Painful Surgery

 

What seems to be a long arduous process is due to the fact the our hearts are the core of our being.... it takes a skilled Surgeon to meticulously remove, replace, create what we were always meant to be. 

This is a long process... I would say a lifelong process that can be painful at times... but as we get glimpses of what we are becoming..... wow.... so worth it. Selah

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The Haunted Houses of Life

 What do you fear?

Fear has a purpose. It reveals an area in our lives of false belief because God has told us so many times to "fear not". 

Fear in life is like the haunted house or the roller coaster ride.  One thing that enables me to "enjoy" these activities is because I understand that even though they can scare me... they can not harm me.  They have limitations. 

There are things in this life that scare us.  Each person has their "boogey man". So many times, the enemy likes to take those things that brings fear into our lives and diminish the freedom we were meant to experience. 

But God has told us so many times through scripture to "fear not."  In fact.. it is the most repeated command throughout the whole Bible.  

Here are just a few times that God deals with fear in the Bible: 

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

These are just a couple. 

As you read this post.. I know that it will ring true with you.  But... just letting it ring true will not be enough to change how you deal with this fear.  It might encourage you for today.. But tomorrow.. those fears will come back to torment.  We have to take God's word and revelation and constantly repeat this lesson to ourselves so we don't forget it.  Jews even to this day wear scripture on their bodies to remind themselves of God's word.  We are told throughout scripture to meditate on God's word.  For me to learn this lesson of dealing with my fears.. I have to write it down.  I have to set alarms on my phone alarm frequently to remind myself.  I have to be diligent in order to truly learn this lesson.  

One of my biggest fears is a fear of depression.  Depression consumed a large chuck of my life.  Today, I walk in a lot of victory over that dreaded disease. Praise God!  But.. there are times that I wake up and I there is a sense of heaviness and depression that I face.  To be honest it used to scare me.  I had this fear that I was going to slip back into this abyss.  Now.... I am learning to realize that it is just like that huanted house or that roller coaster ride.  It was meant to scare me.... but it can not!   

I will constantly remind myself ot this fact until... I just naturally walk in the freedom that God desires for me. 

Boo!

Be blessed!

There's A Chink In My Armor

Are you aware of some weakness in your life?  Does there seem to be some area that always catches you off guard? That is like the "chink in one's armor". 
    Don't just ignore that weakness. Don't just accept that it's just "who you are"! Repair those areas.  Fix them before you are delivered a deadly blow. 
     In fact, be thankful for those weak areas... the fact that they are exposed gives you the opportunity to fix them so you are not vulnerable in future attacks.

     Several years ago there were some "chinks in my armor" that enabled the   enemy to take me down.  The wounds were so severe I wanted to die.  Overtime, the wounds healed. But, my armor still wasn't fixed.  I was determined to not let another life threatening blow be dealt. I started noticing the little stabs here and there. I didn't get mad at the attacker or my weaknesses..  I became thankful... because, as they were exposed,  I could work on those weak areas in my armor.

     Today, I am so much stronger. I am so much healthier. I am so much happier because those "chinks" were exposed and fixed.  You can be too!

Be blessed!

I Want To Always Be Needy

The Storm From Nowhere

1 / 1 / 19
As I become more sensitive the inner moving's deep inside me I am aware of the frequent changes of the inner atmosphere.
I notice these sudden changes
In my inner atmosphere... Where fro nowhere a sense of anxiety will rise up inside of me. . I have heard of people talk of these kind of things.. But i didn't think I had experienced it.. But i can see... That yes.. I do experience it.  And I always have just taken that as a change in my emotional state.. Or that something spiritual had taken place..   Or a fear that a depression was coming on.. Now.. Just like I have counseled people who have had these anxiety attacks... Now.. I can counsel myself to not be so freaked out when these storms rise up all of a sudden inside of me... I need to recognize them quickly.  Not be afraid of any damage that might be brought on.  Any damage, would be the result of damage done by a riot that is stirred up in trhhing to flee an otherwise small skirmish. So many times in the past what was only a small skirmish.. Because of my over reaction.. I have created so much damage.  Perhaps the beginnings of a grudge.  Or a fit of silence towards someone who I took offence at.  Perhaps I treated the unrest in me with things that were more damaging than the storm itself... Eating.. Drink... Laying in bed that might lead to further deeper depression..   Putting off doing important duties.

