Sometimes We Have To Encourage Ourselves

When I was coming up, the two words you never said out loud were, “I’m bored!” Reason being, my people didn’t believe in kids being bored, so they always had some type of chore waiting in the wings to help you not be bored. I quickly learned to not utter those dreaded words, “I’m bored” even if I was. But the truth of the matter is that most of us experience some type of boredom in our lives from time to time. And so today let’s explore how we can turn that into something positive and good.

Being bored doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t have anything to do. It’s also a state of being, concerning the things you do all the time. You could simply be bored with your every day routine. Your days are probably very full with a lot on your plate, yet you still find yourself experiencing boredom of sorts. We have a tendency to fall into ruts, especially during the winter months when we spend more times indoors and at home. We are less physically active and often eat more. And some of us might even suffer from some form of depression as the nights grow longer and the days are shorter. I’m here to challenge you to do something about it.

In the spring and summer of 2008 I faithfully walked 2 miles 6 days a week and lost almost 25 pounds! And then the cold weather set in and I walked once or twice a week, and began to eat what we like to call “Comfort Foods.” My dear sisters, I want you to repeat after me…”There is no such thing as Comfort Food!!” That will be a discussion for another day, but the idea of finding comfort in food has tricked many of us up for far too long. I just needed to put that nugget of truth out there. ~Smile~ And along with not walking or exercising as much, eating heavier foods and watching much more TV, I ended up finding 20 of those pounds I had lost. That was sort of discouraging to say the least but inspiring at the same time. I was inspired to not give up and give into this momentary failure. I was inspired to move forward. But there did lurk the big question of, “How?” I walked again this summer and lost 15 pounds. I didn’t walk as many days because one thing I realized was that realistically I was not going to walk 6 days a week for the rest of my life. Therefore I needed to search out things that would work for me as a lifestyle change and challenge me at the same time.

Looking inwardly and truthfully at ourselves most often is not an easy task. Therefore we don’t rush to do it and given the choice we’d probably rather clean the toilet. But self-examination is a very important component to good emotional health. We have to come to the place where we are willing to look at the good, the bad and the ugly parts of those things that make us who we are today. One thing I’ve discovered is anything that demands a big chunk of time from me and is repetitious is something I’m not going to stick with. I love walking and for city living I am blessed to have a beautiful residential area to walk in that is full of flowers, trees, great architectural design and a park. But I still get bored walking every day. I have to mix it up. I love to dance and so workout videos that have dancing work for me, but I will become bored if I have to do that every day. I love watching Top Model marathons on the weekends, but if I had to watch it every weekend, I would be bored with it. Another fact about me is that I’m a daydreamer and a storyteller, so my mind has a tendency to wonder a lot. Even when I’m reading the Bible, certain words can trigger my imagination and I’m off. But worst of all, when I am bored I can gravitate to food for something to do. Yeah, I learned that about myself this past winter. So with this new found knowledge about me, I’m in the process of inspiring myself to live differently this winter and feed my boredom with creativity.

As individuals we all have different personalities, gifts, talents and desires, so what inspires one person may not necessarily be inspiring to someone else. But there is a common thread that we all have and that is a need for good emotional health. Continuing in the theme of helping us to find quiet time and rest for our soul, spirit, mind and body, what are some ways you can inspire yourself? The picture I used this week inspired me because sometimes I do my best thinking while soaking in a nice hot bubble bath. In order to inspire ourselves we must have a place to think without distractions. It might be a bath, or it might be at Borders with a latté or cup of tea. Talking to a friend about how you’re feeling can also help put things in perspective.

I want to challenge you my dear sisters to take time to look at your physical and emotional health and see what you can do to improve or maintain it. How are you feeling emotionally? Is there some depression lurking about? If so, what can you do to make things different? What is the root of your depression? I have purposely left out looking at your husband, marriage, and children because I’m encouraging you to take care of you. When momma is happy and content, things go oh, so much better. We are more patient, it is easier for us to wink at mishaps, people want to be around us and that person who likes to raise her voice in frustration all but disappears. It is about us my dear sisters, as women we often put ourselves last or neglect the things that make us happy and whole.

Mark 12:30 (KJV) tells us: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. I ask you, “If we are tired and our spirits and souls are sad and worn out, how much love can we give God?”

