Bad days. 7 tips to get over it!

Sometimes life is tough. You just want to cry out. Yell and scream. You don't want to deal with anything that life is trying to throw your way. Many times that translates to you doing things that negatively impact your relationships.

It happens. But it doesn't have to be the end of you or your relationships. True relationships understand that sometimes we have bad days. Sometimes things get too hard to cope with.

The worst thing that you can do is to let it drag on. Forgive yourself and realize that shit happens to everyone. In life we have to let things roll off our back.

I like Daniel Powter's Bad Day because it reminds me that the day eventually ends. You had a bad day. Past tense. Let the bad day go and get on with the good days. 

Whether it is something that we did or someone else did. Shrug it off, get back on track and keep chugging on.

Here are a few tips to help us do just that.

1. Take a step back. Admit it. Yes, I had a bad day, but it's okay. It's not the end of the world. Remember everyone has one. If someone says they don't, they are lying. And if it is the end of the world, well then, it doesn't matter anyway does it? Also ask yourself will this one day really matter in the grand scheme of things? Two years from now will I even remember this?


2. Sing a song. Here I included one for you. It doesn't matter if you can sing or not. It doesn't matter what song it is. Music has the power to shift our thoughts and emotions. Old gospel hymns work well. This is my personal favorite. It reminds me to look up to God and remember his promises.


3. Write about it. Get your feelings out there. Let all that negativity go somewhere else. This will help you to reflect on your feelings. It doesn't have to be long and drawn out, just a few paragraphs will do.


4. Gratitude list. Write a few things you are grateful for. A gratitude list is great strategy for many things. Reminding yourself what you are grateful for will help put you mind back into the right perspective and help you to remember that God does provide for you even if it may not feel like it right now.


5. Exercise, do a physical activity or take a walk. Anything that will get you in a different environment and moving. Anything that will get you breathing and take you away from the situation. One note of caution though, when you are out walking, doing Tai Chi or working out, think about nature, your breathing, anything but what is going wrong. You don't want to use this time to dwell on the bad things but to break from them.


6. Recite your favorite verse or quote. Doing the previous step and reciting verses together would be really helpful. Sort of like a moving meditation. Psalms has a wealth of verses that are good for bad days. You don't have know whole chapters just 1 or 2 verses is good. Anything that reminds you that God loves you will do.
   
   Psalm 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you
       to guard you in all your ways;


7. Pray. Prayer is always the go to step and probably should be number one. But lets face it, many of us use prayer as a last resort, when all else has failed. And that is OK. Many times it is because we think that somethings are just so small and insignificant that we don't want to bother Jesus with them. That is not true. The best way to deal with a bad day or a good day for that matter, is to remember that God cares about us, even the small trivial things. That is truly the good news. If we can understand that, then even the bad days become a catalyst to push us closer to God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Ephesians 6:18a

Follow Your Dreams. Literally.

Acts 2:17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

I had a very interesting dream last night. Actually I have been having dreams almost every night lately. Vivid and pertinent dreams. Many providing insight and direction to my life; showing me things that came true. Showing me things that I hope will come true.

“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” 
― Molière

There are things I was called to do and it is freeing to know that finally, this is the time to do them. 

And the fact that all these obstacles and troubles have shown up out of nowhere. Yeah you can bet I am going to continue to plod forward! Those obstacles are just further proof that I need to keep going.

So if you are following your dreams, do not let obstacles deter you. Obstacles can help to vault you higher and further. Use them as bounce pads and have fun with them. Own them!

7 Things to Combat Waiting Anxiety

Waiting anxiety. When you know something is coming. You can feel it. You've been praying for it and  it feels like its right there. Just slightly out of your grasp. So close. Just not quite there yet.

You know its going to take time, you have already put in some blood, sweat and tears. But there are just somethings you have to wait for. Time, resources to build, other people to do their part; you just have to wait. And you have been waiting. Now you're beginning to feel anxious and antsy. In addition there have been a rash of things going wrong and other unpleasantries.