Well... Now that I am staring to recognize those tiny skirmishes for what they are.. I will choose to not react.  But to allow the storm to pass.  To relax and know who can and will calm the storm. And that I, as a believer in Christ can weather any storm with my hand in His.

If you have ever experienced happiness... you have the ingredients within to experience it again (read on)

1. If you boil it down... happiness is a feeling caused by a chemical reaction in our brains that effect the way we feel. 

2. If you have experienced it at least  one time, that means you have the potential and ability to experience again

3. Most people do not realize that they  can release those chemicals, at will, in their brains in order to experience those feelings of happiness. Most leave it to chance. 

4. There are many practices that you can utilize to release those chemicals. Recalling/ reliving happy moments, meditation, worship, prayer, gratefulness, living in the moment, physical activity are broad ideas of how to release those chemicals in your brain. 

5. It takes intentional practice of these modalities to get better and better and manipulating at will these chemicals in your brain. 

6. You could use the short cut of the abuse of alcohol, food, drugs and numerous other vices to achieve a counterfeit happiness but that road forks rather quickly and you find yourself on a path... even farther from your destination and goal of a happy fulfilled life. 

Please feel free to discuss with comments here or on messenger with me. This is an area i am greatly interested in. 

Thanks for reading

God Will Not Put On Us More Then We Can Handle---FALSE!!!

 We have always heard that God will not put more on you than you can handle.  This is not true! 

First of all... why does God get blamed  for everything?  As people like to say... life happens!

But....

One of God's goals for our lives is for us to have faith in Him. To learn to depend on Him because without faith.... it's impossible to please Him. If He just gives us enough to the point where we can handle it on our own.... that does not develop faith in us. That does not cause us to rely on Him. That just teaches us to rely on ourselves.! When God allows us  to face MORE than we can handle... this makes us desperately turn to Him and surrender it to Him... forcing us to have faith in Him and not ourselves

How many times have you faced situations and circumstances that were way over your head.  Those events made you have to so desperately surrender to Him... knowing that if He did not come through, you would not survive.

The lesson that God is trying to teach us in these very difficult situations is to acknowledge Him in all our ways. Not just the big overwhelming problems that we can't handle, but He wants to be involved in the smallest considerations.  If we learn to eventually acknowledge Him in the small things, it will be that much easier to knowledge and trust Hm in the big things that we face. 

Trust Him!

No motivation? Here's one reason why. The Pharaoh Syndrome

Synopsis of this article:

We decide we need to do something. We find the Motivation do do it. We put into action the new behavior. We like the newness of change and getting things done so we add a few more things to our change list. Now the burden of all these changes get overwhelming. We get frustrated. We get frustrated and decide "what the heck... I can't do this!" and we go right back to our old selves... reinforcing the idea that we will never change. It is just too hard!

But.. if we choose just one thing (make it an easy thing) that we want to change and put it into practice and REFUSE to pile on ANYTHING else... our chances of making that change permanent are a lot greater. Practice this ONE THING until it becomes a life habit. Continue reading below for a further exploration of this topic.

Our flesh.. or the enemy likes to pile things on our back.. We decide we are going to start making one change in our lives.. Perhaps getting up early... or eating a certain way.. or trying to be a little more positive. So.. we start to do that... and then all these other things we should or could be doing start coming into our minds. There are many reasons for that. Perhaps we have gone so long without motivation to make any changes.. and finally some motivation shows up.. we all love that sensation.... the ever elusive "motivation." To me it is like the stirring of the waters in John 5. It doesn't happen that often... and it doesn't last that long. But.. i digress. So.. we get excited when the waters of motivation are stirred.. We all have this long list of things we want to get done if and when Motivation ever shows up. Now getting things done is a good thing... but how many of you have heard that too much of a good thing can be bad for you? Well.. this is the case when it comes to lists. The enemy of the good is the best. If we magically find ourselves endowed with a dose of Motivation.... let's get as much done as possible. Let's get our never ending "To Do List" out and hit it running. How many of us has done that? ...... Wrote the book?...... Bought the T-shirt?........ Dawned the tattoo???? Oh my!

