So I was typing on my computer and I saw the power cord, and I assumed that because the computer was still on, it was plugged in, but then the red battery light came on. So, I looked at the power strip and it was plugged into the wall, turned on and functioning properly, but when I inspected the power cord, I discovered that while it was close to the computer, it was not plugged in all the way.
It made me think about my life. I go to church every Sunday; I attend and sometimes teach Sunday school. I pray and I read the Bible. I sing and play gospel songs. But, there are those times, and I am sure I’m not the only one, when I just feel drained. I feel powerless, even hopeless at times. I feel like my power, my victory, is fading. Usually, during those times, I am feeling tired and empty because, although I am close to God, I am not really plugged in to His power. I am simply going through the motions of a routine or ritual, but not fully experiencing His grace, His mercy and His might. I am not fully engaging in my relationship with Christ, which is why I start to feel down. So, if you are feeling powerless, tired, uninspired, check your connection to your power source. Are you just close enough to see what your life could be like in the fullness of God? Or, are you plugged in to God and His greatness? Ms. EV
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How do you make it through when you are so broken that you don't think that anyone could possibly put the pieces of your broken life back together. What do you do when you're feeling a little like Humpty Dumpty? There are many circumstances that shatter our lives. Some of us have been abandoned by one or both parents, by a spouse, or maybe by friends. Some of us have been molested by someone we know, or raped by someone we don't know. Some of us have been beaten down by the words and actions of someone who claimed to love us. Some of us suffer from low self-esteem and shame. Some of us are our own worst enemy; victims of ourselves, our bad decisions, our mistakes, our bad judgment calls. Every time something bad happens, we break a little. The more devastating the circumstance, the more broken pieces.
Sometimes you feel so broken that you don't think you will ever reach your goals, or your purpose in life. All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty back together and you've been through more than falling off your seat. So, how do you put the pieces back together? The answer is...you don't put the pieces back together. You can't. What you can do is sweep us those pieces into your hands and then place them in God's hands. He's the Master craftsman, He's got something even better than superglue for you. He'll give you a new Spirit, a new reality, a new life. Give God the pieces and He will put you back together better than you were before. Ms. EV All of my life I have been a whiner, I am growing out of it, but I still catch myself living a whining, worrying, why-oh-why lifestyle and throwing personal pity parties from time to time. Why is it that sometimes it seems that Christians are more comfortable living in a place of misery and unhappiness? Is it because we want sympathy from others? Is it because we feel like God owes us more than we have? What I do know is that when I am having a pity party, I reject every attempt by any other person to feel better. I don't want to feel better. And, maybe, that's why God doesn't answer some of our prayers. Because God knows when we want to be better and when we just want pity. He knows when we really want to do something about our circumstances and when we want someone else to take care of us.
We have to stop living defeated lives. There is nothing wrong with being mad or sad for a little while, but there is something wrong when a person who claims to love Christ and believes He loves her would rather stay down than get up and fight. And if you can't seem to fight, talk to someone; you may have a physical or mental issue that's causing you to feel the way you do. But, even if that is true, it's not an excuse to wallow; sometimes, we just need extra help getting back in fighting shape. Either way, we should never live as though we have been beaten because I read the end of the Book and it says that WE WIN!!! "...and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need.My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." 2 corinthians 12:8-10 (The Message)
Different people have different ways of dealing with problems. When I was younger, I was prone to worry, but I learned in my late twenties that, as Dr. Phil says, "Worry is like rocking in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere." Incidentally, Dr. Phil also says this about guilt and a couple of other things, but I digress. I have always admired how several people very close to me seem to never worry about problems. They seem to take adversity in stride with a smile on their faces and a song in their hearts. Then, there are others who skip straight past worry into all out panic. They scratch and claw desperately for a solution to the issue. Now, instead of worrying, I tend to ignore the problem, hoping that it will just go away. I do not recommend this particular coping mechanism. What I have found lately is that when I ignore a looming or lingering issue, it tends to sneak up and consume my thoughts when I least expect it. This happened to me just yesterday. I was getting ready to enjoy my day off when suddenly, I became paralyzed by fear and worry. I didn't utter a word. I couldn't utter a word. But, in my heart, I said, "Lord, I cannot do this. I do not know how to make it through this time. What am I supposed to do?" I felt completely helpless. I had this sudden feelings that all of my best efforts to be obedient were still not enough to get me out of a situation that I had hoped would just go away or be miraculously resolved. And, then, I gave up. I gave up trying to make things work out and just said, "Lord, you have to fix this because I can't." Later in the day, I received two blessings that directly related to my problem. No one knew what the problem was, but God. I knew I had reached my limit. I had taken all I could take and I had done all I could do. And, I believe that God was glad that I came to that revelation, so that I could get out of His way and let Him show me how much He loves me. And, He did. Not that He didn't already show it when He sacrificed His only Son, but He continues to show us in our daily lives, that He loves us. He is strong enough to take care of our every need. His grace is sufficient. If we would learn that it's alright to be weak and limited because our God is strong and limitless, imagine the miracles He could work in and through our lives. Ms. EV Yesterday was Veterans Day; today is the day that it is observed around the nation. As the daughter, sister, and niece of so many veterans, I have to take the time to say how grateful I am to those who have served and continue to serve in this great nation's armed forces. I know that I am not brave enough to make the sacrifices that these courageous men and women chose to make to protect my freedoms. I feel a very personal sense of gratitude towards everyone and anyone who has ever risked life and limb to fight for me, without even knowing me.
