Mental Health and God

 

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It is hard to be a Christain AND have a mental illness.

When I was younger (and even now) people would tell me that if my faith were greater or if I prayed more I wouldn't be disabled (or God would take my disability away)/\.

This is, by the way, an AWFUL thing to say to someone!!!

I do think that if I was a better person, a better Christian, a better wife, a better mother, a better friend, a better...a better...a better...

Then I wouldn't have a mental illness!!!

Am I being punished????

The more I spiral into my mental illness I go, the more askew my view of God becomes.

It reigns from guilt to blame to acceptance to hatred to love and back again.

The circle of... insanity.

There are days when it takes every fiber in my body not to do something I can't take back.

I know this thinking is irrational and self-centered and is totally selfish because there are people who are truly irrational and self-centered; those who truly NEED help.

Somehow, in my opinion, we either think we are more deserving than others or we think we are less deserving than others.  

I tend to think I am less deserving than others.

(Some people say that this in itself makes me self-centered.)

Sometimes I wonder if GOD only gives us so many chances in this life, and I've reached my limit.

Wednesday's Word - Selfishness

 

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I'm a very SELFISH person & have been told so by numerous people.

I, of course, try to deny it.  I think; no, I know, that I have used my Cerebral Palsy to get things I wanted.  There are aspects of disabilities that (may) cause people to need things done for them that people without disabilities take for granted.

This post is not necessarily about my physical needs being met, but it's about me being entitled and demanding that people do stuff for me that I could do for myself.  Sometimes, I think people  "owe" me something because I am disabled.

Oftentimes, I composed my selfishness as a  question.  "Will you do such and such for me, please?"

Unfortunately, when it comes to my husband and my kids, It is more of a  demand; not even accompanied by "please" or "thank you".

Philippians 2:3 says "Do nothing of selfish ambition or vain conceit.   Rather in humility, value others above yourself." (NIV)

The 10th  commandment tells us not to covet.  If you think about it, when you want something that is not yours, you're being selfish.

It would be so easy for me to sit here and write that everyone is selfish from birth, due to initial sin.  They are,  but as I stated earlier,   this post is about me being entitled and demanding.

I've been told that I start all my sentences with "I".

Many people think that if you're selfish you'll have this amazing life,  with friends and pleasures galore.  

In my experience, the more selfish I become, the lonelier and more miserable I become.   No one wants to be around someone who only cares about themself.

So, how do I become  "unselfish"?

I can't without GOD,  

I have to die to myself daily; to learn how to put   GOD and others before myself.  

One Word: Holiday

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 The word holiday comes from Old English where the word originally referred to special religious days.  Morden uses of the word vary geographically.  In  North America, it means any dedicated day or period of celebration.

Definition on Goggle

The controversy over saying "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" has been going on for years.

This debate has never made sense to me.

It is a greeting of good wishes; why not say 'thank you' or nothing at all?

I don't think anyone has ever corrected me, but I have heard people talking about how people have been told not to wish them "Merry Christmas" because they don't believe in and/or don't celebrate Christmas.

Bah Humbug!

The word "holiday" is a compound word. "Holy" and "Day".

Holy means:

Especially recognized or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated

and

Dedicated or devoted to the service of God,  church or religion.

So, if "holy" means devoted to the service of GOD, wouldn't the true definition of "holiday" means "a day devoted to GOD"?

So, it seems to mean that saying "Happy Holidays" is in a sense referring the same as, if not more than saying "Merry Christmas".

So, whether you say "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas", I pray that you and yours enjoy each other during this most sacred time of year.

Thankful Thursday:Mary

 

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Every now and then, life blesses you with an unexpected gem.

Mary Long is one of my gems.

She is an 84-year-old, uh...character...Yeah, that's it!

She is a patient here at The Waters. 

She's had a very interesting life, to say the least.

She's been married 10 times.

Mary met her first husband when she was a 13-year-old hitchhiker.

He was in his 40s. and they were together for 30+ years.  He was the father of her 3 kids.

He was a bad diabetic and lost both his legs.  She said she was 70 lbs and toted him 'round like a sack of taters.

She says that he is the only one she ever loved and the only one who ever really loved her.