I call this the Pharaoh Syndrome. There are several perpetrators of this syndrome. First there is the self.. Like I eluded to earlier.. we are just so excited that we feeling like doing something so we get out our "To Do List" and start hacking away at this list an quickly get frustrated because we can't get it all

Second... there are the pressures of society. So... we decide that we are going to get up a little earlier every day. We are pretty proud of ourselves. Well, how is that even impressive. The guy on the front of Men's Health Magazine with the chiseled abs gets up two hours before everyone else.... makes his healthy protein, keto, non-gluten, organic soy shake... goes on an hour run and THEN hits the gym before he even heads to the office. How is my little getting out of bed 15 minutes early measuring up to that. So.. i start adding on.. I will get up 15 minutes early.. and I will do ONE pushup and a half a crunch before I get in the shower. Before you know it.. we have added to our list a half a dozen things that we know we really won't follow through with and we will then toss the whole list.

Last but not least is the enemy of our souls. Pharaoh is a type of Satan. His goal is to make us miserable. To cause us to not enjoy this wonderful life that God has made available to us. So... when he sees us starting a new habit that will set us up for enjoying this life a little more he starts scheming. Perhaps it is facing a fear. Perhaps reaching out and becoming more social. Maybe it is time to start eating a little healthier. There are numerous habits that we can add to our lives to allow us to enjoy this wonderful life even more. So we start getting up a little early. Pharaoh knows where this will lead.. to our freedom and enjoyment in this life. He does not want us to go free. So.. he will start piling on more and more things for us to do... until it BREAKS US! When that happens he has us right back where he wants us.. A slave. Not enjoying our lives. Bound up by fears and insecurities.

BUT!!!!..... if we refuse to listen to society. If we let the words of Pharaoh fall on deaf ears we can witness the change that we do desire manifest itself in our lives. Choose one thing. Limit it to one thing. In fact.. the smaller the task the better. Do that one thing. Do it consistently. Do it repeatedly. They say it takes 21 days to make a habit. Set a reminder on your phone to do this one thing for 21 days. Refuse to "pile on" other tasks. Even if Mr. Motivation stays around... refuse to add other task. Solidify this ONE THING. At the end of 21 days after this new behavior is "yours" at that point you can add the next habit you want to incorporate in your life.

Remember the old adage KISS? Keep it Simple Stupid! Or, "Keep It Small and Simple!". To big truth to this saying. Choose that ONE THING today. Keep it small and manageable. Stick with that one thing. Refuse to allow Pharaoh to "pile on". Use technology to keep you on track. Set reminders frequently. Even set reminders to not "pile on". Celebrate your success frequently. If you go a week doing this small thing... treat yourself to a movie.

You can do this!


Addendum (30 minutes later)

Today I woke up at 6:30am. Rested... usually my habit is laying in bed for a while. I might read a little. Think... very little!!!! It might be an hour.. or sometimes two.. but then I get up. I decided that I would get up. That I could read and "think" sitting downstairs in the living room. I do that. I spend some quiet time with God and the thoughts for this article start to roll.... so I begin to write. This one took a little longer to develop than most articles. So.. now here it is 3 hours after I got up out of bed. The thoughts start to churn.... Okay.. I've been out of bed 3 hours and i have not accomplished anything... okay... where did that voice come from... I'm gonna call it "Pharaoh"

Pharaoh: you have been out of bed 3 hours and you have done nothing but sit on that computer .

Me: wrong... I did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen while I waited for my water to boil for my tea. Me: and besides that I just got done writing this article dealing with the stupid things that you say Pharaoh. The one thing I needed to get done today.. I already did it! I got out of bed right away. Yes.. there are others things I did today.. but that is not the point. I am not going to allow you to "pile on" your tasks in order to wear me down and get me to throw in the towel.. and feel guilty for not weeding my yard.... cleaning out my car... taking the dog for a walk... etc.. etc.. etc..

Me: see ya Pharaoh!

This taking every thought captive stuff is serious stuff but very freeing!

Feeling unloved and like no one cares?

