Cast your Cares on Jesus during the Holiday Season

Casting our cares on Jesus means more than just superficially saying we are casting our cares upon Him, it means we are actively trading our worries, anxieties and fears into prayers. It also means we are taking those disturbing, faith-less thoughts captive and continually renewing our minds with the truth in God’s word.

Sometimes we can get overwhelmed, especially during the holiday season. With so much to do, so many friends and family to visit, and so many gifts to buy with a limited budget. It can get overwhelming if we have difficult or even dysfunctional relatives or maybe even a prodigal child. Our burdens and concerns can make us feel heavy and as if weights were put upon our shoulders. We may even try to meet the demands and expectations of everyone, this can be especially difficult coming from a divorced or even step-family. We may be overwhelmed with consumerism that comes with the holidays, and feel we have to keep up with everyone else. Some may go into debt this holiday season or take on an extra job just to have the income to buy gifts that soon will be thrown to the waste-side!

Some will begin to drink more heavily or use drugs just to get through the demands and burdens of the holidays. Others will sink into a pit of despair and depression because they either cannot keep up with the demands and expectations, or some feel heartache from the many losses that they may have endured. Christmas should be one of the most joyous occasions but often we fall into the trap of pleasing others, trying to meet unrealistic expectations, and forgetting the only reason for the Christmas season is the celebration of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We are so busy during the holiday season that we do not take the time to rest with God. We must pull away from the hustle and bustle and business of the holiday season, and unplug our phones, iPad, laptops, and other electronic devices and plug into the source of our strength. We are not stopping long enough to get refilled and refreshed by Jesus. It is not about trying to please everyone, even your family, it is about Jesus and your relationship with Him.

These are some practical steps that you can take this holiday season to help with the stress that often accompanies this time:

1.       Organize, write down a “To-Do” list, and plan when possible.

2.       Have limits (budget) on your spending before you spend.

3.       Get creative and make homemade gifts. People will appreciate the thoughtfulness.

4.       Limit time with unhealthy, toxic, or negative family members.

5.       Say, “No.” You can’t be at every event, party and at every family function for the holidays.

6.       Rest when you can. Take time to rest because the holidays can be quite taxing physically and mentally.

7.       Do fun things and enjoy time with people who are enjoyable.

8.       Balance your eating during the holidays with fresh fruit and vegetables and drink green tea for immunity. Be sure to get some form of exercise.

9.       Carve out frequent time to spend with the Lord. Sit in His presence and let your soul be still before Him. Don’t go and run from place to place, but be still.

10.   Take long, warm bubble baths and sit back and let the warm water relax your tired muscles.

11.   Cast all your cares, anxieties, fears, and worries unto the Lord. Casting your cares means replacing your worries, burdens, and anxieties with prayer and taking every thought captive and renewing your mind with the truth of God’s word.

12.   If you are lonely, depressed, find a good, Bible-believing church and attend and give back to others who are in difficult circumstances. Talk to someone, tell them how you feel, let someone pray with you. Don’t suffer alone.

CAST ALL YOUR CARES on Him because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7, NIV

CAST YOUR CARES on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

Psalm 55:22, NIV

GIVE YOUR BURDENS TO THE LORD, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the Godly to slip and fall.

Psalm 55:22, NLT

Beating the Holiday Blues

The holiday blues occur between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, and is accompanied by depression and anxiety symptoms. These symptoms occur because of unrealistic expectations of how families should be, demands of holiday parties and events, financial strain of buying gifts, reminders of past losses, holiday overeating, and the pressure of preparing your home for guests. Two-thirds of women suffer from holiday blues, and is common among singles, widows, and couples who are childless. These populations are affected more because most activities are centered on family. It can be a painful reminder to them as they ponder the people they have lost, or the families they have never had. Holiday blues affects Christians and non-Christians as well.

It is important not to repress how you feel. There is a healthy way to express grief without letting yourself wallow in self-pity. Denying your emotions and stuffing them, can exacerbate depression and anxiety. Some people choose to self-medicate through heavy alcohol and drug use. While some isolate themselves because they do not feel festive.

Helpful tips for beating holiday blues:

1.      Own your feelings. Do not deny them but express them through journaling, talking to God about them, and/or allowing yourself times to cry. Crying can be healing and it allows a release from the pain. Do monitor the frequency of crying, if you are crying continually and cannot stop this can be a sign of something more serious.