The rest of them, as she says, only wanted someone to keep them up and go to bed with.

As I said, she is a character.

But no matter how many times she tells me her stories, they are always, consistent!!

On Thankful Thursdays, I've been writing about strong women who have influenced my life, and Mary Long has definitely influenced my life.

Last week, I talked about how Mama always prays that GOD will place people in our lives to help us when she can't.

Mary is one of those people.

Mary has taught me many things, and probably many things she probably shouldn't have.

She is one of the happiest people I've ever met.  She's a natural entertainer.  She makes me feel better when I'm upset.

Who is a gem in your life?

Wednesday's Word:Isolation

 

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Over the past few years, "social isolation" has become part of our everyday vocabulary.

GOD said in Genesis 2:18, "It is not good for man to be alone."

We were created to fellowship with others.

Many of us can feel alone, even when we're in a crowd.

Isolation is deeper than loneliness; it is a feeling of despair and/or abandonment.

Some forms of isolation are forced on us by others, and some we cast upon ourselves.

Why?

I think, at least for me, I don't feel worthy of love; GOD's or men's.

But we are called to live by faith, not by our fickle feelings as Joyce Meyer says.

No matter where I am or what I am doing, GOD  always loves me, and He is always with me.

In Hebrews 3:5, GOD says, "HE will never leave us or forsake us."

We have to trust, even when it's hard.

In Miracle On 34th Street, when Susan is in the car with her mom she says "I believe, I believe, I know it's silly, but I believe."

Sometimes, we have to have a child-like faith, even when everyone and everything around us says that is no sense in believing.

So, how is your faith?

Wednesday's Word -Comfort

    

                                                                                                  Photo by Clipart Library 

According to dictionary.com, comfort means to soothe console, and reassure; (verb), a feeling of relief or consolation (noun).

Comfort is one of those words that has a different meaning for everyone; maybe it is associated with an image.

When we first got married, some friends of ours gave us a big overstuffed chair.  It was awesome to curl up and watch a movie or read a good book.

Comfort gives me a sense of peace.  No matter what is going on around me, if I can just close my eyes for a minute, then I can go on and deal with the ordeal at hand.

John 14:26 (KIV) says; 

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the FATHER will send in my name, HE shall teach you all things,  and bring all things to your remeberance, whoever I said unto you."

It should come as no surprise that GOD HIMSELF is the best comforter of all.

John 16:6-8 (NIV) tells us:

"Rather you are filled with grief because I have said theses things.  But very truly I tell you these things, it is for your good that I go away.  Unless I go away, the ADVOCATE will not come to you.  But if I go, I will send HIM to you.  When HE comes HE will proove the world to be in the wrong about sind and rightouness and judgement."

A couple of years ago my brother, Luke, tragically lost his oldest son.  I can't even start to imagine what that would feel like.  Luke took it in stride.  I'm sure he struggles every day to get up and live his life but he does it.  I am in complete awe of him.   I pray that he is able to dig down deep and take comfort in what we learned about GOD while we were growing up.

We do not always need to understand why things happen as they do.  In fact, it's probably best that we don't understand why things happen like they do  If we could understand why things happened, we would probably up in a ball and cry.

It's only through the hope, through the comfort, of GOD that we can survive anything at all.

Wednesday's Word - Envy

 

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I am a jealous person.

To be honest, I think most of us are jealous to a certain extent.

What do they say; the grass is always greener?

Jealousy goes back to Cain and Abel in the Bible, which to first murder.

When you're disabled, or at least for me, I would see things other people did or had that I knew I would never have or be able to do.

We always think we would be better off, be a better person if we had something that someone else had.

Are we not good enough?

Did GOD  not create us to be enough?

Yes we sin and we will in a fallen world,  but God created us to be unique.  

Just like people have distinct, unique sets of fingerprints, our personalities are distinct and unique too.

God knows what we can have and deal with.

The secret is not to learn how to be less envious, but rather to be more accepting of who God has made us to be.

Mental Health Mondays -My Shame

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 The term "mental illness" holds a negative perceptions.  It is a lot better than it was 20 years ago,  but progress is still on the horizon..  I have been coping with mental illness for as long as I can remember - long before I was diagnosed  as Bi-polar.  There are things  I did that may have been cause by my Bi-polar, but I will still be held accountable for my actions.  There have been things I could have said and done better.

