On this trip, I was able to check off three, yes three, of my biggies on “My Bucket List.” It was a spectacular trip! And, it was more than just the trip or the place, God was speaking to my heart the whole way. In fact, He is still teaching me lessons from Italy and we have been home a week! Just today, He taught me another lesson as I opened my laptop! REALLY! Well, stick with me….

Before I left for Italy, I was on stress overload. I was hoping that Italy would be my “catch-up” time. Well, OBVIOUSLY I had never travelled abroad, much less to Italy. Ha! Italy was perfect for my stress overload. I was forced to getaway, refresh, renew, unplug, and make sweet memories. It was incredible. In fact, I am forever changed from my trip to Italy–more on that in a bit.

BUT! I got NOTHING done.

Nothing.

All of those outlines, the research, and preparation are still there in my iPad–untouched…COMPLETELY. I didn’t get to work on any of my editing, writing, and definitely not any of my websites and web projects that are long, long, long overdue. Oh, let’s open up that iPad and give you a complete glimpse inside–I didn’t even get to watch the long list of movies and TV shows or read any of the new books on my Kindle app that I downloaded for the long flight.

Nope! I was as unplugged as I guess I could handle without getting stressed out–there was a period of 48 hours that I had NO INTERNET, NO EMAIL, NO TEXTING that was beginning to test me and I am so glad it was the last 48 hours of the trip.

Unplugged.

Well, except for only a few emergency emails and updates on Facebook so my family would not worry (and so they could kind of “take the trip” with me through photographs). Just those things ate up my battery charge for the day and the internet time I was allotted.

This was SO good for me!

I needed this getaway. It was just perfect! I got the perfect amount of rest, the perfect amount of romance (Well, I could always stand more of that but this was VENICE so you can imagine that I am just a romance-addict if I wanted more!!!), the perfect amount of going, the perfect amount of socialization (and new awesome friends!), the perfect amount of planning, the perfect amount of exercise, and even the perfect amount of Italian food, even Gelato (REALLY–I lost 7.5lbs!!).

Of course, that life-changing lesson that I mentioned earlier is what was really perfect and right on time.

Go back to when that lesson began. Right before the trip, I was on stress overload. Not really because of my calendar, which has been a problem before but I am always watching out for this one. Not really because of my mind, which has a tendency to take things way too serious and get way too analytical for my own good. It was not even because I was not managing stress well. It was all of the STUFF hitting me.

I did well. Looking back, I am amazed that I am not sitting in the corner somewhere rocking myself. That month before the trip was one of my all-time most stressful months ever. If you look at the list of life-stressers, I had almost all of them going on in the course of one month. SCARY! But, the hardest part was not all of the change, letting go, keeping on moving forward, feeling mushy (ALL OF THE TIME), it was the little things that just kept on pushing me when I was needing to get a grip on my totally new normal!

Have the little things? Of course!

That is what I noticed just a few minutes ago when I turned on the computer for the day. Well, first let me go back to my lesson…

Again, before the trip, I think the stress could best be pictured as a hurricane. Growing up in South Mississippi, I KNOW hurricanes. The devastation can come from the hurricane as a whole, but normally it is the little things that bring the most devastation–the floods, the tornadoes, the hail, the winds. In fact, when you are smack-dab-in-the-middle of the hurricane, things can seem very peaceful.

This is where I was as my husband began Law School, my daughter got married and moved to South Dakota with her husband (GO AIR FORCE!), our house was hit by a storm (still have the tree on the house), and on and on (this does not touch the list of things going on that month). It was not any of the big things that were stressing me out. I am very accustomed to life and having to roll with the flow. What was wearing away at me was all of the “life clutter” that was wearing away at me. The little things. The little crisis situations. The melt-downs (not by me or those I would expect). The constant push and pull. The messes everywhere SEEMING to need me to fix them.

Feel my pain?

Felt this yourself?

They were the things that were stressing me out.

I could not clearly see what was really bothering me in the midst of the storm. I just gave it all to the Lord. I know that is always the best thing to do, but it was a bit different. I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t know what else TO DO. I knew that He would take care of everything and give me a peace that He had given sooo many other times before. And, He did. Well, along with a big lesson that I am not going to forget very easily.

Ready for that lesson?

If I want to live the life of my dreams, I am going to have to get rid of the little distractions, annoyances, stresses that are stealing away time, energy, focus, and clarity.

Things went on without me. This means two things:

1. If I can cut out as much as possible, I will have more time, energy, focus, and clarity to truly step up to the call God has for me.

2. These little things are stealing away more than just my calling, they are stealing away MY LIFE.

God has already been asking me for MONTHS to evaluate all that I do in the light of whether it is really important, vital, eternal. He has been asking me whether my options were trash, trinkets, or treasures. I have been getting that lesson down deep into the “crooks and crannies” of my heart and mind. The problem was in how to clean up things so that I don’t have so many distractions and little stresses. THAT is the part of the lesson that I want to share with you.

IF we are going to be able to work with focus, clarity, and intention, we MUST get rid of these crazy stresses in our lives–the little things. Oh! We might think that we can handle them, but can we? Really?

Do we find ourselves always stressed out?

Do we always feel pushed, pulled, about to fall apart?

Do we wonder where our time is going ALL THE TIME?

Do we wonder why we are not getting around to those things to do that help us reach for our dreams?

Do we wonder why we cannot seem to live the life that we THOUGHT we could live?

The trip to Italy gave me a clarity that I have been needing for a while. I know that I cannot control the changes that come in my life. I know that seasons will come and seasons will go–I embrace that! I know that there are always going to be choices that have to be made. I am good with all of that. However, sometimes I find myself almost drowning with the life clutter and I cannot even see it for what it is. This was one of those times.

So for today, my action steps for today are:

1. Relax. Do first things first–MY FIRST THINGS! IF there is time, energy, and clarity of mind left over, THEN I will allow someone else’s FIRST THINGS into my day. If not, I will take time for ME–quiet time, time for a walk, time for a jog, time for the gym, time to bake, time to scrapbook, time for romance, or even time for a nap. Those are the things that fill me up again and give me MORE to give out tomorrow. They MUST come before crisis situations, shiny objects, melt-downs, and, definitely, BUSYNESS!

2. No more allowing the constant crisis situations to rule my schedule. (!!!!) Do you know that NOTHING absolutely HAD TO HAVE ME while I I was in Italy? NOTHING. I have got to remember what Harold says all of the time, “Someone else’s crisis does not mean that it is MY emergency.” If I want to be able to really get things done, I am going to have to keep my eyes on the mark and not get distracted so easily!

3. People DO NOT have to have ME. (Sobering huh?) Sometimes the very best thing for them is running into that wall. They NEED to come to that place that I have come sooo often–where only God will do. That is my greatest secret to success. THAT is what I really want to teach others with my websites, my blogs, my books, my teachings, and even my social networks. He IS the best teacher, the best mentor, the best comforter, the best shepherd. There will be times that He will use me. However, I can rest, relax, and pull away without fear that life on the planet will unravel without me. HELLO!

4. Yes. I CAN turn off the computer for more than one day–not answering emails as they come in! TOUGH, TOUGH, TOUGH–but the 48 hours of being blacked-out showed me that life does go on without me and I can always say I am sorry–however, I cannot get back what really matters if I miss it! No. I will not go out of business just because I go out of town or take a break. (My systems like my shopping cart, autoresponders, and WordPress are made for things like this!) I think that my biggest thing to do right now is to regularly UNPLUG. When I do, if there are things that blow up and go crazy, then THOSE are things that I need to troubleshoot so I can find systems or maybe even help/helpers that will fill that void regularly–who knows, maybe even daily. What WOULD it be like if I could simplify to such a level that I can really stick to only the things that really matter? Just HOW productive COULD I BE??? Hummm….

5. All of those offers on the internet (or mail) are not what I need TODAY or probably any time soon. And, enough is enough! I can unsubscribe from all of this extra email, miss a few webinars, and de-stress! I can also save up my money and invest it into what I really need NEXT. Noble thought, huh?

Yes. This trip had an incredible impact in my life. It is SO worth every penny we spent going away. It is SO worth the time we spent preparing to go. It taught me a life-lesson that is already impacting every area of my life–to UNPLUG.

Just UNPLUG!

I will be unplugging more and more so I can live the life of my dreams because TODAY IS THE DAY!

What are YOUR action steps today?

What will you do today so you can truly live the life of your dreams–TODAY????

September 11, 2001

You probably know that date. My beloved daughter turned 11 years old. It was her “Golden Birthday.” Everyone remembers Elisabeth’s birthday that year. In fact, our world will never be the same.

Oh, don’t worry. I know the you don’t remember Elisabeth when you think of 9-11. Instead, you think of a very decided, calculated, cunning, intentional attack on the American people, its leadership, and its economy.

I remember hearing the first responses–

“Something must have gone wrong!”
“Something messed up!”

People were astonished that four planes could go down, as if it were the planes and not the people behind the attack.

Yes. It was an all-out attack.

My husband is a pilot, he calls learning all of that stuff and flying FUN. Only a wife of a pilot will “get” that statement–the hours and hours of hearing the flying videos, and the sheer exhaustion of looking at the control panel.

911 did not just happen. The planes did not go down because the pilots were disabled. There are systmes in place that insure that those planes will not just hit a building, much less make a hit on a building. It was a planned, intentional, orchestrated, and highly professional hit on more than a building–it attacked our way of life.