2.      Do not force yourself to attend every holiday event, party, or social gathering. Pray about the ones that would be uplifting to you, and decline the rest of the invitations. Do what you can do, and do not feel guilty for what you cannot.

3.      Take time for yourself. Take some time to rest, and do something you enjoy.

4.      Take care of yourself. Exercise, preferably walking, this is one of the best exercises to reduce stress and depression. Eat balanced meals with fresh fruits and vegetables. Try as much as possible to stay away from fried foods and sugary sweets. Take a good multi-vitamin and drink plenty of water.

5.      Try not to have unrealistic expectations for your family. Accept them where they are at, and do not compare your family to other families or what you see on those sappy Christmas movies.

6.      Set a realistic budget for buying gifts. Look into baking homemade goods or crafts as gifts.

7.      Keep connected to the life source, Jesus Christ. Have daily time communing with God, and getting quiet before Him. Let God bring you the comfort that you could not receive from anyone else.

As the winter season approaches, it is common for people to have an increase of depressive episodes, most often referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD); and then the holiday blues on top of that can be difficult to handle. If you are feeling suicidal or having suicidal thoughts, it is time to have an evaluation by a medical doctor. This is serious, but also very common during these times of the year. Spending time with God can help reduce depression and anxiety, along with praying and surrendering your thoughts.

If you are feeling blue, depressed, anxious, or suicidal, please don’t give up. You are not alone, Jesus Christ who died for all of us, does love you. He does see you and He will bring help. Say out loud, “Jesus Christ does love me and every spirit of depression that is working against me must flee in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Am I Serving Christ Enough?

“Am I serving Christ enough?” I have heard that question numerous times. Many Christians are plagued by guilt that they are not “doing enough,” and are crushing under the weights of service and expectation in the church. If you have been in ministry long enough, you may understand that there can be times that it can feel like a chore or burdensome. Stand therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke a slavery. Galatians 5:1. It is wrong to put a burden of law keeping on Christians. At times, Christians can be made to feel that they should be doing this or that.

Many people nowadays are just overloaded with responsibility, and to add just one more thing to their life can be stressful. Christians can be some of the busiest people. There can be a “busyness” in doing and not “being.” Serving Christ should happen, however, service to Christ can look different for different people. Some people serve within the “church walls,” others serve at home, with family, and in their ordinary, everyday life. Which way is right? Neither, God has given each one of us unique gifts. Do not allow yourself to compare how you serve with what you see other’s doing.

There are a few reasons that Christians serve, some are good reasons, but some can lead to burn-out quickly. Oftentimes, service to Christ can become warped. For some, there is a belief there is a “catch” in obtaining God’s love and His salvation. Hence, “good works” is birthed from this misconception. What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works...Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. James 2:14&17. We cannot earn our salvation by serving and obeying God. Works of loving service are not substitutes for, but a verification of our faith in Christ. Serve Christ in the way He tells you, not by feeling you will not “earn” salvation.

The way God will show us to serve Him will not be burdensome, but a joy. Get plugged-in to what Jesus wants you to do. You may feel it is not enough in what he shows you. Once again, it is not about “doing,” but honoring and serving God in the ways He desires.

There are others who serve Christ to please people and gain approval. There can be a real desire to be recognized by man. Some in the church may even highly esteem you and give you accolades, so in turn you do more to please. This type of serving usually involves important titles and positions in the church.

Be set free to know that you do enough in serving Christ, and that you cannot earn salvation by your works of service. God loves you, not what you do or how you perform.

In what ways have you been under the “bondage” of serving? Share your story. I would love to hear from you, and to share with our readers.

Benefits of Gratefulness

Here’s a revelation, God does not owe us anything. He has already given His life as a ransom for our sins. Somehow we believe we deserve more and better. In our western culture and particularly with the millennial generation (generation x), there is a sense of entitlement.

We enter into sin when we begin to complain about our circumstances. I am not discounting heartache and hardships. I know firsthand about getting dealt a “bad hand” in life, but sometimes you have to play the hand you were dealt. There are a lot of people who are angry with God, and displeased with their lives. It is okay to work out your anger with God, but don’t stay there!

What if we started focusing on what is right with our lives, as opposed to everything that is wrong with our lives? Our attitude about things is actually more important than what happens to us. You may be thinking, “How can I be grateful when my life is a mess? “This may be true, but there is ALWAYS something to be grateful for.

