With the passing of Thanksgiving, there is no doubt that the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season is here.
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“Come, let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His Path.” Isaiah 2:3
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This is the week of Thanksgiving. There is so much to be thankful for…family, friends, good health, happiness and a roof over our heads, just to name of a few.
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Morning was beginning to break as we drove by Southwest Memorial Hospital in Houston. The hospital was a very familiar place to me.
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Colossians 2 :6-7
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1 Thessalonians 1:3-”We remember before our God and Father your work produced by Faith, your labor prompted by Love, and your endurance inspired by Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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“Cast all of your worries on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
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“Be Still and Know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the Earth.” Psalm 46:10
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We had just dropped off our middle daughter for her first year of college and I was proud of myself as I fought to stay strong, trying not to become too emotional.
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It wasn’t a regular Thursday night. On this particular evening, a message was delivered unlike any other I had ever heard.
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Proverbs 13:3- Those who guard their lips will preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.
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Psalm 73 : 26- “My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
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Rushing to our plane in the Atlanta Airport, a profound thought permeated me as I looked at the multitudes all around. There were people of every age, nationality and race, all in a rush just like me.
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“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, rather in all humility. Value others above yourself not looking to your own interests but in the interest of others.” Philippians 2 :3-4
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One Minute Mama – Taking Control of your Thoughts
When I think back to when I was a new mom, I clearly remember being up for a late-night feeding, turning on the news and hearing a horrific story involving a Mom. No matter how hard I tried, it was almost impossible to get that news story out of my head. I was tormented with all kinds of disturbing thoughts of what ifs and whys. The next day the replay of the news story went through my head like a ticker tape. The thought was hanging around and it started to take root. The effect was distress and stolen happy moments. I knew I had entered into a spiritual battle.
A spiritual battle is when the good (God) and the bad (devil) are warring for control of your mind. It can become very real, scary and consuming. This is when a person needs to understand what is taking place in the spiritual realm. In Ephesian 6:12(NIV) it states, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” This is a very real battle and can affect all people at any age and at any time.
I have learned that when bad thoughts present themselves, I need to take a moment to realize that I have a choice as to which path I am going to take. Am I going to catastrophize the thought and let torment entrap me? Or on the contrary, am I going to realize that I am on God’s team and I have the ability to partner up with His promises on how to battle? A very powerful scripture to overcome the proverbial slippery slope of thought patterns is 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5(NKJ). It says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
This scripture has rescued me many times when the news, tv or movies plant tormenting seeds in my mind. Another tool I use comes from a book that I read years ago. This book has really helped to fight the spiritual battles that we face using Christian fiction. It is titled, This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti. (book link here ) I have shared it with many friends, teens and peers as a tool to help understand and release the bondage of spiritual attacks. This novel along with powerful scripture is the arsenal needed to fight and win this war of the mind.
I am sharing all this so you know that there is a way to find peace in the knowledge that you have a way to be free from tormenting thoughts. Reaching this understanding in my own life has liberated my mind and helped me experience the daily joy that God desires for me and I know He desires for all of us. It has rescued me countless times in my life and I know for a fact it will help you too.
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In Sunday School our teacher, Brett Smith, shared this anonymous short story, written for those who live in a constant state of bondage to the events of the past.
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