My dear sisters, I pray that you will take the challenge to try something new and take another step toward taking care of you.



Love & Hugs
Ponnie

See you tomorrow!

Sometimes it’s “Us”….

We all experienced encounters with human beings we wish God would change. And often there is good reason. You know, that boss who is unjust in they way they treat you. Or the sibling you have bent over backwards to get along with and they never change, and even the parent who no matter what you do to try and please them—it’s never enough. But when we are running into the same type of problems but with different people, more than likely it’s “us” who needs to make change.

Making change is hard! Our flesh and souls rebel against it. Even in the midst of sin, we can become very comfortable and therefore do not want to be pulled out of our comfort zone—even when it means a better relationship with God and others. We are not quick to want to look at our stuff. Sadly though, all of us have “stuff”!

Our stuff can consist of poor self-image and lack of self-love. It often has a root of rejection and low self-esteem. Our stuff hides dark secrets such as rape, molestation, abuse, and sexual immoralities. All of these things left unchecked, are a hindrance to us living a full and free life in our Lord. Though we think we have it under control, that’s just another deception from the pit of hell. Apart from being healed and letting go, we will always be prisoners to our “stuff”!

Sisters, there are so many of you out there who need counseling, about your stuff! You are moving through life, very unhappy and your stuff is spilling over into your relationships with others. Some of you single moms are having problems with your children, but it’s not so much that they are not going through normal phases of life as it’s the way you respond and handle things. You are doing the same things to your kids that were done to you, even though you told yourself that you wouldn’t be like your parents. Why is this happening? Because you haven’t really dealt with your stuff. Wives, you seem to always be at odds with your husbands. Why? Because you haven’t dealt with your mistrust issues from being raised in a home where your father was mean to you and your mother, therefore the slightest infraction becomes the biggest offense ever—your unchecked stuff is hurting your marriage.

Dealing with our “stuff” is not easy nor is it a walk in the park, but, it is necessary in order to live the good life. To be free of the past and the hurt and pain that goes with it.

How do we deal with out stuff? For one, you have to own up to your stuff. Don’t pretend like you don’t know what it is? You have some sort of clue—we all do. True you may not know all of what is going on with you, but you know something is amiss. Once you’ve owned up to the fact that you have stuff that needs to be dealt with…run, and I mean “RUN” to God about it!

Some of you may need professional counseling for awhile, because you may not have someone in your life that you can trust with your secrets or things are so deep rooted that you need someone who is trained in a specific area. Some of you will benefit from a good women’s Bible study. And there are those of you who need to open up your Bible on a daily bases and read.

I have been very blessed in my Christian walk to have been given a mentor who is a Christian Women’s Counselor and Teacher of the Bible. We have a long history together and over the years she has helped and counseled me to become whole in the Lord. But I must tell you, it was not easy and it took time for me to be the free woman that I am today. Does this mean I have arrived and no longer have to keep dealing with my stuff? Nope! But I do know how very important it is for us as women to let God take us to the deep dark places of our innermost being. To look at all the things we have tucked away and are afraid of.

If you are not happy with the way things are in your life and relationships…maybe it is not everyone else, but “you” who needs to make change. Maybe it’s “you” who causes the conflict and bad outcomes of situations.

A fear that keeps us from being all that we can in God is not of Him. There is nothing so bad that we have done or has been done to us that the Blood of the Messiah cannot heal. Nothing!



Love & Hugs
Ponnie

See you tomorrow!

REFRESH THE OLD

This blog originally posted April 9, 2010…but as I reread it today I found myself being inspired all over again. I hope you will too.

A couple of weekends ago we had a rainy and chilly Saturday. You know one of those days were you want to stay in your jammies and piddle most of the day. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do since my youngest daughter had spent the night over her sister’s house, which meant I had the entire house to myself. Well, almost, we do have two cats. Now that my granddaughters are with me during the week, I do miss the quiet time I’ve been accustomed too the past couple of years, so the question was, “What was I going to do with this time?”

Now I must be candid with you, washing clothes, rearranging closest, dresser drawers, and ironing was nowhere on the list of things I might do with this day! But that is what I ended up doing. Somehow I started pulling out summer clothing and discovered there were certain items I had not worn last year or the year before. Why? I don’t remember, but what I found was that I was going to have a fresher wardrobe than I had anticipated.

