Do You Fall Prey To Crashing Emotions?

It was hard to swallow. Something wasn't right. I felt achy, tired and couldn't breathe. I knew my body was trying to fight off an impending attack. I began to load up on extra vitamins...trying to offer a counterattack to boost the unseen battle raging within. 

But what of the unseen daily battles of emotional attacks? Worry. Fear. Stress. Anxiety. Doubt. Depression. Pain. 

Why am I slow in defending against these often debilitating emotions?

I know immediately when I get that sinking feeling...when something's just not right. Why do I not run as quickly to what I know will offer a counterattack? I know what's lacking. 

Life has a way of throwing unexpected trials at me. Too often I let the emotions fester. They begin to overtake and the issue/problem becomes larger than I can bear. I fall prey to my crashing emotions.

The cure is swifter than any vitamins I may take for a physical illness. The affect of The LORD'S truth over my emotions is miraculous; all encompassing, unending in it's healing power.

So why do I wait to call to Him?

To Pray?

To read the Bible?

Why do I choose to sit alone and wallow in it?

Lord, today please help me to look to YOU First; spending time alone in YOUR Presence as YOU reveal truth to my soul...my heart...my emotions. Draw me close to YOU as YOU guide my way. Let my heart be filled with the knowledge of YOUR Truth & Light. Do not let me sit in the lies of crashing emotions. "YOUR rod and YOUR staff they comfort me." I say these things, in the name of my LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, Amen. 

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
Psalm 23:4

"For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.” 
Jeremiah 31:25

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?"
Jeremiah 32:27

"Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth."
Jeremiah 33:6

IS YOUR LIFE RIPE YET?

I look up and there it was, late into the sumer...bountiful fruit on thin tree branches; faithfully sprouting. Through spring and summer, the tree remained bare, but the owner knew if this tree was watered, pruned and cared for, the fruit would come. When it seemed too late in the season, the tree blossomed with a sweet, ripe, harvest. It produced food to fill the body with nature's nutrients. A blessing in the waiting...trust.

You too are created to bare fruit. The fruit of "Christ in you, the hope of glory."

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Colossians 1:27

When you allow THE LORD to water, prune and care for your soul, HE fills you with HIS nourishing Word and Truth. This nutrient produces abundant fruit in your life. The cares, worries, doubt, pain, fear and sorrows, give way to the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This fruit fills you for the journey THE LORD has planned for you. A travel that requires constant Spiritual Food. The good stuff you need inside of you, the feeding of an often parched and weary soul. This fruit is invisible to the naked eye but seen through the nutrients it produces; "Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control."

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

The true light of JESUS CHRIST shining first in you and then through you. You begin to do and say things that uplift, not tear down. You have strength to say, "Yes LORD, YOUR will," in the midst of tough situations you may be facing,

"saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42

You know that the strength of your LORD is carrying you beyond the, "all about me" focus...to the lost, hurting and broken who are sitting in darkness. Your life, having been pruned, forgiven, renewed...now being used to lead others to JESUS CHRIST. He restores the failing heart and soul; each Scripture, each Prayer, each Word of Encouragement HE speaks deep inside the soul as you spend time with HIM...FOOD! 

The Lord is asking you to be faithful in the waiting. Stand firm in your resolve to seek HIM daily. Let HIM fill you. You were made for more. You're a special, chosen child of God. 

During the pruning seasons, stand strong in the knowledge that The LORD will work ALL things "together for good to those who love HIM, to those who are the called according to HIS purpose" 

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

And then, in that perfect moment, all the growing and waiting springs forth the fruit of JESUS CHRIST in your life. Be faithful; patient in the waiting...God's not done with you yet...HIS MASTERPIECE!!!

The Power of Your Words

Let the Lord be the wind in your Sails

Do you know there is power in your words? Your words can build up or tear down. I had the incredible opportunity to use words to help someone. This was a young girl on the other side of the world. A girl I’d never met personally, but through my blog, I “stumbled” across her blog. I will use the word “stumble” very lightly because I know that God was answering my prayers. I asked to be used. I asked to help someone who was hurting, just as Jesus Christ helped me and put people in my life to encourage me to keep pushing ahead when I wanted to give up; pointing me to the Lord and His ability to make all things new.

When I “met” this sweet, broken, lost girl, she was suicidal (which unfortunately is very common in the Asian culture due to the high pressure to succeed.) With each of her posts I found myself without words, unable to “talk” her out of the thoughts she was having. But the one thing I did know; God was highlighting this young, beautiful girl and HE knew the words that she needed to hear. I spent time praying, reading the scriptures and asking for HIS WORDS to fill me up as I typed my responses to her. I knew that God had a plan and I was finally open to be an instrument in His hand.

I know that I am no one particularly great or special, just a once broken...now healed woman through Jesus Christ's forgiving love. I have been given the ability to write, a gift from God and I want to use it FOR HIM and HIS PURPOSE. My hands floated effortlessly over the keyboards, thoughts spilling out, pouring God’s life affirming words of love, forgiveness, kindness, grace, hope, promise, truth and the perfect and wonderful plan He has for her life. I watched the words spring to life; a new encouragement in response to her heart ache each and every week. I consistently prayed and relied on the Lord for help to reach this lost, hurting girl.  Slowly, as the months passed, she began to change. Her posts were no longer of suicide, but of hope. She was beginning to see herself through God’s eyes. The lies of the enemy, washed away through the Lords truth and love.