I think that some of the sadness we experience sometimes is something that is planted in our emotions at some point in our lives... Perhaps as far back as when we were an infant or in our childhood...  That something that we feel is that we are not important to anyone else on this planet.  I think we all experience this periodically throughout our lives..  The healing of the feeling comes from knowing that even if no one else cares that I am alive.... God cares that I'm alive.  Even if I am not significant to anyone else but God...... that has got to be enough.   

I have been into reinterpreting situations and circumstances lately.  To try to get the bigger picture of this life..  I am learning that as I take those feelings of insignificance and look at the big picture.... That I do matter to the greatest Being ever.... God.....  then I can have a healthy outlook that not only benefits me... but will also benefit others.  

Jesus said to consider the lilies.... In Matthew 6:28... So, let us consider the lilies.  There are some flowers that no one will ever see them.. Their only significance in the span of their lifetime is that God created it.. God is pleased with it.... and then they die.   They are content with that.  At least I think they are... I have never asked one.  

So... the fix for feeling insignificant is to take the attitude of the lilly.  God made us for his pleasure.  Even if no one else cares.... we have to reinterpret our lives and our circumstances to that place that knowing that God cares is enough.  

So... when the sadness comes from feeling insignificant and not loved by others... take that feeling and turn it towards God and develop the habit of meditating on the fact that even though no one else cares.. still.... The Greatest, All Powerful, All Loving Being that ever was.... personally made you and loves you and delights in you.  If you consistently replace and reinterpret your situation and circumstances in this manner.. your life will become so blessed regardless.

We were not meant to carry burdens!

know He also bore our sorrow?  We just have to let it go!

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows....... Isaiah 53 4

So.... what is that that we are carrying?

I think just like our bodies get into habits.. Ie eating..   behaviors.... etc..... Our emotions get into habits... We get used to feeling certain things and we just let them stay...  They become familiar..  We don't realize that we can rethink situations and circumstances.... and let those feelings go.  Because Jesus really did take our sorrows.

If you want to know a practical way to let go of these sorrows..... Send me a message.... (no..... I'm not selling anything!) ❤️

Taking Every Thought Captive (one practical guideline)

This is a rough draft... still working on final)

Practical Guide ToTaking Every Thought Captive

This is just a quick note I made on mindfulness breathing.  There is so much out there on the web but I wanted something simple that I could give to people to explain the process.  As time allows, I will add more explanation to this process.

The practice is to watch your breath.  Breathing in and out.  Nothing special... just your normal pace.  You want to just notice the air. How it smells.  How it feels.  Cold/hot.   Then here is the easy thing to remember....  for one minute (to begin with) make it the only job you have to do... make sure that nothing flies in our out of your nose.  That is all.  It is harder than you think.  Other thoughts will come up as soon as you realize it... take your attention back to your sole job of making sure that nothing goes in or out of your nose. 

Now.. you might not notice a change in yourself at first.. but after practicing this a month you will notice that your stress level has reduced greatly and that you have a more pleasant outlook on life.    After practicing for a minute you might want to increase your time spent doing this exercise... it will help the more you do it.  

Good luck. 

HEALING THE PAINFUL EMOTIONS AND MEMORIES

Another aspect of mindfulness breathing is that it can take the powerful negative emotions connected with memories and render them neutral. Thus, taking away the sting and the bondage that past hurts hold us in.

Negative enotions  connect themselves to  our hurts, betrayals fears, rejection etc.  

As negative emotions arise in our soul if we observe them and do mindfulness breathing it will disconnect those emotions from those memories. This can be a little tricky and practice but can be easily learned. As the memory and the emotions come up do not let the thoughts advance and roll over and over in your mind. Pinpoint that first emotion that you feel and just observe it. Sometimes we can actually feel the emotion and our bodies somewhere. Perhaps in the pit of our stomach. Sometimes in our chest. Just observe those feelings. Do not let the story of the memory progress. Don't assign blame. Don't plot revenge. Just simply observe that first emotion. And breathe. Focus on that initial memory and emotion. And continue to breathe. Don't let that memory progressed into a full movie. Just observe that first scene. More times than not you will feel the emotion behind that memory simply dissipate. Stay with that memory for a few more minutes doing mindfulness breathing and enjoy that memory without the toxic emotions and hurt. I will not say that you are totally healed of that emotion. It might take a few more times of this memory and the hurt arising in your soul and doing my phone this breathing in order for those memories and your emotions to be healed. But I promise that if you learn this practice with your wounded emotions and memories, you will find relief.

