AFFIRMATIONS DIVINE

Endurance under great pressure.

Let’s face it, our forefathers and foremothers had endurance in spades,

and without it we would not be here today.

The desperateness that goes along with poverty, lack of opportunity, and  intolerance,

drove our ancestors to seek something better.

Most making the pilgrimage to America, never expected to return.

Are you in this same situation today?

Is your life a boiling pressure cooker, ready to blow up at any time?

Are you filled with anxiety and despair?

If so, you need some freedom!

Our ancestors gave us a blueprint, and it still works.

Make a clean break from the past.

Be determined in the present, and

never let go of your hope for the future,

What unfulfilled dream has God put into your heart?

Remind yourself daily of your dream.

Remember through extreme desperation we

learn to lean on God.

If  I want help with a problem, I go to the God who is powerful enough to

raise his son from the dead.

That’s the kind of God that will continually deliver you from peril, just because it delights him to do so.

You may not be feeling to free right now,

But if you are God’s child

You’re free.

John 8:36

“If the son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

Endurance under great pressure.

Let’s face it, our forefathers and foremothers had endurance in spades.

Without their endurance we would not be here today.

The desperateness of poverty, lack of opportunity, and  intolerance,

drove our ancestors to seek something better.

Most making the pilgrimage to America, never expected to return.

Are you in this same situation today?

Is your life a boiling pressure cooker, ready to blow up at any time?

Are you filled with anxiety and despair?

Are you looking for that great escape?

It won’t happen without a plan, so ya better get cracking…..

You’re about to go looking for Freedom.

First, though you have a to do list.

1.  Make a clean break from the past.

2.  Be determined in the present, and

3.  never let go of your hope for the future,

 Through extreme desperation we

learn to lean on God, so don’t forget to be thankful.

God raised his son Jesus from the dead, and one day he will raise his daughter, Robyn also.

Our God promises to  continually deliver from peril, just because it delights him to do so.

You may not be feeling too free right now,

But if you are God’s child

You’re  free,

Now’s the time start living like it.

John 8:36

“If the son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

A lot of people are angry souls.

Most of the time it’s painfully obvious,

except when it’s sneaky.

Anger clothed in a joke, or even a compliment, can hurt more than a slap in the face.

Other times anger has a good side.

Obviously something is wrong with people who can not get angry.

Then there are the quick-tempered firecrackers,

who need in-depth anger management.

This used to be me. (hush, that’s a secret)

Clearly anger is either good or bad.

Judge your anger.

Sort out your anger.

Your mental health, physical health, and relationships depend upon it.

Bad anger is selfish, all about me, me, me.

 Bad anger always boomerangs.

Satan loves bad anger.

So get rid of it.

Good anger is unselfish, and works for the betterment of mankind.

Think, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.

Good anger is a catalyst, but you have to keep a good eye on good anger, because it can morph into bad anger.

God’s plan for good and bad anger involves action.

Get rid of the bad anger, no questions asked.

Deal with the good anger, listen to what it’s telling you, and take action.

The action you take is personal.  It might involve prayer, it might involve protest, but you’ll know what to do when you pray for wisdom.

Every day you have a golden opportunity to deal with your anger.

“When is that?”, you ask.

“Easy”, God replies.

“Before the sun goes down”.

Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. 

Ephesians 4:26,27

You have a voice

Don’t hide it.

It might sound a little funny at first,

but you’ll get used to it.

You might even get a little nervous

but once you get started, things will change.

Speak up,

and people will begin to take notice.

You might even change a few minds,

but that’s not the goal.

The goal is to put a voice to your mind.

You have been offered the mind of Christ.

Accept this gift and then share this gift with your world.

God gave you that voice,

so use it!

Psalms 144:5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

Climb your Mountain!

Take those who would go with you on your journey.

Enjoy the journey.

When you reach the top

Look to the sky

and say, “Thank you God”.

Take mental pictures.

There will be other mountains along the way.

Remember how you reached the top,

and celebrated the beauty.

