"Tossed or Sheltered?"

He calmed the storm to a whisper
    and stilled the waves.
What a blessing was that stillness
    as he brought them safely into harbor! 

Psalm 107:29-30 

 

I like storms.  Don't ask me why, just accept that I'm weird that way.  Storms tend to stir things up and can make a mess of everything, yet they can also clear away detritus leaving room to build or grow.  

 

The same applies to the storms in our own lives.  When they come, and they will, we can get caught up in them and let them destroy our peace, or we can accept them and let God deal with them. If we choose to let them control us we will worry, lose sleep, complain, get headaches, stomach aches, high blood pressure...all the things we don't need or want.  However, when we turn EVERYTHING over to Abba, we will experience the "peace beyond understanding" because we accept that He has a purpose for allowing our storms.

 

My Grampa once asked me, "How does all your stressing and worry help your situation?".  Honestly, it doesn't.  So why stress and worry?  Because we are listening to the whispers of our enemy who's main purpose is to get us to take our eyes off of our Abba!  We must be vigilant and give Abba everything!  Why? Well, consider this: It's all His anyway! 

When You're In Over Your Head

When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.

Isaiah 43:2 

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the stress was SO heavy you had trouble breathing?  Felt as though you were drowning?  Boy howdy, I have!   

Here's something God brought to mind just now, when I have been under so much stress and pressure that I feel as though I am drowning, guess who is the last one I ask for help?  Yep....you guessed it.  In those moments, my thoughts become "what now?" instead of "Okay God, You brought me to this, please get me through this."  But I'm learning!  And here's something else...when God does bring me through it, I need to be grateful and thank Him. 

And Then...Stress Set In

"You have decided the length of our lives.

    You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer." - Job 14:5

I've mentioned before that I have always been a worrier.  Even as a child I would worry about everything.  And guess what that did for me?  Lots of pointless stress and lots of upset stomach issues.  And for what?

I have friends who love going to the gym. So much so that they get a bit anxious if they can't manage to go every single day.  They like to be fit, and that's not a bad thing.  I have friends who are almost fanatical about their diet, that's okay.  God has given us this ONE life on Earth, and that should reflect our love for Him.

So today, just two points:

1. Remember Jesus' words: "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" Matthew 6:27.  Worry, anxiety and stress add not a single moment to your life, however they will suck all the joy out of living.

2. We need to take care of ourselves with rest, and learn to relish each moment we are given.  Tell those you care about that you care.  Show others that you love them.  Hold no grudges.  Forgive if you want to be forgiven. Love and encourage each other!

Think about it! 

Under Pressure

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. 

We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

2 Corinthians 4:8

 

Have you ever felt as if the world was pressing in so much that you would be crushed at best, and go insane at worst.  So much pressure is being placed on you that you can understand how a lump of coal feels when it's being turned into a diamond.  What are we to do when the stress and anxiety come crashing down on us?  The Apostle points out the they were not crushed. Why?  Maybe because being crushed would be the easy way out.

Perhaps the Apostle is reminding us that our enemy will use whatever means he must to cause us to become ineffective and/or question God's control of everything!  If he can get us to give up and focus only on ourselves because of everything we are dealing with, then we become ineffective.  

Think about this:  People aren't as interested in your situations and all you have to deal with as much as they are watching to see how you are dealing with it.  Are you trusting God or are you ranting like a lunatic?

Celebrate

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Philippians 4:4-7 

Did you know that one of the easiest things to become in this life is cynical?  It's true!  We begin by looking at the negatives in life, then we start talking about the negative things we see, finally we cannot see anything but the negative in everything and everyone.  When we become cynical we are not pleasant to be around.  When we become cynical, no one can ever do anything right.  When we become cynical, we are essentially telling God that we don't like the way He is doing things and that WE know a better way to do everything.

But...what happens when we celebrate everything God is doing for us and through us?  The cynicism melts away.  You cannot be a cynic and celebrate God at the same time!  We cannot worry and trust God at the same time.  Worry is our way of telling God we don't believe He can do all He promised  And yet, we know God has never let us down; He has NEVER wrung His hands wondering if we would be okay; NEVER fretted about what to do next.  Why?  Because He is God!  Nothing surprises Him!  

