LOVE my life... (part 2)

In my last post, I said  I loved my life 99% of the time.  Today, I want to be open, honest & unveiled to share with you what goes on in my life the other 1% of the time.

In response to a few past posts, I've had friends tell me I'm too hard on myself.  That my be true, but it's usually during that 1% of my life - depression.   There, it's out.  Not a word we like to admit.  Depression brings us to a point of having no control, something I don't do well with. It has been an off-n-on issue much of my adult life, especially a few years after my Dad died.

 I want you to know, whether you deal with it or may do so eventually, don't give up. Yes, it's not fun, it's a struggle & sometimes a dark place.  I choose to persevere through it knowing God is walking with me, even if it doesn't always seem like it. Doing some research  I found that hypoglycemia can have many of the symptoms of depression, along with thyroid & other physical imbalances.  I seem to have all of them.

 I know when I'm "in the 1%" because a negative attitude comes over me. This is my God-alert, which I am grateful for & I can begin to do what needs to be done to overcome it.  A few weeks ago when it occurred , God lead me to books & devotionals about gratitude & JOY.  This has truly been LIFE CHANGING for me.  The supplements I take are helpful BUT God's Word & the encouragement through the books is the Game/Attitude changer.

The 1% will rear it's ugly head at times, but I do not battle it in my own strength.  I have friends who pray for me during those times, I read my Bible, read the Gratitude books & I persevere through the tears and what seems to be despair to the other side to enJOY my life. 

I almost gave up this blog a few weeks ago in the midst of the 1% - ready to erase it from the internet.  God did not allow me to follow through.  Thank You Lord, for giving me the grace to be open & to continue to be an encouragement to others.

Lysa Terkeurst writing in her Unglued Devotional put into words for me the reason why I love doing my blog - "It's what compels me to split my heart wide open & let people see the not-so-great stuff about me mixed in with all the gracious goodness of God... If I can help a soul find an authentic, honest way to connect with God..."  The following two Scriptures assure me that Jesus has my 1% covered.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding...
Luke 10:27  Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind."  (Jesus is quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and, since He is the Author of Scripture, took the liberty to add "all your mind." )

Unglued Devotional is linked in previous post. image: moneyplansos.com

LOVE my life... (part 1)

 I really do LOVE my life  - 99%  of the time.  I have a hard-working, faithful but annoying husband; I have 2 helpful, but annoying son-in-laws; I have 2 beautiful, great cooks, awesome Godly mothers as daughters, 4 Screamin' Meemies (meemies defined as "nervous hysteria" - OH YEAH !!) & one Adam Buddy - full of Miller genes, professional face maker, otherwise known as "Judy" (ask his Mom).

As I go about my day at home there are times I  find myself thinking, "I LOVE my life" as I did this morning.  First, let me say the primary source for loving my life is because at age 35, Jesus Christ, who had never stopped pursuing me, made Himself completely known.  As I look back over almost 30 years (YIKES) of knowing Him & His deep love for me, I have finally realized that I have been making "imperfect progress" towards an eternal goal (thanks to the book by Lysa Terkeurst Unglued Devotional - 60 Days to Imperfect Progress ).

Just in writing this post, I cannot tell you the JOY that is filling me to over-flowing.  In part 2, I will share with you the other 1% of what goes on in my life and how I have learned to persevere through it.
Nehemiah 8:10  Do not grieve, for the JOY of the is your strength.”

PS - yes, I do know that I, too, can be annoying  - no perfect people this side of Heaven.  :-)
Oh Yeah - I needed to look up whether to use yea or yeah. Found this link:  Grammarphobia

TOO FUNNY - Trivia:  The Screaming Meemees were one of the biggest post-punk new-wave pop bands in New Zealand in the early 1980's.

image:ilovemylifeandthepeopleinit.facebook.com 

O Be Careful Little Eyes ...

So are you singing the song already?  I am getting ready to teach this song to my Lighthouse Kids on Wednesday nights.  I tried to find out who & when the song was written with little luck. For whatever reason when the song popped into my head, it also spoke to MY heart.

