Stop the Insanity!

As my children wait patiently (she typed sarcastically) for church to begin, my dear son decided to continuously spin around in a circular motion.  To him, this seem like a great past time.  To me, this seemed like the most nauseating idea.  Even watching turned my stomach.  Despite all the people and conversations around, he continued to turn circles.  He lost vision of the things around.  His hearing began to diminish as well, for I asked a couple times for the spinning to cease with no response. 

This continued for what seemed like an hour (yes, being dramatic).  Upon ceasing, a challenge arose when he stopped and attempted to step forward.  Blurry vision, weak legs and a still spinning mind prevented such movement to occur safely.  I put my arms out to catch the dazed and confused child.  Had I not been watching over him with anticipation of the disaster that lay ahead, he would have slammed to the floor. 

I cannot imagine choosing such an activity to past time. . .

. . .oh, my friend, but I do without even realizing!  Hear me out on this one.  Does life ever seem like the fastest Scrambler ride or Berry Go Round (you know, the one you control the level of spinning)?  We say yes to various commitments, take on projects stretching us to our limits and continue taking care of a house and family.  Or, events happen outside of our control sending our emotions spinning and negative thoughts racing through daily.  Despite the people stretching out a hand to help, we continue spinning through life, leaving a whirlwind of chaos in our path.  The worst part of it all. . .our vision blurs and hearing deafens to the One Who holds power to slow it all down.  We spin through life rather than calmly taking a straight path laid out for our lives.  With that, our purpose in this life slides to the back burner as we take control and try to do it all alone.  The end result is exhaustion, sickness, weakness and failure. 

Luckily, we have a Father watching over us with anticipation of how this one will turn out.  He experienced it before and knows just how to handle it.  He waits patiently until we complete this charade of events, until we reach a point of pure exhaustion and weakness.  He keeps hands extended and arms open wide to catch us in the fall.  Thankfully, He is there or we would fall flat on the ground.  He holds us until vision clears and hearing returns.  Then (this is the coolest part about our God), He simply shows the way to continue on the path still laid out for our lives.  The path leads to various adventures, each with a specific purpose in mind that furthers His Kingdom. 

Take a moment today to just stop. . .

. . .now ask God what ‘things’ need let go, what ‘events’ need cancelled for you to see better and hear clearly the plan and purpose for life today?  Slow down today and enjoy each breath provided, each step taken and each person encountered.  Take a stand on Truth and avoid the devil’s vicious lies which seep in and spur this chaotic living.  Each lie builds on the other, taking us for a ride and leading to dangerous living. 

Soak in Truth. . .use Truth to strengthen you and stand firm. . .trust in God to lead you. . .focus on your purpose!

Read Proverbs 3.

Keep praying harder than the devil can work.

Sheree Craig                    

Find His Beauty in Your Day!

This winter goes in the books for record breaking snowfall and cancellations of various activities.  I hold nothing against the school or the administrator; but, irritation arises when seeing the hotline number pop up on the phone.  To the kids, it means staying home yet again to play and avoid school work.  To the parents, it means rearranging the schedules yet again to accommodate the cancellation.  Each day the temperature rises above freezing, hopes stir of possible ending to this mess; only to be crushed when the next day presents frigid temperatures in the teens.  We lay down seeing pavement on the driveway and awake to a white blanket hiding it all.  My dear sweet husband will need back surgery before the season ends. 

I have come to a breaking point.  I am absolutely fed up with all this snow, freezing temperatures and fighting to keep warm.  I cannot drink enough coffee throughout the day to remain comfortable.  My place of employment does not allow for wearing of a Snuggie®.  And the hot baths continue to destroy what healthy skin I have left.  I desire a day when I can walk outside without a coat and feel comfortable.  The sunshine, warmth and swimming pool screams my name.  Oh, and then there is camping, baseball and relaxing with the family. 

The days seem long with no end in sight to the cold.  Often, keeping positive comes with difficultly when no light can be seen at the end of the tunnel.  One mundane day after another of hardship, difficult decisions, stressful hours, hurtful comments, lacking motivation, etc.; guess what, my friend, no matter the storm surrounding, there is One to bring hope, love and comfort to calm your soul.  He uplifts any situation and works for the good of those who seek Him and love Him.  He is the light to any and all circumstances. 

God opened my eyes to beauty surrounding this season. . .He provided a gorgeous sunset, a fabulous sunrise, and indescribable moon to lull me to sleep, an afternoon watching a 10 year old and a 33 year old sled down the back yard, babysitters available with each cancelled school day and rearranged the important cancellations so that they still could be completed.  He doesn’t stop there.  In all areas of life, He provides beauty.  There is no storm, no mountain, no moment I face which He does not make every detail work out perfectly.  Through each, I come through stronger and advance in maturity as a Christian.