When we take our worry and our fear and our anxiety and turn it into a prayer of praise to God ("I don't know what You are up to, but I'm in because I know YOU have my best interest in Your heart and will NEVER let the Pit Dweller win") He will replace all that with His peace and assurance!

In Times Of Stress

Depend on the Lord in whatever you do,
    and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3 

 

Today I am talking to myself and letting you listen in.  Over the last several weeks, there have been quite a number of stressful challenges.  Most of which I did not handle as well as I should have.  Why? Because I tried to make MY plan work.....and when it failed, I was even more stressed.

 

I know we were promised that there will be trials, troubles, tribulations, and any other negative "T" word, in our lives.  I could accept that, but when they seem to drop on me all at once.....

 

But I was reminded that I teach a class on Law Enforcement Stress and I was not using the same tools I teach on how to handle stress, so the smack to the face was quite a wake-up call.

Here are some of the things that have helped me in the past, and will continue to help when I remember not to rely on me:

 

     1.  Face facts.  If I walk around with a smile on my face and my heart is racing because I am stressed, I'm lying to everyone!  The first step to any resolution is admitting and identifying the problem.  So the problem I was having was ME.

 

    2.  Write it out.  Writing things down helps your mind process and begin to put the situation in order.  When your mind is able to begin to put things in order, the strain of the situation will lessen.

 

    3. Talk it out. If you see me talking to myself in the car, I'm having a conversation with God about what's on my mind and heart.  If you see me with my head down walking quickly, I am on my way to the car to talk with God about what's on my mind and heart.  Why talk to God?  Because He understands how I feel, what I think, and already has worked out a resolution to the issue.  

 

     4.  Talk with your loved ones.  When we are enduring stress, our human response tends to be to isolate ourselves and push others away.  But when we talk with loved ones about what's going on with us, we have a support system that God has given us to help us.

 

The key to all of this is that I understand I cannot (and should not, given the results of many of my plans) try to handle stressful situations by myself.  God has given us so much and has so much He wants to give us when we depend on Him!

We're In This Together

May the patience and encouragement that come from God allow you to live in harmony with each other the way Christ Jesus wants. Then you will all be joined together, and you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God. 

Romans 15:5-7 

 

Let me ask you something, if you were in an accident and you were trapped inside the vehicle, would you really care who came to help you out?  Probably not.  

 

If you found yourself on a cruise and the ship began to sink, would you be picky about who you share a lifeboat with?  Probably not.

 

In times of devastation and stressful situations, one of the first things we get rid of are our prejudices.  Ever notice that?  Why is that?  If we are willing to discard our prejudices in those times, why bother to reinstate them when the trauma has passed?

 

Let me be honest, we are ALL walking through this life together.  Did you catch that?  TOGETHER!  And to be even more honest, one of the places I have been part of which has the MOST discord (shrouded by a thin veil of piety) is the church!  The one place people go for healing and instead they find power struggles, drama, discord, and more knives in the backs of others than even in prison.  Why is that?  Imagine how much more effective we would be in every situation if we were to drop out petty differences and prejudices and actually worked together.  

Are You Draggin'?

Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down,
but an encouraging word brings him joy.

Proverbs 12:25

When I talk with people, I usually will start with the simple question of "How are you doing?".  Now...chances are, when I ask that question, I am already aware that rainbows and unicorns aren't what you have in your life.  So if your answer is the cliche "I'm good", "Fine", "Okay", "I'm not unwell, thank you", or "Go away Padre", you are confirming to me the knowledge that there's something going on that you're holding in.

Stress and Anxiety are HEAVY burdens to tote around.  We don't like for people to know we are stressed about how we're going to make it from month to month.  We don't like people to know that we are uncertain of how to handle a situation we have encountered.  We don't like for people to know that our relationships are strained to the breaking point.  We don't like people to know.....  Why? Because if we admit that we are stressed or anxious, then we have to admit that we aren't as strong as we want others to see us as being.

Couple of things to understand about stress....if not resolved (we tend to push stress down and hope it will go away), stress will destroy you!  Plain and simple.  The other thing you need to know is that there is no quick fix for stress release.  Slapping a band-aid on a gunshot will not stop the problem, and neither will a simple chat.  

