The Jealousy Disease

(www.funnyfreepics.com)

We all may have a chuckle or two when we look at the photo above, but how often does jealousy rear its ugly head in our lives? Some emotions that come right along side jealousy would be, envy, bitterness, insecurity and fear. Yet I think that we could all agree that those emotions are not something that we would be jealous of! In this particular blog entry I am not referring to the type of jealousy that God has for his children. 2Corinthians 11:2 "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy.", is more of a protective care, rather than referring to jealousy in a unhappiness sort of way. I am talking about the ugly, angry, dissatisfied sort of jealousy that breeds and thrives the more it gains a foothold in your life.

Have you ever realized when you become jealous over one thing in someone else's life, it rarely stops there? It seems that once those negative emotions are flowing in your mind, they seem to multiply and suddenly you find yourself contemplating, or shall I say complaining, over the oh so many things that are not right or are "missing" in your life. For example, Sally moves in next door, and wow isn't she a beauty! Suddenly jealousy overcomes you as you realize that she might have something that you wish you did. Not only do you notice her beauty, but her designer clothes, polished set of wheels, and look at the size of that ROCK on her finger!!! Jealousy has officially taken root, and lets watch it spread. It infiltrates your thoughts every time you see her outside, and not only her, but it sure seems like most women have it better than you. Whether it be in the looks, personality, or material possession department, they got it made and it sure seems like God left you in the dust! Not only does jealousy spread in your being, it leaches out and affects those around you. Your family hears your complaints, your friends notice your unhappy demeanor, and it holds you back from loving others as you should. Not only may others hear and see it in you, but now those thoughts have been placed in their mind for them to either dispel, or take root and grow. Now I can understand what the proverb meant in Proverbs 27:4"Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?". The incredible potential of power that jealousy can have in our lives is astounding.

This quote by Francois de la Rochefoucauld states it great, "In jealousy there is more of self-love, than love". When we are so self focused there truly is not much room for love. Jealous is in fact a dissatisfaction with what we have been given, and a greed over the blessing of another. Why should God not have blessed others with the gifts He has? Are the gifts that I have been given not good enough for me? As I write this I am saddened by how much energy and emotion I have wasted in desiring that which is not mine instead of cherishing that which I do have and blessing others with it. Not only that, but I should be thanking God for the many blessings that He has bestowed on others. So when jealousy rears its ugly head lets"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above ourselves." (Romans 12:10) and not allow selfishness to overcome that which is good in our lives.

On Jealousy by William Strode

There is a thing that nothing is,
A foolish wanton, sober wise;
It hath noe wings, noe eyes, noe eares,
And yet it flies, it sees, it heares;
It lives by losse, it feeds on smart,
It joyes in woe, it liveth not;
Yet evermore this hungry elfe
Doth feed on nothing but itselfe.

Making Moments That Last A Lifetime

Lately I have felt challenged to step back and savor whatever life throws my way. Maybe it is due to an extended vacation where I was able to slow down and really enjoy my family, or it could be from seeing a life here on this earth end at 6 years old, or it could be influenced by dealing firsthand with the aging process of an 85 year old loved one. Whichever it may be, or a combination of all 3, my life at this moment feels very contemplative.

How easy it is to get so involved in activities and responsibilities that we easily lose sight of what really matters. This day in age we seem to be pressured or even feel a sense of pridefulness in being involved in every ministry or social opportunity thrown our way. It has even affected our children with the constant pressure to have them in every activity they so desire, just so we can fulfill the expectation that society has set, to bring up well rounded and well adapted future generations.

Of course, we want only the best for our loved ones, but I guess I am feeling challenged to step back, pray and ask "What is best?". My kids, husband and loved ones are a blessing from God and I really only fully appreciate that blessing when I slow down and make the moments count. I do not want to look back so many years from now and experience overwhelming regrets because I was too "busy" to appreciate that which I already had. Yes, we are indeed in this world to be a witness for Christ to others, but what kind of witness will I be if it does not reflect in those closest to me?

Dear God, I pray that I can take each day moment by moment, enjoying that which I have been given, and growing in faith not looking so far ahead and trying to figure it all out. Amen.

Live It Out

Sometimes I really feel that God has a sense of humor, and loves to see our reactions to things. Take for instance, when I posted the last blog entry, I didn't really see it as touching something that was presently going on in my life. Today though, it hits the nail on the head for me. Time to Live It Out!

When you are blindsided by a situation that you definitely do not view as favorable, you may take it as far as devastating, what do you do? How do you react? The emotions that run through me at times like this are very uncomfortable. Yes, today was one of those days. The unfortunate happened. Plain and simple. Now what to do with it??? Of course initially, I was filled with anger, hurt, and fear. Yet as those emotions filled me, I felt like it should/can be different. I do not need to walk this path again. It is hard to think positive though when this situation has occurred before and the outcome was not favorable to us at all. In my heart I know and believe that God is bigger than everything, now I need to not tremble at the threats of Satan!