I am also grateful for the One who fought for me, even though He knew me. He knew exactly who I was and who I would become. He knew every trial I would face and every triumph I would gain. He knew every mistake I would make and every miracle I would need. Yet, He still fought for me. He knew that I would sometimes have doubts about if He was listening. He knew that sometimes I would have deficiencies in my learning. Nevertheless, He fought for me. Most would think that the biggest battle for me would be with the devil, but honestly, I think He had to fight me harder for me than He ever had to fight the devil. But, He fought for me. He died for me. He rose for me. He keeps me day by day. Even on a day like today, when I wake up feeling defeated, He gently whispers to me, "I'm fighting for you. You have not and you will not lose the battle. It is not your battle to lose; it is my battle and I never lose. Just hold on tight to My unchanging hand. You will make it!" The men and women who volunteer to serve this great country are worthy of honor. Whether they serve for one year or thirty years, they are willing to make a sacrifice that I cannot say that I was ever willing to make. So, I salute them! And, I give thanks and praise to the God who made them and made them so very brave. This same God who made them willing to fight for you and me also fights for you and me daily. We just have to turn the battles over to Him and let Him win! Ms. EV Do you ever get tired of doing what feels like thankless work? Maybe that’s just me. Maybe I am the only one who would really like to hear “thank you” when I work hard for something or someone. (Honestly, I did not realize how much I longed for it until it happened to me recently). It’s not that I work for the “thank you;” I will do the work, regardless, and do it to the best of my ability. I have to say, though, that when I get the “thank you,” it does feel great. So, if I feel this way, I know that God must feel it, too. He is always there for us; guiding our paths and fixing our problems, but how often do we take the time to say, “Thank You.”
Maybe it is that we feel like God is doing what He is supposed to do. I mean, for many of us, when we do what we are supposed to do, it is rare that we get any appreciation. It is only when we do something spectacular or when we make someone else’s life a little easier, that we usually get thanks, so are we treating God that way? Do we believe that He only deserves praise when a miracle occurs? If so, I’ve got news for you, a miracle occurs every time you take a breath. The Bible says, “In everything, give thanks.” That means that we are not only to appreciate God for the good times, but for the tough times, as well. Think about it. God loves us when we are doing His Will and when we go astray, so how can our thanksgiving towards Him be conditional? In times of joy, it is easy to see the reasons to thank God, but sometimes we are so caught up in the success, that we forget to thank Him. In times of struggle, it is often hard to see the reasons to thank God, and we are so caught up in sorrow, that we forget to thank Him. Nevertheless, there is a reason to thank Him in every season, every day, and every moment. Beyond God’s incredible sacrifice for our souls (which means He owes us nothing), He still continues to bless us everyday. So, when you find it hard to be grateful, think of how you feel when you are underappreciated, and give God the praise that is due Him. Ms. EV Anyone who knows me knows I hate confrontation. That is the main reason that I am no longer an attorney. I know how to stand up for myself, but there are still some situations in which I feel uncomfortable. When I was practiicing law, every single time I walked into the courthouse, my stomach would tighten, I would start sweating and I would get nauseous. This was just at the thought of having to argue with others, especially with so much on the line. So, in my daily life, other than meaningless banter with family and close friends, I try to avoid confrontation at all costs.
Recently, at work, I had a situation where I believed that I was being judged unfairly. I tried to defend myself with the person without seeming overly sensitive. However, the end result was unchanged. This situation bothered me for the entire weekend. I commiserated with a couple of close friends, but that did not make me feel better. I tried to decide if I would follow the advice of my friends and confront the person, but it just never felt right. Then, today, someone for whom I have great respect that had listened to the situation comforted me, which made me feel a littlee less crazy, and told me that he was willing to advocate for me if that is what I decide I need. It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I was thinking that I had taken a huge step backwards because I have grown to be able to advocate for myself, but in this situation, I just wanted someone to stand up for me. God knew that and he sent me someone to watch over me. I think sometimes we overlook moments like these when God lets us know that he is listening to our heart cries. I never told this person that I needed his help. I simply vented to him knowing that he is not the type to share personal information. But, he said that he was so bothered by the situation that he felt compelled to help. And, I for one am appreciative. God surrounds us, His beloved, with people who can help us. While there are times, when we need to take a stand on our own, there are also times when we need to have the humility to allow God to let someone else help us. I am grateful that my eyes were open and my heart was receptive to the help that I know was sent by God. Ms. EV It was ten o'clock and I was watching television with one eye open. Though the polls in Florida were closed at seven, because of the long lines, the votes had not been counted completely. The screen on nearly every channel had a huge map of the United States and every few minutes a state would turn red or blue. The talking heads pontificated about which states would go which way. It was interesting to see, as I flipped through the channels, all of the different ways people could say the same thing.
