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

Get Your Free Gasoline Today

story by: lisa petrarca

This past week I had an encounter with a homeless man. I was incredibly pressed for time, on a tight schedule with a mile long list of things to accomplish in a two hour time frame. An elderly man in his 80's, confined to a wheelchair, leather cracked lines road mapping his face, sat quietly in front of my first stop. As I approached his head was cast downward, the simple cardboard sign he held read, "Anything will help." He never looked up as several people walked into the store. He sat silently, as if he was ashamed to be sitting in front of the store asking others for help.

I made a mental note to be sure to buy him food. In my mad rush, I completely forgot. I was leery about giving him cash, not wanting to contribute to any addictions he may have, so I gave him nothing. I felt bad but headed out of the driveway & across the street to grab a quick bite to eat before my next errand. The pang of guilt/prompting of the Holy Spirit grew stronger as I walked up to order. I noticed a stack of food gift cards next to the register & decided to get him one.

I jumped in my car & rushed back to the store. He was still there. As I walked up to him he slowly raised his head, I said, "Here you go, get yourself something to eat." He softly said, "Thank you very much." I let him know that Jesus loved him & quickly headed onto my next list item.

This encounter probably wouldn't have happened the same way, had I not remembered to pray that morning, asking the Lord to fill me with His spirit. I asked that He use me to help others and bring things to my attention. I used prayer as my fuel, my gasoline and God directed me straight to a needy person. Without gas/fuel we wouldn't be able to start our cars, we'd be stuck. A day without prayer is exactly the same thing, we usually are left overwhelmed, anxious and worried, which leaves us unable to focus on the things God has for us that day.

If I hadn't remembered to pray, I know that my plans and schedule for the day would have taken precedence over going out of my way to help someone in need. You see, I allowed God to "Fill up my tank." I specifically asked to be filled with the love of Christ. He responded by taking me straight to someone in need. On my own, I don't always notice things. My schedule is full, my days are exhausting and I wouldn't have the time or desire to meet the needs of strangers. I'm barely able to meet all the needs of my family.

But with God filling me up in the morning, He helps me see the things that He sees. He lifts me up, fills me up and guides my way. Showing me HIS direction for my day! Be sure to gas up today, It's Free and you have a long, busy day in front of you. Don't forget to pray!

But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:7

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.
2 Corinthians 8:2-3

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
2 Corinthians 9:6-9

Change Your Attitude

Sometimes you get so caught up in the everyday activities that you feel like your on auto pilot. I can't tell you the number of times I passed the street I'm supposed to turn on because I wasn't focusing. A million things running through my mind...work, basketball practice, meetings, doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, the list is endless. I think we all tend to go through life this way. No wonder we are all so stressed out. Our brains are on overload. By the time the weekend rolls around, we feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and defeated by all the things that was not accomplished on our endless lists! There is a solution...it all begins with your attitude.

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

By Francie Baltazar-Schwartz

Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, 'Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut way all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."

I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.

I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.

Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man.'

"I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breathe and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them. 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.

Remember to start each day with the right attitude. Look at what's right in your life. When problems arise, focus on the solution, not the problem. Remember...your lists are SELF-MADE. You've put all the pressure on yourself. If something doesn't get completed...there's always tomorrow, besides, look at all the things you did accomplish (ATTITUDE GOES A LONG WAY).

"But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food." Job 36:15,16