Buttons

If I were to list the top things that Satan uses to try to get to me it would look something like this:

1. Money/Car (usually related, but not always)
2. Depression
3. Addiction


Surrounding my recent sobriety birthday he has been pretty busy in my life trying to get me off track.

• In June my car was the victim of a hit and run accident.
• Last week I was deep in the throws of depression.
• And this week I am being tempted by my addiction as I have not been tempted in quite some time.

I don't much care which buttons Satan chooses to push, I'm not falling for it.

Another tactic that he often uses to keep us trapped is silence. If I suffer in silence I suffer alone. If I choose to speak out I gain:

• The prayers and support of other Christ followers
• Accountability
• The promises of God.

Commitment

-noun

4. a pledge or promise; obligation: We have made a commitment to pay our bills on time.

5. engagement; involvement: They have a sincere commitment to religion.

Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven, or by earth, or anything else. Let your "yes" be yes, and your "no," no, or you will be condemned.

James 5:12b

There seems to be a disconnect in our society as to what "yes" and "no" mean. In my life I have seen too many times where "yes" means "if I feel like it at the time" or "if I don't get a better offer". Or just as frustrating, when you offer an invitation and get no response until the last possible moment. I'm not sure if these are people who don't plan events and don't understand how difficult it is to plan when you don't know for how many guests you are planning. Or if they are just rude.


I am certainly not perfect, there are times when I have made a commitment to something and had to back out. Those occasions never happened on a whim. Occasionally they happen due to physical illness~which is completely understandable. And for me, sometimes I cancel due to depression.


Which brings me to another level of commitment.

Community

Last Wednesday was a perfect example of the commitment to community in my small group. I had really been struggling with depression for several days. On Friday evening I had plans with a friend~canceled. Saturday evening dinner plans with another friend~canceled. Long time plans with a friend to go to Six Flags on Monday~canceled the week before. Made new plans to go to Six Flags with another friend on Monday~canceled. Add to that the effects of PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which is basically PMS increased exponentially) and all I wanted to do was hibernate.

On Monday I made the good decision to let others know that I was struggling. Specifically I sent an email to the women in my community group asking for their prayers. On Wednesday I wasn't doing any better so I sent an email to our group leader letting her know that I would not be attending that evening. Apparently that was not an acceptable answer. Just before our Bible study should be starting I received two phone calls and a text message. Basically, I could willingly join them for ice cream and fellowship or someone would be waiting on my doorstep to drag me out when I got home. So, mostly willingly I met my sisters at Bruster's for ice cream. It may not have been what I thought I wanted. But it most definitely was what I needed. (Perhaps I didn't need the Key Lime Pie ice cream~with lots of crust).

"Friendship is always a sweet responsibility,

never an opportunity"

Kahlil Gibran

Attention Deficit or Alzheimer's

I've spent the last day and a half wanting to write something here. I've had several ideas bouncing--quite literally--around in my head. There is one idea that has stood out as THE topic.

However, I keep forgetting what that topic is. Now I'm beginning to wonder what's happening. Is it my attention deficit disorder or something more sinister like Alzheimer's? Earlier today when I had another "aha" moment of remembering what that fabulous topic is I suggested that I write it down. I got distracted or maybe I forgot. If I got distracted I've forgotten what the distraction was.

So, attention deficit disorder . . . or . . . Alzheimer's

Cary Band Day

It was always the same, yet somehow each year was different. One thing that was always the same was the cold. I don't know how they always knew which Saturday in November would be the coldest, but they did.


The parade seemed to start at the crack of dawn. Although I know it couldn't be that early. By that time of year the days were shorter, and we had to park what seemed like miles away from our spot along the route. So getting up early was always a part of Cary Band Day.



Although one year I didn't see the parade from the sidelines, I saw it from the top of a float. I don't remember the theme of the float, much less the sponsor. But, I do remember the huge "Nellie Olsen" bow in my in my hair and the gigantic lollipop--you know the ones, they're multi-colored and swirled. That was a great parade . . . okay, so mostly it was great to eat the lollipop!

One year I didn't see the parade at all. I was too busy trying to remember all the right notes, keep rhythm and stay in step all at the same time. As an eighth grader I wasn't too good at that. That was my last year in band, but certainly not my last experience with Cary Band Day.