I found myself asking this question:  How much do I really desire to protect my eyes, ears, mind & heart to keep them pure in thought ?  Just searching for photos to put in the blog has proven this is not an easy task.  Remember WWJD - what would Jesus do ?  Well, the question could be "what will I do knowing He is ALWAYS with me?"  Matthew 28:20 Jesus said, "Surely, I am with you always..."

If we are desiring to live Christ honoring lives, is there a line drawn for what adults as opposed to what children should see/do?  Matthew 19:14 - Jesus said  “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

We are actually called to be like little children in our faith, to keep our innocence when possible, to guard our hearts.  Our eyes & ears are the gateway to our hearts.   It isn't possible to avoid all ungodly things that may be put before our eyes or caught by our ears, but in most cases we are able to choose what we will see or hear which affects our thoughts, in turn affecting our hearts.  Let us choose wisely, the things of God.

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Find the video here and share with kids & grand-kids: O Be Careful Little Eyes ....
image: Allison Grace Miller age 2

Grrr-Attitude

An attitude of gratitude.  We've heard that phrase before. In everything we have two choices, it's simply a choice of attitude.  It sounds so simple at times, but it often takes determination to have a an attitude of gratitude through certain seasons or "detours" in our life, in our walk with the Lord.
      It really is true that we do draw closer to Him, during those times which gives us the wisdom & strength to persevere through the next.  Physical and emotional detours can make it a bit harder but that's where perseverance & hope come into play.  I am finding that there is strength in knowing what those words mean, especially in relationship to my faith in Christ.
      This past month, I was lead to a wonderful author of Gratitude devotionals & books - Shelley Hitz. I am actually reading through a few of them at once.  As a Believer, it helps to see life from another perspective.
       So  why Grrr-Atitude ?   Some times we have to walk through the grrrrr - I don't like what's gong on to "I am blessed beyond measure" if we simply have a different perspective.  Not always easy but oh so much more beneficial.


Be joyful always;  pray continually;  give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  Colossians 3:15-17


You can check out Shelley's books here:Shelley Hitz


Image: drchristianhibbert

The D Word(s)

This post has been on the back burner for awhile.  As you read, you will clearly know why.  Originally, the title of the post was to be Discipline, which usually brings the thought of children to mind. I've been reading some things about being better Disciplined as the Lord revealed to me that being organized is not the same as being Disciplined.  
     The next thing was to understand that my lack of Discipline seems to be due mainly to being so easily Distracted, which makes it hard to be Disciplined when you are Distracted....  are you following me on this ???  My first step was to "organize" a notebook (I can hear some of you already snickering) to help keep my focus on being Disciplined.  On the front cover:  More Discipline ~ Less Distraction.
     The Lord brings some wonderful thoughts & revelations in my own life to blog about, but I tend to get Distracted with something else, whether it is important or just a time waster.  Yes, I need to relax and enJOY  down time, but I know in my heart that I waste more time than I should.  Because of some other things in my life that I am sorting through, the Distractions seem persistent & the Discipline seems elusive.
     Let's not forget two other D words - the devil who is the great Deceiver.   It is his intention to keep Christians Distracted by bombarding us - even with important issues: sanctity of marriage, sanctity of Life, ungodly leadership throughout our nation, loss of purity & morality in our society, struggling to raise children with a knowledge of God ....
     In the midst of it all, those of us who feel the "need" to give to every cause, save the world, who never do enough for the Lord will get Distracted, becoming over-whelmed, sometimes losing hope & the assurance of God's peace.
     Keep in mind that we need to begin with habitual acts of faithfulness/Discipline.  It's not what we Do every now & then, but what we Do everyday, that changes everything.  Find 10 minutes of stillness everyday - no cancellations.  Be still & cease striving.
     Where do we turn ?  To the only place we can be released from our Distractions - God's Word.  When He is our focus, the Discipline will follow.
       Commit to the Lord whatever you do & your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
       Delight yourself in the Lord & He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He will do it.       Psalm 37:4,5

Here is a great book (also e-book) that encouraged me Do What You Can Plan by Holly Gerth.  A quick & encouraging read.  Blessings.