The enemy hates us. He hit the core of what HE THOUGHT we are as a country. Praise God, we are MORE than the enemy thinks we are. But, as you can see, this enemy is not happy with one attack, they have continued to hit us with things they THINK are at the core of our being. They will not prevail. The hit may be a blow, but never take us away from greatness whether it is oil, insurgents, our economy, and even the upcoming decisions that our country will be making that erode our values. They may seem to have a good hit, but it will never succeed. They cannot take away what we REALLY are and what we REALLY value. Unless they take our lives. Even then, it is all gain for those of us in Christ!

Dear friends, I sent a note last week. I was purposefully vague to be kind and take the high road. I hit the toughest battle I have ever had in my ministry. I had to step up to battle.

First, I wanted to protect you–several of you have been hit and whether it was because you love me OR because this is just the character of those involved, it was time for the abuse to stop and not move on to one more person under my watch, whether my supporters or my fellow speakers/writers. Also, I was desperate for your prayers–you are prayer warriors and I am happy to report that God has broke through for me here! PRAISE THE LORD! I needed your wisdom-I know when I am in over my head. I am thankful those of you who have pulled me aside to take me UPLEVEL. I know even deeper than ever before that you are only as great as those you surround yourself with. AGAIN, PRAISE GOD! Finally, I needed to know who my friends were. You guys showed WHO YOU WERE PERFECTLY. I never considered all that would result from sending that letter. BUT! God wanted that letter to go out. It has turned up the fire and separated the pure gold while revealing the impurities. It has specifically revealed WHO IS WHO.

There are those of you who showed your innocence by your first comments and your letters and calls to me in private–you are soooo like me. I never had a doubt about YOU. I know that I have articulated my deep love for all of you. I am SO GLAD I was right about you all along. You are open. You are trusting. You just give it all to God. You give to others without restraint. You are cream of the crop. You are excellent. I praise God to know you and to have more than a business relationship with you. I can call you friend. That is more important to me today than anything else.

There are others who have sat back, rolled their eyes, and discredited what is going on. They contribute this to being a personality conflict. They suggest that forgiveness is needed. They advocate shutting up, letting it go and moving on…or reconciliation. Some have even said that I need to apologize for revealing what has been done to me, my family, and my people.

There are still others who have gotten busy. This was their sign to “activate” or get busy with little attacks because they had reasoned among themselves AHEAD OF TIME that this would be my reaction. Some have even been guilty of gossip, maligning, lying, slandering, and libel. In fact, they have carelessly talked to those who now can see it all and would be witnesses against them if need be. Their guilt and lack of conscience is rolling out their mouths AND posted all over their websites and discussion groups.

Today, I must come forth and tell you ALL my final words on this.

First, this WAS a real, intentional, calculated, malicious, cunning attack. It was YOUR BUSINESS because you need to “hear the news” and see that this DOES affect you and you may be the very next victim.

And, real quick, I say “victim,” but let me be very clear–for those who choose to slander or libel my name, we are watching, collecting information, and will not hesitate to take the appropriate legal actions.

Just as New York City, DC, and PA were hit and we now KNOW it affected all of us, even our children. Likewise, this hit DOES hit all of us, even our children. You can say what you want about George Bush, but as you do, you had better note that the man is responsible for sounding the alarm and he went to battle for you, me, and our children. In spite of mistakes that any human can make, he has done things that were led by God to protect our lives. He has been a success in that. He went to battle for our way of life. He sent our boys to the front to fight for us because there is MORE going on than what the typical American will acknowledge or ever know. There are people that, as a core to their beliefs, HATE US AND ARE COMMITTED TO DESTROY US. It is not an accident. It is not haphazard. It is real and intentional. They live their lives ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT preparing and carrying out their schemes. All of their schemes are for one purpose–to destroy us. And, they are good at it. They are not dummies.

So, that brings me to my next thing you guys need to know…

Sweet friends, I am so thankful that you guys love me. THANKS! THANKS! THANKS! I can go through anything knowing YOU are with me. I will be strong FOR YOU! I will not leave you. I will not quit. I will not get down. You should know that this week, we are just basking in all God is doing for us. I will tell you all about it along the way, but for now, I feel that the enemy is playing here. Know the enemy! Know his work! You know this, but you can spot him by his work:

To lie- He is the Father of lies.
To steal.
To kill.
To destroy.

Don’t let yourselves get down by his works. Know what God does when he works….

If he lies, God will raise of a banner of truth. You can take everything you see and hear to the Word. The Word will test it out, show the enemy in a bright light, and cast down all but truth.

If he steals, God will make him repay and repay anywhere from 7 times to 100-fold. I will take that!

If he tries to kill (take away life or a way of life), he is thwarted. God holds life in HIS HAND. Everything that happens to all of us must go past God’s watch. If the enemy is allowed to touch something of yours, you can KNOW it will never, ever touch YOU. You are safe, even beyond death (if you are a believer).

If he tries to destroy, he will fail. You cannot destroy what God has called, equipped, and anointed. Defeat only comes from within. Attacks from the enemy only result in the opposite of what he wants–he is seen for what he is and the believer is set up for a blessing! A lavish blessing!

Sweet friends, I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED. I want for you to know that the key to my ministry is not in a technique, an approach, or anything you see on the outside. That is not where I place my faith. That is not my heart. None of that is my purpose or my goals.

We are not a product or a service. That is not the core of what we are. That is not what any of you have come to value and trust. In fact, all of those have come and gone through the years. Some were already having the grace lift from them for some time. My business secret is to keep learning and keep growing. We never have one technique or approach or presentation that gets such a high place that we can be destroyed by the enemy “taking it.” Many times, we already know that God wants for us to move to something bigger and greater and easier. We don’t get stuck. I am happy to take my techniques, approaches, and everything that I use as a tool and die to ANY AND ALL OF THEM–I learned this secret by homeschooling my children. I never sacrificed THEM for any of my ideas, even my best ideas! I will let my Father bring my victory. He broke through this week for me. He has showed me the plan for keeping on going. In fact, He has rushed in to let me know it it time NOW for the next thing, the NEW THING! I am SOOOOO excited! 2009 is going to be bigger, better, and purer than ever before! I AM NOT MOVED. I am moving, but I can guarantee, I am not moved. I have a call on my life. I will not allow anything, anyone to keep me from reaching for my life purpose.

You guys have walked with me through some tough spiritual warfare before. You know how personal the enemy can hit you. I am thankful for all of those battles because I have learned how to stand. I have learned how to fight the GOOD FIGHT–no, I do not want anything to do with squabbles, personality conflicts, gossip, murmuring, etc. I will not try to defend myself or get into a squabble with anyone. When I see those things, I flee. I am not even curious. Those are little termites that keep people from greatness. I seek for greatness and to be called faithful by my Heavenly Father. Those are entanglements that keep a soldier from stepping up to the call. Those are character flaws that will destroy a soldier.

We have chosen to stay away from those entanglements as a matter of character long, long, long before I wrote my first book, bought my business license, and even spoke my first public words. I will not waste these days, these vital days, being a part of little things. Like my son, I am called to be set apart for special service. I am too busy with training and missions to get wrapped up in the little things. I love those I serve too much! They are dependent upon me staying pure before God.

Yes! Thanks for reminding me that I will not be defeated. The enemy does not know (or believe) the secret to my success–thanks for reminding me of it. If they had listened, they would have heard it. However, they don’t believe it because they can’t understand GOD. They don’t know ME, the real me. They, like the terrorists who continually hit our country, are not going to be able to hit me where it really hurts me. They do not have access to that. You see they think that my heart is in my business. It is not. MY HEART IS IN MY HOME. NO ONE can touch my family. NO ONE can touch those who safely run to my home for shelter. MY HOME IS A SAFEPLACE. Note, not my house or my business or my stuff. MY HOME. I may not be a lot of things, but I AM a keeper of my home. I have set guard over my home. I am “armed for battle” and I will fight to my death for my home. I will give up everything to protect those I love in my family and those who come “inside the place of my tent” whether physically or digitally. This attack is not even big enough to touch my home. It can’t get that personal because they do not know my real love. It is NOT my business. It is NOT my conference room. It is NOT my stuff. Hit on! They can take all of that, but they cannot get what they want–they want to destroy ME. God is protecting ME. I am perfectly happy to sit back and watch Him battle for me. I will not be defeated. I am more than a conqueror. I am a victor–past tense, present tense, future tense. The enemy better know my God is fighting this one for me and he will pay big, big, big.

Finally, this IS about you!

I do not tell you this to appeal to your curiosity. I am not interested in sympathy. I am certainly dismayed and disappointed that so many have gone into “gossip mode” by talking among themselves instead of being still, hearing God, and letting HIM reveal the truth. I am also dismayed that so many have thought this was simple. This puts you even more at risk.

This is not one thing. This is not one hit. This has been active and going on for at minimum a year. Yes, I have wondered how I could be so brain-dead and trusting–again, my only excuse is that my family has my first and foremost focus and I am so accustomed to the hits on me and my family that I just kept going. I am SO sorry for dropping the ball–I had NO IDEA. If I had only known that some of you were being treated sooo poorly by these people, I would have stepped up immediately. When I did find out, I immediately began to help you. I have to KNOW what is going on. When I did, that is where I did say that enough was enough and finally see the problem.

