surrender our worries and anxiety to Him. By placing our trust in Him, we can find solace and rest for our weary souls.
I have a family member who worries constantly. So much so that they get physically ill. Sadly they do notunderstand that Jesus’s gift of peace goes beyond momentary relief. It’s good to pray for peace, but it’s not good to pick up the worry after you’ve just asked God for peace.
Jesus’s gift originated from a relationship with Him. This peace enables us to navigate uncertain times with confidence and to face adversity with courage.
Embracing Jesus’s Gift of Peace
How do we embrace Jesus’s gift of peace?
Here are a few key steps:
Trust in Jesus
Place your trust in Hin and believe that His peace is available to you.
2. Surrender your worries
Release your worries and anxiety to Jesus, knowing that He cares for you.
3.Pray for peace
Engage in prayer, seeking God’s peace and asking nh Him to fill your heart with His calming presence. And don’t pick up your worries again.
4. Meditate on Scripture
Spend time reading scripture (out loud if possible) reflecting on God’s Word, and allowing His promises of peace to permeate your mind and soul. We can pray right off the pages of the Bible.
5. Practice gratitude
Cultivate an attitude of gratitude, focusing on the blessings in life rather than dwelling on negativity.
By consistently seeking Jesus’s peace and incorporating these practices into your daily life, you can experience the fullness of His gift of lasting peace.
Peace is not something that we accidentally stumble upon, it requires intentional pursuit. It’s easy to listen to the world, but that is not where peace is found.
When we choose to depart from chaos in the world, we distance ourselves from the actions and behaviors that disrupt peace. By embracing goodness, we foster an environment of harmony and tranquility.
Peace requires ongoing. Seeking peace through action involves fostering healthy relationships, resolving conflicts with love and forgiveness and promoting justice and equality. If requires us to be peacemakers, and to actively contribute to the well being of others and society at as whole.
When we pursue peace, we do not only benefit ourselves, but we also become agents of positive change in the world. Our actions have the power to inspire others to seek peace and create a ripple effect.
I am a firm believer in leading by example. By embodying the principles of peace in our own lives, we become beacons of hope and inspiration for others.
Our actions and words have the power to heal wounds, bridge divides, and cultivate peace.
Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.
What’s a topic or issue about which you’ve changed your mind?
I used to think everyone had human decency and valued life. Sadly this is not true anymore.
Being polite, not judging, and accepting the uniqueness of each other, as well as respecting others, as well as leaving people alone to live as they so choose is a thing of the past.
The value of a life means nothing anymore. We have become so desensitized to death it is disgusting.
Last week there was a horrible accident in my town. I driver was in a hurry and cut off a semi trust going 65 mph the semi driver tried to swerve to not hit them. The vehicle behind the semi had 5 people in it killing them all and then hit a kid on a four wheeler.
I get it people make mistakes, accidents happen. After the wreck the road was closed for clean up. But there were people that were “put out” while they were cleaning up the site. And we’re saying some pretty nasty things because the road was closed down.
From Pity to Praise 