PHYSICAL PAIN

You can practice the same mindfulness breathing with physical pain as well. I have used mindfulness breathing with physical pain and have found some good results as well. There are reasons for this. But I do not have time to go into this right now.

How this works

Our minds and our emotions are tools that are designed to protect us. When our minds determine that something has the potential to harm us we learn to avoid it.  We do that by attaching negative emotions to that situation, or, that person, that memory.  As time progresses, we continue to reinforce those emotions towards that threat.

Overtime, it is not the situation, the person, or the memory that we are avoiding... It is the activation of those emotions that are attached to those things. If the emotions were not attached to the situation, we would face it like any other thing in our life. An example of going 2 an event where we would not know anyone can calls us great anxiety because of the emotions that we have attached to the thought of being all alone and not knowing anyone. Those emotions will be stirred up in US and we would be tempted to avoid that situation, drink, and any number of other ways to deal with those negative emotions. Believe it or not there are some people who do not experience negative emotions when it comes to being in this kind of situation. They do not experience the emotional turmoil that some of us do. You can bring up to mind any number of situations that produce an emotional response in you. Perhaps it's boredom. Some people try to avoid the emotion of boredom by eating, binge watching TV, or sleeping. While other people when they experience boredom they might find a productive thing to do or a good book to read.

What mindfulness breathing does, it causes us to look directly at that negative emotion that has attached itself to a situation. If we stay with that negative emotion while doing mindfulness breathing we will take the pain and sting out of that negative emotion as it is attached to that situation. It might not happen the first time. It might take many times of doing this mindfulness breathing focusing on  those negative emotions. Before we see and easing of those emotions.

As we use this practice of mindfulness breathing it will detach the negative emotions from situations, people, and memories. It is amazing when we realize that isn't it is not the situations that we are avoiding, but the emotions that are attached to the situations. And as those negative emotions are removed from those situations, we can truly enjoy or at least be neutral towards those situations.

I have tried so many things over the years to deal with negative emotions including depression. I have tried medications. I have tried natural remedies. I have tried exercise. I have tried EFT. I have tried tapping. And I realize that all these things perhaps at work to some degree but the result that I have wanted from these practices is the relief from these negative emotions. I wanted to avoid these negative emotions being triggered. Some of these practices just pushed down those negative emotions even deeper so I could avoid them. But they would always come back. As I have practiced consistently mindfulness breathing in dealing with these emotions, I can truly see that I am detaching these negative emotions two neutral situations, memories, and people. Thus allowing me to experience those things without the negative emotions attached. Anger, jealousy, loneliness, rejection, depression and any other negative emotions are not needed because they are no longer a threat.

If might not help immediately in the moment. Sometimes it does. But, it is like making a deposit in the bank... you will see the benefits tomorrow, next week, etc from the breathing exercises you do today. 

God Is My Cake

                                                  

People will always fail you at some time or another..... even the best are imperfect..... so don't be surprised when it happens.   Because it WILL happen!!!

Now life is like cake.  God is my cake...  I get to enjoy cake everyday.  No matter what is going on in my life... I always have cake.  Everything else is sprinkles, icing, or whatever else you want on top of your cake. 

There are days when all you will eat is cake.... but that alone is enough.  Then... there will be days when extra things happen.... those are the sprinkles and icing in life.  Maybe it is a phone call from a friend.  Maybe it is something nice that a complete stranger does for you.  Maybe it is a good movie.  Perhaps it is a memory of a fun time you had years ago.  Icing typically does not come every day.  Sometimes you can go weeks without sprinkles or icing.  But.... YOU ALWAYS HAVE CAKE!  

So.. on a day.. when you are feeling lonely, unneeded or unappreciated... go enjoy yourself some cake.  Realize that tomorrow there might be icing.  Or just go ahead and make your own icing.  Make a list of things you really like.  A TV show, a book, a country drive, call a friend, relive a happy moment.  Make it happen, and apply that icing to your own cake.  

But... remember... you ALWAYS HAVE CAKE! 