Yes, for those of you who have NO CLUE what has happened, I am not the only one getting hit, many of those who ARE my friends (fellow speakers and supporters) have been hit as well–that was where I drew the line (I can take the hits. I will NOT allow my precious friends to be hit on my guard. And, that brings me to our answer dear friends…

I have been asked a question over and over and over this week. How can I protect myself? How do I KNOW? How can I discern? How do you know if the people I am associated with are genuine or a part of this scheme? Oh! I feel your pain! THIS IS MY LESSON AND TRIAL THIS WEEK! As much as I want to trust everyone, reality is that I need to surround myself with those who SEE, DISCERN, and can guard me. I need to protect those I love. So, here is what I am doing:

1. Pull back. Stop. Do nothing. Say nothing. We have pulled back. We are sitting back, watching, and waiting. It is AMAZING what God has shown us so far. My fear that I would not be able to trust anyone (similar to that feeling that little abused children feel after abuse) was a lie from the enemy. Not only can I trust. I can tell. I can get help. I can be whole again! You can too!

2. Keep pure! Go back to what God taught me early on–you cannot get entangled in gossip, murmuring, criticism, etc. If you find people who are “talking” at this time, you should question their motives. Are they trying to “pretend to be innocent?” Have they waited and waited for this opportunity to kick us around too? Are they trying to cover up and act like it is not them? Are they trying to make it look like I did something that deserved all of this? NOTE: NO ONE does anything to cause unfaithfulness in those they love and trust. Unfaithfulness is in the heart of a person. They are very, very selfish. Sure they love to justify sin, but you can’t love someone enough to keep them from hurting you and you can hurt them enough to keep someone from loving you. Those who are innocent are staying clean. They have a pure conscience. Test. Test. Test.

3. Stay on the high road. Enough said.

4. Look at fruit. You should know their fruits. I am willing for you to watch me and judge my fruit. Here is how you can watch me, after this letter, I am back to work with a vengeance!):

My websites:

http://www.CindyRushton.com
http://www.CindysDesktop.com
http://www.MomtoMomRadioShow.com
http://www.Writers-Nook.com
http://www.Talk-a-Latte.com

(We have others, you can find them through those sites)

Facebook:
Cindy Rushton (you will see my nobby head there–just make sure you use a real identity)

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/CindyRushton (you will see my nobby head there–just make sure you use a real identity)

I am willing to walk before you as long as it takes to show my heart and my actions. I am in NO HURRY. You will see the truth. I am believing God for that. I give my reputation, success, and entire life to God right now as a living sacrifice.

I look forward to the fruit from what has been sown in this time. We will all stand before God one day to give account on every word and action from this situation. If you guys don’t see it now, I am SO excited to stand before God and let HIM reveal it on that great day! I am truly concerned for those guilty here. I am concerned for them and their family. I KNOW them. I can’t stand to see what they are doing. My only prayer is that they will confess their sins, repent quickly and get on track! I believe that they are better than this.

5. There IS a battle! You need to know that there IS a battle. I do not ask you to join me. I simply beg you to be on guard for yourselves, your family, your businesses and your people. Too many of you have already taken a hit because you love me. I am very sorry. I am concerned for all of you and I am working hard to be sure that you are taken care of. Be very, very careful. Test everyone. Sit back, watch, wait. Listen to what is being said. SEE what is being done. They will be known by their fruits. Mine are out here on the table–I am not changing the transparency of our lives. I AM ON RED ALERT (more on that in a bit). I am willing to give you time to see the truth. It is a big blow. However, also DON’T worry. I have had over 10,000 emails (almost 100% of our open rate at this point) come in this past week from those who KNOW MY HEART and appreciate my stand (I can’t answer all of you, but I DO appreciate you and your faithfulness). Yes, we are going to make it. People will know my heart. People will KNOW your heart. Let’s keep it pure. Allow God to reveal the truth. The only way to battle is to get face down before God and let HIM loose to fight this kind of battle FOR YOU. Don’t fear!

6. Know what they are afraid of. They have only ONE FEAR. They will do anything to keep it from becoming a reality. Only problem…their fear is driving them to do things that will reveal who they are. Want to know their fear? THAT OTHERS WILL KNOW. Well, they are here among us. One has even weighed in trying to throw a grenade in a different direction to “pretend to be innocent.” Just for the record, NO I am not worried about people stealing my materials and topics. They have done that the whole time I have been in business. And, NO, I don’t care about my conference room–after someone logged into my conference room in an attempt to sabbotage the conference with vulgarity we cannot risk families having to suffer at their hands. This again, is only ONE way to do things–it does not stop the message, which IS our main goal! I don’t care about money–God uses my husband to provide for our family. I don’t care about any of the stuff they are striving for. I have all of that. I don’t have to resort to underhanded schemes to get it or keep it. Those things mean nothing to me. They drive them.

7. Move on and take the mountain! This was where I was going before the hit. I am moving on. This week has been my least productive on a couple projects–they could not be completed but we are moving on. So, you may be looking for something that is on hold. I have a schedule to enjoy my family all week this next week. This will not be stolen from me. After that time, I will get everything done and make it all exponentially wonderful for all of you. Now, it is time to move on. Let things go. Make the most of this week. Enjoy your family. You only get this time THIS TIME.

So, I end this discussion on my end. I want to let you know that I love you. I appreciate your prayers, support, wisdom. I appreciate those of you who are working hard to help me come up with secure ways to proceed-I will forever be in debt to you.

For those who want to know our future, we are rock-solid. We are not moving. We are believing God that those who are bound up in this evil work will come to repentance, cease their work, and either leave or get back on track. I am also praying that the rest of you will be protected by God, not give way to fear, and that you will not let the enemy steal ONE MORE MOMENT. Today is the day to turn off the computer, turn off the phones, and get alone with your family. Enjoy them. Get ready to make a memory this next week.

I love you!

Love,
Cindy

Tired? Weary? Confused? Have NO idea which way to go?

STOP!

Stop, beloved. Pull back. Don’t do a thing. Don’t talk. Don’t change things around. Don’t make any decisions-yet. Simply STOP.

There are times that our enemy finds a weapon that takes us by surprise. The time will come. What do you do? You learn from Jesus. You study Him. You learn from Him. You learn to walk out His ways. They ALWAYS work.

It does not make any difference what weapon the enemy uses, the same tactics work against him. You don’t even have to read a big manual to get a huge plan. You just have to read THE MANUAL. Oh, let me help you find the most powerful tactic, the one that all of the others hinge upon. Turn to James 4:7…

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” KJV

Resist the devil. What does that mean?

Well, if you will begin to search for ways resist him, you are in for a treat. There are many ways: get in the Word, get the Word into you, speak the Word, pray, fast, plug in with other believers to take the giants, step up to the call, plus many, many more. Oh! Talk about shutting down the enemy! He can do nothing but run. I could write a book on all of those, but, today I want to talk about one tactic that will stop the enemy in his tracks. Ready? This is a good one!

STOP!

You will never look at a stop sign or a stop light the same again. You know what stop means there–no rolling through it, stopping after the line does not count, you must stop! Stop means STOP! Sit still for a moment. Don’t GO.

Yes, want to resist the enemy? STOP!

Oh! You knew this didn’t you? Or, are you like me? This is the LAST THING you will do when you are getting tired and weary and the enemy is closing in with for the kill. Want is a true confession–I do not struggle with murdering, stealing, lying, coveting, adultery. BUT, the one thing God convicts me over and over about in the 10 commandments is REST–aka, STOP. He has to MAKE ME come to a place of rest. I must have been a horrid infant and toddler. There is something in me that just resists this. I would rather HELP God. I love to tidy up all of the things around me BEFORE I will come to that quiet place to get away with God. I love to finish up all of the “things” I can think of so I can “relax and rest” without distraction. HELLO! See the problem? Relate with the problem?

God means that WHEN we are tired and weary, we just STOP.
God means that WHEN we are feeling the enemy surrounding us on every angle, we just STOP.

How many times do I have to see this principle in the Bible before it becomes my immediate response? How many situations big and small do I face before this is my INSTANT reaction. How long do I study and train until this is my instant reaction? When will it become “muscle memory?”

Oh! I am dreadfully human. My first response is never to STOP. Oh, don’t look pious. Don’t judge me. I suspect it would not be all over the Bible if we didn’t all struggle here. I also suspect that God would not put it on the cute placard (The 10 Commandments) if he didn’t want to be very clear and mince no words. I also suspect that He wouldn’t have used so many examples in the life of Christ.

Remember Mark 6:31? Here it is:

“He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest for a while,” because so many people were coming and going that they didn’t even have time to eat.”

Were they doing anything wrong? No, we don’t wait to pull back until all is in a mess. This is the sure-fire way to STOP THE MESS BEFORE IT HAPPENS. Or, at minimum, be ready for the attack so you never get in the messes that so many of us fall into because we are ambushed.

Even our military retreats.

It is not always the tactic, but how often do the good soldiers sense a big battle looming, see it coming, and they pull back to get ready for a strong, swift, hard attack. Retreating is a key to victory. Retreating gives them time to “access the situation” and get “intelligence.” It gives them time to get support on their side so they can go forward with a decisive victory. Retreating helps the good soldier to fight the good fight.