Yeah that's Waiting Anxiety. But we know that what God has in store for our lives will come to fruition soon. However that soon, seems to be taking forever. It is hard to wait. Some people make it look easy. Patience is not my strong suit. But God has made me aware of my anxious nature.

So I have come up with some ways to combat waiting anxiety!

1) Continue to look to Jesus.
Listen to your favorite preacher. Preferably one who is upbeat and happy. Skip the gloom and doom for now. I recommend grace and prosperity teachers.

Joseph Prince

Their energy and zeal will help you stay positive. Listen to a sermon or even just part of a sermon in the morning, first thing! I suggest making it your wake up alarm if you can. Or listen while you get ready. Also sneak in a snippet at lunch, even if only for 5 minutes. This can really help to reinvigorate you for the rest of the work day, especially if that day happens to be a Monday!

2) Continue to pray.
Some people may pray for something and believe, then don't pray for it again. The rationale is that you believe God heard you and you can move on. Others may pray for the same thing over and over again. Either way, just keep praying. Pray for everything. Just keep talking to God. Keep the communication lines open.

Praying Squirrel - Please send more acorns!

3) Speak blessings over other people.
One good way to really ease the waiting period and to take your mind off of you is to speak blessings over other people. Now I'm not saying go put your hand on some random strangers forehead, but as you are in line getting your grande double shot mocha, take note of the barista's name. As you walk away, ask God to bless them. Or just say to them "God bless you darling, I was in need of this sweet, dark goodness" as you gulp down your mocha.

4) Implore the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is with you. Always. Ask him to strengthen you as you wait. Ask for the gift of patient endurance. He will help you. He will show you how to be content, if not happy, in the delay. Don't know how, just sit back in your chair, take in a slow deep breath and say, "Thank you Holy Spirit for waiting with me, I know with you I can patiently endure." Then sit back up, you don't want the boss coming around thinking you're a slacker!

Philippians 4:6-7(NKJV)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

5) Make a gratitude list.
These are great for, like everything! When you feel down, berated, anxious, and grateful. It reminds you of what you have and keeps you focused on the good things. A positive mindset is an absolute necessity if you want to be successful in any area of life. So do it everyday anyway. Just make a short list, about 5 items, of what you are grateful for. This will really help to keep you in a positive mindset and it shows that you really don't have it all that bad.

6) Make a prayer list. 
Yes I know these are similar but I needed another bullet point. No really, Abraham, while waiting for his promise, prayed for other people to be fruitful. When we pray for other people even when things have manifested in our own lives we show faithfulness and trust in the Lord. So make a list of 5 people everyday and say a short prayer for them. Focusing on other people is a great way to relieve anxiety and get the focus off of yourself.

7) Get out. 
Get out of the house! Go do something for someone else. Help your friend paint her living room. Volunteer sometime at the literacy council. What ever it is just get out and do something, with a smile, and the goal of helping someone else. When you do things for other people you feel uplifted and positive. This will help to energize you as you wait for your manifestation.

Most of all, keep thanking God for his Son and for the leading of the Holy Spirit. Be thankful in your waiting and you will see the blessings manifest in your life.

Thanks for reading!

Which tree are you focusing on?

Listening to a message from Joseph Prince today, he said something that struck me. 

The devil always makes us focus on the one tree God said we couldn't have, when there is a whole garden of trees that we can enjoy.

I thought to myself, am I focusing on the one tree? I have a whole life around me. While it has not been ideal, it is my life and it is the only one I have. Now, that did not make me immediately happy and joyful, but it made me grateful.

I have been depressed and wallowing in what I didn't and couldn't have; focusing on the wrong tree. I have seen people around me being prosper and wondering, where is my prosperity. I have been listening but it seemed the more I listen, the more things have degraded. Finances, relationships, motivation and my faith, they have all suffered.