Here are some practical (actions you can take) to help you deal with stress:
     1.  Write it out!  Whatever is in you mind, write it down.  Doesn't have to make sense because you are giving your mind the voice to get the pieces out so they can eventually be processed.
     2.  Give yourself permission to feel overwhelmed.  Not while you are driving, but when you can have time to let it go.  You can cry, you can yell, you can throw pillows (so no walls get damaged), you can even just sit and think.
     3.  Talk with someone who can give you some perspective.  Understand, you aren't the first person to deal with stress and you won't be the last.
     4.  Ask yourself: "Is this issue worth stressing over?"  Most times, when we realize the true size of the issue, the answer is NO.  
     5.  Accept that there are those of us who want to help you release the stress!

I Hate Being Sick

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:13-15

I hate being sick.  I have been sick for the last several days and with all the coughing, hacking, and various other internal rebellions, each morning I was more sore than the day before. 

This tells me two things:
     1.  Feeling like I lost a fight with a freight train is painful.
     2.  Being sore tells me there's muscles in my body whether they can be seen or not.

When I first felt the onset, I kept telling God "I don't have time to be sick! I have too much to do!"  Well, apparently God's plans didn't exactly agree with mine, because I felt worse and worse.  And, as if that weren't enough, my sweet bride also caught what I had, so there we've been over the last few days giving the FBI surveillance team a hearty chuckle.  You know what's worse than the blind leading the blind?  The sick trying to take care of the sick!

But the more upset and stressed about "not having time" to be sick, the worse I felt.  Then, true to form, day before yesterday, I told God that I just give up and whatever He's trying to remind me, please just make it clear to me.  And it was as if my mind suddenly cleared and I realized that I had gotten SO involved in what I wanted to get done that I had begun to be blinded to all that is truly important.  Busy-ness is a curse!  I've seen my calendar (and several other peoples' calendars) were SO full that there was no room for anything.  And then we wonder why we are SO exhausted, irritable, and frustrated!

I still hate being sick, but sometimes that's how God gets my attention. 

Just A Little...

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 

 

The night had been spent tossing and turning because my mind kept running through my calendar for the the next day to make sure I had not forgotten to enter an appointment (my mind doesn't seem to be able to keep track the way it used to). 

 

Plus, I had forgotten to pick up my prescription for sleep meds.  

 

Plus, so far this year, let's just say I am truly looking forward to 2016 being over.  

 

PLUS I still have classes to facilitate and get the needed materials together and in order.  

 

PLUS family issues to deal with.

 

PLUS I have a list of projects that need to be completed.

 

PLUS.....PLUS......PLUS......the load never seems to get lighter and the stress never seems to let up, does it?

 

It was one of those days where I realized there was not enough coffee in the Universe to give me the strength to complete everything that was staring me in the face from my calendar.

 

To say I felt more then a bit overwhelmed would be an ENORMOUS understatement!!!

 

Then today's passage was this morning's devotional, and I breathed a prayer of gratitude that even history's most energetic, stubborn, and dedicated Apostle felt overwhelmed.

 

As I sat with my coffee pondering today's passage, I couldn't help but hear the James Bond theme song in my mind along with his famous catch-phrase "shaken....not stirred."  Now, I'm no James Bond and am not a fan of martinis, but I realized that I NEEDED to be shaken in order to be stirred into action (see what I did there?).  The fact was, I had gotten complacent and had forgotten that it's okay to say "I'm sorry, I just simply cannot fit another thing into my calendar today."  It's okay to take care of myself.  It's okay to realize that I am not a superhero who can wear tights (wipe THAT image from you mind if you can) and who can swoop in to solve everyone's problems.  It's OKAY!

 

The Apostle Paul was stressed and overwhelmed to the point he thought he would die!  That is pretty overwhelmed!  Jesus even was so stressed over His upcoming trial, torture and execution that He had sweat droplets running down His face like blood.  So feeling overwhelmed is okay...we are in good company.

 

I realize this is a bit of a long read today, and I thank you for reading this far, but let me give you a few PRACTICAL ways of helping alleviate some stress:

     *    Take care of yourself.  Yes, I just punched myself in the face on that one.  If you don't take care of you, then how can you take care of others.

     *     Realize that you have only 24 hours in each day, and some of that time needs to be spent resting and sleeping.

     *     Learn to limit what you need and want to do each day.