This is an addendum to "God Is My Cake" 9/5/2019
If you are feeling down because you don't have icing on your cake today.. just look back to the last time when you had icing and relive those moments..  Chances are.. it wasn't that long ago... 
Then... look forward to the next time you are going to have icing... maybe the weekend... if you don't see any in your near future.. then do something to make your own icing!

The Storm Inside

Titled: The Storm Inside

If you know me well... you will know that I am infatuated with cloud formations and even more so... storms.  I have been told many times that I am crazy for the random exclamations of.... "there's a duck!" or "Look at the elephant!"  while we are driving. My wife  will glance out the window looking for a loose elephant from a zoo.... or some baby ducklings walking along the side of the road... but after all these years she gets me... then her gaze turns towards the sky and just shakes her head. 

But my favorite infatuation with the clouds is when they turn dark.  When clouds start to turn ominous and pick up speed... my phone comes out and I go to an app on my phone that shows the areas of highest concentrated lightning strikes.  If it is within 10 miles.. I will get in my car and drive there and park my car and enjoy the show. 

Even though I enjoy a weather storm as described above.... there is a storm that I have been so fearful of throughout my life........ that is the internal storm.  As I have gotten older I realize that everyone experiences these kind of storms from time to time... I have been one to experience them more than I prefer.  

These storms come with no rhyme or reason.  Sure, I can sometimes blame it on different life circumstances.  Perhaps a bill might be due.  Taxes.   Rejection from others.  A health condition.  The current political debacle (argggg).  But I have discovered after many years that these storms come and go regardless of  external events.  As recent as this morning... day five of my summer vacation.... after a wonderful day of reconnecting with friends from 30 years ago.... reminiscing with my wife about this day (August 1st) being the day that we were engaged 26 years ago.  Having a wonderful conversation with our oldest daughter who is extremely happy in North Carolina..... so..... why the internal storm???   Who the heck knows?  I haven't been able to figure it out in my 50 plus years.  Everytime I go through this.. I fear that I might go back into a time period where the darkest clouds came and stayed for years... 

But today... I was able to keep my senses.  Today I was able to compare the internal storm clouds to the wonderful storm clouds of nature that I adore. I have read so many times the advice by many writers that one should  just sit and observe these internal clouds... because they will pass.  So... that is what  I did..   I didn't try to figure them out. I didn't try to push them away.  I didn't even try to ignore them.  I sat there quietly and just observed them.............  and...... an amazing thing happened.  Suddenly they weren't as ominous.    Then..... they were rolling past. What could have become a day of me turning over, pulling covers over my head to hide from the storm... or a frantic search on Google or Reddit for answers or ways to push back these clouds... I just... observed... these... clouds.   

Now.. here I am thirty minutes into almost finishing this blog.  Not only am I not hiding and wasting a complete day, but I am putting something out into the world that I know others will identify with... because I have talked with others who go through this same thing.   In a few minutes I will be getting up to a very productive day.  If the storm clouds roll back over (which they usually do) I will just simply take whatever time needed to observe them.  

I will stand in awe of the beauty of these menacing visions.   I will look for the elephant in that cloud.  Look... there's a triceratops! (Made you look) 

Can any one relate to this phenonemon? Please feel free to share your story as well. Thanks for letting me share mine

More Than A Conqueror???? Naw...... Not Me!

I am almost convinced that we will never "arrive". That we will always be working on something in our lives. We all have our "stuff". So... be gentle with others... and be gentle with yourself.

Romans 8:37 says we are more than conquerors. ....... I guess that is in our makeup. I have always thought it was a choice... to conquer or just roll over, cover my head until it's over. Hmmm.... perhaps that the same test keeps coming back around.

We were created to conquer. We have to. Perhaps that is why all these tests and trials come our way.... not for punishment. Not because we are not loved.... but because we, as humans are born conquerors! How can you conquer unless......... yep.... that's right.... unless we have something to conquer. Ok, give me my t-shirt.... Kevin The Conqueror!!!

So easy to say.. yet... harder to work out in my every day life.

I am going to try to relax and enjoy the ride!

The Battle Rages On

The Battle Rages On

You might not be aware of it.... but there is a battle going on all around you.  I dare to say that the battle even crosses over the boarder of your skin and there are skirmishes right inside your own personal space.  