Now, this is essential if we are to take on the enemy in God’s way, if we are going to fight the GOOD FIGHT. Of course, if we refuse to do this, we cannot fight the good fight. Instead, we are either devoured by the enemy because we sit still  or we step out in the flesh and just fight, strive, walk in the works of the flesh. We HELP the enemy. What a waste of time. What a devastating impact on the world. We fail in the mission. We have casualties.In fact, the greatest casualty may be ourselves.

God has called us to be a warrior. In a culture that has a “quitter” mentality (watched CNN or MSNBC lately), it is easy to develop a lifestyle and mentality that insures that the enemy can take us and use us for friendly fire unless we get training and regularly resist the enemy.

What does this mean? Maybe you are not a “military mom” or you have not had a hubby on the front lines against real life bad guys. Maybe you have not been placed on the frontline to see the enemy face-to-face and been forced to learn how to fight the good fight–you must fight the good fight if you are going to be a mighty warrior, otherwise, you will be a casualty. Maybe you have got out there on the front line once or a bunch only to go back with wounds that are difficult to mend. You sit disabled. You have settled for defeat.

No more! Rise up mighty warrior!

We MUST learn how to be a mighty warrior. We MUST learn and practice ALL of the tactics regularly so they are in “muscle memory” when the enemy comes against us. AND…the enemy WILL come against you and I. It is not about being a good girl and staying out of trouble. If you think that is how tough times are dished out, I want to know what you have done for God lately?  No, the enemy rages against God’s people, the ones who are busy doing what HE says, even more. Just think, who is on the battle lines for our country today? The ones in active service or the ones who are not serving at this time?  Who gets the enemy’s blows?

The enemy is cunning. He is malicious. He will attack where you least expect it. So, you must fight. You cannot hide. You cannot “take it” and it all go away. You certainly cannot afford to shut your mouth and take it. Too much is at risk.

But, how do you fight and what do you do for a fast blow that makes the enemy flee? Glad we got here…

One of the ways is to STOP.

Stop. Sit down. Pull back. Get filled back up. Hear the Commander. Get your plan. Get ready to do EVERYTHING HE SAYS.

Just in case you are still doubting that the good guys get hit or you are presuming that being tired and weary, pressed and pushed only comes with something YOU DO, or better yet what someone else must have done, just look at Jesus. Jesus got weary!

“So Jesus, tired as He was from His journey, sat down [to rest] by the well. It was then about the sixth hour (about noon).” John 4:6  (Amplified Version)

JESUS got weary! JESUS! Pardon the grammar, THAT BE JESUS!!! God, Incarnate.

So, what do YOU do when you get weary? Tired? I don’t know about you, but as for me, this is what it looks like if I am not careful:

I get a little tired…
I get a little pushed and pressed….
I look at my planner—at all of the “stuff” I have YET to do…
I get a little distressed (well, a lot!)…
I get in a frenzy…
I work even harder, only in MANY different directions…
Then, I begin to battle exhaustion…that just makes me more tired and irritable…
Inevitably, at this point things start to BREAK all around me…others call with their to-do’s…my children begin to squabble…and the planner falls on the ground SPILLING all of my “stuff” I have yet to do…
Then, I begin to get in a frenzy…nothing works out…more stuff breaks…more demands on my time…
Oh, then…the fit! More work! All of it compounds! I feel depressed! Then, it is all doom and gloom!
The enemy has me where he wants me and comes in for the kill!

What about you? What are we to do? Go back to John 4: 6…Jesus, when He got tired on His journey, HE SAT DOWN!

When  Jesus was on His journey, He DID get tired! He did have struggles. He did have people who rose up against Him, even to crucify Him. He was betrayed by his dear friend who was WITH HIM. Did He ever take any mis-steps? Well, look at Scripture. Scripture says that He ONLY did the Father’s will. Yet, we see time after time that people rose against Him and what God told Him to do. Even His own mother missed it twice! But, He only did the will of His Father.

Sure He got tired. Sure He got weary. But, even then, He did the Father’s will. He sat down, pulled away. He stopped!

Come apart. That means STOP. Resist the devil. Pull apart to be with the Heavenly Father. Spend some time with Jesus. Learn from Him (Matthew 11: 28-30). He shows us how to STRIVE LAWFULLY (2 Timothy 2: 3-5). That means he tells us how to “fight” with the winning plan. He has called us to fight the good fight. He wants for us to be mighty warriors.

BUT! We must STOP!

Now, that is revolutionary for me! How about you?

I always thought that if you were a good girl, you don’t get a spanking. I thought that you don’t get “hit” if you are a good girl. Isn’t there something that would make “God hit you?” Well, first, this is just the reason that we need to STOP. We need to know who our enemy is. For some crazy reason if we get “hit” by surprise as we are going along, we always think two things:

1. God has hit us.
2. God hits us because we are trying to do what He tells us.

Ever thought that? Well, if you say no, you are either lying or you have gotten this principle down. However, Scripture tells us that we will always be think this thought. Why? Because the enemy is always there when the battle starts (he is the culprit) and one of his tactics is to accuse. He is always accusing. He accuses God before us. He accuses us before God. He accuses us before others. He accuses others before us. He accuses us before us. We may cast down the thought the moment it comes, but it was there. How long does it stay. This is the difference in our power when the enemy hits. If we think that God has hit us, we will “sit down and try to behave,” but we won’t fight. That is not what I mean by STOP. That means we quit. We are not called to quit. We are called to be mighty warriors who are always on a victory parade. We are called and equipped to be overcomers. If we don’t know what we are, whose we are, and who our enemy is, we will lose the battle every time. The enemy would love to keep us there. However, God is calling us to be aware of what is going on and what will happen. He wants for us to know how to fight the good fight. This is why it is key to STOP when things hit you.

Yes, there are times that God will oppose you if you are off track. He will put you in “time-out.” He will sit you on the bench or send you to your room so you can get yourself together and be ready to obey Him. BUT! When you are hit, if you are godly, the “hits” don’t come from God. God disciplines. He never hits. He trains. He never slaps you around. He corrects. He never accuses, condemns, or handles you harshly.

If you do not STOP, tune in to the Heavenly Father, how will you know whether you are being “hit” or “disciplined?” This is essential. How else can you know who is responsible for the “jarring” in your life? How else can you get the answer and the directive on what you are to do to get through the situation?

Now you are with me! Say it!

STOP!!!!

We stop. We do NOTHING. We say NOTHING. We move on NOTHING.

We retreat–pull back, re-fill, re-fuel, re-pack. We retreat to assess the situation–to get the facts, to get counsel, to get a rock-solid strategy, to get a good view of the battlefield. We retreat to call in the resources and get them ready for the fight–our armor, our supplies, our support.

If we miss the retreat, we are fools. It is the key to a fast, strong, decisive victory.

Jesus modeled the lifestyle of the perfect Teacher. From the first of His ministry until His ascension, we see how He handled the enemies that rose against Him. He never stepped out without solitude, time alone with His Father. He showed us in His life how to handle the enemy when he comes forth–resist him and he flees! He showed how to be ready for all of life’s circumstances from daily demands to death on a cross. He used His weapons to prepare for times of warfare and smack-dab-in-the-middle of the frontal assault. He modeled it beautifully for us.

So, what do we do? We learn from Jesus. We learn to STOP. We learn from Jesus how to pull back, rest and refill! We learn how to be a good soldier. We learn how to fight the good fight. So, mighty warrior, when the enemy begins to circle about, what are you going to do? Say it with me…

STOP!

–>  Laugh! Just sit there right now…laugh! Start small…just a little giggle! Then…laugh about laughing! Roll on the floor laughing!  Feel better?

–>  Begin a new Bible Study.  Either find a Bible Study guide…or dig out Words to study on your own!  For Word Studies, I LOVE my Strong’s Concordance. It helps to find all of the references of a certain word of interest. I also love my Vine’s Dictionary. I use it to look up the meanings of the words AND it also has other references for uses in Scripture. Another great help for Word Studies is my good old faithful Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. I LOVE it as a reference to deepen the studies. Usually it helps me to also find OTHER great studies to dig into also! Dig into the Word! It will feed your heart and soul during this tough time!

–>  Meet a friend at the park and let the kids play while you visit.

–>  Go for a drive around the city—look at the lights! Look at flowers. Look at the seasonal changes.

–>  Look at photo albums.  Remember the silly stories!

–>  Watch the sunrise! Or, not an early bird? Watch the sunset!
–>  Collect jokes and funnies! Barb Johnson…Chonda Pierce…Becky Freeman are just a few of my PERSONAL favorites! Get one of their books or videos. Then, snag some mom-time to just kick back and enjoy!

–>  Chocolate! Chocolate Candy…Chocolate Bars…Chocolate Shakes…Chocolate Latte’s…CHOCOLATE! REALLY! Chocolate helps to release endorphins in the brain—plus! It tastes great to boot! So, why not grab a bit for mom-time!
–>  Watch an old movie! Curl up under a great big quilt—even if you have to turn the air down COLD!  Don’t forget to turn down the lights and turn off the phone!
–>  Look at your old school albums!  Your HAIR! Ha! Enough said.
–>  Got a grassy hill nearby? Go to the top and just roll down it! Like a child! (Snowy? Get a sled! And SLIDE!)
–>  Take the kids to the park—just WATCH them! They are adorable!
–>  Begin a “Quote Book.”  Collect quotes that encourage you to keep on, keeping on!  Keep them in a special journal dedicated only to keeping your special quotes.