We need to bring an informational spark when we talk about mental health.  For one, the term "crazy" is thrown around way too much, and I am the first one to call myself "crazy".

People are made to feel guilty about their disabilities; especially their mental issues. I can only speak for myself, but I hate to disappoint others and feel like a burden to them.  I feel like I did something to deserve to be  disabled; like I had done something terribly wrong.

I know that  I had NOTHING to do with becoming disabled.

Why/ how can I feel guilty about something I had nothing to do with.

I am constantly apologizing  for things I did or didn't do. 

Now that I think about it, apologizing for what I can  or can't do is taking away from what God can do thru my disabilities.

I need to start thinking about my disabilities this way

Reflection Sunday - 5 Tactics to Slaying Giants

                                                                                                                          Photo by CLIPARTMAX

At church, we are going through the book of 1 Samuel, and today we talked about David and Goliath.  A favorite story of kids everywhere. 

When Dalton was  little, he had a Super Heroes Bible.  I'm sure no one is surprised by this!  (He may still have it.)  It highlighted some heroes in the bible and their characteristics

Some of David's characteristics are: obedience, humility, patience, courage and faith

We can see these 6 tactics when David faces the great Goliath.        

    - Obedience: David obeyed his father who sent him to take food to his brothers on the battle field.  He obeyed GOD when he told him to fight Goliath

    - Humility: Samuel had already told David and his father, Jesse, that David would be the next king of Israel.  It would have been so easy for him to become a cocky, prideful teenager.  But he was honorable and obedience; which is probably one of the reasons GOD chose him. A man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) 

Luke 12:48 says,   "From everyone who has been given much will be demanded, and from the one who's been entrusted with much, much more will be asked(This just happens to be one of Dalton's favorite verses, plus it was somewhat reference to in Spider-man.)  Because David was such good shepard, GOD trusted him with bigger and better things.

       -Patience: The kid was a shepard, and at night on top of that.  It may have been a ,little more exciting than watching paint dry.

I think its interesting  The GOD likens  HIMSELF to a shepard.  Sheep are suppose to be one the dumbest and most vulnerable animals alive.  David is very patient with his sheep, just as GOD is patient with us.

      -Courage: It is believed that Goliath was between 8 and 12 ft tall.  My Daddy was 6"7' tall, Everyone at school thought he was a giant.  So, I couldn't imagine being a youth (some people think he was under 5" tall) and facing someone that tall.  Hearing stories of how others who were taller and older than him, may have made David quake in his  boots.  Then King Saul placed his armor on David; which was too big and heavy for him.    He knew that unless he followed GOD's command, then he would have enough courage and wouldn't be able to defeat Goliath.

       -Faith: Not only did David have to obey GOD, but he also had to have faith that He would take care of him.  I've come to the conclusion that faith is either really simple or really difficult.    Hebrew 11:1 " "Faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence pf things unseen.  Some people only believe in things they can see.  In John 20:29 JESUS tells Thomas; "Because you have seen me, You have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen but still believe."  Without faith, we can't even take our next breath.  David had to have faith in order to gather up the courage to fight Goliath.

We all have giants and the same 5 tactics can apply to slaying our own giants:

1.  We  have to be obedient to what GOD tells us about our giants. 

2.  We have to be humble enough to say that we can't fight our giants without GOD

3.   We have to have patience to wait on GOD to tell and show us how to fight our giants. 

4.   It takes courage to fight our giants.  Sometimes it takes just as much courage (if not more) to NOT fight our giants, because GOD wants us to learn to cope with our giants, not slay them.  They are  intended to be part of our testimony .

And finally

5. We have to have faith to slay our 9 ft giants.  We have to know that GOD is with us, even when we can't see evidenced of it.

How do you slay your giants?  Comment below, please!

Thankful Thursday: Sister Marietta

 

I have been using THANKFUL THURSDAYS to talk about some of the wonderful women who have had an impact on my life and my faith.