In fact, a couple years ago I happened to be visiting my parents one weekend in November. As we sat out on the deck you could still clearly hear the bands as they competed for the "Best of Show" and other awards.

It was a very sweet sound.

Memories

A while ago I purchased a book titled, "Writing your Life: Putting Your Past On Paper" by Lou Willett Stanek, Ph.d. I purposely put the book away after purchasing it.

I was out at Borders and saw this book on an end cap. While I want to do some writing, I knew that I was not ready to commit to this book at that time. Recently some things have changed in my life and I now feel ready to do more writing. Also, I received a new journal from a friend. The title on the journal is "Don't you remember?" What a perfect journal to record my 'memoirs'.

Each chapter talks about some aspect of writing down your memories and follows it with some suggested topics to start you thinking.

Some of those memories will be posted here, some may just remain in the journal. But, I'm excited to be writing again.

So keep watching . . . 'Memories' to come

I Do It Myself!!!

"I do it myself!"

When you hear it from a two year old you are either quietly amused or extremely frustrated--possibly both.

When you hear it from an adult who needs help you may feel frustrated, sad, or disappointed.

When you hear it from a young adult who is stepping out on their own you may be sad or ecstatic, or once again . . . both.

There are times in our lives that "doing it ourselves" is a very dangerous proposition.

There are other times when it's a growth experience.

This past week I've been feeling isolated and lonely. On at least one occasion I've reached out to connect with someone healthy and safe. That was good for the time we were together, however when I left I went back to the state of loneliness.

In the past I would have reached out to literally anyone who would give me attention. Trading anything--including my soul--for that moment of connectedness.

The truth is I have dozens of friends that I could call on at any hour. And I have no doubt that they would be there for me. But something kept me from calling them--a knowledge that they didn't have what I needed.

During this time I've also been dealing with some frustration with a lack of productivity and a search for someone to hold me accountable. I've been lacking the motivation to do things that have to be done--walking, working out, taking care of my home, etc. So, if I can find someone to hold me accountable then maybe I'll do these things.

I woke up yesterday with the realization that it's time for me to "do it myself". Not doing it alone. I've proven over and over again in my life that I can't do anything without Christ. Okay, I can make a really big mess, but to clean it up I need God.

What I can't do is live my life for any other person . . . or their approval. If my house is going to get clean and stay that way . . . I do it myself. If I'm going to eat healthy . . . I do it myself. If I'm going to work out and lose weight . . . I do it myself. Again, I can not accomplish any of that without God's help and guidance. But neither can I do it for the sake of someone else.

The loneliness and isolation? That was God pursuing me. Oh, I'd been talking to him. Asking him to bring someone into my life to hold me accountable--and I do need that. However, I have to find my own motivation.

It's a pretty awesome realization that God is pursuing me. I mean, God is pursing me. He's pursuing me . . . he wants to spend time with me . . . he wants me to turn to him--for everything.

I have found much contentment in being single over the last several years. However, that doesn't negate the need to be wanted and loved. Intellectually I've known that God is my lover, my husband, my companion . . . and that's good to know. Today I know that he's all of that and much much more. I know it in my heart.

So as I was cleaning and cooking yesterday I was also talking to God. His answer came in the form of a song. "Psalm 62" by Shane and Shane. It's been in my iTunes for more than a year--this is the first time I've heard it.

He's the only one
strong enough to lean
my heaviness against
the weight of all my sin
falling on a rock
leaning on a fortress
Oh the wall of God
Jesus, he won't move

On God I rest
my salvation
my fortress shall not be shaken
My mighty rock and my glorious
I lay my head upon his chest

On God I rest . . .

So . . . "my soul rests, on God alone" . . .

and with God's help alone "I do it myself!"

Reality

What is Real?





That's the question asked by the Velveteen Rabbit and answered by the Skin Horse in the following excerpt:





"What is Real?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"


"Real isn't how your are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves, then you become Real."


"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit


"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."


"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"


"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

So . . . who am I . . . Really?

I'm a ragamuffin, an addict, a sinner, and a wretch

who is loved by God and redeemed by the blood of Christ on the cross

an heir to the throne, a daughter of the King of kings

A Princess

who loves the color pink and refuses to 'grow up'

I am Me!