Now.. I would dare to say that most of us don't deal with the "big" battles of darkness such as stealing, killing, drugs, sex to name a few.  But we are still being assaulted from every angle just the same.  We just might not recognize it as an assault.  

Paul told us what the domain of God was.. in Romans 14:17.  He said it was righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.   Wherever the Kingdom of God is in control.. this is what it looks like.

So... let me ask you this.  What is reigning in your life?  If it is not righteousness (that is right relationship with God), peace and joy. then you my friend are under attack.. and I might say... under seige.

Webster defines seige as: a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling the surrender of those inside.


Hmmmmm. sound or FEEL familiar?

So, it is probably safe to say that you are involved in an outright war.  Still you might say.. but.. it is only a small thing.... nothing like the BIG battles of stealing, killing, etc.. but our enemy is sly..  He knows that...... if he can wear you down from these small little battles.. and separate you from the Father.... and then separate you from your brothers and sisters.. that THEN..... he can then start battling you on the BIGGER fronts.... and ultimately destroy your life.

A worry here..... a doubt there..... not dealt with... will cause a separation in your heart towards God and His church.  Then.. from there...hatred, bitterness, addiction, anxiety.... and the battles are endless.

How do I know?  Well.... I would like to say that I have seen it in so many other people.... BUT!!!!!  I have experienced it first hand.  Many years I suffered assault from the enemy with THE BIG BATTLES.   But, looking back... it started with the small assaults.

Don't ignore the small little assaults and insults from the enemy.  A small doubt...  a little grudge.  don't put up with it!!!!  Get rid of it.

I could write pages on methods of warfare.. but the #1 way to combat this?  A frequent conversation with God.  I know that this is difficult.....   We have to discipline ourselves to do this.  Set your watch, phone, timer.. to go off every hour to remind us to have a conversation with God. After months of practicing that.. then set the timer for every 30 minutes.    

1 Peter 5:8 says Be sober, be vigilant; because[a] your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Let me paraphrase... Hey!!! Wake up!!! Watch out!!! Set your alarm on your phone to remind yourself to do this. because.. your enemy is studying you and trying to figure out anyway he can to destroy you... He does not rest.  

Set that alarm.  Keep a constant conversation going with God.  If you feel fear.  If you feel anxiety.... realize that the enemy is up to his trickery again! 

You Are Not Alone. The Person of the Holy Spirit is Inside You

You are not alone. Don't be alarmed!  Don't look beside you.  Don't look behind you.   Psst.... Look inside you!  If you have received Christ,  the actual Person of the Holy Spirit lives inside  you!  Dwell on that thought........

Acknowledge Him.....

Begin a conversation with Him.....

This is the whole premise for the normal christian life.  I am convinced that the reason we live unfulfilled lives is because we, usually out of ignorance,  fail to acknowlege His presence.

Start today. Start everyday. Converse with Him. It is no different than living with a spouse, roommate, family member or friend. He is there!

When I Feel Forsaken

Wow... never thought this day would arrive!  

A day where I would be thankful for experiencing the darkest time in my life.  It has been 14 years in the making... but... it has come!

I won't go into details.... most of you know some of my story.   If you don't and want to know.... ask.  So dark were these years for me that there were times I wondered and I know my wife wondered if I would make it out alive.  I wanted it to just end so many times.  What I thought was my lowest time got even lower when I looked around and realized that those that I thought had my back...... didn't.    What a shock!   And boy.... when I hit rock bottom...... those rocks were hard..... and they hurt.... and they broke me.    I have been walking around a broken man for many, many years.

Now... I say all that to say this..... I have learned the greatest lesson in my life through all this.  God is for me!

When He said He would never leave me... I have found.... IT'S TRUE!    He is that friend that sticks closer than a brother!  Psalm 27:10 says   EVEN... if my mother and father abandon me.... God will take care of me.  

Sometimes it is not our mother and father that abandon us..... Sometimes it is family and friends!  But God!!!!!  God will take care of me!  BUT GOD!!!! God will take care of you!

I still deal with depression.  I still deal with loneliness.  It would take me days to get to a "good place" again when I went through this.  I would frantically look for answers in any place I could find them.  To only give up hours later and just go to bed from mere exhaustion.  

