Okay, so I have needed a laugh this evening. It’s been one of those days! This will do the trick every time! Enjoy! Laugh a lot, it’s the best medicine for a healthy lifestyle! It’s one of my favorite activities!
Below are two songs that go with the post below. They are both by friends back home and relate to the idea of change…leaving and staying. The following is the lyrics to “Heaven Bless The Heart” by Tara Ward and below that is a link to the song “I Must Go” by the group Late Tuesday (I don’t remember if Tara or Dana wrote the song, I will have to add that info later). I’ve been blessed by the realities in these two songs over the years as I have come and gone and seen others do the same. In all things, trying to follow as the Lord lead and being willing to say YES, even when it’s not easy.
Life is full of choices some affect only us and some change the world around us
Life is full of voices that try to sway our path
When we hear your voice we know, that wherever you lead us we must go
So give us the courage to drop our nets and follow
Lord leaving paradise wasn’t easy to do, so Heaven bless the heart who leaves his friends to follow you
Life is full of questions, some will have answers, some will have none
Life will have decisions. Sometimes we’ll wonder if we made the right one
But wherever you lead us we must go
So give us the courage to drop our nets and follow
Lord leaving paradise wasn’t easy to do, so Heaven bless the heart who leaves his friends to follow you
And wherever you lead us, we must go, so give us the courage to drop our nets and follow
Lord leaving paradise wasn’t easy to do, so Heaven bless the heart who leaves his friends to follow you
Heaven bless the heart…Heaven bless the heart that leaves his friends to follow you ~Tara Ward
The following is a song called “I Must Go” it’s a song that I often have listened to and thought about when I have moved away, traveled and/or returned “home”. I’ll add the lyrics later. For now, I want to see if I can figure out how to upload music onto wordpress. 
There are many joys in life. One of my greatest joys in life has always come in the form of relationships. I like people (not always in mass quantities, but I love them). My family, my friends (many like family) and my fellow co-workers. Those I have served and those who have served with me. Sometimes when we are people people (that is fun to write, though it’s probably completely grammatically incorrect), we grow to love and care for others. This is a good thing, but not always fun. Why? Well for better and for worse life often brings many changes. I look at my own life and the Lord has led me in some mighty crazy adventures (I would trade none of them). On each adventure though, I get the joy and the pain of caring for others. Each place I have gone (and have left), I get the joys of new friendships and the sadness of either leaving others or the opposite, when they have been the ones to depart.
Today has been an interesting day. Many tears and yet a bit of laughter too. Why the tears? Well, really I am not sure. I’m trying to figure that out. What triggered them though? I know that much. Some were tears of frustration, as I am in the midst of a couple of frustrating situations right now and a lot of unknowns. Some were tears of sadness.
So, life is good. God is good. Why the sadness? Partially, I’m a women. We are rather emotional beings. Partly because there is a lot going on and I’m overwhelmed. This makes things that generally are not that big of a deal…a much bigger deal. For example, I was listening to my voice mail today and when I was done it went back to message one. Message one is a vm from my nephews: “Hey, Tia we miss you, we love you…come back.” I did not mean to listen to that message, but in an instant TEARS! Once they start these days, they get a little over eager to escape. An activity that I call “Automatic Drip”, no I’m not talking about coffee (though coffee generally helps!).
Another reason that I’m a bit sad right now is that a dear friend of mine is moving away. After all of my moves and changes, I’m learning that I do much better as the one leaving, than the one staying (and therefore saying goodbye). I’m very excited for the opportunity that she has, as I have been for everyone else that I know who has at some point gone away. In the midst of my sadness, I really and truly am so glad that God is leading and guiding her life. She made a comment today, which I have said as well many times when I have “had to” (meaning, God has said GO and to do differently would not be right), the comment she made to some leaders in one of our ministries and it was that “if it’s Gods will for me to go, then it’s also Gods will for you and the ministry”. How true that is and how exciting that is at the same time. In the body of Christ, it’s all connected. God sees the big picture and for that I’m so thankful! Though it’s still hard and sad at times, the hope and truth in this is amazing.