     *     When you feel overwhelmed, don't be afraid to ask for help.  Even if it's just to unload some of the stress by talking it out.  Sometimes a different perspective can alleviate stress.

 

It's okay to be human....you are in good company! 

Life Is Tough! But God...

When doubts filled my mind,
    your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

Psalm 94:19 

 

I love my job!  Not because it is glamorous; not because I get showered lots accolades; not because it brings lots of attention.  I love my job because it is what God has called me to do.  When issues or problems or hurts arise, God allows me to bring His comfort as best as I can. 

 

Now....I work with mostly Law Enforcement Officers.  These are tough individuals who are accustomed to being in control and in charge.  So when calamity strikes, and it does, they "suck it up and drive on."  Which works fine for them.....for a while.  Eventually, after months or even years of stuffing down their feelings...cracks begin to show.  Perhaps, they are more argumentative and don't understand why their squad, family, spouse don't like being around them.  Perhaps, they begin numbing their feelings with alcohol or other ingested methods.  Perhaps, they just quit altogether.  Perhaps they act out. Perhaps they have become so jaded that they hate everything and everyone.

 

Want to know something interesting?  What I described about Law Enforcement Officers applies to humanity as a whole.  We don't want people to think we are weak.  We don't want people to see that we are vulnerable.  We don't like NOT being in control. 

 

Fact:  We AREN'T in control!  God is the one in control.  So when doubts fill out minds, and they will, God will comfort us and renew our hope.  And guess what?  Usually through people who have endured something similar and has come through on the other side.

 

God comforts us in ways we don't expect and through people who truly do care.  Don't be afraid to be real and honest.  There will come a time when YOU will be able to be God's comforter for others.

 

As a matter of note:  I often counsel others to "Take care of yourself; because if you don't take care of yourself, you cannot take care of others."  I am going to be taking my own advice, as difficult as that is, and will be off the grid until Monday.

 

Why Are YOU Here?

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 Kings 19:11-13

Let me ask you something, have you ever thought of everything you need to accomplish and almost crumple with the weight of that realization?  Have you ever looked at all the task you undertake and wonder "so THIS is what my life has become"?  Are you ready to change that?

Look at today's passage....God told Elijah to go stand on the mountain.  When Elijah did that, God passed by and everything became very overwhelming for Elijah (kind of like what happens when you look at your calendar and wonder how you're going to get everything done and remain sane).  

First, the windstorm hit the mountain.  This was not just a gentle breeze!  This was a wind that was strong enough to tear rocks loose! But if Elijah focused on the windstorm (aka, projects, paperwork, reports, telephone calls...), he would get distracted and not realize that God was not in the windstorm.

Next, there was an earthquake! And since the wind had torn rocks loose, the earthquake sent them bouncing and crashing all over the mountain.  But if Elijah focused on the earthquake (aka, meetings, seminars, classes, presentations....), he would get distracted and not realize that God was not in the earthquake.

Finally, there was a fire!  Fire that heated the stone until it cracked and smoke that made it hard to breathe or find your direction. But if Elijah focused on the fire (aka, children's activity schedules, family schedules, appointments, holiday gatherings, church activities, community activities.....), he would get distracted and not realize that God is not in the fire.

Where is God?  Elijah had all this mess going on and crashing down around him, overwhelming him, and God WHISPERS to him "Why are you HERE?".

Let me tell you a little something, it's okay to be busy.  It's okay to have activities.  It's okay to have a lot going on.  HOWEVER, it's NOT okay to leave God out of everything.  We seem to believe that we just don't have any room for God during our busy-ness and when we finally flop into bed exhausted from our day, we don't seem to have room for God then either.  And we wonder why we are so anxious, stressed, and upset?  We wonder why we take medications to help us sleep, keep us calm, and gulp down energy drinks by the tanker truck full?

As you go through your day, make God your first and primary focus:  "Father, today is going to be busy, but thank YOU that You are with me.  Help me to reflect You in everything we do today, and if I screw up...help me reflect You there too."

Jesus reminds us: "You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:14-16)

Why are you HERE?  To reflect God in everything you do.  Put Him first and let Him do His job!   

Why Are YOU Here?

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 Kings 19:11-13

Let me ask you something, have you ever thought of everything you need to accomplish and almost crumple with the weight of that realization?  Have you ever looked at all the task you undertake and wonder "so THIS is what my life has become"?  Are you ready to change that?

