365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 135

My daughter and I are reading together a book about Noah’s ark. This story is written with the main characters as the animals. One of the animals, a Scottish terrier named Max is afraid of the wolves because of a past experience with wolves when he was young in which he lost his mother. His perceptions of the wolves on the ark are distorted because of his fear. In actuality it is a lone snake on the ark named Charlie who is causing all the trouble. There are many things that can distort our perceptions; anger, depression, grief are just a few. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can put on those rose-colored glasses I mentioned before; the ones that Jesus wore. Through the eyes of Jesus, we can conquer the distortions and clearly see and perceive. And with this new through the eyes of Jesus perception, we will behave and act as Jesus. How do we get anything we need; we ask. Pray, pray, pray everyday for the rest of our lives and start to see everything as Jesus did.

Lord Jesus,

You saw people through the eyes of God, the eyes of love. Because you are within me, I know that I can have these eyes of love. Help me to see people as you did, to understand and serve them, to perceive them with the eyes of love. All things are possible in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Isaiah 6: 9-10 He said, "Go and tell this people: 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving. Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 99

As you may already know from previous writings, I have struggled with hormonal issues for many years. Thanks be to God, they have gone back to the more predictable monthly hormone issues that are not as severe. In studying about depression, I learned it is quite normal for both men and women to experience 5-7 days of blah’s.  These are going to be the days you will not be at your best, when the Evil one will really work on pulling you away from God. We have the Spirit who will give us all that we need but our focus has to be on Jesus. The fruits of the Spirit may not be ripening as well during these blah periods in life but we are to be persistent and keep at it. Keep in the word, keep praying, keep loving, keep doing good and never give up.

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

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 19

My focus today is on verse 7 in 1 Corinthians 13: It (love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. These aspects of love are by far the most challenging. The word, “always” makes this the challenging part. I think when it comes to protection, keeping my kids safe has been a top priority but that is in the physical sense. Have I kept them safe from emotional strife and helped build a solid faith foundation in them so they are protected spiritually? I know I have tried but consistency is tough. Always trusting is a fairly easy one for me because it is in my nature to be trusting but have there been times where the trust is lacking even a little, absolutely. I wish I could say that I am always hopeful but even my hopes can be drowned out or covered with the dirt of day to day living and the depression and negativity that can bring. Persevering means never giving up but I think all of us have experienced those moments when you just want to lay down and sleep your life away rather than face the challenges you are in. Can we be protective, trusting, hopeful and persevere no matter what? We can do all things with the Holy Spirit inside us.  How can we manage to get the “always” to be in front of these? Try swapping “it” (love) with your name or “I”. Janine (I) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres thanks to the Holy Spirit inside of her (me). Amen! Post it and say it everyday and you will find yourself living out the “always” parts of love.

Psalm 91:1 The person who rests in the shadow of the Most High God will be kept safe by the Mighty One.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 333

I think we all get in them, yes, even men! It goes by many names: depression, feeling blue, out-of-it, a “funk”. I am in a “funk” right now. My desire to get up and go to a job full of negativity is not there. I am tired of hearing how much work we are getting and how we can’t do it all and the frustrations of new programs to learn that don’t work all that well and trying to communicate with people that don’t communicate well. But what made me rise up this morning, God calling me…. Saying you can be the one person in the midst of this negativity that can show God’s glory. Be the positive one, be the one that handles the frustrations well, that helps people before they even think to ask for it, the one with a smile and a heart of love. Okay Lord, I know I can do it with your help and a cup of coffee.  I am off to smile and love my way through my day…

Psalm 16:7-8 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me.  Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 46

Discouragement. It gets to me usually at that time of the month in my cycle which is now. It's the time when I feel defeated with all that I do. It's the time when my attitude shifts to negative rather than positive. It's the time when I want to just give up. Those hormones are working on me and the evil one is So trying to pull me further into it but thankfully I am mindful of the power of God and know that with His help I will get out of the mire of depressing thoughts once again. I grab onto anything that is encouraging but I am especially boosted with the written word whether it be in an email or a card someone sends me and reading my bible. That is where I will go to now and ask the One and Only God of the Universe to give me a kick in the butt and get me back into a positive frame of mind and to give me motivation to keep on with my purpose. Do you have times of discouragement? What helps you get out of it? I would love to send you an email or card whenever you are feeling down in the dumps. Just drop me a line and we can help each other out of the pit.
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.