As I was trying to wind down from a very tough day, I was listening to music and played this song as I thought about how God blesses us, as we drop our nets to follow Him. I have dropped many nets to come to Dallas (Family, Friends, Finances, Familiarity)…lots of F’s :-)…Christy too will drop many nets to go to Memphis and how great it is to know that God will bless and provide for her in each of those areas (and many more).
I’m spoiled to call Christy (along with many others) my friend and I look forward to how God is going to work in and through her during this time. I’m thankful too that distance has never been something to get in the way of my friendships…good thing since the Lord seems to keep spreading them across the globe!
Well, I’ve been wanting to post something these past couple weeks, but have not been able to. Actually, my thoughts and life are still a bit up in the air, but a few things are sure.
God is good. God is faithful. God goes before me. God is trustworthy. God is!
This week I have been reminded much of the Truth. I have been challenged in my study of God’s word and by those He has placed in my life. Though there are two different things going on in my life, it’s amazing how everything I have heard, seen and read this week bring me back to the Truth in both areas.
One thing that has been on my mind this week has been the idea of community and the need for others. Sometimes my lens for Truth is thin and the fog of Satans lies seem so thick. However, in the heat of battling lies this week, the Lord lead me in my Bible study to Exodus. It was taking about Moses and the Israelites battle against the Amalekites. Whenever Moses was holding his arms up, the Israelites were victorious in battle, but if his hands would go down…well, the result was not victory. He grew tired and weary from the literal battle. Sort of like we as humans often do from a different kind of battle. However, God showed him the need for others, by allowing Aaron and Hur to step in and help out. When Moses would grow tired, they would help by holding up his arms and in turn the Israelites would continue to do their part in the battle and were victorious. Hmm…how many times do we tire in defeat, simply because we are trying to do it alone. Yes, God is our sufficiency, but He shows us time and time again throughout the Bible that He created us to support, challenge, love and encourage one another along the journey.
Lesson number two for the week? I have also been reminded that I am not to be anxious, but am to pray. Simple. Not New. But a needed reminder…a way of life…
I’ve also been reminded that I have been created by Christ Jesus to do good works, which He has prepared in advanced for me to do. He is preparing me for those specific works day in and day out. I can be confident that if I am walking and serving in obedience, that I will continue to do the good works He has prepared.
Yeah, simple truths. Simple reminders. But they both change the lens that we see our opportunities and circumstances through. May we be shaped for His glory by each and every circumstance and opportunity that He brings our way!
I will update this as He continues to reveal these truths to me and as I continue to get my butt kicked into shape! Might I be conformed into Christ-likeness, that by the renewing of my mind I may be able to know Gods good and perfect will!
Yes, it’s true. I’m up because I can’t sleep. I wish this was not a normal night or should I say morning. Just when I thought this was getting better, I’m up again.
Sleepless nights? Well, the last 7 months have included more sleepless nights than sleep-FULL nights. It’s a bit of a bummer. I had a similar experience about 14 years ago, but I don’t think it lasted as long.
Some of the nights I sit and read about solutions people have found to such problems, while other nights I lay frustrated that I’m awake. Most of the research that talks about terminal (late night/early morning) insomnia links it to anxiety and depression.
Generally speaking, I don’t feel either of those things when I go to bed. I lay down and go to sleep. However, most of the nights that I have been rudely awaken by this thing we’ll call insomnia, it has generally been in a rather abrupt and disturbingly anxious manner. Several nights, I would say I wake up experiencing some sort of panic or anxiety attack.
Many people ask me if I wake up worried or anxious about something or is my mind going? As mentioned above, I often feel anxious when I wake up. However, most of the time the only thing on my mind is
“You’ve got to be kidding me, it’s 3:04AM…AGAIN!”.
Does this mean the previously mentioned do not exist? Not at all, but I’m still trying to figure out what comes first…the chicken or the egg!
In one discussion I had with the pharmacist, she recommended a certain medication. After further discussion, she said it is also often prescribed as an anti-depressant. I expressed to her that it makes sense that the two are linked. I mean, when one is not sleeping, it definitely does not help the emotional state. Then again, we got back to the chicken and the egg question.
Anyway, I’ve tried prayer, prescription medicine, routine, Tylenol PM, and the works. I continue to try all of thee above. I guess this just goes along with the title of my site! Someday…
Yes, I'm jealous! Wouldn't it be nice?
