June 21, 2013 - Take Your Medicine

Happy Friday! I am off today and that accounts for the late blog. I have been reading, drinking coffee and smiling at the sunshine. How many of you know that sometimes we can become WAY too serious. Life has a way of wanting us to feel burdened, isolated, forgotten, abandoned, a failure. Have you ever felt those? Maybe you have a trick to make you smile when these enemies are encamped around you. Some people use alcohol, some people use food, and others simple spiral to places of darkness. I want to tell you today - walk outside, lift up your face, close your eyes, and let God's warmth touch your skin for 60 seconds. Did that make your frown? I doubt it! God never promised a journey FREE of suffering or obstacles, but He promised victory at the end. I'll take it. At another phase of my life when experiencing the above-mentioned emotions, I must confess I have run to all three non-fulfilling solutions. The problem was the following day the issue was never resolved and I felt more like a failure than ever. Would you like my NEW weapon of choice and best kept secret? Find a joyful Psalm and read it, then read again OUT LOUD, even march yourself outside into the sunshine and read it out loud. Then, note what happens in your spirit. Remind yourself also, THE ONE who measures the universe in the span of His hand, knows every thought before you speak it and every hair on your head CHOSE you to be in HIM before the world began. No matter what "truth" life tries to shove down your throat - let THAT TRUTH make you smile right now! I feel that many times reading God's Word to confront yucky feelings is better than most B-12 shots (although I take B-12 daily) and can I say, "reading God's Word is FREE." I have selected a passage today that made me smile. I am about to read it again with you and may we smile together. Concentrate on the section that promises that God will help us. Let joy fill your house today and realize that God chose you in spite of you. He has plans to do good by each of us. I think I'll go get in the pool, smile at the sunshine, and remind myself that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me - including picking all the correct food items for the next three days. (wink) Read the Word, get outside, smile, allow truth to remind your heart you are loved, read God's Word again and then say, "that's good medicine." Right? Here's an encouragement from Psalm 68 today: 33Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens, his mighty voice thundering from the sky. 34Tell everyone about God’s power. His majesty shines down on Israel; his strength is mighty in the heavens. 35God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!