Photo by Pixy

When I was 4,  my parents enrolled in St.  Bernards School for Exceptional Children.  This school not only launched my educational journey, but also my spiritual journey.

St. Marietta was the principal of the Exceptional school.   She stood up with Mama when we joined St. Pius church and got baptized.  I can't remember her as my principal, but I use to see her walking around the St. Bernards campus.  I always loved running into her.

In 5th and 6th grade, at Christmas, we got to"adopt" a Sister.  We had a special luncheon with them.  I was so upset because I didn't get to be with St. Marietta. (The 6th graders got to choose the sister they wanted to "adopt" a sister they wanted to escort to the Christmas luncheon.)  I did get to "adopt" her the next Christmas.  (The was also the year I sang "I Saw Mama Kissing Santa Clause-so she was probably regretting  not teaching me how to sing!!!)

There isn't just one thing I loved about St. Marietta.  I just know when I was around her I felt like I was in the presence of GOD

Mental Health Monday ~ Listening To My Voices

 

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I HEAR VOICES!

Now, before you jump to conclusions (Mama), they aren't telling me that I'm an alien who seeks world domination. (those are, of course, confidential!!!)

I do, however, hear the voices of doubt...regret... self-loathing...pride...insecurities...blame...and...and...the list goes on and on and on...

Yes, these voices are audible.  Sometimes the voices are ones I recognize and sometimes they aren't.

They are constantly telling me that I'm a failure. That nothing I ever do is good enough.  The voices say that if you had acted or said something in another way; the "correct" way, you'll be liked and accepted. 

Musician John Spence said that "We often talk to ourselves in ways that we would never let a stranger or even a close friend talk to us."

We put ourselves down.  We don't feel like we're worthy enough to feel good about ourselves.  Sometimes, others put us down and other times our surroundings and the things around us dictate our self-worth.   

 I almost feel, no I do feel like I have acceded the number of blessings that a person should get in their lifetime.

I feel bad because I was blessed in ways that other people in my situation were not.

Don't get me wrong, I'm so thankful for everything I have!!!

But, it makes me wonder, WHY?  What did I do to deserve to be this blessed?

Truth is, I've only achieved what I have through the grace of GOD

Olin Miler, senior finance manager at Amazon, said: "You probably wouldn't worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do."

Even with friends and family, most of them are too busy and /or self-absorbed to think too much about what we think or feel, and many times, even what we do and say.

John Spence also said; "Some people don't notice the things others do for them until they stop doing them."

My parents taught me to be strong and confident.  I thought I could

conquer the world.  It turns out that conquering that world didn't look like I thought it would.  (I've go to remember, that like Psalm 23

that the LORD is our SHEPARDand that HE leads us in the way we should go.).  HE wants me to conaquer the world for HIM and in HIS timing; not mine

As I got older, as many people do,  I started to listen and believe the lies of the DEVIL.

Sometimes, my Bipolar and its voices make it hard to distinguish right from wrong; fact from fiction.  It's like walking a tightrope over a lion's den; one misstep and you're going to be supper.

Like I said before, I can't blame my Bipolar for my sin.  I have done it millions of times.  God knows the difference between my sins and my mental issues.

The more in tune with GOD  I am, the quieter the voices become.

 

Thankful Thursday ~ Ms. Baltz

 

 

Photo by pngfind

On Thankful Thursday, I'm going to be talking about some of the women who have helped shaped my life and my faith:

Today, I'm going to be telling you about Ms. Elizabeth Baltz.

Ms. Baltz went to St. Pius. Catholic  I had known for as long as I could remember  She taught Sunday School.  Because I went to a Catholic school I didn't "have to" go to Sunday School, but I went whenever Mama and Daddy would let me.

I went to a public high school so I went to Sunday School on a regular basis.

Sunday school was at St.Pius' sister church, the Assumption.  So. after the 8 o'clock mass, I would ride with Ms. Baltz to Sunday School.  We. always stopped at Mrs. Winners for breakfast.

This was one of my favorite times of the week.  We would sit and talk.  She was such a godly woman.  She worked at St. Thomas hospital and was one of the members of the congregation who went to Bordeaux hospital, along with Ms. Sharber. She taught me the importance of acts of service and the love of God.    She, her brother (Uncle Bud), and his twin sister (Ms. Bernardine) never married and live in their childhood home.  