At some point, I fell asleep on my couch. I thought about whether or not I should go to be or wait up like I did for the last election. The last election had the potential of creating history, so I think that is one reason that I was glued to my television in 2008. I thought about how I should pay attention in case my students had questions on how things work, but the system has not changed in 200 years, just the details. So, I brushed my teeth, said my prayers and went to bed. I realized that I could honestly care less about who won the election. I had cast my vote based on my convictions, but so did millions of other people. Thos votes were translated into electoral votes and there would be a winner and a loser, but I genuinely could not think of a reason to care who won. So, I went to bed. And. I slept peacefully, except for the few moments when I randomly woke up and tried to figure out what my nephew's chances of winning homecoming king are (an election that I feel much more passionate about). I know my position may not be popular. And, trust that I do not knock political involvement or enthusiasm. Nevertheless, as I tried to force my eyes open for another hour of election coverage, I thought, "Will the outcome of this election really change my destiny?" My answer was an emphatic "No!" I had been around for presidents of both parties, united and divided governments, recessions, wars, terrorism, and I have never felt like any one person was more in control of my life than God. There has never been an outcome of an election that has changed my life for the better or worse. Yes, some decisions by political leaders have affected my daily life, but God has been my Provider and my Protection through every circumstance. Like I said yesterday, I will always vote and make my voice heard. I believe God intends for us to be active participants in our government to the extent available. I just do not believe in trusting man more than God, so, I went to sleep. God never sleeps or slumbers; therefore, it did not matter the outcome because I have peace in Him. Ms. EV Today is Election Day. And no one is happier than I am. I am hopeful that, after tonight, there will be a winner and we can all go back to living our lives. For the past few weeks and months, I have really been annoyed by the overabundance of political ads, phone calls to my home, snide remarks on my Twitter feed and Facebook timelines, and the constant barrage of instant debates that pop up all because people have differences of opinion. I understand freedom of speech; I am an American government teacher. I just wish that people would exercise their right to free speech to themselves and leave me out of it.
What is really alarming is how passionate some people are about their candidates. I understand passion and I am not saying that there is anything wrong with having convictions. Nonetheless, when I see people who proclaim Christ being more concerned with an election than they are about Christ, it makes me sad. When I see brothers and sisters in Christ turning their backs on the love of Christ to insult people who have differences of opinion with them, it makes me sad. When people assume they know what typer of person I am because of the political party with which I identify or they think they know the political party with which I identify because of who I am, it makes me mad! Imagine if we lived in a world where we were as passionate about Jesus as we are about our favorite politicians and policies. Not to the point of degrading others, but just trying to persuade them of how incredibly awesome Jesus is and how a life lived with Him is like no other! And don't think I am just talking to other people; I even wish I was more passionate in sharing my love for Jesus. No matter what happens tomorrow, I truly understand who is really in control and it is not a Republican or a Democrat. It is not a politician at all. For the past 34 years, there have been different political parties in the White House and on Capitol Hill and yet, my life feels unaffected by anything they do. I believe that it is because I have the King of Kings on my side. I vote because the Bible tells us to be good citizens and because people fought and died for me to vote, but my faith and my trust and my hope and my change rest in Jesus alone. No man can do for me what He has already done! Ms. EV This weekend, my sorority’s chapter celebrated its 20th anniversary with a reunion. It was a great opportunity for me to visit my old college campus and reminisce with old friends while making some new acquaintances. I had a great time, though, at first, I was a little disoriented. The school has grown and changed so much; I hardly recognized it. There were new buildings everywhere and I couldn’t seem to find the old familiar spots that I had once known. I guess I should have probably visited the campus more than twice in the past fifteen years. Once I got my bearings, though, I had a fantastic time. I felt nineteen again! When my line sisters and friends started showing up, it was as if we all fell back into our old roles and time had stood still.
As I was leaving, I passed by my old townhouse and some old hangouts, and I just had to thank God. Now, this isn’t going to be one of those times when I spill all of my business, but let’s just say God is a keeper. And, boy did He keep me. He kept me from death, danger, and destruction. As I drove off that campus and down the street and recalled some of the absolutely stupid things I did as a college student, I couldn’t help but praise Him for second chances (and third ones and fourth ones and twenty-fifth ones). It’s not that being saved gives us a license to sin and do crazy things. There are always consequences. I feel as if I still deal with some consequences for choices I made in my past. But, and thank God, that with my God, there is always a ‘but,’ God can and will deliver you when you are willing to take His hand and follow His lead. I am grateful for the old school me because she taught the present me a lot of valuable lessons. I pray that by being open and honest with the next generation, I can help them avoid some of my mistakes, but, even if they don’t, I can at least show them how God will turn your life around. Ms. EV |
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