My finances have not yet lined up with what I believe God for them to be. Many don’t know this but a part-time job I had for almost 10 years ended in February. So right now I am not able to add the new pieces to my spring and summer wardrobe that I would like. And there was a part of me that wanted to be sad about this. Why? Because I feel that I work hard for the Lord doing ministry work and have sacrificed a lot to raise my youngest daughter and I should be able to buy new clothes. Now mind you, these were just my feelings, they have nothing to do with the reality of God in my life. I’m just sharing my emotional state with you because as women we can let our emotions get the best of us and easily lose sight of God’s reality. The purpose of “The Kitchen Table” is to let our sisters know that you are not alone in the things that you feel or experience. So, I just wanted everyone to know that when it comes to the makings for a “pity party” you are never alone. LOL!!

Now God’s reality in my life is…..He has kept every single promise that He has ever made to me!!! Thing is, He never promised I would be able to shop the way I desired. He never promised I would have a vacation and travel every year. But He did promise He would supply all that I have need of. Do I need new clothes? Honestly, “No.” Would I like a few new pieces? “YES!” Will I get new clothing this season? I don’t know? Reason being, my checkbook says, “No,” but since my checkbook does not have the final say, we will just have to wait and see.

As I began to look at what clothing I had, versus what I didn’t have, my entire attitude began to change. And the blues that were trying to get me realized they were no longer welcome. As they were leaving I had them send a text message to despair, sadness and woe-is-me, and tell them to turn back around because the party was off! ~Smile~

My excitement began to grow as I looked at familiar pieces with fresh eyes, and spent my day, gleaning a new wardrobe from what I already possessed. It turned into a time of refreshing the old or that which had become familiar. The next day I wore this beautiful blouse (it was one I hadn’t worn in a couple of years) with a new chunky necklace I had yet to wear, and headed off to church. Did I feel beautiful? You better believe it! Was it because of the clothes? NO! It was because of my attitude. While pulling out the different items, I began to realize what I had. Not just in clothing pieces, but what I had in Jesus. What it means to be the daughter of a King. I remembered that the clothes didn’t make me, but it was the love of God that made me. It was the death of Yeshua that made me and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God. So that is why I felt beautiful and strutted my stuff. I was wearing designer, but it was designed from the inside out.

During service a couple of older songs were sung, and I realized how much I loved them but it had been sometime since I heard them. When I got home, I started rummaging through my CD drawer and found not only those songs, but many more I had not listened to in awhile. Since then I’ve made a play list of some of my favorites and I’ve been listening to them with a refreshed ear. You know how it is when you get a new CD; you keep playing that new favorite, over and over. Well, I’ve been playing my new old favorites, over and over.

Sisters, often what we think we need, must have, or want, is already in our possession. We just need to refresh or adjust our attitude about things. I love wearing a new outfit for the first time and there is a special feeling that can come with that, but I realized the Sunday before last, that nothing tops the feeling of knowing who you really are. I cannot remember ever having a new outfit that made me feel the way I did, in the outfit I gleaned from the storage box from under the bed. Why? Because it had nothing to do with the clothing, it was all about me.

Spring is the season for new life and growth. It is a time when we open the windows, let in the fresh air and clean away all the old dust of winter. It is also a time to paint, garden, change out the draperies and bed covers, and just all around freshen things up. We often equate this with spending money, but I wonder how much we can refresh by refurbishing what we already have? Do you remember everything that is in those boxes you stashed away a couple of years ago? Take a look, you might find that you have a few gems you have forgotten about.

Just as we have boxes in the attic, basement, under the bed and the spare room that we have forgotten about, I think we also have things of God we have packed way and forgotten about? I know that I always feel really good about my home after a good spring cleaning, and especially when I change out accessories or paint a new wall. So, what about if we approach our spiritual lives the same as we do our spring cleaning and planting? What if we pull out the boxes that hold our experiences with God and house His faithfulness that we haven’t really thought about in awhile? What if we get rid of spiritual junk that is cluttering up our hearts and taking up precious space where faith could rule? What if we pulled up some of the weeds we have let creep into our hearts and replace them with the good seeds of the promises of God? What if we did a good spring cleaning on our inner self? What would that mean for us? Sisters I think it would mean something different for everybody, but the common thread would be, “It would bring us closer to our Father!” And it doesn’t get any better than that!!!