Sadly, I did not keep in touch with her. The last time I saw her may have been when Daddy died.  I know she and Ms. Bernardine lived at Bordeaux hospital during their later years.  Ms. Bernardine died a few years ago.  Ms. Elizabeth passed away in 2019.

Oh yeah, they had an entire half-level of their house that looked like Christmas all year long.

How could I not love this woman and her family?

Wednesday's Word ~ Peace

 Photo by Gerd Altmann

Peace is a word that has a different meaning for everyone.

When I  was finding an image for this post, my first thought was to find a peace sign.  But when I saw this, I thought of 2 people:

Noah and Jesus

Noah sent out a dove twice out of the ark, (after first sending a raven).  The 1st time the dove brought back an olive branch ~ this is where the phrase "extend an olive branch" came from.  The 2nd time he sent out the dove, it didn't come back, meaning it had found a dry place to land  

I think when the dove didn't come back the 2nd time, it was saying that GOD was giving the earth rest from the rain and the people a rest from the evil people that had been destroyed by the flood.

When JESUS came out of the water after HE was baptized, the spirit of GOD descended on HIM like a dove.

Whenever we are in agreement with and are aligned with GOD we can be at peace...No matter what chaos is going on around us

What I've Learned From GOD Sunday ~ Questions

Sometimes all you hear from GOD...are...your...own...questions.  Often, HE leads you to the edge; to your breaking point, so that you can reflect and quiet yourself so you can hear HIS voice.  I

I've felt like this many times, most time actually.  It can be hard to decipher between what GOD is telling us and what others are telling us. 

However, when we are trying to hear what GOD is telling us, it is important for us to remember that GOD is talking to others too.

Sometimes, what GOD is trying to tell us doesn't sync up with what GOD it telling someone else.

People say I can be very influenceable and I probaly am;  I want to be liked, I want to be comforting to others.  That's who I want to be...

But, that's not who I am...

I'm ulgy and selfish and I hurt the ones Im supposed to love and care for the most.

In Romans 7: 15-20 (NIV), Paul tells us:

"I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do.  And if I do what I do not want to do , I agree that the law is good.  As it is, it is no longer I myelf who do it, but it is sin living in me.  For I know good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not want to do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do-this I keep doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me who does it."

Is it a tounge twister if you type it???

Side note here, I do not think Pau is telling us it OK to sin or that we won't be held accountable for our sins.  Because I do not believe this all!

Sin destroys every thing it touches; especially our relationships.  Many of these can't be repaired; no matter how hard we try.

So all we are left with is...our questions>

Wednesday's Word = FAITH

Photo by Needpix

 According to Life, Hope & Truth:

Faith is the substance or assurance of things hoped for, but have not yet received. 

Faith is a very personal thing that's unique to each individual.  No one can "give you" faith.  I can share my faith with someone, but I can't make them believe what I believe.

We believe in what we see as sensible. For instance, I don't believe in a  ONE-EYED, ONE-HORNED, FLYING, PURPLE PEOPLE EATER. (I just always wanted to use it in a blog!!!) My mind just can't comprehend that.  But, if I saw evidence of one, I'd be more likely to believe in it.  I can read the scriptures, I can travel to Israel and see physical evidence and I can listen to how God has worked in other people's lives.  It is up to me to choose whether to believe or not.

Faith is simple in some aspects, but it can also be difficult too.  You have to give up control and allow yourself to feel vulnerable to someone or something that you don't completely know and understand. Many of us, probably most of us, have control issues.  We want to be the one in control so that we know things are getting done the RIGHT (OUR) way. If you want something done right, do it yourself!

I'm not a type A, perfectionist, OCD type of person.  I think being disabled has humbled me in some ways and I know I'm not in control of most things in my life.  I fall, slur my speech, and spill EVERYTHING on my clothes. (Please see my I Am Who You Say I Am post.)

When you give up control, you experience freedom.  No one can't explain to you what freedom is like; just like no one can make you believe what they believe.