–>  Memorize your favorite Psalm. Try out Psalm 91…or Psalm 61…or Psalm 35…or Psalm 37…Oh! Enjoy!
–>  Begin a Tea Ministry.  Doing for others ALWAYS lifts even the heaviest spirit.  Get a tea basket to keep your goodies in…visit a shut-in…bless them. Then! Watch the blessing boomerang! You won’t be able to leave without a blessing.

–>  Take the kids to a candy store—sample the Jelly Bellies…or Sweet Tarts…or Sour Gummy Worms.

–>  Fly a kite!

–>  Take a ride in the country.  Turn up your praise music…roll the windows down…sing to the top of your lungs!

–>  Watch a funny video!  Elisabeth and I LOVE to watch old movies like If a Man Answers. It is one of our “chick flicks” that we always watch together. We love it! SO FUNNY! Chonda Pierce is another one of my picks. She is just totally hilarious. My children LOVE old comedy shows like I Love Lucy or The Three Stooges.  Oh, you may want to watch anything! Just find something that will make you laugh hard!

–>  Scrapbook!  Pick photos that you MUST tell the story behind! Kick up your favorite music…spread out your goodies…and Scrap till you drop!
–>  Read a biography of a GIANT in the faith!  My favorites are Corrie ten Boom…Hudson Taylor…George Mueller…Amy Carmichael…Jim and Elisabeth Elliott…etc!

–>  Get today’s newspaper and read the comics!
–>  Get a yo-yo! PLAY!

–>  Make Chocolate Chip Cookies with the kids! On a diet? Take them to someone who blesses you! Include a note of thanks and encouragement for all they do to bless you!
–>  Go out and sit on your boat—watch the stars! (Oh, watch the sunset or sunrise, if you can too!)

–>  Dig into the Bible and study what God says about trials… suffering… faith… death… depression… oppression… warfare… battle…etc

–>  Read a new book! Normally ready non-fiction/how-to’s? Get a fiction book for a change!  Normally read fiction? Get a humorous book! Renew your weary heart and mind!
–>  Take a break and go for a long ride on a motorcycle! Don’t forget your headset and praise music!
–>  Take a hike! Really!  Find a nice nature trail OR go for the tough stuff!!
–>  Go to the mall with your teenager!  ENJOY!
–>  Buy a Mp3 Player and some great praise music—turn it up!  I LOVE my iPod! I have my iPod loaded with all of my favorite CDs. My favorites are Michael W. Smith’s Worship CD’s AND Hillsong’s Praise and Worship!  The moment you enter into worship, you will enter into the very presence of God—so, turn it up and devour the presence of our precious Lord!

–>  Pull out that old sewing machine and make some of those goodies that you have been wanting—new purse/tote…outfit…home decorations…doll clothes…etc!

–>  Buy a “whoopee” Cushion…or “Bubba” teeth… At least your family will laugh!

–>  Write out the funny family stories! Reminisce! Enjoy!

–>  Go skating!

–>  Try an afternoon of “Laser-Tag” with your teens! Get um!

–>  Make Homemade Bread—KNEAD yourself!

–>  Plan a regular Mommy Getaway. This is not an extra! It is essential!  I plan getaways for different purposes: to just get alone with God to hear Him, to plan, to work on my homeschool and business projects, to just fill my cup back up. Decide what will fill you up. What do you need right now? Decide what will help meet that need. Gather your goodies: Bible, journal, iPod, camera (I love taking pictures of little treasures along the way), your planner, your computer/Idea Notebook, etc. Pull aside and take that time to just get-away and fill your cup back up!
–>  Get a pet! My bird, Harley, has ministered to my heart MORE than I could remember! He is just SO funny! HE had the idea to “boogie” for Jesus! I had not danced for years! AND it is decent!  Elisabeth’s new puppy, Pooh, is a TOTAL delight!  I say all the time that she is JOY in fur! She has become my little buddy. She loves to sit with me while I work and follow me around while I am doing my chores. She keeps me in stitches. Struggling? Get a pet just for YOU…see that puppy in the window??
–>  Take the day to go for a flight!  Look at the whole world from a different perspective!
–>  Dance! Turn up your favorite music and dance! Dance your heaviness away! Dance till you laugh! Dance in worship to the Lord! Jump! Lift your hands in praise and worship!

–>  Clean out your house (only if this is NOT your struggle! Ha!). Attack those closets… cabinets… dusty bookshelves… paper piles!
–>  Go out for a cup of coffee…tea…or a good old Coca-Cola! Meet your sweetheart or a mommy pal! Or…take your Bible and make it a special time with the Lord!
–>  Find some silly-putty or slime—PLAY!

–>  Get up earlier (or take regular breaks throughout the day!) for your quiet time! You may feel SO weak that you can barely concentrate—if so, just turn on praise music and lift up your arms in praise and adoration. Watch what happens!  Make a list of your heartaches—lift them to the Father (then, hide them in your Prayer Journal—later they will be a praise record!).  Dig into the Word for comfort…perspective…and hope for tomorrow! Really tough days? Well, when the Israelites had very HOT days, they had to gather MORE manna—in the heat of your battles and toughest trials gather a surplus! It will help you survive your struggle.
–>  Make a quilt. You can EVEN cheat by making it on the sewing machine! ENJOY!
–>  Take an afternoon to go to the movies. Get a big bucket of popcorn…a super-HUGE Coke…sour Gummy Worms (unless you are due a BIG DOSE OF CHOCOLATE!). Take your sweetheart…or a friend if you want to share! Pick a movie that will make you laugh like crazy…OR CRY your eyes out! ENJOY!

–>  Ride three-wheelers! Get MUDDY!
–>  Treat yourself to a leisurely afternoon (or a bunch of afternoons!) at the pool…park…or creek.
–>  Try your hand at BOWLING. Take some friends!

–>  Take time for tea—each day.

–>  Exercise. Swim…walk…jog…hike…go skating…aerobics. Relieves stress AND boosts your health to boot.
–> Learn a new hobby!  What have you been putting off that you have ALWAYS wanted to know? Pottery? Quilting? Flight Training? Smocking? Scrapbooking? Jewelry Making? Sewing? Crochet? Horse-back riding?  Go for it! Now is the PERFECT time.

–>  Treat yourself to a nice looooonnnnnngggg Bubble Bath! Don’t forget to set up your favorite music to play during your Bubble Bath.  Also…be sure to fix a nice cup of tea (or a Latte!) or a nice big Coke that will last till the water gets cold! ENJOY!
–>  Go to the park and just swing—HIGH!

–> Go get an ice-cream cone—with a double dip!

–>  Do a “Promise” hunt in Scripture.  Keep in a “Promise Notebook” of your very own! KNOW that they are yours.
–>  Snuggle up for the afternoon to read a great book!
Got some fresh ideas? Don’t let this limit you! Let your brain GO! Find some things that will fill you back up and take care of you all along the way.
This is not an extra. This is an essential. Carve out time on your calendar today to just take care of mom!

Sweet friend, I have been there. Actually, I was so deeply depressed that the best way to describe it is to think about the Grand Canyon with no apparent way out. That is how I felt. I felt too tired and weary to even begin the ascent back out. I was overwhelmed with the load. I could not go on the way I was going any longer.

I do have good news!

God healed me from depression. He broke the chains that bound me for far too long. He gave me a new beginning. I have never gone back. Now, this does not say that I am living in some fantasy world. Sweet friend, I KNOW depression. But, I hate it. I do not ever want to go there again.

Wondering, how do you stay away? How do you stop its vicious attack right in its tracks? That is why I am writing this. There are some very practical things that you can do when you feel the attack come on. In fact, you can try these things when you are in the pit. They will really help out. Ready? Try this…

Get a God-getaway.

Ok…let’s get real here. How long has it been since you have taken some time apart to get filled to overflowing with God? A while? One of the best pieces of advice that I got when I was in the pit came from a dear friend. I called her one day when I was really battling. She told me to get face down on the floor and just pour out everything to God–all my pain, all my disappointment, all my brokenness, all my anger, all my grief. EVERYTHING. She told me that I was not to get up until it was all gone and that sweet peace of God flooded in. She told me to realize that God, my precious Abba Father, was there and He wanted for me to pour out everything from the very depths of my soul. He wanted to bear that ENTIRE burden. At that moment, I was holding on and trying to handle my grief of losing 7 babies and my anguish over the disappointment in my spouse and the rubbish in our marriage. It looked like there was no hope. Yet, as I poured it all out, God flooded me with peace and that hope that I needed to get up and go on.

Sweet friend, what is going on? Have you taken it to your Abba Papa? Have you carried it long enough? Have you just poured it out? Sweetie, it is time to lay it down. It is time to run into the arms of your loving Heavenly Father and just pour it all out. Tell Him EVERYTHING that is on your heart. I know you may not tell your earthly father everything, but your Heavenly Father does not want you to hold back.

Mad? Tell Him!  He can take it!

Don’t understand? Tell Him! Ask Him to help you understand!

Hurt? Describe it all to Him. Pour it out.

Disappointeed? Tell Him what you wanted and why you are hurting from the disappointment. Ask Him to show you HIS vision. Ask Him to show you why He would allow this to happen to you. Ask Him to show you His heart.