I pray you have been inspired to look at what you have with new eyes. I challenge you my dear sisters to start spring cleaning in your soul. I challenge you to refresh, and refurbish that which you already have and get rid of the old that is trash and taking up space. How? Just as you would in your house…one project at a time!



Love & Hugs
Ponnie

See you tomorrow!

Do Not Be Quick to Condemn

A couple of days ago someone posted this quote on Facebook…"Do not be too quick to condemn the man who no longer believes in God: for it is perhaps your own coldness and avarice and mediocrity and materialism and selfishness that have chilled his faith." - Thomas Merton. It has really provoked me think about what Thomas is saying and the truth his statement holds.

Truth is—if I were a non-Believer I think I might find it pretty hard to believe in God with the world the way it is today. I asked myself why I was feeling this way and I realized it’s because of what I see going on in the Christian world. There is such contradiction! And I wonder is this the reason people are waxing cold toward God?

Is it because Christians are all over the place and continuously give Yeshua (Jesus) a black eye and bad name? Like the group that is picketing funerals of fallen soldiers and sporting signs that say, “God hates them and gays” and that is why they are dead? What about the pastor who wanted to burn the Koran? Or is it that we are telling women to wait on the Lord and then the Christian dating service hits the airwaves and is now telling women, “Yes, you may be waiting on the Lord, but sometimes He is waiting on you to make the move?” Is it that we have one scandal after another—Pastors committing adultery, involved in homosexual activities and paying to spend time with prostitutes…male and female? Is it that pedophiles have been allowed for years to prey on children and the authorities in the Church have turned a blind eye to what was going on? Or is it the group that is waiting for a mere man to be resurrected? Or what about the group that believes they know when the Messiah is returning, even though the Bible states that Yeshua (Jesus) himself doesn’t know when He will be coming back, only God knows the hour in which that will happen!

Why would a sinner want to come to a God who hates them? Even in the world people hate hypocrites, so why would someone want to be around a bunch of them supposedly in the name of the Lord? So, then, why are we so surprised and quick to judge someone when we see they no longer believe in God?

Young women join church and are approached by married men, pastors and others who hold office in the church. They are shunned and can’t seem to fit into one of the many cliques, and to top it all off—they really don’t see much of a difference in the people other than they might get dressed up to come together. But deep down they look exactly like the hard curl world they thought they were turning away from.

Young men who want to turn their lives around come to church looking for a place of refuge, but find themselves being hounded by a bunch of desperate women, who say they are holy, but behind closed doors they are the same ungodly women they thought they were getting away from. They were hoping to meet godly men and be mentored as Paul mentored Timothy, but what they find is the same old mindsets as in the streets, but covered up in a façade of false humility and the guise of holiness.

People are being sold a bill of goods, that once a Believer, God will wave a magic wand and all your troubles will disappear. But when that doesn’t happen, they fall away—because they were tricked into believing something that wasn’t true.

So many have stopped believing in God because of what they see. And what they are not seeing is the love and truth of God. Individually as the visible representation of the invisible God, we are falling short too. We are a mess! We are not honest on our jobs; (stealing time from our employers) we are mean spirited to others, unforgiving, and argumentative. We are cold and selfish with our—me, me, me, attitudes. We see people in need but dare not extend a helping hand because we love our money or we just don’t want to make time. We are not kind to our spouses. We are compassionless to others we deem, “She made her bed, now she will just have to lie in it!”

Take a moment and think about it.

Now do you see how people can have a hard time believing in God? I can. Not only are Christians (as a group) and our poor behavior and conflicting ways on public display on a daily bases, so are our individual lives. We are falling short as the “Church” and one-by-one.

It is time for us sisters to make sure we look like the Messiah to the world. They must see something that is different about us. Not us trying to convince through our words that we are different, but by the way we live and treat others is how they are to know. And for those who have waxed cold toward God, we are to pray for them and love them, petitioning for their safe return to the Household of Faith.