Live and love your moment

That’s what Mike and I did last week

with my Mom and Dad,

my sister and brother-in-law

On top of the mountain.

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Fraidy Cat

That’s me.

Years ago it seemed like very little bothered me, but all that changed.

Now, without any special cues, I can morph into a Fraidy Cat.

If anyone wants to know what can go wrong in any given situation,

Your go-to girl is me.

This personal information may shock you a bit because…..

everybody knows I’m so positive and happy.

O.k., who am I kidding?

There may be a few people that actually know I’m a very fearful cat……

EXCEPT…….I’m changing.

The change all started about 15 years ago, when my greatest fears materialized.

And then little by little,

I learned about survival.

Bravery did not spring upon me all at once.

First came the conditioning.

You remember Pavlov and the dogs salivating at the sound of his bell?

Those dogs didn’t need the food anymore for the mouthwatering experience to materialize.

Only the bell.

Intense conditioning was required for my faith to materialize

To start my conditioning, I ordered a tape with bible verses on fear, and would play it in my van.

Funny, that’s how long ago it was, I got a tape, not a cd.

Next I got a guided imagery tape, where I walked into the forrest, into the light, and the light put it’s arms around me, and I was safe.

That tape never ceased to calm me down, and I wore it out.

My three teenagers, were sure I was crazy, but I told them not to mock, this was helping.

Tender new branches were emerging in my brain, as I fought to stay sane, and brave.

To their credit, they did their talking about their momma,

behind my back.

Finally, I keep going ,”into the forrest toward the light”,

without further harassment.

 You see, I was distressed.

My danger was no longer impending….

I’d landed smack dab in the middle of it.

The destruction, dismay, evil, and pain,

descended upon my spirit, almost overnight.

But I had had almost no conditioning.

After several years of conditioning, I noticed something different about me.

Tolerance.

 All my conditioning had built quite a tolerance.

People started calling me brave and strong.

That was funny.

Me?

 “Miss Fraidy Cat” turned brave?

Truth is I was not brave, I was angry.

Sometimes those two can be confused.

Once I faced the cold hard facts that the bad stuff would never be over,

I was ticked.

Everybody I loved one day was going to die, and that included me.

Furthermore, with every breath I took, I brought this future misery closer.

Really, I thought,

Why breathe?

If I was not such a Fraidy Cat…..

But then one day, one predestined day,

my walk in the forrest, took different path,

I walked into the light of the world

Jesus

I told Jesus, how upset I was about all my fears, and just how exhausted I was with being afraid.

Jesus wrapped his arms around me and he whispered,

“I love you”.

“You are Safe”.

I cried out my eyes.

I cried out my fears, past, present and future.

And then I knew in my heart,

Life is not worth living without a leap of faith.

Because no matter what happens,

or when it happens,

I am safe.

Now that was a real miracle for this Fraidy Cat.

It’ll work for you too.

You might not want to admit it but learning to solve problems can be exciting!

Well maybe a little.

True, it’s a little crazy thinking this way….

But only in the most “pleasantly fun” sense of the word.

Think back to school.

Sticking with 1 + 1 would’ve bored you to death.

At the expense of stating the obvious,

people love to solve exciting problems.

Then they love to tell about it.

Alll of your favorite dramas, be it the big screen, small screen, or your own screen, revolve around problems.

And FYI, while  we’re watching the drama unfold, we sure don’t want anyone to go spoiling the ending.

Can you solve every problem?

No?

Think Math.

The hardest problems have lasted for centuries at a time, and the most brilliant minds, became that way by working on those problems.

So work on your problems.

Some aren’t meant to be solved, some are just meant to experience, and will God show us the difference between the two.

Some solutions appear after the problems have  ended.

Easy, or difficult, all problems present us with opportunity.

And opportunity welcomes everyone.

So how will your will your problem end?

Only God knows for sure,

and our wise wonderful God of all ages,

knows it wouldn’t be fair to go spoiling the ending.

1 Corinthians 2:9