In the movie, Mask (such a good movie!!!) the main character,  Rocky, wanted to show Diana, his visually impaired girlfriend, colors.  He gave her a hot potato to represent "RED" and ice to represent "BLUE".   She got so excited because she got a "glimpse" of what colors look like.  In her excitement, she cried: "I get it! I get it!" 

Faith (in anything) is like "seeing" colors for the first time.  Once you understand whatever you believe, you're able to make your own conclusions and stand firm on them.  

Now, I'm not saying that I believe whatever you have faith in will save you and give you eternal life because I DON'T!!! However, whatever you have faith in, own it, and don't be ashamed.

Mental Health Monday - King David's Sadness Over a Lost Child

 

Photo by Pixabay

Depression and mental illness are not new concepts.  There are several examples of people in the bible who dealt with these issues.  David gives us an example:

David's life was one filled with great joy and deep sorrows.  The boy who killed Golalith was the same man who had had an affair with Bathsheba, impregnated her, and then had her husband killed so no one would know that he wasn't the child's father.

They married and the baby was born sick because of their sin.    When he was told that his son was sick, David prayed for the baby, fasted, and lay face down on his bedroom floor.  He lay there for 7 days.

When the baby died, the servants were afraid to tell the king because they didn't know how he would react.  

 But surprisingly, he got up and showered, worshiped God, and then ate.  I find it interesting that after the baby died, David stopped grieving.  Most people grieve when someone dies but rejoices when a baby is born.

However, Ecclesiastes 7 says:

"...The day someone dies is better than the day they were born."

It wasn't that David was happy that the baby died - I don't think he was.  I think he knew there was nothing else he could do.  His next mission was to comfort Bathsheba. 

One of the things about mental illness - mine at least - is no one can understand it.  You can't explain it.  It can cause people to act in a way that is totally opposite to how society expects them to act.

There is a condition called the Pseudobulbar affect (PBA).   "It is a condition that's characterized by episodes of uncontrollable or  inappropriate laughing or crying."  Mayo Clinic

I got in trouble more than once for laughing in church.  Someone would say something funny, and the congregation would laugh and then settle down.  Well, every time I would think of what was said and start bellowing again.

Now, when I laugh, I can laugh until I cry.  Now, I'm not talking about a normal till tears stream down your face pretty cry.  This is that ugly laugh that you laugh until you cry; where you go from being happy to truly upset in a matter of minutes and you have no idea why.  This leaves whoever you're talking with stunned and unsure of what happened.

I think that was kind of what David was going through.    Maybe he couldn't explain how he was acting; except that at the moment; it just made sense to him.

What GOD Has Taught Me Sunday: I Am who HE Says I Am

 Photo off of Pixaba 

So, today after class I had a chocolate doughnut.  Then Barrett had a deacon's meeting and I had a cookie n cream milkshake from Steak n Shake. Well, needless to say I got stuff all over my shirt.  As I sat there watching people watch me get stuff all over myself, my first instinct was to be embarrassed.  Then I started thinking about a song that we had sung that morning.  I want to say it went like this "I am because the I AM says I am."  

Being disabled, I've spent most of my life feeling like I was inadequate.  No matter how often my parents, teachers or friends told me how special, smart, or loved I am/was, I never thought I was good enough.  {it is only been since I was in my forties that I've realized most people feel  EXACTLY the same way!}  However, people have felt this way since the beginning of time.  Cain did kill his own brother because God said his sacrifice didn't equal Able's.  

Truth is, none of us measure up...We can't...Once Adam and Eve sinned and lost their footing with GOD,  we did too.  It's only the blood of CHRIST that can save us from sin so that we can be reunited with GOD and spend eternity with HIM in HEAVEN.  We don't have to try to be someone we are not.HE meets and accepts us where we are.  We can't be good enough; we can't wash a stained shirt and have it come out quite as white as it was when we first go it.  I find it uncanny that one of the elements that cause the worst stains; blood, is the same element that Jesus used to save us from our sins.  

 Better than Oxy Clean!

Friday Fall - Gospel of the Candy Corn

  Holy Trinty.pdf

Candy corn is one of my favorite fall treats - probably one of my favorite candies EVER (next to peeps, of course!!!)