It’s been several years since our first meeting. She now affectionately refers to me as her “American Mama.” I recently posted a story about my dad on my blog on the one year anniversary of his passing, “CLIMB YOUR MOUNTAIN-A TRUE STORY OF DAVID BOLDA,” and I wanted to share a portion of a comment she left after reading my post: “I would not have survived my struggle with suicide and the depression I had back then if it wasn't because of your constant caring, uplifting and understanding comments. I am living a good life now, and I too will take on his example. I will fight everything that comes my way, I will look at the world positively and I will be grateful and happy.” God had worked a miracle! He had reached this young girl all the way across the world!

Your words have life giving power. Allow the Lord into your day. Ask for His Words to fill you up and help you be a blessing to others. In my own ability, I would never have been able to reach into that young girl’s life, but the Lord knew exactly what she needed to hear. Are you willing to step outside of your comfort zone and ask the Lord to use you? It may be difficult, but never underestimate what the Lord has in store for your life. Are you willing to allow Him to use your words and life for HIS GOOD AND PERFECT PLAN? Pray today and ask for His will in your life…there is someone who needs you. God is waiting for you to say, “Send me Lord!”

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galations 6:9

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Psalm 34:8

RISING ABOVE IT!

Recently I’ve struggled to find the joy in my day. Between my sickness, work and the rushing of everyday life, I seemed to have been slipping into a melancholy state, an overwhelmed feeling for no particular reason…just a general feeling of uneasiness. During these times in my life, when nothing seems exactly right, perfect or where I’d like it to be, I know that I need to rise above it. I am more than my feelings or fickle emotions, which seem to fluctuate moment by moment, minute by minute and hour by hour. I’ve somehow let the enemy sneak in and fill me with negative lies and thoughts. “Is anything ever going to change? Am I ever going to reach my dreams and goals? Is my life going to be stuck right where I am, no great accomplishment or achievement? You can’t accomplish anything because you are the worst procrastinator!”

Whoa…wait a minute! All the negative self talk is only serving to drag me down into a state of despair. God has called me and you to more. He wants us to know His truth. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37.  He has a plan that is perfect. He knows emotions can sometimes get in the way of TRUTH. “While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Luke 24:36.  His truth about whom and what you are. Truth about what is in store for our lives…if we can only stand strong in HIM. “Does God listen to their cry when distress comes upon them? Will they find delight in the almighty? Will they call on God at all times? “I will teach you about the power of God; the ways of the Almighty I will not conceal. You have all seen this yourselves. Why then this meaningless talk?” Job 27:9-12

Alone, we are weak, given to self-defeating thoughts, feeling sorry for ourselves and depressed. The sooner we learn that we need to draw closer to Christ in those moments, not sitting in the pity party, but taking action. We need to pray to be released of the negativity, praying for God’s truth to fill us up, flooding our emotions and senses with HIS LOVE. Spend time in the Bible, just you and the Lord. Allow your mind, body and soul to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God’s wisdom. He has so much to teach and tell you, so much to share with you about what He has planned for your life. The more we struggle, the more we need to seek Him.

As I slowly reach a shaky, weak, worn out hand to Christ…He takes it, picks me up and wraps me in His arms, aware of all that I’m feeling, going through, and hoping for. I refuse to sit in a place of lies. I refuse to allow the enemy to keep me in mental chains and bondage. Each morning I will open the Scriptures and allow myself the necessary time to FEED MY SOUL. Then I will have God’s word speaking the things of faith, wisdom, trust and truth…lifting me to new heights, new adventures, new hope and most of all a new me in Christ!  

“Come near me and listen to this: “From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens, I am there.” And now the Sovereign Lord has sent me, endowed with his Spirit. This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” 

Isaiah 48:16-17

A DEVASTATING LESSON

 Daul Kim-Swarovski Campaign by Sofia and Mauro

On November 19th, 2009 I awoke to something devastating. It began a year prior, when I started following Daul, a famous Korean Fashion Model's Blog. She was not only beautiful, but very intelligent, honest, witty, sarcastic & artistic. All the qualities that make for an interesting read, not to mention, I loved her catch phrase, "Say hi to..." As time went by, her posts took a darker turn. She talked about depression and insomnia. I often left upbeat comments and felt a "tug at my heart" to 'talk' to her about the Lord, but I didn't want to seem too "preachy."

On November 18, 2009, I clicked on her post, "Say hi to...Forever." It was a You Tube techno video of her favorite band. I started to leave a comment, but then erased it...I wasn't sure what to say. The next day I saw a news post, she was found dead in her Paris apartment. I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach. I cried. In her anguish & despair she'd taken her life at only 20 years old.

I vowed never again to waste an opportunity to share the healing power of my Savior's love with someone. To never let the fear of rejection or the opinion of others stand in the way of sharing Christ's life saving, life changing, gift. The Lord put it on my heart & I'd ignored the prompting. It was a heart wrenching lesson for me.

Several months later, a young girl from Malaysia began following my Blog via...Daul's Blog. When I clicked on her site, the title read, "I often think of suicide." I couldn't believe I was getting another chance to share! Her posts talked of her deep depression. I began to pray for the Lord's words and not mine before responding to her. I added her to our church prayer list. Over the past year we have become very close & she calls me her, "American Mama." Through Heavenly Father's Restorative Love, she no longer talks about suicide, and is able to see purpose in her life. Her Blog title now reads, "A difficult time can be more readily endured if we retain the conviction that our existence holds a purpose, a cause to pursue, a person to love, a goal to achieve." 

Don't waste an opportunity that Heavenly Father puts before you due to fear or rejection. Trust in the Lord. Ask for His words & guidance in the situation. Be willing to allow Him to use you!

"And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though the briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. But you son of man, listen to what I say to you. do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."

Ezekiel 2:6-8

And it will be said: "Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people." For this is what the high and lofty One says-he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."

Isaiah 57:14-15

But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, 
"Now, I have put my words in your mouth." 
Jeremiah 1:7-9


"Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them."
Jeremiah 1:17