Faucets and Valves

 3/21/22

I have reached a high level mark today and it was very revealing to me.  I was having a very good morning.  Clarity of mind.  Gratefulness.  It seemed like the valve between my spirit and soul was really open and I was experiencing the benefits of this.

  A random thought came to me.  "I want to get together with Ray (not their real name) for coffee.  I wanted to share my gratefulness with them.. and how well things are going in me. 

That astounded me.  Because usually when I think about together with Ray.. it is because I still have some unresolved anger issues with him. But this time... it was different. 

I thought, "wow.. that is a new high water mark on my gauge."   

Thinking of high water marks.. I started thinking about what made the water deeper in order for that new high-level mark to be acheieved.  It wasn't anything I had done on purpose.  The thought of Ray came out of nowhere. 

 The connection between our soul and spirit has been in my thoughts for quite a while now.  So.. I realized that the deeper waters had to come from the opening between my soul and spirit... ie the valve.  

There are many references in the Bible that talk of this connection between the soul and the spirit.  John 7:38 says, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

Wow!  That resonated so strongly with me.  That yes.. I had been carrying unforgivness towards Ray.. but... I have been disciplining myself to to apply grace and forgiveness towards Ray for awhile in order to change my heart/emotions towards him. (see my blog on forgiveness to take practicle steps to make your heart forgive)

I believe because of the constant steps I have been taking towards forgivness towards Ray.. that a chunk of the corrosion in my soul broke off.. and thus a random thoughts of Ray came which resulted in from the high water mark.  

There are other features of the water flow between our spirit and our soul.   Like how open is the valve.  One would think that God would just keep that valve wide open all the time.  But I am finding that God likes to adjust that valve.  Not as punishment.. but as an ebb and flow.  Sometimes it is gentle.. like a fresh Georgia rain.  Some times it is just a moderate flow to help us get through the mundane lives that we sometimes have to face.  Then it might be turned off... that develops a hunger and thirst in me for more!!!  Thirst and hunger is a good thing.  It drives us to greater things.  Then there are times where the valve seems to be wide open.. and it splashes over on to those around us and refreshes them.   

But...we must do our part.  We must make sure that we are dealing with the corrosion that will impede that flow.  

Selah!

Say No To The Bunny

 You know.. it seems like I am in a good place for the most part.. But all those little rabbit trails that used to so easily get me off track and drag me down.. are still there..  I am just getting better at not going down them.  I have finally realized... they lead to no good.  But I have found some nice trails to follow that strengthen me.  #SayNoToTheBunny

The Blessedness of Loneliness

Reflecting on my healing process feeling with depression and how lonliness fit in that equation.

 1. Gives you ample time to process woundedness

2. Gives you ample time to heal

3. Gives you ample time to grow in strength

4. Gives you ample time to develop mindsets that keep you from being so easily wounded

5. Gives you ample time to truly develop empathy for others and what they struggle with. 

6. Let's not waste this lonely time. Let's use this concentrate downtime to find the answers to the questions that plague us and so many others.

7. Let's use this time to learn how to listen and truly hear other's hearts. 

8. Let's become healers ourselves

Time Travel Is Detrimental To Our Health

 I love time traveling type movies and shows but.... we are incapable of actually doing this.

Another thing we were not made to do is live in the past or fear the future. When we live in the past it causes regret and depression. When we try to live in the future it causes fear, dread and anxiety. We were not made to carry this.

We are to, as Paul says in Philippians 3:13, "Forgetting those things which are behind." That is how we are to live.

As far as the future... Paul does say that we can look forward to the things in the future pertaining to God's Kingdom..... but we are not to worry or dread anything in the future.

We are to live in the daily newness of God's steadfast love and mercies. A new start for each and every one of us if we will forget the past... and trust God with our futures.

Walk freely in this new day!

Keep Going

 Written to a friend that was wanting to give up.

 you've had SO MANY victories.. I can go back through your Facebook posts and see them.  Don't let this setback discourage you. Go back and look at what you have accomplished over the last few years. Take a second and reflect on those vict

Now... don't quit or give up because of this set back.... you've had setbacks before... you eventually start making progress.... and you will this time as well.  We've watched you do it time and time again.  We are not giving up on you. God is not giving up on you....  and ... you might give up temporarily... but... we know you... you WILL eventually decide to get back up and fight...  and we will be there... cheering you on as you continue this race! #team******

Small Victories

 It seems that the older we get... that our victories aren't realized in the big sudden breakthroughs like when we were younger... but in the small incremental choices we make.... only to look back and realize that there is one less chain attached....

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!