The Gospel of the Candy Corn goes like this:

The yellow is the base - GOD the FATHER

The orange represents the JESUS. the SON:  GOD, the FATHER sent JESUS HIS SON to suffer and die for our sins.  HE rose on the 3rd day so that we can live with GOD in Heaven  forever

The white stands for the HOLY SPIRIT:  When JESUS ascended into HEAVEN, HE promised to send a helper, a comforter.   This Comforter is our GUIDE here on earth until it is time for us to live with GOD the FATHER and JESUS the SON .

The TRINTY is made up of GOD the FATHER, JESUS the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT:  they are three different identities, but they make up one BEING. 

 

So next time you're eating candy corn, remember the FATHER, the SPIRIT, and the SON! 

 

Wednesday' s Word - Determination

We all have it...

It is that small voice that lives deep within the soul that tells us we can do something.  I have had a strong sense of determination since the moment I took my first breath or didn't take my first breath; however, you choose to look at it.  (I was strangled by the umbilical cord when I was born.)  So, I literally had to fight for my first breath.  The doctors gave my parents a laundry list of things that, if I survived, I would never be able to do.  They even gave my parents an "out" by telling them they should abandon me at the hospital and walk away; free and clear.

Nothing enlights determination mort than telling you that you "CAN'T" do something.  Whether you call it a strong will, fight or flight, or something else, our natural instinct is to fight for our life. I've heard people say that if you try to hold your breath in order to take your own life,  you'll eventually pass out and start breathing again.

With my parents' support and determination, I was able to achieve and surpass most of my dream; I'm still not a world-renowned ballerina!!!

We think of determination as a positive thing, and it is, but I think it can also be negative. Sir Issac Newton says "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  If you're not striving to succeed, while you're not necessarily saying I don't want to succeed, it may be saying I don't have enough determination for a particular thing.

I think we have to remember our interests and abilities.  Something you want may be something I could care less about, and my 100% may be your 20%.  This is how God wired us.

***Please note if you try hard and strive for what you and don't get it, YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE!!!***

We may be determined to succeed at something but don't get whatever we pursue.  The fact that we did not accomplish what we set out to achieve may not have anything to do with the determination that we have in our hearts.  Too many people have determination and success inner twined so tight that the heart gets lost behind the vines

I do everything from my heart, so of course, My determination is in sync with how my heart feels.  I have learned in a short 48 years that I can't get or do everything I want-yeah, (Am I a slow learner or am I very determined???).

So what do you want or need and determined are you to get it?

About Me Tuesday - Ms. Sharber

I have had many strong women in my life, so I'll be blogging about many of them.  Today I want to talk about Mrs. Sharber.

Ms. Eula Sharber was an elderly African American woman whou taught Sunday Scool in our church (St. Pius X) She was prodably in her mid 70's when I first met her.  I only mention her race because at the time 1 knew her, her race did effect her manorism.

She was one of the godliest women I've ever known  All you had to do was to look into her smiling face and you knew you were in thwe presence of God!   I went to a Catholic school, so I ddn't "have" to go to Sunday School; but I loved it and went every chance I got.

St. Pius went once a month to Broduex hospital.     You had  to be 13 to go.  So, as soon as I turned 13, she started taking me.  It was here where my passion for the elderly started.  This led me to study Social Work and Gerentology at MTSU  I believe that  studing these subjects prepared me for living in a nursing home.

One of my greatest memories of Sunday School was going to St. Mary's Bookstore on West End.  Every year they would open for ]one Sunday before Christmas.  Going St. Mary's always made me feel so special!

Ms. Sharber gave me my first "adult" bible

When she turned 85 (I think) Mama & Daddy let me give her a "surprize"   party.  (I think Mama did tell her, so she wasn't "shocked" to death.  I think she had a great time.  She got me back when she gave me a surprise sweet 16 party a few months later.

Daddy was the one who told me when she died.

Her funeral aboustltly broke my heart.   I think there were less than 20 people there and less than that at the cementary.  All I could think of how sad it was thet some who had blessed people sho much when she was alive.  (Yes, I know a funeral is for the living, but it was still sad.)

Ms. Sharber difinely had a hand in the (godly, I hope) woman I am today.