As I move forward, my desire is to cling to those promises that have been given to me, and not be defeated. "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?' "Hebrews 13:5,6. This time around I aim to stay focused on God's Word, and not let the situation get the best of me. Keep Scripture at the forefront of my mind, so my outlook on life is not overwhelming. Place one foot in front of the other, one day at a time. I am so glad that I have the promises of God to cling to, and a friendship with One who knows exactly what is best for me!

I'd love to hear your comments on what keeps you going when the going gets tough. Maybe we can all learn a few pointers from one another to help us to Live It Out!

More than Conquerors

I thought I would share a writing by Marie Chapian out of her book "His Thoughts Toward Me". I pray that it strengthens you to overcome that which you are battling.

The Power You Didn't Know You Had

"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." Ephesians 3:20

You need to repent of a fretful, fearful heart. You worry so over problems. You lose sleep. Your eating habits are poor. Your body hurts. You ask your friends, "What am I going to do?" You ask people to pray for you. You write letters to TV personalities.
And then,
you come to Me-
after you hang up the phone-
and say, "Oh Lord, let your will be done."
I am not pleased with your anxious thoughts. There are times when you choose to become swallowed up in the old attitude of weakness and failure. You see yourself as inept, incapable and helpless in the face of problems. But why?
I told my disciples, and I tell you, that I give you the power to tread on serpents and scorpions. I have told my disciples, and I tell you, that nothing shall by any means hurt you(Luke 10:19).
Here is the problem: you concentrate, meditate and dwell on weakness, failure and doom, even as you ask that My will be done! My will is that you walk in newness of life. My will is that you see yourself a capable person and that you see Me as the strength of your life. You were created to produce fruit in the heavenly kingdom and to glorify God. You are a Christian, yet you fill your mind with ungodly fears.
You ask of Me, but you give little. Will a man rob God? You cling to your fears. You cling to your time. You cling to your possessions and your income as though these are all there is. Only what you give to others is yours. What pleases me is a happy heart. Your true gifts are those that flow from a happy heart.
Do not tremble at the threats of Satan. I watched him topple downward as he fell out of heaven. The Holy Spirit gives you power to live confidently in the face of danger. I have commanded you in my word to be strong in the power of my might because in your weakness I am strong.
Lift up the hands hanging limply at your side.
Strengthen the knees that tremble at the threat of danger and trouble.
Put on the full armor of God so that the serpents of fear and worry can't reach you.
Realize I am all you need! I have given you power and love and a sound mind, not a spirit of fear.
Become a friend of obedience. Learn to enjoy obeying My will.
My will is that you know who I am, that you love Me, and that you grasp this truth: You are more than a conqueror through Me. I give power to the faint and to those without might I increase strength.
Show Me.

What is Ideal anyway?

"If today's mannequins were actual human women, they would probably cease to menstruate"

Ideal body type, ideal body weight, ideal body image...... What do all of these things mean and just how much importance do they play in our lives? I have yet to meet a woman that has admitted that there are many days that go by that she does Not, in fact, think about her body and/or outward appearance in a negative way. Ask yourself this...how much time do I spend thinking about how I look each day? Whether it be your hair, clothes, weight, size of certain body parts, etc. After you have answered that ask yourself how much of that was in positive thoughts? Yikes! I am sure that you may be surprised, or maybe you are not! There is much that influences our thinking, but I would have to say that a lot of it is the images that are thrown at us each and every day. Like I have mentioned in previous posts, most of what we see is either photo shopped, airbrushed, or portrayed in just the right lighting. This is a topic that I feel very strongly about. It truly angers me that the "ideal" looks that are placed before us are a lot of times not even real! It doesn't just affect grown women, young girls are seeing this pressure early on, and trying to adapt themselves to these standards. Eating disorders are now being treated in very young elementary girls. That is a very frightening thought. I don't know about you, but those thoughts were not in my head at that age, and really not overly so until junior high.

A few statistics for thought:

The average American woman is 5'4" and weighs 140 lbs. The average American model is 5'11" and weighs 117 lbs. Those models are thinner than 98% of American women!!!

1 in 5 women struggle with an eating disorder or disordered eating.

If Barbie were life size her measurements would be 39-23-33 (I fear she might be a bit off balance=) )

I even typed in a search on the internet seeing what I could find out about the Ideal woman's body. The results did not portray the same images that are thrown at us each and every day. When asked, the results were all over the place. There was not a definite ideal. SURPRISE! The answers varied from short to tall, thin to having extra weight, muscular to curvy. Hmm....what are we to do with that information? Go with it! We are obviously wasting our time comparing ourselves to a standard that we think exists. If the standard was to be that we all should look one certain way, then God would have created us all thinking one look was the ideal. Instead He created us all being diverse, and giving each of us a unique view of Ideal. If you missed an earlier post of mine with links to these great eye opening video clips of Dove's Campaign For Real Beauty, please take the time to view them now. You will be amazed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei6JvK0W60I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

Being "Comfortable"

"I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please, not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don't want enough of him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 worth of God please."