He does the same for each and every one of us.  Look for Him, He sits waiting to help, guide, comfort, love, support and use YOU!  Rather than describe how He can change your life and help you face whatever lay ahead; let me leave you with His Truth to fill you and speak to your personal situation. . .

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20)

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” (Colossians 1:9-12)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“. . . because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:5-6)

       

Keep praying harder than the devil can work. 

Sheree Craig              

Need a Facelift?

The process begins by searching local real estate within a suitable price range.  You seek out these homes with a drive by, span the neighborhood and gauge the safety along with travel time to the potential home.  Enthusiasm arises as your mind wraps around the idea of a new home, better yard, safer neighborhood and change of view.  Plans begin to prepare current home for placement on the market.  Work piles up and the ‘to do’ list lengthens as you walk through the hallways. 

Purchases accumulate, such as paint, cleaning supplies, doors, wood and whatever other materials will provide the needed facelift.  You want the house to be presentable and enticing to interested parties.  All this work does not guarantee a buyer, but it sure brings interest to those who view it.  Cleanliness ranks high for the buyer, revealing the history behind the lifestyle of the home.  It shows maintenance for the house over the years and care for the structure.  Organized rooms help the buyer visualize placement for possessions and formulate ideas for themselves.  Limiting clutter better presents the qualities within the home.  Truthful conversations concerning the history of the home create a trusting and confident rapport between buyer and seller.

All this combined gives better chances to selling the home.  Let me throw this idea out to you though; why would you not want to keep your house maintained all the time, no matter the circumstances?  Even if no one is watching, wouldn’t you want to respect your belongings and keep things nice?  After all, the price paid for the home comes from your bank account?

Ever fall into patterns spiritually that veers from keeping maintained, thus turning your eyes from the little repairs needed?  It may not be until a big decision comes to the table that prayer life returns to mind.  It may take a tragic event before realizing change must occur.  Failing to maintain our spiritual life can lead to some dangerous roads.  Maybe not immediately, but gradually paths no longer appear straight. 

So, how could we keep focused on maintenance and continuing the straight path while leading others to know our Lord and Savior?  Begin with cleaning up your home.  Little habits creep into life allowing Satan to dirty up your spirit.  Character begins to be defined by these habits.  “Oh, I just can’t wake up in time to attend service, maybe next week.”  “Just one night out with the guys/girls for a few drinks won’t matter.”  “Forget recovery, it is just too hard and uncomfortable.”  No one will know, right?  My friend, you have no idea who is watching.  These ‘one time’ events accumulate and become habits.  Satan attacks and destroys a piece of your spirit.  Oh, but there is One Who waits to clean and rebuild. 

Next, let us organize and limit clutter within our home.  Focus leaves as clutter and disorganized thoughts enter.  “Keeping up with the Jones’” will lead to conforming to the world’s patterns.  Let us avoid this by organizing our time wisely.  Wake up a bit earlier to start your day with His Word.  This will guide you and provide needed strength for the day.  Take a break when life storms around you and reach to Him in prayer, not this world for answers.  Get rid of ‘things’ which deter you from spending time with Him.  Facebook allows great socialization, but it can overtake your hours, placing Him on the back burner.  Sports bring physical health, learned skills and teamwork experience, but it can deter you from attending church service on His day.  Debt can wash out tithing.  Forget about what everyone else is doing and focus on what God is doing in your life.  In order to see clearly, we must organize and limit the clutter which blocks our view.     

Finally, let us engage in Truth-filled conversations.  The words flowing from the mouth should be pleasing to our God and then backed up by action.  The meditations laid on the heart need match the Truth which our Savior provides.  Living in such a manner allows testimony to occur everywhere you go.  He will use you in mighty ways as a vessel to bring others to know Him.  Be truthful of past circumstances and decisions. . .those are the moments that built your ministry.  You will find others trust what you say, appreciate you for being real and then inquire on how you got to be where you are today.  In comes the chance to share about our Savior, Who died for our sins, washed it all away and consumes our every day with peace, joy and purpose. 

All these combined will bring others to know the Lord, which is our goal as Christians.  Our Home awaits, let us keep it maintained here and interest others to gain the same place for eternity.  Cool thing about this Home. . .you owe nothing - the price was paid by the shedding of His blood.  Only thing needed by you is to accept the deed, then maintain His Home until you meet the Owner face to face!

Keep praying harder than the devil can work. 

Sheree Craig              

But a Mist. . .