There are even benefits to being grateful, such as improved immune system, feelings of connectedness, a positive outlook on life, boosts your well-being, and benefits your cardiovascular system. Being grateful protects you from negative emotions that can come from extreme loss. WEBMD reported that gratitude can help boost feelings of belonging and decrease feelings of stress. Emotionally, gratitude can foster positive emotions, make you more relaxed, and even more resilient. Gratitude has been linked as well to being less self-centered, increased self-esteem, healthier marriage, more and deeper friendships, increased energy, and improved work performance such as time management and goal achievement.

Life is continually filled with distractions and circumstances that can cause us to not focus on what God has done for us. If we are not mindful to refocus our attention to our blessings, bitterness and anger can seep in. When we shift our anxiety and burdens to the Lord, we exchange these weights for peace, which in turn causes thanksgiving.

Keep a daily gratitude journal or say verbally out loud at least (5) things that you are grateful for. Counting your blessings instead of your counting your woes can lead to improved health, relationships, emotions, and career. It will even improve your relationship with God.

“Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will draw our hearts out to God and keep us engaged with Him. It will take our attention from ourselves and give the Spirit room in our heart.”

-Andrew Murray (1827-1917), South African born missionary and minister.

Psalm 118:24 ESV

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Colossians 3:17 ESV

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Psalm 136:1 ESV

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Are You Emotionally Bankrupt?

Bankrupt means that you lack something. To be emotionally bankrupt means that you have given out to others and need to be refilled back up, or it can refer to going through multiple stressful events and you feel emotionally exhausted. Either situation, you are emotionally bankrupt. Is it wise to continue the pace you are going if you are depleted? No, it is not. It is time to pull back from what is causing this deficit in your life, or if you are surrounded by continual stressors in your life; you still need to find some time to get alone with yourself and God.

If you are empty inside you cannot truly help others, and you could possible hurt yourself or the one you are trying to help. Sometimes, we have to let God pour into our “empty cups,” again. If you are in ministry, have dysfunctional, unhealthy family, or are in a helping profession, there will be times you will need refreshing and time alone with God. It is not only okay to do so, but healthy emotionally, physically, and spiritually. There must be balance in your life to maintain health. If you are pouring out to others all the time, and never take time to get filled back up; all of your energy will be consumed. If you are not hearing from the Lord, you could possibly be operating in your flesh and not the Spirit of God.

What are some signs of being emotionally bankrupt?

1.      Exhaustion, tired more than you feel rested.

2.      Irritable, easily frustrated or provoked.

3.      Easily offended.

4.      Discouraged and possibly depressed.

5.      Anxious and worried.

6.      Forgetful.

7.      Feel physically worn-down, and weakened immune system.

8.      Cannot settle down, mind is racing constantly.

9.      Difficulty sleeping at night or wanting to sleep more.

10.  Lack of peace and joy.

11.  Not interested in activities with others. May even isolate.

What can you do if you are emotionally bankrupt?

1.      Rest when needed.

2.      Refresh with time alone with God.

3.      Read from the book of Psalms in the Bible when you need to recharge.

4.      Refocus on the things of God, not the circumstances.

5.      Reexamine the things in your life that are causing constant stress.

6.      Reach out to someone you can trust and allow them to pray for you.

7.      Reconsider cutting down or back the things that are unhealthy in your life.

8.      Renew your mind. Take every thought captive. Don’t allow your mind to be used as a garbage dump by the enemy during stressful times.

9.      Rejuvenate by taking warm baths to relax tired muscles.

10.  Relax and do something just for you; have fun.

11.  Recharge your body by eating healthy when we you can, staying away from foods that will deplete your energy, drinking green tea (has lots of antioxidants), walking, and taking a multi-vitamin.

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Hebrews 4:9-10

Don't Feel Good Enough?

How many Christians especially women, feel like you are not good enough at times? You feel you have to keep up with the performance of others. As women, we often look to other women as our guide to how to run our lives. This will always lead to disaster, because what we should do with our individual lives should come from Christ alone. God has a unique blueprint for each one of us, so if we compare our lives to others, we will end up frustrated.

7 things to do When You are disappointed

A relationship does not work out, a job does not go through, or your prodigal child that you have been praying for does not seem to leave their rebellious life. We all have experienced times of disappointment, and it is a normal part of life. What is important to know is that if disappointment is not dealt with, it can eventually lead to depression. This is a scheme from the enemy. Something you really wanted does not work out, you dwell on why it did not work out, and eventually you begin to feel depressed.

Your thoughts will always follow your behavior.