(photo - California Streamline)

I think Wilbur Rees touched on something very true, and yet very uncomfortable here. Well, at least those thoughts make me squirm a little. How often do we want something from God, just not too much, nor too little? We may desire change, but at the pace that we deem appropriate, and only in the areas we deem appropriate. It is hard when living with a self focused attitude to realize when God allows opportunities to come our way for the greater good of shaping us into the people we need to be. In this day in age we often view prosperity, good health, and security as signs of God's blessing in our lives, and question God's presence in our lives when faced with challenges and obstacles. However, it is more often than not, through trials and sufferings that the blessings and growth arise.

It is during those times of tribulation that we are faced with a great decision......trust God and allow the changes He sees important to take place, or resist and go into the pit of despair/bitterness and stunt the chance of any real growth taking place. As I write this I am convicted of the struggle I myself have in areas like this. Not always do I resist, and those times of going through the hardship with trust and anticipation of what is to come, have resulted in a richer, closer walk with Christ, and a lot of greater good for situations that I am in now. There have been quite a few instances where if situation "A" would not have happened, when situation "B" rolled around I would not have been prepared, but it was actually a great blessing because of "A". It seems very unfortunate that we would rather take the short cut around trials only to risk the chance of missing out on some of God's greatest blessings in our lives. We say we want to be like God, yet we resist suffering. We are to model Christ likeness and "he learned obedience from what he suffered"(Hebrews 5:8) so we can expect to learn great things through our suffering also.



Being "comfortable"......is what we feel our ideal situation is. Maybe it is time to let go of our preconceived idea of comfortable and stretch out in faith allowing our "comfortable" to become a step by step following after God in pursuit of His best for us.

"While I'm satisfied with cosmetic surgery, God wants to perform radical surgery."

Rick Ezell

Enjoy!

Enjoy=to experience joy; to take pleasure in; to relish

The message in church this morning got the wheels turning in my mind. We are studying the book of Ecclesiastes, and truly there is much to ponder in that writing. The main focus was to enjoy life and all it's certainties and uncertainties, for that is what we have been given. All too often we take so much in our lives for granted, and we never know when those things could be taken from us. Whether it be a person or the ability to do something, we rely on those things without really grasping just how enjoyable they are to us.

Of course I am going to focus a little bit more on this thought. Having a heart for women and the thoughts that we have towards ourselves, my mind immediately was challenged by the fact that we women in general, do not enjoy our body. How many thoughts that fill your mind each day in regards to yourself, as Webster defines it, make you take pleasure in, and relish yourself.....as is? I am encouraged to remember all those little, yet truly monumental, things that I am able to do each day without even thinking about it. Like the saying goes, you don't know a good thing until it's gone! Take the time to run through a "normal" day and then note 10 things that you can take pleasure in, that your body does. It can be physical, mental, or emotional in nature. Here it goes...I'll do 10.

1. Ability to get out of bed and give my boys a morning hug when they are still drowsy.

2. Exercise....not all enjoy it, but I do, it helps clear my mind and relieve stress.

3. I can smell...coffee, fresh bread, cookies, garlic & onions sauteing, fresh air....yeah for spring=)

4. Laughter, oh how a good laugh can just brighten your spirits.

5. I can see....the sun, my kids, and I love to read.

6. To feel emotionally, while not always enjoyed, without my emotions well life would just be BLAH!

7. To just be a woman, with a husband to love and who loves me whether or not I think my physical body is good enough!

8. For the design of my body with extra fat to help keep me warm and my organs functioning and regulated.

9. For hands to help others, to hold, to hug, to cook, and yes, to even do the dishes=)

10. Most of all, for the ability to Love! Love God, others, and even myself!

Okay, so that wasn't that hard, now comes the hard part...to remember it! If we can just take these thoughts and go with it, how much more enjoyable each and every day would be. If instead of grumbling about yet another pot to wash, take pleasure in that time knowing that if we had no hands to do it with, we would long for the ability to do this simple task. Or instead of beating ourselves up over the size, or lack of size, of our body parts, we reminded ourselves that without them, we would not be able to do a whole assortment of things. You get the idea. When you see others enjoying life, it just makes you want to be around them and have that spunk for yourself. So lets challenge ourselves to enjoy all that we are, all that we have, with the body that God has blessed us with, and be contagious with it. Everyone loves a joyful spirit.

"Start using what you have to be a blessing, and your well will never run dry."

Unknown