Vacation requires preparation.  Typically, a family member will stay with our children at home while my husband and I sneak away for a weekend.  Before leaving, we plan outfits according to weather, try to shove all into one suitcase, create an itinerary, choose the quickest route and prepare our children for our absence.  Much effort goes into establishing a wonderful getaway only to have it pass by quickly.  Even more effort goes into creating a home filled with comfort, cleanliness and completely stocked with needed items.  My goal is for my children and whatever family member comes to wake up and simply enjoy their days.  I want no effort needed to find food, hygiene needs or clean laundry.  So, before departure, I strive to make meals, clean beds, turn off unnecessary electronics and keep the place neat and tidy.

We go through a checklist of kid’s events and make lunches for school, lay out outfits for the week and explain what is to be expected of them to keep our home nice.  We do not anticipate them to go hog-wild and get caught up in the temporary absence of “parents”.  Upon returning, the kids did as told, kept to the rules and had a blast the entire time.  We confidently tell them, “Well Done!”

In life we need not get too caught up in preparations for this getaway called the world. 

. . .”What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”  (James 4:14)

The life here cannot become comfortable.  We must not conform to the patterns here, but live daily in the Truths of our Father.  Just as a vacation must not become so comfortable that we push aside our longing to return home, the world cannot overpower our longing to return Home!  Jesus went ahead of us, creating a place for us in Heaven.  It is filled with comfort, cleanliness and completely stocked with needed items.  You will not want for anything, simply enjoy each moment.  Before Jesus departed this world, He paved a way through example and told of the Promise yet to come.  In faith, we know this is not our home, only a getaway which will pass quickly. 

In order to know what we shall accomplish here and how to prepare ourselves for our return to Home, we must read the Bible daily.  God will speak to us of our checklist to complete His plan for our lives.  He lays it all out for us, goes ahead and paves the way.  He sets the ultimate example of how to live here and strengthens our longing to see Him.  We cannot go hog-wild in this world, getting caught up in the temporary absence from our Father in physical form.  Cool part is, just as our children keep us in their hearts while we are gone. . .the presence of our God remains in our hearts through the dwelling of Holy Spirit inside.  He loves us so much that He did not just abandon us to live here; but, created each of us with a purpose in mind, sending His Holy Spirit to guide us through that plan.

Upon returning to our Father, I long to hear Him confidently say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  Welcome Home!

Keep praying harder than the devil can work.

Sheree Craig             

Facing the Furnace

With such frigid temperatures this season many turn to electric heaters for warmth.  These little inventions pack some heat and bring comfort quickly to the room.  Heat from another source keeps the furnace from running continuously and the electric bill payable.  It makes sense to use such a device.  Benefits do not come without risks.  I will never forget the evening I got the call. . .

My night itinerary consisted of hourly tasks needing completion ASAP.  Well, I arrived home from work and the phone rang.  The call altered my itinerary completely.  My dad’s trailer caught fire and crews rushed to try and save it.  Dad’s phone remained on vibrate while watching a play; but, finally after receiving a third call from an unknown number, he answered.  I don’t remember who got there first; all I remember is seeing the flames burning violently.  Never have I witnessed such a thing.  Being a trailer, it burned quickly, moving throughout with full force.  The culprit: an electric heater fell over.  His intentions were simply to be warm when returning from the play. 

Now, I can sit here and tell you all the items lost or damaged by the flames, but I want to take a deeper look into the situation.  In a book I own, “What if. . .” a question asks, What if your house caught fire and you could take three items with you, what would those items be?  We begin to think about our most prized possessions, right?  Scrapbooks, jewelry, memorabilia, family heirlooms, etc.  In really thinking through the question, I guarantee each answer would change quickly when taking into consideration family living in the home.  Luckily, my dad only used this trailer when visiting; but, a family member was present during the fire.  His dog, chained to the trailer, no doubt felt the heat of the flames.  Firefighters worked quickly and saved Sasha, taking her to the local shelter for safety.  Dad could care less about the items lost/damaged that night.  Knowing Sasha survived unharmed is all that matter in his mind.  Everything else could be replaced. 

Relating this to a story I recently read in the Bible. . .Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego not only watched flames burning violently, but they were placed inside the flames due to their faith in our God.  Standing firm on His Word, Promises and Love, these men trusted in God and as a result experienced a blazing furnace.  I cannot imagine the emotions consuming these men as they approached the furnace, ropes trapping their hands and feet, knowing what’s to come.  The fire burned to such degree that the men leading Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego died due to the heat.  Imagine standing in the distance witnessing such a thing. . .

