On this day of thanks, I am thankful for problems and stresses.  When I face a trial, I have a choice. My first choice, getting mad, does nothing.  When I try to fix and resolve issues on my own, I end up with a bigger mess than I started with.  The better choice is to trust God.  He either helps my circumstances, or gives me strength and wisdom so I can make it through the storm.  I gain spiritual growth by depending on God to help me through trials.  My life is not perfect; it seems like I resolve a problem and rejoice, only to find a new dilemma onRead More →

November is social media’s “Thankful Challenge Month” where people are challenged to post one thing every day they are grateful for.  When I have done this, I started by telling the world I am thankful for the obvious; family, friends, health, and jobs.  As the 30 days went on, I was forced to find gratitude in minor details.  I saw God helping me with the small stuff of life. Without doing this challenge, I would have not seen just how much God is involved in everything. Even though I am not doing an official challenge this year, I still find something to praise Him for eachRead More →

I like the outdoors and stepping into nature. My fear of snakes and other wildlife keeps me from exploring forests and mountains.  I stick to trails that cut through parks and other nature centers.  My fear of being attacked by a snake (or another animal) keeps me on a path.  This not a perfect analogy, but just as a path keeps me safe, depending on God is like a path that guides me through life. However, I don’t always depend on God.  Instead, I want to do it all myself. If I depend on my own strength I am not depending on God.  2 Samuel 22:33-34Read More →

Negativity is a dark place my brain occasionally visits.  I am normally positive and look for God’s blessings around me.  I have tasted how good God is and notice He is not present when I focus on the negative. When I look only at what is wrong, I start to fret and complain.  I eventually feel hopeless and no longer feel good things He blesses me with. Dwelling on negative thoughts also drives me to overeat.  When I once lived in negativity,  gloom and doom felt normal.  Since God has changed me, negativity no longer feels right.  The cure for negative thinking is to focus backRead More →

My eating has been sloppy for the past few weeks.  Since school started, I am running all day.  I do not have time to cook, much less to plan healthy meals.  When I have too many tasks to complete, I get stressed.  Stress also keeps me up at night.  I admit, due to stress and fatigue, I ate more food that my body needed several times during the past few weeks. Luckily, I have not gained back enough weight to notice, but the truth is I need to get back on track.  I start by focusing my heart and attention back to Christ.  Isaiah 40:29Read More →

Little things add up and create stress.  Individually, these annoyances so minor that others don’t want to hear me whine. When I focus on one problem, I remember another issue. Once my brain gets on the negative side, focus on gloominess has me frantic and stressed. Stressed and negative thoughts keep me up at night. Both fatigue and stress are triggers for me to eat.  I know food does not take stress away or give me energy, but I run to it anyway. Instead of food, I need the living water that only Jesus can give me.  John 4:14 is, “But those who drink the waterRead More →

I am a better person with God in my life.  I have more patience and less negativity.  God has helped me not only with my food problem, but changed me from the inside. Days when I am tired and do not spend enough time in the Word are times I see some of my old nature surfacing.  I need to be careful and keep close to God.  John 15:4 is, “Remain in me and I will remain in you.  For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” (Holy Bible, NewRead More →