7 Things to do when you feel disappointed:

1.      Consider that what may have not worked out could be God’s doing. Perhaps, He was protecting you from something you did not even know about.

2.      Go before God and ask Him to help you deal with your disappointment, and to show you the truth.

3.      Take every thought captive. Do not let your mind wander and think whatever it wants. When something disappointing has happened in your life it is natural to want to feel sorry for yourself or even think about it endlessly, but do not go there! IT IS A TRAP THAT WILL LEAD TO DEPRESSION.

4.      Do not feel sorry for yourself and “lick your wounds.” Go to God and tell Him how you feel and then release the need to feel sorry for what has happened to you.

5.      Realize that everyone, not just you, will have times that things disappoint them. It is what you do with the disappointment that will make the difference.

6.      Get up again. Shake it off. Cry if you need to, but then move on! That may sound harsh, but it is not. The enemy would love for you to “camp out” in your disappointment. He hopes you will stay a while so that it will develop into total despair.

7.      Sit at Jesus’ feet as long as you need to for Him to speak to you and lift off whatever is causing you to feel disappointed.

All kinds of discouraging encounters can happen to us. When they seem to pile-up on us, that is when we need to be most aware. One disappointment in our lives can be tough, but when a series of disappointments come at us, that can paralyzing if we are not careful. Recognize those times in your life when it seems that one thing after another is occurring in your life to bring you discouragement. Discouragement is always rooted from the pits of hell, and is never originated from God. Check the source, is it God bringing discouragement or the enemy? Think about where you are at in your life that so much discouragement is coming your way. It is always a set-up to defeat you.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1.      Are you getting free from some sin area in your life, or have completely been set-free from some long-term sin in your life?

2.      Are you standing for the truth in God’s Word?

3.      Are you using your life to better the Kingdom of God?

4.      Have you recently given your testimony somewhere?

Answering yes to any of the above questions could be a very good indicator why so much discouragement has come your way. Ask God to show you. Keep moving forward, do not stop and look at all what has gone wrong, and resist the enemy and he will flee from you. Worshiping

 and praising God will lift off feelings of discouragement. Keeping things in perspective as well as counting all that is a blessing in your life will help.

What about you? How do you deal with disappointment in your life?

Are You Overwhelmed?

Is your life out of balance? What are you chasing after more? Time with God, money, people, or possessions? When you begin to experience stress, fatigue, and a feeling of being burdened, it’s time to pull back and reevaluate why.

Oftentimes, we take on too much that God has not called us to, and we take on the responsibilities of others; this is called a false sense of responsibility. When we are living in God’s Divine plan, there is peace and order. When we don’t place God first, our lives become unmanageable. We have a sense that we cannot handle all of life’s problems. Let’s face it, life is tough and without spending time with God to hear His voice and direction; we will get burdened. The enemy has a plan to create as much havoc and chaos is our lives, and keep us distracted. Just because something seems good, does not mean it is good for us. We are not to copy what others are doing either. So many times, people get frustrated and overwhelmed because they are trying to mimic what someone else is doing.

You are not meant to do everything and be everything to everybody, this can lead to people-pleasing. If you please man more and not God, you are going to be weighed down. God has specific tasks for each one of us, but you will not know what those are unless you spend time with God. Our busyness, is not Godly or Holy, but a tactic of the enemy to wear us out. Don’t try and follow what the crowd does, but know what your unique plan is from God.

Other people will not like it when you tell them, “No,” be prepared for this. You must know what YOU are supposed to do. Stop looking around at everyone else for direction. God has not called you to be a copycat. You will find that others will want you to do what they are doing, but you must step away from the desire to please man.

To get your life back in order and free from the pressures and demands of people and life, pull away and be with God alone, especially when you are exhausted. Being tired and overworked is not God’s plan for you. It does not matter what other’s expect from you, but what God desires for you.

Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-30

Some questions to reflect on?

1.      What do you need to cut back on or cut out of your life to be free from over-responsibility?

2.      What do you crave and desire most from your life? Are you pursuing God first?

3.      Are you a people-pleaser? How do you know? What can you do differently?

4.       Do you feel overwhelmed, burdened? If yes, why? Do you believe this is God’s plan for you?

Out With the Old and in With the New

Before we can move into our new season we have to let go of the old first.

“Old what you may be asking?”

1.      Old attitudes that kept us in the “wilderness,” and moving into our “promised land.” These attitudes include: complaining, murmuring, fault-finding, covertness, thanklessness, and idolatry.