Look at today's passage....God told Elijah to go stand on the mountain.  When Elijah did that, God passed by and everything became very overwhelming for Elijah (kind of like what happens when you look at your calendar and wonder how you're going to get everything done and remain sane).  

First, the windstorm hit the mountain.  This was not just a gentle breeze!  This was a wind that was strong enough to tear rocks loose! But if Elijah focused on the windstorm (aka, projects, paperwork, reports, telephone calls...), he would get distracted and not realize that God was not in the windstorm.

Next, there was an earthquake! And since the wind had torn rocks loose, the earthquake sent them bouncing and crashing all over the mountain.  But if Elijah focused on the earthquake (aka, meetings, seminars, classes, presentations....), he would get distracted and not realize that God was not in the earthquake.

Finally, there was a fire!  Fire that heated the stone until it cracked and smoke that made it hard to breathe or find your direction. But if Elijah focused on the fire (aka, children's activity schedules, family schedules, appointments, holiday gatherings, church activities, community activities.....), he would get distracted and not realize that God is not in the fire.

Where is God?  Elijah had all this mess going on and crashing down around him, overwhelming him, and God WHISPERS to him "Why are you HERE?".

Let me tell you a little something, it's okay to be busy.  It's okay to have activities.  It's okay to have a lot going on.  HOWEVER, it's NOT okay to leave God out of everything.  We seem to believe that we just don't have any room for God during our busy-ness and when we finally flop into bed exhausted from our day, we don't seem to have room for God then either.  And we wonder why we are so anxious, stressed, and upset?  We wonder why we take medications to help us sleep, keep us calm, and gulp down energy drinks by the tanker truck full?

As you go through your day, make God your first and primary focus:  "Father, today is going to be busy, but thank YOU that You are with me.  Help me to reflect You in everything we do today, and if I screw up...help me reflect You there too."

Jesus reminds us: "You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:14-16)

Why are you HERE?  To reflect God in everything you do.  Put Him first and let Him do His job!   

Life's Storms!

Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice—I will show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep, and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.

Luke 6:47-48

 

 

Feeling stressed?  Feeling overwhelmed?  Feeling worried?  Feeling as though everything is crashing down around you?  Perhaps you feel like Job, "The churning inside me NEVER stops: days of suffering confront me!" (Job 30:27).

 

You have BILLS so you need:

     *  MONEY (for such things as food, clothing, shelter)

     *  So you get a JOB! (paycheck coming in is good, but the job and the expectations of those over you and the community make the Job stressful).

     *  You work so much, think about work so much, focus on work so much that the LIFE you wanted seems always just out of reach.

     *  With your LIFE in turmoil because you can't seem to find the stability you need, LOVE and RELATIONSHIPS are not satisfactory.  And then you begin to notice that stress has led to some unhealthy habits so you begin focusing and stressing about your LOOKS and your HEALTH.

    *  And the cycle continues with more stress being added because we can be a demanding and neurotic species.

 

I will be perfectly honest....there are NO quick fixes that will have lasting positive results!  I am sorry to have to say that, but it's true.  We LEARNED to be stressed and anxious! The only way to fight that is to LEARN how to let go of the stress and let anxiety roll off.  

 

If you look at today's verse, you will see that just because a man dug deep and built his house on a solid foundation did not stop the floods and storms from coming.  If you are looking for a life of laying by the seaside with no worries or concerns ever....ummmm.....not happening this side of Heaven, I'm sorry to say.

 

But there ARE things you can do to get a firm foundation!

    1.    Talk with someone you trust (Padre's suggestion here is, God!  He knows everything already).  Someone who will be truthful with you, not just tell you what you want to hear.

    2.   Develop a hobby.

    3.   Yes....I'm going to get on my Padre Platform: Invest yourself in a church!

    4.   Develop friendships that are outside your comfort zone.

    5.   Spend time with positive people (not cheerleader types, but those who help you see a more positive perspective.)

 

 

There are lots of other things that will be helpful, but changes need to come because you're ready to accept them and actually MAKE them.  

  

Most of the time, we stay stressed out because we are to afraid to make any changes.  Stress becomes the place we feel "comfortable" even while it slowly kills you.  Think about it!