Dear friend, if you are down, broken, hurting, or downright depressed, it is time to get a God-getaway. Pull back. Pour it out. Soak Him in. Don’t get up until you feel that sweet peace rush over you. Don’t move on until you have that hope that can keep you going on!

Get a Quiet Time–DAILY!

I can hear you! You are saying, “But, Cindy…I don’t have time! My house is a mess, my life is a mess, and my kids are going crazy! The last thing that I can do is have some sappy quiet time!”

Did I hear you fully?

Sweet friend, I know you have 5 minutes. If not, it is past time to grab it!

Keep it simple and easy! Grab your Bible and dig in each day. Just read a bit. Don’t know where to begin? Try the Psalms. Many are bite-size. Just pull out your Bible, read the first one. Soak it in. Really sift it for a treat today. Each day, do the same thing. You are not on a marathon or Bible challenge. Just keep it simple and easy. Actually, this will not even take 5 minutes. In 5 minutes you could probably participate in a daily Bible reading challenge. I don’t want you doing that right now. Right now, be still. Soak in God’s Word. Let it fill those dry places. Slow down and let Him speak to your heart and soul. See what happens!

Oh! Maybe you have another hindrance. You don’t “GET” the Word. Sweet friend, I have been there. God wants for you to understand His Bible. Have you ever tried a different translation? There are countless translations and versions of the Bible. Some of them are written in everyday conversational style. Those just jump out with God’s love for you and His direction. Don’t let the translation be a hindrance. Look at newer translations or versions like The Message (my personal favorite) or NLT (New Living Translation) or NIV (New International Version)…on and on.  Go to a bookstore and test it. Read a few passages. See how they speak to you. Pick the one that just draws you in and feeds your spirit and mind. It will make a big, big difference!

Quiet times don’t have to be hard. In fact, they SHOULD NOT be hard. Keep it simple and easy. Keep the focus upon pouring your heart out to God and listening to Him speak through His Word. Don’t go on day-after-day-after-day without your spiritual food! Make time each and every day for a quiet time with God.

Take Care of Yourself!

You are created in the image of God. You are spirit, soul, and body. You cannot neglect any of it without serious ramifications–depression is one of the most serious!

More than likely if you are down or depressed, you have neglected one or more of these areas for far too long.

Sweet friend, you HAVE to take care of yourself. It is not an option. It is not an extra. It is an essential!

I know the chatter out there about how that if you were a godly person, you would never experience depression. RIGHT!  (reminds me of Job’s friends )

That COULD be true. However, at one of my most precious times of my life spiritually, I allowed the enemy to take me captive and torture me with depression simply by not taking good care of myself.

Don’t buy the lie! Godly people DO get depressed.

In fact, think of some of the greatest men and women throughout history–Job, Elijah, Hannah, Spurgeon, on and on. They battled this giant. It had NOTHING to do with their position in Christ–their godliness, their righteousness. Well, except that the enemy wanted to devour them! Of course, he wants to devour and destroy all of us! You have to be on guard. If you think that spirituality is your safeguard, beware! The enemy will shackle you very quickly. Take care of yourself!

Take a Walk–Daily!

Want something that you could do that will make a big difference? Walk!

Don’t discredit it! Walking is SUPER for you. If you are depressed, how long since you have taken a nice walk? A while? Probably.

Grab your iPod and those walking shoes. Get outside. A 20-30 minute walk will do wonders. Try an hour prayer-walk. It will do MIRACLES!

You have probably read all of the perks through the years–balances your hormones, increases endorphins, clears your mind, Stills your spirit, gets you in shape, on and on. ALL of those things can help you when you feel down. All of those can help you walk out of the pit of depression. So, take a walk–daily!

Whatcha Eating???

Did you suspect that I would ask this one? Stick with me, dear friend!

Caffeine? Caffeine is mood-altering. It affects our ability to cope. I know it hurts, but try cutting it cold turkey–completely cutting it! Take an Aleve for the headache. Take a nap (a great idea anyway…more on that in a bit). You will begin to see a drastic difference in the way you feel emotionally.

Sugar? Same thing! Sugar will give you a rush of energy and excitement and will crash you out. Depressed, cut back your sugar intake. See if there is a difference.

Fruits, veges, proteins??? Are you eating a well-rounded diet? Are you eating a lot of processed foods? Try a fresh salad. Try baked salmon or chicken. See if these help.

Breakfast? Oh! YES! Are you grabbing your Coca-Cola or coffee and skipping breakfast? Wonder why you feel so tired and weary? Grab some hot oatmeal. Include some protein first thing. See if you get more balanced out emotionally as you balance out your eating.

Skipping meals? Humm…skipping meals and wondering why you feel bad? Talk about the worse thing for your blood sugar levels. And, blood sugar levels completely affect your moods. Every three hours, choose either a healthy meal or a healthy snack. See if that doesn’t help you very quickly.

Get Some Sleep!

Years ago, the first thing I noticed, as my doctor put me on Celexa for depression, was my need for more sleep. I could not help it. I crashed in the middle of the day every day. I also had to go to bed at a decent hour or I just crashed. It took about a year to get my sleep patterns regulated, but the change was as distinct as night and day.

Years and years have gone by. I still have to really watch my sleep. If I burn the candle on both ends, I pay. I don’t feel very well. I get grumpy. I get snappy. It doesn’t take much before I feel down.

I don’t want to go back into the pit of depression. There are certain things that I simply have to guard against. Sleep deprivation is one of the biggies.

How is your sleep? Are you staying up WAY TOO LATE? Are you getting up so early that you are sinking mid-morning? Are you able to slow down during the day and take a quick nap? Are you getting up all night with babies, sick little ones, or a sick family member, but trying to go on as though life is the same?

Sweet friend, you NEED your sleep. It is so important that God commands in Scripture that we even have a DAY OF REST. I think it is interesting why He says we need the Sabbath each week–to remember that HE IS GOD. Hummm…thought about that one?  Boy, that hit me between the eyes!

For a long time, I burned the candle on both ends. It was because of many, many good things that I felt that God wanted for me to do. I was “helping” Him. OUCH! The “ox was always in the ditch” on Sunday. The work just could not be done unless I stayed up late and got up early. It did not take long until this really made me sick, physically and mentally.

Today, I am strict with myself about rest. My Sabbath begins each week on Saturday evening and always continues  for 24 solid hours–more if I can. My daily bedtime is with my husband who gets up early. I rarely get up before him. And, if I am feeling bad or feeling down, I take a nap. It makes a world of difference!

So, have you been resting? God made you with a need for rest. He COMMANDS us to rest, just like He commands us to be faithful to our spouses, honor/obey our parents, never kill or steal or covet. Think about rest in that light. It is very serious when we do not rest. So, sweet friend, it is not an option–get some sleep!

Let Go!

Ok! If I haven’t meddled enough already, this one gets down to the heart. I only hit this one because we need to get honest. We need to get real. If you have battled with depression, too many people will tip-toe around this because they don’t want you mad at them. I am going to hit it because I want to see you HEALED. I want to see you WELL.

So….

Is there anything you need to let go of?

Maybe it is your past? Has it held you in chains long enough? Or…do you enjoy fellowshipping with your sad story and wrongs that have been committed long, long ago. I am NOT making light of abuse or pain from your past. But, are you letting the enemy defeat you and steal your life because of that? When are you going to let it go so you can move on? When are you going to let God into your life so He can bring your healing? Do you love your past more than you love God? Trust me beloved, the healing feels much, much better than picking at the scab from this wound. You can be free! You can live victoriously! You can break from the chains that have bound you long enough. Just let go of that past–every bit of it. Unwrap every finger. Let it fall away. Grasp onto all that Jesus Christ died to give you!

Maybe it is unforgiveness? Ok! Sure that I am meddling? Yep! And proud of it!  Sweet friend, I am not making light of what was done to you. Instead, your only hope is forgiving. Forgive God for whatever you think He had to do with it–sweet friend, God is not the one who did that to you. Where was He? He was right there wanting to help you through it all. Have you run TO HIM or FROM HIM? It makes a big difference! Until we run TO HIM, we cannot grasp onto the comfort, compassion, healing, love, mercy, wisdom, and understanding that is ours. Mad at God, today is the day to pour it out and let that go!  Forgive those who hurt you. Yes, everyone of them. Wipe the slate clean for them AND YOU. The big test is how you are able to treat them–can you welcome them with the same enthusiasm as your very best friend? Do you keep them at arms length and shut them out? Would you treat them just like your best buddy? If they asked for the same thing that your best friend asked for, what would you do?  Our hearts are deceitful. They will keep us in chains. We need to learn how to walk in the spirit of forgiveness. Now, I am not saying to open the door for someone to abuse you again. I am saying open your heart to love again. To love them with 1 Corinthians 13 love–OUCH! Everyone of us needs forgiveness. Really realizing how easy it is for us to hurt others, including God, can humble us and bring us to the point of forgiving those who sin against us. No one can sin against us as much as we sin against God. We can offer up those wounds to God, knowing that Jesus paid the price to bring wholeness and healing to every one of those wounds. So, need to take some wounds to the cross today? Take them. Lay them down. 70 X 7 times if needed! Forgive! Let go of all unforgiveness.