2.      Old mind-sets. Allowing our minds to think whatever it wants, and not taking every thought captive into the obedience of Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Thinking thoughts that are negative, faithless, and hopeless. Some of us have strongholds and lies that we have believed for years and need to be torn-down by renewing our minds in the Word of God.

3.      Holding onto the old things of the past. Some friendships, ministries, and possibly marriages did not succeed but when we hold onto these things and condemn ourselves repeatedly for our past mistakes we cannot move forward. Ask God to forgive you if you need to, and believe that God has forgiven you and that He does not want you dwelling in your past any longer. (Philippians 3:13-14).

Moving forward into our promised land will require “letting go” of former things. Former things that are no longer working for us, and possibly areas of sin in our lives that must be dealt with.

Ask yourself what is no longer working in your life? For example you want to go forward in your life and experience all that God has for you but you are still holding onto selfishness and pride. Perhaps God is asking you to let go of worry and fear. Anything that could be hindering you from moving forward God very well may have you to remove these before preceding to what He has for you next. If you have gotten yourself into the habit of complaining, God may have you deal with this before experiencing your breakthrough or blessing that you have been waiting for.

Ask God what old things need to be discarded in your life, and what new things He is wanting to bring into your life. You may have to get rid of the old before God can make room for the new. Some things no longer work for us, and we need to have wisdom to what those things are. If you are going to purchase a new car and your old car is still in the garage, how can you make room for that new car? Some will try and fit the new car with the old car, but why would you want to hold onto your old car if it no longer is working? Some of us need to stop holding onto to the things in our past, so that God can make room for the new things He is trying to bring to pass.

If what you are doing in your life is not working, it is time to make some changes. The mental health definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. Is it time for change?

For additional reading on this topic, “Wilderness Mentality Stop Your Stinkin’ Thinkin’” can be ordered at www.createspace.com/4036785.

Choosing an Attitude of Gratitude

Autumn, Preparing for the Next Season

As I look out my window typing this article, I can see the leaves are changing colors and I have my window open because the air is crisp and cooler. I love this time of year, and I enjoy the warm foods that come with this season. I enjoy homemade soup, chili, and even cocoa. As the season changes, I change my décor to look like fall. I have pumpkins and mums outside and indoors I decorate with festive fall colors. I also reorder my closet to bring out my coats and sweaters, and put away my shorts and summer tops. I pull out my boots and put away my summer flip flops. You can say I am preparing for the next season.

Now parallel how we get ready for a physical change in a season, we need to prepare for a spiritual change in seasons as well. Just as the seasons change and we get summer, fall, winter, and spring, our spiritual lives go through seasons as well. In Holidays and Holy Nights, Christopher Hill points out that for the Christian who observes the liturgical year, autumn is actually the beginning of the cycle. Each season we go through will represent something different for us. The fall represents change, harvest, and preparation. This spiritual season is parallel to the season of fall. The leaves on the trees are falling making way for new growth in the spring, but will undergo a time of preparation until. Just as our lives are undergoing changes, we should “gather and prepare” now for the time of new growth that will come. The climate also changes, depending where you live of course, but where I live, we have changes in temperature. Right now, it has been rather brisk and the nights have been cold. It is time to make a fire in the fireplace and put on our coasts and sweaters. While changing to the next spiritual season, you may need to spend extra time “bundling up” in the Word and in God’s presence, to prepare you for all that is to come.

How do you know when a spiritual season of change is coming?

1.      There is an anticipation. You do not know exactly what, but you sense something will happen.

2.      You are spending more time in God’s Word and long to be in His presence, nothing else will do.

3.      You have been in a long, “wilderness” season and have prayed and waited for answered prayers and deliverance.

4.      You long and yearn for change, yet in your own strength you know it is impossible and would need the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.

5.      You have been pulled back from your usual activities and friendships, and God has been doing a refining work in you. You are engaged in minimal activities, and are not preoccupied with busyness, because you know God is preparing you for His purposes.

Now is the time to prepare for the harvest, anticipate change, remove “dead’ things from your life, stay connected to God as you transition, and begin speaking life over all your circumstances; even if those things seem inactive or finished. This is the season to write out your vision again, and be convinced once again of God’s calling on your life. Life will come back to those things that have seemed to wither away. See everything in your past as training ground for your next season- your prior ministry endeavors, professional and personal experiences, and even past failures can serve as training. God will use it all!

(originally posted 10/14, reposted 9/15)