Now... my FIRST recourse is to go to God.  First thing when I wake up, I go to God.  Not out of duty or religious obligation.  I go because He is my source and my strength.  He is the One who helps me make sense out of all the craziness in this life.    I steal away many times throughout the day to talk to Him for a few minutes.   In fact,... I am typing this little blog right in the middle of one of those times with Him.  (By the way... He says hi.... and wants to remind you that He loves you and that He'll talk to you later)     :-)

I remain a broken man.... maybe never to be fixed.  But I have learned that in my weakness... He is my strength.    I have experienced what Paul says in Philippians 4:13 that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  

The dust has cleared.  The bitterness gone.  The abandonment experienced many years ago has resulted in me finding my true source of strength and the only One who will never leave me.  The only One we all can really count on!   For that.......... I am thankful!

Be blessed!

Your brother,

Kevo

What A Difference A Day Makes

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of the 4 lepers in 2 Kings.

The short version: The wicked king of Aram had surrounded the Israeli city of Samaria.  They had cut off all supplies to the city.  Because of this.. there was great famine, lack and need in Samaria...read how bad it got in the end of chapter 6.

Well, vs 7:1 Elisha says basically that tomorrow things will be totally different.

Now.... enter four lepers.  We know about lepers... they were the outcasts.. The scum of society.  So... not only were they in this city where it was so bleak.. they were the bleakest of the bleak.

So.... these lepers said hey... what have we got to lose.  If we sit here we are just going to die from starvation or war.   Let's go over to the army of the Arameans and see what we can get in to.

They did!  And much to their surprise the encampment was abandoned.  The Lord had caused this great army to hear what they thought wwas the attack of a greater army........ so they fled.... LOL........   I love it.
 The famine was reversed... in less than 24 hours.

Now... the word for us today is that yes... our situation can look bleak.  It can look unsurmountable with no way out.  But God, can come in in a minute and cause the enemy to flee.  The picture is totally changed.  Wam... Bam.. Thank You I AM.....   That is how big our God is.

Today.. take a breath.   Don't give up.  Don't give in.   Things will look totally different tomorrow.  It might take a week.  It might take a year.  But things will change.  You will get through this.   Trust Him.

No I.D. required..... Just faith!

A paradigm. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Therefore.... we will always have situations that come into our life that require us to utilize faith. Looks like we will never come to a place where there is smooth sailing because .... we want to please God and He..... wants to reward us...... and that my friend, is a good thing!

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6

Of all people... I would think I would have it smooth sailing. Why not? I have a good job, a good wife, great kids... I'm good looking (no comments). I live in America. I have good health... ya da, ya da, ya da! But still.. most days are a struggle to not get down and discouraged. I think it is related to my post above. Strange huh? Any thoughts?

• To help us.... God even gives us the faith that we need to please Him... and to get through any situation.
• Ephesians 2:8 Says For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

  So..... if someone doesn't believe does that mean that God did not give them that gift of faith? No... Romans 12:3 says For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
• Everyone!!!!!!!! has been given that measure of faith. As we apply, use, rely on, exercise, this faith... it grows!
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What Makes You Jump?

What makes you jump?

1 Peter 5:8 Amplified Bible
Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

Our corgi has always howled so pitifully every time he hears some sort of siren. So, I wondered what would happen if I downloaded a siren sound on my phone and played it. Sure enough, when I played that sound he howled the most pitiful howl you have ever heard.
This made me think. This is like what the enemy does to us. After years of observing us, he has figured out what makes us jump. Perhaps it's harsh words from a coworker. Maybe it's a thought of not being able to pay a bill. Maybe it's just a feeling.
perhaps our hearts have strings like a guitar and the enemy knows how to pluck the right combination to get us feeling blue. Just like the strumming of a minor chord on the guitar can elicit a sad mood in a person, perhaps the enemy only heard by the ears of our soul but yet it brings on a sour disposition. It can turn a totally happy day into a day of doom and gloom without us even knowing why.

So, when this happens to you the next time take back the strings of your heart and your emotions from the enemy and begin to play your song of praise.

Don't let the enemy dictate to you how you are going to feel and react. YOU choose the song! And YOU choose the dance!