Maybe it is unreasonable (AND reasonable!) expectations? Tired of trying to be super-mom? Tired of being a mommy martyr? Girlfriend, I AM DONE with super-mom! For years, people put me and my family in a position where me and my kids were expected to be PERFECT (for real!) because we homeschool…because I write about the godly home…because I teach Bible studies…on and on. People have been so presumptious that my children got sick and tired of the pressures. I did too! I decided that enough was enough. We had people tell us anything from what we were SUPPOSED to wear to what we were SUPPOSED to read to the Bible we were SUPPOSED to use to how I am SUPPOSED to feed my family to what we were SUPPOSED to act like…on and on. Maybe you battle with pressures from others that feel so pressing, yet are really unreasonable. We need to KNOW them and recognize them for what they are. We don’t have to GO THERE! And…let’s go one step further…reasonable expectations. There are times that we COULD get things done or we COULD expect ourselves to react a certain way. Yet, sometimes those very expectations become unreasonable because they are just plain and simple TOO MUCH. We are human. We all have limitations. We all mess up. Maybe you are down and out because you have tried to be little Miss Perfect for long enough and you keep on messing up. Maybe you are down and out because you have tried to be the model Christian, instead of just BEING who you are in Christ. Maybe you are down and out because you COULD do things, yet today you just need to pull back. Let go!

Maybe I have not even touched what you need to let go of…

…anger
…circumstances beyond your control
…bitterness
…offense
…disappointment
…failures
…broken, shattered dreams
…yesterday
…negative thinking
…negative talking
…defeat
…distraction
…__________________ (yours)

Maybe today you know you are depressed–not just a little down. Is there anything you need to let go of? Right now, take it to God. Lay it down.  Just let it go, sweet friend. Loosen your grip upon the very thing that has kept you in bondage. Empty your hands. Empty your hands so you will be free to grasp onto all that Jesus has died to give you.

God wants for you to have LIFE. Jesus called it life more abundant. Are you there? Are you living the life Jesus died to give you? Is it abundant? Lavish?

Or depressed? Down? SICK-AND-TIRED? Weary? Desperate for a change?

Today can be that day you have longed for. Sure, you might look around you in the natural and things would look the same. But, want to get a view from beyond your circumstances? Want to get a vision that gives you hope? Want to see what God sees? Your good news today is that things won’t always be like they are. You can be healed! You can break free! You can get a new beginning! You can beat depression.

So, what can you do TODAY? What is God telling you to do? Your journey from the pit begins one step at a time, hearing which step God wants you to take each step of the way. What is your first step?

Time for that first step, sweet friend. Step!

–> Go on a Prayer Walk—regularly! Praise and worship the Lord. Pour out your heart. Talk to Jesus the whole way! Listen to His sweet “conversation” with you. Be refreshed!

–> Use a Daily “To-Do” List to operate from. List your TOP FIVE things each day the night before. Go back over each morning during your Quiet Time and pray about your day before you. Take it all to God and lay it before Him. Keep in your own “Brain-in-a-Binder” so you can rest your mind. Go over your list as you throughout the day to keep a tab on how you are doing (also so you will not chase rabbits). Watch how much more peaceful each day will be.

–> Turn on Praise Music—LOUD! Got an iPod? I call mine my “stress-buster.” I LOVE turning it on while I clean or while I work on my daily chores. Not only does it make the work much more fun and easy, but I also find myself taking the Lord into every aspect of my day. Priceless!

–> Begin a new hobby. Set aside time to pursue your hobby. Now is a great time to grab your camera and take pictures of the beauty outside…or sunsets! How about Scrapbooking? How about baking? Or…what was on your mind immediately? Learn it! Decide now to learn something new each and every day! It is GOOD for you!

–> Organize ONE thing each day. Make a list of all you want to see done. Keep the list so that you can add to it as you find other needs. As you work through it, mark off what IS being done. This will show you how much you ARE doing. Continue to work on one thing per day. The difference will not take long!

–> Do ONE thing each day JUST FOR YOU! Yep! You read right! How long has it been since you have done ANYTHING for you? There is one common denominator in the lives of many who are totally stressed out—they RARELY do anything for themselves. For real! You are created with a need for a daily quiet time…with a need to be nurtured, encouraged, inspired…with a need for something to look forward to. YOU need something special just for you each day even if it is your morning coffee in a quiet place! What are you doing? What fills your cup? Are you operating from a very dry, parched vessel? Do just ONE thing today just for you. Then, do just ONE thing tomorrow just for you. Just a little thing. Maybe spending 5 minutes reading from your Bible. Maybe adding bubbles to your bath water. Maybe going for a quick 15 minute walk. Maybe taking your children’s lessons outside just to bask in the sun for a few minutes while they work through their math lessons. Maybe join Curves or a local fitness gym. Maybe get a bottle of bubbles and go outside to play! Do SOMETHING each day just for you! See the stress levels decrease while life becomes so much more fun.

–> Purpose to laugh more and more each day! I read a quote a few years ago in a devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. It has become one of my personal life goals. In fact, laughter is ONE thing that we can do to de-stress every day. Here it is

“Laughter is the medicine intended to cure the disease of self-importance. It’s hard to puff yourself up to weather balloon size if you can deflate yourself with a good prick of self-directed humor. How many laughs are you having–some at your own expense? Have you, as a couple, claimed the promise, “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.” (Job 8:21) Before the wedding ceremony, many couples need to have a bold objective for their first year of marriage: Over the next year, we will be found guilty of having too much fun rather than too little fun. That is not a bad objective for any year of marriage.”

So, what about you? Will you laugh more today than yesterday? Tomorrow than to day? Purpose to laugh more and more…the stress will run away!

–> Declutter! Don Aslett, famous organizing expert, says that 80% of what we own, we don’t even use. It is only clutter. I completely agree! In fact, I step out on a limb and make a completely un-researched assumption, but I would also imagine that 80% of what is on our schedule is clutter as well. We are sooo bogged down in clutter! Clutter can never be organized. Clutter can never be managed. It simply must be exterminated from our lives. So, why not de-stress a bit by getting rid of the “stuff” in your life. Stuff has a tendency to bring unneeded stress right along with it. Go ahead—get rid of it! Simplify! Simplify the clutter in your schedule. Throw away that stuff in the house. Copy quotes from those magazines and get rid of that bulky mess—journals are more precious than that clutter anyway! Jot down ideas in your journal. Get rid of those old clothes—you know that if you lose weight you will want NEW clothes anyway! (HOOT!) Over-run by cookbooks? Begin a “girl-time” to copy those that you love or those that you want to try into a special cookbook of your own. Sell or donate the rest. You very own cookbooks will be more helpful and way more special anyway. So, get busy getting rid of that clutter. Talk about instant de-stressing!

–> Get on your pj’s…cuddle up…watch old movies or a comedian. Pull out the chocolate…popcorn…old fluffy quilts. Make a sweet memory just “jelling” out with your precious family.

–> Read a book. It is amazing the power in a great book! Pull out a book with your little ones—something neat like Winnie the Pooh, Make Way for Ducklings, Dr. Seuss. Or…dig into a classic like The Hiding Place, The Little Preacher, Clean Your Boots, Sir, etc. Or read an old biography about someone neat. See if a family read aloud doesn’t breathe life into your home. BUT! That is not ALL! How long has it been since YOU have read a book JUST FOR YOU??? Grab something inspirational…something helpful…or something fun. OR ALL THREE! Just 10 minutes in a book will relieve some of that stress that can wipe you out!

–> Simplify! Simplify everything! Simplify stuff (yep, I said that again!)…commitments…curriculum…housework…meals. Completely simplify! No one will remember later all of those hours you spent on the stuff. They will remember your spirit.

Are you ever tempted to give up in the heat of the battle? Sure, you are! We (including me) have all wanted to quit at some point in time because life’s situations just got too hard, we could see no way out — no help on the horizon – and thought it better to find a cypress tree and have a pity party for ourselves.

However, you need to know that God didn’t draw you to Himself, and then anoint you with the power of the Holy Spirit to be a quitter! He made you to be a winner, an overcomer, in every area of your life.

You may have never been told that before, so I get the wonderful pleasure of telling you now…God created you to triumph! “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ Jesus…2 Corinthians 2:14a.“

No matter what life’s situation is that you are facing and need to conquer, you must make a decision that you are never going to give in or give up! (This is exactly what the devil wants you to do…give up and quit! Don’t give him the satisfaction of beating you!) One key to victory is continuing to do the right thing with the right attitude and refusing to quit!

When we become a born again Christian God gives us the authority to whip the devil every time! Ephesians 1:19 tells us about this power… “the immeasurable, unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength.”

I would like to encourage you to not let the pain of the past keep you from enjoying your today. Your dreams of the future have no place for the failures of the past. Be determined to put the past behind you, as you can not change one thing back there. Press on into the future – the new beginning God has planned for you. Although right now it not the first of the year when we would normally be making all our new goals and commitments, today is the first day of the rest of your life. No one else can be determined for you, so you must continually remind yourself to let go of the past and go on into the new things of the future.

I love the following quote by Winston Churchill and keep it on my refrigerator to remind me how good my future is going to be. “I have no fear of the future. Let us go forward into its mysteries, let us tear aside the veils which hide it from our eyes and let us move onward with confidence and courage.”

When you decide to turn your back on the devil and humble yourself before the Lord, He will lift you up and make your life valuable, wonderful and worth living every day.

When you are discouraged and about to give up, God wants you to know that He’s there to help you. “And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.” Galatians 6:9.