I pray that you have been provoked to examine what your reflection might look like to others. And to have compassion on those who are lost.



Love & Hugs
Ponnie

See you tomorrow!

LET US BECOME FAITHFUL IN PRAYER

Sisters, it has come to my attention, that as women in the Body of Christ, we are really going through some difficult times. And when I say the “Body” I am talking about our sisters in every different country and place there is. We all have our trials and tribulations to bear, but it seems that the things that many of us are experiencing “may be common to “man” but they are not common to us. This is what’s different about this time we are in.

I am asking that all the women who read this blog join together to start praying for our sisters. Romans 12:12 (NIV) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. What are we to pray each other? Whatever current struggle is going on in our lives and hearts at this time. We should pray for all our sisters who are going through the same thing.

Years ago I lived in an apartment building where you could hear everything. And the woman who lived above me was the neighbor from hell. I must add she is a Believer now, but back then she was not God’s child and lived the grand life of a sinner. She was rude and very inconsiderate. The noise was almost unbearable and effected my daily life, until one day, my mentor had, had it with me complaining about the noise, and said, “Why don’t you stop complaining every time the loud music comes on or whatever, and GET UP and PRAY!!!” Wow!! Yes, she did get my attention. First, she made me see just how much I had been complaining about the situation, and second she gave me an out when the music came on at 2 o’clock in the morning. Instead of lying in my bed moaning and groaning to God, I started getting up praying for her. Oh yeah, I prayed for her and her son. This helped to soften my heart toward her, (because we really can’t pray for someone on a daily bases and continue to have ought against them). But then I also began to pray for all of my brothers and sisters who were subject to kind of daily disturbing noise. Living in a big city, other peoples noise is a real problem. I can’t say how long it took but after awhile I looked forward to getting up in the wee hours of the night to pray for her and others. Well, soon after my heart had grown to the place of loving to pray for her and others, most of the noise stopped! I think for two reasons. One, God’s purpose had been fulfilled and our enemy’s was no longer being fulfilled! LOL!!

If you are experiencing financial woes, then pray for our sisters in the “Body” who are experiencing the same. If your family is going through any type of crisis, pray for our sisters whose families are being destroyed. If you are battling the enemy for your health, if your marriage is hurting, your children are acting up and acting out, pray for our sisters who are crying for the same reasons. If you are dealing with depression, sadness, and or feeling hopeless, pray for our sisters who may not be able to get out of bed today because of depression. If you are in a state of being displaced or hungry, pray for our sisters experiencing the same thing. If you are having turmoil on your job, in your church, in your community……PRAY for our sisters!! Whatever your life struggle is at this time, pray for those who find themselves in the same place. Why? Because from your own struggle and experience, you will offer up a more “Fervent” prayer and James tells us that kind of heart felt prayer, can achieve much. But also as you begin to pray for others, the Holy Spirit is going to take you to another level, which is very exciting. We are not alone in our struggles and problems. Everyone has them.

I do want to look at something before ending, and that is being “faithful in prayer”. Technology is wonderful, but like everything in this world, the good always has a flip side. There was a time if you wanted others to pray for you, you had to pick up a phone. Even if it was just to activate the prayer chain at your church, women’s group or talk to a friend. And even in that, most of the people knew you in some way. But today’s technology has aided Christians in being lazy in praying for the things they should be praying for themselves and not involving others. Do not misunderstand what I am saying, I am not saying that we should not ask others to pray for us or with us, but what I am saying, is that we should not be so quick to ask others to pray for things we should be praying for ourselves. Technology has also become a way to gossip, under the pretense of prayer. It allows us to put other people’s personal business in a very public forum, which is something we should be very careful about doing.

Prayer is a special gift, and our way of communicating with our Father. We must stop taking it for granted. In order to be faithful in prayer, we as individuals must take our responsibility seriously and stand up and pray. Let’s grow up and start living Romans 12:12 and James 5:16b. And let’s start by lifting our sisters up who are experiencing the same trials and tribulations we are. This alone will make a “Huge” difference in the spirit realm of God’s Kingdom.

I pray that I have provoked you unto good works on this glorious day our Lord has gifted to us!



Blessings and Love
Ponnie

See you tomorrow!