His Presence Overcomes

He holds victory in store for the upright,

he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

for he guards the course of the just

and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Proverbs 2:7-8

We've taken a long journey toward emotional well-being. We've discovered the benefit of getting moving. We've fed our minds and even gotten to know ourselves better. But there is one more vital step to becoming emotionally well. We must overcome difficulty.

Overcoming isn't a matter of the size of my struggle.

Overcoming isn't influenced by the number of my problems.

My ability to overcome is correlated with only one thing - how quickly and how decidedly I invite His presence into my struggle.

I cannot forgive outside the design of the Architect of forgiveness. (Want to tweet that? Click here --> http://clicktotweet.com/cbtfb)

I cannot heal without the care of the Great Physician.

I cannot experience peace beyond the presence of the Prince of Peace.

I do not know how big your battle has been. I don't know how deep your wounds cut. I only know His presence will make the difference.

How could inviting God's presence into your struggle transform your life?
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Today I'm visiting with a friend, Angela Mackey of Rethinking My Thinking. We're talking about a baby...who changes everything. For more hope and encouragement on experiencing change in the struggle in your life, head over and visit us both: http://rethinkingmythinking.info/2012/11/a-baby-changes-things/

True Friends Make Me Truly Thankful

Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

1 Samuel 18:1

I'm penning this post at 3:00 am. Whenever I'm up in the middle of the night like this I think about crises even if I'm not having one. I ponder whom I could call if I needed someone to come stay with my kids if I had to rush to the hospital. I contemplate who would be first to volunteer their help if Scott's cancer returned. I wonder who loves me enough to gently unveil the current growth opportunities in my life.

Most of us have very few people we could count in those categories but friends like these - true friends - are absolutely essential for our emotional well-being. Forging deep friendship was my second to last step on my journey to emotional health. 

Because I moved around frequently both as a child and an adult, it's been difficult for me to foster lasting, meaningful relationships. It seemed like too much investment for a short time period and it was easier to guard my heart than risk getting heart. But I wasn't well until I had heartfelt friends with whom I could share my faults, failures and finer features. I, like all of us, needed people to know the authentic me.

...The one who's really a kid at heart.

...The one with a quick but albeit not always appropriate comeback.

...The one who enjoys working nerdy logic problems.

Today, among so many other blessings, I am thankful for true friends. You have taught me about myself. You have been God's healing hands. You have stood by me through extraordinary circumstances, mood swings and moves.

For you I am truly thankful. Happy Thanksgiving to you! Whom are you thankful for today?

Know Yourself - First Comes the Eggs

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, 

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12

Do you know who you really are?

Photo Credit: en.wikipedia.org

This was the question Maggie Carpenter (played by Julia Roberts) had to answer in The Runaway Bride. Maggie is on her fourth engagement. She's already left three broken hearts at the altar which earns her the unfortunate nickname of the runaway bride. 

As the movie unfolds it becomes clear to Ike Graham (played by Richard Gere) the investigative reporter who is monitoring her nuptials that she has no idea who she is. Graham interviews her thwarted loves and her current fiance and asks each of them how she takes her eggs. Their identical reply, "Same as I do."

Today, we continue our trek to emotional well-being by getting to know ourselves.

As a woman, I tend to shove aside my own needs, wants and desires for the sake of attempting to meet everyone else's. This practice detracts from my emotional well-being. One of the healthiest gifts we give ourselves and those we love is to truly be in touch with our dreams, hopes, desires and even preferences. 

Talk a walk and let your heart wander.

Spend a long morning sipping coffee and drinking in your dreams.

This is a daily battle for me and one I have to recalibrate regularly. Love yourself and those important to you enough to get to know yourself - not who you and others expect or need you to be. Emotional well-being will inch one step closer.

Are there unfulfilled hopes or unrecognized needs in your life? What is one step you could take today toward cracking those eggs wide open?

Feed Your Mind

Today I am introducing a new 8 week series on emotional well being. My personal journey to emotional well-being was a long one with many side trips and double-backs. In all there were 8 major components and I want to explore them one by one with you over the next 8 weeks. Here is Step 1 - Feed Your Mind.
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Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:29

“I’m hungry.” I hear this declaration multiple times a day from my four kids. With almost equal frequency I hear a complaint about a school or reading assignment. Why is it we humans are so eager to feed our bodies but not our minds?

As a little girl I dreamed of becoming a stand-up comedian. To make a room full of people laugh was the highest achievement my elementary sized brain could imagine. In the fullness of time, I realized that seed of a dream would sprout into a desire to speak and write.

In today’s fast paced, high tech world, however, the profession of writer and speaker requires much more of me than those two tasks. In the last few years I’ve learned to program a website, utilize social media and produce an abundance of print materials.

Each of these tasks daunted my soul. They seemed beyond me; more than I could do. I was forced to learn new skills and put them into practice.

What I didn’t know is that the process of learning would add life and health to my soul. When we learn we become more than we envision. When we explore unknown truths we expand the boundaries of who we are. Feeding your mind provides much needed nutrients to our inner self.

One of the keys to emotional well-being is plugging sustenance into our intellect not just our bellies.

Do you have a secret interest in learning calligraphy? Take a class at your local college.

Do you wish you had the fashion sense of a celebrity? Find a blog about fashion basics and read it every day for a week.

Do you have a dream that seems beyond you? Learn just one skill required to make that dream a reality.

When we expand our emotional waistlines by feeding our minds, we become infinitely more attractive not only to ourselves but to those who occupy our corner. Dare to feed your mind. Your emotions will thank you!