A Time For Family (Thanksgiving 2019)

In writing this post, I spent what seemed like forever coming up with a new concept for a Thanksgiving themed post. 2019 has truly been an interesting year full of change; this will be the first holiday that I don't get a "Happy Thanksgiving" phone call from my grandmother, nor will I have the opportunity to see her in person. I still find myself thinking of her often, though the sadness phase of grief has lessened. I pretend that she is still at my aunt's house as a way of coping. My mind likes to imagine that I just haven't gone to visit with her for a long time.

Loss is difficult and I thought of many others who are facing such a thing during the holidays. I don't know if you ever truly get over it. I think you just adapt; however, life is never quite the same as before. I know a lot of people are hurting; I don't have much to say other than to hold on to your hope. Make it a priority for this Thanksgiving to be a time for family. 

Trials and tribulations come and go. Life is not as hopeless as one may think. A new normal is doable. Keep going. Watch and see your story be the door that leads to someone else's victory. Be a help to someone. Make it a priority to cherish the friends you love by designating a few hours as a time for family. 

Open up your world to anyone who may be struggling this season. Lend them an ear (perhaps a cup of coffee). Listen to their story. A struggling loved one who needs your help. Don't turn them away. Give them a chance. Let them know you'll always make time for them. Let your hearts be opened to a time for family. 

The Seed of Confidence

"I wish I could be like her. I'll never be as pretty as that girl. I'll never find the right person. I wish I had the kind of life that lady has. Why can't I ever have what someone else does? I'll never be good enough. I just want to be happy."

It's hard to imagine how many women face the giant of these intrusive thoughts on a daily basis.

The inability to be confident is a growing epidemic. 

The mind and the thoughts put into it are at the heart of someone who becomes uncomfortable with themselves. The seeds planted are small, yet reap so much destruction--someone in a half joking way makes a comment on your weight or body shape, comparisons between you and another person seep into conversations; critical words become an every day part of life and those seeds go on to grow a heart of discontent.

A lot of women develop unhealthy coping patterns; body image and confidence are two of the most affected areas of our lives as a result. Most fight unspoken battles; their  wounds are locked away completely.

What if I were to tell you that life doesn't have to be this way?

It can get better.

Placing our complete faith in the Lord and trusting Him to fight our battle lies at the heart of where true healing begins. I want to spend some time today with you to be an encouragement to the soul, to show the way that God truly sees us, how He desires us to see ourselves, and to hopefully plant the seed of confidence.  

The battle of body image leaves us constantly searching for what we perceive to be perfection. The supermodels in magazines and the crazy celebrity diets inspire us to focus on our flaws. We come to forget that the Lord sees us as fearfully and wonderfully made; beautiful as we are. The world and its lure of smoke and mirrors distorts our view and turns our focus from the Word of God and what He says about us.

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." (Psalm 139: 14) 

The devil desires our confidence to be lost; the smoke and mirrors depicted encourage us to examine the world and trust in the approval of those around us as a source of a healthy well being. You may not be as popular as some. You may not have the same circle of friends as another person. You may not have the same opportunities as someone else. And that's okay. The Lord wants us to see Him as a source of refuge and support. 

"I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou are my refuge and my portion in the land of the living." ( Psalm 142: 5) 

The heart of the fight starts small--and all it takes to have victory is the smallest faith of a mustard seed.  I encourage you to choose a prayer space, write down how you feel and what you think of yourself; pour your heart out to the Lord every chance you get. Once you begin to uproot those devious seeds, the seed of confidence will grow, and the victory will follow. 

" And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove: and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Matthew 17:20) 

Overcoming the Presence of Distraction

Distraction has become an all too common presence in our society; its venom exists as a powerful and dominating force. The convenience of social media, the glistening lure of the smart phone, and unlimited access to knowledge and any sort of music that our hearts may desire at the surface serve a positive purpose; technology is handy when a situation arises and help is needed quickly.

The sheer availability of technology itself is not in question. I am referring to how many people in society might admit that they are unhealthily attached to their electronics. As a young woman and writer, I was wondering what to touch on next and my writing just hadn't seemed as inspired as it once was. I'll admit it. Boldly. I love my phone. I had countless games downloaded onto it and aimlessly scrolled through my social media for the majority of my days. I hadn't been writing as much, lost my focus on Christ, and neglected to spend time in my office that doubles as my prayer room. I became too enthralled with that little piece of the outside world.

That thought posed a few exploratory questions and introduced me to the subject of the words I write this week: Has anyone else ever stopped to take inventory of their days spent and to consider the amount of time that is dedicated to those gadgets? Have you considered how much of your life is taken up by the presence of any kind of distraction? How much precious time do we spend glancing at the world in place of spending time with the Lord?

Becoming distracted in our walk with Christ often begins small and grows at an alarming rate; when something in the outside world overrides your relationship with Christ, it is time for that something to go.

The great news is that distraction can be dealt with effectively and a person can start over anew in Christ; any time we fall short and mess up, God is there to catch us. Don't let life discourage you. Don't ever think that you've messed up too many times for the Lord to use. As someone who has dealt with being easily distracted in the past, I had it laid upon my heart to share a few ways the Lord has been working  on me recently to help me overcome distraction in my walk.

A Change in Mind and Heart:  The human state is truly remarkable; the fullness of eternity is hard to grasp and we so often focus on what's in front of our faces. This world is all that we have ever known and life sometimes has a way of putting things into perspective. The loss of my grandmother has still been difficult to handle one month later; her passing made me view eternal life in a sweeter and much more real way; I always thought of it before, but when you have someone up there who you were close to your whole life, the way you look at things begins to change. My faith, my eyes, and my heart were all sharpened for the Lord after her passing. I don't concern myself with being liked anymore. I don't worry about what friend group I'm in.  My confidence is not in the world. As long as I am living for Christ and doing all I can for Him, then I don't sweat the small stuff.

"Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken." ( Proverbs 3: 25-26 KJV) 

Helpful Tip: Write down all of the parts of you that make you self conscious. Write down your anxieties. Your hopes. Your whole heart. Every thought you have. Have a discussion in prayer with the Lord about everything. Before I was called to write, I suffered terrible depression & felt pretty hopeless as far as purpose goes and writing my thoughts down and praying about them after really helped the Lord and I to grow closer. I don't even write stuff down now, I just get on my knees and talk to Him. Those spur of the moment talks really help my soul and I encourage anyone else to try it.

Prayer: Prayer is essential in overcoming distraction of any sort. We can pray any time of the day and though my point is short and sweet on this note, it is important to keep your eye on Him. You never know, your story might just be someone's answered prayer for a bit of guidance. Christ can use anyone at anytime: even you and your fumbles; there is often much purpose in our path.

Helpful tip: Choose a quiet space anywhere in your house and make it your prayer space. Write down your daily routine, pray about it, and ask God to help you remove any bit of distraction that you may have. If you know that something is a problem area for you, trust your instinct, give it to God, and let it go and then pray some more. Think of your routine. Are any of those actions distracting you from your relationship with Christ? 

Prayer and the change in perspective that the Lord laid upon my heart led me to a fully surrendering heart. A heart of surrender allows Him to breathe life into the soul. Let go of emotion and place your trust in Christ alone. My life has been a journey and I don't ever claim to be perfect, but I hope my words are helpful to a soul who's searching for guidance or someone who is needing to find an end to their distraction and needs to get back on track with God. Let Him help you today.

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14 KJV)