The story does not end. . .King Nebuchadnezzar checked on the furnace expecting to see none of the men.  To his amazement, FOUR men roamed the fiery furnace unbound and unharmed.  The strength of their faith, the trusting in their hearts and the loyalty shown to God kept them safe.  God sent an angel to protect each man from the fire, moving them to safety.  The king praised God Who sent an angel to save these men and commended their faith!

Ever walk in a fiery furnace in your life?  Ever feel as though you witness pieces in your life burning violently without an extinguisher?  Don’t fear the furnace.  Fires will occur; a call concerning your health, meeting with a boss only to hear cutbacks need be made, sickness strikes your child, bills pile up without income to pay, etc.  But guess what my friend, we have a Firefighter Who will quickly rescue and save us from any fire this world dishes out.  His only concern is bringing you to safety leaving behind anything that bound.  See, often times while in the fire, Satan works against our Savior to keep us bound, hoping to singe our faith and destroy our spirit.  Letting go of “worldly items” and “worldly advice” while in the fire will bring you out unharmed and unbound.  Fires can be a good thing. . .we leave behind the grip we hold on this world and look to our Savior, relying only on Him to see us through.  His story does not end here. . .much waits for us when leaving the fiery furnace – the world! 

No matter what you face, trust in Him, let go of the world and hold tightly to your Savior!  Your survival is all that matters to Him.

Keep praying harder than the devil can work.

Sheree Craig      

Well Said. . .

Keeping Stable

Another encouraging word I found helpful in solidifying the commitment list created. . .

“Commitment means staying LOYAL to what you said YOU were going to do long after the MOOD you said it in has LEFT you!”

OUCH AGAIN!

In comes the exact reason resolutions fail year after year.  Beginning anew on January 1^st creates a sense of fresh start throughout our bodies.  We enter a mood of starting over, pushing all the vices behind and moving forward in a better condition than ever before.  Well, as the days pass and life continues with trials and tribulations appearing here and there, our mood quickly fades in the background.  Loyalty breaks and the shred bin receive our resolution list.  Strength fails, leaving us to slowly slip back into old ways.  We find ourselves picking up each and every vice we vowed to leave behind. 

The cycle continues.  Such a cycle overtook my life.  Once committed to recovery, physical health restored pretty quickly.  The emotional health comes with more difficulty.  Being a woman, moods come and go rapidly; depending on situations, conversations, people and itineraries.  I could have a tough day emotionally, feeling beat up each hour and consumed with eating disorder thoughts.  Exhaustion strikes and times come when I give into those thoughts, finding comfort for just that moment.  When I wake in the morning, regret hits. . . moving to guilt . . .then to hatred for my eating disorder.  The mood for a fresh start, completely saying GOODBYE to my eating disorder arises.  This is the day!  I will not succumb to patterns of this world; I am on the road to recovery and will not veer to the right or left AT ALL!

I boldly step out into the day.  At work, a conversation arises concerning weight loss tactics.  At school, a failing grade appears on an exam.  At home, the kids bring awareness to shortcomings as a mom.  My husband remains too busy that evening to talk.  A friend disapproves of choices made that day.  Mistakes pile up at work displaying imperfection.  The list continues and new situations arise to steal my mood of commitment.  I fall into the second part of the cycle with the temptation arising to find control, accomplishment, perfection, friendship, approval, comfort and love through my eating disorder.  When the mood to stay loyal diminishes, it becomes easier to submit to temptations.  Oh, my friend, this is the moment in the cycle where the devil rejoices. . .he won that moment and chalks up a point for himself.  The losing side, ME, receives shame, guilt and only temporary joy.

So, how can we quit the cycle and remain in everlasting JOY no matter the situation, conversations, people or itinerary?  “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  (Lamentations 3:22-23)  Our God loves us so much!  His grace will cover the years filled with such a cycle as described above.  He will deduct every point the devil accumulated and call you by name to His team.  Remaining on His team will provide the tools and strength required to remain in the mood of loyalty.  Each moment the mood begins to slip in the slightest way; God will come in as you reach for Him, ask of Him and believe in His power to keep you stable.  Take a stand on His Truth and push aside the moody cycles.  Take His Hand and remain loyal to Him. 

God, I ask for your help and guidance in each of my days.  Give me strength to remain loyal to commitments and keep my eyes on You!  Help me to hate my eating disorder so much that any temptation the devil throws in my path will not look enticing in any way.  Remind me that remaining loyal brings everlasting JOY even in a world full of trials and tribulation.  In You I find peace, comfort, approval, accomplishment, friendship and love.  Only You are perfect and I give all control to You!  Thank You for graces which took/takes/will take care of all my shortcomings and boldly tell the devil to move over!  I love You.

Keep praying harder than the devil can work.

Sheree Craig