Tag: calm

The Glitter In Your Head

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The Glitter In Your Head

When we experience a trauma, or a lot of stress in our lives sometimes our minds feel like a jar of glitter. If you’ve ever looked at a snow globe after it’s shaken that’s how our minds get sometimes. The key is to remember that after you shake it and shake it, no matter how hard or soft you shake it the glitter always settles back to the bottom. Our minds are the same way. No matter how hard you shake it; no matter how bad a situation is in the moment the glitter will settle. We have to remember that although we can’t see the center of the jar once it’s shaken, is like us not being able to see out once our jar’s been shaken. But no matter what, we can see the outside in time.

God loves us, and promises us that we will go through suffering in our lives, we will be faced with trials, and sometimes really bad things happen to us. “Loves never met a lost cause. Mercy says you don’t have to jeep rubbing down the road you’re on.” (Casting Crowns) No matter what happens Jesus will always be walking beside you.

A few years ago (more then a few) I was on a mission in Iraq. During that mission my wingman truck along with my own were drawn into a well planned insurgent ambush. I can remember clearly seeing the very large IED (Improvised Explosive Device) on the side of the road just feet from my door as we drove by it. It was only moments later I saw in the distance as the truck in front of me, my friends, my brothers where gone in the smoke from two explosions. The whole situation seemed so surreal it was hard to imagine the truth of what was happening that very moment. I remember thinking why am I here; it only lasted but a fleeting second. The sound of pop, pop, pop, in the distance, and less then a second later I could see a puff of dust on my hood. Still driving with only one hand I heard the metal on my door take an impact. In my head I thought, ‘were really being shot at’. The sound of the Mk-19 above me started firing. Both hands on the wheel I focused on the road. The calm that surrendered over my body, the warmth that filled my hands, the ease in which the thoughts came as to where I needed to go, what I needed to do. The hand of Jesus Christ was on me that morning. While some may claim the peace and calm was all the training I respectfully disagree. Although our training was fantastic I don’t think any amount of training can prepare you for the first time you experience combat, when someone else, or a lot of someone’s is actively trying to kill you. Think about that for a second. In all your life have you ever had someone attempt to kill you, actually shoot in your direction with such hatred and malice they wanted you to die? I’d be willing to bet the overwhelming answer is very few. As one IED after another was detonated, and several RPG’s were fired and just barely missed my Humvee, I could feel the change in the wheel. We’ve lost tires, I didn’t know it yet, but by the end we’d loose 3 of our tires, each were shredded from the bullet and RPG shrapnel. Later I’d learn that the tanks were hit that stored the oil, the power steering, even my wiper fluid reservoir was damaged. As soon as my foot came off the gas the truck died, and wouldn’t start again for weeks. Gods grace allowed us to exit the combat zone alive and uninjured.

Peace was with me; the calming affect was beyond words. Because of the grace of God I was able to keep my wits and calmed the storm that should have been going on inside. Keeping your wits about you is a hard thing to do sometimes. 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” We shall know God by faith, not by sight. We shall know peace by grace, not hate. Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” We shall know protection like we can’t imagine. This life we live is fleeting, only but a moment, a vapor of smoke that disappears quickly. James 4:14 “14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Above all no matter where you go and what toils and troubles and trials you face know that the Lord of all is with us, watching us, protecting us. Isaiah 43:2  “When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Remember your life as a glitter jar, and no matter how shaken you are, find peace and comfort in the Lord. Find a way to steady the ship, calm the storm, and let the snow globe settle in your mind. The next problem will be just around the corner, make sure you’re ready for it when that day comes.

When it Rains it Pours (Finding Gods Grace)

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When it Rains it Pours (Findings Gods Grace)

So let me tell you about my month. It started off much like every other month, same old routine, going to work, coming home, taking care of the fur creatures I call my kids, cleaning, and trying to relax when possible. Without going to into detail as the why, the how, the when, all those other W’s, safe to say I felt a little like Job and Paul combined. In a month I was put in a place that was pretty horrible, lost my position, gave up a great deal, was put through an awful lot of mental and emotional stress. My car was damaged, and then had a major issue with mice, yes I said mice, (I live in the country) Then once I finally thought I was going to get my car back, another problem popped up, thankfully of the very few things left under warranty the thermostat was.

Every step of the way God has not let me sink under the weight of the world. With insurmountable odds financially, emotionally, and even at times physically, I have had so much negativity in my life over the last several weeks, it was hard to see any kind of light at the end of the tunnel. As it seemed that my situation would go from bad, to really bad, to holy crap bad, to My God My God why have you forsaken me. But as I kept praying, kept the faith, I never asked God why these things were happening to me? The important thing in our walk with faith is the understand that not only will we have storms from time to time, but the occasional hurricane as well. As some areas of the world are constantly hit with monsoons they know and expect the rains to come and not let up for months. Is our walk with Christ any different?

No matter how bad things got, today of all days I would see the light at the end of the tunnel. With a settlement of $365 to move forward freely in life that would be a small price to pay to have things finally go my way. But the challenge would remain, where would I get that? A guardian angel would have it in my account within 10 minutes. Then my car, with everything that went wrong the tires (being slashed) the fuel coil being damaged, then the thermostat going out, all at the same time, it seems that a lot of Jesus came my way because it looks like at most, if anything at all, I’ll have to pay $200. Not too bad considering everything that was wrong, and that’s not a sure bet right now. The important thing is the bills will miraculously get paid, the car is now fixed and ready for the long trip to Texas, it seems that many of the other obstacles I had are now behind me.

I’m not saying it’s time for open calm seas, but I’m saying God is Great. Just when it seems that the problems I would face would be more then I could manage, God as always arrives precisely when He means to and takes away the burdens quicker then they arrived.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” In this we do not know or understand that God will be watching over us always. It’s a difficult concept for our puny little human brains to wrap our heads around. No matter the folly in our hearts, our spirit should always be lifted by the Lord on high.

Lamentations 3:25-26 “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” It may not happen when we want or when we think it should, but the good of Gods graces come when the time is right. We must learn to quiet ourselves and understand it’s beyond us. We always want to be in control, but we aren’t in control of much. If we think about it, we aren’t much different then Bane and John Daggett from Dark Knight Rises. Daggett is upset that things haven’t gone according to the plan. Or, was it the plan? It was his plan and he didn’t like it when it didn’t go his way.

“Bane: Our plan is proceeding as expected.

John Daggett: Oh really? Do *I* look like I’m running Wayne Enterprises right now? Your hit, on the stock exchange, it didn’t work, my friend! And now you have my construction crews going around the city at 24 hours a day! How exactly is that supposed to help my company absorb Wayne’s?

Bane: [to Stryver] Leave us!

John Daggett: No! You stay here, I’m in charge!

Bane: [puts his hand on Daggett’s shoulder] Do you *feel* in charge?”

Don’t we all feel that way? Isn’t it funny when God more or less asks us the same thing? Do we really feel in charge of our lives? Of course not, and when we really feel the world spinning out of control, that’s because we feel we’ve lost that edge, that purpose or place, our power. Just remember who has all the power. It’s certainly not me. If you think you have legitimate power, you might want to rethink things.

Sometimes we just need to let it go and give up our worries and concerns to God. Do our best to take it one day at a time, handle what we can, but believe that God’s in control.