Day 36: Decompress From Stress

Psalm 91:1

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

What do you do after a long difficult day?  Most of us look to decompress.  We look to shut our minds off and do something to our liking that shifts our focus from the days event to other things.  

Yesterday began a cycle of one of those days. One thing went wrong and offset a domino effect for the rest of the day.   

It was Carlos' birthday so we went to the movies.  Easy enough right? No...I got the time mistaken, so we were there two hours early.  It just didn't make sense to go home because it was too far and gas is too expensive to waste it. The movie he wanted to see was also being shown in 3D and when we went to buy the tickets, that viewing was half hour later. (The things we do for our kids)

So two and a half hours later, the movie finally started!

 

When we left, the mad rush began. Racing to soccer training, finishing a cake, getting ready for scouts, surviving scouts! When the night ended we were tired! I wanted to decompress.

Today began the same way.  I had so much on my mind that I misplaced the keys and had a frantic family search party to find it. Then, as we were about to leave the house the baby pooped and it was all over the place.  A bath was in order.

When I finally got around to running my errands, things settled down.  I was at Michaels looking for some things for our scouting ceremony when I felt like I was finally decompressing!  It felt really good.  I was by myself and shopping!  What could be better?  Well, actually it would have been better if I were in a clothing store shopping for me, but nonetheless, I was shopping. 

As I put things in my handbasket I liesurely walked the entire store, going up and down aisles I normally would have no interest in.  I was decompressing and in the mood to just buy something.

Now, I haven't had any psychological training but I recognize warning signs real well.  I was making myself feel better by buying things to make up for the last two days of craziness.  This was my method of decompressing today.  When I noticed my basket full of nice things that I didn't need, I put the basket down and without turning around and changing my mind, I walked out of the store, emptyhanded.

I was trying to fill my void of feeling out of control with something that made me feel good.

Do you ever do that?

Sometimes we use food (for me its potato chips).

Sometimes its TV 'til the wee hours in the morning or the computer.  We all usually have a way to "decompress," although I think God would call our ways distractions.

Distractions from Him. 

I think God understands decompression.  Isn't that why he gave us the Sabbath?  But what about daily? I think he knew that daily we would need to unwind as well. 

 

Thats why he put things around us that are beautiful in sight and relaxing in its own nature.  The rivers, the stars, the trees. Think about a trip to the beach or the mountains.  He created it all for our pleasure so that we might remember Him and turn to Him during those times.

Yet usually, instead of turning to the source of true rest we turn to the things that bring on more stress.

Staying up late watching TV means we'll be tired tomorrow.

Eating half the chocolate cake means more pounds added.

Shopping carelessly means spending unnecessarily, or worse, debt.

God is there waiting for us to come to him and let him take our daily burdens.  In Him we can find peace and comfort, love and joy. In Him we're where we should be, and He's all we need.

Where are you turning to decompress from the daily burdens of life?

Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Day 35: Listen Up

Parenting is a tough job! And just when you think you might have found the formula that works, the next child challenges it.

 

Throughout my scripure reading for Good Morning Girls and the book study of The Ministry of Motherhood, I've been noticing many bible verses that I never saw as parenting verses applied in a way that have made me think of my relationship with God in a more direct Father-Daughter type of way.

I can see how I sometimes treat God in a way that would frustrate me if my kids treated me that way.  God speaks...I ignore

He directs me...I choose to do things differently.

Sometimes,(although it seems like always) we remind our kids when we're going out, to have a listening ear out for when we call their name. Of course, they nod their little heads up and down in compliance, only to forget by the excitement of being with their friends and having a good time.

 Well, we're no different. 

God spoke clearly of the Isrealites and the way they had chosen to rebel.

It seems that when they got together with their friends,  they began listening more to each other than God,

 Hebrews 3:15

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion.”

This is God's parental warning to them.  It's His version of when we say "Now."

God is telling them, this is your warning, if you hear me do not turn away because remember what happened to you when you did.