But through it all, God never left my side. He was always there and even when I began to question and doubt how much Jesus loved me. Today I am writing to say that I still believe. Even though times are hard and little has gone the way I thought it would this month, God is still with me. I have hope, and believe that God can restore my life. 

Another thing from today's message that hit me is that sometimes God delays and often times those delays are for a greater revelation, for our greater benefit. Things have gotten pretty tight this month, but how much more will I praise Jesus when he turns my situation around?

Focus on the right tree. Stop looking at that tree you can't have and focus on the garden around you. The things you do have. Health, dreams, opportunites, family and a God who loves you. Know that he is with you and that this delay is most likely a greater revelation, a greater benefit to you.

July

High noon of the year,
Sun in full bloom
Feel the searing heat
Beyond the mid
Of summers night eve
Warm nights
Blessed light
Folded sleeves
Cooled by the breeze
God send
To vent the summers fury.

Trouble and Toil

Have you ever wanted a day to just be over or a month to be done with? Yeah that's the feeling when affliction has simply ravaged the day and overtaken your month. So many problems and troubles have shown up that it is hard to enjoy all the good things.

The troubles and thankless toil wears on the soul but look up. No matter if it is physical, financial or anything else we must remember to be thankful and gracious. And also to pray.

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10

Know that God is working in your life and sometimes things that happen are for greater revelations. In the Bible when Lazarus, whom Jesus loved, was dying. He stayed for two more days where he (Jesus) was. Lazarus died, then Jesus went to him and raised him from the dead. In the end, Lazarus and his sisters experienced a greater revelation of God.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Know that the troubles will not last. Keep praising God no matter what comes to pass. Let the suffering be a reason to be joyful. Let the toil and trouble give you greater joy and know that God will give you more than you had before.

I know it is hard in the midst of trouble to keep praising, but that is just what you need to do. Keep believing, keep seeking Jesus and his love and do it with a joyful heart and you will be greatly rewarded for your faith.

What's a girl to do?

I am infuriated. But I guess my frustration is to be expected. It is the end times after all. It is difficult to tell who is on whose side. So many different doctrines and preachers contradicting each other it is hard to divide the truth. 

I read the Bible and I am blessed with revelations. But I also expect my preachers, pastors and teachers to give me bits and pieces to munch on. It is hard when everyone calls everyone else a liar, cult and the antichrist.

Well one way, the Bible says is that you will know them by their fruit. So look at your beloved preacher, what does their life say? Some obvious things are beating their wives or children, stealing church funds and the like.

The problem I tend to run into is the definition and explanations of things. It sounds right sometimes and so does the contradiction. What is a girl to do?

Pray for revelations. If you ask it, God will deliver. Ask in faith and know you have received. Truly the last two years I have experienced greater and greater revelations.

So when you feel lost, discouraged and just plain confused about who is saying what, know that God provides the spirit of revelation and he is making things known to his people. You just keep on reading and hearing and doing as the word says.

The easiest thing is to love. Just love, give love freely, be loving towards all people regardless of what they do and above all keep proclaiming the name of Jesus and ask him for his guidance. He will lead you.

More grace for the troubles!

Last month was beset with difficulties. This month looks bleak already and the first day has yet to even begin.

I could recall for you all of the worries, troubles and pains of the past month and the month to come, but I don't feel motivated enough to even think about all that.

What I do feel motivated to tell you is that no matter the situation, grace abounds! So I will be like Paul, well I believe it was Paul who said, "I count it all joy." So too will I count it all joy. All the pain and sorrow and trouble. I will count it joy because I believe that God keeps his word and those tears I cried last month will be made into tears of joy and those pains, well those will be counted as double joy.

The Lord said "My peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid." 

So while things look bleak, I will not worry. I will be joyful. His grace will be sufficient for today and tomorrow can worry about itself.

Soon his blessings will overtake me and there will be joy abundantly! I will be happier than all my friends. Believe and receive.

So let us rejoice in our troubles and praise him in our pains. Thank you Lord Jesus for you are worthy.