Friday, February 4, 2011

More than a Sparrow



So, I love birds! I love the colors of their feathers, I love their sound, I love watching them fly in packs, it's everything about their daily living. Just look at this picture, doesn't it bring joy to see his little beak and his tiny body.  We can learn so much from watching the bird and all their habits. David, Solomon and the Psalmist are just a few men who bird watched. David was bird watching when he came upon a bird who was ensnared in a trap. David helps the bird and compares this bird in a trap to the traps that also ensnare us humans. He writes "Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped." - Psalm 124:7
The author in Matthew 6:26 notices how birds go about living without worry of a lack of food or shelter everyday. We are much better than a bird in God's eyes and yet we worry, but God will provide. "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor 
gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not 
much better than they?"
Solomon was watching a bird leave it's nest and the bird seems lost. He compares this to us leaving our Heavenly Father (walk away) and find ourselves in trouble and lost. "As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place." - Proverbs 27:8
The Psalmist writes "I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top" -Psalm 102:7. The sparrow is known to be a friendly bird that if it were on a housetop, there would be many birds with him, so we know that the birds loneliness was intended. In an overwhelmed hour the Psalmist poured out his heart before the Almighty. The reason he said he was like a "sparrow that is alone upon the housetop" was because it is the most unusual thing in the world for a sparrow to sit mourning alone, and therefore it attracted attention and made a forceful comparison. It only happens when the bird's mate has been killed or its nest and young destroyed, and this most cheerful of birds sitting solitary and dejected made a deep impression on the Psalmist who, when his hour of trouble came, said he was like the mourning sparrow--alone on the housetop. 

I have always thought birds were cute and nice to hear and see. But, now I see it differently. What can I learn from the bird? It is special to watch a bird. We know how important the sparrow is to God and we also know how much more special we are. We know that God is so very interested in you! The next time you see a sparrow, remember how much God cares about you---more than the sparrow (and yet He provides for them). As the birds of Spring start to arrive, you can find reason to smile and be glad, you can rejoice in His love and goodness.
 Today, make it a point to find a bird and watch it. What are you seeing?

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Emotional Healing- The Words we Speak!


The other day I was in a dressing room at our local JcPenney store. As I was trying on some pants I overheard some ladies in the stall down from me. The women were talking about bathing suits and how there is NOWHERE they could possibly wear one. They started putting themselves down about their weight and lack of tan. One lady even put into words "I am a hog, look at me" I was a bit surprised, but mostly sad that she would see in herself someone that she was not. I understand the feelings of  less than perfectness, but I also understand that we can not claim negative thoughts over our own lives/bodies. We have to see ourselves for the beautiful woman God has created us to be.

In Stormie Omartian's- Lord, I want to be Whole she wrote: "When we constantly speak negatively about ourselves or our circumstances, we cut off the possibility of things being any different than what we've just spoken.The Bible says 'You are snared by the words of your mouth.' - Proverbs 6:2 
Ladies, this is saying that all words which come from you, whether they are silent messages or the words we speak aloud, you are cutting off the possibility of things being any different than what we've just spoken. We can't be healed if we are constantly speaking bondage over ourselves and infecting our own worth. Ask yourself: Who is talking? Is it the voice of God, the flesh or the Devil? When talking about yourself, speak words of hope, health, life, encouragement and purpose."

This does not mean acting like everything is perfect. Please ladies by all means be real to others and true to yourself, we all have difficulties, it's okay to show others that you also struggle. Giving the impression that nothing is wrong in your life when something actually is wrong is living a lie. What I am saying is don't believe the lies about yourselves. Stormie Omartian writes "Rather than saying 'life is the pits.' say, 'I feel sad today, but I know God is in charge of my life and will perfect all that concerns me'. - Psalm 138:8. If you can't speak anything positive, say, 'Lord, show me Your truth about my situation.'

We need to stick together, if you hear your friend say words of negativism about herself or her situation, give her a slight nudge and remind her how beautiful and worthy she is. My heart is compassionate for the woman who are under the attack of negative thoughts. I pray that you will see truth and learn to love everything good about yourself. I pray that you see yourself as the precious woman whom God sees you as.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Emotional Health- Depression

but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be fain
t.
Isaiah 40:31


13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
   and he saved them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
   and broke away their chains.

                                                          Psalm 107:13-14
Most of us have experienced the feeling of depression. The feeling of deep despair, the feeling that you have fallen into a pit so deep that you will never get out on your own and as a matter of fact it almost seems like no one could possibly help you out of this deep dark pit. It feels like darkness has swept over you and the light seems a thousand years away. The colors of the world turn to black and white. No one would understand you. Your problems are a million times worse than anyone could imagine. Yes, I know that feeling! Most of us woman understand and you do not have to feel alone.

Depression firstly is NOT from God. It is from our enemy, Satan. His satisfaction is dependent on our unhappiness. If you believe that God is not walking with you through your depression today, you need to pray and ask God to reveal Himself in a true way to you. Our God is a Father of good,He's always beside us and wants to deliver you from this attack. Deliverance is evicting the Devil and refusing to be crippled by him. Being depressed is a sign that your personality has turned inward and focused on itself. One of the healthiest steps to take is to focus outwardly on God through praise. Spend time with God and ask Him to reveal any unconfessed sin in your life. Ask Him to open your eyes to how He sees you and how He sees other people. Do you have unforgiveness or any negative spirits? Spend time with God. Only through God will you be set free, refreshed and whole.

Depression is not something a drug can help, it CAN take the edge off, but it WILL not get rid of the actual problems. Drugs can bring on side effects, dependency and your doses will gradually become stronger. God can fulfill your need for joy, peace and happiness. This will be a healthy dependent and the side effects are much more positive and less dangerous. We need to stop trying to have an immediate fix and look to God for a forever fix. Let's stop taking on what the "world" says is working. I am telling you from experience, only God can give you what you are looking for. His peace is real not prescribed with side effects.

If you are ready to get well emotionally and get rid of this sadness forever, take it one step at a time. Get to know God, read, read, read about who He really is and how much He loves you. Become the woman He created you to be. Even though you do not realize how great you are, you are so worthy in His eyes. Start seeing yourself in the light instead of the dark. I have been where you are and understand and know you can do it with God's help. God understands far greater and He understands all the lies Satan is feeding you to keep you in the chains of depression. Break free from that prison and stay free in the world of light.

Every morning when you wake up ask God in prayer to fill you afresh with the Holy Spirit this day and to crowd out anything that is not of Himself.

Emotional healing is about making yourself into a a woman who can take on the world and not letting the world take you. Get healthy, get free, get God!
Keep the love,