I'm sure they remembered their 40 year punishment.

Sometimes it seems simpler to turn a deaf ear to God and continue on the way we were headed instead of following His leading.

  

Listening takes work because when we listen we have to follow through on what God has asked of us.    

 

Do you ever ignore God's voice?



Have you ever read something in the bible and you get that sinking feeling in your stomach because you know what coming next? You can either follow through on God's leading or ignore him. 

Follow through always means change, something most humans don't adapt well too.  Getting uncomfortable... being stretched...being refined. It's a difficult process but it has great benefits when we follow through.

We grow. In character, in understanding, and closer

to our heavenly Father.

 

So today, when you hear God's voice, what choice will you make?

Make the choice to obey His word, daily. 

 

Day 34: Dress For Success

"I have nothing to wear!" Did you ever utter those words? I have...many, many times.   My husband will tell you (actually, he wouldn't tell you because he's been married long enough to know a hot topic when he hears it) that it usually comes with frustration, as I search the closet endlessly for an outfit that goes well with the occasion ahead of me.

Since Carl is a wise man he has learned to ignore me during my high estrogen level fits as opposed to telling me to "just wear anything."

Then there are the kids.  They love to throw this phrase around when we're out shopping and they're trying to persuade me into buying them something, even the boys! (I thought boys weren't suppose to care about what they wore?)

There's a mystery surrounding this question of not

having anything to wear.

How come if we have nothing to wear, our hampers overfloweth?

...as far as I can remember we've never left the house undressed either!

Today lended itself perfect for this topic because I've been

catching up on laundry. Lots of it, too!

So I was thinking about all these clothes and how Jesus

told us he's provide for us (and he has). He told us not to worry

about our life because He provides our necessities daily.

Jesus knew we would have this struggle and so he taught on this...

Matthew 6:25,28-30

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,

what you will eat or drink;

or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food,

and the body more than clothes?...

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

So, we always have SOMETHING  to wear, its just that it's
not always what we WANT to wear. 
(Read post of Day 24: Be Content with what God Sent)

Does God care about what we wear on a daily basis?

In Colossians 3:12 we read what we need to wear on the inside.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Before we begin searching our closet for the perfect

outfit for the day, we should be hitting the prayer closet

and asking God to clothe us from the inside out,

for the perfect accessories.

After all, accessories make the outfit, and if you like a little bling,

nothing shines brighter than wearing the characteristics

of our Heavenly Father.   

But that's not all God wants us to wear on the inside. We need to add good deeds to it all for a complete statement that screams "Godly Woman." 

1 Timothy 2:9-10 says,

I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

Are you wondering what that scripture means?  It means that God wants us to be less concerned about our looks and more concerned about our life.  One day we will stand before the Lord and we will be clothed with our good deeds, which we don't do to earn salvation but out of gratitude for what the Lord has done for us. 

Since we're done dressing us inside, let's see how God wants

us to look on the outside.

We clearly see that God wants us to dress modestly

but along with modesty there are certain things He wants

us to wear daily that never go out of style.  

The top 6 in the lineup are found in this passage:

Ephesians 10:10-17

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

1. belt of truth- standing for the Truth daily even

when we're the only one standing

2. breastplate of righteousness- living daily with God's

standards out of faith in him and love for him

3. feet fitted with readiness-  preparedness to bring the

truth of Jesus daily to any situation

4. shield of faith- defend against false philosophies that

are contrary to the truth of God

5. helmet of salvation- enough confidence in the hope we

have in Jesus that we don't get pulled into

the daily worries of the world

6. sword of the spirit-using His Word to resist daily 

temptations to indulge our desires instead of God's.  

Keeping these in our closet for daily wear will ensure that

we're sporting a fashion that is eternal and we'll be ready to face 

the day and whatever it brings. 

So before you go screaming

"I have nothing to wear!" remember that God has

given you a complete customized wardrobe to

add to your look.

Wear it well!

 Are you daily dressed for success?