A Prescription for the Dumps, the Mulligrubs, & the Grumpies

Do you need a prescription today because you’ve had it, you’ve just drawn the “last straw that broke the camel’s back”, someone got on your last nerve, and you’re just D-O-N-E done! Well, I’m happy to write this prescription for you today – one that you don’t even have to go to the corner drug store to get it filled. You need a Word break. If you'll just pick up your Bible, you'll find the hope you need. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:).

God gave us the Bible to encourage us. It's a mood picker-upper. Everything in Scripture is written for our encouragement. Even the tough parts of God’s Word are there to ultimately encourage our lives in the right direction. That’s why we need to spend time alone with God every single day. Whether it’s our quiet time, daily devotional, or our personal inspiration time, we need to be getting alone with God, reading his Word, and talking to Him. Psalm 119:114 says: “You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me”.

I’ve become pretty good at diagnosing the dumps, the mulligrubs and the grumpies. Better put -- if you’re discouraged and have lost hope, I can tell you one thing about your life without ever “getting into your business” -- you’re not spending time in God’s Word. You’re not spending time with Him. From having personally lived in the pity party zones, I know if you’re down and out, and having a pity party – it’s because God has become an uninvited guest to your miseries. I know from firsthand experience. Know God – know joy. No God – no joy.

So, today, I give you this prescription. I give you Jesus. He’s the peace that passes all understanding. I give you Jesus. He’s the perfect love that casts out all fear; I give you Jesus, He's the water that you drink and never thirst again; I give you Jesus, my friend, I give you Jesus. You will find Him in His Word.

The more we read God’s Word when we’re down, the more He lifts us up. So the next time discouragement comes knocking on your heart's door, don't open it. Open up your Bible instead -- and read it. God’s Word has the power to change your life. It has God’s power in it. Nothing else does. The Bible will give you the “real stuff” — true encouragement. Start out with this "real stuff"!

Psalm 16:5-11 "You, Lord, are all I have, and You give me all I need; my future is in Your hands. How wonderful are Your gifts to me; how good they are! I praise the Lord, because He guides me, and in the night my conscience warns me. I am always aware of the Lord's presence; He is near, and nothing can shake me. And so I am thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure, because You protect me from the power of death. I have served You faithfully, and You will not abandon me to the world of the dead. You will show me the path that leads to life; Your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure forever."

Whatever it is -- Let’s Face it Together

Have you had that kind of friend who wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. You may have said, “No, I can do it myself” or “No, I’ll be okay” or “No, I’ll figure out a way to handle this myself.” But, they would not leave you or forsake you. They were relentless in their efforts to help you. Don’t we want that kind of friend -- even though we don’t want to put them out or take their time? Well, I have friends like that – especially since I’ve been here in Tulsa the last couple of weeks. They have been relentless in seeing after me, bringing me meals, taking me to the doctor, and checking in on me. I’m okay -- nothing serious on my part – but they are friends who don’t take “no” for an answer.

It is a reminder to me of the story in the Book of Ruth of Naomi and her two daughter-in-laws, Orpah and Ruth. All three women had recently suffered the loss of their husbands. In the depths of Naomi’s grief, she encouraged the girls to go back to their people, and to start a new life. It didn’t take much convincing for Orpah to leave. But Ruth saw right through Naomi’s pain. She refused to go, doubling down on her commitment to Naomi. Ruth was blessed with generosity, compassion and empathy. Even though she had no obligation to Naomi, her love for her mother-in-law and friend made her fiercely loyal.

“‘Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God." (Ruth 1:16)
I have read that story many times and my husband and I even said Ruth’s words to Naomi in our wedding vows. “Ruth” means compassion for the misery of another; empathetic, and “ruthless” means without ruth; not empathetic.

So, the question is: Do we have a Ruth in our life? Do we have someone who won’t let us have a pity party? In reality, we may want grievers with us but what we need is a Ruth -- someone who refuses to leave us when we’re down-and-out. We all experience moments of disappointment, great loss, grief, and despair. Our human nature wants to recoil, to withdraw, to turn so inward that we lose sight of the Light.

But, what we need are good friends who refuse to leave us. We need good friends who encourage us to just keep swimming, telling us that they will not abandon or forsake us. Remember Dory in the “Finding Nemo” movie? She kept saying to Nemo "just keep swimming", meaning "don't give up." We need good friends who love us like they love themselves. The Lord brings so much healing to our hearts through the Ruths in our lives.

Maybe today, you are a Naomi, and you need a Ruth. We pray that God brings a Ruth to you – but maybe your way of rebounding is to be a Ruth in someone’s life. You can either be ruthless (bad and not empathetic) or a Ruth (good and empathetic).