Remember that it’s not how you start life’s journey that’s important, it’s how you finish. You have not failed until you stop trying so don’t give up and give in to the enemy’s plan for your life! God created you to triumph in all things.

——————————————————–

One of my favorite Bible verses is Romans 4:17 “As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”

For years I’ve taken God’s Word and personalized it with my name as well as my husband’s and children’s names and spoke it forth calling those things which were “not” as though they “were,” only to watch situations line up with God’s plan for our life! When we learn who we are in Christ, and the awesome power our words have, we can easily change our negative words to positive, faith confessions and change our world to have heaven on earth.

If you were like me when I began my journey with Jesus, I didn’t know who I was in Christ or even what that statement meant! So, here are some Bible Verses that I have learned to stand on to help me believe who I am in Christ. I simply insert my name or my children’s names and say “I’m or my child’s name is/has”…

Above and not beneath. (Deuteronomy 28:13)

Apple of God’s eye. (Deuteronomy 32:10)

Abundantly provided for. (Ephesians 3:20)

Abundant life. (John 10:10)

Abounding in all things. (2 Peter 1:3)

Accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)

Anointed. (Isaiah 61:1)

Access to God. (Romans 5:2)

Authority. (Luke 10:19)

Abounds in faith. (Colossians 2:7)

About Lucia…

Like most people, Lucia M. Claborn has encountered many challenges in her life. However, she has learned how to overcome those trials to ensure complete satisfaction of victory in every situation. Before she learned to rely completely on the power of Jesus Christ and make His Word the final authority in her life, she turned to family and friends to find answers.She joined the military for security and upon retirement realized that her security was gone. A move from Idaho to Alabama removed her from the familiarity of her comfort zone and put her in a position to rely completely on the power of Jesus. When she hit rock bottom in her finances and marriage relationship, she found the everlasting arms of Jesus holding her. Lucia’s defining moment came when she realized God was all she needed; He was her source of supply, and more than enough to meet her every need.She now knows that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and He will be the same tomorrow.

Lucia is firmly rooted in the fact that Jesus came to bring her Good News. She was sick, and learned she didn’t have to be sick any more; she was broke, and realized she didn’t have to be broke any more; she was down and out and discovered she could live a victorious life through the authority of Jesus’ name.She believes the spoken word has power since God spoke the world into existence, and then gave it to man to take dominion, and rule and reign over it. We too, can speak our world into existence by mixing our words with faith and believing in the power of Jesus Christ to move upon our word and bring them to pass.

Lucia wants to encourage others with the fact that they, too, can walk in victory if they will change their negative words of defeat into positive, faith-filled confessions. Whatever the mountain is your life, you can overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony.

Lucia began writing more than 28 years ago. She pursued a journalism career in the military and eventually the civilian market. She has been published in several newspapers, magazines and periodicals, and has found her security rests on and in Jesus Christ, and this is where her true joy and happiness lies.

Lucia lives in Alabama and is married to her (earthly) best friend, Danny. They have four children, Daniel, McKenzie, Emily and Katie.

Get to know her online at her website:
http://www.LuciaClaborn.com
(Sign up there for her Daily Faith Builders)

Also! Grab her awesome seminar sets during our Half Off Sale!
http://cindyrushton.com/HalfOffSale.html
(Look for Secrets to Victorious Living and MORE Secrets to Victorious Living–You will LOVE them! AND…never be the same again!)

No matter how young or old you are, you have more than likely known a friend or two to betray you. But how did you handle it? Did you forgive them the second that it happened? Did you go on like nothing ever happened? Or did it take a little more effort?

If you have been really painfully hurt like I’m talking about, you know that it’s not easy to just say, “Oh you’re forgiven” and its over. It takes days, weeks, if not months or even years for some hurts to heal!

But, how does God tell us to handle these things that cut so deeply into our hearts? How does the Bible tell us to deal with this? What did the wisest people ever to live do about their hurts and pains?

Look at James 1:2-4 ((No, I’m not ‘gunna’ quote it till a later entry (maybe). You’ve gotta go look it up!!! )), Genesis 50:19-21 and Luke 15:11-32. Take a minute to read these passages.

These people all learned forgiveness and they learned it the hard way! They all had hurts so painfully deep that only God could help them out of their self pity and pains!

If you look at some of the greatest people in the Bible, you’ll see that they all had A LOT to overcome and a lot to look past. But, the Bible also says to forgive 70 times 7 times PER TIME that a person offends you, ((That’s 490 times each time you are hurt!)) So God doesn’t expect you to be okay within the second that a person hurts you. He does expect for you to try to forgive them, to let it go! He wants for you to love them no matter what, and try to witness to them of God’s unconditional love.

It’s hard, TRUST ME! It is sooo hard!

In the past year, I’ve lost two best guy friends and a close gal pal to selfishness. They all did horrible things towards me and at times it seems that it is so impossible to get over it. Seeing them, hearing about them, or being around them just cuts deeper. But then, I look at how much I’ve learned from those situations and I thank God for them because without learning from those mistakes/experiences I would not be the person that I am today!

Am I perfect at forgiving? NO. It still hurts and its been a year for one of those friends, seven months for another and six months for another.

Does it mean that I’m a bad person? No. It just hurts that bad!

Taking those situations and letting God use them for His glory and His good is what life is about.

Try to forgive the best that you can. That’s what God truly wants! Try to see that what those people may have intended for evil, God is able to use for His good and perfect will!

Choose Jesus’ way over your own!

Choose to forgive and to love!

It’s not easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. God is always right there for you when it seems tough. “God will never let you go through more than you can handle,” a friend said to me when I felt as though there was no way to forgive the wrongs that had been done! Just remember that. “God will never let you go through more than you can handle.”

Forgive!

Love
Elisabeth

In the midst of a great battle? Hear it approaching in the distance? Just want power in your daily walk as a Christian? Want to stand firm regardless of the storm or battle that is raging against you? Worship!

One of my favorite “battle” stories in the Bible comes from 2 Chronicles 20. In this passage, King Jehoshaphat is sent word that a “great multitude” was coming against him and his people.

I don’t know about you, but as for ME, I would have just freaked out! Stress is not the word!

Oh, but Jehoshaphat did the RIGHT thing…he immediately “…set himself determinedly, as his vital need, to seek the Lord.” He proclaimed a fast in the whole land. What was the answer for the battle that was on the horizon? Praise! Worship! What a way to battle!!

Yes! The Spirit of the Lord came upon them. He instructed them to do just a few things:

Show up to the battlefield
Stand still
Watch God battle for them
And my point in sharing this passage: SING AND PRAISE God!

When we show up, stand still, look unto God, we please Him. However, nothing seems to unleash Him to do the battle like PRAISE and WORSHIP!

Oh, I am not talking about praise and worship like we have at most of our churches. I am talking about a lifestyle of praise and worship! Not just something we do for 10-15 minutes on Sunday Morning. I am talking about 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I am talking about praise and worship like David knew. You know, when he could soothe his enemy with his praise and worship? When he could dance in the streets in total abandonment as a worship to the Lord in spite of the opinions of those he loved the most (his wife)? When he could pray prayers and sing songs that could woo the heart of God?

I want this kind of worship! I want to praise God with all I am! Because of this, I make praise and worship a part of every day. You can too! How? Here are some QUICK and EASY tips:

1. Collect your favorite praise and worship verses from the Bible. Some of my personal favorites have been found in the pages of the Psalms. I also LOVE Bible prayers from the GIANTS of the faith. Begin your collection today! Copy them in your own Discipleship Notebook. Use them as your prayers. Read them when you need a word of encouragement. Memorize them. Hummm…I guarantee that whatever your situation may be today, you will find that this will be a key to warfare.
2. Collect your favorite praise and worship songs and hymns. I keep copies of my favorites in my journal. They are great for prayers and praise during those moments that I hear the rumbling of the enemies’ feet! I also have a wonderful collection of my favorite praise and worship songs. You may also want to CD’s or podcasts that feature your favorite songs and hymns. I keep all of mine on my iPod, ready-to-go with me anywhere I go (even to clean out the closet! ). I pop on my headset in when I am working on the computer, cleaning my house, riding down the road, or sneaking away for a walk at the park. Anytime, anywhere can easily become a place of worship of our God.
3. Write your own prayers/songs of worship! YOUR story is SO vital! One of my favorite NEW books is a compilation of simple prayers and thoughts written by the mother of one of my high school friends, Ginny Traylor. Ginny’s faithfulness is journaling through her life has inspired me anew to keep even more organized journals of my journey. What may seem simple, may actually bring the greatest glory to the Lord for those that come behind us.
4. Finally, KNOW the power of praise and worship! Just as we see here in 2 Chronicles 20, worship unleashes the Lord to battle FOR US. Our worship is a sweet, sweet aroma offered to our precious Lord. It is our ministry TO HIM personally. Only in the midst of battle can we offer the sweet sacrifice of praise, it is no “sacrifice” when all is easy and fun. Then, watch out for Jehovah Nissi, our Lord Who battles for us. He fights FOR US! Those battles are not ours—they are the Lord’s.

So, hear the enemy coming? Fall flat on your face! Inquire upon the Lord! Pull out those beloved verses…songs…and even your own feeble prayers of worship to God. Oh, then. Watch what happens. You can stand still, watch, and see the battle fought by your Jehovah Nissi!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever!” 2 Chronicles 20: 21