Friendship is supposed to be entering into a relationship not because of what we can get out of it but because of what it is. We are called to be examples of Christ’s love to the world. When we break free of the selfishness that poisons so many of our relationships and focus on giving our time, effort, and love to those around us, we portray a beautiful image of Christ’s own self-giving. No matter where we are in life or where we stand with our faith, we have the opportunity to bring others (and ourselves) closer to God by being a Ruth to someone today. Thank you to all the “Ruths” that have blessed me in my life so much!

When It’s Hard to Say (or Hear) “Praying for You”

Recently I found out not everyone appreciates it when we say the words "I'll be praying for you" or asking them to "Please pray for......" On this occasion, I was told "Since I don't pray, and know for certain that prayer doesn't work, I'd take it as a personal favor if those of you who simply can't resist exhorting me to do so, would cease e-mailing me. Right now would be good.” I surmised that that one was having a rough day for some reason, and I couldn't be silent.

OFirst I recommended that thinking good thoughts toward others would help if one doesn't want to pray. Then I told my story. "To the contrary, prayers do work. I am a widow and were it not for my prayers and the prayers of others, the calm and great peace from the outset of my husband's illness, to his passing to the strength and peace I continue to live in today, I wouldn't be here, or if I were, I'd be a most miserable human being. The fact is prayers work, but when we don't get the answer we want, often we conclude that there is no God or that God could care less. I discovered long ago that God isn't a divine Santa Claus or a genie in a lamp. And, He isn't a holy bellhop who jumps at our beck and call. God operates by His perfect will and our prayers are always subject to it. Many times I've prayed and didn't get the answer I wanted. He maybe responded with a "no or not now", but knowing Him as my Heavenly Father, I know He knows what's best for me. I have come to realize how God uses my pain and struggles to fashion me into being a more compassionate friend to others.

I had more to say, but most importantly, I started thinking even more about those words “I’ll pray for you,” and while it seemed to offend this person, maybe those who are fully devoted followers of Christ, may even be disappointed and hurting, and though those words may be kind, they can also sound like a cliché and an empty promise. Broken relationships, financial difficulties or the recent loss of a loved one, can cause even the most faithful to question if God loves them or even notices their circumstance. So, why do we offer to pray for others? Prayer is an invitation for us to share the Father’s heart with His children. He desires for each of His children to feel loved, cared for and encouraged. And, He can make Himself real in the moment for those who need to feel His touch through us.

Let’s face it - in our hearts we know God loves us and longs for us to turn to Him for the comfort and encouragement we need, but there are times when a Pity Party seems like the best place to go. But, it's those times, especially, that we should welcome others to pray for us. Maybe it's even a good idea to request for them to specifically ask God to help us begin to trust Him again. When someone offers to pray for us, let's appreciate their concern for us and welcome their prayers. In hope and faith, remember, “The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.” James 5:16. A one-minute prayer can move a moment filled with discomfort to a place of renewed trust in God’s comfort, love and healing ways.

So, whether or not you actually speak the words - “praying for you” - let’s remember that prayer is a powerful tool and it actually can bring peace and relief to a hurting heart. I know it -- from first hand experience. While we must consider how others feel about the phrase, it shouldn’t stop us from bowing our heads and lifting our worries, thoughts and concerns for one another to our loving Father.

By the way...."My FB friends -- I'm praying for you and I mean it. Lord, please bless, console, comfort, restore, heal, and renew my dear FB friends today. May they sense your loving arms around them. May they know how much You love them.....all the way to the cross.....and back. Amen"

Count Your Blessings -- Name Them One By One

On a recent flight, I read Michael J. Fox's take on "Coping with Adversity". He said "It was only when I could accept the fact that I had Parkinson's disease that I began to think, 'What haven't I lost?' I haven't lost my enthusiasm. I haven't lost my intelligence. I haven't lost my passion for life, my love of my family, my curiosity."

I love that -- when adversity comes -- it's easy to throw in the towel and give up, and ask the questions "Why me?" It's easy to throw a pity party and invite all our friends to it (we post it on FB, we text message, we make phone calls, we email and we carry that "woe is me" attitude with us everywhere we go). Michael J. Fox refused to be defeated. He got it. He counted his blessings. And that's what we need to do when disappointment comes knocking on our door. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it's embarassing. Yes, it causes us to have to take many steps back and have to start over again. But, like Michael J. Fox, if we'll refuse to be defeated, and we look at what we have, instead of what we've lost or don't have -- we'll rebound with "I may be taking a step back -- but get ready... I'm preparing for my comeback!"

Don't we want that to be the legacy we leave to those who are following behind us? Don't we want them to say "She/He never gave up. They gave their all -- when their all was all they had to give! They never knew the word "quit". They never knew failure -- because they kept trying."
I'm refusing the temptation to complain about anything.....rather, I'm counting my blessings right now....and naming them one by one! And, by the way, YOU are one of my treasured blessings!